Nixon's Vietnam threat An Editorial President Nixon's declaration that "we will not tolerate attacks which result in heavier casualties to our men at a time that we are honestly trying to seek peace at the conference table" has the sickening ring of the big-lie technique. With U.S. bombs raining down on South Vietnam to an extent never before known PAUL BOUTELLE in war; with more than half a million American men stationed in that country to carry out a genocidal war for the petty dictators in Saigon; it is clear who bears for Mayor of New York the blame for American and other casualties in that country. The administration's hypocritical outrage over the NLF response to their continuing warfare shows that now, as when Washing­ ton first launched its invasion, the purpose is to crush a national liberation struggle. Nixon is apparently indignant because the Vietnamese refuse to yield despite Washing­ ton's bombs. He also resents the fact that the NLF V ote actions help expose Washington's lying face in Paris. Nixon- like Johnson before him­ is using the Paris talks to lull the American people into believing that the end of the war is near and that Washington is seeking Socialist Workers peace. In reality, Washington is stepping up its aggression against South Vietnam. On Feb. 11, just three weeks before the new NLF offensive, the New York Times carried an analysis of U.S. objectives in South Vietnam, written by its chief Saigon correspondent, Charles Mohr. Mohr stated "the South Vietnamese plan to bring the number of hamlets with some security protection [read "Saigon control"] to more than 8,000 by April. There are approximately 12,300 hamlets in South Vietnam ..." In addition "there are about 2, 500 villages in South Vietnam. Only 1,100 have elected [read "Saigon controlled"] village coun­ cils ... "The allied command plans to continue its highly offensive operations (emphasis added) meant to pursue Vietcong units and political agents," Mohr concluded. Two days later, Feb. 13, the New York Times revealed tha t a U.S. Marine "Search and clear" operation in Quangtri province had been launched Jan. 22. "The Marines reported that by last Monday they had killed 57 enemy soldiers and that their losses were 18 dead and 63 wounded." That is the shooting war, the war of ag­ gression that the vast majority of American people want brought to an end. To do so requires nothing less than removing every last GI from Vietnamese soil. No confidence can be placed in the Nixon administration or the Paris talks to carry out this task. The antiwar movement must continue to build massive protests against the war like FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: the April 5-6 demonstrations set for Easter SOCIALIST WORKERS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE weekend. Such actions show that the Ar.ler­ 873 Broadway, New York, N . Y. 10003 ican people will not be tricked by Washing­ Telephone : 533 -4450 or 477- 9506 ton's lies and hypocritical blusters, thatthey L know all too well the war, death and destruc­ tion continue as Washington directs. Such This poster initiated New York socialist campaign. Story page 9. actions show the American people want the troops brought home now. Page 2 THE MILITANT Fridoy, March 14, 1969

