Fight to make Creole Haiti's official language . 10 TH£ Washington sends military aid to Haitian army . 11 Shop-floor justice-main issue in GE strike . 15
A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 50/NO. 15 APRIL 18, 1986 75 CENTS Nicaragua condemns use All out for April19 of U.S. advisers in war antiwar BY CINDY JAQUITH MANAGUA, Nicaragua-In a national broadcast interview with Sandinista televi sion on April 8, Nicaraguan President protest Daniel Ortega condemned the deepening direct involvement of U.S. personnel in BY STEVEN FUCHS Washington's mercenary war against Nica SAN FRANCISCO - "The time has ragua. He also appealed especially to the come for those of us truly concerned about Honduran government to resist U.S. gov peace to take to the streets." That is how ernment pressures to start a military con Carlos Munoz of the Faculty Committee flict with Nicaraguan troops. for Human Rights in El Salvador explained Ortega explained that Washington is the importance of the April 19 Mobiliza building "a sixth army" in Central Ameri tion for Peace, Jobs and Justice. ca, alongside the armies of Honduras, Nic As Washington escalates its aggression aragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa against the people of Nicaragua, the dem Rica. This sixth army is the mercenary onstration takes on even greater impor forces who are financed and run by the tance. U.S. government and who launch attacks M
BY BOB ROWAND maintenance workers who are The maintenance workers were over a month selling a few papers We have also begun selling to NEWARK, N.J. ---' A growing themselves on strike against a particularly glad to see a member each week. area meatpackers and Teamster number of workers in the Newark union-busting campaign. The of their union billed as a featured At Howmedico, a pharmaceuti organized truck drivers in the area are following the develop workers, who are mostly Black speaker at a Newark Militant cal plant organized by the elec meatpacking district of lower ments in the meatpackers' strike women, have won the support of Labor Forum. The Upsala striker tronic workers, the first team to go Manhattan. This sale goes out at I against Hormel in Austin, Min students and faculty. During will appear along with a represen there sold seven Militants. Interest p.m., which is the end of the day nesota. This has been demonstrat- March students organized rallies tative of the flight attendants' in the Hormel strike was high. for the meatpackers. The first union on strike against TWA and Several of the workers had heard team to sell there sold two Mili- · of the North Jersey P-9 Support about it and were glad to see a tants and two Perspectiva Mun Group. paper that was on the side of the dials. SELLING OUR PRESS The leaflet announcing the strikers. One worker, who had al While all 19 sales teams don't meeting features on its reverse ready gone into work before we go out every week, some teams AT THE PLANT GATE side "The Hormel Strike at a arrived, came out to get a Militant are selling each week. Our task is Glance" reprinted from the Mili after seeing it inside the plant. to get more teams out regularly. tant and a list of Hormel products At Maidenform, a large gar When they do go out most teams ed by the response to Militant and on campus and a two-day boycott to be boycotted. ment shop, four Militants were sell some papers and find that Perspectiva Mundial sales teams of classes to support the strikers' We've recently added several sold on the team's first visit. One workers are watching develop at factories and picket lines over demands. Sales of the monthly plants that we have never gone to worker who had been following ments in Nicaragua and are being the past several weeks. Young Socialist have been particu before or have not sold at for a the strike more closely than others inspired by the big victories in the Hats and buttons of the striking larly brisk, and the Militant has while. wanted to stop and talk for a while Philippines and in Haiti. Many are meatpackers' UFCW Local P-9 been well received by both the At the GM Linden plant a team before buying a paper and going looking to win one in Austin, Min are worn by Upsala College workers and the students. has been going now for a little into work. nesota. N.Y. forum hears leader of striking flight attendants
BY DON DAVIS ture benefits to workers on disability if they this strike what solidarity meant. "But," This scares the companies, Evans said, NEW YORK - Two leaders of strikes did not go back to work during the strike. she said, "they do understand now." "because it means they can't starve us out." against TWA and Hormel described the And he told the story of one farmer She said the willingness ofP-9ers on sol He blasted the International leadership challenges they have faced, lessons they threatened by a bank with foreclosure if he - idarity tours around the country to walk of the UFCW for withdrawing its support have learned, and the pride they feel in the did not scab. The farmer still refused to TWA picket lines set an inspiring example for the Hormel strike. fights waged by their unions. They spoke cross the picket line. that should be emulated by other unionists. Pointing to the slogan on the back of his at an inspiring Militant Labor Forum here Referring to Minnesota Gov. Rudy Per Evans opened his remarks by saying, P-9 jacket, "No retreat, no surrender," he April4. pich, he said, "We have got a progressive "The same thing is happening to all of us. said, "That's exactly what we're going to Both Karen Lantz and Merrill Evans Democratic governor. With one phone call .If you carry a union card in this country do. We're going to beat them and that's all pointed to the fighting spirit of the mem from the Hormel company he called out the you are under assault. there is to it." bers of their unions: the Independent Fed National Guard." "It's calculated. It's planned. And it's The audience donated more than $70 to a eration of Right Attendants (IFFA), and Lantz and Evans agreed that all unions going to get worse if we don't stop it." collection that was to be split between the Local P-9 of the United Food and Commer are under attack and that only labor solidar He emphasized the importance of the two unions, but, in an act of solidarity, the cial Workers (UFCW) in Austin, Min ity could tum back the employer offensive. "Adopt A Family" program initiated by IFFA strikers donated their share to P-9. nesota. Lantz noted that JFFA is a young union, Local P-9, which asks unions and others to The forum was taped by radio station WBAI, which played excerpts over the fol Lantz, national vice-president of IFF A, just nine years old April 1, and that many pledge a certain amount per month to aid noted that TWA President Carl Icahn had of its members did not understand before strikers. lowing days. predicted before the strike that the flight at tendents would be "running over each other'sbacks to get back to work." St. Louis TWA strike solidarity As the TWA strike entered its fifth week, she said, 95 percent of IFFA mem BY MAREA IDMELGRIN Pam Ross, representing Central NOW·in bers at TWA were still on strike, and a AND BOB MILLER St. Louis, hit Carl Ieabo's sexist remarks nationwide television hookup of union ST. LOUIS- Since members of the In about the striking TWA workerS. When members had just resulted in a 97 percent ternational Federation of Right Attendants Ross asked, "How many times has TWA • voie to continue to' strike. struck TWA on March 7 they have held ral sponsored a seminar on sexual harass Soth outlined the outrageous concession lies here several times a week attended by ment?" The flight attendants shouted demands they fa~Yed and the low tactics hundreds of unionists. "Never!" Eighty-five percent of the strik used by the!bOsses to break the•strikes ; - Some 200 unionists joined 150 flight at ing members of the flight attendants' union TWA was able to fly 85-90 percent of tendants at a support rally March 20 at the are women. its schedule - not the 100 percent the Operating Engineers' hall. Officials of the A dozen members of Teamsters Local company claimed - ;by flying planes that central labor council, building-trades coun mechanics declared unsafe and by 600 were recognized by a standing ovation cil, Region 5 of the Unite
2.; Winnie Mandela: 'Time for crying is over'
BY GEORGE KAPLAN power to the white rulers' by denying all son Black township near Johannesburg, be dropped after a court declared 14 arrests "You are told that your leaders in prison rights to the 85 percent of the population after she received word that the govern without charges to be invalid on the and in exile are terrorists. But I tell you that that is Black. ment had given up its effort to continue the grounds that the government had failed to the terrorists are in Pretoria and Cape "I want to remind you that the Botha re ban on her. She had been under tight re justify them beyond stating that they were Town. The government are the terrorists. gime will not free your leaders," Winnie strictions or in prison for the last 24 years. "in the interests of the security of the They are the ones who must be behind Mandela said. "You are the ones who must She was given a triumphal welcome by rel state," bars." free your leaders, and you can only free atives and a crowd of neighbors and pas It was the first time detention orders had Anti-apartheid leader Winnie Mandela them if you take direct action against the sersby. been thrown out by the courts. said this at the April 5 funeral of one of the Botha regime." In December Mandela was arrested Since the government has followed the young victims of the regime of South Afri Winnie Mandela spoke in Brandfort in twice for attempting to return to her home. same procedure in imposing other bans, the can President Pieter Botha. Held in the defiance of a banning order that bars her She had defied the regime by leaving her decision was thought likely to lead to the town of Brandfort in the Orange Free State from making public speeches. The banning place of forced exile in Brandfort after her lifting of the remaining bans on six anti Province, the funeral was attended by order forced her to live in exile in house there was burned to the ground by apartheid fighters, including Mandela. 3,000 people. Brandfort from 1976 to 1985 . arsonists believed to be linked to the apart On April 4, however, the apartheid re "We no longer come to the funerals of The South African media are barred heid regime. Although she was released gime said the ban on Mandela was still in our young heroes to shed tears. The time from quoting persons who are proclaimed from jail, she still faces charges that could · force. Mandela then left her home in Sow for crying is over. We can no longer waste banned. But two newspapers defied there lead to imprisonment for up to three years. eto ahhe advice of her lawyer. our tears. The struggle cannot be won un strictions by quoting from Mandela' s At that time the government gave up its According to the April 5 Washington less we take direct action against the Botha speech. efforts to force her to return to exile in Post, "Observers believe the administra regime. The time has come where we must Brandfort, but barred her from the Johan tion may be stalling on the withdrawal of show that we are disciplined and trained On April 2 Mandela had returned to her nesburg area. Mandela's restriction order while it seeks a warriors." family home in Soweto, a 1.5-million-per- The government indicated the ban would new way of silencing her." She also commented on rumors that the government might soon release Nelson Mandela, the leader of the African Na tional Congress who has been held in Steelworkers approve LTV contract prison since 1962 for the crime of fighting apartheid. Apartheid is a racist system that seeks to guarantee a monopoly of political BY HOLLY HARKNESS they needed to reduce their labor costs to the company into bankruptcy in 30 days," CHICAGO - Members of the United remain financially solvent. warned Frank Valenta, USWA District 28 Steelworkers of America (USW A) em Cleveland-based LTV Steel, a sub director from Cleveland. ployed by LTV Steel approved a new con sidiary of LTV Corp. of Dallas, is the sec "This isn't a concessionary package; it's tract by a vote of 13 ,081 to 8,464. The 40- ond-largest steel producer in the United an investment in the company;" said chief month contract cuts wages and benefits by States. The new contract covers 30,500 USWA negotiator Anthony Rainaldi. $3.15 an hour and will cost each steelwork workers at 24 plants. This includes 8,000 er an estimated $6,600 a year. who have been laid off for less than two Many union members didn't see it that In addition, the cost-of-living adjust years. way. Unionists interviewed at the informa ment was lost, and workers with more than Apparently many of these laid-off work tional meetings around the country ex two weeks' vacation lost one week's vaca ers believe that the concessions might pressed their opposition to more conces tion . Three paid holidays were also elimi mean job security. At the Aliquippa, sions. nated. Pennsylvania, plant, which was idled inde In return for their "investment in the The LTV Steel contract was the first finitely last year, workers voted 2,700 to company," LTV workers are being offered basic steel contract to be settled this year. 130 in favor of the contract. But in the a phony profit-sharing plan. Under this Previously, steel contracts were negotiated large Cleveland mills, where employment plan, workers would receive LTV stock on an industrywide basis. But last year, the is relatively high, the vote went two to one equivalent to the value of the concessions steel industry's Big Six - U.S. Steel , against the contract. they made if the company returns to pro LTV, Bethlehem Steel, Inland Steel, The two mills in Chicago and East fitability. The stock would be held in trust Armco, and National Steel ..:..._ announced Chicago, Indiana, both rejected the con and would pay a 5 percent dividend in they would no longer carry out coordinated tract. more stock. After two years, employees bargaining with the union. The old basic At mass meetings held in Pennsylvania, 'could withdraw the stock and convert it to steel contract does not expire until July 31, Cleveland, and Northern Indiana, union common shares at the rate of $16 a share. 1986, but LTV successfully pushed for an negotiators urged a yes vote. "If the con But the company strongly urges workers to Winnie Mandela earlier deadline. The company argued that tract is tu_rned dpwn,. the bariks could force Continued on Page 16 .------Pledge Scoreboard------, We need your fund pledge now City Pledgecl BY PAT GROGAN tribution in Japan, Hong Kong, India, Aus Atlanta 1055 At midpoint in the Socialist Publication tralia, and New Zealand. Baltimore 1014 $100.000 Fund drive, we have received contributions Big strides have been made in Ireland. A Birmingham totalling $19,400. These very generous promotional tour last October opened ac pledges have come in from 500 readers and Boston 390 counts with 17 bookstores. Among the Socialist supporters. bookstores that have begun circulating Capital District, N.Y. 290 The most important next step, if we are books from Pathfinder are two that are Charleston. W. Va. 1830 to reach our goal of raising $100,000 by linked to Sinn Fein, the main Irish Chicago 1740 Publication May 10, is for everyone who hasn't gotten nationalist organization fighting to reunify Cincinnati 1105 around to it yet to make your pledge now. Ireland. Cleveland 1215 The backbone of our fundraising efforts The bestsellers have been Nicaragua: Dallas 4035 Fund always comes from those who· help distri the Sandinista People's Revolution and Denver 1860 bute the socialist publications, who help Fidel Castro Speeches 1984-1985: War Detroit 3075 sell the press every week on the job, on the and Crisis in the Americas. Greensboro, N.C. 1405 campuses, at anti-apartheid and women's In an October . 12 review, the Irish Houston 7770 rights actions, and on the picket lines. nationalist paper Andersonstown News, a Kansas City 1285 On March 15 we launched the And we know that many more than 500 mass circulation paper in West Belfast, 6635 Socialist Publication Fund with the plan to contribute to the fund drive, which recommended the Nicaragua book to those Los Angeles makes it possible to maintain and expand Louisville 800 goal of raising $100,000 by May 10. "who are interested in Nicaragua . . . a our socialist press. country politically anQ economically con Miami 1440 A major purpose of the fund is to So, if you haven't done it y~t. make your trolled by the working Class and the peas Milwaukee 600 help finance publication of the pledge this week. With four weeks to go ants." It argued that "schools would be im Morgantown. W.Va. 900 Militant, our Spanish-language sis before the May 10 deadline, this still leaves proved if such a book was added to the cur New Orleans 2205 ter publication Perspectiva Mundial, plenty of time to space out payments on riculum." New York 7045 . and other socialist publication pro your pledge. An Phoblacht!Republican News, the Newark 4645 jects. Every contribution, large and small, is weekly paper of Sinn Fein, recommended Oakland 6585 needed and will be put to good use. both books as containing important lessons Philadelphia 1800 Checks should be made out to: One supporter from Tucson marked the for the Irish people. Phoenix 860 Socialist PUiic:atioa Faacl · memo line on her check with the note: "for To aid promotion of the Nicaragua book, Pittsburgh 1430 14 Charles Lae, lew York, IY 10014 the eyewitness reports from Haiti." People's Democracy, Irish section of the Portland 1541 But in addition to making it possible for Fourth International (a world Marxist or Price, Utah 600 Enclosed is my contribution to the us to bring you firsthand reports from ganization), held· meetings and receptions Haiti, Nicaragua, Cuba, thePhilippines, in Belfast and Dublin. Salt Lake City 2075 Socialist Publication Fund of$_ __ . and elsewhere, your contribution also In Britain, big labor struggles, such as San Diego 1950 I pledge a contribution of $'---- helps us bring socialist books and pam the British miners' strike, as well as an up 2830 San Francisco . to the Socialist Publication Fund to phlets to people in struggle throughout the surge in Britain's Blac~ communities, have San Jose 3575 be paid by --- - - world. spurred interest in Pathfinder titles, espe Seattle 2250 Last week' s Militant reported on a meet- cially the writings of Malcolm·X. St. Louis 1075 Name ------, ing at the National Press Club in Manila to Your contribution to the Socialist Publi Tidewater, Va. 450 Address ______launch the circulation of books from Path cation Fund helps make this expanded in Toledo 1620 finder Press and from the Jose Marti pub ternational distribution possible. It also al Twin Cities 4125 City------lishing house in Cuba. Speakers com lows us to offer books and pamphlets at re mented that the precious democratic rights duced prices to fighters in colonial and Washington D.C. 2140 State ____ _ Zip _ ____ Other cities 685 won by the Filipino people now enable semicolonial countries. Phone ______them to study and learn from revolutionary If you want to help in this effort to Total pledged 87,938 struggles in Cuba, Nicaragua, South Af strengthen international solidarity, use the Total paid 19.- Organization/Union ______rica, and elsewhere in·the world. accompanying coupon to send in your Pathfinder Press is also stepping up dis- pledge or donation now.
April 18, 1986 The Militant· 3 Working people aid
Hormel strikers Emergency food C8111VIII1 to Aultln Continued from front page "Hormel is squeezing farmers. They're I Have a Dream . .. AprilS elected leaders with appointed officials. stealing our hogs and not paying us a price, Striking Hormd workers a nd I ha t't> A drf' s;~ m thQ t O tl(' day o ut i n thf' rf'd hi/Is of G1'org1a 1111' sorts of formn slu;•es and tile sons uf {1Jnrtf'r silwo•
Members of these locals, as well as As momentum builds toward the actions B11f IH >I o.m ly thllt . lo• t /rt•edom rmg from tht• StoJJI' The harships imposed on the Mo wtl""' ofGeorR''-' strikers and their families have members of the UFCW locals in Ottumwa; against Hormel's union-busting, the cops not moved the Harmel Co .-on Let frt't•dom-rilltl,/TQI1/ Lvokouf MoulltUIII•'f Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Fremont, have begun a campaign to try to intimidate the co ntrary they S«m deter· Nebraska, will be participating with other the union and its allies. Local cops have Unionist UFCW members in the solidarity actions threatened to arrest 100 people on each day March 28 Unionist. Local P-9 paper honored Martin Luther King, Jr., and noted here. of the action. They have boasted that they King was slain during his efforts to help Memphis sanitation workers win union rec Working people across the country have will bring in ambulances to "scare" union ognition. been following the eight-month-long strike members and their supporters. to win a decent contract from Hormel. Mower County Sheriff Wayne Goodna Thousands of working people in scores of ture and Austin Police Chief Don Hoffman cities have heard strikers explain their charged April 9 that the action could tum struggle. into a "full-scale riot." They joined Hormel Albert Lea workers meet This hard-fought strike has inspired officials in calling on Minnesota Gov. workers and farmers, especially those who Rudy Perpich to once again send the Na are themselves fighting against attacks tional Guard to the plant gate. Perpich had to aid Austin unionists from the bosses and the government. Many sent the Guard to herd scabs for the com of these embattled workers will be coming pany in January . The troops were finally BY ANDREA GONZALEZ pany. "Orders are not being met," Guyette to Austin to show their solidarity for the withdrawn 33 days later. ALBERT LEA, Minn. -Over 50 years reported, "for the first time in the com · Hormel strikers. In response to this latest call for troops, a ago, meatpackers from Hormel's Austin pany's history." Delegations of striking TWA flight at governor's spokesperson said that the re plant raced to nearby Albert Lea in answer The local, he said, has offered to accept tendants plan to attend the action. Chicago quest was "premature. It is still a local to a call for help from workers fighting for a contract similar to those in effect at the Tribune strikers are sending a contingent to problem," he continued, "unless some a union at Wilson's meatpacking plant. At company's other plants, but the company Austin. Cannery workers on strike in Wat thing develops that is really out of hand." that time, the combined forces of the Au has rejected these proposals. They are hop sonville, California, will be traveling hun The union has charged that the only vio stin and Albert Lea workers successfully ing to starve the strikers out, Guyette dreds of miles to participate. Farmers who lence in the strike has been the cops and drove the scabs from the plant and forced explained, and bust the local. are fighting foreclosures are also planning scabs who have attacked strikers and sup the company to recognize the union. The strikers have been able to hang to participate in these actions. porters. Hormel and the cops, they explain, Austin meatpackers returned to Albert tough because of the solidarity they have Chillicothe, Missouri, farmers who have are responsible for these attacks. Lea Sunday, April4, to build the mass sol received from other working people. De been blockading federal farm loan agencies The strikers also explain that these activ idarity actions called for April9-12 to sup spite public attacks by the top officialdom for the past month (see story page 5) will be ities, like the first national solidarity action port their current fight against Hormel' s of the UFCW and the withdrawing of the sending a delegation to Austin. when 4,000 people marched in support of union-busting. Some 250 workers partici strike sanction, Guyette said, the local has Charlie Tenniston, a central activist P-9 here February 15, will be peaceful pated in the meeting here, including mem won broad support from unions, including from Chillicothe, told the Militant the demonstrations of support for their fight bers of UFCW Local P-6 from the Albert from other locals of the UFCW across the farmers are coming to Austin because against union-busting. Lea area. It was sponsored by the Strikers country. United Support Group. Unionists from Al Just the day before, Guyette said, two bert Lea who have been organizing weekly caravans brought 180,000 pounds of food plant-gate collections for the strikers re for the strikers. The UFCW locals in Madi Strike activists denounce quested the meeting to help build the up son and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as coming events in Austin. in Minnesota, played major roles in or The meeting was billed as an opportu ganizing these caravans. criiDinal syndicalisiD charges nity for the Albert Lea workers to hear the Longshoremen in Oakland, California, strikers explain their struggle and answer he reported, refused to unload Hormel BYTOMJAAX used since 1921 when it was employed the lies and slanders of the company, the products. Mass leafleting for the Hormel AUSTIN, Minn. -In an escalation of against union organizers. big-business media, and the top officials of boycott was being organized by workers in his attacks on the meatpackers' strike, According to Emily Bass, Rogers' attor the United Food and Commercial Workers Philadelphia, Houston, and Boston. Strik Mower County prosecutor Fred Kraft ney, the amended charge opens the door (UFCW). ers and supporters, Guyette said, were cur upped the ante in the criminal syndicalism for the government to accuse any union Jim Guyette, president of striking rently speaking to local unions and other charge against Ray Rogers, striking Local member or supporter of the local's fight UFCW Local P-9, opened the meeting. organizations about the strike in over a P-9's consultant. against Hormel with "criminal syndicalist Contrary to reports in the media, he said, dozen cities across the country. · At a March 31 hearing for Rogers, the conspiracy." the struggle in Austin is far from over. The Members of the UFCW, Guyette con county attorney amended the charge to The charge against Rogers stems from a strike and boycott of Hormel products tinued, are also fighting inside the union to state that Rogers not only committed crim February 6 demonstration at Hormel's called by the local is affecting the com- force the UFCW International Executive inal syndicalism, but joined organizations plant gates where he was singled out for ar Committee to end its attacks on the strike. that advocate and promote criminal syn rest. Rogers has characterized the charge as Members of UFCW Local P-40 in Cudahy, dicalism. Under the amended charge, the a witch-hunt red-scare tactic. Wisconsin, he said, will be voting to stop government claims that both the striking During the hearing, defense attorney paying their dues to the International until local and Rogers' company, Corporate Mark Wernick moved that the charge be the International Executive Committee re Campaign, Inc., advocate criminal syn dismissed. The statute, he argued, was.un stores the sanction to the P-9 strike. dicalism. constitutional since it interfered with the In closing, Guyette called on workers to State law defines criminal syndicalism strikers' First Amendment right to picket. come to Austin to help "show that the as "the doctrine which advocates crime, Wernick also argued there was no reason to strike is not over." By coming to Austin malicious damage or injury to the property believe that any crime would be commit April 9-12, Guyette said, working people of an employer, violence or other unlawful ted. will be showing "that workers, when they methods of terrorism as a means ofaccom Citing a leaflet's headline, "Shut down go out on strike, have the right to win." plishing industrial or political ends." It is a Hormel," which was published to build na Mike Dudely, one of over 500 members felony_ punishable by five years in prison tional strike support actions here, Kraft of UFCW Local 431 at Hormel's plant in . and a $5·,000 fine . This statute has not been moved to revoke Rogers' bail. He told the Ottumwa, Iowa, who were fired and then court, "The First Amendment doesn't give locked out for honoring P-9's roving picket Rogers the right to advocate a shutdown of lines, also spoke. He reported that the fired Pathfinder Press Hormel ." The county attorney added that workers had recently convinced union offi any attempt to stop Hormel employees cials to arbitrate their firings as one case. catalog available (scabs) from entering the plant is in and of Originally, he explained, the officials Pathfinder Press carries a broad itself a "serious crime." wanted to arbitrate the firings on a case-by range of books on revolutionary There is a strike, Kraft told the court, case basis, which would have allowed the and socialist history and theory. and the union local and Rogers are on one company to victimize militant workers. He It publishes a wide selection of ti side, encouraging the workers to fight the told the crowd, "The entire labor move tles ori the Black, women's, labor, company. Therefore, he continued, they ment centers in Austin, Minnesota, and Ot and Latin American, interna~ are promoting criminal syndicalism. tumwa, Iowa. We have to win," he said, tiorial struggles. To get the full Presiding Judge Bruce Stone refused to "and we will win ." list order the 1985-86 catalog either dismiss the charges against Rogers Presentations were also made by P-9 at from Pathfinder, 410 West St., or revoke bail. He did , however, set a ten torneys Emily Bass and Margaret .Winter NewYork,NY 10014.Nocharge. tative trial date in the criminal syndicalism Militant/Michael Baumann and by Ray Rogers, the local's consultant case for April 21. Jim Guyette and head of Corporate Campaign Inc.
