DEFEND PLANNED PARENTHOOD TENNIS and RACISM EDITORIAL 6 Stop the War on Poor Women! by Sue Davis Pullman, Wash., on Sept

Serena and Venus Williams Rasmea Odeh • Crisis de refugiados 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 57, No. 38 Sept. 24, 2015 $1 DEFEND PLANNED PARENTHOOD TENNIS AND RACISM EDITORIAL 6 Stop the war on poor women! By Sue Davis Pullman, Wash., on Sept. 4. The local fire department, conference, hosted by the racist, so-called Internation- with other local officials and federal agencies, ruled it al Coalition of Abolitionist Societies, in northern Idaho A wholesale racist, sexist, anti-worker, anti-poor as- was deliberately set. No authorities have called the ar- two months before the fire. Leaders included justifi- sault on Planned Parenthood is going on. This is out- son what it really is — domestic terrorism. able-homicide advocate Matthew Trewhella, founder of right warfare against millions of women in the U.S. “[The fire is] a predictable ripple effect from the false Missionaries to the Preborn and a convicted arsonist; — predominantly women of color, immigrants, youth, and incendiary attacks that fuel violence from extrem- Rusty Thomas, director of Operation Save America, rural residents and women with disabilities, who are the ists,” said Karl Eastlund, CEO of Planned Parenthood who was jailed for destroying clinic property after gain- lowest paid workers, often single mothers struggling to of Greater Washington and North Idaho. (Associated ing entry in his police uniform; and members of Abolish keep their families together. Some have called the attack Press, Sept. 5) Human Abortion. (Sept. 9) “political theater,” but that downplays its seriousness. It There is a long history of anti-abortion violence in the In 1996, a Planned Parenthood clinic in Spokane Val- is a vicious 21st century witch-hunt. Pacific Northwest, DuVergne Gaines, national clinic ac- ley, Wash., was bombed. The four men convicted were A fire heavily damaged a Planned Parenthood clinic in cess project director at the Feminist Majority Founda- in a white supremacist, anti-abortion group. Both per- tion, told RH Reality petrators of destruction at independent clinics in Mis- Check. She noted that soula, Mont. (firebombed in 1993), and Kalispell (se- a group of anti-abor- verely vandalized in 2014) were convicted. tion extremists held a Continued on page 2

BDS VICTORY Veolia forced to divest 7

PHOTO: TEAM SOLIDARITY Women’s Fightback Network activists joined a pro-choice march to Planned Parenthood in Boston, July 2014. NO POLICE STATE! WW PHOTO: LIZ GREEN Protests hit military expo 6

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Continued from page 1 In two-thirds of the 491 counties where its clinics are In July, shortly after a notorious anti-abortion group located, Planned Parenthood serves at least half of all aired a deliberately falsified series of videos showing women obtaining contraceptive care. In a fifth of the  In the U.S. Planned Parenthood leaders saying the organization counties it serves, it is the sole safety-net family plan- profits from the sale of aborted fetal tissue, death threats ning center. The study points to Texas as a “cautionary Stop the war on poor women! ...... 1 began. According to the Sept. 3 Huffington Post, an anon- tale;” the state family-planning program for low-in- Michigan: Native peoples fight oil pipeline ...... 3 ymous person posted this warning on Fox Nation: “I’ll come women “served far fewer women” after Planned Peltier thanks supporters on 71st birthday ...... 3 pay ten large to whomever kills Dr. Deborah Nucatola” Parenthood clinics were cut from the rolls. [Planned Parenthood senior director in the video]. The Push is coming to shove in Louisiana. After the gov- Seattle teachers strike for better schools ...... 3 same person threatened Cate Dyer, CEO of StemExpress, ernor defunded Planned Parenthood, the organization People’s victory in Freddie Gray trial ...... 6 a biomedical company that uses fetal tissue for medical sued the state to prove it could help poor women. The research, and posted her home address. state produced a list of 2,000 family planning provid- Protests hit police-state expo ...... 6 Vicki Saporta, president of the National Abortion ers who could take new patients. After viewing the list, Federation, which regulates abortion providers, told which included dentists, nursing home caregivers and  Around the world the Huffington Post, “In my 20 years at NAF, I have cosmetic surgeons, the judge cut it to 29. At a Sept. 2 Migrants face inhumane treatment in Europe ...... 4 never seen such a volume, intensity and escalation hearing, the judge was reluctant to allow Planned Par- of hate speech, threats and criminal activity.” Death enthood’s contract to expire on Sept. 15 because “the Venezuela defends against Colombian border attacks . 4 threats against providers should be taken seriously, state hadn’t articulated a good reason for doing so.” Tens of thousands say ‘Refugees welcome!’ ...... 5 warned HuffPost, considering that eight doctors and (Mother Jones, Sept. 10) Revolutionary Venezuela welcomes refugees ...... 5 clinic workers have been murdered — the latest was The Sept. 9 Congressional hearing, entitled “Planned Dr. George Tiller in 2009 in Wichita, Kan. Parenthood Exposed: Examining the Horrific Abortion Turkish regime opens fire on Kurds, leftists ...... 5 When hostile pickets were held at 300 Planned Par- Practices at the Nation’s Largest Abortion Provider,” Veolia/Transdev ends investment in Israel ...... 7 enthood clinics around the country on Aug. 22, about was called a “farce” by Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY). No 500 protesters gathered in Pullman to call for Congress witnesses were called from either Planned Parenthood What does Corbyn’s Labor Party victory mean? . . . . . 7 to defund the largest provider of women’s reproductive or the so-called Center for Medical Progress, which cre- health care for poor women in the country. The Christian ated the deceptive videos.  Editorial right-wingers have been fired up by ultra-right Republi- Pro-choice views were represented by Priscilla Smith, Racism and Black tennis players ...... 6 can politicians, who have been trying to defund the orga- director of Yale Law School’s Program for the Study of nization nationally since 2011. Reproductive Justice. Smith observed that the health  Noticias en Español Currently 28 House Republicans have vowed to care provider has been the target of nine sting opera- make defunding Planned Parenthood grounds for tions over the past 15 years and has never been indict- Guerras de Estados Unidos causan crisis de refugiados . . 8 shutting down the government when the budget ed. “The horrible irony here is that defunding Planned Rasmea Odeh habla en contra de los crímenes comes up for a vote on Sept. 30. While Democrats say Parenthood would increase the number of unintended de la policía ...... 8 no such bill will pass in the Senate, President Barack pregnancies and drastically, I fear, increase the number Obama says he would veto it. (HuffPost, Sept. 8) of abortions.” (RHRC, Sept. 10) Just as firebombing the clinic in Washington state Deliberate attack on poor women should be called domestic terrorism, defunding Planned Those who oppose Planned Parenthood say that if the Parenthood is class warfare because it would deny poor organization is defunded of $528 million for Medicaid women their right to essential, needed medical care — This week Workers World Newspaper is 8 pages. health care services for poor women — contraception their human right to control their very lives. It’s time for and counseling, sexually transmitted infection test- all progressives to defend Planned Parenthood and de- ing and treatment, and breast exams and other cancer mand reproductive justice for all women. screening — many health care providers will fill the bill. Kathy Durkin contributed to this article. Davis is a Workers World Not so says a Guttmacher Institute study, issued Sept. longtime reproductive justice activist and author of the 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. 8 in response to a Congressional Budget Office request, pro-choice novel “Love Means Second Chances.” New York, N.Y. 10011 based on the latest 2010 statistics. Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 57, No. 38 • Sept. 24, 2015 Closing date: Sept. 15, 2015 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson

Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 56 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2014 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly National Office Bay Area Cleveland Houston Pittsburgh except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 1305 Franklin St. #411 P.O. Box 5963 P.O. 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Va. 610.931.2615 Washington, D.C. 20037 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org Sept. 24, 2015 Page 3 Michigan Native peoples fight oil pipeline PHOTO: NANCY HUAN By Jeremy Royer 103-324 and, according to the Treaty of at risk is not only Straits of Mackinac Washington of 1836 (7 Stat. 491) and the in violation of the Michigan Treaty of Detroit of 1855 (11 Stat. 621), GLSLA; they are are ceded as protectors of our Lakehead also violating Trib- Organizers from the Little Traverse Systems and the surrounding bodies of al land agreements Bay Bands of Odawa Indians were fresh water where Enbridge’s Line 5 is made between among Native-American and environ- being used to transport crude[1]. If a spill Indigenous popu- mental activists who took to the waters were to occur, the LTBB of Odawa Indi- lations and respec- under the Mackinac Bridge over Labor ans’ territory would be contaminated be- tive governments. Day weekend. yond restoration — putting an end to the This lack of ac- The activists were protesting Enbridge Odawa’s current way of life. countability and Inc.’s two 62-year-old oil pipelines run- Line 5 is an environmental threat to public oversight ning under the Straits of Mackinac, Michigan’s Great Lakes when used to into corporations where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan transport crude oil of any kind. Enbridge that exploit our meet and the state is divided into the is responsible for spilling over 6.8 million shared commons Flotilla protesters set out under the Mackinac Bridge, Sept. 9. Lower and Upper Peninsulas. Connect- gallons of oil into our environment[2]. is not a surprise ing the peninsulas over the Straits is the This includes the Line 6B catastrophe considering today’s neoliberal capital- Duty to Protect the Great Lakes (http:// Mackinac Bridge, a five-mile-long sus- in 2010 that devastated the Kalamazoo ist environment[5]. Corporations are tinyurl.com/pzsylum, July 2, 2014) pension bridge. River — with diluted bitumen being one allowed to undermine both state and 3. Enbridge Must Restore Environment Injured by 2010 Kalamazoo River Oil Spill, Starting originally as a single day of the many toxic compounds found in federal laws to maximize their profits. