Behind U.S. government's Mexico-bashing . . 5 THE Plight of farm workers in Philippines . . . . . 8 Report on Bingham trial in California 11

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKL \' PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 50/NO. 23 JUNE 13, 1986 75 CENTS

June 7& 14 actions Rally against apartheid point way on June 14 in N.Y.! BY MEL MASON forward AND RASHAAD ALI NEW YORK - Building activities or­ June 16 will be a big day in South Africa ganized by supporters of the New York for opponents of apartheid, and the same is Anti-Apartheid Coordinating Council will true of June 14 in this country. produce "the greatest outpouring at the The Congress of South African Trade June 14 demonstration to show our disdain Unions (COSATU) has called a general for the system that is dehumanizing our strike June 16 to mark the lOth anniversary brothers and sisters" in South Africa, says of the 1976 police massacre of anti-apart­ Cleveland Robinson, secretary-treasurer of heid protesters in the city of Soweto. United Auto Workers District 65 . Joining the call for the one-day stoppage Robinson, who is the chairman of the is the United Democratic Front and the Na­ anti-apartheid coordinating council tional Education Crisis Committee, both (NY AACC), and other leaders of the ·or­ foes of apartheid. ganization believe the June 14 march and For the first time, the 600,000-strong rally will be the largest anti-apartheid pro­ test in the history of the United States. From all indications, this is very likely. EDITORIAL The event will demand an end to all U.S. ties to the apartheid regime in South Af· COSATU and the other two. groups have rica, as well as commemorate the lOth an­ Militant/Fred Murphy called on whites to join the strike action. niversary of the mass rebellion in Soweto, 1985 New York City Labor Day parade. United Auto Workers District 65 took lead In this country on June 14 a mass demon­ South Africa. in formation of anti-apartheid coordinating council, which is organizing June 14 ac­ stration in New York will be the main focus of The action coincides with three days of tions. what promises to be a powerful contribution to protest in South Africa itself called by the · bringing down the Pretoria regime. United Democratic Front and the National (AFSCME) union donated $5,000 tohelp Of special importance in this protest is a Education Crisis Committee, anti-apart­ Some of the area's union papers have build the action, as did District Council 37, contingent beirig built by a range of organi­ heid forces in that country. This protest is printed building articles for the march. which took 5,000 buttons to sell to its zations opposing the U.S. -organized war backed by the Congress of South African Reports from Harlem, Brooklyn, and the membership. drive in Central America. The contingent Trade Unions, the country's largest union Bronx, where large concentrations of this Teamsters' leader Bill Nuchow, who will march under the banner, "Boycott federation. city's Black population live, show that the will be in charge of security for the march South Africa, not Nicaragua!" The day after a very successful New rally is being built well in these areas. Post­ and rally, reported that the Teamsters were The demand summarizes the reality that York news conference May 27, which fea­ ers are displayed in storefronts and on going to donate $10,000 td NY AACC. .these are two fronts in a common .struggle. tured South African Archbishop Desmond poles; there is regular leafleting of subway Eyery blow struck against South African Tutu and more than I 00 supporte{S of One International Association of stops. apartheid is a blow against U.S. -run aggres­ NYAACC, office coordinators report that Machinists local in Long Island decided to Black newspapers have either carried ar­ sion in Central America, and vice versa. more than 125 organizations came in and pay the fares of its members who wanted to ticles on the protest or editorials urging a A slated June 7 demonstration in Wash­ took 10,000 leaflets for the march and go to the demonstration by train. They also big tum out. ington against congressional funding to the rally. plan to hold an anti-apartheid event at their Jesse Jackson has done a public service Nicaraguan contras will surely prove a At a June 3 council meeting Jim Bell, union hall before the action. Continued on Page 12 building block for June 14. And June 14 in president of the New York chapter of the tum will provide fresh forces and new in­ Coalition of Black Trade Unionists spiration for the opposition to the U.S. (CBTU) and eoordinator of the action, re­ government's drive against Nicaragua. ported that 30-40 buses were coming from New Nelson Mandela book Such opposition is urgently needed. Philadelphia and that people were also par­ While the government of Nicaragua has ticipating from Atlanta, Detroit, Boston, demonstrated a total readiness to negotiate Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Ver­ published by Pathfinder an end to the conflict, Washington remains mont, New Jersey, and many other cities adamant in its determination to press the and states. BY FRED FELDMAN the African National Congress, prison aggression with the aim of overthrowing He explained that .three or more rallies NEW YORK - The Struggle Is My memoirs, and other items covering Man­ the Sandinista government. will be held before the main rally on the Life, a new book of writings and speeches deJa's participation in the freedom struggle There is a growing opposition. among Great Lawn in Central Park. They will take by and about Nelson Mandela, will be pub­ from 1944, when he joined the ANC and working people to U.S. government and place at the Harlem State Office Building, lished here June 14 by Pathfinder Press. helped found the ANC Youth League, to in El Barrio in the Puerto Rican communi­ corporate ties to the South African regime, Mandela is a central leader of the African the present. ty, and at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. as well as Washington's war drive in Cen­ National Congress - the organization There are also 24 pages of photographs New York Central Labor Council Presi­ tral America. Demonstrations such as June leading the fight for an end to apartheid of Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela (a 7 and June 14 point the way forward for dent Thomas Van Arsdale sent letters to all rule in South Africa. He has been impris­ leader of the anti-apartheid struggle, who is mobilizing and broadening this opposition, the city's unions urging a big tum-out . oned since 1962 by the South African re­ married to Nelson Mandela), and protest and organizing massive national antiwar The national American Federation of gime, despite worldwide demands for his activities in South Africa. and anti-apartheid protests. State, County and Municipal Employees release. Among the items previously unavailable At the same time, Pathfinder is publish­ in this country in book form are Mandela' s ing Habla Nelson Mantle/a, a book con­ reply to South African President Pieter taining Spanish translations of "Black man Botha's 1985 offer to release Mandela Striking Canadian meatpackers in a white court"- Mandela's first state­ from jail if he "unconditionally rejected ment in court after his 1962 arrest - and violence as a political weapon." · resist union-busting attack his 1964 speech, given at his trial in "Let him [Botha] renounce violence," Rivonia, South Africa, in the face of a pos­ responded Mandela in a statement read by BY FRED FELDMAN scab-herding operation .. sible death sentence. his daughter Zinzi to a mass rally in the Black township of Soweto. "Let him say More than I ,000 striking meatpackers in On June 2 busloads of scabs armed with Habla Nelson Mandela also includes the that he will dismantle apartheid. Let him Edmonton in Canada's Alberta Province wrenches and clubs were driven back after Freedom Charter, the 1955 document that unban the people's organization, the Afri­ are waging a strong fight against an attempt attempting to crash through a union picket, issued the call for a united, democratic, can National Congress. Let him free all by Gainers Inc. to bust their union. line of 500. "Go home, scab," the unionists nonracial South. Africa -:- the goal of the who have been imprisoned, .banished, or The company, a major pork processor, is shouted. fighters who are challenging the aparth~id regime today. exiled for their opposition to apartheid .. . . using cops, armed scabs, and court injunc­ The next day a flying wedge of riot tions in an effort to break a strike that police brought five busloads of scabs These three documents also appear in "But I cannot sell my birthright, nor am The Struggle Is My Life. I prepared to sell the birthright of the began May 31 . The workers are members through the plant gate, after arresting more than 125 strikers and their supporters. The new publications make the writings people to be free .. .. The mass arrests - often of strikers and speeches of Mandela widely available "Only free men can negotiate. Prisoners Federal judge in St. Paul, Minnesota, up­ cannot enter into contracts .... I cannot standing more than I ,500 feet from the for the first time in North America. holds United Food and Commercial Work­ plant gate - followed. Habla Nelson Mandela and The Struggle and will not give any undertaking at a time ers top officialdom's placing ofLocal P-9 in Eight more workers were arrested for Is My Life were rushed into print to make when I and you, the people, are not free. trusteeship. See story' page 10. picketing when scores of cops brought the them available to the many thousands of "Your freedom and mine cannot be sepa- rated. I will return." scabs to Gainers on June 4. people who will be participating in the June 1 of United Food and Commercial Workers In addition to the cops, Gainers has court 14 anti-apartheid protest in New York City · A special supplement contains accounts Local 280P, the same international union backing for its union-busting. An injunc­ and in nationwide . protests in Canada by his fellow prisoners of Mandel a's role in that striking Hormel workers in Austin, tion has limited the number of pickets to against U.S. aid to the contras attacking prison, highlighting his leadership in their fight for political prisoner status and Minnesota, belong to. 42, with no more than 12 at any one gate. Nicaragua. More than 130 workers have been ar­ The Struggle Is My Life consists of 249 against racist discrimination. rested for picketing in opposition to the Continued on Page 3 pages of speeches, articles, documents of Continued on Page 7 Good sales of the 'Militant' af Boston;:pick.et, lineS

BY MARK EMANATIAN give-and-take about issues facing TWA, rail, and Carney nurses' TWA strike, P-9, and Nicaragua in support of the striking rail BOSTON - The employers' the labor movement and working strike articles. and how the regular reading of a workers. Workers from many attack on wages and working con­ people in general. We have found an excellent re­ paper that tells the truth and helps unions participated in the demon­ ditions has forced workers in four Solidarity has been the center of sp<>nse to the paper with an inter­ organize a fightback was well stration, marching behind contin­ Boston-area unions out on strike. these discussions among the strik­ est in Nicaragua, the Philippines, worth the striker's money. gents of striking rail, TWA, Car­ Rail workers of the Brotherhood ers. How do you win support for and South Africa. • as well as U.S. ney, Edison, a:nd Colt workers. of Maintenance of Way Employ­ your strike? How do you use the labor struggles. Strikers have also Tha:t subscription was one of the The Colt workers - who have ees from Boston-area and Maine power of the labor movement to been very receptive to the cam­ many sold to TWA strikers in the struck the small-arms manufac­ railroads, nurses of the Mas­ win? The example of Local P-9 of paign of Jon Hillson, Socialist Boston area. The others were sold turer in Hartford, Connecticut, are sachusetts Nurses Association at the United Food and Commercial Workers Party candidate in the 8th on the picket lines. Much of what in a battle for their union. A team the Carney Hospital, power work- Workers on strike against the Hor~ Congressional District, and Ellen was talked about with the strikers of five Militant supporters sold 35 Berman, the SWP candidate for dealt with the fight for women's Militants and five Perspectiva governor of Massachusetts. liberation, affirmative action, and Mundials to the strikers. Once abortion rights. again, interest in P-9 was what led SELLING OUR PRESS At a rally of 250 workers for the to the sale. Carney nurses on May 15, a sales The TWA bosses have justified team sold 13 single issues and one their attack on the Independent Sales have also taken place at AT THE PLANT GATE subscription to the Militant, the Federation of Flight Attendants by the Edison workers' picket line, at subscription going to a striking saying that since most of the flight two TWA support rallies, at a sec­ ers at Edison Power, and TWA mel Co. in Austin, Minnesota, has TWA worker. The paper was sold attendants are women, they earn ond rally for the Carney nurses, flight attendants of the Indepen­ been a big part of the discussions. on the Hormel strike coverage and "secondary" incomes. This has led and at a demonstration demanding dent Federation of Flight Atten­ Supporters of the Militant news­ on an article describing the May to some deep thinking on the part jobs for laid-off International dants have all gone out. paper and Perspectiva Mundial, a Day strike in South Africa. of these workers. One woman put Ladies' Garment Workers' Union Several solidarity rallies have Spanish-language biweekly, have it this way to our salesperson. members whose plant has closed. been held with the various unions been regularly going to these ral­ Terry Arens of Local P-9 got "We've been taking it and taking The Militant and Perspectiva on strike, attracting workers from lies as well as to the picket lines to the biggest applause at the rally, it. And we're sick of it. I'm ready Mundial are getting to be well­ these unions as well as working show solidarity, participate in the and strikers Were eager to buy a for some militant reading and known at these events. Sales there people from many other work­ discussions with these workers, workers' paper with articles on the some militant action. I'm chang­ complement our regular plant-gate places and unions. All the rallies and sell our press with its regular struggle in Austin. The subscrip­ ing my opinion on everything." sales and put us in touch with these have been spirited and angry. coverage of Local P-9's fight tion sold to the TWA striker was On May 18 there was a demon­ fighting workers and what they are They have been places for rich against Hormel, as well as the the result of a discussion about the stration here of 600 trade unionists thinking. Boston utility workers fight for health, safety

BY JON mLLSON the next three years, made record-break­ BOSTON- Some 1,800 utility work-· ing net profits of $94 million in 1985. ers employed by Boston Edison put up This was a 6 percent jump from 1984 picket lines here May 15 in a battle for and a 28 percent leap from the previous health, safety, and pension rights. Edison year. services 600,000 customers in the greater But wages are not the key issue in the Boston area. strike. "We' re not talking about money 'The strike, called by Utility Workers here ," cable splicer Joseph Antonucci, Union of America Local369, had been au­ 55, says. "It's health and safety issues thorized by a vote of J ,346 to 16 earlier in and early retirement.' I want to retire now. the month. What good is money if you don't live to Boston Edison management, which re­ enjoy it?" fuses to talk to the media, has only bitter pills for the workers. The bosses want to The company is using management eliminate disability pensions in this personnel to do scab labor. dangerous industry. And they refuse union demands for better job safety. A union study found that 51 was the av­ erage age of death of union members who Calif. socialist candidate joins AIDS Inarch have died of job-related illnesses since 1978 - 11 years before retirement with porting of all those who test positive for the worked on the campaign against the Briggs full benefits, BY PETER THIERJUNG SAN FRANCISCO - Socialist candi­ AIDS virus to the · State Health Depart­ Initiative, an antigay referendum that was Utility workers, union executive board men.t, whether or not they actually have the defeated in California in the early 1970s. member Bob Lesslie told the Militant, date for governor, Matilde Zimmermann, joined 8,000 or more demonstrators here at disease. AIDS victims and virus carriers He thought a similar united effort was "work around high voltage, in nuclear would be barred from all private and public needed against the LaRouche initiative. plants around radiation, and are exposed an AIDS march and vigil May 26. Spon­ sored by the Mobilization Against AIDS, schools, whether as teachers, employees, Zimmermann reported to another protester in some jobs, still, to PCBs, and to asbes­ or students. They would be forbidden to that the California National Organization tos." the march was a memorial to the 11,000 who h~,tve died· of AIDS so far and a de­ work in establishments that process or for Women convention had passed a reso­ Management, he said, "wants take­ serve food. They could be subject to lution calling on NOW chapters to cam­ aways in health and safety," but since it mand for more money for AIDS research and care. quarantine and internment. paign against the LaRouche initiative. began negotiations two months late, union "It smacks of what Hitler did to Jews and members had hints a strike was in the of­ The protest is an annual event, but this trade unionists, or the internment of "Right on," "Thanks for coming," and fing "and began to prepare." year took on a special emergency character Japanese here during the war," Zimmer­ "Good luck on your campaign," were typi­ The employers, in a move made with when followers of Lyndon LaRouche sub­ mann said to a group of protesters. "I think cal responses to the socialist candidate calculated cynicism, also seek to put a cap mitted signatures to place a viciously anti­ that labor unions, civil rights organiza- · when she promised to campaign against the on death benefits, slash pensions, and gay and antidemocratic initiative on the tions, and church and community groups antigay hysteria being whipped up by the lower retiree insurance. November California ballot. should all get together to fight against this LaRouchites· and others, and for govern­ Boston Edison, which offered the The right-wing referendum would insti­ initiative." ment funding of AIDS research and the union a 4 .5 percent wage increase over tute mandatory AIDS testing and the re- One marcher told the candidate he had treatment of AIDS victims.

The Militant tells the truth Subscribe today! The Militant That's the way you'll Closing news date: June 4, 1986 get facts about Editor: MALIK MIAH Washington's war Managing editor: MARGARET JA YKO against working Business Manager: people at home and LEE MARTINDALE abroad: from South Editorial Staff: Rashaad . Ali, Susan Apstein, Fred Africa and Nicara­ Feldman, Andrea Gonzalez, Pat Grogan, Arthur gua, to embattled Hughes, Tom Leonard, Harry Ring, Norton Sandler. ·Published weekly except one week in August and the workers and farmers last week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026- in the U.S. Read our 3885), 14 Charles Lane, J':lew York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ ideas on how to stop phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Of- i apartheid, war, the fice, (212) 929"3486. · •< oppression of Blacks Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ rE~losed is7""D $3 for12 ;;ek s 0 $15 for Gm~ths I and women, and the employer tant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, I o $24 for 1 yea r o A contribution I offensive against all workers. N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ I Name I At the plant gates, picket MASTER: Send address changes to The Militant, 14 I Address I lines and unemployment Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: City/State/Zip U.S. $24.00 a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By frrst-class I I lines, at antiwar and abortion mail: U.S. , Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ I Telephone I rights actions, the Militant is mail rates to all other countries. 1 Union/Organiza tion I there, reporting the news, Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily rep­ I Send to Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, NY 10014 1 participating in struggle. resent the Militant's views.-These are expressed in edito­ rials.