4 The Militant April 18, 1986 Missouri farm protest deepens Rally hits gov't loan policies, U.S. war; backs P-9
BY KATHIE FITZGERALD and yellow people are standing up all over day to be in the fields, but we haven't got CHILLICOTHE, Mo. - Some 2,000 the world. We have to get behind them be the money we need to spend to plant." farmers jammed into the lot of the Farmers cause together we can win! While state and national FmHA investi Home Administration (FmHA) office here "We're not only fighting for our farms," gations of the local FmHA's loan proce Sunday, April 6, spilling onto the street he continued, "but what this country is sup dures continue, the farmers here have and across it. The FmHA building has been posed to be all about. Freedom! Justice for launched an investigation of their own. the site of a tractor sit-in since March 17. all - of all colors - and we have to re With the help of two local attorneys, af The farmers are protesting FmHA lending member that." fidavits of numerous farmers are being policies and the farm crisis itself; which is As Tenniston finished his speech, a roar taken, and a class action suit is being dis~ deepening across Missouri and the Mid went up from the crowd as the first of 100 cussed. west. tractors led by the prominent civil rights Also attending the rally was a delegation At the microphone was Charlie Tennis figure and Democratic politician Jesse of HormeL workers from Austin, Min ton, a Livingston County farmer and one Jackson came into view. With the tractor nesota; Ottumwa, Iowa; and Fremont, of the central leaders of the protest. "Four cade came an additional600 farmers , swel- Nebraska. Picket protesting U.S. government farm weeks ago," Tenniston said, "10 of us ling the crowd to almost 3,000. . Merle Hansen, president of the North policy at Chillicothe, Missouri, office of farmers met in the local cafe, and we Jackson told the crowd, "We must fight American Farm Alliance, encouraged the Farmers Home Administration on realized that not one of us would be farm together as brothers and sisters, not die crowd to attend the rally planned by the March 17. ing next year unless something happened. apart as fools. This is not a real farm crisis. Hormel strikers in Austin on April 12, say We're losing farms all across Missouri and It's a national economic crisis, and it's a ing that farmers and workers have to stand the Midwest. And we decided to stop it. government-induced crisis. There is no together. When Hansen said there was a help publicize the action. Twenty-one days ago in the pouring rain reason there cannot be a moratorium on delegation of Hormel workers present, the The mood of the farmers at the rally was we walked in here. We knew if we didn't foreclosures. If we can play basketball and crowd cheered. one of elation at the size of the turnout. It take a stand, it would be all over. We stood football together, if we can die on foreign The Hormel workers were able to get to was also one of determination. Several up, and we're going to continue standing shores together, we can stand up and fight gether with local farmers who have already times in the last few weeks local officials up." together!" been organizing support for the Austin have floated a series of court injunctions Throwing his arms open to encompass The size of the crowd, the largest to April 9-12 support activities. By the time against the tractor sit-in. But as support for the huge crowd, Tenniston said, "Look gather in recent years, is testimony to the the rally was over, a farmer had donated a the farmers has continued to grow, they what we've done in 21 days. Think what determination of central Missouri farmers bus to leave for Austin on Thursday, April have backed off. we can do in another 21 days. When the to continue the protest begun here in Chil 10, and it was three-quarters filled. As Charlie Tenniston told the rally, churches are behind us, when the unions licothe. The Hormel workers were also able to "We're staying here, and we're staying on are behind us, when the city people are be Fueling that protest is the fact that, de meet with Jackson, who agreed to speak to our farms. They are going to have to drag hind us, how can we lose?" spite planting time being only a few weeks the Austin rally via phone hook-up and to us off." One of the themes of the farmers' protest away, only 10 percent of the millions here in Chillicothe has been opposition to FmHA has for operating loans in Missouri the U.S. government's policies in Central has been disbursed. All lenders have tight America. Tenniston told the crowd, "They ened their loan requirements, and as are are sending $100 million to Central Amer sult, farmers across the Midwest are being N.Y. boosts sales drive ica to kill people. To kill people who are kept from their fields . In a show of hands, BY HARRY RING Holbrook Mahn, who has long been a just like us. Is that right?" over half the rallying farmers indicated that It won't show up on the scoreboard until top salesperson of our press, gave a how-to "No!" the crowd roared. they still had not heard whether the FmHA next week, but our New York sales cam rap. Illustrating as he talked, Mahn "They should send that money to Mis or any other lender in the area would pro paigners had such a sensational success in explained that simply holding the Militant souri and the Midwest," said Tenniston. vide the loans needed to begin planting our circulation drive this past weekend that aloft, or hawking like a news vendor, is the "You know, we used to live in a small com, soybeans, and other crops. we can't wait a week to report it. least productive approach. Far better, he world on our farms. If there were problems "FmHA might have been better off if The· current scoreboard - covering the explained, is to approach people individu in the cities, we didn't worry about it. If they had given that operating money," said period of Easter weekend - sho.ws us 10 ally and talk with them directly about the there was hunger in Africa, we didn't Roger Allison, director of the Missouri percent behind schedule in our 10-week paper. worry about it. But now they are coming Rural Crisis Center and another central drive to sell45,000 single copies and 2,000 With that, the teams went out. after our small world - and black, brown, leader of the protest. "Today is a beautiful .· ' subscriptions to the Militant and our Two people went to the Columbia Uni Spanish"language sister publication, Per versity campus, where Student activism· spectiva Mundial. has, as on so many campuses, taken a big . And if you run down the scoreboard, upswing. The team had some valuable dis SALES SCOREBOARD you'll see that a contributing factor was cussions and sold 19 Militants and 14 (Week #4: Totals as of Militant issue #13, PM issue #6) that New York did poorly that week. Young Socialists, monthly newspaper re With this week a target point in the flecting the views of the YSA. drive, the members of the New York Four people in Brooklyn's main Haitian SINGLE ISSUES Socialist Workers Party resolved to tum community got impressive results. With Area Militants and that situation around - and they did. the issue featuring our firsthand coverage Perspectiva On Saturday, April 5, New York sold from Haiti, they·sold 58 papers and six Mundials Total sold Subscriptions 474 copies of the Militant, and 194 copies subscriptions, plus books and pamphlets. sold this week so far 10-week goal sold so far of Perspectiva Mundial. Meanwhile, in Newark, another point Atlanta 105 290 1,040 8 In addition, they obtained 36 subscrip was being proven. You can petitioq to get a Baltimore 81 299 810 17 tions, including five to Perspectiva Mun socialist candidate on the ballot and still do Birmingham 39 181 900 2 dial. well in the circulation campaign. Boston 100 522 1,000 43 We talked with Diane Wang, the direc After being undemocratically ruled off Capital District, N.Y. 67 235 650 24 tor of the New York drive. She pointed out the ballot for mayor, the Newark SWP Charleston, W.Va. 70 302 600 4 that the results for the Militant were greater made a snap decision to enter an area con Chicago 85 353 1,500 8 in that one day than in the best entire week gressional race. With 100 petition signa Cincinnati 24 139 600 3 of last spring's sales drive. And, for PM, tures required, they collected more than Cleveland 32 253 900 15 the figure was more than double any previ 800 signatures on nominating petitions. Dallas 86 61 1 1,700 18 ous good week. , And they sold 351 copies of the Militant, Denver 53 25 1 800 11 Detroit 82 777 1,570 18 How did they do it? Easy, says Wang. 48 PMs, 15 Young Socialists, 11 Militant Greensboro, N.C. 55 223 650 19 They motivated sales people politically, subscriptions, and two PM subscriptions. Houston 125 596 1,800 28 they organized carefully, and they took ad Kansas City 59 363 1,120 8 vantage of the greater receptivity to our Los Angeles 239 761 2,000 40 publications. Louisville 33 151 375 5 At the SWP weekly meeting previous to Miami 40 181 550 16 the sale, ambitious goals were laid. People Milwaukee 25 210 750 19 were organized into selling teams and spe Morgantown, W.Va. 78 310 700 5 cific areas assigned. Each team had a cap New Orleans 68 225 650 21 New York 68 713 3,250 27 tain, whose duties included wakeup calls to Newark 189 701 2,600 38 ensure that everyone was out on the street Oakland 77 342 935 9 early. Philadelphia 31 257 1,000 3 Another big factor, Wang added, was Phoenix 106 453 1,250 22 that the Young Socialist Alliance decided Pittsburgh 44 213 800 13 to get solidly behind the drive, "and the Subscribe! Portland 73 234 650 11 fact is, they led the way." This monthly revolutionary youth Price, Utah 14 55 250 0 And, in addition, Wang explained, "we Salt Lake City 70 249 640 8 newspaper covers the fight against San Diego 22 132 580 2 got a big shot in the arm the night before. apartheid, Washington's wars, and San Francisco 82 389 1;300 16 We had a wonderful meeting of the Mili racism, and the struggle for women's San Jose 43 347 1,000 9 tant Labor Forum in solidarity with the liberation, ttie rights of workers, and Seattle 64 326 800 13 striking TWA flight attendants. Karen a socialist world. 102 395 1,250 13 St. Louis Lantz, vice-president of the striking union, $1 for 3 months/$4 for one year Tidewater, Va. 28 154 375 3 spoke. And sharing the platform with her Toledo 47 218 . 500 31 was Merrill Evans, a striking Hormel Name ______~------Twin Cities 11 8 630 1,600 20 worker from Austin, Minnesota. After Address ______Washington, D.C. 11 8 390 800 -2 1 hearing these two fighters, everyone Total sold this week 2,842 wanted to get out and selL " City ______Total sold so far . . . 13,431 .. . .. 591 10-week national goal 45 ,000 2,000 Forty-eight people participated in the State ____ Zip .c.:·-~---- Percent of national day's effort, including several SWP active Clip and mail with payment to: goal reached . • . • 30% : 30%" supporters. To be on schedule . . 40% 40% Before they set out Saturday morning, Young Socialist 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014 they had an invaluable briefing session.
April l8, 1986 The·Militant 5 Nicaragua leader heads religious peace walk
BY HARVEY McARTHUR by D'Escoto in July 1985. At that time, he MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Three took leave from his duties as foreign minis thousand people attended an open-air mass ter to go on a month-long fast against the here on February 28, marking the comple war. tion of a 14-day march called "Via Crucis In an interview at that time with the Cen for Peace and Life." The march was led by tral American Historical Institute (IHCA), Miguel D'Escoto, Nicaragua's foreign D'Escoto said that "this war financed by minister and a Catholic priest. D'Escoto is the United States is a phenomenon of such also a member of the Sandinista Assembly, a nature that all conventional methods of the consultative leadership body of the defense we have been using - and which Sandinista National Liberation Front we should continue using to defend the life (FSLN). of our people - are insufficient. The march reenacted the traditional "Up until now, we have successfully Catholic Stations of the Cross ceremony, fought the U.S. government's aggressions with participants walking 200 miles from in the military, diplomatic, economic, and the northern town of Jalapa to Managua. legal trenches. Seventy people, according to march or "Now is the time to occupy a fifth trench ganizers, walked the whole way . in this struggle, the 'theological trench.' Thousands, many of them peasants, par Those of us who are Christians, believers, ticipated in the march at different points must also occupy this new trench to over along its route. come Reagan." The majority of marchers viewed the ac When he decided to call the Via Crucis, tion as a protest of the U.S . mercenary war D'Escoto gave a second interview to the Barricada against their country. "We are going to ob IHCA, excerpts of which were printed on Fourteen-day religious march for peace. Nicaragua's Foreign Minister Miguel D'Es tain peace," said Isidra LOpez, a war refu the editorial page of the February 14 Bar coto, who is also a Catholic priest, organized it. gee displaced from her home by the fight ricada. D'Escoto explained that the Via ing . "This action is for the total liberation Crucis had two purposes: "humble prayer people are laughing at me, saying I'm the Via Crucis when it entered that city. of the country, so that there will be no more directed to the Lord to end the killing and crazy or 'extravagant,' that I'm wandering Twenty thousand people turned out to greet aggressors, so that our sons will triumph obtain peace and life and the categorical re about, that I'm doing something abnor the marchers in Estell, according to Bar over the enemy," she told Barricada, daily jection of the lies that try to manipulate mal," he replied. He explained that he is ricada. newspaper of the FSLN. Barricada carried religion against a revolution that was made both "a minister of God and a minister of short front-page articles on the march each On February 21, in a major address to for the poor and for justice." the people," stressing that he saw no Nicaragua's National Assembly on the day. D'Escoto was asked how he could spend "theoretical or practical complications" in economy, President Daniel Ortega took up The march was the second action in an so much time away from his duties as for leading the march. the Via Crucis briefly in the course of call "evangelical insurrection" first called for eign minister. "I already know some Cardinal Obando y Bravo ing for national unity to defend Nicargua The Via Crucis came shortly after Nica from U.S. aggression. raguan Cardinal Miguel Obando y Bravo, Ortega said that "the united efforts of the CIA-financed radio calls for head of the Catholic church hierarchy, vis workers and peasants, their sweat, and ited the United States. He refused to speak their sacrifices in defense of the revolution, out against the U.S.-organized contra war are guaranteed to the degree that the youth, support to Cardinal ·Obando and made statements aimed at encouraging women, and patriotic producers join in the Congress to approve $100 million in aid to economic and military defense of the revo BY CINDY JAQUITH next day in a Stations of the Cross proces the mercenaries. lution. Combined with the efforts of intel MANAGUA, Nicaragua- The CIA-fi- sion that ended in the Plaza of the Revolu Obando also held a mass in Miami last lectuals, journalists, . artists, technicians, -'nanced radio station "15th of September" tion. Addr~ssing the marchers, Obando year with the participation of contra lead professionals, and religious believers, we called on Nicaraguans to tum out in large again called for "national reconciliation" ers. He calls for "reconciliation" between are appealing for unityJp those sectors that numbers for the .Easter week mass cele with the mercenaries. Nicaraguan workers and peasants and their refuse to accept this reality .. , brated'here by Cardinal Miguef Obando y Among the marchers were both sU:pporti ':: "brothers," the mercenaries.· "Our foreign minister, Father Miguel Bravo. · ers of Obando and people who look to the · Throughout the Via Crucis, D'Escoto D'Escoto, is caiT)'ing .out a-further act for The station is the official voice of the Christian base communities, which are led called on Obando to change his stance and peace," said Ortega. ~:This is a _Christian by priests-who have condemned the U:S. Nicaraguan Democratic Force (FpN), the urged him to joih the march for the final ac~ :. an. (}Ct .i _n favqr 19f , g~HQnillNni~y .. n,~& a ,, largest oftfie mercenary groups sponsored mercenary war and -Obandd's thinly -veiTed 1mass • in Managua, •· Obando• refused be genuine manifestation of Christianity _:___ by Washingtonto\vage·war on Nicaragua. support for it. cause, as an assistant told the capitalist concerned for peace: concerned for life, The FDN called Obando ·"our-cardinal ." Several ·members of the Mothers of daily La Prensa, it was a ''Via Crucis of the concerned for the rights of Nicarag~ans." Obando has not only refused to repudiate Heroes and Martyrs, the organization of People's Church." the terrorists' support, but has more and women whose children have been killed in D'Escoto replied that his group of fol Factory workers more openly identified himself with U.S. the struggle against the Somoza dictator lowers "is not a parallel church. This is the The march came into Managua along the government policy, demanding that the ship or by the contras, appeared on televi apostolic, Roman Church." Northern Highway, the main industrial Sandinistas lay down their arms and sion shortly before Obando's mass. They Many marchers saw the Via Crucis as a belt, where organizers hoped that many negotiate with "our brothers," the FDN. announced they would attend the mass be public way to challenge the support given workers from the factories would join in. During Easter week , tens of thousands cause they were Catholics. to the contras by the top church hierarchy. The Association of Nicaraguan Women of Nicaraguans across the country partici However, they denounced the "15th of Church officials here were themselves di had announced that their base committees pated in church services, as they do every September" radio station and Obando. vided. In Dario City, priests locked the in the factories would help organize dele year. Many Nicaraguan working people re They said they wanted people to know that doors of their church to keep the marchers gations of workers and neighborhood resi main members of the Catholic Church. their participation in the mass in no way re out when they passed through town . dents to join the march. Leaflets were also Government ministries and factories gave flected political support for the cardinal or Thousands then joined the marchers for up in the markets encouraging people to people most or all of the week off. the mercenary war. "Our religious senti outdoor masses in protest. participate. Several thousand attended the March 27 ments are being manipulated by the con Bishop Ruben Lopez Ardon, of the Workers at several Northern Highway mass led by Obando or participated the tras ," said one. northern city of Estelf, officially blessed factories said they were sympathetic to the antiwar themes of the demonstration as the march went by at 5:00p.m. But few joined in. Two dozen workers watched the demon 'IP' on growing South African struggle stration from the Danto sporting goods fac tory. Orlando Gomez, a young mechanic, For nearly eight months, South Af many Black townships, while new .------, said the march was another demonstration forms of popular organization are rica's apartheid regime clamped a of Nicaragua's desire for peace. emerging. Political ferment is begin~ draconian state of emergency on the INTERCONTINENTAL At the Texnicsa textile plant, about a country, detaining tens of thousands ning to spread even more to the dozen workers hung over the wall to watch of anti-apartheid activists and mur countryside. PRESS the march go by . Some did not know what Oc••• ,. dering hundreds. But neither that As this process deepens, popular .4.•1• ...... it was, but said that it was good that Chris crackdown nor the continuing re support is also growing for the out tians were having a march for peace. lawed African National Congress, Reagan's Hoax of Sandinista Invasion pression that follows the state of Used to Deepen U.S. Role in 'Contra' War A large crowd of workers stood in front emergency's formal lifting has been the organization leading the struggle of the Managua electric power plant and able to curb the popular struggle for for a democratic South Afr~ca . waved as the march went by. Douglas Av majority rule. Intercontinental Press is a biweekly iles, a warehouseman at the plant, said they that carries more articles, docu had scheduled a rally that same afternoon The April 21 Intercontinental Press ments, and special features on world to welcome back workers who had spent steps back to look at the growth of politics- from Europe to Oceania two months harvesting coffee in the moun this massive upheaval over recent and from the Middle East to Central tains. They decided to step outside to greet months. Despite the repression, America - than we have room for "the resistance has tended to in the Via Crucis marchers and then went in the Militant. Subscribe now. back to their rally. crease as more and more sectors of the population have become actively Enclosed is D $7.50 for 3 months. "The revolution is not just for those who involved in the struggle to sweep D $15 for 6 months. D $30 for 1 were forged in the struggle," said Aviles. away the hated apartheid system," year. South Africa Haiti "It's also for Christians who have the same Repression Falls to Duvaller's Ouster Draws Ernest Harsch writes. Curb Popular Upsurge Masses Into Political Life goals of freedom and justice. This march Since the state of emergency was Name------will help if it strengthens their morale." Address ______Of the 3,000 people who gathered at the first imposed, Harsch notes, Black u.s. Attack on Libya- Act of AcP•nlan workers have forged the Congress of Plaza of the Revolution for the final mass, City ______State ______Zip ______L______----' South African Trade Unions, which it appeared that one-third were interna is throwing its weight behind the Clip and mail to Intercontinental tional visitors, many of them members of anti-apartheid struggle. Consumer Press, 410 West St., New York, NY religious or pacifist organizations. and rent boycotts are continuing in 10014. Sixty priests and ministers were on the Continued on Page 8
6 The Militant Apri118, 1986 Sandinista unions seek unified May Day celebration
