Meetings show wide backing for April 25 • 3 TH£ In Nicaragua, prisoners have human rights . . 8 SWAPO leader on Namibia freedom tight . . 11

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 51/NO. 6 FEBRUARY 13, 1987 75 CENTS Sandinista Philippine plebiscite leader answers sparks intense debate

BY DEB SHNOOKAL Reagan AND RUSSELL JOHNSON MANILA - In the first vote since dic­ tator Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown in BY CINDY JAQUITH February 1986, Filipinos voted 4-to-1 for a MANAGUA, Nicaragua - "Reagan is proposed new constitution. The plebiscite reaffmning his policy of war. We are reaf­ was held February 2. firming our policy of dignity, of struggle, The supporters of the government of of no surrender; our policy of peace," said President Corazon Aquino and its rightist Gen. Humberto Ortega, head of the San­ opponents presented the issue in the plebis­ dinista People's Army, January 28. cite as simply "for or against Aquino.'' Ortega was addressing 2,500 Nicara­ The campaign to ratify the new constitu­ guan union officials, community activists, tion adopted slogans such as "Yes for sta­ and women and youth leaders here the bility, yes for democracy," and, "Give night after President Ronald Reagan's peace a chance." State of the Union speech. In his speech, Events in the weeks preceding the vote Reagan pledged to continue aiding the con­ on the constitution tended to reinforce the tra mercenaries waging war on Nicaragua. popular appeal of such slogans. Ortega pointed out that the Reagan The Aquino government was rocked by speech comes in the context of the irrever­ a number of crises leading up to the Feb­ sible defeat being suffered by the contras at ruary 2 referendum. On January 22 a dem­ the hands of the armed Nicaraguan people. onstration of peasants demanding land was Already in the first 28 days of 1987, San­ fired on by the military as it marched to the dinista troops have killed 300 contras and Malacafiang presidential palace. wounded 200. Meanwhile, pressure is in­ Nineteen were killed and many wound­ creasing on Washington from Latin Amer­ ed. This was the first large-scale massacre ican governments to negotiate with Nicara­ of peaceful protesters under the Aquino gua. government. Nevertheless, Ortega continued, "we While ordering an inquiry into the shoot­ should be clear that the military situation ings, which became known as the "Men­ Nineteen peasants were murdered by military as·they demonstrated for land O..tside remains.serious." The Reagan administra­ diola massacre" after the name of the presidential palace January 22. tion still hopes "to destroy the Nicaraguan · · bridge where it took place, Aquino refused revolution." to put the blame squarely on the military. January 26 at Malacafiang. This was fol­ agreed to surrender peacefully to him. He reported that Washington has re­ Some in the Aquino camp were deeply lowed by "people's strikes" in Mindanao, Aquino then praised Ramos' actions at a cently increased the number of .warships shaken by the incident.. A majority of the Cebu, the Bataan Export Processing Zone rally of 300,000 supporting ratification of off Nicaragua's coasts and the number of members of the Presidential Committee on (BEPZ - a free-trade area), and many the constitution. spy flights over the Pacific Coast and the Human Rights resigned in protest. other parts of the country; On January 31, just before the plebis­ Managua region in particular. Meanwhile a Maria Diokno resigned from the govern­ Less than a week after the January 22 cite, three pickets were shot dead and 36 U.S. destroyer has arrived in the Costa ment negotiating team conducting peace shootings, some 500 rightist-led soldiers others were wounded when the military Rican port of Puerto Limon. talks with the National Democratic Front. attacked several military and other installa­ smashed through barricades in an effort to The U.S.-organized mercenaries con­ This coalition supports tile armed struggle tions. They succeeded in capturing a build­ break a strike in the BEPZ. tinue to try to infiltrate Nicaragua's north­ waged by the rural~based New People's ing housing television station Channel 7 At a February 3 news conference called em and southern borders. The CIA is cur­ Army. and a radio station. They holed up there for to protest this attack, KMU Chainnan Cris­ rently trying to launch an offensive from In response to the shooting, the NDF four days, attracting support from en­ pin Beltran demanded Aquino prosecute Honduras into Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast, withdrew from the talks and abandoned the thusiastic Marcos loyalists. those responsible. home of most Nicaraguans who are Black public otfice it opened in the National Aquino threatened the rebel officers "It is ironical that while the government or Indian. Press Club in December. NDF negotiators with court-martial. But armed forces chief treats the workers and peasants with vio­ Military defense thus remains the central went into hiding. A 60-day cease-fire be­ Fidel Ramos ignored her threat to storm the lence and deception, it treats criminal ele­ task . for Nicaraguans· in 1987, Ortega tween the guerrillas and the government is occupied station. He waited until the rebels Continued on Page 13 explained. "We have to prepare ourselves due to end February 8. in order to demonstrate that our people are The Aquino government was also dam­ willing to fight.'' aged when tapes were published revealing This will include a major campaign to that Aquino and executive secretary Joker give thousands of Managuans military Arroyo, under pressure from the U.S. State Kanak freedom fighters training over the coming months. They will Department, had discussed influencing the both strengthen defense here in the capital votes of members of the commission that and be ready for missions in other parts of drafted the constitution. The issue was meet in New Caledonia the country. whether the constitution should allow U.S. Through this mobilization, Ortega said, military bases on Philippine soil. BY SAM MANUEL in the area known as the South Pacific Managuans can help defeat the remaining The May 1 Movement (KMU), a mili­ ARAMA, New Caledonia - Over 400 Forum group voted to recommend to the contras in the countryside "more rapidly." tant trade-union federation, and the Philip­ Kanaks and independence supporters at­ United Nations Decolonization Committee Those Managuans not called up for mil­ pine Peasant Movement (KMP) responded tended a national congress of the Kanak: that New Caledonia be listed as a non-self­ Continued on Page 2 to the massacre with a rally of 30,000 on Socialist National Liberation Front governing country - that is, a colony of (FLNKS) held here January 30-February France. 1. Among the .countries included in the The FLNKS grew out of an uprising South Pacific Forum are Fiji, Vanuatu, Civil rights activists attend church against French colonialism in 1984-85. Even the French authorities estimate the in all-white ·Georgia county FLNKS .enjoys the support of at least 80 Sam Manuel will soon ·join Deb percent of the Kanaks and a smaller Shnookal and Russen Johnson in BY SARAH JEAN JOHNSTON ganized attack on an antiracist march on number of whites and Polynesians. The the Philippines, where they will population of New Caledonia is 120,000, AND KEN MILlNER January 17. provide on-the-spot coverage. Be­ CUMMING, Ga.-Veteran civil rights half of which are Kanaks, the indigenous In the frrst major act of integrating an in­ inhabitants of the island. fore arriving in New Caledonia, leader Hosea Williams led a caravan with stitution in Forsyth County, the biracial 75 people from Atlanta to eight all-white Though it is a French colony, New Manuel was in New Zealand and group from Atlanta was received by close Caledonia has a 43-member territorial as­ churches in Forsyth County on Sunday, to 2,000 Forsyth residents. In many cases, Australia. February 1. sembly with limited powers. Representa­ there was an emotional outpouring of tion comes from four regions. The FLNKS Escorted by County Sheriff Wesley warmth and friendship. controls three of the four. Cook Islands, Samoa, New Zealand, and Walraven, and monitored by the Georgia At the Cumming United Methodist The central purpose of the congress was Australia. Bureau of Investigation and an observer Church, chairs were unfolded to make to de_cide how to respond to the French Reaction from Paris has been swift. from the U.S. Justice Department, the room for eight Blacks who were seated in government's proposal for a referendum on Vanuatu's Prime Minister Walter Lini re­ caravan met no incidents at any of the the aisle. Harold Lawrence, the pastor, of­ independence for the island, tentatively vealed on Radio Australia that French aid churches. fered a welcome to the delegation and scheduled for July. to Vanuatu had been cut by 10 percent. This action took place one week after urged, "You join us whenever possible." The French proposal is an unabashed at­ "French aid will be distributed differ­ 30,000 antiracist protesters marched He then invited a Black minister, Ody tempt to undercut the impact of recent in­ ently now, countries like Vanuatu cannot through the streets of Cumming. That ac­ Wright of Atlanta's Salem Baptist Church, ternational political gains made by the expect more money while they are doing tion was in answer to a Ku Klux Kl~or- Continued on Page 2 FLNKS. Last August, 13 island countries Continued on Page 13 -· ' Austr8li8n Blacks resist racist attacks BY SAM MANUEL when a young Black, Bruce Boney, was When Black youths outside attempted to the town, the Royal and the Victoria, were BOGGABILLA, Australia- Aborigi­ thrown out of a pub and dance hall in rescue Hinsh, the gang inside shut the damaged. The Victoria Hotel's owner nal people (Blacks) in this rural town, lo­ Goondiwindi. doors and windows. "Reggie almost es­ claimed that there had never been any dis­ cated in the state of New South Wales, The 17-year-old told the Militant, "I caped," said Boney, "but they dragged him crimination against the Blacks at his hotel. have been victimized by repeated violent paid the $5 admission fee and went in to back inside and continued to beat him." He stated, "They've never been refused a attacks in recent years. · take a seat. No one said anything to me at Somehow Hinsh managed to escape his drink here." But he added, 'They will be Moreover, Blacks from Boggabilla and the door. Several minutes later a white guy attackers. If he had not, many feel that he banned from the hotel. I don't care if they Toomelah are provided with virtually no who works as a bouncer there told me that could have been beaten to death. He was take me to court for racial discrimination, · social services and recreational facilities. I had to go." taken to the hospital where he required sev­ they are not coming back in here." On the weekends, they often go to the Boney was given no reason for his evic­ eral stitches and was treated for multiple One of the patrons at the pub reportedly largely white town . of Goondiwindi just tion and his money was not refunded. injuries. described the Blacks as "a big dark cloud across the border in Queensland. 'That state As Boney was escorted out, two white Several whites then caine out of the pub of blowflies crossing the street towards us. is notorious for its racist policies and treat­ youths entered the pub through a window. led by Tony Hampstead, who is known by "There were so many Blacks in here you ment of the Aborigines. They were followed by a Black youth the Blacks as "Mad Dog." They began to could hardly breathe," he said. - The area exploded on .the weekend of named Reggie Hinsh. Inside, 10 white bash in the windows of cars on the street January 10-11 as Black youths, subjected thugs pounded on Hinsh and brutally beat that were occupied by Blacks. A Queensland cabinet minister, Peter to one attack too many, fought back against him. None of the 50 other people in the pub The next day several carloads of Blacks McKechnie, accused the Blacks of "belting white thugs. The struggle was touched off attempted to stop the beating. entered Goondiwindi. Two of the pubs in up people at random and smashing win­ dows." In a not so subtle display of racial prejudice, he stated, "It's all right if a few of them want to get down into the riverbed Activists go to church in aU-white county or wherever. That's their business. But to attack innocent people will not be toler­ Coatinued from front page Prior to the Atlanta caravan's arrival, Forsyth County, delivered a six-point pro­ ated." to speak. some white churchgoers were heckled in gram of demands to Forsyth County offi­ He concluded, "We don't have this sort Wright invited the congregation of 200 front of their churches by a small grouping cials. of problem with Aborigines living here." to attend bis church in Atlanta. of racists. The coalition calls for a biracial commit­ According to Race Discrimination Com­ A number of residents of Forsyth County At one church, a white couple drove up, tee to work toward improving oppor­ missioner Irene Moss, however, "Com­ explained to the Militant that if it had not saw the caravan, backed out of the church tunities for Blacks in the county. The com­ plaints have been made about racism in the been for the march the week before, they parking lot, and drove away. mittee would be responsible for carrying town's hotels, shops, schools, and sporting wouldn't have had the courage to do this. Hosea Williams said the reception "did out the six points, including the return of teams." These aetions took place in a climate something positive for our attitude toward land or property taken from Blacks in For­ where the St. Pines Church in Forsyth had Forsyth County." syth; having the federal government inves­ In the face of the recent attacks on been burned to the ground on January 23. Immediately after the January 24 march, tigate public and private employment prac­ Blacks, the New South Wales Teachers Many believe the fire was set by racist the Atlanta media started raising questions tices; exchange programs between Fulton Union has called upon the state govern­ scum in response to a few Black families about the impact of demonstrations. At County, where Atlanta is located, and For­ ment to provide space in New South Wales from north Fulton County having attended frrst, they complained about the cost of syth County; and the investigation of • classrooms for Black students currently as­ the cbureh. cops to defend the marchers. By January businesses that receive government funds signed to attend school in Goondiwindi. 28 the Atlanta Constitution carried a front­ · to ensure equal opportunities for Blacks. The Moree Aboriginal Legal Service has page article and an editorial attacking the The president of the Forsyth County announced that it will defend all those Blacks that are charged. march. · Chamber of Commerce, the mayor of In an article titled "March has limited Cumming, and other officials drove to At­ The events in Goondiwindi have put a impact on real needs of Blacks, critics lanta February 2 to meet with the governor spotlight on the racist conditions faced by say," Robert Woodson, chairman of a and hand deliver a written response to Blacks in Australia. As one Aboriginal right-wing outfit called the Council for a Hosea Williams at the Atlanta City Council leader in Toomelah explained, "We can't Black Economic Agenda, said the demon­ meeting. just sit by and ignore what's happening to stration was a show of weakness on the part The coalition is now considering a re­ . us. We were defending our pride, our dig­ of civil rights organizations. He described sponse. nity when we went to Goondiwindi." the march as an example of their obsession with the past,· and unwillingness to tackle. drug abuse, unemployment, and other problems that plague the Black communi­ Sandinista leader answers Reagan ty. C. T. Vivian, a longtime civil rights ac­ Continued from front page to _the U.S. government. tivist and national head of the Center for a itary duty will also have an important task: "The strategic accomplishment of the Democratic Renewi:u, responded to the at­ increasing production. Through the sac­ revolution is that in the midst of this bloody tacks . . "They are trying to divert us from rifices of the workers and peasants, the war, which we have been winning, we the cause to what are only symptoms," he war-induced decline in Nicaragua's eco­ have. maintained this subsistence econ­ said. nomic production is finally being reversed. omy," said Ortega. "We have maintained · In a press conference organized by the While Nicaragua suffered a 5 percent eco­ the people's hope for a better life. This is Atlanta Student Coalition Against Apart­ nomic decline in 1985, in 1986 it was able the accomplishment of the revoiution. This heid and Racism (ASCAAR), State Repre~ to reduce that negative rate to -0.41 per­ is the victory of the people." sentative Mable Thomas called on the cent. The goal for 1987 is to surpass zero The capacity of oppressed peoples to Georgia General Assembly to create a growth and achieve a 2.1 percent growth sacrifice and struggle are more powerful commission of inquiry to investigate tbe rate. than Washington's military might, he-said. possibility of financial c8mpensation for The U.S. rulers cannot comprehend this. Blacks driven from Forsyth County in Ortega pointed out that the U.S. govern­ "That's why they lost in Vietnam; that's 1912. She also called on Gov. Joe Frank ment had hoped through its war to bleed why they lost in Korea; and that's why Harris to appoint such a panel, which. Nicaragua dry economically and thus de­ their mercenary forces are losing here would make her bill in the legislature un­ moralize the people. This has failed. Nica­ against our people." necessary. raguan working people have instead cho­ The meeting closed with chants of Protester at January 24 march in For­ On January 30 Hosea Williams, for the sen to survive on a subsistence economy "Here, no one will ever surrender!" the na­ syth County. Coalition to End Fear and Intimidation in for several years now, rather than surrender tional Nicaraguan slogan for 1987.