2 The Militant June 13, 1986 Canada meatpackers·

Continued from front page itant in a telephone interview, "but instead Gainers' umon-busting attack on Local of rewarding us, they are demanding more 280P was planned well in advance. For concessions. Many of the members of this weeks before, the company advertised for union have not had a pay increase in three new hires at $8 an hour. (A Canadian dol­ years. They are not willing to go along." lar equals U.S.$.72.) The advertisement The Gainers workers are getting some included warnings that new hires might active solidarity from the Alberta labor have to cross union picket lines. movement. Members of the pipefitters, let­ Gainers forced the 1,080 workers to ter carriers, nurses, and other unions have · strike when it .refused to sign a contract joined the picket lines. with terms similar to those in recent con­ Top officials of the Alberta Federation tracts with Intercon, Bums, and other lead­ of Labor say that solidarity with the Ed­ ing Canadian meat processors. These con­ monton meatpackers against union-bu~ting tracts included a $.51 an hour increase this will be a priority. Alberta Federation of year and $.52 next year. Labor President David Werlin was among UFCW members at Fletcher's Fine those arrested June 3. Foods Ltd., in Red Deer, Alberta - Werlin charged that companies such as another pork-processing plant- have also Gainers take advantage of unemployment been forced out on strike by the company's and bring scabs in. The right to strike refusal to accept the terms of the Canada doesn't mean much if you can't picket and Packers agreement. the bosses are allowed to hire scabs." Asked why he had joined the Local 280P Scabs have reportedly been brought into picket line, Werlin told the June 4 Toronto Striking meatpackers from Gainers plant in Canada's Alberta Province fought June the Red Deer plant. Globe and Mail, "You can't lead from the 2 attempt by busloads of armed scabs to smash through picket line set up by United Between them, Gainers and Fletcher's back. I've been on hundreds of pickets in Food and Commercial Workers Locai280P. Cops and courts are aiding company's process up to 8,000 hogs a day. my life and I've never seen a company pro­ union-busting operation. Two years ago workers at Gainers were mote violence the way this one has by plac­ forced to accept a two-tier wage scale that ing ads for scabs. The government has sharply lowered the starting pay of new given this company a blank check to do hires. As a result pay scales at Gainers now that." range from $6.99 an hour to $11.99 an Raymond Martin, Alberta leader of the Meatpackers grab up papers hour. The contract also eliminated vision New Democratic Party- Canada's labor care and reduced other medical benefits for party- said, "The laws are being used to those with less than five years on the job. bust the workers' union. The laws of Al­ front Midwest sales teant · According to John Ewasiw, media berta always come down on the company's BY DIANA CANTU explained that "when your leadership has spokesman for Local 280P, Gainers man­ side." led you across the picket line and basically agement had claimed that the concessions SIOUX CITY, Iowa- In our first week Ewasiw said that messages of support on the road the Militant Midwest regional told the company that the offer to P-9 was were needed to overcome a profit decline from unions and other organizations can ·be good enough, how can we expect to do any and promised to restore them when the sales team sold 579 papers, 478 ofthese to . sent to United Food and Commercial workers at plant gates. .better?" situation turned around. "Now they're Workers Local 280P, 29588 lllth Ave., At other UFCW -organized plants we making plenty of money," he told the Mil- At the Fremont, Nebraska, Hormel Edmonton, Alberta T5 GO A7, Canada. plant, where 50 members of the United also received a good response from the Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) workers. One example is the Iowa beef­ were fired for . exercising their contractual packing plant in Dakota City, Nebraska, right to honor a UFCW Local P-9 picket where we sold 157 Militants in one after­ LaRouche fascists target NBC line, we sold 78 Militants to workers in the noon. A worker grabbed the paper and plant in one afternoon. said, "Militant- that's me!" BY MALIK MIAH is aimed at restricting the right to freedom These Hormel workers told us they were Workers at the Oscar Mayer plant in The fascist organization headed by Lyn­ of press as part of the NDPC assaults on the interested in the Militant's coverage on Perry, Iowa, where we sold 66 Militants, don LaRouche has stepped up its reaction­ democratic rights of working people. Nicaragua and the farm crisis and in the have recently returned to work with a new ary campaign against NBC-TV. LaRouche's outfits have a long history coverage of the Austin, Minnesota, meat­ contract after a seven-week layoff. They On May 23 New Solidarity, the newspa­ of using verbal and physical thuggery to in­ packers' fight against Hormel. The Fre­ told us how the company laid them off per of LaRouche's National Democratic timidate those they disagree with. In the mont workers' contract will expire in Au­ within a week of the last contract's expira­ Policy Committee (NDPC), charged that 1970s members of LaRouche organizations gust, and the fight against concessions was tion to avoid the "bad publicity" of a strike an NBC cameraman attacked one of their physically attacked left groups, Black ac­ very much on their minds. and called them back as soon as a new con­ photographers, Thomas Szymecko, while tivists, and unionists. They offered to spy Many expressed support for P-9 while tract was settled. attending a press conference at the Dirksen on progressive groups for the cops. others felt that the strike is weakening the One older woman worker told the Mili­ Federal Building in Chicago on May 16. LaRouche himself, who was a member union. Several were angry at the Interna­ tant, "Many of us weren't ready to strike, Szymecko claimed that the cameraman of the Socialist Workers Party for many tional union for not supporting the Austin but most of the young people were. The hit him in tlre face, injuring his nose and years in the 1950s and through the mid­ local. cuts have to stop somewhere. We have to eyes. Continued on Page 6 One worker at the Fremont plant draw the line." A week earlier, on May 11, another When asked about P-9, another worker LaRouche member, William Ferguson, told us, "Let me put it this way, I don't buy charged that NBC television talk show host anything with the name Hormel on it," re­ Phil Donahue attacked him at New York's Chernobyl disaster: symbol ferring to the boycott. La Guardia Airport. At the Wilson packing plant in Ferguson filed charges of assault and Cherokee, Iowa, there is ongoing discus­ harassment against Donahue. He dropped of nuclear destruction sion about the P-9 strike. Several workers the charges on June 2, but said he was con­ came out of the plant on their breaks ready sidering a civil suit against Donahue. BY HARRY RING hours by a fleet of 1,100 buses. to buy the Militant after seeing it inside. The victims in both of these attacks, In late May, the International Physicians Two plant workers were killed outright Altogether we sold 65 papers there. however, were not the NDPC members. for the Prevention of Nuclear War held its and 299 people suffered radiation bums We also visited UFCW Local 147 in Witnesses report, for example, that as Sixth World Congress at Cologne, West and injuries. Of these, 25 have died so far. Cherokee, where Local147 Secretary Mar­ Donahue and actress Marlo Thomas, his Germany. Last year, the widely respected These included at least 11 of the 19 who ion Bakker said that she appreciated the wife, walked by an NDPC literature table, organization won the Nobel peace award. had received bone-marrow transplants. Militant's coverage of a threatened plant Ferguson began shouting obscenities and A principal agenda point at the Cologne According to Chazov, the transplants closing there a few years ago. yelling, "Donahue and his wife ought to be congress was the Chemobyl nuclear disas­ proved "not very effective." We also sold several single M ililants and murdered." ter of April 26. The doctor said that 5,000 specially as­ a subscription at Alff, a garment factory in When Donahue went over to the table to Tom Wicker, a New York Times colum­ signed doctors and nurses, as well as those Sioux City organized by the United Gar­ respond, he was assaulted by Ferguson. nist, attended and offered this account June available locally, were organized into 230 ment Workers Union. 3. medical teams. These teams examined the At the Winnebago Indian reservation in While Donahue was the victim of the as­ There were two detailed medical reports 100,000 evacuees, 18,000 "with particular sault, NBC was also a target. Ferguson Nebraska we distributed 11 Militants and on Chemobyl. care." talked with community leaders. Most of said that Donahue had slandered LaRouche One given by Dr. Yevgeny Chazov, the They said they found none suffering on his daily TV program shown on the 1,200 members of the tribe who live on other by Dr. Leonid Illyin. "acute" radiation effects, but "all will con­ the reservation are farmers or work in NBC. Chazov is copresident of the group and tinue to be monitored on a long-term After the alleged assault on the nearby Sioux City. Unemployment on the director of the Cardiovascular Institute of basis." LaRouche photographer in Chicago, reservation is very high and conditions the USSR. Illyin, a surgeon, is chairman of They reported that 188 permanent and Szymecko told New Solidarity, "This is poor. the USSR Committee on Radiation Protec­ 38 mobile stations, plus 800 laboratories, NBC, the Nothing But Cocaine station, In the next week we will be meeting with tion. have been established in the Chemobyl this is the National Bolshevik Company." farm activists, as well as traveling to the Wicker reported "small but telling area to monitor ground radiation. White Earth Indian reservation and the TheNew Solidarity article went on to add: shadows" of the Chemobyl incident to be Chazov said that within three months a Mesabi Iron Range in Minnesota. "NBC-TV has gained increased interna­ seen in the Cologne area. A restaurant detailed medical report on the monitoring tional notoriety recently for its courtship salad plate composed entirely of canned will be made. and protection of terrorists. On May 5 the vegetables. Cows restricted to barns. According to Illyin, those most seriously network broadcast an interview with the "But the longer, darker shadow," injured by radiation were workers and en­ Help distribute Syrian-backed guerrilla leader Abu Wicker added, "is that of nuclear destruc­ gineers at the stricken plant and members 'Militant' June 14 Abbas .... When U.S. government au­ tion, for which Chemobyl has become a of the fire-fighting team. thorities requested information on the symbol ." Both doctors, Wicker reported, em­ We are asking readers of the Militant to whereabouts of Abbas, NBC refused to In their reports to the congress, Wicker phasized that Chemobyl was a "small" dis­ help in the distribution of this paper and cooperate." said, both Soviet scientists attribute the aster compared to the unleashing of even a our Spanish-language si~ter publication, New Solidarity has also claimed that delay in warning the world to ·"local au­ single nuclear bomb. And yet they had to Perspectiva Mundial, on June 14 at the NBC is a pawn in a Soviet conspiracy to thorities" who underestimated the scope of mobilize the medical resources of that huge New York City anti-apartheid march and unleash a terrorist war in the United States. the accident. nation. Chazov said it confirmed the warn­ rally. If you can help out, please contact "Boycott NBC!" is the slogan written They said that, after a 36-hour delay, ings of the physicians' group that the nearest Socialist Workers Party branch above the paper's masthead. 100,000 people, all within a 19-mile radius "medicine will be helpless if even a few or Young Socialist Alliance chapter listed This reactionary campaign against NBC of Chemobyl, were evacuated in just three nuclear bombs are detonated." in the directory on page 12.

June 13, 1986 J'he : Mili~nt 3 Town meetings debate Nicaragua draft constitution

"Notes· from Nicaragua" is a ernment's historical roots. Speak­ out when a look at dese picninny column prepared by Cindy ers from the People's Social Chris­ a haf tu try fa dem Jaquith, Harvey McArthur, and tian Party and Independent Liberal so les go town wit we regista pepa Ruth Nebbia of the Militant's Party, on the other hand, criticized John and Mary visit di banka­ bureau in Managua. the identification of the govern­ a ducko man with a slipry smile ment as "Sandinista." Several who talk like paiia playing yanky Broad public debate on Nicara­ speakers stressed the importance zes, we have a program faar gua's proposed new constitution of unconditional freedom of the pipple like you - estep over opened in Managua May 18 when press. to Mr. Wilson he will attend you. 400 journalists and artists partici­ pated in the first town-meeting Some participants proposed that Wilson ass dis and eh ass dat style constitutional discussion. the constitution explicitly recog­ den eh tel me sunday Carlos Nunez, president of the Na­ nize the mass organizations eh goin visit weh paan de faam, tional Assembly, stressed the im­ created by workers and peasants an eh did. portance of these meetings to since the 1979 revolution. Many He sed di loan sure "draft, edit, debate, and approve a wanted a stronger ·defense of the in 15 days we mus go to di bank. constitution that will have the seal right to secular education - in­ But when we gone to de bank of all political parties and of the cluding an end to compulsory re­ only half wat we ass, we get. people." ligious education in private I tek it and I try, laad in heven schools. know ltry- The draft constitution was I try fa dem little picninny drawn up by a subcommission of The crowd strongly supported proposals to make the constitution fa dem to go to school more explicit in defending equal but dat banka wit di slipry smile give me jus rights for women and women's Militant/Harvey McArthur right to abortion. Abortion is il­ enough money to put me in NOTES FROM May 18 meeting of artists and journalists in Managua kicked off di hole and tak me faam. legal in Nicaragua. nationwide discussion on constitution. NICARAGUA * * * Note from the poet: In 1960 or so Over 250 workers from the El cise as successful. Brenes said this the battle to save one's land and the National Bank of Bluefields Eskimo ice cream factory in Ma­ dignity from the clutches of the won first prize for confiscating the National Assembly, repre­ was actually a refresher course nagua took part May 23 in a new bankers. The poem is taken from properties from small farmers. senting six of the seven parties in since many workers had combat factory defense exercise. This was the March issue of Sunrise, the This prize was on a national level. the assembly. (The Independent experience from the 1979 insur­ the first of many such exercises rection that ousted Somoza. revolutionary newspaper in Liberals refused to take part.) On designed to prepare the workers' Bluefields. February 21 the assembly ap­ militias to defend their factories in Brenes pointed to the signifi­ * * * proved the draft for broad discus­ the event of a U.S. invasion. cance of beginning the new exer­ The Sons of the Blues/Chi sion and it was published in full in cises at El Eskimo, a nationalized Mango, roseapple, cashu, Town Hustlers, a popular Chicago local papers. Thirty workers dressed in blue company. "If we had anything to lime, plum, breadfruit, blues band, performed for hun­ uniforms labeled "U.S. Army" defend," he said, "it would be the casava, coco, dashin, dreds Of Nicaraguans May 25 in Nearly 80 such town meetings, simulated a surprise attack, revolutionary power represented yampi, coconut, plantin, the Ruins of the Grand Hotel, a organized by sectors of the popu­ "wounding" one of the security by a factory at the service of the a little a dis a little a dat Managua theater. Despite heavy lation workers, peasants, guards at the plant. Militia mem­ people." we go from year to year so, di rains and a brief blackout as the women, students, professionals, bers - both men and women - picninny gettin big performance began, the group was soldiers, etc. - will take place dropped their work, seized rifles, * * * dem shud go to school. cheered on with enthusiasm and throughout the country. and carried out a spirited defense. Book, pencil, pants, shut, called back for two encores. In an earlier column, we re­ SHOES. Reinforcement militias from ported the death of the award-win­ Group leader Billy Branch, Most speakers at the May 18 nearby plants joined them after the oh laad how we goo mek it. meeting raised criticisms or ning Nicaraguan painter June speaking in Spanish, told the first shots were fired. Maybe we cuda baro money from suggested changes in the constitu­ Beer. A prominent figure in the di bank crowd that band members were tion. Some proposed that the Both the director of El Eskimo Atlantic Coast town of Bluefields, John sey to Mary on de chunku delighted to be performing in Nic­ preamble include the Sandinista and Commander Carlos Brenes Beer was also a poet. Below we farm up black wata crick. aragua. In addition to three con­ National Liberation Front's strug­ Sanchez, the army's second in reprint a poem in Creole by Beer certs in Managua, the band held a gle against the Somoza dictator­ command in the capital city of on a theme familiar to working John, me fraid we no anastan dem jam session in Masaya with the ship as part of the Nicaraguan gov- Managua, characterized the exer- farmers througl)out the world - ting Nicaraguan group Praxis. Ortega evaluates meeting of Central American leaders

BY HARVEY McARTHUR and political pluralism should take. starting negotiations on offensive chers larger than 122mm, heavy artillery MANAGUA - The May 24-25 meet­ In the declaration, the five presidents weapons . This demonstrated Nicaragua's larger than l60mm, self-propelled artil­ ing of Central American presidents in Es­ also affirmed their willingness to sign the continued willingness to seek a negotiated lery, surface-to-surface missiles mounted quipulas, Guatemala, marked an advance Contadora treaty, but pointed out that there end to the fighting in Central America, he on warships, and naval vessels of more in confronting the problems of war and the were "unresolved aspects such as military said. than 100 metric tons displacement or 40 economic crisis affecting the region, ac­ maneuvers , arms control, and verification Nicaragua's proposal includes a list of meters length. Nicaragua also proposed cording to. Nicaraguan President Daniel procedures." Ortega reported that the pres­ 14 categories of offensive weapons .that it discussing international military maneu­ Ortega. idents agreed not to be held to a June 6 is prepared te "reduce, limit, control, and vers, foreign military bases, and foreign "In more than four years of crisis main­ deadline for signing the Contadora agreec eliminate in the framework of the current military advisers. tained by the U.S. government, we the ment, as had been proposed by the presi­ political negotiations to achieve peace." In response to questions by journalists, leaders of the Central American countries dent of Colombia:, but would continue Any limits would have to apply to all Cen­ Ortega explained that Nicaragua would not had not managed to meet," Ortega told a negotiations "to exhaust discussions on the tral American countries simultaneously, discuss rifles or other weapons that have May 26 press conference here. pending points." In the Esquipulas meet­ Ortega stressed. All countries also had-the been distributed to Nicaragua's workers The private meetings held by the presi­ ings, Ortega pointed out that ending U.S. right to defensive weapons to protect and peasants to defend their country. dents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, government suppOrt to the contras was against any aggression, he added. "When we talk of 200,000 or 300,000 Guatemala:, Honduras, and Nicaragua in "fundamental" to establishing peace in the The arms Nicaragua proposed discus­ armed people in Nicaragua," he explained, Esquipulas were thus an important "first region. sing are: military aircraft, military helicop­ "this is not an army that can invade another step" that "showed the desires of the At the May 26 press conference, Ortega ters, military airfields, battle tanks, heavy country, but simply an entire people armed peoples and governments of Central Amer­ explained a new Nicaraguan proposal to mortars larger than 120mm, self-propelled and ready to defend their land from im­ ica for peace and dialogue," Ortega said. advance the Contadora discussions by anti-aircraft artillery, multiple rocket laun- perialist aggression." "Notall the problems could be resolved," he added, "but it was the. beginning of a dialogue that helps us find a way out of this situation." Nicaraguan priest denounces contra aid The five presidents signed a joint decla­ ration in which they agreed to "formalize BY FRANCISCO PICADO Congress, he charged, "is a violation of revolution is not going to allow the church the presidential meetings as a necessary NEW YORK- In an interview during a this international right." to be used by the counterrevolution." and useful means to analyze . . . and seek recent visit to the United States, Father The U.S. government has been waging a The priest explained that the Catholic solutions" to the problems of the area. Uriel Molina OliU of Nicaragua strongly mercenary war against Nicaragua since church in Nicaragua is divided. On one They agreed to create a Central American condemned the counterrevolutionary war 1980. From 1980 to January of this year, side is the upper echelons of the hierarchy, parliament, to be elected by citizens of the Washington is waging against his home­ some 12,000 Nicaraguans have died be­ which identify with the privileged classes five nations. They affirmed their desire to land. cause of the war. It has also caused a tre­ and the U.S. mercenary war. On the other "review, update, and stimulate" the eco­ mendous drain on the national economy, side, he said, is the church that "is commit­ nomic integration of the region. They Father Molina, pastor of Santa Marfa de forcing the government to spend 50 percent ted to social change for the people, revolu­ called for joint efforts to confront the prob­ Los Angeles church and director of the An­ of its budget on defense. Father Molina tionary changes that have benefited the vast lems of foreign debt, deteriorating terms of tonio Valdivieso Ecumenical Center in stated that the moment the U.S. govern­ majority." trade, and need for more advanced technol­ Managua, was making a brief tour of this ment ended its aid to the contras, "the Molina explained that there were large ogy in the region. country. He was invited to the United economy would be able to take off." demonstrations in Nicaragua against the The Esquipulas declaration states that States to participate in a conference on lib­ As part of its propaganda campaign U.S. bombing of Libya. "The people are peace can "only be the fruit of an authentic eration theology in Amherst, Mas­ against Nicaragua, Washington has not stupid," he said. They know that this democratic, pluralistic, and participatory sachusetts. charged that the Sandinista government bombing was "a rehearsal so that later they process, which implies the promotion of Referring to the debate in the U.S. Con­ persecutes the church. Father Molina dis­ [U .S . rulers] could do a similar thing in social justice, respect for human rights, the gress on the Reagan administration's pro­ missed this allegation. Pointing to the par­ Nicaragua. sovereignty and territorial integrity of the posal to give $100 million in aid to the U.S.­ ticipation of four priests in the government, "But in Nicaragua, the people are pre­ nations." Ortega reported that, despite backed counterrevolutionaries, known as he said, "I do not believe that you would pared," he said. "The traditional enemy has much discussion of these points, there was contras, Molina said, "Nicaragua has the see this in a country where the church is been U.S. intervention, and we are not no agreement on the forms that democracy right to self-determination." The debate in repressed. Nevertheless," he said, "the willing to stand for it again."

