SEPTEMBER 2011, VOLUME 38, NO. 9 DONATION $1

Rally calling on the mayor of Providence, Rhode Island to rescind the termination notices he sent to all of the city’s nearly 2,000 teachers. Photo/Gretchen Ertl photography INSIDE: Laborless Day 2 The Fight for Public Education World Poetry Movement 4 Next Step for Labor 5 Take the The Fight for Public Education 6-7 Immigration Struggle 10 Offensive Welfare Cuts 11 Dictatorship in Michigan 12 Back-to-school Special Coverage on pages 3, 6, and 7 “Laborless” Day, 2011 An economic system that doesn’t feed, Global Economic Crisis Creates Social Upheaval clothe and house its people must be and will be overturned and replaced with a sys- tem that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of those struggling to create such a new economic system. It is a vehicle to bring the move- ment together, to create a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it.

Labor-replacing electronic technology is permanently eliminating jobs and destroy- ing the foundation of the capitalist system. The people’s needs can only be met by building a cooperative society where the socially necessary means of production are owned by society, not by the corporations.

We welcome articles and artwork from those who are engaged in the struggle to build a new society that is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and con- tributors to fund and distribute this paper.

The People’s Tribune, formerly published by the League of Revolutionaries for a New America, is now an independent newspaper with an editorial board based in Chicago.

PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: Chicago protest against corporate officer meeting. Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover Photo/Brett Jelinek, olafimages.com story and editorials, reflect the views of the EDITORIAL editorial board. Bylined articles reflect the How something happens or expresses the cost of capital.” The significance of this in record numbers. The recent federal budget views of the authors, and may or may not itself is not what causes it to happen. The statement is that production without labor agreement is poised to cut at least $2.4 tril- reflect the views of the editorial board. global economy is undergoing new shocks, (electronic automation) has become cheaper lion more from programs and jobs desper- the result of attempts to stabilize the econ- than production with labor, even in China. ately needed by the American people. Deadlines for articles and art: The deadline omy by credit adjustments. However, these However, with increasingly more commod- Social unrest is sprouting up across the for articles, photographs and other art is the attempts address the effects of the crisis, not ities being produced with no labor and in- globe. People are taking to the streets in first of each month for the issue that comes the cause of the crisis. The underlying cause creasingly less people working and earning protest against government imposed auster- out at the beginning of the following month. of the global economic crisis is the increas- an income, there are less buyers of what is ity measures. These spontaneous uprisings For example, the deadline for the June issue ing electronic (i.e. laborless) production of being produced. As a result, the worldwide are fighting against the disastrous effects of is May 1. Articles should be as short as goods and services in an integrated global capitalist economy and the social system the economic crisis, with no understanding possible, and no longer than 600 words. We capitalist economic system. that’s built upon it, is beginning to collapse of its actual cause. reserve the right to edit articles to conform One example of how fast global pro- and self-destruct. The polarization of wealth and poverty to space limitations. duction is being automated can be found Up to now, credit has artificially propped in the U.S. is extreme. The top economic 1% at Foxconn, China’s biggest employer that up the global economy. This created an arti- of the US population now has a record 40% People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee produces Apple’s iPad and other electronic ficial market of buyers and sellers. As more of all wealth in the country. They have more gadgets. The corporation currently employs debt was created, more and more lending wealth than 90% of the U.S. population Editorial Staff: Bob Brown, Brett Jelinek, one million workers. The Financial Times followed to keep the buying and selling combined. At the same time, the new elec- Shamako Noble, Chuck Parker, Nelson reported last month that during a Foxconn of production going. At a certain point the tronic production is for the first time in hu- Peery, Sandra Reid gathering this past July, Terry Gou, its chair- mounting debt can’t be paid, lenders tighten man history producing such abundance that People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524, man and chief executive, announced the credit and austerity becomes the new mantra no human being needs to go without any of Chicago, Illinois, 60654 company would have up to 300,000 robots of the enriched lenders. their necessities. This creates the potential e-mail: [email protected] next year. They would increase the number Across the globe, new austerity mea- to create a new society, if only the vast ma- Phone: 773-486-3551 to one million robots by 2013. The company sures are being implemented. In virtually ev- jority had the power to achieve it. Toll Free: 800-691-6888 currently has just 10,000 robots on its pro- ery country in Western Europe to Britain and We need to think in terms of changing Fax: 773-486-3552 duction lines. the United States, the working class is be- the entire system­—of making private prop- web: www.peoplestribune.org According to the same report, Alvin ing required to pay the bills of a super-rich, erty, currently in the hands of the corpora- Publisher: Kwock, head of hardware technology re- global capitalist class. State budgets in the tions and the billionaires, public property. People’s Tribune search at J.P. Morgan said, “It signals that US are being slashed, vital social programs Our first step in creating a just American ISSN# 1081-4787 the cost of labor is no longer lower than are being cut and workers are being laid off society is simple. TAX THE RICH! Reach us at: Why Revolutionaries Need A Press Chicago 773-486-3551 Ann Arbor, MI From the Editors [email protected] Atlanta, GA We are sometimes asked “Why do revolutionaries need a press?” The answer has to do with this moment in [email protected] Carbondale,IL history. People are struggling just to get the basic necessities of life. Historical forces beyond anyone’s con- [email protected] trol have set the stage for a new society to be built, but from this point on, how things turn out depends on Detroit, MI what people think. This means that those of us who are seeking fundamental change are engaged in a battle of 313-438-6115 Houston, TX ideas, a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the people. If we don’t raise the consciousness of the people P O Box 231281, Houston, TX 77223-1281 and unite them around a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it, then we’ll fail in our effort to Los Angeles, CA 310-548-6491 build a just and free society. To win the battle of ideas, we need a press. Oakland, CA [email protected] Visit us on the web at www.peoplestribune.org

2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 2011 www.peoplestribune.org The Fight for Public Education: Take the Offensive COVER STORY

From its beginnings, U.S public educa- tion has been designed to meet the labor needs of the capitalist class. During the industrial era, public education guaranteed a supply of educated workers—engineers and other professionals, as well as skilled and semi-skilled workers—to design and operate the sprawling factories of the 20th century. Under the electronic (laborless) production methods of today, most workers are becoming increasingly unnecessary to the globally integrated production process and therefore are increasingly useless to the capitalist class. The capitalist system has no need to ed- ucate those it can’t employ. Education today is being designed and reserved for the sons and daughters of the privileged few and the narrow stratum of professionals needed to design and operate the robots and comput- ers that increasingly carry on 21st century production. Public education is being priva- tized by the corporations, in part as a source of profit, and in part to guarantee that the education system serves the needs of the corporations. The right to an education is becoming a thing of the past. The capitalists know that the people have always fought to expand and improve public education, so the capitalists are taking the education sys- tem away from the people. Today, laborless production is creating a growing mass of dispossessed—people who cartoon/andy willis are permanently jobless or reduced to work- ing part-time or as contingent labor. Their A free, universal system of public edu- ing class families understand that public needs can only be met by a society where cation is key to the future of all of us, and education at all levels should be both free the socially necessary means of production the cornerstone of a democratic society. and guarantee the greatest maximization of Sister/Brother, are publicly owned and what we produce is And for the first time in human history, we each individual’s abilities. This way public can you spare $20? distributed according to need; therefore, the have the capacity to provide everyone with education guarantees each person a future, dispossessed are a threat to private property. a high-quality public education. But we can- rather than limited skills that serve only cor- The key item on the corporate agenda now not provide it if education is privatized to porations. The People’s Tribune is to protect private property. Any thought serve the corporate agenda. This fight for public ownership and brings clarity to the of a public domain and real democracy runs There is a rising movement across control—nationalization—will open up a growing movement. It counter to the agenda of the corporate gov- America to demand that public education be discussion about who controls the govern- ernment. Government at every level is tak- established as a public right for all. This is a ment and whose interests the government unites revolutionaries ing virtually everything that used to be pub- political struggle and must be recognized as serves—the people or the corporations? If around a vision of a bet- lic and putting it under private (corporate) one. It cannot be won by incremental com- we are going to have a government—and an ter world and a strategy control, including education. promise in the face of an all-out political as- education system—of, by and for the peo- “Tough Choices or Tough Times”, a sault on public education. We, the people, ple, we are going to have to wage a political to achieve it. It has no report of the New Commission on Skills are in a struggle for the political power to fight for it. paid staff and gets no of the American Workforce, from the Na- ensure that our needs are met in the realm of corporate grants. The tional Center on Education and the Econo- education and every other realm. See more education articles on pages 6 and 7. paper is financed solely my, clearly describes this outlook and the A first step toward ensuring the educa- process under way, as the new model for tion system we need is to fight for nation- by our readers. We need education in the U.S. The report, financed alizing education under the leadership and your support to continue largely by Bill Gates, calls for replacing control of those who pay for it and receive telling the truth. public schools with “contract schools,” in it—the working class. Billionaires, corpora- One-time donations are which private corporations would make all tions and politicians have no business trying the choices about education. to de-form the schools to their needs. Work- welcome. If you can spare $20 a month or more, you’ll be a hero. SUBSCRIBE TO THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE! ORDER BUNDLES Please make donations payable to People’s Please send me a one-year individual subscription Name: Tribune and send to P.O. [ $20 ] Box 3524, Chicago, IL Please send me a one-year institutional subscription Address: 60654. You can also do- [ $25 ] nate via Paypal at www. Please send me a bundle of _____ PTs City/State/Zip: peoplestribune.org. [ at 30 cents per paper ] Phone/Email: Enclosed is my donation of: People’s Tribune $20 $50 $75 $100 $Other ______My check or money order made payable to “People’s Tribune” is enclosed. Editorial Board Mail this coupon to: People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524, Chicago, IL 60654-3524