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2 The Militant February 13, 1987 Coalition meetings show broad support for.April 25 march

BY LISA AHLBERG meeting was. chaired by Rev. Clyde vention." NEW YORK - Some 200 activists Brooks, president of the Chicago chapter The People's Daily World has carried from labor, church, solidarity, anti-apart­ of the Southern Christian Leadership Con­ several articles on the action. On January heid, and student groups met here January furenre. · 21 it quoted Gus Hall, general secretary of 28 to begin discussing plans to build New There was discussion over whether addi­ the Communist Party USA, as saying, York-area participation in the April 25 tional demands should be added, but the ''The national April 25-27 days of protest march and rally in Washington, D.C. A meeting voted overwhelmingly to endorse initiated by trade unions can be the biggest few days before, 125 people met in the national demands. Jack Spiegel, a demonstration against Reaganism and for Chicago January 24 to form the Chicago leader of the Chicago Peace Council, who peace in U.s . history." April Mobilization Coalition. had argued for inclusion of a demand con­ The breadth of the New York and demning Reagan's Star Wars plan, called The November-December issue of Dem­ Chicago coalition meetings shows the po­ on those who had criticized the national ap­ ocratic Left, published by the Democratic tential that exists to mobilize significant peal to join the local coalition anyway. Socialists of America, reported, "DSA's ' participation in the April 25 action against "We cannot leave this · meeting," said National Interim Committee voted to make Militant/Della Rossa U.S. government policy. Spiegel, "without committing ourselves" the march a major priority for the spring." Participant in November 1 antiwar pro­ The march will demand an end to the to the demands of the national march. In a recent issue of Frontline Linda test in Los Angeles. National actions on U.S. government's intervention in Central Paras, a memt>er of Line of March's Na­ April 2S will be held in Washington, America and its support ·to apartheid in Potential for a united action · tional Executive Committee, says "focus­ D.C., and San Francisco. South Africa. The actions in Washington, D.C., and ing our mobilization this April on the is­ Sonia lvany from Hospital and. Health San Francisco are beginning to receive sues of the U.S. war in Central America priorities in the months ahead should be the Care Employees Union Local 1199 wel­ publicity in a number of left-wing, labor, and the Reagan administration's criminal April 25-27 Mobilization for Justice and comed everyene to the New York mobiliz­ and solidarity publications. partnership with Sou~ African apartheid Peace in Central America and Southern Af­ ing meeting. "We're committed to making takes excellent advantage of the present po­ rica. This action, a mass march and rally in this demonstration a massive statement," The California AFL-C/0 News has car­ litical juncture." Washington on the 25th and civil disobedi­ she explained. ried an article publicizing the Western Union backing for the action is growing. States Mobilization in San Francisco. "Massive public protest with a sharp ence on the 27th, has a broader character than most other mobilizations of recent A steering committee meeting the previous focus will exploit this moment to the fullest The Alert, published by CISPES, said, advantage," Paras added. years." week was attended by Jan Pierce, an Inter­ "The movements for peace and justice in national vice-president of the Communica­ Central America and Southern Africa have The Guardian, a radical newsweekly This article is also based on a report tions Workers of America; Dennis Rivera, issued an historic call for a Spring 1987 na­ published in New York, wrote in a Feb­ from Militant correspondent Tom 0 ' Brien executive vice-president of Hospital Em­ tional dembnstration to protest U.S. inter- ruary 4 editorial, "High among activists' in Chicago. ployees Local 1199; Sam Meyers, presi­ dent of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 259, and Ernesto Joffre of the Amal­ gamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union (ACTWU). More facts surface in N.Y." lynching Several New York officials have re­ cently added their names as sponsors of the BY FRED FELDMAN Earlier, Sandiford had said he thought mitted that he had been reluctant to press action, and representatives from a number NEW YORK - ''These four guys that Griffith had fled with him through a the attackers to provide evidence. of unions attended the January 28 coalition chased Griffith down 90th Street to his hole in the fence near the highway and had meeting. death on the parkway. This was cold­ then been struck by a car. Sandiford had When Sandiford refused to cooperate Organizations represented at the meeting blooded murder." been badly beaten about the head with a with the cover-up, Mayor Edward Koch also included the Committee in Solidarity This comment by a police official here, baseball bat and one eye w.as damaged. He and other officials claimed this made pro­ with the People of El Salvador (CISPES), quoted in the February 3 Newsday, later declined to view a police lineup be­ secution virtually impossible. Nicaragua Solidarity Network, American summed up new information that has come cause of his impaired vision. "The fmt thing you want to do is ·get Committee on Africa, U.S. Peace Council, out about the December 20 lynching of The new evidenre coming to light con­ some of them [the lynchers] to become an Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immi­ Michael Griffith by a racist gang in How­ firms the charges by Sandiford, Grimes, informant - that is basic prosecutorial grant Rights, Bloque Socialista, Casa Nic­ ard Beach. and their attorneys Alton Maddox, Jr. and technique," ,~d Maso11, ":But that 'Yas not aragua, Casa El Salvador, Mobilization for C. Vernon Mason that the police and city Santucci's approach. His approach to Special prosecutor Charles Hynes is now \vas · Survival. Vietnam Veterans Against War, officials were engaged in a cover-up. try to convince the public that he had an un­ reportedly asking a grand jury to deliver Rainbow Coalition, Democratic Socialists Queens District Attorney John Santucci ad- cooperative witness" in Sandiford. of America, Soviet-American Friendship murder indictments against three members Society, Socialist Workers Party, and the of the gang, based on the confession of a Young Socialist Alliance. fourth. Three other whites involved in the attack were charged with reckless endan­ The meeting was chaired by Leslie germent after a judge dismissed murder Cudahy steps up use of scabs Cagan, a national coordinator of the Wash­ charges against them on December 29. ington, D.C., action. David Dyson, union label director for According to articles in the New York to break ~neat-packers' strike· ACTWU and executive director for the Times and Newsday, reportedly based on Labor Committee for Human Rights and the testimony of a lynch-gang member, a BY TONY PRINCE hood of Electrical Workers, and Amalga­ Democracy in El Salvador, spoke. group of white youths in a parked car CUDAHY, Wis. -The strike by 850 mated Clothing and Textile Workers, have shouted racist epithets at Griffith, Charles also walked the picket lines with the .meat- Also speaking was Jeff Mackler, a repre­ meat-packers at the Patrick Cudahy pack­ Sandiford, and Timothy Grimes as they en­ ing plant continues to gain support in the packers. · sentative of the West Coast Mobilization tered a pizza parlor in Howard Beach, an for Peace, Jobs, and Justice, which is or­ Milwaukee labor movement. A hundred Members of United Food and Coll1Ill;er­ overwhelmingly white neighborhood. workers from the Briggs & Stratton plant, cial Workers Union (UFCW) Local P-40 ganizing a march and rally in San Fran­ Their car had broken down on a nearby cisco on the same day as the Washington the largest factory in Milwaukee, walked have been on strike since the beginning of highway. January after rejecting Cudahy's takeback action. the picket line with striking meat-packers The whites then returned to a party, and on January 25. demands. · ·several participants urged the New York at least one said, ''There's some niggers in Members of other unions in the area, in­ The company is moving full speed ahead coalition to add a point to the national call the pizza parlor. Let's go kill them." cluding the United Auto Workers, United with its plan to resume full production with condemning the racist assault in Howard A gang of 11 racists then left the party Electrical Workers, International Brother- scabs. By January 27, 375 scabs were Beach in December that led to the death of and attacked the three Blacks as they left working in the plant and 1 ;000 hogs were Michael Griffith. the pizza parlor. being slaughtered a day. Eight thousand A representative of the Grenada Founda­ hogs were slaughtered on a normal day be­ tion urged that a demand addressing U.S. Sandiford was savagely beaten by sev­ eral of the racists swinging baseball bats fore the strike began. government intervention in the Caribbean The previous week the union tried to re­ also be added. and tree limbs. He made his escape by flee­ ing through a hole in the fence along the sume negotiations. It said it would agree to Cagan explained that the national de­ highway. Timothy Grimes escaped unhurt have the company's wage offer submitted mands of the coalition will remain focused by fleeing to an overpass. to binding arbitration and would restudy existing piece-work rates. on U.S. intervention in Central America Another group of assailantS chased Grif­ and U.S. support to apartheid, but encour­ The company responded by making fith for blocks "to the edge of the highway, what it termed a "final offer." Negotiations aged local coalitions to put out their own if not into the lanes of traffic," reported the materials incorporating additional de­ broke off immediately since that offer was . February 4 New York Times. The Black mands. identical to the initial takeback contract youth had "little choice but to go on the that had provoked the strike in the first Several working committees were estab­ highway," where he was struck by at least place. lished to begin organizing publicity, out- one car and killed. The union has launched a boycott of Pat­ reach, and transportation. - 1be special prosecutor has now submit­ rick Cudahy products. Other unions in the Chicago meeting ted evidence to the grand jury that area have also put out their own materials · Dominick Blum, the driver of the car that urging a boycott of Cudahy goods. Among the participants at the Chicago struck Griffith, committed a felony by Local P-40 has formed a women's auxil­ meeting were officials from the Interna­ leaving the scene of the accident. Previ­ iary that has been going to grocery stores tional Association of Machinists, Ameri­ ously, police and prosecutors had refused urging that Cudahy products be taken off can Federation of Government Employees, to bring any charges against Blum, a court the shelves. Service Employees' International Union, guard and the son of a police officer, even Contributions to aid the strikers can be ACTWU, and the UAW. Also attending though he admitted leaving the scene. sent to UFCW Local P-40, 3559 E. Bar­ was Cecil Cain, from the North American But officials now say that evidence indi­ nard Ave., Cudahy, Wis. 53110. Meat Packers Union in Austin, Minnesota, cates Griffith may have been first struck by who is touring Chicago. another car. Sandiford has said that the as­ Cudahy workers protest as cops help Tony Prince is a member of Amalgamated Numerous solidarity and anti-apartheid sailants pursued the three victims in cars as employers bring scabs into struck Wis­ Clothing and Textile Workers Loca/64 at organizations sent representatives. The well as on foot. consin plant. Eagle Knitting Mills in Milwaukee.

February 13, 1987 The Militant 3 Conference to discuss coal miners' situation Will feature public talk on Malcolm X

·, ' BY MALIK MIAH . Warren added. The membership fought the PITISBURGH ~ .. A group of coal employers' takebacks in 1977-78 and 1981 miner 'activists meeting here January 31- with strikes. "It forced the operators to ac­ February 1 disCussed plans (Qr an Active cept a no-concessions contract in 1984," he Wodcers Conference later this .month. said, "in contrast to what other industrial Called by the' Political Committee of the unions have been forced to accept." Socialist Workers Party, the conference The UMW A and its traditions continue will bring together the SWP membership to have a big significance for the labor Problems faced by miners to be discussed at conference. Over past decade, UMWA from seven-cities to discuss ·strengthening movement as a whole. bas not made concessions like those forced on other unions. the J)arty's political activity in the coal- At the same time, however, another mining regions. · · thing has been happening, Warren said. pamphlets, etc. fectively organize discussions and other 1be seven cities are: Price and Salt Lake Over the last few years, under the blows of During their discussion, Kipp Dawson activities with miners in the Utah and City, Utah; St. Louis; Bi.rriringham, the employers' offensive and the restruc- · of Pittsburgh and Kathy Mickells of Mor­ Western coal fields. Alabama; Morgantown and Charleston, turing of the coal industry, tens of thou­ gantown described their participation, and The meeting also heard a report from West Virginia; and-Pittsburgh. sands of miners have lost their jobs. Scores that of others, in some important local and Kathy Mickells on the activities and per­ The conference will be held in of mines have closed. international activities. They pointed to a spectives of the Coal Employment Project Pittsburgh February 21-22. In addition to More coal is produced with fewer min­ conference sponsored by the International (CEP). The CEP was formed to help discussions on the problems facing coal ers. Average tons per miner-day has in­ Miners' Organization and hosted by the women get hired into the mines. The first miners, a public meeting will be held on creased from below 15 in 1975 to nearly 27 National Union of Mineworkers in Britain woman miner hired on was in 1973. February 21 where SWP National Secre­ today. that they both attended last fall. They were Much of the report and discussion cen~ tary Jack Barnes will speak on "Malcolm X Moreover, the UMWA represents only invited to the conference, along with tered on how to maintain the employment Toc;lay." about 40 percent of production, down from another woman miner, as guests of Brit­ gains of women miners. Mickells said the 80 percent 10 years ago. Decisive importance ain's Women Against Pit Closures. only way to defend affirmative action in Working miners at the meeting reported hiring in times of layoffs is to fight for a Mac Warren, reporting for the SWP an increase in injuries. Organizers see opportunities modification of the seniority system so the leadership, explained that following As the struggles of miners deepen, War­ Tom Leonard, SWP organizer in St. percentage of women in the mines is not closely and _being part of the fights of coal ren explained, the response of class-con­ Louis, said the perspective outlined at the lowered. miners is of decisive importance to build­ scious fighters will require ·working to­ meeting will encourage party members in The Active Workers Conference is open ing a revolutionary workers party in the gether with other workers in a rounded po­ St. Louis to work more closely with work­ to members of the seven SWP branches United States today. The SWP set this as a litical way. This includes participating in ing fanners, as well as with coal miners in and invited guests. ~ational priority nearly a decade ago, and it antiwar activities and anti-racist actions, as southern Illinois. The public meeting on Malcolm X will remains just as important today, Warren well as socialist educational activities such Mary Zins, organizer in Salt Lake City, be held at the William Penn Hotel, 530 said. as election campaigns, distribution of the said collaboration between party members William Penn Place, Mellon Square, on This means being active in the United Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, books, in her city and Price is essential to most ef- Saturday, February 21, 8:00p.m. Mine Wol"l\ers of America (UMWA), War­ ren explained. And it means discussing politics with coal miners and their families. This perspective, Warren said, requires the collective efforts of all socialists in the Defeat in· Vietnam led to Watergate mining areas, including steelworkers, gar­ ment workers, electrical workers, other in- . BY FRED FELDMAN dinate their demands for equal rights to the associates in and out of government. New dustrial workers, and students. (Last of three parts) war effort. The war period saw the final York Times correspondent William Warren emphasized that the importance The first two articles in this series, blows to Jim Crow segregation in the Beecher (who had written the news story), of the struggles in the coal fields can be which appeared in the January 30 and Feb­ South, and massive explosions of Black CBS reporter Marvin Kalb, and other jour" seen by looking at what's going on politi­ ruary 6 issues, described the development protest in cities across the country. nalists were among the targets of wire­ cally in the country and the world. of the Watergate scandal. Beginning with Under these circumstances the bil­ tapping. The U.S. employers and their govern­ the July 1972 capture of five burglars in the lionaire families who rule this country and The operations escalated with the publi­ ment, he said, are incapable of granting Washington, D.C., offices of the Demo­ their political representatives in the Demo­ cation of the Pentagon Papers. The White major concessions or security to workers cratic National Committee, the articles cratic and R~publican parties became deep­ House Special Investigations Unit was and farmers. What they offer most working concluded with President Richard Nixon's ly divided over the war. formed, known as the "plumbers" because people is, in fact, more debt, wars, un­ forced resignation in August 1974 and the This division was reflected in the big­ of its goal of plugging leaks. employment, fann foreclosures, and a full pardon subsequently granted him by business media. Newspapers such as the As part of a campaign to discredit lower standard of living. his successor, Gerald Ford. New York Times and Washington Post be­ Ellsberg and assure his conviction (he was came increasingly critical of the govern­ being tried for making the Pentagon Papers Hormel example The scandal that brought Nixon down ment's war policy. public), this outfit carried out the Sep­ The fightback of Hormel meat-packers had its roots in the Vietnam War. In 1965, Some government officials expressed tember 1971 burglary of his psychiatrisfs in Austfu, Minnesota, for more than two after several years of increasing the number their opposition by leaking secret informa­ office. years, Warren said, reflects what's to of U.S. troops (called "advisers") in Viet­ tion to the .media about the U.S. war. The The White House also developed a sec­ • come. They are like workers all over the nam, the U.S. government began massive most publicized instance came in 1971. ret "enemies list," on which the names of country who have been hit by concessions bombing of North Vietnam. It drastically Daniel Ellsberg, a former State Depart­ prominent politicians, businessmen, union but are striving to fmd a way to use their escalated the contingents of what became a .ment and Pentagon official, made a series officials, newspapers, and others opposed 540,000-troop occupation force in South union to fight back. Although what they've of documents, referred to as the Pentagon to Nixon's policies appeared. Vietnam. The goal was to defeat the liber~ done so far is exceptional, Warren said, it Papers, available to the New York Times. John Dean, a White House aide who ation struggle in the south of the country is repeatable. They've set an example to The Pentagon Papers showed, among later testified against Nixon in U.S. Senate and stabilize the U.S.-imposed regime other workers. And they've helped spark a other things, that the U.S. government had hearings, developed a plan to "use the there. wave of struggles in the packing industry lied to the American. people in claiming available federal machinery · to screw our that continue today. The Vietnamese people put up a stiff that the war was caused by aggression from political enemies," as he put it in a White In this context, the UMWA is particu­ fight against the occupation forces and the North Vietnam. House memo. larly important because it is in a more fa­ U.S .-backed government. The war became In April 1970, U.S. troops invaded In 1972 a full-scale effort was launched vorable position to fight back than other in­ increasingly unpopular in the United Cambodia (now called Kampuchea). A to guarantee Nixon's reelection by disrupt­ dustrial unions. "Miners in the early States, and among the U.S. troops sent to massive outpouring of antiwar protests, in­ ing the Democratic Party. 1970's," Warren said, "revolted against fight. A broad antiwar movement de­ cluding .a national student strike, rocked Although Nixon won reelection handily, the top bureaucracy ,and established a series veloped, mobilizing hundreds of thousands the United States. Washington was forced . the administration did not succeed in put­ of democratic rights that have not been re­ of people in demonstrations. to ptdl its ground troops out of Cambodia. ting a stop to the mounting opposition to versed." The U.S. government had other prob­ By now, a big majority of the U.S. ruling the war that reached into every comer of The UMWA is not a housebroken union, lems as well. Blacks had refused to subor- class was convinced that the war was on­ the United States, nor in turning the tide of winnable and must be ended. battle in Vietnam. Shortly before the elec­ The Nixon administration was unwilling tion, Nixon began moving decisively to­ to admit defeat in Vietnam, however. ward a negotiated settlement involving the In face of growing popular opposition to withdrawal of U.S. troops. . Malcolm X Today the war, the administration stepped up its The gigantic defeat in Vietnam had surveillance and harassment of antiwar greatly undermined the Nixon administra­ groups. tion. When government-connected bur­ Jack Barnes The White House also carried the use of glars were caught red-handed in the Demo~ National Secretary, Socialist Workers Party such methods over to dealing with critics in cratic Party's headquarters in the Water­ Congress; the government itself, including gate, it did not have the authority or credi­ Editor and author of MRlcolm X Talks to Young People, interviewed Malcolm X in Jan. 1965. the Republican and Democratic parties; bility to put a ftrm lid on the story. and the major media. Exposure of this ulti­ Revelations ·about the administration's In Pittsburgh: In Ne-w York City: mately brought about Nixon's downfall. illegal acts ftrst trickled out, then poured, at William Penn Hotel at 79 Leonard St. and then became a flood. These exposures Three Rivers Room (5 blocks south of Canal) 'Plumbers' unit formed did more than reveal some of the crimes of 530 William Penn Pl., Manhattan In May 1969 the New York Times re­ the White House gang. A comer was lifted Sat., Feb. 28, 7:30 p.m. ported on Washington's then~secret bomb­ on the illegal and antidemocratic actions -Mellon Square ing raids against Cambodia. Nixon and that have long been standard operating pro­ Sat., Feb. 21, 8 p.m. Henry Kissinger, his national security ad­ cedure for the FBI, CIA, and other cop. Donation: $3. Sponsored Donation: $2. Sponsored viser and later secretary of state, launched agencies. by Young Socialist Alliance. by Militant Labor Forum. a hunt for the source of the embarassing The administration became so discre­ For more information call YSA For more information call leak. dited that Nixon's presidency became alia­ (412) 362-6767. (212) 2.26-8445. Wiretaps were placed on the phones of bility for the ruling class he served. Nixon more than a dozen of Kissinger's closest was forced out.

