Magazine of the Socialist Party USA oThecialist SVolume 32, Number 4 Fall 2006 $1.00 ! Somos Unidos!We Are United! EDITORIAL ince 1980, an estimated 8 million Mexicans have migrated to the U.S.S for opportunities denied them in Mexico, where half the population lives in poverty. Th e North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is largely responsible for increasing the number of Mexican immigrants who come to the U.S. looking for work. Th is “free” trade agreement allows goods and capital to cross the border legally but not the workers whose farm economy has been destroyed by the fl ood of cheap agricultural products from the U.S. Th e immigrants enter the U.S. not only to support themselves, but also to send money home to keep their families and communities alive. At the same time, American popular opinion concerning immigrant laborers, propagated and supported by politicians in Washington, condemns the immi- San Diego, CA--Protesters at a congressional judiciary hearing on immigration grants themselves, creating something stand in front of a lawn strewn with crosses, each representing one of the thou- akin to mass hysteria. Th is is nothing sands of Mexican immigrants who have died trying to cross the border. new. It has happened with other groups of people in the past. Th is time, the U.S. government pro- poses to set aside funds to build a wall along the Mexican border to stem the fl ow of immigrants. If we used that money instead to aid economic develop- ment in Mexico, fewer people would risk From the Socialist Party 2006 Platform their lives trying to cross the border. But of all the industrialist countries, We call for an end to the militarization of the United States/ the U.S. gives the least amount of for- Mexican border, and an increase in the service budget instead eign economic aid. Immigrants have always been an of the “military” budget of the INS. important part of the workforce in the We demand an end to police raids in areas where immigrants U.S. and remain so today. congregate. It is ironic that the politicians in Washington most averse to granting We defend the rights of all immigrants to education, health citizenship to workers who contribute care, and full civil and legal rights and call for an unconditional so much to our economy are the self- same politicians who are most unwill- amnesty program for all undocumented people. We further call ing to raise the national minimum for full citizenship rights upon demonstrating residency for six wage above $5.15 per hour. We call for months. a minimum wage of $15 per hour. Th ese are issues that we hope SP- We call for an end to the use of “secret evidence” in deporta- USA candidates will speak up about. tion hearings, a ban on all immigration detentions and military Th e Civil Rights Section of our plat- tribunals, and full due process and habeas corpus rights in U.S. form calls for an end to the militariza- tion of the border and an end to police courts for all non-citizens on U.S. territory or in U.S. custody. raids where immigrants congregate. We defend the rights of all immigrants to health care, education, and full legal rights. • 2 The Socialist Fall 2006 TheThe Magazine of the Socialist Party USA THE SOCIALIST 339 Lafayette Street, #303 New York, NY 10012 SVolume 32,ocialist Number 4 Fall 2006 Editor Diane Brand Contents 4 Self-Determination or Assimilation: The Future of Chicanos, Editorial Board of The Socialist Mexicanos, and Our Party in the United States Raul Cano Eric Chester, Mary-Alice Herbert, James Marra, Tina Phillips, Steve Rossignol, Kristy Treacy 5 Communique from the Center of My Revolution Raul Cano Contact the SPUSA 6 Un Dia Sin Migrantes Greg Pason photo montage National Secretary Socialist Party USA 7 Socialist Summer 339 Lafayette St. Room 303 New York, NY 10012 Steven Sears, Tina Phillips, and Common Ground Collective Phone: (212) 982-4586 [email protected] 8 Frank Zeidler’s Stubborn Integrity www.sp-usa.org Quinn Brisben The Socialist is published bbyy the 9 Frank Zeidler (poem) Socialist Party USA. Unless oth- Quinn Brisben erwise noted, views expressed in this publication are those of the 10 Fall Electoral Campaigns authors and not necessarily of the Socialist Party. The Socialist Jeff Brindle may be reprinted with permis- sion for non-profi t purposes. 