BY HARVEY McARTHUR which, the CTN-Autonomous, is affiliated MANAGUA, Nicaragua - The San with the People's Social Christian Party dinista Workers Federation (CST) has and participated in the May Day negotia called on all Nicaraguan workers to unite to tions. Several leaders of the other CTN celebrate the 100th anniversary of the wing have been involved in terrorist opera nationwide strike wave launched by U.S. tions organized by the mercenary group, workers on May I, 1886, to demand the Nicaraguan Democratic Force. eight-hour day. The CST won the big majority of its "This great strike was brutally crushed membership coming out of the 1979 revo by the exploiting classes through the use of lution. Since then, it has made some prog police and provocateurs," said the CST in a ress in winning more workers away from January 13 statement. "This heroic gesture the other union federations. In 1985, for in has merited the perpetual respect and hom stance, it won the leadership of the Atlantic age of the international proletariat, which Coast sailors in Bluefields, who had been has made each first of May a time of strug affiliated with the rightist CUS. · gle for its demands." However, these other federations still The CST called on "all union organiza have a following. With its May Day call, tions in the country, without exception, the CST hopes to unite workers from all the i -" and regardless of their ideology or reli federations in a common action and to pub Militant photos by Arnold Weissberg and Bill Gretter gion" to unite in a broad committee to or licly protest Washington's attacks on Nica A previous May Day in Nicaragua. Inset, Lucio Jimenez, general secretary of San ganize a mass rally on May Day. They also ragua. dinista Workers Federation, which seeks unified action with non-Sandinista unions. called for unity in defending the country from the U.S.-backed mercenaries, the Debate over committee composition union federations could make up the com and leaders of the CGT-1, CUS, and erN contras; in increasing production to im Leaders of the CST met with the other mittee. accused the CST of "hegemonism" and of prove living standards and promote eco federations during January and announced CST leader Denis Melendez argued that "breaking promises." nomic development; and in combating that the CAUS, CGT-1, CUS, and erN all organizations representing workers This debate lasted three hours, without hoarding and speculation. Autonomous had agreed to form a joint should be invited to have representatives reaching any agreement. The CST, which is based on industrial committee to hold a unified May Day rally. on the committee. The CST represented in On February 12, the CUS, CAUS, CTN, workers, was joined in its May Day call by A February 5 organizing meeting was dustrial workers, but the more than 40,000 and CGT-1 issued a joint statement saying other national unions that support the San held where this unified committee was sup farm workers in the ATC, and the tens of they would agree to add the AT C to the dinista National Liberation Front: the Rural posed to be launched. thousands of workers in ANDEN , UNE, committee, but not the other Sandinista Workers Association (A TC), the National No sooner had the meeting begun, how FETSALUD, and UPN needed to be repre unions. Union of Government Employees (UNE), ever, than Roberto Moreno of CAUS inter sented by their own organizations. This was initially rejected by the CST, the Health Workers Federation (FET rupted, demanding to know why the CST Moreno replied that only union federa and negotiations for a unified May Day ac SALUD), the National Association of Nic had invited representatives of the other tions with a distinct political line should be tion broke down. The CST continued its araguan Educators (ANDEN), the Nicara Sandinista unions- ATC, UNE, UPN, allowed to constitute the committee. Since plans for the May Day action. guan Council of Professional Organiza ANDEN, and FETSALUD. Moreno said these other five supported the Sandinistas, The CGT-1, CAUS, CTN-Autonomous, tions (CONAPRO), and the Nicaraguan that the agreement was that only the five the CST should speak for them. Moreno Continued on Page 14 Journalists Union (UPN). Together, they represent 202,000 of the 228,000 or ganized workers in Nicaragua. Nicaragua defense minister reviews war CST campaigns for unity of workers The CST call for a united May Day is BY CINDY JAQUITH and accepting their shameful conditions for On April 2, Azcona sent a communique part of its cariipaign to overcome long JUIGALPA, Nicaragua- Nicaraguan ending theirunjust war." to the Nicaraguan.government. It said, in standing divisions that exist among Nicara Defense Minister Humberto Ortega warned "But what has happened'!" Ortega part, "The Honduran government is acting guan workers. in a major speech here April 5 that Wash asked. "And especially, what has hap with all due deliberation and calm, despite The CST, with Ill ,000 members, and ington is trying to provoke a direct military pened in the last few months?" the demands of sectors interested in start the other Sandinista unions represent 89 confrontation between the Honduran and "The Nicaraguan revolution has demon ing up an armed conflict with Nicaragua." percent of organized workers. But a signif Nicaraguan armies. He underscored at the strated in daily practice, in the carrying out. Honduras, he said, "cannot leave in foreign icant number belong to other union federa same time that the Nicaraguan people are of its social program - in spite of the dif or inexpert hands the managing of this situ tions. The largest of these is the General "more and better organized, more and bet ficulties - that it is continuing steadfastly ation." Two days later, however, he called Workers Federation-Independent (CGT-1), ter armed" .than before to repel whatever to advance." for more U.S. aid. with 17,000 members and a large base aggression Washington tries to launch. Ortega also pointed to the Sandinista Summarizing the implications of all among construction workers. It is Jed by Ortega was addressing three newly army's smashing of several mercenary these developments, Ortega told the sol the Nicaraguan Socialist Party. formed military battalions, made up in bases in Honduras in late March. "The diers in Juigalpa: The Council on Trade Union Unification their majority of peasant youth, and their: latest operations of our army in Honduran "Let's be clear. In practical terms, the (CUS), the Federation of Trade Union families. Nicaraguan border territory have demon escalation now has nothing to do with the Unity and Action (CAUS), the Workers strated the greater maturity, the i·nstitu mercenaries in the most important sense. Front (FO), and the Nicaraguan Workers The day before, the first of some 4,500 tional strengthening, and the equipment" The mercenaries are already a secondary Federation (CTN), each have between U.S. soldiers arrived in Honduras for war of the Sandinista armed forces, he said. At point [with Reagan]. With them, it's a 1,000 and 3,000 members. exercises near the Nicaraguan border, and the same time, he added, the severe blows question of time before they are finally All these union federations existed be other provocative U.S. maneuvers close to dealt to the mercenaries' camps revealed smashed and broken up." fore the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Nicaraguan territory were announced. their "progressive defeat." Reagan's goal now, he said, "is to sub-· Somoza dictatorship. Many of their mem Meanwhile, Honduran President Jose stitute the direct involvement of the Hon bers and leaders left to help form the CST Azcona Hoyo, after several days of vacilla Latest steps in U.S. escalation duran army" for the mercenaries. "This is in 1979. Union membership jumped from tion, announced he would ask for more Turning to the most recent escalation of the new situation," Ortega continued. "So, 27,000 to 228,000 after the victory of the U.S. military aid. He reaffirmed Hon Washington's war, Ortega said that with we are on the edge of a confrontation of ar revolution and an organizing drive by the duras' "special security relationship with the new military maneuvers in Honduras, mies in the coming months." CST. Today, most Nicaraguan workers are the United States" and called for "national 80,000 U.S. troops will have passed Ortega emphasized that the Nicaraguan organized. reconciliation" in Nicaragua, referring to through that country since 1981 , people do not want war with the Honduran The FO is led by the Marxist Leninist Reagan's demand that the Sandinistas lay "acclimatizing themselves, preparing all people. He reiterated that the Sandinistas' Party of Nicaragua and the CAUS by the down their arms and hold a dialogue with the conditions to be able to directly attack recent operation against mercenary bases Nicaraguan Communist Party. While the the mercenaries. Nicaragua militarily with their forces." in Honduras was not an invasion of that CGT-1, the FO, and the CAUS have some In his speech, Sandinista leader Ortega The use of U.S. helicopters, piloted by neighboring country . differences in perspectives, they all func took up the current military situation facing U.S. personnel, to transport Honduran "The one who is invading Honduras is tion as ultraleft, sectarian opponents of the Nicaragua's workers and peasants and re troops to the border with Nicaragua in late really the United States," he explained. FSLN and CST. viewed Washington's war strategy against March, he said , was another step to "condi The Sandinista leader also took up land the Sandinista revolution. tion U.S. public opinion and Latin Ameri reform, a question of great importance here Right-wing led unions "The United States mistakefllY thought can public opinion little by little to the in Nicaragua's Region 5, which has one of The CUS joined with landlords, bank that with the , Somozaist mercenaries and [U.S.] presence in the border area." the country's widest gaps between rich ers, businessmen, and U.S.-backed politi traitors of [Eden] Pastora they were going Ortega focused his remarks on the landlords and poor peasants. In the prov cians in 1984 to form the Democratic Coor to be able to overthrow the Sandinista rev danger of a direct clash between Nicara inces of Chontales and Boaco, which make dinating Committee. The central leader of olution in the short term," he said. "They guan and Honduran troops. During the pre up Region 5, it is estimated that 1 ,000 the coordinating committee, Arturo Cruz, mistakenly thought that with the Somozaist vious week, the Sandinista daily Barricada landlord families own more than a million is now one of the top public leaders of the mercenaries operating from Honduras and had featured statements by Honduran offi acres of land , while 15 ,000 poor peasant mercenaries. Costa Rica, and with their internal spokes cials warning that Washington was trying families are struggling to survive on just When the Militant visited the CUS head- · men of reaction, of the right wing, of the to force them into a war with Nicaragua. 78,300 acres. quarters in Managua in February, their bul sell-out bourgeoisie, of La Prensa and the An anonymous Honduran official told "In these difficult moments," said letin board featured an article titled "Nica corrupt clergy, they would be able to U.S. reporters that when Sandinista troops Ortega, "we have decided to continue ad ragua Under the Dictatorship" from the In change the political and military relation moved in to destroy the mercenary camps vancing with the economic and social ternational Confederation of Free Trade ship of forces in Nicaragua." in Honduras , the Honduran government transformations of the revolution. In the Unions' paper and letters of support from By the end of 1985, he said, the U.S. had decided that "since the confrontations next three years, the Sandinista revolution figures such as AFL-CIO President Lane government had hoped to find "a confused were not with us, we let them pass will give poor peasants 519,000 acres of Kirkland denouncing supposed "trade country, a desperate and destabilized through." Only after several days of direct land [in Region 5] . This year, the San union repression" by the Sandinistas. people" in Nicaragua. "Reagan was hoping U.S. pressure did Honduran President Az dinista revolution will give 138,400 acres The erN is also a right-wing opposition our people would be down on their knees cona declare Nicaragua had "invaded" his to the poor peasantry of Boaco and Chon union. It is split into two groups, one of begging the pardon of the North Americans country. tales."
· April 18,' 1986 TH~' Militant .,
~------~------Local protests say 'No to contra .aid'
Carney, a revolutionary priest who was Pledge of Resistance, Tidewater Nicaragua Contras attacked this town while they Atlanta murdered by the Honduran army and the Project, Peninsula Peace Education Cen were there, leaving a 10-year-old girl and CIA in 1983, spoke about her brother's in ter, Central America Solidarity and Activ her father wounded and trucks and build BY KATE DAHER volvement with the peasant movement of ity (CASA), Progressive Students Net ings riddled with bullet holes. ATLANTA -More than 150 people at Honduras. She denounced the U.S. mili work, Socialist Workers Party, Tidewater "There was no military or economic tended a meeting March 26 at Atlanta Uni tary buildup in Honduras and the U.S. role National Organization for Women, and target in town. The contras just came in to versity to oppose aid to the contras from in promoting conflict between Nicaragua Pax Christi. shoot it up!" Annie explained while show Nicaragua to Angola. and Honduras. "A wonderful country is ing slides of the damage. The meeting featured Roberto Vargas, The protest culminated a series of activ being turned into a cement runway," she They were driven back in about two Nicaraguan poet and counselor for cultural charged. ities for Central America Week in the Tide and labor affairs, embassy of Nicaragua; water. CASA sponsored a tour of area hours by the militia, which had been or Investigative journalist Russell Bellant ganized and trained since the last contra at Rev. Joseph Lowery, president, Southern spoke about evidence linking right-wing campuses for photojournalist Wendy· Christian Leadership Conference; David Schaull speaking on "Behind the Lines in tack on this town in July. groups in the United States with the Nica The slideshow opened a lively discus Ndaba, African National Congress of raguan contras. Bellant had earlier helped El Salvador." Speaking to public meetings South Africa; and John Stockwell, former at Hampton University, William and Mary sion on U.S. support for the mercenaries. expose the fact that the Detroit-based Many had questions: director of the CIA covert action program World Medical Relief "charity" funnels College, and Old Dominion University, in Angola. Schaull made a powerful case for ending "Who are the contras ?'' funds to the Nicaraguan contras. "Are we reacting to a Soviet threat?" Vargas said Nicaragua expects Congress Representative Conyers spoke about the U.S. backing of the Salvadoran dictator to vote for the entire $100 million aid pack vote in the House of Representatives and ship. Eighty people attended the meeting at "What was the atmosphere? Is it a to- age for the contras. denounced the Reagan administration for Old Dominion University. At the William talitarian dictatorship?" "It is you, the American people, that using disinformation and red-baiting to and Mary College meeting a lively debate "Why is the Reagan administration so must stop Congress and the hysteria com achieve its goals. The previous week had followed Schaull's talk and slideshow dead set against the Nicaraguan govern ing out of Reagan. It is in your hands." seen heightened hysteria around the Gulf of when right-wingers organized by the ment?" To a cheering audience, Lowery said, Sidra events and the alleged Nicaraguan in Y O\jng Americans for Freedom, including Klatt ended the program by warning eve "We have seen the downfall of many dic vasion of Honduras. But by this time, the a former U.S. adviser to the Salvadoran ryone, "You can't depend on Congress." tators- of Somoza, of Duvalier, of Mar lies were beginning to unravel. Conyers military, intervened. "We need an antiwar movement. The cos, and soon, very soon, Botha." held up the day's Detroit News and Free Students opposed to U.S. intervention in movement against the war in Vietnam was Adding his support to those opposing aid Press with the headlines "U.S. admits pro Central America came out of the meeting voking Khadafy" and "Honduras pressured at first small and vilified, but it succeeded to the contras, he said, "If you are involved more confident in their ability to take on in convincing a majority of the American into admitting raid." "Sometimes you in violating human rights, you don't arm the right wing politically and more deter people the war was wrong. We must build the people. The government of Nicaragua don't even have to read the Daily World or mined than ever to organize effective ac the Militant to get the truth," he quipped. that movement again," he said. has enough confidence in its people to arm tions against U.S. aid to the Salvadoran Klatt encouraged everyone present to get Actions opposing contra aid and U.S. in them against a government that has in government and to the contras fighting involved and to join the Latin American tervention in Central America are being vaded them four times." against Nicaragua. Solidarity Project. Stockwell traced the history of CIA planned. On Tuesday, April 14, at 4:15 covert actions around the world. He p.m. there will be a picket line at the Afterward, one student said, "Nothing explained that the CIA has committed McNamara Federal Building, and on Morgantown can replace hearing someone who has real some 10,000 to 20,000 covert actions Saturday, April 26, at noon, a regional ly been there." He heard about this event at against Third World countries over the last demonstration at Kennedy Square. BY PATTI SANCHEZ a pro-contra rally, organized on campus the 40 years. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -"The con day before by Americans for Biblical Gov tra aid issue is hot topic number one this ernment. Greetings were also . heard from the week," Andy Klatt told a meeting of 75 Peoples Republic of Angola. St. Louis Most of the 75 students and faculty who people, mainly students, at West Virginia The meeting was sponsored by the At attended this prowar rally were against giv BY MAREA HIMELGRIN University March 20. · lanta Student Coalition Against Apartheid ST. LOUIS- In response to Reagan's ing anything to the contras. After listening and Racism, Atlanta Committee on Latin request for an additional $100 million to He and Annie Kafka gave a slideshow to right-wing speakers, the audience made America, African National Congress, and overthrow the Nicaraguan government, all on their participation in a school construc clear its disagreement, first through com others. the solidarity groups in St. Louis joined to tion brigade in San Pedro, Nicaragua, this ments, finally by overriding the faint clap gether to organize the first major march in January. ping with loud razzing. several years against the U.S. war in Cen Detroit tral America. BY TIM CRAINE Some 375 people turned out on Satur Sharp rise in rur,3L~kuoger DETROIT ~ .. More than 100 people day, March 22, to demonstrate against any ·':{3·;;·' .. .. turned, out on Saturday, March 29, for a aid to the contras. The main speakers at the double the national fig'tire. rally were Barry Romo, a Vietnam veteran People who live in rural areas are the community forum on Nicaragua and Cen That, of course, has not stopped the ad tral America sponsored by Detroit Con and national coordinator of Vietnam Vet victims of a sharp increase in hunger and ministration from chopping away at the gressman John Conyers and the Michigan erans Against War; Mary Dutcher, a mem malnutrition. food stamp program and other forms of as Interfaith Committee on Central American ber of the Witness for Peace delegation The latest in a series of studies confirm ing this is in a report titled, "Rising Pov sistance. And it hasn't stirred Congress to Human Rights. kidnapped by contras last year; and Msgr. stop the cutbacks. Speakers at the forum included a wide John Shocklee, cochairperson for the St. erty, Declining Health: The Nutritional Status of the Rural Poor." The study was For 1987, the White House is recom range of community activists, many of Louis Archdiocese Human Rights Com made by the Public Voice for Food and mending a $600 million cut in food assist whom spoke from firsthand experience in mission. ance programs, including a $400 million Central America. All spoke against U.S. The next week the U.S. government Health Policy. Much of its statistical data is derived from official Census Bureau re cut in child nutrition programs. intervention and denounced the Reagan ad launched a propaganda campaign claiming ministration for its campaign of lies about that Nicaragua had invaded Honduras. On ports. · Central America. a few days' notice, 175 people rallied and According to the report, in 1983, there Rev. Bill Kellerman of Cass United picketed the Federal Building at noon were 13.5 million rural poor people, an in Methodist Church recently traveled to Nic March 28 to protest this further escalation crease of nearly 40 percent from four years Peace march aragua with Witness for Peace. He reported of the war. Martin Collins, a leader of the previous. Continued from Page 6 on the atrocities of the contras, who have British Labour Committee on Ireland, was (In 1983, the Census Bureau said a fam stage to lead the mass. Ernesto Cardenal, kidnapped and killed church leaders, warmly received by the crowd when he of ily of four with an income of $195 a week Nicaragua's minister of culture, and Fer teachers, and health-care workers. fered solidarity greetings from opponents was officially poor.) nando Cardenal, minister of educ.ation, High school student Tamara Robinson, of the U.S. war on Nicaragua in Britain. The study group defined the hungry rural were also on the stage. Both are Catholic who had traveled to Nicaragua last summer Another large demonstration is planned in poor as those living below the officially de priests. No official representative of the as part of a youth tour, described taking mid-April. fined poverty level, who consumed less Nicaraguan government spoke, however. part in nightly vigilance against the contras than two-thirds of the government-recom with young people in Estel f. She expressed The chairperson of the rally invited mended daily intake of nine nutrients. 'Violence is antievangelical' the hope that North American youth would people to return downtown at 4:00 p.m. In terms of Vitamins A and C, iron, pro D'Escoto gave the sermon at the mass. not be sent to fight against the youth of that day to join a demonstration demanding tein, and calcium, the rural poor were get "Our Lord asks us not only to change this Nicaragua. "Hands off Africa, stop U.S. aggression ting significantly less than urban people, world but also to change the methods of against Libya and Angola." Some 25 John VanDermeer, a University of including even the urban poor. changing our society . ... We must say that people carried signs reading, "Fight South Michigan biology professor currently These nutrient deficiencies, the report violence is antievangelical," he said. working for the Nicaraguan agriculture Africa, not Libya and Nicaragua" and "No said, were due to a lack Of fresh vegeta D'Escoto said that Nicaragua had to de ministry, testified to the impact the U.S. aid to UNITA" (the Angolan terrorist bles, fruit, milk, beef or chicken. fend itself with arms from the U .S.-backed backed war and embargo have had on the group) at the second picket line. As a result of this di 8 The Militant April 18, 1986 U.S. gov't threatens new attacks on Libya Continued from front page on the United States to assassinate Reagan urging its imperialist allies in Europe to and other officials. That story turned out to expel Libyan diplomats and other Libyans be a concoction by the U.S. and Israeli in as "terrorists." telligence agencies. The French government expelled two Although Reagan claimed "irrefutable" Libyans. Later the West German govern proof of Libyan involvement in the De ment expelled two Libyan diplomats. cember 1985 terrorist attacks on the Rome Washington's planning for attacks on and Vienna airports, no actual evidence Libya have include~ proposals to the U.S. was ever presented. backed government of Hosni Mubarak in The lie campaign about terrorism aims to Egypt for a joint invasion of Libya. Ac smear not only all Libyans, but all Arabs cording to a report by Ibrahim Nafeh in the (aside from a few "moderate" kings and March 31 issue of the semi-official Cairo sultans) as subhuman terrorists. daily AI Ahram, the Egyptian government has rejected three such offers. Racism was obvious in the attempt by Nafeh revealed that Washington's deci the U.S. government _and capitalist media sion to seek a joint U.S.-Egyptian attack to convict May Elias Mansur of responsi came at a July 1985 meeting in Washington bility for the TWA bombing, despite the chaired by then National Security Adviser lack of any evidence. Mansur, a Lebanese Robert MacFarlane. This was followed by supporter of one of the groups resisting visits to Cairo by Vice Admiral John Poin U.S. and Israeli attempts to dominate her dexter, who succeeded MacFarlane, and country, was a passenger on an earlier other officials. The Reagan administration flight of the plane that was bombed. (fearing, according to the New York Times, Libyan youths demonstrate in defense of government and against Washington's at Despite the absence of evidence, news that "American public opinion would not tacks. U.S. government and media portray Libyans as subhuman to justify attacks. papers like the New York Post carried ra tolerate substantial loss of American lives cist, sexist headlines portraying her as "ter in a military assault on Libya") had not ror gal" and "woman of murder." byan government has been its alleged sup U.S.-organized mercenary war against On April 5 she held a news conference in given final approval to the plan. port for "international terrorism." This is a Nicaragua, which has taken thousands of According to a Washington Post report, Beirut. Insisting that she would never frame-up. live~. is one example. Others are the mili strike at innocent women and children, as the Pentagon estimated that "as many as six Although Washington has yet to present tary attack on Libya and the U.S. govern the TWA bombing had done, she said she divisions, or90,000 men, would have to be any proof of Libyan involvement in any ment's virtually open endorsement in used if direct U.S. military involvement would sue the U.S. government for laying terrorist act, the U.S. capitalist media have November of a CIA proposal to spur assas false charges against her. was required." presented the claims of Libyan terrorism as sination attempts against Qaddafi and a though they were beyond dispute. "campaign of sabotage and violence" The real reason for Washington's con When U.S. officials talk about "ter against Libya. tinued assault on Libya is not "terrorism," rorism," they always include popular liber but the fact that Libya follows policies that ation struggles like those in Palestine, Ire The source of many of the stories about are opposed on many issues to those of land, southern Africa, Central America, Libyan terrorism was revealed back in July U.S. imperialism. Qaddafi must be over and elsewhere. 1981 when the CIA told a congressional thrown, according to Secretary of State Since the Libyan government has committee that it had launched a campaign George Shultz, because he "is doing things backed many of these struggles, that auto of "disinformation" against Qaddafi. "Dis that are against our interests." matically constitutes support for terrorism information" isCIA language for what nor The U.S. rulers are bitterly opposed to in Washington's eyes. mal people call lies. the democratic rights of nations to govern Such accusations, moreover, divert at themselves and determine their own poli tention from the real source of international Examples of "disinformation" cies . . They are escalating wars against terror - the world system of imperialist In 1981 the U.S. government claimed Libya, Nicaragua, Angola, and other cmm domination headed by Washington. The that Libyan "hit squads" were converging tries that dare to exercise these rights. Why Libya is target of imperialism BY FRED FELDMAN Libya is a North African nation of 3.6 Muammar el-Qaddafi, Libyan head of million people. The overwhelming major state. ity are Arabic-speaking. Islam is the reli-. gion of 97 percent of the population. Libyans have been suffering under and U.S. officials critical of the invasion resisting imperialist domination for most of plan, according to the Washington Post, the 20th century. warned that "through a series of so-called The Italian imperialists invaded Libya in revolutionary committees, Qaddafi has or 1911, waging a war of conquest that con ganized and armed the population, in some tinued until all of Libya was conquered in instances down to individual blocks, in the. 1932. Libyan capital of Tripoli." During World War II, the U.S.