Chicago Teachers Stand Up to the SOCIALIST Billionaires’ Agenda p. 5

ALTERNATIVEIssue #22 - April 2016 Suggested Donation: $2

Stop Trump Build a Left Political Alternative

What is Democratic How Do We Fight the Right? Socialism? page 6 Interview With Kshama Is Trump a Fascist? Sawant page 7 page 4 Who Can We -Mailing label here- Trust With the Environment? page 8 Why Bernie Sanders Should Run Through Boston Student Walkout November Against Cuts page 3 page 10 WHAT WE STAND FOR WHY I AM A SOCIALIST

Fighting for the 99% JJImmediate, unconditional legalization and JJNo budget cuts to education and social equal rights for all undocumented immigrants. services! Full funding for all community needs. JJBuild a mass movement against police A major increase in taxes on the rich and big brutality and the institutional racism of the business, not working people. The federal criminal justice system. Invest in rehabilitation, government should bail out states to prevent job training, and living-wage jobs, not prisons! Zach Shrewsbury cuts and layoffs. Abolish the death penalty. Black Lives Matter. Security Guard JJCreate living-wage union jobs for all the JJFight sexual harassment, violence against unemployed through public works programs women, and all forms of sexism. Seattle, WA to develop mass transit, renewable energy, JJDefend a woman’s right to choose whether infrastructure, health care, education, and and when to have children. For a publicly affordable housing. funded, single-payer health care system with I first discovered I was a social- JJRaise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour, free reproductive services, including all forms ist when I was in the Marine Corps adjusted annually for cost of living increases, of birth control and safe, accessible abortions. deployed to Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as a step toward a living wage for all. Comprehensive sex education. Paid maternity on the fence line. I remember seeing JJFree, high quality public education for all from and paternity leave. Fully subsidized, high- the Cuban soldier across the field pre-school through college. Cancel student quality child care. from me through my binoculars, and JJEqual rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and he seemed just the same as I and my friends enraged that African Americans and Latinos debt. Full funding for schools to dramatically and Muslims were all being demonized by the lower teacher-student ratios. Stop the focus transgender people, including same-sex were. Exhausted, hot, and wondering why he marriage. was there. Then it dawned on me ... that sol- media. I became a socialist to fight against on high stakes testing and the drive to all the injustice and inequality in this country privatize public education. dier, the so-called enemy is just like me. Money for Jobs and Education, I went on to discover and research about and the world. I sacrifice for all people so we JJFree, high quality health care for all. Replace socialism after that moment and by watching can all live a life where no one goes hungry or the failed for-profit insurance companies with Not War the Occupy Wall Street protests. I became thirsty. A life where sick people are provided a publicly funded single-payer system as a JJEnd the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. disgusted by the fact that people have to for. A life where we are all equals regard- step toward fully socialized medicine. Bring all the troops home now! pay thousands of dollars when they get sick; less of race, gender, or creed. As Eugene V. JJA guaranteed decent pension for all. No cuts JJSlash the military budget. No drones. Shut Debs said, “I have no country to fight for; my down Guantanamo. I was angry at the fact that all my friends to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid! were graduating college with $40,000 in country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the JJRepeal the Patriot Act, the NDAA, and all JJStop home foreclosures and evictions. For debt. I was sickened at the fact that women world.” other attacks on democratic rights. public ownership and democratic control of are still fighting to be equal in today’s society Comrades, remember to never give up our fight! Never give ground! Solidarity forever! J the major banks. Break with the Two Parties when it’s so obvious they should be. I was JJA minimum guaranteed weekly income of $600/week for the unemployed, disabled, of Big Business stay-at-home parents, the elderly, and others JJFor a mass workers’ party drawing together unable to work. workers, young people, and activists from Socialist Alternative At Seattle JJRepeal all anti-union laws like Taft-Hartley. For workplace, environmental, civil rights, and democratic unions run by the rank-and-file to women’s campaigns to provide a fighting, fight for better pay, working conditions, and political alternative to the corporate parties. social services. Full-time union officials should JJUnions and social movement organizations Sanders Rallies be regularly elected and receive the average should stop funding and supporting the In the week leading up to the wage of those they represent. Democratic and Republican Parties and Washington state caucuses on J instead organize independent left-wing, anti- JNo more layoffs! Take bankrupt and failing March 27, Bernie Sanders held companies into public ownership and retool corporate candidates and coalitions as a first step toward building a workers’ party. two rallies in Seattle. Over 800 them for socially necessary green production. copies of Socialist Alternative were JJShorten the workweek with no loss in pay Socialism and Internationalism sold to people heading into these and benefits; share out the work with the JJCapitalism produces poverty, inequality, two events, showing the interest of unemployed and create new jobs. environmental destruction, and war. We need Sanders’ supporters in the ideas of Environmental Sustainability an international struggle against this system. socialism and in the call to build a JJRepeal corporate “free trade” agreements, new party of the 99% that featured JJFight climate change. Organize mass protests on the cover of the March issue. and civil disobedience to block the Keystone which mean job losses and a race to the bottom for workers and the environment. On March 20, we talked to photo credit: Alex Garland XL oil pipeline, coal export terminals, and thousands of people outside Key JJSolidarity with the struggles of workers and fracking. Massive public investment in Arena. We argued that Bernie, Kshama’s speech called for “taking [giant oppressed peoples internationally: An injury renewable energy and efficiency technologies even if he loses the nomination, should corporations] into public ownership.” At to one is an injury to all. to rapidly replace fossil fuels. run all the way to November as an inde- first, the reaction to this call was disjointed J JJA major expansion of public transportation JTake into public ownership the top 500 pendent and not let the political revolution and somewhat hesitant. Given a moment to provide low-fare, high-speed, accessible corporations and banks that dominate become co-opted by the corporate cam- to digest the idea, the crowd reacted with transit. the U.S. economy. Run them under the paign of Hillary Clinton. Many were under- strong applause for a demand that goes JJPublic ownership of the big energy companies. democratic management of elected standably concerned that an independent significantly beyond Bernie’s current All workers in polluting industries should be representatives of the workers and the left candidate would take votes away from program. guaranteed retraining and new living-wage broader public. Compensation to be paid on the Democrats and help Trump, assuming Our experience selling papers and the jobs in socially useful green production. the basis of proven need to small investors, he is the Republican nominee. However, response to Kshama’s speech are a graphic not millionaires. nearly everyone we talked to agreed that a illustration of how the Sanders campaign Equal Rights for All JJA democratic socialist plan for the economy third party was necessary, and they were has politicized and radicalized millions, JJFight discrimination based on race, nationality, based on the interests of the overwhelming deeply frustrated with the Democratic particularly young people. It further shows gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, majority of people and the environment. Party establishment and its attempts to the huge opening for independent left age, and all other forms of prejudice. Equal For a socialist United States and a socialist hamper Bernie’s campaign. Nearly two politics and for building a socialist politi- pay for equal work. world. J hundred people signed up to learn more cal force. We will continue to engage in about Socialist Alternative. these discussions with Sanders support- Socialist Alternative Editor Tom Crean • Editorial Board Ty Moore, Calvin Priest, Tony Wilsdon, Jess Spear, Six days later, at Safeco Field, thou- ers in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Joshua Koritz, George Brown, Bryan Watson sands packed the baseball stadium and and other states where primaries are to be • [email protected] heard Seattle socialist City Councilmem- held in coming weeks. J • PO Box 150457, Brooklyn, NY 11215 ber Kshama Sawant speak before Bernie.

