POLITICS Defend Palestinians; Build A Movement Against War Trump Provocations

Read more on the Middle East at Destabilize Middle East SocialistAlternative.org.

Tom Crean seeing Israel as a key bas- tion along with reactionary Recent weeks have seen the Arab regimes during the Cold Trump administration engage in a War. Among well known poli- series of provocations in the Middle ticians, Bernie Sanders was East which are escalating tension virtually alone in openly criti- in the region and could even con- cizing the Israeli state's mur- tribute to detonating a full scale derous policies in Gaza. conflict. This points to the need The Committee for a for working people in the U.S. Workers International – with and internationally to stand up to which Socialist Alternative in Trump's reckless moves and build the U.S. is in political solidar- a powerful movement against war ity – opposes all the reaction- and imperialism. ary capitalist regimes of the Middle East many of them Series of Provocations brutal dictatorships. We stand with working people On May 14, Ivanka Trump and like the courageous trade Jared Kushner represented the unionists in Iran and Egypt administration at the opening of who stand up for their rights the new U.S. embassy in Jerusalem and often face savage repres- in the city which Palestinians also sion. The working class is the claim as their capital. The move was Ivanka, Jared Kushner, and Netenyahu celebrate while Israeli forces shoot Palestinians. only force capable of ending seen as a triumph by the reaction- endless wars and communal clerical regime despite the massive ratcheting up the bellicose rhetoric it directly. But working people in ary Netenyahu regime on the very divisions. We are for the withdrawal social discontent in Iranian society. again. the U.S. have no stake in continu- day that Israeli forces massacred 60 of all imperialist forces. It is also a slap in the face to Euro- While it seems hard to imagine ing imperialist policies based on Palestinian protesters at the border We stand in solidarity with the pean “allies.” By trying to blow up a how the reactionary Trump regime maintaining control of oil and other between Israel and the Gaza strip Palestinian people who demand an treaty the U.S. helped craft Trump could turn to the right, he has aban- resources which entail the mas- while shooting nearly three thousand end to occupation and for the real- shows how little interest he has in doned his isolationist rhetoric from sive costs of the military industrial more. Rubbing salt into the wounds ization of their legitimate national maintaining the postwar architec- the 2016 campaign – when he complex, terrorist blowback, and the the administration echoed the Israe- aspirations. But we also recognize ture of “international relations.” criticized the Iraq war and talked enormous suffering that these poli- lis in blaming the Palestinians for the national rights of the Israeli Trump's moves against Iran about getting out of Afghanistan – in cies have caused to people around the massacre. people. We do not see the Israeli are enormously destabilizing and favor of an aggressive reassertion of the world. These policies serve the This follows Trump's order to population as one reactionary mass point toward a regional war with imperialist interests. interests of corporate profits not the bomb targets in Syria in April in but as a class-divided society. As the U.S., Israel, and Saudi Arabia Trump's posture is also clearly an interests of ordinary people. response to an alleged chemical a recent statement from the CWI arrayed against Iran, with the back- attempt to distract from the crises weapons attack by the Assad regime pointed out: ing of Russia and perhaps China. encircling the administration. It on a community near Damascus. A Socialist Solution “It is a class society like others The Syrian as well as Yemen wars is a classic move by dictatorial or The real purpose of the U.S. raid across the globe with one of the already have had elements of proxy would-be dictatorial regimes to dis- People looking for a sharp oppo- though was to assert U.S. imperi- worst gaps between rich and poor conflict between these alliances. tract from problems by threatening sition to Trump's policies from the alism's interests as Assad and his – a small number of “tycoon” fami- Recently Israel bombed a series of a “small war.” In the tinderbox that leadership of the Democratic Party Russian and Iranian allies increas- lies at the top control the economy. positions inside Syria targeting Ira- is the Middle East today, this is a will be very disappointed. While ingly have the upper in the Syrian Israeli workers are regularly forced nian forces fighting on Assad's side. very dangerous game. On top of this, they defend the Iran deal crafted civil war. into struggle.” Trump's utterly uncritical support by Obama and John Kerry, they But by far the most consequen- On the basis of capitalism there for the Israeli regime are linked to have supported Trump's bombing tial step taken by Trump is to pull Shift to the Right is no way forward except more wars. his political alliance with the Chris- of Syria. The Democrats also advo- out of the Iran nuclear accord that That is why we call for two socialist It is very consequential that tian right in the U.S. Prominent cate an even more aggressive pos- also included key European nations states in Israel and Palestine where Trump has replaced his secretary of evangelical pastors who see sup- ture towards Russia. At every stage, as well as Russia and China. Trump working people can come together state and national security adviser port for Israel in apocalyptic theo- even if they seem more rational than and Netanyahu assert that the to work out their differences as part with the superhawks Mike Pompeo logical terms spoke at the Jerusalem Trump, they base their position on Iranian regime was still pursuing of a socialist confederation of the and John Bolton. As part of the embassy opening. the interests of corporate America nuclear weapons but almost all region. Bush administration, Bolton was In reality, despite all the bluster, not those of working people. credible experts agree that the deal Internationally and in the U.S. one of the most fiercely committed the position of the U.S. has been And although not a single was achieving its stated purpose of there is growing criticism of Israeli to the Iraq war and also called for enormously weakened globally and Democratic politician attended the preventing Iran from moving rapidly policies especially among young bombing Iran. Since coming on the in the Middle East in the past 15 embassy opening in Jerusalem, in that direction. people. Before Trump and his allies job, he has advocated the “Lybian years with the catastrophic Iraq Senator Chuck Schumer supported Trump's threat to re-impose drag the region into a new and pos- solution” for North Korea's nuclear war, the never-ending occupation the move saying “I sponsored legis- sanctions on Iran and on companies sibly much more devastating war, program, clearly implying regime of Afghanistan, and the increasing lation to do this two decades ago, that do business in Iran is clearly we must turn the solidarity with change. As we go to press, Trump assertiveness of Russian and Chi- and I applaud President Trump for aimed at forcing “regime change” the Palestinian people into a mass has announced he is cancelling his nese imperialism. Trump's ascen- doing it.” Historically, the Demo- in Iran. But in the short term it will movement against war and imperi- much-hyped summit with Kim Jong- dancy is both a reflection of this crats have been the more pro-Israel probably rally support behind the alism. J un as the administration started decline and now contributes to party based on U.S. imperialism

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 3 POLITICS Socialist Candidates Win PA Primaries Movement in the Streets Needed to Fight for Pro-Worker Policies