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Re- event, the protest ended up as a two- the spill[3]. This disaster sparked the And it is because of corporate entities gion (http://tinyurl.com/o7ekg5r, June 8) day demonstration with a “kayaktiv- Odawa Tribe’s justification for shutting like Enbridge that Treaty lands are being 4. Enbridge Line 5, An Oil Pipeline Under the ist” flotilla on Sunday, Sept. 6, followed down Line 5, as outlined in Tribal Reso- exploited with little to no respect for the Great Lakes (http://tinyurl.com/oyc589m, by participation in the annual Labor lution #030515-01[2]. sovereignty of Indigenous tribes. April 28) Day Bridge Walk, which involves some Enbridge jeopardizes not only the #ShutDownLine5 #ProtectTheSacred 5. Lack of Transparency (http://tinyurl.com/ 40,000 people. Both protests included LTBB’s lifeline to freshwater, but the rest #HonorTheTreaties #LTBB #Odawa nmgxo4o, Sept. 3) banners, T-shirts and signs displaying of Michigan’s Great Lakes community is References: Jeremy Royer is a Blackfoot demands to shut down what is known endangered as well[4]. Our freshwater is 1. Tribal Resolution, Decommission and Safe Indigenous-Aboriginal activist who as Enbridge’s Line 5. The large banners a shared resource, according to the ease- Removal of Pipeline Running under the took part in the action in the Straits of included the slogans “Shut down Line 5” ment and agreements made under Act 10, Straits of Mackinac (http://tinyurl.com/ Mackinac. He is a Detroit resident and and “Water is life.” P.A. 1953 — Great Lakes Submerged Lands o4p8ve7, March 19) member of the Moratorium NOW! Coa- The LTBB of Odawa Indians are a fed- Act and public trust law[3]. Therefore, 2. FLOW Takes Lead Authoring Line 5 Letter lition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions & erally recognized tribe under Public Law any entity putting our public resources to Governor: Elevating the Public Trust Utility Shutoffs. Peltier thanks supporters Seattle teachers strike on 71st birthday for better schools U.S. political prisoner Leonard Peltier the only government agency that has been By Jim McMahan and institutionalized racism. Teach- released the following statement from repealed and reinstated 35 days later with- Seattle ers want the district to uncouple test prison on his 71st birthday. out having to go through the normal con- scores from teacher evaluations. The gressional channels and signed into law by Sept. 12 — Fed up with a hail of at- teachers have forced the district to tacks on public schools, 5,000 Seattle give students 30 minutes of recess September 12, 2015 the president. How does this happen in a democracy? teachers and staff workers went on when, before the strike, most poor Greetings everyone, I’ve been encouraged by things I’ve read strike on Sept. 9. The strike remains and working-class schools gave only Well, today is another b-day for me — recently though. And looking back … it’s strong heading into its fourth day. It’s 15 minutes. my 71st. I had hoped I would not be here been over 60 years, maybe a little longer. I the first contract strike in 30 years The district wants teachers to work [in prison] at this age, but that’s not to be. was around seven or eight years old when for the Seattle Education Association. 30 minutes longer each day. The SEA So I have to take a deep breath and slowly I heard the old people talking about taking The school board had voted to seek an has forced the district to agree to com- let it out … and prepare myself for yet an- care of Mother Earth. But for me anyway, injunction against the strike, but the pensation for this. The administration other day in here. as with all young people, I did not really Seattle School District hasn’t acted on doesn’t want teachers and staff to have February 6th marks my 40th year in understand what they were trying to tell this so far. anything more than a paltry raise. The prison. How many of you know that when us. But I see today the traditionalists were Picket lines of dozens of teachers can SEA wants a 10 percent increase over I was indicted a life sentence was seven correct and [American Indian Movement] be seen in neighborhoods all over the two years, which is a compromise over years? I was sentenced to two life sentenc- People were right when we took it up as a city at the more than 90 schools in the what they asked for originally. es, so with good time I have served six-plus rallying cry to the world. district. Outside West Seattle and Gar- The district seems to be following life sentences. I suppose all of this time has Still, when we spoke out against the de- field high schools, the honks of passing the lead of the state Legislature, which taken its toll on my body. I have a number struction of Mother Earth, we were called vehicles seem to never stop. A teacher has disrespected the needs of teach- of different health issues that come with a bunch of nuts. Well, today, it is called cli- at Garfield, Jesse Hagopian, said the ers, students and communities to fund old age. The one I’m most concerned about mate change, and there are now millions high school band had played for the basic education in a state with the is my prostate. of us crying out against the destruction of teachers. A folk singer with other musi- most regressive tax structure in the Otherwise, I’m still getting compliments our Mother Earth. Amazing, huh? Thank- cians played at the West Seattle picket country. Due to the pressure of teach- on how good I look for my age (smile). Peo- fully I have lived this long and can see we line. “Strong support for SEA is com- ers and communities, the Legislature ple can be nice and say things that make just might win this war. I know it’s not over ing in from across the country and the is now under a court order to provide me feel good once in awhile. But I’m told — far from it — but the world is waking up world,” reported Jonathan Knapp, SEA more funds. But they haven’t released this so often that I’m starting to believe it and talking about it now. So it can be won president. enough, so now the court is fining the (smile). in our lifetime. Hagopian also reported that teachers Legislature $100,000 a day! Did you know that the last time I went Well, People, I don’t know how much had found out that district superinten- Support continues to grow. On Sept. before the parole commission (2009), I longer I have left on Mother Earth — or if I dent Larry Nyland was having a meet- 10, a meeting called by City Council- was denied because I looked young and will even be around for the next few years ing at the Lincoln building. A group of person Kshama Sawant was held to healthy. … And a reason given for deny- — but I always hope and pray that I can be teachers went there and picketed, and discuss the strike issues, especially ing me parole was that I might be too out there to spend my last few remaining when Nyland was leaving they sur- getting the strike more support. There much of an influence on the young na- years with you. If not, so be it. I have been rounded his car with a picket line. were 200 people there, including many tives? Yeah, only in America. in here too long to cry now. I just wish for The SEA says the school district teachers. Holding a citywide rally to And get this: In October 1984, when the more time to give to my People and to all seems to recognize only the wage de- support the teachers was discussed. Parole Commission was repealed by Con- freedom-loving People in the world. mands, which the district basically A report was given by a Denny Mid- gress, the commission was given six years Thanks again for all of the love you have opposes. The teachers also want more dle School teacher about a delegation to give me a parole date — all of us “old shown me over these 40 years. You have all support staff hired, such as more psy- of striking Pasco, Wash., school teach- time” prisoners really (those convicted pri- been worth it. chologists and more secretaries. Those ers who drove more than 200 miles to or to 1984). Yes, this is all true. All you have In the Spirit of Crazy Horse … presently employed are overworked. picket and meet with Seattle school to do is research it, and I bet you will come They want race and equity teams in teachers. The 1,100 Pasco teachers away shocked as hell that this can happen Doksha, each building to deal with problems represent an oppressed city of mostly in your country. The Parole Commission is Leonard Peltier of disproportionate discipline actions Latino/a and Black people. Page 4 Sept. 24, 2015 workers.org EUROPE Migrants face inhumane treatment