11 National Secretary Runs for U.S. Senate Gregory Pason Printed by Saltus Press, a unionized printshop 12 A Radical Alternative in Vermont Worcester, Massachusetts Eric Chester and Mary-Alice Herbert 14 Reacting to Reproductive Rights Subscription Rates Tina Phillips 1-year individual • $10 1-year institution • $25 The Socialist isis alwaysalways lookinglooking forfor interesting,interesting, insightful,insightful, well-writtenwell-written stories.stories. InIn Bulk Rate No. 1: 25 copies/issue • $45 particular, we are looking for work that highlights the struggles and triumphs of Bulk Rate No. 2: 50 copies/issue • $80 the working class. We will accept news articles and stories about organizing and protests, but we are also looking for short fi ction, poetry, and music/arts/theater/ Cover Art: Photgraph by David Hanks fi lm review. Please mark all letters to the editor as such and limit letters to 250 taken during the May Day rally in San words; articles should not exceed 2,500 words. Submit as e-mail attachments in Francisco. Microsoft Word .doc or .rtf format to [email protected], or by mail to: The Socialist, 339 Laff ayette St. Room 303, New York, NY 10012. The deadline is the fi rst of the month preceding each issue date. The Socialist Fall 2006 3 Self-Determination or Assimilation: The Future of Chicanos, Mexicanos, and Our Party in the United States by Raul Cano or those of us who remember the Chicano civil rights movement andF the Chicano struggle to carve out a place in this “nation,” the next phase presents some challenges. Th e generation at the core of the Chicano movement descended from immi- grants who arrived in U.S. in the early 20th Century, before the Treaty of Guadalupe, Mexico. Th e Chicanos were a post-WWII generation with renewed interest in their roots and cultural identity as a defense against rampant racism and discrimination. Although the move- ment identifi ed itself with the con- cept of Mexicanismo, it was strongly infl uenced by the cultural experiences that resulted from life in the United States. In essence, a Chicano was neither Photograph by David Hanks Mexican nor American, but someone Un Dia Sin Migrantes, San Fransisco. with a unique cultural identity. Th e objectives of many in the Chicano movement were self-determina- capitalist two-party system. On one So what are the roles of the Chicano tion and the internal colonization of hand, the new immigrants could pro- generation and our Party in this new the Southwest region of the United vide a voter block to increase political battle to secure the civil rights for over States, Aztlan, where Mexicans power. On the other, the immigrants 12 million immigrants? were the majority. could create a backlash of racism and A minority in the Chicano move- But the Chicano generation failed oppression. Th e immigration debate ment still supports the concept of to establish a legitimate alternative to also has implications for Chicanos self-determination. Th ey are the only the capitalist system. Recent elections who have benefi ted from serving as ones presenting options outside the show that the burgeoning Hispanic intermediary in the capitalist exploi- capitalist system. From a socialist middle class is more than willing to tation of the new immigrants. prospective, consistent with our own Party’s principles, self-determination support right-wing agendas. Th ey Th e new immigrants know little should be a choice we support. have voted--and will continue to vote- about the civil rights movement and -republican. Th e Democratic Party cannot immediately identify with Th e “American Way” is synonymous with capitalism. Cultural resistance maintains a slim majority among Chicanismo. Th e Mexicanos who live to assimilation provides an oppor- Mexicano/Chicano voters generally, in the U.S. as undocumented work- tunity to create a community that is based on the misguided notion that ers have a strong Mexican identity the party represents the interests of separate and anti-capitalist in nature. with nationalist ties to Mexico, and the poor. Th e Mexicano/Chicano communities all have a clear history as victims of Since the Chicano movement, the in the United States should cultivate imperialism, colonization, oppression, United States has had a new infl ux cultural resistance, capitalize on the and rampant racism. of immigrants that includes both positive aspects of their communi- Mexicanos and other Hispanics. Th e Other Hispanic groups have vary- ties, and work toward creating a soci- leadership of the Chicano movement ing nationalist and political feeling, ety free from capitalism, sexism, and and many older Mexicanos and His- usually based on perceived status homophobia. panics are watching the immigration (political vs. economic refugee), and Th e unifying factor for most His- debate with interest as they try to pro- there are distinct cultural diff erences panics, including Chicanos and Mexi- tect their perceived power within the among the various groups. canos, is the issue of labor rights and 4 The Socialist Fall 2006 their fair treatment as workers. Th e Communiqué from the Center of My Revolution Party should continue to work for the by Raul Cano radicalization of unions and all work- ers in and out of the United States.