FEBRUARY 20, 1981 75 CENTS VOLUME 45/NUMBER 6
A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE Top union .leader rips aid to Salvador junta lAM president's stand boosts antidraft fi ht ·
January demonstration in Austin, Texas, reflects mounting opposition to U.S. role in El Salvador. See editorial, page 2, and statement by Machinists' president William Wlnplslnger, page 7. Karolyn Kerry (1910-1981) Working class fighter -PAGE 12 In Our Opinion VOLUME 45/NUMBER 6 FEBRUARY 20, 1981 CLOSING NEWS DATE-FEB. 11
America, and a number of other labor figures that dragged the whites from their car and signed a February 3 advertisement in the New beat them to death. York Times urging an end to military aid to Samuel Lightsey was convicted of second Antidraft movement the junta. degree murder and faces life. Leonard Capers Officials of the United Auto Workers and and his brother Lawrence were convicted of gaining support lAM are scheduled to address the Detroit ·third-degree murder and face fifteen-year -The struggle against the draft has scored antidraft conference. The more than 20 million terms. important gains. And it is winning the support union members in the United States represent The principal witness against them admit of powerful forces, particularly in the unions. the most powerful source of support for the ted that while she "might have said" pre The antidraft conference being held in Detroit struggle against registration and the draft. viously that she had seeri one of the Capers the weekend· of February 13 should mark Catholic and Protestant religious groups brothers beating the whites she couldn't actu another step forward. that have been speaking out against U.S. ally testify to it. On the basis of what she The Carter administration's imposition of policy in El Salvador are also a valuable assertedly saw from her apartment balcony, draft registration was a fiasco. As soon as component of the movement. she could only testify they "were in the Carter announced his plans, a movement of The arms Reagan is pouring into El Salva crowd." opposition sprang up across the country. dor in an effort to save a hated and discredited Under police "interrogation," a fourth de In addition to the many who registered government are a reminder of why Washing fendant, Patrick Moore, said he had stood over under protest, hundreds of thousands refused. ton is still pressing toward the draft. The one of the victims with a gun and fired at Opposition to registration has been so wide rulers of this country want to be able to use him "pointcblank" three or four times. another generation of young people as cannon spread that the government has been unable The only problem was that no bullet wounds fodder in Central America, if arms shipments thus far to take any action against those who were found on any of the victims. Moore was prove ins'ufficient to crush a popular revolt. did not register. acquitted. · The antidraft movement has an appropriate The attempt to whip up war hysteria against Last October, James McCollough was con response: Iran failed also. Washington had to settle the victed in the death of the fourth white and "No draft! No war! No U.S. intervention in hostage situation peacefully. sentenced to fifteen years. El Salvador!" Now the aritidraft movement faces a new The state's principal witness against McCol challenge and a new opportunity: opposition to lough is legally blind. Washington's stepped-up military intervention She says she "can see pretty good in the in El Salvador. Outrage at the U.S. govern daytime, but at night not at all." The incident ment's support to a blood-drenched junta, happened in late afternoon. responsible for more than 14,000 murders, is 'Justice' in Miami attracting new forces to the fight against war When Black people fall victim to racist Two more Black youth, Sam Williams and and the draft. . violence, it's business as usual as far as the Lonnie Bradley, still face trial, as does Natha Growing opposition to U.S. policy among authorities are concerned. But when whites die niel Lane, eighteen. Authorities will try to get working people is reflected by union leaders and there's any possible way to hang it on the death penalty in his case. who have called for ending U.S. support to the Blacks, prosecutors proceed with deadly vigor. These vengeful racist prosecutions have a junta. Their actions are in defiance of AFL The recent convictions of four Black youth particularly ominous character in that they CIO President Lane Kirkland's support to U.S. in the deaths of the several whites during come at a moment of rising violence against policy in El Salvador. Miami's Black rebellion last spring are a case Blacks. Fifteen Black children have been In a January 26 statement, William Winpi in point. murdered in Atlanta, and police say they are singer, president of the 950,000-member Inter That rebellion was touched off when an all without a clue. In the Buffalo area, eight national Association of Machinists, called for white jury exonerated the cops who had mur Blacks have been murdered. Again, not one ending U.S. aid to the junta, blasting its dered Arthur McDuffie, a Black business exec arrest. violations of human rights. utive. There is a growing demand among Black This is an extension ofWinpisinger's. opposi A massive force of police was sent into people for a halt to the racist killings. This tion to the draft and draft registration, which Liberty City, Miami's principal Black com was manifest during the demonstration of · was a feature of his report to the lAM conven munity, to crush the outburst of rage that 100,000 in Washington on Martin Luther King tion last September. The lAM also provided followed the acquittal of the cops. According to Day. office space and other assistance to organizers official count, eighteen people died. Of these, A number of unions have taken their stand of the antidraft demonstration of 25,000 last four were white. The remainder were Blacks, in support of antiracist protests. But more is March 22. killed by cops or white vigilante snipers. needed. The full weight of organized labor is The lAM is far from alone in its stand. So far, not one person has been arrested in essential. On December 22 the International Long the killings of the Blacks. Most immediately, it should be demanded of shoremen's and Warehousemen's Union, re But four Black youth have already .been Miami authorities that Black youth already presenting dockworkers on the West Coast, convicted in the deaths of the four whites and convicted be exonerated. The pending trials announced a boycott of all military cargo to El · three more face trial in the same deaths. should be dropped. Salvador. On February 6, three young men were found Russell Gibbons, editor of Steelabor, the guilty in the death of three of the whites. Prosecute the racist instigators of violence, newspaper of the United Steelworkers of According to police, they were among a crowd not their victims.
The Militant Militant Highlights This Week Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE Business Manager: NANCY ROSENSTOCK Editorial Staff: Nan Bailey. Nelson Blackstock. Fred Felqman. Nelson Gonzalez. William Gottlieb. Sue Hagen, Suzanne Haig, Osborne 4 Auto worker challenges Mayor Koch Hart. Diane Jacobs, Harry Ring, Vivian Sahner, Priscilla Schenk, Stu Singer. 5 Gov't tries to dismiss SWP suit Pubtished weekly except two weeks in 6 Libertarians & draft fight August, the last week of December. 9 Papa Reagan & your allowance and the first week of January by the 10 Behind new court deals with FBI Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles 19 Lourdes Casal dies Lane, New York, N .Y. 10014. Tele phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243- 20 SWP vote totals 6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. 21 Communist Party on Poland Correspondence concerning sub 22 Anti-Klan Network sets offensive scriptions or changes of address 23 SWP hits Dallas tax measure should be addressed to The Militant 24 SOCialist coal miners meet Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. 8 What's Going On Second Congress of Second-class postage paid at New 11 Soclailat Fund York, N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 26 Leamlng About Socialism Cuban Communist Party a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first- Our Rerolutlonary Heritage This gathering, long awaited in Cuba, reaffirmed support class mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: 27 Letters to revolutionary struggles in Central America, the $60.00. Write for airmail rates to all If You Uke This Paper . . . Caribbean, and Africa. The Cuban leaders summed up two other countries. years of deepening working-class consciousness and Signed articles by contributors do not neces· sarily represent the Militant's views. These are struggle in Cuba itself, and discussed how to continue expressed in editorials. deepening the revolution. Pages 14-19. 2 650 at NY rally for SWP suit 'We will By Nelson Blackstock NEW YORK-More than 650 sup porters of the socialist suit against not let government spying and harassment attended a rally here February 7. They came from as far as Virginia, Massa gov't run chusetts, and Pennsylvania. Featured speaker at the rally was Andrew Pulley, 1980 Socialist Workers Party candidate for president of the over us~ United States. Following are excerpts from Also speaking were Lucius Walker, messages of support to the New executive director of the Interreligious York rally for the socialist law Foundation for Community Organiz suit. · ing (IFCO) and a leader of the Na tional Anti-Klan Network; Constance Lucius Walker Gilbert Neiss, assistant coordinator for IFCO, Anti-Klan Network action of the National Organization I come tonight to add my small for Women in New Jersey; and Alison but enthusiatic support to the SWP Beckley, one of fifteen Lockheed work suit, which is a suit, in our judg ers fired for their union activity and ment, in defense of not simply the political views. SWP but in defense of the Bill of Chairing the rally was Wells Todd, Rights, the constitutional rights of who announced his candidacy for ma yor of New York on the SWP ticket. Todd is a member of United Auto Workers Local 664 at the General Militant/Lou Howort Motors plant in Tarrytown, New York. Andrew Pulley explained how socialist suit fits into political context of working-class Todd was introduced by Susan Wald, answer to rulers' assault on rights and standard of living. one of several Brooklyn Navy Yard workers who won their jobs back after go to trial March 16. The rally here is ment will have a balanced budget? being fired because of their pol'itical part of a series of events to win sup "Aren't they worrried about whether views. Wald announced that she is the port. Socialists are explaining how the they will have a job? SWP candidate for City Council. suit fits into the context of world "Most workers have never seen a The rally heard greetings sent by politics and the struggles of the Ameri balanced personal budget anyway! We David Cortright, director of SANE and can working class today. are all debt slaves. We never get a coordinator of the First National Andrew Pulley opened by noting caught up. We never have and never Antidraft Conference; Phil Wheaton, "the potential for building support for will under the present set-up." director of the Ecumenical Program for the common fight against the govern Inter-American Communication and ment's undemocratic policies." Strip away confusion Action; Mary Alice Theiler, president Pulley pointed to the recent endorse "One of the things we'll do in the of the National Lawyers Guild; Jim ment of Douglas Fraser, president of course of this trial-and in the pages of the UAW, as one indication of a chang the Militant and on the job-is break ing political climate. down and blow away all of this obfus LUCIUS WALKER "At the coming trial," Pulley said, cation and confusion promoted by the $34,258 raised "our eyes will be on the most impor language of the capitalist politicians tant jury of all-the American and· and media. all of us in this room, and of An important feature of the East world working class. "Working people are not fools,'' Pul persons in the American society, be Coast rally was the enthusiastic "We want to undress the U.S. ruling ley said. "They sense that Reagan is they socialist or even capitalists, or response to an appeal by· Wells class and its government before the serving only the interest of the na people of other persuasions. Todd for contributions to the eyes of the American people. We want tion's billionaires. They see the remov For what the SWP in this suit $75,000 Socialist Fund. them to know 'What most of the world al of limits on domestic oil prices as a fights against is government mis A total of $34,258 was pledged knows all too well: that Washington is bonanza for the oil czars and a terrible conduct: the invasion of the rights, to the fund, in donations rang the main promoter of terror, murder, burden for themselves. They suspect under the existing constitution of ing from $1 to $2,000. This will go a and barbarism in the world today." only the rich will benefit from the tax the United States of America, of long way toward helping explain The SWP leader noted that Alex cut-not working people. That big mer citizens and individuals to freely what socialists stand for as the ander Haig, the new secretary of state, chants will profit from the gigantic associate and express political trial ()f the U.S. government for said that the policy of the Reagan war budget. And the whole ruling class opinions and thoughts without gov spying approaches. Administration-will be to "combat ter will gain from the draft and a war to ernment harassment. An additional highlight of the rorism" -as opposed to "promoting protect their 'right' to exploit human To some that may not seem like a weekend was an educational con human rights," as Carter claimed to ity." particularly important fight to ference, featuring classes on Far do. Pulley pointed to the lack of opposi fight. But I am appreciative that rell Dobb's new book, Revolution "In other words, he'll simply talk tion in Congress to Reagan's objec the SWP sees this as an important ary Continuity, and on working about combating terrorism as he arms tives. "Bipartisan support has been fight to fight, and has invested class defense strategy. those who are terrorizing the masses of achieved for all of his appointees, in time and energy and resources to people," Pulley said. cluding the Watergate crook Haig. give leadership in this fight on "As for Carter's human rights, ask Democrats and Republicans are united behalf of all of us. Haughton, director of Harlem Fight the people of El Salvador. Or the on the need to sock it to the working And this suit is an illustration of Back; and author Alix Kates Shulman. relatives of the murdered American class,'' he said. the creative use of the law to fight (See accompanying feature for excerpts back, to say hell no we will not lie nuns." "To do this they must violate and from some of the messages.) Reagan's policy at home is consist down and let this government run The rally was held at the Ethical undermine our democratic rights." us over. ent with his policy abroad, Pulley ex Pulley linked this to the acquittal of Culture Society. Algernon Black plained. opened the meeting, saying, "I have KKK murderers in North Carolina, the Referring to Reagan's recent eco recent acquittals of cops who kill welcomed many groups here over the David Cortright nomic address, Pulley said, "Isn't it Blacks and Latinos, and the murders years but none have I been happier to strange how they speak in such lan of Black children in Atlanta, and Director of SANE welcome than yourselves." Black re guage: 'balanced budget,' 'solvency.' Black men in Buffalo. called his work on behalf of the labor Coordinator of "Is this really what the working "Firing union militants, shooting movement in the 1930s. the first National class is concerned about? Is this really into, vandalizing, and burglarizing the The Socialist Workers Party and what the unemployed auto workers are offices of the SWP and NAACP are all Antldraft Conference Young Socialist Alliance suit is set to worried about? Whether the govern- Continued on page 4 Despite efforts by 'the FBI to disrupt your party and the move ment against the war in Vietnam as a whole, the American people mobilized and stopped that war. The Socialist Workers Party and Read the ideas the Young Socialist Alliance played an important role in the education and mobilization of that -they're out to suppress movement. Your suit against the govern 0 $2 for eight issues (new readers only) ment's secret police has made us all In a courtroom in New York City one .of the most impor more aware of the tricks the gov tant trials of the 1980s will open on March 16. To be 0 $5 for three months 0 $24 for one year 0 New 0 Renewal ernment will use to stop the Ameri fought out will be the right of American workers to hold so can people from becoming in cialist ideas and to put those ideas into practice. Name formed and organized. This trial is an inspiration and Unfortunately, they're not going to let you watch it on Address-~------ City ------,------ an education for the new move ment now developing against the live television. But you can read about it in the Militant. State -----~-Zip Subscribe now. government's current war drive, 14 Charles Lane. New York. New York 10014 the antidraft movement. It will Continued on page 4
THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 27, 1981 3 Calls for a labor ~ttY.. Black auto worker challenges Koch in NY race By Barbara Mutnick than it was a few years ago-a better bonds. But for most New Yorkers, NEW YORK-Wells Todd, Socialist place in which to work, to raise a Koch's offensive has been a series of Workers candidate for mayor of New family, to visit, and to spend leisure cruel blows." . York, chaired the February 7 rally time. If we continue to do what is The end result, Todd said, "is not a against government spying. necessary,. and much of that will still city 'better than it was a few years ago' A thirty-four-year old Black assem be difficult, New York City, which is but a city where, if you don't live on bly-line worker at General Motors'. already the best of places, will be Fifth Avenue and travel in a chauffeur Tarrytown, New York, plant, Todd was better still." driven limousine, the quality of life has born in the Bronx. He is an Army "A 'better place' for whom?" asked plummeted. Koch's reelection cam veteran and has worked in the gar Todd. "Not for the more than 50,000 paign is arrogantly offering more of ment industry and as a hospital city workers laid off since 1975-and the same for workers in this city." worker in New York. Koch promises plenty more to join Central to Todd's campaign will be Now active in United Auto Workers those ranks. Not for Black New his proposal that the city unions coun Local664, Todd helped get a resolution Yorkers who have twenty-nine fewer ter Koch's attack by forming a party of passed in that union to prevent the hospitals in their communities. their own, a labor party. closing of Harlem's Sydenham Hospi "Not for the three Blacks and one "A single union could get the ball tal. Hispanic who were stabbed to death on rolling, inspiring ~he l~bor move~~nt Todd was nominated by a New York the streets by white racists in De- and Black and ~1spa~nc commumtles SWP membership meeting the week cember or for the dozens of Blacks and throughout the c1ty With new hope for end of February 1. The party also Hispan'ics like young Donald Wright, fighting back," said Todd at a recent named six other candidates: Susan who are ~unned down by New York meeting in New York. Wald, a pipefitter at the Brooklyn City cops. SWP mayoral candidate Wells Todd Navy Yard, for president of the city "Not for the parents of these victims, Todd attended the founding confer council; Raul Gonzalez, a New York whose cries for justice Koch answers ence of the National Black Independ City transit worker, for comptroller; with a call to reinstitute the death ent Political Party last November. He may well be the candidate of both also points to that development as a and Ken Milner, a Black mechanic at major capitalist parties this time penalty for 'cop killers.' Exxon's Linden, New Jersey, petro "Not for the millions of transit riders concrete example of the sort of political around. The banks and other big fi action all working people need to chemical plant, for Manhattan bo nancial institutions like Koch, as much packed into fewer, dirtier, more dilapi rough president. dated buses and subways. take--action independent of the parties for his brazen, unapologetic style in of the ruling rich. Nominated for city council were Ray making cuts as for the cuts themselves. "And certainly New York City is not Markey, a librarian and longtime 'a better place .. . in which to raise a Not long before Koch was elected, Other demands of Todd's mayoral leader of local 1930 of the New York family' for the tens of thousands faced Big MAC, the Municipal Assistance campaign are: money for jobs and Public Library Guild; Diane Wang, a with no heat who, under Koch's admin Corporation, was formed. It is this social services, not war; open up Syd Chinese-American garment worker; istration, had little recourse but to unelected body of bankers and busi enham Hospital and nationalize Con and Miriam McCray, a Black garment shiver, get sick, even freeze to death ness magnates that has final say over Edison to put a halt to profit gouging; worker and leader of the Young Social d:uring the record cold spells this win New York City budgets. shut down all nuclear power plants; for ist Alliance. ter. Koch's (and Big MAC's) proposed the Equal Rights Amendment and Todd is challenging incumbent 1982 budget includes a surplus. Pres "Koch has made New York a 'better abortion rights; and halt government mayor Edward Koch. enting this budget, Koch gloated: place' for the minority who have mil ·interest payments to the banks and Elected as a Democrat in 1977, Koch "New York City's a better place now lions to invest in tax-free municipal . corporations.
coal miners set for Harrisburg, Penn sylvania, on March 28. Their courage astonishes me and • • .rally "They are afraid that word of these ... messages I wish them all of the best for this, Continued from page 3 things might get around-that it might Continued from page- 3 for fighting a battle for all of us. part of this antidemocratic drive that catch on.'' Pulley explained that the socialist utmer in a new period of political the ruling rich is on," he said. freedom. suit should be seen in the context of Mary Allee Theiler Media lies these developments and others, such I wish you all success and invite all in attendance at this rally to One element of the ruling class offen as the miners contract fight, this President, National night to attend the first conference sive is the news media's greater tend spring. Lawyers Guild of the antidraft movement next ency to distort or fail to report signifi Many workers sense some sort of weekend in Detroit. The Socialist Workers Party ha1:1 cant political developments, Pulley coming disaster, he said. They are been a pioneer in exposing the said. Examples include slanted report looking for answers. The trial this government's surveillance and ha ing of events in El Salvador; down spring will be a forum from which to Connie Gilbert-Neiss rassment of those that try to exer p1aying the biggest Black rights march reach workers with socialist answers. NOW-New Jersey cise their basic democratic rights. since 1963, the 100,000 in Washington In both the SWP case and the January 15 who demanded a holiday Who we are Assistant Coordinator case of the National Lawyers for Martin Luther King's birthday; "We are going to proudly state who For Action Guild, the efforts of so-called law virtually ignoring the National Black and what we are: advocates and partic The FBI interference into the enforcement agencies have turned Independent Political Party; and not ipants in the new Black political party. women's liberation movement has up no evidence of illegal activities reporting the government's proclama Promoters of the labor party discus been very well documented, in part by the groups that the government tion of its right to spy on anyone (in a sion in the unions. Advocates of unilat through the discovery process for targeted. document submitted as part of pretrial eral nuclear disarmament and shut the Socialist Workers Party suit. On the contrary, they reveal that preparation for the socialist suit). ting down all nuclear power plants. The parallels between the the government has spied on and Pulley contrasted this to the "orgy of Champions of the fight for the Equal women's liberation movement and disrupted our organizations be coverage of the returning hostages.'' Rights Amendment and the right to the Socialist Workers Party are all cause of our objectives. "However, far from whipping up abortion. Activists in the fight against too clear. We commend the Socialist Work patriotism, the media made many peo the KKK, Nazis, and killer cops. Oppo The Socialist Workers Party, in ers Party for its efforts to not only ple sick," Pulley said. "The 'Vietnam nents of imperialist militarism and the bringing this suit, may make the stop these attacks, but also to ex syndrome' continues. People who draft. world a safer place for all of the pose to as many people as possible turned out to greet the hostages were "And we'll state our solidarity with social change we are working so these illegal attempts to deny peo for the most part just glad to see them the oppressed masses of South Africa, hard to achieve. ple their basic rights to organize. · back alive and not in coffins- like the with the Palestinians; with the revolu soldiers killed in the helicopter raid on tionaries in the Caribbean and Central Iran. America. "The polls show public support for honoring the terms of the agreement "Finally," Pulley concluded, "with with the Iranians. Working people are boundless pride and great conviction, in no mood for war.'' we'll proclaim our agreement with "Sympathy for the workers and Marx, Lenin, Trotsky, and Fidel. And farmers of El Salvador is growing. our unending support and political There are meetings every week, all solidarity with the Fourth Interna over this country-teach-ins, rallies, tional. and marches.'' "Yes, we'll state all of this before the An important example, Pulley said, court. We'll explain again that capital is the refusal of the West Coast dock ism blocks the advance of human workers, members of the International society and condemns it to war, pov Longshore Workers Union, to load erty, and famine. arms for El Salvador. "We'll say that workers and farmers "You're not hearing much about this the world over have the potential to in the news, eit}J.er," Pulley said. "Any save humanity by taking power into more than you're hearing much about their own hands. And the key place to the demonstration against nuclear . do this is right here in the United power, for jobs, and in support of the States."
'Positively un-American ... they play by the rules.'
4. Government fails in bid to kill socialist' suit Named as defendants in the socialist right to sue for pre-1971 acts. , untouched. But they did this at least By Nelson Blackstock ninety-two times. NEW YORK-February 6 was the suit are two FBI agents whose job it This argument does not even address the question of a court order barring day the government was set to drop was to break into SWP headquarters in Ridiculous argument the big one. It was a dud. the 1960s. Since it was all in the line of such acts in the future. Judge Griesa duty, the FBI paid for them to hire top pointed this out. Nor does it deal with "The government's argument here is After more than seven years of gov simply ridiculous," said Larry Seigle, ernment stalling, lying, and delaying, legal help. illegal acts after the suit was filed. The big notebooks the government SWP Political Committee member. the Socialist Workers Party and Young Before Martin could finish, Judge Griesa shut him off. brought in contained their proof that "It's one thing to say that you know Socialist Alliance suit against . secret what the FBI is capable of. It's another police harassment is about to go to Visibly angered, the judge would the socialists knew what the FBI was have none of it. "I am not going to doing to them. to jump from there to saying that they trial. can break any law anytime they want, Now, usually once a week, a hearing·· entertain a motion at this point under The proof in large part, says an any circumstances," he told the U.S. accompanying 112-page brief, is that: with impunity, because you know takes place in Judge Thomas Griesa's they're liable to do it." courtroom in the federal courthouse on attorney. "Issues of [the Militant] dating back at Judge Griesa said he had already least to 1941 reflect knowledge, or at In their brief, the FBI raised another Foley Square in Lower Manhattan. reason the judge should dismiss the The hearings are supposed to pre rejected such a motion in 1978. That least serious suspicion, that the FBI in case: pare for the March 16 opening of the motion he termed a "slick piece of work was engaged the types of activities which simply gave all the work to the encompassed by the 'Socialist Workers "Government agencies ranging from trial. But the government has con the FBI to the NSA [National Security tinued its foot-dragging, causing Judge Court." Party Disruption Program.' " These clippings do prove Administration] will have to continue Griesa to become at times very impa The issues raised by the motion, he Militant said, can be taken up in the trial. one thing. They prove the socialists expending substantial resources to this tient. case which could otherwise be devoted Even before the hearing started, it were not fools. They did indeed know Socialists knew all along all along that the FBI was up to no to the purposes for which these agen was apparent the government was up cies were established." to something. Not only were there Lawyers argue the fine points oflaw. good. In fact, Marxists have known since at least 1848 that ruling-class In other words, they want the judge more than the average number of The layperson usually can't tell what they're taiking about. That's the way agencies like the FBI are capable of to make the socialists stop harassing lawyers and helpers milling around, the FBI! but the spectators' section was filling it's supposed to be. But when you strip the most despicable acts. away all the legalese, you often find an As one clipping, an editorial from This motion helps to explain recent up. The word was out at the U.S. government stalling. Their vain hope Attorney's Office that something big argument with much less sophistica the July 19, 1941, Militant, put it: "The spy-provocative agent method was that somehow this motion could was brewing, and they had come to tion-not to mention common sense than you'll find in an average barroom did not originate in 1939, however. It eliminate or delay a trial. watch: was used by the FBI in the notorious "The government would like nothing Ordinarily the government is repres dispute. post-war Palmer raids. It goes back to better than for this case to go away," ented by Edward Williams, an assist What the government is saying is Louis Napoleon and the Czar, who Seigle said. "They simply do not want ant U.S. attorney for this district. But not that they haven't spied on the made ample use of it in all their frame .to go through with this trial. that day John Martin, the U.S. attor SWP; not that they haven't hired finks and stool pigeons to pose as members; ups." ''The problem is it throws a monkey ney himself, was there. wrench into their whole strategy. Their As the courtroom waited for the not that they haven't lied and stolen. What they are saying is that the social None of this proves what the FBI is line is that there is a 'new' FBI. Every judge to arnve, young men clad in the contending in a legal sense-that so thing has been cleaned up. Sure, they required three-piece suits marched in ists knew it all along, and therefore haven't got a -legal leg to stand on. cialists were aware of specific acts did some bad things, but that's all in carrying stacks of thick, black, spiral committed against them. They only the past. notebooks. The government is basing its motion became aware of these when they saw "They are forced to mount a defense As the hearing opened, Martin stood on the statute of limitations. In civil the files. of their actions. They outlined what and said, "I did want to advise your damage suits such as this, there is All the horrendous things docu that will be in their trial plan-which honor of one thing: that we have normally a two-year period after the mented in these secret files were, by they wish they never had to come up prepared and are ready to file today damages are incurred in which you definition, secret. It was all done un with, because it'& not their public line. in fact we · just got it a couple of can sue. Beyond that time, you lose dercover. "In the trial plan they said, 'Yes, we minutes ago-a motion to dismiss on your right to sue. Often, it was impossible even to spied on the SWP, got them fired from the question of limitations." The hitch, however, is if you had no know that anything had been done to their jobs, etc. We have a right to do The government was asking the way of knowing what was done to you, you. For example, one day your boss this to them and to anybody else we judge to throw the case out of court. then the statute of limitations does r1ot up and fires you. He doesn't say it's want to. And we intend to continue.' Martin drones in a sing-song, upper begin to apply until you find out about because the FBI paid him a visit. "When pushed to the wall, they are crust Eastern accent. A high-priced, it. Maybe he doesn't even know himself forced to come out with their real ruling class lawyer, he's doing what Even though evidence of FBI illegal that it was the FBI that sent an position. The alternative is for them to they pay him to do-defend the govern acts didn't surface until the first secret anonymous letter about you. say that we have a right to advocate ment's dirty work. Interestingly, before files were produced in 1975, the govern Likewise, there would be no way to and put into practice Marxism in this becoming U.S. attorney, he was, in ment is saying that the socialists knew know that the FBI broke into your country," Seigle continued. private practice, a lawyer for bur about it all along. Therefore, under the offices, microfilmed your papers, and "That's what we're demanding. That glars-FBI burglars. statute of limitations, they have no left, leaving everything apparently is now the heart of the case."