By Abayomi Azikiwe more repressive measures. His country present inflow of migrants into Germa- of those forced to leave Syria and other Editor, Pan-African News Wire has been one of the most openly vicious ny.” (CNN) states on two continents due to Washing- and racist in blocking migrants’ passage The German government said it was ton and Wall Street’s foreign policies. Sept. 14 — Wars Washington initi- through European Union countries. This stopping train transport to and from British Prime Minister David Camer- ated aimed at reshaping the political passage is supposed to be guaranteed by Austria for thirteen hours on Sept. 13, ac- on visited a refugee camp in Lebanon on landscape of large regions of Africa, the a treaty member-states signed several cording to a tweet sent out by the Austri- Sept. 13 and said his government would Middle East and Asia are continuing years ago. an Federal Railways. Halting train traffic open its borders to 20,000 displaced per- and creating an enormous refugee crisis. These developments were taking place between the two countries extended from sons. Successive governments in London Bombing operations by the Pentagon in while EU interior ministers were hold- 5 p.m. on Sept. 13 to the next morning at have supported U.S. military interven- Iraq and Syria are displacing hundreds of ing an emergency meeting in Brussels on 6 a.m. tions in various states, including Afghani- thousands of people every month and are Sept. 14 in an effort to coordinate their Spokespeople for the Austrian police stan, Iraq, Syria and Libya, among others. now spreading the crisis to Europe. policy for processing and integrating the reported that 7,000 people had crossed Resistance among migrants to repres- In response to this growing surge of migrants. In response to the influx of the border from Hungary on Sept. 14. On sion in Hungary indicates that the EU is refugees, Hungarian officials have again hundreds of thousands of people from the previous day some 14,000 entered unprepared to integrate what may be mil- threatened migrants from the Middle the Middle East, Africa and Asia, various the country. lions of new residents. Hungary has said East, Africa and Asia with imprisonment governments have imposed travel restric- Austrian government leaders said mil- that they want to keep people out to pre- if they continue to cross Hungary’s bor- tions, including Austria, Slovakia and the itary personnel were sent to the entry serve their European “Christian heritage.” ders or resist repressive treatment. Netherlands. and gathering points and that “If Ger- Wars funded, coordinated and given The regime in Budapest says it com- The German government of Chancel- many carries out border controls Austria diplomatic cover by U.S. imperialism in pleted a fence across its border with Ser- lor Angela Merkel also announced that must put strengthened border controls in Yemen, Libya, Egypt and elsewhere are bia to halt the flow of migrants into the it would put checks on its border with place.” (BBC, Sept. 14) worsening the plight of tens of millions. country. Hungarian officials also indi- Austria. This tightening of the borders U.N. and other humanitarian agencies cated they would prevent migrants from came following weeks of pronounce- EU and U.S. fail to address causes are incapable of meeting the needs of ref- entering on trains. ments from Germany that appeared to of crisis ugees and migrants under conditions of The U.N. High Commissioner for Refu- welcome migrants. Meanwhile, the political and security armed factional struggles and the total gees reported that Budapest was shipping On Sept. 13, officials in Berlin said that crisis in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Ye- breakdown of state structures involving thousands of migrants and refugees to if the flow of migrants was not stopped, men, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Turkey and transportation, food distribution, fuel Hungary’s border with Austria on special there would be no place for people to live other states are creating the conditions supplies, medical services and education. trains, making it appear that they will no and they would be sleeping in the streets. for further dislocation. Rather than deal- The current situation involves the mas- longer register them. Temporary housing for migrants is ing with the root causes of the crisis, the sive deaths in the Mediterranean of those Refugees herded into makeshift de- planned at a large transportation facili- U.S. and EU states are instead arguing seeking refuge in Europe. This and the tention areas face overcrowding, a lack ty built during the 1930s. The Telegraph about how few refugees to take into their social restrictions and racist repression of food, constant police harassment and wrote, “Berlin’s famous Nazi-era Tempel- countries. they will be subjected to in the EU mem- brutality. A Sept. 11 BBC article noted, hof airport is to become a refugee shelter. Some EU leaders have rejected any ber-states warrants a response from the “Footage has emerged of migrants being The airport, which has been out of ser- quotas of refugees as proposed by Germa- anti-war and social justice movements in thrown bags of food at a Hungarian camp vice since 2008, will house up to 1,200 ny and France. This rejection creates lo- both Western Europe and North Ameri- near the border with Serbia. An Austrian refugees in two former hangars, the Ber- gistical challenges in the transport of mi- ca. With an economic crisis still prevalent woman who shot the video said the mi- lin state government has announced.” grants to states where the official position in several European countries, the harsh grants were being treated like animals.” (Sept. 14) is to accept migrants for resettlement. situation of the migrants can provide a Nonetheless, Hungarian Prime Min- On Sept. 14, German Interior Minister President Barack Obama’s administra- basis for an alliance between the workers ister Viktor Orban lauded the police for Thomas de Maiziere said, “The focus will tion issued a Sept. 11 statement that the and oppressed living in Europe and those their actions against what he called “re- initially lie on the border with Austria. U.S. would allow 10,000 Syrians to enter streaming in as a direct result of the im- bellious migrants” and threatened to take The goal of this measure is to restrict the the country. This is only a small fragment perialist policies of the U.S. and NATO. Venezuela defends against Colombian border attacks

By Gene Clancy States, Venezuelan society welcomes im- Poor and working people in Colombia curity.” (eeuu.embajada.gob.ve) migrants. They are included in all social are at the mercy of so-called market re- The statement says that “oil smugglers In late August, after months of outrag- programs that Venezuelans receive, in- forms and austerity, not to mention the can obtain a 3,000 percent profit by es and provocations, Venezuela tempo- cluding free education, health care and depredations of the International Mon- transferring gas illegally from Venezu- rarily closed down some sections of its subsidized food and housing. etary Fund and World Bank. Billions of ela to Colombia. In Cucuta, Colombia, 5 border with neighboring Colombia. There are no refugee camps like the pri- dollars have been spent trying to sup- gallons of gasoline cost 14,000 bolivares, The move came following an attack by vate prisons in the U.S. On the contrary, press progressive revolutionary forces while in Venezuela the cost is ... 3 boli- Colombian paramilitary forces on three the U.N. Human Rights Council has given like the FARC (Revolutionary Armed vares.” Corn flour costs 650 bolivares in members of the Venezuelan military and singular recognition to Venezuela for its Forces of Colombia). At the same time Colombia compared to 19 in Venezuela. one civilian inside the borders of Venezu- humane recognition of refugees. the military and paramilitary forces have Other facts are that “30 percent of Ven- ela who were trying to stop smuggling in The problem along Venezuela’s border run roughshod over the political and hu- ezuela’s food imports are smuggled out the border city of San Antonio del Tachi- with Colombia is not about immigration man rights of the people, killing trade of the country; 40 percent of Venezuela’s ra. This latest incident followed a pattern at all. unionists and human rights workers. goods in general are smuggled out; 80 of increasing paramilitary violence. The The government of Venezuela has percent of products sold in Cucuta, Colom- Venezuela government has arrested 32 International trade and socialism sought to ease the impact of the world- bia, are smuggled out; the partial border alleged paramilitaries. The Bolivarian Revolution underway wide capitalist economic crisis by sub- closing is saving Venezuela over 260,000 The U.S media immediately showed in Venezuela aspires to build a socialist sidizing necessities for its people. Un- gallons of gas a day; [and] Venezuela loses their customary hostility to just about society. In a world dominated by capital- fortunately, unscrupulous capitalists, at least $2 billion a year from contraband.” anything the Venezuelan government ism and imperialism, a government aim- with the full support of the imperialists, Is there any wonder that shortages and President Nicolas Maduro do to de- ing toward socialism needs to maintain a have sought to undermine the Bolivarian have appeared in Venezuela? This is not fend the Bolivarian Revolution. monopoly on foreign trade. Without this, Revolution. They illegally buy subsidized only an attack on the Venezuelan govern- On Aug. 27 the New York Times pub- socialist planning for people’s needs is gasoline, food, medicine and other basic ment, but on the very lives of poor and lished a scurrilous article accusing Pres- next to impossible. products in Venezuela and smuggle them working people in both countries. ident Maduro of “a crackdown on immi- This problem is especially acute for for resale in Colombia at a huge profit, Furthermore, it has always been the grants.” This propaganda piece, along with Venezuela, which has a long border with where prices are much higher. case that it is far easier for a society to pro- other similar lies including from the U.S. Colombia — a country whose ruling class The Ministry of People’s Power for For- vide luxuries for a few than basic necessi- government, is, of course, pure hogwash. is completely lined up with and under the eign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of ties for the vast majority of people. As a na- There are 5.7 million Colombian cit- domination of U.S imperialism. The Co- Venezuela published a statement in the tion that is attempting to build socialism, izens living peacefully in Venezuela, a lombian masses must endure the pres- New York Times on Sept. 9, entitled “The which is under constant attack and sub- country with a total population of 30 mil- ence of U.S. troops and a militarized gov- Truth about the Venezuela-Colombia Bor- version by the U.S. — including a blatant lion. An estimated 150,000 Colombians ernment which attacks every vestige of der Situation.” It explains that the govern- coup attempt in 2002 — and is struggling arrive annually in search of a better life progressive development. They are also ment has had to impose “extraordinary to protect its population from the ravages — and a safer life. victims of a trade arrangement that al- measures by closing a partial section of its of the world capitalist crisis, Venezuela has Unlike the reaction of many impe- lows goods produced in the U.S. to over- border” to protect its people “from serious a right to defend itself against these imperialist countries, including the United whelm local industry and farming. threats to our national and economic se- rialist- and capitalist-inspired attacks. workers.org Sept. 24, 2015 Page 5 Tens of thousands say ‘Refugees welcome!’