4 The Militant February 13, 1987 . - , · ' ~ Rural women share ideas on farm crisis BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN resented the "free market" position. Helen The United Auto Workers CAP Council DES MOINES,, Iowa - Standing be­ Waller supported the Save the Family Farm gave its financial support to the confer­ neath a banner that read, "Harvesting our Act being introduced into Congress Feb~ ence, and Lea Casstevens, a representative potential: Midwestern Rural Women's mary 5 by Sen. Thomas Harkin of Iowa of the national UA W, convened a work­ Conference," 18-year-old Amy Arensberg and Rep. Richard Gephardt of Missouri. shop called "Farm and Labor: Our Com­ explained, "When my family lost the farm, The Save the Family Farm Act proposes mon Interest." I was embarassed, especially at school with raising price supports to farmers alongside Casstevens pointed to a pledge of my friends. I tried to deny it." Fighting a national referendum of producers of each locked-out UA W members at John Deere back tears, she continued, "But it took this commodity, which if approved, would agricultural machinery manufacturers in conference . . . you guys are great." limit production. This is called "supply Ottumwa, Iowa. They promise to retool The second women's farm conference, management." parts needed to keep farm machinery run­ held here January 16-18, brought together While conference participants over­ ning and to help with the harvest during leaders of farm protest groups; organizers whelmingly supported the Save the Family their lock-out and beyond, as an example of food shelves, hotlines, and support Farm Act and plan to work for its adoption of labor's active solidarity with working groups; and women farmers to discuss how in coming months, the discussion was far farmers. to solve the farm crisis and to share experi­ more wide-ranging. ences. Over 500 women participated in the Among the most well-attended work­ Picket line on wheels conference, which was sponsored by shops were those which discussed the ef­ Barbara Collette, a leader of the United Prairiefrre and the Iowa Inter-Church fects of U.S. agricultural policy on mil­ Support Group in Austin, Minnesota, de­ Agency. . lions of farmers around the world. The scribed the important contribution farmers In the opening session, Anne Kanten, conference was a sea of "Farms not arms" made to the meat -packers' strike of United assistant commissioner of agriculture in buttons and T -shirts. Food and Commercial Workers Local P-9 Minnesota, underlined the dimensions of last winter. The farmers brought a tractor­ the deepening U.S. farm crisis using two Urged to visit Nicaragua led picket line on wheels to the gates of the statistics: the value of farmland has de­ Carole Hodne, director of the North struck Geo. A. Hormel & Co. plant. clined by $146 billion over the last three American Farm Alliance urged farm As the farm crisis has worsened, more years, and 2,000 farms a week are cur­ women to visit Nicaragua to see for them­ faqn women have gotten jobs off the farm. rently being lost, according to government selves what is happening in that country. A Wisconsin farmer wanted to know how She announced that Nicaragua's National figures. these women can -be part of the fight for MIIItalittlJe:ft Powers In a keynote presentation, Shirley Sher­ Union of Farmers and Ranchers was host­ benefits, such as health insurance, and for Farm protest in Plattsburg, Missouri, in rod, a Black farmer from Albany, Georgia, ing a farmer-to-farmer tour March 14-21. higher wages. 1985. Over 500 women active in farm described her family's 20-year struggle to A big discussion at the conference was Auto workers, meat-packers, garment movement met in Des Moines to share hold on to its land. Recalling her youth she the U.S. government's foreign policy workers, and other unionists attended the experiences in fighting attacks on farm­ explained, "Life was hard on the farm and crisis. "I don't say this with any glee, but conference. Several spoke of theii plans to ers. in the South. Picking cotton and cucum­ the government is lying to us," and "Why report to their union meetings about the bers, I dreamed of planning a life that can't we go back to the Constitution," rep­ conference. didn't have anything to do with either." resented the opinions of many. Among them was Cathy Zwarich, a discussions and meeting others like them­ She said what turned her thinking around A majority of women agreed that figur­ member of the Independent Federation of selves, the women farmers gained self­ was frrst the civil rights movement and ing out why the U.S. government wages Flight Attendants. Zwarich explained at confidence to step forward, seeing them­ then the farm movement. war is the next step. A Missouri farmer the conference open mike, "The fight of selves as part of the leadership needed to Sherrod is cflrrently an organizer for the stated, "I frrmly believe there will be a civil farmers, like that of TWA flight atten­ fight for the future. Helen Waller summed Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land war in this country before there's another dants, is the fight of women." it up best: "We know what our potential is; Assistance Fund. war." Through participating in the weekend's now it's time for the harvest." · She outlined the urgent need to help Black farmers stay on the land. "Since 1920, 94 percent of Black farmers have been driven off the land, and there will be Foreclosure attempt draws protest fewer than 10,000 Black farmers in the next decade if we don't stop it." For several years many farmers active in BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS Martin Berend has been a member of the members and supporters are life-long NFO Midwest farm protests have pointed to the MONTEVIDEO, Minn.- Some 100 NFO for 25 years and was the Chippewa members and yet we are here today to stand civil rights movement that defeated Jim farmers and supporters gathered at the County director of the NFO several times. with our fellow farmer as he loses his prop- erty." " . . Crow segregation in the South as a model steps of the Chippewa County Courthouse In 1976 he was anationaldirectorofthe.or~ for their struggle. It has only been in the here recently to protest the scheduled fore­ ganization. Paul Sobozinski, state chairperson of last year or so, however, that Black and closure sale of Martin and Marlene Be­ But the NFO announced that it was fore­ Groundswell; Carmen Fernholtz, a local white farmers have begun to join forces. rends' barn. closing on his barn, .valued at $20,000, be­ NFO leader, and Jim Langman of the While many protests against farm fore­ cause he owes the organization "a total of American Agriculture Movement also Farmers' solidarity during drought closures have occurred over the last three $3,600." spoke at the protest rally in support of the Helen Waller, chairperson of the Na­ years, the unusual thing about this one was In 1983 Berend agreed to sell the NFO Berends. · tional Save the Family Farm Committee, that the Berends were being foreclosed on com for $2.52 a bushel. ·When he soon Sobozinski pointed out that a "mediation referred to this in the conference's closing by a farmers' organization, the National found out that he was only going to get bill" adopted by the state legislature in address. She said the importance of the Farmers Organization (NFO). $2.20 a bushel instead, he called the NFO 1986 provides for a temporary moratorium wide support for Southern farmers last The NFO, founded in the 1950s, has fo­ to cancel the agreement. The NFO, claim­ on farm foreclosures so that the farmer and summer during the drought was not the cused on attempting to get higher prices for ing he broke the contract, started billing the lender may attempt to negotiate a settle­ amount of hay contributed. "The USDA farm products through "collective bargain­ him for an alleged loss of $2,600 and fi­ ment. [U.S. Department of Agriculture] carefully ing" agreements with food processors. Par­ nally took him to court and got a lien on his monitored the haylift," Waller said, "be­ ticularly in the 1960s, it tried to pressure building. The national leadership of the While the rally was going on, word cause they were concerned." For "the frrst the processors by withholding produce NFO refused to negotiate with Berend be­ came that the county judge had ordered the time [Black] farmers in the Southeast were from the market. fore taking him to court, saying he was sale stayed and that the NFO would have to actually talking to [white] farmers in the More recently, the NFO has been acquir­ "blacklisted." go through the mediation process provided Northwest." ing big "blocks" of a certain farm produce, A statement issued by Groundswell, a by the new law. Over 30 workshops were offered to par­ such as com, for example, and then at­ Minnesota farm protest organization, The announcement was cheered as a vic­ ticipants. The one with the largest atten­ tempting to sell them at a higher price than stated, "NFO has turned into a creditor tory by the farmers. dance was "Debate: Free Market Policy vs. what the big grain monopolies such as Car­ today. Rather than sit down and negotiate Supply Management." gill and Continental would offer. To ac­ with Martin, they are taking his building Kathie Merwin of the Farm Bureau rep- quire a big stock of a certain produce, NFO .... Groundswell is here because Martin is Farm workers' union buys the produce from farmers willing to our director, and a farmer who is losing his participate in the program by contract. property. . . . Many of our directors and ordered to pay N.Y. rally defends damages to grower legal abortion Meat-packers strike Detroit plant A California judge has ordered the BY SONJA FRANETA United Farm Workers of America (UFW) NEW YORK - A rally to defend the BY JOE EDWARDS the words of one picket, "Working at to pay a large Imperial Valley grower $1.7 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing DETROIT- Cook's Family Foods has Cook's isn't a job, it's a jail sentence." million in damages for financial losses dur­ abortion was held on the steps of the New hired over 100 scabs to try to break a strike When Cook's acquired the plant in ing a 1979 strike. York Public Library on a cold and snowy at its meat-packing plant here. 1984, the union agreed to a lower than av­ In a ruling issued January 12, Imperial January 22. Over 200 workers, members of United erage pay scale to help the company "get County Superior Court Judge William The New York Pro-Choice Coalition, Food and Commercial Workers union its foot in the door" in the Detroit-area mar­ Lenhardt upheld Maggio Inc.'s assertion whose goal is to ensure that a safe, legal Local 26, have maintained around-the~ ket. Cook's management promised to raise that UFW-led strike violence caused the abortion is available to all women who clock picket lines since the beginning of wages in the next contract to the level pre­ company to suffer big losses in its harvest want one, called the protest. the strike on January 2. vailing at other local packing plants. of broccoli, lettuce, and carrots. Judge Coalition participants include the New The strike was provoked by poor wages Lenhardt's wife worked as a scab for Mag­ In the current negotiations, however, the York chapters of the National Organization and working conditions. The pay scale is gio during the strike. company offered only a 90 cent an hour for Women, Planned Parenthood, Catho­ considerably lower at Cook's than at other raise over the next three and a half years. The company's evidence consisle9 of lics for a Free Choice, Religious Coalition packinghouses in the area. Top pay for un­ · As soon as the strike began, the com­ videotapes of what they claimed were as­ for Abortion Rights, National Abortion skilled workers is $6.10 an hour. Even pany put ads in the newspapers inviting un­ saults by UFW members on the scabs Mag­ Rights Action League, and others. boners and other skilled meatcutters are gio hired to harvest the crops. Gloria Steinem, an editor of Ms. employed workers to "build a future at never paid more than $6.55 an hour. Cook's Family Foods." The union says Maggio was responsible magazine, condemned the wave Of right­ The company has imposed virtually un­ for any violence that occurred. UFW. wing attacks on abortion clinics. She limited forced overtime. A standard work­ Meanwhile, the turnover rate among the striker Rufino Contreras was killed and pointed out to the 100 protesters that a day is 10 hours, but it is often extended to scabs is continuing in the Cook's tradition. several pickets were wounded by gunfire. majority of people f11vor abortion rights. 12 or even 14 hours. A Sunday off is a spe­ Many are quitting or being injured after Another striker was injured by a pickup. Merle Hoffman, founder of Choices, a cial occasion. only a few days on the job. Some former The union is appealing the damage N.Y.-area abortion clinic, demanded that The length of the workday combined . scabs have stopped by the picket lines on award. UFW spokespeople say that if the the federal government reinstate Medicaid with continual harassment by management their way out to say, "Everything you said ruling is allowed to stand the union will funding for abortions .. has led to a high employee turnover rate. In about this place is true." face a severe financial strain.

February 13, 1987 The Militant 5 Garment worker: 'More people need to read this'

BY RICHARD GAETA the winter than in the fall; but "Protest the war on Nicaragua!" about how to fight back with a Stop the Course of History by PHll..ADELPHIA - For four many greet us as they rush into the one of us shouts. The other fol­ Portuguese operator, with great Fidel Castro, smiled and asked if months we have been selling the building. lows with "Stop the war on Nica­ difficulty because of a language we had more literature on Cuba. Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, The flow of workers mainly ragua!" in Spanish. One woman barrier. Olivia started discussing the turned and said, "Sorry, l only un­ Finally, he exclaimed, "jRevo­ Militant's coverage with other derstand Italian or Greek." lucion! jViva Cuba!" workers. One. of these workers in­ cluded another Militant reader. Turning toward workers com­ The operator nodded her head in SELLING OUR PRESS When she learned that her cowork­ ing from the tiny parking lot adja­ agreement. er was a member of the Socialist cent to the gate, I said in Spanish, Then he said, "You know, like AT THE PLANT GATE Workers Party, she said, "That's "Do you want a copy of Perspec­ the people outside." great. This way the outside com­ tiva Mundial?" The two elderly The spirit of combativity may and other socialist literature at comes from the bus stop across the have been what stopped a Black munists can help with the work of women responded in unison, "Por­ the inside communists." Stanley Blacker, Philadelphia's street from the plant, Speaking in tuguese." worker who widened her eyes largest suit manufacturer. The Spanish, Portugese, Italian, or when she heard, "Break all U.S. The following week Olivia shop includes close to 1,000 work­ Greek, the workers file into the Recently, workers here have re­ ties to apartheid!" braved the cold weather with us ers of many nationalities, who be­ side entrance. Occasionally, two sisted wage decreases and layoffs The woman introduced herself outside Blacker and encouraged long to the Amalgamated Clothing or three take a detour to the vendor by work stoppages and walkouts. as Olivia. After buying a Militant, workers passing by to read the and Textile Workers Union. on the opposite side of the gate to Following one such work stop­ she said, "More people need to Militant. Although Olivia recently We set up our table and begin buy a greasy bagel and coffee. page, there was a discussi~n in the read this." retired, her contribution to the selling every Tuesday or Wednes­ Some stop before the socialist lit­ plant about how to resist the boss­ Every other week Olivia stops sales team has inspired us to con­ day between 6:40 and 7:20 a.m. erature table and look at the dis­ es. One older Italian presser was at the literature table. One week tinue selling for the duration of the Fewer people stop by our table in play of books and pamphlets. attempting to have a discussion she held up the book Nothing Can winter. Subscription renewal drive nears the 700 mark

BY MALIK MIAH Supporters of the Militant around the "The reason why there is so much ex­ In addition, he said, supporters of Per­ The Militant-Perspectiva Mundial busi­ country are fmding a similar response as citement about phone calling," Geyer told spectiva Mundial will begin calling sub­ ness office recently sent out for the frrst they call up subscribers about extending me in aninterview during his lunch break, scribers this week. Many PM readers' sub­ time "Look what you're missing" letters to their subscriptions. "is. because ofthe types of political discus­ scriptions expire in February or March. former subscribers. Within 10 days of that Dick Geyer, organizer of Militant and sions you get into. Subscribers include New York supporters sold.303 PM intro­ mailing, we received seven new renewals. Perspectiva Mundial circulation in New people who have marched against racism in ductory subscriptions during the fall circu­ These were from readers whose subscrip­ York rep<)rts real excitement on the.part of Howard Beach and opponents of South Af­ lation campaign, Geyer added, the most of ~ons expired four or more weeks ago. supporters doing the phone calling. "So rica's apartheid." any city in the country. In the last week another 55 readers ex­ far," he said, "29 of the 41 people we've tended their subscriptions, bringing our called have expressed positive interest in total to 675 since the conclusion of the sub­ renewing their subscriptions or finding out scription campaign last November. Of more about the socialist movement." Socialist mayoral candidate urges these renewals, 385 bought their frrst sub­ Last fall New York supporters sold 478 scription to.the Militant last fall . Militant subscriptions. To begin to put a total sanctions on South Africa The Militant currently has 1,485 long­ bigger dent in the number of these that be­ term subscribers in the United States, ex­ come renewals, Geyer said a special target BY OMARI MUSA Vasquez said. cluding subscriptions to libraries and com­ week is being organized. CHICAGO - "I am in complete sol­ Later that same day Vasquez partici­ plimentary or reduced-cost subscriptions to "During that week we plan to organize idarity with the Mrican National Congress pated in the founding meeting of the prisoners. There are 362 subscriptions all supporters to call subscribers - at the President Oliver Tambo's call to keep the Chicago April Mobilization Coalition. from abroad. distribution office or from their home. pressure on the U.S. government to impose That coalition voted to get as many people This compares quite favorably to the 928 We'll keep a close tab on the response. total sanctions against the apartheid regime as possible from this area to Washington, domestic and 77 foreign long-term sub­ We've already learned that if someone in South Africa," said Pedro Vasquez, D.C., on April25. scribers we had in August. (Many of the likes the paper they will more than likely Socialist Workers Party candidate for Vasquez declared after the conference, new foreign subscribers are former readers be interested in the April 25 aAtiwar action mayor of Chicago. "Today we have been called on to mobilize of Intercontinental Press.) or some other political meeting," Geyer Vasquez, who recently announced his in support of the South African freedom One reader who renewed wrote: "I really said. campaign, participated in the welcome struggle and against U.S. government at­ enjoy reading your newspaper, especially He added that supporters who are in in­ 1 ,200 Chicagoans gave Tambo at a meet­ tempts to overthrow the popular Sandinista about international affairs. Keep up the dustrial jobs are also talking to coworkers ing sponsored by Operation PUSH January revolution in Nicaragua. I pledge to use my good work. A luta continua! (The struggle about renewing. So far four have done so-. 24. ' campaign for mayor of Chicago to con­ continues.)" Five people who bought their frrst sub­ "The courage of the South African vince working people and students to Another reader said he particularly scription at Pathfinder Books in New York people in their freedom struggle inspires us march on Washington April 25." wants to see articles on the international have also renewed their subscriptions at the all to build a united movement to demand Vasquez's opponents in the mayoral debt. bookstore. an end to all U.S. ties with apartheid," race included incumbent Mayor Harold Washington, former mayor Jane Byrne, Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Edward Vrdolyak, and the county tax as­ sessor, Thomas Hynes. pecial offer for 'New International' The Democratic and Republican Party primary elections will be held February 24. ifyou renew your 'Militant' subscription The general election is in April.

, n No· 2 ~01• ""' If you renew your Militant International. (Specify NI No. $3. subscription today, you'll re­ Vol. No. de­ D Subscription to New Inter­ ceive free an issue of New In­ sired.) $24. nationaL $12 for three is­ ternational, a magazine of D Six-month renewal and sues. Current issue sent Marxist politics and theory, free New International. free. published in New York. (Specify Vol. __ Nanme ______Or for only $10 you can re­ No. ) $12. Address ______ceive all of the five issues of D All five issues of New Inter­ New International that have City ------national (without Militant State Zip ____ ·appeared·- a big saving. renewal). $10. Please send me: Make check payable to the Mili­ Militant/Tom O'Brien D One-year Militant renewal D One issue of New Interna- tant, and send to 410 West St., Pedro Vasquez, SWP candidate for subscription and free New tional. Vol. ___ New York, N.Y. 10014. Chicago mayor, urges broadest possible participation in April25 antiwar march.

