AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Sign the petition to free Oscar López! —PAGE 6 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 80/no. 46 December 12, 2016 Washington’s Millions turn Cubans mobilize to back China ‘pivot’ out in Cuba their socialist revolution falters as Asia for Freedom Remarks by Raúl Castro at massive tribute trade pact dies Caravan to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro by mark thompson by maggie trowe President-elect Donald Trump an- Millions of working people and nounced Nov. 21 that on his first day youth across Cuba, organized by the in office he will issue notice of Wash- leadership of their government and ington’s withdrawal from the Trans- Communist Party, are mobilizing to Pacific Partnership. The trade and support and defend the socialist revo- regulatory agreement, negotiated with 11 other Pacific governments over the Letter from jack barnes, past decade, was touted by outgoing SWP national Secretary, President Barack Obama as a signal to Raúl Castro, achievement of his presidency and a core part of the “pivot” to Asia, which First Secretary of the was a hallmark of Washington’s for- Communist Party of Cuba eign policy for the past five years. — page 7 The “pivot,” later renamed a “re- balance,” was a political and military lution there. Massive outpourings are course intended to counter the ascend- saluting the life and decisive political ing economic and military weight of contributions of the Cuban revolu- China. But Beijing has continued to tionary movement’s founding leader, expand trade and political ties across Fidel Castro, who died Nov. 25. Reuters/Edgard Garrido Asia and the Pacific, further eroding “Fidel dedicated his life to solidar- Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fill Plaza of the Revolution in Havana Nov. 29 to hear the domination of the region that was ity. He led a socialist revolution ‘of Raúl Castro’s tribute to Fidel Castro and to support and defend their socialist revolution. one of U.S. imperialism’s main prizes the humble, by the humble, for the Remarks by Army Gen. Raúl Castro ent the final speech Dec. 3, when we from the slaughter of World War II. humble’ — a revolution that became Ruz, First Secretary of the Commu- gather in Antonio Maceo Plaza of the Trump made opposition to the TPP, a symbol of the anti-colonial, anti- nist Party of Cuba Central Commit- Revolution in Santiago de Cuba. But accompanied by nationalist dema- apartheid and anti-imperialist strug- tee, and President of the Councils of I wish to express now, in the name Continued on page 4 Continued on page 7 State and Ministers, at the mass rally of our people, party and govern- in tribute to Commander in Chief Fi- ment, as well as our family, our sin- del Castro Ruz, in Havana’s Plaza of cere gratitude for your presence here SWP takes LA campaign for the Revolution, Nov. 29. Translation (Applause), for the moving words is by the Militant. you have expressed, and also for the countless extraordinary, demonstra- mayor to workers’ doorsteps Esteemed heads of state and gov- tions of solidarity, affection and re- ernment; Gentlemen, leaders of dele- spect received from around the world gations; Outstanding figures; Friends in this hour of pain and commitment. all; Dear people of Cuba: Fidel dedicated his life to solidar- It will be my responsibility to pres- Continued on page 6 Attica officials claim ‘Militant’ appeal ‘incites disobedience’ by seth galinsky Krinsky & Lieberman, was preparing Karl Marx wrote that many things the appeal, charging that the ban on appear twice in history, “the first time the issue violated both freedom of the as tragedy, the second time as farce.” press and the right of workers behind Proving Marx’s point, the Attica Cor- Continued on page 9 rectional Facility Media Review Com- mittee impounded the Militant Nov. 16 for the second time in a month. The pretext? That the article “‘Mili- Inside Militant/Becca Williamson tant’ challenges Attica prison censor- Excerpt from new book: Dennis Richter, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Los Angeles mayor, shows Are They Rich ship” in the Oct. 31 issue, which re- Because They’re Smart? to Christine Dixon on her doorstep in Van Nuys, California, Nov. 27. US rulers’ attack on abortion 8 ports on the Militant’s decision to ap- BY LAURA GARZA Workers Party candidate for mayor of peal prison authorities’ impoundment Native Americans face the LOS ANGELES — “Cuban work- Los Angeles, told Mary Jones on her of the Oct. 3 issue reporting on the highest rate of cop killings 2 ers and farmers participate at all lev- doorstep Nov. 29. 45th anniversary of the historic Attica els in making decisions — including “It’s his example and that of the inmate uprising in 1971, “could incite Protests hit anti-Muslim in local, regional and national elec- Cuban Revolution that the U.S. is so disobedience” to prison personnel. attack on Washington mosque 4 tions — and the Cuban government is afraid of,” he said. “They do not want So if the Militant follows prison their government. They defend their working people to do the same here.” guidelines to appeal censorship and –On the picket line, p. 5– own interests, not those of a capital- Richter and SWP supporters are reports on it, the paper “incites dis- ist class, but you never hear about campaigning door to door in work- obedience!” Rail workers in Turkey’s Izmir that. Why do you think the U.S. rul- ing-class neighborhoods, introducing The second article reported that the province strike for higher wages ing class and the newspapers and TV the party, discussing how workers can Militant’s lawyer, David Goldstein, Locked-out Ind. UAW members stations they own denounce Fidel organize against the attacks of the from the prominent civil liberties law reject Honeywell demands Castro?” Dennis Richter, Socialist Continued on page 3 firm of Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Native Americans face the Minn. rally backs Standing Rock Sioux fight highest rate of cop killings by brian williams eras that might have recorded the attack. Killings of Native Americans by po- Salyers’ relatives and friends have lice are on the rise with little coverage reached out to fighters against cop bru- by the capitalist media. In 2016, accord- tality and in defense of workers’ rights. ing to the Guardian, Native Americans Nearly 300 tribal members and others have been killed by cops 3.25 times rallied at Tacoma’s federal courthouse more frequently than Caucasians in pro- March 16. Family members have orga- portion to their percentage of the popu- nized regular gatherings, inviting peo- lation, surpassing the rate for Blacks ple throughout the area to participate. who are killed 2.5 times more often. The county prosecutor and police re- So far this year 18 Native Americans view board cleared officer Scott Camp- have been killed by the police compared bell, who fired the shots that killed with 13 in all of 2015, the paper reports. Salyers. The board said Aug. 16 that This increase stands out even more in his “use of deadly force was reasonable light of the slight overall decline in cop and within department policy,” based on killings over the last year. an officer’s testimony that Salyers had Jeff Schad Imagery threatened his life with the car. Especially on the reservations and ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds rallied at the Army Corps of Engineers offices in nearby towns, Native Americans Cops kill those in mental crisis here Nov. 15 to demand recognition of treaty rights and protection of water confront high unemployment and inad- sources at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. equate housing and health care. But as A quarter of all those killed by cops “I am here to bring awareness and to protect the water,” Verlin Wells, a they assert their dignity and defend their in the first half of 2016 were experienc- Native American from Welch, told the Militant. Many thousands have visited sovereign rights — from the Standing ing mental health crises, according to Standing Rock to express solidarity with its fight against routing the Dakota Rock Sioux fighting against construc- data collected by the Washington Post. Access Pipeline near the reservation. Wells has made three trips and said it is tion of an oil pipeline in North Dakota For Native Americans the figure is even very powerful to have “every one there for the same reason, standing together.” to actions against cop killings led by higher. While funds for mental health The Corps has called for more study and tribal input before issuing permits groups like Native Lives Matter — care have plummeted, calls for medical to Energy Transfer Partners to complete the pipeline. The company has asked they’re winning solidarity. assistance are instead often met by cops U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to declare it has the right to continue the Puyallup tribe members near Taco- ready to shoot. construction. “There’s not another way. We’re crossing at this location,” CEO ma, Washington, are a good example. In Sandpoint, Idaho, in July 2014, Kelcy Warren told Associated Press Nov. 18. In January police approached a parked Suquamish tribe descendant Jeanetta — Helen Meyers car and shot and killed 32-year-old tribe Riley was threatening suicide. The member Jacqueline Salyers, who was in 34-year-old mother of four was home- the driver’s seat. Her boyfriend, Ken- less, pregnant and had a history of men- depression, texted a friend Oct. 21 that tified. neth Wright, who had several outstand- tal illness. Her husband drove her to a she was in “a bad way,” reported the Like African-Americans, Native ing warrants, was in the passenger seat nearby hospital asking for help, but offi- Seattle Times. Kings County Sheriff’s Americans face proportionally higher and managed to escape. cials there called the police. When cops deputies