4 The Militant June 13, 1986 Mexicans who live in slums like this and thousands left homeless by recent earthquakes are among those who must "sacrifice" so Mexico can make payments on $100 billion foreign debt to imperialist banks, $26 billion of which is owed to U.S. banks. Behind U.S. government's Mexico-bashing

BY ANDREA GONZALEZ 1984, Washington began accusing the the government refuse to pay the debt. the commissioner's [von Raab's] state­ "Just wrong." That's how a U.S. drug Mexican government of inaction in cases Mexico's economic crisis has worsened ment." enforcement official described drug traf­ of charges of criminal activity against U.S. since two _earthquakes devastated large A spokesperson for the State Depart­ ficking charges against Mexican govern­ citizens. The U.S. government also parts of the country last September. Instead ment said he had no idea what Meese was ment officials made during a congressional charged, at that time, that Mexican offi­ of the massive aid Mexico needed to re­ talking about. The White House declined hearing. cials were corrupt and that they condoned build, Washington gave only $1 million. to comment. With imperial arrogance, a Senate For­ drug trafficking. The U.S. government later offered to That same day, the CIA issued its report eign Relations subcommittee organized This campaign escalated in February negotiate yet another $4 billion in loans. on Mexico to the press. The report states hearings May 13 on drug trafficking and 1985, when Washington seized on the dis­ The recent drop in world oil prices has that Mexico's political and economic prob­ corruption in Mexico. appearance in Mexico of Enrique deepened the economic crisis, since oil is lems have grown so severe, it could be­ During the hearings, William von Raab, Camarena, a cop from the U.S. Drug En­ Mexico's largest source of foreign ex­ come the most important problem facing head of the U.S. Customs Service, charged forcement Agency, to organize a slow­ change. the United States in 1986. that the "governor of Sonora is alleged to down at the border. U.S. border cops The imperialist . bankers are pressuring After the report was issued, a State De­ own four ranches . . . on which is grown stopped all cars with Mexican and Chicano Mexico to take even more severe steps, partment official, referring to the drug-re­ marijuana or opium poppies. We believe passengers, supposedly to search for similar to those taken by Argentina and lated corruption, told the press: "Yes, there these ranches are currently or occasionally Camarena or clues to his whereabouts, Brazil, to assure payment of the debt at the are problems; no, we are not certain they'll guarded by the [Mexican] Federal Judicial backing up traffic at the border for up to expense ofworkers and farmers . [Mexicans] be able to pull out of them this Police and the Mexican army." seven hours. The sharp reaction from the Mexican time. But we have to work with them, and The charges, based on information from These campaigns are aimed at disrupting government to this last round of slanders continuing to bash them is not going to do an unnamed source, made the front page of the Mexican economy, particularly the caused divisions within the Reagan admin­ any good." theNew York Times . For two weeks, news­ tourism industry, Mexico's second-largest istration over using this tactic to pressure By May 27, however, the administration papers carried stories of the Mexican gov­ source of foreign exchange. Mexico. As one Justice Department offi­ had reached agreement. A senior Justice ernment's alleged drug-related corruption. The goal of these campaigns is to use cial warned: 'The danger is that we might Department spokesperson told the press In a story datelined May 21, the New U.S. economic clout to pressure Mexico to bash them so hard they'll tell us to pick up that von Raab' s statements implied that the York Times reported that there was no basis toe the line, including supporting U.S. pol­ our marbles and go home." entire Mexiean government "is involved in for these charges. The story explained that icies in Central America. The May 25 New U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese drug trafficking." American officials, he the official charged by von Raab, Rodolfo York Times quoted a former CIA official as called his Mexican counterpart May 22 to said, "do not believe the entire Mexican Felix Valdez, owned no ranches what­ saying that CIA Director William Casey distance the administration from von Government is involved in drug traffick­ soever. It appe'ars· that von Raab~s -- source "felt the Mexicans were not team players 'Raab;s charges. Meese, while never re­ ing. We do recognize that there are serious had confused the current governor with his on Central America." pudiating the U.S. government's right to problems," including "drug trafficking and predecessor, who owns two ranches in Washington seeks to try to force Mexico investigate the internal affairs of another corruption." Sonora. Nor, the Times reported, is there to take all the measures the imperialist country, said he "deplored the comments The .Customs Service then told the press any Indication that the former governor banks detmind to guarantee payments on made in he,juings of a Senate subremmittee that they-"never contended that the entire used his ranches for cultivating drugs. the foreign debt as well. of the United States that do not reflect, in Government of Mexico is in league with Currently, Mexico's debt stands at $100 any way, the opinion of President Ronald drug traffickers." Charges corruption billion, with $26 billion owed to U.S. Reagan or the point of view of the Justice By the time the New York Times reported During the hearings, von Raab also banks. The Mexican government has insti­ Department." that there was no basis for the charges, charged that Mexican government officials tuted austerity plans just to pay the interest When Meese's call to Mexico was made only Senator Jesse Helms, who headed the were "inept and corrupt." He told the com­ on the debt. These plans have met with re­ public May 24, Demiis Murphy, U.S. Cus­ subcommittee hearings, continued to con­ mittee that there was "massive" corruption sistance from Mexican workers and peas­ toms director of public affairs, told the tend that the allegations were "well sub­ "up and down the ladder. Until I'm shown ants, who are increasingly demanding that press that "the Customs Service stands by stantiated." that an individual [in the Mexican govern­ ment] is not corrupt ... my presumption is that he is," von Raab added. The committee also heard from Elliott Mass . .garment workers forced to strike Abrams, assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs. Reiterating von BY JON IDLLSON Ferris, a member of Local 24's executive Picket lines, up at 6 a.m. and marching Raab's charges, Abrams testified, "We CAMBRIDGE, Mass.- Finally forced board and a striking worker, "it's com­ until 3 p.m. in front Qf the building where [the U.S . government] have told the Mexi­ to strike after working a year without a pletely solid" - in Cambridge, New Bed­ the shops are housed, "involve every work­ cans in no uncertain terms that we are contract, garment workers here are holding ford, and Fall River. eron strike,"Ferris said. deeply troubled by widespread drug-re­ firm. On May 27 picket lines mounted by This unity has forced Mollier to "scurry Strikers speak Portuguese, Italian, Eng­ lated corruption." Local 24 of the International Ladies' Gar­ around looking for contractors to do the lish, and Chinese, and range in age from Following the hearings, according to the ment Workers' Union (ILGWU) entered work," she said. The boss has been putting those in their 20s to those in their 60s. New York Times, "60,000 people marched their fourth week at Tileston and Cam­ want ads in local papers to find these cock­ "If we stay out here and stick together, I in Mexico City to protest." bridge Coat. These two firms employ 107 roach bosses, who in Boston and around think we have a chance to win," Ferris the country maintain operations that pay said. The Mexican government issued a sharp workers here. subminimum wages. Jon Hillson is a member of ILGWU protest to the U.S. government. The state­ The firms' parent company, New Eng­ "We're not striking for money," Ferris Local 311 at Malden Mills and is the ments in the hearings, the Mexican govern­ land Mackintosh, is also being struck by 125.ILGWU workers in New Bedford and explains, "but to keep our jobs and to keep Socialist Workers Party candidate for Con­ ment charged, had an "interventionist char­ our union." gress in Massachusetts' 8th C.D. acter" and were "a clear and unacceptable by 200 in Fall River, Massachusetts. violation of Mexico's sovereignty." The central issue in the strike is job secu­ The Mexican government, the protest rity, New York-based ILGWU staff or­ declared, "strongly rejects the accusations ganizer David Munck told the Militant. and calumnies .. .. It is surprising, the ca­ New England Mackintosh's owner, Ber­ Black farmers and farm crisis . pacity for slander and the political irre!!­ nard Mollier, is out to get "rid of the Continued from back page and media attention" to their cause has ponsibility implied by these statements." union," Munck said, "because he com­ justice projects, including the vindication been organized by the Madison, Wisconsin Hitting at the arrogance of the U.S. gov­ putes he can make $2 million more in two of Eddie Carthan. This sabotage of needed Support Committee for Mayor Eddie ernment to even organize such hearings, it years without it." funds for the defense of Carthan took place Carthan and others. continued, "The government of Mexico Workers in the Cambridge shops de­ at the height of the frame-up campaign After months of fact-finding by the com­ does not accept that U.S. officials take cided to strike, said ILGWU Northern New against him. mittee, Kinsman reports, "a congressional upon themselves to make statements on England Business Agent Judy McCallister, Kinsman goes on to explain that Barrett investigation into the racially discrimina­ Mexico's internal affairs .... " because they realized the year's time that and his brother were "founding members of tory policies of FmHA authorities in three Mexican Attorney General Sergio Gar­ had elapsed since the last contract expired, the white Citizens Council." states," led to "evidence of widespread dis­ cia Ramirez asked the U.S. embassy to was "just a stall." "Prior to hi's election to Congress," notes crimination by the FmHA against Eddie tum over all evidence Washington al­ Mollier is trying, McCallister said, to as­ Kinsman, "Webb Franklin served as dis­ Carthan and other Black farmers in Holmes legedly had on corruption among Mexican sert the "right" to contract out work to trict judge in Holmes County." Tchula is in County. The investigation continues." officials so that he could take action. More nonunion shops, which would exempt him Holmes County. "He presided over the in­ To make clear that this is not an isolated than a week later, he reported, no evidence from paying into the ILGWU's health and famous trial of the 'Tchula 7' " and "was case, the North American Farmer cites the was forthcoming. "Apparently," he told welfare fund. This fund covers retirement instrumental in manipulating the convic­ case of 66-year-old David Delaney from the press, "they don't have any." benefits, eyeglasses, Blue Cross/Blue tion of Mayor Carthan." Bolivar County, Mississippi. "He too has -This type of slander campaign against Shield, and vacation pay. Efforts to help the Carthans not lose their been denied FmHA operating loans," Mexico is not new. Beginning in October The strike began May 6 and, says Olga land and "to draw public support, funding, writes Kinsman. June 13, 1986 The MiUtant s Freedom struggle divides S. Africa whites

BY FRED FELDMAN of 1 ,500 students and teachers at Witwater­ joined an October 7 demonstration in Cape Thousands of white supporters of the ul­ srand University in Johannesburg staged an Town that demanded, "troops out of the traracist, Nazi-like Afrikaner Resistance open air rally, in defiance of the regime's townships." Movement broke up a meeting in ban on such meetings, to protest the arrest In February 1986 the End Conscription Pietersburg, South Africa, on May 22. The of a Black student who had demanded that Committee held a conference to map out meeting was to be addressed by the coun­ troops be pulled out of Black townships. further actions. try's foreign minister. Later, several hundred students, most of "After my time in the army," one The Afrikaner Resistance Movement is them Black, staged a sit-down in protest. speaker told the meeting, "I wonder who commonly known as AWB, the initials of The regime's response was rather differ­ the enemy really is. We should really get its name in the Afrikaans language spoken ent than its kid-glove handling of protests out ·of Angola, Namibia, the townships, by Afrikaners, descendants of Dutch colo­ by the neo-Nazi A WB and other supporters and wherever else the SADF is waging nial settlers in South Africa. of apartheid. Riot police attacked them apartheid wars." AWB, which uses an emblem based on with whips, clubs, tear gas, and dogs. the swastika, claims that the government's Later, 47 were arrested when they attemp­ attempts to modify apartheid are.undermin­ ted to march on a police station. 'Negative attitudes' ing white supremacy. It is headed by A white woman was whipped as she lay These sentiments are also reflected in the Eugene Terre Blanche, a former member sct;eaming on the ground. army itself, although censorship makes it of the elite police unit that guards top South hard to determine their extent. A 1984 African officials. Protest regime's raids meeting of South African military intelli­ On May 31, four ultraright groups, in­ On May 20, some 4,000 students at Wit­ gence officers in Namibia, where the army cluding AWB, staged a rally in Pretoria, watersrand participated in a mass meeting is combating an independence movement, reportedly attended by 10,000 people, to to protest the regime's raids against Zam­ complained about "the negative attitudes of celebrate the 25th anniversary of the white bia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. certain national servicemen." The officers rulers' proclamation of an apartheid repub­ About 2,000 whites packed into Johan­ blamed a fire at the Walvis Bay military lic. nesburg's City Hall April9 to participate in base in Namibia on several soldiers "in­ Eugene Terre Blanche, South Afri­ The U.S . capitalist media says these in­ a rally called by the United Democratic cited by a White ANC-inclined national can former cop, who beads neo­ cidents are part of an ever-growing white Front (UDF)-the anti-apartheid coalition serviceman." Nazi Afrikaner Resistance Move­ backlash in opposition to an anti-apartheid that has organized many of the massive ment. Divisions among pro-apart­ struggle that is pushing too hard. The May Black protests. Some whites have joined the ANC either heid forces are sign of weakening of 25 Washington Post even prettied up the This was the first major public action in in exile or within South Africa. One indica­ regime. neo-Nazi A WB by claiming that it carries a "call to whites" campaign mapped out by tion of this has been a series of trials in re­ .cent years in which several white ANC ac­ out "white violence responding to Black the front early this year. Union of South African Students met with tivists, who had functioned as part of the violence." This frames up the Black vic­ The rally occurred under a banner proc­ leaders of the Africap National Congress in liberation movement's clandestine organi­ tims of apartheid's massive bloodshed as laiming, "Release Mandela" - a reference Harare, Zimbabwe. Their joint com­ zation inside the country, were sentenced the cause of violence in South Africa. to imprisoned African National Congress munique stated a fact that more whites are to prison terms. The capitalist media seeks to convey the (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela. realizing: "The real interests of the major­ image of the nearly 5 million whites in The keynote speaker 'was Frederick van The increasing participation of whites in ity of white South Africans do not lie in the South Africa as a solid bloc devoted to Zyl Slabbert, who had resigned a few the anti-apartheid struggle is a sign of the system of racial domination and national apartheid, an unconquerable obstacle to the weeks earlier as parliamentary leader of the weakening of the apartheid regime. So, for oppression. White South Africans have an victory of the anti-apartheid forces. This is Progressive Federal Party, the main white that matter, are the growing splits and con­ important role to play now in the endeavor the mythology propagated by the apartheid liberal opposition party. He cited as his flicts among apartheid's supporters. to achieve a nonracial and democratic soci­ regime itself. reason disillusionment with efforts to bring Last March, leaders of ·the National ety." about reform through parliament. No white monolith Murphy Morobe, national publicity sec­ This white monolith does not exist. The retary of the UDF, told the audience that myth hides basic class, social, and political the participation of whites was vital in the divisions. struggle against apartheid. He said the Issues in AT&T strike Under the impact of the advancing free­ UDF welcomed white support even if "by BY GEORGE KAPLAN The strike began with the expiration of dom struggle, these divisions are coming to doing so we open ourselves to criticism About 155,000 members of the Com­ the contract reached in 1983 after a 2 i -day the surface. The belief of whites in the fu­ that we are embracing the sons and munications Workers of America (CWA) strike. ture of apartheid has been shaken, and a daughters of our oppressors." went on strike June 1 against American Deregulation of the industry and the deepening polarization is taking place Telephone & Telegraph Company. among them. Thousands refuse conscription 1984 breakup of the Bell System into reg­ ional companies set the stage for stepped On one side, the pro-apartheid base of One of the apartheid regime's policies The workers are resisting company de­ the regime is becoming more divided. that touches many whites directly is con­ up attacks on unions, living standards, mands for concessions including an end to jobs, and working conditions. Nonunion Some, driven to desperation by the govern­ scription into the military. Beginning at the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), elimi­ firms now play a role in long-distance ser­ ment's inability to roll back the upsurge, age of 18, all able-bodied white males are nation of incentive pay for factory workers, vice and phone-equipment manufacturing. are attracted to A WB 's terrorism and calls obliged to serve two years in the South Af­ and reclassification of systems technicians for more Nazi-style repression. More rican Defense Force (SADF). Each year to reduce wage scales. AT&T profits last year were $1.56 bil­ widely supported and influential parlia­ several thousand refuse to do so. lion, a 13 percent increase over 1984. Prof­ mentary groups like the Conservative Party In 1984 more than 40 groups founded On June 3, a company official an­ its for the first quarter of 1986 were $530 and the Herstigte (Reconstituted) the End Conscription Campaign. The nounced that 2,000 scab telephone million. Nasionale Party also challenge the re­ founding groups included Black Sash, a operators had been hired and at least I ,000 CW A President Morton Bahi stated that gime's attempts to modify apartheid. predominantly white women's group, and more would be hired as "temporary · the cost-of-living adjustment is the main All have their roots in splits from the Na­ the predominantly white National Union of people." issue in the strike. "We would not be in tional Party, which has governed South Af­ South African Students. The executive board of the International agreement with any wage that is a substi­ rica since 1948. And these ultraright- wing A July 1985 "Peace Festival" in .Johan­ Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which tute for COLA," he told the New York outfits have many members and sym­ nesburg called by. the End Conscription represents 40,000 AT&T employees, an­ Times June l . "We would refuse to take pathizers among cops and among the of­ Campaign drew 2,000 people. nounced June I that it had approved a new COLA out of the contract." AT&T workers ficialdom. And 4,000 people ~ mostly white - contract with the company. won the cost-of-living adjustment in 1972. Use of extralegal violence In addition to highly publicized actions like the disruption of a progovemment meeting, A WB and other groups partici­ Speech by South African unionist in 'IP' pate in the regime's war of terror against the Black townships. They stage vigilante Since it was formed in late 1985, population." attacks, beating and killing Blacks. Cops the 600,000-member Congress of COSATU, Naidoo said, also had are often among the vigilantes. This gov­ South African Trade Unions much in common with the African ernment-backed terror reflects the white (COSATU) has emerged as one of National Congress, "a movement rulers' growing reliance on extralegal vio­ the key pillars of the struggle whose stature and influence is INTERCONTINENTAL lence to supplement the official violence against South Africa's apartheid growing daily in South Africa." For PRESS that has failed to end the upsurge. system. _ that reason, Naidoo and other The other side of the polarization is the The June 16 Intercontinental COSATU leaders held discussions Press features the text of a speech with representatives of the ANC participation of a small but increasing SOUTH AFRI:A number of whites in the anti-apartheid gwen in March by COSATU Gen­ and its allied South African Con­ eral Secretary Jay Naidoo. gress of Trade Unio ns. • Pretoria's struggle- exposing the regime's claim to Terror Ra~s COSATU, Naidoo stressed, does represent a united "white nation" in oppos­ Intercontinental Press is a biweekly • Speech by not confine itself to factory issues. that carries more articles, docu­ COSATU Leader: ition to Blacks. Jay Naldoo On May 30 a predominantly white group " Nonpolitical unionism is not only ments, and special features on world undesirable," he said, "it is impos­ politics - from Europe to Oceania sible." Therefore, COSATU be". and from the Middle East to Central =~icies !NSo>JIIC~-·oogwroo...... ··-­. lieves that it has "a responsibility to llottw___ ....,.. _z-,....,. LaRouche fascists America - than we have room for -~-tlotne "--*' voice the political interests and as­ in the Militant. Subscribe now. ~.,ng.,z..- pirations of the organised workers Continued from Page. 3 Enclosed is 0 $7.50 for 3 months. '60s, explained to the New York Times that and also more broadly of the work­ 0 $1 5 for 6 months. 0 $30 for 1 Ubya he remained a member of the SWP only be­ ing class." Pakistan It is also necessary, Naidoo went year. Millions Demand End A Country Transformed cause an agent of the FBI "wanted me to of Zia Dictatorship by Revolution and Oil work for them under cover" and "inform on, for workers to ally with other Nam e ------­ for them." He added, "I would not inform, sectors of the population, such as Address ------­ but I said I would look at this thing, as a "the landless, peasants, and farm­ New Attacks on Tsmll Minority in Sri Lanka good citizen." workers" and "all those people op­ City _ _ State _ . _ Zip _. _ _ pressed by racism, i.e., the entire Supporters of democratic rights should Clip and mail to Intercontinental protest the assaults against NBC and the black people; as well as all demo­ Press, 410 W est St. , New York, NY NDPC's other provocative and violent ac­ cratic forces amongst the white 10014. tions.