6 The Militant February 13, 1987 Life Of Black rights, union fighter honored Minneapolis meeting reflects struggles Janice Dorliae was involved in

BYBU..LARm addressed the meeting. On behalf of UAW the example of Dorliae' s life for those at MINNEAPOUS Zion Baptist Local 879, he gave a financial contribution the meeting. "Janice was a professional · Church was filled with almost 200 fighters to Dorliae's family, and presented a plaque revolutionist. She committed her life to for Black rights, antiwar activists, trade signifying the presentation of the UAW's changing the world, and subordinated unionists, and opponents of apartheid for a Douglas Fraser Common Swift Award to other things. She was bold enough to de­ January 17 meeting to celebrate the life of Dorliae in honor of her work. cide that she could have an impact on Janice Dorliae. Dorliae died New Year's Local 879 voted unanimously to give the changing the world. Her training in strug­ Day from injuries suffered when she was award to Dorliae. Laney was accompanied gle was what was decisive. struck by a van in an accident. by a delegation of four workers from the 'A working-class fighter' The meeting reflected the many strug­ local. gles to which Dorliae had dedicated her Jim Guyette, formet president of UFCW "Janice was a working-class fighter, an life. Mel Reeves, an antiwar and anti- Local P-9, read messages to the meeting ordinary woman," Warren said. "We can , apartheid activist and a former member of from Ray Rogers and Ed Allen of Corpo­ all be like her. The best tribute we can pay the National Black Independent Political rate Campaign and from the Austin United to her is to close ranks, to stand on her Party (NBIPP), chaired the meeting and Support Group, two organizations that help shoulders, to fight to be like her, to em­ summed up the impact of Dorliae's life on Hormel workers. brace politics, to make the sacrifices neces­ those attending. sary to build a movement of Black people "No one who has spoken here referred to Guyette said, "There is a tremendous and all the oppressed. We should all at­ Janice in the past tense," he said. "What amount of oppression and resistance today. tempt to be like her." she stood for and tried to accomplish are Janice was a victim of having her leg bro­ ken by the police in Austin. She knew that Others on the program included Brenda things we stand for and will try to accom­ Henry, Dorliae's sister; August Nimtz, plish for a long time to come." solidarity knows no borders, no barriers, no color. What she stood for still lives." who worked with Dorliae in NBIPP in the Dorliae was born in 1944 in Glen Allan, Twin Cities and is a member of the SWP; Guyette presented to Dorliae's family a Mississippi, at a time when racist lynch­ Tiffany Patterson, a former member of plate inscribed with the words "No Retreat, ings were common in that area. She later NBIPP; the Perspectives on Southern No Surrender," the slogan of P-9's fight M­ moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where in rica choir and Kodjo Sampong of POSA; against Hormel. fifth grade she became active in the civil James Sangular of the Liberian People's rights movement by sitting in the all-white Mac Warren, who worked with Dorliae Organization; Farouk Olajuwon, director sections of public buses. in NBIPP and who is the Iowa district or­ of the Black Student Cultural Center at the Dorliae also participated in boycotts of ganizer of the Socialist Workers Party, de­ University of Minnesota; Chris Spotted segregated lunch counters and attended the scribed her role in NBIPP. ·~we helped put Eagle of the American Indian Movement; 1963 March on Washington led by Martin Militant together the Charter, the -program of Jean Kirgiss of the Hunger Action Coali­ Luther King, Jr. She was involved in the Janice Dorliae NBIPP. We became Chartists in NBIPP. tion; and Mahmoud El-Kati, professor at struggle of Black garbage collectors We wanted to defend the document. We Macalester College. against racist discrimination in Memphis at thought it was one of the most important Messages were sent to the meeting by the time of King's assassination there. she got the time to be in all these struggles documents to come out of the struggle for Ken Morgan and Mary Benns, who had Out of this experience, Dorliae worked for socially and economically deprived Black liberation in the United States. We been NBIPP members in Baltimore; a with others to form a series of organiza­ peoples. She took the risk that she may lose preserved this document, prevented them tions to fight tor Black rights. The first of her job over the organizing campaign. She from gutting the program of NBIPP. This group of former NBIPP members in New York, including Muntu Matsimela; Marsha these was called The Invaders, which later wasn't afraid of that. She was struggling was a very important accomplishment. became the People's Revolutionary Party for other people at the track, fighting for Brown from Newark; James McFadden, and finally the Memphis chapter of the their rights. It will be tough going forward "The organization got smaller and smal­ national chairperson of the National Or­ Black Panther Party .. "We were young without her," he said. ler as we went through the fight," Warren ganization for an American Revolution; then, we had young ideas," said Maurice Tom Laney, president of United Auto said. "Many others walked away, but and Enoch and Kitty Duma, South African Lewis, Dorliae's brother, who spoke at the Workers Local 879, which organizes Janice just kept coming back." freedom fighters now living in San Fran­ celebration of her life. workers at t.Jte Ford plant in St. Paul, also Warren summed up the significance of cisco. In the early 1970s Dorliae ran for and was elected to the Tennessee State Legisla­ liiie oil the Democratic Party ticket. This was part of a national move by the Black Montreal garment strikers win victory Panthers to work within the Democratic Party at that time. She later ran forreelec­ BY RICH STUART tion as an independent and was defeated. MONTREAL - "Before we were noth­ Founder of NBIPP ing. Now we are something. Before our mouths were shut, now we have a voice." Dorliae moved to Minneapolis in 1976. These words expressed the spirit of She was a founder of NBIPP in 1980, and 5,000 members of the Amalgamated sided with the wing of the party that advo­ Clothing and Textile Workers Union cated using the NBIPP Charter to educate (ACTWU) at the conclusion of a month- · and win new supporters in the Black com­ long strike at 150 garment shops in the munity around the country. Montreal area. In 1983 Dorliae ran for City Council in The strike ended in a victory January 27 Minneapolis on the Black Independent Po­ when the workers voted by a 76. to 24 per­ litical Party ti~ket and got almost 10 per­ cent majority to accept the bosses' third cent of the vote in her ward. She remained contract offer. active in NBIPP until it ceased to meet in 1986. . The battle began in December when the garment bosses proposed that the union In the ·last year she. was active in many members accept $500 lump-sum payments struggles. She helped to lead an organizing instead of pay raises in the first two years drive at Canterbury Downs racetrack, of the new contract, and a 25 cents an hour . where she worked. Following the victory raise the third year. of the representation election she was The bosses also tried to force the union­ Mass meetings during garment strike helped Montreal workers feel their own power elected vice-chairman of International ists to accept 24 hours a year of overtime Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) work at J;'Cgular pay instead of at overtime Local 292, which now organizes the race­ rates. back to the bargaining table. When the. The employers then ·came back with track workers. The workers saw the strike as a battle for bosses refused to budge, the strike was another proposal that included pay raises Dorliae went to Nicaragua's Atlantic dignity and respect. Most of the strikers called. totaling 85 cents an hour over the three:­ Coast in the summer of 1986 as part of a were women. A substantial number are Picket lines went up at the 150 shops a year life .of the contract. The workers voted Witness for Peace delegation. Following French-speaking Quebecois. But many few days before Christmas. The bosses to accept the offer, ending the strike. her return, she spoke out in support of the others are recent immigrants to Canada were taken aback by the solid strike. Most workers viewed the outcome of the autonomy process on the Atlantic Coast. from Haiti, Latin America, Greece, and For many workers this was their frrst strike with pride~ "We're not going to be­ She was active in the local coalition build­ Italy. strike. But after a few weeks on the picket come millionaiJes with 'this raise, but it's ing support for the. April 25 march on The union leadership told the workers, lines their confidence grew. Women pick­ important," one said, Washington to oppose U.S. intervention in who are among the lowest paid in Canada, ets who had suffered years of sexual Workers I spoke with said the union was Central America and U.S. support for to accept the initial contract. But workers harassment and abuse from the bosses and strengthened by the strike. Many pointed to apartheid in South Africa. who heard of the offer walked off the job the foremen especially gained self-confi- the mass meetings where there was discus­ She was a supporter of the struggle by and then went from shop to shop spreading . dence. sion and debate. In those meetings the United Food and Commercial Workers the walkout. Long-standing divisions among the workers began to see that they were the (UFCW) Local P-9 in Austin, Minnesota, A huge crowd converged on union head­ workers who speak many different lan­ union. · against unioo-busting by Hormel, and suf­ quarters demanding a discussion of the guages melted away. The bosses hated the mass meetings, fered a broken leg while marching on the bosses' offer. The leadership c3Iled a "With the strike, we understand each saying they were characterized by "intimi­ strikers' picket line there last March. "study session" the next day, on December other," one worker said. "I felt satisfaction· dation, violence, and demagogy." They In the fall, she endorsed the Political 16, and over 3,000 workers stayed off the that the people I work with would fight to­ would have instead preferred that the work­ Rights Defense Fund, which is organizing job to attend the meeting, which over­ gether," another said. ers be forced to vote in their separate work support and funds for the suit by the flowed the union headquarters. The bosses' second contract proposal places. Socialist Workers Party and Young The following day 4,500 workers was submitted to a meeting of4,000 work­ Getting ready to return to the job, one Socialist Alliance against government spy­ gathered at another mass meeting to dis­ ers on January 19. The employets dropped worker said, "We saw it was important to ing and disruption. cuss the issues. The biggest objection was the demand for the changes in overtime pay fight, it brought us together, and we taught Dick Larson, representing IBEW Local to lump-sum payments instead of wage and offered 20 cents an hour pay raises for the boss a lesson." 292, described Dorliae's role in the union raises, which in effect would have resulted each of the three years iristead of the lump­ organizing drive. "Janice stepped out front in wages being frozen for two years. Union sum bonuses. But the unionists felt they Rich Stuart is a member of ACTWU and played a big part. I don't know where members mandated their officials to go could win more and voted down the offer. Local319T in High Point, North Carolina.

i February 13, 1987 The Militant 7 In licaragua, human rights lor pr1son• . Visit to prisons reveals penal system based on ideo that 'All hum1

BY HARVEY McARTHUR The Militant saw a striking example of The inmates proudly showed us the fa­ ranch, where the inmates are free to movt: MANAGUA, Nicaragua- Imagine a the fruits of this political education while cilities they had built: just simple wood around the entire facility. They still work prison where there are no walls, bars, or visiting the Camilo Ortega sugar mill on frame buildings with concrete floors, but under the direct supervision of the prison armed guards. Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. impressive enough in Nicaragua, where the officials. A pnson where inmates are encouraged At a rally to kick off the harvest, Carlos legacy of poverty and the cost of the-U.S.­ Next are the open farms. to build schools and houses, to produce Perkins spoke on behalf of 140 prisoners backed war mean serious shortages of Finally, after proving themselves in an furniture and clothing, and receive union from the Pacific Coast who had volun­ building supplies. open farm,. inmates ~e eligible to live at wages for their work. teered to cut cane. He explained that, while They had also built a volleyball court home for the rest of their sentence, having A prison with family visits once a week, they had committed crimes in the past, the and a small outdoor stage, where a group only to report regularly to the police an~.. where husbands and wives have conjugal inmates now wanted to help with social and of inmates phiyed music and sang peasant maintain good behavior during this time. visits, and where each inmate spends a economic development projects, applying songs. Those who violate parole, or who try to weekend at home once a month. the self-discipline they had learned in The inmates raise 1,000 head of cattle, escape,.or who commit crimes and return A prison with job placement for inmates prison. 250 pigs, and some goats and chickens. to prison again, are not allowed a second when they are released and where fewer Their efforts would also advance the au­ The farm is run by the prisoners them­ time to advance beyond the stage of work­ than one prisoner in 200 commits a new tonomy process on the Atlantic Coast, he selves. They have seven committees that ing in a closed prison. crime and returns to jail. said, helping bring the different races of take charge of production, maintenance, This must seem like a fairy tale for in­ Nicaragua together in one united nation. cooking, education, sports, culture, and Prison guards mates at U.S. prisons such as Attica, Mar­ discipline. They elect a prisoners' council Early release program We asked the prisoners at El Guayabal ion, or San Quentin. with overall responsibility for the farm. how they were treated by prison officials. But in Nicaragua, it is reality in 15 open Nicaragua often paroles prisoners long There are only four prison officials at the "Very well," was the answer. "Even the prisons begun in 1983 where 10 percent of before they finish their sentences. As of farm, all of them unarmed. police officers who arrested us treated us all jnmates are now. serving their sentences. last September, 2,059 inmates had been Inmates told us that their council meets very well. If any officer did abuse some­ This is one of the dramatic advances for paroled or pardoned. There were then a with. prison authorities to set production one, he would certainly be punished right human rights ·made here since the 1979 total of 8,160 inmates in Nicaragua, in­ plans and discuss construction projects, away." Sandinista revolution that overthrew the cluding 3,910 ex-members of Anastasio cultural activities, and any problems that It is a principle of the prison system hefi U.S.-backed Somoza dictatorship. Somoza's National Guard or U.S.-backed arise. Prison officials have the final say in that the inmates must not be abused phys­ · The revolution brought to power a gov­ contra mercenaries. In January 1987 the approvingany plan. ically or psychologically. Violations of this ernment that made democratic rights - in-· government began reviewing the cases of Inmates we spoke with were very proud rule are severely punished. eluding the human rights of prisoners - a another 700 candidates for early release. of their literacy campaign, which was just cardinal principle. The new government Of those released, fewer than four-tenths declared the best in the region by the One of the few cases where abuses did immediately abolished the death penalty of 1 percent have committed new crimes Ministry of Education. They organize the occur was widely publicized here last Oc­ and limited all sentences to a maximum of classes themselves, and inmates with some tober. Relatives of inmates in a prison in 30 years. The Ministry of the Interior ,, ______education serve as teachers. northern Nicaragua , complained to the began ism prevail will ricultural production. The key is involving Le6n, El Guayabal has 23,000 acres of In prisons where inmates do not receive surely have a corresponding prison system, them in socially useful labor that is not land. A cluster of wooden buildings stand home leave, there are special quarters set and not necessarily a correctional one. punitive but productive ,iJ1d helps them to . under shady trees a quarter mile from .the aside for conjugal visits. This both helps Humanity has known the bitter process increase their social awareness. This work highway. There are no fences or walls maintain the inmates' family ties, and re­ by which punitive systems have evolved is voluntary, and helps develop the pris­ around the buildings, no watchtowers or duces tensions within the prison. The mutilated hands, the garrote, solitary oner's self-discipline and sense of con­ gatehouse, nothing to suggest this is a We asked if any inmates did not return ,, ______tributing to society. prison except a small sign at the entrance. from their leaves. "Everyone always The prison system also encourages in~ The 88 inmates there had each been con­ comes back;" one answered. "The revolu­ A social system where mates to participate in literacy and adult victed of crimes such as theft, assault, and · tion has given us an opportunity," he said, education classes, as well as in political embezzlement. Each had begun serving his pointing to the surrounding fields and the exploitation, cruelty courses. They can complete a sixth-grade sentence in a regular prison and, through buildings. "The leave policy is magnifi­ prevail will surely have a program in the prisons, and some are al­ demonstrating good conduct and self-dis­ cent. No one wants to break the rules, since lowed to attend high school in nearby com­ cipline, had won the right to transfer to the that might jeopardize the leaves for every­ corresponding prison munities. open farm. one else." Prison officials report that there are very system ... few escapes from these facilities. Of the 456 inmates in open farms in the Managua ------~------'' area last year, only nine escaped. confinement, the cross, the noose, the fir­ ing squad, the guillotine, and the electric Work toward early release · chair have all been radical ways of apply All prisoners start serving their sen­ ing the law to defend a specific social tences in a closed prison,. surrounded by order. walls and barbwire fences and under the It is said, and surely it is true, that there discipline of armed guards. is a close relationship between systems of Those who choose to work can advance punishment and the development of the so­ to what is called the work regime. They cial relations of production. still live in the high security prison, but The concepts thafhave regulated justice spend a full day working inside the prison and law have changed in the course of cen­ or outside in factories, farms, or construc­ turies. tion sites. They are paid for their work, and receive more time for visits from their fam­ Slavery, feudalism, apartheid ily and for recreation than those who don't In our present stage of human develop­ work. · ment we would regard with surprise and Currently, about 60 percent of all prison­ horror the ownership of one man by ers in Nicaragua are working. Many who another. However, in slave society, that are not working are newly arrived prison­ property right existed. It was legal. The ers. Only a very small number, mostly ex­ slaves fought against lawsthat turned them National Guard officers and contras, de" into objects, just as the serfs fought to free cide not to work at all. themselves from a judicial and taxation After showing continued good conduct system imposed on them by the lords of the and work records, prisoners are eligible to gallows and the sword. Inmates at El Guyabal told Militant correspondent Harvey McArthur, right, of their suc­ move to semiopen prisons. These are min­ We have all heard of the peasant wars in cessful literacy program, which they organize themselves. imum security facilities, often a farm or England in 1381; of the wars of 1830 and