arrived at Davis’ home on the incarceration rates. In South Dakota, for There is no video of the attack. Police arrived they ordered Riley to drop the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation in example, Native Americans make up 9 say a surveillance camera overlooking knife she held. Fifteen seconds after ar- Washington state after her friend re- percent of the population, but 29 percent the street malfunctioned during the inci- riving they fired three shots that killed quested a “wellness” check. Instead of of the prison population. dent. According to In These Times, cops her. the psychological help she needed, the According to the National Congress apparently destroyed three other cam- Renee Davis, 23, who suffered from deputies shot and killed her. of American Indians, health service ex- In March police officer Austin Shi- penditures per capita for Native Ameri- pley shot and killed Loreal Tsingine, cans was $2,849 in 2013, about one-third 27, in Winslow, Arizona. Tsingine, who of funds spent per person nationwide. was Navajo, was accused of shoplifting The percentage of Native Americans from a convenience store. According to living below the official poverty line is body-cam footage obtained by the Ari- 28.2 percent, according to the Bureau zona Daily Sun, Shipley threw Tsingine of Labor Statistics. On larger reserva- to the ground twice. When she got back tions it’s 68 percent. There are 90,000 Thomas Sankara ­­— example for the world up and started walking toward Shipley, homeless or “under-housed” families Thomas Sankara led the he shot her, claiming his life was in dan- on tribal lands. In many instances ger because she had a pair of scissors in several generations are crowded into 1983-87 popular revolution her hand. In July the Maricopa County single homes with inadequate plumb- in Burkina Faso, West Afri- Attorney’s Office ruled the shooting jus- ing and electricity. ca. He was a Marxist, a com-

munist, who had confidence Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For in the revolutionary capaci- The Militant one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to ties of workers and peasants. Vol. 80/No. 46 above address. Closing news date: December 1, 2016 Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 The ‘Militant’ helps keep the to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- voice of revolutionary leaders Militant/Marla Puziss Editor: John Studer treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Thomas Sankara at tree-planting mobili- Managing Editor: Naomi Craine like Sankara alive. zation in Burkina Faso, August 1985. United Kingdom: Send £26 for one year Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Seth by check or international money order Galinsky, Emma Johnson, Jacob Perasso, made out to CL London, 2nd Floor, 83 Maggie Trowe, Brian Williams. Kingsland High St., Dalston, London, E8 2PB, England. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Published weekly except for one week in January, one week in June, one week in Republic of Ireland and Continental July, one week in December. Europe: Send £85 for one year by check or international money order made out to CL NEW READERS NAME Business manager: Lea Sherman London at above address. The Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 306 W. France: Send 120 euros for one year to 37th Street, 13th floor, New York, NY q.$5 for 12 issues ADDRESS 10018. Telephone: (212) 244-4899 Diffusion du Militant, BP 10130, 75723 Fax: (212) 244-4947 Paris Cedex 15. New Zealand: Send NZ$55 for one year RENEWAL CITY STATE ZIP E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.themilitant.com to P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. Correspondence concerning subscriptions PHONE e-mail Australia: Send A$70 for one year to P.O. Box q.$10 for 12 weeks or changes of address should be addressed to the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th 164 Campsie, NSW 2194, Australia. Pacific Islands: Send NZ$55 for one year to UNION/SCHOOL/ORGANIZATION floor, New York, NY 10018. q.$20 for 6 months P.O. Box 3025, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. Submissions to the Militant may be pub- Clip and mail to the militant, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to lished in the newspaper in print and digital q.$35 for 1 year 306 W. 37th st., 13th Floor new york, ny 10018. the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, format. By submitting, authors represent New York, NY 10018. that their submissions are original and 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia and the Pacific, A$10 • United SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For consent to publication in this manner. Kingdom, £3 • Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental one year send $35 to above address. Signed articles by contributors do not Europe, £10 • France, 8 euros • New Zealand, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 (Send Latin America, Caribbean: For one year send necessarily represent the Militant’s views. payment to addresses listed in business information box) $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant December 12, 2016 SWP campaigns in LA Nationwide actions demand $15 and a union Continued from front page such a powerful movement without bosses and their government in the their own party. That’s where building midst of today’s capitalist depression the Socialist Workers Party comes in.” conditions, and signing people up to Richter is running for the seat cur- put Richter on the ballot. rently held by liberal Democrat Eric In nine days of campaigning, 69 cop- Garcetti. ies of The Clintons’ Anti-Working-Class Richter and other SWP members Record: Why Washington Fears Work- joined a Nov. 22 protest at an El Super ing People by SWP National Secretary supermarket, where workers have been Jack Barnes and other books and 30 fighting for three years to get a contract Militant subscriptions have been sold, in the face of intimidation and firings. and $126 donated toward the filing fee. A number of demonstrators were dis- Over 475 signatures have been gath- cussing the presidential election, many ered toward the goal of 1,000 — twice repeating what they heard in the liberal the requirement. The party plans to turn big-business press — that Trump won in the petitions and the $300 filing fee because workers were becoming more by the Dec. 7 deadline. right-wing and prejudiced. Militant/Betsey Stone “I think Fidel Castro was a dictator “I don’t think it’s because most work- SAN FRANCISCO — “Dignity, respect, more money in my check!” chanted and the people of Cuba do not have the ing people suddenly became more rac- hundreds of protesters Nov. 29 as they rallied at the San Francisco International right to express themselves,” Jones, a ist. The historic fight that overthrew Jim Airport, joining a national Fight-for-$15 day of action in more than 300 cities retired high school history teacher who Crow segregation and protests against across the U.S. and at 19 airports. Participants here included fast-food work- is African-American, told Richter. cop killings across the country have ers who called off work and protested at a McDonald’s in Oakland earlier in “As the central leader of the revolu- transformed the working class. There’s the day. Some came in buses from San Jose, Sacramento and Fresno. Airport, tionary movement, Fidel fought along- less racism in the working class than home health care, construction, child care and other workers took part. side his troops,” Richter said. “Cuba ever before,” Richter told fellow march- — betsey stone sent 425,000 Cuban volunteers to An- er Fanny Ortiz. “Trump won because gola to defend that country against the many workers responded when he said South African army and they won, he was an outsider, saw the economic forward.” set a date to introduce Richter to co- helping to lead to the overthrow of the crisis working people face today, and Some workers have offered to join in workers outside the meatpacking plant hated apartheid regime. said he would do something different. the campaign. Kevin Smith, a worker at where he works. Two workers watching “They send doctors and other medi- “Workers contrasted this to Hillary a pet food manufacturer, volunteered to news coverage about Castro’s death in- cal personnel to any country that asks Clinton, one of the most distrusted can- circulate the SWP ballot petition on the vited SWP members who knocked on for help, asking nothing in return,” he didates in history, who said the econo- job. A young worker who is a hotel va- their door in for discussion and got a said. my was great and called workers ‘de- let gave his name and number to SWP subscription to the Militant. “The Socialist Workers Party also plorables’ and ‘irredeemable,’” he said. campaigners, looking to set up a time to SWP members from the Bay Area, starts with the world and how we can “Neither of them have any answers for sit down for a longer discussion. He got Chicago and elsewhere are joining the advance the fight of toilers worldwide,” us. Workers will have to fight for our- a copy of The Clintons’ Anti-Working- campaign effort. Anyone who wants to he said. selves, to depend on our own mobiliza- Class Record. help can contact the Los Angeles SWP “The Socialist Workers Party is part tions and build our own party to move Another supporter of the campaign at (323) 643-4968 or [email protected]. of the fight for a workers and farmers government here in the U.S. and to put an end to capitalism,” Richter said. “This would also be a tool in the hands 1955 to 1960s ‘Militant’ added to those available online of Black people opening the road to By Matilde Zimmermann the Militant online every week orga- New International and its predecessors ending racism for good.” A whole new range of past issues of nized a special two-day effort to upload back to 1934. These