MUNDO OBRERO Vídeo del Pentágono Llamado a amnistía 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org April 22, 2010 Vol. 52, No. 15 50¢ Anti-racist protests confront Tea Party By LeiLani Dowell However, activists across the country are beginning to organize to confront the Tea Party and send a real mes- STriking PhiLLy nurSeS A visit of the “Tea Party Express” to cities in the Mid- sage of unity and working-class solidarity. BATTLe union-BuSTing west — a region of the country that has been most dev- Some 50 counter-protesters staged a demonstration at astated by the economic crisis of capitalism — did not an April 11 Tea Party Express rally in Clinton Town- go unchallenged. Rather, activists and community mem- ship, Mich., a suburban area north of Detroit. Local bers confronted them at several stops to denounce the progressives and anti-racists joined activists called out right-wing attempt to divide working and oppressed by the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War people and to show that the racist, sexist, anti-lesbian- and Injustice; the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop gay-bi-trans, anti-immigrant, corporate-funded Tea Par- Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shutoffs; and Work- ty does not speak for working people. ers World Party. The Tea Party is attempting to appeal to the popular “Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Tea Party bigots go away!” discontent in the face of the economic crisis and attacks and “Health care is a right — fight, fight, fight!” were on working people in the form of budget cuts and layoffs. among the chants greeting those going to the neo-fascist However, they want to fuel that discontent into a reac- rally. The chant “Against ‘big government’? Abolish the PhOtO: KEllY ValdEz Struggle inside philly City Council chambers. See page 5. tionary program that scapegoats immigrants, targets Pentagon!” highlighted the hypocrisy of the racists. people of color and lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, and The anti-Tea Party demonstration was covered by lo- stands against women’s rights. cal media, which interviewed and videoed many of the MoBiLize for MAy DAy 7 The group presents itself as a grassroots organization, participants. At a closing rally Chloe Secor, a Clinton Township high school student, denounced the racism but in actuality it’s funded by corporate, ultra-right or- noxious gases explode 6 ganizations such as FreedomWorks and Americans for and hate embodied by the Tea Party movement, saying it Prosperity. These bigots have been heavily assisted by the was not the legacy she wanted for her hometown. corporate media in relaying their message to the public. That same day, a contingent rallied against the Tea Prom ignites LgBT struggle 8 Party Express stop in Berea, Ohio, near the Cleveland airport. Protesters carried placards stating “Free enterprise Second assassination killed 29 miners,” “Health care is a right” of Detroit imam 2 and “Workers of the world, united for health care and jobs for all.” The dem- onstration received countless honks of BAngLADeSh solidarity and the support of passersby, Socialist youth meet 11 Continued on page 4

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Earth Day, nukes & dirty wars EDiTOriAl 10 Kyrgyzstan,Afghanistan&thePentagon 11 Page_2_ April_22,_2010_ workers.org

WORKERS WORLD Community anger grows this week ... over imam’s assassination  In the U.S. anti-racist protests confront tea Party ...... 1 By Abayomi Azikiwe published a front-page story that attempted to Community anger grows over Imam’s assassination...... 2 editor, Pan-African news Wire undermine the growing community support for Detroit Abdullah’s family and the Masjid al-Haqq mem- Mumia abu-Jamal: at the Crossroads ...... 3 bers. The article claimed that in 1980, a 22-year- Clothing workers fight to save their jobs ...... 3 A community meeting was held March 27 old Abdullah attempted to grab the revolver of ‘Richie’ Richardson – an editor & anti-war hero ...... 3 to announce the launching of an independent a Livonia, Mich., police officer during a routine anti-union Massey mine explosion kills 29 ...... 4 investigation into the assassination of Imam traffic stop. (April 7) On the picket line ...... 4 Luqman Ameen Abdullah. The event was held This article asserts: “Livonia police reports de- Striking nurses battle temple hospital’s union busting ...... 5 at the Historic New Bethel Baptist Church on tail the incident that led to Abdullah’s 1981 con- Detroit’s West Side, just several blocks east of viction for felonious assault on a police officer, Students, cafeteria workers join to fight Sodexo...... 5 the location of the Masjid al-Haqq mosque, for which he served 26 days in jail. They provide Gas explosion deepens opposition to hydraulic fracturing...6 where Abdullah served as leader for more imam luqman another view of the man some supporters have de- diverse communities unite to protest Baptist bigots ...... 6 Ameen Abdullah than two decades. scribed as a peaceful observer of Islam but a crimi- Students protest repression at Berkeley campus ...... 6 Abdullah was shot 20 times by FBI agents on Oct. 28, nal complaint describes as a radical separatist intent on activists gear up for united mass outreach on May day...... 7 during a series of raids carried out by a multijurisdiction- killing police officers.” auto plants closed, sold off and destroyed ...... 8 al task force that included Dearborn, Mich., and Detroit It is unlikely that an African-American youth accused police. The Masjid al-Haqq mosque had been infiltrated and convicted of felonious assault against a suburban lesbian’s fight for hS prom rights opens national struggle...8 by the FBI for more than two years, during which time Detroit police officer in 1980 would have served only 26  Around the world informants sought unsuccessfully to encourage illegal ac- days in jail. Attorney Nabih Ayad, a Canton Township, tivities among the members. Mich., lawyer representing the Abdullah family, told the Greece, France workers resist Eurobosses ...... 8 Abdullah and several of his members were eventually Detroit News that raising the incident, which is three de- leaked Pentagon video reveals Iraq occupation brutality....9 lured to a warehouse in neighboring Dearborn to assist cades old, was “extremely far-fetched and without any the high cost of high-tech war ...... 9 with the unloading of merchandise. The FBI then sent in credibility” in relation to Abdullah’s death. Oil profits, security impact U.S.-Nigerian relations ...... 10 Mujahid Carswell, Abdullah’s son and a well-known a dog that attacked the imam, who was later killed in a Popular rebellion in Kyrgyzstan shakes up Pentagon ...... 11 hail of bullets. Hip-Hop artist who is also a Detroit 10 defendant, told Bangladesh students celebrate worldwide struggle ...... 11 The March 27 rally was attended by several hundred this writer that the claims made against his father in re- local activists and religious leaders from the Muslim and gard to the purported Livonia incident were highly un- Christian communities. The event was co-sponsored by likely. Carswell, who is known in the recording world as  Editorials the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Michigan “Mu,” said that the authorities are attempting to take at- Earth day, nukes, and dirty wars ...... 10 and the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality, with tention away from the gross injustice done to his father, endorsements from the Michigan Emergency Committee his family and his followers.  Noticias En Español Against War & Injustice and the Moratorium NOW! Coali- One of the photographs shows the imam handcuffed, Vídeo del Pentágono ...... 12 tion to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions and Utility Shutoffs. lying facedown and riddled with bullets. This photograph llamado a amnistía...... 12 DCAPB spokesperson Ron Scott chaired the meet- was published by the local newspapers; however, more ing, and presentations were made by the Nation of Is- graphic pictures were not shown in the corporate press. lam, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Detroit chapter of At an April 11 community meeting held by DCAPB at the NAACP, CAIR, Congressperson John Conyers and the downtown St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Walid pre- MECAWI. Appeals were made for donations for the legal sented two other photographs that show deep lacerations Workers World defense fund for 10 other Masjid al-Haqq members, the to Abdullah’s face, apparently from dog bites. 55 West 17 Street Detroit 10, who face felony charges stemming from the The Detroit Free Press stated in an April 8 editorial: New York, N.Y. 10011 raids. “Efforts to manage community sentiments by withhold- Phone: (212) 627-2994 Imam Dawud Walid, Michigan CAIR’s executive di- ing information always fail — and often backfire. With Fax: (212) 675-7869 rector, described the delayed release of evidence. At the many lingering questions about how Abdullah died, E-mail: [email protected] request of Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad, the Abdullah has become a national and even international Web: www.workers.org Wayne County Medical Examiner’s report was not issued figure — and, in some circles, a martyr. Meanwhile, law Vol. 52, No. 15 • April 22, 2010 until Feb. 1. The release of 75 autopsy photographs was enforcement agencies have lost credibility with many of Closing date: April 13, 2010 also held up by the Dearborn police. the Muslim-American groups they are trying to build re- Editor: Deirdre Griswold A number of local and national organizations have de- lationships with in the post-9/11 era.” manded a Justice Department review of the FBI actions, Numerous organizations have issued letters and Technical Editor: Lal Roohk including the use of informants in religious organiza- passed resolutions decrying the assassination and de- Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, tions. Detroit Congressperson John Conyers, chair of the manding justice, including the NAACP, the Democratic Leslie Feinberg, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, House Judiciary Committee, wrote a letter in February Party 14th District Caucus, MECAWI, the Detroit Board Gary Wilson to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder requesting such an of Police Commissioners, the Congress of Arab-Ameri- West Coast Editor: John Parker investigation. The requests have gone unanswered. can Organizations and the Michigan Coalition for Hu- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, man Rights. Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel, Corporate media slander as photographs released Both Carswell and Abdullah’s other son, Omar Regan, Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, The much anticipated release of the autopsy and crime have expressed their appreciation for the work of ME- David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, scene photographs took place on April 8. Five photos, CAWI in organizing three demonstrations in response Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Betsey Piette, made public by CAIR, illustrated the brutal nature of the to the assassination, the appearance of Attorney General Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac assassination. Holder in Detroit last November and the delayed release Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger, However, one day prior to the release, the Detroit News of the autopsy report on Feb. 1. Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, You can subscribe at workers.org. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, Follow Workers World on Twitter http://twitter.com/workersworld. Carlos Vargas Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator Facebook http://bit.ly/c4ndyg. Copyright © 2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium National Office Buffalo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Pittsburgh without royalty provided this notice is preserved. join us 55 W. 17 St. 367 delaware ave. [email protected] [email protected] Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly New York, NY 10011 Buffalo, NY 14202 Workers World Party Houston Rochester, N.Y. except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 212-627-2994 716-883-2534 585-436-6458 (WWP) fights on all P.O. Box 3454 55 W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: (212) 627-2994. issues that face the [email protected] [email protected] houston [email protected] Subscriptions: One year: $25; institutions: $35. Letters working class and Atlanta Chicago tX 77253-3454 San Diego, Calif. oppressed peoples— P.O. Box 5565 27 N. Wacker dr. #138 713-503-2633 P.O. Box 33447 to the editor may be condensed and edited. 