THE MILITANT Berkeley TWLF appeals for aid Editor: HARRY RING Business Manager; HEVERLY SCOTT Publlahed weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass 'n., 873 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003. Phone 533-6414. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription: domestic, $4 a year; foreign, $5.50. By first class mail: domestic It must be accompanied by an and Canada :510.50; all other countries, $15.00. Air printed matter: domestic awareness that this system will and Canada, $15.00; Latin America, $24.00; Europe, $28.00; Africa, Australia, letters never reform itself into being a Asia (including USSR), $33.00. Write for sealed air postage rates. Signed articles "Legitimate and socially, politically and economic­ by contributors do not necessarily represent The Militant's views. These are ally productive system. It must expressed in editorials. also be accompanied by an un­ reasonable demands" from our flagging education of the masses Vol. 33- No. 11 --...... Friday, March 14, 1969 about the kind of system that is needed and the revolution needed The closing news date for this issue was March 7 Berkeley, Calif. readers to bring it about. But that strug­ As many of you know, the Third gle to gain whatever can be World Liberation Front (an alli­ This column is an open forum gained- right here and now-is pletely with the principles of the ist and much less workers, a cer­ ance of Black, Brown, Red and for all viewpoints on subjects of necessary. constitution, he need only feel that tain A. G. writes inpraiseofSWP's Yellow students) of the University general interest to our readers. Many people are confused about he would have a better chance tailing of every black nationalist of California at Berkeley has been Please keep your letters brief. Where the place that reform has in the striking against the university for advancing his ideas if such a in sight. One of the examples he necessary they will be abridged. radical movement, and I think this the past four weeks. The strike revolution were successful and uses reaches the nadir (even for Writers' initialf will be used, names article has cleared up much of therefore, lend himself to the revo­ Trotskyites, who have made a was called after nine months of being withheld unless authorization this confusion in many radical pleading with the university, facul­ lution with hand and soul. principle out of opportunism) of is given for use. minds. This kind of educational This new party would then have the scholastic, bellycrawling Trot­ ty and administration to address article is oneofthemostimportant themselves to the needs of Third to draw up a list of specific de­ skyite school of fabrication." things your newspaper has to offer World students and their respect­ mands, and raise hell if they were (Emphasis and punctuation in to its readers. ive communities. All efforts have not met. original.) Thanks again. been fruitless. Article cleared up T.S. I wonder if there's anything C.L. It is important that the members in the thoughts of Chairman Mao of our communities and all other about people who use tricks and people who believe in human dig­ much confusion epithets as a substitute for reas­ nity understand that we are en­ Harry Who? PL school of de bate oned political debate simply dem­ gaged in a just struggle for legit­ onstrating their political bankrupt­ imate and reasonable demands. Philadelphia, Pa. cy? We need everyone's help. The cen­ I would like to thank you and Los Angeles, Calif. New York, N.Y. Alfred Gordon tral issues of the strike are issues George Breitman very much for The Militant is really great, es­ I wrote a letter to the Feb. 7 which affect Third World students his article entitled "Is It Wrong pecially with all the improvements Militant defending the idea that We can't please and their communities-universi­ for Revolutionaries to Fight for and the expanded size. nationalist struggles can and do ty employment practices, increas­ Reforms?" (see Militant Feb. 28). A sports editor is definitely grow over into socialist revolu­ everyone ed Third World enrollment, uni­ This article is excellent in that it needed, however, to clue Harry tions, refuting the Progressive La­ versity sponsorship of community points out clearly the distinctions Ring in on those esoteric facts - bor thesis that all nationalism - programs, and the establishment between reform and reformism, i.e., Joe Who? and Bart Starr. especially black nationalism - Berkeley, Calif. of a Third World College of Ethnic revolution and reformism, uto­ C. and P.S. must be reactionary. I just wanted to let you know Studies are all issues of tremen­ pianism ("you have to just sit still To prove my point I gave three that after two months of your dous importance and consequence until the revolution comes") and examples of struggles that began newspaper, I think it stinks. Parti­ for Third World communities and practicality("you have to struggle as movements for nationallibera­ cularly the articles on Israel. They society in general. to gain certain reforms in order Wants consolidation tion and developed into socialist are a pile of inaccuracies, dis­ If we are to succeed, we must to make the revolution come as revolutions: Yugoslavia, Cuba tortions, and 1/ 8th truths. have the help of everyone! soon as possible"). and North Vietnam. I'm so disgusted by your paper There have been 81 arrests since I recently talked to a member Royal Oak, Mich. About a week later a Fordham that I won't even use my own the struggle began. In almost of the Socialist Labor Party and The most urgent task facing University student showed me a postage to reply. Nor will I stoop every case we have had to pay ex­ I now understand exactly where the left today can be easily cited copy of an SDS campus publica­ to disprove your facile and glib cessive bail to free those arrested. the difference between that party as that of consolidation. With all tion named Serve the People. equating of Arab guerrillas with While our spirits will not be bro­ and the SWP lies. The SLP knows its apparent fervor and dedica­ From its contents, the editorial the NLF, of Arab socialism to ken by any tactics -we are near that the capitalist system must be tion, the left as a loosely drawn policy is determined by Pro­ progressive socialism, and so to being broken financially. We destroyed, knows a socialist revo­ coalition has, I feel, been dis­ gressive Labor. forth. will appreciate contributions in lution is necessary, but turns its appointingly inefficient in battling In a feature of the magazine J.B. any amount to our bailfundfrom back on having anything to do the injustices of the plutocracy. entitled, "Review of the Fake Radi­ any concerned groups or individ­ with the building of that revo­ This solidification, including cal Press," I found that my letter uals. All checks should be made lution. any movement wishing to join, to TIM! Militant had been repro­ payable to "Legal Defense Fund" It can be seen very clearly from would have to first contract a duced- partially, that is. ... but some like us and sent to 1141-B 9th Street, the antiwar movement and from truly revolutionary constitution. Faithful to the thoughts of Albany, Calif. In return for your the black struggles taking place It would follow that all the white Chairman Mao, including the support, you can rest assured on university campuses, as well bourgeoisie and black Toms who thought that Yugoslavia is a "capi­ New Hyde Park, N.Y. that we will continue to struggle as from other struggles in this lack the conviction to detach them­ talisf state, the PLers on the maga­ I have been an ardent reader in your behalf. country today, that fighting selves from the oligarchic struc­ zine apparently felt my use of the of The Militant for more than All power to the people. for reforms is tremendous tool ture could withdraw. Yugoslav example was a weak six months now. As a student­ TWLF in the building of that revolution. One would need not agree com- one, so they left that in. However, worker I find the paper to be of they must have regarded the very great value. Your coverage. Cuban and Vietnamese examples and analysis of people, ideas, a bit trickier to deal with, so they and events on the left fills in solved the problem very conve­ the conspicuous and intentional niently. They simply snipped off void created by the capitalist Meet Socialists in Your Arel that portion of the reproduction press. of my letter. I am enclosing $1.00 for an They accompanied it with a introductory subscription for two {If you are interested in the ide~s of Evansville: YSA, c/o Ronold Hicks, OHIO: Cleveland: SWP and YSA. 980 I truly devastating political reply­ of my friends. I am sure that socialism, you can meet socialists in your 16198 E. Franklin St Evansville, lnd Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44106. Tel; one that is worthy of the tradi­ their response to The Militant will city at the following addresses.) 47711 !216) 791-1669. tion of old-line Stalinism. be as enthusiastic as mine. You MAINE: Brunswick: YSA, c/o Ted Parsons, Kent: YSA, P.O. Box 116, Kent, Ohio Their reply stated: "In a letter will find their names and ad­ Senior Center-, Bowdoin Colleqe. Bruns­ 44240. to The Militant, the organ of the dresses on the enclosed order ARIZONA: Tempe: YSA, c/o Lindley Gar­ wick. Maine 040 II Yellow Springs: YSA, c/o Alan Wold, Trotskyite 'Socialist' 'Workers' form. ner, 1010 Lemon St. '12, Tempe. Arizona MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP o nd Antioch Union, Yellow Springs, Ohio45387. Party, a group which although it Thank you. 85281 YSA, c/o Militant Labor Forum. 295 Hun­ TeL 1513) 767-5511. might be a party is hardly social- R.J.S. CALIFORNIA: Berkeley-Oakland: SWP ti'lgton Ave., Rm. 307, Boston, Moss. 02 115. OKLAHOMA: Norman: YSA, c/o Sud ie Trip­ rmd YSA, 2519-A Telegraph Ave., Berkeley, Tel(6171 5366981 pet, 1320 Garfield, Norman, Oklahoma WALL STREET /OUF!.NAL Cnlif. 94704. Tel !415i 848-9334 MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, clo Bill 73069. Los Angeles: SWP and YSA, I 702 E. D'Angelo, 712 W Huron, '307, Ann Arbor, OREGON: Portland: YSA, c/o Tonie 4th St., Los Anqeles, Cniif 90033. Tel Mich. 48 I 04. Trainor, 5203 S. W. Pomona, Portland, Ore. 12 13r 769 4953 Detroit: SWP and YSA, Eugene V. Debs 97219. TeL 15031246-9245. Son Fr::1ncisco: SVVP, Y~A, Militont Labor Hall, 3737 Woodward Ave, Detroit·. Mich PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP and Fo1um, uwJ Pioneer Books. 2338 Morket 48201 TeL !313) TE16135 YSA, 686 N. Broad St, Philo., Po. 19130. St Sull Froncisw. Colif. 94114 Tell4151 East Lansing: YSA, P 0 Box 92 51, Esat Tell2 15) CE6-6998. 'J52 1266 Lansing, Mrch. 48909. RHODE .ISLAND: Warwick: YSA, c/o Nick Son Diego: Son Diego Labor Forum, Ypsil:mti: YSA, 913 Washtenaw '16, Yp­ Stevens, 44 Brinton Ave., Warwick, R.I. P 0 Box 12/1, Sllrl Dieqo, Calif 92112 silanti, Mich. 48197. Tel· !3131 482-7348. 02889. CONNECTICUT: New H~ven: YSA, c/o MINNESOTA: Minneapolis-St. Paul: SWP TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Charles Cairns, Rrchnrd Adoms. 33? Shermnn Ave New YSA ond Labor Bookstore, 704 Hennepin 1803 Enfield Rd., Austin, Texas 78703. f lovetl, Conn. 06511 Ave, Hall 240. Mpls 55403 Tel 16121 Tell512) 476-0850. GEORGIA: Atlanta: YSA ond bookstore, 332-7781 Houston: YSA, c/o David Shroyer, 1116 187 14th St., Atlnr1ta. Go 30309 Tel.14041 MISSOURI: St. Louis: Phone EV9-2895, Columbus St., Houston, Texas 77019. Tel 1 8 76-388 7 ask for Dick Clarke 17131 JA9-2236. ILLINOIS: Carbondale: YSA, c o Bill NEW JERSEY: Newark: YSA, e1 o WaIt Moffet. 209 N. Sprinqer, Carbondale, Ill. and Andrea Brad, 42 5 Mt. Prospect Ave .. UTAH: Logan: YSA, c/o Sterne McMullen, 6?901 Tel161815496214. Newark, N.J 17104. TeL 12011483-8513. 763 E. 9th North, Logan, Utah 84321 Champ~ign-Urbana: YSA, P. 0. Box NEW YORK: Albany: YSA, c 1o Bill O'Kain, Salt Loke City: YSA, c/o Shem Richards, 2099, Sto. A, Clwmpoiqn, Ill. 61820. TeL 313 State, Albany, NY 12210 957 E. I stAve., Sa It lake City, Utah 841b3. r7 I 71 359-1333 Binghamton: YSA, c/o Peter Gellert. Box WASHINGTON, D. C.: YSA, c/o Terrill Chiwgo: SWP, YSA a'ld bookstore. 302 1389, Harpur College, Binghamton, N.Y. Brumback, 1801 16th St. N.W., Apt 610, S CarKil St. Rm. 204. Chicogo, Ill 60606. 1390 I Tell6071 798-3977. Washington, D. C. 20009. lei r3121939 2667 New York City: SWP and YSA. 873 Broad­ WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP and YSA, De Kalb: YSA, c/o John Votava, 329 way, New York, N. Y 10003. Tel 12121 5257 University Way N. E., Seattle, Wash. N 1st St. 3rd fl., De Kalb, Ill. 60115 982 6051 98105. Tel (20615232555. INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Russell NORTH CAROLINA: Chapel Hill: Adolph WISCONSIN: Madison: YSA, 202 W. Gil­ Block. 207 E 2nd St. Bloomington. Ind. Reed, 108 Hillsborough St., Chnoel Hill, man, Madison, Wi. 53703. Tel (6081 256- ~n~4M 47401 N.C. 27514 0857. "Get more fresh air, stay indoors." Friday, March 14, 1969 THE MILITANT Page 3 Chicago student fights expulsion By Naomi Allen Paula's is the second case since Septem· CHICAGO -"I'm tired of being ha­ ber of harassment and expulsion of anti­ rassed," was the simple statement that in­ war activists in the city's Catholic schools. curred the charge of insolence and insub­ Last autumn, Laura Miller, a leader of ordination upon 17-year-old Paula Smith, the city-wide high-school antiwar organi­ a junior at the Academy of Our Lady zation, was forcibly "graduated" from Trin­ Catholic High School and a member of ity High School in the suburb of Oak Park High School Students Against the War after her name appeared in an article on (HSSAW) and the Young Socialist Alliance. HSSAW in the right-wing Chicago Tribune. Paula was expelled from school on Mon­ A wave of suspensions and expulsions has day, Feb. 24, after the school refused to been the answer from both the city and the give a formal explanation of cause other Catholic Church to the rising antiwar senti­ than that Paula was "defiant, militant, and ment among high-school students. revolutionary." Present at the March 2 meeting were Jay A meeting at the YMCA Hotel on March Miller of the American Civil Liberties 2 attended by some 40 concerned students, Union; Tony Yazzolino ofMaryknollSem­ parents, and clergymen called for a demon­ inary; Father Hogan of St. George's stration next Saturday, March 8, at the Church and Loyola University; Sister Black students press Chancellery office of the Chicago Arch­ Maria Livia, former president of St. diocese. The demonstration will demand Xavier's College; Staughton Lynd, antiwar Paula's reinstatement as a student at the activist and professor; and representatives Academy and a stop to all infringements of HSSAW. Students came from high of the right to free speech and the right to schools around the city. Sister Mary fight at Chicago State distribute literature within the parochial Lenore, principal of the Academy of Our schools. Lady, was invited to defend her actions, but declined to attend. By L. P. Johnston ing their responsibilities. "No longer will we Defense committee say there is no racism on this campus.""No Mandel, Novack The group resolved to form a city-wide (The author is a student at Chicago longer will this institution dehumanize or defense committee to defend the first-amend­ State College.) immoralize any more black people." ment rights of high-school students against "Change or get out." These statements were on U.S. workers future attempts to victimize them for their HARVEY, Ill.- Black students at Chi­ made by spokesmen of the black students. political views. Both the public and paro­ cago State College took control of the ad­ Students met later to discuss further tac­ chial schools are expected to attempt to stem ministration building here Feb. 26. At tics if the demands are not fulfilled soon. in Merit pamphlet the massive high school organizing for the 11:00 a.m. six students representing the They are still not certain if the president of April 5 GI-Civilian antiwar demonstration black student body attempted to obtain the the college has heard of the situation or if Ernest Mandel's "Workers Under Neo­ in Chicago. signatures of the assistant to the president, he will respond positively to the wants of Capitalism" and George Novack's "Can High -school students comprised an easy H. Rick Shaar, the dean of faculty, Irwin the students. But, as one woman student American Workers Make a Socialist Revo­ majority of the participants in Chicago's Suloway, and the dean of students, Theo­ said during the occupation of the building, lution?" have been issued as a pamphlet April 27 and Sept. 28 demonstrations last dore Stolarz, on a written agreement to "Byrd may have flown the coop again, but by Merit publishers. year, and the estimates are that this year's meet their demands for improving the col­ we won't wait for him to lay another egg." The two articles deal with different as­ turnout will be equally impressive. The lege. It had been their intention to discuss pects of a central problem of world politics defense committee plans to provide legal the matter with the president of the college, today: Does the working class have revo­ and financial assistance to harassed stu­ Milton B. Byrd; however, he was not pres­ lutionary potential and does socialism have dents, in addition to gathering support for ent on campus at the time. Cuba, Mexico any realistic chances of victory in the them from the community and publicizing Approximately 300 students moved into centers of imperialism? the cases widely. the building after only one of the demands These questions have been sharply posed About two months ago, after distribut­ was agreed to. The Chicago State students to discuss pact and hotly debated by young radicals who ing a leaflet put out by High School Stu­ received the support of students from Wil­ are turning against capitalism on an inter­ dents Against the War, Paula was forbidden son Jr. College in Chicago, Parker Grade national scale, but mainly based on uni­ to leaflet or pass out literature on the school School, Parker High School, and the Black on hiiacking versity campuses. grounds. She complied with these strictures, Panther Party of Chicago. All employees except Shaar, Suloway and Stolarz were Novack and Mandel explain the con­ and proceeded to organize by word of The Foreign Ministry of the Republic asked to lock the rooms of the building crete reasons why modern capitalism, de­ mouth an antiwar committee of some 30 of Cuba on Feb. 15 issued the following and to leave. The three remaining admin­ spite many changes since the second world students that met off-campus on Saturday communique: istrators were not held as hostages, but ~ .. Jl nec,..~~LLJ.'lly end up with the work­ nights. "The Revolutionary Government of Cuba were free to go at any time and were told ing masses struggling against it. About a month ago, Concerned Students has informed the Government of Mexico so. Mandel's arguments are placed in the Against the War invited a speaker to ad­ that it is willing to take part in an agree­ dress the group on the history of the Viet­ The number of students in the building context of world imperialism and primarily ment between the two countries whose ob­ nam war. The following week, students diminished to 145 as the Parker students deal with economic attacks on Marxism ject shall be to draw up norms to assure from the committee were called into the were asked to leave for their own protec­ which have been put forth by various the reciprocal returning of any persons principal's office where Sister Mary Lenore tion. They and other students congregated apologists for the capitalist system. presumed responsible for the detouring warned them not to continue their activities outside to watch the gathering Chicago Novack narrows the scope to the Ameri­ of aircraft or other vehicles of transporta­ can working class and takes up the history because "their education was at stake," and police. told them that they would be "picked out Illinois law prohibits intervention by tion to the territory of either one of the of its organization in relation to the history two states. of U. S. imperialism. He pays particular one by one." Paula herself was accused of local law enforcement on a state campus charges like "inciting to riot," and "creating unless specifically requested by the person "Such an agreement would also establish attention to the uneven rates of radicaliza­ regulations to guarantee the immediate tion between black and white workers, in racial tensions." in charge of the college or if students hold The final act of suppression came on a hostage or become "violent." The take­ return of crew, passengers and cargo, the past as well as at present. as well as of the vehicle itself. In the talks Both articles, originally presented as Wednesday, Feb. 19. Withoutprovocation, over was orderly and no one was held Paula was pulled out of study hall in the inside against his will. The request for to work out a draft agreement, which speeches, and printed in the International will take place soon in Havana between Socialist Review, have already received early afternoon, and told she was sus­ police interference could not legally be made pended. The school refused her request for since the college's president was said to be the delegations of Cuba and Mexico, special wide attention in the radical movement. care will be taken not to contravene the Mandel's talk was given at the Fourth a written note of suspension, would give in Washington D. C., and was not yet in­ her no explanation, and refused to say formed of the situation. Students had al­ principles of the right of asylum. The Mexi­ Socialist Scholars Conference at Rutgers can delegation will be presided over by University, last Sept. 7. Novack delivered when or if she would be allowed to return. ready asked plainclothesmen and private By Thursday morning, HSSAW had detectives to leave. H. E. Miguel Covian Perez, Ambassador his speech to the 1968 convention of the of Mexico to Cuba." Young Socialist Alliance in Chicago Nov. prepared a petition which was being cir­ However, at 3:00 p.m. more than 15 28. culated in Paula's school and in several squad cars and two police wagons began Available from Merit Publishers, 873 other Catholic schools, demanding Paula's lining the street in front of the campus and Broadway, New York, N.Y., 10003, the reinstatement and the right to organize and filling a parking lot. Police could be seen Play on Rosenbergs pamphlet is entitled "On the Revolutionary distribute literature. Several local clergy­ distributing cans of mace and donning riot Potential of the Working Class" and costs men and teachers in thenetworkofCatholic gear. At 3:30 over 25 police entered the 65 cents. schools and colleges in the area phoned campus to forcibly evict the students. to open in Cleveland the school's principal to protest the sum­ It was only after the students proved to mary treatment. Sister Mary Lenore com­ the remaining administrators that they CLEVELAND - A play entitled "The plained of a deluge of mail objecting to could not be scared off by the threat of United States vs Julius and Ethel Rosen­ the suspension. police confrontation that the documents of berg" will be presented here by the Cleve­ By Friday, the principal had verbally the demands was signed. The police were land Play House beginning March 14, conceded the right of students to distribute told to go. Only after this did the students in the Brooks Theatre. It is written by literature, but refused to discuss the ques­ leave the building. They had been prepared Donald Freed and will be published by tion of Paula's reinstatement. On Monday to remain there overnight or as long as Random House following the Cleveland morning, Feb. 24, Paula reported to school necessary. production. with her mother and learned that she was Demands made by the students were that "The United States vs. Julius and Ethel expelled. a fully accredited autonomous black studies Rosenberg" examines the world-famous The defense committee had slated a press department be instituted at the college, that frame-up trial of the American couple who conference for March 5. Spokesmen for the the black community of Englewood in which were charged with espionage, found guilty committee said that they plan to file suit the college is located by given access to the and executed in the heyday of McCarthy­ against the school for damages to Paula's college facilities, that the students and fac­ ism. academic record resulting from the school's ulty have equal power in the hiring and Mr. Freed reports that the play is drawn actions. firing of the faculty, and that racist faculty entirely from documented sources: "Even Telegrams and letters of protest against members be immediately dismissed. The at its most bizarre," he stated, "the text the political harassment and victimization students also demanded that a black cul­ contains not one invented word." The play­ that have taken place at the Academy of tural center be established. wright will be in Cleveland for the opening Our Lady should be sent to Sister Mary The students, tired of their previous treat­ weekend, March 14-16. Lenore, Principal, Academy of Our Lady, ment by administrative heads when they Freed has written several books, includ­ 1309 W. 95 Street, Chicago, Ill. 60643. have asked that the college be made more ing Freud and Stanislavsky (Vantage Copies should be sent to High School relevant to them and the community, are Press), The Angry Arts (Grove Press ) and Students Against the War, 9 S. Clinton St., demanding that the college administrators The Theatre of the Future (Minnesota Ernest Mandel and George Novack Chicago, Ill. 60606. at last commit themselves instead of avoid- Press). Page 4 THE MILITANT Friday, March 14, 1969

SDS discussion: How do programs develop?