Thanks, FBI Stoolpigeon Testifies in C. P. Trial By Farrell Dobbs Marxism is doubly fl'amed up period and the 1941-45 war period fROJ\1 THE FEDERAL COURTROO.\L- ~[\\ YOI\1..: . because the Stalinist8 are betray when Stalin and Roosevelt were ers -:. not teadaers - of scien on ~od terms. FBI April 6 - Until he took the witness stand at 2: Ill P:\1 toda> ·. tific: socialism. They are political They read passages from the Let's face it. There are times Herbert A. Philbrick, a 3-1-year-old Melrose, ;\\ass., r.10ti~n lepers who defile enrythin~r tlaey program adopted by the 7th Con when you have to give credit where picture advertiser, had long posed:) ~ -- - - touc:h. gress of the Comintern in 1935 credit is due. As far as we can tell, as a J•al member of. the Com Compare the conduct of the calling for "neither socialism, nor munist Party~ His testimony re the post of literature director in Stalinists with that of the Trot communism," but a "broad anti the FBI has for the first time done vealed that for the past nine years his local group. After attending skyists convicted under the same fascist united front." he has operated as a police stool the 1945 convention of the New Smith Act in 1941. They quoted William Z. Foster something worthwhile. England CP, he was appointed In preparation for the upcoming pigeon inside the Stalinist move- The Trotskyists gave a forth to prove they want -a political al ment. · to an educational cemmission and right explanation of genuine liance with the capitalists, if they trial, the Militant had planned to As he recited his well-rehearsed P!lt in charge of leaflet prOduc Marxism. We warned the workers can get it. ·.They just thought go through our back volumes and lines, I was reminded of the car tion. that -the war would bring untold BroM•der went too far when he toon about a burglar who included . Copies of letters h~ received economic hardship, it would lead offered to shake hands with J. 1'. come up with examples of what we in his testimony, " -- pause, from CP officials regarding these to anti-union laws and vicious at Morgan and extend the no-strike have said about the FBI in the take out handkerchief, and wipe matters .were introduced in evi tacks on civil rights, and it would pledge into the post-war period, past. It would be a good way, we your eyes." I was reminded too dence. All bore marginal nota not bring peace to the world. We because Morgan won't "loyally of a scene in the movie "The In tions of F"Bl file numbers. That's said then, and we repeat now, only support unity." thought, to put this trial into a former," where a cop contemp as close as Hoover can come to socialism can offer peace, freedom Then, like the frameup artist,; broader context for our readers. tuously pushed l!O silver coins fingerprinting literature. ~nd plenty to all mankind. they are, the Stalirtists asked Bu But, frankly, we've been too busy to across his desk to the traitor Then the prosecuto: got to the The Stalinists cheered the gov denz if the American Workers Gypo Nolan. $61 question, "What literature ernment's thought-control attack Party to' which he once-belonged get around to it. Then I recalled that orily yes was on display at the New Eng on the Trotskyists and clamored "advocated force and violence." But now the FBI has come to the terday the House Appropriations .land convention?" for this country to create a "sec He said it did. They next asked if rescue. To support their claim that Committee voted to give $52 mil Like a child mechanically re ond front" in Europe. he left the A W P to join the Com lion to the FBI, whose director, citiftg a nursery rhyme, the po munist Party \\·hen the A WP the socialists do not have a case J. Edgar U:oover, said he wants lice spy called attention to the STALINIST DEFENSE united with the Trotskyists in because we knew all along they the money for a "comprehensive absence ·of Browder's books and Events have transpired just as 1934. Budenz said, "Yes." were up to no good, the FBI has domestic intelligence coverage." then reeled off a list of books by the Trotskyists predicted they This dirty piece of business is In plain English, Hoover wants Lenin and Stalin. When prompted would back in 1941, and the Stal clearly intended to falsejy imp!~· gone through several decades of police spie~ like Philbrick to op by the prosecutor, he added, inists are now bearing the main that the Trotskyists do "advocate the Militant and reproduced arti erate in political parties, unions, "There were also books by Marx weight of the government's at force and violence," and all that's cles that demonstrate what we lodges, and every other forum and Engels:" tack on civil rights. They have wrong with the tria1 is that the where -the American people gath Sensational press accounts of met . the test by whining and government is · attacking the thought about them. er to discuss their problems. such testimony are creating a crawling araund the courteoom wrong party. This week, courtesy of the FBI, PHILBRICK'S RECORD false impression that the Stalin- on their bellies. 'Despite their treachery and we bring our readers a selection , ists are on trial for preparing an The prosecutor questioned the double-deal4tg at such terrible Philbrick testified that he first armed revolt. The facts are that Stalinist renegade Louis F . . Bu cost to the workers, the Stalinists from those articles. established relations with the nothing of . $be kind is charged denz about Stalinist policy in the must be defended against the This one is dated April 11, 1949. Stalinists in 1940 while chairman in the indictulent under the Smith early 1930's, in the 1939-41 Stal present thought-control prosecu Written by former Socialist Work of a Cambridge, Mass., youth Act. -~ in-Hitler pact period, and in the tion. If the gwernment succeeds council. In March 1942 he joined THIS IS A THOUGH'I'-CON period since 1945. These were in outlawing the Communist Par ers Party National Secretary Far the Young Communist League, TROL TRIAL. The Stalinists are times of friction between Mosco\\' ty, then no political party, noun rell Dobbs, it has something timely and in March 1944, the Commun- acetU;ed of teaching Marxism and Washington. ion, nor any other organization to say about the FBI and about i~t Party. Since 1940 he has had Leninism. The aim of the trial is The Stalinist lawvers cross-ex will be safe from attack if it continuous contact with the FBI. to outlaw the ideas of scientific amined Budenz abo~t their poli <· y ~ould oppose the politicai party how socialists handle themselves He first wormed his way into socialism .. during the 1935-39 People's Front 1JI power. in court. " Thanks, FBI. -N.B.
THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 27, 1911 5 mining the ability of workers to defend their rights on the job. Because of their hostility to the The Libertarian Party vs. unions, the Libertarians oppose mobil izing the tremendous potential anti draft and antiwar power of the 20 million-member organized labor move the antidraft movement ment-at a time when unions increas ingly see the need to oppose militariza tion and war. Right-w-ing group backs big oil, Leaders of the United Auto Workers and the International Association of Machinists are scheduled to speak at opposes unions, civil rights the Detroit conference. Also speaking is Jerry Gordon, na tional coordinator of the Labor Com mittee for Safe Energy and Full Em ployment, sponsor of the March 28 antinuclear demonstration in Harris burg, Pennsylvania. lAM President William Winpisinger has spoken out to oppose U.S. military aid to the junta in El Salvador. And the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union is boycotting U.S. shipments to the junta. 'Money for jobs, not war' In the May 1980 Liberty article, the Libertarians claim to oppose "attempts to drag . . . unrelated issues" into the antidraft movement~ They denounce socialists who al legedly "sternly lectured the new move ment on the need to tie their anti-draft stance to the entire left economic pro gram-government funded jobs, more taxes, and resistance to the anti government trend sweeping the coun try." While claiming to favor limiting the movement to the demands "No Draft, No Registration, No War Prepara tions," they are trying to line up the movement behind right-wing, anti worker, anti-Black forces-which they have the gall to tag as "anti-govern ment." Antidraft movement must continue to solldarize with fight for Black rights. Libertarian Party opposes affirmative action, The working people and youth who government-enforced busing, and government funding for jobs. make up the bulk of the antidraft movement today don't need "stem lectures" to make them want to replace the Libertarians mean by "anti ery other potential victim of this right the government's war drive with a By Suzanne Haig drive to provide jobs, health care, and The National Antidraft Conference government sentiment." wing program. If the Libertarian Party had its way, education for all. in Detroit, February 13-15, comes at a Why does the Libertarian Party have It the antidraft movement would be sup is not the overwhelming majority crucial time. such a reactionary orientation? of antidraft activists or the majority of The Reagan administration, picking porting the forces that wanted to de The Libertarian Party claims dedica regulate oil prices, and those who are the American people who are turned up where Carter left off, is stepping up tion to the proposition that "all indi off by the slogan, "Money for jobs, not shipments of U.S. arms and military pressing for abolition of welfare, Social viduals have the right to exercise sole Security, minimum wage laws, civil war." It is the Libertarians, the right "advisers" to help keep a brutal, un dominion over their own lives." wing, the Reagan administration, and popular dictatorship in power in El rights guarantees, and for adoption of They say this means that people big business. Salvador. There is growing danger of a anti-union "right to work" laws. These "should be left free by government to new Vietnam in Central America. are only a few of the reactionary The Libertarians not only oppose And as might be expected, Reagan is stands taken by this outfit. deal with one another as free traders; government job programs and job hedging on his proclaimed opposition This is a far cry from "anti and the resultant economic system, the training. They also oppose affirmative to draft registration. government sentiment." It is the same only one compatible with the protec action and other attempts to end dis The antidraft movement must re direction the Reagan administration is tion of individual rights, is the free crimination against Blacks, Latinos, market." spond by standing against U.S. mil moving in, as it steps up the.attacks on and women. itary intervention around the world, the rights and living standards of But this vision of a pure, unrestricted and in particular against the escalat working people. "free market" capitalism never exist~ Free hand for racists ing U.S. military intervention in El The forces behind these demands are and never will. Big government, and They "oppose any governmental at Salvador. the big corporations and the ruling government regulation of industry and tempts to regulate private discrimina The conference will be faced with the rich-the authors and beneficiaries of finance, are unavoidable outgrowths of tion, including discrimination in em challenge of deepening the involve the war drive and the enemies of monopoly capitalism-the only kind of ployment, housing, and privately ment of unionists, Blacks, Latinos, and working people. The Libertarian Party capitalism that is possible in the U.S. owned so-called public accomoda other working people and youth in the would point the movement toward the today. tions." The Libertarians would send us struggle. These are the people who will very class that wants to be able to send back to the days of the segregated be victimized by the draft and by U.S. troops to El Salvador or elsewhere Support 'right to work' lunch counter and the "men only need cutbacks in jobs and social services to to protect its investments. · Such abstractions and bits of nostal apply" want ad. finance the war budget. These are the gia in the Libertarian program are Libertarians also favor the abolition people who will be assigned the role of On side of oil companies cover for giving an unrestricted green of public education-in other words, cannon fodder in a new Vietnam. The Libertarian program stands on light to the most ruthless exploitation education for those who can afford it. The role of union leaders, activists in the opposite side from the thousands of of working people by big business. "If one is really interested in the well the solidarity movement with El Salva antidraft demonstrators who have What they classify as "interference being of students," they write in the dor and Nicaragua, and Black youth in chanted, "Hell, · no, we won't go, we by government" are laws and institu May 1980 Liberty, "one can only hope building the Detroit conference shows won't fight for Texaco!" tions fought for by working people that and pray for the early demise of public the advances that are being made in The Libertarians' call for deregulat restrict the power of big business or education." building the kind of movement that ing oil prices was a favorite of Texa provide vital social needs. Such a program would shut all doors can stay Washington's hand. co's. It made it even easier for the oil Thus the Libertarians oppose the to working-class youth, and especially barons to rip us off, as the latest price minimum wage, unemployment com to Blacks and Latinos. They would be Opposing strategy hikes at the gas pump have shown. pensation, Social Security, welfare pro left with little choice but joining the But an opposing strategy will be grams, and food stamps. They would Leaders of the Libertarian Party army or taking the lowest-paid, most expressed in Detroit, that of the right like to eliminate not only federal funds dangerous jobs. wing Libertarian Party. Adoption of have a personal stake in this particu for abortion, but all Medicare and Me its Viewpoint would be fatal to the lar issue. Edward Clark, their 1980 qicaid. The logic of the Libertarian position antidraft movement. presidential candidate, is a lawyer for On the other hand, in a bonanza for would have the antidraft movement Yet the views of the Libertarian the oil giant, Atlantic Richfield Com business, the Libertarians would abol look to the racist antibusing forces and Party are probably unfamiliar to many pany (ARCO). David Koch, his run . ish all corporate taxes. the big-business foes of affirmative antidraft activists. _ ning mate, is an heir to Koch Indus They would lift all restrictions on the action as allies, rather than the Black "Anti-government sentiment .. . is tries- a major oil distributor that, building and operation of deadly nu community, which is under attack. The potentially one of the main allies of according to Forbes magazine, "may clear power plants. movement the Libertarians advocate anti-war forces today," states an arti well be the U.S.'s most profitable pri They would abolish regulations that has no place for organizations such as cle on the antidraft movement in the vate business.'' deal with health and safety on the job the National Black Independent Politi May 1980 issue of Liberty, the paper of Adoption of the Libertarian Party's or protect the environment. cal Party, whose Detroit chapter en Students for a . Libertarian Society. policy would cut antidraft fighters off The Libertarians support so-called dorsed the conference, or such figures This is a generality that sounds hard from labor, the civil rights movement, "right to work" laws, which are in as the president of Detroit's Operation to argue with, until you find out what the unemployed, the elderly-and ev- tended to weaken the unions, under- Continued on page 19
6 Winpisinger opposes U.S. aid to El Salvador The following statement was re killed last year, about 1,000 were trade has admitted that most of the murders seem incapable of learning that moder leased January 26 by William Win union leaders and activists. None of of civilians are traceable to the official ation cannot exist in a society as pisinger, president of the Interna these crimes has been investigated, let military and police forces. polarized as El Salvador's. In fact, tional Association of Machinists. alone solved. Much of the U.S. media coverage of most of the moderate leaders have Among the Catholic clergy working these events has been manipulated by been murdered by right-wing death In the last days of Jimmy Carter's with the poor, in the past several years the State Department to develop Con squads linked to the military. Administration, a decision was made Archbishop Romero, 13 priests and gressional and public support for cur As tr.ade unionists and Americans at the highest levels of the U.S. Gov four U.S. women missionaries were rent policies. The fiction is promoted concerned with human rights for all, ernment to send military aid to the murdered. that the ruling Salvadoran Govern we condemn all forms of U.S. assist government of El Salvador, putting The current government in El Salva ment is moderate and interested in ance to the current regime in El Salva another nail in the coffin of Carter's dor is not supported by the overwhelm carrying out social and land reforms. dor. Non-intervention in the civil war human rights policy. ing majority of the people. Although The opposition is labelled as commu is the best policy. All Americans aware of conditions there is a civilian President, in fact the nists, and linked to Cuba. State De in El Salvador should be opposed to country is controlled by the military, partment' and National Security Coun U.S. leadership in the world will be this decision. El Salvador has been and even the U.S. State Department cil Latin American affairs "experts" further weakened if the Reagan Ad described as the worst human rights ministration tries to prop up this un violator in Latin America during 1980, stable dictatorship. If U.S. military and one of the worst in the world. advisers are sent to train the El Salva 'As trade unionists and dor army in the use of equipment, we There is a civil war going on in this Americans concerned with small Central American country, could get bogged down in another Viet human rights for all, we nam. which has one of the mo'st tightly condemn all forms of U.S. controlled economies in the world. assistance to the current America's traditional strength in the Fourteen families dominate the econ regime in El Salvador.' world has been based on its moral omy. Although 60 percent of the total leadership as a symbol of freedom, a population lives on the land, over half -from January 26 country founded on the rights of its the agricultural land is owned by 2 statement by Machinists people to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." What kind of message percent of the landowners. Union President William The trade union movement has Winpisinger. are we sending to the peoples of Latin never been allowed to function freely. America, Asia and Africa if we support Out of the estimated 10,000 people dictatorships? Eyewitness describes El Salvador offensive By Jim Garrison mine," Segura said. "He was called to the scene searches of houses looking for arms and suspected ST. LOUIS-Wilfredo Segura is a Salvadoran where a bazooka shell from the left forces hit a leftists. student studying at a university in the St. Louis national police truck. He told me there were nine "As a matter of fact my house was one of them," area. In El Salvador he is a member of the Move teen corpses of the police. Some were killed by the Segura said. "I live with my parents and brothers. I ment of Independent Professionals and Techni blast and others were killed when the truck crashed had left the house just five minutes before eighteen cians, an affiliate of the Revolutionary Democratic into a ditch. The police report stated that only two people came armed with machine guns and grenade Front. He was also active in the establishment of were killed." launchers. the Human Rights Commission of El Salvador. The Segura discussed the importance of the defection "They took my father into a separate room and commission has documented cases of official terror to the FMLN of the army barracks at Santa Ana interrogated him. They wanted to know where I was and has itself been the target of government repres · under the command of Capt. Francisco Meno San and where my brothers were. They seemed to have sion. doval. some information about us. They searched the Since his arrival in the United States last According to Segura, Meno Sandoval was one of house. summer, Segura has been active in the movement in the officers who planned the coup against the "It was very hard for my father to convince them solidarity with the people of El Salvador. regime of Gen. Humberto Romero in October 1979. that the oscilloscope I had in my room was not a Segura recently returned from a three-week visit "What hurts the junta most in this defection is that device for getting in contact with Russia. They were to his home in San Salvador. His last days in the 'Meno Sandoval was just one of them. He was never just looking for something to put in the newspapers country coincided with the opening week of the a radical or leftist." that the left was getting aid from communist coun general offensive of the Farabundo Marti National tries." Liberation Front (FMLN). General strike "The people are getting more and more con Segura noted that because of the severe repres 'When they come in plain clothes . . .' scious," Segura told the Militant, "that the only sion in the capital the response to the FMLN's call "The people who searched my house came in way the country can survive is with a political for a general strike appeared to be limited. "Some of plain clothes. When they come in plain clothes that system where everybody is united and works to the places really went out on strike," Segura said. "I means they are ready to do anything," Segura said. ward the benefit of the country as a whole." would say that the unions that were most brave participated. But one thing that has to be under "But they didn't find anything except a watch stood is that the unions are not armed, so when and a couple other things they stole. So they told 'It looked like Vietnam' my father they were with the Treasury Police. Rumors of the impending offensive were wide they go on strike it is easy for the army to make spread during the days prior to its launching. "It them go back under threat of killing them or their "It is remarkable that they didn't go in uni seems that it began at 6 p.m. on Saturday the lOth families." forms," Segura pointed out. "But if they don't wear of January," Segura said. "At that time I heard a Segura noted that in the days prior to the offen uniforms they can do anything. Those are the death communique on the radio from the left forces sive the government had carried out extensive squads. If they have to kill, they will kill." announcing the offensive." Segura lives near the Mejicanos section of San Salvador, which was the scene of heavy fighting on that first night. "The confrontation began about 6 p.m. and ended the next day about 10 in the Text of full-page ad in February 3 'New morning. All that night there was heavy fighting. I York Times' by U.S. Committee in Solid· could see tanks and helicopters going there. It LET THE PEOPLE OF arity with the People of El Salvador looked to me like scenes from Vietnam. That was (CISPES). List of 230 endorsers included my closest experience with the fighting," Segura EL SALVADOR DECIDE! ten U.S. Congress members and promi ~----~------said. the ...... ,t clecltlon to ,..'-ancll...,_ US mllltory old to El Salvador Is a ...... nent religious leaders. Also, union offi Segura talked to a number of people who wit step toward the l.....,._t of the UnltM Stateo In the and.._-- of ano~ VIetnam. cials from West Coast docks, Steel· neoghbor1. loke ( (1.oCJdor, Ponomo. and N ocorogvo t~o~e exp"~ on(teo!il"9 workers, American Federation of State, nessed other confrontations in the country in the olorm o! the pr0$p1C:l OI direct 11'uh lory onTervenhon early days of the offensive. "Because my country is .,. the~ of th.IJnitM s...... Dlsogi'MI County and Municipal Employees, Fur Duri i'IO 198) alone. !he US gove< I"IITie nl sen! SQ0 IT' oll•on '" economo:; o ld a nd $S.7 molloon on m ilo tory o•d 10 bols1er the rvlong 1,,,.,0, uw•g US 10• and Leather, Newspaper Guild, Hospital so small-you can go from one extreme to the other doll~ !a bvy nothing more rhon !error a nd repreuoon lor rhe Solvodoreon -~ . Workers, United Electr-ical, Millinery, in four hours-you can get information from all Th. Murden of the Four American Women In O.Cember. four -'"-icon women--t+.ree nun\ and o loy Clothing Workers. Black leaders Rev. over from people traveling through various parts of m•U•Qr'IOI"y - --• murdered on El Salvodor. A THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 7 Malcolm X on racism, Rockwell, politics February 21 marks the sixteenth and some of them, at least at the high who believe in asserting our right to Presence Africaine Meeting anniversary of the assassination of academic level, don't want to. But most self-defense-by any means necessary. Paris, November 23, 1964 Malcolm X. The truth about his of us aren't at that level. murder, including probable gov Harvard Law School Forum Era of revolution ernment complicity, has never December 16, 1964 Politics We are living in an era of revolution, been brought to light. It isn't a president who can help or and the revolt of the American Negro Malcolm was a revolutionary. hurt; it is the system. And this system is part of the rebellion against the His uncompromising fight for is not only ruling us in America, it is oppression and colonialism which has Black rights made him an interna ruling the world. Nowadays, when a characterized this era. . . . tionalist and an anticapitalist. His Public notice to Rockwell man is running for president of the It is incorrect to classify the revolt of ideas continue to influence and At a public rally of the Organiza United States, he is not running for the Negro as simply a racial conflict of educate young rebels today. tion of Afro-American Unity in president of the United States alone; Black against white, or as a purely Reprinted below are excerpts Harlem on January 24, 1965, Mal he has to be acceptable to other areas American problem. Rather, we are from statements and speeches by colm said that on a television news of the world where American influence today seeing a global rebellion of the Malcolm X during the last year of broadcast he had seen Rev. Martin rules. oppressed against the oppressor, the his life. Luther King knocked down by a If Johnson had been running all by exploited against the exploiter. racist, that 'it hurt me,' and that if himself, he would not have been accep Columbia Daily Spectator he had been there he would have table to anyone. The only thing that February 19, 1965 gone to King's aid. He also read made him acceptable to the world was Racism aloud the text of a telegram he had that the shrewd capitalists, the shrewd Capitalism Usually the Black racist has been sent to George Lincoln Rockwell, imperialists, knew that the only way It is impossible for capitalism to produced by the white racist. In most head of the American Nazi Party: people would run toward the fox would survive, primarily because the system cases where you see it, it is the reaction be if you showed them a wolf. So they of capitalism needs some blood to suck. to white racism, and if you analyze it This is to warn you that I am no created a ghastly alternative. And it Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but closely, it's not really Black racism. I longer held in check from fighting had the whole word-including people now it's more like a vulture. It used to think Black people have shown less white supremacists by Elijah Muham who call themselves Marxists-hoping be strong enough to go and suck any racist tendencies than any people since mad's separatist Black Muslim move that Johnson would beat Goldwater. body's blood whether they were strong the beginning of history. . . . ment, and that if your present racist I have to say this: Those who claim or not. But now it has become more If we react to white racism with a agitation against our people there in to be the enemies of the system were on cowardly, like the vulture, and it can violent reaction, to me that's not Black Alabama causes physical harm to their hands and knees waiting for only suck the blood of the helpless. As · racism. If you come to put a rope Reverend King or any other Black Johnson to get elected-because he is the nations of the world free them around my neck and I hang you for it, Americans who are only attempting to supposed to be a man of peace. And at selves, then capitalism has less vic to me that's not racism. Yours is ra enjoy their rights as free human be that moment he had troops invading tims, less to suck, and it becomes cism, but my reaction has nothing to ings, that you and your Ku Klux Klan the Congo and South Vietnam! He weaker and weaker. It's only a matter do with racism. My reaction is the friends will be met with maximum even has troops in areas where other of time in my opinion before it will reaction of a human .being, reacting to physical retaliation from those of us imperialists have already withdrawn. collapse completely. defend himself and protect himself. who are not handcuffed by the disarm Peace Corps to Nigeria, mercenaries to Young Socialist interview This is what our people haven't done, ing philosophy of nonviolence, and the Congo! March-April 1965 Whafs On By and about Malcolm X Meetings commemorating Malcolm X CALIFORNIA 23rd St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. OHIO· For more information call (415) 824-1992. OAKLAND CLEVELAND IN TRIBUTE TO MALCOLM X: Rally to MALCOLM X MEMORIAL MEETING. Featur launch Socialist Workers election campaign for ing a movie: Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom. mayor of Oakland. Speakers: Z.akiya Somburu, MASSACHUSETTS Speakers: Dana Perry-Cooper, Cleveland SWP candidate for mayor of Oakland; Donald BOSTON Black Independent Political Party; Larry Massey, member, Young Socialist Alliance, THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM X. Film show Prince, Young Socialist Alliance; others. Sun., recently returned from Grenada; Tony Tho ing: Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom. Speak Feb. 22, 7 p.m. 2230 Superior. Donation: $2. mas, SWP National Committee. Sat., Feb. 21 , ers on Malcolm's life and the meaning of Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information open house 7 p.m., rally 8 p.m. 2864 Telegraph struggles for today. Sun., Feb. 22, 7:30 p.m. call (216) 579-9369. Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: SWP. For more 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th floor. Donation: information call (415) 763-3792. $1 .50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more informa tion call (617) 262-4621 . SAN DIEGO A WEEKEND ON SOCIALISM AND BLACK WASHINGTON LIBERATION. Fri., Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m. The SEATTLE Legacy of Malcolm X. Speakers: Derrick MINNESOTA MALCOLM X. Speaker: Donald Massey, Adams, Black activist, member, Socialist Work IRON RANGE Young Socialist Alliance. Film and recorded ers Party; lmani Siku Zote, NASSCO worker, THE LEGACY OF MALCOLM X. Speakers: talks by Malcolm X. Fri., Feb. 27, 7 p.m. 4868 Ironworkers 627; Gary Raimo, president, Black Keith Parker, former professor of Black stu Rainier Ave. South. Donation: $1 .50. Ausp: Student Union, Mt. SAC College. Sat, Feb. 21, dies, University of Minnesota. Program will Militant Forum. For more information call (206) 12 p.m. Why Marxists Support Black National include tapes of Malcolm X speeches. Thurs., 723-5330. ism, by Derrick Adams. 3 p.m. History of the Feb. 19, 7 p.m. Solidarity Bookstore, 1012 Struggle for an Independent Black Political Second Ave. South, Virginia. Ausp: Solidarity The Assassination of Malcolm X Party, by Adwoa Codjoe. 7 p.m. music, danc Bookstore Forum series. For more information Edited and with an introduction ing, and refreshments. 1053 15th St. Donation: call (218) 749-6327. $1.50. Ausp: The Militant and Perspectiva Mun WISCONSIN by Malik Miah, 190 pp., paper dial. For more information call (714) 234-4630. TWIN CITIES MILWAUKEE $2.45 cloth $9.00 MALCOLM X: THE MAN AND HIS IDEAS. MALCOLM X AND THE FIGHT FOR BLACK SAN FRANCISCO Film: Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom. RIGHTS. Film: Malcolm X: Struggle for Free Autobiography of Malcolm X A SALUTE TO MALCOLM X: REVOLUTION Speaker: Tiffany Patterson, scholar and in dom. Speakers: Paul Blackman, president, by Malcolm X, with the ARY GRENADA AND THE NATIONAL BLACK structor of Black history at University of Min Smith Steelworkers; representatives of Young INDEPENDENT POLITICAL PARTY. Speakers: nesota; Lynn Henderson, Socialist Workers Socialist Alliance and Marquette Black Student assistance of Alex Haley, 460 Donald Massey, Young Socialist Alliance, vi Party. Sun., Feb. 22. 4 p.m. 508 N. Snelling, St. Council. Sat, Feb. 21 , 8 p.m. Cross Lutheran pp., $2.75 sited Grenada and will show slides of his trip; Paul. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Twin Cities Mili Church, 1821 N. 16th St. Donation: $1 .50. Tony Thomas, Socialist Workers Party Na tant Forum. For more information call (612) Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more informa By Any Means Necessary tional Committee. Fri., Feb. 20, 8 p.m. 3284 644-6325. tion call ( 414) 445-2076. by Malcolm X, 184 pp., paper $3.95 Last Year of Malcolm X- The Evolution of a Revolutionary by George Breitman, 169 pp., paper $3.45 cloth $12.00 CES, AND JOBS ON THE LINE. Speakers: Robert film on industrial health and safety. Discussion of Malcolm X on Afro-American CALIFORNIA Kuttner, editor of "Working Papers for a New local safety issues led by David Salner, a miner at History LOS ANGELES Society"; Robert Schaeffer, member, execut;;..e Eveleth Taconite Company. Fri., Feb. 27, 7:30 p.m. by Malcolm X, 74 pp., paper AN EVENING OF SOLIDARITY AND PROTEST: board of Citizens for Participation in Political Solidarity Bookstore, 101 2 Second Ave. South, EL SALVADOR, GRENADA, NICARAGUA. Speak A ctivity (CPPAX); Roger Sheppard, Socialist Work Virginia. Ausp: Solidarity Bookstore Forum Series. $2.25 ers: Kanute Burke, consel-general for North Amer ers Party. Sun., Feb. 15, 7: 30 p.m. 510 Common For more information call (218) 749-6327. ica from Grenada; representative, CSP, Sandinista wealth Ave., 4th floor. Donation: $1 .50. Ausp: Mili Malcolm X Speaks trade union of Nicaragua; representative of forces tant Forum. For more information · call (617) TWIN CITIES by Malcolm X, 226 pp., paper 262-4621 . in El Salvador fighting against the junta; others. SOCIALISTS SUE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO STOP $2.95 cloth $15.00 Central American and Caribbean music and food. FBI CRIMES AND DEFEND POLITICAL RIGHTS. Sat, Feb. 21 , 7:30 p.m. Casa Nicaragua, 2121 W. Speaker: Willie Mae Reid, 1976 Socialist Workers Pice Blvd. (east of Hoover). Ausp: Casa Nicaragua; Party candidate for vice-president Sat, Feb. 28, 6 Malcolm X Talks to Young People Salvador Coordinating Committee of Los Angeles; MICHIGAN p.m. reception with refreshments; 8 p.m. program. by Malcolm X $. 75 U.S.-Grenada Friendship Society. DETROIT 508 N. Snelling, St. Paul. Donation: $3.50 for LESSONS OF NICARAGUA: ITS MEANING FOR evening; $1.50 program only. Ausp: SWP and Malcolm X: The Man and His Ideas SAN FRANCISCO EL SALVADOR. Speakers: Mark Rogers, delegate to Young Socialist Alliance. For more information call by George Breitman $.65 CUBA TODAY. Speakers: Sara Gates, Socialist first international conference in solidarity with (61 2) 644-6325. Workers Party; a representative from San Francisco Nicaragua; Marge Bursie, American Friends Service Two Speeches by Malcolm X Mime Troupe with slides from troupe's visit to Committee, recently returned from fact-finding tour Cuba. Fri., Feb ~ 27, 8 p.m. 3284 23rd St. Donation: of El Salvador. Sun., Feb. 22, 7 p.m. 6404 Wood Malcolm X $.75 $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call ward. Donation: $1 .50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For (41 5) 824-1992. more information call (313) 875-5322. NEW JERSEY Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 NEWARK West St., New York, N.Y. 1001 4 (In IRAN: WASHINGTON FAILS TO PUSH BACK MASSACHUSETTS MINNESOTA THE REVOLUTION. Speaker: Greg Nelson, Social clude $.75 for postage and hand ist Workers Party. Sat , Feb. 14, 8 p.m. 11 -A Central ling.) BOSTON IRON RANGE Ave. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. PROPOSITION 21j~ SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVI- 'THE SONG OF THE CANARY': An acclaimed For more information call (201) 643-3341. 8 Whose allowance will Papa Reagan cut? By William Gottlieb cure this economic crisis. It will further If you credit the media, Reagan's constrict the already inadequate February 5 speech on the economy market. ranked somewhere between the Ser Instead of a single line of unem mon on the Mount and the Gettysburg ployed stretching from Maine to Cali Address. The New York Times raved fornia, a double or triple line is likely about his "oratorical directness" and to result. "aura of sincerity," and even provided The "basic system is sound," Reagan us with a sample of the Great Man's insisted. No, it is the basic system of handwriting. capitalism that is the real source of the The chorus of praise sought to per crisis. Human labor and human-made suade us to swallow Reagan's false technology have become far too pro- presentation of the causes and cure of . ductive for this outlived system. the economic crisis. Reagan's speech lacked specific The economy is "in the worst eco proposals, claiming that these would nomic mess since the Great Depres be put forward February 18. Like ear sion," Reagan declared. He conceded lier talk about proclaiming a "national that today's army of unemployed could economic emergency," it was intended form a line stretching "from the coast to create a crisis atmosphere in which of Maine to California." the rulers hoped we would quietly go Reagan claimed that the crisis is the along with accelerated attacks on our result of too much government spend living standards. ing on social services, and too many As under Carter, the ruling class is restrictions on the ability of corpora moving cautiously, testing resistance tions to profitably ruin the environ at each step. ment, poison our food, and provide us Thus Senate Republican leader How with unsafe-at-any-speed autos. ard Baker, Jr., predicted, "We're going to have the biggest domestic legislative Posing as a stern father laying down battle in this country since Franklin the law. to a spendthrift brood, Reagan Delano Roosevelt." declared, "You know we can lecture our It's not legislative shadow boxing children about extravagance until we that worries Baker, though. He knows run out of voice and breath. Or we can Reagan managed to talk through so that he can increase the "allo that liberals and conservatives alike cure their extravagance simply by both sides of his mouth on taxes. He wance" of the rich. are increasingly united in imposing reducing their allowance." claimed that big business doesn't Reagan's "analysis" of the U.S. sacrifices on us to benefit the million He promised that budget cuts would really pay taxes at all, but simply economy is radically false. The grow aires. He's worried about the real not harm the "truly needy." An exam passes on the cost in the form of higher ing crisis is not caused by increased opposition these proposals are going to ple of who fits this category came a prices. wages and social benefits eating into meet from working people in the few days later when the administra This didn't prevent him from com profits. It is caused by the inability of streets, the factories, and in Black and tion leaked plans to add $32 billion to plaining that "punitive tax policies" the great mass of people to buy the Hispanic communities. the arms budget. are killing the incentive of business to products produced by industry at pri This fear is the reason for the shame The prime targets of the budget invest. ces that provide the capitalists with ful lying by the big-business media the profits they feel they need. about the biggest civil rights action in cutters will be programs that benefit In the name of cutting taxes, the working people. We can expect a de This kind of crisis has occurred eighteen years-the January 15 march millionaire tax-dodgers will be pro luge of propaganda portraying recip repeatedly in the history of capitalism. of 100,000 Blacks demanding that Mar vided with more and bigger loopholes ients of food stamps, medicaid, and Such crises have broken out when tin Luther King's birthday be declared while workers and farmers will have to unemployment compensation as government budgets and deficits were a national holiday. carry an increased proportion of the greedy chiselers. At the same time, large, small, and middle-sized. The And the rulers still have to confront tax burden. paying an ever-larger portion of our crisis of 1929 that ushered in the Great the unbroken potential power of 20 taxes to help big oil and the other big The real meaning of the demagogy Depression followed a decade of tax million union memhers . corporations prepare new Vietnams or about taxes and the budget is that and budget-cutting. It is the battles waged by forces like even a nuclear conflagration will be wealth is to be redistributed. Papa Shifting the distribution of national these that will decide the fate of Rea presented as a patriotic duty. Reagan wants to cut our "allowance" income in favor of the bosses won't gan's economic program. Detroit labor hits union busting, political firings By Tony Dutrow . interviews to screen out undesirables. "If the labor movement doesn't get and a representative from the Detroit DETROIT-"Beating the Union Bus Sound familiar? This is what Hitler together, we will be destroyed by ·their Building Trades. ters in the '80s" was the theme of a pushed prior to taking over [big businesses'] blueprint," Winpisin During the discussion period of the conference organized by the Labor psychological profiles and personality ger told the audience. They want the conference there were sharp exchanges Studies Center of Wayne State Univer tests for prospective workers. They "freedom to kill and maim on the job; about the concessions imposed on the sity on January 24. Given the theme of want to screen out 'troublesome' work the freedom to price a product out of United Auto Workers by Chrysler as the conference, it's no surprise that the ers, that is, pro-union workers." sight; freedom to exploit resources; an example of the gr,owing antilabor case of fifteen workers fired by Lock The fired Lockheed workers are a freedom to build what they want, when push by the employers and the govern- . heed for being union militants and good example of what Winpisinger was they want it; the freedom to restore the ment. socialists attracted a lot of sympathy talking about. One of the tables set up ten-hour day, the seventy-hour work and support. at the conference had a large display week; the freedom to conduct raids in More than 500 trade unionists filled board urging "Defend the Lockheed the plants. These are the catch-as the auditorium to capacity, the over 15." It attracted many trade unionists. catch-can slogans of reindustrializa flow spilling out into the aisles. Gene On the board were copies of Lock tion." Brook, co-coordinator of the Labor heed's in-plant spy files exposing how A presentation by Harry Lester, Lockheed Studies Center, said the huge turnout the company spied on and fired the educational director of United Steel was three times what they expected. fifteen workers from its Marietta, Geor workers District 29, gave a case study workers Members from thirty-four unions gia, plant. Most of those fired are in union busting at McClouth Steel and registered at the conference, including members of the Socialist Workers Whitehead and Kales, two companies on tour Party; all fifteen are members of Inter that attempted to force a one-year workers from the United Steelworkers, Two of the fifteen fired Lockheed wage freeze on steelworkers' locals in United Auto Workers,. Teamsters, national Association of Machinists workers are currently on national Lodge 709. District 29. Machinists, public employee unions, tour speaking about the facts in Many conference participants lined and others. Lester said labor solidarity, actively their case. If you want to set up a up to read the files. The response was The keynote speaker was William involving the membership in the meeting for them or find out details shock, amazement, and anger. Winpisinger, president of the Interna strike, and anticompany educational on the tour in your area, consult Hundreds of copies of the Militant tional Association of Machinists. He materials were the most effective tools the local listings on page 27. spoke of the offensive against Ameri supplement reprinting facts on the in combating these union busters. case were eagerly taken from the table. can unions by the government and big Chris Hoeppner business. Brochures on the Socialist Workers Both attempts to impose the His speech zeroed in on what he Party lawsuit against secret police "Chrysler syndrome," as Lester put it, Feb. 11-14 Seattle called "traveling anti-union shows" spying were also received with great were turned away by the steelworkers. Feb. 15-17 Portland opening in cities throughout the coun interest. McClouth Steel settled after a three Feb. 18-20 Vancouver try to train union busters. Trade unionists working at the table day strike, and Whitehead and Kales Feb. 21-24 Denver "These activities are not just the work signed up nearly forty unionists on a did so after forcing workers out on of some industrious entrepreneur. A petition demanding that Lockheed strike for four months. rogues' gallery of employer associa Georgia President Robert Ormsby im Other panelists included United Andree Kahlmorgan mediately reinstate the fifteen. tions, including the National Associa Auto Workers Vice-president Martin Feb. 14 Detroit (National tion of Manufacturers and the U.S. Some asked, "You mean these work Gerber; Robert Johnson, president of Anti draft Conf.) Chamber of Commerce, have formed a ers were fired just because of their American Federation of State, County Feb. 15 Chicago national clearing house to coordinate ideas? Let me sign." Others simply and Municipal Employees District 25; Feb. 17-19 Detroit the offensive through the Council for a read the files, shook their heads, and Richard Cordtz, international secre Feb. 20-23 Cleveland Union Free Environment," he said. angrily wrote their names. tary-treasurer of the Service Em Feb. 25-27 Philadelphia Winpisinger warned this "offers em This spirit of solidarity fit right into ployees International Union; Ed ployers critiques of how to develop job the theme of the conference. Scribner, Teamsters Joint Council 43; THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 9 New court deals with ·FBI, ·Red ~----uad: police By Larry Seigle more specific than that. It does not Residents of New York City woke up say, for instance, that the FBI won't to an unusual news story last De continue to carry out "black bag jobs" cember 31. Officials of the New York against political groups, such as the Civil Liberties Union were quoted as SWP. lauding Police Commissioner Robert In fact, the lawyers went out of their McGuire for his policy on political way to write into the settlement provi spying by the New York cops. sions such as "unconsented physical The civil liberties people were quoted searches" in political cases are not in a big front-page story in the New prohibited "for the purpose of placing, York Times. They praised the city's top maintaining, or removing authorized cop for his "spirit of cooperation," electronic surveillance devices or con "reasonableness," and "realistic atti ducting surveys in connection there tude" on the question. with." What did McGuire do to earn this And they state, "Nothing in this enthusiastic endorsement? Did he abol subsection shall prohibit a warrantless ish the city's notorious Red Squad? Did search in circumstances in which a he ban political surveillance on the warrant is not required.... " When is labor movement, on the organizations a warrant "not required"? Whenever of the Black and Hispanic communi the FBI says it isn't. ties, on socialist groups? Did he per What is most damaging to the fight haps announce that he was finally against police spying, however, is not mobilizing the resources of the police the 101 loopholes but the lengths to department to apprehend racist gangs · which the settlement goes to express who have terrorized Black families in political confidence in the "new" FBI. Rosedale, Queens, and on Staten Is The deal is based almost entirely on land?. the FBI Guidelines, which were issued No. What McGuire did was to agree in 1976. with the Civil Liberties Union on an These guidelines have come under out-of-court settlement of a nine-year fire as fakes, and have been discredited old lawsuit against the Red Squad.. The in the eyes of many, as FBI political suit is a class-action one, brought on spying and harassment has continued. behalf of all victims of police spying,. So the lawyers for the ACLU and the harassment, and disruption activities. Alliance to End Repression, in collabo Although the suit has produced mas ration with the FBI and CIA, included sive documentation on illegal police a lengthy section in the settlement activities, under the terms of the settle aimed at bolstering the sagging confi ment the cops won't admit-and the dence in the "reforms" of the FBI. This court won't rule-that any of their past section states that at first the lawyers actions were illegal or wrong. were "deeply concerned" about the Does the settlement ban future "ambiguities and omissions" in the spying? Hardly. According to the FBI Guidelines. Times, the cops "will continue to keep But then the FBI supplied figures 'generic information' about some politi- . sbowing a "dramatic reduction" in the cal activities.... However, the Police number of "domestic security" and Department will not open an index or a other investigations. This was all that file on any person simply because of .... =.. n·-~••r"'Tr11Alll: cops arrest demonstrator during October 1967 Stop the Draft march. was needed for the lawyers to have participation" in demonstrations or New York and Chicago court settlements would legitimize continued assaults on their doubts removed and change their minds. · meetings. (Emphasis added.) They will democratic rights. have to come up with some other "The Attorney General initiated the reason to open a file. implementation of the Guidelines by These rules, according to the Times, what is happening in a number of SWP and YSA got together to bring a disapproving ten of the first nineteen are "very similar" to what the cops court cases around the country. suit to expose what was going on and full domestic security investigations of have been following for the past de The American Civil Liberties Union to help mobilize support for the fight organizations upon which he made cade. and other groups that at times have against it. determinations. Among the domestic The big new provision agreed to by given aid to the fight against the However, the attorneys on the case security investigations he discontinued the cops and the Civil Liberties Union political police, are all too often betray have now revealed the terms of a deal were those of the Socialist Workers lawyers is the creation of a three ing that struggle by agreeing to out-of that would end the fight. The deal, Party and the Communist Party, member supervisory board to watch court settlements that amount to little however, is running into opposition. At U.S.A. . . . These decisions indicate the cops and protect our rights. The more than promises of more "enlight the February 13 hearing, objections to that the Guidelines are not intended to panel will consist of the first deputy ened" spying by the cops. the terms of the settlement will be permit domestic security investiga police commissioner, the deputy com While no one can have any objection heard from several groups. tions of groups which advocate the missioner for legal affairs, and a third in principle to lawyers settling these . Attorneys Flint Taylor, Dennis Cun necessity for violent revolution at some "civilian member" to be handpicked by cases, many of the deals that are being ningham, and Jeffrey Haas, of the time in the indefinite future, but which none other than the despised mayor of struck are plain sell-outs. The victims People's Law Office in Chicago, have do not now engage in serious crimes or the city, Edward Koch. (Maybe one of of the cops walk away with nothing, denounced the deal. The People's Law violence or advocate imminent serious the "civil liberties" lawyers on the while the cops walk away with Office has won wide respect for its crime or violence." case, if they campaign hard enough for endorsement for their current practices tenacious fight to win compensation _ (A footnote at this point concedes Koch in the coming tough election, will by people who claim to speak for civil for the family of Chicago Black that the "domestic security" investiga be rewarded with this plum appoint liberties. This is especially valuable to Panther leader Fred Hampton, who tion aimed at the CP wasn't really ment. It would be fitting.) the cops at a time when they are was murdered by the cops as he lay ended; it was "converted to one con stepping up their illegal activities sleeping in his bed in 1969. ducted pursuant to the Attorney Gener 'Engllghtened' spying aimed at disrupting political protest The three activist lawyers, who are al's Guidelines governing foreign coun Dorothy Samuels, executive director and organizing efforts. themselves plaintiffs in the suit, have terintelligence investigations"!) of the New York Civil Liberties Union, criticized the proposed settlement as As the SWP's written objection to raved about the settlement as "a major Chicago settlement "fraught with ambiguities, all running this settlement points out, this para step toward eliminating police surveil Nowhere is this process clearer than to the benefit of a government which graph simply repeats the FBI's accusa lance... ." in Chicago, where a deal to scuttle a has shown . . . that it cannot be tions that political parties such as the The cops were equally enthused. The lawsuit against secret police crimes is trusted to uphold the Bill of Rights or CP and SWP urge "violent revolution" commissioner hailed the civil liberties being cooked up. The deal has been obey the law." and are likely to engage in "serious people for recognizing what he called worked out between the FBI and CIA Attorneys for the SWP and YSA crimes or violence" in the future. "an enlightened approach to balancing on the one hand, and lawyers for the have also filed a detailed objection to "These assertions," the SWP points the rights of political activists and the ACLU and a local group known as the the deal, blasting it as a "sham" and a out, "can only be characterized as lies. police responsibility for maintaining Alliance to End Repression on the "mockery of a fair settlement." They They are, in fact, lifted from the cur public order and investigating crime." other. This proposed settlement will be will urge the judge to throw the settle rent characterizations maintained in (Because the suit is a class-action, a presented on February 13 to a federal ment out and instruct the attorneys on the FBI's files on the SWP." public hearing must be held by the judge, who must approve any settle both sides to prepare the case for trial. The Communist Party really ought federal judge presiding over the case to ment. Like the New York agreement, the to join with the SWP in denouncing consider objections to the settlement The Chicago case grew out of the Chicago proposal would lead to the this attempt to brand the two parties by any New York resident who has revelation in the mid-1970s of wide dismissal of the case without any in this manner. We hope they will. been the target of police spying. Attor spread illegal surveillance and disrup admission by the FBI or CIA that they Unfortunately, the CP has not yet neys for the Socialist Workers Party tion involving the Chicago cops, the did anything wrong, and no factual spoken out in opposition to the pro and the Young Socialist Alliance, federal secret police, and right-wing findings or legal rulings by the court. . posed Chicago settlement. among the major targets of the Red terror gangs such as the Legion of Thus even though, for example, the Squad, are preparing objections to be Justice. FBI has admitted committing some 'Loss of heart' filed in court. They will urge the judge The targets of the illegal spying 500 political burglaries in Chicago, In their criticism of the proposed to reject the settlement as a fake and a include groups such as the Steel they will get off scot-free. FBI-ACLU-Alliance deal, attorneys fraud.) workers union, United Auto Workers, Taylor, Cunningham, and Haas ex When the Civil Liberties Union law Teamsters, as well as the NAACP and Bag jobs okayed press dismay at what appears to be "a yers and other liberals throw their Operation PUSH. Also victimized were Instead, what the settlement says is loss of heart" by the ACLU and Al arms around the political police and the Communist Party, the Socialist that under current FBI Guidelines liance lawyers. With the case on the salute them. for their "enlightened" Workers Party, and the Young Social many (it never says which) of those eve of trial, and so much incriminating approach to political spying, working ist Alliance. past actions would not be allowed. evidence already gathered, they ask, people are the losers. That is exactly A number of groups, including the However, the settlement gets no why have the lawyers proposed that 10 spying given an 'enlightened' face we settle for such a rotten deal? liberals and conservatives, over what Squads, and other undercover cop oper ilar groups of being bought off, or The answer is certainly not that the the government can and should do. ations have to be strengthened. proposing these settlements for venal ACLU or the Alliance to End Repres They find themselves increasingly in That is why, for example, the major reasons. The fact is, they believe in sion have run out of funds to keep the harmony on political, economic, and news media have enforced a news them. They believe in the "enlight case going, or that they have found social policies. That was the major blackout on the crucially important ened" police spying that will be al better ways to fight the secret police. lesson of the 1980 election. recent developments in the SWP and lowed under the terms of these pro And it is certainly not because they YSA lawsuit against the FBI going on posed deals as much as the editors of have failed to collect enough facts to Bipartisan policy in New York, events with which Mili the New York Times and the Chicago hang the FBI ten times over at a trial. Naturally, this increasingly biparti tant readers are already familiar. Tribune do. Rather, their "loss of heart" is part san domestic policy includes the ques Instead, the capitalist media pro That is why maximum public protest of a bigger shift in American politics. tion of democratic rights and the secret mote, with extensive news coverage, should be focused in opposition to these As the crisis facing the American police. settlements of the New York and Chi rotten deals, and a big campaign capitalist system deepens, and the The ruling rich, their servants in the cago type; which fit in with their line. launched to get out the truth about rulers are compelled to step up their two capitalist parties-and their lawy News of the preparations for trial in them to the labor movement, the Black attacks on the rights and living stand ers-know that in order to carry the SWP case-which has not been movement, and everyone else who has ards of the working class, the differen through their program for the United settled-is not "fit to print." a stake in the fight against the secret ces are disappearing between Demo States, democratic rights have got to It would not be accurate to accuse police. crats and Republicans, between give way. The FBI, the local Red the attorneys for the ACLU and sim- Team of socialists set to tour Southwest By Norton Sandler possible about Chicano victims of gov vania, March 28 against nuclear This week a team of Spanish ernment political attacks," Ariza said. power." speaking socialists will begin a two "In Pueblo, Colorado, we are going to The southwestern team will not be month tour of the Southwest. They will talk to those who have been attending the only one spreading the word about be talking to Chicano and mexicano the trial of Kiko Martinez, a well the pending trial and the ideas that the workers about the March 16 court case known Chicano activist now fighting a FBI is opposed to. Soon another team in which the Socialist Workers Party frame-up. based near Harrisburg will also be in and Young Socialist Alliance will put This is particularly important, Ariza the field. That team will be selling the U.S. government on trial for its said, because of the history of govern subscriptions to the Militant, not only attacks on political freedom. ment efforts to disrupt the Chicano in the Harrisburg area but also in the The team will be discussing the liberation movement. The attempt to coal fields of southern West Virginia socialist ideas the government is try frame up Martinez is just one example near Charleston and in the Morgan ing to suppress and will also be selling of the many attacks directed against town and Pittsburgh area. Chicano activists and organizations The expenses for both teams will be .. by federal and local cops. covered by the $75,000 Socialist Fund. "We think the people we'll be talking To date, the. Fund has raised more to on this trip will be especially inter than $58,590. The fund, which will go $75,000 ested in what our lawsuit is bringing to until May 1, is vital to helping get out light," Ariza commented. socialist ideas during the period of the Socialist Fund "Also," he added, "we're sure there historic SWP/YSA suit aimed at halt will be great interest in our coverage of Militant/Henry Snipper ing illegal government activity. the events in Central America, particu RICHARD ARIZA Particularly gratifying has been the larly El Salvador, where Washington response to a fund appeal to Militant single issues and subscriptions to Pers is trying to thwart the liberation move readers. pectiva Mundial and the Militant. ment. last year; and the fields of Southern Richard Ariza, a staff writer for the California. In . the very first week, readers re socialist Spanish-language publication "We are going to write articles based "We have a slide show on El Salva sponded with contributions of more Perspectiva Mundial, will head up the on what we learn as part of expanding dor that we're going to take with us," than $2,000. team. the coverage on Chicano and mexicano he said. "We'll encourage everyone to Contributions have come in from In an interview, Ariza said the team workers in PM and the Militant." get involved in the solidarity move such diverse locations as Newport, will be going from Denver to El Paso, According to Ariza, the team's travel ment that is developing with the peo New Hampshire; Spring Valley, Cali Albuquerque, Phoenix, and San Diego, plan will include "places we haven't ple of El Salvador. fornia; Edinboro, Pennsylvania; Ben .and many stops in between. been to on a regular basis, like the San "In Southern Colorado, near Tri nington, Oklahoma; South Bend, Indi They plan to distribute large quanti Luis Valley in Colorado, where Chica nidad, we are going to talk to Spanish ana; Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Culp ties of the Spanish-language version of nos are involved in a land rights speaking members of the United Mine Creek, Oregon. Those wishing to help the socialist campaign brochure "Se struggle; the copper mining area near Workers about their upcoming contract can send a contribution to the Socialist cret Police on Trial." Silver City, Arizona, where steel negotiations and about the national Fund, 14 Charles Lane, New York, "We also want to learn as much as workers were involved in a long strike demonstration in Harrisburg, Pennsyl- New York 10014. · Where we are Revolutionary Continuity The Early Years/1848-1917 _by Farrell Dobbs Farrell Dobbs, a le;3.der of the 1934 Minneapolis teamster strikes and national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party 1953-72, traces the revolutionary continuity of Marxist lead ership in the U.S. This first volume, in a series, covers the origins of Marx ism in Europe, its influence on the rise of the Marxist and la bor movements in this country, and the impact of the Rus sian Revolution of 1917. The book describes the roots and revolutionary heritage of the Marxist movement today. $5.45. Pathfinder Press 410 West St. New York, NY 10014 (Include $.75 for postage and handling.) THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 11 • Karolyn Ker • fighter By Mary-Alice Waters the waterfront in the Bay Area took not their deputies were brutally busting up Karolyn Kerry, an activist and leader only the. conviction that the ideas ex strike headquarters and social centers, of the revolutionary socialist movement pressed m the paper were correct, but tear-gassing and beating up strikers in the United States for almost forty- cour~ge and a capacity to defe.n~ yourself and their families, and herding scabs in seven years, died unexpectedly of a physically as w~ll . The St~hmst goons to the fields. heart attack in San Diego California of the Commumst Party did whatever The Workers Party together with the on February 5. She was s~venty year~ they could get away with to prevent the left-wing forces in the Socialist Party, old. revolutionary Marxist point of view especially the youth in the Young Peo · Karolyn Eudora McLeland was born from being hea~d . ple's Socialist League, decided to do December 11 1910 in Louisville Ken- The women m the party were often what they could to help publicize the tucky, where 'she s~ent the first y~ars of the main salespersons. ~ost ."":orkers strikers' conditions and the struggle to her life. She described her family as rega~dless of "":here t~eir political sym organize the fields. southern "poor whites." pa~hies lay-did not hke. to see women Karolyn and others joined the picket Her father died while she was still in bemg beaten up for selhng a workers ing organized by the Mexican-based grade school and her mother soon moved newspaper, so the Stalinists had to be CUCOM, the United Confederation of to Chicago. Karolyn finished the 8th more careful. Mexican Workers and Campesinos, on grade at the Mary D. Hill Public School . When Karolyn joined the San Fran- the Pales Verdes Peninsula. She was ar in Louisville, but when she got to Chica- cisco branch of the Workers Party there resteD. along with some of the strikers, go she decided she had had enough of were only three other .women-and a helped