2 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 POLITICS The Political Revolution Continues Bernie: Time to Plan The Jailbreak

Stephan Kimmerle We have pointed out before that the Democratic establishment – As we go to press, despite Hill- reflecting the interests of the top ary Clinton’s big delegate lead, the one percent – cannot accept Sand- political revolution is alive and fight- ers’ full program of radical reforms ing back. Sanders won Washington even just as a list of “promises.” It state, Alaska, and Hawaii in a land- would give too much encourage- slide. In all the remaining states ment to the working class to fight that have not yet voted, millennials for real change. Of course, this does and other “Sandernistas” are eager not mean that the Democrats can’t to raise their voice for $15 an hour shift their rhetoric a few degrees to nationwide, for Medicare for all, the left, as Hillary already has. But and for tuition-free education. does that mean that, when push At the same time, the debate comes to shove, they will deliver on has started about what to do if primary promises? Sanders falls further behind and However, the way Sanders can’t win the nomination. Even raised these points in the interview after the impressive successes on suggests that, if he fails to win the March 26, he needs to win 57 per- nomination, his strategy would be cent of all the remaining pledged to try to push her to the left and delegates from all the upcoming reform the Democratic Party. states just to draw even with Clin- A Sanders rally in Vancouver, Washington. Cenk Uygur pressed Sanders on this point. If Clinton makes this or ton, not counting any super-dele- build support for Bernie’s program. Sanders in the interview, “we want “If we don’t win ...” that promise, would Bernie really gates – who are 490 to 27 against Of course, we have disagreements to completely revitalize the Demo- believe her? In answering, Sanders Bernie. While there are upcoming ‘If we don’t win,” Sanders stated with Bernie, including important cratic Party and make it a party of referred to Tom Donahue, lobbyist primaries where Sanders is poised in the interview, “what [is] the aspects of his foreign policy. But we the people rather than just one of of the Chamber of Commerce, who to do well, polls in a number of Democratic establishment going energetically campaigned to take large campaign contributors.” said, “Don’t worry what she [Clin- others, including New York, show to do for us? Are they going to wel- Bernie’s platform to the broadest He said he would call on Clin- ton] said in the campaign, she’s significant obstacles for Sanders. come into the Democratic Party audience. We became part of the ton, if she is the nominee, to sup- just trying to match Bernie Sand- Sanders himself responded to this the working class of this country growing upheaval under the slogan port single-payer health care, a $15 ers. If she’s elected, I think she’ll growing question in an March 23 and young people, or is it going be of a “political revolution against minimum wage, massive invest- be okay on the TPP,” the neo-liberal interview on The Young Turks. a party of the upper middle class the billionaire class.” We launched ment in rebuilding infrastructure, free-trade agreement she pushed In this interview, Bernie Sanders and the cocktail #Movement4Bernie and engaged free college, and a tax on Wall as secretary of state and is now laid out the need to crowd and the actively in Labor for Bernie in order Street speculation – that is, more The DNC might suddenly opposed to. build movements heavy campaign to participate in discussions with or less his whole program. Seeing the contradiction in his and run candidates allow you, for a time, contributors?” the most serious Bernie supporters. For people who remember Sand- position, Sanders added: “What we beyond his own to attend their cocktail Unfortunately, What has been the experience ers’ previous promise to endorse need is to create a movement which presidential bid to the experience of so far? On the positive side, tens Clinton should he lose, this can party, but this is a holds elected officials accountable achieve the “politi- the Bernie Sanders of millions have been inspired by a sound more positive, as it puts up and not let them flip on the issues.” cal revolution.” party paid for – and, campaign reveals bold call to take political power out real demands on her. Some people Without movements, without the However, he also the answer: The of the hands of the corporate elite, have begun to hope that Sanders therefore, controlled energy of masses of people flooding outlined a strat- DNC might allow their politicians, and the establish- could now potentially not endorse – by Wall Street into the political arena, nothing will egy to push Hillary you, for a time, to ment media. Hillary. be changed. But without an orga- Clinton to the left, and big business. attend their cock- On the other side, the Demo- Sanders has, indeed, shifted nizational and political backbone, should he lose the tail party, but this cratic Party primaries have proved to the left in the course of this these movements will be co-opted Democratic Party primaries. Many is a party paid for – and, therefore, hostile territory for such a call. campaign; he has turned his fire and sold out. This has happened Bernie supporters understood his controlled by, Wall Street and big The primaries are run through the increasingly forcefully against the many times in the past. comments as putting conditions on business. structures of that party, which is establishment and its ties to corpo- Again, what is the logic of Sand- Clinton for his endorsement for her Kshama Sawant and Social- controlled by its establishment – as rate interests. This is a big part of ers’ plan to “revitalize” the Demo- should he lose – and many see this ist Alternative argued long before evidenced by the unelected super- his massive appeal. cratic Party? To do this, we would as positive. However, this plan will Bernie announced his candidacy delegates. If this process contin- But what is the logic of Sanders’ need independent movements and not take the political revolution for- that he should run independently. ues without a major upheaval on current position, taken to its con- independent organization. To suc- ward. If Sanders loses in this Wall But when he decided to run in the a scale that we have not yet seen, clusion? Can the Democratic Party cessfully defeat the Democratic Street-dominated party, Bernie Democratic primaries, Kshama the political revolutionaries will lose establishment accept his full pro- Party establishment, the movement needs to run till November as an and Socialist Alternative did not that battle. gram? It is certainly true that Hillary would need to develop organiza- independent or with the Green stand at the sidelines. When he and the establishment want Sand- tion and leadership to focus their Party’s Jill Stein. Bernie’s support- unapologetically described him- ers on board for the general elec- “Revitalize the struggle and combat the corpo- ers cannot allow this movement self as a “democratic socialist” tion and for him to bring his base, Democratic Party” rate cash of corporate Democrats. to become imprisoned within the and began campaigning on a pro- especially among young people. This organization would need to be narrow confines of the Democratic working-class agenda within the “If I can’t make it – and we The primaries have exposed her Party. framework of a pro-corporate, anti- want to try as hard as we can till weaknesses and the shallowness of worker party, we campaigned to the last vote is cast,” argues Bernie the support for the establishment. continued on p. 11

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 3 POLITICS Interview with Kshama Sawant What Is Democratic Socialism? Kshama Sawant, Bernie Sanders Popularizes Socialism to Millions Seattle City Councilmember