By Gus Horowitz The past year has been one of world­ wide youth radicalization. Whether the country be France or Vietnam, Mexico or the USA, Japan or Czechoslovakia one fact has become apparent: revolu­ tionary youth throughout the world see themselves engaged in a common revolu­ tionary struggle. The intertwining of national and inter­ national developments is clearly evident in the United States. Here, three of the main factors in the radicalization of American youth have been the Cuban and Vietna­ mese revolutions and the U.S. black strug­ gle, which, in turn, has drawn much of its inspiration from national liberation struggles in Africa and the rest of the Third World. Likewise, the black struggle and the antiwar movment in the U.S. stimulated the process of radicalization in other countries. A new generation, international in scope, is developing in a revolutionary direction. The actions they have organized are part of the historic process which is transform­ ing the world from capitalism to socialism. In the U.S., SDS members and others are presently thinking out the question of how to organize the revolutionary youth move­ ment. Past issues of The Militant have pointed to the experience of previous revo­ lutionary struggles which have underlined the need for a revolutionary party based on a well-defined program. Both party and program, it must be added, should IMPACT OF VIETNAMESE REVOLUTION. Foreground previous someone showing up with such a slogan would start from the international point of view. placard was carried in Boston during October 1965 Inter- have been scoffed at by students for "old left jargon." No socialist group in history has ever national Days of Protest Against Vietnam War. A while been able to maintain a revolutionary outlook while focusing solely on the strug­ Where to start War I, the Second International destroyed herents - the Fourth International was gle in its own country. The great issues Of course in every country there are itself. Each party placed its own "national" founded in 1938. Like their predecessors, in world politics are all-encompassing. particular national characteristics of the interests ahead of international solidarity. the revolutionary internationalists began Experience has shown that, to be effective, struggle to take into account. But to start French and English socialists, playing by elaborating an international program a revolutionary party in any one country from the national peculiarities and proceed on the fear of a "Junker-Habsburg" victory and founding an international organiza­ requires a world view. to an international approach is a poli­ in the war, supported their own govern­ tion around which national sections could It is not accidental that great interna­ tically false and costly method. To simply ments' war aims. German socialists, point­ be built. tional events have always been tests for make an arithmetic calculation, to add up ing demagogically to the implications of Three tendencies revolutionaries, that the great issues divi­ separate national strategies and call the a victory by Russian Czarism, did likewise. The three main ideological tendencies ding revolutionists from reformists have sum an international program is an in­ All was justified in the name of preserving in the world socialist movement - social been international in scope. World War I, adequate understanding of the way in which "socialist opportunities" in their own coun­ democracy, Stalinism, and Trotskyism - the Russian Revolution, Stalinism, World revolutionary struggles are interrelated. tries. represent the only consistent long­ War II - all have been watersheds in the By way of analogy, it would be as if the The revolutionary internationalists, few term trends in the international socialist history of the socialist movement. One's problems of the American revolution could as they were, regrouped their forces and movement. Other tendencies are either tran­ attitude towards international events in­ be understood by simply finding the sum set out to rebuild the international revolu­ sitory, confined to single countries, or variably reflects one's position on the rev­ of the problems that local groups face tionary party, even as the war went on. relatively insignificant. olution at home. in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, To do so they had to make a definitive In contrast to the decades of the 1930- etc. break with the social-democratic betrayers 1950s, when the bulk of revolutionary­ The notion that American problems are of internationalism. By 1919 the victorious minded workers followed the lead set by Teachers return "exceptional" has been a fault in the think­ Russian Revolution, had drawn enough the Communist parties, the 1960s have ing of many Americans over the years, supporters to form a Third International. seen the emergence of a new generation including many American radicals. But In every country, the "foreign" issue of the of revolutionary youth. The most striking to their iobs whether or not some would prefer to be­ Russian Revolution proved decisive in re­ characteristic of this new generation is lieve that American political developments shaping the radical forces. In the U.S. its independence from social-democratic are not affected and shaped by world it was the Russian issue that definitively and Stalinist corruption. Not surprisingly, at S.F. State events, the fact is we have all been affected divided the Socialist Party and led to the significant numbers, those with a serious by them. Great events in Russia and China formation of the Communist Party. international perspective, have allied them­ By Dianne Gannon have helped to shape the American radi­ The Third International set itself the task selves with the Fourth International's pro­ SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 5 - cal movement; they continue to do so of completing, on an international scale, gram of revolutionary Marxism. They are The membership of the American Fede­ today. So do events in France, Cuba, what the Bolsheviks had accomplished working to build the Socialist Workers ration of Teachers Local1352votedMarch Vietnam, and other countries where great in Russia. Support to the Russian Revolu­ Party and Young Socialist Alliance whose 2, 112 to 97 with seven absentions, to issues are posed. tion was one of its cardinal principles; political views are reflected in the pages return to teaching at S. F. State College. In searching for an effective approach but that support never meant subservience. of The Militant, and the Young Socialist. While Reagan continued to maintain that to organize the revolutionary movement, The member parties spoke to each other AFT had won nothing at all, it is apparent we do not have to begin anew. Fortunate­ as equals. Their common goal was the that they forced the trustees to meet with ly there is a large body of experience, victory of the international revolution, a High schoolers them and forced through at least a settle­ experience of both victory and defeat, from great aid in which was the victory in Russia. ment on some of their demands. which revolutionary youth of today can Rise of Stalinism However, a solid core of at least 75 draw lessons. Stalin's coming to power in the Soviet at Detroit forum teachers decided to stay out knowing it The need for a revolutionary party, the Union, marked a new turn not only inter­ meant being frred. Their decision was based programmatic basis for the party, and the nally, but within the world communist DETROIT - A panel of high school on sympathy with the four-month-old stu­ international character of the program movement. "Socialism in one country," revolutionaries spoke at the Militant Fo­ dent strike. However, Third World leaders dictate the course which revolutionary Stalin's contribution to anti-Marxist theory, rum Feb. 26. The panelists were Beverly counseled the teachers to go back to work, Marxists have always taken - the build­ really meant subservience by the interna­ Bell, president of the Association of Black pointing out that fired faculty could do ing of an international party to tie together tional socialist movement to Soviet national Students at Murray-Wright high school; little to help the strike. The teachers did the world-wide struggle for the socialist interests, as Stalin saw them. By identi­ Victor Stuart, of the Black Panther Party; so on the understanding that they would revolution. fying the interests of the world working and Gordon Fox, chairman of the Detroit continue to aid the strike from inside the Marx and Engels, the founders of the class with the political and diplomatic High School Student Mobilization Com­ classroom. revolutionary socialist movement, were interests of the privileged Soviet bureau­ mittee and a member of the YSA. The last mass picketing occured on March more than theoreticians. Much of their crats, Stalinism departed drastically from Beverly Bell called attention to the attacks 3 when 4 00 pickets were forced to leave energies and efforts were devoted to the revolutionary internationalism. Maoism on the Black Student Voice, which has the campus or face arrests under injunctive building of an international revolutionary today, merely substituting Mao's thought been very influential in Detroit high school order. On that day too, over 50 oil work­ party to coordinate the activities of the for Stalin's "genius," represents the same struggles. The paper has come under heavy ers, wearing their hard hats, demonstra­ various national parties- more accurately, phenomenon. fire from school administrations and was ted their endorsement of the Third World national sections. The International Work­ That type of subservience, whether it be recently banned at Murray-Wright. Liberation Front led strike by joining ing Men's Association, the First Interna­ to Moscow, Peking, or even to a revolu­ Stuart said that more and more high the picketline. tional, was one of their crowning achieve­ tionary government like that in Havana, school students were getting serious about The campus is a virtual police state, ments. Unfortunately, because of the on­ has nothing in common with internation­ fighting against their oppression and spoke with all activity banned and the continued set of reaction in the 1870s, the First alsim. The best defense of those victorious of the problems of organizing high school presence of a large police force. Yet, while International disintegrated. revolutions is, as Che Guevara said, by students. there is little evidence of a strike, even In 1889, in the time of Engels, the Second creating "two, three, many Vietnams," by Fox attacked the police patrols in the most of the students attending class wear International was founded on the same a coordinated international revolutionary schools. He called for turning the schools strike buttons and support the demands concepts as its predecessor. It saw the strategy. against the present system -"change them of the TWLF. At this time it is impossible growth of large and powerful national In reaction to the default of the Third from instruments for capitalism into in­ to have mass picketing and rallies, but sections. International, a left-opposition in the Soviet struments against it." the strike in one form or another will Union and throughout the world, sought All three speakers attacked both form and continue. It will be very difficult to "return Second International to regroup the revolutionary forces into content of the education taught in the to normalcy." After all there has been a The Second International was founded a new, a Fourth International. Despite high schools. They agreed that most of deep-going radicalization over thelastfour on, and drew its strength, from the concept its small size - for this time there was their education was irrelevant to them months and the lessons that have been of internationalism. Losing its internation­ no victorious counterpart to the Russian and that high school is simply a training learned will not be unlearned. al perspective at the outbreak of World Revolution to draw large numbers of ad- ground for their future exploitation. Friday, March 14, 1969 THE MiliTANT Page 5