Jim Grant taking their seats in the legislature, the full to pay for affordable hous- weight of the Democratic establishment will ing. Such a fight will meet In a rebuke to the agenda of the corporate- be brought to bear with its intense pressures stiff resistance at every step controlled Democratic Party establishment, to adapt to what it finds suitable. To fight from the Democratic Party four progressive state representative candi- this, it is necessary to link holding office to leadership. The experience dates in Pennsylvania, all women, won pri- building movements in working class commu- of Kshama Sawant as an mary elections on May 15. Most of them will nities free of corporate control. independent socialist in almost certainly go on to win in November. Seattle using her position The fact that they won by double digits on Democratic Costa Dynasty to help win important gains similar platforms of Medicare for All, a $15 Defeated for working people and the an hour minimum wage, affordable housing, experience of Bernie’s sand- and ending mass incarceration shows that a Innamorato and Lee both defeated mem- bagging by the DNC in 2016 bold progressive program – along the lines bers of the Costa dynasty, the cousins Dom point toward the necessity of of Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016 – reso- and Paul Costa, who represent the most forming a new party by and nates among wide sections of working-class regressive wing of the corporate Democratic for working people. people. machine. While Innamorato and Lee ran a Significantly, all four of the candidates grassroots campaign that took no corporate Running As Open were endorsed by the Democratic Social- cash, the Costsas, like most Democratic poli- Socialists ists of America (DSA). Three of the candi- ticians, received big business donations from dates, Elizabeth Fiedler, Sara Innamorato, the likes of the health care giant Highmark, Throughout the cam- and Summer Lee, are also members of business associations, and Verizon. paign, DSA and their can- DSA, whose membership has exploded to The DSA campaigns in Pittsburgh engaged didates found themselves over 35,000 in the past year and a half. a large number of workers and young people, subjected to red-baiting and DSA played a particularly critical role in the amassing an energetic army of volunteers and other attacks in the media Pittsburgh-area campaigns for DSA members door-knockers. The campaigns also contrib- and elsewhere. We defend Sara Innamorato and Summer Lee, where the uted to an excited political mood in the city, DSA against these attacks, chapter now has over 500 members and a which was expressed in much higher turnout and it is very significant that string of electoral successes over the past than is typical for a primary election, as well these were openly socialist Sarah Innamorato and Summer Lee at the Pittsburgh Women’s March. year behind them. as a buzz and increased interest in socialism. campaigns by DSA members of us to build a fundamentally new political Socialist Alternative is excited by these The Costas may now be gone, but the and heavily supported by the organization. force, in our view, a new left party based campaigns and the impact they have had on Democratic Party establishment which they However, while the socialist affiliation was on a pro-working class program, that is politics in Pennsylvania, which will now have represent and are supported by are still alive never hidden and they did not reject the label, fully equipped to fight the right and corpo- socialists in its state legislature for the first and well and have the Democratic Party it was rarely emphasized either. Mailers from rate domination over society. Running five to time in many decades, and we congratulate apparatus at their disposal at every level of Innamorato, for instance, didn’t list endorse- ten independent socialist campaigns around DSA on their impressive work. Going forward, government. DSA and their candidates will ments from DSA among the other progres- the country would be a big step forward in it is important to be sober about the fact need to use their new platform, organizing sive organizations despite DSA being a core this direction. But winning real victories will that Harrisburg, the state capital, is hostile experience, and activist base to fight back component of the campaign. Bernie Sanders require a mass movement in our communi- territory for working class people. Both the against this and build a powerful working- and Kshama Sawant show that being an open ties and workplaces that goes beyond the Republican and Democratic parties are domi- class movement around a fighting program for socialist is not a barrier to popular appeal – ballot box with protests, nonviolent direct nated by big business donors who will fight single payer and a $15 minimum wage state- this is the best defense against red baiting. action, and strikes. J tooth and nail to defend their interests Upon wide in Pennsylvania and taxing big business There are now huge opportunities in front Races Show Potential for Independent Left Ginger Jentzen whether it makes more sense to run inside announcment that he was leaving the Demo- defecting from the Democratic Party to chal- the Democratic Party or as an independent? cratic Party and would continue running for lenge a powerful party insider is a very excit- The midterm elections are being framed We in Socialist Alternative are sympathetic congress in Florida as an independent, chal- ing development in the ongoing debate about by many as either a fight for or against the to those who want to fight Trump and the lenging the notorious Debbie Wasserman- building a party to the left of the Democrats Trump administration. The Democratic right wing within the Democratic Party, but Schultz. Wasserman-Schultz was catapulted that fights for Medicare for All, ending for- establishment however continues to fight for Bernie’s treatment in 2016, plus the accom- into the national spotlight in the 2016 Demo- profit prisons, and taxing the rich. something right in the middle, shunning and plishments of Kshama Sawant in building cratic Party Primaries when she was exposed even trying to force out more progressive can- movements that win change in Seattle, show for helping to rig the primary in favor of Hill- Gayle McLauglin and the didates (although progressives in a number that working people need independent candi- ary Clinton over Bernie Sanders. Richmond Progressive Alliance of states won primaries). The GOP hopes to dates as a step toward a new party of working Like Sanders, Canova often cites Was- maintain its majority but struggles to keep people. Two independent campaigns worth serman-Schultz’s insidious financial backing The most advanced local coalition for control over their Trump-like candidates paying attention to are those of Tim Canova from big pharmaceutical corporations and independent politics in the country is the across the country who, like Trump, can be in Florida and Gayle McLaughlin in California. payday lenders. In a three-way race going Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) in unpredictable. into the general election, Canova’s run in California. Gayle McLaughlin, former RPA The question that is beginning to be posed Tim Canova - Florida South Florida is a long-shot and unfortu- mayor of Richmond, is campaigning for more broadly for those of us on the left is nately his program falls short of Sanders’. But In April, Tim Canova made a bold continued on p. 5

4 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 POLITICS New York Cynthia Nixon Challenges Establishment Democrats

Cora Bergantiños framework of the Democrats, whose pri- maries and structures are rigged for the For the second election cycle in a row, establishment. A key question is what will Andrew Cuomo, the powerful governor of Nixon do if she is defeated in the primary? New York, is facing a left challenger in the Will she capitulate and support Cuomo, Democratic Party primary; this time his oppo- thereby demobilizing the momentum behind nent is the famous actor from Sex in the City, her insurgent challenge? Or will she seize a Cynthia Nixon. unique opportunity to continue her campaign Nixon has used her celebrity status for all the way to the November general election over a decade to fight for progressive causes, when more people will be paying attention? particularly defending public education. Now she is running an insurgent, left populist Run Until November campaign against the “centrist” politics and “bullying” methods of Cuomo and the Demo- Under New York’s “fusion” election law, if cratic Party leadership. Instead, she calls for she loses the primary, she could still legally “a New York for the many, not just the few.” appear on the November ballot as a WFP Like Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential candidate. The WFP, who endorsed Cuomo campaign, she rejects corporate campaign in 2014, will need 50,000 votes in the gen- donations and advocates for pro-worker poli- eral election to maintain its ballot line. That means either Nixon runs, or they capitulate to cies like fully funded public schools, an end Cynthia Nixon speaking at a rally for LGBTQ rights. to the school to prison pipeline, and taking Cuomo. We urge them to not be blocked by the primary and to continue running through on real estate developers and landlords. She When three prominent member organiza- the potential to be a launching pad for an the general election to build a stronger move- regularly talks about racism and inequality, tions of the WFP – Make the Road, New York even stronger challenge to corporate estab- ment independent of corporate cash. and supports a DREAM Act along with an Communities for Change, and Citizen Action lishment politics in the years ahead. Unfortunately, Nixon and the WFP won’t end to the over-policing of communities of – endorsed Nixon, Cuomo made a chilling commit to this. Meanwhile the WFP has a color. threat: "If unions or anyone give money to any How Do We Win Real Change? long record of endorsing establishment can- Her campaign has attracted support from of these groups, they can lose my number.” didates, including Cuomo twice. In Queens, several progressive groups including Our Cuomo’s political bullying contributed to a The main limitation toward a real chal- they have endorsed corporate Democrat Rep. Revolution and the Working Families Party split in the WFP, with one section defiantly lenge to the corporate establishment is the Joe Crowley against a primary challenge from (WFP), along with ire from the establish- endorsing Nixon, while key unions including lack of a clear strategy about how to most Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of the ment. Former New York City councilmember the CWA, SEIU 1199, and AFSCME 32BJ effectively win the bold policies her cam- Democratic Socialist of America. The WFP Christine Quinn called Nixon “an unqualified left the party to start a new ballot line and paign advocates. What Nixon puts for- should stop endorsing any candidates who lesbian” (Quinn and Nixon both identify as endorse Cuomo. ward is a flawed populist idea that electing accept corporate cash, and transform itself LGBTQ) and the corporate media has labeled The governor is not so much worried that “better” Democrats could win all her poli- into a vibrant membership-run organization her “divisive”. It should be no surprise that he will lose the election to Nixon. The most cies. Undoubtedly, elections right now offer that puts forward its own independent work- Hillary Clinton has endorsed Cuomo – so recent poll from Quinnipiac College gives opportunities to elect more left-wing repre- ing-class candidates and energetically builds much for electing more women! Cuomo a comfortable 50 to 28 percent lead sentatives. But elections also have inherent struggles on housing, jobs, education and among registered Democrats and he has a limitations. Taking on the power of the billion- health care. $30 million campaign chest. He’s more wor- aire class – who have enormous control over Cuomo on the Defensive For Nixon to make the strongest impact ried that NIxon can do serious damage to his the economy in addition to almost unlimited for progressive change in 2018, she must be There are many indications that Nixon’s so-called credentials as a progressive ahead political resources – requires a real struggle prepared to break with the Democratic Party campaign has Cuomo somewhat worried. of a potential bid for president in 2020. at the grassroots involving millions of people. establishment entirely, and to build a genu- While his first public response was to dismiss Even if Nixon doesn’t win, she is shak- Such efforts by working people will inevitably inely independent political movement with a her as part of what he called, “the season of ing up New York politics, stirring important come up against the corporate interests that perspective that a new, completely indepen- silly,” behind the scenes he’s been using his debates, and sharpening opposition to the dominate the Democratic Party. dent left party is both needed and possible. large patronage network to browbeat and line corporate leadership of the Democratic Party. Nixon’s campaign, by rejecting corpo- J up his support. With the right approach, her campaign has rate cash, points beyond the pro-corporate