-British Th.e Washington Post admitted that, at French imperialist alliance invaded Libya, the request of the government, it had sup forced out the Italian occupiers (who were pressed information relating to the invasion allied with Germany in World War II), and proposal that it had received in December placed the country under British and and January. French administration. Some U.S. officials claim that discus In 1951 , Libya was granted formal inde North Africa, showing Libya and neighboring countries. sions of a joint U.S.-Egyptian attack are pendence under King ldris, who served im continuing. In 1977, the Egyptian regime perialist interests. The uses to which oil wealth was put tian government's separate peace with the fought a brief border war against Libya and British troops continued to be stationed were radically different than under the old Israeli rulers at the expense of the Palestin has massed troops on the Libyan border in Libya, and Washington established its regime. While substantial inequality still ians and other Arab states. He backed the several times since . . biggest air base outside the United States exists, the masses have made big gains. Lebanese people's fight against U.S. and Over the years, the U.S. authorities' - the Wheelus base near the capital city of A $500 monthly minimum wage was es Israeli occupation forces in Lebanon. chief justification for going after the Li- Tripoli. tablished for many categories of workers. When the Iraqi regime invaded Iran in Libya under imperialist domination was By law, universal primary education was 1980, ·with the backing of the U.S. govern one of the poorest countries in the world, instituted, and education at all levels was ment, Qaddafi backed Iran. with an average annual income per person made free of charge. So was medical care And soon after Washington cut off all New from of about $100. The discovery of oil in the and housing. According to the 1986 World aid to the Nicaraguan government, Libya late 1950s began to change things. Under Almanac, the literacy rate has risen to 40 provided the country with a $100 million Pathfinder Idris, virtually the entire oil industry was percent. loan. The Libyan government has con Apartheid's Great Land Theh: held by foreign companies. The oil barons tinued to voice support for the Nicaraguan and the monarchy and its friends One effect of the regime's measures was revolution. The Struggle for the Right to to wipe out the old aristocracy that support Fann in South Ahica by Ernest monopolized the country's growing While the Libyan government refuses to wealth. About l 0 percent of the population ed the monarchy. The main beneficiaries Hars~h. take orders from imperialism, dependence received more than half the national in were the workers, peasants, and sections of on imperialism as a market for its single Tells the story of the fight over land, come. the middle classes. export makes Libya more vulnerable to im which has been at the center of the In 1969, while King Idris was traveling "Khadafy clearly has considerable sup perialist pressure exerted through the sharp struggle between South Africa's abroad with some $60 million in spending port from the younger and poorer elements decline in oil prices and economic embar white rulers and its subjugated Black money, a military Revolutionary Com of Libya's population - who have benefit goes. Aside from oil - which generates 99 majority. mand Council led by Muammar el-Qaddafi ed most from his revolution," conceded the percent of government revenues - there is July 14, 1981, Wall Street Journal. As the This pamphlet is an important tool to took power. It abolished the monarchy and little industry. took measures to improve living conditions imperialist threats to topple the regime Although the Qaddafi regime supports help build the movement to break all have escalated, including attempts to foster U.S. ties with the apartheid regime. and break the control of the imperialist many liberation struggles, Qaddafi has also powers. a military coup, the regime has sought to made deals at the expense of people fight It is available at the Pathfinder Book The British troops were forced to leave, mobilize its supporters through creating a ing for their rights. When he signed a 1984 store nearest you (see directory on and Washington had to shut down the wide network of committees. treaty purporting to establish a political un page 16) or from Pathfinder Press, Wheelus base. Qaddafi also opposed imperialist domi ification of the Libyan republic and the 410 West St, New York, N.Y. In 1971 the government also nation in the Middle East and North Africa. Moroccan monarchy, Qaddafi broke with 10014. 56 pp., $1.25. Please in nationalized the holdings of four major oil For instance, he has backed forces in Chad the people of the Moroccan-occupied clude $. 75 for handling. companies and latertook 51 percent own that are fighting the French-dominated Western Sahara, who are fighting for their ership of the rest. government there. He opposed the Egyp- national rights. April 18, 1986 Tile -Militant 9 Why Haitian people are fighting to make Creole the country's official language BY HARVEY McARTHUR the myth of the "superiority" of French to Kreyol pale, kreyol konprann. deepen class divisions and class privileges (Creole speaks, Creole understands.) and to justify denying the workers and Pale franse pa bay lespri pou sa. peasants their civil rights. Slogan to left of Haitian flag reads: We want the government to reduce the price of (Speaking French doesn't make you The U.S. and French ruling classes, who everything. Long live 'democracy. smart.) have dominated Haiti since the mid-l800s, share the racist view that French and Eng became a full-fledged language. When a Militant reporting team visited These Haitian proverbs tell you a lot lish are superior to the "native language," A similar language evolution occurred in Haiti in March, we saw copies of many un about how most Haitians view the fact that Creole. They support discrimination the colonies of other European powers. derground leaflets distributed during the French - a language spoken by less than against the Creole-speaking majority to Slaves developed new languages with recent fight against Duvalier. All were 10 percent of the population - is the coun help keep the handful of rich Haitians in words drawn from English, Spanish, written in Creole. try'S' official language. power and to protect imperialist invest Dutch, German, and Portuguese. Linguists Most newspapers still publish in French, All Haitians speak Creole. It has been ments in Haiti. classify all these languages as "creoles," but some now include articles or pages in their mother tongue for more than 200 Creole is, in fact, a language in its own - though they often have another specific Creole. Some weekly Creole-language pa years. right spoken by millions of people in a name, such as Gullah and Papiamentu. pers exist, and there are plans to launch a Yet all official business and almost all dozen countries around the world. Some of these Creoles are still spoken by daily paper in Creole. education are carried out in French. While some words and expressions are many peoples in the Caribbean, Central With Duvalier's overthrow, the Catholic Laws are written in French. Court ses similar to French, Creole grammar and vo America, and the Pacific islands. An Eng church hierarchy announced its intention to sions and government meetings use cabulary are so different that someone lish-based Creole is spoken on Nicaragua's launch a national literacy campaign, to be French. Businessmen hold their discus knowing only French cannot understand Atlantic Coast, for example. conducted in Creole. sions in French. Most religious services, Creole, and vice-versa. French-based Creole languages, such as Today, hundreds of poets, novelists, and until recently, were conducted in French. "Present-day Creole stands in relation to the one spoken in Haiti, are by far the most other writers throughout the Creole-speak This excludes the big majority of Hai French as French stood to Latin," writes widespread. They are usually referred to ing world are contributing to an explosion tians- peasants, small traders, workers, linguist Max Adler. "It differs from French simply as Creole. With some regional vari of Creole literature. As in Haiti, indepen and the unemployed -from official polit not only in its vocabulary and grammar, ations, Haiti's Creole is also spoken by dence movements and political struggles in ical life. It denies them the opportunity to but also in its spirit, being a colorful lan most people in the Caribbean countries of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, and the seek better paying jobs - many of which guage, using poetic imagery. [Creole] is Guadeloupe, Martinique, Dominica, and Seychelles spurred a wider use of Creole. require French. For those Haitians who can rich in proverbs and sayings, and musical St. Lucia. Creoles are also spoken in the This growth in Creole literature during afford to send their children to school, they in expression." Indian Ocean island states of Reunion, the 1970s led to the development of a stan are taught in a foreign language, French. Mauritius, and the Seychelles. The dard alphabet and spelling norms by the Language developed by slaves Landlords, bosses, and cops can haul Seychelles, a former French and British early 1980s. This in tum made it easier to people into court, where they are tried in a Creole was first developed by the Afri colony, made Creole one of its three offi learn to read and write in Creole and made language they cannot understand. can slaves brought to the French colonies, ciallanguages after winning independence. it easier to share the growing Creole litera Most Haitians confront French as an un including Haiti, during the 1600s and ture around the world. intelligible language used by government 1700s. The slaveowners deliberately During the 1797-1804 revolution, when Cuba plays an important role in pro mot officials, landlords, or others trying to mixed groups of slaves from different Afri Haiti's slave population rose up and won ing this new Creole literature. Tens of swindle them. can tribes, hoping that their different lan its independence from France, Haitian thousands of Haitian refugees went to Cuba Thus, ''I'm speaking to you in Creole," guages would make it impossible for them leaders Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean during the 1970s and 1980s. They joined is a Haitian saying that means "I'm telling to communicate and organize rebellions. Jacques Dessatines issued orders and wrote the Haitian community there, which dates the truth. I'm being honest." However, the slavemasters were forced decrees in Creole. Haitian troops marched back to the early years of this century. to face French cannon and bayonets sing Another Haitian proverb defiantly .as to teach the slaves enough common vocab-... Cu\?,a's revolutionary_gov~mment ef'lcour serts: "Your speaking French doesn't scare ulary so they could take orders and work~ ing freedom songs in Creole. ages Haitians to preserve and develop their me." together on the plantations and in the mills One of Dessalines' orders, "Koupe tet, culture, including the Creole language. and distilleries. boule kay" (cut off their heads, bum their In 1981, the renowned Cuban publishing Creole: a language, not a dialect The slaves "eagerly gathered each word houses), is remembered today as a symbol house and promoter of Latin American lit The Haitian ruling classes have always that they could steal from the mouths of of unconditional struggle against oppres erature, Casa de las Americas, established denigrated Creole, saying it is a patois, or their masters," writes Haitian intellectual siOJl and foreign domination. annual awards for literature and poetry broken-down form of French. They say it Michaelson Hyppolite. Little by little, they With independence and the expulsion of written in Creole. Today, dozens of au is a crude French dialect, spoken only by built up a new language, "the indispensable the French from Haiti, Creole was the lan thors from different countries submit the masses, who are "too backward and un element for [winning] liberty," he adds. guage of all Haitians. A new ruling class works for this competition. And Radio educated" to learn "proper" French. Most of the vocabulary of Creole is emerged, however, based on leaders of the Havana has daily programs in Creole that With the overthrow of dictator Jean based on French; the language of the revolutionary armies and city merchants, broadcast throughout the Caribbean. Claude Duvalier, establishing Creole as slaveowners in Haiti. Many of the early who controlled trade and commerce. They It is only by making Creole the official Haiti's national language is a top priority slave traders were Portuguese, however, made French the official language in order language of Haiti that all Haitians will be for the Haitian people. Without the demo and their language also had an important to help exclude the majority of Haitians able to exercise their rights as equal citi cratic right to be able to use Creole in influence. Other words came from African from political life and consolidate their zens. Workers and peasants especially school, government business, and the languages and from the Caribbean Indians rule. need this democratic right to be able to par major media, the bulk of the Haitian people in Haiti, who mixed with the first African Not until 1961 was Creole legally recog ticipate in the political action and discus cannot participate equally in the political, slaves. English and Spanish have also had nized as a language by the Haitian govem sion taking place in Haiti today on how to civil, and social life of the country. an influence. ·ment. But the Duvaliers kept French as the deal with the tremendous economic and so In fact, the wealthy themselves learn As new generations of slaves were born official language. This was part of their ef cial problems facing the nation. Creole as children, from their servants, and in the colonies, Creole became their native forts to restrict politics to the small circle of Creole is usually spoken at home and language. Creole vocabulary increased and ruling elite. among friends. The upper class maintains its grammar grew more complicated as it Creole and the fight against Duvalier Real minimum wage Within the opposition to the Duvalier re down 26 percent gime, activists and writers turned to Creole to reach the workers and peasants and in Subscribe to: volve them in the fight against the dictator The real value of the minimum wage is ship. at its lowest level since 1955. Nouvelle lntemationale A few underground newspapers, such as The $3.35-an-hour minimum wage has Liberasyon and Demokrasi, began publish not increased since January 1981. In the Nouvelle lntematonal is the French same time, the cost of living has risen by language counterpart of New Interna ing in Creole in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 26 percent. This means that a full-time tional, a magazine of Marxist politics Poets and writers began to use Creole worker, working all year, will earn only 75 . and theory. more, including those who addressed polit- percent of the official poverty level wage ical questions. · for a family of three. 0 In Canada, 3 issues for $14 Nearly 8 million workers are paid at or (Canadian) The poet Felix Morrisseau-Leroy, one of below the minimum wage. In fact the min the first to promote the use of Creole, 0 In U.S., 3 issues for U.S.$10, imum wage as such doesn't really exist. explained that this was the only way he Many employers simply ignore the law and 1 issue for $4.50 could reach the majority of Haitians. Even pay subminimum wages. Another 10 mil though Haiti's 80 percent illiteracy rate lion workers, primarily in retailing, service Make checks payable to Nouvelle ln meant that most could not read, someone industries, and agriculture, are not covered temationale. Send to: Nouvelle lnter could read his poems to them, he said. If it by the minimum wage at all. nationale, C.P. 280, Succursale de was in Creole, they could understand. But Furthermore, according to Sar Levitan Lorimier, Montreal, Canada, H2H if he had continued to write in French, and Isaac Shapiro ofthe George Washing 2N7. there was no way most Haitians would ever ton University Center for Social Policy appreciate his poetry. Name ______Studies, "Almost half of minimum-wage Several Haitian radio stations began to workers are 25 years or older, and one of J\ddress~--~~------broadcast in Creole' during the 1970s. The every four is a head of household." In City _· ___ State __ Zip ___ initiative was taken by Radio Haiti-Inter 1984, they pointed out, "2.1 million indi Country ______and Radio Metropole, where broadcasters viduals worked full-time throughout the wanted to reach the Haitian people with year but remained in poverty. . .. Millions news and analysis critical of the regime. more live in these impoverished families." 10 The Militant April 18, 1986 Washington sends aid to Haitian generals BY MARGARET JAYKO question of charity. It is wealthy U.S. rul The demand of the Haitian people for an ing families that over the decades have elected civilian government to replace the siphoned off much of the wealth produced current military-dominated ruling council by that nation's workers and peasants and is growing. left Haiti the poorest nation in the Ameri Washington's response to the mobiliza cas. tions calling for this fundamental demo About 200 U.S. companies invest in cratic step was to rush $384,000 worth of Haiti. They employ thousands of workers, riot gear to the army in early March. The most of whom receive less than the meager shipment, requested by the Haitian govern $3-a-day minimum wage. These com ment, included 150 shotguns with 10,000 panies can count on a profit margin of any rounds of birdshot, 5,000 teargas cannis where between 30 and I 00 percent. ters, gas masks, bulletproof vests, radios, U.S. businessmen also make money and loudspeakers. through unequal trade relations with Haiti. Haitian youth have charged that the U.S. The bulk of Haiti's trade is with the United ·government also sent hard-rubber trun States. Haiti exports coffee, cocoa, man cheons that were used to beat a number of Militant/Harvey McArthur goes, essential oils, and commodities made Demonstration at Haiti's National Palace to welcome back former president Daniel anti-government protesters in the capital in the U.S.-owned factories. It imports . Fignole and to demand ouster of military junta. Washington is backing regime with city of Port-au-Prince on March 21. The manufactured goods, food, and oil. The riot gear and military advisers. U.S. embassy in Haiti issued a statement value of Haiti's imports from the United calling this an "unfounded allegation." But States far outstrips what it receives for its On the morning Duvalier fled into exile, Claude's father and predecessor. , Washington Post reporter Edward Cody, in exports. a dispatch from Port-au-Prince, remarked reporters waiting at the airport saw trucks "How lucky you are in Haiti that you Another way the U.S. and other im arriving shortly after midnight packed with have in power the interim government of that "young men burning tires during disor perialists have ripped off Haiti's wealth is ders March 24 said they did not believe the fancy bags and luggage - despite the 2- Gen. Henri Namphy," gushed Fauntroy as through bank loans, which the Haitian suitcase limit allegedly imposed by Wash he was leaving. "I am certain that [Nam denial." people are then forced to pay back - with The U.S. embassy claimed it was giving ington, which provided the plane for his phy] is an honest man. He deserves your interest. Hundreds of millions of dollars getaway. confidence and your support. I urge the the army riot gear so the military has "the leave.the country this way. capacity to confront internal security Haitian people to back the army high com So the demand for emergency food aid Duvalier owns expensive properties mand during the coming critical days and emergencies without having to resort to in- from Washington to feed the people of around the world, and has a considerable - fantry weapons with their lethal capacity." months," he continued. Haiti is a matter of simple justice. amount stashed away in foreign bank ac Massive demonstrations are demanding On April3, during a visit to Haiti, Elliott counts. Estimates of his wealth run from Abrams, U.S. assistant secretary of state Recovering what Duvalier stole the ouster of the government because it has $200 to $750 million. The military junta done nothing either to bring to justice the for Inter-American Affairs, announced that Assistant Secretary of State Abrams was has dragged its feet on trying to find and Washington would increase its military as criminals who murdered and robbed the also less than forthcoming about how the freeze the tyrant's assets. And Abrams' people under Duvalier, or to alleviate the sistance still further. He was accompanied U.S. government would help the Haitian statement makes clear that Washington by Brig. Gen. Fred Gorden, director of the poverty and illiteracy of Haiti. This didn't people recover the vast riches stolen from isn't rushing to help unload its crony of his prevent Fauntroy from claiming that the Inter-American Region in the Defense De the country by Duvalier. While expressing ill-gotten wealth. partment. government "is making big progress in the sympathy for the effort, Abrams claimed it process of democratization," adding, "I While Abrams admitted that Haiti's would be much ·harder than getting back most pressing needs were for food and Fauntroy urges support for gov't hope that the Haitian citizens are quickly some of the bucks that Ferdinand Marcos A congressional delegation, led by lib informed of this." jobs, he asserted, "But if you want to main stole from the Filipino people. "We had the tain order in the country, then the military eral Democrat Walter Fauntroy, Washing Apparently they weren't. One Haitian Marcos documents, and we could give ton, D.C.'s non-voting delegate in Con reporter at the airport as Fauntroy was leav is going to haye to modernize and profes them to the new government of the Philip sionalize, which it wishes to. Obviously a gress, went to Haiti at the beginning of ing expressed the anger felt by many Hai pines," said Abrams. "We don't have the April. Fauntroy heaped praise on Gen. tians for the legislator's praise of the army new democratic Haiti will need a new pro Duvalier documents." fessional force to maintain order." Henri Namphy, the head of the current and lecturing of the Haitian people. Allud While this point may be obvious to Ab Duvalier is currently living in exile in an junta. Namphy was appointed Haitian ing to "Papa Doc," Fran~ois Duvalier's rams, it is not shared by many Haitians. At isolated luxury villa on the French Riviera. army chief of staff in 1984 by Jean-Claude nickname, the reporter shouted, "Thanks a demonstration of several thousand in He left Haiti's Central Bank with $1 mil Duvalier. The general had also been a close 'Papa' Namphy. Thanks 'Papa' Fauntroy. front of the National Palace on March 20 to lion or less in cash reserves. collaborator of Fran~ois Duvalier, Jean- But a new era has begun in Haiti." welcome back Daniel Fignole, a former president of Haiti; 'dozens of youthful·pro~ .