the union shop at the Chevron Chemical plant. This is now the main issue in the continuing strike there. The union intends to make this a very thorough-going boy­ cott, similar to the nation-wide boycott of California table grapes started by the Racist goons farm workers of California. They hope to Striking establish boycott committees in every major city. • The union has called on students and Third World people all over the world to assault at join in on making the boycott successful. Results are already coming in. For in­ stance, on the day the boycott was an­ nounced, students at San Jose State Col­ S.F. meeting Richmond lege demonstrated against the presence of a Standard Oil recruiter on campus. The oil workers are continuing their mu­ By Jim Kendrick tual-aid pact with Bay Area students. Yes­ SAN FRANCISCO-At a BoardofEdu­ terday a contingent of oil workers joined cation meeting here Feb. 25 attended by the students on the picket lines at S. F. some 1,000 people to discuss a proposed State. school busing plan, a well-organized squad oil union The tentative settlement which still has of right-wing goons attacked and seriously to be approved by the OCAW interna­ beat three members of the Progressive La­ tional union policy committee provides bor Party and a San Francisco Chronicle for a six and one-half percent raise im­ photographer. mediately and another four and a half One witness testified that "two men selling percent on Jan. 1, 1970. The proposed copies of the left-wing Progressive Labor • two year contract also includes a classi­ Party newspaper Challenge were suddenly fication adjustment of 10 to 25 cents per set upon by perhaps 10 men in 'casual w1ns pact hour for all employees above the level of clothing.'" Another witness, Mrs. Dorothy operator (about 400 men). Baylin of Concerned Parents for Quality The company has agreed to review the Education, told of feeling"totallypowerless wage scales of all those at the level of as thugs and goons, some wearing black operator and under and bring them up leather gloves," broke up the meeting. She to equal the rates of any two higher pay­ said she saw a woman in a seat ahead of ing plants in the industry on the West her open her purse twice "to pass out weap­ Coast. Other features of the proposed settle­ ons, possibly brass knuckles." ment include a shift-differential increase Others testified before a meeting of the RICHMOND, Calif. March 4 - Three from 10 to 15 cents on the swing shift Human Rights Commission of San Fran­ days after Local 1-561 of the Oil, Chemical and from 15 to 30 cents on graveyard. cisco that the men wore special armbands and Atomic Workers Union here appealed G. T. Jacobs and picket supporter. There is also a one percent reduction and appeared to operate by special hand­ to students and Third World peoples Dog was jailed. Fine was $15. in the employee contribution to the pen­ signals. The Chronicle photographer, Vin­ throughout the world to join in a massive sion plan from three percent to two per­ cent Maggiora, who was kicked and beaten, international boycott of all products of in the Bay Area and this has helped the cent of wages. There are other minor said "These guys did it professionally. They the Standard Oil Company of California union considerably, according to Jacobs. benefit plan improvements such as an knew each other and they knew who to get and its subsidiaries, Standard changed ''We wouldn't have been able to make increase in the maximum coverage of the and who not to get." The goon squad was its tune and agreed to a settlement of the these gains if it weren't for the help we medical plan from $20,000 to $40,000. variously estimated at 20 to 30 men. strike at its refineries here. received from outside such as the Third Most important, Standard agreed to re­ No police protection However, the union is continuing the World and other students and Longshore­ scind the firings of those employees fired Robert Jenkins, superintendent of boycott because its members at the Chevron men," he said. during the strike and to take no further schools, said ''We asked for police help Chemical plant here, a wholly-owned sub­ In continuing the boycott against Stan­ reprisals against those who struck. The several days before the meeting. I had sidiary of Standard, are still out on strike. dard Oil, Local 1-561 hopes to stop the company has also agreed to take no fur­ seen [right-wing] flyers go out earlier." The company is trying to get rid of the drive of the company to do away with ther legal action against the union. Only five uniformed police and two plain­ union shop at Chevron Chemical which is clothesmen were on hand. Alice Leung of rumored to be the only union shop left Concerned Chinese for Action and Change in the "Standard family." said she saw policemen cheering in the Commenting on the settlement at the balcony. Mrs. Ream, president of the Sher­ Standard refinery, G. T. (Jake) Jacobs, man School PTA, said she saw no police secretary-treasurer of Local 1-561, said Malcolm X Day widely reinforcements before she left the auditor­ that he considered it a "victory for the ium at 11 p.m., although she put in a call union." to the police station herself when the attacks "Considering what we were up against began. we did pretty well," he said. "We got double The beatings occurred sometime after the original offer of the company and we marked by Detroiters 9 p.m. when the microphone was opened forced the company to rescind the firings to the floor. James De Sha of WACO, a of the workers who were fired for strike black community group, said two police­ activities and to agree to take no further By Michael Smith men, after pulling off men who were beat­ reprisals. And anytime you can do that DETROIT, Feb. 28-Malcolm X Day in ing up a young man, "allowed the man to with Standard, it's a victory." Detroit was so well supported that one could be taken away and be beaten at least three Local 1-561 has established a mutal not help but feel that the city which Malcolm times more." Police were seen laughing out­ aid pact with striking students and teachers once called home was continuing to do him side the auditorium. proud. Teamster official implicated Young people in particular lent enthusi­ Present at the meeting was Jim Rourke, astic support to the activities. The Black a business agent for Teamsters Local 85, Student Voice, the organ of black revolu­ which is carrying out an organizing drive tionary high-school students, ran a three­ of policemen in San Francisco. Rourke is week series of articles on the life of Malcolm president of a group called Americans and called for a student strike on Feb. 21. Against Crime, Communism and Corrup­ During the week it became increasingly tion. Witnesses say he was seen talking with DETROIT clear that strike sentiment was building. some of the men involved in the beatings. See "A Plague on Your Children, "film on government­ The Board of Education, realizing it would Rourke and a number of his men put in sponsored research in biological warfare. Fri., March be impossible to keep the students in school an appearance three weeks earlier at Jef­ 14, 8:00 p.m. Contrib. Employed 75c, Unemployed Friday, took a soft position on the impend­ ferson Elementary School, where Rourke and students 35c. Ausp. Militant Forum. ing absenteeism. Likewise under pressure, stated to the gathering that he had come to the American Federation of Teachers rec­ "protect you ladies." Officials of Teamsters • ommended that school be held only for Local 85 have been leading the attack BOSTON teachers who would come to the buildings from within the labor movement against Trade Union Movement vs. Black Strugge? Speaker: to discuss "community problems." the striking State College Third World stu­ Jeff Mackler, of New Coalition opposition in New York Meetings and memorial services were dents and the AFT teachers. Federation of Teachers. Fri., March 14, 8:15 p.m. planned. People were seen wearing the Malcolm X To date the police inquiry into the Board green, red, and black Malcolm X Day of Education attack, as reported in the 295 Huntington Ave., Rm. 307 lone block from Mass. services were held on both the east and buttons. Chronicle, has uncovered a gymnasium Ave. I Ausp. Militant Labor Forum. west sides of town. The Board of Education issued a special where police, including Tactical Squad That night 250 people packed Debs Hall pamphlet on Malcolm. The pamphlet's members, and teamsters "let off steam." to hear representatives of the Black Panther foreword stated, "recognizing the social The gymnasium also teaches karate. Alex­ • Party, the Dodge Revolutionary Union LOS ANGELES and political role of this man, the Detroit ander Laguillo, who operates the gym, is Movement, and the Young Socialist WHAT SOLUTION FOR THE MIDEAST PROBLEM? public schools are presenting this statement a member of Americans Against Crime, Alliance. A panel discussion. Speakers: Theodore Edwards, So­ to administrators and teachers to provide Communism and Corruption. The week's activities gave Detroiters not cialist Workers Party; Michael Ben Levi, Israeli, leader them with some basic information about San Francisco's famous Tactical Squad only a sense of their own power but a in progressive Zionist movement; Representative of him. This should be helpful in class dis­ was no where in evidence the night of the chance to absorb and reabsorb the lessons the Arab Student Union. Fri., March 14, 8:30 p.m. cussions and school activities." attack. But three days later, when a well of this city's greatest citizen, a man who 1702 E. 4th St. Contrib. $1. The student militants, however, did not disciplined, well organized, and calm dele­ had been called "Detroit Red." need their help. On the day preceding the gation of black high-school students paid • strike the Association of Black Students at a visit to the Board of Education building NEW YORK Northwestern High School extracted from High school students in Chicago hono­ to present 13 demands for school improve­ TEN YEARS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTION - A So­ the principal permission to hold their own red Malcolm X on Feb. 21 by skipping ment, the Tactical Squad arrived in assembly. Excused from class, some 500 lance Sheet. Speaker: Dan Rosenshine, member of classes and holding special memorial ser­ seconds. students heard Malcolm linked with Che Young Socialist delegation in Cuba for the lOth Anni­ vices. At Englewood High School, ab­ Meanwhile, 96 hours after the goon­ Guevara and Karl Marx as men of mag­ senteeism was approximately 50 percent squad attack, no one involved in the at­ versary celebration of the Cuban Revolution. Fri., nificent example. March 14, 8:30 p.m. 873 Broadway 1near 18th St.l and at a number of other schools it was tack has been identified or arrested. Even The next day, the day of the strike, Contrib. >1, High-school students with I.D. SOc. Ausp. around 40 percent. Mayor Alioto suspects members of "San Northwestern was renamed Malcolm X Militant labor Forum. The Crane campus of Chicago City Col­ Francisco's Finest" were involved. High School. Well over 1,000 people gath­ lege canceled all classes. Earlier in the ered on the front lawn-where troops were month, students at Crane had ignored • assembled last summer after the King the observance of Lincoln's birthday and TWIN CITIES assassination- to hear speeches and raise had attended classes on Feb. 12. Who Is the 'Ruling Class' in America? - Speaker: the black nationalist flag. The classroom building at Wilson Jr. ~~ ~9ll' ~Q~~t)?lf'~().~lf!EJ.~ Paul Chelstrom, veteran unionist. Sat., March 15, 8:30 Absenteeism that day ran over 50 per­ College was nearly empty on Malcolm ()~r 1>~~~t)~~s ~ffi<;e .. ·of•.you.r p.m. 704 Hennepin, Rm 240, Mpls. Ausp. Twin Cities cent in the high schools. Many workers X Day, and students there conducted a ·))~· ••• ilddress~•··.induding.ZIP. Socialist Forum. stayed away from their jobs. Memorial seven hour-memorial service to Malcolm. Page 6 THE MILITANT Friday, March 14, 1969 Socialist tasks in the movem~

[The following is an edited version of a The bombing halt allowed the U.S. to report on the antiwar movement approved start moving troops from the demilitarized by a meeting of the national committee zone into the southern regions where they of the Socialist Workers Party in New York have opened up a general offensive. Accord­ last week. The reporter on the question ing to the journalist, I. F. Stone, the U.S. was Lew Jones.) increased the number of its combat missions exactly at the time of the bombing halt A few weeks from today, on Easter last November. Since then, 2,000 Gishave weekend, April 5-6, there will be mass been killed, and just since the first of the demonstrations in the streets against the year, according to today's New York war in Vietnam. These demonstrations, Times, 1,200 have died. All evidence points like those preceding and those that will to an actual intensification of the war in follow, will be the focal point of our acti­ Vietnam, not its diminishing. vity against the war. Mass antiwar dem­ Main result onstrations, held in the midst of the impe­ Indeed- and not accidentally- the prin­ rialist war, have helped shake up the entire cipal result of the Paris talks so far has political fabric of U.S. society and strike been to deescalate the protests against the blows to the heart of imperialism- its abi­ war. Charles Mohr, writing in the New lity to oppress and subjugate the colonial York Times on Jan. 3, said speaking of world. the government officialdom: "One im­ The perspective of this report is that of portant factor on which the present op­ anticipating intensified antiwar sentiment timism is based is the hope that a decision throughout the country and of a renewal to continue to prosecute the war can be of mass actions against the war. reconciled with the domestic American The proposals in this report are based desire to 'ease the pain.'" In other words, on four essential features of the present by their war of diplomacy they have hoped situation: 1) the intensification of the war to disarm their critics and deactivate the in South Vietnam; 2) the temporary lull protest movement, while actually contin­ in the movement against the war, due to uing the war. the Paris talks and the bombing halt; 3) Large sections of the antiwar movement the temporary divisions within the orga­ had- and some still have- illusions in nized antiwar movement; 4) the develop­ the Paris talks. That simply reflects what ment of antiwar sentiment and protest the whole population is thinking. One might activity by Gis. say there has been a temporary vote of What began in Vietnam, in the eyes of confidence in Nixon and the peace talks. the ruling class, as a simple policing action People are willing to give him a chance, turned into a full-fledged war, into quite willing to wait and see if the talks will a long war in fact. It is now four years bring an end to the war. But it is a highly that the U.S. has had large numbers of temporary vote of confidence. The Paris troops in Vietnam, a longer time for the talks are a kind of political "time bomb," United States than either World War I, one which can explode in an unintended World War II, longer than the Korean manner. War, longer even than the Civil War. The vote of confidence has masked a Problem remains deeper, broader antiwar sentiment in the The war continues to drag on. Yet the population than existed when the Paris problem for the U. S. ruling class remains talks began. Any great escalation of the the same: how to win a political victory. war, rising casualty figures or the prolong­ The U.S. has had no victory. Nor has ation of the talks could very swiftly bring it been defeated, although failure to gain that antiwar sentiment to the surface. We victory in four years can be considered a can therefore expect a change, a shift in kind of defeat for the most powerful impe­ the mass attitude towards the war. We will rialist nation in history. again see a wave of righteous indignation­ In the last year the U. S. has readjusted the kind that we have seen throughout the its methods of conducting the war, its history of the antiwar movement when methods, not its aims. American imperialist people discover that they have been lied aims in the war have not at all been re­ to once more. Feb. 16 G !-civilian demonstration in Seattle where more than adjusted, they remain exactly the same: The April 5-6 demonstrations can go a The aim of trying to control Asia or part long way in preparing for that coming of Asia; to try to win a victory over the tidal wave of protest. What is done now NLF and thereby a symbolic victory over will be very important in helping to orga­ cordingly, our line of approach towards most ponucally conscious-though they the colonial revolution; if possible, to try nize that wave of righteous indignation G Is has been threefold. reflect very graphically the deep antiwar and overturn the revolution in North when it does actually occur. Even now First, we do not advocate that Gis sentiment that generally exists. Vietnam. there are signs of disillusionment in the take moralistic, isolated individual action Our view is that the political conscious­ What is basically new in U.S. policy is Paris talks, among the Gis and among against the armed forces- desertion, dis­ ness and activity of Gis is totally connected not a cutback in the war effort, but an sections of the antiwar movement that had obeying orders, or wt ... tever. Such acts to that of the whole vopulation. We do not addition. The U.S. is now combining a temporarily withdrawn from the struggle. simply expose Gis to victimization and think that Gis are so isolated from the war of diplomacy along with the military GI response can effectively wipe out the leadership and rest of society that there will be a mass war, trying to win at the negotiating table The Gis have had a decidedly different cadre. Moreover, they are not a program radicalization and massive protest in the what it has so far been unable to achieve reaction to the negotiations than most other acceptable to the great bulk of G Is. Whether armed forces prior to a big change in­ on the b:>.ttlefield. people. Once the U. S. conceded that it cloaked in terms of pacifist moralism or side the whole population. There will be By halting most of the bombingofNorth was not going to win completely by mili­ ultra-left ardor, isolated individual acts are no such thing until the mood within the Vietnam, the U.S. mollified public opinion tary means, the average G I naturally simply ineffective. population itself is such that massive GI at home and around the world, not an un­ thought: why the devil should I waste my Second is our concept of the citizen­ protests can be defended and identified important consideration. life unnecessarily in a war like this?- a soldier, that is, the GI is a citizen who is with. Washington also found that it made good war that he most likely did not support temporarily in uniform. While serving in Nor do we think that antiwar Gis are military sense to halt the bombing of the or did not understand. As a result, since the armed forces he maintains his full a bout to displace the civilian antiwar move­ north and concentrate its military efforts the Paris negotiations there has been a sig­ rights as a citizen. Gis have the right to ment as the central component in the strug­ in the south. And that is exactly what it nificant increase in G I protest activities their own beliefs, their own opinions, to gle against the war. No, they are a major has done. The tonnage of bombs dropped throughout the country. free speech and assembly. These rights reinforcement, and vitally important new is approximately the same as it was before We have long pointed to the important exist and can be fought for successfully, component ofthe general movement against the bombing pause in the north. Now all potential of GI antiwar sentiment. For a despite the attempts of the brass to prevent the war, but not a substitute for it. As of the bombing is concentrated in South long time we alone in the antiwar movement their exercise. It is the duty and obligation vital as they are, the Gis cannot be the Vietnam. In addition, the war has spilled urged that an orientation towards the G Is of the antiwar movement to do everything central axis of the antiwar movement. over more into Cambodia and Laos. be part of antiwar activity. Now, with the it can to support those G Is whom the In our view there is a very intimate beginnings of GI antiwar protests, and if brass attempts to victimize for exercising interplay between the civilian population the April 5-6 demonstrations can measure their constitutional rights. and the Gis. There may be political changes in one sector that momentarily outstrip up to expectations, that orientation can GI rights become a permanent feature of the anti­ the other, but ultimately there will be an war protest movement. Third, the war in Vietnam is the question interrelated, a parallel process in the devel­ Our approach to G Is is linked directly around which G Is are exercising their opment of antiwar sentiment and of general to our basic approach in the antiwar rights. The war is the most important anticapitalist radicalization in all sectors. movement, the building of massive actions question to them, the question they can Interpenetration against the war reflecting the interests of agree upon, the question on which the History shows that there is a most inti­ the majority of people. Mass actions, rather antiwar movement must approach them. mate interpenetration between the ranks than the actions of isolated individuals, Moreover, the war is the question around of the military and the civilian population are the motor force of social change. Ac- which Gis can get the most civilian pro­ in a period of social unrest and political tection, should the brass attempt to crack turmoil. This is because of the present down and take away their rights. character of the army. The army is not Bound volume 1968 On the basis of that threefold approach narrowly based, composed of an elite officer we can look forward to the building of corps with social misfits in the ranks. By effective antiwar actions by G Is. virtue of the draft and wartime expansion THE While embracing the new development the men in uniform represent a cross­ MILITANT of GI antiwar protests, we should have an section of the population, only with a absolutely clear understanding of their different set of specific problems. The war character and pace of development. We is a most acute question to them because $10 do not anticipate, for example, that in the they know they can get hurt in that kind near future there will be massive G I up­ of business. Send check or money order to risings like those that took place after World According to Fortune magazine, 20 per­ The Militant, 873 Broadway, War II. GI antiwar sentiment is in a gesta­ cent of all male youth between 18 and New York, N.Y. 10003 tive stage right now. At this point the ac­ 24 are presently in the armed forces. That tions of antiwar G Is are the actions of the is a very active age bracket. The per- Friday, March 14, 1969 THE MILITANT Page 7 nt against the Vietnam war