www.peoplestribune.org SEPTEMBER 2011 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 The World Poetry Movement By Jack Hirschman

A momentous event took place in July, 2011 in Medellin, Columbia. Fernando Ren- don, the Colombian poet who for the past 21 years has organized the spectacular Medel- lin International Poetry Festival, this year initiated the formation of the World Poetry Movement (WPM) in order to collectivize poetry festivals on a planetary scale. The Mission Statement of the WPM is presented below, with particular reference to its first major event, which will take place worldwide on September 24, 2011 in co- ordination with the call by poets Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion for “100 Thou- sand Poets for Change”. The call has already set the stage for more than 450 grassroots poetry events on that day, with that number increasing daily. For example, I’ve just come from a Festival of Chinese and American po- ets in Chengdu, China, where Agneta Falk and I read and met with Chinese poets there and in Beijing who have begun organizing for readings on September 24. For more on September 24, go to www.100tpc.org.

Statement by the World Poetry Movement

The World Poetry Movement was found- ed in the context of the World Gathering of Directors from 37 International Poetry Fes- Jack Hirschman in Medellin, Colombia, with World Poetry Movement members from Turkey, Colombia, Chile, Canada and Japan. tivals, held in Medellin, Colombia, between Photo/Natalia Rendón April and July 8th, 2011. virtual publications, to increase our mutual velopment of a new world, the restoration of cess, making a formidable display of poetic There they discussed the connection be- cooperation and thus energize the individual beauty, dignity and truth, in the process of power possible in the world, in hundreds of tween poetry and peace, the reconstruction and collective voice of poetry in our time. a persistent strengthening of poetry’s pres- cities and villages on Earth. of the human spirit, the reconciliation and Recently the World Poetry Movement ence in contemporary society worldwide. We ask you to please inform us recovery of nature, the unity and cultural has been joined by the “100,000 Poets for Poetry is knowledge, reflection and enlight- shortly on the decisions taken regard- diversity of peoples, material poverty and Change” project, a bold initiative by poets enment, liberation, contemplation and action, ing this proposal to the following email: poetic justice, and possible actions to take Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrión, in lightning, creative imagination and brother- mailto:[email protected]. in favor of the globalization of poetry. California, who have proposed the implemen- hood, spiritual unity of individuals and peoples, A month later, the World Poetry Move- tation of a worldwide poetic action, next Sep- past, present and future of humanity. — By the World Poetry Movement Coor- ment has been joined by 77 international po- tember 24th, 2011 in 350 cities worldwide. World Poetic Movement calls on all its dinating Committee: Peter Rorvik (South etry festivals and 317 poets from 83 coun- Due to the nature of poetry, the World members, poets and international poetry Africa), Bas Kwakman (Netherlands), Jack tries from all continents. Poetry Movement supports and will always festivals, to plan, develop and spread poetic Hirschman (United States of America), Rati One of the goals is to include most of support the thoughts, actions and measures actions and simultaneous poetry readings, Saxena (India), Alex Pausides (Cuba), Amir the strongest international poetry festivals, that can contribute to world peace, the de- across the planet, next September 24th, Or (Israel), Iryna Vikyrchak (Ukraine), Fer- poets, schools of poetry and printed and fense of all life on earth, the sustainable de- 2011, to consolidate our organizational pro- nando Rendón (Colombia) SWEET BEAUTIFUL MONSTER (The Sexy Side of War: Satire/Exposé) And now look at you, my sweet beautiful monster with your big sign reading: baby looks at you confused and crying I wanted you to stay home with your Mom “WAR IS BEAUTIFUL; IT CREATES JOBS; Because he does not even recognize his own and me and help raise your son IT CONTROLS THE POPULATION” mother (not like the before picture) You could have gone to Jr. College and learned You said there’s a certain erotic beastly Martin was against the Viet Nam War and Malcolm said a good trade or business skill beautiful thing about war, rape, we were: “lied to, hoodwinked and bamboozled” That General said you would make a good soldier Fires, torture, hangings, domestic The General argued against the war privately but They were looking for a few good men and women violence and sadomasochism supported it publicly; he follows orders The cultures of war love the sweet smelling It’s better than belonging to a gang and doing He also said he would take the fifth after drinking sounds of sex, booze and drugs drugs and crime; don’t ask, we won’t tell it first and he was famous for saying: The General said it was a “just” war for My kid said ugly is the new beauty and “Never air the dirty linen of your war Fascist fantasies Democracy with a little collateral damage violence is the new rich wet dreams sadomasochistic menageatrois between He would personally recommend you to be Your Mom and I both agreed that you needed You, Uncle Sam and the Taliban that went insanely crazy the poster child for Uncle Sam to get some counseling ASAP bad tossing you to the streets with the bottles You have sex appeal; that Jenesaisquoi; you The next day you saw the General and joined the And cans you picked up to earn a buck to buy some could not resist serving your country Army because you were bored and broke booze to share a drink in your free public housing It is the sweet scientific thing to do. Your It was all the wild drug sex life you expected Home under the bridge where you are not even counted Mom and I did not want you to go and more than you bargained for among the unemployed; it does not matter For a long time we have been protesting A sweet beautiful horrible experience and Because war is so freaky, sexist and sexy. Don’t ask, my bad wars for good reasons you loved every minute of it savvy sugar horny honey bun, and we won’t tell!” We lost friends and relatives and you Especially the friendly fire until they sent know how much we were hurt you home to the psyche ward —Wardell Montgomery Jr., Urban Folk Poet, 313- We believe in blaming the country and not Laughing out of your head about what a great time 821-8660, [email protected], ©2010 the soldiers for going to war you had being a sex toy for Imperialism Wardell Montgomery Jr. (11-21-10). This poem was But we taught you the “Art of War” facts; you read After all like the straight talking General, you were just inspired by John Dower’s book: “Cultures of War.” the articles, books and you saw the videos following orders for the slapstick theatre of war Interviewed by Sanho Tree on CSPAN November 21, 2010 To poke fun at us, you protested our protest And my sweet beautiful monster, when your