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Box 57300 Fax 617-983-3836 313-459-0777 610-931-2615 Washington, dC 20037 Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., 5th Floor, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org April 22, 2010 Page 3 Mumia Abu-Jamal: At the Crossroads By Dolores Cox and author, talked about the attacks on new york the workers and said that what is need- ed is a commitment, a movement and a April 3 was “Call to Action Day” at struggle. In comparing U.S. state oppres- Columbia University — a day to inform, sion here and abroad, he asserted, “Mu- mobilize and organize to save the life of mia is Gaza, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. The Guantánamo.” theme was “Live from Death Row: Mumia Cornel West, noted African-American at the Crossroads in the Age of Obama.” scholar and Princeton University profes- It was organized by Educators for Mumia sor, urged everyone to act to support Mu- Abu-Jamal. mia and to oppose the mass incarceration Co-sponsors were the Columbia groups of and police brutality against Blacks and Lucha, the Black Students Organization, Latinos/as. the Muslim Students Association and West said that, in the age of Obama, the Intercultural House at Columbia, the there’s no concern for the plight of every- Arab Student Association at SIPA, Co- day people under corporate power, and lumbia Students for Justice in Palestine, that the poor and working class in the the African Diaspora Literary Society and U.S. and globally are suffering unneces- the Black and Latino Student Caucus at sarily. Today, as in Reagan’s age, greed the School of Public Health. has run amok. Despite massive poverty, EMAJ’s founder Mark Taylor, who is the people are declared “too little to res- also a professor at Princeton Theological cue, the banks too big to fail.” Seminary, thanked Columbia students The evening’s highlight was Mumia’s were motivated by love for the people, mia’s death is not acceptable,” and she for holding this event. For 15 years, the phone call, live from death row. The au- said Mumia, referring to Che’s statement called on everyone to go to Washington, group has educated and organized for dience gave him a loud standing ovation. that true revolutionaries are guided by D.C., on April 26 to demand a federal civil justice for Mumia. They are coordinating Mumia opened with, “Power to the peo- great feelings of love. rights investigation of Mumia’s case. the national campaign for a civil rights ple!” He thanked everyone for being there The machinery of oppression contin- The evening closed with loud chants of investigation into his case by the U.S. and all of his supporters. ues today, explained Mumia, referring “Free, free, free Mumia and all political Justice Department. Mumia reviewed his life as a Black to the “new Jim Crow” justice system. prisoners!” EMAJ says that the same judicial vio- Panther and the good works the young He encouraged young people to use their For transportation and logistical lations and racism surrounding Mumia’s Panthers performed without the advan- energy and abilities to organize and said information, see www.freemumia.com/ case account for the disproportionate in- tage of speaking to Martin Luther King or that they don’t need to wait and ask for april26.html. Every Thursday call the carceration of other Black people and the Malcolm X, who were already murdered. permission to do so. Justice Department hotline: 202-353- increasing illegal detentions of Arabs and They built their organization because they Suzanne Ross of the Free Mumia Abu- 1555, or switchboard: 202-514-2000, to Muslims. felt oppression in their bones, and they Jamal Coalition (NYC) stated that “Mu- demand a civil rights investigation. More than 500 students, teachers and activists, including members of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC), the Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Clothing workers fight to save their jobs Abu-Jamal and the International Action Center, attended. The six workshops — on By Martha grevatt convinced Academy campus organizing, media building and Cleveland Awards attendees not legal struggles — and the evening plenary Actor Danny Glover. to wear Boss suits to the were open to the public. On April 7 hundreds fights for workers’ jobs. ceremonies. during a Brooklyn, Ohio. Workers and their Johanna Fernandez, a Baruch Col- of Cleveland union mem- rally at a Hugo Boss plant.. lege professor and an EMAJ coordinator, bers rallied to support supporters were buoy- moderated the evening panel on “Live 300 workers fighting ant over the announce- from Death Row.” to keep the Hugo Boss ment that the National Each speaker described Mumia as a men’s suit factory open. Labor Relations Board true revolutionary, who speaks for the op- The German clothing had upheld a complaint pressed and whom the government seeks manufacturer has oper- of unfair labor practices to silence because he speaks the truth ated the plant since 1995 filed by Workers Unit- about capitalism and repression. when it bought it from ed. The NLRB ordered Pam Africa of MOVE and the Philadel- Joseph and Feiss, which had been mak- since the December announcement, drew Boss back to the bargaining table; talks phia Free Mumia Coalition emphasized ing suits in the Cleveland area since the representatives of at least two dozen public on the pay cut and plant closing resumed that now, more than ever, Mumia’s life is 1800s. Many of the workers have worked and private sector unions. The Hugo Boss the day after the rally. This victory came endangered, as all legal avenues have been in the factory for decades, yet their top workers, who are mostly immigrants and about because of the determination of the exhausted. She emphasized the power of pay is only $12.80 an hour. In October the workers of color, came out in full force. workers and their supporters. the people to effect change and said that it members of Workers United voted down Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Ohio Governor After the rally, members of the Cleveland was mass action that rescued Mumia from a pay reduction to $8.30 an hour. In the Ted Strickland were among elected offi- chapter of Bail Out the People Movement his scheduled execution in August 1995. week between Christmas and New Year’s cials who addressed the workers. confronted the politicians. They should Now activists must, Africa stressed, be- Day the company announced it would The real keynote speaker, however, do more than just speak at rallies, BOPM come fully engaged in the campaign to de- close the Brooklyn, Ohio, plant and move was actor Danny Glover. Since learning of members argued. They should take stron- mand a full and complete investigation by work to Turkey and possibly Bulgaria or the rotten deal Hugo Boss workers were ger action against companies like Boss by the U.S. Justice Department of the racist, Romania. getting, Glover publicly sided with the freezing their assets and/or seizing their illegal prosecutorial actions by the Phila- The rally for the workers, one of many union. The renowned actor successfully plants through eminent domain. delphia district attorney’s office, the police department, the courts and city officials. Jamal Joseph, a Columbia professor, former Black Panther and founder of IM- ‘Richie’Richardson–aneditor&anti-warhero PACT Repertory Theatre for youth, told of F.O. Richardson, who everyone called was right in their face, which got them passed hand-to-hand by GIs all over the the federal government’s Cointelpro cam- “Richie,” was still in his teens when he even madder. They attacked the demon- world, bringing an anti-war and anti-rac- paign, which destroyed the Black Panther jumped into France on the night of June stration but found to their surprise that ist message and mobilizing them against Party when party members spoke about 5, 1944, the eve of the allied landing at the protesters held the line. the dictatorial chain of command. the need for unity of all peoples. “We need Normandy. He survived, luckier than the Richie was a Workers World Party The Vietnamese finally liberated the a movement to release Mumia,” he said many young men whose parachutes and member through the 1960s and the early south of their country in 1975. With and quoted Frederick Douglass, who said, bodies were shredded by German ma- 1970s. In January 1968 he took on an as- his editorial and artistic skills, Richie “Agitate, agitate, agitate!” chine-gun fire. signment that became a vital contribution had made a concrete contribution any Vijay Prashad, Trinity College historian Jump ahead 21 years. He was in many to the class and anti-imperialist struggle. working-class activist could be proud of. ways the ideal keynote speaker at a mass He assumed responsibility for editing He was one of those many heroes who rally in Union Square in February 1965 The Bond, which over the next few years helped defeat U.S. imperialism in South- Mumia Abu-Jamal’s organized by Youth Against War and became the best-read newspaper of pro- east Asia. book, Fascism to protest President Lyndon test for the rapidly growing resistance Richie died this March. There will be ‘Jailhouse Lawyers: Johnson’s sending of combat troops to movement of soldiers, sailors, marines, a gathering in his honor on April 17 at Prisoners defending Vietnam. air troops and GIs of all types during the 2 p.m. at the Ethical Culture Center in prisoners v. the u.S.A.’ In those days groups like the John Vietnam War. Brooklyn, N.Y., at Prospect Park West be- is available at Birch Society — the spiritual ancestors The Bond became the monthly newspa- tween 4th and 5th Streets. Surviving fam- leftbooks.com. of today’s Tea Party organizers — would per of the American Servicemen’s Union. ily members and friends will pay their re- hold counter-demonstrations. They liked Under Richardson’s editorship, tens of spects to this class fighter. to call anti-war forces “cowards.” Richie thousands of copies each month were — John Catalinotto Page_4_ April_22,_2010_ workers.org Anti-union Massey mine On the Picket Line explosion kills 29 By Sue Davis

By Bryan g. Pfeifer particularly nonunion ones, have an institutional policy to NYCbuildingworkers ignore, corrupt and fight in every way possible the Mine settostrike A week after killing 29 miners, Massey Energy Company Safety and Health Administration, the regulatory agency More than 30,000 doorpeople, janitors, porters, officials are still walking free and uncharged for any crime for the mining industry. handypeople and superintendents who keep while grieving loved ones of the dead miners and their “This incident [at Upper Big Branch] isn’t just a matter thousands of New York City’s elite residential communities continue to suffer. of happenstance, but rather the inevitable result of a profit- buildings humming are set to strike at 12:01 a.m. Due to the insatiable greed of Massey Energy, the coal driven system and reckless corporate conduct. Many min- on April 21 if the Realty Advisory Board doesn’t miners at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia ing companies have given too little attention to safety over stop demanding what Service Employees Local died April 5 in an explosion at a mine cited repeatedly for the years and too much to the bottom line,” said Richard 32BJ called “unfair and unacceptable cuts to health improperly venting methane gas, among hundreds of oth- Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO and former president care, overtime and sick days” in a March 17 er safety violations. Massey subsidiary Performance Coal of the UMWA, in a statement released on April 6. statement. When negotiations stalled in early April, owns Upper Big Branch. The UMWA and other poor and working people’s or- Local 32BJ members voted unanimously to strike. Initially 25 miners were known to be dead. Four more ganizations are assisting the families of the killed min- The union has scheduled a rally for April 13 to tell missing coal miners were found dead later. There are still ers. Certainly no amount of monetary compensation can New York’s $584 billion real-estate industry, which high concentrations of methane in and around the mine replace the loss of the miners. Still, it will take a struggle has been flush with cash during this recession, that where the original explosion took place. This entirely pre- to ensure that Massey officials — well-known for their they will not bow down to unreasonable demands ventable mine disaster is the worst in the U.S. in 40 years. contempt of workers — are held responsible for killing the to further line the already-stuffed pockets of greedy “Statistics prove that it’s much more likely to be safe and miners, a responsibility which includes compensation and landlords. alive in a union mine than a nonunion one,” Phil Smith, other support to the families. United Mine Workers media spokesperson, told Workers World. Massey: Enemy of workers and poor Hotelworkers’actions According to the National Institute for Occupational Massey Energy is the largest coal producer in Central Safety and Health, since 1989 seven of the eight largest ex- Appalachia, with underground mines, surface mines, and acrossU.S. plosions have occurred at nonunion mines. processing and shipping centers in West Virginia, Ken- The 850 workers at the Hilton San Francisco “As I said previously, at times like these we are all broth- tucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Massey is also engaged in Union Square hotel walked out April 7-10 as part ers and sisters in the coalfields. We suffer and grieve along joint operations with the Essar Group in India. Workers of UNITE HERE Local 2’s ongoing struggle for a with the families. And as we do, we cannot ignore the very at Massey extract, process and transport primarily low- decent contract. The billion-dollar hotel industry troubling realities of what happened in that mine in the sulfur bituminous coal used for power generation, metal- wants the workers to pay more for health care, but days and weeks leading up to the disaster. Nor can we ig- lurgical coke production and industrial boilers. the low-paid workers say they can’t afford what the nore the grim statistics that are associated with Massey and Coal still generates more than 50 percent of U.S. elec- bosses propose. The union has held rolling strikes the mines under its control,” said Cecil Roberts, UMWA tricity needs. More than a billion tons of coal are burned since the contract expired in August 2009. With president in a statement released on April 8 (umwa.org). in this country annually. There are still an