8 The Militant February 13, 1987 ;rs is a principle 1 beings ore redeemable' 'ere substantiated, ordered the four offi­ prevailing wage for their trade, though the ers arrested and court-martialed. prison system deducts part to help cover its operating expenses. With this income, the 'risoners help in production inmates can buy cigarettes and other per­ The Jorge Navarro Penitentiary in sonal items, and help support their 'ipitapa, near Managua, holds 2,500 in­ families. tates, 30 percent of all the prisoners in !icaragua. It is a regular prison, with high Women in prison Jls and barbwire fences; This is the only Thirty-two of the prisoners in Tipitapa mctioning prison left from before the rev­ are women. They have their own wing of lution. Minister of the Interior Tomas the prison, but have contact with the male orge and Daniel Ortega, now Nicaragua's prisoners through work and joint cultural resident, were among those held and tor­ programs. Ired here by the Somoza dictatorship. Claudia Hernandez, 23 years old, is Today, most of the facilities at Tipitapa, serving a four-year sentence for having tcluding all·the work and recreation areas, helped the contra mercenaries in northern new. Some 60 percent of the inmates Nicaragua. She now makes clothes in the !llticipate in productive labor. Inmates prison garment shop, a skill she learned in ·ork in a large woodworking shop, a boot prison that she hopes will get her a job 1ctory, a machine repair shop, and a con­ when she is released. :ete prefabrication section. In an interview in the Sept. 25, 1986 The biggest workshop is a garment plant Barricada lnternacional, Hernandez de­ ·ith some 150 inmates, men and women. scribed how she met and married Roberto is cleaner, less cluttered, and more spa­ Ramirez, an ex-national guardsman and .nus than any of the numerous garment fellow prisoner in Tipitapa. "Right from !ants this reporter has worked in in the the beginning we were allowed to have nited States. conjugal visits," Hernandez said. "Now we have permission to go away together every Prisoners told us that most had learned other weekend. When I had to go to the ,eir skills in prison. They work 10 hours a hospital for an ovary operation, Roberto lY and are paid the official minimum was allowed to come and look after me." age. If they exceed their production She added that withthe wages they earn Iota, they receive additional incentive for their work in the prison workshops, they are building a house in Managua to Those who work outside the prison, in live in when they are released. Member of prisoners' band at one of Nicaragua's open-farm prisonS, where there are no mstruction or in factories, receive the Continued on next page armed guards. ~=punishment linked to nature ol .social system·

~8 to free Europe from feudalism; of the achievements possible. This support is ex­ feels in being human. This is expressed ons-and the open farms are a clear exam­ !sperate struggles by the peasantsin Latin . . pressed through our voluatary police, through every aSpect of the revolution, and • ple of this -but within a society brimming merica and Asia for land they do not own whose members are honest and diligent in particular in the philosophy and practice with liberty and justice. As long as this td that is legally in the hands of a particu­ workers and citizens. of the Nicaraguan penal system. dream is not attainable, our jails will be r social sector. The radical elimination of torture and If we didn't have this firm conviction I centers for reeducating those who break the We frequently read in the newspaper mistreatment of prisoners as a method of would ask: Why did we make a revolution? law, including those active in counterrevo­ "mt apartheid - a situation the whole investigation has also contributed to this To spill even a single drop of blood would lutionary crimes. ·orld deems unjust. The whites in South success. have been useless if it were not to make a frica have created a body of laws, a con­ We do firmly believe that a police force real revolution; and a real revolution must Practices we reject !pt of legality, a vision of justice, a puni­ that practices physical violence during in­ aim for a social outlook, the satisfaction of We reject the old practice of treating ve system that is definitely legal, however terrogations becomes stagnant, de­ the collective whole, and a calm, pure, ful­ work as punishment, just as we reject using :pulsive and brutal it may appear to us. humanized, and will not achieve technical filled look on every human face. forced sexual abstinence as an additional In the final analysis I would say that progress. It is not right to sacrifice society for the punishment. What's more, even ifwe as­ very social class in power imposes its own On the other hand, social rebellion - selfish interests of one man. Neither is it pire to see that all inmates in our prison :>rms. We cannot, lest we offend histori­ which also feeds the prison systems- will .right to sacrifice the dignity of one man to system participate iri socially useful labor, •- truth, talk about justice, laws, or penal continue to exist so long as injustice re- achieve a social end. this .work is voluntary, although of course rstems in general. A society that shows contempt for and subject to incentives. Slaveholders, feudal lords, and exploit­ ,, ______~------harms a human being is only showing con­ In the days of Somoza the prisoners :s all have their particular body of rights, tempt for and harming itself. toiled to benefit the dictator and his family, tstice, laws, and penal institutions that Any attempt at Revolutions are made for one and all. high officials of the National Guard, or rey have used against the slaves, the serfs, rehabilitation will go That is the raison d'etre of revolutionary Continued on next page :td the exploited. At the same time, revo­ humanism. When the Bible tells us to feed ttionaries have their own system of rights, nowhere so long as the the hungry and clothe the naked, it is tell­ ·s, and ideas of justice. ing those in power that it is our obligation criminal realizes society to develop the productive forces for the Vhy crime exists rejects him ... whole of society, and not to satisfy the ap­ Despite all the different types of modem ______,, petites of a selfish sector. Agrarian reform, risons, and the diverse methods practiced · just like the struggle against sin and the sal­ 1 them, we have seen crime grow within vation of the sinner, is also carrying out a tany of today' s societies. mains enthroned - comfortable, totalita­ precept of the Bible. There are cities in this continent, and rian, and contemptuously deciding the de­ We find it repulsive to give charity at 10 •nctically everywhere, where muggings, stiny of the people; so long as the subtle or a.m. on Sundays or to visit prisoners with teft, and physical violence run unchecked hidden forms of slavery continue to exist. candy and sandwiches on our birthday, trough the streets. Jails multiply, methods The exploited social sectors rebel only so we can buy 'our "entry into the f investigation are perfected, yet this state against legal and illegal forms of exploita­ Kingdom of Heaven." f affairs continues. tion. The exploiting classes, [once] evicted Our aim is to convey what real charity The fact is that any attempt at rehabilita­ from a position of power as determined by is, what human solidarity is - among on and punishment will obviously go the unrelenting laws of history, fight to the other things - through a penitentiary sys­ :>where so long as the criminal or the pris­ death to regain their lost paradise, the pre­ tem that does not frown, that has no anger ner realizes that the society to which he cious control they had exercised over their in its eyes, that is simply human. wuld reintegrate himself, actually rejects selfish wealth, squeezed out of the sweat of We have made the effort - and will im, manipulates him, or denies him the another's brow. keep on doing it - to create structures 1tisfaction of his frequently just demands. where isolation will be replaced by collec­ In Nicaragua we've had a qualitative de­ Nicaragua today and yesterday tive participation, where discrimination, :ease in criminal activity. In 1980, 38,781 The basic difference - we're talking boredom, and contempt will give way to imes were reported; by 1985 this figure about Nicaragua now _;., between the work and education, where anarchic habits :td been reduced to 15,081. We can say Somozaist system and the revolutionary and indiscipline will step aside and leave Nicaragua: The Sandlnlsta People's tat there is a tendency toward an even system resides not only in the nature of the room for positive habits and a new moral­ Revolution. This collection contains , _.iter reduction of these rates, a greater laws, but in their individual enforcement ity. more than 40 speeches by leaders of the :tpacity to detect crime, and better efforts on a day-to-day basis. Nicaraguan revolution. $7.95. Available There are social systems that try to apply at Pathfinder bookstores listed on page y the police. Today we solve 75 percent The Somozaists were torturers, assas­ different models - including the so-called fall crimes. In 1982 only 53 percent were sins, mad animals. We, Nicaraguan revo­ 12, or by mail from Pathfinder Press, 410 panoptic model- that pretend to eliminate West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. (In­ )lved. Some crimes, like homicides and lutionaries, make a real and sustained ef­ prisons by simply transforming society into clude 75 cents for postage and handling.) mrders, are now solved 100 percent. fort to be deeply human, respectful of life, one giant prison. Support by the people makes these and of the natural pride that a human being We are also in favor of eliminating pris-

February 13, 1987 The Militant 9 In.·Nicaragua, human ·rights for prisoners

Continued from previous page locks and turned it into a prison run by his Last fall, Nicaragua began building its National Guard. No one knows how many fmt semiopen fann for women prisoners. people were imprisoned, tortured, .and , Until now, women prisoners .:.._ less than 4 murdered in Coyotepe. A monument at the percent of all inmates - have been kept in entrance honors the unknown heroes and regular prisons. The new facility is a spa­ martyrs who perished there. E cious estate that used· to belong to a sup­ porter of the dictatorship. It has lots of Coyotepe held soine 900 prisoners, with trees, a large modem house, a swimming 40 or more jammed into each cell. The pool, and gardens. cells have dirt floors and narrow slits that let in a tiny amount of air and light. Small Prison officials say they ·are .designing concrete trap doors set in the floor of the the facility to make it easier for women tQ main gallery lead to dark, airless chambers maintain relations with their children. carved inthetock below. Blood is still vis­ They will also learn to make· handicrafts ible on the walls of some of the rooms used and work in a sewing shop. for torture. Marta Lorena Rivera, an inmate at Tipitapa, told Barricada lnternacional that Ex-guardsmen rehabilitated the new facility .will be better, but that she With the triumph of the Sandinista revo­ will miss not seeing so much of her boy­ lution, Coyotepe and other Somozaist dun­ friend, also an inmate at Tipi~pa. geons were shut down for good. However, the new government had captured nearly Visit to SOmoza's dUngeons 7,000 members of the National Guard, Tomas Borge. Ministry of the Interior that he heads is in charge of prison system. The advances in Nicaragua's prisori sys­ many of them guilty of murder, rape, tor­ tem are all the more impressive compared ture; and other crimes. to what existed under the Somoza dictator- One of the frrst tasks of the new prison intimidating other inmates and threatening home leave are reported to the police by ship. · system· was to reeducate and ·rehabilitate those who cooperated with prison officials. their neighbors, who think they have es­ Coyotepe is a small,, circular fort these ex-guardsmen. A hard core of However, once the work programs were caped. perched on a mountaintop overlooking the Somozaist officers among the prisoners begun in 1980, the big majority of ex­ Some neighbors remain hostile and sus­ .city of Masaya. Somoza added bars and tried to block these reeducation programs, guardsmen began to participate. Many picious, not believing that the person has have been released, and today only 2,000 really changed. This is especially true for remain in prison. ex-guardsmen and contras. Prison officials · Heman Lozano Robles was a sergeant try to meet with local neighborhood com­ ·Borge: punishment is linked major in the Guard's hated Office of Na- · mittees to explain the role of the prison sys­ tional Security, and so trusted that he tem, the good conduct and discipline of the served as bodyguard for Somoza, U.S. inmate, and the importance of helping rein­ to nature.of social system millionaire Howard Hughes, and the U.S. tegrate him or her into society. ambassador. After the revolution, he was "All human beings are redeemable," Continued from previous page exist among us, if he doesn't already be­ captured and sentenced to 23 years impris­ says Alvaro Guzman,. head of the Nicara­ government functionaries. TOday they long to these sectors. onment. guan prison system. "Society has no inter­ work to increase our country's resources, Our radical answer to this is to take pre­ Robles addressed an international semi­ est in punishing, but rather in reforming in the coffee fanns, cotton fields, dairy ventive measures against this source of nar on penitentiary systems held here in people so they can take part in the great farms, building new housing, working in contamination, to advance in the revolu­ September 1986. "As a result of this prison tasks we have before us." furniture factories, shoe factories, and in tionary transformations, to exorcise this experience," he said, "I am a new man, The·changes made in the prison system mechanical and crafts workshops. dirty and forever gone past, to effect social different, . with new perspectives in life. are also playing an important part in Nica­ Today, I am a shoemaker, a hydraulic­ ragua's fight against the U.S.-organized Because of this type of organization, the change, economic development, the multi­ press operator, a farmer, and a primitivist mercenary war. "We can do more damage material and moral incentives, and the con­ plication of virtues, the exile of egoism and painter." That week, Robles and 51 other to the enemy by reintegrating into society tinuous education, the workers in the stupidity, the forging of new consciousnes­ inmates, many of then ex-guardsmen, were all the individuals who were tricked and prison system are highly productive. ses, love of work, arid the cultivation of i .. · released from prison to fmish their sen­ forced into fighting against their own Once they finish their sentence, or more beauty and generosity. tences at home. people than we can by keeping them in likely, when they are pardoned by the rev­ We have an infinite confidence in human prison for long sentences," Guzman said. olution; we try to persuade state and pri­ beings. Some day in the history of human­ 'AU human beings are redeemable' "The losses inflicted on the contras in this vate enterprises to reintegrate them in the ity the probability of nuclear holocaust will One of the challenges facing the prison area are more damaging than physical ca­ work force without any kind of discrimina­ be reduced to nothing, armies will cease to system is convincing the Nicaraguan sualties, because the effect is multiplied in tion, which usually comes from subjective be necessary, as will policemen and jails. people that the prisoners really are ready to the lowering of the morale of the counter­ ideas that are always stupid, and that we al­ rejoin society. In some cases, prisoners on revolutionaries." ways repudiate. On that day there will be no more forbid­ den fruits, no more vanity, selfishness, or The criminal - culturally deformed by substantial differences. It will be the reign Somozaist society, victim of its remnants of life, of moral beauty, of love. and relapses - is a person similar in his Let us contribute, if we can, a grain of Cuban anti-apartheid group formed needs and habits to those individuals that sand toward the building of this pal1ldise on come from the marginal sectors that still earth. BYNUCHAELBAUMANN tion of Habla Nelson Mandela was planned Some I 00 prominent figures from many within a matter of months. different spheres of Cuban life met in Participants at the founding meeting of Do you know someone who reads Spanish? Havana January 7 to found the Cuban the Cuban Committee Against Apartheid . Committee Against Apartheid. included Thabo Happy, ANC representa­ Heading the committee is Adolfo Ham, tive in Cuba; Jorge Risquet, member of the president of the Cuban Ecumenical Coun­ Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Behind the gov't crisis cil. He pointed out that in establishing the Party; and a number of members of the dip­ anti-apartheid organization, Cuba is only lomatic corps. The current U.S. govern­ repaying a debt for the solidarity it has re­ ment crisis has enabled mil­ ceived in its long struggle for freedom. lions ofworking people to learn The committee's I 0 vice-presidents in­ clude other church figures as well as repre­ Mandela's daughter a great deal about how Wash­ 1 ington is an enemy of democ­ Protestas dicen basta' sentatives of Cuba's arts, sciences, sports, speaks in Baltimore racy and .the self-determina­ a los ataques racistas universities, and military. The committee, to be based at the Cuban Plden drcel para matones de HoWard Beach BY MARLA PUZISS tion of nations. Institute .of Friendship with the Peoples; What · triggered the crisis BALTIMORE - "My people are pre­ will join in protest and action with other or­ pared to lay down our lives for the future of was the failure of the U.S.­ ganizations around the world that are fight­ our country and the dignity of our chil­ backed contras to spark. a civil ing apartheid. It will also fight for the inde­ dren," zenani Mandela Dlamini, the eldest war in Nicaragua. ·But the pendence of Namibia, which continues to daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, crisis is deeper than that. be occupied by South African troops. declared here January 15 . She was speak­ The U.S. rulers find the con­ The committee's first meeting, held on ing to more than 800 people gathered at stitutional structUre of U.S. the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Afri­ Johns Hopkins University to commemorate Convocan a muc:has . can National Congress, declared its sol­ the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. capitalism more and more of idarity with the ANC, and with the free­ nadonales antiperra Dlamini brought greetings from Winnie an obstacle in pursuing their dom fighters in Namibia-the South West para el25 de abrl Mandela, who was prevented by the South Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). war on working people at home African government from fulfilling an invi­ In its statement of purpose, the commit­ and abroad. tation to be the keynote speaker at the uni­ $7 tee recalled the African roots of a large The current issue of PM fea­ Subscriptions: for one year; versity's sixth annual tribute to King. Her share of Cuba's population, whose "ances­ tures an extensive article $4 for six months; Introductory daughter, who resides in neighboring tors came to this country as slaves." offer, $2.00 for five months. Swaziland, was able to travel to the United about this crisis and its mean­ A central demand of the founding state­ ing for working, people in the D Begin my sub with current States in her stead. issue. ment is for the liberation of imprisoned United States. ANC leader Nelson Mandela. Dlamini stressed the historical liriks be­ Perspectiva M undial is the Nan1e ------In that regard it was announced to the tween the U.S. civil rights movement and gathering that to help publicize Mandel a's the struggle against apartheid in South Af­ Spanish-language socialist maga­ Address ------~ case, a shipment of the book Habla Nelson rica, pointing out that in 1965 Martin zine that every month brings you City/State/Zip -----­ Mandela (Nelson Mandela Speaks) had Luther King issued an international appeal the truth about the struggles of been obtained. This book, along with a for economic sanctions against South Af­ working people and the oppressed Clip and mail to PM, 410 West St., volume by Winnie Mandela, is to be made rica. New York, NY 10014. in the U.S. and around the world. available for distribution through the com­ ·She also defended the African National mittee. Congress against the U.S. government's It was also announced that a Cuban edi- charges that the ANC is "terrorist."