4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 2011 www.peoplestribune.org Interview: The Next Step for Labor Sandy Reid of the People’s Tribune inter- or they can transform into a views Richard Monje, Vice President of different kind of organiza- Workers United about the next step for tion. Instead of simply nego- labor. Part one of this interview was pub- tiating contracts for the self- lished in the August, 2011 edition of the interests of the workers they People’s Tribune. represent, they could seek to represent the basic members People’s Tribune: Richard, what is the next as only a part of a broader step for labor? section of people. They could Richard Monje: The next step for labor utilize their resources to as- is to clearly determine the role labor will sist in identifying what kind play. There are many indications that labor of new economic models can does not know where to go so they are con- be created. Take a look at a stantly repeating the same old thing. They Wisconsin. There’s social or- are hoping that some individual will come ganization in all of the towns in and save the institutions that they had. So and rural areas that expressed the faith was held in the Democratic Party a programmatic point of view institutions—that Carter, then Clinton and of what should happen in this now Obama has the solutions—that there country on the budget crisis. can be a new agreement made between the They should have an opin- corporations (and the wealthy) and working ion and they should fight for people (and the poor) to form a new political that opinion. I don’t think the coalition of forces. There is no indication unions or the labor movement that such a coalition can be built. can do this by themselves. Brezinski recently stated that if the U.S. But we need to play a role in continued down the course it is heading, there the reconstruction of the eco- Rally in Lansing, Michigan to protest budget cuts. Photo/daymonjhartley.com would be deep social unrest. I agree. There nomic model that expresses a are also a whole bunch of other people try- new way to distribute goods and services in sponse in Wisconsin to the Republicans’ contribute to society so that society can take ing to figure out what kind of program could this country and who pays for it. actions. It wasn’t led by a national leader, care of me, my family and my community. link together the social unrest, not just over by the Democratic Party or Obama. It was I think this is a model of what can hap- job loss, but also over trade, and all of the is- PT: Is there motion toward a third party? an expression of people who lived in small pen when we don’t have a third party, an sues that are affecting people’s everyday life. RM: There is a constant bubbling of inter- rural areas, of students and some union ac- independent political expression outside of There seems absolutely no interest on the est towards building all kinds of parties. tivists, but it didn’t require leaders to say, the Democrats and Republicans debating part of the Democratic Party or the Repub- None of the “legitimate” institutions or or- “Let’s do X, Y, Z.” It was led by local lead- how much do we cut, rather than solving licans—nor among the groupings of capital ganizations is a part of that process. Right ers who were tied to teachers, who were tied the problem of a lack of jobs, health care that sought compromise with the anger and now they are dedicated to the re-election of to fire-fighters, who were tied to the other and poverty. frustration in the 1930s and 1940s—to form Barak Obama. trade unions, who were tied to people who Right now there are organizations that that kind of coalition. On the contrary, they So what is left is anger and frustration used to belong to unions in the Fox River are attempting to form parties. That is an are putting institutions and laws in place to and a large mass of people who have no Valley, where all of the paper mills used to important step, but right now it hasn’t con- further control the anger and frustration. organizational expression, no leadership be and have since closed. Literally tens of gealed. So it remains small isolated groups The unions are going to participate in speaking on their behalf, and at any point thousands of families are connected to that and the general broad base of mass social the construction of something extremely can explode. history, that union history, to an economic discontent is disconnected from the attempts conservative and narrow on self-interests— The best example of this was the re- model of who is responsible and what do I to form that party. Why Teach About the Triangle Fire? By Andi Sosin and Joel Sosinsky powerful. From Triangle came the social Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition justice legislation that authorized unions, regulated workplace safety, and established Teachers shoulder responsibility to the social safety net that is now in jeopardy. prepare their students with the skills and Despite that it happened one hundred years knowledge necessary to be productive citi- ago, Triangle’s lessons are about what can zens, yet they are continually criticized for take place when people become aware of their inability to overcome the effects of their own exploitation. This generation’s poverty and the myriad reasons for failure. economic prospects are far different, but As the desperate nature of the economic what has not changed since the Triangle era situation becomes more obvious, the neo- is that the ordinary citizen can only exert liberal effort to control education and sup- power through collective action. press dissent has become even more vo- The Remember the Triangle Fire Coali- ciferous. Schools are the medium for the tion (RTFC) organized the centennial com- transmission of values, which is contested memoration of the Triangle fire. Its website territory: sugar-coating capitalism by call- http://rememberthetrianglefire.org, contains ing it free enterprise, excluding labor from information about the fire and links to par- history books, and reducing what is taught ticipating organizations, books, films and 9th graders at IS 190, Bronx brought their memorial posters to the Triangle Fire to the bare minimum of skills and topics that online resources, lesson plans, and advice to are tested. In the much reduced social stud- centennial commemoration. Photo/Robert Domingo, FDNY organizers. Courageous teachers marked the ies curriculum, labor is dealt with as ancient Triangle centennial by sharing these with history, unrelated to our modern world. cially of the labor movement. What can be citizenry to come out in support of workers, students, and the RTFC is now leading an Teachers are constantly pressured to meet done to counter this trend? which forced politicians to bend to the pub- effort to create a permanent Triangle memo- externally imposed standards and teachers Those who care about social and eco- lic’s will to support the workers and extend rial, which will serve to honor social justice unions are under the gun, losing control over nomic justice have much to learn from the to them the safety and social protections activism and potentially educate those who their working environments from increasing Triangle fire and the political revolution it that we now take for granted. In the style have not learned about labor’s struggles in encroachment of conservative political ide- is credited with inspiring. The Triangle fire of popular education, lessons of the Triangle school. In this way, the Triangle fire can ologies and private charter school operators. took place in New York City one hundred fire present a teachable opportunity that has create awareness of the value of collective And the decimation of union membership in years ago on March 25, 1911, killing 146 the potential to engage people in exercising action and highlight ways to achieve social the US has greatly diminished the chances workers, mostly immigrant women, amidst collective power for their own welfare. and economic justice now hidden by cor- for parents to pass on union values to their labor upheaval in an ascendant industrial The Triangle fire potently demonstrated porate culture. For more information about children. All of these forces have success- economy. The fire and its attendant expo- capitalism’s disregard for human beings, the RTFC’s efforts in education, contact the fully created ignorance about the popular sure of exploitative factory working condi- and the necessity of government to care for Remember the Triangle Fire Coalition at movements that shaped this nation, espe- tions across New York state galvanized the all of the people, not only the wealthy and [email protected].