publications are ful- Jones signed the petition to get the the Militant are now available online the new editions — a process that previ- ly indexed and the Militant is currently SWP on the ballot. “I’m going to con- going back to the 1950s! Just click on ously would have taken eight months. indexed back to 1990. All are available sider the things you’ve said,” she said. “I “view back issues” at www.themilitant. Over the past year, volunteer scan- at www.themilitant.com. Work contin- had never heard any of this about Cas- com to access the paper’s archives, in- ners, indexers and others have also made ues to make every issue of the Militant, tro and Cuba.” cluding the newly added pdf files from available online the entire archive of In- back to 1928 and from 1967 to 1982, Richter met high school student the mid-1950s to the early 1960s. tercontinental Press and every issue of available online and fully indexed. Xavier Izquierdo when he campaigned These issues cover key events in the in Wilmington two days earlier. They class struggle, including the Hungarian discussed the unending wars U.S. im- Revolution and growing crisis of world Socialist Workers Party-Building perialism has begun, from Iraq to Af- Stalinism, the struggle to bring down ghanistan to Syria. “Wars are nonsense Jim Crow segregation, the victory and and pointless,” Izquierdo said. early years of the Cuban Revolution, and Fund poised to go over the top! “It’s young people from neighbor- the very beginnings of Washington’s by Paul Mailhot The annual party-building fund com- hoods like this one who are called on war against the workers and farmers of The Socialist Workers Party’s 2016 plements the weekly voluntary sustain- to fight and die to defend a system that Vietnam. The paper provides firsthand Party-Building Fund looks set to go over ers from SWP members and is vital to serves the ruling rich,” Richter said. reporting on events that changed histo- the $100,000 goal. More than $23,000 meeting the party’s budget. Local quo- “The only way the working class will ry, speeches by communist leaders such came in over the past two weeks. Final tas are just shy of the $100,000 goal, so make decisions on how society is run is as Fidel Castro, and the sharp humor of payments must be made by Dec. 7, so party branches across the country are if we organize a movement of workers Laura Gray’s cartoons and Harry Ring’s that checks can be sent by regular mail working to go over their goals. to take power away from the capitalist “Great Society” column. to arrive in New York no later than To help, contact the SWP in your class,” he said. “Workers can’t organize The record of the Socialist Workers Tues., Dec. 13. area, listed on page 4. Party’s participation in the labor move- “We will go over,” wrote Ilona Gersh ment and political action is very much from Chicago. “This week’s payment present in these pages, even under the includes four new contributors. Two we Socialist Workers militant challenges of the 1950s. The issues doc- met going door to door talking about Party-Building Fund ument the 1960 solidarity and fact-find- the 2016 elections and why the Socialist Sept. 24 - Dec. 7 - Week 9 labor ing trip to Cuba by Farrell Dobbs, the Workers Party is the working-class par- SWP presidential candidate that year, ty. The other two we met at an event in Area Quota Collected % forums and how it was used in the Militant to solidarity with the Cuban Revolution.” Atlanta $11,000 $9,143 83% campaign to get out the truth about the As we enter the final week, reports in- Chicago $11,500 $9,403 82% california dicate pledges are now near or surpass- Oakland revolution to workers in the U.S. Lincoln $300 $177 59% Fidel Castro, Cuba and the Coming The team of eight volunteers who put ing all of the local goals, and members Los Angeles $9,000 $7,840 87% American Revolution. Speaker: Betsey of the SWP are organizing to collect Miami $3,500 $1,745 50% Stone, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., Dec. contributions so that every area makes 10, 7:30 p.m. 675 Hegenberger Road, Suite New York $22,500 $16,385 73% 250. Tel.: (510) 686-1351. Gather to honor the life of or exceeds their quota on time. Oakland $15,000 $13,337 89% Cuban revolutionary leader “We are within $60 of our goal in Philadelphia $4,500 $3,917 87% pledges,” Joanne Murphy in Washing- australia Fidel Castro Seattle $8,000 $6,254 78% ton reported Nov. 28. “We are working Twin Cities $4,500 $2,340 52% Sydney Cuban Mission to the U.N. to get a few new contributors in addition Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution. Wash., DC $8,500 $5,608 66% Speaker: Joanne Kuniansky, Communist 315 Lexington Ave., New York to donations we continue to pick up as Other $1,200 League. Fri., Dec. 9, 7 p.m. Donation: Sunday, Dec. 4, noon - 2 p.m. we campaign for the party. The small $4/$2 (unwaged). Upstairs, 281-7 Beamish Totals $98,300 $77,349 79% St., Campsie. Tel.: (02) 9718-9698. Info: [email protected] but important contributions we have gotten that way so far add up to $65.” Should be $100,000 $90,000 90%

The Militant December 12, 2016 3 US anti-China ‘pivot’ falters Protests hit anti-Muslim attack on Wash. mosque Continued from front page But this was premised on the wind- gogy, a central plank in his campaign ing down of U.S. military interven- as the Republican presidential can- tions in Afghanistan and Iraq. In- didate. It was also the policy of his stead, these conflicts have intensified, Democratic opponent, Hillary Clin- as has Washington’s military involve- ton. Ratification of the pact in Con- ment there and in Syria, Somalia and gress already faced opposition among elsewhere. Although maintaining the both parties, and within days of the overwhelming supremacy it has held election the White House announced for decades, Washington’s military it would not proceed. and naval power in the Pacific has The TPP, which excluded China, continued to diminish, even as Bei- was an attempt by Washington to as- jing expands its military buildup in semble a political bloc as a counter to the South China Sea. Beijing in the region. Defense Sec- This shifting weight was reflected retary Ashton Carter described it as in the Philippines, a former colony being as “important to me as another and ally, following the election of Militant photos by Mary Martin aircraft carrier.” Its collapse is a blow President Rodrigo Duterte in May. REDMOND, Wash. — A granite sign in front of to U.S. strength in the region. He announced a scaling down of mili- the Muslim Association of Puget Sound was van- The collapse has accelerated moves tary ties to Washington and withdrew dalized here early Nov. 21. Association librarian Sulieman Abdulkeni, above, by many of Washington’s Pacific al- from U.S. naval patrols in the South shows part of the damaged sign to Socialist Workers Party members who came from Seattle two days later to join in speaking out against the attack. lies to finalize an alternative regional China Sea. “The community has turned out to stand up against such attacks in an over- trade agreement with Beijing. The During his campaign for president, whelming and powerful response,” Muslim Association President Mahmood Trump lambasted the TPP as a “di- Regional Comprehensive Economic Khadeer told the Militant Nov. 28. “This is a stand against attacks on anyone saster” that would mean job losses Partnership includes the 10 members whether Muslim, Mexican or anyone else.” of the Association of Southeast Asian in the U.S. He attacked “jobs theft” “The Socialist Workers Party stands in solidarity with the Muslim Association Nations along with Australia, India, by Asian countries and singled out of Puget Sound and calls on all working people to protest this and all anti- Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and China as “the No. 1 abuser,” saying, Muslim attacks,” the SWP said in a statement of solidarity. “We defend the right China. “They suck the blood out of us and we to worship for all religions and oppose all actions which target and scapegoat Beijing has also been pushing for owe them money.” He urged the use Muslim people. An injury to one is an injury to all.” adoption of a trade agreement among of U.S. “economic power” and hefty Several hundred people from local churches and synagogues and others the 21 members of the Asia-Pacific import tariffs against competition by attended an open house here Nov. 25, including some two dozen middle and Economic Cooperation forum, an Chinese imports. high school students, members of Kids4Peace. They held a solidarity picket at association of Pacific rim countries, Trump called on the governments the mosque with signs saying, “We Stand with our Muslim Neighbors.” which met in Peru Nov. 19-20. A num- of Japan and South Korea to do more — Mary Martin ber of APEC governments in Latin to beef up their armed forces and said America are now looking to join the they should “pay up” for U.S. military RCEP. bases in those countries. He said he to Trump, former CIA head James fusal to join the Asian Infrastructure Last year, Beijing launched the would increase the size of the U.S. Woolsey, in a Nov. 10 opinion piece Investment Bank had been a “strate- Asian Infrastructure Investment military. in Hong Kong’s South China Morn- gic mistake.” Bank. Against Washington’s opposi- “A strong military presence will be ing Post, said he anticipated a “much “We understand China’s desire to tion, 57 governments signed on, in- a clear signal to China and other na- warmer” response from the new ad- reform global institutions” to reflect cluding most U.S. allies except Tokyo. tions in Asia,” said Trump’s campaign ministration to China’s regional eco- its greater economic and military Beijing is already expanding trade website. But a senior defense adviser nomic initiatives and said Obama’s re- weight, Woolsey said. and investment with countries across Asia and the