estimated 275 negotiations stalled since December and none Roberts said that a UMWA Health and Safety Depart- billion tons buried deep underground. scheduled, Local 2 plans other strikes targeting ment review of fatalities at coal mines since 2000 showed Massey has a decades-long, ruthless approach to work- the top 60 high-priced hotels. In the meantime that prior to the Upper Big Branch disaster 20 people had ers, the environment and safety regulations. The compa- it’s called a boycott of six hotels: the Hilton Union died at mines operated by Massey, its subsidiaries or sub- ny pays virtually no taxes. A Virginia People’s Assembly Square and Hilton Fisherman’s Wharf, Westin St. contractors. march in January targeted Massey headquarters in Rich- Francis, W Hotel, Grand Hyatt and Le Meridien According to Associated Press reports, federal inspec- mond, Va., for the corporation’s atrocious record, which Hotel. tors cited the Upper Big Branch mine almost 500 times includes union-busting, mountain-top strip mining and Employees of Columbia Sussex Corp., the in 2009 for safety violations, including those related to flouting safety regulations. (vapeoplesassembly.org) fourth-biggest hotel owner in the U.S. with 67 methane gas. The inspectors proposed nearly $1 million in Massey is perhaps most well-known for its virulently hotels, called a boycott of seven hotels the week fines. Massey paid only $168,393 in penalties. anti-union ideology and activities. Presently the corpora- of March 22. Members of UNITE HERE say the In the last month alone, Massey was cited 57 times, in- tion is vigorously opposing the Employee Free Choice Act. layoffs, pay freezes, benefit reductions and health- cluding 60 orders issued to close down part or all of the CEO Don Blakenship is well known for his anti-UMWA at- care cuts have got to stop. The company is trying to mine. Despite this, and although three workers died at the titude and oppositional activities against unions and other bleed the workers as it scrambles to pay off more Upper Big Branch mine in the past 12 years and scores of organizations representing poor and working people. than $1 billion it borrowed to buy 14 hotels in workers were hurt and working under unsafe conditions, According to Massey’s 2009 annual report, only 1.8 2005. The union calls for a boycott of seven hotels, the mine was allowed to continue operating. Massey tri- percent of the 5,800 workers at Massey are members of a three unionized and four unorganized, to support pled its production at Upper Big Branch in 2009. (wvga- union such as the UMWA. a union organizing drive. The union hotels are the zette.com) There is no word yet from the UMWA or from Trumka Baltimore Sheraton City Center, Hilton Crystal City Massey, which is nonunion and anti-union, has one of of any plans for protests at Massey headquarters in Rich- outside D.C. and the Anchorage Hilton. The non- the worst safety records in the mining industry. According mond, Va., or other Massey corporate locations. union hotels are the Westin Washington, D.C., City to union leaders, Massey and other mining corporations, Center, Westin Emerald Plaza San Diego, Wynd- ham Chicago and Westin Chicago Northwest. DOLworkers‘readytomarch’ Anti-racist protests confront Tea Party During a March 31 union town hall meeting, workers at the Department of Labor, represented Continued from page 1 ultra-rightwing, neo-fascist racists that have tried to ex- by Government Employees Local 12, accused Labor including several young people who said they knew the ploit the current economic crisis by using the vilest racist Secretary Hilda Solis of acting like her Bush prede- Tea Party movement was corporately funded. tactics to attack Obama, unions, immigration, health care cessor. Contract negotiations, including such issues Most of those participating in the Tea Party Express and the environment. as paid family leave, flexible work schedules, tele- looked to be high-income employees, driving Hummers “While the demagogues, including Fox News and many working and ending management nepotism, have and pricy sport utility vehicles. One Tea Party participant others, that are in control of this group may try and hide dragged on for more than a year. Workers intend to screamed an anti-gay slur at the protesters, making clear behind populist slogans, it should be clear to all that their picket the DOL with an inflatable rat. (Union City!, the group’s homophobic sentiments. true goal is to further the political and economic program online newsletter of Metro Washington Council On April 12 the Tea Party Express was confronted in of Wall Street, big oil, the wealthy and the corporations, AFL-CIO, April 1) Buffalo, N.Y. The Buffalo International Action Center, and they will stop at nothing in order to do so. … part of the Bail Out the People Movement, held a loud, vis- “We cannot stand by and allow Sarah Palin and the ible, persistent and militant counter- Tea Party to gather and try to S.F.Labordemandsjobsforall demonstration. As they stood at the use racism to divide us without entrance to the rightwing extremists’ a response. History has shown As part of a four-year review by the United Nations rally at Buffalo’s downtown harbor, that only through organizing and Human Rights Council designed to ensure that the IAC and friends were an unmov- mobilizing a strong, anti-racist, the U.S. complies with a number of U.N. treaties able opposition, insistently chanting pro-working-class counterattack mandating full employment, the right to a job and the whole time. against both the economic crisis union rights, the San Francisco Labor Council Activists in Boston are planning and racist division will we be able passed a resolution March 15 requesting that it col- to challenge the Tea Party when it to successfully defeat these righ- laborate with other labor organizations in writing a arrives there on April 14. A state- twing, neo-fascist organizations report to be delivered to the UNHRC. Among other ment promoting the protest reads: and their supporters once and provisions the report will call on the U.S. to enforce “Sarah Palin and the so-called ‘Tea for all. the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of Party Express’ have announced that Ellie Dorritie, Kris Hamel 1978, “remove all obstacles to organizing workers they will hold a rally at the Boston and Caleb Maupin contributed and encourage Congress to pass the Employee Free Common Bandstand starting at to this report. Choice Act,” and post all U.N. treaties that mandate 10:00 am. This is the same group of WW_Photo:_ChEryl_lABASh workers’ rights in every workplace in the U.S. workers.org April 22, 2010 Page 5 Striking nurses battle Temple hospital’s union busting

By Betsey Piette The Pennsylvania Association Philadelphia of Staff Nurses and Allied Profes- sionals represents striking TUH The strike at Temple University Hos- nurses. PASNAP is calling on the pital in north Philadelphia that began hospital to document the creden- March 31 is heading into its third week. tials of the temporary staff. PAS- Hospital administrators are demonstrat- NAP Executive President Patricia ing their lack of concern over patient Eakin told Workers World, “Sixty- safety and are ready to spend whatever five percent of Temple’s admis- it takes to break the union representing sions come through their emer- more than 1,500 nurses and professional/ gency room, yet word has gone technical staff. out that the hospital is diverting This key strike’s outcome will impact ambulances to other hospitals be- on all workers in the Philadelphia area. cause of inadequate staffing.” And solidarity now from other workers PASNAP took 400 striking hos- and unions will affect the nurses’ chance pital workers and supporters to for victory. the Philadelphia City Council on TUH management tells workers they April 8 to get city representatives should accept a contract fraught with con- to pass a resolution of concern WW_Photo:_BErtA_JouBErt-CECi cessions and givebacks because of the eco- over the potential jeopardy to pub- Temple students show solidarity with nurses. nomic downturn. Meanwhile, in just the lic health from the undertrained first week of the strike, management has scab workforce. The resolution noted that full page ad in the Philadelphia City Pa- Desi Burnette, with the Media Mo- spent $4.7 million to hire 850 strikebreak- when the busiest emergency room serving per prominently displaying Birnbrauer’s bilizing Project, reminded people how ers. Scabs’ salaries average $5,500 but can some of north Philadelphia’s poorest com- words. PASNAP worked with the community in be as high as $10,000 per week. Bonuses munities cannot open its doors, it’s a pub- March 2009 to try to keep open North- estimated to cost around $100,000 will go lic health crisis. Growing community support eastern Hospital when Temple University to any scab staying past week one. The striking nurses took over most of the On April 9 community organizations, decided to close the facility, which had Regular weekly payroll costs for TUH’s seats in the chamber and upstairs galler- including the Philadelphia Student been providing care to the surrounding 1,500 employees would have been only ies during the council’s biweekly meeting. Union, the Media Mobilizing Project community for 100 years. $2.6 million. The entire four-year con- Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, and the Unified Taxi Workers Alliance of Ronald Blount, president of the 1,200 tract proposed by the nurses and allied the first Latina elected official in Philadel- Pennsylvania, brought their members out member Unified Taxi Workers Alliance, professionals would have cost the hospi- phia, introduced the resolution supporting to join striking nurses on the picket line. joined the nurses’ picket line. Blount was tal $9 million. the nurses’ strike. But Councilman Darrell Mariah Porter with the Philadelphia clear that if Temple succeeded in breaking While squandering money to pay scabs Clarke, who represents the district where Student Union told Workers World: “It’s a union like PASNAP, which represents more than union workers earn, manage- TUH is located, then blocked this resolu- wrong for them not to get a contract and some of the higher paid unionized work- ment is also spending around $1.7 million tion from reaching the floor for a vote. for the nurses to not get paid. They need a ers in the city, every sector of the work for the scabs’ meals and transportation, A key contract issue involves the nurses’ contract to feed their families.” force will lose. including airfare and luxury hotel accom- concern over patient care. TUH manage- PSU member Justin Carter described Support from rank-and-file workers modations and extra security for people ment wants workers to accept a gag clause his organization’s efforts to get students for the striking nurses has been evident willing to cross the picket line. that would prohibit them from saying more of a voice in the school system. He all along, from flashed victory signs to The profit going to California based anything negative about the hospital or connected the hospital’s gag order against the loud honks from passing cars, ambu- HealthSource Global Staffing, a company voicing concern over patient care in any nurses to the school district’s denial of lances, buses, trucks and taxis every time that specializes in providing temporary public forum. Management’s lead nego- students’ right to speak about conditions the nurses hold a rally. But for PASNAP nursing staff to break strikes across the tiator, Robert Birnbrauer, told the union in their schools. Carter told the striking to defeat management’s union busting country, is $1.1 million a week. Contrast bargaining committee: “You want your nurses, “As long as you are able to stand campaign, leaders of other unions have that dazzling amount with the cost to con- constitutional rights. Go somewhere else!” up, we’ll stand up with you.” to call on their membership to come out tinue a longstanding tuition benefit for To expose management’s intention The students initiated a chant that was in organized mass public demonstrations nurses’ dependents that TUH eliminated to silence staff, National Nurses United, popular with everyone on the picket line: of support, with the clear understanding last year: only $1.1 million per year. with which PASNAP affiliates, took out a “What’s disgusting? Union Busting!” that an injury to one is an injury to all. Students, cafeteria workers join to fight Sodexo