June 13,.1986 -BUILDING ANTI-APARTHEID AND ANTIWAR AcriONS---- rested for trespassing after the uni­ America solidarity ·groups, the ers and savagely beat a member of cratic Renewal (formerly the Anti­ Duke students versity's president ordered the Black student association, the the Revolutionary Communist Klan Network), Atlanta Commit­ win divestment shanties removed. Black univer­ UNC Labor Support Committee, Youth Brigade and several others tee on Latin America, Workers sity workers refused to participate and others. who came to his aid. The RCYB World Party, Socialist Workers victory in dismantling the shanties. A The UNC Board of Trustees op­ member was hospitalized for his Party, and the Young Socialist Al­ local judge dismissed the charges posed full divestment at its final injuries, and observers stated that liance. BY ROSE HENRY against the students. The shanties meeting of the spring semester. he might have been killed if activ­ GREENSBORO, N.C. - A went back up the day before the ists hadn't coine to his aid. victory for the anti-apartheid trustees' meeting. The Skins are a racist and right­ Anti-apartheid movement was scored in Durham Most recently, the Academic Right-wing gang wing youth gang who are seeking group formed on May 2 when Duke University's Council - the faculty senate - attacks antiwar to intimidate young people who Board of Trustees committed itself voted overwhelmingly in favor of are coming around the Nicaragua in Puerto Rico to total divestment of university full divestment over a policy of activist solidarity movement and other funds from companies doing busi­ selective divestment, the one fa­ progressive political causes. They Puerto Ricans for Justice and ness in South Africa. Duke has vored by'the university president. BY MIKE WOODS openly sport swastikas and emu­ Against Apartheid in South Africa some $12.5 million invested in Ben Chavis, a civil rights ATLANTA - A concert held late white-supremacist doctrines. is the name of a newly formed or­ such companies, with IBM head­ leader, nailed his diploma from in Atlanta to raise money for a ·· This was notthe first attack by ganization in Puerto Rico. In a ing the list. Duke to the walls of the shanties in child-care center in Nicaragua was the Skins. On April 18 they at­ press statement the committee de­ This decision is to be im­ solidarity with the students' ac­ attacked by a right-wing gang tacked two public demonstrations clared that its purpose is to educate plemented beginning January tions. And seniors had threatened known as the Skinheads on April against the U.S. bombing of Puerto Ricans so that "together we 1987 unless the apartheid system to protest the university's invest­ 19. Libya. They also vandalized a can demand an end to the in­ is dismantled. In addition, it was ments at graduation. One person was hospitalized community center after harassing humane and racist system of apart­ agreed to establish four scholar­ In nearby Chapel Hill, students after being viciously beaten by the people attending a slideshow on a heid." ships for South African students in at the University of North Carolina Skins during the attack:. No arrests Nicaraguan work brigade. The new group is currently the names of prominent South Af­ have also been fighting for divest­ have been made. Skinheads originated in Britain building a Caribbean Conference rican Blacks. ment. UNC-Chapel Hill invests The concert featured punk and and became. part of the rightist in Solidarity With the Struggle of The divestment decision came about $6 million in over 30 com­ reggae music and raised .over $800 British National Front, which the Peoples of South Africa and in the wake of months of discus­ panies doing business in South Af­ from the crowd of mostly high­ launched many attacks on Natl)ibia, to be held in August in sion and protest by Duke students, rica. school-aged youth. minorities and immigrant workers San Juan, Puerto Rico. The con­ faculty, and activists in the city of A shantytown on campus has The trouble started when the in that country. In the U.S. they ference organizers expect anti­ Durham, where Duke is located. been the focus of anti-apartheid Skinheads walked into a hallway draw their influence from such or­ apartheid activists and leaders Last fall, 53 percent of under­ activity in recent weeks. After uni­ where.various political groups had ganizations as the Aryan Nations, from the Caribbean, United graduates voted "yes" in a referen­ versity cops tore their shanties set up literature tables. The Skins the Ku Klux Klan, and other right- States, and Africa to participate. dum on total, immediate divest­ down, students called the press, verbally threatened one woman at ist outfits. · · Recently, Ellen Musialela, a . ment. The Duke South Africa Co- rebuilt the town, and held almost an anti-apartheid table, forcing her A defense committee has been leader of the Women's Council of alition carried out an educational daily rallies, street theater to leave. The Skins then attacked formed to defend democratic the South West Africa People's campaign and protest activities in­ dramatizing apartheid, and another table set up by a coalition rights and protest the attacks by Organisation participated in a con­ cluding the construction of a shan­ marches to explain their demands. of groups called "No Business As the Skins. Those taking part in the ference of Puerto Rican university tytown on campus. A week before The activities at UNC have in­ Usual." committee include the National professors, where she spoke about the vote, five students were ar- volved students from Central They tore up literature and post- Lawyers Guild, Center for Demo- the freedom struggle in Namibia .. Black unionists support anti-apartheid actions

Continued from back page ,. tions against South Africa. The convention rejected any notion that same year Black trade union membership She said, "No set of ~ode's have had any. l)nited MitieWorkers of AmericaPresi­ the question of Cuban troops in Angola is totaled 2 million and in 1980, a decade significant bearing on the situation of dent Richard Trumka was the guest speak­ linked to ., South African control of later, nearly 3 million Black workers be­ ·Blacks. These codes just perpetuate the er at this year's CB.'PU awards dinner­ Namibia. The convention was empowered long to unions. Twenty-four percent of all slavery of Blacks." The principles - de­ dance. He spent. a good deal of his speech to "establish a national CBTU southern Af­ Black workers belong to unions compared veloped by Rev. Leon Sullivan, a Black taking up South Africa. "As long as one rica liberation support committee." to just 17 percent for whites. Nearly 25 mem~r o( the General Moto~ bQarq .o( di­ chU

Continued from front page The special value of this book is that it . labor struggles, such as four volumes by In addition to material on Mandel a's un­ presents Nelson Mandela in his own Farrell Dobbs on the Teamsters' struggles compromising stand in court and in prison, words. It presents the modem history of the of the 1930s; and books about women's The Struggle Is My Life contains sections African National Congress and how it be­ liberation, such as Cosmetics, Fashions, on the Defiance Campaign of 1952, when came - under the leadership of Mandela and the Exploitation of Women by Joseph thousands were jailed for defying apartheid and other fighters - the vanguard revolu­ Hansen and Evelyn Reed. legislation, and on the 1955 Congress of tionary organization· of the South African Pathfinder Press has opened an energetic the People, which adopted the Freedom people. campaign to promote The Struggle Is My Charter. Material on Mandela's activities This collection was prepared by the In­ Life and Habla Nelson Mandela, with the after , being forced to go underground to ternational Defence and Aid Fund, a Lon­ frrst target date for major sales being the continue the struggle and on the decision don-based group founded in the 1950s to June 14 demonstrations. by Mandela and other leaders of the Afri­ defend victims of repression in South Af­ At the New York demonstration, the two "The struggle is my life," wrote Nelson Mandela can National Congress to launch Um­ rica. The lOAF's activities include pub­ books will be featured on Pathfinder litera" in a letter from the underground in June 1961. "I khonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation) and lishing a wide range of books about apart­ ture tables,. and scores of volunt~r sales­ will continue fighting for freedom until the end of heid and the struggle against it. people will be getting them into the hands mydays." . wage an armed struggle against the brutal In this book the imprisoned leader of the struggle violence of the apartheid regime is also in­ Pathfinder Press, which is publishing the of foes of apartheid. The Struggle Is My against apartheid in South Africa explains the goals cluded. new books, is dedicated to publishing and Life will be offered at a special ·one-day of the African National Congress (ANC). His writ­ distributing books and pamphlets relating price of$5. The cover price in paperback is Ings and speeches are brought together here with Mandela' s writings are one of the best accounts of Mandela in prison by fellow prisoners. places to find out what apartheid is and to the struggle· of working people. These $6.95. $6.95 how it began and developed. It is also a include the writings of Malcolm X, · the · Militant readers who would like to vol­ Sandinista leaders of the Nicaraguan revo~ unteer to sell The Struggle Is My Life and Available at local bookstores or by powerful argument for the imposition of mail (include $. 75 for postage). economic sanctions on the apartheid re­ lution, Fidel Castro, Karl Marx, Frederick Habla Nelson Mandela should contact the Publlehed by Pathfinder Prae gime and against Washington's support for Engels, V.I. Lenin, and Leon Trotsky; Pathfinder Bookstore in New York-city at 410 Wat Street, N.Y., N.Y. 10014 that. regime. writing~ on historically important U,S, 79 Leonard Street, (212) 226-8445. Plight ol agricultural workers in Phili A visit with sugar workers reveals how union fights for rights, I

This report, somewhat abridged, ap­ thousands of acres of fertile, uncultivated General . Serge Chemiguin and President suporters, killing 28. peared in the MayS issue of the biweekly sugar lands. Bobby Ortaliz, who accompanied us for We asked how the overthrow of Marcos news magaZine Intercontinental Press. The biggest hacienderos, the "sugar ba­ part of our visit. through the "people power" uprising in The authors spent several weeks in the rons," play a pivotal role in Philippine poli­ The Bacolod headquarters of the NFSW Manila had affected conditipns in the sugar Philippines following the overthrow of tics. Two powerful cronies of ousted dic­ was a hive of activity when we arrived on lands. "Not very much yet," Ortaliz re­ Marcos. Deb Shnookal is a member of tator Ferdinand Marcos, Eduardo March 17. Rented from an anti-Marcos po­ plied. The military repression has con­ the recently formed Socialist League in · Cojuangco and Roberto Benedicto, for ex­ litical exile, the large two-story house is tinued largely unabated in the countryside. Australia. Russell Johnson is a leader of ample, are both Negros sugar barons. still being modified into a union headquar­ The sugar industry is in a historic declint·•. the Socialist Action League, New Zea­ Many . organize private armies, · often ters. At the rear a group of workers were Aquino has pledged only to continue those land section of the Fourth International, "legalized" as Civilian Home Defense handcrafting office furniture from rough land reforms that were begun in the Marcos a world Marxist organization. Force militias, to maintain the subjugation timber. The downstairs had already been era, which excluded the big sugar plant.'l­ of sugar workers and the toiling population converted into a bustling NFSW legal of­ tions. BY RUSSELL JOHNSON as a whole. As provincial governors and fice, where sympatetic lawyers and legal Under Marcos' "land reform," the own­ AND DEll SHNOOKAL town mayors, they control local patronage. advisers help union members facing the ership of the plantations.became more and BACOLOD CITY, Negros - On July perpetual problems of police, military, and more concentrated in the hands of Be- 29, 1856, Nicholas Loney, a representative National Federation of Sugar Workers landlord harassment. . nedicto, Cojuangco, and other Marcos of the Manchester textile industry, sailed More recently, a new national force has Upstairs in the union office, sugar work­ cronies. This only deepened the exploit­ down the western coast of what he called emerged out of the sugar plantations in ers and young student volunteers from ation of sugar workers, driving thousands • "the gorgeous isle" of Negros ~oward the opposition to the sugar barons - the Na­ Manila rub shoulders as they carry out the off the land altogether. port of Iloilo, the prosperous textile center tional Federation of Sugar Workers tasks of administering the union, assembl­ Negros remains, as it was once de­ of the Philippines on neighboring Panay Is­ (NFSW). Formed on Negros in 1971 , ing information for the foreign and local scribed by Bishop Fortich of Bacolod, a land. The newly appointed British vice­ largely on the initiative of activist Catholic press, and welcoming a steady stream of "social volcano," Ortaliz noted. consul in Iloilo pirated patterns used in the clergy, the NFSW gave new organizational visitors. The NFSW president suggested we local hand-loom industry. These were used expression to a century-long tradition of We met Bobby Ortaliz. Over a plate of spend the night at one of the haciendas or­ in Britain to mass-produce similar material struggle by sugar workers for justice on the boiled kamote (sweet potato) and bananas ganized by the union as the best way to in the Manchester cotton mills, which land, democracy, and freedom from im­ and a bottle of Pepsi, he told us something learn about the life and conditions of the Loney then imported to the Philippines. perialist domination. of the history of his union and the problems Negros sugar workers first hand. In this way, Loney destroyed the liveli­ Now 80,000 strong and having spread its confronting sugar workers. hoods of 80,000 Panay weavers in the activities to Cebu, Luzon, and most other As many as 75 to 80 percent of these Hacienda Carmen space of a few years. But on the ruins of the sugar-producing islands (with the excep­ workers are undernourished and go to bed After about an hour's drive we arrived at textile industry the Englishmen built a new tion of Mindanao), the NFSW was a cen­ hungry at night. This has been exacerbated Hacienda Carmen, two kilometers down a one- sugar. tral component in the founding of the mili­ by the sugar crisis, he informed us. Planta­ bumpy dirt road from the town of Murcia. Loney helped establish and finance a tant May First Movement (KMU) national tion owners have been exempted from pay­ It was late afternoon when we reached sugar plantation system on western Neg­ union federation in 1980. NFSW president ing the government minumum daily wage the hacienda. There were only a few adults ros, supplying the new sugar mills with Bobby Ortaliz is currently KMU general­ of 32 pesos ($1.50). Many sugar workers about. We were greeted by many frien. quota for Philippine sugar on the U.S. mar­ sugar workers at Hacienda Carmen, east of efforts in Negros Occidental to establish The NFSW, as an affiliat~ of the KMU and ket. Hundreds of thousands of unemployed Bacolod City, toured much of the sugar food-growing cooperatives on unused Bayan, supported their call for boycotting and underemployed Negros sugar workers lands in the south of the city, spoke with lands. But they were driven off by land­ the presidential election ..Bu t the village iL­ are existing in a state of total impoverish­ victims of military repression in the coun­ lord-instigated death squads. self was split 50-50 over the question, we ment and semistarvation, alongside tryside, and interviewed NFSW Secretary- These death squads, often taking the were told. About half boycotted the elec­ form of fanaticized religious sects, have tion, while the other half voted for Aquino. massacred peasant activists in many parts We asked whether they thought things of the Philippines. As part of their efforts would improve now that Marcos was gone. to terrorize the rural population, many take They weren't sure. The big problems sugar names such as "Tadtad" (chop, chop) to workers face are those of low salaries, mil­ signify their particular method of butcher­ itarization of the countryside, and landless­ ing their victims. ness. They do not know whether Aqui11o These death squads are a special target will do anything about these. of the New People's Army guerrilla fight­ "Cory can't break the Marcos dictator­ ers. Today, they are mainly concentrated ship without calling on the people," Rudy on Mindanao, the southernmost island, said, referring to the continuing influence where the peasant rebellion has been the of pro-Marcos elements within the military deepest. and in the provinces. "Cory can't do it. But The "salvaging" of NFSW organizers, the unions can." that is, their kidnap, torture, and murder by The struggle of the Filipino people is the military and other agents of the sugar against "imperialism, capitalism, and barons, is a constant danger. As recently as feudalism," Rudy stated. "We have to take January, three NFSW organizers were these on, one by one." "salvaged" in the Himamaylan area -of "Taking on feudalism" to Rudy means southern Negros Occidental. Last Sep­ the task of breaking the power of the big tember in Escalante, the military and the landowners who dominate rural economic National Federation of Sugar Workers Secretary-General Serge Cherniguin (left) and its private thugs of warlord and top Marcos and political life. Under colonial rule, president, Bobby Ortaliz. NFSW struggles for justice on the land, democracy, and free­ crony, Amando Gustilo, fired on a demon­ strong central government never emerged dom from imperialist domination. stration of starving sugar workers and their in the Philippines. Instead, the country waS