@cmKshama Bernie Sanders has popularized the idea horrendous conditions of poverty, war, and would be far more radical than Hillary Clin- facebook.com of democratic socialism to an audience environmental crisis. This is the result of cap- ton’s proposals to regulate Wall Street. /cmkshama of millions. His program for a $15 an hour italism, a system based on prioritizing profits, However, breaking them up would only be minimum wage, free higher education, and not human need – where the wealth is con- temporary on the basis of capitalism, which the New Deal pro- single-payer health care speaks to the inter- centrated in the hands of a capitalist elite. is based on ruthless exploitation and compe- grams on their own pulled the U.S. out of the ests of working-class people. But his vision tition and leads inevitably to the development Great Depression and created the conditions of socialism is of a reformed and regulated Is this what Bernie Sanders means by socialism? of mega-monopolies. Like the health care for the economic boom after World War II. As capitalism. We, on the other hand, believe the What Bernie Sanders is calling for is industry, the banks should be taken out of an economist, I can tell you, that is not true. lives of ordinary people here and around the incredibly important: things like a $15 an the hands of the 1% and brought under dem- In reality, it was World War II that launched world cannot be decisively changed for the hour minimum wage, single-payer health ocratic public ownership. Why should a tiny the boom: the massive war mobilization, the better without a fundamental transformation care, taxing the rich, and free education. oligarchy have such power over our economy? horrifying destruction and death caused by it, that gets beyond capitalism. We spoke with The radical reforms he has popularized are a How democratic is that? and then the reconstruction in its aftermath. Kshama Sawant, recently re-elected Seattle key part of any socialist program today. But The U.S. was the only advanced capitalist socialist councilmember. Bernie’s socialism is limited to redistributing How can working people really have democratic country that was not bombed during the war. wealth through expanding the public sector control over the banks and key parts of the For a whole historic period after the war, U.S. within the framework of a capitalist society. economy? capitalism was the strongest in the world and How important is it that Bernie Sanders has For us, socialism is a fundamentally differ- As Bernie said in one of the early debates: could afford to concede rising living stan- called himself a democratic socialist? ent social system where the world’s resources “Congress doesn’t regulate Wall Street. Wall dards. But that period is over. Whether or not you agree with Bernie Sand- are not controlled by a greedy, undemocratic Street regulates Congress.” I completely Today, capitalism faces a deep structural ers’ version of socialism, it is enormously sig- oligarchy. It is not the same as the capital- agree with that. While we still live in a capi- crisis. We’ve seen the weakest economic nificant that, for the first time in U.S. history, ist welfare states that have existed in some talist society, we of course will fight for what- recovery since World War II, as well as mas- a presidential candidate who calls himself a European countries where significant social ever reforms help make life better for work- sive levels of inequality and debt. We have a socialist has had an actual shot at winning gains were won by working people, gains that ing people. But the underlying issue is the rotting infrastructure that is literally poisoning the presidential election. And, to his credit, are now under systematic attack from the system of capitalism itself and, under this children in Flint, Newark, and elsewhere. he has not backed down from the label. He capitalist elite. system, the best means for regulating or It’s not just an economic crisis that capi- has shown that socialism is no longer the bar- talism has created. We also face an envi- Bernie also says that corporations have too much checking their power is not relying on a gov- rier that it used to be during the Cold War. ernment which represents the interests of ronmental catastrophe created by a handful power. How is that different? In fact, his campaign has demonstrated that the rich but for millions of working people to of gigantic fossil fuel corporations. There is there is incredible interest in socialism, par- Bernie’s plan for universal health care become politically active in workplaces and plenty of work to do. But big business isn’t ticularly among young people. This is a sea points in the right direction. The for-profit communities through building unions and our investing in rebuilding a green economy st change. health insurance industry is the main obsta- own political party. for the 21 century. Instead, they put their cle to delivering high-quality, universal health To break the power of the big corpora- money into a gigantic financial casino and, How would you define democratic socialism? care for all. It should be replaced with a sin- tions, we would propose that the biggest 500 when that led to catastrophe in 2008-09, Socialism is a society where the resources gle-payer system, a public program that guar- corporations that dominate the rigged econ- they made us pay for it. are used democratically to provide a better antees everyone coverage. omy and political system should be taken into Big oil, Wall Street, and big business as life for all, based on ending the dictatorship In comparison, what Bernie says on Wall public ownership and run democratically. We a whole – they stand in the way of the kinds of big business over the economy and poli- Street banks is different. He says that the propose radically extending democracy into of change needed. They are against the radi- tics. Today, we live in a world of incredible biggest banks that dominate the economy the economy and workplaces, to involve work- cal reforms Bernie is popularizing. We can wealth and technology, alongside the most should be broken up into smaller banks. This ing people in decisions over how resources win Bernie’s program, but only through mass are used that affect all of us. On this basis, struggle. We won $15 an hour in Seattle we could develop a democratically planned by activating working people and building a economy designed to meet the needs of all, movement independent of big business and not just the 1%. the Democratic Party. However, there are limits to reforming a Bernie Sanders has praised the “socialism” of system that is dominated by these massive FDR’s New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society. Why do and rapacious corporations. On the basis of you think these kinds of programs aren’t enough capitalism, reforms like the minimum wage today? are only temporary. Big business has many tools to make us pay for the crisis of their Let me say two things about that. First, system. Again, a permanent and sustain- when the New Deal programs were passed in able solution to all the problems facing work- the mid-1930s, millions of workers were join- ing people is possible by taking the biggest ing unions, striking, and occupying factories companies into democratic ownership and to fight for a better life. It was this radical reorganizing the economy on a democrati- labor movement that forced the establish- cally planned basis. Under such a system, we ment to make concessions. The programs could democratically decide how to allocate that came to be known as the New Deal were resources. We could rapidly transition from not simply handed down by the benevolence fossil fuels, develop massive jobs programs of FDR and the Democrats. They were fought to rebuild the country’s rotting infrastructure, for. And, in the 1960s, it was the similar. You and begin to build a whole new world based had incredible movements against Jim Crow, on meeting the needs of the majority – not poverty, and the Vietnam War in the 1960s. the profits of a few.J The second thing is that there is a different Kshama Sawant protests Hillary Clinton at a campaign stop in Rainier Beach, Seattle. historical context today. There is a myth that

4 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 STRUGGLE New Phase of Struggle Against Billionaires’ Agenda Texas and the Supreme Court Threaten National Chicago Teachers’ Reproductive Rights Political Strike Steve Edwards and Nick Wozniak