organize the relief kitchens and family and school. Barely into her teens, bakers dozen comrades m all. She often childcare centers, collected money to she set off on her own to make her way talked about how she and another very At seventieth birthday celebration, De- sustain the strike, found doctors and as a young working woman. capable woman co~rade whom she ad- cember 1980. lawyers to help, and worked for the de Karolyn got a job in a department mired greatly, El01se Booth, would ~ell fense committee set up to aid victims of store in Chicago. Like millions of others th~ paper ~n the ~aterfront or outside cial relationships. They could only be the strike. of her generation she was soon deeply ~mon meetmgs, with a sturdy umbrella changed by collective action of the In the end, few agricultural workers affected by the economic and social ca- m hand. workers themselves. in California were successfully organ tastrophe of capitalism following the Years later, at the end of World War One of her first waitressing jobs was ized in the 1930s. The hidebound AFL crash of 1929. She began to search for ll, Karolyn taught another generation at the posh Fairmont Hotel in San Fran disdained them and the new CIO was explanations, to be interested in poli- of women comrades how to defend the cisco, where she threw herself into or unequal to the task. But the battle tics. party's right to sell our press. The Stal- ganizing the waiters and waitresses. waged and the unity in struggle some In 1930 through mutual friends she inists were then trying to prevent us She often told the story of how the strik times achieved by Mexican, Filipino met Tom Kerry, a young salesma~ for fro~ selling o~f:side th~ m~tings of the ers organized an Easter fashion show to and other workers was an important the Chicago Byproduct Coke Company. N~tlonal Mantlme Umon m New York publicize their fight. While the hotel part of the legacy of agricultural labor That was the beginning of a lifelong re- City, too. . . management displayed Easter finery for in California that contributed to the vic lationship as companions and com- Karolyn and El01se used to walk mto the ladies of the ruling class in the tories of the United Farmworkers in the rades. union meetings and ask for five minutes swank dining room, the striking wai 1960s and 1970s. Tom introduced Karolyn to socialist to speak to the gathering about on~ or tresses pulled up a flatbed truck in front ideas, but at that point neither of them another pamphlet they were selhng. of the hotel and put on their own fashion The fish canneries parade. Karolyn was one of the more Karolyn also took part in the drive to striking models. And they won the organize the fish cannery workers on strike in short order. the Pacific coast into the Seafarers In Soon after, she became involved in ternational Union (SIU) after 1938. Karolyn Kerry strike support work for the Industrial The party had already begun to esta Union of Marine and Shipbuilding blish a sizeable maritime fraction Workers, which at that time was an in through our work in the Sailors Union Special 'Militant' Fund dependent union. She had gone to a of the Pacific. When the SUP won a Throughout her life, Karolyn Ker rolyn Kerry Special Militant Fund. strike meeting to sell the Militant and charter from the AFL and established ry's political activity was closely Chairing the fund are: Asher Har the strikers invited her in. The meeting the SIU, it also won jurisdiction over the identified with the Militant newspa er, San Francisco; Leo Frumkin, Los was discussing how to organize the AFL-organized fish packing industry on per-from sales on the waterfront in Angeles; and Sarah Lovell, New strike and enable the workers' families the West Coast. The proviso was that San Francisco in the 1930s to her York. The treasurer is Willie Mae to survive. each plant had to vote separately to af nine years as Militant business·and Reid. After listening for a while, Karolyn filiate to the Sill. circulation manager. Contributions should be sent to: raised her hand and made a few sugges The fish packing industry was one of Comrades and friends who wish to Karolyn Kerry Special Militant tions. She talked about the successful the few that employed predominantly pay tribute to this veteran socialist Fund, 14 Charles·Lane, New York, struggles of the Teamsters organizing women. The women comrades in the can do so by contributing to the Ka- New York 10014. ·drive in Minnesota and encouraged the newly formed Socialist Workers Party shipbuilders to follow their example: es tablish a women's auxiliary organiza belonged to any group. In late 1933, Often the local leadership would be so tion, set up a soup kitchen for the strik some acquaintances of theirs were ex surprised at their audacity they would ers' families, organize strike defense pelled from the organization known as agree, and then she and Eloise would squads. She urged them to draw on the Friends of the Soviet Union for reading stand out front and sell to the workers power and discipline inherent in a dem works by the Soviet revolutionary lead as they left the meeting. ocratically organized rank and file. The er Leon Trotsky. That kind of bold approach was typi strikers were impressed and asked Ka That was when Tom and Karolyn cal of Karolyn and her determination to rolyn to help. came in contact with the Communist let nothing stand in the way of reaching She and other comrades pitched in, League of America (CLA). TheCLA was the working class wherever possible and Karolyn considered that one of their the small nucleus of revolutionists in ~ith the ideas of revolutionary Marx greatest achievements was ·overcoming the Uirited States who had been ex Ism. the resistance of the men to having their pelled from the Communist Party for wives help out at the strike headquar exposing and fighting against the devel Organizing waitresses ters. As she explained in an educational opment of the Stalinist bureaucracy in The great San Francisco general panel discussion on women in labor his the Soviet Union which led to the coun strike in 1934 unionized the waterfront , tory at Oberlin, Ohio, in 1974: terrevolutionary destruction of Lenin's and helped establish the drive toward "The 'Ladies· Auxiliary' of the union. policies of revolutionary international industrial organization in the U.S. In its Today that sounds as though it was ism and workers democracy. wake, dozens of union battles were coined in the nineteenth century. But it As was typical of Karolyn throughout fought throughout the Bay Area. Karo wasn't really. In fact the idea was a mil her life, when she became convinced of lyn threw herself into whatever battle itant and progressive concept that grew something, she acted. At the end of 1934 came along. up as part of the innovative strike tac she and Tom moved from Chicago to the In those days there were few oppor tics of the new fighting industrial Bay Area in California to see if life was tunities for women to get jobs in indus unions. It was introduced by the revolu any better on the West Coast. They went try. Women were generally restricted to tionary socialists and communists ac to a meeting to hear Communist Party employment considered suitable for "la tive in the left wing of the AFL, the leader Bill Dunne speak about the San dies." Karolyn, like many other work IWW, etc. Francisco general strike and massive la ing class women, spent many years of "While the term 'Ladies· Auxiliaries' bor battles taking place across the coun- her life working as a waitress. And she has an odd sound to our ears today in the try. was a good one. Outgoing and persona light of the rise of women's liberation, I ble-as well as strong-willed and blunt can assure you, there was nothing the Outside the meeting a group of young social register would consider very lady Trotskyists were selling the Militant spoken-she was liked and respected by her customers and colleagues alike. like about the conduct of these militant and Karolyn bought a copy. Later that working women's battalions." week Karolyn decided to join the San She was always ready to give a help Francisco branch of the CLA, just before ing hand to other young women .who Agricultural workers it fused with A.J. Muste's American were struggling to earn a living and Karolyn participated in and gained Workers Party and became the Workers make their way in a rough world. Wher experience through several other class Party. ever she worked, she made friends and struggle battles in California in the A few weeks later Tom joined too. introduced her co-workers to political 1930s. Two made a special impact on Karolyn was always tough and inde ideas through the Militant. She helped her. Militant pendent and knew how to take care of them see that their problems were not In 1935 and 1936, bitter struggles Karolyn Kerry, left, marches with Bea herself. She was not one to be intimidat primarily their own fault, but the pro were being waged to organize agricul Hansen at New York anti-Vietnam War ed. In those days, selling the Militant on duct of capitalism and all its rotten so- tural workers. As usual the sheriffs and demonstration, March 26, 1966. 12 for the workin class (which had been founded at a conven she knew there was no better way to tion on New Year's weekend 1938) were spend it to advance the interests of the now able to be part of this major indus working class. trial fraction. They jumped into the Karolyn hated sloppiness-not caring campaign to win affiliation votes in as about your work or about those you were many plants as possible and to improve working with. She asked the maximum working conditions. of everyone, but never more than she de In San Francisco, Monterey, San Pe manded of herself. She insisted on dro, and San Diego, women comrades teamwork and tried to organize every went to work in the plants. assignment to draw in as many com In San Francisco they packed sar rades as possible, to train them to lead dines. "Three down and two up. A very others. romantic trade," was the way Karolyn Although her political self-confidence used to describe it. was never equal to her own abilities, she One of the biggest problems was the always went out ofher way to encourage work schedule. The women were sup younger and newer comrades, especially posed to be on call. Whenever the sar young women, to make them feel com dine boats came in with a catch, the fortable socially and politically at ease. whistles would blow and everyone was In addition to whatever national as supposed to tum up for work. Some signments Karolyn was responsible for times there would only be two hours of at any time, she was always one of the packing to be done. · Other times they most active leaders of the New York would have to work straight through branch of the party. Demonstrations, twelve, sixteen, or even more hours, all saies of the press, forums, campaigns, at straight time pay. defense commi~e was involved After refusing to go to work several Militant in everything and Qn top of it all found times unless guaranteed four hours Tom Kerry (back row left) and Karolyn (back row right) with students who attended ·time to socialize with friends and com-· work, they were able to establish a four SWP leadership school In 1961-62. Students, left to right, (back row) Sid Brown, Su rades and was always ready to organize hour minimum and a graduated pay zanne Weiss, Mary Henderson, (front row) Peter Buch, Lynn Henderson, Emle Tate, AI a good party just to have fun for an even scale for time over twelve hours. Hunter, John Chelstrom. ing and get everyone to relax together. All these experiences were part of the class struggle that helped to shape Ka Political inspiration ropean comrades and their families af She took charge of innumerable spe rolyn's political consciousness and in Throughout the years of full-time ter World War II. cial projects such as one close to her still in her that unshakable confidence work for the party nationallY ·therewere She managed election campaigns. heart, a campaign to raise money to in the capacities of the working women three things especially that Karolyn She was city secretary for the New publish a book of cartoons by Laura and men of this country to rise to the drew strength and reinforcement from. York local of the party. Gray, the Militant's professional car One was the rise of the civil rights challenges that history has presented In 1958 she was chosen to study at the toonist for many years. She was always us. movement in the South. AB a Louisville leadership cadre school org~nized by the bitterly disappointed that the party's re native (she never did totally lose her Off to New York party. sources proved too limited and the book Kentucky accent), she knew what condi She organized the summer arts and never appeared. tions in the South were like and under As the ruling class prepared to take crafts program for children at Mountain From 1959 to 1967 she served as the the workers of this country into the sec stood the power and revolutionary dy Springs Camp in the New Jersey Poco business and circulation manager of the namic of the struggle for Black libera ond imperialist slaughter, they first nos, which was an important part of Militant, bringing to that job all her ex turned their artillery on the most con tion. sustaining the facilities that made pos perience and. enthusiasm for selling the In 1955, the bus boycott movement scious and militant sectors of the sible the party's leadership school. party's press from coast to coast. workers movement-those who were began in Montgomery, Alabama. When She also organized promotion work Karolyn and Tom drove across the coun uncompromisingly opposed to the wars for Pathfinder Press. being planned by the U.S. rulers. try in 1956, returning to New York af Karolyn even had her own defense Under the infamous Smith thought ter several years in Los Angeles, they case. Accused of selling a dry martini stopped in Montgomery on their way. control act, eighteen leaders of the So without a · liquor license at Mountain cialist Workers Party and Teamsters They learned of the appeal by the organ• Meetings Spring Camp, she was framed up as one izers of the boycott for stationwagons to Local 544 in Minneapolis were convict of the first victims of the government's ed of advocating revolutionary ideas. help sustain the struggle, so she and Cointelpro-type operations. And she Tom decided to donate their car. Farrell Prison sentences were handed down in of tribute was acquitted. December 1941, the day after Pearl Dobbs, the party's presidential candi Harbor, but various appeal procedures A party leader date, drove it back to Montgomery as delayed the prison terms themselves un- planned soon as they had arrived in New York til1944. . In every one of these assignments Ka and unpacked their few belongings. rolyn led the cadres-of the party in an Tom and Karolyn came to New York San Francisco For years Karolyn was a member of exemplary way. at the end of 1943 to be part of the na Sunday, February 22; 2 p.m. reception; the NAACP and kept her membership She insisted on carrying through eve tional and professional apparatus of the 2:30 p.m. meeting. cards from every city she lived in. ry assignment in the most competent First Unitarian Church, 1187 Franklin When the July 26th Movement came party while the majority of the eighteen and professional manner. And with the served their time at Sandstone Federal Street, Starr King Room. to power in Cuba in 1959 and the least expense. She was always looking Speakers include: Bertha Dertz, Catari workers and peasants of that country Penitentiary in Minnesota. That "tem for ways to save the party a ·penny, to porary assignment," as Karolyn once na Garza, Asher Harer, Carole Selig began to take their own destiny in hand, maximize what we could do with our Karolyn was the business manager of referred to it, lasted for some thirty-two man, Barry Sheppard, Roland Shep meager resources. She was aggressive years. There was one brief interval be the Militant-a very small Militant of pard, Kwame Somburu, Sylvia Wein about asking friends and sympathizers tween late 1953 and 1956 when Tom only four pages a week. stein. of the party to give their money because and Karolyn returned to Los Angeles to · Continued on page 24 help lead the party in southern Califor nia following a major split in 1953. Los Angeles Many of those years were the very Sunday, February 22; 2:30 p.m. hardest the revolutionary movement in Socialist Workers Party headquarters, this country had lived through. The 2211 North Broadway. postwar reaction, anticommunist witch Speakers include: Rebecca Finch, Vir hunt, and bureaucratization of the labor ginia Garza, Dick Roberts, Della Rossa, movement brought declining member Art Sharon, Judy White. ship and financial hardship. The enor mous political pressure found its ex pression in splits and other political New York aberrations. City Sunday, February 22; 3 p.m. meeting Only when objective conditions began followed by reception. to change in the late 1950s with the rise Marc Ballroom, 27 Union Square West of the Black liberation struggle, the vic (between 15 and 16 Streets). tory of the Cuban revolution, and then the struggle against the Vietnam war, Speakers include: Louise Armstrong, did the workers movement in this coun Dorothy Breitman, Frank Lovell, Sarah try begin to show significant signs of Lovell, Michael Maggi, Willie Mae Reid, new life. Mary-Alice Waters. Throughout this entire period Karo lyn and Tom were both key components For information on special tributes to of the unshakable cadre of the party. Karolyn Kerry in other cities, contact the When times got really rough financial Socialist Workers Party branch in your ly, Karolyn went to work waitressing area. again, but for most of the years in New Messages for the meetings in San York she worked full-time for the party Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York in whatever capacity she was needed. City should be sent to: SWP National She organized defense work for the Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, jailed leaders of the SWP through the New York 10014. Civil Rights Defense Committee. Karolyn Kerry speaking at Women In Labor History panel held at socialist educational She helped raise funds to sustain Eu- conference In Oberlin, Ohio, August 1974. THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20,1981 13 By Fred Feldman workers state at the doorstep of the mightiest impe- Cuba has focused its efforts to help extend the revolu rialist power on earth. - tion. The opening of socialist revolutions in Nicara "Our: Revolution's prestige derives from our loyalty gua and Grenada provided the Cuban working people to principles! And more important than the prestige is Collective product and thei~ leaders with inspiring confirmation of the the confidence that all the world's revolutionaries The party's evalution of the political situation, as correctness of their policies of internationalism and must have that Cuba can always be counted on. . . . well 'as its tasks and perspectives, were laid out in the revolutionary solidarity. "Principles are not negotiable. There are people in lengthy "Main Report," delivered at the opening ses In Nicaragua and Grenada insurrections based on the world who negotiate with principles, but Cuba will sion December 17 by Fidel Castro, in his capacity as the urban proletariat have brought workers and never negotiate with principles! And we're sure that first secretary of the Central Committee. The report farmers governments to power which collaborate neither this nor future generations will ever negotiate was a collective product, reflecting discussions in the closely with the Cuban government. And in El Salva with their principles! ... Political Bureau and Central Committee of the party. dor and Guatemala, workers and farmers are fight "Without histrionics of any kind, we would prefer a Its fundamental ideas had been discussed over the ing arms in hand to establish similar regimes. thousand times over to die than to surrender! We will year in all the local units of the party. In his December 20 speech in Havana, Castro not make a single concession to imperialism! We will pointed to the proletarian-led socialist revolutions in The report won unanimous approval the following not renounce a single one of our principles!" Cuba, Nicaragua, and Grenada as the road to throw day from the delegates. off imperialist domination-as examples for all Latin The report was divided into nine sections. The first These words summed up the message of the Second America. Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. Fidel Cas was Cuba's socioeconomic development. Here, advan tro spoke them to one million Cubans who gathered ces and problems in such varied fields as sugar prod "The peoples of the world are not so weak today," in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion December 20 to uction, light industry, public health, education, and he declared, "and I believe that the day when all the hail the successful completion of the congress and to economic planning were detailed. peoples of Latin America are as willing to defend learn of its main decisions. The goals of the next five year plan-the product of their country as Cuba is to defend itself, as willing as The congress and the preparations for it were a cen ter of discussion and attention in Cuba for months. 1980 was declared the "Year ofthe Second Congress." And it was a year of which Fidel Castro could say: "As far as mass mobilization in our capital is concerned, Cuban CP Congress·defies 1 1980 has been the most extraordinary year ever." The congress was an international event. In addi tion to the 1,772 delegates, delegations from some 150 Communist parties, liberation movements, and other organizations from around the world were pres ent. There was good reason for all this attention. The congress sought to sum up the lessons of two of the most eventful years in the history of the Cuban revo lution-years in which the Caribbean and Central America moved to the forefront of international poli tics--and to lay the groundwork for further steps for 'Otu ward for Cuba and the world revolution. The congress showed how a revolutionary current, deeply rooted in the needs and experiences of the Cu ban workers and peasants, is responding to big shifts a st~ in world and regional politics over the last half dec ade. It showed how this current has deepened its ac tive internationalism in response to these events. Above all, the congress was shaped by the exten sion of the socialist revolution to Nicaragua and ofw Grenada, and the deepening of the liberation strug gles in El Salvador and Guatemala-and of the Cu ban revolution itself. The congress evaluated the economic and political who impact of the worldwide stagnation and inflation of the international capitalist system on the semicolo nies, the imperialist powers, and the workers states. It responded to the emergence of the working class rev(] as the decisive factor in anti-imperialist and anticap italist struggles-not only in the imperialist coun tries, but in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. This is a product of the growth of industry, urbanization, and the working class in these countries, as well as a con sequence of economic crisis. This shift was most viv idly demonstrated in the urban insurrrections that brought down the shah oflran and Somoza in Nicara gua. The congress charted a course for Cuba based on a Marxist evaluation of the fundamental shift in the Some of the five ·million < world relationship of class forces that was marked by Man's t-shirt proclaims, ·•. the U.S. defeat in Vietnam and by the upsurge of struggles in the semicolonial world that this helped inspire. Solidarity at any cost an extensive disctission, including in the Assemblies Nicaragua is, as willing as Grenada is, imperialist The congress expressed the determination of Cu of People's Power-were outlined. domination in this hemisphere will disappear." ba's leaders to maintain their active solidarity with For the years 1981-85, the report stated: The report took note of the rising combativity of the the struggles in Central America and the Caribbean urban working class and its allies, linking this to a While setting modest goals, the plan provides for major whatever the cost. It showed their readiness to seize improvements in the standard ofliving, and economic devel general crisis of imperialist domination: openings to extend the socialist revolution, and to opment as well. In view of the present world situation of eco The readiness of the masses to fight-which has reached learn lessons from the upheavals shaking the region. nomic crisis and the fact that ours is an underdeveloped unprecedented levels--should be especially underscored. The congress responded to threats and aggressive country subjected to economic blockade and U.S. imperialist The fact that revolutionary national liberation movements moves by Washington- moves begun by the Carter aggression, an average annual growth rate of 5 percent will with a strong social content are on the rise and that mass administration, which Reagan has pledged to con undoubtedly constitute a great victory. [The Main Report movements in various countries reach new heights, indi and the December 20 rally speech appeared in the December tinue and escalate-by proposing that the Cuban cates that the system of imperialist and oligarchic domina 28, 1980 English-language weekly Granma.] workers and farmers be organized and armed in terri tion in this region is going through a more and more pro found crisis; while at the same time revealing the maturity ~rial militias to defend the country. The congress "The main goal of our country's socioeconomic development," Castro told the delegates, "is to finish reached by the movement of the workers, peasants, youth, warned that U.S. military intervention in El Salva women and all other sections of the population, now led by dor, Nicaragua, or Guatemala would lead to a new creating the technical-material base for social- experienced vanguards. and more massive Vietnam. I.Sm . ..." Special stress was placed on the growing role of Next the work of the armed forces and the Ministry The congress evaluated the deepening of the inter unions. of the Interior were taken up. And projections were nationalism and class consciousness of the Cuban made for the mass organizations--the Committees During the period we are now analyzing, the Latin-Amer masses, as a result of the new upsurge and gains of for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs), the unions, ican working class clearly showed that it was both mature the revolution in 1980. the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), the National and strong, and that its trade union movement is powerful. It projected a course aimed at deepening this pro In Peru, Ecuador and Colombia, strikes of unprecedented Association of Small Far:t;ners (ANAP), and others. cess, increasing workers control and workers demo magnitude took place; and the workers of Argentina have The development of the youth movement, the par cracy, and forging closer links to the masses. First continued their struggle. ty, and the struggle to preserve and strengthen Marx and foremost, it concluded, this requires further ist-Leninist ideology in Cuba were the subject of the proletarianization of the ranks and leadership of the Washington fights for empire next sections. party, and the strengthening of the mass organiza Washington has not reacted passively to the chal tions. The report concluded with an estimate of the world lenge posed to its power to exploit and plunder by the economic situation, and a presentation of Cuba's for And it proposed to continue the campaign against revolutions in Grenada and Nicaragua, the struggle eign policy. the bureaucratic deformations and privileges that in in El Salvador and Guatemala, and Cuba's support evitably appear in an economically underdeveloped ·It is in Central America and the Caribbean that for them. Castro told the delegates: 14 U.S. imperialism, which has not resigned itself to accept U.S. naval blockade and the possibility of nuclear an ~ot only in the realm of revolutionary and political ideas but ng the independent democratic social transformations that nihilation rather than give up their revolutionary also in the sphere of our people's national feelings. Imperial orne Latin-American and Caribbean peoples are carrying convictions. ism refuses to resign itself to a revolutionary, socialist Cu ut has reacted to the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua ba.. .. nd the revolutionary insurgency in El Salvador with an ar One thing was made clear beyond any mistake. Cu ogant attempt to reaffirm its rule in Central America and ba will not be intimidated by Washington's threats. Castro told the delegates that the "clean sweep" of he Caribbean, an area in which it brazenly declares it has a Cuba will not give up its inte"'rnationalist course in deserters was not yet over. The port at Mariel could special interest." Central America, Africa, or anywhere else. As Castro be reopened, he warned, since Washington is continu Aggressive moves and threats have multiplied. told the December 20 rally, "Cuba can always be ing to block legal departures from Cuba. Jnder Carter, U.S. military "advisers" were sent to counted on." "The construction of socialism as a completely free 1elp the murderous Salvadoran junta hang on to pow and voluntary task is still a principle of our revolu~ Organizing militias tionary process," he declared. "It implies freedom of ~r, and, in his final days in the White House, Carter ·enewed major military assistance to the regime. Theorganization of Territorial Troop Militias-re emigration." >low Reagan is promising to further escalate U.S. gional armed units made up of workers, farmers, and nilitary support, while suspending further disburse young people-was an important theme of the con Bureaucratic dangers nents of the meager loans promised Nicaragua as a gress. Castro first called for their formation on May 1, The upsurge dealt a blow to bureaucratic tenden vaming to any government that backs the Salvado 1980, in response to the Carter administration's anti cies that were beginning to take root in some parts of ·an people. Preparations are being stepped up for Cuba moves. In the report, Castro said: Cuba's administrative apparatus. A degree of social differentiation and inequality is arge-scale, U.S.-backed military intervention by the We will not rest until every Cuban who wants to defend }uatemalan and Honduran regimes. his neighborhood, his municipality, his work center and his inevitable in an economically underdeveloped and Beginning with Carter's scare campaign about the country-block by block, inch by inch-has a rifle, a grenade relatively isolated workers state. For instance, some !()Viet brigade in Cuba in mid-1979, anti-Cuba pro- or a mine and has been given the necessary training for car of the recent measures that have been necessary in rying out his sacred duty of defending his homeland to the Cuba to spur productivity and raise living standards death. -such as greater pay incentives-will tend to in "Our country must become a hard nut for the Yan crease income differentials among workers and farm kee imperialists to crack and a deadly thorn in their ers. side if they attempt an aggression," Castro declared. The Cuban leaders, who frankly acknowledge the .S. threats In the same spirit, the National Assembly of Peo dangers involved, are seeking to limit this tendency ple's Power declared 1981 to be the "Year of the 20th by introducing pay increases for the lowest-paid Anniversary of Playa Giron." This was the U.S.