8 The Militant June 13, .. 1986 .pp1nes • and reform

divided into virtually self-supporting fief­ doms in which landowners enriched them­ selves through claiming the lion's share of their tenant farmers' crops and demanding unpaid labor services from them. They en­ forced this with private armies. On the large capitalist sugar plantations employ­ ing wage labor, sugar workers were tied to their masters by a system of debt peonage. In more recent years rents, mortgages, ~onopoly price-gouging, and wage labor have tended to replace debt peonage and Sugar workers of Hacienda Carmen, Negros Province. sharecropping as the basis of landlord ell.­ ploitation of the rural toilers. Much of tytowns to show us the terrible conditions 90-odd organizers nationally are women, tion since the beginning of this century and Philippine industry and banking is owned the squatterS must live in. Most are the according to Bobby Ortaliz. the penetration ·of agribusiness into the by this landed oligarchy in conjunction families of displaced sugar workers dri~en But this also reflects deep social changes countryside have deepened this process. w~th foreign capital. into the towns by the sugar depression to affecting the role of women throughout Today, in contrast to many of the Philip­ · A group of workers gathered at the home seek work or to escape military and war­ Philippine society. It is a product of the pines' Pacific and Asian neighbors, rela­ of Teresita, another NFSW organizer, was lord terror in areas where there is strong hacienda system uprooting traditional life tions in rural villages here are not regulated interested in learning about how workers support for the NPA guerrillas. in the countryside, proletarianizing the by hereditary chiefly authority or by com­ live and organize elsewhere in the world. Throughout our visit to Hacienda Car­ working population, and drawing women munal ties to the land. To the contrary, in They were encouraged to hear that the na­ men we had been struck by the role of into modem economic life and political hundreds of villages like tP.at of the sugar tional union federations in Australia and women and their relative self-confidence. struggle alongside men. workers of Hacienda Carmen, democratic New Zealand have recognized their federa­ Women held all kinds of responsibilities in Of the 58 million Filipinos, about 6 mil­ organizations forged by the workers and tion, the KMU . They were also aware that the union and in the village. Many partici­ lion still maintain a tribal village existence peasants in struggle, like the NFSW, are Marcos could not have survived so long pated in political discussions with us and on ancestral land, mqstly in the mountain the major influence over social and politi­ without the backing of the U.S. govern­ articulated their views confidently. Con­ areas of Luzon, Negros, and other islands cal life, a trend that the rural toilers are ment and its imperialist allies. versely, it was not unusual to see men in and in the Muslim areas of Mindanao. But fighting to deepen and extend in the post­ Dading, a young sugar worker, was as­ the village helping with household chores the overwhelming majority are descen­ Marcos period. signed to take us back to Bacolod. We like cooking and washing or looking after dants of people who were uprooted from As the fighting women and men of were joined by his sister, who works children. their tribal villages and subjected to direct Hacienda Carmen exemplify, this .is bring­ among the women on the haciendas and in In part, we felt, this reflected education and brutal exploitation during the centuries ·ing the Filipino peasantry a new-found dig­ the squatters' shantytowns about Murcia, by the NFSW on women's equality, as well · of Spanish colonial rule that began in the nity and confidence and a growing determi­ giving advice about family planning and as the political influence of the NPA and 1500s. This is reflected in the Spanish sur­ nation to advance their fight for justice on omer health problems. the Communist Party of the Philippines in names borne by most urban and rural · the land as part of the struggle for a truly She escorted us into one of the shan- the countryside ..One-third of the NFSW's Filipinos· today. U.S. imperialist domina- democratic and independent Philippines. Marcos impHcated in Seattle murder ol Filipinos BY CHRIS HORNER Within a month, Viemes and Domingo used for contributions to Democratic and said that during the Marcos years, 20 .: \SEATTLE - The 19S 1 murders of were slain . Republican politicians, including President agents operated out of the Philippine em­ · SitmiDOmingo andGeneViernes ate very · .. Three men were conviCted of the killings Ronlltd Reagan and former President bassy in Washington and that two or three much back in the news. The two men were and are servinglife terms. James Carter. agents were stationed in such dties as New tJ;:~de union activists here and, in the In the trial, the prosecution claimed it Another part of the fund, it's charged, York, Chicago, and San Francisco. , Filipino community, leading opponents of lacked evidence· to bring charges against was used for murder. Cindy Domingo, sister of Silme the Marcos dictatorship, then-Local 37 President Tony Baruso, de­ · The documents have been made public Domingo and leader of the Committee for .Now, the overthrow of Marcos has spite the fact that his gun was proved to be by the plaintiffs. Titled, "Mabuhay Corpo­ Justice for Domingo and Viemes, told the ojlened the way for getting at the full truth the murder weapon and that he was linked ration Statement of Ell.penses as of Feb. 15, Militant that the plaintiffs are trying to set about who was responsible for the killings. ·to the Marcos regime. 1982," the document includes a handwrit­ the basis for Marcos and Ver being .• For one thing, on May 6, a U.S. magis­ Baruso was proved to have met with one ten note at the bottom that acknowledges reinstated as defendants in the murder case. trate in Hawaii signed an order clearing the of the convicted murderers shortly before receipt of $1 million from the Philippine Marcos had been dropped as a defendant way for Marcos to be deposed in a $30-mil­ the slayings. National Bank for "intelligence purposes." in a 1983 ruling at the urging of the U.S. State Department, although his govern­ lion lawsuit filed against the Philippine The plaintiffs say that Baruso recruited Malabed has been ordered to tum over government several years ago. The suit the two Seattle killers to end the threat to handwriting samples to determine. if the ment was not granted immunity from tes­ tifying in the suit. charges that his government was behind the his union position and in response to orders · note was written by him. rrr.uders. Plaintiffs in the suit also charge from the Marcos government. Cindy Domingo and other plaintiffs U.S. government complicity and cover-up They have proved that Fabian Ver, then One entry on the document is an expen­ hope to travel to the Philippines in the next in the assassinations. Marcos' intelligence chief, sent a colonel diture of $15,000 on May 17, 1981, under few months to formalize relations with the Marcos is contesting the judge's order to Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area a the heading "Special security project." Philippine government, as well as to meet on grounds of alleged "sovereign immun­ month before the murders to meet with That was the same day, plaintiffs point with members of the KMU and other labor unions. ity." Baruso. out, that Local 37 President Tony Baruso Gene Viemes and Silme Domingo, both In 1985 an important victory was won came to San Francisco from Seattle for a Domingo told the Militant that the Com­ 29, were killed in June 1981. They were when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in 24-hour trip. It was two weeks before the mittee for Justice is still pursuing Tony officers of cannery Local 37 of the Interna­ San Francisco ruled that the Philippine murder of Domingo and Viemes. Baruso, who just finished serving 18 tional Longshoremen's and Warehouse­ government was not immune from testify­ In the original trial, it was established months in prison for embezzlement of union funds. men's Union (ILWU), as well as longtime ing in the case. This followed an unfavora­ that Baruso had promised to pay $5,000 to anti-Marcos activists. Both were leaders of ble ruling that dismissed the U.S. govern­ the two men who were convicted in the In December 1981 Baruso was ousted as the Union of Democratic Filipinos (KPD). ment as a defendant in the case. Domingo and Viemes murders. president in a recall vote. Terri Mast, widow of Gene Viemes, is currently the The federal civil rights suit, filed by the But it has been the overthrow of the Bonifacio Gillegos, who was slated to families of Domingo and Viemes, charges Marcos dictatorship that has put fresh wind speak in Seattle May 31 at the fifth annual president of Local 3 7 and is one of the cen­ tral plaintiffs in the suit. that the assassination of the two men was in the sails of this important case. memorial for Domingo and Viemes, has ordered by the Marcos government and that The new government of Corazon Philippine agents operating illegally in the Aquino has pledged that it will cooperate UAited States harassed, victimized, and with the plaintiffs. Bonifacio Gillegos, murdered anti-Marcos oppositionists here. who represents the Philippines Good Gov­ ernment Commission in the United States, The suit also charges that U.S. govern­ and who has been investigating Marcos' ment agencies actively cooperated with property holdings here, pledged to tum this criminal plan and in the cover-up of the over any documents bearing on the case. Domingo-Viemes murders. When the Marcos party fled to Hawaii, Domingo and Viemes, both members of Customs agents there confiscated some a reform slate that pledged to eliminate cor­ highly sensitive Philippine government in­ ruption in their union, were gunned down telligence and security files. One particu­ in "cold blood in their union offices. larly important document was turned over Two months earlier, Viemes had to Gillegos, who gave a copy to lawyers in traveled to the Philippines and met with the Domingo-Viemes case. anti-Marcos oppositionists, including lead­ The document brings into the case a mil­ ers of the May First Movement union fed­ lionaire Bay Area doctor, Leonilo eration. Malabed, a boyhood friend of Marcos de­ Viemes and Domingo then led in win­ scribed as "the eyes and ears" of the ex-dic­ ning passage of a contested resolution at tator in northern California. the ILWU convention that scored Marcos' Malabed was president of the San Fran­ antilabor decrees and authorized creation cisco-based Mabuhay Corp., which the · of a union investigation team to go to the plaintiffs say was used as a cover for a Silme Domingo and Gene Seattle cannery union leaders gunned down in 1981 by ~ilippines. Marcos slush fund. Part of this fund was the long arm of Marcos' terror. I

June 13, 1986 TheMUitant 9 Judge rules against Minn. meatpackers

BYTOMJAAX away. This is the boldest kind of dictator­ during the June 2 federal court proceed­ ST. PAUL...:.... On June 2 a federal judge ship." ings, observers had to walk through a metal ruled against striking meatpackers at the Scheduling a union meeting is now in detector and be subjected to a body search Geo. A. Hormel & Co. and in favor of the hands of the trustee. Members are told by federal marshals. Federal marshals es­ United Food and Commercial Workers In­ to get 600 names on a petition if they want corted the UFCW International officials ternational officials taking control of Local a union meeting. and their lawyers to and from the court­ P-9 in Austin, Minnesota. The United Support Group - made up . room. The court decision denied a motion by of strikers, their families, and others- is While the court ruling applies to Local Local P-9 for a preliminary injunction pre­ still asking for solidarity for the meatpack­ P-9 officers and its executive board, it also venting the implementation of placing P-9 ers from strike supporters around the coun­ included its "agents.·: This vague reference in trusteeship. The court granted a motion try. "Hormel strikers invite you to Solidar­ can include anyone. by the UFCW-appointed trustee, Joe Han­ ity City. Come help us build our Tent City Since June 2, 50 individuals have re- · sen, thereby ruling on the legality of plac­ in Austin, Minnesota, and join us for a ceived letters ordering them to comply with ing P~9 into trusteeship. week of peaceful demonstrations and pick­ the court order. They are threatened with U.S. District Judge Edward Devitt or­ eting at the Hormel plant June 22 through arrest and prosecution if found interfering dered LocaLP-9 to "recognize Joseph T. June 28,'' their appeal states. with the implementation ofthe trusteeship. Hansen as the legally appointed trustee in The UFCW International officials are An attorney for P-9, Emily Bass, said Local P-9 and to deliver to him custody and trying to seize the funds from the United the ruling, which remains in effect indefi­ control of all Local P-9's assets and to per­ Support Group and threaten to go to court nitely, will be appealed to the Eighth U.S. mit him to peaceably manage them and to again to obtain them. P-9 Vice-president Circuit.Court of Appeals. conduct Local P-9's affairs as trustee." Hus~on said, "The support group is a sepa­ Charles Nyberg, Hormel's chief counsel Jaax All of the elected officials and executive rate entity. and senior vice-president, said the court's Local P-9 Vice-president Lynn Huston board members have been suspended. "The officialdom, by using the courts to ruling now permits Hormel to recognize This court action paves the way for the seize the assets of the United Support Hansen as P-9's bargining agent. "It ap­ rangements leading to a resolution of this UFCW top officialdom to negotiate a con­ Group, is attempting to starve out the strik­ pears that [negotiating a contract] may now dispute." cession contract with Hormel. Hansen said ers and force them to end their strike." be possible because the strike is over and P-9 members, however, are still deter­ he plans to use as a starting point in negoti­ Throughout the strike, the striking local there is an unconditional offer to return to mined to press their fight for a decent con­ ations a federal mediator's proposal, which has been violence-baited in the news media work from the trustee," Nyberg said. "We tract and call on supporters to join them in was twice rejected by the P-9 membership, and by Hormel. Outside the courtroom look forward to making the necessary ar- Austin June 22-28. as well as the Hormel-imposed contract P-9 walked out on last August. Although the name "UFCW Local P-9" has been legally taken away by the Interna­ Strikers make appeal to Utah miners tional officialdom, the rank-and-file mem­ • • • bers on strike say the fight will continue. P- BY DAVE HURST members of the local can authorize payroll support for the Hormel strike and boycott 9 Vice-president Lynn Huston said the AND EDWIN FRUIT boycott of Hormel products will.continue. deductions to be sent to P-9. in this area. PRICE, Utah - Striking members of This experience was repeated on May 5 "As long as there are people out there who United Food and Commercial Workers when UMWA Local 9958 at Kaiser Steel's are not back to work, we'll keep up with Local P-9 received a warm welcome from Sunnyside mine voted to give $250 to the SALT LAKE CITY - Three striking the boycott." members of the United Mine Workers of strikers. Local 9958 members were also members of Local P-9 completed a suc­ In an interview a rank-and-file member America (OMW A) and the International encouraged by local President Dave Mag­ cessful tour in the Salt Lake City area dur­ told the Militant there's a threat of prosecu­ Ladies' Garment Workers' Union gio to send overtime lunches containing ing the first week of May. tion hanging over their heads for speaking (ILOWU) in Carbon ahd Emery counties in Hormel products back to the w~house They met with representatives and exec­ out against the court ruling. Therefore he Utah ."'Paul Swank andBenny Thompson of and to go to the Miner's Trading Post in utive boards of the Carpenters; Communi­ asked for anonymity. He said, "The rank­ Austin, Minnesota, met with union locals Sunnyside to convince the owner to discon­ cations Workers of America, Ironworkers, and-file membership voted twice to con­ and other union bodies during their stay tinue the strike. A directive from UFCW tinue carrying . Hormel products on his and the Bakery and ConfeetionaryWorkers here. . . .r International officials·c~not end a strik.e." The strikers were greeted by Local1769 shelves. A bathhouse collection was also unions, all of whom pledged to bring reso­ He added, "This trusteeship took away the of the UMWA at its monthly membership sponsored by local members. lutions of support up at ·their local .meet- ings. • democratic rights of ~e rank and file. The meeting on May 4 . . F()Uowing ·. the meat-. These donations followed earlier do- an The Hormel workers addressed member" International just wants.to muzzle us.'' packers' presentation of ~he issues in. ;the The P-9 member explained that he does strike,. Local 1769, which .represents min­ ship".meetings,.of; lJnited·Steelworkers 'Of ~:~~r~~f · ~~OZ~1l~a1~s~6tft1f ' America (USWA) Local 7315,. ,Qf; Sy.ro not assume that he will even be allowed to ers .at Utah Power 84 . Light Co.~sDeer Fuel's Hiawatha mine. ' Steel and OSWA LocaL.4347 of Kennecot~ vote on a contract, but the "scabs in the Creek mine, voted to contribute $200 toP- The strikers also attended 'meetings of Copper; an Oil, Chemical and Atomic plant .will be voting," he said. "The rank 9 's Crisis Relief Fund and to post a sigri-up the Lady Coal Miners of Utah, local af­ Workers local from a Phillips refinery; and and file don't like their rights being taken sheet in the mine bathhouse . so: all 550 filiate of the Coal Employment Project, Local 1525 of t~Jntemational Association and UMWA District 22COMPAC (Coal of Machinists organized at. the ElMCO Miners' Political Action Committee). Both Mining and Machinery Company. More Do you know someone who reads Spanish? groups enthusiastically received the strik­ than $300 was collected at these meetings. ers' presentations and offered to distribute A lively exchange took place between boycott materials. Contributions to the the strikers and the Syro steelworkers. The strike were made by individual members of S. Africa street committees USW A local there had just recently been both groups. For four days in February, forced to accept a concession contract that fierce street clashes raged On the evening of May 5, Swank and included a three-year wage freeze. These through Alexandra, a Black town­ Thompson attended a membership meeting workers were able to relate to a union such PerspiCJiva as P-9 that decided to say no to the bosses' ship on the edge of Johannesburg, of Local 294 of the ILGWU. This was a special meeting called to discuss the im­ takebacks. South Africa. On one side were MundiaJ pending shutdown of Koret of California's Workers at both Syro and Phillips re­ the rebellious residents, with ManifestaciOn plant in Price, the only ILGWU-organized ported that following their meetings, youths in their front ranks. On antiapartheid en plant in Utah. At least 70 members out of a "Boycott Hormel" stickers appeared on the other, were hundreds of police NY el 14 de junio total of 125 were in attendance. A letter cars, trucks, lunchboxes, and other places and troops equipped with clubs, supporting the Hormel strike was distri­ around their plants. tear gas, and guns, striving to buted among the Local 294 membership reimpose the edicts of apartheid. and was signed by nearly everyone in at­ Dave Hurst is a member of the UMWA and When the shooting stopped, sev­ tendance. works at the Deer Creek mine. Edwin Fruit eral dozen Blacks lay dead, but Union activists and Hormel boycott sup­ of Salt Lake City is a member of USWA the government did not emerge porters are now discussing ways to expand Local 7315. from this clash as a victor. Its au- . thority and control over the town­ ship lay in tatters. All resident Black policemen and members of and to N.C. unionists Pretoria's local Black municipal • • • council had to be evacuated. BY RICH STUART struggle from the annual meeting of the New forms oflocal mass organi· GREENSBORO, N.C.- A two-week Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Work­ zation, commonly called "street working people and the oppressed tour of North Carolina in May by two strik­ ers (ACTWU) Southeast Regional Joint committees," are emerging. In in the U.S. and around the world. ing Hormel workers from Austin, Min­ Board, which met in Atlanta April 18 . conjunction with other bodies, jSuscrfbete ahora! nesota, demonstrated the widespread sup­ During the May tour of North Carolina, they help to coordinate and direct port the strike has won among union mem­ five unions voted to adopt a P-9 family, the struggle against the hated Subscriptions: $16 for one bers and locals in this state. pledging hundreds of dollars to the strike. These included locals of the Tobacco apartheid system. year; $8 for six months; Intro­ Ray Maloney and Carl Pontius spoke to Workers Union, the CWA, the Durham The current issue of Perspectiva ductory offer, $3.00 for three union locals and central labor unions in Greensboro, Durham, High Point, Central Labor Union, and ACTWU, all of Mundial includes an in-depth ar­ months. Raleigh, Eden, Graham, Winston-Salem, which heard reports on the strike from the ticle about these street commit­ and Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Pon­ P-9 members. tees and those originally projected 0 Begin my sub with current tius is a member of United Food and Com­ Meetings of the United Steelworkers of more than 30 years ago as part of issue. mercial Workers (UFCW) Local P-9's ex­ America, the Bi-County ACTWU Joint an African National Congress Name ------,-,...----,...----..,. ecutive board and negotiating committee. Board in Eden, North Carolina, the Ala­ reorganization effort spearheaded The tour was initiated by officers and mance County Central Labor Union, and by Nelson Mandela. Address ------'--­ members of the postal workers' and textile the Communications Workers regional Perspectiva Mundial . is the workers' . unions witq j.mportant support women's committee also pledged support -----­ Spanish-language socialist maga­ City/St~te/Zip from local leaders of tilt ,Communications or contributed after hearing the strikers. zine that every two weeks brings Clip and mail to PM, 408 West St., Workers of America((;:W'A)andOperating Maloney, Pontius, and P-9 member you the truth about the struggles of New York, NY 10014. Engineers. · Linda Augustine joined with Crystal Lee Local P-9 suggested'. the' tour after get­ Sutton to speak to the CWA women's COm" ting. a .very enthusi

10 · The' Militant June t3~ t986 Bingham trial pokes holes in story of how George Jackson died