Chicago teachers are taking a stand to defend public education against the billionaires’ agenda. On April 1, the Chi- cago Teachers Union (CTU), after nine months without a contract, will launch a one-day citywide strike to demand the funding that public education needs. Rather than simply replicating its Sonia Chien 2012 nine-day strike, which pushed back but did not defeat many of the By June, the Supreme Court will rule on Whole education deformer’s demands, CTU is Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case that could have now involving other unions and commu- disastrous implications for reproductive rights across nity groups in a one-day political strike the country. In 2013, Texas passed House Bill 2, whose sharpest demand is to tax the severely limiting Texas women’s access to abortion richest 5% of Illinoisians up to $6 bil- facilities. This bill has closed more than half the clin- lion to pay for educational and social ics in Texas: down from 41 to 18. needs. Although this demand doesn’t The legal arguments center on whether or not these mention the biggest prize – a transaction changes can be characterized as “undue burden,” tax on the La Salle Street futures and The Chicago Teachers Union went on strike in 2012 and shook Chicago politics. which was defined by the Supreme Court inPlanned commodities exchanges, which could Parenthood v. Casey as health regulations that can immediately end the 7% pension pay- working-class people against the racist have “the purpose or effect of presenting a substan- raise billions – the demand that is being ments. Although later put on hold, this justice system and trigger-happy cops. made puts the cost of the crisis where tial obstacle to a woman seeking an abortion.” HB 2 illegal threat, along with the Board’s The April 1 strike continues the CTU’s forces longer waiting periods for treatment, prohibits it belongs: on the super-rich. The union existing refusal to pay contractually man- track record of building working-class, also calls for action against banks that abortion past 20 weeks post-insemination and, with a dated “step and lane” pay increases, grassroots power. The union is calling later amendment, requires all clinics to have manda- have cheated city and state governments created a legal basis for immediate strike for day-long pickets at all 600+ schools, through toxic swaps, and against the TIF tory ambulatory surgical center (ASC) certification. action without going through mediation, solidarity walkouts, and a mass rally Earlier this March, the Supreme Court heard argu- funding racket that allows the Mayor and which would have delayed strike action downtown to disrupt the evening rush. In ments in the Whole Woman’s Health case. Accord- City Council to give rich developers mil- until almost the end of the school year. a move, unprecedented in recent labor ing to a U.S.News & World Report article: “If the lions that were meant for schools. struggles, the Fight for $15 declared Supreme Court rules against Whole Woman’s Health, CTU Shows Leadership a simultaneous sympathy strike, while Texas will be left with as few as nine abortion clin- Rahm Blunders SEIU health care, college, and univer- ics” (1/11/2016). In the wake of Justice Antonin Sca- The union has boldly used the sity unions, community groups, and the The Emanuel administration began lia’s death, Whole Woman’s Health said goodbye to Board’s overreach as a way to challenge city’s subway train operators’ union are the academic year – and negotiations – an opponent; however, if all of the remaining justices the power of the Mayor, the Governor, all supporting the day of action. Many with a plan to lay off 1,500 employees, vote according to their party, the vote will be split 4-4, the legislature and their big-business are planning solidarity actions that will targeting special education workers for bringing the decision back to the Fifth Circuit, the backers. converge on the downtown rush-hour layoff at a rate ten times that of other body that upheld the restrictions in the first place. This boldness comes from years of rally. groups. This sabotaged the entire system, Texas’ HB 2 law is representative of an overarch- internal organizing to democratize the April 1 is unmistakably a political as schools were forced to cram special ing national War on Women. In 1982, there were union, while building community alli- strike, legalized by the overreach of needs students into regular classrooms. 2,900 active abortion clinics in the United States. As ances to fight against school closures the Board when it unilaterally canceled Then, after months of bargaining, the of 2015, there were 739, with the number continu- and standardized testing. Despite three raises. If it forced the City to return to Board of Education stuck on its demand ing to decrease. NARAL Pro-Choice America reports years of harassment and retaliation for the bargaining table with an enforce- for teachers to pick up the whole of their that sixteen states have piggybacked on Texas’ recent the 2012 strike, including the closure of able contract, this would be a real vic- pension payments: a 7% pay cut. The restrictions. Among the most extreme, Indiana’s bill 50 schools – involving huge layoffs – in tory, boosting the confidence of workers schools’ pension funding crisis was cre- would force mothers to pay for the funerals of mis- 2013, as well as the illness of its Presi- throughout the region. A victory for the ated by the Board’s past failures to actu- carriages. Without concerted action, these types of dent Karen Lewis – who polls showed CTU and its allies against the billion- ally make these payments. restrictions will continue to be implemented all across beating Mayor 1% Rahm Emanuel if she aires’ agenda would put it in position to In February, the Board made a con- the country. had been able to run in the 2015 elec- galvanize all of the ongoing struggles in tract offer that addressed some of the The primary cause of the 1973 passing of Roe v. tions – the CTU has come back fighting Chicago and the region into a fighting, union’s demands, but the union rejected Wade was the militant political activism that domi- and continues to break new ground in ongoing movement with national impli- it because of language that was unen- nated the public sphere at the time. Advancements in building community support. cations – groundwork for a broader fight- forceable or could be overruled by exist- civil rights have always been fought for and achieved For example, the union voted to sup- back at the state and national level. ing law. Key issues were class and case- by mass movements of the working class, not by port Black Lives Matter activists in the This would also pose the question load sizes, the 7% pension payment, the intent of state and federal bodies. It is essential #RahmResign protests that began last of launching a new political force of the layoffs, a cap on new charter schools, that we join together as the working class to build an year after Mayor Emanuel concealed 99% in Chicago, with the CTU playing a moratorium on school closings, and independent political alternative to the two parties. the police murder of Laquan McDon- a key role, which could truly challenge reductions in standardized testing and A unified movement that fights capitalism’s oppres- ald. Although still controversial within the domination of the 1% in the years punitive teacher evaluations. sion of women with a single-payer health care system the union, this has elevated the CTU’s ahead. J The Board responded to the union’s position as a defender of black and and safe access to abortion is the only way to ensure “no” vote by publicly threatening to reproductive rights for all. J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 5 Trump Upends Republican Establishment Build A Mass Movement Against Racism and Bigotry The 2016 presidential election has seen There is even talk of running a conserva- the ominous rise of right populism particu- tive candidate against Trump if he wins the larly in the form of Donald Trump’s cam- nomination. paign. Progressive workers, youth, women The corporate elite see Trump as an and people of color are rightly concerned: unreliable egomaniac who would damage how can we defeat the right-wing threat? In U.S. prestige abroad and provoke serious these articles we analyze the situation and unrest at home. Trump has also departed point to past and current examples for how from the orthodox neoliberal script of the to defeat the right. Republicans by opposing trade deals and suggesting that he would be prepared to The Republican establishment has punish companies that move jobs abroad. utterly lost control of their party’s primary While Trump defends capitalism, this is an process. For months, they watched and example of a populist position he has taken hoped that Trump – whose hate and dema- to win white working-class support that gogy are the logical products of the party’s goes against the overwhelming consensus toxic politics going back to Richard Nixon’s of the ruling elite. “Southern strategy” in 1968 – would self- But from the point of view of the working destruct by finally saying something so class, the real threat is the virulent xeno- outrageous that his supporters would turn phobia pushed by Trump – calling Mexi- against him, or that a more non-Trump can immigrants “rapists” and saying there alternative would clearly emerge. should be a ban on all Muslims entering the In the wake of Super Tuesday, it became country. The response he has received from evident that this “wait and see” approach a section of the white working class shows had failed and that Trump was not only the that, while there is an overall shift to the left frontrunner but on course to winning the in the U.S., the deep polarization in society Republican nomination outright. This set can also lead part of the population to tem- The Democratic Party’s turn to neoliberal off a completely panicked reaction, as sec- Ty Moore and Jesse Lessinger porarily embrace right-wing ideas. Dividing policies 30 years ago left them closer to the tions of the establishment moved to block workers along racial lines or pitting native- Republicans on many economic issues. For his path. Stopping Trump means building a left politi- born workers against immigrants only serves example, both parties supported the NAFTA All of this activity has given one other cal alternative that can unite working people the interests of the corporate elite. trade deal, which contributed directly to dein- candidate at least a theoretical path to in a common struggle against the corporate We should make no mistake: the threat dustrialization and job losses. In reality, despite beat Trump: Ted Cruz, who is barely more establishment. is real. The question is, what strategy is worker-friendly rhetoric and the ongoing support acceptable to the party’s leaders. We can’t wait for November. Once seen as a needed to stop Trump’s appeal to racism of most trade union leaders, the Democrats have There is increasingly fevered speculation bad joke, his campaign now represents a huge and bigotry? J danger to working people. The Republican offered only a less vicious version of the same about a “brokered” Republican convention. party cannot wash their hands of Trump. For anti-working-class agenda as the Republicans. decades, they’ve used coded racism, sexism, In 2008, the Democrats took control of both defeat Trump in November. Socialist Alternative schools and our communities can unite working and nationalist rhetoric to whip up electoral houses of Congress as well as the White House. supports this initiative. However, a central ques- people around an anti-establishment alterna- support. Trump’s unfiltered bigotry is a Fran- What followed was a massive bailout of the tion is, will these organizations turn anti-Trump tive. That’s why Bernie should continue running kenstein’s monster of their own creation. banks and millions of people losing their homes protests into pro-Clinton rallies? Or will they through November as an independent if he is But what makes Trump so dangerous is his through foreclosure. This opened the door to the offer an authentic anti-establishment alterna- blocked in the Democratic primary by the huge populist anti-establishment message, appeal- Tea Party, the demoralization of large parts of tive to undercut Trump’s support? weight of the party establishment, the corporate ing to those who are fed up with corrupt cor- the Democratic base, and the Republican vic- media, and Wall Street super PACs united to porate politics. He redirects white workers’ and tory in the mid-term elections of 2010. Clinton Will Only Broaden defeat Sanders’ political revolution. middle class anger at unemployment, poverty, We need a powerful mass movement against Trump’s Support Some argue that this could “spoil” and help and social decay toward nationalist, racist, and this right-wing threat. The starting point is coor- Trump win. Yet there are 40-45 “safe” states authoritarian solutions. He promises to “make dinated mass protests all across the country, While Clinton’s establishment and Wall which will be clearly won by the Democratic or America great again.” In reality, Trump’s divi- uniting working people, students, immigrant Street ties make her a perfect target for Trump’s Republican candidates and there is no reason sive politics weaken working people’s capacity rights organizations, the Black Lives Matter right-populist attacks, Bernie Sanders’ mes- Bernie could not campaign all out in these for collective struggle. movement, unions, and everyone else terrified sage of a political revolution against the billion- states until November. by the rise of Trump. aire class has the ability to cut across much of The alternative to this strategy – allowing Clin- Mass Protests Linked to a Left Already, Trump campaign events have been Trump’s support. There is a significant reservoir ton, a national symbol of the corrupt corporate met with bold protests, facing down violent of of nationalism, racism, and sexism Trump establishment, to stand as the only challenge Alternative threats from him and some of his supporters. is tapping into, but the real fuel propelling his to Trump – means widening the space for right- Over decades, the corporate-backed Demo- Last week, leaders of over twenty prominent campaign is the deep anger among mainly white wing populism. If no left alternative is offered in cratic Party has failed to offer an alternative for progressive organizations and trade unions, middle- and working-class people who have the general election, Trump would use Clinton working people, to defend women’s rights, or to including MoveOn.org and SEIU, signed onto a seen the devastation caused by the economic as a lighting rod and have a virtual monopoly protect immigrants against racism. Their capitu- letter calling “for a massive nonviolent mobili- crisis and are enraged at the corporate corrup- over the broadening anti-establishment revolt. lation to Wall Street creates fertile ground for zation of working people, students, immigrants tion of politics. On the the other hand, a strong result of a right-wing populists like Trump and Cruz to pose … to stand up to Trump’s bullying and bigotry,” Bernie’s call for living wage jobs, free edu- Sanders campaign running all the way through as the anti-establishment alternative. alongside a major voter registration drive to cation, free health care, and investment in our to November would not only cut across Trump’s

6 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 Trump Upends Republican Establishment Is Trump a Fascist?