By Kathy Durkin their homelands besieged by wars — to Prime Minister David Cameron’s of- In other cities, various slogans were wars in which their own governments fice. Holding signs reading “Open the chanted and written on placards, such as A European “Day of Action” in solidar- are complicit. Activists insist that their Borders,” “Shut down all detention cen- “Welcome Syrians” in Lisbon, “Deporta- ity with refugees from the Middle East governments have a responsibility to ters now!” and “Refugees in, Tories out!” tions for racists” in Athens, “Down with Eu- and Northern Africa who are entering open the borders, welcome all migrants they aimed their demands at government rope’s walls” in Stockholm and “Berlin sees Europe took place on Sept. 12 in a num- and provide essential services to them, leaders, calling on them to do much more Syria” at that city’s rally at Potsdamer Platz. ber of capital cities on the continent and especially those from Syria, who have to help the migrants. A few days before It is noteworthy that some demon- even as far away as Sydney, Australia. fled their homes after four years of impe- the demonstration, Cameron said that strations were held in Eastern European The huge outpouring of tens of thou- rialist-led war and dislocation. Britain would take in 20,000 more ref- countries where governments and ul- sands of migrant supporters countered “Refugees welcome here!” was the ugees, but over five years — hardly ade- tra-right groups have exhibited anti-mi- the corporate media’s focus on right-wing theme on banners and signs in demonstra- quate, given the severity of the crisis, and grant hostility. Activists protested the hostility to the refugees in some coun- tions in London, Glasgow, Dublin, Copen- unacceptable to the demonstrators. Hungarian government’s mistreatment of tries. Many protesters asserted opposi- hagen, Stockholm, The Hague, Geneva, Some 30,000 people assembled out- Syrian refugees by rallying at Keleti train tion to their government’s plans to limit Vienna, Berlin, Lisbon, Madrid, Athens, side Denmark’s parliament building in station, where migrants have assembled the number of refugees who would be ad- Lyons and Paris, France; Budapest, Hun- Copenhagen and protested their govern- in their attempts to reach other European mitted into their country. gary; Warsaw, Poland; and elsewhere. ment’s proclamation that it would se- countries. Demonstrators loudly chanted The point was stressed at several coun- In a “Solidarity with Refugees” action, verely limit the number of migrants who “Not in my name!” and showed strong sol- tries’ rallies that the migrants are fleeing tens of thousands marched in London would be allowed to enter the country. idarity with migrants. Revolutionary Venezuela welcomes refugees By Minnie Bruce Pratt wars halfway across the globe. The At one point, four out of every five la- revolutionary country is already bor unionists murdered in the world were Venezuela has offered asy- home to more than 175,000 Colom- in Colombia. Legal charges have been lum to 20,000 Syrian refugees. bian refugees. brought in the U.S. against Coca-Cola President Nicolás Maduro, head According to the Sept. 14 Latin and Drummond Coal for hiring paramil- of the revolutionary Bolivari- American Herald Tribune, Mo- itary squads to intimidate, torture and an government, made the an- hammed Alwash, of the U.N. High assassinate workers in the Colombian nouncement on Sept 7. Nearly 11 Commission on Refugees, praised branches of their businesses. million Syrians — almost half of Venezuela for its “generosity” in Fomenting war and terrorism by the the population — have been dis- taking in Colombians fleeing the U.S. in Latin America has continued with placed by war: 6.5 million inter- violence in their own country. the establishment of seven U.S. military nally, while 4.1 million have fled The UNHCR profile on Colombia bases in Colombia. One is being devel- the country. (CNN, Sept. 11) says that “widespread security oped as the new “School of the Americas,” Syrian refugees are part of a risks and violence, the forced re- reported the Sept. 10 Workers World. Its global emergency in which mil- cruitment of children and youth, purpose is to train police and military lions of people are being dis- sexual and gender-based violence forces in repression, torture and special placed by the wars and crises of (SGBV), threats, disappearances operations covert actions. a failing capitalist economic system. The GRAPHIC: TELESUR and murders continue to occur.” Wall Street can move capitalist money great majority of recent refugees are Lib- (tinyurl.com/qa9t2v6) across national borders in milliseconds. yans and South Sudanese from Northern tent on exploitation and profit. But millions of workers fleeing imperi- Africa, Syrians and Iraqis from the Mid- The U.S. has admitted only 2,000 Syr- U.S. foments terror alist bombs and starvation face barbed dle East, and Afghans from Central Asia. ian refugees this year. All are subject to United States business interests have wire fences and internment camps when These refugees are fleeing areas where stringent medical and security checks for historically backed Colombian right-wing they seek to cross those borders. the United States has either invaded mil- “terrorism” that take up to two years to military and paramilitary death squads The Bolivarian government’s welcome itarily or waged indirect war through complete. The FBI and other state secu- that carry out systematic terror against to both Syrian and Colombian refugees proxies. The U.S. has also fomented co- rity groups also track the refugees using workers and communities in the country. is a ringing call for the workers and op- vert destabilization through sectarian the acquired “biographical and biometric Particularly targeted are workers who or- pressed in every country of the world to fighting, arms shipments and sending information.” (New York Times, Sept. 10) ganize in industries dominated by U.S. unite and fight to “open the borders” to military “advisers.” These areas are all Venezuela is not only offering to pro- corporate interests, such as mining, oil, all those increasingly displaced by wars important to U.S. corporate interests in- vide safety for refugees created by U.S. coal, flowers and bananas. waged for corporate profits. Turkish regime opens fire on Kurds, leftists

By John Catalinotto Democratic Party (HDP), with much sup- woman, respectively, as co-chairs: Sela- with Semra Dogan, co-chair of HDP in the port from the Kurdish population, won hattin Demirtas and Figen Yukseldag. Kadiköy district of Istanbul, in which she The Turkish government, as well as ad- a surprising 79 seats. The AKP, still the explained her party and the new situation. mittedly fascist elements, have opened a biggest party in parliament, was forced to 300 HDP offices attacked The HDP “is a joint project of the broad attack on democratic organizations call a new national election for November. At a press conference in the eastern city Kurds, the left and the democrats,” she throughout western Turkey. Meanwhile, Fortified by its deal with the Pentagon, of Diyarbakir on Sept. 9, Demirtas charged said. “We are fighting for equality, free- the Turkish army has continued its as- the Erdogan regime then opened up an that while the army and police are carry- dom and peace. Since we got 13.2 percent sault on the Workers Party of Kurdistan air war on the PKK in Iraq and against ing out state terror against civilians under of the vote in the parliamentary elections (PKK), both guerrillas and civilians, in Kurdish forces in Syria, while stepping a curfew in the majority Kurdish cities in on June 7, the state has been trying to the majority Kurdish southeast of the up repression in the Kurdish regions. The eastern Turkey, in the west of the country, stop us. The police and military opera- country. PKK liberation forces, which had been Erdogan is encouraging open street terror tions are part of a long-prepared plan to The U.S. and other NATO governments engaged in peace talks with the Erdogan by fascist thugs. Within two days, there crush the democratic forces and open the support the Turkish regime’s offensive. regime over the past two years, fought were more than 400 assaults and attacks way for the presidential system sought by The Ankara regime recently granted the back. Turkish army and police forces on party