spring to display the breadth of antiwar seven regional centers chosen for the dem­ sentiment that exists in the general popu­ onstration, coalitions are now involved or lation, and among Gis in particular. It becoming involved in the organizing of is an important responsibility on our part the actions. April 5-6 is now off the ground. to try to bring out the largest numbers of The demonstrations are definitely going people against the war and in support to take place. of those Gis who participate. For that, It is difficult to foresee the size of the a coalition effort of all groups in the anti­ demonstrations. Undoubtedly they will not war movement is necessary. be as large as some of the previous ones. Until a short time ago there was an But their political importance, their role apparent contradiction between the per­ as a central building block in the antiwar spective of building mass, coalition-orga­ movement, overrides their relative size. nized demonstrations and its actual ac­ Central task complishment. There were difficulties in The central task of the Socialist Workers getting the actions off the ground, involving Party in the next few weeks will be to help coalitions in the organizing efforts, and build those demonstrations as successfully getting the student wing rolling again. The as possible. reasons were understandable, of course. Of major importance in building for They have already been described: mis­ April 5-6 and beyond is the Student Mobili­ understanding of the war, divisions in the zation Committee. The entire history of antiwar movement, the disenchantment of the antiwar movement has dictated the im­ the moderate groups, the disproportionate portance of its organized student wing. weight of the ultra-leftists, etc. The youth have been the cutting edge One mistake we were careful to avoid: throughout the history of the movement. the idea that because there were difficulties They have set the militant tone and helped in convincing other groups in the antiwar to push the rest of the coalition along in movement, we should just go it alone, building the mass actions. Without the avoid the internal wrangling in the anti­ student wing, the antiwar movement would war movement, and organize the action not have accomplished what it has. ourselves, along with only a few allies. In building for April 5-6 one of the most We don't want to substitute GI work by important things will be to build the SMC. ourselves for the building of mass There is every possibility that the SMC demonstrations-to the detriment of both. can become the central organizer, national­ Building truly broad-based mass actions ly and locally, of youth involved in anti­ involves more than the necessary tasks war actions, an organization based on of setting time, date, place, and getting withdrawal that mobilizes students in ac­ the leaflets out. We did not want to lose tion against the war in Vietnam. Part the essence of what we were hoping to of the campaign for April 5-6 should be accomplish in the course of those routines. a campaign to build the SMC. High school Within the past week, there have been youth, we should note, will be of parti­ a number of significant developments, cular importance in doing this. which definitively get the April 5-6 dem­ Looking beyond April 5-6, we want to onstrations off the ground, which make it rebuild the national antiwar coalition the spring antiwar demonstration for the and the local coalitions. Part of our effort entire antiwar movement. for April 5-6 will be precisely that. The Seattle march vitality of an antiwar coalition can be In Seattle 200 Gls marched and 300 restored. But it won't be quite the same attended a rally. The demonstration in­ as it was before. Some of the old parts volved 4,500 participants altogether. At will be missing and some new ones added. Ft. Jackson, S. C. a large group of anti­ The aspect of GI protest is something war Gls are circulating a petition to hold that must be added into these new co­ a meeting where they could discuss the alitions- not as a substitute for what the war. Their example is gaining national antiwar movement has always done, but publicity. What the movement needed all as an important addition. The massive along was a couple of victories like those, demonstrations against the war in Vietnam Gls led 4,500 civilians in city's biggest antiwar action. examples that could be pointed to, to will include the G I aspect from now on. convince people- and inspire them with In conclusion: we look to the dispelling what is possible. of the illusions in the Paris talks. We look In the past few weeks there has been a forward to another upsurge of antiwar centage of Afro-American, Mexican, In­ Seen in this light, the visible rise of anti­ rebirth in local and regional antiwar co­ action. dian, and Puerto Rican youth is much war dissent within the armed forces has alitions, and, in embryo, of the national Our work in building the April 5-6 mass become important for two reasons: 1) the higher and increases as you get closer coalition. Just last week the New York demonstrations will prepare the way for to the front lines. By this June, 30 percent GI component of the antiwar movement Parade Committee decided to organize the that wave of protest and help to organize of the draftees will be college graduates. is potentially very powerful in and of demonstration here in New York. In all it effectively. And if the Fortune article on youth is itself; 2) GI antiwar activities have become accurate, half of that 30 percent are going the important central new factor to inspire to be people with attitudes very similar and remobilize large sections of the Amer­ to the antiwar movement, or who have had ican people into the struggle against the contact with the antiwar movement. So the war. NOW AVAILABLE:! ... men in the army are not a body of mer­ Throughout the pre-election period the cenaries, paid killers, or willing crusaders organized antiwar movement suffered nume­ as some have tried to picture in the past. rous defections. The national antiwar co­ So we see a fundamental identity of the altion and a number of local coalitions political climate in a draftee army and splintered or fell apart. A large section of the Tile /.tJ$1 Speecll the civilian population. We should not antiwar movement abandoned the fight be confused by the change in form just against the war in favor of campaigning because one segment of the population for what they saw as peace candidates, OF SROTHER now wears a uniform and is put in a posi­ for the most part the McCarthy campaign. tion of special jeopardy. That is the basis Illusions in the Paris talks reinforced the for our orientation in attempting to reach trend away from mass action. G Is. That is why we emphasize the im­ The default of a section of the antiwar MALCOLM X portance of antiwar Gls, but not to the movement increased the political weight point of isolating them from general anti­ of the ultra-left. The ultra-leftist theory of war activity. "confrontation" street actions by a dedicated THIS 2 RECORD Our antiwar perspective is to build and few was gradually able to exert consi­ remobilize the antiwar movement after the derable weight, especially in the apparatus COLLECTOR'S ALBUM disorientation done by Johnson's with­ of the National Mobilization Committee, drawal, the McCarthy campaign, the Paris resulting in its demise as a coalition. 9.83 negotiations, and the Nixon election. We Throughout this entire period, we sought want to bring the mood that exists in this to rebuild coalitions around antiwar -including postage and country against the war in Vietnam into actions. We sought, especially, to rebuild handling charges. open expression in action- the first steps the student wing of the antiwar movement in which are the April 5-6 demonstrations. to ramrod the actions. The SMC, with our We want massive numbers of people, civi­ support, has sought to rebuild and re­ All monies must be in the lians and Gls, to march and demonstrate inspire the antiwar movement. The anti­ form of CERTIFIED CHECK, against the war in Vietnam, to bring the war protest of G Is has been a key ingre­ CASHIER'S CHECK or troops home. dient in that process. MONEY ORDER. Kickback Called conference What we are looking towards we know The SMC initiated the Dec. 27-29 GI­ 0 is bound to happen, that is, the kickback Civilian Antiwar Action Conference which from the period of waiting to see what will called for GI actions of April 6, supported happen in Paris, waiting to see what Nixon by massive civilian participation. Na­ Send Your Order To: will do - the explosive resentment and turally that formulation did not anticipate opposition to the war that the American that the predominant participation would AFRO-AMERICAN people will express at some stage when they be from Gls. It was a means of rein­ RECORD CLUB see that Nixon won't end the war, when spiring and rebuilding the entire antiwar they see through the Paris talks. That is movement, by calling attention to the im­ P. 0. BOX 634-A our general approach. To accomplish that portant new component, the antiwar GI. DETROIT, MICH. 48232 is realistic. That is why the April 5-6 What we are trying to do is to organize demonstrations are so important. the largest possible demonstrations this Paqe 8 THE MILITANT Friday, March 14, 1969

a national report on the progress of the April 5 action. Jim Boggio, a coordinator of the Gls and Vietnam Veterans Against the War, gave a local progress report. The con­ ference then divided into four workshops including GI defense, publicity, rally and logistics of the march. A steering commit­ tee was set up to follow up the work begun by the conference. Among the groups there were Women Strike for Peace, Emma Lazarus Clubs, The American Friends Service Committee, Peace Action Council, Fellowship for So­ cial Justice and students from 11 cam­ puses and two high schools.