BY ARNOLD WEISSBERG Throughout the period after the note was SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - An important allegedly obtained, Carr was on parole and political trial is under way in this San Fran­ permitted to remain on parole. cisco Bay Area town. Charged with con­ The police, noted defense attorney spiracy and murder is Stephen Bingham, a Susan Rutberg, showed "zero official in­ 1960s civil rights lawyer. terest" in Carr, despite alleged evidence Bingham is accused of helping George pointing to involvement in a breakout plot. Jackson in an aborted 1971 San Quentin In 1972 Carr was murdered under mys­ prison escape attempt that left Jackson and terious circumstances. five others dead. Jackson was a young The defense has punched other holes in Black revolutionary whose book, Soledad the prosecution story. Brother, had made him known worldwide. According to the official version of how Bingham is accused of having smuggled Jackson died, he was first shot in the ankle a gun and ammunition to Jackson. Soon by a high-powered rifle, ran another 20 or after the shootout, officials pointed to 30 yards, and was then fatally shot. The death shot reportedly entered Jack­ Stephen Bingham (right) returned to San Francisco in July 1984 after 13 years' self­ SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 2-Tak­ son's back and exited through his skulL exile to face charges of conspiracy and murder in events of Aug. 21, 1971, at San ing the stand in his own behalf today, Under examination by Bingham's chief Quentin prison that left George Jackson (left) and five oth~rs dead. Stephen Bingham categorically denied defense attorney, M. Gerald Schwartz­ he had smuggled a gun and ammunition bach, former Marin .County coroner's to his imprisoned client, George Jack­ pathologist John Manwaring testified that ham those years testified on his behalf. All killed Jackson. And he feared that even if son. Bingham testified he had fled in the shot that penetrated Jackson's ankle agreed on his deep commitment to achiev­ he did get to trial it would not be a fair one. fear of official victimization. "It seemed would have made it "virtually impossible" ing social change through the legal proc­ like Jackson had been assassinated, and A committee, Friends of Stephen Bing­ for him to run the added distance. ess. I was going to be charged with some­ ham, has been organizing support for him thing I hadn't done," he said. In addition, Manwaring testified, the Several had seen him hours before his and many have come to the courtroom. Bingham testified he spent most of his wound resulting from the shot that entered visit to San Quentin and hours after. All Elizabeth Whipple, coordinator of the 13-year exile in France, where he made Jackson's back was not consistent with a agreed he appeared completely relaxed and committee, said the case is an "historic': films and worked as a house painter. shot from a high-powered rifle. . normaL one with vital free speech issues. However, he said, it would be consistent Bingham has explained he fled after offi­ For more information on the case, con­ Bingham as involved and he fled. After 13 with a shot from a handgun into Jackson's cials accused him of participation. He tact: Friends of Stephen Bingham, 3790 EI years of self-exile, he returned here in 1984 back while he lay on the ground. feared he would be jailed without bail and Camino Real, Rm . 110, Palo Alto, Calif. to clear his name. Several people who worked with Bing- be at the mercy of the prison guards who 94306. So far, the evidence at his trial has given strong support to -the belief that George Jackson was the victim of an official con­ spiracy- that the "escape" was ~et up, or Socialist campaign kicked off in Texas permitted to happen, by officials deter­ mined to kill Jackson. The San Quentin events occurred at a BY HENRY ZAMARRON dates participated in a rally of more than Pathfinder Press literature. Some 15 stu­ time when federal, state, and local officials AUSTIN, Tex. - Socialist Workers 1,000 students who were demanding di­ dents showed interest in the Young were on a drive to disrupt the Black libera­ candidates Willie Mae Reid, Susan Zarate, vestment from companies doing business Socialist Alliance. tion movement by any means necessary. and Steve Warshell announced their can­ in South Africa and defending their First On the following day, W arshell was able Black activists· were· railroaded to 'prison didacies for statewide public office. Amendment right to free speech. to attend a conference on the future of and a number gunned down by cops. A Willie Mae Reid, candidate for governor In the previous weeks. students . par­ Black farmers in Texas, which was held in particular target was the Black Panther of Texas, is a refinery worker and a mem~ ticipating in the anti-apartheid movement Kendleton. In a statement distributed at the Party, of which Jackson was a prominent ber of the Oil, Chemical and AtomiC here have come under attack by the Univer­ conference, Warshell said that "The family member. Workers Local 4-367 in Houston. She is an sity of Texas administration. As many as farmer cannot hope to improve their living Bingham flatly denies the charge that, as activist in the fight for Black rights, in the 265 students had been arrested for de­ standards or save their farms without a Jackson's lawyer, he smuggled a gun, am­ women's rights movement, and in defense nouncing the Reagan administration for the fight against their exploiters and the gov­ munition, and an Afro wig in for Jackson. of the trade unions. Reid was the Socialist bombing of Libya and for the university's ernment. Tractorcades, penny auction, and The case against him is circumstantial, Workers candidate for mayor of Houston in ties to South Africa. The University of farm-gate defense have been effective tools boiling down to the fact that he was the last 1985. Texas system has over $742 Qlillion in­ for farmers in defending their rights. visitor to see Jackson before the shootout. Susan Zarate, candidate for lieutenant vested in South Africa. · "Farmers also have powerful allies in the governor, is an electrical assembler and a The students bought more than 130 cities, in the trade unions, and in the Black The prosecution asserts that Bingham copies of the Militant and $200 worth of smuggled past security, including a metal member of Local I 015 of the International and Hispanic communities." detector, a semiautomatic pistol, two clips Association of Machinists in Dallas. She is of ammunition, and a wig, all inside a tape a member of the National Organization for recorder. Women and active in the fight for women's Jackson left the visiting area, the story rights. Zarate is presently helping to build State nurses' union rallies goes, wearing the wig, with the gun and support for the strike by meatpackers bullets concealed underneath, and walked against Hormel Co. in· Austin, Minnesota. about 75 yards accompanied by a guard. She is also a leader of the Young Socialist .in support of Boston strikers On returning to the cell area, he supposedly Alliance in Dallas. whipped the gun out from under the wig, Running for agriculture commissioner is BY JON HILLSON half a century ago." loaded it while the guards watched, andre­ Steve Warshell, a laid-off steelworker BOSTON- The image of the Madonna Across the state, as well as at Carney, leased other prisoners to begin the escape. from Houston. He has been active in cam­ faces the picket line at Carney Hospital, the hQspital industry is laying off hospital (San Francisco Chronicle reporters tried paigns to defend immigrant workers and in but striking nurses here have been anything workers, respiratory therapists, licensed the gun-under-the-wig trick soon after, and building solidarity with the workers' and but the beneficiaries of Christian charity practical nurses. The expectation, Har­ reported they couldn't do it. Which is not farmers' government in Nicaragua. A sup­ since hospital negotiators, backed by the graves said, "is that you will extend your­ surprising since the gun alone weighs 2112 porter of the farm protest movement since Boston Catholic church archdiocese, self to make up the difference." pounds and is 81f2 inches long.) the 1970s, Warshell was the 1982 Socialist forced the nurses out on strike May 5. The nurses are seeking wage parity with The prosecution also relies heavily on a Workers candidate for governor. Their ranks were swelled to 700 May 27 nurses in other area hospitals. letter supposedly cowritten by Jackson and While here in the state capital, the candi- as scores of nurses from across the state, While hospital administrators "are mak­ one James Carr, laying out plans for a mobilized by the Massachusetts Nurses ing top dollar, nurses are forced to work for prison break. This is referred to as the Association (MNA), joined them in picket­ peanuts," Hargraves told the rally. "pants pocket letter," since, the cops say, it . ing, a spirited street demonstration, and in Nurses from as far as Cape Cod, as well was found by a dry cleaner in a pair of a rally of support for the nurses' demand as the Boston area, cheered when Carney Carr's pants. for a decent contract. MNA leader June Connelly said the MNA Former San Quentin warden Louis Nel­ The solidarity action came in the wake was prepared to take the Carney strike to son testified he knew of the information in of a management decision to break the the national convention of the American the letter but was not sure if he had passed strike by hiring scab nurses. Only 15 of Nurses Association to win national solidar~ it on ta subordinates. Two former prison 450 nurses organized by the MNA at the ity for the strike. officials declared they knew nothing about hospital are not honoring the picket lines. As the nurses poured into the streets in it. The totality of the testimony buttressed While the hospital bosses claim "health front of the hospital, they were accosted by the defense contention that prison officials care" reasons for hiring the scabs, the real­ local police. "You don't have a permit for knew of a planned escape attempt - real ity is that the number of patients has been this march," a top cop told the nurses at the or asserted - and did nothing to prevent it pared by almost two-thirds, and layoffs front of the demonstration. because they wanted a pretext to kill Jack­ have hit hospital workers. "Yes we do!" three uniformed nurses son. "This is union-busting, pure and sim­ chimed at once, "We're marching!" Indeed, Associate Warden James · Park ple," several nurses told me, echoing the Which they did, with a police escort. declared the day of the shootout: "The only universal sentiment of strikers. The MNA More than a few nurses, who initially good thing that happened all day was that has been organized at the hospital for 12 saw the cops as friends and allies, have we got George Jackson. Killed him. Shot years. This is the first strike in the institu­ now begun to view them as scab-herders. him through the head." tion's 123-year history. "The union is behind us, we shall not be The defense has also questioned the Statewide MNA leader Ann Hargraves moved," they chanted, to the cheers of on­ murky role of Carr, charging he was a Willie Mae Reid, Socialist Workers told the May 27 rally_that the hospital tops lookers in apartment houses, passing police provocateur. Party candidate for governor of Texas. "are treating nurses as women were treated· motorists, and bus drivers.

J~ne 13~ 19~ 11 -CALENDAR------~------~----~------

CALIFORNIA Missouri farmer. Sat., June 7, 7 p.m. Preforum Forum. For more information call (919) 272- Forum. For more information call (206) 723- dinner, 6 p.m. 4725 Troost. Donation: forum, 5996. 5330. - Los Angeles $2; dinner, $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. No to Nuclear Power. Shut the Nukes Down! For more information call (816) 753-0404. OHIO SPeaker: Fred Halstead, covered Three Mile Is­ WASHINGTON, D.C. Will South Korea Be the Next Philippines? Toledo No U.S. Aid to the 'Contras'! Regional dem­ land accident as reporter for Militant. Discus­ Speakers: Masamoto Moriyama, Asian Free­ Evolution vs. Creationism: In Defense of Sci­ onstration. Assemble I p.m. Sat. , June 7, at sion to follow. Translation to Spanish. Sat., dom Association, former member of Young entific Thinking. Speaker: Joe Callahan, Martin Luther King Library, 9th and G sts. June 7, 7:30 p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Ausp: Korean Association, an antigovernment student Socialist Workers Party. Sun., June 8, 7 p.m. NW. March to the White House. Rally 2:30 Militant Forum. For more information call organization in Korea; Roger Bland, Young 1701 W Bancroft. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant p.m. Ausp: Washington-area Coalition to Stop (213) 380~9460 . Socialist Alliance and member of Amalgamated Labor Forum. For more information call (419) the U.S. War on Nicaragua. For more informa­ Oakland Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local 536-0383. tion call (202) 265-3800 or 234-2000. Nicaragua Defends Itself. Slideshow and re­ 393T. Sun., June II, 7 p.m. 4725 Troost. Do­ From Hiroshima to Chemobyl: a Panel Dis­ port on Nicaragua's May Day rally, agrarian re­ nation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more in­ cussion on Nuclear Power and Nuclear form, and Atlantic Coast autonomy plan. formation call (816) 753-0404. TEXAS Weapons. Speakers: Gene Caroll, national or­ Speakers: Andrew Hunt, member Young Houston ganization director and labor liaison for Nation Socialist Alliance and International Association NEW YORK The Sanctuary Movement. Speaker: Beverly Nuclear Weapons Campaign; Mark of Machinists; Deborah Liatos, member YSA Manhattan Harper, member Committee in Solidarity with Robinowitz, assistant director, Health and and International Ladies' Garment Workers' Benefit to Build Schools in Nicaragua. A the People of El Salvador and Community In­ Energy Institute; representative of Socialist Union; Georges Sayad, Socialist Workers Father's Day dance with Johnny Colony Ia Or­ volvement Committee of the First Unitarian Workers Party. Translation to Spanish. Sun., Party. Translation to Spanish. Sat., June 7, 7:30 questa Faena. Sat., June 14, 9 p.m. Manhattan Church. Translation to Spanish. Fri., June 13, June 15, 7 p.m. 3106 Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Do­ p.m. 3808 E 14 St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Mili­ Plaza, 66 E 4th St. Donation: $10 in advance, 7:30 p.m. 4806 Almeda. Donation: $2. Ausp: nation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For tant Forum and YSA. For more information call $12 at door. Ausp: Nicaragua Construction Militant Forum. For more information call more information call (202) 797-7699. (415) 261-3014. Brigade and Chaguitillo Day Care Project. For (713) 522-8054. Film: Nelson and Winnie Mandela. Discus­ more information call (212) 475-7159. WEST VIRGINIA sion to follow. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Morgantown June 14, 7:30p.m. 3808 E 14 St. Donation: $2. NORTH CAROLINA WASHINGTON Socialist Campaign Rally. Speakers: Kathy Ausp: Militant Forum and Young Socialist Al­ Greensboro Seattle Mickells, candidate for U.S. House of Repre­ liance. For more information call (415) 261- We Are Driven. Video presentation about the Lessons of Chernobyl: No Nukes! Shut Down sentatives, 2nd C.D. Sat., June 7. Reception, 6 3014. conditions that Japanese workers face . Discus­ Hanford! A panel discussion. Translation to p.m.; program, 7 p.m. 221 Pleasant St. Ausp: sion to follow . Sun., June 8, 7 p.m. 2219 E Spanish. Sun., June 15, 6 p.m. 5517 Rainier Socialist Workers 1986 Campaign Committee. MINNESOTA Market. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Ave. S. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor For more information call (304) 296-0055. St. Paul South Africa: Black Freedom Struggle Ad­ vances. Enoch Duma, exiled South African journalist. Film showing of Generations of Re­ sistance. Sun., June 8, 4 p.m. 508 N Snelling N. Carolina unionists support Ineatpackers Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Minnesota Militant Forum. For more information call (612) 644- Continued from Page 10 While in North Carolina, · the Hormel cited to get to meet in person with two 6325 . mittee meeting, where they got an en­ strikers joined two victory celebrations in strikers. Liberation Forces Make Gains in El Sal­ thusiastic reception. Sutton is the worker Raleigh and Durham for the Farm Labor Throughout the tour, unionists told the vador. SpeaJcers: Guillermo de Paz, representa­ strikers that their strike was for all unions tive of the Revolutionary Democratic Front­ whom the movie Norma Rae was based on. Organizing Committee (FLOC), featuring Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. Maloney and Pontius traveled to FLOC leader Baldemar Velasquez. and all workers. Many of the unions had Translation 'to Spanish. Sun., June 15, 4 p.m. Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, the Velasquez welcomed the Hormel strik­ gone through their own fights against con­ 508 N Snelling Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Min­ home of the J.P. Stevens Co. and the set­ ers and urged everyone to support the cause cession demands by their employers. nesota Militant Forum. For more information ting for Norma Rae. The Hormel strikers of Local P-9. Velasquez has traveled to There was also l>itter resentment by call (612) 644-6325. were given a tour of the town and the mills Austin, Minnesota, to show his support to union members and locals against the at­ by a local ACTWU leader and met with­ P-9. tempts by the UFCW International official­ MISSOURI several more textile union leaders, who The Hormel strikers also held a spirited dom to force the P-9 members back to Kansas City told the strikers of the long struggle to win discussion with 15 students who are mem­ work by cutting off strike benefits and put­ Farmers Figbt Back. Speakers: Kathie union recognition at J_.P. Stevens. The bers of the Student Labor Support Commit­ ting Local P-9 into trusteeship. Fitzgerald, member United Auto Workers Local ACTWU leaders pledged their support and tee at the University of North Carolina Supporters'ofLocal P-9 in this area are 93 and Socialist Workers Party; Marvin Porter, gave a contribution. (UNC) at Chapel Hill. The students have now planning to go to Austin to join P-9's followed the strike closely and were ex- solidarity activities on June 28. New from Pathfinder. The German Revolution rRally against apartheid Jnne .l4 and(the Debate on Soviet 'Power Continued from front page The contingent is endorsed by the Com­ Documents 1918-1919 announcement for the action that is airing mittee in Solidarity with the People of El Preparing the Founding Congress on a number of radio stations. Salvador, Coordinadora Salvadoreiia, · Second volume in the series The This city's Puerto Rican community has Committee in Solidarity with the People of Communist Internatlonal taken the initiative in organizing a contin­ Guatemala, Nicaragua Regional Network ln Lellln's t.ime. gent from El Barrio. A planning meeting of Greater New York, the Downstate May 30 decided to use one of the shanties Pledge of Resistance, and others. Prepublication price from Columbia Univesity to set up a street Speakers at the main rally at Central until June 14-$9.00 location where information and leaflets can Park's Great Lawn will include central In November 1918 revolution broke out in be distributed. The shanties symbolize the leaders of the African National Contress of Gennany, toppling the Gennan Empire and oppression of Blacks under apartheid. South Africa, South West African Peoples forcing an abrupt end to World War I. Work­ Leaders of the Puerto Rican cornrounity Organisation, United Democratic Front, ers' and soldiers' councils fonned across the are holding a press conference on the steps and the Congress of South African Trade country. of City Hall June 5 to urge participation Unions. , The documents in this book record the from the Puerto Rican and other Latino A special video hook up with South A f~ debates in the worke,rs' movement on communities. Some 15,000 leaflets were rica will pennit Winnie Mandela to address Germany's future during the first crucial handed out at the annual Puerto Rican Day the New York crowd. months of this revolution. . Parade, June I. Entertainment will be supplied by Little Should the workers; and soldiers' coun­ Activists opposed to U.S. aid to the Nic­ Steven VanZandt and his band. VanZandt cils take power and establish a revolution­ araguan contras and Washington's war produced "Sun City," a popular anti-apart­ ary government in Gennany? A sharp struggle on this question shook the new drive in Central America are organizing a heid recording. republic. (560 pages) contingent around the slogans "No aid to For more information on the June 14 ac­ Available at Pathfinder Bookstores (see directory on this page for one the contras in Nicaragua or Angola," "Stop tion contact New York Anti-Apartheid Co­ nearest you), or order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. the military build-up in El Salvador and ordinating Council; c/o District 65 UAW, 10014. Please add 75 cents for postage and handling. (AfterJune 14, $12.95) Honduras," and "U.S. out of Central 13 Astor Pl. , New York, N.Y. 10003, America and southern Africa!" (21 2) 673-5120, ext . 390. - IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132Cone NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. Jefferson. Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and Pathfinder St. NW, 2nd Aoor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, bookstores. 4065. NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (7 13) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave. 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (3 12) 326- 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA , 23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- 5853 or 326-5453. YSA, 79Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Te1:(212)219- Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 3679 or 925-1668. Socialist Books, 226-8445. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 841 I I. Tel: (801) West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel: LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: .(919) 355-11 24. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP; YSA , dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133 . 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (30 1) Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA , 3106 Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-301 4. San Diego: 235-0013. 44113. Tel: (216) 86 1-6 150. Columbus: YSA , Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA , P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, 797-7699. 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: YSA, 17()1 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. San 022 15. Tel: (617) 262-4621. (419) 536-0383. 55 17 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98 118. Tel: Jose: SWP, YSA, 46112 Race St. Zip: 95126. MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE (206) 723-5330. Tel: (408) 998-4007. Woodward Ave. Zip:48201. Tel: (313)961-0395 . Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, 61 lA Tennessee. Zip: 25302. Tel: (304) W.3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55 104. Tel: YSA, 2744Germantown Ave. Zip: 19 133. Tel: 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 22 1 FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE (61 2) 644-6325. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 402 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505 . Tel: (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, N. Highland Ave. Mailing address: P.O. Box 0055 . Zip: 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (8 16) 753- · 4789. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362-6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: -SWP, YSA, YSA, P.O. Box 2071 5. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208 . Tel: (414) 222-4434. King Dr. Zip: 63 11 3. Tel: (314) 361-0250. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. TeL (5 12)452-3923. 445-2076.