Independent Candidates continued from p. 4 lieutenant governor . The RPA organized a advance independent politics. round, McLaughlin’s campaign as well as the record breaking profits. Our Revolution and massive fightback against Chevron’s domi- McLaughlin has the backing of DSA and new progressive alliances in several cities are the DSA have energized thousands across nance of Richmond, raised the minimum Our Revolution, and is running against a helping lay the ground a for a viable Califor- the country and internally continue to debate wage, and fought to expand rent control while who’s who of the Democratic Party establish- nia-wide party to the left of the Democrats. their ability to pull the Democratic Party to McLaughlin served as mayor. McLaughlin has ment, all of whom are funded by corporate As the energy behind the recent strike the left. McLaughlin, Canova and others’ extended a call for organizing progressive alli- developers and big business interests. In wave in “red states” across the south shows, independent challenge can play a valuable ances across California based on rejecting California’s non-partisan primary elections, there is a real discussion happening nationally role in this debate by offering a viable left corporate money, advancing Medicare for All, McLaughlin must come in the top two in around what political force would be needed alternative, connected to advancing grass- repealing the Costa-Hawkins law that limits the June 5 primary or she will be knocked to combat the corporatization of public edu- roots movements and to continue a political rent control, taxing the rich and oil corpora- out. While a fierce battle would have to be cation, attacks on union rights, and Trump’s revolution against the billionaire class. J tions, and to build a statewide coalition to waged in order for her to make it to the next massive tax cuts while big corporations make

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 5 Passes in Seattle TAX And the Billionaire Class Fights Back

Meanwhile the Movement to Tax Big Business Spreads to Other Cities Calvin Priest and Keely Mullen

On May 14, the Seattle City Council passed a historic tax on Amazon and other big cor- porations to fund permanently-affordable, publicly-owned housing, under the leadership of Socialist Alternative, Democratic Socialists of America, and socialist City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. The final bill, a $48 million annual tax on the biggest 3% of corporations in Seattle, was the end result of a powerful campaign by hous- ing activists and socialists over the last nine months. What we won, even though it was substantially reduced under big business pres- sure and Amazon’s extortionary threat to take away jobs, is nonetheless a major victory and inspiring example for workers around the coun- try – especially as it comes alongside Trump’s corporate tax cuts and as Amazon demands handouts from cities around the country com- peting for HQ2. of its modest size relative to the enormous coverage of our #TaxAmazon victory has we will need to not only play defense, but also profits they’re making off the backs of Seattle exceeded that of our historic victory on the put forward bold, offensive, fighting demands. workers. This is in part because our move- $15 minimum wage, with major stories in big We are calling not only to defend the Amazon Big Business and the Right Wing ment’s victory bucks the overwhelming trend national and international publications and Tax, but to extend it to a larger tax in this fall’s Fight Back over the past decades of growing inequality: broadcast media. budget battle; to prevent any of the spending Within days of the passage of the #TaxAm- the slashing of taxes on big business and the going to homeless sweeps; and to make this azon ordinance, big-business-funded groups rich, and the ongoing shifting of the tax burden Defending our #TaxAmazon victory a first step toward a massive expansion launched a ballot referendum to repeal it, rais- to working people. These are central tenets of Victory of permanently-affordable, publicly-owned ing already more than $350,000. In addition the neoliberal policy consensus and have been social housing in Seattle that can provide to paid signature gatherers, big business is embraced by Republican and Democratic We need to have a sober assessment of the an alternative to the broken private housing being assisted by conservative NIMBY groups leaders alike. The #TaxAmazon struggle points political terrain in the referendum fight. While market. like Speak Out Seattle, who regularly employ in an entirely different direction. Rather than there is broad general support among working We will also crucially need to politically anti-homeless and right wing arguments, as just defending against the endless attacks people for taxing big business, there is also defeat the referendum on doorsteps and side- well as by far right forces like Patriot Prayer, on workers’ living standards, working people genuine concern about Amazon’s threat to take walks across the city and in the media. We whose local political candidate, Joey Gibson, in Seattle turned the tables on the billionaire away jobs as well as considerable confusion won the $15 minimum wage by organizing announced his support for the referendum. class to score a major offensive victory! stirred up by the dishonest arguments in the rallies and marches and mass meetings, but Financial backers of the anti-Amazon-tax ref- As with the $15 minimum wage, opposition corporate media. This takes place alongside also because we answered all the big business erendum read like a who’s who of big business to the Amazon Tax has been fueled by distor- what is on trajectory to become a multi-million political arguments and won 74% of working and the super rich in the wider Seattle region, tions. In talking to signature gatherers, Social- dollar effort to overturn the tax. While big busi- people to support $15/hr. with Amazon, Starbucks, multi-billionaire Paul ist Alternative members have heard outright ness needs a substantial 17,632 valid signa- Allen’s Vulcan mega-development company, lies like the claim that the tax had already gone tures in less than a month’s time, we should Amazon’s Extortion and and wealthy developer Howard S. Wright III into effect and that Safeway (a local grocery recognize they are most likely to succeed in Capitalism’s Race to the Bottom (whose family owns the Space Needle) putting chain) was already closing two stores. putting it on the ballot, given the enormous up some of the largest contributions. If enough signatures are gathered by the wealth and clout of their backers and a grow- In the weeks leading up to the final vote, Labor unions, spearheaded by Working mid-June deadline, and the referendum is ing army of paid signature gatherers. Amazon sent a brazen threat to Seattle work- Washington, and joined by housing activists not legally overturned due to the campaign’s To defeat the referendum effort by Novem- ers, promising to halt construction of its new as well as Socialist Alternative, are waging a dishonest methods, then the run up to the ber, our movement will need a strong united office tower in Seattle if this tax was passed, “Decline to Sign” campaign in order to try to November vote will almost certainly be an front of the left and labor movement to wage and in so doing holding over 7,000 construc- defeat the referendum before it gets on the all out, epic battle between workers and the the strongest possible grassroots campaign. tion jobs hostage! ballot. billionaire class with the eyes of millions of Our central task will be to activate broad sec- We should recognize that it was in no Big business is enraged by the tax in spite working people watching. Already the media tions of working people and youth. To succeed, way financially necessary for Amazon to halt