Pacific. Conflicts over the composition of regional trade blocs are primarily Indian gov’t attack on access to cash blow to workers about political and military alliances, by maggie trowe vestiges of pre-capitalist social relations. Indians can deposit banned notes into not trade. There are already 147 “free Indian Prime Minister Narendra Two-thirds of the country’s 1.27 billion bank accounts until the end of the year, trade” agreements among countries Modi abruptly voided 500 and 1,000 people live in the countryside and most but tax officials said they will take a in Asia, with 68 more under negotia- rupee notes Nov. 8 ($7.30 and $14.60) — function solely with cash. The informal close look at all deposits above 250,000 tion. The TPP was intended to ensure some 86 percent of cash in circulation. or underground economy that operates rupees ($3,650). Only small amounts that Washington “called the shots” in He claimed the move would deal a blow with cash or gold involves 80 percent may be exchanged for cash. Asia, as Obama put it, and not Beijing. to the “black” economy, increase tax of the workforce and produces about 45 Modi’s steps come as the government As part of the “pivot” to counter revenue and fight crime and corruption. percent of the gross domestic product. pushes greater use of banks. Between China, the Obama administration had The move caused a crisis for millions of This keeps capital out of the hands of September 2014 and February 2015 planned to shift the weight of the U.S. workers and farmers whose family sav- the banks and prevents the state from bank accounts increased from 53 mil- armed forces to the Pacific, opening ings are kept outside the banking system collecting taxes. Modi’s government lion to 128 million. But 84 million of new bases, increasing military exer- in cash and gold. seeks to get control of these massive them had a zero balance. cises in the region and positioning 60 The Indian rulers’ reduction of cash is funds, allowing for infrastructure de- The government announced Nov. 21 percent of its naval warships there by aimed at advancing the development of velopment that can expand production, that $80 billion of the $220 billion in 2020. a modern capitalist state, sweeping aside commerce and investment. outlawed notes had been turned in. Reducing cash in workers’ hands is a popular idea among capitalist planners if you like this paper, look us up worldwide. Former U.S. Treasury Sec- Where to find distributors of the NEBRASKA: Lincoln: Tel: (402) 217- CANADA retary Lawrence Summers and Europe- Militant, New International, and a full 4906. Email: [email protected]. QUEBEC: Montreal: 7107 St. Denis an Central Bank chief Mario Draghi are display of Pathfinder books. #204 H2S 2S5. Tel: (514) 272-5840. Email: NEW YORK: New York: 227 W. 29th St., on the bandwagon. They argue that big [email protected] ALBERTA: 6th Floor. Zip: 10001. Tel: (646) 964-4793. UNITED STATES Calgary: Dragon City Mall, 328 Centre St. bills are overwhelmingly used by crimi- Email: [email protected] CALIFORNIA: Oakland: 675 SE, Suite 246. T2G 4X6 Tel: (403) 457-9044. nals, terrorists and those who employ Hegenberger Road, Suite 250. Zip: 94621. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 2824 Email: [email protected] workers lacking immigration papers. Tel: (510) 686-1351. Email: swpoak Cottman Ave., Suite 20. Zip: 19149. Tel: (215) FRANCE But the rulers’ real objective is to pre- @sbcglobal.net Los Angeles: 2826 S. 708-1270. Email: [email protected] vent workers and others from hoarding Vermont. Suite 1. Zip: 90007. Tel: (323) Paris: BP 10130, 75723 Paris Cedex 15. 643-4968. Email: [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C.: 7603 Email: [email protected] cash to avoid paying taxes, bank fees Georgia Ave. NW, Suite 300. Zip: and credit card companies’ steep inter- FLORIDA: Miami: 7911 Biscayne 20011. Tel: (202) 536-5080. Email: NEW ZEALAND est rates. Forcing workers to put their Blvd., Suite 2. Zip: 33138. Tel: (305) 390- [email protected] Auckland: 188a Onehunga Mall, money in the bank strengthens the 8310. Email: [email protected] Onehunga. Postal address: P.O. Box 3025, WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier Auckland 1140. Tel: (09) 636-3231. Email: hands of central banks like the U.S. Fed, GEORGIA: Atlanta: 777 Cleveland Ave. South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) Ave. SW Suite 103. Zip: 30315. Tel: (678) [email protected] the big private banks and the propertied 323-1755. Email: seattleswp@qwestoffice. rulers’ government. 528-7828. Email: [email protected] net UNITED KINGDOM “What the government fears is that ILLINOIS: Chicago: 2018 S. Ashland ENGLAND: London: 2nd Floor, 83 Ave. Zip: 60608. Tel: (312) 455-0111. Email: AUSTRALIA Kings­land High St., Dalston. Postal code: if people use cash, they’ll be able to act [email protected] Sydney: 1st Flr, 3/281-287 Beamish E8 2PB. Tel: (020) 3583-3553. Email: privately,” Seth Lipsky wrote in a New St., Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing [email protected] Manchester: Room York Sun op-ed earlier this year. “It’ll be MINNESOTA: Minneapolis: 416 E. address: P.O. Box 164, Campsie, NSW 2194. 301, 3rd floor, Hilton House, 26–28 Hilton Hennepin Ave., Suite 214. Zip: 55414. Tel: (612) Tel: (02) 9718 9698. Email: cl_australia@ St. Postal code: M1 2EH. Tel: (016) 1478- harder to impose on them the sky-high 729-1205. Email: [email protected] optusnet.com.au 2496. Email: [email protected] taxes the government likes.”

4 The Militant December 12, 2016 on the picket line Maggie Trowe, Editor

Help the Militant cover labor struggles around the world! This column gives a voice to those engaged in battle and building solidarity today — including workers on strike at Momentive, California port truckers fighting to be classified as workers, not owners, and construction workers demanding safe conditions. I invite those involved in workers’ battles to contact me at 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018; or (212) 244-4899; or [email protected]. We’ll work together to ensure your story is told. — Maggie Trowe

Rail workers in Turkey’s Izmir unionists, including all shop stewards province strike for higher wages and the union president, have not been Some 340 members of the Turk- rehired, allegedly because of “bad atten- ish Railway Workers’ Union in Izmir dance,” including approved time off. province on Turkey’s west coast went Working union members are fund- on strike Nov. 8-15 against the IZBAN raising to support those still out and join- transit company, which is owned by the ing pickets at the plant. When the com- Militant/Baskaran Appu pany told them to stop wearing union Locked-out Meat Workers Union members from Wairoa, New Zealand, rallied in Auckland provincial and municipal governments. Jan. 25 to back union court challenge against meat giant AFFCO. Social Oct. 29 celebrat- The workers demanded a 24 per- T-shirts on the picket line, “I told them ed ruling that 2015 lockout was illegal and demanded workers be called back to work. cent wage increase, which would have what I wear out here is my business,” brought the lowest pay to $533 a month, said union President Kevin Hickey. ruling and those ordering compensation just for now,” Wairoa Union Secretary and additional bonus pay. Bosses in- Bargaining for a new contract began for lost wages. Justin Kaimoana, told Radio New Zea- creased their offer from 12 to 15 percent, in November, ordered by the Employ- “We’re a bit brassed off,” said Joe land Oct. 6. “We made it for our fathers, but the unionists rejected that and con- ment Court after the company tried to Blake, a long-time beef grader at the our grandfathers who stood up for the Wairoa plant. “They’re trying to shut union back in the heyday of meat work- tinued the strike. IZBAN employed 14 use new labor laws to walk away from down the union through the courts.” ers and for the future, for our kids.” replacement workers. negotiations. AFFCO has appealed the latest court “We didn’t make this stand just for us, — Felicity Coggan “Working conditions are heavy,” a worker told the Istanbul daily Star. “We travel 350-400 kilometers [220-250 miles] daily.” He said some think the Locked-out Ind. UAW members reject Honeywell demands workers make big money. “But that’s BY BETSY FARLEY changed is to put a 15 percent cap on committee brought the company’s new wrong. I make 1,485 lira ($450). We’re SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After be- yearly increases in health care costs. But offer to the membership “because un- not demanding much. We want the peo- ing locked out for six months by Hon- they’re still demanding we accept insur- employment benefits expire in Novem- ple of Izmir to support us.” eywell Aerospace here, members of ance with a huge deductible and weekly ber and the members should have the Oguz Ozcamli, representative of the United Auto Workers Local 9 voted payments of $114 for a family.” right to decide what happens.” Confederation of Public Employees, overwhelmingly Nov. 12 to reject the “Honeywell offered us a union-bust- Although some unionists have gotten announced his union’s support for the company’s latest concession contract ing contract, and said, ‘If you don’t like other jobs, 266 of 317 members turned striking rail workers and said IZBAN’s offer. The plant makes airplane brakes it, we’ll lock you out until you like it!’” out to vote, rejecting Honeywell’s pro- use of strikebreakers was endangering and wheels for Boeing, Airbus and other said Bob Beduhn, a carbon fabrica- posal by 70 percent. Local 1508 mem- safety. Railway Workers’ Union mem- aerospace bosses. tor. “But this lockout is being watched bers in New York voted 30 to 6 in favor bers at the state-owned national railroad Honeywell locked the workers out all over the country. Unions are afraid of the new offer. also backed the strike. May 9 after they voted down a contract