By roger Sikes Similarly, when on March 8 the same Atlanta two lawyers arrived on Tulane University’s campus to give an identical anti-union pre- Across the U.S., in at least 10 states, sentation to the Sodexo food service work- food service workers employed by the gi- ers there, students camped out in front of ant multinational corporation Sodexo are the meeting room to distribute fact sheets actively fighting to win union rights and that countered the lies and myths regard- recognition. In the metropolitan Atlanta ing unions. Workers were seen reading area, students at five campuses — includ- the pro-union pamphlets throughout the ing Emory University, Georgia Tech and Powerpoint presentations. Morehouse College — have joined to- The student supporters at Emory are gether to combat attempts by company challenging the university administra- April 9 protest aims to pressure Emory’s . management and university officials to tion’s supposed “neutrality.” They point administration to implement labor code. . threaten and intimidate the workers. out that by sub-contracting various areas _Photo:_SoPhiA_tEoNA For example, on Feb. 17 the bosses of work like cafeteria services to private on Emory’s campus to pressure the ad- smiled broadly, waved and clapped as brought two union-busting lawyers onto entities that pay low wages and offer no ministration into implementing a Labor the students with their pro-worker, pro- the Emory campus to give anti-union benefits, universities trim their costs while Code of Conduct to enforce the rights of union signs weaved their way through the Powerpoint presentations to all food ser- boosting the subcontractor’s profits. subcontracted workers to organize if they food line. vice workers, who were required to at- Emory claims that Sodexo food service so choose. E-mail blasts and phone calls As a result of this action, a meeting with tend. This kind of mandatory meeting workers are not part of the university com- are being sent continuously to the univer- the university president has been set to is a common tactic practiced by union- munity although they have some of the sity president, provost and head of cam- discuss the issue. busting corporations. A typical slide was most contact with students. Also, the of- pus life demanding that they implement Campuses will be escalating campaigns headed “Top 10 Reasons Why You Might ficial response to reports of harassment, the code. leading up to the end of the school year. Not Want to Join A Union.” discrimination and any other unfair labor Over 60 students, workers and com- The week of April 12 will be a nationally But things didn’t go as the union bust- practice is that these matters are not the munity members entered the administra- coordinated week of action including ers planned. university’s responsibility but an issue be- tion building to demand that the code be anything from leafleting to sit-ins and At noon, a student action in an Emory tween the workers and Sodexo manage- implemented. They filled the hallway out- barricades. dining hall erupted to protest the Pow- ment. (tinyurl.com/y7nq6d3) side the president’s office. Students later Roger Sikes, a graduate student in erpoint presentations, effectively halting Students at Emory aren’t buying that marched through the university cafeteria Public Health at Emory, is a leading them after they’d been shown to only half argument. to show support for the workers. member of the effort to support the of the 220 workers employed by Sodexo. On April 9, a demonstration was held The workers, mostly Black women, Sodexo workers’ union drive. Page_6_ April_22,_2010_ workers.org remember earth Day gas explosion deepens opposition to hydraulic fracturing

By Betsey Piette operated by Atlas Energy, Inc. It caused D’Amico might be forgiven for not Pennsylvania state forests, increasing the Philadelphia flames to shoot 100 feet into the air, vis- keeping up with small-town media, but amount of state land open for drilling to ible for more than seven miles. the incidents of exploding wells and even 692,000 acres — one third of the publicly Faced with organized public opposition Janice Crompton reported that “Prop- houses, wastewater leaks, fish kills and owned land. from Ohio to Pennsylvania, companies erty owners living near the site of a gas other environmental concerns stemming Previously, revenue from the lease of that profit from the expansion of natural well … said they had been trying for days from hydraulic fracturing have been so state land would go to land conservation gas wells using hydraulic fracturing in the to reach state officials about noxious numerous that in March the Philadelphia efforts. However, Rendell changed exist- Marcellus Shale region are engaged in a odors at the site.” George Zimmerman, City Council unanimously adopted a reso- ing state laws to divert the income from campaign to sell the idea that the prac- who filed a lawsuit against Atlas Energy lution calling for a moratorium on shale- these leases to general operating revenue. tice is entirely safe, despite mounting last year, alleged that the company “ru- gas development on privately owned land After abandoning a similar proposal in evidence to the contrary. Fracturing in- ined his land with toxic chemicals” such in the eastern part of the state. 2009, Rendell is again suggesting a tax volves the pumping of millions of gallons as arsenic and benzene, used in hydraulic on drillers, but environmentalists want of water containing sand and chemicals gas well fracturing. (Pittsburgh Post-Ga- Vital drinking water could be affected moratoriums on the practice until envi- deep into underground fissures to release zette, April 1) In February state regulators opened a ronmental impact studies can be done. natural gas. The same day, Kathie O. Warco wrote public comment period on a proposal for Under growing pressure from envi- In a commentary entitled “Shale Con- in the Washington Co. Observer-Reporter drilling permits in the Delaware River wa- ronmental groups and a concerned pub- cerns Overblown,” Lou D’Amico, presi- that “This is not the first problem. Dur- tershed, which provides drinking water to lic, the federal Environmental Protection dent of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil ing a three-day period in early December, 15.6 million people. Agency is set to begin a study of hydrau- and Gas Association, stated that hydraulic a discharge went into a pond feeding a Like corporations everywhere that lic fracturing this spring. It would be the fracturing “has not impacted local wells” stream.” voice concern over the cost of government most expansive look yet at how the natu- and “is not a threat to water supplies.” This January, Pennsylvania environ- intervention when it comes to monitoring ral gas drilling process can affect drinking (Philadelphia Inquirer, April 9) mental officials fined Atlas Resources the harm their operations cause, the nat- water supplies. Nothing could be further from the $85,000 after a series of violations at 13 ural gas industry, through mouthpieces The findings could affect whether Con- truth. The 2005 energy bill, which was wells, including spill of fracturing flu- like D’Amico, preaches “states’ rights” to gress decides to repeal the exemption that pushed through Congress by then-Vice ids and other contaminants onto ground block federal oversight. shields fracturing fluids from federal regu- President Dick Cheney, exempted the oil around the sites. This action by the state’s The natural gas drillers know they can lation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. and natural gas industries from the Safe Department of Environmental Protec- count on politicians like Gov. Ed Rendell The House Committee on Energy and Drinking Water Act, the main federal law tion followed reports of other incidents, and Pennsylvania state legislators to be Commerce has also launched an investi- that ensures drinking water quality. including a fish kill in one of the state’s more lenient, as they look to this rapidly gation into whether hydraulic fracturing D’Amico also conveniently ignored recreational lakes and the release of tox- expanding industry as a cash cow to offset is contaminating water supplies and pos- an explosion that occurred in a gas well ic chemicals into the environment. The budget deficits. In January the state ac- ing other dangers to the environment and in western Pennsylvania’s Washington web-based news service propublica.org cepted $128.5 million in bids from natu- public health. The oil and gas industry County on March 31 at a drilling site provides more details on these incidents. ral gas drillers to develop 32,000 acres of strongly opposes this new approach. Diverse communities unite to protest Westboro Baptist bigots By Jeremy radabaugh Initially WBC bigots intended on at- the deceased miners. On April 8, six WBC members held Charleston, W.Va. tacking the LGBTQ, Jewish and Catholic The WBC immediately posted on their their first so-called “picket” in the East communities by picketing synagogues, Web site that they were also going to pick- End and were confronted by a multigen- From April 8 to 11 the bigoted West- Catholic institutions and the LGBTQ- et the miners’ funerals in Raleigh County erational and multinational crowd of over boro Baptist Church — infamous for friendly district of Charleston, referred to with signs that read, “Thank God for Dead 300 counterdemonstrators. The crowd promoting hate speech and fascist propa- as the East End. But after the coldblooded Miners.” The last time the WBC bigots had a strong labor presence, including ganda against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and slaughter of 29 miners at the hands of the picketed in West Virginia was at the fu- rank-and-file members and represen- queer communities — orchestrated a hate Massey Energy bosses, the WBC bigots, neral of the dozen Sago miners killed dur- tatives of the state AFL-CIO, the West tour in Charleston, W.Va., but were met in an open display of their fascist, anti- ing a different mine disaster in another Virginia Public Workers Union UE Lo- with strong opposition. worker orientation, decided to scapegoat part of the state in January 2006. cal 170, the Teamsters, the West Virginia Students protest repression at Berkeley campus By Judy greenspan pointed out the latest fee hikes and wage Berkeley, Calif. cuts amount to a direct assault on work- ing people. “And that is why we refuse to University of California-Berkeley stu- suspend our protest.” dents, faculty members and community Also at the rally were university cleri- supporters turned out April 5 in the pour- cal and maintenance workers who have ing rain on Sproul Plaza, the birthplace been hard hit by the furloughs and layoffs. of the Free Speech Movement in 1964, to Several professors and lecturers also ad- support nearly 100 students facing sus- dressed the demonstrators. Professor Joi pension for their participation in student Barrios (shown here speaking), a lecturer protests last fall. They held a spirited rally in Filipino studies, compared the “courage despite the poor weather. and tenacity” of students in the Philip- “When they threaten us with suspen- pines with the protestors at UCB. sion, they threaten our right to protest The UCB Office of Student Conduct is on this campus,” stated Marika Iyer, one recommending seven-month suspensions of the Wheeler 33, students who were for the student protestors. A growing coali- arrested after taking over Wheeler Hall tion of organizations is demanding that all Nov. 20, to protest dramatic tuition hikes charges be dropped and that the “student and campus worker layoffs and furloughs. code” be suspended — not the students. According to Iyer, the protest was a direct WW_Photo:_JuDy_GrEENSPAN response to plans to privatize the univer- sity. Iyer called for the “reinstatement of the public on our campus.” MarxisM, reparations & the Black Freedom struggle Many more students were arrested an anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited by Monica Moorehead. Includes: throughout the fall for other protests. Ac- Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination larry_holmes_ Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Consuela_lee_ cording to Amanda Armstrong, a graduate Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery Sam_Marcy Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior Mumia_Abu-Jamal student and member of the Wheeler 33, Black Youth: Repression & Resistance leilani_Dowell Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? 40th Anniversary some students were arrested for “posting The Struggle for Socialism Is Key Monica_Moorehead of the 1965 Watts Rebellion John_Parker literature on walls and windows near the Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Racism and Poverty in the Delta larry_hales Free Speech Movement Café.” Armstrong Human Rights and Global Justice! Saladin_Muhammad Haiti Needs Reparations, Not Sanctions Pat_Chin Available at Leftbooks.com workers.org April 22, 2010 Page 7 remember earth Day nyC union SquAre. gas explosion deepens Activists gear up for united mass opposition to hydraulic fracturing outreach on May Day