10 The Militant February 13, 1987 SWAPO leader explains Namibian people's struggle

The following is an interview with with a chain of cattle farms throughout Hidipo Hamutenya, Secretary for infor­ Namibia. He is one of the diehard colonial­ mation and publicity for the South West ists. Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). The whites in that alliance of reaction It was obtained by Militant correspon­ are not prepared to make any concession dent Sam Manuel in Luanda, Angola, in whatsoever, not even a token land reform. late 1986. · They have an exclusive hold on the arable land of Namibia. Two-thirds of the land is Manuel. What is the current political their exclusive monopoly. and military situation in Namibia? They control all the best schools in the country. Most schools are segregated in Hamutenya. The South Africans have any case. Hospitals, clinics, technical, and for many years now imposed a blanket professional jobs are all segregated and are news and information blackout regarding the exclusive monopolies of the white colo­ the situation in Namibia. That has come to nial settlers. All residential areas, recrea­ mean that the situation there has not been tional facilities, everything is segregated. reported in the world media. SWAPO supporters at August 1986 mass rally in Katutura, Namibia, mark 20th .But the struggle is going on there. The Manuel. How do you respond to the to anniversary of launching of armed struggle. Namibian people continue to resist South charge that SWAPO is a pawn of the Soviet African attempts to impose a neocolonial Union in southern Africa? puppet regime on them. The armed Iibera~ tion struggle has continued to intensify, Hamutenya. The only acceptability that particularly over the last seven years. In SW APO strives for is that of the Namibian Namibia major battles are being fought people. That is the one that matters to us. -WORLD .NEWS BRIEFS-- with the South African army weekly and We are certain that the Namibian people, monthly. including the leadership of the churches, British police attack until 1921 been under either Chinese or are convinced that SW APO is a liberation · Russian rule. In that year a revolutionary Manuel. How many South African movement made up of Namibian patriots striking press workers government came . to power and pro­ troops are in Namibia? and revolutionary democrats, men and claimed Mongolia's independence. The women who want fundamental change in Marking the first anniversary of the Hamutenya. There are more than beginning of their strike against press Soviet government, at that time headed Namibian society, who want to put a final by V.I. Lenin, quickly recognized the 100,000 armed South African forces in and definite end to the colonial plunder and magnate Rupert Murdoch, some 12,000 new state, and provided it with consider~ Namibia, including regular army troops, class exploitation in our society. workers and their supporters rallied the police, and paramilitary groups. There are night of January 24 outside Murdoch's able aid. If that makes us communists, then we The Chinese government of Chiang 76 South African military bases, mostly in are. We owe nobody an apology for that. main plant in London. the northern part of the country, which is Mounted police charged into the large Kai-shek finally recognized Mongolia's The common denominator for . all those independence in 1946. Mongolia was the main theater of armed confrontation be- · crowd, wielding truncheons. Dozens o~ who are in SW APO is commitment to admitted to the United Nations in 1961. tween the South African occupation army Namibia's national liberation. What under­ protesters were· injured and 67 arrested. and the combatants of the People's Libera­ lines national liberation is the affirmation The strikers and their supporters de­ tion Army of Namibia (PLAN), the mili­ of democratic rights for the people of fended themselves, leading to a number 300,000 students .strike tary wing of SWAPO . Namibia to organize themselves into polit­ of police injuries as well. The continued military opposition to the ical parties, trade unions, and women's and "The police viciously attacked our at Mexican university occupation army has led to massive repres­ people for no reason at all," explained youth organizations in defense of their own The National Autonomous University sion against the rural peasantry in Namibia. particular interests. Brenda Dean, leader of the Society of South African armored-columns bum down Graphical and Allied Trades, the main of Mexico - the largest imive('Sity in The leadership of SW APO is not un­ Latin America - was shut down Janu­ peasant villages, destroy crops, shoot mindful of the next stage of the struggle. union involved in the strike. livestock, and arrest, detain, and torture The January 24 rally was the largest ary 29 as its more than 300,000 students We know that after the conquest of state began a protest strike. many people to force them to give informa­ power and the democratization of Nami­ so far in the year-long dispute, which Red-and~black banners were hoisted tion about the movements of PLAN com­ bian society we will still have to define the began when Murdoch dismissed 5,500 from the administration tower, bar­ batants. direCtion of the development of Namibian workers. Since then, there have been al­ ricades were erected, and a sign at the society. most daily protests outside· Murdoch's Manuel. Could you describe the kind of entrance of the Engineering School pro­ The position of the present leadership of new high-technology, barbwire-rimmed support that SWAPO receives from ·An­ claimed the university "the ftrst free ter­ SWAPO is one of commitment to the plant in the East London district ofWap­ gola? ping. ritory in Mexico." socialist transformation of Namibian soci­ The strike, following earlier student Hamutenya. The people and the gov­ ety. demonstrations of as many as 100,000, ernment of Angola have given us moral, That is the long-term objective of our was called to protest the government's political, and material support since the revolution. We will have to defme then the U.S., Mongolia efforts to impose a new university plan birth of the People's Republic of Angola. new agenda for the transformation of soci­ set diplomatic ties that would raise tuition fees and restrict Angola has borne the brunt of the de­ ety, the socialization of the means of pro~ admissions. The students are demanding stabilization campaign of South Africa for duction, and the pace at which that process More than half a century after Mon­ the last 11 years. Much of its communica­ ·a doubling of government subsidies for can proceed. golia became an independent state, the the university. tion and economic structures have been de­ But we do not pretend that it is possible U.S. government has finally decided to stroyed. Thousands of its people have died. for us to collapse the various stages of this set up diplomatic relations with that The growth of its economy is retarded sim­ struggle into one. We believe that each Central Asian country. ply because it has refused to do the bidding stage has its own dominant content. But the On January 27 Mongolian representa­ French rail workers of imperialism, to accommodate the pup­ doors are open for debate with those who tive to the United Nations Gendengiin suspend strike pets of UNITA [National Union for the want independence in order to pursue other Nyaindoo and O.S. Secretary of State Total Independence of Angola], or to bet­ lines of development. They are not ex­ George Shultz signed the necessary After a month on strike, most French ray the struggle of the Namibian people. pelled from SWAPO as · long as they are documents in the State Department's rail unions suspended their job action . Angola has given us asylum, in fact, committed to the destruction ofcolonial­ Treaty Room. This capped more than 15 during the second week of January, after accommodating some 70,000 Namibian ism in Namibia. accepting the government's offer of pay people and members of SWAPO. We share increases of less than 2 percent over the SOVIIT UNION with the Angolan people whatever little re­ Manuel. What do you see as the central next year. Some of the unions, however, sources Angola has, from utilizing their task at this time for the international sol­ pledged to continue pressing the work­ means of communications and .transport to idarity movement? ers' demands through other actions. giving us solidarity support in the interna­ The rail strike had been one of a wave tional arena and financial resources. Hamutenya. I have no doubt that many of strikes by public sector workers in solidarity organizations in the media, the France in recent months, fueled by out­ Manuel. How successful has Pretoria's labor movement, the universities, the rage over the government's wage- and ploy of the interim government been? Black communities, and other minority job-cutting austerity policies. communities in the United States are sup­ Hamutenya. The puppet show, as we porting our·struggle and SWAPO. call it, is made up of a few·handpicked ele­ The problem is one of sufficient dissemi­ One-day protest ments. [South African President Pieter] nation of information about the struggle of Botha came to Windhoek, the capital of the Namibian people. And this is where CHINA strike in Argentina Namibia, on June 17, 1985, and pro­ those friends and comrades in the belly of claimed these puppets a so-called govern­ Virtually no economic activity oc­ imperialism should assist us to achieve 0 Mlles400 ment of national unity. more publicity. They should adopt a per­ curred in the industrial belt around What Botha has done is to keep a few spective that sees Namibia as an important Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, Janu~ years of discussions between the two ary 26, as workers observed a 24-hour Black faces, mainly renegades from the element in the struggle against the apart­ governments on the question of dip­ ranks of the liberation movement.. One of heid system in South Africa. protest strike. Led by the General Con­ lomatic ties. federation of Labor, it was called to pro­ them, Andreas Shipanga, used to occupy The achievement of Namibia's indepen­ Nevertheless, U.S. officials said that the position in SWAPO that I now hold, test the economic policies of President dence will be a crippling blow to the apart­ it would be some time before aU. S. em­ secretary for information. He deserted us heid system. Raul Alfonsin following the govern­ bassy is actually opened in Mongolia. ment's refusal to discuss wage demands. during the early '70s, and landed in the lap We have profound confidence and faith A landlocked country of nearly 2 mil­ of his apartheid masters. in the American people, that they will work It was the eighth such strike in Argen­ lion inhabitants located between the tina since Alfonsin came to power in late One of the whites is Dirk Mudge. He has hard to shorten the course of the struggle Soviet Union and China, Mongolia had been deputy colonial governor of Namibia and thus reduce the agony that the struggle 1983. since the early '50s. He is a millionaire, takes for Namibia and South Africa.

February 1~, 19_87 The Militant 11 --CALENDAR·------~----~~--~~--

ALABAMA IOWA MICIDGAN Labor Forum. For more information call (215) Biimingbam Des Moines Detroit 225-0213. The Civil War: Real Story of the Second Get the Facts About Central America. Sec­ Tbe Crisis in Meat-Packing: Which Way Stop Racist Attacks: Report from Cumming, American Revolution. Translation to Spanish. ond annual state conference on Central Ameri-, Georgia. Speaker: Claudia Echols, director, Forward for Workers? Speakers: Larry Sat., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. 2744 Germantown ca. Speakers: America Sosa, representative of McClurg, member of United Food and Com­ Detroit Southern Christian Leadership Confer­ Ave. Donation $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Co-madres, the Committee of Mothers and Rel­ mercial Workers Union Local 431 at Hormel ence. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 14, 8 p.m. 2135 Woodward Ave. Donation: $2. Forum. For more information call (215) 225- atives of Political Prisoners, Disappeared, and plant in Ottumwa; Rita Lewis, recording secre" 0213. Assassinated of El Salvador; . George Paris, tary, National Brotherhood of Packinghouse Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ cooperative and land development specialist for Workers Local 50 at Swift plant in Mar­ mation call (313) 961-0395. Pittsburgh Federation of Southern Cooperatives, just re­ shalltown; Bob Langemeier, member United FUm: Malcolm X. Speaker: Norma Hill, District Elections in tbe City of Pittsburgh: a turned from Nicaragua; Dr. Steven Shaffer, re­ Food and Commercial Workers Union Local22 Michigan Anti-Apartheid Coordinating Coun­ Discussion. Speakers: representatives of the cently attended the In Search of Peace confer­ in Fremont, Nebraska; Mac Warren, Socialist cil. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21, 8 Coalition for District Elections and of the ence in El Salvador. Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30p.m. Workers Party Iowa district organizer; speaker p.m. 2135 Woodward. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Socialist Workers. Party. 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Dis­ hand report from a prison-reform activist. Eyewitness Report from Cumming, Georgia. cussion to follow. Sat., Feb. 7, 7:30p.m. 508 N Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30p.m. CALIFORNIA A panel di~ussioil with participants in the Jan­ Snelling. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant 336 W Jefferson. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Mili­ San Diego uary 24 antiracist march. Speakers: representa­ Forum. For more information call (612) 644- tant Labor Forum. For more information call Reapn's War on Democratic Rights. Featur­ tives of Socialist Workers Party, National Al­ 6325. (214) 943-5195. ing the Woody Allen movie T~ Front, dealing liance Against Racist and Political Repression, Martin Luther· King. and the Fight Against with the witch-hunt in the 1950s, followed by a .and Southern Christian Leadership Conference. NEW JERSEY Racism Today. Panel discussion. Translation discussion on the attacks on our constitutional Translation to Spanish. Sun., Feb. 15, 7 p.m. Newark to Spanish. 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Translation to ternative press during the Marcos years; Mari The Struggle for Palestinian Liberation documentary about Black opposition to U.S. Spanish. Sat., Feb. 7, 7:30p.m. 4806 Almeda. Hawkes, member of International Association Today. Speakers: representatives of the war in Vietnam. Fri., Feb. 20, 7:30p.m. 141 of Machinists Lodge 1125 and chairperson of Socialist Workers Party and November 29th Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Halsey. St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant For more information call (713) 522-8054. the Young Socialist, Alliance. Translation to Committee. Sat., Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m. 3640 Labor Forum. For more information call (201) Spanish. ·sat, Feb. 21, 7:30p.m. 2803 B St. Magazine St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant 643-3341. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Labor Forum. For more information call (504) UTAH For more information call (619) 234-4630. 895-1961. 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Discussion Fernando Rodriguez, director of Salvadoran announced. Sat., Feb. 28. 7:30 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Dinner, 6 p.m.; forum, 7:30 Toledo to follow. Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30p.m:221 Pleasant Trade Unionists Information Center; Robelo, St., Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Labor Casa El Salvador; Cathy Gutekanst, Socialist p.m. Donation: dinner, $3; forum, $2. Sponsor: Rosie the RiYeter. Film on women who Militant Labor Forum. For more information worked in industrial trades during World War Forum. For more information call (304) 296- Workers Party. Translation to Spanish. Sat., 0055. Feb. 14, 7:30p.m. 3455 S Michigan Ave. Do­ call (301) 235-0013. ll. Discussion to follow. Sat., Feb. 7, 7 p.m. nation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For 1701 W Bancroft St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: WISCONSIN more information call (312) 326-5853. MASSACHUSETTS Militant Forum series. For more information Milwaukee Tbe StruaJe Apinst Apartheid Today. Boston call (419) 536-0383. Is Racism on tbe Rise? Panel discussion with Speaker: Sahotra Sakar, former teacher at Sol­ South Afr~ In Revolt. Speaker: Aggrey Omari Musa, national leader of Socialist Work­ omon Mahlangu Freedom College of the Afri­ Mbere, member of the African National Con­ PENNSYLVANIA ers Party, steelworker; Melvin Kinlow, Urban can National Congress in Tanzania. Translation gress. Film showing of Witness to Apartheid. Philadelphia League; Jerome Sahir, Positive Image to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. 3455 S Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30p.m. Stop Racist Attacks .;..... From Howard Beach Bookstore. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. Michigan Ave. Donation:$2. Sponsor: Militant 107 Brighton Ave, Allston. Donation: $3. to Southwest Philadelphia. Translation to 14, 7:30 p.m. 4704 W Lisbon. Donation $2. Labor Forum. For more information call (312) Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Spanish. Sat., Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m. 2744 Ger­ Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ 326-5853. mation call (617) 787-0275. mantown Ave. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant mation call (414) 445-2076. -IF YOU LIKE ·THIS . PAPER, LOOK US UP------Where to lind tbe Sodalist Workers Party, 4065. NEBRASKA: Omaha: SWP, YSA, 140 S. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. Y011111 SodaHst Alliance, and Pathfinder ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S. 40th St. Zip: 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 336 W. Jefferson. Zip: bookstores. Michigan Ave. Zip: 60616. Tel: (31 2) 326- NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 141 75208; Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, 5853 or 326-5453. Halsey. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ·ALABAMA: Binnlnlbam: SWP, YSA, 1306 IOWA: Des Moines: SWP, YSA, 2105 For­ NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): 522-8054. 1st Ave. N. Zip: 35203. Tel: (205) 323-3079. est Ave. Zip: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-1695. SWP, YSA, 114E Quail St. Zip: 12206. Tel: UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA, 23 ·s. Carbon ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1809 W. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 809 (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, YSA, 79 Ave., Suite 19, P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: Indian School Rd. Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) 279- E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel: (502) 587-8418. Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) 219-3679 or (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 5850. LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 925-1668. PathfmderBooks, 226-8445. 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 841 11. Tel: (801) CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 3640 Magazine St. Zip: 70115. Tel: (504) 895- NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: SWP, 355-1124 . . 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380- 1961. YSA, 2219 E Market. Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA, 3808 E 14th St. MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 272-5996. . News): SWP, YSA, 5412 Jefferson Ave. Zip Zip: 94601. Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: •2913 Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) OmO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 4945 Pad­ 23605. Tel: (804) 380-0133. SWP, YSA, 2803 B St. Zip: 92102. Tel: (619) 235-0013. dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-7161. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 234-4630. Sao Frandsco: SWP, YSA, 3284 MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA, Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2521 Market Ave. Zip: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. Sao 107. Brighton Ave., 2nd floor, Allston. Zip: 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: YSA, 797-7699, 797-7021. Jose: SWP, YSA, 46112 Race St. Zip: 95126. 02134. Tel: (617) 787-0275. P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: SWP, WASmNGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA, Tel: (408) 998-4007. MICmGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA, 2135 YSA, 1701 W Bancroft St. Zip: 43606. Tel: 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Tel: COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 25 W. Woodward Ave. Zip: 48201. Tel: (313) 961- (419) 536-0383. (206) 723-5330. 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. 0395. OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 2732 NE WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 137 NE MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. YSA, 116 McFarland St. Zip: 25301. Tel: (304) 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 370486. 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 221 Zip: 33137. Tel:.(305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: Tel: (612) 644-6325. YSA, 2744 Germantown Ave. Zip: 19133. Tel: Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- YSA, P.O. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, (215) 225.0213. Pittsb.. rgh: SWP, YSA, 402 0055. 222-4434. 4725 Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. N. Highland Ave. Zip: 15206. Tel: (412) 362- WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 132 Cone St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 4907 Martin Luther 6767. 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) St. NW, 2nd Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577- King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 445-2076.