-or workers and dropping high "historic wages" for some ganized Bay of Pigs invasion carried out in 1961 by better-off workers. , the Kennedy administration. It was defeated by the These conditions make it possible for some individ mobilization of millions of Cubans through the mili uals and groups in the state administration to seek tias and Committees for the Defense of the Revolution privileges and nourish favoritism. Such parasitic lay (CDRs). ers unfailingly try to suppress the initiative of the workers and farmers, which threatens their attempt 'No longer alone' to accumulate and maintain privileges. They are the • Revolutionary advances in the Caribbean and Cen least enthusiastic about using Cuban resources and ; IS tral America inevitably spurred a further upsurge of personnel to aid other countries. Such bureaucrats the Cuban masses as well. The Cuban people made inevitably come to yearn for an end to revolutionary the first socialist revolution in the Americas and upheaval and a live-and-let-live agreement with im have held out for more than two decades on the door perialism at the expense of the world revolution. step of the mightiest imperialist power: They hope that such an agreement will help secure ,te It would be hard to overestimate the impact on mil their privileged status. lions of Cuban workers and farmers of the realization According to the Main Report, signs of this develop that "we are no longer alone"-as Castro put it fol ment had appeared in Cuba: lowing the Sandinista victory in July 1979. There were increasing signs that the spirit of austerity The Main Report describes some of the consequen was flagging, that a softening-up process was going on in trkers ces: which some people tended to let things slide, pursue privi leges, make accomodations and take other attitudes, while Our people's communist and internationalist conscious work discipline dropped. Our worst enemies could not have • ness has undoubtedly been increased in recent years . ... done us more damage. The People's Marches-an outpouring in response to the acts of provocation at the Peruvian and Venezuelan embas These dangers, Castro told the delegates, "even af exerc1se sies, to the Marie! flotilla and to the Yankee military fected the Party to a certain extent. In some places, threats-will go down in history. the general attitude was formal, conformist and basi Never before have there been such huge mass mobiliza tions in our homeland. cally petit bourgeOis in the sense of avoiding prob lems with everybody-as if the Revolution itself were ~utionaJ-y This was a reference to the April19, 1980, march of not always trying to straighten out problems involv more than 1 million people past the Peruvian embas ing injustice and poor work." sy, where thousands of would-be emigrants had ga This posed a question for the leaders of the revolu thered and which for a time was the center of an im tion: "Was our Revolution beginning to degenerate ~r' perialist-inspired anti-Cuba propaganda campaign; on our imperialist enemy's doorstep? Was that an in the May Day rally in Havana, attended by 1.5 million exorable law for any revolution in power? Under no people; and the May 17 "March of the Fighting Peo circumstances could such a thing be permitted." ple," held in cities across the country, in which more than 5 million of Cuba's 10 million people participat Mostpowertulweapon ed. All these in the space of one month. From the beginning of the Cuban revolution, the Castro described how a new generation had "won Castro leadership has relied on the workers and .ls who joined March of the Fighting People May 17. their first revolutionary laurels in the vanguard of small farmers to combat these tendencies. Unlike the · ~ree man!' this great political and ideological battle.... The Soviet Union-where the bureaucratic currents com masses were tempered and tremendously streng pletely expropriated political power from the workers thened in this struggle." after Lenin's death in 1924 and .established them selves as a counterrevolutionary governing caste Meaning of emigration political power in Cuba has remained in the hands of aganda and actions rose steadily. The flap over the While millions of Cubans were fired with enthusi- · rigade was followed by: the establishment of a Ca the workers and farmers. asm by the extension of the socialist revolution, and In the 1960s, the Castro leadership fought and de tbbean military command in Florida; the holding of defiant in face of imperialist threats, this was not 1e Solid Shield '80 naval exercises; a growing per- feated a Stalinist current led by Anibal Escalante, true of everyone. which sought to introduce bureaucratic methods and 1anent U.S. military presence in the Caribbean; and Economic difficulties and the relentless pressure of ,yen the threat, which Washington was forced to opposed an internationalist foreign policy. imperialism-including the attractive power of its After the failure of the campaign to harvest 10 mil ack down from, of a mock invasion of Cuba at the vastly greater wealth and higher standard of living J.S.-occupied Guantanamo naval base, on Cuban lion tons of sugar cane in 1970, the leadership drew -produced polarization. This was a reflection in the .conclusion that the government's late recognition oil. Cuba of the class polarization on a world scale be Washington has also covered up for the activities of of the extent of the shortfall must result from a gap in tween those attracted by the rise of working-class its links with the Cuban masses, who were undoubt nti-Cuban assassins. The assassination of a Cuban struggles, and others pulled by imperialism's drive to Jnited Nations official last year-the first such as edly aware of big problems much earlier in the harv roll them back. est. The Cuban leaders took steps to institutionalize assination in the history of the United Nations On one side in Cuba were marching millions who -was a clear warning of more to come. the mass participation that has always been the foun were preparing for the impending battles. On the oth dation of the revolution, and to bring order into the er side were those who flinched before this prospect economy. . ~o retreat by Cubans and sought an easy way out via the port of Mariel In a speech to the National Assembly of People's Trade-union elections were held and regularized. -petty criminals, black marketeers, a large number The mass organizations were strengthened and their '>ower December 27, Castro told the elected delegates of nonrevolutionary Cubans· with relatives in the 'nd the Cuban people that they can expect this trend decision-making role was increased. And municipali United States, and a thin layer of conservative, privi ties elected Assemblies of People's Power, which in ,f increasing pressure from U.S. imperialism to con lege-hungry party and government officials. inue under the Reagan administration: tum elected provincial and national assemblies. ''The The Main Report explained: bodies of People's Power created the best possible con .. . I do believe that the policy of that administration will In spite of the tremendous efforts the Revolution has made ditions for the exercise of socialist democracy, the >e hard-line, very hard-line. In fact I think it will be openly to promote socioeconomic development-some social dis highest form of democracy, by institutionally facili nterventionist regarding Latin America, and will also try grace from the past still remains: total lack of national ;o be the same regarding Cuba, since they consider this a tating the masses' participation in governing society, feeling on the part of some, combined with the fact that the 1emisphere their private property. [The December 28 at both the local and national levels," Castro told the socioeconomic conditions in our developing country still pro peech appeared in the January 11 , 1981, weekly Granma.] delegates. duce some declassed, antisocial, lumpen elements that are In the last months of 1979, Raul Castro made a ser-· The CP congress and subsequent speeches by Cas receptive to imperialist enticements and ideas. ies of speeches in which he cited lax and privilege ~ro featured references to the "missile crisis" of 1962, For these reasons, a bitter ideological battle has been hungry administrators as a contributing factor in Cu- when the Cuban people calmly mobilized to face a waged by our imperialist enemy and the Cuban Revolution -a struggle that has been and will continue to be fought Cont/nued on next Pllfl• rHE MIUTANT/FEBRUARY 20,1981 15 Continued from preceding page Party is their party, are historic conquests ofthe Cu ·On occasion, the imperialists speak condescendingly ba's economic difficulties. He took aim at the "faint ban revolution. about their being willing to lift the blockade, willing to In the Main Report, Castro expressed the confi spare our lives, if we stopped being internationalists, if we hearted," who fear the consequences of internation withdrew our fighters from Angola and Ethiopia, (SHOUTS alism and defiance of imperialist threats. dence that this process is inspiring in the leadership. OF "NO!" AND "CUBA SI, YANKEES NO!" AND AP But the popular upsurge of 1980 provided the revo No party can appoint itself the vanguard, he said, re PLAUSE) if we severed our close ties with the Soviet lutionary leadership with the most powerful weapon, peating a theme he has explained many times. Union. (SHOUTS OF "NO!") Needless to say, for us it is • neither a pleasure nor a whim to have thousands of our fight together with further extension of the socialist revo We will be the vanguard not because of what we think of ers in other lands. However, the day that we call back a sin lution, against bureaucratic tendencies: the mobiliza ourselves but because of what the people think of us. It is a gle man-a single one-it will be because he's no longer tion ofa class-conscious and internationalist working difficult but worthy and stimulating task to be the vanguard needed or because of an agre'ement between the govern of a vanguard people, to be Communists in a country of Com class. ments of those countries and us (APPLAUSE) but never as a munists. The deepest, most permanent link with the masses This was explained in the report to the congress: concession to imperialism! has been, is and will always be the guiding force of our Par We consider the battle that the masses waged last April ty. The Cubans' refusal to sacrifice internationalism and May to be one of the most important political, ideologi has also led to tension with the French government, cal and moral victories the Revolution has won in its entire Principled policy which is worried about the growing independence history .... Castro concluded the Main Report with an exten It is significant that this struggle had positive repercus struggles in its Caribbean colonies of Martinique and sions in the national effort to eradicate a series of ideological sive discussion of Cuba's foreign policy. The funda Guadaloupe. "There is high level communication problems that had been gaining ground in this period. mental principle of this policy was stated by Castro in with France, and significant economic exchanges The people's repudiation of the scum [the lumpen, bureau his report to the first party congress in 1975: have taken place," Castro reported. "The plenitude of crats, and others who joined the emigration-JP] also meant "Cuba's foreign policy has, as its starting point, the those relations, however, has been hindered because that they repudiated undisciplined behavior, sponging, ac subordination of Cuban positions to the international the principled stands of the Cuban Revolution on co comodation, negligence, and other such negative attitudes. nee.ds of the struggle for socialism and for the nation lonial remnants in Latin America have not been un The position the people took, coupled with the political, le al liberation of the peoples." gal, wage and administrative measures adopted during the derstood by certain circles in France." The Cuban leaders recognized the victorious march past months, has led to a much greater demand for higher Cuban policy in Africa has sought to strengthen of the Vietnamese liberation fighters into Saigon as standards and more order in our society. Naturally, this and advance anticimperialist struggles and social campaign is not won in a day. marking an historic shift in the world relationship of transformations on the continent. From this stand class forces in favor of the workers and oppressed na The mass actions of the Cuban proletariat in 1980 point, the Main Report devotes special attention to tions. were a measure of its growing social power, class con developments in Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and An important element in this victory, noted by Cas sciousness, and fighting spirit-a phenomenon in Zimbabwe. creasingly noticeable. throughout the world. It is this tro at the 1975 congress, were developments in the class which provides the most solid base of support for heartland of imperialism itself: Internationalist workers internationalist policies and the struggle against bu The war against the Vietnamese people, which began Cuba's aid to oppressed nations has not been prim- reaucratic deformations, just as advances in the eco nomy depend in the last analysis on their organiza tion, consciousness, and initiative. Proletarianization 'Never before have there been such huge mass mobilizations in The Castro leadership team has responded to the our homeland.' changes in the Cuban revolution-and to the growing political weight of the proletariat throughout L;1tin America-with an acceleration of its drive to prole tarianize the party and its leadership. "The most important, the most revolutionary thing about this Congress," Castro told a mass rally that followed it, "was the composition of our Central Com mittee. The leadership of our Party was given a strong dose of worker cadres, a strong dose of women, and a strong dose of internationalist fighters." "We must take account," he said at the December 20 rally, "that the number of workers in our Party has almost tripled, which means that our Party has become more proletarian and, therefore, more Marx ist-Leninist and more revolutionary." The Main Report explained that party members "who are directly linked to production and services now make up 47.3 percent of the total membership, compared to 36.3 percent of the total December 1975." It also noted an increase in the percentage of women members from 14.1 percent in 1975 to 19.1 Millions of Cubans mobilized to defend revolution when the imperialists organized a propaganda campaign around percent today. would-be emigrants who had gathered in the Peruvian embassy. 'Escoria' means scum, the Cuban people's charac In the Union of Young Communists (UJC), the per terization of many of the recent emigrants. centage of women members rose from 30 percent in 1975 to 41.8 percent today, and the percentage of women among its full-time cadres rose from 5.3 per cent to 14.3 percent. Fidel noted that these levels with massive support in the United States, soon generated arily military. The Main Report to the Second Con an anti-imperialist and anti-war conscience at the US uni were still far from adequate. gress stated that some 20,000 Cuban constru~tion versities, among the country's most prominent circles, and workers, 11,000 industrial and agricultural special Women leaders have been playing a stronger role even in ever-growing sections of a working class duped by in the mass organizations as well, the report con the advantages of the ruthless exploitation of other coun ists, 2,500 health workers, and 3,500 teachers are tinued. It reported that in trade-union elections, 42.7 tries . .. . [First Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba helping the peoples of countries in Asia, Africa, and percent of local leaders and 32.6 percent of executive (Moscow: Progress Publishers, 1976), p. 234.] Latin America. The dedication of these volunteers, together with committee members elected were women. · The Cuban leaders seized the opening to foster the example of a country that uses its resources to The composition of the Political Bureau, which anti-imperialist struggles, stymie imperialist at help others--with no strings attached- has inspired leads the party between sessions of the Central Com tempts to regain the offensive, and to encourage the admiration for the Cuban revolution. The popularity mittee, was adjusted in the same direction by adding extension of the socialist revolution. leaders of the mass orgnizations--the unions, the Na of socialism has been reinforced as information tiona_l Association of Small Farmers, the Federation Africa spreads throughout the semicolonial world of the ma of Cuban Women, and the Committees for the De At the time of the First Congress, thousands of Cu terial and cultural gains scored b y the Cuban revolu fense of the Revolution. Younger leaders, tested by ban soldiers were already in Angola, helping the tion. Cuba's actions have raised its prestige in the group the new struggles in Cuba, are being brought for newly independent government beat back a U.S.-sup ward. ported South African invasion. called the Nonaligned movement. This record has helpetl lay the groundwork for the Cuban leaders to Cuban troops remain in Angola to help train the 'Vanguard of vanguard people' country's defense forces, and to help fend off further play a bigger role in this organization of governments from countries oppressed by imperialism. Today, Cu The report stressed that this shift in the party's South African intrusions. The presence of Cuban composition, accompanied by doubling of its member troops has inspired liberation fighters throughout ba is the chair of the Nonaligned movement. Activity in this body is part of Cuba's policy, de ship to 434,000 in five years, had been accomplished southern Africa. It puts heavy pressure on Washing without lowering its political st;1ndards: "We have ton and the racist regime in South Africa to yield scribed in the report, of joining forces "with all those grown well. We have not sacrificed- nor will we ever ground in Zimbabwe and Namibia . The victory of the patriotic governments and anti-imperialist move sacrifice--quality for quantity." Angolan people helped set off a new wave of mass ments that in one way or another challenge Washing ton's domination." The changes in the Communist Party of Cuba have antiracist struggles in South Africa itself, especially among urban youth and industrial workers. Cuba's leaders place a high priority on combating tended to link it more closely to the revolutionary at the devastating effects of the world capitalist crisis on titudes of its own mass base and its supporters among At the end of 1977 Cuban troops went to Ethiopia, again at the invitation of the government, to help de the semicolonial peoples, already plundered and su Cuba's proletarians and working peasants . . perexploited by the imperialist metropolises. It enables the party to function more effectively in fend a deepgoing social revolution against an inva forging the revolutiomi.ry unity of the broad masses of sion by the Somali government of Siad Barre. This Economic catastrophe was a blow to Washington's efforts to destabilize the workers around the practice of revolutionary interna The Main Report describes how stagflation and revolution. tionalism and the ideas of Marxism. It has streng growing unemployment in the economies of North More than 100,000 Cuban soldiers, all volunteers, thened the hegemony of the revolutionary Marxist America, Western Europe, and J apan have meant have now served in Africa, Castro told the Second current not only inside the party, but among the ruin for the poor nations--ever-higher prices for im Congress. working masses. The sentiments of militant interna ports as compared to exports, soaring unemployment, tionalism and identification with Marxism among Washington makes removal of Cuban troops from spreading hunger, and leapfrogging indebtedness at millions of Cubans, as well as the conviction of Africa a condition for diplomatic and economic rela extortionate interest rates to imperialist bankers. masses of workers and farmers that the Communist tions. Castro responded at the December 20 rally: The imperialists use these massive debts, which 16 have reached $500 billion for all underdeveloped have shown their willingness to defY Washington's intervention would meet from the toilers of the re countries, to impose severe austerity programs that international campaign to quarantine the Cuban rev gion: accelerate the decline in living standards, as in Zaire olution. If Yankee marines or intervention forces land in Central and Per.u. Heads of state who resist such demands Special attention is also paid to governments America, the people of the United States will again witness face destabilization programs, like the one that brought to power by deep revolutionary mass mobili the painful scene of their soldiers' coffins arriving home.... helped oust the Manley government in Jamaica late zations, as in Ethiopia and Iran. In the Main Report, The blame will fall on those who refuse to acknowledge the last year. Castro hailed the "development of a clearly anti-im lessons of history and the irreversible changes that have This crisis hits the workers states, too. Social own perialist people's process" in Iran. taken place in the world. ership, the planned use of the means of production, Another category is those governments embroiled and a state monopoly of foreign trade make it possibJe in sharp conflicts with imperialism such as Syria, Lib Class tensions in Europe to prevent human catastrophes on the scale of those ya, and Angola. In his report to the National Assembly of People's occurring today in Africa,' for instance. But the And there are those nationalist governments in Power December 27, Castro also took note of pros workers states are compelled to import goods from Africa and elsewhere that have carried out some pects for deepening class conflicts in Europe. These imperialist countries at inflated prices, while exports progressive social measures and claim to be con could help stay the hand of the imperialist warmak lag and loans and other assistance become harder to structing socialism. The governments ofMadagascar, ers and create leeway for the further extension of the obtain. Benin, and Congo (Brazzaville) are among these. socialist revolution. He cited the following passages, Castro told the party congress that Cuba's econom The Cubans clearly look at all these governments among others, from an Agence France-Presse dis ic growth rate had fallen to an average of 4 percent in a different light from revolutionary Nicaragua and patch about business conditions and political moods annually since 1975, from the 10 percent level Grenada, however, where mass-based socialist revo in Europe. reached during the 1970-75 period. A drop had been lutions are unfolding under Marxist leaderships. In Most of the European countries will close the year's bal foreseen by the First Congress, which had set a goal the op~ning paragraphs of the Main Report to the ance with frankly negative results in terms of inflation and of 6 percent annual growth. congress, Castro pointed to the underlying class con with a balance of payments deficit that reached record lev Over this period, Cuba's buying power was reduced siderations that set apart revolutionary leaderships els. by the rising prices of commodities that it must im such as these: The prospects for the reappearance of a legion of unem ployed brought back memories of the specter of hunger and port, and by the sagging world market price of its We cannot deny that anyone who struggles to obtain his poverty that hovered over Europe in the years preceding the main export-sugar-during much of this time. homeland's independence from a colonial or neocolonial two world wars. The crisis in the countries dominated by world im power or for freedom from tyranny is a revolutionary, but This situation, which is a source of foreseeable social ten perialism is built into their social and economic struc there is only one higher way of being a revolutionary in to sion that could spread like wildfire, may become aggravated ture, and these problems are horribly exacerbated by day's world-'-that of being a Communist, because Commu if some experts' predictions of a new rise in oil prices are con the current state of world capitalism. According to nists embody the idea of independence, freedom, true jus firmed. tice, equality among men and, what is more, internationa the Main Report, alleviating the results of this situa In the Main Report, Castro discussed the increased tion requires a massive shift of resources from the im lism-that is, brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation among all the peoples and nations in the world . activity in Latin America of the social-democratic So perialist metropolises to the countries of Asia Africa cialist International (SI), mainly based in Western and Latin America. At the United Nations ~n Octo~ Europe. ber 12, 1979, he proposed providing $300 billion in development aid over a ten-year period. Castro told Actions of Social Democrats the congress that this just demand has not attracted The Socialist International has taken a public support in imperialist circles. But he explained that stand of support to the Government of National Re it had performed a progressive political role. Castro construction in Nicaragua and to the FSLN, as well said: 'The construction of as to the Revolutionary Democratic Front ofEl Salva The struggle for a new international economic order, how socialism as a completely dor. Grenada's New Jewel Movement was admitted ever, has had the positive result of uniting the underdeve to membership in the SI at the end of 1980. loped countries in a single. front-a phenomenon that, in free and voluntary task is Leaders of the SI, such as Willy Brandt of Germany view of their tremendous economic, political and social hete still a principle of our and Joop den Uyl of the Netherlands, have been rogeneity can only be explained on the basis of generalized among the most prominent European figures claim contradiction between them and imperialism, a contradic revolutionary process. It ing to favor a substantial shift of resources from the tion that included the governments of countries that are al industrialized countries to the semicolonial world. lies of imperialism on the periphery of the underdeveloped, implies freedom of dependent world but are no longer ready to accept un The Second Congress of the Cuban Communist changed the system of inequality and exploitation to which emigration.' Party was attended by official delegations from the the monopolies of the capitalist powers subject them. social-democratic parties of France, Denmark, Swed The polarization set off by the economic crisis can en, Belgium, Spain, and the British Labour Party. be seen in the semicolonial world. At the congress, Castro noted that a number of "old bourgeois and Castro selected the Organization of Petroleum Ex oligarchic Latin-American parties" such as Demo porting Countries (OPEC) as an example of"a verita cratic Action (AD) in Venezuela and the Peoples Rev olutionary American Alliance (APRA) in Peru have ble crisis of neocolonialism" triggered by the econom joined the Socialist International. ic crisis. In the section of the report on Cuban foreign policy, Castro pointed out that the resources gained by the , Castro examined the 1980 elections in the United While noting the irreconcilable differences that se OPEC cou,ntries through increased oil prices, far States: parate revolutionary socialists from social demo from being primarily absorbed for developmept ofthe cracy, Castro held that the recent activity of social de oil-producing countries themselves had been "main The November 4 election in the United States was espe mocracy in Latin America "shows a positive balance. cially significant, as it took place in the midst of the U.S. They join forces and extend the battlefield against ly s"ent to the developed capitalist 'countries." Impe economic disaster ... involving massive unemployment, es rialist banks made billions by lending this money at pecially among blacks and young people; a lower real in U.S. imperialist domination in Latin America." high interest to desperate semicolonial countries. As come for all U.S. workers due to runaway inflation; and a de a result, the impact of oil price hikes on the imperial sire for political change among many people, while others Glaring contrasts ist rulers has been cushioned, while the non-oil-pro simply stayed away from the polls. · Poland is explicitly mentioned in only a few para ducing countries felt the full brunt of the price in The international situation, in which the United States graphs of the section on foreign policy in the Main Re has continued to lose hegemony and prestige, cleverly ex crease. port. ploited by the contending political parties; the people's frus Other parts of the report, however, indicate the im Castro has proposed that the oil-producing states tration and skepticism about badly managed situations such charge a lower price to the poor nations, and provide as that of the hostages in Iran, who were not freed in the pact that the massive uprising of the Polish workers them with substantial economic aid, instead of cy · end, also helped defeat the Carter administration. has had on the Cuban leaders. They are evidently cling their money through imperialist financial insti In a country that prides itself on its "representative demo devoting considerable thought to this question. tutions. cracy," 4 7.1 percent of the eligible voters stayed away from While the Main Report makes the serious mistake the polls. The Republican candidate was elected by 26.7 per At the same time he reaffirmed at the congress the of evaluating recent events in Poland as a success for cent of the total number of eligible voters. progressive character of the OPEC governments' as reaction,. conclusions drawn by the Cuban leaders sertion of their right to control their oil, "defending Thus, the report avoids the mistake of many radi place them sharply at variance with the bureaucratic the price of their basic export product and changing cals who view Reagan's election as proof of an overall castes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. the rules of the imperialist game in a key sector." shift to the right by the American people. In fact, Cas Cubans, party members and nonmembers alike, tro pointed to signs of discontent and polarization cannot help but be struck by the differences between Nonaligned movement that could lead to sharper class struggles in the fu Poland and Cuba. ture. In Cuba, the congress of the Communist Party in Within the Nonaligned movement, the Cuban go spired a mobilization of 1 million people to hail it. In vernment has fought for firm anti-imperialist stands The report clearly expressed concern, however, that the Reagan White House will push harder along Poland, the working masses have nothing but scorn on key political questions, drawing a line of demarca a militaristic course than the Carter administration: for the Communist Party. They view it as the enemy. tion between those governments that will support In Cuba last year, millions took to the streets to de these positions and those that most abjectly knuckle Reagan's electoral triumph is a right-wing victory that fend their revolution and support the policies of the under to the policies of Washington and other capital signifies a clear move in that direction by an important sec revolutionary government against the threats and ist powers. tor of U.S. public opinion. This is confirmed by the defeat of slanders of imperialism. At the 1979 Nonaligned conference in Havana, for the most liberal senators, jncluding some who were firm ad vocates of ratifying the SALT II Treaty. The apparent na In Poland, the government is on a collision ~ourse example, the Cubans waged a struggle, against sub tional backing that the election returns give Reagan opens with millions of workers, while the imperialist media stantial organized opposition, to condemn the Camp up the possibility that he may throw caution to the winds and politicians have a propaganda field day. David Mideast accords, withdraw recognition to the and return to his earlier aggressiveness in supporting the In the Main Report, Castro indicated why such Pol Pot forces in Kampuchea, and support the strug most reactionary plans in the Republican Party platform. events are impossible in a country such as Cuba gle of freedom fighters in Western Sahara. The deci The report foresaw difficulties for Reagan: where a revolutionary proletarian leadership is in sions that came out of the Havana conference were 'power. the most stinging rebuke to Washington ever to come In our opinion, Reagan will be unable to solve any of the "Is socialism in any given country irreversible or out of a major conference of world governments, in main problems affecting the United States: inflation, unem ployment, energy crisis, economic recession, vice, drugs, vio not?" he asked. cluding previous conferences of the Nonaligned lence, crimes, corruption, and his ideas on foreign policy en "It is utterly irreversible if principles are applied. movement. danger world peace. We are at Yankee imperialism's doorstep, yet we do The Cuban leaders seek to collaborate most closely not fear its power, do not dream of its wealth, do not with several categories of governments among the Castro also suggested that such war moves in Cen accept its ideology and are not destabilized by its ac Nonaligned (some of the categories overlap). The Cu tral America or the Caribbean could again inspire tions." bans, for example, maintain good diplomatic rela mass antiwar sentiment and action in the United tions with governments such as that in Mexico, which States, particularly given the fierce resistance any Continued o_n next page THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 17 Continued from precK#ng pege and their leaders, expressing hope that the Polish ers of bureaucrats have become corrupt or high He summarized some of those principles: United Workers Party would be able to resolve prob handed. The problem that the Polish workers face is lems by "leaning on the healthy forces of the country that the country is governed by a hardened bureau Ours is a state of workers who exercise revolutionary pow er. The Party and its members must always be solidly, close and taking advantage of the enormous moral, patrio cratic caste, which requires the exclusion of the ly and deeply linked to the masses.... tic, and revolutionary reserve of the working class." workers from political power in order to maintain its The party exists through and for the people. Bureaucratic But he warned: "There is not the slightest question vast privileges. and petit-bourgeois attitudes are completely alien to its about the socialist camp's right to save that country's The ruling parties represent these ruling castes, principles. . .. integrity and ensure that it survives and resists at all which oppress and plunder the workers using totali Castro continued: costs imperialism's onslaught." tarian political methods. That is why the Communist Castro's estimate that imperialism has been Parties of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in Authoritarianism, demagoguery, a know-it-all attitude, strengthened by the workers' upsurge in Poland is spire contempt and hatred in the working masses. vanity, and irresponsibility are inconceivable in Commu That is why the Polish workers have taken the road nists, for they should always have a fraternal and humane false. Imperialism is probing in Poland today, seek attitude toward others and-especially-an internationalist ing openings to undermine the Polish workers state. of forging their own unions, independent of both the spirii that, while