if Honeywell succeeds they’ll be next. “We are disappointed UAW members Officials ended the walkout Nov. 15 that would drastically increase health And companies think if Honeywell rejected our contract proposal,” Honey- after bosses added a modest increase of care costs, tear up work schedules and wins here they can do the same thing.” well spokesman Scott Sayres said in a bonus pay to the 15 percent wage hike. ignore job classifications. The company Pickets say health care is not the only Nov. 12 statement. “We listened to the — Yasemin Aydinoglu also locked out 41 UAW Local 1508 problem. “With their contract language union and made substantial moves on members at its Green Island, New York, we might as well not even have a union,” healthcare.” NZ meat workers celebrate gains, brake pad plant. said fabricator Brian Huge, 34. “Without UAW members here saw it different- continue fight against AFFCO “The company’s new proposal was seniority in layoffs, overtime and shift ly. “The company was hoping we’d cave WAIROA, New Zealand — Close basically the same offer,” Todd Treder, preference, all you have is discrimina- in after being locked out for six months,” to 100 AFFCO meat workers gathered Local 9 vice president and a pipefitter tion and playing favorites.” Tredor said. “But we’ve come too far to at a marae (Maori community center) in the plant, told the Militant. “All they Treder said the local union bargaining back down now.” here Oct. 29 to celebrate another vic- tory in their fight to defend their union and working conditions and to thank all who have supported them. The Court of 25, 50, and 75 years ago Appeal Oct. 6 upheld an Employment Court ruling that AFFCO’s 2015 lockout of some 200 workers here was illegal. Officials of the Meat Workers Union, E tu union (“stand tall” in Maori) and December 13, 1991 December 12, 1966 December 13, 1941 Council of Trade Unions were guests at The U.S. government continues a Almost half of the more than 3,000 The declaration of war on Japan the celebration. massive military operation off the coast members of the Minnesota Nurses As- by Congress brought automatically In September 2015, AFFCO, owned of Haiti aimed at preventing working sociation (MNA) have submitted one- into operation the war-time legislation by anti-union food giant Talleys, de- people from successfully fleeing the month resignation notices to pressure known as the “Espionage Act,” first en- manded workers returning from sea- repression of the military junta now in Twin City hospitals to grant immediate acted June 15, 1917. sonal layoff at eight of its plants sign power there. salary increases. Most of the Espionage Act deals with Individual Employment Agreements Meanwhile, talks initiated by the The resignations are part of an MNA such subjects as espionage by enemy instead of renegotiating the union con- Organization of American States be- drive to force the Twin Cities Hospital agents and the protection of military se- tract. tween Haiti’s deposed president Jean- Association to grant wage boosts more crets. However, Section 3 of Title I of Workers at Wairoa refused and were Bertrand Aristide and the current rulers than seven months before the nurses’ the Act served the purpose of prosecut- locked out. Unionists fought back, or- collapsed. contracts expire. The resignations be- ing political opponents of the first World ganizing protests, distributing donated Between October 29 and November come effective Dec. 26 if no settlement War. food and publicizing their fight at Parlia- 29 some 5,790 Haitians have been load- has been reached. The original law makes punishable ment in Wellington and court hearings ed onto 15 U.S. Coast Guard cutters The MNA has asked the immediate words or acts which “willfully” or by in Auckland. All but 32 were called back patrolling the 600-mile stretch of water raises because, it says, low nurse sala- “intent” interfere with the war. The to work in February after the Employ- between Haiti and the United States. ries are causing nursing shortages — ul- judicial interpretations applied this so ment Court ordered their reinstatement. Overcrowded, rickety boats continue timately harming patient care. broadly that words or acts, regardless of Delegations from the Whanganui and to leave the Haitian coast, despite the Reasons given at a Nov. 21 meeting of their intent, came under the act. Feilding plants — where AFFCO has fact that as many as half the people at- the nurses, in favor of mass resignation Raids were made on the offices of an- refused to rehire selected union mem- tempting the voyage die at sea. While rather than a calling in sick proposal, tiwar organizations. Nearly 2,000 pros- bers for the season in breach of seniority refusing to allow Haitians to enter the were that a sick call was “no real com- ecutions and other judicial proceedings — attended the social. United States, Washington is trying mitment” and that disunity might result took place during the last war, the most In Feilding members of the Com- to convince other countries to accept if some nurses began to return to work important of them under the Espionage munist League learned Nov. 11 that 15 some refugees. after one or two days of calling in. Act. The Militant December 12, 2016 5 Remarks by Raúl Castro Fidel’s life work: ‘Cuba’s Continued from front page ity. He led a socialist revolution socialist revolution, its “of the humble, by the humble, for the humble” — a revolution that became a symbol of the example & ongoing march’ anti-colonial, anti-apartheid and anti-imperialist struggle The following letter was sent to Raúl and economic relations based on the lib- for the emancipation and dig- Castro Ruz, first secretary of the Com- erating capacities of working people and nity of the people. munist Party of Cuba, Nov. 27. the youth they inspire. His vibrant words echo in Fidel belongs to Cuba first and fore- this square today as they did Dear Compañero Raúl, most, to the men and women of José when peasants gathered here There were two great socialist revo- Martí and Antonio Maceo. His highest July 26, 1959, in support of the lutions in the twentieth century, one in achievement was forging in struggle a agrarian reform — a moment, Russia, the other in Cuba. Neither was revolutionary cadre, a communist cad- like crossing the Rubicon, that the product of a single individual. Both re, capable of leading the workers and earned the revolution a death were the result of the operations of capi- farmers of Cuba to establish the first sentence. Here Fidel reaf- talism itself. But without the presence free territory of the Americas and suc- firmed, “The agrarian reform cessfully defend it for more than five and is moving forward.” And we Hector Planes Letter from Jack Barnes, a half decades against the determination carried it out. Today, 57 years Raúl Castro prepares to speak Nov. 29 in Havana. to destroy it by the mightiest and most later, we are honoring the per- Socialist Workers Party national Secretary brutal empire the world has known. son who conceived it and led it. try would learn to read and write (Ap- But Fidel belongs to the working At this site, together with him, we plause), to ensure, as Fidel said at the people of the world as well. From Latin and political leadership of Vladimir voted to approve the First and Second time, that “the young have a future in America and the Caribbean, to Africa Declarations of Havana, in 1960 and their hands.” (Applause) Lenin and of Fidel Castro Ruz at deci- and Asia, to North America and Europe, 1962. (Applause) Faced with aggression With great emotion, right here, we sive moments in those historic battles by he showed us in action what proletarian backed by the Organization of Ameri- heard the Commander in Chief, here working people, there is no reason to be- internationalism means. During Cuba’s can States, Fidel proclaimed that “be- in this square, during the solemn com- lieve either revolution would have been historic sixteen-year mission aiding the Top, Verde Olivo; above, Hector Planes hind the homeland, behind the banner memoration of October 1967 to pay victorious. people of Angola and Namibia against Fidel “showed us in action what proletarian internationalism means,” wrote SWP National of freedom, behind this emancipatory tribute to the unforgettable Commander Apart from Lenin and Fidel, the his- apartheid South Africa and its promot- Secretary Jack Barnes. Top, Fidel Castro and South African revolutionary leader Nelson revolution ... stand a people with digni- Che Guevara. We returned here 30 years tory of the twentieth century — and the ers in Washington, Fidel demonstrated Mandela in Havana, 1991. Above, honor guard pays tribute to Castro, including Gerardo Hernández, left, and Fernando González, second from right, who were imprisoned many years ty” ready to defend their independence later, during the most difficult moments twenty-first — is unthinkable. Both of his unmatched political leadership on and “the common destiny of a liberated of the Special Period [of economic hard- by Washington. Both were among hundreds of thousands of Cubans who fought in Angola to them, Marxist students of science and a world scale. He also proved, as the defeat South African invasion, setting stage for overturn of apartheid regime in South Africa. Latin America.” ship Cuba faced after the collapse of the history, gave their lives to uprooting the Rebel Army combatants of the Sierra I was with Fidel in the building now Soviet Union], to commit ourselves, be- dog-eat-dog exploitation, oppression, knew well, that he was one of the toilers’ slandered man of our lifetimes. our turn.” He cannot be replaced, but his housing Ministry of the Revolutionary fore his remains, to follow his immortal Above, Cubahora/Fernando Medina and compulsion on which the capital- greatest military commanders ever. As Fidel said in his farewell words to life work, Cuba’s