12 The Militant February 13, 1987 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------'---..,.---- Sounds like a capsule review "We really have no control over recover back taxes from her dad. president? decline in the American standard -Responding to Chrysler's deci­ what they do with their free time." They said if they're satisfied the of living inevitable." - News sion to yank its commercials from - Contra honcho Leonardo money really belongs to her, The better to cut throats with item. Amerika, the series about a Soviet Somarriba responding to revela­ 'they'll let loose. - Reagan's program to step up "takeover" of the United States, tions that pilots of gunlift planes U.S. business "competitiveness" Two-shirt standard - Janet ABC prez John Sias vowed, were· reloading with drugs for the Catching up with reality? ·­ includes a proposal to water down Ryan filed a class-action suit return flight. "Except for professional crimi­ the law barring business bribes to against two San Francisco clean­ nals," says researcher S. Robert foreign governments, plus new ers, accusing them Of charging Everyone knows that-"Drug Lichter, "no one commits more standards to lower product liability more to launder women's shirts smuggling is against U.S. law and crimes on prime-time television risk. than men's. The cleaners said their the CIA does not break U.S. law." than the businessman." Noting laundry sets the prices. The lal.ln­ - A CIA spokesperson respond­ that this is a response to a popular They eat more? :--- "Edwin dry said women's shirts don't al­ Harry ing to the gun-drug operations re­ perception, an NBC exec adds, Meese ill ... told Reagan that a ways fit on the pressing machine velations. "Yuppies love businessmen, but SJ.lbstantial pay increase was and have to be hand ironed. They Ring generally the rest of the public sus­ needed so as to recruit and retain didn't say why they couldn't get On the tax front- "They took pects them of exploitation." the kind of conservative lawyers another machine. it. The IRS took my money. I got the ~dministration is seeking for "We're going to run that program it from collecting cans, from doing A thought - The above re­ the federal bench."- News item. Thought for the week-"EPA come rain, blood, or horse man­ my homework. I got it for Christ­ minded us of the character in Ber­ does not know if it is controlling ure., mas."- Shannon Bums, 10, of told Brecht's Three Penny Opera Stoic- "Sen. Jay Rockefeller 90 percent of existing hazardous San Jose, whose $694 account was who inquired, Who's the bigger (D-W.Va.) wondered whether waste - or 10 percent." - A Besides, boys will be boys - impounded by the feds trying to thief, the bank robber or the bank world market forces might make a General Accounting Office study. Kanak freedom fighters meet in New Caledonia

Continued from front page the French authorities have placed 7,000 of its militantS, structures, and institutions all that they can to chase us out of the troops on the island. There are extensive to bring about the maximum pressure on Pacific," said Gaston Slosse, president of military and police checkpoints in the the colonial government of France to ac­ the Territorial Government of French countryside, where the majority of the cept the conditions for the referendum sup­ Polynesia and the French government's Kanaks live. ported by the people, the international under-secretary of state for Pacific affairs. The busload of us who drove the length ·~·. community, and the FLNKS. We make a In January, the French government ex­ of the island to the congress was stopped special appeal to the international commu­ pelled the Australian consul for New on several occasions by the police _and mil­ nity for our cause of independence." Caledonia, charging him with providing fi­ itary. We had hardly left Noumea, when 0~~ At a news conference after the congress, nancial aid to the FLNKS. The charge is the bus was first flagged down. Upon en­ •.. Tjibaou stressed that 'if France attempts to based on a supposed $200,000 Australian tering the bus, a French cop demanded the hold the referendum with voting eligibility grant to the Kanak Schools for Popular passports of all the whites. based on French law, the people of Kanak Education. We were again stopped on a deserted AUSTRALIA and their organizations will actively IIi Noumea, the capital of New road at night. About 20 armed police and 'G· South boycott it. Caledonia, millionaire settler Jacques Laf­ soldiers surrounded the bus and everyone · ' · Pacific Ocean Repeated physical attacks on the leur exclaimed, "France does not have to was ordered off. The police copied down FLNKS and the garrisoning of French account for its actions to these wretched lit­ names and · numbers from passports and troops have raised.the stakes in the strug­ tle countries or to Australia and New Zea­ identity papers. Jean-Marie Tjibaou, leader of the gle. But the resolve of the Kanaks is land.'' Lafleur, a landowner in New The French government is expected to FLNKS, explained, "We have adopted an strong. As we left the congress, scores of Caledonia and a deputy in the French Na­ announce the conditions of the referendum extremely negotiable position. The prob­ people in the village raised their fists in the tional Assembly is reported to be con­ soon. The main point of contention is over lem is that now there are no more negotia­ air and chanted. nected to armed right-wing terrorists here. who is eligible to· vote. French law requires tions. After many requests we have been The Kanaks in the bus on the way back In a further effort to block the growing only a six-month residency to vote in ana­ unable to get a timetable from the govern­ sang spirited independence songs. One international support for Kanak indepen­ tional referendum. This would make tens ment for discussion of the issues. young woman asked why the Kanaks were dence, the French authorities canceled of thousands of French civil servants and "If the French continue to insist upon chanting and singing, given the French visas for a 45-person delegation from New military personnel eligible to vote, includ­ their scenario, it will only increase the ten­ military roadblocks. Zealand. The delegation was comprised of ing-the 7,000 troops recently sent here. sions and accelerate the course of history," "It is for our people iri the villages along trade unionists, Black and Maori rights The FLNKS has explained that it would he said. the way," a Kanak responded. "They know fighters, and peace activists. The tour was participate in such a referendum on the The congress adopted a resolution that we have met in the congress and we want to organized by, the Kanak Solidarity Com­ condition that only those with at least one said in part, "the FLNKS will mobilize all show that we are determined." mittee in New Zealand. parent born in the country be eligible to In response to the 1984-1985 uprising, vote. -10 AND 25 YEARS AGO--- del Este conference [of the Organization of Plebiscite in Philippines THE MILITANT American States] into endorsing its plan for A IOCIAL8TNEWSWEEKLY...... ,IItnE lf1'ERES'T'IOfnEWOAKINO PEOPLE 2llt diplomatic and economic sanctions against February 11, 1977 Cuba - which would pave the way for a sparks intense debates new invasion ~ the Kennedy administra­ In the early morning hours of January 16 tion has been working feverishly since that the government in Beijing moved to end 10 Continued from front page the working masses "more room to move to setback to bring about the same result by days of mass demonstrations in the capital's push through our demands. This is because different means. ments in the military with kid gloves and Tien An Men Square that had increasingly compassion. Whatever happened to the the constitution would legitimize and challenged the authority of the regime. On February 3 President John Kennedy soldiers who killed [previous KMU chair­ strongly enforce the existing situation, for At the height of the demonstrations, on proclaimed an embargo- to go into effect man] Rolando Olalia, to the marines and example, in regard to labor rights. the weekend of January ~9, hundreds of "For example, the constitution recog­ four days later- on what little trickle of police butchers of Mendiola, and to the thousands of persons participated. nizes the right to strike, but adds, 'in accor~ trade still existed between the United States army mutineers? What will happen to the A significant minority of the crowd open­ dance with the law and provisions that may and Cuba. This long-expected measure had perpetrators of the massacre in the BEPZ?" ly raised demands for free speech, the right be provided by law.' So while no new been delayed in the vain hope that it could The mass-based organizations adopted a to elect their own leaders, the reinstatement labor code has been established," Labog be proclaimed in concert with the nations range of positions on the plebiscite. The of [former deputy premier] Deng Xiaoping, said, "this gives legitimacy to the old Mar­ of Latin America at PUnta del Este. Frus­ KMU, KMP, the League of Philippine Stu­ the dropping of all charges against those ar­ dents (LSP), and the KMK, a mass organi­ cos antilabor laws that are still in force. trated in this, Kennedy had to content him­ rested in the Tien An Men demonstration of zation of the urban poor, campaigned for a "Above all, rejection of the constitution self with the claim, believed by no one, April 1976, and the renioval from party no vote on the constitution. would give more legitimacy to the People's that the unilateral U.S. action was "in ac­ leadership of those responsible for suppres­ Power, which installed the Aquino govern­ cordance with the decisions of the. recent The Communist Party of the Philippines sing that demonstration. ment, as against constitutional or parlia­ meeting of foreign ministet;S of the .inter­ condemned the constitution as "proim­ The current demonstrations provide the perialist and antipeople." mentary power." American system at Punta del Este, first indication of the profound and lasting Uruguay." These organizations supported the provi­ Bayan, an alliance of protest organiza­ impact of the April 1976 "Tien An Men in­ sions on human and civil rights, but tions, was unable to get agreement on its cident" on Chinese politics, and can only The embargo will halt exports to this national council and opted for encouraging criticized the provision allowing U.S. be understood as a sequel to it. country from Cuba of tobacco, some indus­ a "conscience vote" by its members. Gab­ bases, the lack of measures for land re­ Since the Tien An Men incident, Chair­ trial molasses, and vegetables, all approxi­ riela, a large women's organization, did form, and the acceptance of the domination man Mao Zedong has died and those party mately worth $35 million a year. Since ex­ the same. of U.S. and other foreign corporations over leaders closest to him have been impris­ port trade to Cuba from the United States the economy and resources. The Party of the Nation initially support­ oned- the so-called gang of four, headed was stopped a year ago by legal and ex­ ed a "critical yes" but later called for post­ May 1 Movement national council mem­ by Mao's widow, Jiang Qing. The new tralegal measures, the recently imposed poning the plebiscite. leadership, headed by party Chairman Hua embargo will have no effect on Cuba other ber Elmer Labog told the Militant that de­ Aquino's electoral commission has bar­ feating the constitution would have given Guofeng, has moved sharply away from than depriving it of the $35 million in U.S. red the Party of the Nation from registering many of ¥aq's policies. It has promised a dollars its exports brought in. as a legal party with rights to participate in relaxation in the field of literature and art. the 1987 legislative and local elections. Those familiar with the facts found grim This publication Some organizations that called for a no humor in that section of Kennedy's em­ is available vote, such as the KMU and LSP, encour­ THE bargo order declaring that "on humanita­ in microform aged members to participate in poll watch­ rian grounds certain foodstuffs, medicines, from University ing to guard against intimidation or fraud MILITANT and medical supplies" were excepted from Microfilms by rightists. Published in the Interests of the Working People the export ban. This same "exception" sup­ At the February 3 news conference, Bel­ posedly has been in effect for some time International. February12,1962 Price !Oc tran said that the events of the previous but the actual fact is that the sending of Call toiJ.free 80().521-3044. In Michipn. Alaska and Hawaii call coll8ct 313-761-4700. Or week had prompted an even larger yes foodstuffs and medicine was made so diffi­ mail inquiry to: University Microfllma lntematiooal. vote, as an expression of popular repudia­ Unable to coerce or cajole the major cult by the Washington "humanitarians" as 300 North Z.Sb Road. Ann Arbor. MI 481011. tion of the rightists. Latin American nations at the recent Punta to be virtually impossible.

February 13, 1987 The Militant 13 ~EDITORIALS----~----- What foreign poli~y is in best interest of Soviet workers? Racist enclaves under siege BY DOUG JENNESS The Soviet Union today remains a country where The racist violence and antiracist protests in Georgia through the county. Blacks and their allies are deter­ capitalists no longer rule. And the state property relations and New York City have attracted international attention mined to end a racist setup that blocks them from exercis- established there by working people nearly 70 years ago and stirred considerable discussion about their signifi­ ing their basic legal rights. . continue to arouse great hostility from the ruling families cance. The Howard Beach lynching did not signal a new rise in Europe, North America, and Japan. Some commentators point to the Ku Klux Klan attack of racism in New York City either. In recent years alone, Since World War II more than a dozen other countries against peaceful demonstrators in Forsyth County and the many similar incidents have occurred, ranging from the have abolished capitalism, and every sign indicates that lynching in Howard Beach as signs that there is a new up­ murder of transit worker Willie Turks in Brooklyn by a we are living in a transitional epoch between capitalism swing in racism and that the fight for Black rights is being racist. gang to the shooting of four Black youths by sub­ and socialism. pushed back. way vigilante Bernhard Goetz. In each case the victim's Yet imperialism, despite its decline and the continuing Time magazine, for instance, headlined its article on crime - as in Howard Beach - was being Black. challenges to it, remains at this point the dominant eco­ the events, "Racism on the rise." Anger against these outrages has been building up, nomic system on the planeL "Racist enciaves under siege" would have been more especially in the Black community. With the transpar­ Within this world context, what foreign policy best ad­ accurate, however. The recent protests mark advances, ently clear case of the lynching in Howard Beach, this vances the interests of working people in the USSR? not setbacks, in the ongoing battle to put a spotlight on anger exploded. Moreover, the cops and city officials What course will most effectively defend, deepen, and and uproot segregation and racist violence in every proved unable to cover up what had happened or divert extend the conquests workers and farmers have already comer of the country. attention to other issues, as they have done in so many made in that country? In spite of a lot of talk and probes. from the White other cases. The revolutionary leadership of the Soviet govern~ · House and many right-wingers, no reversal of the funda­ City and state officials were forced to drop their initial ment, in its early years when V .1. Lenin was alive, made mental gains won by the civil rights movement of the attempts to soft-pedal prosecution of the lynchers and pin the class struggle on a world scale the starting point of its 1950s and 1960s has occllll'ed. Those battles destroyed the blame on the victims and their lawyers for this. foreign affairs. the system of Jim Crow segregation in the Southern states The drive by Blacks and their allies to open up whites­ It counted on the advances of the exploited and op­ and dealt l?ig blows to racist segregation and discrimina­ only pockets of racist segregation such as Howard Beach . pressed internationally to push back the. imperialists and tion throughout the country. and For:syth County is vitally important. There is nothing Efforts to chip away at these gains have not gotten very benign about such enclaves. They are not merely unsav­ far. ory.remnants of a reactionary past. The events in Forsyth County and Howard Beach have Such enclaves are a malignant source of racist violence LEARNING ABOUT highlighted some of the.most outrageous features of the and bastions of institutionalized discrimination against racism that still remains deeply imbedded in our society Blacks today. They reproduce, reinforce, and spread race · SOCIALISM . today. But what is significant is that in both cases these hatred and race prejudice. They are prime recruiting enclaves are out of step with what a great many people grounds for racist, anti-Semitic, and antilabor gangs like make more difficult their attempts to rolt·back the revolu- have come to accept as morally lllld,politically tolerable. the KuKlux Klan. tionary gains in the Soviet Union. . This is shown by the breadth of the protests that the ra­ The mobilization of Ku Klux Klan scum from across Victories of workers and farmers in other countries, cist attacks have provoked. ~orne 30,000 antiracist pro­ the.country to try to keep Forsyth County white showed this leadership said, would be a positive impulse for help­ testers from many parts ofthe country marched in For­ the high stakes they placed on this battle. ing working people in the USSR move toward socialism. syth County January 24 on one week's notice. They in­ Opening up such enclaves and putting an end to their Conversely, it recognized that victories by the exploit­ cluded Blacks and whites, unionists and students, and whites-only character extends and consolidates the basic ing classes would weaken all working people and further people from many other walks of life. democratic rights of Blacks. And this deals a blow tore­ isolate Soviet Russia. The Howard Beach lynching has also stirred wide­ action everywhere. These advances strengthen the fight The young workers' and peasants' republic fought for spread anger and protests.among both Blacks and whites of women against discrimination and prejudice. And they the right to an independent existence in a hostile capitalist in New York. are a vital part of defending the democratic rights of the world and at the same time attempted to do what it could unions and strengthening working-class unity against the Violent attacks in Forsyth County don't signify a new to advance the socialist revolution and national liberation employers. struggles in other countries. upsurge of racism there. Racist terror has been an estab­ It takes more than goodwill or education to put a stop lished feature of life in that county for many years. In to racist practices in places like Forsyth County or How­ For this reason, the early Soviet leaders placed a high 1912, white mobs lynched three Blacks for allegedly rap­ ard Beach where racists have grown accustomed to acting priority on working Closely with revolutionaries from ing a white woman. The vigilantes then drove hundreds with impunity. The 30,000 protesters in Georgia de­ other countries to help provide leadership internationally of Blacks from ~e county and stole their farms and land. manded that the county, state, and federal authorities to the exploited and oppressed. Ever sine¢then the cOunty has been-virtUally off limits to fmnly enforce the law of the land.- the right of Blacks The 'logic of this approach will make sense to mariy Blacks. · . to travel, use restaurants or other public facilities, work, militant and politically aware unionists in this country Forsyth County is one of the pockets in the South or live freely and safely in Forsyth County. This fight today. They know from their own experiences that when where the mass movement that shattered Jim Crow segre­ continl.ies. they are in a battle with the employers, their fight is gation had little immediate· impact. Now this one-time In New York City, marches and other protests are stronger if the boss is under siege from other workers too. · Klan bastion is being challenged not only by Blacks and needed· to make sure that the state and local authorities And that victories won by workers in other plants and in­ their allies from around the country, but by a growing prosecute and punish to the full extent of the law every dustries are a boost to them. Advances by farmers, number of whites who live there. member of the lynch gang that took the life of Michael Blacks, antiwar fighters, and others struggling for social This offensive takes place in the contextof some other Griffith. justice also aid their fight. changes that have been occurring in the county. Industry Every union, Black rights, student, church, women's A union leadership that has no interests separate and is growing, the population is expanding, and an increas­ rights, and antiwar organization should be part of the apart from the interests of the working class as a whole ing number of Blacks work, do business, or just pass fight to bring the assailants to justice. · will immediately embrace all new fights by working people and will draw strength from them. This simple axiom is still the right one for the Soviet Union today. However, it was dumped by the parasitic caste that usurped power in the Soviet Union in the late 1920s and the 1930s. · This caste has its own interests - social and economic Koch goes wrong on the facts privileges and bureaucratic domination- that are differ­ ent from and opposed to those of working people. And it tenaciously defends these interests. Its outlook is con­ Since the attack on three Blacks by a white gang in dodges his responsibility to enforce the law to the hilt in sequently narrow, self-seeking, and provincial. Howard Beach that led to the death of Michael Griffith, prosecuting those guilty of the attack in Howard Beach. This bureaucratic layer doesn't draw strength and in­ New York Mayor Edward Koch has repeatedly struck a In refuting Koch's assertions, it isn't necessary to take spiration from revolutionary struggles. To the contrary it single theme. Whites, he claims, are as likely to be the apart his erroneous theories about racism in our society, is threatened by and fears them. It thrives on stability and victims of racist attacks by Blacks as Blacks by whites. although that job should be done. In this case, simply attempts to establish a live-and-let-live relationship with "We will not advance racial understanding," he de­ examining the facts is enough. the imperialist governments; even at the price of under­ clared in a January 19 column in the New York Times, Koch cites no examples of whites being lynched by cutting struggles of the exploited and oppressed. (Many "unless we also attempt to come to grips with the fear of Blacks in New York. That's because there aren't any. examples can be cited from the last 60 years that illustrate crime in general and white fear of black crime in particu­ There is ~o case of a white being mobbed and lynched in this. And next week I'll take up one or two of them.) lar." Harlem or Bedford-Stuyvesant because of their skin At the same time, the caste derives its sustenance from He goes on to denounce "racism in its many forms" color. · the social foundations established by working people and and to deny that racial "fears - among either blacks or In New York City alone, however, many Blacks in re­ maintains the pretense of supporting workers' interests. It whites -justify stereotyping, discrilnination and vio­ cent years have been beaten, shot, or killed by racist is subject, therefore, to pressure from working-class and lence." gangs, cops, or individual vigilantes such as Bernhard national liberation struggles and may be forced to support In a December 28 appearance at a church in the Black Goetz for no other reason than the color of their skin is measures that aid them. community, Koch made the .same claim. H three white black. Union fighters will recognize a rough parallel here rrien were walking in Harlem after midnight, he asked the Whites in the United Sta~s have never been the vic­ with the policies of the bureaucrats in their own unions. audience, "Do you believe they would be absolutely tims of institutionalized racism backed up by the cops or Labor officials generally have their own privileged safe?" courts. Blacks have been and continue to be the victims positions to maintain and prefer to find some accommod~ This is an outrageous response to the lynching in H,ow­ of such racist discrimination. ation with the employers rather than lead an effective ard Beach. Instead of pressing for the punishment of the This fact underlies the racist attack in Howard Beach. fight against them. · attackers, Koch speculates about alleged racist violence Koch's pious denunciations of "racism in its many Yet, when the struggle between the workers and em­ by Blacks against whites. By equating real, live white ra­ forms" are an obstacle to the fight to bring the Howard ployers heats up the same officials may be forced, in cist lynchers with imaginary Black racist lynchers, Koch Beach lynchers to justice. order to retain their positions, to support measures pushed by the workers. Eventually, however, as workers take over their own unions and use them to fight for their own interests, the well-heeled officialdom that lives off the dues of paying. members will be pushed a5ide. And likewise, the parasitic caste will be forced to go when working people in the Soviet Union wage a fight to carry out class-struggle policies at home and abroad.