By Brenda ryan Holmes said the demonstration at Heights on April 18, to build up for May 1. High school students also spoke about new york Union Square represents a struggle Students from the City University of their organizing efforts. A student from against raids and deportations as well as New York who organized the March 4 Build On, a youth group that does local a demonstration for all those who want A standing-room-only crowd of activ- action reported they are mobilizing stu- community service and builds schools in jobs, who are concerned about education, ists gathered April 7 to continue build- dents for May Day. “Your fight is our other countries, said her organization is who are fighting racist brutality, gentri- ing for the May Day rally at New York’s fight,” one declared. doing outreach to bring thousands of stu- fication and homelessness. He also de- Union Square. A member of the Trail of Dreams con- dents to the May 1 rally. Dalia Griñan, a scribed it as a demonstration against the The joint meeting of the May 1 Coali- nected May Day to the battle of immigrant ninth grader and co-organizer of the May “Tea Party” movement. tion for Worker and Immigrant Rights youths. Trail of Dreams is a group of un- 29 post-Katrina/Rita Awareness Walk, “The Tea Party’s program is division,” and the Bail Out the People Movement documented youths who began a march linked May Day to the struggle for justice Holmes said. “It says ‘let’s not go after the drew more than 90 people. They included from Florida in January and expect to ar- for survivors of the hurricanes. banks. Let’s go after immigrants, let’s go members of immigrant communities and rive in Washington, D.C., on May 1. These Members of the May 1 Coalition as after Black people.’ May Day is a gigantic unions, and also representatives from the undocumented students are openly and well as BOPM are also intensifying their answer from progressive people.” March 4 student actions for education. heroically declaring their immigration efforts to get the word about May Day The theme of May Day is unity. Those In a spirited discussion, they reported on status to continue their five-year-long into every community of the city. Dozens at the meeting showed how organizing the widespread organizing efforts under struggle to demand passage of the Dream of people have put up posters in every has spread throughout many of the city’s way for the May 1 action. Act, which would grant residency for six borough and passed out leaflets on the communities. BAYAN USA Chairperson The meeting was one of several being years to students 16 or younger. streets and at various events. The recep- Berna Ellorin noted that BAYAN, the Day held around the city as May Day rapidly Participants in the Trail of Dreams tion has been overwhelmingly positive. Laborers United of Woodside, the Phil- approaches. Another one was recently from New York came to the May 1 meet- Storekeepers are eager to have leaflets ippine Forum and many other Queens hosted in Washington Heights by the ing to announce plans for an April 10 ral- posted in their windows and many people groups are organizing a march for im- Movement for Independence, Unity and ly and take-off from Washington Heights ask for additional leaflets to get out in migrant rights in Woodside and Jackson Change, a coalition of Dominican forces. to D.C. their neighborhoods. Teresa Gutierrez, a co-coordinator of the May 1 Coalition, and Larry Holmes of BOPM co-chaired the meeting. Gutierrez spoke about how May Day 2010 is build- ing on the historic march of 250,000 for immigrant rights in Washington on March 21. While the organizers of that march failed to demand legalization for all, this is a central demand of May Day. Diverse communities unite to protest Westboro Baptist bigots

Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers-WV. There were also activists from LGBTQ, pro-choice and environmental groups. The crowd chanted, “Bigots Out of Charleston, We Demand Rights as One!” “Queer, Straight, Black and White, Same Struggle, Same Fight!” and “‘Pro-Life’, That’s a Lie, You Exploit When Miners Die!” The bigots did not stay as long as they had planned. They were surrounded and silenced by a united crowd of work- ing and oppressed people. The next day, WBC bigots picketed a Catholic high school and a funeral for some of the miners in Raleigh County, an hour south of Charleston. This time they had more police protection and counter- protesters could not get as close to them as they had before, but the stronger po- lice presence did not stop the energy and militancy of the counterprotesters. On April 10, the WBC spewed anti- Semitic hate outside of two synagogues, holding signs saying “Jews Killed Jesus” as well as “God Hates West Virginia.” The bigots were challenged by a sizeable number of LGBTQ youth and students, and members of the synagogues. Finally, on April 11, the WBC bigots picketed a Catholic church and were confronted by both silent and vocal protesters. While the church leadership encouraged people to hold a silent vigil, many people were too enraged to be silent. The WBC bigots were confronted ev- erywhere they went. Working and op- pressed people of different national and religious backgrounds united around a common, material cause and let the fascists know they were not welcome in their town! Jeremy Radabaugh is a labor activist in West Virginia. Available at Leftbooks.com Page_8_ April_22,_2010_ workers.org Workers, communities devastated as Auto plants closed, sold off and destroyed

By Martha grevatt surveyed the facilities, fueling specula- group of hedge funds. lose even more tax revenue as well. tion on a potential new owner. The sale, New Chrysler — now known as Chrys- The assumption is that nothing can be Few autoworkers have heard of May- approved the next day by a New York ler Group LLC and headed by Fiat CEO done, as the sale is perfectly legal. But nards, yet the company that brags of bankruptcy judge, crushed all hopes the Sergio Marchionne — would bid no higher is it? A contract between the UAW and being “one of the pre-eminent liquida- remaining 400 workers in the plant had of than $40 million. After that cutoff amount Chrysler, which workers modified under tion, auction and appraisal companies in finding work with a new employer. Chrys- the Chrysler board apparently determined great duress, included huge concessions North America” is playing a major role in ler has informed the union, UAW Local it would be cheaper to buy only the press- but retained a moratorium on plant clos- the current phase of capitalist restructur- 122, that the plant will permanently close es it could use. The other player was Ray ings. No exception was made for Twins- ing — in this case “destructuring.” (may- on or around July 30. Park, a vulture capitalist who typically burg. In fact, specific new language called nards.com) Despite the hurt felt by hundreds still buys up “distressed” companies and then on the union and company to study ways Liquidators such as Maynards typically working in the plant, Maynards has been exits when they become profitable. Park to keep our plant “viable.” Isn’t the plant’s buy on the cheap a plant that is closing inside the plant with potential buyers for was involved in the initial spinoff by GM sale and its imminent destruction a con- and sell off the contents to any number the huge stamping presses. One new press of American Axle and left a few years later, tract violation? Shouldn’t the UAW have of capitalist scavengers looking for a deal typically costs around $40 million to buy a half-billion dollars richer. As the initial challenged the court ruling approving the on this or that piece of equipment. What- and install. Maynards, which paid $45.5 “stalking horse” bidder he was compen- sale? ever remains gets sold as scrap or left to million for the entire facility, hopes to pock- sated $600,000 for losing the bid. Given the far-reaching impact on the rust. Not only are the plant workers out et at least $50 million from the auction. local community, shouldn’t the mayor of of a job, but the potential for the plant to Up until the day of the sale, workers Workers’ labor created the wealth Twinsburg, the Summit County commis- reopen under new ownership, re-employ had been led to believe that the “New The local union had gone to great sioners and the governor of Ohio be pur- laid off workers and restore lost tax rev- Chrysler” that emerged from bankrupt- lengths to make a business case to Chrys- suing a seizure of the plant on behalf of enue to the plant community is destroyed. cy would buy our plant back from “Old ler management for keeping the plant the workers and community through emi- Maynards’ catalog includes dozens of Chrysler,” the debtor-in-possession of open. The argument was that with only nent domain? This is perfectly legal under closed and soon-to-be-closed plants in eight plants and three parts warehouses two stamping plants remaining, the com- Ohio law. the U.S., Canada and Europe. The com- slated for closing. These facilities were set pany would not have enough press ca- Every autoworker facing a plant closing pany is proud of its record — since 1989 aside as collateral to secure the $2 billion pacity to stamp out all of the body parts needs to be asking these questions. Doz- Maynards has bought and auctioned off promised to lenders in the government- needed by the assembly plants. The strat- ens of highly productive plants, acres and over 40 General Motors plants. More re- brokered plan to wipe out Chrysler’s egy backfired. Chrysler simply realized it acres of floor space, billions in high-tech cently its client base expanded to include $6.9 billion in debt. This was the balance could purchase some of the presses from robots and machinery and endless miles Ford, Chrysler and NUMMI, the GM-Toy- owed on a $10 billion loan to the former the Twinsburg plant and move them to of conveyor lines — all financed by the ota jointly operated plant in California. owner, Cerberus, which borrowed the other locations. sale of vehicles we workers produced — On March 10 Maynards bought Chrys- money to fund a restructuring plan that The city of Twinsburg will soon feel a are being sold off piecemeal or scrapped. ler’s stamping plant in Twinsburg, Ohio, has eliminated tens of thousands of UAW huge financial pinch, with the loss of both It was our labor power alone that pro- where this writer has worked for over 22 jobs through technology and the moving property tax and employee income tax duced the capitalists’ wealth. The wanton years. Workers have known since May of work to low-wage countries. Workers’ revenues. Firefighters, teachers, sanita- destruction of the value we created must 1, 2009, of Chrysler’s intent to close the plants were then sacrificed to protect the tion workers and others will likely be laid be fought. The plants belong to us, and we plant this year. investment of JPMorgan Chase, Goldman off. Dozens of municipalities in Northeast should fight for them. A number of auto parts manufacturers Sachs, Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and a Ohio, where Chrysler workers reside, will E-mail: [email protected] Lesbian’s fight for HS prom rights opens national struggle

By kris hamel been a bad student and I don’t feel like I The Facebook site, “Let Constance Take deserve to be put through this.” (Associ- Her Girlfriend to Prom!” has more than Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old ated Press, April 7) 428,000 fans as of April 12. Supporters senior at Itawamba Agricultural High McMillen’s story has attracted nation- of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender School in the small town of Fulton, Miss., al attention and dozens of offers from rights are encouraged to send a message just wanted to do what millions of high around the country to host or help fund of outrage to the Itawamba school board school students around the country look an alternative independent prom. She and demand equal treatment of LGBT forward to every spring: get dressed up, plans to attend a soiree in San Francisco students. Go to www.hrcactioncenter.org. go to prom and have a great time. But on May 1 hosted by the National Center The Human Rights Campaign also has McMillen is a lesbian. She wanted to take for Lesbian Rights, which is paying her a petition campaign underway for passage her girlfriend to the prom. She wanted to travel expenses. While appearing on the of a federal Student Non-Discrimination wear a tuxedo. Constance McMillen Ellen DeGeneres Show on March 19, the Act. Every year, and not just at prom time, talk show host and lesbian entertainer untold numbers of LGBT students face When her plans became known to sex date. The Court finds this expression presented McMillen with a $30,000 unequal, discriminatory, harassing and school officials and they said, “No,” the and communication of her viewpoint is scholarship check from Tonic, a digital bullying treatment from both peers and American Civil Liberties Union and Mis- the type of speech that falls squarely with- media company. school administrators. sissippi Safe Schools Coalition stepped in in the purview of the First Amendment.” on McMillen’s behalf and demanded the McMillen was happy about this victory. school rescind its policy banning same- She stated, “It feels really good that the sex prom dates and allowing only male court realized that the school was violat- students to wear tuxedos. The Itawamba ing my rights and discriminating against County School District responded by can- Greece, FrAnce Workers resist eurobosses’ attacks me by canceling the prom. All I ever want- celing the April 2 prom altogether. ed was for my school to treat me and my By g. Dunkel When credit became scarce, the econ- But McMillen didn’t give up. She went girlfriend like any other couple that wants omy went into a tailspin and the govern- public with her resolve to attend the prom to go to prom.” (aclu.org, March 23) The French economy is the second ment could just barely borrow enough to and be herself. The ACLU of Mississippi But the court didn’t order the school largest in Europe, after Germany’s, and cover the debts that were coming due. filed a lawsuit on her behalf and on March to put the prom back on the calendar. It Greece’s economy has been on the verge The European Central Bank and the Ger- 23 the federal court in Aberdeen, Miss., seemed to take as good coin the school of default for some months. Capitalists man and French governments have told ruled that the Itawamba school district district’s assurances that an “alternative” in both France and Greece are trying to the Greek government to raise funds by had violated McMillen’s constitutional and “private” prom being planned by par- solve their economic problems by laying imposing austerity on the workers. rights when it deprived her of going to the ents would be open to all students. That off workers, cutting their salaries and But workers in both countries have prom. April 5 event turned out to be a separate retirement benefits, raising taxes and opened a counteroffensive, in Greece In its 12-page decision, the court wrote: and totally unequal prom that was any- slashing social services. holding four one-day general strikes “The record shows Constance has been thing but nondiscriminatory. The bosses in France have taken a since February and planning to expand openly gay since eighth grade and she Only seven students attended, includ- piecemeal approach — for