12 The Militant June 13, 1986 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

Sure, just call Mike Deaver­ million from Mexico, Venezuela, promoting food - run an ad de­ fair distribution. Warsaw re­ creating more demand for nursing "I don't believe there is anyone and Spain to modernize its na­ signed to make you throw up? sponded by offering to send blan­ home care. Ergo, hospitals are going hungry in America simply tional police force . Spain will pro­ kets and sleeping bags for New tying in with nursing homes. The by reason of denial or lack of abil- vide antiriot equipment, including Always exaggerating - That York's homeless, with the same new arrangement "can be mutually shields, clubs, and vehicles to was our reaction to the cover head­ proviso. beneficial and financially reward­ carry water cannons. "We want to line on the May 26 Newsweek: ing," purred a nursing home exec. be able to control a public disorder "Greed on Wall Street." But we Land of the free - If you without killing people," an official were reassured to learn it wasn't a make it to the Big Apple for the Afterthought - It just oc­ explained. wild accusation against the Street, Fourth of July celebration of the curred to us, how many hospitals just the story of an aspiring young relighting of Lady Liberty, check own stock in mortuaries? Harry Assuming, of course, you're tycoon who got caught- "an iso­ out the harbor tour. July 4, $325. white- With oh-such-candor, a lated instance of crime and greed." Hang around till July 5, and it's Thought for the week - Ring South African travel ad in Gour­ only $95. And, if you lack sea "Thousands of our oldest, sickest met magazine advises: "Come see Repayment in kind- The al­ legs, get a pierside table at South citizens live m nursing homes for yourself - scenery .. . sunny ways altruistic U.S. Senate favor­ Street Seaport's Liberty Cafe. which more closely resemble 19th ity to feed them; it is by people not beaches . . . shopping and restau­ ed sending powdered milk to Po­ Lunch, $500. Dinner, $1 ,000 . century asylums than modern knowing where or how to get this rants ... and highly publicized so­ land to replace supplies possibly health care facilities." - Sen. help."- Ronald Reagan. cial and political problems." contaminated by Chernobyl radia­ Capitalism, it's wunnerful - John Heinz, reporting on findings tion. The senators stipulated the With Medicare now paying flat that at least a third of nursing Social progress dep't - The Afterthought - Why would a milk be handled by non­ fees for hospital care, patients are homes fail to meet minimum Guatemalan regime will get $16 mag like Gourmet - devoted to governmental agencies to assure being discharged faster and sicker, health and safety standards. Company antidrug ·campaign victimizes workers i BY MERYL LYNN FARBER At Bates Nitewear, during a recent organizing drive by In March, Gilbarco, an Exxon subsidiary in the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, £1o\PIJI'Ift (A) VP I~A fiS Jll Greensboro, North Carolina, that manufactures gas the company fired four Black workers for drugs. All were UFI~A~ ( 8) . Vl'l~i I~ pumps and gas station equipment, unleashed a drive to known as union supporters. At Guilford Mills, a non­ 'ftSfiD (C) fofl. DI'V'S If V1'1~~ 1iSH ~'-'A1t~~. "clean out drug and alcohol abusers." In just two weeks, union mill, more than 30 workers have been fired for al­ If IS f•vs~tD (D) dozens of workers were marched to the personnel office leged drug use. During this period, the bosses at Guilford and interrogated about alleged drug use on company Mills posted antiunion messages related to the union premises. On the basis of primarily hearsay "evidence," drive at Bates Nitewear. the company suspended 19 workers. The discussion at Gilbarco raged during the course of Gilbarco's actions are an attack on all workers at the the ~ompany sweep of the plant. Workers literally did not plant and on their union, Teamsters Local 391 . Although know from day to day if they would be the next to go. When first-shift workers came into work, they would look nervously over the third-shift workers waiting to clock out to make sure everyone was still there. UNION TALK D Initially the company was able to cause considerable Posted up in plant in Greensboro, North Carolina, in workers had the right to have a shop steward present dur­ confusion. Some workers echoed the company explana­ ing the interrogations, due to fear and confusion, a response to company attack on workers for alleged tion that it was good to get rid of drug abusers because drug use in which 19 workers were suspended. number of sessions occurred without union representa­ they threatened the safety of other workers. But as more tion. and more were fingered, the ,sentiment shifted. More Workers were questioned extensively about their people became angry and felt their rights were being vio­ drugs. The editorial noted that the drug-testing proposal knowledge of drug sales and use and were asked to sup­ lated. conflicts with the "fundamental premise that a person is ply the company with names of others who used drugs. innocent until proven guilty. The test flips that principle They were also requested to submit a urine sample. A number of workers pointed out that this was a direct on its head by assuming guilt and requiring workers to Company officials explained that workers did not have to attack on the union. We were being pitted against one prove their innocence." Some explained that this is comply, but that "if they valued their jobs at Gilbarco," another and urged to rat on coworkers to save our own exactly what Gilbarco is doing by requiring the sus­ they.had best submit to the company's ·demands. jobs. pended workers to sign a blackmail agreement to get their During the''t:oorse 'uf'these sessions, it was revealed · Some Blacks also noted the racist aspect of the attack jobs back before providing a shred of evidence that these that the company had hired cops to infiltrate the plant and - the majority of workers suspended were young workers had used drugs on company premises. frame up workers. The company also posted a ·letter Blacks, and the only known narcs in the plant were This same presidential commission is equating or­ throughout the plant encouraging employees to report to Blacks, who made a special attempt to befriend Black ganized crime with organized labor in the United ·States . the company on their involvement in drug use and on the workers. and has. singled out our union, the Teamsters, as one activities of others and to place themselves in a new drug A number of union activists pressed for a special meet­ union responsible for criminal activity. rehabilitation program. ing of union members at Gilbarco to discuss what our re­ The union leadership's only response to the barrage of The suspended workers were allowed back to work sponse should be to the company's attack. Many viewed questions and ideas raised at the meeting was to encour­ only on condition that they sign an agreement to submit this meeting as a step toward arming the.union to defend age those workers who knew they were "not guilty" to to drug counseling. The agreement also contains a provi­ our rights. file grievances. sion placing those suspended under a year's probation At the meeting, numerous ideas were raised pointing A number of the suspended workers have filed · grie­ during which the company can force them to take urine to how the union could respond, such as holding a press vances and are strongly pushing the union to take all of tests at any time after a 45-day "grace" period. conference, distributing an informational flyer in the the grievances to arbitration. However these grievances This attack occurs in the context of a national drive on plant alerting workers as to their legal and constitutional are resolved, the fact remains that the company has not the part of the government and the companies it repre­ rights, and demanding that the company get rid of under­ closed its investigation and is holding open the threat of sents for more stringent drug testing of workers in both cover cops and produce its evidence out in the open. A further victimizations as well as firings. public and private sectors. This goes hand in hand with a good deal of frustration and anger was voiced by workers One positive outcome to this episode has been a drive to institute lie detector testing and other measures, who felt · the union's response to date had been in­ stepped-up discussion in the plant on the issues involved. all designed to intimidate workers and enable companies adequate. It has led a number of union activ~ts to deepen their to weed out those they deem "undesirable." Other workers pointed to a recent editorial in the thinking on how to strengthen the union to enable it to The real aim of the bosses can be seen at other plants in Greensboro News and Record condemning the Presi­ fight back. Greensboro where workers have been fired on the pretext dent's Commission on Organized Crime, which recom­ Meryl Lynn Farber is a member of Teamsters Local of drug abuse. mended testing every member of the U.S. workforce for 391 and works at Gilbarco. Why TWA flight attendants in K. C. reject contract

BY JEFF POWERS All of these concessions were . part of the members have been recalled, apparently by mend the airline." KANSAS CITY, Mo.- On May 21, original offer that provoked the strike on seniority. Although she questioned whether or not TWA flight attendants here rejected the air­ March 7. IFF A members agreed to return to work a union can get a fair shake in the courts line's latest contract offer by a unanimous · Before the strike began, TWA began hir­ because they believe legally this prevents these days, she expressed confidence in the vote, 282 to 0 . The Kansas City vote ing and training scabs. The company TWA from hiring any more replacement IFFA legal suit. "We have a good case and closely followed the national pattern, . claims that about 4,500 replacement flight workers . kahn is obviously concerned that we can which saw attendants overwhelmingly re­ attendants will be working by early June. "The situation is confusing and we are win it." jecting the company's offer by a vote of This figure will include some 3,000 newly on a campaign to explain what is going on 4,038 to 950. hired nonunion attendants. to the public," a flight attendant staffing Two days earlier the attendants' leader­ The union that represents the attendants, strike headquarters in Kansas City told the Militant. ship announced that strikers were returning the Independent Federation of Flight At­ Labor news in the Militant to work whatever the outcome of the mem­ tendants (IFF A), has filed a lawsuit charg­ "We still have a contractual dispute, and bership vote. ing TWA with bad-faith bargaining be­ we will still be picketing," he said. "But The Militant stays on top of the The attendants here explained that vot­ cause of age, race, and sex discrimination. we take .the 'on strike' off our picket ing for the proposal would have meant a The suit is to be heard in federal district signs." most important developments in complete capitulation to TWA President court in Kansas City on June 30. The bottom line is that we still have to the labor movement. It has cor­ Carl kahn. hurt Icahn economically," another atten­ respondents who work in the "kahn wanted us to take every cut he TWA's new hires are almost exclusively dant said. "We plan to go out and speak to mines, mills, and shops where proposed in the first place without even under 25 , female, and white. The union as many other unions and other groups as the events are breaking. You guaranteeing that we would get our jobs contends sex and age discrimination be­ possible and tell them 'don't fly TWA.'" back," one attendant said . cause TWA is replacing an older, much won't miss any of it if you sub­ The latest offer included a proposed pay better paid, largely female work force with "We will also talk to travel agents," she scribe. See the ad on page 2 of cut of 22 percent, drastic changes in work a much younger, largely female work force continued. ''We think when they find out this issue for subscription rates. rules and a 20 percent reduction in vacation that will make significantly less money. about how unsafe it is to fly TWA with in­ time and insurance and retirement benefits. On May 30 IFFA announced that 198 experienced attendants they won't recom-

June 13, 1986 The Militant 13. - -EDITORIALS------,------,--~ Trade unions and the decay Escalating curbs on ·media of imperialism

The illegal dirty war against Nicaragua. The aggres­ sider an unprecedented criminal prosecution against The foUowing excerpts are from an article titled, sions against Libya. "Covert" aid to South African-spon­ NBC News for allegedly disclosing secret information in "Trade Unions in the Epoch of Imperialist Decay." It sored terrorists in Angola. These and other reactionary its reporting on the trial of Ronald Pelton, a U.S. secret was written in 1940 by Leon Trotsky, one of the cen­ deeds hardly look well in the light of day. So, as such operative accused of spying for the Soviet Union. tral leaders of the 1917 Russian revolution. government activity increases, curbs on press freedom And two weeks earlier, it had been disclosed that Alt~ough written 46 years ago, it contains valuable and other democratic rights proceed apace. Casey had warned editors of the Washington Post that and still-relevant insights into the role and function­ The aim is to limit the political information available their paper could face prosecution for a report it planned ing of today's trade union officialdom. The article is to U.S. working people and to curb public debate. to carry on the Pelton case. contained in the book, Leon Trotsky on the Trade Mostly, "national security" is the justification for clamp­ The Post then disclosed that this was the sixth time in Unions. The book is available from Pathfinder Press, ing down on the media. When that doesn't quite do it, 12 months that government officials had pressured it to . 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Cost $3.95 there's always anticommunism. scrap or alter an impending article. (please include $.75 for postage and handling). For example, this past February, Reagan and his ul­ In the furor that followed Casey's prosecution threat, a Copyright© 1969, Pathfinder Press; reprinted by traright press aide, Patrick Buchanan, attacked ABC CIA spokesperson explained that no threat was intended permission of the publisher. News for giving seven minutes to a Radio Moscow com­ -merely a warning: "think about what you do .... mentator to respond to a Reagan war budget speech. As a follow-up, a joint statement was issued by the Trotsky wrote, "There is one common feature in the "I don't know why the hell the media is so willing to CIA and the National Security Agency advising reporters development, or more correctly the degeneration, of lend support to the Soviets," red-baiting Reagan de­ against discussing the implications of information made modern trade union organizations throughout the world: clared. public at the Pelton trial. It declared that "those reporting it is their drawing closely to and growing together with In March Reagan utilized the anti-Libya campaign for ,on the trial should be cautioned against speculation .... the state power. a new move against the press. When U.S. warships were Such speculation, and additional facts, are not authorized "Monopoly capitalism does not rest on competition sent into Libya's Gulf of Sidra to provoke a confronta­ disclosures . . .." tion; reporters were flown to the aircraft carrier Saratoga Since the government clearly lacks thdegal .power to to observe the maneuvers. regulate press speculation, Casey backed off a bit on this, But then, two hours before the warships "retaliated" saying he was merely seeking "cooperation." However, a OUR against reported Libyan gunfire, the reporters were re­ CIA aide further explained, Casey's call for cooperation moved. did not represent a change in his thinking. REVOLUTIONARY The U.S. fleet then bombarded targets near the town of Reagan joined in on June 3, saying that his administra­ Sidra and sank several Libyan patrol boats. tion was obligated by law (unspecified) to prosecute any­ HERITAGE Responding to press complaints about the removal of one, including reporters, who make information public reporters, Reagan argued that the need for secrecy was so that could harm "national security." and free private initiative but on centralized command. great that it was necessary "to protect ourselves against a Elizabeth Kirtley, executive director of the Reporters The capitalist cliques at the head of mighty trusts, syndi­ leak of information." Committee for Freedom of the Press, noted that Casey's cates, banking consortiums, etc., view economic life In the aftermath of the 1983 Grenada invasion - guidelines made coverage of the Pelton trial a risky busi­ from the very same heights as does state power; and they where reporters were barred - the Pentagon agreed that ness. She said: require at every step the collaboration of the latter. In in future military strikes, a pool of reporters would be "If you go out and try to independently verify informa­ their tum the trade unions in the most important branches taken along. For the Gulf of Sidra action, that agreement tion that is being presented in the courtroom in order to of industry find themselves deprived of the possibility of was declared "nonoperational." either understand it better or to challenge what the gov­ profiting by the competition among the different enter­ But the most publicized recent barrage against press ernment is presenting in evidence, you are doing what a prises. They have to confront a centralized capitalist ad­ freedom was kicked off by the CIA's chief spook, Wil­ courtroom reporter should do . .. but you will do so at versary, intimately bound up with state power. Hence liam Casey. He called on the Justice Department to con- your own peril." flows the need of the trade unions - insofar as they re­ main on reformist positions, i.e., on positions of adapt­ ing themselves to private property-to adapt themselves to the capitalist state and to contend for its cooperation. In the eyes of the bureaucracy of the trade union move­ ment, the chief task lies in "freeing" the state from the embrace of capitalism, in weakening its dependence on Reagan loses round on abortion trusts, in pulling it over to their side. This position is in complete harmony with the social position of the labor Opponents of abortion rights were handed a defeat The law was declared unconstitutional by a federal ap­ aristocracy and the labor bureaucracy, who fight for a April 30 when the Supreme Court unanimously dismis­ peals court. The State of Illinois declined to appeal, rec­ crumb in the share of superprofits of imperialist sed a case that sought to reinstate an Illinois antiabortion ognizing that such a blatant attempt to deny women the capitalism, The labor bureaucrats do their level best in law. right to abortion had little hope of succeeding. words and deeds to demonstrate to the "democratic" state The Illinois case is one of two in which the Reagan ad­ The case was appealed by an individual physician how reliable and indispensable they are in peacetime and ministration directly intervened in an attempt to overturn working in cahoots with Americans United for Life, a especially in time of war. legal abortion. The Justice Department filed a brief in nationwide antiabortion outfit that specializes in anti­ "Monopoly capitalism is less and less willing to recon­ this and a Pennsylvania case, asking the court to use the abortion court cases. cile itself to the independence of trade unions. It demands opportunity to overturn the historic 1973 ruling in Roe v. of the reformist bureaucracy and the labor aristocracy, Wade that declared the right to choose abortion a The Supreme Court ruled that neither the physician nor the antiabortion group had any legal standing to intervene who pick up the crumbs from its banquet table, that they woman's constitutional right. become transformed into its political police before the The Illinois law, passed by the state legislature in in the case. This will make it harder for antiabortion groups to follow their tactic of trying to clog the courts eyes of the working class. If that is not achieved, the 1979, was a broadside attack on the right to abortion and labor bureaucracy is driven away and replaced by the fas­ contraceptives. It particularly targeted the rights of young with antiabortion cases. The right to safe, legal abortion has been under con­ cists. Incidentally, all the efforts of the labor aristocracy women. in the service of imperialism cannot in the long run save The law included provisions requiring parental consent certed attack. And it has been severely eroded by such measures as the congressional Hyde Amendment that them from destruction. for minors to have an abortion, allowing husbands to veto "The intensification of class contradictions within each a woman's decision to have an abortion, and requiring bans federal funding of ·abortion and by laws restricting the rights of young women. country, the intensification of antagonisms between one mandatory waiting periods between the time a woman re­ country and another, produce a situation in which im­ quests and receives an abortion. It defined most forms of But the big majority of working people support the perialist capitalism can tolerate (i.e., up to a certain time) contraception as abortion inducing, and imposed crimi­ cause of women's equality and the right to choose abor­ a reformist bureaucracy only if the latter serves directly nal penalties on a physician who failed to inform the pa­ tion. Tens of thousands of supporters of women's rights as a petty but active stockholder of its imperialist enter­ tient that the contraception would "cause fetal death." have shown their readiness to mobilize to defend abortion prises, of its plans and programs within the country as The law also included stringent conditions on late-term rights. The Supreme Court ruling is a confirmation that well as on the world arena." abortions. this hard-won right will not easily be defeated. He also wrote, "In other words, the trade unions in the present epoch cannot simply be the organs of democracy as they were in the epoch of free capitalism and they can­ not any longer remain politically neutral, that is, limit themselves to serving the daily needs of the working class. They cannot any longer be anarchistic, i.e., ignore the decisive influence of the state on the life of people Reactionary new immigration bill and classes. They can no longer be reformist, because the objective conditions leave no room for any serious and The Immigration and Naturalization Service has noncitizens in the country·. lasting reforms. The trade unions of our time can either drafted a new bill that would go even further than the New restrictions would be placed on those coming serve as secondary instruments of imperialist capitalism anti-immigrant legislation now pending in Congress. here. Someone admitted on the basis of filling a particu­ for the subordination and disciplining of workers and for The INS draft measure would authorize use of state lar job would have to hold that job at least a year or be de­ obstructing the revolution, or, on the contrary, the trade and local cops to go after immigrants facing deportation. ported. Those who gain legal status here by marrying a unions can become the instruments of the revolutionary Currently, this is supposed to be the function of INS citizen would lose that status if the marriage broke up movement of the proletariat. agents. A report by the department says enactment of within two years. "From what has been said it follows quite clearly that, such a proviso would give the government "a nationwide New restrictions would be imposed in issuing immi­ in spite of the progressive degeneration of trade unions network of law-enforcement agencies to assist in effect­ gration visas. For instance, visas issued to the brothers and their growing together with the imperialist state, the ing the removal of dangerous and undesirable aliens in a and sisters of citizens would be restricted to "never mar­ work within the trade unions not only does not lose any of cost-effective manner." ried brothers and sisters." its importance but remains as before and becomes in a The bill, perhaps ironically called the Immigration Im­ The INS sees its bill as a supplement to the pending certain sense even more important work than ever for provement . Act, would require undocumented immi­ ,congressional measure. This would declare it illegal for every revolutionary party. The matter at issue is essen­ grants to pay for detention and deportation costs. Their employers to knowingly hire undocumented workers. tially the struggle for influence over the working class. assets, including wages, savings, and property, could be The purpose is to make the undocumented more vulnera­ Every organization, every party, every faction which per­ seize~ for this purpose. ble and thereby subject lo even greater exploitation and mits itself an ultimatistic position in relation to the trade Fines for violation of immigration laws would be shar­ abuse. union, i.e., in essence turns its back upon the working ply increased, in most cases more than doubled. ·The INS amendments are designed to intensify the vic­ class, merely because of displeasure with its organiza­ Immigration snoopers would gain greater access to So­ timization of those driven here by a desperate need for tion, every such organization is destined to perish. And it cial Security records showing the identity and location of work or because of political repression in their homeland. must be said it deserves to perish."