6 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 Passes in Seattle And the Billionaire Class Fights Back

construction on this project part-way through. issue on the table last fall when we protested big business. Amazon fought Amazon’s share of the tax ($11 million annu- and occupied City Hall overnight and brought viciously against this tax in its ally) is mere pocket change to Jeff Bezos, the our fight for affordable housing and home- entirety but we have nonethe- richest man on earth, and the tax doesn’t even less services into the November City Council less wrested tens of millions come close to making a dent in the massive budget hearings. The original big business tax from CEO Jeff Bezos’ hands to profits Amazon makes in Seattle. Their threat proposal, introduced by Kshama Sawant, was fund affordable housing. was instead a shameful act of intimidation by ultimately voted down by a majority of Demo- There were many debates the billionaire class and a blatant attempt to cratic politicians. In the six months following, over the course of the strug- divide Seattle workers. our movement continuously escalated the gle. Left Democrats and some Yet by halting construction of the tower they struggle with rallies, marches, a #TaxAmazon liberal leaders were initially did succeed in creating real fear about job Town Hall, and again and again packing City strongly opposed to calling the losses, including mobilizing ironworkers and Council chambers to bring maximum pres- proposal an “Amazon Tax” or other construction workers who are understand- sure to bear on the political establishment. We even talking about Amazon. movements. ably concerned about the potential impact on won because we were ultimately successful in This would have been a huge mistake – big their livelihoods. Nonetheless a large number making it politically unviable for city council- business wanted to make the tax about iconic of the biggest unions in Seattle support the members to not pass the precedent-setting local businesses like Dick’s Drive In, and it We are Ready to Fight! Another tax, including the MLK Labor Council, all SEIU tax. was our job to keep the focus on the massive World is Possible locals, and UFCW. Even in the final week before the vote, big profits of the second wealthiest corporation The victory our movement has won in Under capitalism, such threats are all too business and their purchased politicians like in the world. It was the focus on Amazon that Seattle has the potential to spread around the common, but even when workers bend to them Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan furi- catapulted our struggle into national media, country, and in fact it has already begun to do there are no guarantees of stopping job losses. ously worked to water down the legislation. making it a signature issue that city council- so. A discussion of a “Google Tax” and taxes This was shown again and again with Boeing Mayor Durkan put forward a counter proposal, members knew would be politically costly to on Big Tech is taking off in California, including in Seattle, where in spite of record breaking dubbed by housing activists as the Bezos-Dur- oppose. San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Mountain View, corporate handouts, jobs have been moved out kan deal (after Amazon CEO Bezos and Mayor Another debate took place over the question Cupertino and East Palo Alto. Meanwhile, of the area anyway, in search of more exploit- Durkan) that cut the proposed $75 million tax of whether we should accept the cutting of our corporate media and political establishments able workers elsewhere. Many such threats are nearly in half to $40 million a year (after it was movement’s demand in half from $150 million around the country are trying to get out ahead also empty ones – during the Fight for $15, previously cut in half from $150 million to $75 to $75 million. Socialist Alternative argued that and proactively discourage any such develop- predictions of job losses were made repeat- million). It added other corporate loopholes $150 million was just the beginning of what ments in their cities. edly as well as that the Seattle economy would such as a “sunset clause” to require a renewal was needed to address the affordable hous- As with the $15 minimum wage, one of the collapse. While any given threat by big busi- of the tax in five years, and a redirecting of ing and homelessness crisis, and that it was most important ways to defend our victory is ness could be carried through, we cannot allow the majority of funding to temporary services – pocket change to Amazon, a claim that was to spread the movement. If the $15 minimum ourselves to be held hostage by their bullying. which will include inhumane homeless sweeps ironically confirmed by the Chamber of Com- wage we won in 2014 had remain isolated in In the case of our current struggle, after our – rather than building permanently affordable merce’s own study that said we need to spend Seattle, it would likely have been overturned movement stood up to Amazon, they ultimately housing. an additional $164 to $214 million a year to or seriously compromised in the years follow- resumed construction of their tower. As with the $15 minimum wage, what remedy the affordable housing crisis. ing. Every gain by workers against the bosses As socialists, we are not naive about Ama- we were able to finally win was based on We said that the movement should keep is continually under assault and we must orga- zon’s enormous power or the number of jobs the strength of our movement, our ability to fighting for the $150 million demand rather nize to defend and extend those gains. As it holds sway over, but we completely reject continue to mobilize broad public support than negotiating with ourselves by cutting the Kshama Sawant said in her speech after the capitalism’s race to the bottom which seeks to and to politically defeat the arguments of demand in half. While left Democrats and lib- final vote on the Amazon Tax, referencing the pit housing against jobs, city against city, and eral leaders argued that if we accepted $75 bill’s “sunset clause” loophole: “Capitalism worker against worker. Jeff Bezos’ wealth sits million that would be the basis of a united inherently puts a ‘sunset clause’ on any reform on top of the shoulders of tens of thousands proposal acceptable to all, we argued that big that we succeed in winning.” of Amazon employees, and it’s those employ- business would remain fiercely opposed to the We must continue the struggle. This ees who make the company run and create tax in its entirety, and that $75 million would system is incapable of providing quality afford- its wealth. Rather than giving in to corporate in no way be supported by Amazon. We pre- able housing for all, and we need to fight for extortion, we should take big corporations like dicted it would be only the first concession, an alternative to the broken private housing Amazon into democratic public ownership and and that the political establishment would hap- market. Just to begin to seriously address the workers should run them instead. Trendsetting pily take it and then argue to cut the number housing crisis, we need rent control and a mas- victories by socialists like the Amazon Tax or even further, as well as insert various corporate sive expansion of tens of thousands of units passage of a $15 minimum wage are critical loopholes. of publicly-owned and operated social housing first steps, but our movements cannot stop This, of course, is what ultimately hap- which is not susceptible to the whims of the there. pened. Socialist Alternative fought till the final market. hour against every loophole introduced and And we must fight not only for immediate Lessons of the #TaxAmazon every attempt to undermine the #Amazon- gains in the present, but for an alternative to Struggle Tax, though we also recognize the final result the bankrupt system of capitalism. We need for what it is – a historic victory for social to unite our struggles – to tax Amazon and big We should be crystal clear: the driving force movements. business, for a $15 minimum wage, to strike behind this victory was the #TaxAmazon move- Debates like these will be ongoing in social for fully funded education, to end police bru- ment and ordinary working people, not the movements, and they play a vital role in help- tality and mass incarceration – to fight for a Democratic politicians who ultimately voted for ing clarify the best tactics and strategies. different kind of society, based on solidarity, the final bill. We should continue to discuss and take on equality, and genuine democracy. We have a Housing activists and socialists first put this board the lessons of this struggle into future world to win.J

SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 7 HISTORY Socialist Moments in History 200th Anniversary of Karl Marx’s Birth

Peter Taaffe, General Marx did not advance any idea that the work- Secretary of the Socialist ing class would become continuously ever- Party of England and Wales more impoverished, particularly in the sim- plistic and therefore erroneous way in which The 200th anniversary of the birth of the his critics presented it. He was well aware great Karl Marx was on May 5. Marx, together that there were periods when the working with Friedrich Engels, formulated the ideas of class was able to extract concessions, and scientific socialism which were to shake the important ones, from the capitalists. world in the 19th century and even more so Even in these periods, superficial appear- in the 20th. ances disguise the fact that often the work- The Russian revolution of October 1917 ing class’ share of national income actually stood under the signboard of Marx’s ideas. declines. In other words, there is a relative The Russian Bolshevik party – the greatest decline of the working masses’ standards of and most effective democratic mass party living. in history – under the leadership of Lenin Furthermore, with the return of general- and Trotsky, led the workers and peasants of ized malnutrition has not “increasing misery” Russia in the “ten days that shook the world.” become a reality in the modern world? A wave of revolutions resulted from the Following the onset of the crisis, the example of the Russian revolution, particu- real living standards of the working class, larly in Europe. These revolutions had a pro- not just in the neocolonial world but in the found effect on the U.S. and provoked mass U.S., Europe, and Japan have stagnated and upheavals and revolutions in Asia. Marx and Engels in Germany during the 1848 revolution. declined. For this alone, the birth of Marx deserves argue that Marxism and its associated idea slump that was not evident at the time that Moreover, the “inequality gap” – the to be celebrated worldwide. Instead, there is of socialism and the planned democratic these remarks were made by supporters of massive abyss between rich and poor – has a constant distortion by most of the pro-capi- economy were buried under the rubble of the the system in the early 1990s. We wrote: “A grown exponentially everywhere. As the Inde- talist commentators of the real ideas of Marx. Berlin Wall. serious recession or slump would inevitably pendent points out: “Just nine of the world’s The collapse of the Stalinist regimes in result in the introduction of protectionist richest men have more combined wealth Scientific Socialism eastern Europe, and with them their planned measures by the different national capital- than the poorest 4 billion people.” economies, albeit managed bureaucratically, ists.” Is this not what the tendency has been There are currently over 1,500 billionaires Marxism – scientific socialism – repre- resulted in unbridled capitalist triumphalism. in the aftermath of the devastating world eco- in the world, with more than 560 in the U.S. sented the highest level of thought within Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, on nomic crisis of 2007-08? alone. China, Germany and India each have society at the time when Marx formulated behalf of the capitalists, boasted “the lesson In the 19th century, when Marx was writ- 100 or more billionaires. These are the “Mas- his ideas in the middle of the 19th century. of the 1980s is that socialism has failed.” ing, capitalism was still playing a relatively ters of the Universe” who hold the fate of It combined German philosophy with British The former USSR plunged into an eco- progressive role in taking society forward, humankind in their hands, as Karl Marx bril- political economy and French socialism. nomic abyss, which exceeded the collapse in economically at least. However, it became liantly predicted. But not even Marx thought Marx and Engels rescued “dialectics” – the U.S. following the 1929-33 slump. But it absolutely reactionary only with the onset of the concentration of wealth would be taken to the method of thought which seeks to under- wasn’t long before even the capitalists them- the World War I, which was an expression of such an extent as it has. stand the all-sided character of phenomena selves began to ponder the contradictions of the fact that the productive forces had out- He believed that long before we reached – by refuting the German philosopher Georg their own system. grown the narrow limits of the nation state. this situation, the working class would have Hegel’s idealism. They “turned Hegel upside One of them, John Cassidy, delved into It is true that capitalism subsequently taken power and capitalism would have been down” and put him “from standing on his Marx’s writings. His comments, made in the experienced spectacular structural growth replaced by socialism. Glaring inequality, head firmly back on his feet.” mid-1990s, were very revealing: “The longer from 1950 to 1973. But this was a unique matched by terrible and worsening worldwide Hegel viewed the evolution of nature, I spend on Wall Street, the more convinced I and special development, largely determined poverty, let alone a world scarred by unend- humankind, and social relations as based am that Marx was right.” Mark Carney, gov- by the destruction caused by World War II ing war, would have been a thing of the past. on the development of ideas. But Marx and ernor of the Bank of England, recently made and the opening of new markets to world The fact that this did not happen is Engels argued that ideas and consciousness the same point, saying that the automation capitalism. entirely down to the failure of the leadership are expressions of material forces, which are of millions of jobs could lead to mass unem- However, that period was followed by a of the official labor movement who again and the driving impulse of history. ployment, wage stagnation, and the growth depressionary phase in which booms like that again remained within the framework of a It was Marx and Engels who first argued of communism within a generation. He of the 1980s were lopsided, and the relative rotten system, rather than mobilizing working that the economy is the ultimate determinant warned “Marx and Engels may again become position of the working class declined, as did people, as Marx advocated, in a mass move- of the “political superstructure,” the state, relevant.” the living standards of the peoples of Africa, ment to establish a socialist world. politics, etc. Cassidy went on to confess that Marx Latin America, and large parts of Asia. When Marx died and was buried in High- But this did not mean that Marx had a “wrote riveting passages about globalization, However, even this scenario – which gate Cemetery with just eleven people pres- crude determinist position. On the contrary, inequality, political corruption, monopoliza- allowed working people to get a few crumbs ent at his funeral, his great friend and collab- he and Engels analyzed how the state both tion, technical progress, the decline of high off the very rich table of capitalism – came orator Friedrich Engels declared: “His name had an effect on and is, in turn, affected by culture, and the enervating nature of modern shuddering to a halt with the onset of the will live on forever.” So it will, particularly if the development of economic processes. existence – issues that economists are now devastating crisis of 2007-08. we follow his ideas and realize the goals he confronting anew, sometimes without realiz- stood for of a socialist confederation of the Marx Was Right ing that they are walking in Marx’s footsteps.” Capitalism Increases Misery? world. J Capitalist commentators, while some- What to Learn From Marx’s Methods One of the alleged “myths” of Marx was times conceding a certain historic relevance Using Marx’s methods, we were able to the so-called “theory of increasing misery.” of Marx and Engels, in their legions rushed to predict the inevitability of a recession or

8 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 INTERNATIONAL Mexican Elections – Historic Opportunity to Defeat the Oligarchs Voting Is Not Enough, Build from Below for Real Change

