Dialogue & Initiative
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Dialogue & Initiative 2017 i Dialogue & Initiative 2017 Edition Fight Trumpism: For Jobs, Equality, Democracy, Peace Published by the Committees of Correspondence Education Fund Changemaker Publications ii Fight Trumpism: For Jobs, Equality, Democracy, Peace Dialogue & Initiative is a discussion journal published by the Committees of Correspondence Education Fund, Inc., 2472 Broadway, #204, New York, NY 10025. (212) 868-3773 Email: [email protected] Web: www.cc-ds.org Editors: Erica Carter, Paul Krehbiel, Rafael Pizarro, Harry Targ. In Memorium: Carl Bloice (1939-2014) Layout and design for this issue: Carl Davidson Cover photo: Women’s March in New York, January 21, 2017. Articles express the views of the authors and not necessarily the views of CCDS. Manuscripts not exceeding 5000 words are invited. Send text via email; hard copy can be mailed or faxed. Manu- scripts will be returned if not acompanied by postage-paid, self-addressed packaging. Copyright: CoC Ed Fund, July 2017, unless otherwise re- served by the authors. ISBN# 978-1-312-21139-1 Order online direct at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/changemaker Dialogue & Initiative 2017 iii EDITORS’ NOTE On the 100th Anniversary of the Russian Revolu- tion in 1917, we have seen dramatic changes in our country. The campaign of democratic social- ist Bernie Sanders for president energized a new generation of progressive activists and ramped up the social justice movements to a new level. It also brought to life public awareness and sup- port for socialism among millions of our people 25 years after the capitalist elite thought they had buried socialism for good. On the other hand, the election of the right-wing Donald Trump to the presidency, despite losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes, marks a grave threat to the wellbe- ing of our people and the people of the world. Trump’s election campaign and first 100 days in office have been a travesty of callous attacks on immigrants, Mexican-Americans, women, Mus- lims, people with disabilities, and many other groups, and programs such as health care and others, a forewarning of more attacks to come. Yet from the moment of Trump’s inauguration, massive protests have swept the country de- manding an end to his anti-people policies and an end to his administration. The 2017 issue of Dialogue & Initiative will not only give special attention to the dangers of Trumpism, but also a clear focus on the mass movements and strategies to defeat Trump and Our Editors, from the the racists, misogynists, right-wing corporate top: Erica Carter, elite, and pro-fascist elements within his circle. Paul Krehbiel, Rafael How the struggle between these divergent forces Pizarro and Harry Targ develops, and the allies each political force draws iv Fight Trumpism: For Jobs, Equality, Democracy, Peace in, will determine the direction of our country - for peace, prosperity and equality, or suffering, fear, and oppression. As activists in this large resistance movement, we in the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, join millions of others in our collective belief that Donald Trump and Trumpism can be defeated. We believe that our country can be turned in a new direction, one that reflects the needs and desires of the progressive majority of the people, for good jobs and economic security for all, quality public education, quality affordable health care for all, quality and affordable housing, an end to all forms of discrimination, and a culture of peace, democ- racy, cooperation and caring, here and with people of other lands. We highlight the women, people of color, unionists, young people -- all ma- jority working-class, who are playing leading roles in the social justice struggles of the day. The first section of this volume takes a look at the rise of the mas- sive Resistance movement against Trump, beginning with the in- spiring Women’s Marches that involved 3-4 million women, men and children in over 650 cities, towns and rural areas across the coun- try and on all seven continents, the day after Trump took office. This section covers many issues and constituencies, and includes an opening discussion of ways to stop right-wing and fascist threats and movements. The second section will give voice to the many and varied social jus- tice movements, most of which are intertwined with the Resistance to Trumpism. Included are Native Americans at Standing Rock and beyond, youth inspired at the Carl Bloice School for Socialist Education at last year’s 8th CCDS National Convention, and struggles of millions against racism and the ideology of white supremacy, for health care, for union representation and jobs, economic justice, climate justice, a just and peaceful foreign policy and more. In our third section we will address the struggle for socialism, with spe- cific examples from several countries, and a vision and a plan to create the building blocks for socialism in the US. In the fourth and final section we introduce readers to long and short reviews of books that can help us better understand and change the world. There is more here on stopping fascism, supporting the struggles against the exploitation and lies of imperialism and capitalism, exposing money in politics, the growing injustice of economic inequality, the long arm of the Deep State, labor organizing, voter suppression, progressive political organizing, the deep reaches of racism, and the role of global capital to strangle the South American revolution. Dialogue & Initiative 2017 v In keeping with the historic Women’s Marches, this issue of Dialogue & Initiative salutes women of all races and nationalities who are em- powering millions of women and men, and providing leadership to all the social justice movements and the resistance to Trumpism. Women are leaders in all fields, including the women’s rights movement, the labor and student movements, the struggle against misogyny and rac- ism and all forms of discrimination, the fight for quality education and health care, the well-being of families and children, the climate justice movement, politics, peace and international solidarity, in all the profes- sions, and more. The first section of this issue appropriately features the Women’s Movement. One final note about the 8th National Convention of CCDS in July of 2016 in Emeryville on the San Francisco Bay. We went into our conven- tion with a focus on key issues regarding the work of CCDS, including growth and the financial resources of our organization, issues that most organizations grapple with from time to time. While we didn’t create a magic wand to make all our dreams come true, we did make good decisions that position us to make important contributions to the mass movements, the socialist left, and especially in this period, the fight against Trumpism and right-wing reaction. We mapped plans to enrich and step up our educational work, do more outreach to especially the new generations of young activists, intensify our work in building multi- racial and left unity coalitions, and develop an organizing plan that can help build the movement and CCDS. And one final note about the Russian Revolution. First, it was earth shaking, and world changing. To mark the 100th anniversary of the world’s first socialist revolution and state, we are working on a special edition of Dialogue & Initiative with articles and analyses of the revo- lution, great gains and setbacks in building socialism, successes and failures, exhilaration and tragedy, and most importantly, lessons for our struggles today. Join CCDS and become a part of this exciting movement. June 2017 vi Fight Trumpism: For Jobs, Equality, Democracy, Peace Table of Contents Section 1: Resistance Grows During Trump’s First 100 Days The Women’s Struggle Three Million Women March to Protest Trump, Send Message to Politicians Looking to 2018. By Janet Tucker .......................................................................... Page 1 Angela Davis’s speech on January 17, 2017 Women’s March in Washington, DC. By Angela Davis ................ Page 11 My Body, Her Body. By Renee Y. Carter ..................................... Page 14 Mexican American Women Blast Trump at Los Angeles Women’s March. By Delia Chavez ...................... Page 17 International Women’s Day. ................................................................. By Alexandra Kollontai Page 22 The Progressive Majority Hits the Streets The Progressive Majority vs. Trump. By Paul Krehbiel ...................................................................... Page 31 Trump Ramps Up Immigration Repression to Serve Corporate Interests. By David Bacon ........................... Page 60 Trump’s First 30 Days: Attacks on Immigrants and People of Color--Assessment and Response. A presentation of the CCDS Socialist Education Project (SEP) Series on the Trump Administration, February 27, 2017 By Mildred Williamson ...........................................................Page 66 Help Families Torn Apart by the Travel Ban. By Rawya Rageh ....................................................................... Page 73 Report on the Resistance in Southeast Massachusetts. By Rafael Pizarro ......................................................................... Page 75 Town Hall Resistance. By Pat Fry ............................................. Page 78 Dialogue & Initiative 2017 vii Trumpism, White Nativism, and the Troubling Question of Fascism: The Need for Left Unity” By Alex Krehbiel ................................. Page