offices, newspaper offices, shops Erdogan.” U.S. Air Force the right to use military killed Kurdish fighters and many civil- and houses of Kurds and tents of Kurdish She continued: “Kurdish cities have bases inside Turkish borders to carry out ians, but also took casualties as the PKK seasonal workers across the country. More proclaimed autonomy because they feel bombing raids against Syria and Iraq. Tur- retaliated. than 300 attacks were carried out on HDP threatened. It serves a legitimate self-de- key’s government has also waged war and In the latest escalation, the AKP and offices, with some burned to the ground. fense. The state wanted to lynch the resi- subversion against the Syrian government. the fascist Nationalist Movement Party, (Junge Welt, Sept. 11) dents. The guerrilla forces have repeated- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo- also known as the Grey Wolves, attacked Demirtas called on supporters of his ly stated that they will not go to war, and gan schemed in last June’s national elec- and firebombed offices of the leftist HDP party to organize self-defense squads. He will limit their action to self-defense. But tion for his ruling Justice Party (AKP) to and the homes of some of its members said the attacks were not spontaneous re- the armed forces bombard the guerrillas increase its majority to 60 percent of the throughout Turkey on Sept. 8 and 9. actions from the population in response and their base areas, trying to provoke seats in Parliament. Had he achieved this, During the June elections, the HDP to attacks by PKK guerrillas, as the gov- them into an active war. Erdogan would have been able to change campaigned on demands to raise the min- ernment alleged, but a dress rehearsal for “Erdogan and his AKP need dead sol- the Turkish Constitution and consolidate imum wage, improve access to university a civil war. He accused the AKP and the diers [to arouse nationalist fervor against his presidential rule. education and achieve gender equality. It Turkish secret service of coordinating the the Kurds]. The president knows that he Instead, his AKP lost 71 seats, winning promised to create a ministry of women attacks on his party. was backed into a corner by these tactics only a minority — 258 — of the 550 seats. and make International Women’s Day a On Sept. 10, the German daily news- — he is now trying to mobilize nationalist A new leftist coalition party, the Peoples national holiday. The HDP has a man and paper Junge Welt published an interview votes to continue to hold on to power.” Page 6 Sept. 24, 2015 workers.org People’s victory in Freddie Gray trial Freddie Gray

By Colleen Gillan ed at a Sept. 2 protest along with mem- Racism and Baltimore bers of FIST (Fight Imperialism, Stand Together) and the PPA — helped lead a On Sept. 10, a protest called by the march around the courthouse despite po- Black tennis players People’s Power Assembly demanded jus- lice intimidation. tice for Freddie Gray and that the trial Earlier in the morning, a young wom- against the cops who killed him be held in an, Randi Gross, was arrested as she The Public Broadcasting Station re- she faced ugly racist epithets, most no- Baltimore. More than 100 demonstrators carried a sign in front of the courthouse. cently aired an “American Masters” doc- tably at an Indian Wells tournament in rallied outside of the Clarence Mitchell Pastor West, who also participated in last umentary on Althea Gibson, the first Af- California in 2001. She boycotted playing Courthouse in Baltimore, where a hear- week’s protests, was arrested the evening rican-American tennis star to break the tennis there until earlier this year. ing was held to decide upon a motion to before on a variety of charges, including color barrier in the virtually all-white, Russian Tennis Federation President change the trial venue to a county outside alleged inciting to riot during the Sept. 2 highly privileged professional ten- Shamil Tarpischev was forced to pub- of Baltimore city. march. nis world. She has been com- licly apologize last October to the Sharon Black of the People’s Power As- Tawanda Jones spoke of the necessity pared to Jackie Robinson. Williams sisters after he publicly sembly said, “The police murdered Fred- to keep fighting and never give up until Gibson was born in 1927 referred to them as “brothers” die Gray in Baltimore, and they need to justice is served. Her brother, Tyrone in Silver, S.C., into a share- and called them “scary” to look be held accountable in Baltimore. We re- West, was beaten to death by the police cropper family. To escape at. He was banned for a year member the case of Rodney King and the in 2013, and she has been fighting and dire poverty, her family by the Women’s Tennis Asso- trial in Simi Valley [Calif.] that led to the demanding justice for her brother for the moved to Harlem, N.Y., ciation and fined. Serena char- acquittal of the police who brutally beat past two years. where she started her ten- acterized his remarks as racist King.” After hours of protesting, the verdict nis competition as a teenag- and sexist. The Rev. C.D. Witherspoon continued, was announced: The cops who murdered er at the predominantly Black Serena may be ranked the num- Althea Gibson “What we are doing today is for all of the Freddie Gray will not have a change of American Tennis Association. ber one women’s tennis player, victims of police terror, including the venue and will be tried here in Baltimore, When she first stepped foot on the but not in terms of “marketability” in the murders and abuse of women, the LGBTQ where the brutality was committed. The manicured lawns of Forest Hills in corporate world. According to Forbes, community, everyone!” Along with With- protest ended as the crowd erupted in Queens, N.Y., to play tennis in 1950, she Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova is erspoon, Kwame Rose — who was arrest- cheers and celebration. was constantly bombarded with the the world’s highest-paid woman athlete in n---er epithet from racist spectators. terms of endorsements. Serena has beaten She eventually became the first Black Sharapova 18 out of 20 times. In terms of person to win the French championship the overall Forbes list of men and women, Protests hit police-state expo (today’s French Open) in 1956. In 1957, Sharapova is ranked 12th and Williams she won Wimbledon and U.S. National 20th. (today’s U.S. Open) championships. She On more than one occasion, Serena has won the same 1957 championships in been ridiculed in sexist terms in print and 1958 — a remarkable feat. social media for her powerful body image Gibson eventually quit tennis to take — being 5’9” and 150 pounds — but she more remunerative work because women has never been on the defensive about it. tennis players were paid next to nothing At 33 and 35 years old, respectively, in those days. She was contemplating sui- Serena and Venus Williams are just as cide when a close woman tennis friend dominant today as they were 18 years raised $1 million for Gibson from admir- ago, when they both played at the U.S. ing fans worldwide. Open as teenagers. When asked which athlete she would like to meet today, Ser- Despite racism, Williams sisters ena answered, “Muhammad Ali,” due to remain dominant his heroic stance in 1967 when he refused Serena and Venus Williams were mere to fight in Vietnam. toddlers when Gibson died in 1984. They both consider Gibson to be an important James Blake: standing while Black PHOTO: LEFTY GOMEZ role model, as she overcame the many Black tennis stars like Althea Gibson, obstacles she faced as a Black woman to the Williams sisters, Arthur Ashe and By Dave Welsh to militarize every aspect of our lives — reach the highest pinnacle of recognition others not only face racism on the ten- Oakland, Calif. from its war-making here and abroad, to in the racist tennis world, similar to those nis courts but off them as well. Take the the increasing presence of police in our faced by these amazing sisters. lesser-known James Blake, once ranked Urban Shield, a million-dollar expo schools, to the systemic murder of Black The Williams sisters began to play ten- the fourth-best tennis player in the world for training and sales of military hard- and Brown people at the hands of police nis at a very young age in Compton, Ca- before he retired in 2013. A surveillance ware to local police departments, was — stopping it would be a