·. testers told the Militant: "We don't need military aid from the United States. We N.Y. picket: free PUerto Rican patriots don't need guns. We need things to put in our heads. We need technical assistance; BY PAT WRIGHT prison, some prisoners could be seen wav Puerto Rican Prisoners of War; Digna San we need work." NEW YORK -In a spirited demonstra-· ing the Puerto Rican flag from the win chez of MADRE, a Nicaragua solidarity According to the April 4 New York tion, 125 people picketed the Manhattan dows. organization; Esperanza Martel of the Times, "Diplomatic sources said the Correctional Center March 22 to demand After the picket line, the demonstrators Puerto Rican Committee Against Repres United States might send three or four mil the release of nine Puerto Rican indepen gathered for a rally. Speakers at the rally sion; and Carlos Feliciano, a Puerto Rican itary advisers to teach techniques for main dence activists being held there. included Roger Wareham from the New independence activist who was victimized York 8 + Defense Committee, Black ac for his political ideas in the 1960s. taining internal security." The activists were arrested, along with Abrams affirmed that "certainly train tivists whom the government tried to frame The picket and rally were sponsored by four others, last August 13 in coordinated up for their political activities; George Har the Puerto Rican Committee Against Re ing " would be provided to the Haitian raids in Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Texas by army by Washington. He declined to rison of the Irish freedom struggle; Ana pression. The committee plans to ·continue the FBI and U.S. marshals. All13 activists L6pez, of the National Committee to Free the fight until all the prisoners are released. specify whether more military equipment are charged with allegedly participating in would also be part of the deal. a 1983 robbery of a Wells Fargo armored The problem confronting the Haitian truck in Hartford, Connecticut. The FBI army and its White House backer;s is that claims that the activists are members of the the hated Tontons Macoutes, which were Macheteros (literally, machete wielders), All out for April 19 protest .the main police force under the dictatorship an organization that supports Puerto Rican of Jean-Claude Duvalier, were disarmed independence. Continued from front page The march will assemble at 11:00 a.m. and forced to flee by the Haitian masses as Four of the activists have been released war against Nicaragua has already spurred at Delores Park in San Francisco. A rally part of the struggle to overthrow Duvalier. on bail. The nine who are being held at the many protests in the Bay Area. The April will take place at the Civic Center in front The Macoutes were a private paramilitary correctional center have been denied bail 19 march will build upon that momentum. of City Hall at 1:00 p.m. force of about 15,000 armed thugs, with an under the 1984 Bail Reform Act. This bill Some 600 people protested March 18 Rally speakers include Jack Henning, _estimated 300,000 collaborators. They restricts the right to bail for anyone the against the Reagan administration's pro secretary-treasurer, California Federation were notorious for their brutality, arbitrari U.S. government claims is "dangerous." posal to send $100 million to the Nicara of Labor; Dona Celina Travis from Nicara ness, and thievery. In the weeks before and Since the raids last August, the FBI has guan mercenaries. gua; a representative of the Revolutiqnary after Duvalier fled on February 7, many stepped up its harassment of independence On March 28 some 200 people picketed Democratic Front of El Salvador; Rev. Macoutes were beaten and killed by activists on the island. This harassment es against contra aid and the U.S. attack on Cecil Williams; and Carlos Melendez, of crowds and individuals who wanted justice calated March 21 with the arrest of three Libya. the American GI forum. after almost three decades of suffering at more activists. The FBI claims they are The next night 300 people picketed a United Mine Workers President Richard the hands of these killers. also members of the Macheteros and were contra fundraising dance. The Emergency Trumka, a leader of the anti-apartheid Response Network is holding another dem boycott of Shell Oil Co., will introduce a Abrams: food aid more difficult involved in the 1983 robbery. One of those arrested was Roberto Jose Maldonado. onstration April 14. South African unionist, who will also speak. · While U.S. military aid seems to be Maldonado is president of the Puerto Rican. The Bay Area has also seen a big up readily available in large quantities, Institute of Human Rights and the defense surge in the fight against apartheid. A representative of the South West Afri emergency food aid is another matter, said attorney for Filiberto Ojeda, one of the 13 In the first week of April, thousands can Peoples Organization; U.C. Berkeley Abrams. "There are limits on what we can activists arrested last August. have protested at the University of Califor Associated Students President Pedro give right now," he whined. Emergency nia at Berkeley, at times facing brutal Noguera; Alameda County Supervisor food shipments worth $10 million were re The picket line commemorated two im police violence. (See back page story.) John George; a leader of the Bay Area Free cently approved by Washington. portant events in the international struggle Carlos Munoz, a Berkeley professor, South Africa Movement; Delores Huerta of Almost 90 percent of all Haitian children for national liberation .- the Ponce mas told .the Militant, "I think the events that the United Farmworkers Union; Rosie suffer from varying degrees of malnutri sacre in Puerto Rico and the Sharpeville have transpired on the Berkeley campus re Pegueros-lev, state action coordinator of tion. According to 1974 statistics, out of massacre in South Africa. · cently underscore the urgency for mass po the National Organization for Women; and J 29 Third World countries, Haiti was In Puerto Rico, 18 people were killed litical action." representatives of the Mobilization Against I 27th in calorie intake and I 29th in protein March 21, 1937, when a peaceful demon Patricia Vattuone, a leader of the AIDS; American Indian Treaty Council, consumption. The yearly per capita income stration demanding an end to U.S. colonial Chicano student group MECHA at Ber and American-Arab Anti-Discrimination of the 50 percent of the working population rule was attacked. Twenty-three ·years keley, said, "The April 19 demonstration Committee are also speaking. that actually has a job runs to about $130 later, in South Africa, 69 people were will show how broad-based the. anti-apart The mobilization needs volunteers. For - not enough to cover the cost of a single killed by the U.S. -backed apartheid regime heid movement is." more information call (415) 621 -7326 or meal per day. during a protest against the pass laws and The San Francisco Anti-Apartheid Com 431 -2572, or contact the Mobilization for Massive emergency food aid from apartheid rule. mittee is planning to organize a contingent Peace, Jobs and Justice, 255 9th St. , San Washington to the Haitian people is not a As the demonstrators picketed the at the action. Francisco, California. April 18, 1986 The Militant 11 Norfolk: school resegregation 'Pian opposed BY CHRISTINE GAUVREAU cultural education." NORFOLK, Va. -Opponents of the One young white father took the floor to resegregation of Norfolk public schools de explain that he had come out to speak nounced a so-called compromise neighbor against busing. He said that he had always hood schools plan as nothing more than a been for integrated education, though, and previous resegregation plan "with window after listening to the testimony he wanted dressing." The Rev. James Harris an to say if that meant busing then "busing it nounced March 25 that the Norfolk Coali must be." tion for Quality Education, a group favor Support for desegregation among many ing the use of school busing tQ maintain de white working people was dramatized by segregation, was organizing an April 13 the testimony of Kit Collins. She held up a mass rally to protest the new plan. Harris, yellowed newspaper photo of herself who is president_ of the coalition, was blocking the entrance of Blacks into her joined at the March 25 news conference by school in 1959. She then proceeded to ex representatives from 22 community organi plain that she was ·~forced bused" and that zations, including the Norfolk NAACP and was when her "real education" began. She the Tidewater National Organization for said she came to the hearing to apologize to Women. · those Black former students in the audience The coalition is also planning as part of that she had confronted in 1959. "I wish its protest an economic boycott of the city today," she concluded, "that I had been owned and run Waterside mall. walking with my arms around my brothers The Norfolk School Committee had and sisters." been expected to vote on March 20 to im Mark Zola of the Socialist Workers plement a city-government plan to elimi Party testified that the plan was aimed at nate busing in the elementary schools. In "taking away the basic democratic rights stead, it voted to hold a second public hear that have strengthened the working class." ing and vote Aprill4 on the "compromise" A half-dozen Black parents, citing diffi Pro-busing demonstration of 10,000 in 1983 in Norfolk, Virginia. Norfolk Coalition plan. . culties in caring for sick children in schools for Quality Education is leading fight to maintain desegregation of city schools. The plan is being promoted by Bishop across town, spoke in favor of the neigh L.E. Willis, a prominent Black busi borhood schools plan and were gently nessman and radio personality, and sup chided by others in the audience. The a white businessman, declared that "white tion in Norfolk has important national im" ported by several Black elected officials, school committee's own polls, however, people want freedom too, sometimes," and plications. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gen including school committee members Dr. show overwhelming support in the Black announced he was moving his family to eral William Bradford Reynolds, who tes Lucy Wilson and Rev. G. Wesley Hardy, community for the maintenance of busing. nearby Virginia Beach if busing continued. tified on behalf of the city govemment's as well as others. The Norfolk Tea Party has threatened a plan in the federal appeals court, gloated Thomas Johnson, head of the school Norfolk Tea Party boycott of the schools if busing is not that the court's approval had cleared the committee, and Joseph Leafe, mayor of White opponents of desegregation at halted. way legally for the elimination of busing in Norfolk, hailed the new resegregation plan tended the hearing wearing the buttons of The move to resegregate the schools, 379 school districts around the country. as a "constructive step" that could lessen the city council candidate of the Norfolk bolstered by a recent federal appeals court Henry Marsh, attorney for Black plain community opposition to the elimination of Tea Party, a racist, antibusing outfit. Their ruling, has emboldened racist forces in the tiffs suing to halt the plan, said that if the busing for the city's elementary students. testimony revealed the real bigotry and ra Tidewater area here. There have been two school committee is successful "this prece Norfolk first began crosstown busing to cism behind the codewords "neighborhood cross-burnings in recent weeks. So far, no dent will be used to undermine the 1954 desegregate the school system in 1970. It schools." arrests have been made in connection with Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board came after years of struggle led by the One racist testified that the "NAACP is these acts of racist terror. of Education." Marsh is no~ preparing an city's Black community. no better than the Ku Klux Klan." Another, The fight to defend desegregated educac appeal to the Supreme Court. Probusing activists don't buy plan The details of the "Resegregation Plan #2," as probusing activists have accurately Armed cops repossess Minn. family _farm dubbed it, hit the papers the morning of the March 20 public hearing. Its announce BY JIM ALTENBERG so-called voluntary mediation between told the meeting that her 'two sons want to ment was calculated to confuse and de WORTHINGTON, Minn. -Officials farmers and creditors now being touted by join the National Guard. "I told them that if · moralize Black parents who were mobiliz of the Production Credit Association Minnesota politicians is really worth. they did, some day 'tlieytd come aroUhlf·a ing for the hearing. (PCA), a federal loan agency; backed by Other activists said that the government comer with fixed bayonets and meet t~eir Instead, the school committee members 40 armed state and county police; forcibly was prepared and willing to use violence mother. 'Oh no, Mom, we'd never h't!rt entering the administration building were repossessed cattle and machinery belong against farmers and workers who are fight you;' they· had replied. Yes you would, and met by a picket line of parents and others ing to Stanley Van lperen and his sons, all ing for their rights. you'd have to or )IOU'd be court-martialed. carrying signs that read "No compromise" of Lake Wilson, Minnesota. Geoff Mirelowitz, Socialist Workers And they'll teach you to like it." and "It's not the bus, it's us." In what was the biggest use of force candidate for governor of Minnesota, said Polzine went on to explain that the Na-_ Hundreds of probusing supporters against farmers in decades, cops with that the government aimed to intimidate all tiona! Guard troops sent to Austin included packed the hearing chambers, and even the drawn shotguns came onto the Van Iperen of us. The recent use of the National Guard many young farmers, and that Guard units · antibusing Virginian Pilot was forced to re farm March 13 to seize his property. When against Local P-9 in Austin and the cop at were being trained for use in the rural areas port that not one of the opponents of the he asked about written authorization, Van tack on the Van Iperens showed, he said, of the Midwest. In fact, she pointed out, city's resegregation plan that testified Iperen was told by Murray County Sheriff that workers and farmers faced a common she had asked Minnesota Gov. Rudy Per spoke in favor of the "compromise." Ron McKenzie that none was needed. enemy in the government and its wealthy pich if he would ever order the Guard out The modified neighborhood schools A caravan of police cars, semitrailers, backers.- against farmers . He refused to say that he plan, while exempting sixth graders from and other vehicles came into the area unan Groundswell co-chair Bobbi Polzine would not. resegregation, would still result in one-half nounced. Roads were sealed off. As they of all Black elementary students being loaded cattle onto trucks, repossessors at placed in schools 90 to I 00 percent Black tempted to physically prevent Van lperen and one-half of the white students assigned from counting what they were taking. N.Y. gay rights law under attack to schools over 70 percent white. Two When farmers began to gather to protest, elementary schools would be closed. cops moved on to a second Van lperen . BY HARRY RING - or permit - affirmative-action goals in Testimony at the hearing on March 20 farm. They brought a small tank, or NEW YORK - Mayor Edward Koch hiring homosexuals. Since the bill already revealed the resolve in the ranks of the de "people pusher." Three people were ar signed a homosexual rights bill into law states it doesn't "authoriZe or require" af fenders of desegregated education. rested, including Van Iperen's son Orville. April 2 and at the same time opened the firmative action, the only function of the A former steelworker, Anthony Tippins, Farmers' attempts to call U.S. Con way for moves that go in the direction of amendment is to insert the word "permit." gutting the bill . who as a child attended segregated schools, gressman Vin Weber to protest were also The· moves by Koch and the Democratic Koch said he would offer "clarifying" said, "I recall the used textbooks, being blocked, when phone service in the area city council leaders evoked an angry reac amendments to the measure and two lead bused by a white school to attend a Black was suddenly cut off. tion among supporters of the statute. school that was further away, not having an The cattle were trucked under armed es ers of the city council promptly announced "They are just trying to gut the bill," · they would introduce another. adequate library, no typewriters that cort to a cattle leasing station, 200 miles charged Eleanor Cooper, a spokesperson worked. These things were for the white away. The new statute makes it illegal to dis for the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay schools." For months the Van Iperens have waged criminate in employment, housing, and Rights. public accommodations on the basis of sex Joseph Rose, a 30-year veteran of the a series of court battles to keep their dairy Meanwhile, Councilman Noach Dear, a ual orientation. schools fight, recalled the "massive resis operation. On February 7 farmers block Brooklyn Democrat and leader of the viru~ . tance" to desegregation organized by the aded Van Iperen's farm with snowbanks In ho!.!sing, owners of one- and two-fam lently homophobic opposition to the bill, ily homes are exempted from compliance. Virginia state legislature. The legislature's and machinery, and successfully prevented announced he would open a drive for peti campaign resulted in Norfolk closing down the PCA from carrying out a judge's order Now, a city council amendment would ex tion signatures to have a referendum to re tend the exemption to three- and four-fam junior highs and high schools for nine to seize his property. The courts have con peal the bill put on the November ballot. months in 1959 to prevent Black students tinued to obstruct Van Iperen's efforts to ily homes with an owner occupant. This from attending white schools. negotiate with the PCA. A subsequent would put thousands of apartments out of · The bill was adopted last month after 15 court order allowed the cops to move on reach of the new law. years of stiff resistance. Despite dogged ef 'Fear a return to segregation' the farm March 13. Proponents of this curb on the bill are forts by supporters of homosexual rights, Vanessa Covington, representing Stu At a March 14 meeting of Groundswell, Peter Vallone, Democratic majority leader the bill was buried in committee each year, dents for Justice, a group that boycotted a Minnesota grassroots farmers' group, in the council, and Samuel Horwitz, a except once when it was defeated on the classes the day before and morning of the Groundswell foreclosure chairperson Paul Brooklyn Democrat. The Democrats enjoy council floor. This year enough pressure hearing, said she knew she would face dis Sobocinski took up some of the issues a 35-1 majority over Republicans in the was mounted to get it on the floor and win ciplinary action when she returned to raised by the cop attack. The Van lperens, city council. a 21-14 majority. school but had to fight for what she be he pointed out, had sought to work with One of Koch's proposed amendments lieved in. their creditors at every tum. They had held would assure opponents of lesbian and gay Marian Flickinger, representing the Nor meetings with the PCA, filed lawsuits, rights that the bill would not require folk Federation of Teachers, said, "We fear gone through trials and hearings. They schools to teach the nature of homosexual Subscribe a return to segregation, and that these limi worked with Groundswell to come to a set ity . tations would deny some of our children tlement, only to be repeatedly denied re Another of his amendments would to the Militant access to the advantages afforded by multi- lief. This shows, Sobocinski said, what the specify that the measure does not require 12 Th~ Militant April 18, 1986 -BUILDING ANTI-APARTHEID. AND. ANTIWAR AUIONS---- portation industry in South Af apartheid, women's liberation, Sharpeville rica." and student activists and organiza commemoration Shell USA is I 00 percent tions. owned by Royal Dutch Shell, par The previous day a Committee in Houston ent company of Shell South Af for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) rica. It provides 28 percent of the rally of 400 people featured Jesse BY WILLIE M. REID company's profits and it exports Jackson and Ray H.Qoker, a San HOUSTON- "We rally today the badly needed oil South Africa dinista member o( Nicaragua's to commemorate the lives of those cannot provide for itselL National Assembly who represen who died in Sharpeville," The AFL-CIO also invited ts that country's Atlantic Coast re explained Frank Drozak, president Joseph Rakgoadi, a Black South gion. They urged participants, of the Seafarers International African trade unionist, to speak. who were attending a SANE na Union. "Twenty-six years ago, He received a standing ovation. tional convention, to show up at they peacefully marched to protest Rakgoadi reported on the Black the contra-aid protest. the pass laws and the South Afri workers' support for sanctions Some of the slogans on the can police killed 69 of them." against South Africa and on sup many handmade signs at the White "It would have been good if we port for the Shell boycott. House action read: "Contras kill had also marched today," he con "For many years we Blacks in - Sandinistas build," "Nicaragua tinued, "because not much has South Africa lived without the is supported by the entire world," changed in South Africa. And products Shell supplies;" Rak "No clinic bombings in the U.S. . even though the state of goadi said. "The human suffering or Nicaragua," "Money for U.S. emergency has been lifted, the we've experienced for 300 years is farmers - not for killing Nicara police are still free to attack and more important than a temporary guan farmers," "Medicaid, not arrest Blacks at wilL" suffering from loss of jobs" due to Militant/Robert Kopec contra aid," "No contra aid from Drozak and William Lucy, In Houston anti-apartheid unionist at AFL-CIO sponsored rally cut sanctions. credit card in support of Shell boycott. Nicaragua to Angola," and sim ternational secretary-treasurer of "Our victory, with your sup ply, "The president lies!" the American Federation of State, port, will be an achievement for Ten days prior to the picket, the County and Municipal Employees the people of the world." duced the anti-apartheid video Sun to form, a student group against Coalition to Stop U.S. War on union, were the two national City, made by Artists United apartheid. Nicaragua organized an action of speakers at this local March 22 Against Apartheid, and watched 150 protesting a benefit for the Labor Against Apartheid rally. It High school closely the scenes of police beat Matt Monroe is a member of the contras held at a plush Hyatt Re was one of seven actions across ing young Black South Africans. Miami chapter of the Young gency Hotel. The well-heeled the country called for that day by . students hear In the discussions that followed, Socialist Alliance. rightists sponsoring the prowar the national AFL-CIO. South African students asked what actions they gala were embarrassed by the low More than 250 trade unionists, could take to join the struggle turnout of 100. anti-apartheid activists, and others speaker in Miami against apartheid. Contra aid On March 14 Hooker also ad enthusiastically expressed their They pointed out that one of dressed a meeting of nearly 300 opposition to apartheid. BY MATT MONROE their fellow students had recently protest at gathered at a sanctuary church to Several participated in a brief MIAMI- Nmonde Ngubo, a won a citywide essay contest with White_House protest the relocation of 16,000 ceremony where Shell Oil credit founding member of the National a paper entitled "Why Black Navajo and Hopi Native Ameri cards were cut up in protest of that Union of Mineworkers in South Americans Should Support the BYIKENAHEM cans from their reservation lands company's helping to fuel South Africa and now a staff member of Anti-apartheid Movement." WASHINGTON, D.C. - An in the Big Mountain area of Africa's racist, superexploitative the United Mine Workers of The speaking engagement at angry crowd of over 500 gathered Arizona. system. America, spoke to 50 high school Jackson High was organized by a in front of the White House during The meeting heard American "We're asked by Shell, why students here recently. student. She met anti-apartheid ac President Reagan's nationally Indian Movement leader Vernon us?" said Lucy. "Our answer from She spoke at the mostly Black tivists on a van going from Miami televised March 16 hard-sell Bellecourt, who is a strong sup the movement is why not Shell. and Latino Jackson High School to the March 9 abortion rights speech for contra aid. porter of the Nicaraguan revolu Shell's role is unique. It is inte during a tour of the Miami area. demonstration in Washington, The demonstration was called tion. Bellecourt denounced Amer grated into the South African Students listened as Ngubo de D.C., and arranged the high on 48 hours' notice by activists ican Indian figure Russell Means, economy by a network opaws be- scribed her experiences as a young school speaking event through from the Coalition to Stop U.S. who has publicly supported Mis . cause of the energy resource they anti-apartheid fighter in South Af them. War on Nicaragua, a newly kito Indian leaders on the Atlantic produce and control. Shell oil rica. Several Jackson High School formed Washington-area gr9up of Coast who have teamed up with fuels the army, police, and trans- They applauded as she intro- students are planning to meet soon solidarity, religious, labor, anti- the contras. . ' Rabid ·anti~abOttionists force ··way·into Fla.