including deep-rooted patriotism, is based It is not the Polish workers who have been impe party and the government. on an understanding that their homeland is more important rialism's objective ally in that process, however, but When the Polish workers demand rights such as than any individual and that mankind is the most impor the Polish bureaucracy. By their corruption and mis- the election of their own union officers, they are de tant of all. manding something taken for granted in Cuban If a Communist Party in power commits or tolerates se unions. rious errors of principle, those errors will prove very costly to the revolutionary process-as history has shown. Betray Castro's view of the Stalinist regimes and parties als have done great damage to the world revolutionary has been shaped by the experiences of the Cuban rev movement. olution, which has only been able to survive Wash ington's hostile actions through a close diplomatic, Cuba as alternative political, and military alliance with the Soviet Union The target of these admonitions was certainly not 'If a Communist Party in and Eastern European workers states. This view, and only the cadres of the Cuban Communist Party, but the serious political errors that flow from it, are part the Soviet and East European regimes where, as Cas power commits or tolerates of the political cost of this lifeline; the Cubans have tro puts it, "circumstances have hardly been propi serious errors of principle, not been able to recognize the antibureaucratic strug tious for spreading socialist ideas." gles by workers in the Soviet Union and Eastern Eu Castro returned to this subject December 27: those errors will prove very rope as an integral part of the world struggle for so cialism. When problems arise somewhere, it's not because Marx costly to the revolutionary ism-Leninism doesn't have invincible force, it's because the This view has also been influenced by the Cuban principles of Marxism-Leninism haven't been correctly ap process. ... Betrayals have revolutionists' own success in integrating most of the plied. . .. cadres ofthe Cuban Popular Socialist Party (PSP)-a The fact that our country is located near the United States done great damage to the Stalinist party with a record of betrayals that in -a country which is so rich and powerful and which exert world revolutionary cluded support for Batista-into a new Marxist-Lenin ed such influence for such a long time on our country and our ist party in the yea~s following the revolutionary people--the fact that now they encounter a barrier like Cu ba, a rock like Cuba, can only be understood in the light of movement.' triumph. the principles of Marxism-Leninism. The role of the Party, Further consideration of this aspect of the world its links with the masses, the correct application of these proletarian revolution, however, will be posed by ev principles, the absence of favoritism, acting fairly, giving priority to merit, collective leadership, democratic central ery upsurge of workers in Poland and other Eastern ism, honesty, awareness, discipline, plus the extraordinary European countries, as well as by the Cubans' own social and humane content of our work, the work of the Rev rich experience in countering bureaucracy, expand olution: this is what has given our Revolution such a tre ing workers democracy, and proletarianizing their mendous strength. There's no mystery about that. management, they disorganized the economy. By party. The continuing rise of revolutionary struggles "Although they didn't explicitly say so," Castro seeking to suppress working-class organization, they in Latin America and around the world will continue continued, "we ·know that the sister socialist coun prevent the workers from taking initiative to repair to change the international context in wh ich the tries, that are deeply concerned over events else the damage. struggles in Eastern Europe develop and are viewed where, were very encouraged by what they saw in our The mobilization of the Polish workers to defend by revolutionists in other parts of the world. country, here, 90 miles from the United States." their class interests, and their moves to forge ties with farmers and other oppressed groups, strengthen Afghanistan Wrong political stand the workers state. It strengthens the consciousness, The Main Report at the congress hailed the 1978 When it came to making a political assessment, organization, and fighting capacity of the class that overthrow ofthe Daud regime in Afghanistan and the however, the Main Report presented the events in Po forms the foundation of any workers state. revolutionary openings that developed for the masses land as a gain for imperialism, completely mi~sing From this standpoint, a Soviet military interven there. It attacked the imperialist aid to counterrevo the gain for the world revolution represented by the tion against the Polish workers movement would se lutionary guerrillas there and blasted Washington's mobilization of the Polish working class. riously weaken the Polish workers state, as well as drive to whip up an international campaign of anti communism and militarism following the Soviet in What happened there was partly a result of imperialism's deal a blow to the entire world revolution. subversive policy . . . . tervention in Afghanistan. The success that reaction has had there is eloquent tes Are castes reformable? The report also defended Moscow's sending of timony to the fact that a revolutionary Party in power can Castro's position assumes that the bureaucratic gov troops to Afghanistan, seeing this as made necessary not deviate from Marxist-Leninist principles, neglect ideo ernments in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe by the mistakes of the previous Afghan regimes and logical work and divorce itself from the masses; and, when can be reformed, and that the ruling parties can be by the actions of imperialist-backed rightists. the time for rectification comes, this should not be done on won to a more revolutionary, proletarian course at But the Cuban leaders have shown no enthusiasm the basis of concessions to the class enemy either inside or home and abroad. for the Soviet operation. The Kremlin's arrogant dis outside the country.~ But the problem in Poland- as in the Soviet regard for Afghan sentiments, removal and hand Castro avoided direct attacks on the Polish unions Union- is not that individual officials or narrow lay- picking of governments, violations of human rights, L------18 ------~-----~-~ and attempts to contain social change are completely counterposed to the methods the Cubans have util ized in aiding revolutions in Africa and Central America. While blasting the imperialist propaganda cam paign around Afghanistan, the Cuban leaders have noted the confusion and disorientation the interven tion has caused even among the more radical govern ments and political currents in the semicolonial Castro's position on Poland world. assumes that the The Cubans have sought to achieve a negotiated settlement that can lead to withdrawal of Soviet bureaucratic governments troops. in the Soviet Union and Thus, Cuba's alliance with the Kremlin does not prevent sharp disagreements, reflecting irreconcila Eastern Europe can be ble differences between the bureaucratic castes in the reformed, and that the Soviet bloc and the revolutionary proletarian regime in Cuba. ruling parties can be won to These revolve primarily around the Cuban leaders' a more revolutionary, constant efforts to extend the socialist revolution and strike new . blows against imperialism. This is proletarian course at home anathema to the Soviet bureaucracy, which is dedi and abroad. cated to reaching an accord with the imperialists that Polish workers support their new union in Krakow. can uphold the intemational status quo. Unlike the misses gain for world revolution represented by the Cuban government, the Kremlin dispenses aid as a workers' actions. tool to pursue this aim, giving or taking away accord ing to its own diplomatic needs. Learning from Cuba made in adapting their thinking, organization, and The advances being scored by the Cubans in this The further struggles of the working class in Cen action to big changes-above all, the shift of the ur process are intertwined with their determination to tral America, the Caribbean, Africa, Poland, and ban proletariat to the center of world politics and the support the advances of the proletarian revolution in around the world will continue to pose challenges for extension of the socialist revolution to Central Amer Central America and the Caribbean. the Cuban leaders. They will deepen the content of ica and the Caribbean. As the Cubans are courageously showing, solidari the debates and discussions they are having, includ Revolutionary Marxists around the world who rec ty with the Nicaraguan and Grenadian revolutions, ing their debates with the leaders of the Stalinist par ognize the political necessity of making a tum toward and with the freedom struggles in El Salvador and ties in Moscow, Eastem Europe, and elsewhere. the proletariat in their countries can benefit from Guatemala, is today a vital part of linking up with The Second Congress of the Communist Party of studying the experiences of the Cuban Communist the working class and its struggles around the world. Cuba showed the advances these revolutionists have Party, which is deepening its own proletarianization. From Intercontinental Press Lourdes Casal, staunch defender of Cuba, dies Lourdes Casal, one of the most ac The brigade is composed of young first to respond with a public declara tive and distinguished figures in the Cubans who were taken to the U.S. by tion assailing the incident there for Cuban community abroad, died in their parents. what it was-an anti-Cuba provoca Havana on February 1 after a long As a founding member of the Com tion. and painful illness. She was forty-two mittee of 75, she tirelessly worked for At the time of her death, Casal was years old. increased ties between the Cuban com reportedly doing a study of Afro-Cuban Casal had not initially been a sup mupity abroad and Cuba. culture as well as research on Cuban porter of the Cuban revolution. She left From its inception, the Committee of counterrevolutionary terrorists in the the country for the United States in 75 included political figures with vary United States, with plans to write 1961. But after developing firsthand ing views who favored rapprochement books on both subjects. knowledge of the situation of Black with Cuba. people in the U.S., and following a A joint statement issued by the edi Casal, from the outset, took a clear, 1962 tour of Africa, she began to torial board of AreUo and the National unambiguous position in defense of the change her views. In 1973 Casal tra Committee of the Antonio Maceo Bri Cuban revolution. She was among veled to Cuba for the first time since gade declared, "She was our sister and those who refused to be intimidated by she had left twelve years earlier. A teacher.... Lourdes' life will inspire the campaign of assassination con professor of psychology at Rutgers other young people and intellectuals, ducted by Cuban counterrevolutionar University in New Jersey, she began to honest Cubans who will inevitably ies in the United States. She forth actively work with young Cubans in also join us on our difficult and honor rightly condemned them for the mur the U.S. who wanted to increase their able road." ders o{ Carlos Muniz and Eulalio Ne knowledge of their homeland. . A memorial meeting sponsored by grin, two Committee of 75 partisans. A number of those who later founded the brigade, Aretta, Casa de las Ameri the Antonio Maceo Brigade initially When the events occurred at the Peru cas, and the Cuban Cultural Circle was worked with Casal on the editorial embassy in Havana, leading to the slated to be held in New York February LOURDES CASAL board of the cultural magazine, Areito. Mariel boatlift, Casal was among the 13. govemment in the battle to slash liv youth who are forced into it by the against oppression and exploitation by ...Libertarians ing standards, and social services here "unrestricted right" of big business to working people at home. Continued from page 6 at home. Their position simply goes exploit and discriminate. More and more opponents of the PUSH and Rev. Ben Chavis, who will much further than Reagan is willing to According to a brochure put out draft are recognizing this connection both speak at the conference rally. risk doing. At the same time, they during Clark's 1980 presidential cam between war and capitalism and ex propose a strategy for the antidraft The Libertarians say their opposi paign, the Libertarians support a pressing their unwillingness to sacri movement that would cut it off from tion to basic human needs is part of a "strong defense for the United States fice for corporate profits. tens of millions of working people and consistent "anti-govemment" position. itself." The brochure proposed no cuts The antidraft movement today is send it chasing after right-wing allies. In fact, they take the side of big in arms spending, saying only that broader than the anti-Vietnam War business and its govemment in their The Libertarians say they oppose the Clark "opposes increasing the military· movement was in the early stages of two-front war against working people. draft as "involuntary servitude." They budget." U.S. intervention in Indochina. If also claim to oppose U.S. military Clark told last year's Libertarian Washington sends troops to try to On one front, the rulers of this coun intervention abroad. But support to the Party convention in New York that crush the people of El Salvador, the try are trying to draft the sons-and "unrestricted right" of big business to "our strategic nuclear weaponry is potential exists to build a movement maybe even the daughters-of working invest and reap profits puts them in a really the only defense this country even more powerful than the one that people to fight for corporate interests · contradiction, since this is what the needs." The Libertarians say that the helped force Washington to bring the around the world. On the other front, draft and the war drive are all about. world's people must live at the brink of troops home from Vietnam. Reagan is pressing on with Carter's If they support the "right" of big nuclear destruction as an altemative The antidraft, antiwar movement austerity policies, cutting back public business to invest around the' world, (for now) to the draft. that is taking shape can bring to bear services, hiking gasoline prices, and how can they refuse to support the But not one penny of Washington's the decisive power of the American fostering unemployment. "right" of these corporations to defend vast arms budget is spent to defend the working class, involving growing And we are to pay the multi-billion themselves from anyone-such as the great majority of Americans. numbers of union members, Blacks; dollar: cost of strengthening the war workers and farmers of El Salvador The building up of a monstrous Latinos, and students and other youth machine. who attempts to restrict this "right." military force and its use in war are in the struggle. The fact is that the Libertarians, necessary for capitalism. The U.S. The Libertarian Party and its reac Both fronts have the same objective; · despite their claims, do not consist rulers must defend their investments tionary program are dead opposed to to jack up big-business profits at the ently oppose war preparations. abroad, maintain their control over the building the kind of movement that expense of working people. They have little to say about the economies of semicolonial. countries, can block the draft and stop . new The Libertarians line up with the "volunteer" army-or about the jobless and be prepared to quell any revolt Vietnams. Its policies must be rejected. THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 19 Nicaraguan workers freeze out 'Eskimo' bosses By Matilde Zimmermann union General-Secretary Isidro Orozco That's all. And that's how they pay for allow a return to the old ways. And MANAGUA-Tensions between Arbizli explained. He continued: their trips and satisfy their extrava- even if Lucia Salvo tries to divide us workers at the "El Eskimo" ice cream "The facts show that we can admin- gant tastes." At a certain point the she won't be able to.'' factory here and the company's owners ister the factory and more. We have union just refused to allow company Up to this point all the responsibility came to a head in mid-January, when also managed to pay all the workers funds to be used for any more airplane for coping with the economic sabotage the trade union publicly charged the the wages they missed during the June tickets. of the Eskimo ·company has rested owners with "decapitalizing" the busi- and July insurrection. We have renego- The workers described how a repor- with the workers themselves and their ness, and the owners retaliated by tiated the 4.5 million c6rdoba debt the ter from the react~onary daily La Pre- union. But the conflict came out into firing the general manager for siding Salvos had to Nicaraguan banks, and nsa came to Eskimo and told them: the open when the Salvos tried to fire with the workers. we've been able to arrange for our "The Salvos can do whatever they the general manager. The union has Eskimo is owned by the Salvo fam- suppliers to extend us the necessary want with their money since it is their now requested a formal Labor Ministry ily, all the members of which, except credit for us to go on producing. We money after all and they're the ones audit of Eskimo's books and asked the for one sister have moved to Miami. have also taken certain steps to im- who made it." government to intervene "in this con The factory ~nd two restaurants em- prove the conditions of work. Besides "We have worked for this company flict which involves the principles of ploy 350 workers organized into a all this, we have been commended by all our lives," he was told, "and we've our revolution that gave power to the trade union affiliated with the Sandi- the Ministry of Health for the stand- never even been to Costa Rica, where- workers and peasants." nista Workers Federation (CST), as ards of cleanliness maintained in pro- as the Salvos go back and forth from "We are united, and we are counting well as about a dozen who are duction. . . . there as if it were Chinandega [a town on the Government's support," said members of the pro-capitalist Confed- "As soon as the Salvos saw that the in Nicaragua]." one worker. "We are not alone, and we eration of Nicaraguan Workers (CTN). workers had actually increased produc- expect the Government will pay atten The general secretary of the CST tion and sales were up, they rushed to General manager fired tion to our charges.'' union has charged publicly that the claim the profits as their own." Guillermo Collando Flores, whom Some people don't seem to realize Salvo family "has not invested one The workers have given up days off the Salvos appointed general manager that times have changed in Nicaragua, single centavo, while it has withdrawn for "red and black Sundays" of volun of El Eskimo in October 1979, has concluded another worker. "These Sal some 600,000 c6rdobas [10 c6rdobas=$1] tary labor to keep up production. (Red publicly supported the union charges vos seem to think they are still living from the Eskimo account in the last and black are the Sandinista colors.) of "decapitalization.'' The owners have in the time of Somozaism, when their fourteen months." Meanwhile, "the Salvos do everything accused him of betraying their inter buddy Anastasio Somoza, the god Interviews with Eskimo employees they can to make the business and the ests by identifying with the workers, father of Mario Salvo, could solve all in the January 18 and 19 issues of the. union operate less efficiently," Orozco and on January 17 they presented him their problems for them.'' Managua dailies Barricada and El charged. "They tell workers at their with a dismissal notice. Both Collando The .Eskimo dairy and restaurant Nuevo Diario describe how the workers restaurants to close early or not to Flores and the union announced that were placed under government inter themselves organized to maintain pro- work on weekends so that business will they did not accept the firing. vention on January 21. Acting on duction in the face of the Salvos' suffer." The Salvos have tried to use the information provided by the trade un attempts to run the business into the small minority ~f restaurant workers ion there, the minister of justice or ground. 'Charge It to Eskimo' who belong to the CTN to divide the dered a thorough audit of the com In addition, 45,000 c6rdobas have workforce. The CTN members, ex pany's books and turned over 'We can administer' gone to pay for members of the family plained restaurant worker and CST administration of the enterprise to the "When the Salvos left the country, to fly back and forth to Miami. Union member Maira Rizo Torres, want the Ministry of Industries. The latter's they thought this company wouldn't treasurer Manuel Duarte Jir6n ex Salvos back in the saddle, with all the first action was to reinstate Eskimo last more than three months because plained that "The Salvos just say old relationships of exploitation and manager Guillermo Flores. we were incapable of managing it," 'charge it to the Eskimo account.' humiliation. "But we are not going to From Intercontinental Press Election returns for 1980 SWP candidates, others By Sue Hagen against nuclear power to be held in Its antidraft stance no doubt fooled In the Tidewater area of Virginia, According to official returns, more Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on March many and accounted for a share of its SWP congressional candidate Sharon than 50,000 people voted for Andrew 28; the founding of the National Black 920,000 votes. Grant, running against one opponent, Pulley and Matilde Zimmermann, the Independent Political Party; and the There was a systematic attempt to polled more than 13,000 votes, and Socialist Workers Party candidates for growing discussion of a labor party exclude socialist candidates from the Black precincts in Newport News and president and vice-president in the based on the unions. ballot in several states. In Michigan, Hampton gave her over forty percent. 1980 elections. Tens of thousands more Even so, there are statistics about for example, a discriminatory law re The vote totals printed in the charts voted SWP in areas where socialist the elections worth noting. The SWP quires third parties to run in a separate here were compiled by the Militant candidates ran state and local cam was on the ballot in twenty-eight qualifying primary. based on reports from state election states, the Communist Party (CP) in boards. The results are incomplete, paigns. (See charts.) In California, the SWP submitted twenty-four, Workers World Party since there are long delays in reporting The vote totals by themselves don't nominating petitions far in excess of (WWP) in eleven, and the Socialist votes for socialist candidates. tell us much. Because of the capitalist the required number, only to be ruled In January the Federal Election two-party monopoly on the ballot and Party (SP) in ten. ineligible. The SWP filed suit and won Commission announced the following the media, elections are not a very The Citizens Party, with Barry Com wide support, but Gov. Jerry Brown's national vote totals for presidential good gauge of what working people are moner as its standard-bearer, ran on a administration refused to yield and the tickets: SWP, 50,166; CP, 43,871; So thinking. The high percentage of work liberal capitalist program. Identified California courts backed him up. cialist Party, 6, 720; Workers World, ers, especially youth, who don't vote with opposition to nuclear power, Com SWP candidates were also ruled off 13,211; Citizens, 230,377. just underscores the point. moner received nearly a quarter mil the ballot in Texas. The totals reported to the Militant by lion votes. Far more revealing than the No In Missouri, however, the SWP won state election boards show a national vember election results are develop The right-wing Libertarian Party a big victory. Socialists waged a well vote for the SWP presidential ticket of ments like the growth of labor opposi was on the ballot in every state. Op publicized fight for ballot rights, and 53,470. tion to U.S. intervention in El posed to unions and civil rights, the forced the state to reverse an earlier We will report further results when Salvador; the union-sponsored rally party is an enemy of working people. decision excluding them. they become available. Presidential race State & local races SWP CP SP WWP Cit. SWP CP WWP Cit. SWP CP WWP Ala. 1,303 1,629 1,006 517 Alabama New York Ariz. 1,100 25* 2* 551* U.S. Senate 1,511 U.S. Senate 2,715 4,161 3,643 Fla. 41 ~ 123* 113* 8* Arizona 14thC.D. 1,086 Ga. 9* U.S. Senate 3,266 3,608 19thC.D. 692 Ill. 1,302 9,711 2,257 10,692 1stC.D. 2,043 28thC.D. 1,196 Ind. 610 702 4,852 Iowa 244 298 534 2,273 Florida N.Carollna Ky. 393 348 1,304 U.S. Senate 159* U.S. Senate 4,346 La. 783 1,584 Georgia Governor 2,887 Mass. 3,735 62* 19* 2,056* U.S. Senate 47* Ohio Mich. 3,262 30* 11 ,903 Illinois U.S. Senate 76,765 43,239 Minn. 711 536 8,406 1 '117 698 U.S. Senate 2,715 11 ,453 5,626 19,213 1st C.D. 3,556 Miss. 2,347 Univ. of Ill. Bd. 9thC.D. 2,448 Mo. 6,515 26* 573* of Trustees N.H. 71 129 76 1,320 (three positions) 18,551 46,956 26,01 7 41,808 Pennsylvania N.J. 2,198 2,555 1,973 1,288 8,203 31 ,774 22,793 10,029 56,068 U.S. Senate 27,229 3,334 N.M. 325 . 2,202 29,639 22,406 27,704 77,1 23 State Treas . 23,879 N.Y. 2,068 7,414 1,416 23,186 Utah N.C. 416 2,287 Massachusetts 2nd C.D. 982 N.D. 89 93 82 6thC.D. 1,307 Ohio 4,191 5,016 4,094 8,883 Minnesota Virginia Pa. 20}91 5,184 4th C.D. 1,993 1stC.D. 13,688 R.I. 86 178 122 80 5th C.D. 1,611 S.D. 229 8th C.D. 4, 134 Washington, D.C. Tenn. 490 City Council 2,B93 7,773 503 519 400 1,11 2 Missouri Utah 124 139 1,009 U.S. Senate 6,707 W. Virginia Vt. 81 121 134 2,390 Governor 7,193 Governor 9* Va. 1,9B6 14,024 Wash. 1,137 834 956 341 9,403 New Jersey Wisconsin Wash, D.C. 157 354 51 1,B26 . 10th C. D. 219 U.S. Senate 6,502 W. Va. 4* 11th C.D. 1,603 4th C.D. 1,670 Wis. 3B3 772 BOB 414 7,767 New Mexico 5th C.D. 1,371 *Write-in votes State Hs., 14th Dist. 10B "Write-in votes 20 As SolidaritY. scores new gain CPUSA backs Polish gov't against union By William Gottlieb Once again the Polish government has been forced to yield to the just de mands of the Polish workers. Workers in the southern Polish city of Bielsko-Biala ended their general strike when the Warsaw government finally accepted the resignation of provincial governor Jozef Labudek and his top aides. The February 6 New York Times re ported, "Bielsko-Biala officials have been accused of everything from expro priating government buildings for their own use to constructing summer villas instead of public housing, allocating cars to the secret police instead of doc tors, and allowing tax payments to lapse for influential friends . . . . "People who had to wait six years for allocation of an apartment rankled at the privileges accorded to the well-con nected." Most working people are inspired by the growing ability of the workers and farmers in Poland to defend their rights. But not the U.S. Communist Party. Writing in the-February 4 issue of the Daily World, the CP newspaper, Conrad Komorowski expressed fear that Solid arity, the Polish trade union, is being taken over by irresponsible elements. Komorowski quoted Stanislaw Kania, the leader of the Polish United Workers w~r~e;s a~d •. far~~rs dema~J en~ : to bureaucratic corruption and a voice in decision making. f'!t",rftlmll Party (the so-called Communist party) seems to think that's asking too much. as saying, "The organization which was supposed to be a labor union is undergo This is not a picture of the vanguard ing transformation and is far from what and dramatic measures to call attention position, there is a material interest be of the working class. It is a description of it had declared in its charter . .. Solid to their grievances." hind it. the privileged, corrupt bureaucratic arity is being guided by some instiga "The workers must be deeply involved In the February 4 New York Times, caste that controls the Polish Party and tors into the direction of an oppositional in deciding matters pertaining to man correspondent John Darnton gives an government. political party." agement, improvement of working and inkling of that interest. This caste cannot allow the workers Komorowski, whose article appeared living conditions, use of funds for both Darnton writes, "For the residents of and farmers to decide basic questions, before the latest concession by the Pol developing production and for social and [Wyszkow] this small town 30 miles since that would lead to exposure and ish government, declared, "At Bielsko cultural purposes and financial incen northeast of Warsaw, "\.he anger is di Biala, groups have staged a crippling tives," he continued. rected at a spectacular development of elimination of its privileges. The real instigators of strikes in Po strike demanding the removal of some Hall declared that, "This is the weekend cottages, hidden well off the land are not the leaders of Solidarity, city and provincial officials they claim deepest meaning of socialist democracy main road at the end of a dirt track that but the parasitic bureaucrats who leave are corrupt. A government commission and democratic centralism. This vital stops in a pine forest. Local citizens call the workers and farmers no alternative is negotiating with the protest groups link was weak in Poland." it 'Bermuda.' " but to create independent mass organi but are having great difficulties." The Darnton explains, "The existence of He concluded his talk with the predic zations and to threaten strikes against "groups" included virtually the entire tion that the problems were ''being 'Bermuda' came to light in a letter to the working class of the city. ·· editor in the current issue of Literatura, outrageous abuses. transformed into their opposite because To those unfamiliar with the politics But why shouldn't the working people a weekly newspaper. One of the houses, the Party, the trade union leaders and of the U.S. Communist Party, the shift have the power to remove officials they the government are drawing the neces said the l.etter writer, looked like a vast oppose? The conception of a workers gov sailing ship. Suggesting that perhaps an in its line may seem puzzling. After all, sary conclusions." if in September the Polish government ernment advocated by Marx and Len investigation might be in order, he pro The "trade union" leaders Hall looked was wrong and the workers right, as in, and put into practice by the Bolshev vided directions so that anyone could go to have pretty much vanished from the Hall conceded, isn't the same likely to iks after the Russian revolution in 1917, and see for himself." scene. Almost all Polish workers desert still be true in February? included the right of democratic Darnton gives the following descrip ed the government-dominated unions in Instead of considering this possibility, workers' and farmers' councils to recall favor of the new Solidarity unions, tion of"Bermuda." "Ship and all, these the CP attacked the workers-as s~n any official at any time. cluded compound of 100 or so Swiss where leaders are responsible to the as the Polish government had regained If genuine democratic institutions ex style chalets with wraparound balconies ranks. The government had to abolish the courage to do so. isted in Poland, and if the elementary overlooking a picture-postcard lake was the old trade union federation. The leaders of the U.S. Communist norms of workers democracy were re right where the anonymous muckracker But the government and Party lead Party do not look at events in Poland spected by the Polish government, said it would be. Constructed out of rich ers never stopped trying to obstruct the from the standpoint of the working strikes like the one in Bielsko-Biala ly grained natural wood, each house was establishment of the "socialist demo class-whether Polish, American, or need not occur. But these conditions do cracy" that Hall admits is necessa_ry in separated by an identical wire fence, not exist, and the workers are obliged to and the dirt streets out front were light Russian. Poland. They obstructed enforcement of They identify instead with the privi fight for them. the agreements reached with the ed by municipal street lamps, a strange sight in the middle of a forest." leged bureaucratic castes in Eastern Komorowski's stand marks a shift by workers in August. They resist the par Europe, and above all with the privi the CP, which for a time pretended to ticipation of the workers and farmers in Darnton quotes a former member of leged bureaucrats in Moscow. support the goals of the Polish workers. public affairs. They seek to slow down the Party as saying, "Multiply it by 49. Since these bureaucrats can't abide Gus Hall, general secretary of the investigations into corruption, and to In every province in the country first the Polish workers' demands for a voice U.S. Communist Party, in a September protect corrupt officials from removal by and second secretaries were doing the in decision-making, democratic rights, 17 speech, conceded that the govern the outraged masses. same thing. So were ministers, deputy and an end to bureaucratic misrule, it ment's practices had created a situation It is a basic idea of Marxism that ministers, secretaries, directors. It was was inevitable that the U.S. Communist where the working people "felt they had when such an "error" is made repeated only in the last two years that they be Party leaders would fall into line with no other alternative but to take drastic ly and stuck to in the face of massive op- gan buying seagoing yachts.'' them. Somozaists kill Sandinistas in Nicaragua By Fred Murphy light just half a mile from the Hondu- lutionary bands operate from Hondu- "Let us hope the people of Honduras MANAGUA-Seven Sandinista sol- ran border. Four of the counterrevolu- ras. can hear us and that the people of diers were killed January 27 when tionary gang were also killed in the MPS commander Eden Pastora ad- Honduras do something so that the Somozaist ex-National Guardsmen op- fight. Two MPS members were cap- dressed the crowd in Leon, saying: "It Honduran authorities stop tolerating erating from camps in southern Ron- tured by the Somozaists and carried to comes powerfully to our minds that these genocidal and criminal guards- duras ambushed a border patrol near a camp in Honduras where they were tens and hundreds of Salvadoran refu- men.'' the town of Santa Maria in northern brutally tortured. One died as a result, gees-old people, women, and child- Nueva Segovia province. but the other managed to escape and ren-who were fleeing repression in El Further mobilizations to protest the Among the dead were four members return to Nicaragua. Salvador were murdered by Honduran Honduran government's complicity of the Sandinista People's Militias troops. The Hondurans control their with Nicaraguan counterrevolutionar (MPS) from the city of Leon who were When the bodies of the four militia borders with El Salvador quite well, ies and to redouble support to the recently mobilized for active duty in members were brought to Leon the day and murder people who flee the repres- Sandinista People's Militias took place the north. after the attack, thousands of persons sion of an army like the Honduran one. throughout Nicaragua in the days Six of the Nicaraguan troops died gathered in the city's main plaza to But they do not control their borders following the January 27 attack. A while defending themselves from the honor the dead and to protest the with us, where the genocidal guards go massive rally was being planned for assault, which occurred in broad day- impunity with which the counterrevo- on killing... .. Managua on January 31. THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 21 Anti-Klan Network launches spring offensive By Melvin Chappell others in the seventies thinking they tiracist Organizing Committee, Sou hearing that will tour the country. WASHINGTON, D.C.