Trump’s rallies have taken on an a number of far-right parties in Europe, like extremely ugly character, with violence or the National Front in France led by Marine threats of violence encouraged by Trump Le Pen, which have sought to shed their uild ass ovement gainst against anyone who would dare to protest, neo-Nazi past and link their racist, anti- B A M M A no matter how mildly. His campaign has immigrant agenda to right-populist themes also given encouragement and cover to the that seek to appeal to working-class voters. extreme right and fascists to come out of In all these cases, the space is opened up their holes and assert themselves, like those for the far right to grow, to the degree that who shot and injured Black Lives Matter the labor movement and the left do not put activists last November in Minneapolis. forward a clear alternative to the crisis cre- Racism and Bigotry There is a lot of talk, encouraged by sec- ated by capitalism. tions of the liberal media, that Trump him- Trump’s politics have much in common self is a fascist. Historically, fascists mobi- with those of Le Pen – although, unlike her, lized mass movements of the middle class, he does not represent a fully fledged far-right the unemployed, and sections of workers party. But the Trump phenomenon does with the aim of completely overthrowing not resemble the organized, paramilitary, democratic institutions, physically smash- neo-Nazi Golden Dawn. When corporate ing the labor movement and the left, and publications like the New York Daily News targeting racial and ethnic minorities. Fas- compare Trump to Hitler or Mussolini, the cist movements that took power, like those goal is primarily to mobilize women, black led by Hitler and Mussolini, received the people, Latinos, and young people behind support of key sections of the ruling class, the Democratic Party. And we should not be who saw this as necessary to save their fooled into thinking that many of the lead- system from revolutionary upheaval led by ing Republicans opposing Trump, including radical socialist parties in the context of Cruz, are somehow less reactionary. This is economic and social devastation. not in any way to minimize the threat posed The American ruling class today does by Trump’s right populism. But we need to not see any need to go in this direction. But accurately characterize the threat in order in conditions of profound crisis, fascist and to know how the labor movement and the neo-Nazi organizations can gain a base, like left should respond. J Golden Dawn has in Greece. There are also How the Right and Racism Have

On May Day, 2006, millions of immigrants went Been Pushed Back Before on strike and helped defeated HR4437. Tom Crean movement in the U.S. In late 2005, the movement of workers and young people who support in 2016 but would also cut across the Sensenbrenner Bill, passed by the House pushed back against Scott Walker’s drive to threat that a strong Trump campaign would The building of a real left political chal- of Representatives, threatened to unleash destroy public sector unions in 2011 tem- boost the confidence for all kinds of right-pop- lenge to mobilize working people against the mass deportations of undocumented workers porarily checked the right, including the Tea ulist and racist candidates to stand in future divisive lies of the right must be linked to the on a scale previously unseen. In response, Party. But what was needed was to take this elections. building of a mass movement in the streets. immigrants came onto the streets in their struggle to a higher level, beginning with a This is something the corporate Democratic hundreds of thousands – and, ultimately, one-day general strike against Walker. This Fight for Socialism leadership, which calls to “stop Trump,” will their millions. In many cities, including in the idea, which Socialist Alternative argued for, never do. deep South, these were literally the largest resonated with workers but was cut across Instead, an independent Sanders campaign There are many examples of mass move- mass demonstrations ever seen. This move- by conservative union leaders and the Demo- running all the way through November could ments in the past that pushed back the ment culminated on May Day 2006, the cratic Party. prepare the ground for many more indepen- right and helped win real gains for workers, “Day Without Immigrants,” when millions of And now there is the Black Lives Matter dent, left, anti-corporate candidacies in the immigrants, black people, women, LGBTQ immigrant workers withdrew their labor and movement, which has lifted the veil on police near future. We need the revolt against Wall people – indeed, all those targeted by right took to the streets again. The port of Los killings and forced a debate on institutional Street to expand from Bernie’s election cam- populism. The industrial trade unions like the Angeles was shut down by immigrant truck racism, which is resonating in the presi- paign into an organized, ongoing movement of United Auto Workers were built in the 1930s drivers going off the job. dential race itself. BLM activists, alongside millions that fights for a $15 an hour minimum through mass struggle that faced down rac- For a period, this movement succeeded Bernie Sanders supporters, trade unionists, wage, free education, Medicare for all, to end ists and fascists and led to real gains for in pushing back the threat from the right and others, have been to the forefront of the mass incarceration, and to defend workers’ working people, such as the 40-hour work- and also had an effect in pushing back anti- protests at Trump’s rallies. and immigrants’ rights. week and Social Security. The right, at least immigrant attitudes. Unfortunately, this These examples all point to the type of The real roots of Trump’s right-wing popu- in the North, was pushed back for a whole movement, while receiving significant pas- movement we need to build to push back lism are found in the crisis of capitalism itself period. Twenty years later, it was the mass sive support from sections of the native-born against the renewed threat of right populism. and the complete failure of both parties to mobilizations of the Civil Rights Movement, working class, remained isolated. It did not Trump and the right can be defeated – but address it. We need a new party of the 99% to with the support of sections of the labor succeed in winning an active majority to the only through a united movement led by the provide a political alternative and unite people movement, that brought down the white position of ending the threat of deportations working class. We need to urgently organize across race, gender, religion, sexual orienta- supremacist Jim Crow regime in the South. and giving citizenship rights to all workers on meetings around the country to discuss how tion, and nationality into a common struggle the basis of a common struggle against the to build the movement on the streets as well against the domination of corporate America Mass Movement of Immigrants corporate elite for well-paid jobs for all. as a left political alternative against the right, over our lives. We must fight for a new society a party of the 99%. J based on democratic socialism as the answer Ten years ago, the mass movement of From Wisconsin to BLM to the corruption, massive inequality, racism, immigrant workers held out enormous prom- and exploitation of capitalism. J ise to rebuild a fighting multiracial labor More recently, in Wisconsin the mass

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 7 ENVIRONMENT Lead Poisoning in Who Can We Trust Crumbling Cities With the Environment? Time for a Massive Jobs Program

Toiya Shester

Today on my New England street, I watched the snow float down from the sky and collect five inches or so. School was delayed for two hours while the salt trucks were sent out to make the streets safe for children. Yet, just six hours later, they were coming home Keely Mullen from school with short sleeves, carrying their jackets all without a single snow The horrific conditions in Flint, Michigan have brought pile in sight. This is our new reality: to national attention a much deeper crisis of capitalism: extreme weather from day to day, and the crisis of deteriorating infrastructure. In 2014, one- now even hour to hour. fifth of all children tested in Detroit showed positive for If looking out the window and watch- lead poisoning. ing the thermometer don’t say enough, The problems facing poor families in Flint are not the fact that 2015 was the hottest year exclusive to that city. They are experienced by poor and on record – in 136 years of report- Record snowfalls shut down Boston in the winter of 2014-2015. working people across the country. Nearly 24 million homes in the United States have crumbling lead paint ing – should hit it home. With the ice movements because it ultimately takes capital of these companies to begin to on their walls. And now, 17,000 children in Newark, New from Greenland and Antarctica melting serious struggle to win change – like build and install solar panels and wind Jersey will be tested for lead poisoning after elevated faster and faster, that will mean dis- the one that just defeated the Keystone turbines on a massive scale to power lead levels were found in the drinking water at close to placement for millions of Americans XL pipeline, for instance. society. We could create a jobs pro- half of the schools in the city. within the next few decades due to There is clearly a real difference gram to build green infrastructure that Lead poisoning directly contributes to severe brain rising sea levels and intense climate between the policies of the Republicans would employ millions of young people damage, in some cases leading to behavioral problems, changes. and Democrats on the environment. at union wages and train workers tran- low IQs, poor performance in school, and difficulty learn- But this can be exaggerated. Obama sitioning out of “dirty energy” indus- ing. Due to the ferocity with which the lead industry has Hillary vs. Bernie opened large amounts of federal land tries without cutting their standard of fought regulation, it was not until 2008 that lead in paint to oil drilling, while Bush exempted living. We could democratically decide Now, finally, climate change is being was reduced to a tolerable level. The lead industry, with fracking from the Clean Water Act. And which technologies we would research discussed – and not just by environ- the help of their purchased politicians, has carried out who’s surprised? At the end of the day, and invest in and set our own regula- mental activists, but by the future the collective poisoning of hundreds of thousands of Big Oil funds both parties. tions that could not be undermined by potential rulers of the “free-world,” the American children. The crisis in Flint, and now in New The fight to stop climate change is private interests. presidential candidates. Of course, this Jersey, indicates that lead is no longer restricted to crum- ultimately a fight between those that Capitalism, though, is incapable doesn’t include the Republicans, who bling paint and dust, but it has made its way into our benefit from the climate-change-caus- of this, for it is the drive to exploit are still denying reality. Hillary Clinton water supply, largely as a result of deteriorating pipes and ing status quo – the billionaire class – and make as much profit as possible speaks like any good Wall Street candi- collapsing infrastructure. date would, with vague and substance- and those of us who are suffering from that defines this system and forces it less rhetoric – like the Paris climate the status quo – workers and youth to poison the earth. And so we must Rebuild Infrastructure and Create talks – and an intense focus on legali- fight to build a movement that will ties and what the government has the Take the Power change the way we run our economy Million of Jobs and power our planet toward socialism. “ability” to do. Bernie Sanders, on the This should serve as a massive cry for infrastructural “Planet before profit” is a common Only socialism, a democratically run, other hand, says that, if elected, he investment. Many American roads, waterways, bridges, slogan in the environmental movement. planned economy, focused on meeting would cut emissions by 80% by taxing and grids are in a state of decay. We saw this demon- Many activists fight for corporations to human and environmental need, can polluters and investing in green energy, strated in 2007 with the collapse of the I-35W Miss- be regulated to use environmentally stop global destruction. Workers do not all the while creating ten million jobs. issippi River Bridge in Minneapolis that killed 13 and sustainable business practices. But, want to destroy the planet. If we had Clinton, as with all her positions, injured 145. From methane leaks in our gas distribution the example of TransCanada – which, the power to decide our fate, we could never takes a stand when it matters. pipelines to lead poisoning in our waterways, we need at this very moment, is suing the gov- pass on a sustainable world for our chil- We saw this with how long it took her a massive overhaul of American infrastructure – which ernment for $15 billion for their “unre- dren’s grandchildren to enjoy. J to say the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” alized profits” they “lost” due to the would lead to the creation of millions of jobs. Bernie We saw this with her recent change to stopping of the Keystone XL pipeline – Subscribe to Sanders has called for $1 trillion to be spent over five support gay marriage. And we see it on shows that, not only will fossil fuel cor- years on infrastructural investment, which would create the environment. Hillary was in favor of porations fight tooth and nail against Socialist Alternative Today! 13 million good-paying jobs. This would be a great start. Keystone XL until she couldn’t be. Her any regulation, they will also use their SocialistAlternative.org/shop/sa-newspaper-subscription/ American infrastructural investment has failed to keep big business ties make it impossible for massive resources to attack even when pace with either the needs of the American people or her to implement policies that could they are seemingly defeated. Socialist Alternative comes out 10 times the rapid technological advancements of the past two a year. Your $50 solidarity subscription potentially save the planet. But there is a better solution. If we decades. When profit stands between the needs of supports our ongoing efforts to improve people and our capacity to meet those needs, we wind took over big energy companies and our publications and broaden the struggle Not Me, Us put them under democratic worker for socialism. up with crises like the ones we are seeing in Flint and J $50 annual solidarity Newark. In order to live in a world that meets the needs While we need to build an alter- control instead of private ownership, subscription Two Pricing and capacities of all people, we need an economy that is native to corporate politicians and we, the working class, could run the J $25 annual Options: democratically planned by those who actually make the their inaction on climate change, this companies in a way that actually puts subscription economy run: the workers, not a handful of billionaires. J must be linked to building grassroots “people over profit.” We could use the Subcriptions available in paper or digitally.