socialist revolution — Top, Fidel Castro speaks to people in Colón, Jan. 7, 1959, day before Freedom Caravan reached Havana. Armed Forces, (alongside the Plaza) [in example. ist world order depends and replacing All this is why Fidel became the most the Seventh Congress of the Communist its example, and above all its ongoing Moved and filled with outrage, we at- Caravan took week to cross Cuba, as Fidel and other leaders addressed outpourings of working people 1960], when we heard the explosion of to explain character of revolution and win broader participation. Above, residents of Cárdenas fill it with a workers state, with new social loved as well as the most hated, the most Party of Cuba in April, “We all reach march — stand as his monument. He the French ship La Coubre — the vessel tended the memorial ceremony for the streets Nov. 30 to demonstrate commitment to revolution as caravan carrying Castro’s ashes passes. needs no other. that brought the first and only weapons 73 persons murdered by state terrorism For our part, members of the Social- we were able to buy in Europe. in the [October 1976] bombing of the del presented his view of revolution — Dear Fidel: ist Workers Party and Young Socialists We went to the docks to help the vic- Cubana Airlines airliner over Barbados. a conception millions of Cubans have Alongside the monument to José Millions turn out in Cuba for Freedom Caravan will continue to do everything in our tims. We knew the explosion could only Those who died included all the young made their own, with their signature, Martí, our national hero and intellectual Continued from front page town along the way to explain the goals ington and their media, Socialist Work- power to publish and spread the truth have come from the ship where those winners of gold medals in the Fourth over the last few days in a sacred act author of the assault on the Moncada gle, for the emancipation and dignity of the revolution and mobilize broader ers Party members in the U.S. find inter- about the Cuban Revolution and Fidel’s weapons were being unloaded. Then a Central American and Caribbean Fenc- of commitment [see the pledge below]. Garrison, we have gathered for more of the people,” said Raúl Castro, first participation by workers and farmers. est in the revolution and the political ac- leadership, to make it known to working few minutes after our arrival, like a le- ing Championships. On that occasion (Applause) than half a century in moments of ex- secretary of the Central Committee Among the millions who’ve come tions of its leaders. To aid these political people in the United States and through- thal trap, a second explosion occurred. we repeated with him, “When an ener- This is the place where we have come traordinary pain — or to honor our mar- of the Cuban Communist Party and into the streets since Castro’s death are discussions while introducing the party out the world. With unshakable confi- The two together caused 101 deaths, getic and virile people weeps…” (shouts to support the agreements reached at our tyrs, proclaim our ideals, celebrate our president of Cuba, at a rally of hun- internationalist volunteers of all ages to workers on their doorsteps, socialist dence in the working class and its allies, with many wounded. of “Injustice trembles!”) Exactly, “In- congresses of the Communist Party of symbols, and consult the people regard- dreds of thousands at the Plaza of the who have served as combatants, teach- workers make use of the Militant and we will continue to organize and act on Here, with Fidel, in December 1961, justice trembles!” (Applause) Cuba. ing important decisions. Revolution in Havana Nov. 29. (Print- ers, medical personnel, and in other dozens of books by leaders of the Cuban the course Fidel uncompromisingly pre- we declared Cuba to be a Territory Free This Plaza is the home of important In this same spirit, the people have Precisely here, where we commemo- ed in full in this issue.) ways at the request of leaders of national Revolution and of the SWP telling the sented to the world in 1961, a month be- of Illiteracy — at the conclusion of the May Day marches in the capital. come during these last few days, with rate our victories, we say to you, along- Millions of Cubans — from all gener- liberation struggles and governments in truth about Cuba and the world. fore the victorious battle of Playa Girón: literacy campaign carried out by more In 1996, against the [U.S.] blockade large participation by young people, to side our self-sacrificing, fighting, heroic ations that have participated in the revo- the Americas, Africa, Asia and beyond. “Despite those who celebrated Cas- “There will be a victorious revolution than 250,000 teachers and students, a and the Helms-Burton Act, which are pay heartfelt tribute and pledge loyalty people: ¡Hasta la victoria siempre! Ever lution for six decades — have turned out Cuban leaders are encouraging those tro’s death — which is disgusting — his in the United States before a victorious campaign that did not stop. still in effect. The enormous march of to the ideas and lifework of the Com- onward to victory! (Shouts of ¡Siempre! for rallies and lined roads in rural areas, who wish to, to sign a pledge to uphold legacy and achievements in Cuba and counterrevolution in Cuba.” That same year veterans of the Rebel 1999. And the Open Platform of Youth, mander in Chief of the Cuban Revolu- Applause. Shouts of “¡Viva Fidel! ¡Viva towns and cities to cheer the contingent Cuba’s revolutionary course as ex- the world can’t be erased,” Jairo Ro- Comradely, Army and the emerging units of Revo- Students and Workers of 2000, when Fi- tion. (Applause) Raúl!”) carrying Fidel’s ashes on a four-day pressed by Fidel Castro in a well-known driguez, a Cuban-born office worker in lutionary National Militias battled the journey to Santiago de Cuba at the east- May Day speech in 2000. (See below.) Royal Palm Beach, Florida, told SWP mercenaries at Playa Girón [Bay of ern end of island. The itinerary follows Amid widespread discussions about the member Anthony Dutrow Nov. 29. Jack Barnes Pigs] while, in mountainous areas they Cuban leaders speak at Chicago ‘Solidarity Evening’ in reverse the route taken by the Free- significance of the Cuban Revolution, its Another sign of the Cuban Revolu- National Secretary fought armed bands, infiltrated from dom Caravan of January 1959. history and future, and the revolutionary Continued on page 9 Socialist Workers Party abroad, that carried out many vile acts, BY JOHN HAWKINS at a meeting here Nov. 19. Resumption of diplomatic relations After a two-year revolutionary war guidance and leadership that Fidel Cas- including the murder of 10 young lit- CHICAGO — “Dec. 17, 2014, is proof That was the day almost two years ago “is a victory not only for the Cuban peo- culminating in the triumph of the Rebel tro provided, the Cuban masses have eracy teachers. A victory was won at that victory is possible,” Miguel Fraga, when Cuban President Raúl Castro and ple but also for all your efforts,” Fraga Army and flight of U.S.-backed dictator come out to schools, hospitals and pub- Further reading on Fidel Castro, Girón. At the same time we fulfilled first secretary of the Cuban Embassy in President Barack Obama announced said. “We want to express our thanks.” Fulgencio Batista Jan. 1, 1959, Castro lic buildings to make that affirmation. the Cuban Revolution and the world the commitment that the entire coun- Washington, D.C., told some 150 people that diplomatic relations between the This doesn’t mean “that relations are led the victorious forces in a weeklong In face of a relentless campaign to two countries, broken by Washington normalized,” he emphasized. “The em- caravan of jeeps, tanks, trucks and other vilify Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revo- The First and Second in 1961, would be re-established. It was bargo is still there. The U.S. military vehicles to Havana, stopping in every lution by the propertied rulers in Wash- Sign the petition to free Oscar López! also the day five Cuban revolutionaries base at Guantánamo is still there. Travel Declarations of Havana long incarcerated in U.S. prisons were restrictions are still there. And efforts to Manifestos of Revolutionary Struggle in the The National Boricua Human Rights Net- reunited on Cuban soil. undermine the revolution are still there. Workers, youth affirm commitment to revolution Americas Adopted by the Cuban People work and other supporters of the fight to free The “Evening in Solidarity with Cuba: While some progress has been made, Also in Spanish, French, Greek, Arabic, Farsi. $10 Oscar López are campaigning to get more than End Washington’s Continued Blockade, there is still a long way to go. Below is the pledge millions of Cubans have signed, based on a speech 100,000 signatures on an online petition to the Return Guantánamo!” was held in con- “Cuba is not going to change our val- Fidel Castro presented at a mass rally on May 1, 2000. How Far We Slaves Have Come! White House. López has been imprisoned in the junction with the annual meeting of the ues, and we are not going to abandon South Africa and Cuba in Today’s World Revolution means having a sense of history. It means changing everything U.S. for more than 35 years for his participation National Network on Cuba, a coalition of our ideals,” Fraga said. Those aren’t bar- by Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro that must be changed. It means full equality and freedom. It means being in the fight for independence for Puerto Rico. gaining chips in talks with Washington. Also in Spanish, Farsi. $10 U.S. solidarity groups. For the first time treated and treating others like human beings. It means achieving liberation by As of Nov. 30 more than 72,000 people in many years, the NNOC was able to “We are going to continue to support had signed. ourselves and through our own efforts. It