· clitJ.ic·· BY PAT SILVERTHO~N done by the right-wingers, who ripped 350 times for attacking abortion clinics and tiona! right to choose abortion. MIAMI - National leadets of right boards from the walls, threw equipment on has served less than nine months injail. Joseph Scheidler is scheduled to appear wing antiabortion groups, along with local the floor, and ransacked office files. Another attacker was Earl Appleby, na in Louisville, Kentucky, on April 18 to ad supporters, led a violent"attack March 26 While the police worked to remove the tional coordinator of Americans for Catho dress an anti-abortion conference. against the Ladies Center, a Pensacola four, the right-wing mob outside rushed the lic Values and an aide to Senator Jesse At the Great Lakes Regional Conference women's clinic that performs abortions. steps of the clinic. But the women inside Helms. of NOW held in Louisville April 4-6, The Ladies Center was bombed in June the clinic were able to stop them by locking Members of the National Organization NOW members from throughout the region 1984 and again on Christmas Day 1984, the doors. for .Women said they planned to step up signed up to respond to the call of the when it was razed to the ground by two The four were arrested on charges of their defense of the abortion clinics. "We Louisville chapter to return to that city as right-wing fanatics who said the bombing burglary, criminal mischief., and resisting are drawing the line here," said NOW Pres soon as plans for an 'action to defend the was a "gift of Jesus on his birthday." arrest. Two more were arrested outside the ident Eleanor Smeal. NOW is demanding clinics are finalized. The Louisville chap The clinic was forced to close temporar clinic for trespassing. that the federal government defend the ter is discussing a candlelight vigil ' April ily after this latest attack because of the ex A local antiabortion leader, also named clinics and protect a woman's constitu- 17 , as well as other activities. tensive damage to medical equipment. But John Burt, was charged with two counts of it reopened two days later. Clinic officials assault. This makes 121 times that Burt has said they were determined to stand up to been arrested for activities against the abor the right-wingers and would not shut their tion clinics. Also arrested was Burt's 18- Berkeley students join protests doors. year-old daughter. The attack was described by the anti Continued from back page tory. I think it shows the power we have." abortion fanatiCs as part of their stepped-up Pensacola has been a national focus in "We're here to say we won't take no for Protest leaders then led a march around campaign to invade and destroy clinics that the struggle to defend the right to safe, an answer," student government President the building to gather students posted at perform abortions. legal abortion. In December 1984, two Pedro Noguera told the crowd, which by other entrances after which a victory rally On Tuesday morning, March 26, more other clinics, in addition to the Ladies Cen noon had grown to 1,500 people. was held. , than 50 right-wing opponents of abortion ter, were bombed. For several months, it At 2:00 p.m., Chancellor Heyman is This morning, Wednesday, April9, stu rights picketed in front of the Ladies Cen was not possible to obtain a legal abortion sued an open letter to respond to the stu dents again turned out to keep the building ter. The crowd came with cameras, bull in Pensacola because the violence and dent demands. His only cqncession was to shut down. Once again, they were success horns, and tape recorders, which they used threats of violence kept clinics from agree to close an on-campus IBM computer ful in preventing the central administration to disrupt the clinic.'s functioning and to reopening and doctors from performing store for the duration of the semester. IBM from carrying out business as usual . harass the women patients. abortions. does business in South Africa. This time the students were joined by Before police arrived to tum the crowd This latest attack was organized by sev Fifteen minutes after Heyman's letter Local 32 11 of the American Federation of back, four of the right-wingers stormed eral national, as well as local, organiza was issued, a wedge of 75 cops in riot gear State, County and Municipal Employees their way through the clinic's front doors. tions. Five of these organizations held a moved in , clearing a path to one of the en union, which organizes campus workers, Two women working in the clinic were in workshop in Pensacola the night before the trances. Along the way, they roughed up Union officials were on hand in the morn jured in the attack. attack to teach tactics on how to close and shoved the students in an attempt to ing to explain to employees who worked in Rev. John Burt, one of the attackers, down abortion clinics. provoke them. By this time the crowd had Winnie Mandela Hall that they have the slammed the center's director, Linda Tag The National Pro-Life Activist Work grown to 2,000. right not to cross the picket line. ger, against a wall and held her with his shop was organized by the Pensacola Anti At the entrance, police arrested 12 pro Pointing to one of the big accomplish forearm against her neck as the other three Abortion Coalition. Joseph Scheidler, who testers and allowed a small number of em ments of the students, anticapartheid activ locked themselves behind the clinic doors has organized attempted clinic invasions in ployees to enter the building. ist Angela Omulepa explained, "Over the and began destroying medical equipment other cities, and who is the author of the Despite the cop provocation, the stu last two days, we took back our rights. We and upending files . book Closed: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion, dents were determined to do what they reconquered them. We guaranteed our Another woman, a member of the Na spoke at the workshop on how to organize could to maintain a peacefu l protest and right to continue to speak out." Protest tional Organization for Women, who was the attack for the next day. No action was make clear that the cops and campus ad leaders announced they will escalate the helping clinic staff organize escorts for pa taken against Scheidler. ·ministration were the real source of vio anti-apartheid campaign after next week's tients, was knocked down and injured by Several of those who participated in the lence. spring break. the four attackers. attack called themselves "professional pro After the arrests, student leader Patricia In a show of continued determination, Police had to break down doors inside testers." Among them was John Ryan, di Zattuone addressed the crowd and declared I ,000 students at a noon rally today roared the clinic and pry the attackers away from rector of Pro-Life Direct Action in Wash the protest a victory . "We kept the building their approval when a single shanty was medical equipment. Extensive damage was ington, D.C. Ryan has been arrested over shut tight for most of the day. That's a vic- erected. April 18, 1986 The Militant 13 Protests confront Pakistan regilne BY MALIK MIAH was hanged mainly as a warning to anyone protests have been organized by the MRD Some 70,000 people gathered m daring to challenge the military's author -each more than 60,000 people. Karachi, Pakistan, April 4 to mark the ity. This agitation against the government of seventh anniversary of the execution of the Pressure for change and a restoration of Zia and his selected prime minister also oc country's former prime minister, Zulfikar democracy is now coming from all sectors curs in the context of Washington's Ali Bhutto. A~cording to Reuters, crowds of Pakistan's society- workers, peasants, stepped-up support to the Afghan counter burned effigies of Pakistan's president and ethnic minorities, students, and sectors of revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the military dictator, Mohammad Zia ui-Haq, the capitalist class. An 11-party front led Afghanistan government. and his handpicked Prime Minister by the Pakistan People's Party called the Pakistan's government has been a strong Mohammad Khan Junejo. Movement for the Restoration of Democ backer of the Afghan terrorists. It provides It was the third major antigovernment racy (MRD) is heading the campaign to the U.S. -backed rightists training bases demonstration since the Zia regime lifted pressure Zia's regime to call new elections. and a supply route to enter Afghanistan. martial law at the end of 1985. Pakistan has The parliament was last elected in Feb There are more than 3 million Afghan ref been under direct military rule since 1977 . ruary 1985 to a five-year term. Most op ugees in Pakistan. Karachi is the largest city in Sind Prov position parties, however, boycotted these It is no wonder that-Washington is be ince, home of the country's second largest elections because of the undemocratic re coming increasingly concerned about ethnic group, Sindhis. The province is also strictions imposed on them by the govern Pakistan's stability. The already bumpy where Bhutto' s party, the Pakistan ment. Currently, for political parties to be moves toward limited democratic rights role in aiding the Afghan rightists, Pakistan People's Party (now led by his daughter come legal they must agree not to criticize could get completely out of hand. is providing the bulk of counterinsurgency Benazir) is strongest. the armed forces and state their support to Since the fall of the shah oflran in 1979, training for the Sri Lankan government's Pakistan, which is slightly larger than Pakistan's Islamic ideology. Pakistan's military has been a key player terror war against the democratic s~ggle Texas, is an impoverished country of 100 Sin~e martial law was lifted three mass for imperialism in the region. Besides its of that country's Tamil minority. million people that borders India, Iran, Af ghanistan, and China. Per capita income is less than $300 per year. In 1983 its foreign debt was $9.8 billion. Sandinista unions seek unified May Day Pakistan was formed in 1947 after the partition of India by the former colonial Continued from Page 7 other union federations for a united May "In the face of the defeats we have been ruler, Britain. Areas of India that were and CUS then announced they had formed Day committee that would include repre dealing to the counterrevolution, Reagan is majority Muslim became Pakistan. (East the Unitary Committee for the Celebration sentatives of the CST and ATC, but not of responding with his immoral discussion Pakistan later won its independence in of May Day - Martyrs of Chicago. The the other pro-Sandinista unions. The ATC over how many millions the United States 1971 from then West Pakistan. It is now committee issued a call for its own May and CST could speak for these other unions needs to keep assassinating Nicaraguans. the independent nation of Bangladesh.) Day action, which said in part: in planning meetings, he said. He's looking for a way to legitimize the Nearly 97 percent of the Pakistani "Unity in action in the celebration of Given the willingness of the CST to be imperialist plan to destroy the revolution people are of the Islamic faith and Pakistan May Day is an extremely important step flexible and make concessions in the inter and get rid of the power of the working declared itself an Islamic republic in 1956. being taken through which the working ests of a united action, Jimenez said, he people. The largest ethnic group is the Punjabis class, with a high combative spirit, leads was appealing to the CGT-1, CAUS, and "We will keep on defeating the aggres who are more than half the population and the defense of the interests of the working CTN-Autonomous to resume efforts to sors in the battle trenches and in the work dominate most of the military and civil ser people and the people as a whole - de form a single May Day committee. "We're places as well, with a double effort by eve vice positions. Smaller ethnic groups in fense of the homeland, the struggle for an hoping," he said, "for a more consistent at ryone, with the discipline and self-sacrifice clude Pushtoons in the North-West Fron honorable peace, against intervention and titude on their part; and even more so now of combatants, and through conservation tier Province and Baluchis in Baluchistan, foreign interference in our internal affairs, that the reasons they raised for setting up [of materials] and more efficiency. Both the Pushtoons and Baluchis have and for civic, democratic, and patriotic sol their own committee have disappeared." "In · saluting the 1OOth anniversary of fought against the central government for utions to the sharp crisis that flays the Negotiations among the union federa May Day, we must make the necessary years to establish their own national rights. country. tions have resumed, although at this writ productive efforts so we can meet the needs The official national language is Urdu, "For this reason, the working class must ing two committees exist. of our brother peasants and, through this, with English used for business and govern intensify its efforts for democratization of The CST-Ied committee has also issued strengthen the alliance of the workers and ment. the unions and for effective implementa another May Day action call, signed by the peasants, the fundamental forces of our Since independence in 1947 Pakistan tion of democratic rights of the working CST, ATC, FETSALUD, ANDEN, and revolution." has been ruled by the military 22 out of 38 people, including freedom of the unions, UNE. It says in part: "The military, eco The CST and other unions that are part years. The Zia dictatorship came to power freedom of expression, freedom to nomic, and political aggression im of this committee have begun holding as in a 1977 coup that overthrew the Bhutto mobilize, as well as the right to strike." perialism is imposing on us, and the effects semblies of union leaders in each work government. As chief of the army staff, The call did not mention the U.S.-di on our economy of the world capitalist place to plan the May Day event. Talks General Zia canceled elections and de rected mercenary war against Nicaragua. crisis, are pounding our country, affecting also continue with representatives of the clared martial law. Two years later he had Meanwhile, CST General Secretary our families and our workplaces. other May Day committee. Bhutto convicted of conspiracy for a 1974 Lucio Jimenez announced that the CST murder of a political oppositionist. Bhutto was willing to accept the proposal of the INS witch-hunt effort ain1s at Do you know someone who reads Spanish? deporting U.S.-born author 'PM': U.S. attacks on Libya BY JIM WATSON she considered herself a Marxist, the EL PASO, Texas - A ruling will be lawyer demanded to know: "What is the Three aircraft carriers, 27 war handed down here by a federal immigration difference between a Marxist and a com ships, one flagship, 6 to 12 sub judge in the case of Margaret Randall, who munist? Are you kind of communist? Sort marines, 250 planes, 18,000 troops, faces deportation from the country of her of communist?" and a vast array of torpedoes, mis i Basta de apoyo de EU a birth. The move to deport Randall was made siles, and other weapons. Such was Judge Martin Spiegel held a four-day under provisions of the McCarran-Walter the terrorist force that the U.S. los contras mercenarios! hearing on Randall's case, ending March Act, a 1950s McCarthyite statute to ex used to attack Libya on March 24 20. At the hearing, an Immigration and clude or deport political "undesirables." It and 25. Naturalization Service lawyer questioned is being challenged in federal court on Ran What did the Libyan people do to Randall extensively about her writings and dall's behalf by PEN, the international deserve this barbaric treatment? political beliefs. writers' organization, along with the Cen President Reagan accuses Libyan While resident in Mexico, Randall had ter for Constitutional Rights and the Amer leader Muammar al-Qaddafi of given up her U.S. citizenship in 1967 ican Civil Liberties Union. being responsible for the attacks on under the mistaken belief that this was nec Judge Spiegel has already ruled that European airports and more recent essary to obtain work there. Since then, she Randall voluntarily yielded her U.S. incidents. has lived in Cuba and Nicaragua and writ citizenship and is expected to rule on her But the truth is that the U .S. Huelguistas de ten a number of books about these coun deportation by early summer. government has never presented a Ia Hormelllaman tries. shred of evidence to back its ac a mitin nacional She returned to this country in 1984 and PHILADELPHIA - A fundraiser on cusations. applied for permanent residency as a step behalf of Margaret Randall was held here What Washington really doesn't toward regaining her citizenship. March 15. It was hosted by Feminists in This was denied in October 1985, princi like about Libya is its opposition to 1Suscribete ahora! Solidarity with Central · American and U.S. and Israeli aggression against pally on the basis of the government's dis Caribbean Peoples. agreement with her views. the Palestinian people, Lebanon, The gathering, attended by more than a At the hearing held here, Randall 's and elsewhere in the Middle East. hundred people, was addressed by the Subscriptions: $16 for one lawyers charged that it was actually her The latest issue of Perspectiva Black poet Sonia Sanchez and by Dennis year; $8 for six months; Intro books that were on trial. Brutus, the exiled South African poet. Mundial helps answer Washing ductory offer, $3.00 for three ton's lies against Libya. "This is like the Scopes Monkey trial . . . Brutus discussed his own long and re months. a witch-hunt. Books read in U.S. univer cently successful fight against the attempt sities are on trial," declared defense attor to deport him and he stressed the need to 0 Begin my sub with current is ney Michael Maggio. organize a similar campaign to prevent sue. Testifying on Randall' s behalf, poet Ad- . Randall's deportation. Several hundred dollars were raised for Name ------ rienne Rich declared that if Randall is de Perspectiva M undial is the ported "it would cause a great deal of de the defense. Spanish-language socialist maga Address ------spair and anger for those who hold diver zine that every two weeks brings City/State/Zip ______sity of opinion as a necessity." Send your contribution today to help us you the truth about the struggles of The witch-hunt nature of the drive to de continue sending the Militant to our readers working people and the oppressed Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., port Randall was illustrated by some of the behind bars. in the U .S. and around the world. New York, NY 10014. questions directed to her by the govern Mail to the Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New ment lawyer. York, New York 10014. Responding to. Randall's statement that 14 ·The Militant April 18, 1986 GE provoked strike by 7,500 workers Shop-floor justice was central issu~ BY DON GUREWITZ plantwide when 2,000 turbine workers at LYNN, Mass.- Union members gave the Lynn plant joined the walkout. the demand for respect and justice and the That same day, 900 workers at the Wil . need for unity as the reasons for striking mington, Massachusetts, GE plant walked when we walked out against General Elec out. Although a part of Local 201 , they are tric here February 21 . These sentiments considered as working in a separate unit of along with a militant mood to beat GE the company and cannot legally strike as lasted throughout the strike, which ended part of the Lynn-area plants. Wilmington Militant/Don Gurewitz March 20. went out over its own unresolved grie GE aircraft division workers wait at plant gate for turbine workers to walk out of The next day, some of the 7,500 workers vances but settled its strike and returned to Lynn plant and join IUE Local201 picket lines on March 5. Aircraft division workers at three Lynn-area plants began returning work after two days. The company ac initiated four-week strike on February 21. to work. cepted a number of their demands. International Union of Electronic Work Back at work, however, Wilmington sure and harassment designed to make outdoor stadium to vote on the settlement ers (IUE) Loc~l 201 leaders called the workers continued to demonstrate their sol work longer and harder. In the Wilmington March 20. It was overwhelmingly ap strike following the suspension of a shop idarity with our strike. In addition to large plant, .for instance, workers were ordered proved. steward on a management frame-up charge quantities of food, they raised $5,000 in to seek permission before going to the In the settlement the company bosses . that he swore at a foreman. Local20Ilead aid. bathroom. They were also told to bring a agreed to clear up the grievance backlog by ers explained the suspension was only the The GE powerhouse workers, also doctor's note explaining what their "medi holding daily instead of weekly negotiating straw that broke the camel's back. The members of Local 201 , joined the strike cal problem" was if they had to go to the sessions. They consented to speeded-up ar company had essentially stopped negotiat after a two-day delay that was dictated by bathroom more than twice a day. bitration for three of the most recently vic ing with union stewards on the shop floor safety considerations. Another thing we discussed was GE's timized shop stewards. The deal provided for several months. Every worker's prob On March 5, the day the turbine workers Factory of the Future in Lynn, which will that GE's union relations office settle grie lem was greeted by the company with walked out, thousands of striking workers soon go into full production. This auto vances with the union and that these will be "grieve it," and a backlog of over 300 cases gathered around a banner reading, "I986 mated factory will have about 100 workers final - not to be undermined or negated by had rapidly built up. -The year the unions unite." This slogan doing the work now done by several times the actions of other management depart This stonewalling extended to higher was picked up from striking Local P-9 of tbat number. They will work 12-hour days ments. A complaint the company had filed levels of the grievance procedure as well. the United Food and Commercial Workers with no premium pay for work on Satur with the National Labor Relations Board is Agreements reached with GE's union-rela in Austin, Minnesota. Another prominent days and Sundays. Many job categories to be withdrawn. tions department, for example, began to be banner read "on strike for justice." will be combined, with each worker doing overruled by company personnel who were That afternoon Local 20 I took a formal more jobs for a lower base pay. In cases where the company accuses supposed to have nothing to do with the vote on whether to continue with a Workers are angered at this plan and felt union stewards of being abusive to fore grievance procedure. In this atmosphere, plantwide strike. Before the vote GE man they were forced to accept it only because · men, the company will not impose im mediate suspension , according to the steward victimizations - including phys agement had been telling the news media of GE's threats to disinvest in Lynn. ical assaults by foremen - were becoming that an "unpopular leadership" had agreement. Instead, the steward will be put Many workers are also unhappy about ori notice for a possible suspension pending regular occurrences. "forced" its members to strike. When the working under the 1985 GE contract that But for workers walking the picket line, voting was over, however, the count fa an investigation. The union leadershJp they voted down but that was voted up na hopes this will allow the union to mount a the issues that drove us to strike - in addi vored continuing the strike 3,687 to 83I . tionally. It includes a two-tier wage lasting tion to . defending the shop stewards - nils 82 percent yes vote was the highest defense of our stewards while they are 'still up to two years for new hires, and a cash in the plant. · were many and far re~ching : One. worker strike vote in Local20 1's history. bonus instead of an hourly wage increase spoke for many of us when tl~ - ~xplained Another provision sets up a joint' stew Solidarity from P-9 tbe first year. It alsoincreases health costs ard-foreman training program to try to pro that "this isn't just abo,t~tttbe grievance pro paid by workers. · cedure. It's about ev'erything GE's been Two Local P-9ers who were on a tour mote understanding and cooperation. be doing to us for the past five years." building support for their cause in the Bos GE provoked strike tween the fron t~lin e representatives of the _ I5ufing this period conditions on the job ton area spent the day .at the IUE strike union and the company. This program will Some Local 201 members thought GE · be administered by both IUE 201and GE. WtVI'! deteriorated due to comp~ny harass- headquarters. They appeared at the mas- provo.ked the strike· in Lynn believ.ing they . w,~~t lJP..~ · YAct,i~jz¥,ip,p April 18~ 1986 The Militant · IS -CALEND ARIZONA 2. "The Second Wave of Feminism." Sun., Socialist Workers candidate U.S. Senate. Sun., p.m. Film, Malcolm X Speaks, at 4:00 p.m. Phoenix April 20, 10:30 a.m. Speaker: Pat Grogan. April 13. Open house, 4 p.m. ; program, 5 p.m. 2732 NE Union. Film donation: $2. Ausp: Path 3. "The Nicaraguan Abortion Debate." 2219 E Market St. Ausp: North Carolina finder Bookstore. For more information call South Africa's Regional Empire and the Sun., April20, I p.m. Speaker: Vivian Sahner, Socialist Workers Campaign. For more infor- (503) 287-7416. Struggle to End It. Film: The B Devil's Circle, leader of St. Louis Socialist Workers Party. mation call (919) 272-5996. · a documentary on South Africa's rule in Donation: $2 per class, $5 for series. For TEXAS Namibia. Presentation to follow by Betsy more information call (314) 361-0250. McDonald, representative of the Socialist OHIO Houston Workers Party. Translation to Spanish. Sat. , Cincinnati Labor Fights Back: United Food and Com April 12, 7 p.m. 3750 W McDowell. Donation: NEW JERSEY High School Students: Slaves or Citizens? mercial Workers Local P-9 On Strike $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in Newark Speakers: Bentley Davis, Shelley Stephens, Le Against Hormel. Eyewitness report from April formation call (602) 272-4026. No to Contra Aid! Speaker: Ruth Nebbia, nore Parker - bigh school students and mem 12 national solidarity rally in Austin, Min Socialist Workers Party candidate for mayor. bers of the Young Socialist Alliance; Morris nesota. A panel discussion. Translation to CALIFORNIA Translation to Spanish. Fri ., April 18, 7:30 Starsky, Socialist Workers Party. Sat. , April Spanish. Sat., April 19, 7:30 p.m. 4806 p.m. 141 Halsey . Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant 19, 4 p.m. 4945 Paddock Rd . Ausp: Young Almeda. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. San Jose Labor Forum. For more information call (201) Socialist Alliance. For more information call For more information call (713) 522-8054. How Can We Stop the War Against Nicara 643-3341 . (513) 242-7161. gua? Speakers: Carlos Avitia, International Defend Workers' Compensation. A video UTAH Molders Union; Greg Miller, Nicaragua Work Price Brigades; Rick Trujillo, Socialist Workers NEW YORK presentation and discussion. Speakers: Dan Socialist Campaign Rally: End U.S. War in Party; Bill Watkins, Veterans of Foreign Wars Brooklyn & Manhattan Radford, executive secretary, Cincinnati Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Doug Fields, American Central America. Hands Off Libya! Speaker: Post 5888. Sat., April 12,7 p.m. 46 112 Race St. Demonstration Against Inhuman Prison David Hurst, Socialist Workers candidate for Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For Conditions. Sat., April 19 . Assemble II a.m. Federation of State, County and Municipal Em U.S. Congress, 3rd C.D. Sat., Aprill2. Recep more information call (408) 998-4007. at Brooklyn House of Detention, Atlantic Ave. ployees Local 402; Lorraine Starsky, member United Auto Workers Local 645 and Socialist tion, 6 p.m. ; rally, 7 p.m. 23 S Carbon Ave., Campaign Barbecue. Meet Greg Nelson, at Boerum Pl . March to Metropolitan Correc Workers Party . Sat., April 26, 7:30p.m. 4945 Room 19. Donation: $2. Ausp: Socialist Work Socialist Workers candidate for mayor of San tional Center, Manhattan. Rally, 2 p.m. at City Hall. Ausp: National Committee to Defend Paddock Rd. Donation: $2.50. Ausp: Militant ers Campaign. For more information call (801) Jose. Sun. , April 13, 2-6 p.m. Hellyer Park Labor Forum. For more information call (513) 637-6294. (take Hellyer exit off Highway WI). Donation: New Afrikan Freedom Fighters and National 242-7161. $2 . Ausp: Greg Nelson for Mayor of San Jose Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of WASHINGTON, D.C. Campaign. For more information call (408) War. For more information call (212) 222- Protest U.S. War Moves: the Truth About 998-4007. 9640. OREGON Libya. Speakers: Representative, Libyan Stu Portland dent Conference; Sheryl Hongsermeier, COLORADO NORTH CAROLINA Pathfinder Bookstore Open House. Celebrate Socialist Workers Party. Sat. , April 12, 7:30 Denver Greensboro the reopening of the bookstore under its new p.m. 3106 Mount Pleasant St. NW. Donation: Big Mountain: the Struggle for Survival. Socialist Campaign Headquarters Grand name. 15 percent off new titles and books by $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in Slideshow pres~ntation by Rocky Olguin, Col Opening Celebration. Meet with Rich Stuart, Malcolm X. Sun., April 13. Open house 3:00 formation call (202) 797-7699. orado coordinator, Big Mountain Support Group; Oneida Mascareues, member CASA and Big Mountain Support Group. Translation to Spanish. Fri., April 18, 7:30p.m. 25 W 3rd Weinberger pushes military aid in Manila Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more information call (303) 698- 2550. Continued from back page In addition to service work, the Filipinos for severance pay. It reportedly provided a aid being considered by Congress. do skilled shipyard repair and mainte bonus of around $100 and a quarterly sub KENTUCKY Philippine industry is operating at only nance. sidy of rice amounting to about eight Louisville 50 percent of capacity and, according to The union had been trying to negotiate a pounds a week. The Lindsey Scott Family Benefit Dance. Ongpin, 70 percent of the Filipino people new contract for lO months before the A skiiled base mechanic is paid about Sat. , April 19, 10 p.m. YWCA, 3rd and are living under the poverty line - offi walkout. The issue that sparked the strike $1.25 an hour. A fcod service workers gets Chestnut. Donation: $6, single; $12, couple. cially defined as a family income of about was the stubborn U.S. refusal to grant about 66 cents. ·Ausp: Lindsey Scott Defense Fund. For more $35 a week. severance pay to workers who leave their information call (502) 776-4226. After the Weinberger visit, a Manila jobs. During the strike, five pickets were spokesperson said economic aid was par Under heavy pressure, the workers re stabbed at the Subic Bay base when a LOUISIANA ticularly needed to help provide jobs. The turned to their jobs April 1-2 after their group of off-duty marines crashed the pick New Orleans unemployment rate is estimated at up to 20 union officials agreed to a "compromise" et line. And at the Clark base, strikers were Nicaragua-Another Vietnam? Speakers: percent. settlement that did not include the sought- attacked by club-wielding MPs. representative of the Ecumenical Task Force, There was no mention of any proposal Biloxi, Mississippi; representative of the Baton Rouge Committee Against Military Interven for a moratorium on the Philippine foreign tion in Nicaragua; representative of the Socialist debt of $26 billion. Payments drain away Steelworkers approve LTV contract Workers Party. Translation to_Spani sh. Sat., up to one half of the nation's export ~arn Aprill2, 7:30p.m. 3207 Dublin. Donation: $2. ings. Ausp: Militant Forum .. For more informatioQ Both sides said the issue of the two giant Continued from Page 3 tiona) Steel had all opened early negotia call (504) 486-8048. U .S. military bases was not raised at the leave the stock in the trust fund until they tions and set early deadlines with the meeting. .retire. USW A. But both Bethlehem and Inland re During her campaign, President Aquino cently broke off negetiations because there MINNESOTA Even financial analysts doubted whether said she would honor the treaty covering were too many questions unresolved in the · St. Paul this contract would solve LTV's financial the bases until it expires in 1991 and re talks. Our Land Is Not for Sale - the Struggle for problems. Charles Bradford, steel stocks Indian Land Rights Continues. Speakers: fused to say what her stand would then be. analyst for Merriii Lynch, said, "It doesn't U .S . Steel, the largest steel producer, is Stephanie Autumn Peltier, member Leonard After the meeting, Weinberger said, solve the problem. It probably will ' help waiting to see what the other companies Peltier Support Group; others. Sun. , April 13 , 4 'The bases agreement is not an issue." them enough short-term, but it doesn't get can take back from the workers before p.m. 508 N Snelling. Donation: $2. Ausp: Min He added: ''It's already been taken care them enough in the black to pay offthe opening negotiations with the union. nesota Militant Forum. For more information of." call (612) 644-6325. short-term debt. And that's what they The U .S . military installations in the need. In the next recession, there's going Philippines are. the biggest anywhere out MISSOURI to be more blood on the floor." Ortega condemns use St. Louis side the United States. There are 16,500 miiitary personnel at the Subic Bay naval Grand Opening Celebration of Pathfinder The LTV contract was the first basic of U.S. advisers base, Clark air force base, and a half-dozen Books. Speakers: Rev . Ted Braun, recently re steel contract to be decided by a direct vote smaller installations. With their families turned from Cuba; Pat Grogan, staff writer for of the membership. Previous contracts Continued from front page and civilian workers, the total U .S . pre the Militant. Sat, . April 19 . Social, 7 p.m.; pro were decided by a Basic Industry Confer fall into the trap of confrontation, to make gram, 8 p.m. 4907 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. sence is 40,000. ence made up of steel local presidents. In an effort to normalize relations." What Donation: $3. Ausp: Pathfinder Books. For more information call (314) 361-0250. Employing 45 ,000 Filipinos, the bases January 1986, the Basic Industry Confer jeopardizes this, he continued, "is the in Ed.ucational Conference on Women's Liber are operated with typical Bgly American ence voted to grant the right to ratify con tent of the United States to use Honduras as ation. arrogance, as illustrated by the recent strike tracts to the membership. Voting was done a platform for aggression against Nicara 1. "Origins of Women's Oppression." Sat., of 22,000 Filipino base workers. The 12- by mail ballots sent to the union's Interna gua, as the spearhead or pretext for the in April 19, 2:30p.m. Speaker: Pat Grogan, staff day walkout was the longest yet at a U .S. tional headquarters in Pittsburgh. volvement of U.S. forces against Nicara writer for the Militant. base there. Inland, Bethlehem, Armco, and Na- gua." -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132Cone NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. -:Jefferson . Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, bookstores. 4065. NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326- 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, . UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- 5853 or 326-5453. YSA, 79 Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219- Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 3679 or 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) We~t McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel : LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA , 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 380-01.33. 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218 . Tel: (301) Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 235-0013. 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: YSA, Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) MASSACHUSET'rS: Boston: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, 797-7699. 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: YSA , 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San 02215 . Tel: (617) 262-4621. (419) 536-0383. 5517 Rainier Ave. So~th . Zip: 98118. Tel: Jose: SWP, YSA, 46 112 Race St. Zip: 95126. MICIDGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave. Zip:48201 . Tel: (313)961-0395. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charl~ston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA , 25 MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 611A Tennessee. Zip: 25302. Tel : (304) W.3rd Ave . Zip: 80223. Tel : (303) 698-2550. 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE (612)644-6325. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 Pleasant St. Zip: 26'505. Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, N. Highland Ave. Mailing address: P.O. Box 0055. Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753- 4789. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee2 · SWP ~ YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) 222-4434. King Dr. Zip: 63113 . Tel: (314) 361-0250. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 445-2076. 16 The-Militant April 18, 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------....:._____ Better than banking-"Of all market, the administration is send viously no way to run a war. There movement and favors "the right of Nixon dropped in for lunch at a the times a person might have to ing Vice President Bush to Saudi are certain areas which require business to make its own best New Jersey Burger King. enter agriculture, and stay, now is Arabia . . . to persuade the dom confidentiality." - A State Dept. choices about raw materials and inant member of the Organization official on why more of the contra production methods." He's Frank Like, how about in his base of Petroleum Exporting Countries aid should be returned to a covert Dunkle, Reagan's nominee to ment? - "Spent nuclear reactor that it should take action to status. head the Fish and Wildlife Ser fuel should be considered as a val stabilize -or even increase-the vice. uable resource, not waste, and price of oil by cutting production." How hard-line can you get - guarded like the gold at Fort -News item. The New York Times reported that He got caught? -'-- Tricky Dick · Knox." - S. Fred Singer, Harry Filipino union officials accepted a Nixon was elected an associate geophysicist and, according to a That's that - Responding to U.S. offer of a one-time $100 member of the Academie des nuke industry press handout, an eminent scholar. Ring reports that the White House had bonus and some rice to settle the Beaux Arts because he had put pressured NASA to launch the strike at U.S. bases, but rank-and through a tax bill making contrib Hey, no problem - We Challenger in time for Reagan to filers were opposed. "The hard utions to the Versailles Foundation thought it was just us, but it seems the best time for the past 30 or 40 mention the flight in his State of liners," the Times explained, "are tax-deductible. Gerard Van der that many of the folk ready to part years . . . opportunities are going the Union message, the White demanding improved wages and Kamp, a spokesperson, said, "Mr. with $25,000 for a Sensorium re to be bright." - Agriculture Sec House conducted an investigation conditions." Nixon is a great man who commit mote-control, comput~rized bath retary Richard Lyng. and found the charge was unwar ted a small error . . . " tub may have trouble fitting it in ranted. It figures - He 's against the their bathroom. The company They're flexible- "While still "narrow-minded cliches" of the He always did love a whopper suggests simply converting a proclaiming the virtues of the free Down and dirty - "This is ob- "near socialist" environmental - It was wire service news when child's bedroom into a bathroom. 'Good Terrorist': no politics, no insights, no reality The Good Terrorist. By Doris Lessing. Alfred Knopf, member, for instance, whether or not she has divulged to manity to struggle for change to a mindless bombing. New York. 368 pages, cloth. $16.95. the British secret service that guns had been moved into Bitterly blaming the left for her own inability to see any the house. She can't remember if she has informed on way forward, she has done a disservice to those who con BY LINDA JENNESS someone, or not. tinue to fight. The Good Terrorist, Doris Lessing's latest work, is Both the Guardian and the New York Review admit to· being read and reviewed by some as a serious political a "darker side" of Alice. However, they accept Lessing's * * * novel. premise that Alice is "good." The New York Review even In 1962 The Golden Notebook was published. Written The Guardian, a radical weekly, headlines its review: finds in Alice "the sort of woman whose domestic skills by Doris Lessing - a different Doris Lessing - this au "Even in Despair, Lessing Offers More." and maternal sympathy have traditionally held the world tobiographical novel was a bold, painfully honest and in Allison Lurie in the New York Review of Books states: together." sightful work that placed itself in the vanguard of the sec "Whether her answers are right or not, Lessing has sue- Now, let's consider the "co-conspirators" that Alice ond wave of feminism that swept England and the rest of has chosen to mother. the world in the la,te '60s and early '70s. Reread today, it First, there's Jasper. Jasper, because of an insecurity stands four square with the finest in explaining and un BOOK REVIEW concerning his homosexuality, passes himself as Alice's derstanding feminist consciousness. companion. Alice has played nursemaid to Jasper for For this reason, Lessing continues to hold a special many years, allowing his secret to continue and receiving place in the hearts and minds of many today. ceeded in writing one of the best novels in English I have only his hostilities in return. Lessing's childhood was spent in Southern Rhodesia. read about the terrorist mentality and the inner life of a In England, as an adult, her political activism, especially revolutionary group since Conrad's The Secret Agent." There's Bert. Bert and Jasper are considered the against apartheid, earned her a place on the list of "prohi These reviews embrace Lessing's despairing conclu "theoreticians" of the group. A vague congress is held, bited aliens," barring her return to South Africa and sion that the persons and actions portrayed by her in The and both travel to Ireland in an attempt to link up with the Rhodesia. Good Terrorist bear some resemblance to the left. They IRA. Spumed by the IRA, they travel to Moscow and are The Golden Notebook combines her political experi simply do not. likewise unrewarded for their efforts. Various meander ences, her disillusionment with the sectarian, backward The Good Terrorist tells the story of Alice Mellings, a ings and pronouncements later, the reader is still left policies of the Communist Party, and her profound in 36-year-old "den mother" to a purposeless group of wondering as to what their politics are. sights into the emotional and psychological effects of the people who have taken residency in a squalid, abandoned Even the bombing, the terrorist act, is an apolitical ac oppression of women. house in London. tion. At the last moment, Alice runs to a telephone in a The book's main character, Anna, often borders on the . Alice has no grasp on reality. She hides her internal futile effort to stop the bombing. In an afterthought, she brink of insanity. Unlike Alice, however, she is brought chaos with an obsession for external order and hard adds: "It's the IRA. Freedom for Ireland .. .. " back time and again by her love and sense of responsibil work. Thus, she performs an almost miraculous transfor The Good Terrorist reflects Lessing's demoralized, re ity for her daughter, by friends , and by an undercurrent of mation of the abandoned house into livable quarters. actionary view of the left. It offers no politics, no in hope and optimism for the future. Her strength lies in un But her cover dissolves now and again: "She exploded sights, no reality. But it allows the Guardian to write: derstanding her situation: She is an independent woman inwardly, teeth grinding, eyes bulging, fists held as if "Her political angle of vision is badly skewed . .. but, who has gone too far to retreat, but has yet not found a knives were in them. She stormed around the kitchen, even then, she is instructive." And, "What Lessing saw way to move forward. Perched there, she is everywoman like a big fly shut in a room on a hot afternoon, banging - and still sees - about the world and human experi -out on everywoman's limb. · herself against walls, comers of table and stove, not ence is so often more on target than the most politically Those who have not yet read The Golden Notebook knowing what she did, and making grunting, whining, correct visions of others." should find the time to do so. Those who read it so many snarling noises. . . . " In The Good Terrorist, Lessing presents no hope for years ago might want to reread it. This contribution by Another sign of Alice's mental state is evidenced by the future. Blind to the mass upheavals occurring from Lessing still stands and cannot be taken away from her or her frequent and dramatic lapse of memory. She can't re" South Africa to Nicaragua, she reduces the ability of hu- us. The victims of the crime of capital punishment BY ERLING SANNES cases. Neil Shumway was hanged for muder in Nebraska ecution of any member of the affluent strata of our soci The facts presented at a San Diego meeting of the in 1909, but three years later the victim's husband con ety." American Society of Criminology established that the fessed to the crime. Maurice Mays was executed in Ten Since the Supreme Court revised death penalty laws in victims of capital punishment in the United States in nessee in 191 9. Five years later the true killer confessed. 1976, a total of 51 executions have been carried out, and cluded dozens of people who were proven innocent of the Frank Smith was executed in Connecticut in 1949 only to the number of death row inmates has quadrupled to more charges against them after they were executed. Hundreds be proven innocent minutes after the execution took than 1,600 today. More than 37 percent of those executed of others were exonerated only after being sentenced to place. in the last 10 years have been either Black or Hispanic. death, but in time to prevent the executions from being While the government occasionally admits an error in On January 10, 1986, after spending. eight years in carried out. convicting someone by granting a pardon, no state has South Carolina's death warehouse, Terry Roach became Professors Hugo Bedau of Tufts University and ever admitted to an error after the victim was executed, the first person to be executed in the United States in Michael Badelet of the University of Florida, who pre- according to Bedau and Badelet. 1986. Roach, mentally retarded and suffering from an in Fordham University Professor Ernest Van den Haag, a curable brain disease (Huntington's Chorea), was 17 death penalty supporter, said, "All human activities - when the crime for which he was electrocuted was com building houses, driving a car, playing golf or football mitted. AS I SEE IT cause innocent people to suffer wrongful death, but we Roach's role in the crime has never been made clear. don't give them up because on the whole we feel there is In a moment of courtroom confusion he abruptly pleaded pared the study, conclude that t~e cases they studied rep a net gain. Here a net gain is justice is being done." guilty. A jury trial was never held, and he was quickly resent only a fraction of the total who were executed on The real net gain that the rulers of this country seek sentenced to death by the judge. A codefendant, Joseph false charges. through the death penalty is to inspire fear in the op Shaw, was murdered by the state of South Carolina on The 240-page study documents 343 cases in the United pressed and exploited. Jan. 11 , 1985. A third person, a 16-year-old boy, turned States since 1900 in which · people convicted and sen Every person who has ever been executed was a victim ' states evidence and is now serving a life term. tenced to death were later found to be innocent. Bedati of their savage brutality, whether or not he or she was Appeals were made in vain on Roach's behalf by and Badelet found 49 such cases in the 1970s and 15 in subsequently proven innocent of the specific charges he people around the world, including United Nations Sec the first half of the 1980s. In 25 of these cases, the find or she was convicted of. retary General Javier Perez de Cuellar and Amnesty In ing of innocence took place after the death sentence was The death penalty has always been used by the ruling ternational, on the grounds that the killing would be a carried out. class as a weapon of class and race oppression. violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Po The authors define innocence very narrowly - ex More than 7,000 people have been executed in the litical Rights. The covenant was signed by the United cluding all cases in which capital defendants had their United States since 1900, according to the authors. In the States in 1977 and prohibits imposing the death sentence convictions reversed because of trial errors or other due 1930s, executions averaged 167 a year, peaking at 199 in for crimes committed by persons under the age of 18. process-of-law reasons. All but a few of the cases they 1937. South Carolina holds the record for killing the - present involve situations in which the wrong person was Of all the people executed in the United States since youngest person in modem United States history - 14- convicted or cases in which no crime was committed be 1930, more than 54 percent have been Black, even year-old George Stinney. In this century, more than 100 cause the alleged victim later turned up alive. though Blacks have accounted for only about 12 percent juveniles have been executed before their 18th birthdays. The 25 cases they cite in which an innocent person was of the population. executed include such well-known cases as Sacco and Former United States Supreme Court Justice William Erling Sannes is North Dakota coordinator for the Na Vanzetti. But most are obscure, long-ago~forgotten 0 . Douglas once said, "One searches in vain for the ex- tional Coalition Against the Death Penalty. · April 18, 1986 The Militant 17 -EDITORIALS------The working-class strategy against· U.S. war move against Angola itnperialist war The Reagan administration is helping the South Afri down low-flying planes. The Reagan administration says The following is excerpted from "The Working can apartheid regime escalate its 10-yearwar against the it is providing hundreds of them to the U.S.-organized . Class Road to Peace" by Brian Grogan, a British independent West African nation of Angola. contras fighting Nicaragua, Savimbi's UNITA, and leader of the world Marxist organization, the Fourth That is the meaning of the U.S. government's March rightist bands in Afghanistan, so that they can shoot International. The article appears in the Winter 27 announcement that Stinger antiaircraft missiles are down helicopters. 1983-84 issue of New International, a magazine of being sent to a terrorist group led by Jonas Savimbi. Washington's escalation of its aggression against these Marxist politics and theory. Savimbi's group, which calls itself the National Union countries does not end with the delivery of the military This issue of the magazine alsO contains an article for the Total Independence of Angola, operates as part of hardware. Administration officials say that U.S. "mili by New International Managing Editor Steve Clark, the South African regime's war - a war that has taken tary trainers" will have to be assigned to the Nicaraguan "The Development of the Marxist Position on the more than 10,000 Angolan lives. contras to teach them to use the Stinger missiles. Aristocracy of Labor," as well as major excerpts from The U.S. decision to arm Savimbi is a crime against Will U.S . "trainers" also be assigned to Savimbi's ter "The Social Roots of Opportunism," a translation of a the Angolan people and other southern African nations rorists in Angola and the Afghan rightists? 