major victo- lif., thanks to their father, Richard, who tape caught Blake being viciously at- kicked out of Oakland last year after mil- ry against growing militarization, from coached them. Since the late 1990s, they tacked by a plainclothes New York police itant community actions including street Oakland to Ferguson to Baltimore.” have dominated women’s tennis in the officer outside of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in blockades. This year, the four-day event, Urban Shield was created in the wake most amazing way, with Venus winning a case of so-called mistaken identity. Po- called “the largest tactical exercise in the of Sept. 11 by the Department of Home- seven single Grand Slam titles and Sere- lice Commissioner William Bratton stat- nation” for domestic war games, retreat- land Security and its business partners. na winning 21 single titles. Serena came ed that the person that Blake resembled ed to the county fairgrounds in Pleasan- Mohamed Shekh of Critical Resistance very close to winning her could have been ton, Calif., but drew continued protests said that police use Sept. 11 as an excuse first calendar Grand Slam his “twin,” a re- on Sept. 11. to become militarized and to spy on peo- title at this U.S. Open (win- minder of the Several hundred people took over the ple. Urban Shield, he said, teaches law ning all four major compe- racist cliché that intersection outside the Alameda County enforcement how to “better control and titions in one year) and to all Black people Sheriff’s office for 90 minutes of guerrilla repress communities around the world.” tying with Steffi Graf at 22 look alike — es- theater, music and speeches to denounce The Urban Shield extravaganza will wins in the modern tennis pecially if they Urban Shield, which trains about 5,000 include police enacting “Active Shooter/ era. are Black young people from 100 agencies, including Immediate Action Team scenarios” nor- James Blake Serena’s mother, men. SWAT team tactics. A 13-year-old Lati- mally used in combat zones. Its sponsors Oracene Price, said that her The white cop na girl took the mic to tell how a police include the Homeland Security Depart- daughter felt so much pressure to become who attacked Blake, James Frascatore, SWAT team raided her home at 4:30 a.m. ment, Elephant Hunt Clothing (guns just the fourth woman in history to win was named in four civilian complaints and searched a baby sibling. “As soon and skulls), iRobot (unmanned ground the calendar Grand Slam. (ESPN, Sept. in a seven-month period of 2013. He has as I hit the door, I opened it, they start- vehicles), Mile High Shooting Accesso- 11) been named in two federal civil rights ed screaming at me to put my hands up, ries (sniper rifles), Winchester and other Both Williams sisters have faced hor- lawsuits as being among the group of offi- pointing rifles at me,” she said. “It seemed suppliers. rific racism even to the present day. Rich- cers accused of beating, pepper spraying like a movie.” The event is open to teams from any- ard Williams paid children to yell out and falsely arresting two Queens men in The Stop Urban Shield Coalition, where, including south Korea this year. racist epithets to his daughters on the separate incidents that year. which includes the Arab Resource & Or- In past years, teams from police or sher- Compton practice courts to prepare them Blake has demanded that Frascatore ganizing Center, the Anti-Police-Terror iff’s departments in Jacksonville, Fla.; for what they would face as adults, play- be fired. While Bratton was forced to Project, Bayan, Code Pink, Occupy Oak- Miami; Boston; Philadelphia; Chicago; ing professional tennis in front of largely publicly apologize to Blake, he should land, Critical Resistance, Workers World and Dallas have participated, in addition white crowds. also be pressured to arrest and charge Party and the War Resisters League, stat- to the French National Police and agen- As Serena began to rack up the single Frascatore with assault and battery ed: “While Urban Shield is just one front cies from the Kingdom of Jordan, Bah- titles on the U.S. Tennis Association tour, based on racism. in the fight against the state’s attempt rain and the settler state of Israel. workers.org Sept. 24, 2015 Page 7 BDS victory Veolia/Transdev ends all investment in Israel

By Terri Kay Jordan Valley along with its transportation companies. In late August, Transdev, a subsidiary of the giant, France-based, transnational The bigger they are, the harder they fall! corporation Veolia, sold its final 5 percent According to the Sept. 1 Newsweek, stake in CityPass, which runs Jerusalem “The BDS movement has Light Rail. This rail line runs trains driv- waged a seven-year boy- ing over illegally expropriated Palestin- cott campaign against ian land for the benefit of Zionist settlers Veolia — a company that on the West Bank. The trains bypass Pal- employs 179,508 people estinian neighborhoods. and boasts a market In 2009, the U.N. Human Rights capitalization of $10.9 Council described the light rail project as billion — and claims “built to service the settlements.” The rail that lost contracts across Boston Jewish Voice for Peace protest, Nov. 14, 2012. was designed to connect the western part Europe and the U.S. have of Jerusalem with the Israeli settlements cost the company approxi- Workers World paign are a win for all those fighting for surrounding the city in the occupied mately $20 billion.” spoke with Lara dignity and justice in the workplace, in Pam Africa with Steve Kirschbaum, West Bank. These settlements were built Additionally Morning- one of leaders of the Boston school Kiswani, exec- the schools and in the communities.” in violation of international law. star online reported that bus drivers union fired by Veolia. utive director Salutes Boston school bus drivers This was the last and final in a series between 2010-13 Veolia lost WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN of the Arab Re- of withdrawals/sales Veolia has made in or withdrew from waste contracts worth source and Organizing Center, about her Finally, addressing the struggle of the Israel and the Occupied Territories. It fol- over $15 billion worldwide. group’s victory. “It is becoming clearer to Boston School Bus Drivers union, United lows the sell-off of Veolia’s energy, water Riya Hassan, the European coordina- the world,” said Kiswani, “that the part- Steelworkers Local 8751 against Veolia/ and waste businesses there in April to the tor of the Boycott Divestment and Sanc- nership between the U.S. and Israel is Transdev, Kiswani added, “The Arab Re- private equity firm Oaktree Capital Man- tions National Committee, said, “Veolia is central to global policing and repression. source and Organizing Center salutes the agement. In September 2013, Veolia had still a target for union activists, environ- The impact on workers and Black and Boston school bus drivers in their fight for sold its local bus services subsidiary to mentalists and anti-privatization cam- Brown communities has made it easy for justice. We know all too well the role that the Afikim Company. Veolia’s bus compa- paigners, due to its record of anti-labor grassroots organizing to connect the dots corporations such as Veolia play in facil- ny had transported Israeli settlers to the policies and involvement in the privatiza- and build power across movements. itating and perpetuating oppression and illegal West Bank settlements, while ex- tion of public water. All those still being “The enormous Boycott, Divest and colonial violence globally. The Palestine cluding all Palestinian towns and riders. affected by Veolia’s policies and strug- Sanction victories are a reflection of just solidarity movement has fought them and Veolia acquired a damaging and toxic gling for accountability and reparations that. It is no longer OK for Israel to do won. And we know that the bus drivers’ reputation for its involvement in Israel, can continue to count on our solidarity. business as usual anywhere. State vio- demand for equity in education and in the which included transferring waste from The BDS movement takes cross-struggle lence is being challenged everywhere. workplace is a struggle of all people, and a Israel to occupied Palestinian land in the solidarity to heart.” The accomplishments of the Veolia cam- struggle that will be won.” What does Corbyn’s Labor Party victory mean?