www.peoplestribune.org SEPTEMBER 2011 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 “Let’s Take Over the Takeover!” When the LA School District abruptly turns their middle school into a charter-school, people protest By Maria Elena Martinez silver platter and handed it to Green Dot,” many of whom experienced de facto segre- exclaims Marguerite La Motte, the lone gated schools, as they grew up – are vowing, “Let’s take over the takeover,” vowed a school-board member who opposes Public “We Will Not Be Moved!” and “This Is Our South Los Angeles resident about the Los School Choice. “Green Dot’s scores are no school, Our Land!” Angeles Board of Education’s recent move better than Clay’s,” La Motte points out. “Of Joining in the struggle are newer Los to close Henry Clay Middle School and then the 13 schools they operate within LAUSD, Angeles residents who recently came to this reopen it with Green Dot, a charter-school eight have scores of less than 650.” A low country in search of a better future for their corporation, as operator. Academic Performance Index (API) is children. They are spreading the word on Public School Choice is a program of cause to put a school up for bid, unless you the backroom deal to give away Clay Mid- the LA Unified School District (LAUSD) are already a Charter like Green Dot. dle School, and about the move to take the that puts public schools up for bid to out- Awarding Clay to an organization whose “public” out of public education. side groups such as charter-school cor- scores are essentially no better than Clay’s “They didn’t do it right the first time, so porations and nonprofits. It has made the raises suspicions about why LAUSD is so they are fixing the procedures to take away LAUSD the most charter-friendly school aggressively giving away public schools. our schools,” explains Emily Saenz, the re- district in the country. Studies on charter schools show that cently displaced parent representative from The LAUSD uses scores from standard- their initial success depended on massive Henry Clay. ized tests to label schools “failing” or “low- outside funding from billionaire “venture She believes the Clay giveaway without performing”—even though the tests have philanthropists” like financier Eli Broad and parent input is a test for how Public School been proven unreliable. Microsoft’s Bill Gates. Choice will be implemented in the future. By using the scores to give schools away This initial investment allows them “This struggle is bigger than one school— to charter operators, the district blames the to siphon millions more from struggling the future of all schools depend on whether whole school community—parents, teachers, school districts. we save Clay.” students, and staff—for problems that have Charters have also been criticized for fil- “There are millions of dollars in public actually been caused by decades of budget tering out students who require more help education, and these charter organizations cuts and underfunded public education. —for instance, special-needs students and want our schools and our money,’ she says. And the LAUSD is also using the pro- English-language learners. “Clay’s annual budget is $4 million.” gram to give away newly constructed schools And there are other drawbacks. Unlike The Clay takeover also represents a shift that don’t have any track record at all! public schools, when community needs are in strategy by charter operators. Many be- Still, the giveaway of the Clay Middle too high, the charter schools simply close lieve the takeover is the first step in taking School came as a surprise. Instead of hold- down. Green Dot abruptly closed its Animo over the feeder elementary schools as well. Teacher rally in Lansing, Michigan. ing community hearings to consult with par- Justice Charter High School in the middle of Clay’s future is uncertain. But the strug- Photo/daymonjhartley.com ents, the district simply announced Green the 2009/2010 school year, leaving its large- gle to keep public education “public” has Dot’s takeover. ly Latino students abandoned and angry. reached a community with deep roots in cation – and they are not likely to let the “The school board placed Clay on a Now longtime residents of South LA— civil-rights battles for quality public edu- struggle die. Keep the Public in Public Schools By Steve Miller Supreme Court was wrong to porations themselves. require government to guar- How can profit-making The privatizers of public education play antee equal public education. organizations be allowed to on the fact that public schools in America Since Martin Luther King provide what should be a right are more segregated by race today than they fought for this all his life, was to all? Commercial organiza- were when the Supreme Court ruled, in he wrong too? tions cannot protect this right. 1954, that separate education is inherently Corporations are designed How can anyone argue that not equal. This apartheid school system de- to make a profit. They must the market, which is based in livers absolutely horrid public education to do this, under law, or be pe- commercial rights, is the best central city schools. Linda Darling-Ham- nalized. “Non-profit” corpo- guarantee of civil rights? mond, Stanford Education professor, has es- rations can also make a profit, When did we agree as a timated that central-city education has been but the size is limited. By def- nation to stop holding govern- under-funded by a trillion dollars since the inition, profit-making takes ment accountable for public 1960s.Today we are told that charter schools money from the children. education? Why should we let are the answer. A few early charter schools Many charter corpora- them off the hook? If we don’t used creative approaches to education. To- tions receive more money hold the government respon- day, however, charter schools, in California than most public schools, sible, then who should be re- by law, must be run by corporations. Can from private endowments by sponsible? When did we agree corporations really create better schools billionaires, plus specially that billionaires, like Oprah, than the public can? earmarked state funds as well Bill Gates, and Eli Broad, Charter schools today are even more as federal money. Yet study could control public policy, segregated than public schools. Unlike pub- after study shows that char- rather than demanding the gov- lic schools, charter schools do not have to ter students do not achieve as ernment be responsible? accept children with special needs, broken well as public school students. Corporations are using families or discipline issues. In fact, they This is true even though char- Protest against school cuts in Culver City, California. the smoke-screen of “budget routinely drive them out back into public ters routinely “cherry-pick” Photo/L. Kurnarsky crisis” to begin to seize ev- schools while keeping the money paid by the strongest students, refuse erything that belongs to the the state for the student’s education. to take students with special public. Public schools are the Charter schools are bankrolled by bil- needs, such as language issues or learning dents from impoverished families simply do sector of government that the public con- lionaires who use “philanthropic dona- deficits, and routinely drive out the students not do as well when they face on a daily ba- trols most directly. No wonder they are un- tions,” that are guaranteed by tax breaks, to that do not get the best grades. sis unemployment, hunger issues, constantly der attack in every city! Instead of allowing control public education policy. Decades of studies that show that in- moving from house to house, gang problems, politicians to ignore their responsibility to Oprah Winfrey certainly supports char- school factors (of which the teacher is only health care interruptions, lack of adequate the public that elected them, we should hold ters. She donated $1 million each to six one) effect about 1/3 of student success. The family resources, etc. What a surprise! The them accountable to extend the power of the charter school corporations a year ago. It’s other factors—counting for 2/3 of achieve- corporate agenda strives to hide these issues public over the schools. only fair to inquire if Oprah feels that the ment—are issues of poverty and class. Stu- because these factors are created by the cor-

6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 2011 www.peoplestribune.org Chicago— The Fight for Free, Public Education By Lew Rosenbaum revenues have been shifted from school to corporate development whenever the city In Chicago, as teachers start back to declares a neighborhood a TIF (Tax Incre- school, they are entering the last year of ment Financing District.) their contract. A few months ago, the school There is some hope for resisting these at- board handed out pink slips to more than tacks. Last year the Caucus of Rank and File 1,000 teachers. They have placed many of Educators won the leadership of the Chi- those laid off on a do-not-hire list -- the cago Teacher’s Union. Their core program, education version of the blacklist. And now forged through two years of confronting teachers need to prepare for contract battles the school board and administration, leaned and a possible strike next year. heavily on working alliances with parents, On June 13 the Illinois legislature passed students, and community organizations a law, SB7, undermining tenure rights as protesting both declining education and the well as making it difficult to strike. The ma- closing of neighborhood schools. At recent jority of these lawmakers were Democrats budget hearings, audiences at Lane Tech, and the law was signed by Democratic Gov- Westinghouse, and Simeon schools didn’t ernor Pat Quinn. Newly elected Chicago buy the deficit charade. At Westinghouse, Mayor Rahm Emmanuel began by appoint- when school board representatives balked at ing a new school board stacked with corpo- using TIF money to close the deficit, Jack- rate leaders such as Penny Pritzker, champi- son Potter, a union representative asked the on of charter schools, whose family controls audience, “If they can’t hear us, we need to the Hyatt Hotel empire. Emmanuel, also a make them listen! Is this a democracy or is Chicago Teachers Union marches against the corporatization of Chicago Public Democrat, directly threatened the unions this a dictatorship!?” (Susan Zupan in Sub- Schools. Photo/Brett Jelinek, Olafimages.org when he stated he wants to take away the stance News, August 12, 2011). teacher’s right to strike. On June 14, the day after Governor livable wage jobs. jobs. They are Hell-bent on privatizing as All over the Rust Belt, public workers Quinn signed the anti-teacher law SB7, the The concerted effort in Chicago against much education as can be made profitable, are being blamed for the “deficits” of -cit Stand Up Chicago march protested corpo- teachers is not because of their militancy, while guaranteeing high quality education ies and states. To emphasize their plight, rate greed, and charged that money to bal- or the deficits. And with Democrats do- only for an elite group. This is what we are the Chicago school board has been beating ance the city’s deficits was being siphoned ing the dirty work, Chicagoans certainly up against. The CTU’s battle to forge a com- the deficit drum. Even though they agreed into the pockets of corporations. Thousands can’t blame the Republicans. Breaking the mon front of struggle, both for education to hold “public hearings” to discuss their $6 of teachers and other public workers de- unions and decreasing education expendi- and school employee compensation, is part billion budget, only five copies of the 1000 scended on the Hyatt Hotel where corporate tures underlines this: education as the way of a process: developing a class response page budget document have been made leaders dubbed the “Billionaires Club” were to a better job and a stable work force is no while envisioning what kind of society pro- available for the public to examine -- and meeting. The workers demanded that cor- longer viable. vides a world class neighborhood school for they are all at the district office! One rea- porations pay their share to fix the housing The Penny Pritzkers, who have their all its children. son the schools are in a deficit is because foreclosure crisis, provide increased fund- eyes on the bottom line, know it is not nec- hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax ing for quality public education and create essary to teach as many people for good Atlanta— Expand and Improve Public Education, Don’t Destroy It! By Gloria Slaughter There is a history in Atlanta of an alliance are united in their plans to take over the The unequal divide being created is re- between elected officials and business lead- schools and operate them in the interests of ally grounded, however, in the polarization The destruction of public education is in ers and Atlanta is a specific expression of the the corporations.The Atlanta schools stu- of wealth and poverty. Statistics from the motion like a perfect storm, and the Atlanta process of the merger of government and dent body is predominantly African Ameri- study of the Southern Education Foundation Public Schools are a case in point. The first corporations that is taking place across the can.The drop- out rate in Georgia is 40% show that the poor are the majority in the wave was the education cuts; the second country. We just have to look at the former and growing.Too long we have had a school schools in the South. The students are being wave, privatization in the forms of vouch- Atlanta school superintendent’s Blue Ribbon to prison pipeline and this has been the sta- “cheated” because they are not receiving a ers and choice; the third wave was the No Committee which investigated the “cheat- tus quo in the Atlanta public schools. good education. Jonathan Kozol who wrote Child Left Behind Act, which was designed ing scandal” in Atlanta. Sam Savage Inequalities in 1992 to eliminate the public schools with a man- Williams, President of the At- says that the No Child Left date that every school in the US must reach lanta Chamber of Commerce, Behind creates two classes 100% proficiency in reading and math; the named those who would be of citizens. Students in the fourth wave is the Race to the Top, which on the blue ribbon panel. low income schools who are brings more competition for funding; and Community activist Joe Beas- taught within the boundar- the last wave, the alleged Atlanta cheating ley stated that Williams called ies of high-stakes testing and scandal, where test scores increased dra- the shots to the detriment of those in affluent schools who matically in some schools in one year and the children. The committee receive the best education educators allegedly changed answers while chair was the Vice chairman money can buy. being caught in the pressure of “raise scores of General Electric who had Public education began or be fired.” This is “disaster capitalism” at awarded the school system in order to educate and dis- its worst and may very well bring the state $22 million.The committee cipline the workforce for the take-over. supported then Superinten- industrial era. At this period U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan dent Beverly Hall. Elected of time, there is no longer a said in January, 2010 that Hurricane Katrina school board members such need for an educated work- was “the best thing that happened to the as Board chairman Khaatim force since technology is education system in New Orleans” because S. El were forced out. displacing the worker, thus, it gave the city a chance to rebuild and im- The state takeover of the deterioration of public prove its failing public schools. The Atlanta public schools in New Or- schools. Public Schools are in the same “boat” as the leans, New York and Michi- The vision for public ed- New Orleans schools after Katrina hit. Pub- gan trampled democracy, ucation is free, equal, quality lic schools were replaced by charter schools equality and equity. Geor- education for all. We need to and the “leftover kids” who didn’t make it gia faces the same situation. expand public education, im- were left behind in underfunded failing pub- Governor Nathan Deal and prove it, not destroy it! lic schools. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed Teachers protest in Detroit, Michigan Photo/Karina Hartley