14 The Militant June 13, 1986 The world'S to6acco giants: how they coin billiOils ·

The Smoke Ring by Peter Taylor, New American Li­ have diversified their holdings, taking over other com­ rettes where Western cowboys,go riding into the sunset as brary 1984. 386 pp. panies such as Del Monte and Howard Johnson's, the announcer says, "Come to where the flavor is. _Come to cigarette production continues to generate yearly profits Marlboro Country." The real plight of six typical heavy­ BY BRIAN WILLIAMS of $3 billion. In the United States, tobacco provides $57 smoking U.S. cowboys is examined by this film as each is "The battle to break the Smoke Ring is a battle be­ billion of the Gross National Product. in various stages of dying from cancer or emphysema. tween wealth and health. The tobacco companies · and Taylor documents how these corporations have uti­ governments want to keep people smoking because of the lized their power and influence to keep millions of people One of the most interesting parts of the book is the sec­ wealth cigarettes create . . . . smoking despite growing public awareness about the tion where Taylor documents the superprofits made by "By presenting itself to the world as a creator of health hazards from cigarettes. Millions of Americans these tobacco giants as a result of their heavy sales in wealth, a source of revenue, the supplier of jobs, the may be hooked on nicotine but the owners of these giant semicolonial countries. These corporations are bringer of development, the provider of pleasure, the pa­ tobacco corporations are hooked on the profits that worldwide entities. Philip Morris, for example, sells 160 tron of sport and the arts, and the defender of freedom, cigarettes generate. brands in 160 countries and territories and has manufac­ the tobacco industry has successfully diverted political turing affiliates in 22 countries. Cigarette ads on TV were banned in Britain in 1965 Nearly half of the tobacco produced in the United and the United States in 1970. Tobacco corporations re­ States is exported. The U.S. government has helped pro­ sponded by stepping up the money they put into other ad­ mote tobacco exports to semicolonial countries by in­ BOOK REVIEW vertising. Today, tobacco corporations spend more cluding tobacco in its "Food for Peace" program. money than any other industry on advertising - over $2 billion a year worldwide, $1 billion of this in the United The giant multinational tobacco corporations also pro­ and public attention from the real issue at stake: that the States, They put a big focus on becoming public sponsors tect their interests abroad·by bribing government officials product from which all these undoubted benefits flow has of sporting events and the arts. in countries where these companies operate. In the mid- 1970s, for example, R.J. Reynolds admitted paying out wiped out more people than ·an the wars of this century." Since 1964 when the first U.S. surgeon general's re­ over $5 million in bribes. These are among the themes developed by British port came out explaining the dangers of cigarette smok­ Broadcasting Corporation TV reporter Peter Taylor in a ing, the tobacco companies have been fighting back in a Tobacco is grown as a cash export crop in im­ new expanded edition of his book The Smoke Ring. massive way. They attempt to use their billions to pre­ poverished countries worldwide from India to Bra­ Taylor focuses on the operation of six corporations that vent the truth from being told. One of the most famous zil, from Tanzania to the Philippines. These coun­ together manufacture 40 percent of the world's ciga­ antismoking TV documentaries entitled Death in the tries have had their economies distorted as a result rettes. They are: Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, and West - the Marlboro Story, was suppressed for many of centuries of colonial rule and imperialist exploi­ American-Brands in the United States; British-American years as a result of successful court action undertaken by tation. The evidence presented in the Smoke Ring Tobacco Industries and the Imperial Group in Britain; Philip Morris. points to the need for a society where health takes and the Rembrandt Group in South Africa. This documentary provided a powerful answer to the priority over profiteering adventures of the corporate bil­ Tobacco is big business. While these corporations once-commonplace TV commercials for Marlboro ciga- lionaires.

--LEIIERS--~------

Abortion rights disasters are exploited by the U.S. A Motherhood By Choice pick­ government. et was held May 9 at the Federal The Militant did the right thing Building in honor of Mother's to let the people know here in the Day. The picket was attended by United States about U.S. nuclear 40 people to demand that the plants close to populated areas harassment of women at clinics be ·Such as the Shoreham plant on stopped and that the clinic bom­ Long Island. bers be brought to justice. Two Look at Three Mile Island and clinics were bombed in Cincinnati the cover-up at that plant in 1979. in late December, .and the P<)iice The people need to know the have done little to find the bom­ truth about U.S. nuclear plants bers. Since then, the harassment and it's my view that your news­ of women at the clinics has con­ paper the Militant did the rlght tinually escalated. thing by exposing the tJ. S. lies. A prisoner The picket wa~ .called by, the . March 9 committee, which was Goodyear, Arizona formed to organize participation in the historic March for Women's Joe Louis Lives· on March 9 in Washington. In his review of Champion, the Since that time, the committee has biography of Joe Louis in the May -- continued to actively fight for 30 Militant, Baxter Smith noted abortion rights locally. that in the 1960s, some had The picket was alsoendorsed by criticized Louis for not being more Cincinnati NOW and the Freedom outspoken against racism; Smith of Choice Coalition. Following said he thought that was largely a the picket, a meeting was attended . bum rap, and I agree. by 20 women to plan for future ac­ Over the years, Louis con­ tivities. The committee's next ac­ ducted himself in a way that made tivity will be marching in a clear his realization that millions of Black people in this country prochoice contingent of the Gay tells the naked truth about all is­ was only used to coat citrus fruits, Unmanned space exploration is saw him as a symbol of their race Pride parade for Gay Pride week. sues on both the national and il)terc now also is used to produce relatively inexpensive - a single and their aspirations. Peggy Mow national level. It helps me under­ steroids used against asthma, B-1 bomber costs as much as a I remember ·a small incident Cincinnati, Ohio stand why socialism would be the which affects I 0 percent cif the Mars rover would. Only days be­ which suggested his sense of system that we need to adopt in Cuban population. fore the shuttle disaster, the Voy­ awareness on the issue of racism. order to save this country and the Hundreds of thousands of me­ ager's encounter with Uranus and One evening in the late '40s, a world from complete disaster, ters of particle board made from its moons showed dramatically the Backed down group of us were up in Harlem here in "the now times." cane fiber residue, known as value of nonmilitary, genuinely I am a prisoner in Maryland and selling the Militarit and the pam­ A prisoner bagasse, is currently an important scientific space missions. Hardly would like to start receiving the phlet, "A Practical Program to Kill Huntingdon, Pennsylvania supplement to the lumber indus­ surprising that funds are scarce for Militant newspaper again. Jim Crow." try. Bleached sugarcane pulp was such peaceful voyages, while bil­ The prison administration pro­ developed to produce writing One of our salespeople, seeing a hibited your publication a few Cuban science lions are poured into Star Wars paper and newsprint to the tune of missiles. , crowd in front of the old Hotel months ago; but have apparently Enormous ·gains have been Theresa, walked·over to see what 200,000 tons a year. Just as im­ Humans have always been dri­ backed down after I contacted the made by the Cuban people since was happening. their 1959 revolution in the areas portant, cane byproducts serve as ven to unlock the secrets of nature. American Civil Liberties Union nutrients for the growth of All were crowded near the win­ and my attorney. So far, Intercon­ of medicine, education, culture, Increasing our understanding of 100,000 tons a year of Torula the . universe is one of the best dow of the hotel's cocktail lounge, tinental Press is arriving once · art, and science. Let me focus on looking in at Louis who.was;stand­ yeast for animal feed. Human pro­ ways to weaken the hold of relig­ again and not being blocked by the the recent developments with ing and chatting with some tein supplements have aiso been ious mythology. system. sugarcane as an example. friends. developed from the cane's nucleic Our choice is not one between Cane production today is 85 Our salesperson, an enterpris­ I would appreciate it very much acids. earth and space. It is a choice be­ percent mechanized, with special ing one, got up to the window, if you would send me the Militant The resourcefulness of revolu­ tween funding human needs, in­ harvesters developed by the Cuban tapped on it, and, when ·she got newspaper again to see if the macheteros (cutters) themselves. tionary Cuba is an inspiration to cluding our urge to discovery, and prison authorities are obeying the all working people and an example Louis' attention, held up the pam- Cane mills have been drastically wasting billions on big-business phlet. · law or not. · of what is possible in a society profits and the military· machine modernized, techniques · im­ He looked at the title, came out A prisoner where human needs are more im­ that defends them. proved, and the person-hours re­ and made his way through the Hagerstown, Maryland portant than profits. Caryl Sholin quired to harvest and grow each crowd to buy a copy. .· ton significantly reduced. Mark Friedman Portland, Oregon Detroit, Michigan Harry Ring Great pleasure New uses recently developed New York, New York It gives me great pleasure to be for sugarcane byproducts have in­ Nuclear disaster a reader of the Militant publica­ creased the importance of cane Too narrow I was recently. transferred to tion, whenever I am lucky enough production. New hybrid cane While your article in the April another U.S. Prisoner of War con­ The letters column is an open to receive a copy from one of the . plants have been developed that 14 issue of the Militant on the centration camp in Arizona. ~They forum for all viewpoints on sub­ fellow prisoners here at Hun­ are more resistant to drought, fun­ space shuttle made valid points keep moving me around. jects of general interest to our­ tingdon Prison. However, I would gus, and disease (both the natural about the militarization of space I just got your May 16 edition. readers. Please keep yourletters like very much to become a steady varieties and those artificially in­ and the sacrifice of safety to prof­ The Militant tells the truth about brief. Where necessary they will subscriber to the Militant. troduced by the CIA to destroy its,. your conclusion that money capitalism. be abridged. Please indicate if The Militant is such an impor­ cane crops). The wax of the sugar should be spent on earth rather The U.S. lied about the nuclear you prefer that your initials be tant newspaper to· me because it cane plant, for example, which than space was too narrow. disaster in the Soviet Union. Such used rather than your run name.

June 13, 1986 TheMWtani IS THE MILITANT Toledo abortion clinic bombed BY MARIAN CARR Even after the May 20 attack, the Toledo· TOLEDO, Ohio-On May 20 arsonists Police Department has refused to increase broke into a downtown abortion clinic here its surveillance of the clinic or provide ad­ and set off a firebomb that destroyed the equate police protection. clinic. Damage at the Center for Choice was estimated at $160,000. An investigation was launched by the Arson Response Team, comprising city, The clinic's director, Carol Dunn, im­ county, state, and federal arson experts, as · mediately announced the determination of well as an official from the U.S. Bureau of her staff to continue providing abortion ser­ Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Tom Hill, vices to women. Within hours, they were spokesperson for the Washington, D.C. , set up again, sharing the facilities of BATF office, said his agency has investi­ another clinic, the Toledo Medical Ser­ gated 42 abortion-clinic bombings since vices. 1982. There have been only a handful of The response from local supporters of arrests. abortion rights was swift. All-night vigils Harassment, threats, and other attempts at both clinics were organized by the To­ to prevent women from exercising their ledo chapter of the National Organization constitutional right to choose abortion con­ for Women. tinue._ Toledo NOW President Joyce Arend On May 23 a crowd of right-wing ·anti­ condemned the attack and said, "This is abortion fanatics gathered outside the To­ terrorism. This kind of attack makes sup­ ledo Medical Services. The group, Chris­ porters of abortion rights more fervent in tians United Against Abortion, had the day their belief that abortion should remain safe before announced their intention to try to and legal." close all abortion clinics in the city. Their A newly formed coalition, Responsible spokesperson, Rex Carpenter, denied this Choice-Northwest Ohio, has called a rally was a threat. "We are planning nothing June 26 to mobilize support for abortion against them, but we believe the Lord will rights and to demand adequate police pro­ close them down," he said. tection of the clinics, and the investigation, Militant/Lynn Edmiston arrest, and prosecution of those responsible Meanwhile, a judge ordered the eviction Dam~ to Center f?r Choice was $160,000. Response by abortion rights supporters for the attacks. of the Center for Choice from office space was swift. New coalition bas called June 26 rally to fight terrorism against clinics. in the building where the clinic had been The coalition is reaching out to unions; bombed. They had been battling the build­ women's rights groups; campus, commu­ ing's owners, the Sam Davis Co., over at­ Among those who joined in the effort .functioning again using the facilities of nity, and.church organizations; and all sup­ tempts to evict them. was Roberta Scherr, the Socialist Workers another clinic. Supporters of abortion porters of democratic rights to join the pro­ Party candidate for governor of Ohio. rights rallied to their defense immediately test and to help raise funds to rebuild the So the clinic staff was forced to move Scherr is a long-time fighter for women's · and are continuing efforts to rebuild the clinic. out on short notice. When the movi~g com­ rights and a member of the United Auto clinic. In doing so, we also rededicate our­ pany they hired didn't show up, they had to Workers union and the National Organiza­ selves to the battle to keep abortion safe There is a history of violence against hurriedly find another. To prevent the tion for Women. and legal." abortion clinics here. Last December an ·clinic staff from inissing a June I, 4:00 Scherr called for the broadest possible arson attack caused $20,000 damage at the p.m. deadline that would put them in con­ In a press release issued after the bomb­ mobilization to push back ·and defeat the Toledo Medical Services. Two other tempt of court, supporters of abortion ihg, Scherr said, "The clinic staff and their right-wing terrorist campaign against a bombing incidents at this clinic occurred rights responded to an emergency call and supporters acted quickly in the face of this woman's constitutional right to ._ choose since last August. helped move the office. dangerous attack. Within hours, they were abortion. Farm crisis, racism hit Black farDlers hard ' ·.~ i

,BY RASHAAD ALI to defend Eddie from the political, eco­ farmers." Kinsman notes that both "Mississippi The May issue of the North American nomic, and physical assaults leveled In 1977, Eddie Carthan was elected Congressman Webb Franklin and former Farmer, newspaper of the North American against him." _ mayor of Tchula, Mississippi, a small town Mississippi FinHA Director Don Barrett Farm Alliance, ran an article headlined, Kin-sman goes on. to explain that "after in the cotton belt in the Delta region of that were instrumental in denying these loans" "Former Black mayor confronts .racial dis­ his father's death, Eddie Carthan assumed state. He spent 14 months in prison as a re­ to Carthan and "appear to be involved in crimination by lenders." The article dealt control of the farm and its debts. In 1984 sult of a racist frame-up- to remove him and the bank foreclosure action." with the problems of Black farmers, focus­ and 1985 the FmHA (Farmers Home Ad­ six members of his administration from of­ After public disclosure of several "large, fice. The case became. known as the ing on former Tcl)ula, Mississippi, mayor ministration) refused to grant Carthan an questionable loans, including a · "Tchula 7." Eddie Carthan. operating loan," and the 800-acre cotton $10,130,000 loan to his brother-in-law's The aim of the article, written by John farm is "facing imminent foreclosure by National and international protest won secretary," Barrett resigned as director. Kinsman, was to rally support for Black the First National Bank of Lexington, Mis­ his release from prison. family farmers. "Unless we care enough to sissippi." The farm paper says that "the crimes for Don Barrett was instrumental in putting take some action to stop the discrimination Literature put out by the Federation of which Mayor Carthan was tried and con­ pressure on the North Mississippi United against Mr. Delaney, Mr. Carthan, and Southern Cooperatives states that in "Mis­ victed were: Refusal to accept bribes. Run­ Methodist Church Conference to force the other Black family farmers," it explained, sissippi, where 43 percent of all farmers ning an honest government in Tchula. bishops and the National United Methodist "they are doomed. For us to allow the in­ are Black, the FinHA loaned only 7. 7 per­ Treating all persons equally. Improving the Church Board_to cut e>ff funding for social justice of forced extinction of Black farm­ cent of its total appropriation to Black standard of living for all people." Continued on Page S ers can only pave the way for the extinction of all of us who are family farmers." Like other working farmers, Blacks are being driven off the land as a result of com­ Black unionists support anti-apartheid actions modity prices that are too low to enable them to meet their cost of production and · BY MACEO DIXON However, a CBTU Women's Conference coming June 14 protest in New York earn enough to live on. But Black farmers ATLANTA- Nearly 1,300 delegates officially opened the convention. against apartheid in South Africa and U.S. also face discrimination at the hands of the and guests attended the 15th annual con­ Speaking at this conference were CBTU ties to it. All delegates received materials banks and the government, which are forc­ vention of the Coalition of Black T(ade President William Lucy; Alexis Herman, for the action. ing Blacks off the land at a much faster rate Unionists (CBTU) May 23~26. They rep­ executive director of the National- Com­ A special session during the convention than white farmers. resented some 72 international unions. mission on Working Women; and Jean was held to discuss South Africa. Speakers A 1986 report titled "Black Land Loss: Discussions and resolutions adopted re­ Young, wife of Atlanta's Mayor Andrew at it included Cecilie Counts, campaign di­ The Other Crisis in Rural America" by the flected ~orne of the experiences of Black Young. rector for TransAfrica; Nomonde Ngubo, a Federation of Southern Cooperatives, re­ unionists in responding to the attacks by The Women's Committee of the CBTU South African who is now a staff member veals that "Black farmers are losing land at the ruling class and their government at was made a standing committee "to pro­ of the United Mine Workers of America; an astounding rate of I ,000 acres per day. home and abroad. mote the concerns of Black trade union and David Ndaba, African National Con­ Unless the policies of the U.S. Department The convention took positive stands on women, educate trade union women, and gress of South Africa. The film Mandela of Agriculture are changed there will be no affirmative action, youth unemployment, develop programs which will benefit Black was also shown. more Black farmers by the year 2,000." equal education, plant closings, two-tier women in the trade union movement." Counts explained, "Apartheid is not just The North American Farmer reports that wage systems, the meatpackers' strike By far the most important theme that ran a foreign policy issue, it is a domestic "a month after Eddie Carthan was released againt Hormel ·in Austin, Minnesota, and through the convention was the need to issue. Our tax dollars are being used to from prison in November of 1983, his opposition to Reagan's war moves and acts support the South African freedom strug­ fund Black collaborators [of South Africa] father, James Carthan, died. The Carthan of war throughout the world. gle. who fight the Angolan government." family farm, which the elder Mr. Carthan Unlike at previous conventions there Organizers of the New York Anti-Apart­ Ngubo attacked the Sullivan Principles was running, was heavily mortgaged to were no resolutions that specifically took heid Coordinating Council set up tables to as a sham in dealing with apartheid racism. cover the immense l,egal expenses needed up the concerns of Black women workers. sell T~shirts and buttonspublicizing the up- Continued on Page 7

16 The Militant June 13, 1986