By John Catalinotto sign of their nervousness that behind this economic equality. Sanders’ own short- Parliament to speak at a London rally of change in Labor’s leadership is a change comings — support for U.S. imperialism 50,000 people in solidarity with the ref- An electoral earthquake has shaken in the mood of the masses in Britain. It and Israel and his insensitivity to the ugees in Europe. Britain’s Labor Party. Jeremy Corbyn, means that workers and youth especially Black Lives Matter movement — may Corbyn has been one of the few Labor who, while taking consistent leftist and are fed up with politics as usual and are understate how ready his supporters are members of parliament to consistently anti-militarist positions as the repre- looking outside the box for solutions to to back an anti-war program and Afri- oppose all privatization. He has flouted sentative in Parliament of London’s Is- their crisis. can-American equality. the official Labor leadership in Parlia- lington North neighborhood since 1983, Britain was not the first country in ment to vote against all austerity — that was elected party leader by a landslide Europe to show that the working class is Corbyn’s history in the Labor Party is, all anti-worker measures. 60 percent of the vote against three other fed up. Expressions of this through vot- Corbyn has been virtually unknown in Within Labor’s group in Parliament, candidates. The Sept. 12 Guardian news- ing shifts have already taken place in the the United States, even within the radi- Corbyn got support from only 20 of the paper described Corbyn as “one of the following countries: cal movement. This writer first became 230 members. Betting odds against his most left-wing, anti-establishment lead- • Spain: The new anti-austerity party aware of him in November 2001, soon election were 200 to 1. Recent changes in ers in [Labor’s] history.” called Podemos got 8 percent in the after the U.S.-British invasion of Af- Labor’s voting rules, however, tripled the The next national election is scheduled 2014 elections and may win more. ghanistan. At a protest meeting in Ma- eligible rank-and-file voters to 500,000. for 2020. Corbyn’s election as leader of • Turkey: seating of the leftist-Kurdish drid, Spain, we represented the anti-war And he won support from some of the the number two party makes him head of electoral coalition known as the Peo- movements of our respective countries. major trade unions. The mass of rank- a shadow cabinet. His group will confront ple’s Democratic Party in Parliament. It was early in the post-9/11 imperial- and-file youth and worker votes over- the ruling Conservative Party and right- ist aggression that was to swallow up whelmed the Tony Blair-Gordon Brown • Greece: victory of the social-dem- ist Prime Minister David Cameron. Cor- Afghanistan and Iraq under George W. “New Labor” parliamentary faction. ocratic Syriza party last January, byn’s election is a rebuff by the working Bush in the U.S. and Labor’s Tony Blair As Friedrich Engels wrote in “The Or- despite its now obvious limitations. class and youth in Britain to the politics in Britain — two war criminals. igin of the Family, Private Property and of anti-worker austerity and imperialist • Scotland: Scottish National Party Corbyn was impressive with his lack the State” in 1884, all elections can do is war that has characterized both Conser- winning 56 of 59 seats in the General of swagger. He showed more sensitivity provide a “gauge of the maturity of the vative and recent Labor governments. Election in May, which was also at least to helping the meeting be a success than working class. It cannot and never will Whatever its impact on the 2020 elec- partly a rebellion against the British to spotlighting his talk. He went on in be anything more in the modern state.” tion, Corbyn’s victory opens the possibil- Labor Party’s pro-austerity positions subsequent years to become a leader of Since that time, the capitalist ruling ity to mobilize both mass sentiment and and a harbinger of the latest change. the Stop the War Coalition, and current- class has tightened its hold on elections street demonstrations to oppose austeri- In the United States, Bernie Sanders’ ly is chair of that organization, which and on state power. ty and war. large and energetic rallies are also a sign has been the leading anti-war group in No matter how principled the indi- The Conservatives have already react- that a large number of people, especially Britain. In January 2003 he spoke at a vidual, a Labor Party leader who doesn’t ed by calling Corbyn “a threat to nation- youth, are fed up with politics as usual major anti-war rally we helped organize surrender to the ruling class will face al security.” This frontal attack is itself a and want to fight austerity and increase in Washington against the oncoming war enormous hostility from those who con- on Iraq. trol the enormous banking, media, police Corbyn was the first to invite Gerry and army power of British imperialism, Help build Workers World Adams of Sinn Fein to the British Parlia- including the monarchy. A much differ- ment as early as 1984. He is also known ent kind of struggle — a class struggle Workers Word Newspaper publishes the kind of information for supporting rights for lesbian, gay, bi, — will be needed to actually change this you’ve come to expect: hard-hitting, anti-racist, anti-sexist, pro- trans and queer communities. balance of forces. LGBTQ and pro-working class truth. Corbyn also opposed NATO’s 2011 at- Nevertheless, Corbyn’s election to La- But Workers World can’t do it without your support. Please join tacks on Libya and its current aggressive bor Party leader shows that a large sec- the Workers World Supporter Program and make a regular dona- stance on Ukraine. He spoke out against tion of the masses in Britain — which tion, no matter how modest. Go to workers.org/donate/ or send the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 2006 now has a broad, multinational working checks to Workers World, 147 W. 24th St., 2nd floor, New York, NY and its bombings of Gaza in 2008 and class — is ready for struggle. Let’s hope 10011, with your name and address; write “For WWSP.” 2014. On Sept. 12, just hours follow- this “maturity” develops and spreads PHOTO: WISCONSIN BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE We appreciate your help in growing the revolutionary media. ing his election as Labor leader, he left throughout the imperialist countries. 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¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 57 Núm. 38 24 de septiembre, 2015 $1 más obtener Para Stopfbi.net. a vaya información, Rasmea Odeh. Rasmea Odeh habla en contra de los crímenes de la policía

4 de septiembre 2015 Nosotras/os los palestinos, hemos estado Exigimos además, la rendición de cuen- Estamos a favor de la justicia social y la luchando durante casi 70 años bajo la ilegal tas de la policía y el fin del perfil racial WW-Mundo Obrero reproduce aquí un liberación de este país, de la misma mane- ocupación militar colonial y las prácticas discriminatorio. Es por eso que estamos discurso de la activista palestina Rasmea ra que mi pueblo ha dedicado sus vidas a la opresivas y racistas de Israel. Continúan aquí como endosantes de la campaña para Odeh, originalmente distribuido por el liberación de Palestina. La lucha del mov- aterrorizando a nuestro pueblo y cometien- establecer un Consejo Civil de Responsab- Fight Back News Service. Odeh habló en imiento de Liberación Negra en este país, y do crímenes brutales. Así que sabemos de ilidad Policial. Por eso estamos apoyando la marcha por el control comunitario de las luchas anti-coloniales en África, América la rabia, la indignación y la motivación para el desafío de Acusamos de Genocidio a las la policía del 29 de agosto en Chicago. Latina y Asia siempre nos han inspirado. ……y levantarse contra las políticas policiales políticas de “Parar y Registrar” del Depar- Fight Back News Service insta a ir a Cin- reconocemos que la Liberación Negra en este racistas que empujan a nuestras comuni- tamento de Policía de Chicago, y por qué cinnati-Ohio el 14 de octubre cuando los país conducirá a la liberación de todas/os. dades a los márgenes de la sociedad. mi organización, la Red de Acción Ára- argumentos de la apelación de su injusta Por último, quisiera decir que estoy muy Los crímenes de la policía contra las/os be-Americana, ha puesto en marcha una condena serán escuchados en la corte orgullosa de ver que la mayoría es gente negros en EUA son casi idénticos a los que campaña dirigida por jóvenes para detener federal. Para obtener más información, joven. Ustedes están liderando y propor- experimentamos en Palestina a manos de la represión y discriminación racial contra vaya a Stopfbi.net. cionado el aire fresco que nuestras comuni- los israelíes. Es por ello que hablamos de las/os árabes y musulmanes. dades necesitan. Junten sus recursos con la “Es increíblemente poderoso ver a miles la lucha conjunta, y por eso es nuestra re- Creo que nuestros desafíos son difíciles. sabiduría de la generación anterior; con las de personas reunidas aquí para alzar nues- sponsabilidad apoyar las luchas de las/os No es fácil desmontar el racismo y la experiencias de sus aliados; y con otras co- tras voces para detener los crímenes de oprimidos en este país, en Palestina, y en opresión nacional. Detener los crímenes de munidades para asegurarse de que puedan la policía, para exigir un Consejo Civil de todo el mundo. Nosotras/os, palestinos y la policía no será tarea sencilla. Pero no nos lograr los sueños y metas que les pertenecen Responsabilidad Policial, y para seguir árabes, estamos de pie en solidaridad in- deben asustar los desafíos mientras creamos a ustedes y a todas/os nosotros. Sigan orga- luchando por la justicia, porque todas/os condicional con la valiente comunidad ne- en nuestros derechos y los principios que de- nizándose…. hasta que logremos un Conse- tenemos las mismas esperanzas y sueños y gra, que como todas/os ustedes, se levanta fendemos, y luchemos juntas/os, pues así nos jo Civil de Responsabilidad Policial. ¡Sé que creemos en los mismos principios de liber- en contra de todos los casos de viciosa vio- hacemos más fuertes y más eficaces. Entonc- juntas/os lograremos esta meta”! tad, justicia e igualdad. lencia policial en este país. es podremos alcanzar nuestras metas. Guerras de Estados Unidos causan crisis de refugiados