example, pro- those actions. intended to communicate a message by ing McMillen, who accompanied another jecting over 7,600 layoffs in the national The first Greek general strike in Feb- wearing a tuxedo and to express her iden- female student but not her girlfriend, who railroad system in the next two years ruary demanded that the rich pay for the tity through attending prom with a same- was facing a lot of harassment. The “real” and trying to outsource some auto parts crisis since they were the ones who really prom was taking place at a private coun- plants to India or Brazil. benefited from the government spend- try club. McMillen was not invited. The Roots of Lesbian & Gay The financial crisis has severely im- ing. There were three general strikes in “It was not the prom I imagined,” Oppression: A MArxiST ViEW pacted Greece’s tourism and shipping, March, as the government attempted to said McMillen. “It really hurts my feel- Offers an historical analysis of when, where, two main sectors of its economy. The squeeze the workers harder. ings. These are still people who I’ve gone why and how lesbian and gay oppression Greek government had also bet big on The austerity measures are harsh, cut- through school with, even teachers who developed. cheap, easy credit to stimulate its econ- ting public service workers’ salaries by loved me before this all started. I’ve never Available at leftbooks.com omy. Continued on the next page workers.org April 22, 2010 Page 9 Leaked Pentagon video reveals occupation’s brutality in iraq By gene Clancy New York Daily News. CBS News ran a and then gathering in a small group in Against the War. Stieber told the audi- shortened version of the 17-minute film the middle of a street with a military heli- ence of Democracy Now! on April 12 that It is an absolutely chilling demon- on WikiLeaks, leaving out some of the copter hovering overhead. One also might the troops, including the helicopter crew, stration of coldblooded murder. A U.S. most egregious comments by the soldiers. wonder what danger is posed by a civilian were following the orders and the training Apache gunship circles a Baghdad neigh- When the Department of Defense in- van trying to pick up dead and wounded that they had received from the Army. His borhood looking for “targets” — people to vestigated the incident, which occurred in people. point was that this was no rogue opera- kill. A military video shows the intended 2007, it found “no violations of the rules But debate over the details misses the tion, and that the fault lay in the system. targets through superimposed crosshairs: of engagement.” According to the BBC, main point. The U.S. government and ruling class a group of men dressed in civilian clothes, the Pentagon is trying to retrieve the orig- Of course, the behavior and attitudes of know very well that a war of occupation no masks, two men who might be carry- inal tapes of the film from the crew who the U.S. troops were inexcusable. Many inevitably leads to brutalization of the ing rifles — common enough at that time were involved. might claim they were “just doing their young men and women who are placed in Baghdad — but all casually sauntering Most of the recent debate over the re- job.” Their “job,” however, was the com- in that situation. Ultimately, every man, along a street and into a small square. lease of the video has centered on whether pletely unjustified occupation of a coun- woman and child in the occupied country The film is eerily silent except for stac- or not the U.S. military was justified in fir- try and the slaughter of people who never becomes an “enemy.” cato radio messages between the helicop- ing at the people on the ground. Apologists attacked or threatened them in any way. Progressive people around the world ter, command headquarters and nearby for the military claim to see men carrying That is the real cause of this atrocity. must demand that all U.S. occupations troops on the ground. weapons in the video. Others claim that Josh Stieber is a GI who was attached cease and the perpetrators of this and all The gunship crew believe they have what is seen is a tripod for a large camera. to the ground troops shown in the video at other U.S. war crimes — not just the indi- spotted a weapon being carried by one of Remarkably, none of the critics of the the time, but was not on patrol because he vidual soldiers but their commanders — the men and ask for clearance to “engage.” video finds anything unusual or threat- was applying to be a conscientious objec- be brought to justice before the people of Given the go-ahead by their base com- ening about men walking, not running, tor. He’s now an activist in Iraq Veterans the world. mander, the gun crew in the helicopter unleash a hail of machine-gun and rocket fire, mowing down over a dozen human Osprey crashes beings. The helicopter continues to circle, its sights homed in on a wounded man trying to crawl to safety, as the crew won- The high cost of high-tech war der aloud whether to kill him or not. A short time later a civilian van appears on the ground. The gunship excitedly By Sean Schafron reports that the van is picking up bod- ies and survivors and asks for clearance In southeastern Afghanistan on April to engage. The van is hit with a barrage 8, a United States Air Force V-22 Osprey of machine-gun fire and a missile. More went down, killing three Air Force service people lie dead around the van. members and a civilian contractor. This The helicopter advises the ground troops was the first time the multimission, tilt-ro- to “look for a pile of dead bodies.” One of tor aircraft has crashed in military opera- the troops on the ground exclaims, “Hey! tions since being introduced in June 2007. I think I just ran over a body,” and chuck- The program to develop the Osprey les. However, as they search the destroyed cost $40 billion. Each aircraft costs $70- van, the soldiers find, not gun-toting in- 75 million, making this an expensive loss surgents, but two dead Reuters journalists to the military. Ospreys have a rotor that The expensive Osprey. and two badly wounded children. “Well, can be moved to either lift the aircraft up they shouldn’t bring their children to the or propel it forward. However, if the ro- battle,” remarks someone in the gunship. tor fails, the Osprey simply falls from the crumble and thousands needlessly die is a virtual revolving door between Penta- The soldier on the ground agrees. sky, which is why the machine has been each year due to inadequate medical care, gon positions and corporate boards. The video, which was classified, was controversial since its development began billions of dollars are being thrown at the The authorities manipulate youth here surreptitiously leaked to and decoded by in the 1980s. military-industrial-financial complex to into becoming their murderous agents, a Web site known as WikiLeaks and re- Since 2005, reportedly 11 Ospreys have continue imperialist plunder overseas. who are sent overseas to kill and occupy leased on April 5. This means that some- been manufactured each year. Plans exist Politicians cry about the huge expense countries. Many end up with their lives one connected to the Pentagon — perhaps to increase production to at least 24 and of health care for poor people here. Mean- shattered — if they survive. All of this is a soldier fed up with the U.S. role in Iraq possibly 48 per year beginning in 2012, while, they eagerly approve pouring tax- happening to increase corporate control — has put human interests ahead of so- that is, from $1.8 to $3.6 billion in one payer dollars into building newer and worldwide. Lives by the millions and dol- called loyalty to the empire. year alone. (Congressional Research Re- more efficient technology to kill innocents lars by the trillions are simply part of the The most immediate reaction to the re- ports, 12-2009) and topple governments. Financial cor- cost in the view of the capitalist establish- lease was hostility from sources as varied While jobs are becoming scarcer daily, porations exert enormous influence over ment, a horrendous but inevitable fact of as Fox News, the New York Times and the as public education and infrastructure Congress and the White House, as there life under the capitalist system. Greece, FrAnce Workers resiste urobosses’ attacks

nearly 15 percent and raising workers’ France and its unions Communist party of Greece blames the retirement age by two years. France’s national railroad system (SNCF), super-rich for the When the Greek government passed which is responsible for long-distance and economic crisis in additional cuts on April 9, the main trade short-haul passenger and freight service February protest. union confederations called separate throughout the country, has laid off 20,000 demonstrations opposing the legislation. workers since 2002 and cut way back on Photo:_KKE The unions are discussing whether to call investing in and maintaining its system. a two-day general strike April 21 and 22, Even its world-renowned high-speed trains auto parts factory in a rust belt northeast themselves with a burning barricade was or just go out for one day. (AFP, April 9). called the TGV have become less reliable. of Paris, where management announced a all over French television. They are also considering possible ac- Its freight service does the work of closing on April 10. The workers wanted After the right-wing mayor of Crépy- tions in May. 300,000 trucks on French roads, but the a severance bonus of 21,000 euros, while en-Valois, with tears in his eyes, begged When European Union Economic and SNCF management, with the full backing management was offering 3,200. When management to stop dillydallying and Monetary Commissioner Olli Rehn an- of France’s right-wing government, wants the 92 affected workers, who were un- bargain, management increased its offer nounced a 45-billion-euro package of to shut down freight because it is not happy with management’s offer, held an to 13,000 euros. Negotiations should re- loan guarantees for Greece April 11, he clearly profitable. Most SNCF layoffs have April 1 demonstration, cops fired tear gas sume April 12. hailed the government for implement- been from freight service. to disperse them. One worker pointed out that the com- ing “a very bold and ambitious program.” The April 6-8 strike there was the third Workers then seized the plant, wired a pany has spent in each month since April (Bloomberg News, April 11) Rehn’s praise that some of the trade unions represent- gas tank so they could blow the plant up 2009 the total of what the workers are de- was an acknowledgement of the strength ing SNCF workers have called this year. and started burning six-foot-high piles manding, “They would rather lose money of the Greek workers’ resistance. If Rehn The unions intend to push their demands of pallets and tires with gas canisters at than give us some.” Another worker add- didn’t ask for tougher measures, it might until they get serious bargaining and night so the cops would know they were ed that they are obviously planning on be because he knew the Greek govern- concessions. serious. (Le Monde, April 4.) This spec- closing more plants and don’t want to set ment would fail to impose them. Sodimatex at Crépy-en-Valois is a small tacle of workers inside a plant protecting a precedent. (L’Humanité, April 9) Page_10_ April_22,_2010_ workers.org

WORKERS WORLD editorial Oil profits, security impact Earth Day, nukes, U.S.-nigerian relations By Abayomi Azikiwe The Financial Times says, “Some industry editor, Pan-African news Wire groups are said to have lobbied for her ap- and dirty wars pointment, reasoning that her background Acting Nigerian President Goodluck would make her sympathetic to oil com- Jonathan met with President Barack panies’ claims that the bill’s tougher terms he U.S. presides over the Nuclear the world’s exploiters did in Denmark. Obama on April 11 at the White House as would jeopardize $50 billion of planned Security Summit held April 12-13 Meanwhile, those who want to stop a prelude to the Nuclear Security Summit investment.” in Washington. U.S. spokes- terror, especially the most destructive T held in Washington, D.C. Prior to Jonathan’s U.S. visit, the two people keep repeating that its purpose terror — state terror — and those who The newly appointed head of state’s countries signed a bi-national commission is to keep nuclear weapons out of the want to stop the most drastic assault on visit comes amid a pivotal point in the agreement, the first of its kind with Africa hands of terrorists. But U.S. imperialism the environment can turn their atten- country’s history and in its relations with under the Obama administration. is the one that has wielded its nuclear tion to stopping two dirty wars of oc- the United States. Nigeria still claims to An April 5 French Press Agency article arsenal as a terror threat, both against cupation in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is be the leading exporter of crude oil to the reports, “The State Department said bi- the Soviet Union in the days it existed hard to imagine anything more waste- U.S. from the African continent, although lateral US-Nigerian trade was valued at and against all sorts of states that had ful and destructive of the environment reports last year indicated that Angola had more than $42 billion in 2008. Nigeria no nuclear weapons. U.S. imperial- than high-tech Pentagon wars against surpassed Nigeria in total barrels traded. is the United States’ largest trading part- ism is the only power to actually use masses of people, nor anything so de- “The U.S. is Nigeria’s biggest customer ner in sub-Saharan Africa, thanks in large nuclear weapons — against the