8 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 INTERNATIONAL Ireland International News in Brief For more in-depth coverage, see SocialistWorld.net, web- Government Routed site of the Committee for a Workers International. as New Left Rises SocialistWorld.net

Danny Byrne

Ireland’s Fine Gael/Labour Party coalition government was routed in general elections on 26 February. A After the Brussels Terror Attack deep class anger at the government’s The world was in shock at the March 22 terrorist attacks austerity, especially at the Labour Par- in Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station in Brussels. ty’s betrayal of working people, saw The perpetrators are likely members or sympathizers of the voters inflict a humiliating defeat on Islamic State. This summer, Belgium will start participating both parties. The Labour Party crum- in military interventions in Syria. The victims, in both cases, bled down to seven seats, winning are the workers, the poor, and the young, both in Belgium only 6.6% of first-preference votes. and in the Middle East. The LSP/PSL (CWI in Belgium) calls That compares to 37 seats, 19.4%, in on the workers’ movement to mobilize against terrorism, 2011. Although Fine Gael managed to racism, and government attempts to restrict strikes, dem- hold on as the largest party in the Dáil onstrations, and political opposition (parliament), it lost 26 seats, from 76 to 50, dropping to 25.5%. The politi- cal panorama has been totally trans- The Anti-Austerity Alliance marches against water charges. European Union Forms Alliance with formed and fragmented, with a new historical and security issues, Sinn (Dublin West) and Paul Murphy (Dublin Turkey to Close Borders socialist left rising to prominence. Féin made a concerted effort to prove South-West), and made an impres- The government parties waged its “responsible” credentials. While sive breakthrough with the election The European Union is now closing the doors to refu- a disastrous election campaign. posturing as a left-wing alternative, of another Socialist Party member, gees. Those who make it to Greece will be deported back Despite polls consistently showing it confined its election programme to Mick Barry, in Cork North-Central. It to Turkey. Despite the increasingly dictatorial regime in no clear alternative government on the “fiscal space” allowed by restric- also came within 270 votes of taking a Ankara, European Council President Donald Tusk declared the cards, support for Fine Gael and tive EU/Troika rules, effectively ruling seat in Limerick city, with Cian Prendi- that Turkey is a “safe” country for refugees. Amnesty Inter- Labour declined steadily as polling out the real change needed by working ville, which would have been the shock national says that support for Turkey is absurd. This crisis day approached. Threats of stabil- people. It also courted establishment of the election. The Socialist Party is and the recent decisions again expose the real role of the ity or chaos did nothing to dent the parties as potential coalition partners, part of the Committee for a Workers EU. The refugee crisis is a failure of capitalism. The alter- resolve to drive for a change. The refusing to rule out coalition with International (CWI) with which Social- native is the struggle for the right to asylum, against the anti-establishment mood which exists Fianna Fáil. ist Alternative is in political solidarity. capitalist EU, and for democratic socialism. in working-class Ireland was hard and On the key issue of water charges, The People Before Profit group also strong enough to turf the government which has kicked off a mass move- won three seats, which means that out, even in the face of blackmail and ment of nonpayment over recent a block of six TDs (representatives Will There Be a General Strike in France? scaremongering. It signals a deep years, Sinn Féin was exposed and out- in parliament) will have a valuable political crisis for Irish capitalism, stripped by the genuine left, especially platform to assist workers’ struggle It has been several months since the balance of forces along the lines of what is developing by the Anti-Austerity Alliance (AAA), against whatever austerity government between the classes has been hardened in France. The in Spain and Greece. The tried and in which the Socialist Party (CWI in is formed. “socialist” Hollande-Valls government is trying to destroy tested parties of capitalist rule are in Ireland) participates. The most con- A Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil coalition the social gains in the labor code regarding employee pro- crisis and can no longer simply alter- scious workers and youth tended to would be disastrous for working-class tection. But a growing part of the population firmly objects. nate in power to ensure “stability” for favour those who had built and led people in Ireland and would require a One by one, the local workplace unions called for strikes the market system. the movement over those offering only redoubling of mass movements. The on March 9. The resulting protests saw nearly half a mil- In Ireland, this has been expressed weak, parliamentary resistance to it. Socialist Party and Anti-Austerity Alli- lion people on the streets. The potential for a general strike historically in the domination of Election results and gains for the AAA ance will turn their attention toward against the government is posed for the spring. The coming two right-wing conservative parties, and Socialist Party in key constituen- the building of such movements, to weeks are going to be heated, and events can be expected Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, along- cies illustrate this. ensure the abolition of water charges, to accelerate. side the ex-social-democratic Labour The current capitalist crisis is lead- and to demand a real recovery in Party. These parties routinely occu- ing to the demise of the Labour Party, health services, education, housing, pied around 90% of the electoral which has become a vicious tool of the and living standards. Brazil Rocked by Deep Crisis space. This time, however, Fianna bosses and markets. It is also throwing This struggle must extend its Brazil is being rocked by a deep political and economic Fáil and Fine Gael got less than 50% up a new left in which revolutionary aims beyond the capitalists’ and EU/ between them and Labour was nearly crisis that has brought Dilma Rousseff’s PT (“Workers’” socialists play a key role. The AAA, in Troika’s “fiscal space” to demand the Party) government to the brink of collapse. Corruption scan- decimated. The remaining support is alliance with the People Before Profit reorientation of the economy toward greatly fragmented, with 30% voting dals have led to the imprisonment of dozens of politicians group (PBP), mounted the most seri- the needs of ordinary people, rather and businessmen. Dilma has tried to find a way out of the for various independents and smaller ous nationwide left challenge in the than the profits of a few. Only the parties, and just under 14% for Sinn crisis by moving to the right, and 2013 saw an upsurge history of the state. The AAA-PBP won socialist policies of democratic public of strikes, occupations, and protests against the govern- Féin, a nationalist party seen by many 3.9% of first-preference votes, despite ownership of the key sectors of the as anti-establishment. ment’s neoliberal policies. But the situation has become not standing in almost a third of con- economy can bring this about. Sup- complicated, with the corporate media rallying for Dilma’s Though it increased its percent- stituencies – an excellent result for a port for these policies can grow rap- age vote and number of seats – from impeachment and pro-government groups fearing a “coup new fighting socialist initiative. idly with the assistance of the new d’état.” LSR (CWI in Brazil) argues for trade unions and 14 to 23 – Sinn Féin delivered well The Anti-Austerity Alliance suc- fighting socialist left which is rising to below expectations. Hounded by the social movements to build a left front in the coming strug- cessfully defended the seats of Social- replace the Labour sellouts. J gles. J establishment press and parties over ist Party members Ruth Coppinger