www.peoplestribune.org SEPTEMBER 2011 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 CONVERGE 2 CONVERT A Proposal for Movement Building, Culminating with May 1, 2012 Rally

By Frank Hammer united, beginning with environmental jus- tice and union activists from the auto, steel Global warming due to human reliance and other industrial sectors, along with the on fossil fuels is the defining issue of our massive ranks of the unemployed, to create time. The escalating danger posed by the a new “Arsenal of Survival.” Our immedi- consequent climate change and extreme ate focus should be to demand that the rail weather patterns around the world by way cars for the planned Woodward Light Rail, of droughts, floods, hurricanes, etc., re- and the proposed high-speed rail line link- quires an “all-hands-on-deck“ response— ing Detroit to Chicago, be built right here to globally—if we are to slow it down and establish Detroit as the transportation center ultimately reverse it. The U.S. contributes for the 21st century. a full quarter of the world’s carbon emis- We are not operating in a vacuum. sions, of which the petroleum-based auto The Military-Industrial Complex has its industry is responsible for an estimated own designs in this region—to further mili- 20%. If we in the Midwest and Detroit in tarize our productive capacity and thereby particular are to reduce our “carbon foot- make us increasingly dependent on never- print,” we must take the lead in creating a ending military conflicts for our liveli- new, renewable energy and transportation hoods. The peace and progressive faith- paradigm—not tomorrow, or in the distant based communities rejects this and are future—but now, ASAP. We can start by eager to join with the environmental and demanding that closed auto plants be imme- union movements as advocates of “retool- diately reopened and retooled, and our laid- ing for peace.” “Transportation as a dem- off industrial workforce be re-employed, to ocratic right” is also looming as a critical produce components for renewable energy issue, as we approach the global depletion such as wind turbines and solar panels, as of accessible oil. Twenty-five percent of well as more efficient transportation in- Detroiters already don’t have cars, a fig- cluding more electric and hybrid cars and ure that will surely rise. The social move- buses, and light and high speed rail. This ments advocating more democratic forms way we can reduce “greenhouse gases” of transportation—including urban, student while simultaneously combating the hyper- and transit-activists, will also want to join unemployment laying waste to our regional this effort. economy and livelihoods. Work is already underway to reach There are many “green jobs” advo- out to these forces with a mobilization for cates who do not grasp the great urgency of a May Day Rally in 2012 at the Michigan this project. We are talking rapid conver- Train Depot in Southwest Detroit—icon sion in a manner similar to what took place of a once-successful public transportation at the onset of WW 2 right here in Detroit, system. May 1 is International Workers when the auto companies were ordered by Day, a fitting time to declare that U.S. Power Shift 2011’s Polluter Protest in Washington, DC to protest corporations the Federal Government to cease automo- workers and allies have joined the that pay no federal taxes. Photo/Tim Lundin, TDLphoto.com bile production and begin immediately pro- developing global struggle against climate ducing weapons for the forces in Europe change. Southwest Detroit is also the site combating the expansionism of the axis of recent immigrant rights rallies, which link. Autoworker Caravan, Peace Action more information, please contact Frank powers. The conversion was accomplished will become even more critical as climate of Michigan, the Detroit Area Network for Hammer at [email protected] or in eight months, earning the city the acco- change triggers many more migrations Peace and Justice, and Southeast Michigan 313-863-3219. lade, “Arsenal of Democracy.” globally. The close proximity of the Jobs With Justice have already committed Developing the political force to bring immigrant rights rally at Clark Park and the to organizing towards this goal, with this about requires uniting all who can be proposed May 1 event allows for a natural events beginning this fall. To join, and for Southern Illinois— “Unite Our Struggles and Demand No Cuts!” By Cathy Talbot at each other. Council member Boyd, head empty shelves in food pantries, cuts in un- We are told is we all have to make of the finance committee, said the city is in employment assistance, loss of jobs, more shared sacrifices. But we see corporations Southern Illinois has more than its share a “financial emergency” and they are going people losing their homes and shelters clos- such as Continental Tire in Mt. Vernon get- of problems. Many of our counties have to run out of money. Many cities here have ing, among other things. ting state subsidies to expand without pay- double digit unemployment as well as high increased local sales and property tax rates On the education front, communities ing increased taxes, coal companies getting poverty percentages. Opportunities for our to buffer the shortfalls but this is a regres- such as Cairo are cutting out their music permits to mine under Pyramid State Park, youth to find employment following high sive tax that cannot make up for state rev- and arts programs as well as staff. Marion’s which is a first, `university administrators school or college are meager at best. To enue sharing and is like building that bridge school district is over $3 million in the red making 300,000 dollar salaries while em- illustrate this point, in April during the na- to nowhere! and is looking for areas to cut. This is all ployees do not have protection from arbi- tion-wide hiring spree by McDonalds, only Meanwhile, during an August 24 hear- due to state budget cuts. At Southern Illinois trary layoffs and pay cuts, and the list goes 80 jobs were available throughout Southern ing on poverty in Carbondale held by mem- University, 3400 members of four Illinois on and on. Illinois. Over 1500 applied. bers of the governor’s commission to cut Education Association unions have been While the poorest among us will re- The governing bodies of local towns and poverty in half by 2015, Al Ridley, execu- without a contract over 430 days. These ceive the brunt of the cuts in the budget, all counties are facing mounting problems and tive director of Illinois Coalition for Com- unions have legitimate concerns about job of us, working and unemployed, will suffer dwindling revenues. Johnston City, a small munity Services said that there are more security, health care, and the future of em- unless we find a way to unite our struggles town in the heart of coal country is one such than 670,000 persons existing in extreme ployee voice and collective bargaining at and demand no cuts. We have the right to community. The State of Illinois owes the poverty in Illinois. The commission’s mis- SIUC. Community colleges have gone to housing, health care, food, education, all town over $300,000. Yet due to a mix up it sion, to propose legislation and action to four days a week and students are finding the necessities to sustain life, including must now pay back the state over $50,000 eliminate poverty in the state, will certainly it difficult if not impossible to get funds. meaningful productive work. It is our right for apparent misappropriation of the state’s fail in the face of Governor Quinn’s budget Many who have children are facing the as human beings. motor fuel tax. The city is now about reductions. These cuts will only put more elimination of childcare subsidies, which $1,000,000 in debt, frantically robbing Peter of our neighbors, friends, and family in ex- are vital to parents being able to attend col- to pay Paul, with officials pointing fingers treme poverty. Those in attendance spoke of lege.