means challenging powerful, domi- Cuba and the Coming meet outside Washington or New York Venezuela. We are going to continue to nant forces within and without our society and nation. It means defending the “President Obama, do what is right and re- due to the recent loosening of travel re- support Bolivia. We are going to con- lease Oscar López Rivera before your term values we believe in, whatever the sacrifice. It means modesty, selflessness, American Revolution strictions imposed by the U.S. govern- tinue to back the fight for independence ends,” the petition says in part. self-sacrifice, solidarity, and heroism. It means fighting with boldness, intelli- by Jack Barnes ment on Cuban diplomatic personnel. for Puerto Rico,” Fraga said. “Like José According to the White House, if the petition gence, and realism. It means never lying or violating moral principles. It means The Cuban Revolution had a worldwide gathers 100,000 signatures by Dec. 11, it will The event was sponsored by the NNOC, Martí we will continue to subscribe to a profound conviction that no power in the world can crush the force of truth impact, including on workers and youth receive an official response from the president. Chicago Cuba Coalition, International the idea that our homeland is all human- and ideas. Revolution means unity. It means independence. It means fighting in the imperialist heartland. To add your name, go to: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/presi- Committee for Peace, Justice and Dig- ity. That’s why we send doctors around for our dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world, which is the foundation Also in Spanish, French, Farsi. $10 dent-obama-free-oscar-lopez-rivera-he-ends-his-term-president nity, and endorsed by other groups. Continued on page 9 of our patriotism, our socialism, and our internationalism. www.pathfinderpress.com

6 The Militant December 12, 2016 The Militant December 12, 2016 7 US rulers’ attacks on women’s right to abortion

Below are excerpts from the new their constitutional right — age book The Clintons’ Anti-Working-Class restrictions, “consent” by parents, Record: Why Washington Fears Work- longer waiting periods, manda- ing People by Jack Barnes, national tory “counseling” about “alter- secretary of the Socialist Workers Par- natives,” safety, and many more. ty. This section, which takes up the of- Congress and the White House fensive against women’s right to choose have barred (1) federal Medicaid abortion that has continued under Dem- funding for abortions, even those ocratic and Republican administrations that are “medically necessary” alike, is based on a public talk given in (the 1976 “Hyde amendment”); March 2001, just after President Bill (2) federal insurance coverage for Clinton left office. Copyright © 2016 by abortions for women in the armed Pathfinder Press. Reprinted by permis- forces (except in cases of rape or sion. incest, or danger to the woman’s life), or use of military medical by Jack Barnes facilities for the procedure even if Over the quarter century since the Su- paid by other means; and (3) US preme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, the As opponents of women’s rights have imposed more onerous restrictions on access to abortion proce- government funding of “foreign political backlash from sections of the dures, average distance women must travel to reach a clinic has grown. In rural counties, more than aid” programs if abortion-related three-quarters of women must drive more than 40 miles, and one-third must drive more than 100 miles. bourgeoisie against decriminalization of assistance is included in the pro- medical advances inevitably make ear- That shift, of course, didn’t come as gram (the 1973 “Helms amendment”). From the pages of lier and earlier in the pregnancy. a sudden “judicial epiphany.” It was the These “restrictions” have taken a The Clintons’ anti- Opponents of women’s rights have product of victories won in the streets in heavy toll. Among other things, today taken advantage of the Supreme Court’s the 1950s and 1960s by millions of fight- there is not a single medical facility pro- working-class Record “medical” criteria from the outset. And ers for Black rights, as well as ongoing viding abortions in a third of all cities they’ve made the most of the fact that mobilizations against Washington’s and nearly 90 percent of the counties in a woman’s decision to end a pregnancy the 1973 court decision was handed murderous war in Vietnam. Those bat- the United States — 90 percent! As a re- has been at the center of assaults on the down while a raging debate had not yet tles, in turn, gave impetus to a new wave sult, the extra cost of travel alone means social and economic gains of women. It been fought out and won by those who of activity and consciousness around the that working-class women and those is part of the broader attack on the rights insisted that a woman’s decision on this fight for women’s rights. living in rural areas are at a big disad- and living conditions of working people. medical procedure falls under the pro- But when the Supreme Court issued vantage in having access to this medical Despite George W. Bush’s election tection of our hard-won constitutional its opinion on abortion rights in 1973, procedure. campaign rhetoric, the new administra- rights. the justices retreated. They rejected tion is no more likely than its predeces- The Fourteenth Amendment to the building on their ruling just two years sors to attempt a head-on assault against US Constitution, ratified in 1868, was earlier affirming women’s equal protec- 1. For the first time since ratification of a woman’s right to choose. Nonetheless, a direct conquest of the Second Ameri- tion under the laws. Instead, they issued the Fourteenth Amendment in 1868, attacks on abortion rights continue, and can Revolution. Among its provisions, Roe v. Wade, which — in the words of the US Supreme Court in its 1971 Reed v. Reed decision struck down a state the amendment established that neither they’ve been made easier by the charac- one former US solicitor general — read law on grounds that it violated the ter and content of the 1973 court ruling. federal nor state authorities could “deny more “like a set of hospital rules and amendment’s Equal Protection Clause Roe v. Wade was based not on a to any person within its jurisdiction the regulations.” by discriminating against women. The woman’s right “to equal protection of equal protection of the laws” — not to Since then, state governments have Idaho state law in dispute gave prefer- the laws” guaranteed by the Fourteenth any male person, not to any person of loaded on more than seven hundred laws ence to men over women in appoint- Amendment to the Constitution, but on a particular race, not just to any person erecting obstacles to women exercising ment as administrators of estates. medical criteria instead. During the first who is a citizen. No government could three months (“trimester”), the court deny those rights to any person — peri- ruled, the decision to terminate a preg- od. That’s what the Fourteenth Amend- A victory in pushing back assaults on women’s rights nancy “must be left to the medical judg- ment says. ment of a pregnant woman’s attending Nonetheless, for more than a century, physician” (not to the woman herself, one federal court after another denied but to a doctor!). women just that. It wasn’t until 1971 that At the same time, the court allowed the US Supreme Court — in an opinion state governments to ban most abor- written by Chief Justice Warren Burger, tions after “viability,” described in Roe a Nixon appointee — finally affirmed v. Wade as the point at which a fetus that women were included in the Four- is “potentially able to live outside the teenth Amendment’s “equal protection mother’s womb” — something that under the laws.” 1

It’s their system that’s deplorable, not us! Three books for today’s deepening debate among working people looking for a way forward in face of capitalism’s global economic crisis, social calamity and spreading wars. SPECIAL OFFER $5! The Clintons’ Militant/Ellen Brickley Anti-Working-Class Record Abortion rights supporters celebrate in Washington, D.C., following June 27 Supreme Court decision striking down most burdensome provisions of Texas law. Since 2010, enemies of a woman’s right to choose have increasingly focused on legislation requiring that abortions be treated differently from other out-patient surgical procedures. These assaults have been cynically packaged as “protections” of women’s health. On June 27, 2016, a major victory was registered pushing back “health” regulations restricting women’s access to abortion. The US Supreme Court struck down provisions of a 2013 Texas law that had already resulted in clos- ing half the state’s forty abortion clinics, and if fully implemented could have reduced facilities to ten or fewer. Those consequences fell especially hard on women from the working class and from families on farms and in rural towns. The court rejected the heart of the Texas legislation, which had (1) re- Also in Spanish, French Also in Spanish quired any doctor performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, and (2) demanded that family planning and prenatal clinics Coming soon in Spanish Are They Rich Because They’re providing abortions meet hospital standards. Such requirements are not im- Smart? and Is Socialist Revolution in posed on clinics handling more medically dangerous procedures, including Contact Socialist Workers colonoscopies, tonsillectomies, and dental surgery. Party or Communist the US Possible? $7 each or $5 each This victory for women’s rights opens the way to fight to block similar anti- League nearest you. See with a subscription to the Militant. directory on page 4. working-class legislation in Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and other states.