Gls, civilians meet in Ohio

FAIRBORN, Ohio, March 2 -Almost 150 people, including 32 Gls and a dozen veterans, attended a G !-Civilian Conference Against the Vietnam War held at Wright State University. The conference, which April 5-6 moving ahead was sponsored by a broad coalition of antiwar organizations in the southern Ohio area, was planned in conjunction with antiwar Gls from the near-by Wright-Pat­ ory SDS, and three other groups. Willis thanked Golden for the labor and terson Air Force Base, a Strategic Air 7 regions plan There was a counter proposal sub­ printing facilities that Resistance has do­ Command headquarters. Gls from Ft. Ben­ mitted by members of the Southern Student nated to The Ultimate Weapon, newspaper jamin Harrison, Indiana and Ft. Knox, Organizing Committee (SSOC) which of the Ft. Dix Free Speech Movement. In Ky. also attended. called for an action on April 5 around affirming his support for the April 5 dem­ Featured speakers included Carl Rogers the theme "Liberate the South." Opposing onstration, Charles Krause said that he of LINK; Matilde Zimmermann, GI Civil marches, rallies the concept of uniting a coalition around doubted that the Paris Peace talks would Liberties Defense Committee; David Portu­ common action against the Vietnam war bring a speedy end to the war, but was gal, of the GI newspaper, FTA; and Syd they argued for building a "radical move­ certain that mass antiwar demonstrations Stapleton of the Student Mobilization Com­ Chicago's April 5 demonstration will men in the South." The SSOC proposal could bring the G Is home. mittee. assemble 3 p.m. at State and Wacker in was overwhelmingly defeated. Although At the close of the conference Bob Nagler, the Loop, then march to a mass rally in they indicated they would go ahead with leader of the Wright State University Com­ the Coliseum. On March 29 a GI Day their action on April 5 anyway, they have mittee on Decisive Expression, announced rally will be held near Great Lakes Naval since abandoned this project and have the formation of a regional organizing com­ Base. Sponsors are Women Strike, Vets also ended their participation in the South­ L.A. parley mittee to undertake building the April 5-6 for Peace, and the SMC. A GI paper will wide Mobilization Against the Vietnam mobilization. The conference secretary an­ soon be published by serveral sailors and War and for Self-Determination. They feel nounced that over 80 people had already a former editor of the Ft. Sheridan Lo­ signed up to go to the Chicago demonstra­ gistic, whose organizerswererecentlytrans­ the Easter action will cut across their maps April 6 "community organizing." tion. ferred out by the brass. There will be a During the open mike a GI from Wright­ city-wide high-school rally on March 30. Among the groups participating at the conference were representatives from Gis By Jesse Parker Patterson announced the founding of anew New York: assemble 1:30 p.m. at Bryant LOS ANGELES, March 1-On March 1 GI paper, "USAF," (United Servicemen's Park (6th Ave. and 40th St.) for a march United Against the War in Vietnam at Ft. Jackson, S.C. Pvts. Andrew Pulley, an antiwar conference was held here to Action for Freedom). Printing facilities to Central Park. Antiwar Gis are meeting discuss the building of the April 6 GI­ were immediately offered by members of March 9 to plan out GI participation. Curtis Mays, Joe Cole, and Jose Rudder discussed the petition campaign organized Civilian antiwar demonstration. The con­ the audience. Students are holding antiwar basic training Michael Cullen, of the Milwaukee 14, by Gis at Ft. Jackson. ference was called by the Peace Action days on the campuses. Council of Southern California, The Gls and Jeff Morris, of the Dayton Anti-Draft Committees are now meeting regularly Boston: a Free the Presidio 27 dem­ and Vietnam Veterans Against the War Project, also spoke. to plan the program, raise funds, get out onstration is slated for March 18 - it in Vietnam, and the Southern California Sponsors of the conference included: Ohio publicity and involve more groups. A follows a Feb. 22 picket organized by the Student Mobilization Committee. Peace Action Council, Ohio Resistance, An­ fund appeal signed by Georgia legislator Resistance. On March 22 there will be a Participating were servicemen from the tioch SMC, Antioch SDS, YSA, Yellow Julian Bond and former SNCC chairman, city-wide antiwar basic training day. Top Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, and Springs Peace & Freedom Council, Prof. Rev. John Lewis, is being sent out. A Secret, the paper of theGI-CivilianAlliance representatives of campus and community Sidney Peck of the National Mobilization press conference will be held on Tuesday, for Peace, is organizing for the New York antiwar groups. Howard Petrick, discharg­ Committee, officials of the American March 4. demonstration. ed from the army for his antiwar views, Friends Service Committee, Yellow Springs A new organization called the GI-Stu­ Detroiters are planning a fund-raising and now touring the country for the Na­ ACL U, professors at Antioch, Wright State dent Antiwar Action Committee was rock concert on March 23 and antiwar tional Student Mobilization Committee to U., Central State U., Ohio State U., and launched on Saturday, March 1 to help basic training sessions at Wayne State build April 5, opened the conference with the president of Antioch College. on April 3. Gis from Southbridge Air involve university and high-school students Force Base are helping in the organizing and Gis in the action. The group is plan­ efforts for the Chicago demonstration. ning to hold a GI teach-in at Emory In Seattle, mass rallies on April 5-6 University on Sunday, March 30. will include a trial of the brass - Gen. Split verdict for Buffalo 9 Beverly has been invited to come defend them, if they dare. The Washington Mobilization Committee Gl teach-in By Mark Schneider that the trial was essentially a political in D. C. is helping to organize for the New BUFFALO, N.Y. -A split verdict in the frame-up. Before the bust, right wing York demonstration. Gis Against the War trial of the Buffalo Nine, which liberal elements had counter-picketed, sent bomb in Vietnam has been formed in the Wash­ justice John Curtin repeatedly declared threats, hurled tear gas and fired twice ington area and have already issued a at U of Penn to be "not a political trial" has brought at the church with a rifle. Federal agents paper, Open Sights. the State University at Buffalo to the brink knew that supporters feared a right-wing By JoelAber of a student strike. attack. Thus they made minimal attempts PHILADELPHIA-About 15 Gis were The nine were arrested at the Unitarian to identify themselves and charged 30-40 Set southwide among the participants in the March 1 GI Church last August at a rally where draft supporters massed in the front entrance Day here at the University ofPennsylvania refusers Bruce Beyer and Bruce Cline had when a side entrance was readily access­ organized by the Ft. Dix Free Speech Move­ taken "symbolic sanctuary" ten days earlier. ible. Easter action ment. The featured speaker was Fred Hal­ Federal marshalls and FBI men attacked Judge Curtin hurried the jury on in its stead, of the New York Peace Parade Com­ the rally in an effort to sieze the two, and verdict, refusing to clarify "reasonable • mittee who recently visited the troops in arrested seven supporters. doubt" after six hours of deliberation. When 1n Atlanta, Ga . Vietnam as the Socialist Workers Party The government, in an effort to inti­ the split verdict was read, the disappointed candidate for president. midate the movement, chose to prosecute liberal revealed his true colors and ruled By Doug Jenness The event was chaired by Sp/4 Ken four prominent leaders. Gerry Gross, of that the four not be allowed to address Plans for a Southwide Mobilization Willis, a member of the Ft. Dix Free Speech Youth Against War and Fascism, received public rallies, as they had done nightly Against the Vietnam War and for Self­ Movement. In addition to an ABC docu­ a hung jury on two charges of assaulting during the trial. Malak and Beyer angrily Determination on Easter weekend, April mentary entitled, "The Agony of Vietnam," a federal officer, Ray Malak of SDS the shouted their refusal to comply, and the 4-6, are going ahead at full speed. At a the meeting heard greetings from Paul same; Carl Kronberg of Peace and Free­ 40 supporters allowed in court, all standing conference held in Atlanta on Feb. 15-16 Golden of the Philadelphia Resistance, dom the same on one charge, and Bruce with raised fists, joined in. "What about nearly 100 antiwar activists representing Charles Krause, editor-in-chief of the Daily Beyer of the Buffalo Draft Resistance Union the First Amendment!" and "Fascistr• sup­ 24 organizations from five Southern states, Pennsylvanian, the University of Pennsyl­ was found guilty on two of three charges. porters yelled. Curtin relented. decided to call the action. vania campus newspaper, Harold Feld­ Beyer, 20, faces six years in jail and another Nearly 700supporters had been involved The weekend of activities will include man of Philadelphia Veterans for Peace five for induction refusal. in the daily demonstrations outside the commemoration of Martin Luther King, in Vietnam and Mike Walker, staff mem­ The seven-day trial was marked by in­ court, and many of these returned to the .Jr. on April 4 which is the first anniversa­ ber of the Philadelphia GI-Civilians for credibly contradictory testimony by 24 university that night. Thirty-seven draft ry of his assassination and the second an­ AprilS. government witnesses, only five of whom cards were burned and eight demands niversary of his Riverside Church antiwar Without exception the speakers empha­ were not government agents. Many of adopted. Mass meetings packed the largest speech. On Saturday, April 5, there will sized support for the GI-Civilian antiwar them reversed their testimony from the room on campus Thursday and Friday be workshops on poverty, racism, impe­ demonstration to take place in New York preliminary and grand jury hearings, to discuss the possibility of a strike. De­ rialism, non-violence, GI organizing, and April 5. Paul Golden of Resistance empha­ claiming that their memory of the event mands included that construction of the other topics. The climax of the weekend sized the change in his attitude toward Gls has improved in six months! Under the new campus be done by an integrated will be a mass march, calling for an in the past year. withering and precise cross-examination work force, ROTC be abolished, defense end to the racist war in Vietnam, in Atlanta "A year ago," he said, "I thought thatGis of Emergency Civil Liberties Union law­ research be abolished, and that students on Easter Sunday, April 6. were baby-killers, but its now obvious to yers Mike Kennedy and Gerald Lefkourt, have and equal voice in departmental The format of the action came out of me that Gls are caught in the system just one beleaguered agent denied that there decision making. a joint proposal submitted by members of like college students, and that G Is who had been FBI surveillance of the church, At present the demands are very diverse, the Atlanta Workshop in Non·Violence, speak out against the war are resisting in then confessed that he had directed it. the leadership uncertain as to implemen­ the Southern Christian Leadership Con­ as courageous and powerful a way as any­ The defense showed, in what all defen­ tation, extent of support, and the situation ference, the Young Socialist Alliance, Em- one else."' dants declared to be a movement victory, changes from moment to moment. Friday, March 14, 1969 THE MILITANT Page 9 SWP candidates ioin N.Y. mayoralty race By Mary-Alice Waters Shanker within the union, he opposed NEW YORK, March 4 - At a press the racist strike of the UFT last fall and conference held here today, the Socialist worked for the implementation of black Workers Party announced its slate of can­ and Puerto Rican control of the schools didates for the fall municipal elections, in their communties. headed by Paul Boutelle for Mayor. Patricia Grogan, candidate for Council­ Boutelle, who has been a lifelong resi­ man-at-Large, is a student at Barnard dent of Harlem and the Bronx, was a College and was active in the student strike founding member of the Freedom Now at Columbia University last spring. She Party, a member of the Organization of is the organizer of the Manhattan Young Afro-American Unity before the death of Socialist Alliance. Malcolm X, and was the 1968 SWP candi­ Two candidates who were unable to date for vice-president. attend the press conference were Alfredo Explaining why the SWP had decided Pena, candidate for Comptroller, and to enter the municipal elections, Boutelle Tony Thomas, candidate for Manhattan pointed to the crushing problems of New Borough President. Pena, who has lived York City - police brutality, inferior and all his life in the Puerto Rican community racist education, air and water pollution, of the South Bronx, has just returned slum housing, inadequate transportation, from a one-month visit to Cuba where soaring costs of living, scandalous hospital he was a guest of the government during and medical care. "What progress has been the lOth anniversary celebration of the made on solving these problems? None. revolution. And none will be made as long as this Thomas, who is a member of the Na­ city is controlled by private interests who tional Executive Committee of the YSA, profit from these same conditions. was the editor of the Afro-Americans for "The Socialist Workers Party ticket will Halstead and Boutelle Newsletter during be the only one that has concrete solu­ the 1968 SWP election campaign, and was tions to offer, because we stand for a total a founding member of the National Black change in this system. We will take the Antiwar Anti-Draft Union. power out of the hands of those private During the press conference, which was interests and stockholders, and let the peo­ attended, among others, by NBC and ple decide for themselves what needs to CBS TV, AP and UPI, the New York be done and how." Times, and WHB News, the candidates When asked how he, as mayor of New commented on the various issues facing York, could bring an end to the war in New Yorkers in thiselection,andexplained Vietnam, Boutelle pointed out that the how they intended to use the campaign war was not caused by one person, but to help mobilize the people of New York was rooted in the capitalist system itself. for the April 5 antiwar demonstration Neither he nor any other one person could and to continue the fight for black and end it, but as mayor of New York, he Puerto Rican control of the schools. explained, he would use the resources of the city to encourage opposition to the war, and also to assure black and Puerto Panthers hold Rican control of their own communities, and to run the city in the interests of the vast majority of its inhabitants. defense panel Two of the other five candidates on the SWP ticket were also present at the press NEW YORK - Over 300 people at­ conference. Jeff Mackler, candidate for tended a panel discussion on "Law and HARLEM, USA. Denied pools and playgrounds, children of ghetto take their President of the City Council, is a school Order For the Blackman???' sponsored recreation in streets. SWP ticket is out to make some changes in that situation. teacher in the city and a member of the by the Black Panther Party Legal De­ United Federation of Teachers. As a mem­ fense Committee on Feb. 27. The meet­ ber of the executive board of the New ing was the first of what is projected to be Coalition, the opposition party to Albert a monthly series of informational and fund-raising sessions to build a broad­ based defense committee to aid all black Boutelle assails political prisoners. All present were encouraged to join, A veteran socialist dies regardless of political persuasion. forged letter in The speakers included Irving Johnson LOS ANGELES, Feb. 28- Hildegarde In 1956 she and her husband Arne Swa­ of SNCC (substituting for H. Rap Brown Swabeck, far many years a member of beck came to Los Angeles to live. From who was ill); Mae Mallory; Paul Boutelle, the Socialist Workers Party, died here last that time on she was active in that branch New York paper SWP candidate for Mayor of New York month. She was 76 years old. of the party. City; James Johnson of the Ft. Hood She became attracted to the ideas of Several years ago she became identified NEW YORK- The following is the text Three; Julio Rosado, representingthePuer­ Trotskyism in 1934 while a member of with a small group in the Los Angeles of a letter which Paul Boutelle, SWP candi­ to Rican community; Attorney Flo Ken­ the Socialist Party in Wichita, Kansas. branch of the SWP that developed towards date for mayor, sent to the East Village nedy; Herman Ferguson, Minister of Edu­ After reading Trotskyist literature, she support of Maoism and opposition to the Other, an "underground" newspaper. cation of the Republic of New Africa; and wrote to and made contact with Trotsky­ views of the overwhelming majority of the Les Campbell (of radio station WBAI ists in Chicago. She then became a member­ Socialist Workers Party. These views were Editor: "anti-Semitic" poetry reading fame), a teach­ at-large of the Trotskyist organization, rejected by the party. Her position on the Your issue of March 1 carried an anti­ er in the Ocean Hill-Brownsville school since there was no branch in Wichita. Chinese question eventually led her to Semitic letter in my name. It stated in part: district. Although the BPPLDC bears the It was her custom to come to Chicago resign from the party in 1967. " ... the black citizens of this city have name of the Black Panther Party, it is from time to time, as her finances per­ Although she chose to take another road taken enough from the jews. If you were open to all. mitted, to conduct political activity there. in the last years of her life, her many years brought up in my neighborhood you would In 1948 she moved to Chicago and was in the Socialist WorkersPartyandherwork hate the jews also." active in the work of that branch of the there are remembered with gratitude by This letter is a straight forgery. I did not N.Y. rally hears Socialist Workers Party. those who knew her. write it and it does not in any way re­ present my point of view. I would assume it was a provocative Dr. Spock, Myers act by someone who would wish to slander Gusanos assault YSAer me for the stand I have taken in support NEW YORK -A large and enthusiastic of the fight for black and Puerto Rican con­ crowd more than filled the auditorium trol of the schools in their community or, of P. S. 41 on Feb. 27 to hear speeches perhaps, because of the anti-Zionist stand by Dr. Benjamin Spack, Sp/4 Allen Myers at Ohio State meeting I have taken in regard to the Mideast of the Fort Dix Free Speech Movement, conflict. and the noted draft lawyer Conrad Lynn. COLUMBUS, Ohio-David Prince, a ed the right of free speech intervened to halt My stand in favor of community control The theme of the meeting, sponsored by member of the Young Socialist delegation the attack. of the schools and my opposition to the the Intercity Block Committee, was "What just returned from Cuba, was physically The following evening a smaller informal reactionary course of the Teachers' Union can we do for peace?' attacked by Cuban counterrevolutionaries, meeting was held for those interested in officialdom has, of course, nothing in com­ Conrad Lynn blasted Nixon for his disrupting a talk in support of the Cuban learning more about the Cuban revolution. mon with anti-Semitism. Nor does my evident intention to continue trying to win revolution at Ohio State University. A defense guard was organized for this support of the Arab revolution and poli­ a military victory in Vietnam. Prince, who is presently on a speaking meeting, but none of the counterrevolu­ tical opposition to Zionism. Allen Myers, pointed out that the strug­ tour of Ohio and Kentucky, delivered his tionary Cubans showed up. I oppose the imposition of a Zionist gle conducted by the antiwar movement talk at Ohio State to a standing-room­ In a letter to Dr. Fawcett, president of state on the Palestinian Arabs because during the last four years had already only audience of more than 150 people, the university, Prince stated: "I am sure it tramples on their right of self-determi­ made significant progress by legitimatizing including about 50 Cuban emigres. The that the university will issue a statement nation. I also oppose Zionism because I dissent from government policies, making spirited question and answer period that condemning the disruption of the meeting regard it as a means whereby the impe­ it possible for Gis to organize against followed, was brought to an abrupt halt as a violation of free speech. A university rialist powers use the Jewish people as a the war. He urged a massive turnout when one of the Cubans ripped down a is a place where all divergent viewpoints pawn in their Mideast power game - a for the April 5 demonstration in New red banner of Che Guevara that decorated should be presented. And the university game that can result in disaster for the York. the podium. Stomping on the banner, he should defend its role as a forum where Jewish people. Dr. Spack was introduced to a standing called Che a "murderer" and "assassin"; different ideas can be presented and fully One of the reasons I oppose the policies ovation. He discussed the background of then other gusanos [worms] began to tear discussed." The letter asks for reimburse­ of the officials of the Teachers Union is his indictment and trial and involvement down Cuban revolutionary posters and ment from the university for the literature because I believe they are contributing to in the antiwar movement. "I don't feel rip up pamphlets and books. and the cost of glasses for Marta Prince a situation that inevitably feeds anti-Jewish like a criminal," Spack said. The real When Prince tried to prevent one of them whose glasses were smashed during the prejudice. illegality is connected with the war itself, from destroying the literature, he was at­ attack. As a revolutionary socialist I am opposed he pointed out, a war which is nothing tacked and dragged into the hall where he The letter is now being circulated as a to all forms of racism and prejudice, in­ less than an attempt by the American was kicked and punched while on the petition among the students and faculty cluding anti-Semitism. government to seize control of Vietnam ground. People in the audience who respect- at Ohio State to be presented to Dr. Fawcett. Paul Boutelle against the wishes of the Vietnamese people. Page 10 THE MILITANT Friday, March 14, 1969