8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 2011 www.peoplestribune.org Book Review: 13 Bankers by Simon Johnson and James Kwak By Chuck Parker Reagan and Greenspan, they eventually won from the first battle between Thomas Jef- over the Democratic Party leadership under ferson and James Madison over whether to “My administration is the only thing Clinton and Obama. Wall Street’s ideas have create a National Bank, to the FDR’s legis- between you and the pitchforks.” Barack come to dominate both sides of Congress, lation to break up and regulate banks during Obama, March 27, 2009. So begins the book, powerful bankers have passed through the the Great Depression of the 1930’s. 13 Bankers. This was the President’s message “revolving door” to high positions in Demo- Furthermore it discusses the alternative to the most powerful bankers in America as cratic and Republican administrations. They to the blank check—the takeover option—a they met to discuss a solution to the financial doled out hundreds of millions of dollars in fundamental reform of banking, the central crisis. He had two options: the blank check campaign contributions and kept an army of pillar of which is the breakup of the mega- or the takeover. Obama handed the bankers a lobbyists in the field. banks. In this option, managers lose their blank check and they were delighted. And, they could not have come to domi- jobs (and maybe go to jail), shareholders In this option, managers keep their jobs, nate politics without becoming the most prof- are wiped out, and the remaining losses are shareholders keep some value, and credi- itable sector of the U.S. economy, either. Be- shared between creditors and taxpayers. But tors are kept whole so taxpayers take the tween 1980 and today, financial sector profits since the government owns the banks, tax- most losses. In the words of Nobel Laureate grew by 800%. Non-financial sector profits payers can claim the upside. In the words Paul Krugman it was, “an attempt to social- are up a mere 250%. For Wall Street to win so of another Nobel Laureate, Joseph Steiglitz, ize the losses while privatizing the gains.” big, millions of people had to lose big. Five “Nationalization is the only answer. These And the cost of the bailout more than dou- Wisconsin school districts lost $35 million banks are effectively bankrupt.” bled the deficit. investing in synthetic CDO’s. As one expert Wall Street has stolen America’s wealth. How could this happen? What does it explained, “Selling these products to mu- They are foreclosing on the American work- mean for the future? Is there anything we nicipalities was pretty widespread. They tend ing class. We need to foreclose on them and can do about it? 13 Bankers answers all to be less sophisticated. So the bankers sell take back what is ours. “Real change will these questions. It is so packed with infor- them . . . junk.” With the “Too Big To Fail” take years, and it will only happen when the mation it may take more than one read, but banks even bigger and busy engaging in even conventional wisdom in Washington chang- it’s worth it. The way it’s organized makes riskier behavior backed by government guar- es.” However, Washington will only change that easy to do, and the footnotes provide antees—an even worse crisis is inevitable. its ideas when an enlightened working class many references for further study. But the book’s outlook is hopeful. “His- forces it upon them. The book tells the history of how Wall tory shows that finance can be made safe Read 13 Bankers. Arm yourself with Street became so powerful by winning de- again. But it will be quite a fight.” The book knowledge for the struggle ahead. regulation of the banking industry during tells the history of struggles between banks TAKE BACK WALL STREET’S the last 30 years. Led by familiar faces like and democratically elected governments LICENSE TO STEAL! Elderly Are Abused at Nursing Homes By Lenette Evans one decided to clean him. There were 4-5 Envisioning Eldercare in nurses sitting behind the nurse’s station who The residents at would do nothing to assist him. nursing homes in Ber- An elderly lady asked for a glass of wa- a New America rien County, MI and ter and the nurse’s aide told her, “Woman across the US go shut up.” This woman cried for days need- Imagine a world where our elder- of society—which is based on the in- through neglect, isola- ing someone who would listen, pray and ly are happy and cared for, where the terests of the giant corporations rather tion, physical and emotional abuse, fatigue, make a difference. I prayed with this lady “golden” years are truly golden. Under than people and quality of life—needs depression, loneliness and hopelessness. many times!!! capitalism, however, the elderly—many to be uprooted. Private property in the Many have mental illnesses and disabilities My Dad may need knee surgery. In the of whom are former workers whose labor hands of the corporations needs to be re- and its difficult for them to get around with- meantime his insurance with Blue Cross is is no longer needed—are warehoused in placed with public property. Under such out assistance. Disability limits their access cutting him him off and the nursing home is the profit-hungry, under-staffed nursing a society, the most advanced science and to friends, church, activities and enjoyment shoving him out the door unless we pay out home industry, awaiting death. Under technology can be utilized to provide a in the community. of the pocket which is $270 a day. These are such criminal conditions, even the most fulfilling life for all. My Dad has been in a local nursing OUTRAGEOUS FEES! caring health care workers cannot pro- home here in St. Joseph, MI for nine weeks. On September 1 my Dad will be dis- vide adequate care. - The Editors I go twice a day to check on him. Many charged and our home is not set up to care The solution? The whole structure times I mention that he cannot have certain for him. These nursing homes put you out things to eat or drink but they give it too him the door and do not care. So in the meantime anyway. They do the same to other residents we are hoping to get him into a V.A. facility who have dietary restrictions due to diabetes down South in Arkansas where he can get or heart conditions. better treatment and more rehabilitation to It is heartbreaking to see my Dad and walk again. I am living on a prayer one day many others lying in bed or sitting in a at a time! wheelchair being neglected all day and My Dad is a veteran and cannot get help HELP THE PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE having very little activity or interaction in his own hometown. You serve your coun- with others. I have seen people fall from try and then you get cut off and get the big REDESIGN OUR WEBSITE! their wheelchairs. The companies do not boot. People we need to help our veterans do a thing to help and the staff denies these and our elderly seniors and make a differ- Donate your IT and design skills to the People’s things are going on. I have had one doctor ence in their lives. We need to demand that tell me these things as well. the government take over these for profit- Tribune. Let’s put everyone’s skills together Many of the employees, nurses, doc- run nursing homes and run them in the inter- to introduce a vision of a new America! tors, and staff do not have love and com- ests of the public. Please visit these nursing passion for the elderly residents. Residents homes everyday so you know what is going go around for days in their wet urine and on. I have only begun my journey on this Call us at 800-691-6888 or email us with food spilled on their shirts for days. matter. God help our nursing homes and the at [email protected] The nursing homes have not trained their elderly who need love and compassion and employees and most employees are sorely deserve the best healthcare possible. underpaid. There is still no excuse to leave people in unhealthy situations. Lenette Evans, Street Evangelist, My Dad threw up all over his new shirt, Saving Souls Ministry, pants and the wheelchair. An aide refused to [email protected] clean him. He sat for 45 minutes until some- 269-876-1848

www.peoplestribune.org SEPTEMBER 2011 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 Who’s Taking the Jobs Away? Is it Immigrants?