1916 article by Russian Bolshevik leader Gregory that are defending their independence against South Afri The U.S. government says it wants to step up the fight Zinoviev. The 143-page journal is available from can aggression. It is a crime against the Namibian people ing in Angola in order to force the Angolan government who are fighting for the end of South African occupation to send home thousands of Cuban troops who are cur and colonial rule. It is a crime against the millions in rently stationed there. Cuban internationalist volunteers LEARNING ABOUT South Africa who are fighting to put an end to the racist have been in Angola since 1975, at the request of the An apartheid regime. And it is a crime against U.S. workers golan government. They helped Angola fend off the at and farmers, who have a stake in opposing U.S. military tacks of the biggest military power in Africa, the apart SOCIALISM intervention anywhere. heid regime. Savimbi's UNITA receives arms, money, and military There is widespread opposition to U.S. intervention in Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. Send personnel from the apartheid regime. Thousands of South Angola, as there is to U.S. intervention in Central Amer $4.00 plus 75 cents for postage and handling. African troops occupy parts of southern Angola where ica. This opposition will grow _as more people learn the This excerpt is © 1983 by 408 Printing and Publish Savimbi's killers operate. facts. Upcoming protests against U.S. support to the ing and is reprinted by permission. According to a March 31 column by Rowland Evans apartheid regime should take up the issue of what Wash and Robert Novak, CIA director William Casey spent ington and Pretoria are doing to Angola. It will be the increasing political organization of the several days in South Africa in March to work out how They should raise the slogans: working class in the mines, mills, and factories, in the the U.S. aid would be delivered. "No arms for Savimbi. U.S., South Africa, hands off communities of the oppressed nationalities, and on every Stingers are shoulder-fired missiles that can shoot Angola!" front of the battle against exploitation and oppression that will also push back the rulers' capacity to wage war. Who will be the leaders of these battles? The working class. The workers in the bastions of industry and the in dustrial unions. The most oppressed layers of the work ing class. The young workers. The workers .from the op Rally behind TWA attendants pressed nationalities. The immigrant workers. 'The women workers. The fight for a class-struggle leadership of our class In their militant strike against TWA, the 6,000 mem Smeal recalled that at one time all flight attendants and its unions, and the fight for working-class leadership were women. They were forced to retire at the age of 35 bers of the Independent Federation of Flight Attendants of the struggles of all the oppressed and exploited - this or when they married, providing the airlines with a pool are inspiring all workers looking for ways to fight back is also the.fight for a revolutionary leadership of the fight of workers with no seniority, no rights, and low pay. against the employers' antilabor offensive. against imperialist war. It will come from nowhere else. They are carrying the banner of all women who are Through their unions, and with the backing of the The fight to transform the unions into revolutionary in fighting for dignity and equality as workers. In so doing, women's liberation movement, the flight attendants struments, the fight for independent labor political ac they fight to strengthen the entire labor movement and for fought for the same rights as other workers. They fought tion, the fight against imperialist war and nuclear the rights of all working people. to be treated as real workers, and not as "girls" who were weapons - these are all aspects of the same fight. This The flight attendants' union is 85 percent female . They just having a fling at a job before settling down to their can be hard to see at the current juncture of the class had agreed to the same concessions as the predominantly true role in life as a homemaker. struggle, when the political radicalization of the working male International Association of Machinists ground The flight attendants' story mirrors the position of all class is still just beginning and the class-collaborationist workers and · the Air Line Pilots Association. This in women workers. The employers want to keep women misleaders maintain their grip on the labor movement. cluded a 15 percent wage cut. permanently in a second-class status in the work force. But it is along this common course that these struggles But TWA President Carl Icahn wanted more from the Discrimination against women workers hurts all work will advance and ultimately triumph. The only road to flight attendants. He demanded that they take a 22 per ing people. Low wages paid to women drag down all ending imperialist war is a class-struggle course toward cent wage cut as well as other concessions. wages. And discrimination against women workers taking state power from the imperialists and establishing Why? Because they are women. weakens and divides working people and saps the fight a workers' and farmers' government. "These girls aren't breadwinners;'' lcahn explained. ing capacity of the union movement. At a recent speech in Louisville, Kentucky, National That is why our tum to industry and our conscious ef forts to proletarianize our parties are inseparably con Organization for Women President Eleanor Smeal said That's why the labor movement has a big stake in the NOW will wage a campaign in support of the flight atten fight for women's equality and in championing affirma nected to our course in combating wars and the nuclear dants. Calling TWA's actions "a case of sexism gone tive action, pay equity, child care, and abortion rights. buildup by the bourgeoisie. It flows from our working rampant, and union-busting," she called on NOW chap The labor movement and all supporters of the cause of class program and strategic orientation. Once we're clear ters to escalate their support to the strikers and get solidly women's equality should rally behind the flight atten on that, then all sorts of tactical questions relating to behind them in their fight . dants and defeat TWA's attempt at blatant sex discrimi meetings, demonstrations, coalitions, or whatever be We applaud this decision by NOW. nation and union-busting. come much more straightforward. As a nucleus of revo lutionary workers, we seek to take advantage of any op portunity- whether or not it originates inside the labor movement at this point- to advance our class and its al lies along this line of march. It is this perspective that we seek to advance through Undocumented face evictions our industrial fractions and branches in helping to get Salvadoran union leaders before as many union audi The federal government is moving to evict all un needs, it's a denial of things people have earned and paid ences as possible. In our unions, in Black and Latino or documented immigrants from public housing projects. for. ganizations, and in women's rights groups, we put for On March 31 the Department of Housing and Urban Workers, documented or not, cannot collect un ward the need to become actively involved in opposing Development (HUD) directed local housing authorities to employment compensation unless they have worked long U.S. policy in Central America and the massive govern evict from their projects all tenants who cannot produce enough and paid in enough to qualify. ment arms budget, including weapons for mass annihila documents proving they are citizens or "legal aliens." And, like the documented, undocumented workers tion. Private landlords who receive federal rent subsidies for help finance public housing, medical programs, and wel In action coalitions or organizations formed around op low-income tenants are instructed to evict them too - fare. They pay sales and excise taxes every time they go position to U.S. intervention or nuclear weapons, we unless they are ready and able to pay full rent. Asked if to the store. And, like other workers, they have income stress the need to involve labor and the organizations of some of those being evicted would not be forced to join tax withheld and Social Security taxes deducted from oppressed nationalities and women. We set priorities and the homeless in the streets, a HUD lawyer shrugged, wages. make tactical judgments about particular conferences, "That's possible, but it's speculation. I don't know." The hypocrites in the government argue that by deny demonstrations, and initiatives for action based on our And, he could have added, "I don't care." ing housing and other needs to the undocumented, they judgment of how best to take another step in this overall This cold-blooded act is part of a systematic drive to are forcing them out of the U.S. job market and making direction under the given circumstances. deny the most elementary rights and needs of the un jobs available to "Americans." Lenin said that "the experience of war . . . stuns and documented. That's a fake. The real aim is to keep undocumented breaks some people, but enlightens and tempers others." Similar proof of legal status is being demanded of food workers in the status of pariahs, to make them ever more In the last analysis, there are two "roads to peace." stamp applicants. And the Immigration and Naturaliza vulnerable to superexploitation. That, for instance, is the Those who are stunned and broken by war, who surren tion Service (INS) has developed an elaborate computer real purpose behind the anti-immigrant legislation now der to the exploiters under its pressure, end up with what system to facilitate denial of rights to the undocumented pending in Congress. Sandinista leader D(lniel Ortega has called the "peace of by state and local governments. Precisely because they are branded "illegal," precisely the tomb." Given imperialism's massive nuclear arsenal, At least 10 states are already involved in this program, because they are denied the modest rights and benefits of the tomb today could be that of all humanity. under which they have computer access to a "central other workers, the undocumented are driven to accept the But we are confident from the record of the working index" bulging with 21 million alien case files. Before very worst jobs at the lowest pay . And, on the job, com class over this century that the oppressed and exploited approving applicants for medical care, welfare, pelled to keep carefully in mind that the "wrong attitude" are marching along the other road - that of revolution uemployment compensation, etc ., the participating states toward the boss can mean an INS cop a phone call away. ary class struggle against imperialism. It is the road along can check the index to determine if the applicant is For the employers, this is a double bonus. In addition which the workers and peasants of Central America and among those listed as "legal." to the extra profits they pocket on the undocumented, the the Caribbean are marching. The road that has led to vic Through this system, boasts INS Commissioner Alan !.ow wages and substandard conditions imposed on them tories over imperialism from Russia to Vietnam, from Nelson, 36,305 "illegal aliens" were spotted as appli also serve as an instrument for holding back the wages countries as gigantic as China to islands as small as Gre cants for, or recipients of, unemployment compensation and conditions of other workers. All working people nada. And it is the road into which feed the struggles by or welfare last year. should stand united in defense of the rights of the un workers, farmers, and the oppressed in the.United States, That's not only an inhuman denial of elementary documented. Britain, and other imperialist countries. 18 . The Militant April 18, 1986 ·· Only the rich can afford to maintain their health BY DAVID SALNER spoke against the amendment. Speaking for it was a rep costs." As the workers put it, "They've taken our health, Medical costs are escalating, and workers' health-care resentative of Monsanto Company. At one point a law they may as well take our money." benefits are under attack. The result: only the rich can af maker asked why hearing loss should be compensated if The bottom line is that the ruling capitalist class ford to maintain their health. a hearing aid restored the injured worker's hearing. doesn't mind ruining a worker's health but it doesn't As part of this general picture, the employing class has The United Mine Workers of America representative want to make even a small payment on the damages. put into motion a high-powered campaign against work shot back: "Next you'll be asking why a worker who Profits come first, and only an independent struggle for ers compensation and other benefits sick or hurt workers loses a limb needs compensation if he has a wooden re political power can begin to change this. Labor must also rely on. placement." But the amendment to reduce compensation fight for the many workers, the unemployed, and farm In West Virginia, which has one of the highest on-the passed. ers, who have no medical or compensation coverage at job death and disability rates, the state legislators just re- Meanwhile, comp is getting harder to collect because all. - of delays and harassment on the part of employers. Arbit Adequate health. care should be the right of all regard rators have ruled that workers can be fired for absen less of financial status or insurance coverage. But it will teeism while out on workers comp for on-the-job in take a transformed union movement to fight effectively -UNION TALK juries.· Another example: in Nitro, West Virginia, FMC for this. A labor party is needed to back this struggle in Specialty chemicals has demanded a contract provision the political arena. It could mobilize a popular protest duced workers comp coverage after parading a gross that workers out on comp can be fired. United Steelwork movement against the life-threatening practices of com campaign of lies in the media. ers of America Local 12575 is striking FMC over this and panies such as Monsanto. Such a party could build sup The lawmakers complained that workers comp cqsts other take back demands. port for the idea that the price tag should be taken off - were bankrupting employers at the expense of jobs. But Meanwhile, a worker's right to sue over injuries in medicine. state AFL-CIO head Joseph Powell pointed out that em adequately covered by workers corrip has been all but Cuba, a country with far fewer resources, has already ployers' contributions went down 30 percent in 1985. eliminated. Retired steelworkers who spent years pro put this philosophy into practice. But in the capitalist Opponents of workers comp screamed about so-called ducing dioxin - the most deadly chemical on earth - ruled United States, funds that could pay for decent med abuses, such as the benefits drawn by prisoners while be lost a suit against Monsanto's nitro division. This hap ical care are squandered on war and military hardware. hind bars. These workers behind bars should be able to pened despite the fact there was no disputing that the An effective struggle for decent health care as a social -draw comp, but as Powell P?ints out, only three prisoners workers' dioxin exposure caused suffering and terminal demand is part of the struggle for a new society free of in five years have ever managed to collect as much as a illnesses, including liver cancer. war, exploitation, and discrimination. penny. In a clear threat to future suits by injured workers, the I attended a hearing on an amendment to reduce hear judge ruled that the chemical giant could put a lien on the David Salner is a member of United Steelworkers of ing loss compensation. Many mine workers and others homes of 11ix workers to recompense Monsanto for "legal America Local 8621 in Nitro, West Virginia. -LEII"ERS----- Marcos: Cargill's man being beautiful than the adorned. Norm Larson, cochairperson of In other words, cosmetics in the the Minnesota Groundswell farm future society will be, as the ers' organization, recently re materialist anthropologist V. Gor ported on a meeting he and other don Childe phrased it, an example farm activists had with a Filipino of how "man makes himself." _peasant leader currently touring Artifice, or the use of not natur- the United States. Larson spoke ally occurring materials to produce before a meeting of Grounds well an effect of enhanced beauty, is held in Worthington, Minnesota. within the potential of women and Larson explained that Marcos men. It is, in fact, part of what had carried out a fake land reform, makes us human. Through artistic _which ended up placing 40,000 labor, we work with the materials acres of land in the hands of the of raw nature to give ourselves grain-marketing giant Cargill and greater choices. -the Massey-Ferguson Corpora- In the future, when we will be tion. Peasants receiving land able to splice genes and change under the "reform" were. forced to our own ap~arance and. perhaps - pay from 50 to 200 percent interest that BY GEORGES SAY AD, end to the university's complicity with the constructed shanties that symbolize the Berkeley's Mayor Gus Newport, mem PETER THIERJUNG, apartheid regime. plight of Blacks under the apartheid sys bers of Berkeley City Council, and other AND MARC VIGLIELMO The University of California system has tem. community and religious leaders joined the BERKELEY, Calif., April 9 - Despite $2.4 billion invested in companies that do At 2:00 a.m. 'the next morning, under protest. Students welcomed this act of sol a full-scale police attack; arrests, injuries, business with South Africa. cover of darkness, dozens of police moved idarity as an important deterrent to possible and court injunctions, students at the Uni Chants of "UC, USA out of South Af in and tore _down the shanties. They ar cop violence. The protest was also joined versity of California here are continuing rica!" rang through the plaza in front ofthe rested 61 of the protesters who were sleep by solidarity activists, high school stu massive anti-apartheid protests. building as students joined in with leaders ing in the huts. Many managed to get dents, and people who stopped by on their There have been 10 days of nonstop ac of campus anti-apartheid groups. They away . Many were brutalized. way to work. · tions and meetings involving thousands of pledged to keep up the campaign until the The university administration used the Brad Metzger, a Berkeley freshman high students and their supporters. UC system divests completely from South sham excuse that the shanties were a fire school student, summed up the feelings of The protests began on March 31 . On that Africa. hazard. It got a court injunction forbidding many, saying, "I'm aware of the conditions day more than 2,000 students gathered on Following the rally, hundreds of stu the students from reconstructing them. in South Africa, and wouldn't be able to the steps of Biko Hall on the UC Berkeley dents marched to the grounds outside the On April I and 2 hundreds of students sleep tonight if I dido 't participate." campus to relaunch the campaign to put an university chancellor's office where they rallied in protest. And on April 2, despite A large contingent of reporters from na the court order, the shanties went back up. tional and international press gathered to Throughout the night, ·500 protesters cover the event. A local radio station kept a vigil around the shanties to guard broadcast the day's events live. those who were sleeping in. At 9:00 a.m., university officials de Then early Thursday morning- April 3 · cided they would not try to open the build - the university administration made its ing for the time being and employees at move. Determined to prevent a replay of Winnie Mandela Hall were given the morn the extended anti-apartheid protests of last ing off with pay. spring, UC Chancellor Ira Heyman gave But at the same time, 175 cops were as the go-ahead for a full-scale police riot sembling. against the peaceful protesters. Student leaders presented a Jist of de Campus cops, joined by police from sev mands to Chancellor Heyman. These in eral adjoining cities, waded into the sym cluded a call on university officials to drop bolic shantytown. The cops arrested 91 all charges against the protesters, for full protesters and injured 29 people. divestment, for a campus ban on recruiters The campus was under virtual occupa for corporations that do business in South tion as more than 200 cops patrolled the Africa, for affirmative action goals ·in campus in full riot gear. academic programs, and for a meeting with Outraged by the.police attack, and deter University of California President David mined to press their cause, students held Gardner. meetings over the weekend to organize a Continued on Page 13 response. On Monday morning, April 7, more than I ,000 students rallied again at Biko Hall . Young Socialists hit One incident illustrates the fighting police attack on spirit at that rally. With the help of videotapes made by Berkeley protesters campus police at the earlier demonstra tions, the administration had identified The following statement was released some protesters who were not students at by Miesa Patterson, representing the the campus. These protesters were issued Oakland, California, chapter of the orders from the university banning them Young Socialist Alliance. Patterson is from the campus. also the Socialist Workers Party candi April 3 police attack on anti-apartheid protesters at University of California at Ber To loud cheers from the crowd, about a date for U.S. Congress from the eighth keley. Cops arrested 91 protesters and injured 29 that day. dozen people marched to the front of the congressional district, which includes rally where they burned their "banning or Oakland and Berkeley. ders." The students gave a warm welcome to a The Young Socialist Alliance strongly Weinberger, in Manila visit, representative of United Food and Com condemns the April 3 police riot against mercial Workers union Local P-9, anti-apartheid protesters at the University applauding their courageous strike against of California at Berkeley. stresses military assistance the Hormel meatpacking company in Au The violence and police repression used stin, Minnesota. Members of the American against these anti-apartheid fighters shows once and for all the complicity between the BY HARRY RING the armed forces participated in the meet- Indian Movement also addressed the tally. The three main anti-apartheid groups - University of California system, the U.S. Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger ing. . the United People of Color, the Campaign government, and imperialist corporations was in Manila April 7 as part of a five-na As it had with Marcos, Washington is with the brutal, racist apartheid regime. tion tour. In addition to the Philippines, his insisting that the military be whipped into Against Apartheid, and the UC Divestment Committee - issued a call for united ac These protesters are heroes fighting for itinerary included Japan, South Korea, shape to more effectively deal with the in justice. They do not deserve to be arrested Thailand, and Australia. His purpose was surgent New People's Army, which repor tion to take place the next day. The call asked students to come out on and brutalized, but should be honored for to tighten a U.S.-crafted Southeast Asian tedly controls up to 20 percent of the coun their commitment. It is University of anticommunist alliance, aimed im try. The Aquino government says it wants Tuesday, April 8, to shut down California Hall, the main administration building that California Chancellor Heyman, Ronald mediately at Vietnam and Kampuchea. to negotiate with the guerrillas if they lay Reagan, and the 200 cops who attacked the After he met with President Corazon down their arms. houses Chancellor Heyman's office. California Hall has been renamed Winnie peaceful protest who should be brought to Aquino, the press was told that they had A reported hundred demonstrators Mandel a Hall by the students. trial for aiding and abetting the murderers discussed the question of U.S. aid to the marched in front of the U.S. embassy dur in South Africa. Philippines. A spokesperson for Aquino ing the Weinberger visit, and others Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m., groups The repression on the Berkeley campus stressed that she had emphasized that the gathered at the presidential palace, shout of 40 to 50 students sat in at each of the this week is a direct attack on the demo country needs economic aid more than mil ing "Go home!" as the war secretary en building's four entrances, while others or cratic rights working people have fought itary assistance. tered and as he left. Filipinos have long op ganized a huge picket line that surrounded for and secured. In particular, it is an attack Weinberger said some economic aid had posed U.S. imperialist domination of their the building. · on the rights won by students at Berkeley been promised, but he emphasized, "I country. The mood was defiant. Students through the 1964 Free Speech movement, think that it's necessary to have some mil The day Weinberger was in Manila, chanted, demanding full divestment and an when students successfully challenged the itary assistance to continue with the reor Philippine Finance Minister Jaime Ongpin end to the U.S. war against Nicaragua. university's attempt to ban political activ ganization, strengthening, and moderniza was in Washington to plead for a speedup They sang protest songs and organized ity on the campus. Students have the right tion of the Philippine armed forces ;" in economic aid. "We are in an emergency their forces. to be involved in politics, to be heard, to To underline the point, his one-day visit situation," he declared. In response to the UC administration's organize, and to protest. included a meeting with Defense Minister Ongpin urged immediate release of $214 charges that the previous week's actions The Young Socialist Alliance joins in Juan .Enrile and Armed Forces Chief of million already earmarked for aid, as well had been instigated by "outside agitators" demanding, "U C -US A Out of South Staff Fidel Ramos. Members of a military as an added $100 million in supplementary many wore stickers saying, "I am an out Africa," "Drop all the charges," and "Get "reform" movement aimed at streamlining Continued on Page 16 side agitator." the cops off campus." 20 The Militant April 18, 1986