civilian structive of peace and human rights. in the international crude oil market and part to its petroleum industry. Nigerian populations of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Recent media exposures have shown much of its energy security is directly af- oil comprises 8 percent of U.S. imports, Japan, in the last days of World War II. once again the disgusting criminal fected by militant activities in the Niger while about half of the oil produced in Ni- And the Pentagon is still “improving” its acts that occur when an oppressor Delta,” according to the April 12 ThisDay geria goes to the United States. The Unit- nuclear weapons. state wages an unjust war of occupa- newspaper published in Nigeria. ed States also is the largest foreign inves- Then the U.S. invited Israel to this tion against what were once sovereign The article noted that discussions be- tor in Nigeria, including in the offshore oil summit. Israel possesses nuclear weap- countries. tween Jonathan and Obama centered and gas industries by Exxon-Mobil and ons yet refuses to sign the Non-Prolifer- In Iraq a video leaked by some coura- around efforts to stabilize the political Chevron.” ation Treaty. Washington excludes Iran, geous soldier or Defense Department situation in the oil-producing region of which has no nuclear weapons and has worker has shown what day-to-day the Niger Delta and the legislative plans Nigeria, U.S. ‘security’ signed the treaty. Besides trying to get murder was like in Baghdad in 2007. under way to restructure the oil industry and the nuclear summit sanctions against Iran, Washington is To the troops in the helicopter, any inside the country through the Petroleum Another major item on the agenda using the summit to attack the Demo- Iraqi was an enemy, any cylinder was Industry Bill. during the meeting between Obama and cratic People’s Republic of Korea. As the a weapon, and slaughter was not only The debate surrounding the bill has de- Jonathan was the question of the so-called country under unrelenting attack from justified — it was orders. In a com- scribed it as the most extensive overhaul U.S. war on terrorism. Nigeria has been the Pentagon for the past 60 years, the plete misunderstanding of history, the of the petroleum sector since national targeted recently because of an incident DPRK has the strongest right to arm helicopter soldier on the radio referred independence from Britain in 1960. Ni- involving a 23-year-old passenger aboard itself with whatever weapons it can. to his unit as “Crazy Horse.” The geria’s oil industry has been dominated an airline flight traveling from Amsterdam April 22 is Earth Day. Following the original Crazy Horse was a leader of the since 1956 by British, U.S. and European to Detroit on Dec. 25. disgraceful, imperialist-led negotia- resistance, who fought against the U.S. firms that contributed virtually nothing to In response to the Dec. 25 incident, Ni- tions in Copenhagen last December, it military. Look it up. the country’s development. geria and numerous other states around is a breath of fresh air — in all senses of In Afghanistan the U.S. troops near An April 7 Financial Times article states the world were targeted by the U.S. for that term — that President Evo Morales Kandahar, where they are supposedly that in this debate over the future of oil in special scrutiny at airports inside the of Bolivia has called together another preparing a major offensive to win Nigeria, Africa’s most populous state, the country and flights bound for it. Nigerians kind of summit for April 20-22 in “hearts and minds,” recently strafed character of relations with the U.S. will be have objected strongly to their country’s Cochabamba. Even its name is inspir- an ordinary bus with machine gun determined: “At stake are tens of billions listing as a possible security threat to the ing: The Global Conference of Peoples fire. At least five people were killed of dollars of potential investments, and re- U.S. on Climate Change and the Rights of and 18 wounded. In the following days forms that could breathe new life into an The Nuclear Security Summit meet- Mother Earth. An April 11 release says thousands of Afghans poured into the industry that provides 80 percent of the ing held by the Obama administration President Morales will call for forming streets to protest the U.S. occupation. government’s income and one in eight bar- and representatives of 47 nations is tak- a multilateral Organization of Original Those protesting Afghans had the rels of crude that the U.S. imports.” ing place in the aftermath of the signing Nations and Workers. right idea. They should be joined by Osten Olorunsola, Shell’s regional of a new agreement with Russia. During There is much to say about protect- millions in the United States who also vice-president for gas, says, “The PIB is the signing, Obama made special mention ing the environment from profit-driven pour into the streets and take the first definitely unlikely to pass [through the na- of both Iran and the Democratic People’s industries and climate change. We’ll re- step to save the environment and stop tional assembly] in its current form before Republic of Korea, threatening both coun- port on the results of this conference in terror as they demand that all U.S. the elections (2011). Not passing anything tries by calling them states posing possible Bolivia, which will surely raise the ques- military forces — official and mercenary would magnify the overall level of uncer- threats to international security resulting tions in a more effective manner than — get out of Iraq and Afghanistan. tainty.” (Financial Times, April 7) from their nuclear programs. Oil minister Diezani Allison-Madueke Iran has maintained that its nuclear is a former employee of Royal Dutch Shell programs are strictly for civilian purposes. where she spent 14 years and rose to be- The DPRK, which has been living under come its director of external relations. U.S. threats ever since the U.S. war devas- tated the country from 1950 to1953, is re- “ Low-Wage Capitalism by Fred Goldstein is a most timely work, ported to have developed a limited nuclear as the working class prepares for a fightback during the greatest crisis weapons capability, and has also tested of capitalism since the Great Depression.” missiles that have drawn protest from the United States and the United Nations Se- Clarence Thomas, ILWU Local 10 and Co-chair, Million Worker March Movement curity Council. The state of Israel, however, which has “ From the point of view of Filipino work ers in the U.S., the largest exploited been reported to possess nuclear weap- and abused Filipino workforce outside the Philippines ... we are pleased with ons capability, has not been questioned or the exposé of imperialist globalization as the main culprit pressured by the U.S. and other imperial- of global forced migration.” ist states about its military intentions. Is- raeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Berna Ellorin, Chair, BAYAN USA announced that he would not attend the Nuclear Security Summit due to the inten- Low-Wage Capitalism tions of Egypt and Turkey to question the A Marxist analysis of the changing Zionist state over its reported possession What the new globalized high-tech character of the working class of a nuclear arsenal. imperialism means for the twenty years ago Sam Marcy wrote that the scientific- The summit represents another effort technological revolution is accelerating a shift to class struggle in the U.S. on the part of the United States to dictate lower-paying jobs and to more women, Black and the terms of nuclear weapons capability. latino/a workers. an easy-to-read analysis of the roots of the current global Those states that are allied with the U.S., Using Marxism as a living tool he analyzes the trends economic crisis, its implications for workers and oppressed and offers strategies for labor including such as Pakistan and India, are allowed to peoples, and the strategy needed for future struggle. the occupation of plants. possess nuclear weapons, whereas nations Paperback, 336 pages. Includes graphs, charts, a new introduction by Fred Goldstein, explains the that take a political line independent of bibliography, endnotes and index. roots of the current economic crisis, with its disas- imperialism are threatened with sanctions trous unemployment, that has heightened the need and military actions for even developing Both books available at Leftbooks.com or in bookstores around the country for a working-class resurgence. nuclear power. workers.org April 22, 2010 Page 11 Popular rebellion in kyrgyzstan shakes up Pentagon By Deirdre griswold plans at a time when mass struggles are raging in several countries against the For eight and a half years, the U.S. mili- dire impact of the global capitalist eco- tary has been at war in Afghanistan — the nomic crisis. longest war in U.S. history, against one of What happened in Kyrgyzstan to shake the poorest countries in the world. The up the Pentagon? Tens of thousands of Pentagon has sent a growing force there people risked their lives in a militant, — the number of troops tripled after the popular uprising. They brought down a Democratic Party won the presidency — corrupt government that had enjoyed a and built up bases in the region in order cozy relationship with the U.S. military, to keep the flow of warm bodies and mate- while cutting its people’s standard of liv- riel moving from the U.S. to Afghanistan. ing to starvation level. The largest transit base in recent years Here are some of the facts that have has been in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, a come to light: Central Asian nation of 5 million people • Now-deposed President Kurmanbek that was formerly the Soviet Republic Bakiyev, who got into office through huge increase left some people having it no longer. On April 7 they surround- of Kyrgyzia. Last month alone, nearly a Western-engineered “Tulip Revolu- to spend 80 percent of their income on ed government buildings in the capital, 50,000 U.S. military personnel transited tion” in 2005, had early in his term heat and light. Bishkek, and refused to disperse. On the through the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan threatened to terminate the base’s When Kyrgyzia was part of the Soviet orders of President Bakiyev, troops fired going to and returning from Afghanistan. contract. But the U.S. agreed to raise Union, it received fuel oil and other es- into the crowds, killing at least 75 people Regardless of who was in the White the rental price from $20 million to sentials at a subsidized price from the and wounding hundreds more. However, House, who headed the State Depart- $60 million. And, in a side agreement central government. In effect, it and other the people did not retreat and ended up ment or the Department of Defense, or not made public until now, it worked southern republics benefited from an af- taking over the government buildings as what U.S. polls showed about the attitude out a deal whereby the president’s firmative action program meant to bring the army and police broke ranks. of the people here toward the war, the brother sold jet fuel to the U.S. occupi- up their economic development closer to The uprising spread throughout most plans made at the Pentagon for moving ers at a profit of $10 million a month the national level. of the country, overthrowing officials of troops and supplies to Afghanistan con- — which works out to twice the money Once the USSR was broken up into the old regime. tinued on schedule. paid to the government of Kyrgyzstan. small competing countries and capitalism An interim government has been Until April 7. Then near-panic reigned A former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, was restored, the standard of living for formed headed by Roza Otunbayeva, a in Washington — enough for the Penta- Chuck Squires, was hired to handle the the working people in these areas plum- former foreign minister. Bakiyev has fled gon to announce it was stopping flights contract. (New York Times, April 12) meted. The privileged, however, were to southern Kyrgyzstan and refuses to into and out of Manas for 12 hours. They • While feathering his own family’s now free to become “entrepreneurs,” step down. were resumed, but on April 9 Major John nest, Bakiyev raised the price of state- which usually meant attaching them- The new government sent a delegation Redfield, a spokesperson for U.S. Central supplied heat, electricity and hot water selves in some way to the rapacious in- to Moscow seeking economic assistance Command, announced that the U.S. mili- this January from 170 percent to 400 terests of imperialist corporations, which from Russia. It says that its first priority is tary in Kyrgyzstan had decided “to tempo- percent. In a country where close to bribed officials to open their doors to the dealing with the economic hardships the rarily divert military passenger transport half the people live below the poverty unbridled exploitation of an area rich in people face and that it has no immediate flights” away from the Manas base. (Re- line and winter temperatures drop to natural resources. This is the main source plans to cancel the contract that leases uters, April 10) below zero Fahrenheit, this was like of the corruption now endemic in the gov- Manas Air Base to the Pentagon. This development has exposed the vul- a death sentence for many, who had ernments of these small countries. But the people’s mandate is very clear nerability of U.S. imperialism and its war to choose between food and heat. The The people of Kyrgyzstan could take — and Washington is very worried.

Larry Hales addresses. mass rally in Dhaka March 31.