6,000,000 hungry Americans

By Constance Weissman A survey on hunger and disease in the U.S., reported on the front pages of the New York Times for five issues, revealed that the nutritional level of the people examined was as low as that found in similar surveys in poverty-stricken Central America. It is officially estimated that at present there are at least six to nine million Americans for whom hunger may be al­ most a daily fact of life. Homer Bigart, who wrote these truly horrifying articles about long-denied facts on starvation in what the politicians call this "land of plenty," began the series with a description of a visit to Dr. Donald E. Gatch, a young doctor in South Carolina. Dr. Gatch began losing his white patients two years ago after he charged publicly Southern children at play that he had seen black children dying of starvation, that most black children of his area were infested with worms and that families were living in hovels worse than pigsties. One of Dr. Gatch's most startling dis­ dized salt, has also reappeared. About 40 newspaper accounts of what the survey poles and even clay. He said he had seen coveries was that babies were being born percent of the grocery stores in Texas had already exposed, caused such a pregnant women pop a piece of earth with kwashiorkor, a Ghanian word mean­ do not sell iodized salt. scandal that the Senators felt compelled in their mouths, explaining that they might ing the "disease that takes the child after Pellagra, another diet-deficinecy di- to restore the appropriation. get some essential minerals from it. it leaves the mother's breast. It is a di­ sease, characterized by the four Ds-der­ Among other examples cited in the sur­ The Indians who live in Arizona are sease of extreme protein deficiency, a star­ matitis, diarrhea, dementia and death - vey was the migrant camp in Immokalee, probably in the worst plight of all. About vation often brought on by a mother's is suffered by old people who have had to Florida, which consists of 60 or 70 115,000 live in isolated wasteland. The inability to breast-feed an infant." subsist on rice and grits. Thiamine, con­ barracks for 10,000 to 12,000 workers crude roads were built only about 13 Dr. Gatch fears the damage is irrever­ tained in liver, lean meat, eggs, whole who come to pick vegetables during the years ago. Some Navajos live 50 miles sible since retardation of the growth of grain or enriched cereal were never seen winter. Because of cold weather this year, from the nearest improved road. Last brain cells as well as bones results in by these old folks who didn't even know unemployment has been high. No relief year, 20 infants were brought in dead the first month of life. how to go about getting relief even if they food of any kind is provided by the county. to two medical stations; at least 18 of In a visit to one shack which housed were entitled to it. "Migrants who run out of money here are these deaths could have been prevented 15 people, little children were found ly­ Children particularly become infested out of luck," said Mr. Lee, an energetic according to the U. S. Public Health ing around listlessly on beds, legs and with worms because of lack of plumbing, young black man who heads the local Service medical director. One woman car­ faces swollen with edematose, the result even outhouses. In the woods and fields, antipoverty project. Lee received $500 on rying a sick baby walked 30 miles from of Vitamin A deficiency, the same defi­ their bare feet are penetrated by the tiny Christmas Eve from the Office of Economic her hogan (the traditional circular huts ciency that impairs vision. insects which grow to foot-long worms Opportunity to distribute emergency food. made of cedar logs and mud,) to the It was thought that rickets had been inside them. Children are so full worms that He doled out $1 per day to the starving, nearest traveled road. abolished in the U.S. before World War they die of malnutrition because the hun­ cutting them off after 14 days. In the children's ward, Dr. Van Duzen II due to health programs organized by dreds of parasitic worms in their stomachs There are even grass huts in Immo­ observed Navajo infants who, she feared, the federal government. Now rickets has get the food first. kalee in which the Seminole Indians live. had suffered irreversible brain damage come back. Whole families are charac­ Angered by the damaging revelations The photographs remind one of the from undernourishment. She is convinced terized by deformed bones. This comes a bout the "free enterprise" system, the Senate bohios or peasant huts in Cuba before many are stunted permanently by hunger. from a lack of Vitamin D which can be committee to which the report was submitted the Revolution. "Some say these are small little kidb easily added to milk. But it is not com­ as a preliminary of what is yet to come, Mississippi situation that won't grow because they are Navajos," monly added in the South. decided to stop the survey from proceeding A doctor at a hospital in Mississippi she said. "I say thesP "'"e small little kids Goiter reappears by slashing the funds allocated to it. But stated that people were so hungry that that won't grow because they haven't got Goiter, which can be eliminated by io- this move, coming in the midst of the he had seen them eat tar from telephone the food." Because of malnutrition, Indian children are so weak that their attention span in • school is limited. At the first Navajo Com­ ' munity College, the president said that ~Black Iung strike W. Virginia some public school superintendents prided themselves on having eliminated free lunches for Indian children. They did this Things are stirring in the coal industry. regulations, cited often in inspections, were in the name of "teaching the Navajos On Feb. 8, members of the newly formed being ignored. The industry was in a furor. responsibility and helping children adjust Black Lung Association (See Feb. 2 Mili­ The National It was announced that 0' Leary was being in the world in which they live." But in tant.) began walking out of West Virginia removed. Public (and union rank and file) the process they are driving out of the coal mines. By the month's end 30,000 resentment burgeoned. 0' Leary kept his schools Indian children unable to pay the strikers had shut down all the soft coal job. $1.50 per week lunch money. pits in the state. Picketline The other main witness, W. A. Boyle The Rev. Ralph H. Ruiz, who runs a On Feb. 26 some 3,000 miners marched except as technicians, most of whom work from the UMW, reflected more his own Catholic mission in San Antonio, Texas, on the capitol in Charleston, demanding above ground. anger at the W. Virginia. miners in the sums up the situation this way: "The whole that the Workmen's Compensation Act be Meanwhile, in Washington D. C. the Black Lung Association and Rep. Hechler welfare system in Texas stinks." broadened to include Black Lung. Late in House Labor sub-committee is holding and Ralph Nader who were instrumental Mexican-Americans the afternoon the state judiciary committee hearings on amendments to the Mine Safety in its organization than in the weaknesses There are nearly five million Mexican­ passed on an amendment to the act which Act, designed to strengthen the act and to and lack of enforcement of the Mine Safety Americans scattered through the South­ is expected to pass both houses before include many safety and health hazards Act. west. Brought up in a proud tradition, adjournment on March 8. The amendment now considered "non-disaster" areas (fall­ He challenged Hechler and Nader to they hate the condescending attitude of provides: ing passageway roofs, for instance.) "meet in any alley" to settle their differences the welfare workers. And nothing infu­ 1. The burden of proof will now rest Among the witnesses were Stephen F. with him. riates them more than to have some Anglo with the state instead of the claimant. Black Dunn, spokesman for the N ationa1 Coal The fact that the W. Virginia coal oper­ suggest that all their troubles would vanish Lung does not show on x-rays until it Association, and W. A. Boyle, president of ators have filed suit for $1.1 million a day if they would only stop eating beans and achieves a more virulent form, either em­ the United Mine Workers. against the UMW may have added to his tortillas and get on a "balanced diet." physema, tuberculosis, or heart failure. Mr. Dunn's sanctimonious testimony in­ irascibility. UMW officials maintain they If you have one dollar, they say, and 2. The presumption of eligibility would cluded the statement: "The industry does have no jurisdiction over the strike. you can buy one pound of meat or 10 extend to all workers employed for 10 not believe profits should be put ahead of The awful truth is the fact that many of pounds of pinto beans, and you have the years in industry where dust is a hazard, the health and safety of mine workers." the so-called non-disaster hazards (not stomachs of 10 kids to feed, what are including coal mining. (A previous amend­ In view of the following facts, this pious covered by the federal law) have been you going to buy? You are going to fill ment, angrily rejected by the miners, would blathering might be suspect. prohibited by union contracts, but the union the stomachs of your kids with beans. have covered only future workers, exclud­ Since the Mine Safety Act was passed in officialdom, which could close mines for More has been written about the plight ing the thousands already affected.) 1952, 5, 700 miners have lost their lives, violating these safety regulations, has been of Appalachia where there is mass un­ 3. Ended the state's practice of paying most of them in accidents considered "non­ as remiss about enforcement as the govern­ employment among the miners because off silicosis victims with a $1,000 lump disaster" types. ment inspectors. of the introduction of new machinery and payment. This practice has cut silicosis In January, 1969, 29 miners died in the It is no wonder Boyle is beginning to because surface or strip mining has ruined sufferers off from any further benefits, even same type of accidents. feel the heat building under his most com­ the land for farming. Practically the whole though silicosis, once contracted, does not During December, 1968, after the Man­ fortable seat as president of a once powerful population is unemployed. They live in subside when the victim leaves mining. nington, W. Va., mine explosion and fire union. The West Virginia Black Lung As­ tar paper shacks. They have no cash so While the ten year eligibility clause might buried 78 miners, a Johnson-appointed sociation is only one indication of the kind they can't buy the "bargain" food stamps. not seem a victory, it must be remembered head of the Bureau of Mines, John 0' Leary, of anger which is building among all the In Appalachia, most of the starving popu­ that most colliers are in the older age levels. put some pressure on the industry, closing mine workers. lation is white. There are an estimated Very few young men are entering the field, temporarily over 200 mines where safety -Marvel Scholl 12 million rural poor in the area. Friday, March 14, 1969 THE MILITANT Page 11