-Five would do what was right. We know therners for Economic Justice, Social "We want to mobilize masses of hundred people met at Howard Univer better after ten years of struggle and ist Workers Party, Workers World people around them," Braden said of sity January 30-31 at the second na another ten years of waiting. We now Party, Communist Party, Communist the hearings. They will be conducted tional conference of the National A~ti intend to make this decade our decade Workers Party, and the Young Social by U.S. Congressman John Conyers. Klan Network (NAKN). A call for a again," said Vivian. ist Alliance. Braden explained that the hearings "spring offensive" to challenge the A prominent feature of the confer Conference workshops were held on will be organized as speakouts to give nationwide rise of racist violence and ence was the large number of unionists such topics as "Feminist Response to victims of racist violence a chance to to expose government complicity with in attendance. This reflected the grow the Klan," "Campus Organizing," "Po tell their stories to the public. the Ku Klux Klan's racist, antilabor ing involvement of the ranks and the lice Violence/ Government Complic Braden added, "The Klan could not goals was issued by the conference. leadership of the unions in actions ity," "Building Coalitions," and "The have this type of resurgence if it was "The spring offensive will put in protesting racist violence and other Role of Labor." not being protected by the government action thousands upon thousands of Klan activities. Educational panel discussions were and actually encouraged by certain persons who are opposed to the rise of Representatives of civil rights, femi held. One panel, focusing on the role of forces in the government. This has to racism," said Lucius Walker at a press nist, student, church, and community labor, featured Dick Greenwood, assist be the focus of the investigation." ant to William Winpisinger, president conference opening the meeting. organizations also attended the meet NAKN leaders pointed out that the Walker is a leader of the NAKN and ing, titled, ''Conference on New Strate of the International Association of Machinists (lAM); Evan Goldman, of lobby in D.C. will not resemble the director of the Interreligious Founda gies to Counter the KKK." classical method of "lobbying." They tion for Community Organizations These included members of the Cen the National Education Association (NEA); and Robert White, president of state that it will be "a mass lobby that (IFCO). ter for Constitutional Rights, Southern would publicly take strong measures." Rev. C.T. Vivian, SCLC leader and Christian Leadership Conference the National Alliance of Postal Work executive director of the Black Action (SCLC), National Federation of Inde ers and Federal Employees. "What counts is how many people Strategy Information Center (BASIC), pendent Unions, National Baptist Con "The extreme importance of this we can get into the streets," Braden also spoke. vention, International Committee of conference and the effort to raise the said of the plans for the spring offen "For Blacks and minorities in this Civil Rights of the AFL-CIO, United consciousness of Americans and focus sive. "We can build a majority move country, the political process would not Steelworkers District 15, Coalition of attention on the resurgence of the Ku ment that can turn this country work for us," Vivian said. "We have Labor Union Women, National Law Klux Klan activities throughout the around." indications that politicians have yers Guild, and the National Confer country cannot be overemphasized," The NAKN began in Norfolk, Virgi worked together with the Klan and the ence of Black Lawyers. said White. nia, in August 1979, after a two-day far right. Also, members of the NAACP, Na "We must broaden the base of the meeting at New Calvary Baptist "We pushed them back in the decade tional Organization for Women, Ameri anti-Klan movement," he said. "The Church. That meeting was called after of the sixties and we made the mistake can Friends Service Committee, scope of involvement must include all a June 1979 "Support Tommy Lee of thinking we could. hand it over to AFSCME District 1199, :National An- working people, also the unemployed, Hines" march in Decatur, Alabama, people of all races, members of all was attacked by Klansmen. They shot religious denominations, professed lib into the crowd and injured three peo erals, moderates, and conservatives." ple. Black United Front calls action Anne Braden, leader of the NAKN Tommy Lee Hines is a retarded By Osborne Hart Panel participants cataloged in and of the Southern Organizing Com Black youth who was framed-up on NEW YORK-The National cidents of racist violence that oc mittee for Social and Economic Jus- · rape charges. The Virginia group de Black United Front announced curred during 1979-80. Facts on Ku tice, gave the keynote address at the cided to ask IFCO and the SCLC to plans for a nationally coordinated Klux Klan and Nazi assaults, ra opening session of the conference. help organize an anti-Klan conference April 4 "March Against Racist cist killings such as the Buffalo "People are being mutilated in Buf of church and community leaders. The Violence." Demonstrations are and Atlanta murders, and other falo, murdered in Atlanta, shot at in result was the founding conference of scheduled for major U.S. cities on attacks were presented and dis Chattanooga, shot down in cold blood the NAKN, held in Atlanta in De the thirteenth anniversary of the cussed. on the streets of Greensboro, killed in cember 1979. assassination of Dr. Martin Luther The hearing was also a prelude Miami, shot at in Decatur, Alabama," That conference called a national King, Jr. to the upcoming NBUF regional said Braden. "And nothing, absolutely demonstration in Greensboro, North The demonstration call was the conferences to be held in the Mid nothing is being done about it by the Carolina, on February 2, 1980. Seven highlight of an NBUF-sponsored west, South, East, and West during people who run this country. thousand people participated in the "National Hearing On Racist Vio February and March. "This is an intolerable situation," march and rally which denounced the lence" here February 7. NBUF For more information about the Braden said. "This is an emergency." slaying of five members of the Commu national chairperson, Rev. Herbert April 4 antiracist actions and the Braden outlined the activities of the nist Workers Party by Klan-Nazi as Daughtry, hosted a panel of repre NBUF regional conferences con spring offensive. These will include a sassms. sentatives of BUF chapters and tact: National Black United Front, mass lobby on the capital in D.C. on a For more information on the spring other Black organizations from 415 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, date to be determined; a week of pro offensive against Klan and racist vio around the country during an aU New York 11217. Telephone: (212) test activities in local areas this spring lence, contact the National Anti-Klan day session at Hunter College. 596-1991. directed against the Klan and racist Network at 348 Covenent Avenue, New violence; and a national congressional York, N.Y. 10031, (212) 926-5757. interests preferred status. This is done the tax increase, he responded, "We virtually every caller expressed sup ... Black party in mutual cooperation by both Demo really want to debate mayor V oino port for the party's position on Issue 6 Continued from back page crats and Republicans." vich, but we don't expect him to ac and the party's overall perspectives. cept." Some callers volunteered financial con Black community. The so-called re "Join us," the NBIPP statement ap pealed, "to protect our interests and tributions. sponse time by police is a joke to The Cleveland NBIPP plans to circu One man asked, "What do I have to Blacks who've waited hours or been serve a warning that the Black com late its statement at public events as munity is no longer up for grabs by do to get involved?" completely ignored. The racism and well as pursue editorial response time "It's easy," Peacock responded. violence by police in the Black com Democrats and Republicans who re from the three major television sta present big business. "All you have to be is Black, and we munity is well documented. A few more tions. All of the stations have taken meet every Wednesday evening at 7 police hired or laid off will not deter Daniel Peacock also appeared on the positions in support of the tax in o'clock at 7412 Myron. . And if you'd crime or change racist feelings in the show. When questioned about the par crease: like to talk more, you can call us at police department." ty's plans to publicize its opposition to During the ninety-minute talk show [216] 431-7743." Perry-Cooper suggested where addi tional money could be raised. "There are no proposed cuts in salaries for the r------council or the city administration," she Make Ma_rtin Luther King's birthday a holiday said. "The city took in $35 million from last year's hike in the income tax. When someone asks you where we can get the money, remind them of the ~ Jletitinu tn tqe ~ttiieb ~brles C!lnugress shameful display to the tune of $10 million for Reagan's inaugural party. "The city of Cleveland didn't have We, the undersigned believe that, in the interest of improved human rsllltions in our country, there should be a any money .to sponsor the famous national holiday honoring a black American. We believe further, that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to debate either, but it found it. Where did justice, equality and brotherhood for all Americans, 8/eclc and white and thst Dr. King's life and work represent the it come from? It comes from the rich highest patriotism and the very spirit of democracy. when it serves their interest." We therefore hereby petition the United States Congress to enact legislation providing for the establishment of The statement criticized Black city January 15, the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a national holiday. Council President George Forbes for his promotion of the tax hike. "Forbes, as city council president and a token Black among the white business inter NAME ADDRESS ZIP ests, also endorsed the financial plan for the city drawn up by the banks and corporations of Cleveland," said the NBIPP. "This three year financial plan was pushed through the city council by Forbes without a thorough review or study. Blacks weren't con Help circulate this petition calling for a national holiday on Martin Luther King's birthday. The organizers of the massive Jan sulted, Hispanics weren't consulted, uary 15 King Day demonstration have extended the deadline to February 28. For more information and copies of the petition, and labor wasn't consulted. contact Ofield Dukes & Associates, Suite 716, National Press Building, Washington, D.C. 20045; telephone (202) 638-2299. "This plan puts the burden on work ing people and gives the business L------22 Dallas socialists: 'Tax rich, not workers' By Chris Driscoll opened fire on city workers. "The TEA DALLAS-In January, Dallas voters Party wants all the productive, effi rejected by a two-to-one margin Propo cient employees of the City to be well sition 1, commonly known as the TEA paid," they said. (Emphasis added.) . Party amendment. Sponsored by the That sounded an alarm for Dallas right-wing Tax Equality Association, city workers, who have some of the the measure claimed to cut property worst working conditions in the coun taxes. .try. Last fall, transit workers were Bob Cantrick, Socialist Workers forced into a walkout to fight twelve to Party candidate for mayor of this city, fourteen-hour days and among the hailed the resounding defeat for the lowest wages for transit workers in the TEA Party amendment. "Working peo country. ple are fed up with so-called tax-cut Proposition 1 also opposed any ex schemes that simply shift the burden pansion of property tax exemptions for of taxation onto the shoulders of those the elderly, disabled, and disabled vete who work for a living," he said. rans. Cantrick, thirty-six, is an assembly Instead, the proposition tried to play line worker at General Motors in Ar renters off against homeowners. It lington, Texas. He is running along warned, "Home renters (houses or with Kathy Rettig, twenty-five, a tool apartments) will have a heavier tax and-die trainee at LTV Vought, a large burden to carry if homestead exemp Dallas war contractor. tions are increased." ·Aally for Dallas transit workers last fall. Socialist candidate Cantrick (inset) says cor Socialist tax stand porations, not working people, should foot bill for city services. False choice The socialist candidates called for a Like the Proposition 13 tax measure "no" vote on Proposition 1 and ex passed in California several years ago, plained the socialist position on taxes: shifted a large share of property taxes purported to reduce property taxes and Proposition 1 was opposed here by "Working people should pay no taxes from big business to the homes of limit their annual increase. some city officials. But these officials whatsoever. We contribute more than working-class families. But TEA Party literature made no also tried to confuse workers, arguing our fair share already by creating all When the tax assessments were deli bones about its anti-working class, pro that if their taxes were cut, there would the wealth produced by society vered, homeowners in working-class big business character. The literature be no money for social services. The through our labor. areas got tax increases of as much as bluntly proclaimed that the "Amend city even threatenw to lay off 1,500 "The rich, and their corporations, 500 percent. Many of those who rent ment is in no way anti-business." It workers if the measure went through. who take billions in profits out of homes received notices of rent in went on to plead, "Let's not push our "The big corporations and their par Dallas each year, should foot the entire creases due to higher taxes. tax burden off ourselves onto the busi ties, the Democrats and Republicans, bill for transit, schools, parks, hospi In some communities, people organ ness community." are trying to convince us we have to tals, and everything else we need. ized to fight the new assessments. The Among the proposition's sponsors choose between higher taxes or social "If they claim they can't afford it, we issue became a topic of discussion was Sam Ventura, Sr., who owns more services," Cantrick commented. should demand they open their books among workers. The popular sentiment than $2.7 million in real estate and a "Working people in Dallas desper to prove it." was "We've already given all we have; half-million dollar home in Dallas. ately need a political party that can Tax ripoffs by the big corporations this is the straw that broke the camel's Ventura obviously stood to gain a voice our needs. We need a labor party, have been a major issue in this city. In back." large windfall through the proposed based on the trade unions, to outline the spring of 1980, a new tax assess The TEA Party tried to divert that property tax cut. working-class solutions and answer ment scheme was implemented that sentiment with its Proposition 1, which At the same time, TEA Party leaflets the fake solutions of big business." San Diego Militant Forum hosts busing debate By Mark Friedman Jam1ary 31 article headlined, "Debate years of court-ordered voluntary dese headlined, "Anti-busing group fights SAN DIEGO-"Should San Diego turns hot over busing program." gregation programs in the city schools, charges at debate." Brodus said. Four years ago, 23 schools be desegregated?" was the "Brodus suggested that Lester's no The article said the debate "focused topic of a January 30 debate here tion was naive in that black schools schools were minority isolated schools. on whether an anti-busing group is sponsored by the Militant Forum. have traditionally been overlooked, Today, he said, 23 schools are minority racist." Mesa College Black Studies Prof. isolated. Of the 4,046 students involved even after the Brown vs. Board of · Russell, the Tribune reported, ad Bob Russell and Ambrose Brodus, Education case in 1954 which deter in voluntary busing, Russell added, 46 vice-president of the . local Urban are white. dressed himself, "to those who advo mined that separate cannot be equal," cate the principle that 'separate is League, answered "yes" to the ques said the Union. tion posed to the forum. Larry Lester's "Calling the city's effort to integrate equal.' 'mediocre,' Brodus said, 'this commun answer was "no." Lester is president'of "Lester said he favored 'natural' '"I think that Groundswellhelps to Groundswell, an antibusing group. integration, not 'phony' integration ity had demonstrated a clear inability promote this principle,' he said. 'In to integrate voluntarily.' In determin "Lester contended that money spent forced by the government. fact, I would argue that, whether ing how to best educate all children, he for busing could better be spent on "Brodus and Russell were quick to you're conscious of it or not, your said, 'if it includes the bus, do it.' " improving neighborhood schools, par point out how successful 'natural' inte position is race-based. ticularly black neighborhood schools," gration has been in the past. . . . The January 31 San Diego Tribune "'I submit that the bus is a cop-out reported the San Diego Union in a "San Diego County has had four also ran an article on the forum. It was for the real issue, and that's race.'" Revolution in Central America & Cari ILSALVADOB Wll•'11'41'\lf in un pueblo en lucha ElSalvador 48 pp. $1.25 48 pp. $1.25 Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 (Include $.75 for postage and handling) THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 23 Socialist miners discuss issues facing union By Nelson Blackstock PI'ITSBURGH-Socialist coal miners from Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illi Contract battle, SWP suit: part of same fight nois, and Alabama met here January By Nelson Blackstock mine, one worker said, "Damn lend support to Marian Bustin. A 31-February 1. PITTSBURGH-One day at right we should defend these social- socialist miner originally from Scot- They discussed big events coming up work an Illinois miner summed up ists. They've brought some good land, she has been the victim of in the next month: the March 16 trial in an important truth. ideas to the locals. We should back Immigration and Naturalization the Socialist Workers Party lawsuit "When socialists don't have a them up." Service harassment. against government spying (see accom right to sell the Militant, that's The miners here have been get- "One rightwinger started to red- panying story), the March 27 expiration when we don't have a union." ting out the story of the fired Lock- bait, with talk about 'these commu- of the miners' contract, and the· March The socialist miners meeting heed workers in Georgia. "I find nists.' Another miner quickly rep- 28 antinuclear demonstration called by here devoted a major point on their the miners I work with are inspired lied, 'Cut that shit out. This is labor unions for Harrisburg, Pennsylva- agenda to the Socialist Workers by the way we are fighting back, a serious. Our children have a stake nia. Party and Young Socialist Alliance West Virginia miner said. in this.' That put a quick stop to As they were meeting, contract nego suit against government spying "Company finks are hated even the redbaiting.'' tiations were under way between the and harassment. more than the bosses," he con- After the meeting an Alabama United Mine Workers and the coal oper The suit is set to go to trial tinued. "The spying going on at miner said, "When you get right ators. Since the current pact expires March 16. The miners here believe Lockheed was disgusting. It's go- down to it the fight arourid this suit March 27, and the miners have a ten that their co-workers will want to ing to be easy to get support for the and the fight for a strong con- day period to decide on any proposed set know what's at stake and what fired workers." tract-both coming up this tlement, a strike is assured unless there is at least a tentative agreement by socialists think about the issue. Another miner recalled a discus- spring-are all part of the same March 17. During a discussion in another sion in his local over a proposal to thing.'' Already some miners are on strike. Six Peabody mines in the West, which fall under a separate UMWA contract, have been forced out by the company's "They wish they could follow the ex had gone to the march in Washington.) The March 28 antinuclear power dem refusal to settle on a reasonable basis. ample of Chrysler, where workers have "The emergence of the National Black onstration in Harrisburg, Pennsylva The socialist miners agreed that a been forced to take a $46 per week wage Independent Political Party is another· nia, is an immediate focus for building pressing issue before their union-and decrease, with no guarantees they'll sign of the attempt to respond to these solidarity. other unions, as well-is the need to still have a job," Zinns said. · attacks," Zinns said. The UMWA js officia~ly on record in build solidarity with. Western strikers. "Meanwhile Reagan is out to slash "The UMWA contract struggle.will be support of the action, as are the Interna The question of Western coal is" a big spending on social services to the bone. part of the answer to this ruling class of tional Association of Machinists, the one for the UMWA. Largely non-union, At the same time, he wants to hand the fensive," she said. United Auto Workers, and other unions. most is strip-mined. The percentage of Pentagon new millions for stepped up Last time around, in 1977-78, the "It will be a demonstration not only war spending. non-union coal mined has increased miners put up a hard fight. Facing. a against nukes," said a female miner. "It from 30 percent in 1970 to 56 percent "The government just sent $5 million concerted drive to severely weaken their will also be for the UMWA . It is for the now. to the El Salvador junta, even after they union, they an_swered with a 111-day shorter workweek to reduce unemploy A strong contract in the West will murdered four American nuns." strike. ment." tend to act as a pace setter for other "On the other hand," she continued, The socialist miners assessed the The UMWA strongly opposes nuclear union miners, as well as aid the drive to "we've seen a fight back on the interna mood of members of their union today. power and has been in the forefront of organize Western coal. tional level." "If they force us out on strike," said an opposition to it . The coal bosses are pleading that a She pointed to the role of Cuba, the Illinois miner , "the miners where I work Another miner said: "I recently had a stiff competition from non-union mines ' newly victorious revolutions in Nicara are going to fight back hard. Because run-in with my supervisor. Afterward, a means that union miners must taper gua and Grenada, as well as the current they know the operators will be going friend said, 'On March 28 you can pay their demands. heroic struggle of the people ofEl Salva for the jugular." him back.' " In her report here, Mary Zinns, a dor. In their mad rush to increase profits, Several miners noted the militant at Pennsylvania miner, explained how the "The Polish workers have set an in Zinns said, the companies are pushing titude of younger miners. miners' fight is part of a response to a spiring example for their class the world for a seven-day week. That will allow "You can see a lot of anger there," one general ruling class offensive. over," Zinns stated. them to mine coal around the clock all speaker said. ''The coal operators are out to step up "Here at home, we've seen one million week long. Another reported that while some of production. It is already at an all-time marchers, almost all Black, tum out in This would be something new for coal the older miners seem to fall for some of high of 850 million tons. Exports are up. Washington, D.C., to demand a holiday miners. They value their free Sundays, the war propaganda, the younger min They expect to ship out sixty-five mil for Martin Luther King. and are not likely to give them up easi ers are likely to respond: "I don't want to lion tons this year. ly. go. I'm not going anywhere. I want to (One Pennsylvania miner said later "There's a lot of talk now about a six~ stay right here." "This increased 'productivity' they during the discussion on the report that hour day," reported Tom Moriarty, a One third of the miners here are want to take out of our hides-with he happened to notice a co-worker was West Virginia coal miner, who was the members of the Young Socialist Al short-cuts on safety and a cut in real absent the day of the King march. He Socialist Workers candidate for gover liance. The meeting heard a special re wages." asked him and found, sure enough, he nor of that state last year. port on the YSA's work in the mines. The UMWA constitution includes the The conference also heard the latest demand for the six-hour day, thirty on plans to establish the socialist move hour week as one of the goals of the ment in Charleston, West Virginia. A UDlOD. group of socialists are already at work to "In this discussion, miners need to re establish the first branch of the SWP in call that we are after a thirty hour week the southern West Virginia coal fields. at forty hours pay," Moriarty said. The socialists talked about the impor Another miner pointed out that the tance of the Militant to coal miners. fight of the Polish miners for the five They decided to step up the use of the day week is something American min pages of the Militant to communicate to ers will remember. .miners and to other .workers what's, go "The need for a labor party will be ing on in the coal fields. come clearer during a strike," Moriarty The socialist miners will be taking continued. "With the courts and the pol part in a drive this spring to get new iticians all coming down on the side of subscribers to the Militant and Young the companies, miners will be able to see Socialist. that we have to fight on the political front." At the time of the last strike in 1977- A key factor in any strike will be the 78, there were no SWP or YSA members question of solidarity. It was the broad in the mines. March on Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, called by United Mine Workers and other support from other workers and farmers "We still have a lot to learn," one min unions, will be big step in strengthening antinuclear struggle, labor movement that allowed the miners to beat back the er said. "We need to listen, and find out ~~b~ • bosses last time. what other miners are thinking.'' had to be inserted in each copy before it women coming forward to fight for their West Coast. was folded and sent out. rights, and the development of a broad Karolyn's strongest conviction in life ... Kerry Right from the start, she wanted to be new layer of leaders of the Socialist was that everything she had done that Continued from page 13 able to go and see the Cuban revolution Workers Party who were women. was worthwhile was because of the par Being responsible for the never-end for herself. For years the travel block She understood how the different eco ty. She understood that not everyone ing battle of trying to figure out how to ade imposed by U.S. imperialism pre nomic and social conditions of today could sustain the pace and pressure, and keep down costs and raise money to pub cluded any possibility, but she was fi created possibilities for women that she had many friends among sympathiz lish the most essential things, Karolyn nally able to go to Cuba for a brief tour were different from her generation and ers and former members of the party. went to work in earnest. She was deter ist vacation in 1978. She came back she wanted to encourage all her young But whenever she would hear comrades mined that we would somehow find a with renewed interest in developments women friends and comrades to take imply that they were making "sacrifi way to publish Castro's most important taking place in Cuba and was especially maximum advantage of every opportu ces" for the party, she would immediate speeches and report on developments interested in the conditions of women nity. ly take them up on it. The only real sacri taking place in Cuba. And we did. and the flowering of art, dance, and cul Karolyn belonged to both the Coali fice, she would tell them, would be to To publish one speech, we didn't have ture in Cuba. tion of Labor Union Women and the Na cease being a revolutionary, to no longer enough money for an eight-page paper, The third political development in re tional Organization for Women and was devote your utmost time, energy and but we came up with enough for six cent years that Karolyn drew great in an active member of NOW in recent ability to advancing the interests of the pages, and Karolyn organized a crew of spiration from was the emergence of the years, even after she and Tom "retired" working class. comrades to donate their labor and col women's liberation movement. She w.as from day-to-day political leadership re That, Karolyn knew, was what made late by hand the single extra sheet that enthusiastic about the large numbers of sponsibilities in 1977 a nd moved to the her life worthwhile. 