By Leslie and Andy Willis years.” (Jeremy Rifkin, author and head of taxes. It is estimated that they pay between in 2000 was 6% of the total, although the the Foundation on Economic Trends, Wash- $90 to $140 billion a year. Between 1990 immigrants comprised 12% of the region’s We have lost ten million jobs due to the ington, D.C.) and 1998 the undocumented paid $20 bil- population. “Legal immigrants are severely Great Recession (starting in 2007). Wall Are immigrants a drain on the U. S. lion in Social Security that they can never restricted from accessing public benefits, Street bankers and financiers, unregulated economy? Immigrants have actually in- collect! (Source: National Academy of Sci- and undocumented immigrants are even and out of control, artificially inflated the creased our economy by a net gain of $10 bil- ences, Cato Institute, Urban Institute, So- further precluded from anything other than economy. lion a year. In areas of high immigration rates, cial Security Administration) emergency services.” (National Immigra- Widespread fraud and corruption at the employment opportunities actually increase Do immigrants increase the crime rate? tion Forum, June 2003) highest levels of the financial industry with for native-born workers. This is because the Immigrant communities do not increase the How can we solve unemployment, the cooperation of the government built a need for goods and services expands to pro- crime rate. Actually newly arriving immi- increase our incomes, and be fair to the widespread Ponzi scheme that was bound to vide for their needs. The new immigrants grants commit fewer crimes than native born immigrants in our midst? There is plenty crash. (William K. Black former Director of develop small businesses, creating job op- Americans. Even though the undocumented of work to be done. We need improvement the Institute for Fraud Prevention, Profes- portunities. They rebuild blighted communi- population has doubled since 1994, the vio- in our roads, parks, bridges, and a greener sor of Economics and Law at the University ties and also contribute through their savings. lent crime rate in the U.S. has declined 34.2% environment. We need people to help with of Missouri, Kansas City School of Law) “Over the past two decades, most estimates of and property crime has fallen 26.4%. all kinds of services, in health care, public Another reason for a steady loss of jobs the fiscal impact of immigration in the United Are undocumented immigrants a bur- transportation, and education. If the wealthi- is robotics and computers. “Fourteen per- States have concluded that, tax revenues of den on the healthcare system? According est people and corporations paid a fair share cent of all the factory workers in the whole all types generated by immigrants—both le- to the National Immigration Law Center, the of taxes, we could have job programs. As world have disappeared in the last seven gal and unauthorized—exceed the cost of the typical immigrant uses less that half of the people who must work for a living, we need years. At this current projected rate, even if services they use.” (From a Congressional dollar amount of the medical services that to form an alliance with immigrants, defend you don’t increase the intelligent technol- Budget Office report a typical U. S. citizen uses. For example, them and stand up for immigration reform ogy and things just keep going as they are, Do immigrants pay taxes? All im- in Los Angeles County, the total medical that will allow them to be citizens with a then you end mass factory labor within 30 migrants pay taxes, state, federal and sales spending on undocumented immigrants right to vote and participate equally.

cartoon/andy willis Immigration Struggles–A Critical Front In The Movement For Equality And Justice By Jerome Scott & Walda Katz-Fishman tention, and deportation. Our demands are restrictions). No Indigenous, no Africans, The struggle to roll back these laws at for legalization, a path to citizenship, and no indentured servants, no other immigrants the state and federal levels are critical and The immigration struggle moved into the human rights of all immigrants regard- or colonized peoples had citizenship rights. must be ongoing. Each state and local high gear last year with the passage of Ari- less of status. With the abolitionist movement heating up, struggle has to determine its own next steps. zona law SB 1070 and the threat of copy- Of the many questions confronting the the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 denied citi- For those in Georgia, strategic discussions cat laws across the nation, especially in growing immigration struggles two are criti- zenship and the very humanity of fugitive are happening. These include discussions the South, along with the failure of the US cal: “Can we eliminate white supremacy and slaves as “free” blacks in the North, and about the commonalities in our different government to pass immigration reform all forms of racism within capitalism?” and criminalized those who gave aid and assis- histories and the lessons of earlier move- and the Dream Act. SB 1070 swelled the “Can we stop the attacks and violence tance to them. These laws are the model for ments, such as Civil Rights, and what are wave of criminalization of immigrant com- against immigrants within capitalism?” today’s anti-immigrant laws. the long term goals of our struggle. munities—both documented and undocu- Anti-immigrant laws and ideology The Page Act of 1875 excluded immi- The dynamism of immigration struggles mented—leading to racial profiling by the criminalizing the undocumented and un- grants defined as “undesirables”—targeting reflects the fact that the politics of immi- police, collaboration with I.C.E. (US Im- leashing racial profiling are a clear expres- Asian men coming as contract workers and grant workers and those who work with migration and Customs Enforcement) and sion of white supremacy as practice, ideol- Asian women. In 1882 the Chinese Exclu- them are deeply rooted in the objective con- massive incarceration and deportation of ogy, and law. White supremacy has been sion Act halted all Chinese immigration to ditions of their daily confrontation with the the undocumented. dominant and prevalent in US society from the US, and was not repealed until 1943. laws and enforcement apparatus of the de- The movement organized to repeal the its origins in Indigenous genocide and the These acts became law in a time of econom- veloping fascist state—at federal, state, and Arizona law, to stop copycat laws that have slave labor system to today’s increasingly ic crisis, high unemployment, and reduced local levels. This has led to an immediacy nonetheless passed in Georgia (HB 87) economically polarized and racialized op- need for labor following the Gold Rush and and urgency of action and commitment to and Alabama (HB 56). Campaigns were pressive society. completion of the transcontinental railroad. intense and ongoing struggle to “turn the launched across the country to opt out of Early US law on citizenship and immi- Like today, the content of these laws is to re- tide” of the repressive legislation and en- “Secure Communities” (S-Comm)—the gration says it all. The Naturalization Act strict immigration and to deport immigrants forcement. It is bringing forth resistance federal mandate for partnership of local and of 1790 restricted citizenship to free white and their families already in the country be- and unity among the exploited, oppressed, state police with ICE in racial profiling, de- persons (women were included, but with cause of the earlier need for their labor. and dispossessed.