8 The Militant December 12, 2016 Solidarity event in Chicago Continued from page 6 er, José López, spoke at the meeting. the world. That’s why we sent soldiers to “The collaboration between revolu- Angola to help fight apartheid.” tionaries from Puerto Rico and Cuba The release from U.S. prisons of the dates back to the 19th century,” said Cuban Five — Gerardo Hernández, López, executive director of the Puerto Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Rican Cultural Center in Chicago. Fernando González and René González “I can remember meetings in my fam- — grew out of a 16-year international ily’s living room where supporters of the campaign for their freedom. The Cuban July 26 movement here in Chicago met revolutionaries had come to the U.S. to raise funds and organize support for in the 1990s to monitor plans by para- the revolutionaries in the mountains in military forces here to carry out violent Cuba fighting to overthrow Fulgencio assaults against Cuba and supporters of Batista’s dictatorship,” he said. the Cuban Revolution abroad. He asked participants to sign the on- “Every day Cubans have to make a line petition demanding Obama free decision — to surrender or to continue Oscar López now. The goal is to get Militant/Dan Fein fighting,” Fraga said. “And every day 100,000 signatures by Dec. 11. (See box Nov. 19 panel in Chicago included, from left, Miguel Fraga of the Cuban Embassy; Leima we decide in our great majority to keep on page 6.) Martínez and Sandra Ramírez, speaking, of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples; and José López, brother of imprisoned Puerto Rican independence fighter Oscar López. fighting.” “When Fernando González, one of Behind the platform were two large the Cuban Five and now vice president Cuba with the end of the embargo?” was the Standing Rock Sioux in their fight banners: one calling for an end to the of the Cuban Institute for Friendship asked at the University of Illinois here. to defend their treaty rights, sacred sites U.S. embargo, the other demanding with the Peoples (ICAP), heard we were “The end of the embargo will greatly and water sources threatened by con- freedom for Oscar López Rivera, im- going to be in Chicago, he said we had a strengthen the economy of Cuba,” Fraga struction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. prisoned for 35 years for fighting for in- special obligation to deepen our collabo- replied. “Foreign companies invest in “It’s an awakening for all indigenous dependence of the U.S. colony of Puerto ration with those fighting to free Oscar Cuba only under our rules.” people,” student Raven Ziegler ex- Rico. The jailed freedom fighter’s broth- López,” Sandra Ramírez told the crowd. Accompanying Fraga and Ramírez plained. “Over 500 tribes have extended She is ICAP North American director. on the program was Leima Martínez solidarity.” “Fernando was Oscar’s cellmate while from the North America division of “In Cuba we have a long history of Freedom Caravan imprisoned in Terre Haute,” Ramírez ICAP. Over previous days the two ICAP struggle too,” Ramírez said. “We defend said. “We support Puerto Rican inde- leaders had spoken in Milwaukee, Pitts- our principles as part of our sovereign- Continued from page 7 pendence. And as we thank those who burgh and Minnesota. ty.” tion’s intransigent working-class course fought to free the Five, we urge you to In Minneapolis they held an hour- Also speaking at the Nov. 19 Chicago was the refusal of Washington or its join the fight to free Oscar.” and-a-half exchange at the American In- meeting were Harold Rogers, director of imperialist allies to send any high level Fraga also spoke at four Chicago-area dian Student Cultural Center at the Uni- international affairs for the Coalition of representative to events in Cuba mark- campus meetings Nov. 17-21. “Aren’t versity of Minnesota. The two Cubans Black Trade Unionists, and Aislinn Pul- ing Castro’s death. you afraid of McDonald’s overrunning learned about the movement to support ley of Black Lives Matter. In December 2014 President Barack Obama and Raúl Castro announced talks to restore diplomatic relations, which Washington had broken off in US election shows crisis of two-party capitalist rule 1961. This move reflected that Obama by Naomi Craine parties is rooted in the world crisis of being decimated — that’s why Donald and a substantial majority of the ruling The 2016 election exposed a historic capitalist production and trade — in de- Trump won,” Sanders told the crowd at class he represents had decided it was crisis in the stability of the two-party cades of the employers trying to reverse a Nov. 20 Boston event promoting his necessary to try different means to over- system through which the U.S. imperi- their falling profit rates on the backs of new book Our Revolution: A Future to throw the Cuban Revolution. alist rulers have governed for more than working people. Believe In. Decades of attempts to assassinate Fi- a century. “For the first time in decades, the US Hillary Clinton had campaigned say- del, to back violent assaults on the island The Republican Party, fractured by rulers and their government have begun ing the economy was great and that by paramilitary bands organized from Donald Trump’s primary victory over to fear the working class,” Clark notes. workers attracted to Trump because inside the U.S., to punish the Cuban many of the party bosses’ “brightest and “More working people are beginning they were upset about losing jobs were people through a brutal economic em- best,” is being rebuilt around the presi- to see that the bosses and political par- “deplorables” and “irredeemable.” bargo had left Washington isolated in dent-elect. ties have no ‘solutions’ that don’t further Sanders urges new candidates, many Latin America and the Caribbean with The Democratic Party is in disarray load the costs — monetary and human from the Occupy Wall Street movement diminishing capacity to influence class and its leadership faces a challenge from — of the crisis of their system on us.” of a few years ago, to seek office. relations in Cuba. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is The rulers “sense that mounting strug- And he says the Democrats have to The actions by the Cuban leadership leading a “revolution” to take over. gle — class struggle — lies ahead.” get rid of “identity politics,” looking for and response of Cuban working people “The bourgeois two-party system Trump, the billionaire real estate mo- a future party built solely on Blacks, in the wake of Fidel Castro’s death have has, for so long, delivered nothing but gul, said he spoke for the working class Hispanics and women. The focus has to increased the capacity of Cuban workers crushed expectations,” notes Social- who had no voice in Washington. He be on appealing to workers who feel ex- and farmers to advance and strengthen ist Workers Party leader Steve Clark in said there was a jobs crisis, that as a po- ploited, he said. the revolution that Fidel devoted his life the introduction to The Clintons’ Anti- litical “outsider” he would use his busi- When Michigan officials certi- to — to deepen and spread its working- Working-Class Record: Why Washing- ness acumen to change things. And he fied Trump the winner there Nov. 28, class internationalism and its moral val- ton Fears Working People by SWP Na- mixed in rightist demagoguery. it brought the Electoral College vote ues of human solidarity, to continue to tional Secretary Jack Barnes. Published Trump’s campaign was opposed by to 306 for Trump and 232 for Clinton. show the way forward for the oppressed just before the election, the book shows many in the Republican machine and Meanwhile, Clinton’s lead in the popu- and exploited the world over. how the political turmoil in the bosses’ the conservative press. His victory shut lar vote has reached about 2 million, en- them up and won some over. couraging some who oppose Trump to The president-elect has begun to re- claim his election was illegitimate. build the party in his image, seeking Trump says he ran to win the Elec- Appeal of Attica ‘Militant’ ban to forge a conservative capitalist party toral College. “If the election were based Continued from front page “No reasonable, fair minded reading” with a base in the working class. His on total popular vote,” he said, “I would bars to get the news they want. of the Militant articles could conclude popularity grew when he said he would have campaigned in New York, Florida New York State Department of Cor- that they incite disobedience, much less take a salary of $1 a year. and California and won even bigger,” rections regulations say that its policy is pose “a clear and immediate” risk of re- Many of his cabinet nominations re- which likely is true. Without campaign- “to encourage inmates to read publica- bellion, said the paper’s Nov. 3 appeal. flect this new party. One of the sharpest ing there, Trump won in more than a tions from varied sources if such mate- “Workers behind bars have the right debates has been over the selection of dozen upstate New York counties where rial does not encourage them to engage to read different political views and to secretary of state. One candidate is Mitt workers voted for “change” with Obama in behavior that might be disruptive to form and hold their own opinions,” John Romney, the losing Republican presi- in 2012. orderly facility operations.” Studer, the Militant’s editor, said after dential nominee in 2012 and a sharp As he appeals to the working class, State prison authorities put new rules Attica impounded the Oct. 3 issue. critic of Trump during the campaign. Trump’s cabinet picks, such as Wilbur in place after a lawsuit by the Fortune “The Militant will appeal this latest Others are outside the former party es- Ross for Secretary of Commerce, dem- Society in 1970 overturned a ban on the act of censorship and readers can help tablishment. onstrate his intention to rule in the boss- group’s newsletter Fortune News. The us win this fight,” Studer said. “Let- Trump gave the OK to Kellyanne es’ interests. Ross’ International Coal court ruled prisoners do not lose their ters from unionists, activists in the fight Conway, one of his top advisers, to pub- Group owned the Sago Mine in West constitutional protections just because against police brutality, from church licly oppose Romney’s nomination. She Virginia, where 12 miners died in a they are behind bars. Banning the news- groups and other organizations in sup- told CNN Nov. 27, “I’m all for party uni- 2006 explosion from lack of safety mea- letter could only be justified by showing port of the Militant’s fight against cen- ty, but I’m not sure we have to pay for sures. He serves on the board of steel gi- “a clear and present danger to prison dis- sorship can put the spotlight on the vio- that with the secretary of state position.” ant ArcelorMittal, spearheading attacks cipline or security,” the court said. lation of constitutional rights at Attica.” “The working class of this country is on steelworkers.

The Militant December 12, 2016 9