BAngLADeSh. PhotoS: SSt-BANGlADESh Students celebrate worldwide struggle By Larry hales of Dhaka on March 31. know about the various struggles in In- national language. This drew the ire of Dhaka, Bangladesh The rally was held at the University of dia for education and against Indian ex- the Bengali people who were a nationally Dhaka and the march proceeded from pansionism to the struggle in Nepal for oppressed group with its own culture, tra- Fight Imperialism, Stand Together there through the city. The thousands of socialism, to the success of the March 4 ditions and language. Students from the (FIST), along with the All India Demo- students, many carrying red flags, wound Day of Action to Defend Education in the University of Dhaka organized protests, cratic Students Organization and All through the streets, blocking traffic and U.S. and the left movement in the U.S. even though the government had out- Nepal National Independent Students inspiring many onlookers with militant The Socialist Students Front had sent a lawed assemblies, meetings and protests Union (Revolutionary), was invited to at- chants for socialism and against U.S. im- solidarity letter to the activists in the U.S. to counter mass sentiment. tend the end of the 25th anniversary cel- perialism. organizing for March 4. The activists also visited a tea field ebrations of the Socialist Students Front The international participants engaged The international activists were able where they were able to talk to some of of Bangladesh. with student activists from throughout to visit many universities while in Ban- the workers. They are trying to organize The Socialist Students Front, the youth the country, from Dhaka to Syhlet and gladesh: the University of Dhaka, which those who toil under oppressive con- and student organization of the Social- Chittagong. The theme for the new era of has a rich cultural history and is one of ditions, working up to 12 hours a day, ist Party of Bangladesh, was founded in activism, ushered in after the end of the the oldest and largest universities in the stooped over and forced to pick tea leaves 1984. That was thirteen years after Ban- 25th year celebration is “A New Era of country; Jahangirnagar University, which rapidly in the blinding hot sun. gladesh won independence from Paki- Student Movement,” whose goal is to win is the only school where all the students The international participants agreed stan through armed struggle, in response education as a right for all. reside on campus; and Shahjalal Univer- to deepen their relationships as part of to the Pakistani government’s repression Panels were set up so the guests could sity of Science and Technology. the international struggle to demand and and its neglect following a devastating engage with Bengali students. The focus The guests visited many other places as win education as a right for all. cyclone. was the struggle for education in Bangla- well, including a monument to the many Representing Fight Imperialism, The SSF has tens of thousands of activ- desh and across the world, even in the who were killed in the national liberation Stand Together (FIST) at the SSF events, ists around the country. This was evident imperialist nations. Many of the students struggle against Pakistan and in the lan- Hales played a leading role in mobiliz- in the many thousands who attended the prepared questions for the international guage movement that started after Paki- ing students and youth for the March 4 rally and march in the Bangladesh capital activists. These ranged from wanting to stan declared Urdu as the only official education protests across the U.S. Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países uníos! filtración de vídeo del Pentágono revela brutalidad de la ocupación en irak Por gene Clancy mientras la tripulación del helicóptero se La reacción más inmediata a la publi- preguntarse qué peligro representa una pregunta en voz alta si lo matan o no. cación del vídeo fue la hostilidad de fuen- camioneta civil tratando de recoger a los Es una demostración absolutamente Poco tiempo después aparece una cami- tes tan variadas como Fox News, el New muertos y heridos. escalofriante de asesinato a sangre fría. oneta civil. La tripulación del helicóptero York Times y el New York Daily News. Pero el debate sobre los detalles omite Un helicóptero de combate Apache es- informa con excitación que la camioneta CBS News difundió una versión abreviada el punto principal. tadounidense sobrevuela un barrio de está recogiendo a los cadáveres y sobre- de la película de 17 minutos de Wikileaks, Por supuesto, el comportamiento y las Bagdad en busca de “objetivos” — gente vivientes y pide permiso para atacar de omitiendo algunos de los comentarios actitudes de las tropas estadounidenses para matar. Un video de las fuerzas ar- nuevo. La camioneta es atacada con otra más atroces de los soldados. son inexcusables. Muchos podrían recla- madas muestra los objetivos intenciona- lluvia de balas y de mísiles. Más personas Cuando el Departamento de Defensa mar que estaban “simplemente haciendo dos en el punto de mira de los lentes de la quedan muertas rodeando la camioneta. investigó el incidente, que ocurrió en su trabajo”. Su “trabajo”, sin embargo, cámara: un grupo de hombres vestidos de El helicóptero aconseja a las tropas en 2007, no encontró “ninguna violación de era la ocupación totalmente injustificada civil, sin máscaras, dos hombres que po- tierra a que “busquen un montón de cadá- las reglas de combate”. Según la BBC, el de un país y la masacre de personas que drían portar un rifle - algo común en ese veres”. Uno de los soldados en el terreno, Pentágono está tratando de recuperar las nunca les atacaron o amenazaron de nin- tiempo en Bagdad - pero todos caminan- exclama: “¡Hey! Creo que pasé por enci- cintas originales de la película de la tripu- guna manera. Esa es la verdadera causa do tranquilamente por una calle dirigién- ma de un cuerpo” y se ríe. Sin embargo, al lación que estuvo involucrada. de esta atrocidad. dose a una pequeña plaza. revisar la camioneta destruida, los solda- La mayor parte del reciente debate so- El gobierno de EEUU y la clase domi- La película es inquietantemente silen- dos no encuentran insurgentes armados, bre el lanzamiento del vídeo se ha cen- nante sabe muy bien que una guerra de ciosa, salvo por mensajes radiales inter- sino a dos periodistas de Reuters muertos trado en si las fuerzas armadas estadoun- ocupación inevitablemente lleva al em- rumpidos entre el helicóptero, los man- y a dos niños malheridos. “Bueno, no de- idenses estaban justificadas al disparar brutecimiento de los hombres y mujeres dos militares y las tropas desplegadas en bían traer a sus niños al campo de batal- contra la gente en tierra. Los apologistas jóvenes que colocan en esa situación. En las inmediaciones. la”, comenta alguien en el helicóptero. El del ejército afirman ver a hombres que última instancia, cada hombre, mujer y La tripulación del helicóptero de com- soldado en tierra concuerda. portaban armas en el vídeo. Otros afir- niño en el país ocupado se convierte en bate cree que ha visto un arma llevada por El vídeo, que se clasificó como docu- man que lo que se ve es un trípode para un “enemigo”. uno de los hombres y pide permiso para mento secreto, se filtró subrepticiamente una cámara grande. La gente progresista alrededor del atacar. Dado el visto bueno por su coman- y fue descifrado por un sitio web conocido Sorprendentemente, ninguno de los mundo debe exigir que cesen todas las dante en la base, el equipo de tiro en el he- como Wikileaks y publicado el 5 de abril. críticos del video encuentra nada inusual ocupaciones por los EEUU y los autores licóptero desata una lluvia de balas y co- Esto significa que alguien conectado con o amenazante acerca de hombres cami- de este y todos los demás crímenes de hetes, sobre más de una docena de seres el Pentágono — tal vez un soldado harto nando y no corriendo, y luego reunién- guerra estadounidenses — no sólo los humanos. El helicóptero sigue circu- del papel de EEUU en Irak — ha puesto dose en un pequeño grupo en medio de soldados individuales, sino también sus lando, enfocando su mira en un hombre los intereses humanos por encima de la una calle con un helicóptero militar so- comandantes — sean llevados ante la jus- herido que se arrastra buscando refugio, llamada ‘lealtad al imperio’. brevolando el área. Uno también podría ticia ante los pueblos del mundo. Berkeley, California. Llamado a amnistía incondicional para los que se resisten al servicio militar Por Dee knight cional para los veteranos y resistentes a las esfuerzos del gobierno de castigar a los re- delegados quienes luego le ovacionaron. guerras en Iraq, Afganistán, y Pakistán. sistentes quienes “aparecían” en conferen- ¡Amnistía para todos/as! En la primera acción de este tipo du- “Las tropas que han tenido el valor de cias contra la guerra, convenciones políti- rante las actuales guerras de EEUU en Irak, resistir ya han sido traumatizadas sufici- cas y audiencias congresionales — casi Después de la gran manifestación en Afganistán y Pakistán, el Concejo Munici- entemente. Han obedecido a sus concien- siempre sin aviso — demostrando el am- Washington, DC el mes pasado donde pal de Berkeley, California, aprobó el 9 de cias y merecen la sanación y el apoyo y plio apoyo a la resistencia y a la amnistía. miles de inmigrantes y sus simpatizantes marzo una resolución titulada “Amnistía el aprecio de la gente en todas partes. El Esta campaña condujo al Presidente exigían legalización plena para toda la incondicional y universal para los/as que movimiento de resistencia de los solda- Jimmy Carter a otorgar la amnistía in- gente sin documentación oficial en este se resisten a la guerra militar y para los/as dos está creciendo. Sus miembros/as son condicional a los resistentes después de país, el nuevo llamado a una amnistía veteranos/as que han actuado en oposición héroes y heroínas y deberán ser tratados/ la guerra estadounidense en Vietnam en para quienes se resisten a la guerra debía a la guerra por cuestiones de conciencia en as como tales cuando se les da la bien- enero de 1977. Carter sintió la presión ser extendido para incluir a ambos grupos. Iraq, Afganistán y Pakistán”, según un in- venida a la sociedad civil”. después de que un resistente exiliado, Igual sucede con el santuario — un tipo forme del grupo ‘Courage to Resist’. La nueva resolución profundiza el com- Fritz Efaw, se apareció en la Convención de solidaridad que se ha extendido por “Amnistía” significa que todas las promiso de la ciudad de estar contra la Nacional Demócrata de 1976 como parte décadas a los dos grupos por iglesias, sin- acusaciones y demás castigos quedan ofi- guerra, lo cual hizo de Berkeley en 2007 de la delegación “Demócratas en el Ex- dicatos, ciudades e individuos. De hecho, cialmente “olvidados”. “Incondicional” una “ciudad santuario” para quienes se terior”, y fue nominado para vice presi- el concepto de santuario emergió durante significa que no hay condiciones. “Univer- resistían al servicio militar y al recluta- dente por la Madre ‘Gold Star’ Louise la Edad Media cuando las iglesias fre- sal” significa que se aplicaría a todas las miento militar obligatorio. Ransom (cuyo hijo murió en combate en cuentemente ejercían un poder paralelo condenas o cargos pendientes relaciona- Exigida por primera vez durante Vietnam). El veterano discapacitado de la al de las autoridades civiles. Una persona dos con la resistencia o la negativa a pre- la guerra de Vietnam guerra en Vietnam Ron Kovic, quien es- o un grupo podía pedir protección en la star servicio en las actuales guerras de los Para terminar con los castigos a los es- cribió ‘Nacido en el cuatro de julio’ [Born iglesia para defenderse de las autoridades EEUU, así como ausentarse sin permiso. tadounidenses que se resistían a la guerra on the Fourth of July], apoyó la nomi- opresivas y así evitar la captura y el castigo. Esta amnistía incluiría a todos los vet- de Vietnam, el periódico de resistentes nación dejando atónitos y en silencio a los Hoy como en el pasado, la lucha por la eranos con licencia por conducta sin hon- estadounidenses que estaban en Ca- amnistía y el santuario es una lucha por ores por tal resistencia. El llamado añade nadá en ese tiempo, AMEX/Canadá, el derecho a oponer resistencia frente al que los veteranos deben tener su licencia fue el primero que en 1973 formuló poder gubernamental injusto. Y es una elevada automáticamente a la categoría la demanda por la amnistía incondi- manera en que la gente progresista pu- de honrosa, y que deberían tener derecho cional y universal. La demanda se ede ejercer su propio poder y forzar el fin a todos los beneficios. convirtió en el centro de una amplia del militarismo y el racismo. Bob Meola, el comisionado de paz y jus- campaña basada en una alianza de Para ponerse al día sobre la resis- ticia de Berkeley que escribió el proyecto resistentes exiliados, veteranos con- tencia al servicio militar, vea www. original de la resolución declaró: “Espero tra la guerra y soldados en servicio CourageToResist.org que esta resolución sirva como modelo activo, con el apoyo firme de grupos Dee Knight era un redactor de e inspire a las ciudades y pueblos en los pacifistas, religiosos y por los dere- AMEX/Canadá de 1968 a 1974, y Estados Unidos a aprobar resoluciones chos civiles. sirvió como coordinador del Consejo similares y estimule un movimiento que La campaña estuvo caracterizada Nacional para la Amnistía Incondi- resulte en la amnistía universal e incondi- por el desafío abierto en contra de los cional y Universal de 1974 a 1975.