This article is based on reports from Izqui- Building A Mass Movement erda Revolucionaria (Revolutionary Left) part of the Committee for a Workers International Izquierda Revolucionaria fully supports the with which Socialist Alternative is in political movement to defeat the capitalist establish- solidarity. ment. But it is also necessary to warn that Lopez Obrador’s moves toward class concili- 2018 is shaping up to be a transforma- ation is a recipe to frustrate the expectations tive year for Mexico. The July elections are of the Mexican people. Once again, historical taking place against a background of eco- experience in Latin America (Bolivia, Ven- nomic stagnation, mounting poverty, inequal- ezuela, Ecuador, Argentina etc) or in Europe ity and violence. There is mounting wave of (Greece most recently), shows that capitalism anger and disapproval of the traditional par- “with a human face” has not solved the seri- ties of the establishment (the PRI and PAN) ous problems that the working class suffers, among young people and broad sections of nor has it eliminated the logic of exploitation the masses. For the first time in the history and poverty created by the system. Lopez of Mexico, there is the possibility of a govern- Obrador has already announced that he will ment of the Left. not undertake any radical steps like national- This is taking place against the back- ization of big monopolies or stopping privati- ground of instability in the world economy, zations and cuts. If elected this will put him the return of economic nationalism and in conflict with the aspirations of his social authoritarianism, social and political polar- Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the head of MORENA, is running for president of Mexico. and electoral base. ization, and erosion of the legitimacy of the Izquierda Revolucionaria (CWI) points institutions of bourgeois democracy across capitalism: seven women are murdered every young people, see the possibility of defeating out that voting and waiting for a candidate the globe. day and this number continues to increase. the PRI government. Izquierda Revoluciona- to pass laws that improve our situation, no The increasing mobilizations of the women’s ria supports the struggle to defeat the right matter how honest the politician is not suf- Economic Stagnation movement reflects the degree of radicaliza- wing and the establishment parties in these ficient. In order to face the crisis of Mexican tion that is taking place especially among elections. capitalism, we need a working class socialist The Mexican economy has grown between young people. MORENA, however, is a cauldron of inter- program, and to rely on the power of workers 2.0 and 2.5% over the past decade and the One of the most outstanding struggles of nal conflicts and contradictions. On the one and young people as the only force that can outlook for 2018, according to the IMF, is the last period was in Mexicali, where the side there is a reformist and bureaucratic implement social transformation. for GDP to grow only 1.9%. The “structural inhabitants of that region mobilized in what leadership that leans more and more in the The electoral campaign so far has shown reforms,” far from increasing investment, became known as "the war of water", against direction of the ruling class and is not will- that the bourgeoisie is not only unwilling to growth and jobs as they were supposed to the US brewer Constellation Brands. The ing to break with the logic of capitalism. On make any concessions, but instead is launch- have actually led to stagnation. The working struggle managed to prevent the construction the other, there is the radicalized social and ing a huge smear campaign against Lopez class and the most impoverished sections of of the brewery. electoral base of MORENA (mainly workers Obrador, while once against preparing the society have seen the price of fuel and other Most of these mobilizations have had a and peasants) who do not forget the electoral ground for large scale fraud and even repres- necessities increase while wages stagnated semi-spontaneous character, and have been fraud and stolen elections in 2006 and 2012 sion. In reality, they are playing with fire. Any or decreased. based on self-organization, going beyond the and want to turn the party into an instrument attempt to repeat the electoral fraud that The political situation is one of polar- traditional organizations of the working class of their struggle and defeat the ruling elite. stole the election from Lopez Obrador in ization, instability and volatility. The work- and the left. The big independent unions, like Despite the struggles that have taken place 2006 could open the door to an uncontrol- ing class has faced continuous attacks by the National Union of Workers (UNT), as well across Mexico, Lopez Obrador has not called lable, explosive situation. the Peña Nieto government of the PRI with as MORENA (National Regeneration Move- for mass actions in solidarity with them or Workers, young people, indigenous people privatization of important sectors such as ment), have not made any serious calls to to unite the movement. Furthermore, Lopez and poor peasants and those who want real oil and electricity, and budget cuts in health fight back and as a result the protest move- Obrador has made concessions and concil- change must organize and demand Lopez and education. In response to this offensive, ments from below have had an explosive iatory moves seeking to reassure the ruling Obrador implement a socialist program as mobilizations, protests and revolts developed character over the past period. class and the capitalists. the only way to defeat the oligarchy and against the price of gas (the “gasolinazo”), Despite repression, setbacks and defeats The leadership of MORENA has increas- transform society in Mexico. This program against drug trafficking through the organiza- of the movement at the hands of the govern- ingly abandoned social struggle to become must include the nationalization of banking tion of self-defence groups in different towns ment of Peña Nieto, the PRI government has an electoral apparatus. The logical conse- and of large monopolies and strategic sectors of the country, for the rights of indigenous failed to stabilize the situation of Mexican quence of this is the recruitment of careerists of the economy; the expropriation of big land peoples, water rights. capitalism: the workers and peasants are not that come from the discredited PRI, PRD owners and large agro-food companies; the There are also strikes in the maquilado- paralyzed and now the Mexican ruling class or the PAN, who previously implemented defence of the rights of indigenous peoples; ras in the north of the country and the heroic faces the prospect of serious electoral defeat. austerity and anti-worker policies. To this is the repeal of all counter-reforms; and an end struggle of the teachers of basic educa- added the alliance with the Social Encounter to state violence. J tion (CNTE). Right now important industrial MORENA and the Elections Party (PES), an openly right-wing party that is struggles are taking place across the country opposed to the right to abortion and marriage with workers fighting for better wages and to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known as equality. create new unions independent of the state AMLO in Mexico) and the MORENA party This situation has created skepticism, controlled federation CTM. (National Regeneration Movement) are ahead confusion and criticism among the more The systemic violence that women in the polls. The masses identify Lopez Obra- politicized young people, workers and indig- suffer in Mexico is now an epidemic that dor and MORENA as political forces of the enous people about the direction of MORE- Read more on international news at reflects the terrible degradation of Mexican left that can change the current horrible situ- NA’s leadership. SocialistWorld.net, website of the ation. Millions of workers, poor peasants and Committee for a Workers International. SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 9 STRUGGLE 50,000 Workers Strike UC System