Por Sara Flounders Ninguna de estas guerras fue con fines hu- narias para destruir la revolución. Duran- las regiones del sudeste de Ucrania que huy- manitarios. Cada una es fuente de súper ga- te tres décadas, el azotado Afganistán lid- en de los conflictos armados en las regiones Las guerras de Estados Unidos, las san- nancias en contratos militares para EUA y eró las listas de refugiados de guerra de la de Donetsk y Lugansk. ciones y la desestabilización planificada, son las corporaciones de la Unión Europea ... y ONU. Durante la década de 1980, había 3,5 Refugiados anteriores de guerras de EUA la causa abrumadora de la oleada de cientos la ruina de millones de personas. millones de refugiadas/os afganos en Paki- de miles de refugiadas/os de guerra que La estrategia de Washington en cada una stán y 2,0 millones en Irán. Las guerras de EUA en el sudeste de inundan las fronteras de Europa y el mar de estas guerras imperialistas, ha sido la de La ocupación de Afganistán por EUA/ Asia desgarraron Vietnam, Camboya y Mediterráneo. Las principales potencias de encender las diferencias sectarias, étnicas, OTAN en el 2001 creó nuevas oleadas de re- Laos en los años 1960 y 1970. El esfuerzo Europa y la OTAN han colaborado con el im- nacionales y religiosas. Esto significa orga- fugiadas/os. Actualmente hay 1,5 millones de por dominar la región fracasó, pero la de- perialismo norteamericano en cada guerra. nizar milicias contendientes, enfrentar un refugiadas/os afganos en Pakistán, un millón strucción masiva dejó 4 millones de muer- Los medios corporativos están publican- grupo contra otro para romper el orgullo en Irán y millones de personas desplazadas tos, millones de mutilados y 2 millones de do imágenes dolorosas de niños ahogados, nacional y la resistencia unificada. Divide y dentro del propio Afganistán. refugiadas/os vietnamitas y camboyanos barcos que se hunden, noticias de camiones vencerás es la estrategia que se remonta a las En Libia, siete meses de bombardeos desesperados por migrar. sofocantes e informes de miles acampados guerras de EUA contra los pueblos indígenas EUA/OTAN en 2010 destruyeron toda la in- La financiación de milicias, guerreristas en las estaciones de tren y a lo largo de las en el subcontinente de América del Norte. fraestructura de un estado moderno donde y narcos era la política estadounidense en carreteras. Quitan estos informes de contex- El Pentágono cínicamente apunta contra el petróleo nacionalizado ayudó a alcanzar el Centroamérica en la década de 1980. La to omitiendo la causa de la crisis de refugia- la infraestructura civil, incluyendo redes más alto nivel de vida en África. Cientos de ONU estima que un tercio de la fuerza lab- dos. Algunas personas temen que la enorme eléctricas, depósitos de combustible, riego, miles de trabajadores de toda África habían oral de El Salvador huyó del país en la década cobertura de prensa podría ser una cínica purificación del agua, saneamiento, indus- encontrado trabajo en Libia, que también de 1980. Más de medio millón llegó a EUA. preparación para justificar una nueva ofen- trias locales y especialmente las escuelas, habían proporcionado ayuda para el desar- La guerra para ampliar la OTAN y siva militar por parte de países de la OTAN en un esfuerzo para desmoralizar y desori- rollo económico en África. desmembrar Yugoslavia, en Bosnia en contra Siria. entar a la población. Washington arma y Al apelar por asistencia, el presidente de 1995 y en Serbia en 1999, de nuevo usó empodera a las fuerzas más reaccionarias Túnez Moncef Marzouki explicó que dos la destrucción de la infraestructura civil y caudillos corruptos como colaboradores. Aviones EUA bombardean Libia millones de libias/os, o un tercio de la po- e inflamó las diferencias sectarias. Según blación pre-intervención OTAN de Libia, se Las dimensiones reales de la catástrofe Los refugiados de las guerras el Alto Comisionado de la ONU para los humanitaria están en gran parte ocultas. ha refugiado en Túnez. El número es equiv- actuales de EUA alente a una quinta parte de la población de Refugiados, de 3,7 - 4,0 millones de per- Las/os 340.000 refugiados que han llegado sonas fueron desplazadas, convirtién- a Europa, constituyen sólo el 3 por ciento de Siria tiene hoy el mayor número de perso- Túnez. dose en refugiados. las más de 10 millones de personas despla- nas desplazadas por la guerra. Las sanciones Hoy en día, Sudán del Sur tiene el zadas que apenas sobreviven en campos de de EUA a partir del 2010 fueron seguidas en mayor número de refugiadas/os en África. Sin olvidar los más de 60 años de fi- refugiados en Siria o en países limítrofes. el 2011 por el armamento y financiamiento Según la Agencia de Refugiados de la ONU, nanciamiento y equipamiento de Israel Estos países vecinos también están deses- de las fuerzas mercenarias por EUA/OTAN hay 2,25 millones de refugiadas/os y una por EUA que facilitó la expropiación de tabilizados por el aumento de refugiados y y Arabia Saudita. Esta guerra ha destruido espiral de guerra civil en ese país rico en cientos de miles de personas de Palesti- las sanciones contra Siria que repercuten en un país anteriormente próspero donde la po- petróleo. Como explicó el New York Times na, el problema de refugiados más largo blación tenía una moderna infraestructura, el 3 de enero de 2014, Sudán del Sur es en toda la región. y prolongado del mundo. BADIL, un cen- atención médica gratuita y de calidad y edu- muchos sentidos una “creación de EUA, Los gobiernos europeos desestimaron tro de investigación y apoyo a derechos los estragos causados por la guerra, siem- cación gratuita. cercenada de una Sudán devastada por de las/os refugiados, estima que hay más pre y cuando la crisis se mantuviera fuera Ahora, casi la mitad de la población siria la guerra en un referéndum en gran parte de sus puertas. de 23 millones se encuentra desplazada. Más orquestado por EUA, estando sus insti- de 7 millones de refugiadas/os y despla- Las condiciones calamitosas de las/os re- de 4 millones han huido a países vecinos. tuciones frágiles nutridas con miles de mil- zados palestinos. Esta cifra incluye las/ fugiados se agravaron porque el exiguo Pro- Las fuerzas sectarias, mercenarias y fanáti- lones de dólares en ayuda estadounidense”. os 4,2 millones de palestinos registrados grama de Alimentos de la ONU ha agotado cas dentro de Siria ahora alcanzan cerca de Más de 2 millones de refugiadas/os en en la Agencia para la Ayuda a los Refu- sus fondos y ahora está cortando a cientos 125.000 miembros, en miles de bandas que Ucrania representan la crisis más reci- giados de Palestina en el Cercano Oriente ente, causada por la expansión a las fron- de miles de refugiadas/os en los campos de compiten de unos 80 o más países. (OOPS) de la ONU y a otras/os palestinos La guerra de Estados Unidos en Irak teras de Rusia de la alianza militar de la refugiados administrados por la ONU en desplazados en 1967 y aún desplazadas/ desde 1990 hasta el 2003 incluyó la de- OTAN comandada por EUA. Aunque Wash- Jordania, Turquía, Irak y Siria. La agencia os en el interior de Israel. de la ONU necesita solo $236 millones para strucción masiva y sistemática de la infrae- ington no proporciona fondos para alimen- Mientras miles de millones de dólares mantener el programa financiado hasta structura y 13 años de sanciones económi- tar refugiados de sus guerras de agresión, noviembre. cas. La invasión y ocupación de Irak por el gobierno estadounidense gastó $5 mil están siendo asignados para la guerra, Según la NationalPriorities.org, el gobi- EUA y Bretaña ocasionó ruina catastrófica millones para financiar las fuerzas fascistas el Programa Mundial de Alimentos sus- erno estadounidense ha gastado eso y más y fomentó violencia sectaria desconocida y redes sociales que derrocaron al gobierno pendió a un millón de refugiadas/os ira- en guerras en Irak, Afganistán y Siria cada en la historia iraquí. Las/os refugiados y electo en Ucrania. La subsecretaria de esta- quíes y millones de refugiadas/os sirios 28 horas desde el año 2001. desplazados internos sumaron 4,7 millones do Victoria Nuland incluso se jactó de esta de recibir $14 mensuales en cupones de financiación. El gobierno golpista de Kiev El mayor número de refugiadas/os son de personas. Casi la mitad de las/os refu- alimentos. Esto confirma en los términos giados iraquíes recibieron refugio en una ahora libra una guerra contra los antifas- de Siria, Irak, Afganistán, Libia y Sudán del más violentos que los gobernantes capital- sobrecargada Siria. cistas en el este de Ucrania. Sur. El poder corporativo estadounidense, istas son incapaces de resolver el desastre impulsado por su insaciable motivación de Desde la Revolución de Saur en 1978, que Según las estadísticas del Servicio Fed- humanitario que han creado. La prepa- asegurar el control de los recursos valiosos derrocó a la monarquía en Afganistán, el eral de Migración Ruso, un total de 2,6 mil- y hacer retroceder cambios progresistas, Pentágono ha proporcionado más de $3 mil lones de ucranianas/os están actualmente ración de guerra da ganancias. La distri- tenía en la mira cada uno de estos países. millones para las fuerzas contrarrevolucio- en territorio ruso. Cerca de 1 millón son de bución de alimentos excedentes no.