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 9 EDUCATION Boston Public Schools Student Walkout Pushes Back Education Cuts Grace Riascos These attacks on our schools teachers who are going on a one- come at the same time as both day political strike on April 1 (see More than 3,000 Boston Public the city and the Commonwealth of page 5), the Boston Teachers Schools students walked out of Massachusetts are giving massive Union found itself unprepared to class on March 7 and marched to financial incentives to corporations take significant action against the the Massachusetts State House to like General Electric, to which they budget cuts. This is at least partly protest against the projected $40 are granting more than $150 mil- the result of a failure to make seri- million budget cuts to the Boston lion in corporate handouts. Mayor ous plans to mobilize the wider Public Schools district. Walsh has said that convincing GE working-class community. Entirely organized and led by to relocate in Boston is like “win- Members of Socialist Alterna- students, this militant action was ning the Powerball,” stating that it tive participated in the student a key statement in the struggle will bring “positive activity to the walkout and were present at the against the persistent attacks to economy.” Yet he forgets to men- public meetings, where they talked public education in the city, and tion that these financial giveaways to the community about building it was able to successfully shake include up to $20 million in tax a mass movement that is able to the political establishment at its breaks, a situation that will continue effectively put pressure on the core. Three days after the walkout, to perpetuate income inequality in establishment. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, agreed the city and institutional racism in Socialist Alternative calls for a its educational system. tax on the billionaires to fund our to restore $6 million back to the Boston Public Schools (BPS) students protest budget cuts in front of the State Capitol. system, proposing an updated ver- schools, an end to high-stakes sion of the budget with increased The Threat of Charter state aid it loses to charter schools. hundreds of students, parents, testing, no new charter schools, funding. However, despite stu- Schools Charter schools are not account- and teachers testifying against the an elected and fully accountable dents’ inspirational actions, this able to their communities. This is cuts, the unelected Boston Public School Committee, and for a politi- new budget still failed to fully cover In addition to budget cuts, the yet another attack from state offi- Schools committee voted yes on cal voice of the 99% that allows the district’s needs, making it clear district faces the threat of leg- cials seeking to privatize our youth’s the cuts, showing us once again students, parents, and teachers to that, in order to win the struggle, islation and a ballot question in education and weaken teachers that we cannot solely rely on these run candidates against any politi- the city will have to see a much November to lift the cap on charter unions. government agencies to create cians that support budget cuts and larger collective action from stu- schools. This is happening while real change. Unlike the Seattle other attacks on working people dents, parents, teachers, and work- the state continues to cut educa- Our Approach teachers who went on strike last and youth. J ers from the community. tion assistance toward the city, fail- year and made gains, and Chicago ing to fully reimburse Boston for the After four public meetings and Seattle Protesters Demand Police Accountability The Shooting of Che Taylor Rachel Lovitz headquarters and marched across downtown, referring to Taylor as an armed felon without to subpoena police officers, and would be chanting “Black Lives Matter,” demanding concrete evidence that he had a gun. Further, an essential starting point to begin holding Che Taylor, a 46-year-old father, was justice, police accountability, and an investi- allegations exist that the weapon that eventu- police accountable. fatally shot by Seattle police officers on Feb- gation of the officers involved. ally turned up was planted by the police. ruary 21 while appearing to comply with the Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Learning from Chicago officers’ commands to put his hands up and Sawant joined the demonstration, calling on How Can We Achieve get down on the ground. Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole to come to a #JusticeForChe? In December, thousands took to the The shooting occurred against the back- public hearing in front of the City Council. streets in Chicago, blocking intersections and ground of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Sawant sent public requests to the heads of Socialist Alternative calls for a full inves- the interstate, calling for Democratic “Mayor findings against the Seattle Police Depart- both City Council committees empowered tigation of Che Taylor’s death. If the City 1%” Rahm Emanuel to step down for covering ment (SPD) that identified a pattern of exces- to hold such a hearing, Councilmembers Council won’t agree to hold a hearing, then up a video of a police murder of a black teen- sive and unnecessary force used by officers, Bruce Harrell and Lorena González, but both the public should demand one. Black Lives ager during his re-election campaign. These especially toward people of color. The DOJ’s declined to take the initiative. Matter activists and members of the commu- protests put massive pressure on Emanuel. report revealed that SPD officers system- While a closed-door investigation takes nity should come together to demand a hear- Winning greater police accountability will atically escalate situations when arresting place, the corporate media and political ing and real police accountability, not just require building our movement and standing people for minor offenses. Fifty percent of establishment liberally refer to Taylor’s crimi- perfunctory reforms. up to the political establishment – both the the cases where police used excessive force nal past to implicitly justify the killing – in While the DOJ has sung the praises of the Democrats and the Republicans – for being involved people of color - in a city that is 70% spite of the ambiguity of the video footage SPD reform project, activists and community complicit in a system that perpetuates abuse white. of the incident. Shortly after the shooting, groups have broadly criticized the reforms as of police powers. As in Chicago, we must Mayor Ed Murray announced that Taylor’s superficial. expose the Democratic Party in Seattle for Protests – No License to Kill death appeared to be justified, although an A democratically elected community what it is: a force that will dig in its nails at investigation was needed. Seattle NAACP oversight board has become one of the key every turn to protect establishment interests Four days following Taylor’s death, President Gerald Hankerson has slammed demands of Black Lives Matter. Such boards – not the interests of working people. J nearly 100 protesters rallied outside SPD the police and local media for repeatedly would need full powers, including the power

10 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 CULTURE Workers’ Lives Bernie: Time to Plan The Just Let Us Do Our Jobs Jailbreak A New York City Teacher continued from p. 3