Erin Brightwell, member money to negotiate decent con- the state of California is projected UPTE-CWA 9119 tracts with the unions. to have a $9 billion budget sur- (personal capacity) plus in the upcoming year? Part UC System Wealthier of UC management’s thinking in Three University of California than Ever taking a hard line, is the looming (UC) unions, representing over Supreme Court decision on Janus, 50,000 workers, went on strike on Administrators and manag- a case that is funded by a who’s May 7-9, in the biggest strike at ers now outnumber professors in who of right-wing corporate inter- UC in history. Pickets of hundreds the UC system and the average ests including the Koch Brothers, of workers protested at UC cam- compensation for UC executives designed to weaken public sector has increased 58% over the past unions. UC President Janet Napoli- puses and medical centers across The University of California’s largest employee union is holding a three-day strike. the state, with turnout surpassing 10 years. The state of California tano is clearly hoping the right wing all expectations. UC management decreased its funding to UC by led Supreme Court will help solve are united in the medical centers, that the teachers’ strike phenom- put on a brave face in media inter- 30% between 1999 and 2015, yet their problem by weakening the labs, and classrooms. Launching enon can catch fire in California, views, but the impact was signifi- UC revenue is up 80% over the last unions. an organizing drive against the con- with campaigns and actions that cant. Medical centers were forced decade. The UC system is rolling in tractors providing low wage workers draw new layers of workers and to cancel 12,000 appointments money and is being run like a for- Unity in Struggle for the university can turn a union students into the heat of struggle. and, at one campus, 300 surgeries. profit corporation, with all the eco- Needed weakness into a strength. Another strike may be necessary to Some clinics closed entirely and, at nomic inequality that that entails. The University of California win a decent contract. An escalat- UC Berkeley, managers struggled to It prioritizes plush administrative UAW Local 2865, representing system is an enormously important ing series of smaller actions can deal with the crush in dining halls. jobs over its employees’ right to a UC graduate student instructors, public resource providing educa- strengthen our forces, boost new The picket lines were diverse in decent and stable living. will be out of contract at the end of tion, health care, research and members’ confidence, and increase the San Francisco Bay Area. While UC has been offering workers June, adding the potential to shut jobs that are all critical to Califor- the pressure on management. A some workers have been on strike essentially the same dismal con- down the classrooms. Workers’ nia. Increasingly, UC has built its broad campaign to fight the cor- in the past, there were many, espe- tract through months of bargaining. strength is in our numbers and in prestige with corporate partner- poratization of UC aimed at work- cially younger workers, who were Management wants a dismantling our solidarity. It’s critical to main- ships and massive donations from ers, students, faculty, and com- on their first ever picket line. The of the employee pension system, tain and grow the union coalition billionaires for gleaming new facili- munity members can transform the mood was upbeat as the picket line full control over health care costs, that was established with this strike, ties, while cost-cutting on labor struggle into an open debate on the circled the three-year-old, state-of- and minimal wage increases. One- at both the leadership level, and in and hiking student fees. The fight need for a truly public university in the-art Mission Bay hospital, part in-ten workers at the UC is now a the workplace. Union actions up to against the privatization of the uni- society. We need a UC that pays of a large new multi-billion dollar contract worker, many of whom and including strikes will be much versity should be widened to unite workers good wages and benefits, UCSF campus in San Francisco. lack basic job protections and ben- more effective if service employees, UC workers with students, potential cuts student fees, and we need to In multiple conversations, work- efits. Why is management refusing nurses, other patient care workers, students, and their communities. tax big business and the billionaire ers agreed that UC clearly has the to negotiate a decent contract when instructors, researchers, and others We need to show management class to pay for it. J North Carolina Continues Teachers’ Rebellion Andy Moxley strike. Teachers used “personal leave” for Energy Turning to 2018 which we disagree with. Teachers across the the walkouts, which effectively took on the country should consider running their own The wave of teachers’ rebellions continued character of a one-day strike. This strike is Elections independent candidates, accountable to the on May 16 in North Carolina, where tens of unprecedented in the history of North Caro- A key question for the movement as head needs of teachers and other working people. thousands of teachers, support staff, stu- lina teachers and shuttered schools in many to the midterm and state elections in Novem- With the end of the school year fast dents, and allies marched on the State Capi- districts around the state, representing 68% ber is can we count on Democrats to defeat approaching, it is possible that this may be tol in Raleigh. The demonstration, organized of NC students, including the six largest the right-wing agenda? While in opposition the end of the teachers’ strike wave for now. by the North Carolina Association of Educa- school districts. in state government the Democrats have However, the key lesson of 2018 so far is that tors (NCAE), called for better pay, more fund- Democrat Roy Cooper was recently pledged support for the teachers’ action and mass collective action has fundamentally ing for education, and broader demands, elected governor, but the state legislature has goals as a mass movement which is in large changed the balance of forces in the teacher such as an expansion of Medicaid and an been controlled by the Tea Party wing of the part directed at the state Republicans. How- struggles – not waiting for the politicians to end to corporate tax cuts. It is the latest of Republicans since 2010 and North Carolina ever, the Democratic Party ruled for almost act. It is this fighting spirit that will be the the teachers’ struggles started by the historic went for Trump in 2016. In response to the 150 years in North Carolina until 2010. State biggest determining factor in what teachers strike by West Virginia teachers at the begin- walkout, the state legislature is considering and national Democrats’ unpopular policies and other workers will be able to win in the ning of the year. altering the two-year budget proposal passed of supporting the privatization of education future, as corporate politicians in both parties Despite raises in wages over the past few last year that included a $2.5 million cut to and cuts, are big reasons that states like will bow to big business pressure without a years, North Carolina teacher salaries, have education. Governor Cooper has previously North Carolina now lie in the iron grip of the counterforce. North Carolina shows that even actually decreased and are $9,000 below the expressed support for an 8% increase in right wing. in the states with some of the lowest levels of national average. North Carolina ranks 39th teacher pay, while state Republicans have In some of the teacher revolt states, unionization, the fighting spirit and tactics of in per student spending, $2,400 less per capped their proposals at 5-6%. The other teachers themselves are running for different a mobilized working class can have a massive student than the national average. issues brought up by teachers have not been political offices. This is a step forward. How- impact. J As a “right-to-work” state, North Caro- directly addressed and it is unclear if any ever, they are overwhelmingly running in the lina does not give teachers the legal right to progress will be made. Democratic Party instead of independently,

10 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 POLITICS Exposing the History of Housing Segregation and How to Fix It Review of The Color of Law