Border clash widens Moscow-Peking rift

( IP)- The clash between Soviet and Chi­ the Czars through treaties imposed on the nese troops an the Ussuri River March 2 weak nineteenth-century Chinese regimes. marks a new low in the relations between Which of the two governments is to blame Moscow and Peking. for this scandalous incident? It will not be According to Tass, "An armed Chinese easy to determine whether a provocation unit crossed the Soviet state frontier and was committed by one side or the other, proceeded toward Damansky Island. The or which side fired first. Neither govern­ Chinese side suddenly opened fire at Soviet ment will likely agree to an investigation border guards guarding the area. There by a third party, even one consisting of are killed and wounded. By the resolute representatives of "fraternal" Communist actions of Soviet border guards the vio­ parties. lators of the frontier were chased from So­ It can be said for the Chinese that they viet territory." have good cause to be suspicious of Mos­ The Soviet government protested the ac­ cow in view of the invasion of Czechoslo­ tion in a note filed with the Chinese gov­ vakia and the promulgation by Moscow's ernment. spokesmen of the doctrine of"limited sover­ The Chinese government rejected the Soviet note and filed a counter protest. eignty" for any "socialist" country which the According to a Peking radio broadcast, Brezhnev-Kosygin regime considers to be reported from Hong Kong March 3, the slipping toward capitalism. The Moscow EMBITTERED RELATIONS. One of the previous low-points in Sino-Soviet Chinese Foreign Ministry said that a large press has been loudly charging that Mao relations was in February 1967 when effigies of Soviet leaders were burned number of Soviet border guards in ar­ is serving the interests of U. S. imperialism. on fence surrounding Russian embassy compound. mored cars and trucks had intruded into In addition, Moscow has apparently been "undisputably Chinese territory" and car­ moving large numbers of troops into posi­ ried out a "frantic provocation" against tion along the eastern frontier with China. stands, as they do, for "peaceful coexist­ vantage of interimperialist contradictions Chinese border guards on patrol. The Peter Grose, the Washington correspondent ence" with imperialism. If Washington de­ which, as Lenin taught, is completely justi­ Soviet troops fired first, and "a number of of the New York Times, reported March 2 cides to make an "opening" in Mao's direc­ fiable and necessary for a workers state Chinese troops were killed and wounded." that "Western intelligence analysts" said the tion, the Moscow bureaucrats have no rea­ encircled by hostile capitalist powers. The Chinese note declared that after military build-up "had beenconductedeven son to doubt that he would respond at Only U. S. imperialism profits from this giving the Soviet border guards repeated at the expense of Soviet preparedness in their expense exactly as they have already situation. And it will do its utmost to em­ warnings without results, the Chinese central Europe." responded at his expense and as they broil Moscow and Peking still deeper in guards returned the fire in self-defense. The Chinese government no doubt also would do if they were in his shoes. their fratricidal conflict. The Soviet government said that the area bears in mind the ruthlessness with which The Maoist propaganda depicting the The two regimes, caught up in the nar­ where the clash occurred was Nizhnemik­ Khrushchev cut off material aid to China Soviet Union as a "capitalist" power follow­ row national interests of the parasitic Chi­ hailovka. The Chinese specified it as Chen­ in the opening stage of the Sino-Soviet ing imperialist policies provides the theo­ nese and Russian bureaucracies which they tapao. It appears to be an island, created dispute, not to mention Moscow's policy of retical justification for reaching an under­ represent, are once again displaying how by the meandering of the Ussuri River seeking an understanding with U. S. impe­ standing with U. S. imperialism at the ex­ distant they are from the internationalism which marks the border between the North­ rialism at the expense of China in the field pense of the USSR. According to this theory, needed to defend and advance the world east provinces of China and the Soviet of nuclear deterrents. Mao would merely be seeking to take ad- socialist revolution. Union's Maritime Territory. The Chinese On Moscow's side it can be argued that government claims that the entire Soviet Stalin's heirs are in very good position to Far Eastern region was illegally seized by judge Mao's capacity for treachery. He Report on Young Socialist convention 1s featured 1n Mexican magaz1ne

"Who Will Make the Revolution in the a popular party can be built in order to crys­ United States " (Quien Hara la Revolucion tallize a revolution of the masses." en Estados Unidos?) is the title of an ex­ The article is accompanied by extensive tensive article by John McCoy in the Feb­ photographic coverage of the convention. How Generous Can You Get?- The fed­ six million industrial workers labor unoer ruary issue of Por Que?, the independent radical magazine published in Mexico City or

By Dave Thorstad signatures on a "flyer." Civilian counsel COLUMBIA, S.C., March 4 -Antiwar was obtained for him, and his court-mar­ Gis at Ft. Jackson presented petitions to tial postponed until sometime this week. the commanding general of the post March Then, at the last minute, B Company 3 requesting post facilities for a meeting was put on restriction and an inspection to discuss the Vietnam war and related was called, thus preventing the main ac­ issues, such as civil liberties. With Gen. tivists in Gis United from going t> post James Hollingsworth and an assortment of headquarters to present the petitions. The undercover agents looking on, Ft. Jackson purpose of the inspection was to see if Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Paul the pants on the Class A uniform exceeded R. Stickel refused to accept the petitions, the third shoe-string hole of the low quar­ erroneously asserting that the petition was ters (dress shoes)! Everyone passed in­ an instrument of "collective bargaining," spection. and "the Army does not recognize any G Is United issued a news release explain­ collective bargaining unit representing ing why they were unable to present the members of the Army." petitions, and stating their intention to try The petitions are being circulated by again the following Monday. G Is United Against the War in Vietnam, That same evening all guards on post an informal group of black, Puerto Rican, were alerted to keep an eye out for anyone Indian and white soldiers. The petition with a petition. Just what they would do drive originated in B Company, 14th Bat­ if they caught someone was not clear. talion, 4th Brigade, and spread to all It quickly became obvious that the Ft. corners of the post. Nearly everyone at Jackson authorities were panicking at the Ft. Jackson has heard about it. thought of Gis exercising their constitu­ This includes, of course, the brass. In tional right of petition and assembly. When the last two weeks, they have stepped up I arrived at Gate 1 to cover the filing of their harassment of soldiers in B Company. the petitions for The Militant, I was stop­ It has been made very difficult to circulate ped by MPs, and told I would not be allow­ the petition, so Gis United decided to change ed on post. When I asked why I was being the proposed date for the open meeting on given such singular treatment, all the MP the post from Feb. 26 to March 12 to have would say was "No comment." more time to obtain signatures. Gls United viewed these bizarre events Gis United issued a news release stating as confirmation of the significance of their their intention to present the petitions to movement. They went ahead with plans post headquarters at 7:30 p.m. Friday, to again present the petitions on Monday Feb. 28. The evening before, they sent out at 7:30p.m. Jose Rudder of Ft Jackson Gls United addresses UFO coffeehouse teach-in flying squads to several companies for Monday afternoon, B Company was put at Columbia, S. C. a final push to get signatures. on restriction, this time for a whole week. One of the squads, made up of Jose associated with collective bargaining are At a news conference later that evening, An inspection was called for 7:00 p.m., inconsistant with the requirements of mili­ Gls United answered the brass' argument Rudder, John Huffman, Andrew Pulley, the purpose of which was to inspect the Curtis Mays and John Harris, was arrest­ tary discipline. Further, military status on collective bargaining: "Collective bar­ dress greens. Anyone missing would be is not the equivalent of a civilian employee­ gaining is not at all the point. Gls United ed while circulating the petition. They were declared AWOL. The Tuesday inspection threatened with physical violence if they employer relationship. Since the petition does not propose to be a collective bar­ would be to make sure everything was is considered an instrument of collective gaining agent for Gls at Ft. Jackson; -All ever came back to that company, and they marked right; Wednesday, to inspect the heard the commanding officer of the com­ bargaining, it will not be accepted. we want is to exercise our democratic wall lockers; and Thursday and Friday Shortly, two Gls, Pvts. Joe Cole and and constitutional rights of petition and pany illegally order a GI to cross his there would be mandatory basketball name off the petition. Steve Dash, came marching down the drive­ assembly. By refusing to accept our peti­ games. The antiwar Gls decided to go way to the building. They saluted Stickel, tions, and by constant harassment and A brass circular also came down from ahead and send a small delegation of two and Cole then stated: "Private Cole re­ 14th Battalion statingthatanyonewhowas intimidation of Gls circulating and soldiers who were not restricted to present porting to present petition signed by en­ permanent party who signed the petition signing the petition, the Army is conscious­ the petitions. listed men at Ft. Jackson, sir." Stickel ly violating our constitutionally guar­ would be busted to private E-1. called up the staff duty officer, Maj. Frank On Feb. 28 the brass' intimidation reach­ By 7:15 p.m. I had joined the press anteed rights. ed an even higher pitch. Harris was put in front of post headquarters where the Smith, who said simply: "I'll make one "We will make plans to hold a mass under investigation by his commanding petitions were to be presented. At 7:30, statement." He then read the above state­ meeting of Gls off post to discuss the war officer and confined to his company area Public Information Officer Lt. Col. Paul ment on collective bargaining, and re­ and the petition drive. And we will conti­ under 24-hour guard. He was also put R. Stickel emerged and handed the follow­ fused to accept the petitions. nue to circulate the petition. We will also on details - KP, and police call (picking ing statement to the press: In conclusion, he said, "I hereby order seek aid, both legal and moral, to help up trash, etc.) and given orders not to "The Army does not recognize a collect­ all military personnel to remove them­ convince the commanding general of Ft. talk to anyone. ive bargaining unit representing members selves to their barracks. All civilian per­ Jackson to uphold the constitutional right Pvt. Tom Woodfin was told he would of the Army. Membership in such an orga­ sonnel will remove themselves from this of Ft. Jackson Gls to hold the proposed be given a summary court-martial the nization is not specifically prohibited by reservation." It was all over very rapidly. mass, open meeting on post." following day for circulating and getting law or regulation; however, many actions The Gls, unable to make any statements These courageous antiwar Gis are deter­ without violating his orders, marched off mined to carry on their struggle. They into the darkness. urgently need immmediate civilian support. They have seen the punitive transfers of ,-,·.,.·'tf:t•''ti,rt.:i~:s,: fellow Gis in an attempt to isolate and des­ .::··,'"<~.j~:-/ ,:· .~. .:·· <..:'" <· .:' ..: .'' ;· .:~-~·· ..,. -~>,:· ..... troy their movement. Some have been -··~···,, . /,:··· .,:·" Presidio trial arrested and court-martialed on phony charges. And daily they are faced with both individual and collective harassment moved to desert and intimidation by the brass. Money is desperately needed for legal defense. It should be sent to GI Civil By George Johnson Liberties Defense Committee, Box 355, SAN FRANCISCO, March 5 - The Old Chelsea Station, New York, N.Y. threat of mass protest and publicity has 10011. forced the brass to try to move the frame­ Telegrams protesting this harassment up "mutiny'' trials of the Presidio 27 out should be sent to the Commanding Officer, of the Bay Area. The brass, using as an Ft. Jackson, South Carolina, with copies excuse alleged danger that "backlash" and letters of support toG Is United Against from actions of supporters of the 27 Gls tvuld prejudice hearing officers, moved the War in Vietnam, Box 543, Columbia, the fourth case, that of John Colip, to Ft. South Carolina. Irwin, which is in the middle of Mojave Desert. The Army then "proved" its case by sentencing Colip to fours years at hard labor; the first three men tried got 14, 15, and 16 years. The brass did all this with a straight face, and it was not without effect. Lawyers for the next five of the 27 to be tried are now asking for a change of venue, citing "prejudicial conditions inside and outside the Presidio." Antiwar actions involving large numbers of Gls are spreading rapid­ ly; there is widespread sympathy evident for the 27 in the Bay Area. It is not difficult to see why the brass would like to try all these cases in the middle of the desert. Several large rallies and candle-light vigils have already been held. On March 15 a G I rally is planned here and on Easter weekend mass actions on a na­ tional scale will include support for the 27, who are charged with mutiny for staging a sitdown protest of the murder of a fellow prisoner.