24 ... Three Mile Island Continued from back page York County is notorious for the starlings that came by every year. They never showed up after the March 28 accident. Birds were found dead in the highways, in the backyards. No one will quarrel with the fact that all farmers encounter some problems on their farms, but not to the level we experienced in the period of 1976 through 1979. Of course the NRC and the Pennsyl vania Agricultural Department and the Pennsylvania Radiology Depart ment have all explained it away by charging the farmers with sloppy man agement. But what they failed to explain to me is why farmers who farmed for years without this number of complaints, who are well acquainted with farming procedures, are suddenly filing more and more complaints about their high vet bills and the high mortality rate and illness rate among their animals. Nowhere do they explain why Met Ed went sneaking about collecting meat sections from these same There is information, however, that roidism, some did not. But none gave We can do it, but we can do it better farmers, all the while posing as the reveals how Met Ed employees re 100 percent testing. The damage done with the unions. We are talking about Food and Drug Administration inspec moved twenty charcoal filters from the to our immunity system, our damaged our children, our homes, our futures, tors. Or about the animals taken away vents on April 16, 1979. The removal of chromosomes, are multiplying in a and our nation-you and me. Never by the New Bolton Center, half dead those filters without replacement coin submerged environment, only to sur before has labor been so threatened. and blind. The condition of those cided with an increase of radioactive face later, revealing another unknown Never before has the nuclear indus animals or what brought the condition iodine release, registered with the or rare disease or a growing malig try been so frightened, and never have about were never fully l;lxplained. NRC, which allowed for bypass leak nancy, which will all reveal them they resorted to such fear tactics to selves in time. divide labor. Our brothers and sisters Dead animals confiscated age into the atmosphere. The responses of the NRC biologists who are laughingly referred to by the . Nor was anything said about the We will become just another experi NRC and the nuclear industry as and the Argon Lab to the death of the ment by science or just another mortal confiscation of Mr. Hoover's animals 500 birds was, "It would require a sponges are in the greatest peril of all. that he personally had sent to the New ity statistic, like the infants who were The awful consequences of the future spread over a period of days instead of "no one." Bolton Center because he was dissatis hours to bring about the death of 500 are beyond the scope of our comprehen fied with the reports coming back from birds." Labor threatened sion. We have a responsibility today to the lab in the agricultural department. create a safe and a brighter future for Today, major decisions will be made The Commonwealth of Pennsyl Cover-up tomorrow. vania went down there and confiscated by this gathering that can bring this Thomas Jefferson said, "Merchants The birds died on May 2, fourteen nation together. The choice you make these animals, confiscated the reports, days after the filters were removed. have no country of their own. Wher and he got nothing. That was his today wilf have far-reaching ramifica ever they may be, they have no ties The autopsy report says the birds died tions for this country. property. They had no right to do that. from massive internal hemorrhaging. with the soil. All they're interested in The animals that were affected in Neither the NRC nor the Argon Lab Believe me when I tell you this. Do is the source of their profits. The mere that area were cows, heifers, steers, bothered to check their own files to not think that you are not important. spot they stand on does not £Onstitute and milking cows, horses, goats, sheep, ascertain if there had been any leak You are at the heart of what can be so strong an attachment as that upon pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks, geese, age of radiation at the time. brought about in this country. which they derive their gain." cats, dogs, birds, and even a five-year old mule that was so full of cancer that But then, it wasn't the truth they Dr. Weber said he has never seen were looking for, but merely the dis anything like it. creditation of Dr. Weber and the No more Three Mile Islands! The longevity of a mule is thirty farmers. This was to silence any more years. You're not supposed to get discussion on the subject. cancer for twenty years after exposure. I will not be silenced by bureaucratic Yet this mule was full of cancer. sycophants, whose sole purpose is to A friend who operates a major perpetuate their pay checks and nu animal rendering service in our area clear power. warned me two weeks prior to the The whitewash on nuclear power accident at TMI that Met Ed em began under the Eisenhower adminis ployees delivered three truck-loads of tration when he said, "Tell the people dead fish. anything, just don't tell them the truth The dead animal market, following about our nuclear testing." the accident, dried up. They received no dead carcasses. Dr. Weber informs Black babies uncounted me that the dead carcasses were picked The Health Department of Pennsyl up by the agricultural department, and vania has still not released the statis he was assured of a report on the tics on the infant mortality data of matter. He is still waiting. 1979. It is now 1981 and still they Dr. John Nicholoff, of the Summer procrastinate. dale Lab, was asked about these ani Even without this data, we know for mals and the results, and he said, "As a certainty that the abortions, the Demonstrate March 28 far as we are concerned, we never stillbirths, the crib deaths, and infant received the dead animals." This is the deaths soared for the period of April in Harrisburg through September. Statistically, this same man who denied the death of the To demand: 500 birds at the residence of Mr. and is the very time of the year when the Mrs. Gilbert of Anniville township. infant deaths decrease. Instead they • No more Three Mile Islands! Keep Unit 1 closed! increased. No dumping of radioactive water in the Susque 'Oh, those birds' I think there's an interesting state When an investigative reporter con ment here too. When they were doing hanna River! fronted Nicholoff on the question of the the statistics, they removed all the • Support the United Mine Workers of America in birds, he denied any knowledge of any deaths from the Harrisburg area and birds dying. "Why, if 500 birds died in mixed them with the state area deaths. their effort to gain a decent contract! this state," he said, "we'd certainly And then they took all the Black • Jobs for all: a shorter workweek and massive know about it. It would certainly be in babies and said, "We can't have them. the papers. We would certainly tell the We can't count the Black children, public works program! governor." because they have too high a mortality • Guaranteed alternative jobs for nuclear workers Not only did Nicholoff deny the rate." death of the birds, but also the doctors It is not bad enough, the dehumaniz at union rates! who signed the autopsy report and ing they have done to us. They have even the secretary of agriculture. taken the Black community and wiped Initial co-sponsors: The reporter reached back in his hip them off altogether. Black babies are United Mine Workers United Auto Workers pocket and pulled out the agricultural not even counted. International Association of Critical Mass department's autopsy report and It will be a long time before we know the degree of the thyroid damage done Machinists Mobilization for Survival showed it to Dr. Nicholoff, and Dr. United Furniture Workers SANE Nicholoff had a sudden memory recall. to children in this area. The learning He said, "Oh, those birds." disabilities and degrees of retardation International Chemical United States Students Despite the lab's radiological testing may not reveal themselves totally until Workers Association of the birds, we were assured that no, the school year begins for these child For more information: Labor Committee for Safe Energy and Full Employ the birds did not die from radiation ren. ment, 1536 16 St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Call (202) 265-7190. exposure. Some hospitals tested for hyperthy- THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 25 Learning About Socialism How will alienation be ended? The 'Militant' received the letter below from development in the means of production and ex in ever-greater amounts while other big factories a prisoner at Attica penitentiary in New York change that were generated in the old feudal society are shut down because the boss cannot sell "his" State. and eventually led to its overthrow. steel, autos, medical instruments, etc. and make We asked Hector Marroquin to answer it. As capitalism developed, the ownership of the "his" profit. Millions are left jobless. Marroquin is a member of the Socialist Work means of production was concentrated in fewer and With the development of big industry, capitalism ers Party and a National Committee member fewer hands. The producer, the worker, was com developed, multiplied, welded together, and of the Young Socialist Alliance. He spent some pletely separated from . the means of production. strengthened its own gravediggers: the industrial time as a prisoner also. He was arrested as an Workers were forced to sell their labor power, the workers. In alliance with all other exploited and undocumented Mexican worker and jailed as only commodity they possess, to an individual oppressed people, they can take the direction of part of a government attempt to deport him to capitalist. Wage labor was institutionalized. society into their own hands and put an end to the Mexico. He is seeking political asylum in the This process intensified the alienation suffered by present barbaric capitalist oppression and irration United States because of trumped-up charges working people, who lost control over the means of ality. against him by the Mexican government. production and, with it, control over their lives, A socialist revolution will pave the way to pro The reader at Attica wrote: liberty, and means of development. peas and further development of human civiliza Greetings, Administration and direction of the productive tion. Marx continuously stresses the seizure of the process was concentrated in the hands of the few The problem of capitalism is not that there is means of production by the working class; that property owners, the capitalists. Workers were large-scale production. The problem is how the production would shift to social as opposed to converted into appendages of machinery. Capitalist production is organized, appropriated, distributed, private ownership. But he also noted that with private property is the source of today's alienation, and used. every revolution in society a corresponding revolu competition, and individualism. This would fundamentally change under social tion in the mode of production transpired. This alienation cannot be ended under capitalism. ism. Under a worldwide socialist system, production My questions: Alienation will exist as long as society is organized would be for human needs, not profits. Alienation, How can an industrial order buttress a truly on the basis of exploitation and oppression of in the ever-worsening form in which it exists under socialist workers state? human beings. capitalism, would be ended. How is the alienation of man/ woman mitigated? With capitalism, large-scale industrial production A socialist revolution would eliminate the contra Revolution, developed. But capitalism is also anarchic. For the diction between workers and parasite exploiters, Atiim first time in human history there are periodic crises producers, and administrators. of overproduction. The unplanned economy and the This would begin to lay the basis for the transfor enormous differences in wealth lead to more being mation of the nature of labor from a coercive Hector Marroquin replies: produced than people have the ability to buy and necessity to a social obligation that would benefit The brother is correct in relating all the different still provide a sufficient profit for the capitalist. society as a whole. questions and points in his letter together. The Communist Manifesto explains: "Modem People wouldn't live in constant fear and insecur In fact, the Marxist explanation of history funda bourgeois society with its relations of production, of ity. James P. Cannon, a veteran American socialist mentally rests on the economic development of exchange and of property, a society that has con and one of the founders of the Sociali!;Jt Workers society. It points out how the modes of exchange jured up such gigantic means of production and of Party, said: "Under such conditions [capitalism] and production change with the development of the exchange, is like the sorcerer, who is no longer able this 'human nature', which we hear so much about, productive forces and how this brought about the to control the powers of the nether world whom he is like a plant trying to flower in a dark cellar; it division of society into classes and struggles of has called up by his spells." really doesn't get much chance to show its true these classes against each other. It notes that every Even if, I would add, the sorcerer was aided by nature, its boundless potentialities. In the socialist revolution in society corresponds to a revolution in finks and stool pigeons like the FBI. society of shared abundance, this nightmare will be the mode of production. There is overproduction, but the majority of lifted from the minds of the people. They will be However, the brother states it backwards when he humanity still lives in terrible misery, is undernour secure and free from fear; and this will work a says that Marx "noted that with every revolution in ished, and lacks education and basic medical care. revolution in their attitude toward life and their society a corresponding revolution in the mode of Under capitalism, the growing productive capac enjoyment of it. Human nature will get a chance to production transpired." ity, which could otherwise be used for human needs, show what it is really made of." It was the changes in production that created the is geared to the production of sophisticated weap Please send questions you would like to see basis for revolutions. onry. This could destroy human civilization a answered in this column to: Stu Singer, 14 Capitalism is the product of a long course of thousand times over. These weapons are produced Charles Lane, New York, New York 10014. Our Revolutionary Heritage The assassination of a 'great African patriot' On February 12, 1961, the military government of Lumumba and their continued domination of the How can 01ie forget how· the hope that Patrice Katanga province in the Congo (now Zaire) an Congo nation. Lumumba placed in the United Nations was be nounced the bruUil murder of Congolese freedom Guevara spoke as a Belgian-U.S. military opera trayed? How can one forget the machinations and fighter Patrice Lumumba. Despite a concerted tion crushed a new· upsurge of nationalist resist maneuvers which followed in the wake of the cover-up, it soon was clear that the Belgian ance. Excerpts from Che's speech follow. occupation of that country by United Nations controlled government there, in collusion with the troops under whose auspices the assassins of this U.S.-dominated government in the national capital • • • great African patriot acted with impunity? of Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), had assassinated Lumumba. Once again we raise our voice to put the world on The wealth of the Congo is in imperialist hands guard against what is happening in South Africa. Lumumba was the leader of the National Congo and the expenses must be paid by honest nations. The brutal policy of apartheid is being carried out lese Movement, which had the support of the The merchants of war certainly do good business. before the eyes of the whole world. The peoples of masses of people fighting Belgian colonial rule. And as if this were not enough, we now have Africa are being compelled to tolerate in that After an independence struggle that left thousands flung in our faces recent events which have filled continent the concept, still official, of the superior of Congolese dead, the African republic won its the world with horror and indignation. Who are the ity of one race over another and in the name of that independence from Belgium in June 1960. Lu perpetrators? Belgian paratroopers transported by racial superiority the murder of people with impun mumba, who was elected premier of the Congolese United States planes, who took off from British ity. Can the United Nations do nothing to prevent Republic, hailed the end of the "shameful regime of bases. oppression." this? • I should like specifically to refer to the painful But the scales h ave {allen from our eyes and they Fearing the masses would press far beyond for case of the Congo, unique in the history of the now open upon new horizons, and we can see what mal independence and challenge foreign control of modem world, which shows how, with absolute yesterday, in our conditions of colonial servitude, the Congo's copper, uranium, and other resources, impunity, with the most insolent cynicism, the we could not observe-that "Western civilization" the Belgian government sent in troops. rights of peoples can be flouted. The prodigious disguises under its showy front a scene of hyenas Then, under the guise of aiding the Congolese wealth of the Congo, which the imperialist nations and jackals. That is the only name that can be people, United Nations "peace keeping" forces were wish to maintain under their control, is the direct applied to those who have gone to fulfill "humani sent in at Washington's urging. The UN troops reason for this. tarian" tasks in the Congo. Bloodthirsty butchers were used to remove the legal Congolese govern In his speech on his first visit to the United who feed on helpless people! That is what imperial ment. Nations, our comrade Fidel Castro said that the ism does to men; that is what marks the "white" whole problem of coexistence among peoples was imperialists. Lumumba was put under arrest, severely beaten, reduced to the undue appropriation of another's and, several months later, murdered. wealth. He said, :'When this philosophy of despoil The free men of the world must be prepared to The Congolese freedom fighters were inspired and ment disappears, the philosophy of war will have avenge the crime committed in the Congo . . .. In guided by the victory of the Cuban masses. As well, disappeared." this assembly those peoples whose skins are dark the Cuban revolutionaries saw the Congolese fight The philosophy of despoilment not only has not ened by a different sun, colored by different for liberation as their own. ceased, but rather it is stronger than ever, and that pigments, constitute the majority, and they fully Cuban revolutionary Emesto Che Guevara ex is why those who used the name of the United and clearly understand that the 4ifference between pressed the feelings of the Cuban people in a speech Nations to commit the murder of Lumumba, today, men does not lie in the color of their skins, but in before the United Nations in 1964. There he indicted in the name of the defense of the white race, are the ownership of the means of production and in the U.S. and Belgian imperialists for their murder of assassinating thousands of Congolese. relationship of production. 26 Letters Bill Plympton Workers honor Dr. King The deep consciousness of ff~ N:JW Mt?'ftl1.fJ.T IRANIAN Black workers really showed THE FaV1EA lw-vV/,4/'l. HE.LICOPrfR5 itself on January 15. H05~5 }lA~ 8EEN 10 71-lE RfSC lJ£! While 100,000 people HELD BY N'IERJCAN marched in Washington, D.C., ZEALOTS. demanding Congress pass a law making Martin Luther King's birthday ·a national holiday, the workers in my plant showed their feelings in another way. At FMC in Houston, Texas, I participated in an effort to distribute makeshift black armbands in honor of Dr. King. By the end of my shift almost all of the Black workers in the plant, as well as a number of white, Chicano, and Latin American workers, were wearing black armbands. We passed the idea to second answered questions from the needs which sometimes do not father (a well-known and seeking to reach an agree shift and they continued to get floor for about an hour. have to coincide with those of reactionary) currently living in ment with the Polish govern many workers wearing black Workers wanted to know the Soviet Union), I want to Jersey City. · ment on the basis of the just armbands. why we could not stop plant express my comradely I am the first one to say that demands of the workers. The company couldn't do closings for more than one disagreement on a major point. the Polish working class is [Other quotations are the anything as I and others year, as the contract states. It is my belief that within the moving in a positive direction opposite of what Walesa has walked throughout the plant Another question was what movement for free trade unions and I praise their efforts to said on many occasions. (For distributing armbands for Dr. exactly the company means by and more democracy in perfect the socialist instance Evans and Novak King. A few days later I "worker participation." Poland, some elements have institutions. have him arrogantly declare, petitioned in the plant to make Does it mean we can control been able to infiltrate But, if elements like Walesa "I created the movement and I the birthday a holiday and the line speed and the number themselves in order to bring were to prevail, perhaps the shall remain in full control.") received a good response. of workers on the payroll? about a restoration of countries which integrate the [The interview appeared at a One co-worker took a copy of The representative mostly capitalism in that country. Warsaw Treaty Organization time when the Kremlin was the petition to get more avoided any real answers and I deem Lech Walesa to be an would be forced to intervene in making ominous threats to Po signatures herself. told us that we were agent provocateur who is, Poland in order to avert a land. Had they decided to in Bob Warren negotiating with the consciously or unconsciously, return to capitalism in that vade, the interview could have Houston, Texas government, not Chrysler. playing the game of ~eroic nation. been cited as a damning piece He said he would not tell us international imperialism in I'm sure that, if the of evidence against Walesa and how to vote, but if we turned Poland. circumstances mentioned the workers' movement. down the contract we would be Since I am a new reader of above came to conjugate into [These facts alone would out of a job. the Militant, I do not know if action, the Polish people would make us extremely doubtful Chrysler vote The next day, Monday, the (in some previous issue) you've demand some help from the that Walesa said all that was There were five squad cars in polling trailer was opened and mentioned Walesa's praises for U.S.S.R. and some other attributed to him. front of the union hall this the vote taken. There was a low the United States of America countries in the Eastern bloc. [But in addition, we know morning. When I walked in, I voter turnout, only 1,171 out of and, concretely, his approval of Adrian J. Alpendre that Evans and Novak have a noticed the mobilization of the 2,800 workers. Ronald Reagan's views with Fairview, New Jersey long record of distortion and flying squadron and ten extra Even with the federal regard to detente and our even outright falsification. officers on the stage. government writing the mutual relations with the During the Vietnam War, they It was in this atmosphere contract and the local Socialist world. Fred Feldman replies: frequently printed articles at that my local union held a government police enforcing It is also extremely [The opinions attributed to tributing violent plans to anti special meeting to discuss the the union meeting, the vote important that your readers Lech Walesa by reader Alpen war demonstrators and red upcoming give-away contract. was 70 percent for and 30 know about the fact that dre come primarily from an baiting the movement. The president read the percent against. Walesa has spoken in article by the notorious right [They are not beyond distort agenda, which was thirteen It seems that with no real extremely laudatory terms wing columnists Rowland ing Walesa's views to serve points from the contract choice, workers in Dodge Truck about Alexander Solzhenitsyn Evans and Robert Novak. reactionary purposes. concession. The leadership said and other locals still voiced whose ideas about the October [It appeared in the December [It is worth noting that the it was an informational opposition. Revolution are well known 3 New York Post, among other New York Times and Christian meeting only and we could not Joe Allor (suffice it to say that in his papers. Science Monitor made no refer ask questions about anything Detroit, Michigan book Lenin in Zurich, Mr. [In no other interview has ence to the Evans-Novak other than what was on the Solzhenitsyn claims that Walesa been known to praise "scoop" about Walesa's politi agenda. Russia was much better off Ronald Reagan and advocate a cal views. We could not offer under the Czarist despotism) "tough" anticommunist U.S. [And even the Washington suggestions on how to fight Polish dilemma? and has claimed that "Poland foreign policy. But these are Post, where the Evans-Novak back. We could not motivate a With regard to the Polish should go back to a market well known opinions of Evans column originates, did not "no" vote. dilemma, while agreeing with economy" (see L 'Express of and Novak . print it or comment on it. .Willie Stovall, the your approach in its basic December 13, 1980) while [Some quotations attributed [Perhaps they too regarded international representative, points (the Polish people must expressing his hope to meet to Walesa completely contra the Evans and Novak inter explained each point on COLA, be given a chance to build Ronald Reagan when he comes dict his policy of avoiding com view to be of doubtful authen pensions, etc. Then he socialism according to their to the USA to visit his step- ment on political questions, ticity.] If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, Young Socialist Alliance. and soctalist books and pamphlets ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 205 18th St. S. YSA, 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. 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Tel: (215) 927-4747 or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, University Ave. Zip 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. INDIANA: Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central YSA , 1210 E. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP . YSA . 3901 N. 27th 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Indianapolis: SWP, Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341 . 488-7000. State College: YSA. c/ o Bill Donovan, St. Zip: 53216. Tel (414) 445-2076. THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 20, 1981 27 THE MILITANT The deadly toll at Three Mile Island The following talk was delivered by Jane Lee at the planning meeting cials can ever erase from our minds of the National Labor Committee for Safe Energy and Full Employment, what we saw and what we experienced. held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, January 18. The meeting called the March 28 demonstration in Harrisburg, cosponsored by the United Mine Stillbirths Workers, International Association of Machinists, United Auto Workers, Other deficiencies that were encoun Mobilization for Survival, and others. tered were: an increase in stillborns, Jane Lee is a farmer who lives three and a half miles from Three Mile abortions, respiratory failures, breed Island. She has documented the effects of TMI on animal and plant life in ing problems. That increased 10 per the area for the past six years. She will be on a speaking tour in March to cent on our farm. Constriction of the build the Harrisburg action. If interested in having her speak in your cervix, which created a high incidence area, contact: Greater Harrisburg Labor Committee for Safe Energy and and a high level of caesarian births. Full Employment, 1037 Maclay Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17103; Caesarian births are also increasing or call (717) 232-0396. among humans. Despite the repeated application of Six years ago, I began researching for thirty-five to sixty years-began to hormones that should dilate the cervix the subject of nuclear power. For the encounter muscle and bone deficien for the delivery of animals, those ani first three years, I was alone. I was cies and other health-related symp mals could not dilate. The people who scorned and I was ridiculed by my toms in their animals that were never produced the hormone told Dr. Weber, Militant/Suzanne Haig neighbors and my friends. experienced before. "That's impossible," and of course, you We can fight nuclear power better with Then March 28, 1979, [the Three Mile Steers, less than a year old, were not know, that's what I keep getting: unions, says farmer Jane Lee. Island accident] happened. It's able to stand up, and dragged their "That's impossible." incredible what has happened with hinds about. Some lasted a month. We discovered cats who would have people. We are growing. It's becoming Some lasted four to six months. litters in four different fetal stages: one The defoliation of trees was incredi meaningful, and I have been elated Farmers called the state Agricultural cat would be alive without fur on it; the ble. On our farm, the trees were as ever since the October 10 Labor Con Department, but they took no interest. next one would be dead with less fur on ference for Safe Energy, when the Many times the lab would ask, "Are naked as trees you see outdoors at the it; there would be another fetal stage, end of October. Flower beds, with the unions began to take an interest. I you calling from Middletown?" before and then another fetal stage. flowers all dead, laying black in the have not had one depressed moment you even had the chance to tell your garden. since that time. location. Curious, is it not? This all Casper the Ghost occurred before the accident, not after. Rabbits, many of them born like Sloppy management? Affect on farm animals Casper the Ghost-no ears, no hind Fruit trees were especially vulnera I live on a farm three and a half Dr. Robert Weber, our vet, was quarters, just tapered down, nothing. ble. And of course it's all washed away miles west-northeast of Three Mile puzzled by the symptoms in the area Hogs, sows unable to deliver all their with, "Well, it's elm disease or it's wet Island. This farm has been in the same that at that time were confined to a young. Farmers not knowing how worm, or it's this, or it's that." I'm well family for over 200 years. It is feder five-mile radius of the plant. many she had until she started to swell aware of the diseases of trees. But I ally and state. inspected. In 1974 Unit 1 We know what we saw. No amount and the vet would come out and find have never, ever, seen anything like began its operation and by 1976 the of discrediting by the NRC [Nuclear the remaining piglets in the uterus, this. farmers-and some who had farmed Regulatory Commission] public offi- gangrenous. Continued on page 25 Cleve. Black party: 'No tax hike!' By Tony Austin Peacock received an enthusiastic The announcement of this referen CLEVELAND-"Black people have response from the close to fifty people dum surprised many here because the been tied to the Republicans for sixty in attendance as he detailed the two same ballot measure was soundly de five years and to the Democrats for party system's hand-in-glove collusion feated last November. It was widely forty-eight years, and all we've gotten with the banks and corporations. opposed by Blacks. is crumbs. Now it's time for the Na· "It's time that we had our own party This endorsement by several promi tional Black Independent Political to challenge these decisions and poli nent Blacks falls in line with the Party." cies. We're giving notice to the Demo concerted campaign being carried out With these words, C. Daniel Peacock, crats and Republicans that we are no by Cleveland's Republican mayor, coordinator of the Cleveland Area longer going to wait until election day George Voinovich. He and City Coun NBIPP, opened the party's January 17 and vote the way they tell us," Peacock cil President George Forbes have public meeting. concluded. threatened not to run for reeleetion if Darryl Tukufu, president of the Ak the tax hike fails. ron chapter of the Black party, and On February 1, the Cleveland Black member of the Ohio state coordinating party was able to respond. Appearing committee, gave a progress report on Militani/Salm Kalis on the WJMO radio talk show, "Black party-building activities in Akron, and Cleveland Black party leader C. Daniel Focus," Black party leader Dana the history. of the Black party move Peacock. Perry-Cooper outlined the party's rea· ment. sons for opposing the tax increase. Tukufu stated, "The founding con Reading from a prepared statement, vention of the NBIPP was the culmina coverage, including from two television Perry-Cooper stated, "The Black com tion of a recent series of Black conven stations; the Plain Dealer, Cleveland's munity cannot take on any more taxa tions that started in 1972 when over major newspaper; WJMO and WABQ, tion on our already low incomes. We 8,000 Blacks met in Gary, Indiana. the two radio stations with the area's are paying more and receiving less." He announced that the second na largest Black audience. Black party Responding to the Voinovich admin-' tional convention of the Black party leaders have since received invitations istration's threat that cutbacks will will be held August 21-23 in Chicago. to appear on several radio and televi result if the tax issue fails, Perry The meeting heard reports and dis sion talk shows. Cooper pointed out that cutbacks have cussion on Black party plans to re The successful public meeting and already begun. spond to the escalation of racist vio extensive media coverage have been "So there is no guarantee that lence, reach out to Blacks in the union timely in helping the Black party another half percent for the city in movement, and form youth, women's, circulate its public positions on issues come tax will provide even the same labor, and senior citizens' committees, in Cleveland politics. services, let alone more," she said. as proposed at the Philadelphia con In a new development, Black busi-· "This we do know: that the Black vention. nessmen and ministers recently held a community, which can least afford it, A petition demanding that Martin news conference calling for passage of will pay, and the banks and the corpo Luther King's birthday be recognized a special ballot referendum scheduled rations will not." as a national holiday was circulated at for January 17. The ballot issue pro Perry-Cooper added, "The threat to the gathering. poses a one-half percent tax hike on lay off police means nothing to the The meeting got widespread media the wages of Cleveland workers. Continued on page 22 •ht:'o """'·O" C'l "d •eso u•Ct:'l 01 ing to find it harder this time to make it all Ne• her !o•xh. G•eece r,d•o _ t<:e"vo . lre lo"d Jomaoco afl(! 5ytto SuPJ)OI'Ied rhe A.me-r•con peop