Rob Rooke African American communities. Alongside federal laws and rules that shaped segrega- Richard Rothstein’s The Color of Law tion, local authorities enacted policies to explains how housing became so highly further enable housing divisiveness. While racially segregated in America, and details the “separate but equal” was ruled unconstitu- partnership between federal and local govern- tional in education in 1954, housing segrega- ments and the big developers in this process. tion remained untouched by any serious legal Rothstein studies America’s reception to challenges until much later. the three great waves of northern migration of African Americans from the South – after Promoting Home Ownership Reconstruction and during the two world wars. and Segregation During the first wave, racial segregation in the North was less common. Tenement city hous- “Terrified by the 1917 Russian Revolu- ing was often racially mixed. For instance, tion,” Rothstein explains, “government offi- the great left-wing poet Langston Hughes cials came to believe that communism could grew up in a mixed race building in Cleve- be defeated in the U.S. by getting as many land, and went to a mixed-race high school. white Americans as possible to become The subsequent waves of African Americans homeowners – the idea being that those who from the South did not fare as well in Cleve- owned property would be invested in the cap- require a huge mobilization of resources and that is racially integrated. The big developers land, where the New Deal federal government italist system.” a revolutionary political will on the scale of are of no use to us, as they are only inter- replaced Hughes’ old neighborhood with two The huge expansion of the suburbs after the period of Reconstruction after the Civil ested in building luxury housing for the super public housing projects, one for whites, one World War II was deliberately designed to War. rich. We need to turn this situation upside for blacks, ending the previous integration. exclude black families. From the mid-1970s, as real wages stagnated and fell, large num- Today, capitalism, its governments, and down. We need cities to build housing that Public Housing Explicitly bers of non-black workers were able to inherit its big businesses no longer openly promote acts as an example of the future society we their parents’ homes, while most young black race segregation. The main barrier facing want: housing with low rents and racially Segregated people were not. Today’s housing-based racial integration today is not explicit racist integrated from the beginning. But we must federal or local laws. African Americans are point the finger at capitalism and understand During World War I, the federal govern- wealth divide continues to grow, where black primarily unable to move out of ghettoized why capitalism constructed racial segrega- ment built its first public housing: 170,000 families’ average wealth equals only 10% of neighborhoods because of high rents, high tion in the first place. units across America. They were all desig- white families’ average wealth. house prices, and low pay. Today, it is the Richard Rothstein’s book helps us see nated “whites only.” The Great Depression The huge civil rights movement forced continuous rise of economic inequality that the road that got us where we are. However, led to more public housing developments the federal government to step back from its has strengthened housing segregation. On where he falls short is in explaining why capi- to create work and to ameliorate the hous- policies of promoting segregation in housing. top of historic segregation, there is now a talism segregates. He documents the process ing shortage that the market had failed to fill. However, the worst damage in housing segre- massive crisis of affordable housing which but leaves the reader scratching their heads In line with new federal guidelines, all this gation had been done. affects large sections of the working class, over the big “Why”? In pointing to the role of public housing was racially segregated. and young people especially. some unions as one of the few forces to chal- During World War II, the federal govern- Revolutionary Change Needed Some integration has occurred in recent lenge the process historically, he begins to ment and private enterprise worked together decades for several reasons including gentri- answer the question of motivation. to create housing close to the war industries Undoing racial segregation in housing is fication as whites return to urban neighbor- Capitalism is a system of inequality. The and co-operated to ensure that this was also far more complicated than allowing people hoods and, ironically, with rising rents, many ruling class, numerically, will always be the racially segregated. the right to vote, to sit where they want on a black families are often forced to move to the few against the many. To maintain this, they In the post-war period, national policy bus or in a restaurant, or to apply for a job. sprawling suburbs. use ideological weapons – the media and edu- combined the building of freeways to connect The integration of America’s highly segre- Massive investment will be required to cation systems – and at other times, direct suburbs and cities with the breaking up of gated neighborhoods, as Rothstein argues, cannot be carried out by small reforms, it will rebuild American cities with decent housing brutality and violence. Through education and the media, big business seeks to con- Socialist Alternative Editor Tom Crean stantly accentuate differences between work- Editorial Board George Brown, Eljeer Hawkins, Joshua Koritz, Keely Mullen, Calvin Priest, ing people based on race, ethnicity, gender, SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE Tony Wilsdon ) [email protected] or sexual orientation. They hope these divi- In Your Area sions will encourage working-class people to NATIONAL PORTLAND, ME contact our NASHVILLE, TN ST. LOUIS, MO For DALLAS, TX, DENVER, CO, OAKLAND / SAN FRANCISCO, Socialist Alternative is in blame those next to them for their oppres- national office (931) 220-0427 (952) 270-7676 FORT COLLINS, CO, HOUS- CA political solidarity with sion, and away from blaming the ruling class. 1027 Grand St, CHARLOTTE, NC, and LOU- COLUMBUS, OH, GRAND RAP- TON, TX, OKLAHOMA CITY, (510) 220-3047 the Committee for a Work- Studio B2 MID-ATLANTIC ISVILLE, KY contact our IDS, MI, MILWAUKEE, WI, OK, PHOENIX, AZ, and SALT SEATTLE, WA ers International (CWI), a Racism and racial segregation has been key national office and TOPEKA, KS contact LAKE CITY, UT contact our (612) 760-1980 worldwide socialist orga- Brooklyn, NY 11211 NEW YORK CITY to the rule of the American ruling class from our national office national office TACOMA, WA nization in 47 countries, on [email protected] (347) 749-1236 (253) 355-4211 every continent. 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SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE.ORG • JUNE 2018 11 ISSUE #44 – JUNE 2018 SOCIALISTALTERNATIVE.ORG SUGGESTED DONATION $2 SOCIALIST ALTERNATIVE RIGHT WING ESCALATES WAR ON LGBTQ PEOPLE

WE REFUSE TO RETURN

FreemanTO Ryan THEannually while CLOSET placing the burden on working money, that could truly fight for the interests movements with the strongest strategies and people to fund critical social service programs. of LGBTQ and working people. The hypo- tactics necessary to win gains for LGBTQ After decades of hard fought progress on However, Trump and the political establish- critical approach towards LGBTQ needs by people. Our movements need to be prepared LGBTQ rights, the Trump reaction threatens ment’s ability to carry out this agenda is by the political establishment is perhaps best to harness our collective power by using ral- to drive us back. We stand firm and refuse no means guaranteed! Boston’s demonstra- embodied by the corporatization of Pride lies, marches, strikes, and non-violent civil to return to the closet. A generation of young tion of 40,000 people last August against the parades themselves. These actually origi- disobedience. At the University of Washing- people are invigorated to fight for LGBTQ alt right following Charlottesville pushed back nated in the Stonewall Riots in New York ton, graduate-student workers made trans- rights, against racism, and against sexism. far right organizing in a way that no legislation City in 1969 led by trans women in response inclusive health care one of their central While 7% of youth identify as LGBTQ, they could. Another example is the recent historic to police violence. They now serve partially demands in their recent strike. This approach make up 40% of homeless youth. The aver- victory in Seattle to tax Amazon to fund afford- as a marketing tool for the same huge cor- shows the way forward. age household income for same sex couples able housing which will disproportionately help porations that actively lobby against univer- is 20% less than heterosexual couples. And, LGBTQ people. In both of these instances and sal healthcare, funding affordable housing, A Socialist World is Possible devastatingly, the National Coalition of Anti- countless more, it is the power of our move- and higher minimum wages; all policies that Violence Programs reports that there was a ments that wins victories. would disproportionately help LGBTQ people. As Trump and Pence try to roll back the 86% rise in anti-LGBTQ homicides in 2017 gains made under the Obama administration, compared to 2016. The unequal and often We Need a Real Political Need for a Fighting LGBTQ we are reminded that in a capitalist society, dangerous conditions LGBTQ Americans face Alternative Movement every victory we win is vulnerable and fragile. has been intensified under the Trump presi- That’s why Socialist Alternative is fighting for dency which has emboldened bigots of all Despite their rhetoric, the corporate lead- The radical roots of Pride show the way a socialist transformation of society, where stripes. ership of the Democratic Party refuses to forward. We need an approach to LGBTQ the needs of people are put over the needs take a fighting stance for LGBTQ people and liberation based in struggle and mass move- of shareholder profit, where discrimination is Trump’s Anti-LGBTQ Agenda stand against Trump’s anti-worker policies ments that fight for real change. left in the past, and our differences are cel- and hateful rhetoric. The infamous anti-trans Whether it’s the teachers strikes which ebrated and cherished rather than used as a The election of Trump and his strongly anti- “Bathroom Bill” HB2 in North Carolina was have won big pay raises for teachers and wedge to keep us apart. LGBTQ Vice President Mike Pence was imme- voted for by eleven Democrats. increased funding for students, or the recent The bosses and their purchased politi- diately felt by LGBTQ folks as hate crimes Despite mass public support, the national Tax Amazon victory in Seattle, the biggest cians know that if working people and all the spiked the day after is election in 2016. leadership of the Democrats still hasn’t come victories come when all working people stand oppressed were united in common struggle Meanwhile, local Republican legislators have out in support of Medicare for All and in together in solidarity. Likewise the LGBTQ for guaranteed housing, employment, edu- stepped up to pass more discriminatory anti- California they blocked enacting a statewide movement needs to link the defense of our cation, and health care, their massive prof- trans “bathroom bills,” with 129 anti-LGBTQ single payer system. Medicare for All would gains to broader demands that will benefit all its would be threatened. It is only by linking laws introduced in state legislatures in 2017. be a massive step forward for LGBTQ people working people but LGBTQ people dispropor- our movements together and fighting arm in Beyond the rise in discrimination in the by ensuring their access to gender-affirming tionately. While we fight against hate crimes arm that we will win the world we deserve. Trump era, his general right-wing, anti-worker health care, and prevention and treatment for and bathroom bills, we fight for affordable The struggle for that world is how we can win policies will disproportionately impact LGBTQ HIV/AIDS. housing for all, living wages, and universal real liberation for LGBTQ and all oppressed people. Trump’s massive tax cuts give cor- This shows how badly we need a new health care. people. J porate giants like Amazon over $789 million political party that doesn’t take corporate At the same time, we need to arm these