14 The Militant February 13, 1987 Violent attacks inside UAW weaken the union BY JOE ALLOR Kennedy's unsuccessful bid for the Democratic Party about Tucker, who is white and married to a Black AND JEFF POWERS presidential nomination. woman. In September the U.S. Department of Labor filed suit He returned to St. Louis in the early 1980s as assistant A woman from Texas who supported Tucker also told against the United Auto Workers union (UA W) charging to Region 5 director Worley. Tucker says the plan was the Labor Department that two men wearing Wor~ey irregularities in last June's election for Region 5 director. for him to replace Worley, currently the oldest member jackets pulled her into a comer at the convention and that In that election Ken Worley defeated Jerry Tucker of the UA W Executive Board, when he retired. one of them ~:punched me in the stomach with his fist." The New Directions Caucus was founded in Oklahoma When · time came to vote, two sergeants-at-arms, City last March. Tucker says his caucus members have claiming to represent a local which had not had a delegate been consistent supporters of the union's top leadership election, cast votes for Worley helping to throw the elec­ UNION TALK until "the recent past." tion his way. Although the caucus' literature is generally vague, it Physical attacks have continued since the convention, in voting by Region 5 delegates held at the UA W national does address some of the problems facing auto workers. including an attack on Tucker backers at a St; Louis CAP convention in Anaheim, California. This includes expressing concern about company plans to Council meeting. · Region 5 is the largest geographical district in the reduce job classifications and limit seniority rights and The UA W membership has a big stake in fighting to UAW, encompassing Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, "company schemes which send thousands of jobs out of make the union as democratic as possible. Only in an at­ Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, arid Arkansas. our plants to nonunion employers." mosphere free from threats and intimidation can adequate The Labor Department's suit is the third ftled over the On balance, however, Tucker and New Directions discussion of how to fight back against the employers' election. The suits, which are based on complaints from have not put forward a program fundamentally different assaults take place. Racist and sexist attacks must be con­ Tucker, charge that delegates who voted in the Region 5 from that of UAW President Owen Bieber. demned by all union members, And the violence must election were improperly selected; that union funds were "I'm not a radical,'' Tucker explains. "I am not strike also be halted. Only the employers are served by such at­ misused; that Tucker was fired from his post as sub-dis-' happy. In fact, I tell people not to go on strike." tacks that weaken and divide the union. trict director after deciding to challenge Worley; and that Tucker is often described as an innovative labor In light of the situation, there needs to be a speedy res­ Worley's backers used systematic violence and racist and leader. He claims he developed the theory of running a olution of the Labor Department suits. The quickest re­ sexist intimidation against supporters of Tucker. plant backwards. This entails staying in the plant past the medy would be for Bieber to call a new election that Most of what has been written about the Region 5 elec­ contract expiration date, but working slowly, misdirect­ would give all union members in the region a chance _to tion has centered on Jerry Tucker, and the New Direc­ ing parts, and organizing sick-outs, particularly by work­ vote. But the top officials atSolidarity House are deter- tions Caucus he set up as a way of organizing his cam­ ers in the skilled trades. mined to prevent that from happening. . paign for the directorship. At the Anaheim convention, national UA W staffers Getting the facts out about what is happening in Re­ Tucker began his career in the UAW when he went to were organized to meet with all Region 5 delegates to gion 5 to as many union members as possible can have a work at the Carter Carburetor plant in St. Louis in 1962. pressure them into voting for Worley. substantial impact on turning the situation around. Rising rapidly Uttou_gh the union bureaucracy, he was ap­ Tucker was supported by virtually all the Black and pointed to the Community Action Prognim (CAP) staff in female delegates at the convention. He has since supplied Joe Allor is a member ofUAW Local110 in Fenton, Mis­ Washington, D.C., in 1972. the Labor Department with copies of the leaflet Worley souri. Jeff Powers isamemberofUAW Loca/93 in Kan­ In 1980, he headed "Labor for Kennedy" in Edward supporters distributed there. It contained racist slurs sas City, Missouri. -LETTERS------Threat to our rights the KGB or being denied job· ad­ I enjoy reading the Militant very vancement for talking to foreign­ much. I especially enjoy the col­ ers. 2. Inadequate housing space, umn "Learning About Socialism" such as a family living in a ~ingle by Doug Jenness. large room, sharing a kitchen, In the January 16 issue his arti­ bath, and phone with neighbors. cle referred to the leadership in 3. Bureaucratic privileges. 4. The this country. I believe we are war in Afghanistan. being led into bondage. The Ukrainians I talked to agreed that the planned economy Our constitutional rights are was a conquest of the revolution being eroded at a rapid pace .. and had an almost religious re­ Police may ·now force entry into · spect for Lenin. one's home without a warrant. Police may arrest and detain a per­ However, they were quite skep­ son without .bail. Police may re­ tical about whether nonbureauc­ fuse to tell the arrested person.why ratized revolutionary leadershlps he or she is being arrested. Police held governmental power any­ may confiscate all properties of where in the world. They also had the person in custody. some illusions about U.S. Edwin Meese, the U.S. attorney capitalism. One asked me, "But general, is now challenging the hasn't Reagan done some g~ right of having an attorney present things for America economi­ ''You may remain silent. If you do, we will·beat a confession out of you with rubber hoses.· You may while a detained person is being cally?" questioned. scream for an attorney, but this will go against you in court •••" Later, it was a pleasant surprise I believe we the people must to meet someone who thought some of her friends what the strug­ on communism as soon as possi­ World affairs unite. We must gain back the Fidel Castro to be "the leading leadership of this nation from the gle was about, after which they ble, and in as great a quantity as I am writing in regard to your revolutionary in the world today." signed and gave money. possible. Books are necessary and paper the Militant. I began reading capitalists. Should we not, we He was also of the opinion that may indeed find ourselves in At Local 127, which represents we need more. your well-informed, worldwide most workers in the Soviet Union R.N. paper after getting another in­ capitalist bondage. would like to return to a form of 24 workers in another bag plant, J.B. nine members signed. One woman Port-au-Prince, Haiti mate's copy in the prison where socialism like that under Lenin. I'm now incarcerated. I was given Santa Fe, New Mexico Jim Miles signed immediately because she has relatives in Ottumwa, Iowa, the address and decided to write. Chicago, Illinois Subscriptipn request I was wondering if it would be where workers were fired for hon­ I have been advised that the Hats and jackets oring a roving picket line in sol­ possible for you to send me some I am a member of United Mine Militant is very informative in re­ copies of the Militant. Union solidarity idarity with the Austin strike. She gards to the political arena the Workers Local2147. It came up at Textile workers in Oregon con­ said she understood what they Since I've been reading the our last meeting that we couldn't world over. I am an indigent pris­ paper, I have become more aware tinue to support meat-packers not went through. oner. I therefore respectfully re­ fmd a union company to buy hats yet recalled by Hormel after the Around $80 was collected at of the problems they face in other and jackets from for our local. If quest you to furnish me with some countries, as well as the ones in year-long strike in Austin, Min­ both plants. issues of the Militant without fi­ anyone out there can help, please nesota. Robbe Fisher, AC1WU Local402T this country. Reading about send the information to me. nancial obligation. I hope this re­ socialism, antiwar protests, etc., Mar/de Wilson, AC1WULocall27 quest is not an inconvenience, but Leslie Heulett When two locals of the Amalga­ Portland, Oregon makes me more concerned and Rt. 1, Box 27 mated Clothing and Textile Work­ rather a sign that there are indi­ more interested in world and na­ Rock Cove, W.Va. 26234 ers Union (ACIWU) here "in Port­ viddals as well as organizations tional affairs. land received a letter requesting Farm crisis who both recognize the need and · A prisoner funds for Christmas toys for chil­ I would like to renew my sub­ are searching for the truth. Lucasville, Ohio Trip to Soviet Union dren of Hormel workers, both loc­ scription if you would do some ar­ A prisoner I really appreciated the in-depth als responded. ticles on farmers and the farm Attica, New York coverage the Militant has been crisis in the United States and At Local 402T, which repre­ Correction giving the Soviet Union lately. Canada weekly. You may think In editing, an error was intro­ When I visited that country two sents 250 workers in an industrial­ this is not important. In that case Soviet series bag plant, the December union Just a brief message to inform duced in the article, "'Militant,' years ago, I found diverse political my subscription is not important. 'PM' popular with brigade," in views among the handful of meeting voted unanimously to cir­ J.B. you that I think the series you're culate a petition supporting the doing on the Soviet Union is an our February 6 issue. The brigade people that spolce to me in the Green Springs, Ohio member identified as "a commer­ street. right of Ho~el workers to get excellent idea. I read the first part their jobs back. on whether the Soviet Union was a cial fisherman working in Alaska" After avoiding a few black mar­ A couple of workers were skep­ Haiti capitalist country and I thought the would have been more accurately keteers, I met some young Ukrai­ tical about collecting money and I am writing because the links author, Doug Jenness, was correct described as "a woman who fishes nian nationalists, and fmally, a felt we had done enough already, between people fighting for the in his denundation of such an ab­ commercially in Alaska." genuine internationalist and Len­ but they found out people are still cause of the proletariat should be surd proposition [January 23 Mili­ inist. willing to give money and support maintained. tant]. The letters column is an open People refrained from raising forum for all viewpoints on sub­ the struggle. The union obtained The first few books you helped Soviet political, cultural, social, permission to ask workers to sign I am looking forward to next jects of general interest to our us get have accomplished their or economic problems until they while working. week's issue on whether the readers. Please keep your letters decided I was political. Then they educational task, for they are cir­ Soviet Union is an imperialist brief. Where necessary they will were quite open. About 160 workers on three culating among a number of country. be abridged. Please indicate if Discussion centered around shifts signed the petition. One friends. It would be good if you A prisoner you prefer that your initials be f~ur issues. 1. Being watched by Vietnamese worker explained to could help us obtain ·more books Lewisburg, Pennsylvania used rather than your full name. February 13, 1987 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT ANC's Tambo meets with Shultz White House acknowledges ANC is 'important player'

BY ERNEST HARSCH anti-apartheid activists in the Durban area. . Oliver Tambo, president of the African The White House portrayed him as a "mod­ National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, erate" and feted him during his frequent met in Washington January 28 with Secre­ visits to the United States. tary of State George Shultz. It was the But as the struggle in South Africa has highest level meeting ever held between a escalated, the ANC's deep roots among the leader of the insurgent ANC and an official vast majority of South Africans have be­ of the U.S. government. come ever more obvious. ANC flags, sym­ The very fact that it took place at all was bols, and slogans have been displayed at significant. As Tambo stressed, the meet­ innumerable meetings, funerals, and pro­ ing "represents recognition that the ANC is test demonstrations - despite the fact that there to be reckoned with." the organization is outlawed. Shultz himself has admitted that the Over the past year, scores of South Afri­ ANC is "an important player'' in South M­ cans, including prominent white profes­ rican politics. This is a relatively recent ac­ sors, businessmen, church officials, and knowledgement on Washington's part. political figures, have held discussions with ANC leaders, to hear their views di­ Shultz' accusations rectly. At the same time, however, Shultz made Recognition of the ANC's leadership clear during the nearly hour-long meeting role has also grown internationally. So has that the U.S. authorities remain opposed to outright support for the organization and its the struggle led by the ANC. aims. Shultz continued to press the U.S. prop­ washington's refusal even to meet with aganda line that the ANC is a "terrorist," the ANC thus became more difficult to sus­ "communist dominated" organization that tain. It raised the political costs of the con­ takes its orders from Moscow. According tinued U.S. ties with Pretoria and undercut to State Department spokesperson Charles Washington's pretense of playing a Redman, Shultz "laid out our concerns "mediating" role in the region. about the degree of Soviet influence in the While U.S. officials have now reluc­ ANC" and the group's .use of arms. He tantly agreed to talk with the ANC, they suggested that the ANC aimed to replace have not pulled back from their basic al­ the apartheid regime with "another form of liance with Pretoria. During his recent six­ unrepresentative government." country tour of Africa, Shultz reiterated Similar charges were leveled by some Washington's opposition to sweeping eco­ conservative groups ·and congresspeople, nomic sanctions against South Africa and who formed a "Coalition Against ANC said that he still endorsed "constructive en­ · Terrorism" and organized a small demon­ gagement." stration against Tambo's visit. They were That U.S. policy, Tambo said a few echoed as·well by editorials and articles in days before meeting Shultz, "has served the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, the purposes of apartheid." OUver Tambo speakiilg at New York's Riverside Church and other big-business newspapers. 'We ehoose not to submit' Tambo had already answered such ac­ cusations before the meeting with Shultz, Tambo gets 'rapturous welcome' on tour in his several public addresses around the country. As a crowd of 1,200 people in Chicago's U.S. and South African alliance in support The day before Tambo's arrival in the The ANC president reaffmned the Operation PUSH auditorium linked arms of the counterrevolutionary UNITA forces capital, some 300 people celebrated the group's right to receive aid from any coun­ and sang "We Shall Overi::ome," African in Angola. ANC's 75th anniversary at a reception and try that offered it, including the Soviet National Congress (ANC) President Oliver Referring to his scheduled meeting with rally sponsored by dozens of national and Union. He insisted that every true oppo­ Tambo walked into a "rapturous wel­ Secretary of State George Shultz, Tambo local organizations. nent of apartheid, including those with come," as he described it. said, "We know the American people have communist views, had a right to belong to Tambo was escorted in by Jesse Jack­ understood our struggle. We have come to Contributing to this report were Tom the ANC and to take part in the anti-apart­ son, the former head of PUSH. A represen­ explain our positions to those who do not 0'Brien in Chicago and Ike Nahem in heid struggle. tative from Mayor Harold Washington's yet understand." Washington. Explaining why the ANC resorted to office read a proclamation declaring the armed a<;tion, Tambo declared in a speech day, January 24, "South African Freedom in Washington, "Apartheid is inherently a Day" and presented Tambo with a key to practice of violence. We choose not to sub­ the city. L.A. protest hits arrests of nine mit but fight back, arms in hand. We have "We know we shall be free," Tambo told no alternative but to intensify our armed re­ the audience, "because [South African supporters of Palestinian struggle sistance because, as your Declaration ofln­ President Pieter] Botha and his crowd have begun to quarrel among themselves like dependence says, in the face of systematic BY LYNN LESNICK amounted to "FBI harassment of Arab­ tyranny, it becomes a duty and a right to thieves .... The gun will not save him." Tambo talked at some length about the LOS ANGELES- A meeting of 100 Americans." He said the political grounds take up arms." voiced outrage at the arrests here of for the deportation move were a threat to Tambo made the same points during his unity of Black peoples on both sides of the ocean and the need for unity in the struggle eight people of Arab descent and the every immigrant or visitor who opposes meeting with Shultz, he and other ANC Kenya-born wife of one of them. The nine · U.S. policies. leaders explained afterward. He likewise against apartheid. "The establishment of the ANC in 1912 face deportation: One of those arrested is Khader Musa called on Washington to impose more eco­ They are charged with being supporters nomic sanctions against Pretoria and to . waS the beginning of the fight for decoloni­ Hamide, a graduate student who recently zation," he said. Through that fight, "our of the Popular Front for the Liberation of applied for U.S. citizenship. Khader has press its allies in Western Europe to do the Palestine. According to government offi­ same. He criticized the Reagan administra­ brothers in America were our inspiration publicly opposed U.S. intervention in Cen­ and today you continue to be. With the cials, they. are subject to deportation be­ tral America and was a delegate to the na­ tion's policy of "constructive engagement" cause the·PFLP is "an avowed revolution­ with the apartheid regime. American people on our side, with the tional convention of the Rainbow Coalition workers and youth, the intelligentsia and ary group." headed by Jesse Jackson. churches organized against the apartheid The other victims include Julie Nyan­ U.S. reluctance The February 1 meeting was sponsored system, it is just a matter of time." gugi Mungabh, Amjad Mustafa Obeid, Although the White House's fundamen­ by the Committee for Justice formed to The audience raised more than $10,000 Ayman Mustafa Obeid, Aiad Khaled tal stance toward the ANChas not altered, fight the deportations. as a donation for the ANC. Barakat, Michael Ibrahim Nasif Shehadeh, its decision to have someone of Shultz' The arrests have been portrayed as a The next day, January 25, nearly 400 re­ and Nain Nadim Sharif. · standing meet with Tambo does mark a crackdown on terrorism. But one official sidents of the Washington, D.C., area conceded to the Washington Post that FBI Sponsors of the Committee for Justice certain shift. braved near-zero temperatures and more agents "found no information that they include Los Angeles City Council mem­ than one foot of snow to greet Tambo in For years, the U.S. authorities have were about to commit a violent act. ... bers Robert Farrell and Jackie Goldberg; sought to ignore and dismiss the ANC, that city. They were not able to prove a conspiracy." the American Civil Liberties Union; Na­ claiming that it did not represent the aspira­ Tambo pointed to the changes since his tional Lawyers Guild; National Associa­ tions of South Mrica's Black majority. last visit to Washington in 1985, including "It's a violation of human rights," de­ tion of Arab-Americans; National Rainbow They chose instead to praise the apartheid the protests and arrests at the South African clared the Southern California director of Coalition; attorneys William Kunstler and regime's fraudulent reforms. embassy and the nationwide upsurge of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Ramsey Clark; Rabbi Elmer Berger; Cen­ When U.S. officials met with any Black anti-apartheid activity. It was this, he Committee. "They were picked up from ter for Constitutional Rights; and others. figures in South Africa, it was with the stressed, that pushed the Congress and their beds. This is America. We feel out­ likes of Chief Gatsha Buthelezi, a key col­ U.S. government to impose some econom­ rage." The committee has called for a national laborator of the apartheid regime, whose · ic sanctions against the apartheid regime. James Zogby, executive director of the vigil for justice on February 17, the date set armed thugs have terrorized and murdered Tambo called for an end to the growing Arab-American Institute, said the arrests for deportation hearings.

16 The Militant February lJ., 1987