Teaching is the best job in the world. The clichés are true: Educating a young person is infinitely rewarding. strong enough to challenge the corporate leaders Well, wouldn’t it be nice if the major- and representatives. In other words, we would ity of the teaching profession involved … essentially need to build an independent party. well … teaching? Don’t misunderstand; If we need a “party within a party” to challenge the time in which one actually teaches or and defeat the Democratic Party leadership and plans a lesson is wonderful, but so much structures, why misdirect this energy into the of the time is dedicated to such nonsense Democratic Party in the first place? as test preparation, paperwork, and exer- At the end of the day, the Democrats can’t cises that have nothing to do with teach- be a party of the corporate elite and a party of ing nor supporting the growth of young the 99%. We believe the time has come to build people. And, lest one publicly object to a party of the 99% independent of both corpo- this absurdity, the fear of losing your job rate parties. Kshama Sawant’s election and re- is constant. Principals in most schools election as a socialist councilmember in Seattle have wide-ranging power to threaten shows the way. and harass teachers. The tenure system that exists to protect teachers’ jobs and integrity is rapidly being stripped away by “We need – win or lose for me – a politicians who are looking for ways to pay political revolution.” teachers less. takes up almost a quarter of the school to place, but virtually all of them involve When the Democrats make clear that they Let’s begin with standardized tests. year, beginning as early as kindergarten. students’ scores on standardized tests as won’t adopt the program of Sanders’ political rev- Exorbitant amounts of time are dedi- Even an adult isn’t comfortable sitting about half. I have no control over whether olution, what will he do? In the interview, Sanders cated to preparing for tests that heavily still for around six hours. Imagine the dis- a student studies. It’d be the equivalent correctly emphasized: “We need – win or lose for favor white middle-class students, tests comfort of a kindergartner. Now imagine of a doctor being fired when their patients me – a political revolution which starts electing which must be passed in order to gradu- watching a child you care deeply about refuse to take medicine. The other half people who are accountable to the working fami- ate. A teacher might want to teach a cur- being forced to sit still that long – by you. comes down to classroom observations. lies in this country.” rent event and give a student some social Tests also make up a significant And if the principal has it out for the We say: let’s get organized. Let’s build the awareness. Or expose them to poetry amount of recently implemented teacher teacher? Many of my colleagues have movements and the independent structures to do or music or art that they wouldn’t know evaluation systems upon which their been targeted by their principals and got so. Let’s not spend more energy within the dead- about otherwise. Or encourage them to salary and employment rests. Politicians undeservedly low ratings. Further, the way end framework of the Democratic Party but build discuss a controversial social or political push the idea that bad teachers are ruin- in which final ratings are calculated is so a party based on working-class people. issue. “How will that get them to pass ing education. No data support this, but convoluted that even math teachers at my So far, Bernie Sanders’ campaign has juggled state tests?” your principal will ask. The the narrative is profitable: break teach- school have said they don’t understand it the contradiction of running for a pro-working- school will be ranked and receive funding ers and you can crush their salaries and in the slightest. class program in a Wall-Street-dominated party. based on those test scores. I have spent pensions. Teachers live in a world of In this world, teaching isn’t teaching. Until now, the dominant feature within that con- months – months – teaching essays that people who know nothing about educa- It’s an attempt to stay above water by tradiction has been an uprising of a new genera- students will write once in their lives. All tion making decisions about what teach- pleasing a boss while doing things you tion against the corporate politicians. A new gen- of my colleagues have done the same. It ers must do on a daily basis. Then we are know are hurtful to the very children you J eration is searching for a political alternative. If is a tremendously alienating experience. evaluated on such nonsense. got into the profession to help. Sanders’ campaign moves from fighting to win to In some places, standardized testing itself Evaluation systems vary from place focusing on pushing Clinton to the left, it would, unfortunately, turn into a cover for the Democratic Party machine. The dominant feature would change from encouraging revolt to co-opting and SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE In Your Area channeling millions of his energetic supporters into the corporate campaign of Clinton. It would NATIONAL LOWELL, MA, NEW HAVEN, CT, and TAMPA BAY, FL SOUTHWEST TACOMA, WA also demoralize many of the best people. PROVIDENCE, RI contact our (727) 641-0252 (253) 355-4211 Socialist Alternative has outlined how Bernie national office MONTGOMERY & BIRMINGHAM, AL, AUSTIN, TX For HAWAI’I, LOS ANGELES, CA, PO Box 150457 could run all through November without ignoring Brooklyn, NY 11215 CHARLOTTE, NC, NEW ORLEANS, (440) 339-9793 SAN DIEGO, CA and YAKIMA, WA (206) 526-7185 MID-ATLANTIC LA, and LOUISVILLE, KY contact For DALLAS, TX, DENVER, CO, FORT contact our national office the fears about Trump and the huge pressure to [email protected] our national office COLLINS, CO, HOUSTON, TX, NEW YORK CITY rally behind Clinton (see “Sanders Needs to Run facebook.com/SocialistAlterna- OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, PHOENIX, (347) 749-1236 tiveUSA MIDWEST AZ, and SALT LAKE CITY, UT INTERNATIONAL as an Independent” at SocialistAlternative.org). PHILADELPHIA, PA Twitter: @SocialistAlt contact our national office As it becomes more and more clear that Bernie (267) 368-4564 CHICAGO, IL (CWI) PITTSBURGH, PA (773) 771-4617 PACIFIC Socialist Alternative is also in politi- Sanders is very unlikely to have any chance at the NEW ENGLAND (412) 589-2558 MADISON, WI cal solidarity with the Committee Democratic Party convention, with all its undem- (608) 620-3901 BELLINGHAM, WA for a Workers International (CWI), BOSTON, MA WASHINGTON, DC, NEW BRUNSWICK, MINNEAPOLIS, MN (360) 510-7797 a worldwide socialist organiza- ocratic procedures, we need to discuss this plan (910) 639-3948 NJ, and RICHMOND, VA contact (612) 760-1980 OLYMPIA, WA tion in 47 countries, on every NASHUA, NH our national office B. Bernie Sanders and his supporters need to ST. LOUIS/FERGUSON, MO (206) 579-5309 continent. Join us! (603) 233-2999 (952) 270-7676 PORTLAND, OR CANADA develop a strategy to unleash the movement from PORTLAND, ME SOUTHEAST BLOOMINGTON, IN, COLUMBUS, OH, (503) 284-6036 (604) 738-1653 the constraints of this Wall Street party. The Dem- (207) 415-8792 JOHNSON CITY, TN GRAND RAPIDS, MI, MILWAUKEE, OAKLAND/ SAN FRANCISCO, CA [email protected] WORCESTER, MA ocratic Party was built to be a prison controlled by (617) 721-8915 WI, and TOPEKA, KS contact our (510) 220-3047 www.socialistalternative.ca (617) 285-9346 MOBILE, AL national office SEATTLE, WA QUÉBEC corporate powers to serve their interests. An inde- UMASS-AMHERST (251) 300-4727 (206) 526-7185 [email protected] pendent party of, by, and for the 99% is needed. (910) 639-3948 NASHVILLE, TN SPOKANE, WA www.AlternativeSocialiste.org We need to organize the jailbreak. J (931) 220-0427 (509) 879-7169

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • APRIL 2016 11 SocialistAlternative.org Suggested Donation $2

SOCIALISTIssue #22 - April 2016 ALTERNATIVE

Rebuild a Mass Student Movement! A Young People’s Political Revolution

Meghan Brophy & Ty Moore events, through the #MillionStudentMarch the United States is under attack. According workers are paid poverty wages and are last November, and by developing a growing to the National Center for Education Statis- forced to rely on public assistance. Cafete- We are witnessing the rebirth of a mass core of student leaders active in Socialist tics, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, ria workers, janitors, and even many adjunct student movement in America. One-in-ten Alternative branches. and board at public colleges and universities professors typically face low wages and long first-year college students expect to attend a rose 40 percent from 2002 to 2012. Mean- hours. Nearly half of minimum wage work- protest this year, the highest in U.S. history #MillionStudentMarch while, budget cuts have reduced the federal ers are people of color. In answer, the fight according to UCLA study. Among black stu- Pell Grant Program by nearly $5 billion per for $15 is spreading onto college campuses Socialist Alternative student leaders ini- dents, the number was one in six. year. More than nine million students rely across the country. Students and workers are tiated the first #MillionStudentMarch last “The protests on college campuses as on Pell Grants to complete college, includ- fighting alongside each other because we November. Demonstrations took place on 115 well as communities in Ferguson, Baltimore ing more than half of Latino and Black both face the same enemies and because campuses across the country, with 15,000 and elsewhere really resonated,” said Kevin undergraduates. students understand that a college degree students marching. On April 13, the Million Eagan, director of the Cooperative Institu- provides no assurances of a living wage! Student March and Socialist Alternative is tional Research Program at UCLA, about the doing it again, this time linking up in solidar- Cancellation of All Student Debt largest study of college students in the U.S., ity with the wider movement building behind A Political Alternative now in its 50th year. The survey also showed By fighting to cancel all student debt, we Bernie Sanders’ political revolution against young people moving rapidly to the left on vir- want to challenge the rampant inequality and It’s critical for students to join the fight for the billionaire establishment and the right- tually every issue facing the nation. institutionalized racism in higher education. $15, the Black Lives Matter movement, and wing threat of Donald Trump. We are also And this was before Bernie Sanders’ call The average graduate in the Class of 2015 other struggles taking place both on and off working with the Black Liberation Collective, for a political revolution further radicalized has over $35,000 in debt. More than 40 mil- of our campuses. We need to unite our move- a national organization of students fighting the rising generation. In the primary battle lion Americans share a total of $1.2 trillion in ments to fight against this whole exploitative, against racism, to build this day of action. with Clinton, young people are supporting student debt, and most of that debt burden racist, and sexist system of capitalism. If the That’s why Socialist Alternative is calling Sanders by unprecedented margins, tapping - 58 percent - is carried by the poorest 25 political system limits our choices in Novem- on students to unite on April 13 to link up into broad-based anger at the rule of the 1%. percent of Americans. ber to Trump and Clinton, we need to show the fight against Trump’s racism, sexism, and The situation is ripe for a powerful, ongo- that another, movement-based, political alter- bigotry with a positive struggle around the fol- ing mass student movement, but that will A $15 an Hour Minimum Wage native exists. Socialists have an absolutely lowing demands: mean students getting organized. Socialist for Campus Workers vital role to play in pulling together these Alternative has already begun playing a big struggles, uniting students with the wider role in this process, both through mobiliz- Tuition-Free Public College While top administrators take home six movements of workers and oppressed, and J ing young people around the #March4Bernie Access to higher education for students in and seven figure salaries, many campus providing a strategy to win. Join us.