10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | SEPTEMBER 2011 www.peoplestribune.org MICHIGAN LEGISLATURE TO CUT 13,000 TO 15,000 RECIPIENTS OFF WELFARE OCTOBER 1 By Marian Kramer & General Baker est of the rich? Who will be next? Public workers, The Michigan Legislature voted on teachers, seniors and the August 24, 2011 to implement a (lifetime) disabled are under attack. “TIME LIMITATION” of four years for Are you next? welfare recipients to be on welfare. They Michigan Welfare have stated that 13,000 to 15,000 people Rights is holding “Resur- will be cut off of welfare on October 1, rection Marches” for one 2011. This will effect some 25,000 to 45,000 hour every Thursday from children. Each welfare recipient received 12 Noon to 1:00 P.M. to a letter early this month stating the “Time educate and organize peo- Limitation” will go into effect on October ple to join the fight. All 1, 2011. This was before it was passed by of us must take a stand for the Legislature. The letter also stated, the our sisters and brothers on recipients will receive another letter later welfare in order to stop this month if they are one of the people who this continuation of divide reached their time limitation. The State of and conquer. Michigan will be going back retroactively Why doesn’t the Gov- to count the four years. ernor increase the tax on The “Time Limitation” is part of the the corporations and the Clinton Administration’s Welfare Reform rich to balance the bud- Bill, called The Personal Responsibility get? They figure that this and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act section of the working of 1996. It says: “Federal cash assistance class is not needed any is only limited to 60 months in any recipi- more to produce for the ent’s lifetime.” States have the option of corporations. So there- shortening the time. So Governor Snyder fore, you don’t need to had a needed weapon from the Federal eat, don’t need to have a government; all he needed was to cut the home, don’t need health Marian Kramer (left) and Maureen Taylor (right) of the 60 months to 48 months. He is attacking care, education, etc. So, Michigan Welfare Rights Organization join protest the poorest section of the working class to you are pushed off at in Detroit against proposed cuts to State employee A TEACHABLE balance the state budget for the benefit of four years. union contracts. Photo/daymonjhartley.com the corporations. We produce enough Welfare recipients are already living be- food to feed the world. We produce masses of people, but in the interests of MOMENT low the poverty level and jobs in Michigan enough homes for the world. We can the rich. are very few. Why would the legislature educate our people for free from birth to By Sandy Perry and the governor attack the poorest section death, provide universal health care for Call MWRO at (313) 964-0618 or join of the working class? How many more at- all and all of the other necessaries of life. them at 3044 W. Grand Blvd., at the Michi- Do stronger tactics usher in revolu- tacks are we going to take from this gover- But the problem is that this country works gan State Bldg./formerly the GM Bldg., be- tionary change? Not always. The example nor and legislature, who represent the inter- not in the interests and well being of the tween Cass and Second. of Egypt’s recent upheaval is instructive. This massive and courageous uprising was an inspiration to people around the world, including here in the United States. But The Movement Is Moving to Washington, DC how did it end? It ended with the transfer of power from the Mubarak dictatorship to By Eric Sheptock share the same basic message: “Stop fund- seeks to connect with the locals. a military dictatorship, with no mandate ing war and Wall Street; and, start funding There is one very important caveat in whatsoever for the economic changes nec- When will a national movement get human need.” all of this. As this new wave of more brazen essary to address the grievances that set off formed to implement “stronger tactics” Citizens for Legitimate Government protesters sweeps into the capital, each suc- the movement in the first place. that effectively usher in the “revolutionary will begin its action dubbed “Seize DC” on cessive action promises to further heighten We have also witnessed numerous exam- change” that we are working toward? Well, September 10 on Capitol Hill (without ob- tensions between the police and the protest- ples over the decades where stronger tactics Gerald Celente of Trends Research Institute taining the required permits for a protest). ers. Let’s hope that police don’t use the civil led to fascist repression, not revolution. (a think tank on worldwide socio-economic “Stop the Machine—Create a New World” disobedience of the two earlier actions to So what is the difference between suc- trends) has predicted that the U.S. will see will occupy DC’s Freedom Plaza begin- justify aggression against peaceful marchers cess and failure, between victory and defeat? food riots, tax rebellions and revolution by ning on October 6, set up tents that night next June—and let’s know that they might The key question is whether or not revolu- 2012. And his long track record for accuracy (which their permit doesn’t allow) and stay very well do just that. tionaries can bring class consciousness to has some people worried. beyond the four days for which they have We have a failed economic system, the participants as the spontaneous move- But you don’t need to be a well-paid a permit. with suffering people who are unhappy with ment intensifies. Everything depends on the academic to see that conditions are ripe for Both groups are calling for days-long government’s performance and a growing introduction of revolutionary ideas and the revolution. The news is chock full of reports Egypt-style demonstrations that continue movement in Washington, DC that promises building of revolutionary organizations. of increasing unemployment, a worsening until our demands are met. And they might to become more confrontational toward the Today in particular, we need to in- housing market and struggling families. The end up converging. I’m elated to see that establishment. It won’t be long before that troduce the idea that incremental change U.S. economy is so bad that Obama himself others have realized that it is counter-intu- proverbial spark lights the fire of positive in our economy no longer works. Today, recently told people in a small town in Iowa itive to protest according to the rules of the change here in the U.S. and has a worldwide change we can really believe in requires that he doesn’t believe that Washington oppressive government. It’s high time we ripple effect. the elimination of private control over our knows best (and it doesn’t). used “stronger tactics” than merely having Let’s hope that Gerald Celente was means of production, and its replacement People have begun to polarize around hundreds of thousands of people march, right and let’s prepare to be the kind of with a publicly owned cooperative econ- Tea Party/Congressional demands on the chant and carry signs for a few hours—their change we want to see in the world. Come omy, where wealth is distributed based on one hand and the demand for the govern- words falling on deaf ears. join the motion. human need, not private gain. ment to fund human needs on the other. Then there is the Poverty March Revolutionaries welcome stronger There are countless stories of people in this planned by the Assembly to End Poverty to Eric Jonathan Sheptock is chairman tactics. They create a teachable moment country struggling for positive change and take place on June 30th, 2012. Its organizers of SHARC (Shelter, Housing And without which we cannot move forward. there is clear evidence that we are reaching have approached DC-based activists in an Respectful Change). You can We will fight harder just like everyone the tipping point. effort to establish an office here. As it turns reach him at: (240) 305-5255 else. But we will also redouble our efforts There are at least three large actions out, we actually need an office that can not to study, teach, and disseminate the vision which are scheduled to take place here only organize for June 30, but also host the of the better world we are all striving for. over the next nine months. And they all national movement as it comes to town and

www.peoplestribune.org SEPTEMBER 2011 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 defending democracy: Fighting MIchigan E.F.M. law Dictatorship by the Corporations By Salvador Sandoval tee ballot. He was subsequently charged and con- I had the privilege of interviewing the victed of parole violation. He was given 3 to Rev. Edward Pinkney. Rev. Pinkney gained 10 years for quoting the Bible in criticizing national recognition for leading the impov- the judge and penal system for mistreatment erished, overwhelmingly Black community of prisoners! This sentence was overturned of Benton Harbor, Michigan in its fight by the Michigan Appellate Court. against the corporate takeover by Whirlpool Since that fateful day in 2005 when the Corporation. control of Benton harbor was challenged, The struggle highlights the growing fas- the political landscape of Benton Harbor has cist danger in this country that arises when changed. In 2008 four commissioners favor- government and corporations work together able to the Benton Harbor Community have in the corporate interest, trampling demo- been elected, effectively breaking Whirl- cratic rights, and overturning democrati- pool’s stranglehold control. cally held elections. Unable to take the lakefront property Once a thriving part of the Midwest, by its accustomed means, Whirlpool took Benton Harbor sits on prime lake-front the land it wanted anyway. This travesty property near Lake Michigan. Whirlpool is was accomplished through actions of the the largest employer in the area. It has long Michigan State appointed Emergency Fi- held plans to take over this valuable land. nancial Manager Joseph Harris. By the au- In the early 1990’s jobs began to disap- thority of the new state law an EFM can be pear. Production was shifted to lower wage a person, corporation, or person beholden areas in Mexico, or taken away by labor re- to a corporation. placing technology, which caused massive Thus Benton Harbor, Michigan became unemployment in Benton Harbor. the first victim of Michigan’s new - Emer In 2003-2004 the former CEO of Whirl- gency Financial Manager law (EFM), but it pool advocated for a $500 million marina/ likely won’t be the last. Already 5000 teach- golf course complex that would take 530 ers in Detroit have been laid off, in violation acres of Benton Harbor, thus privatizing the of their union contracts. city’s only beach. The case of Rev. Pinkney and his con- Rev. Pinkney and the community tinuing battle with the corporate control of mounted a campaign to oppose the take- Benton Harbor has tremendous implications over, despite the stranglehold control for the rest of the country, given the state Whirlpool had with six city commissioners budget shortfalls. At issue too is the fact that favoring its plan. The campaign led to the many corporations do not pay taxes. “We are still fighting for justice against Whirlpool and the Emergency Financial successful recall of a key commissioner in It is important that all of us heed this Manager (EFM) in Benton Harbor. We might be driving the EFM out of town. Whirlpool’s pocket. warning. As Reverend Pinkney stated, “this We’ll know soon. We need to keep up the fight.” - Rev Edward Pinkney Thereafter, in a staggering series of could be coming to your town next.” Photo/Brett Jelinek, Olafimages.com events, the recall was over-turned, Rev. Pinkney was charged with voter fraud, and This article is excerpted from a longer Cynthia McKinney will speak at Plan for mass demonstrations he was acquitted. Then he was placed on pa- version published in the Community Alli- 2nd Annual Freedom Fund Dinner in at PGA Championship on May 22, role after a second court of all white jurors ance in Fresno, California. Benton Harbor on October 8, 2011. 2012 in Benton Harbor. found him guilty of hand carrying an absen- Flint is First City to Test Michigan’s EFM Law By Brandon Jessup the city’s finances would be placed under tive bargaining agreements. Public safety • Dismiss your local city council or other preliminary review.This leads me to believe employees across the state are bargaining elected officials without reason. Here’s something I really didn’t want to that, yes, a fifth community will be placed with their local governments to save cost • Refuse to engage in collective bargain- see happen—at least not under Michigan’s under emergency management. and discuss concessions that will keep cit- ing with public employees. new version of the Emergency Manager Law. This comes at a time when a majority ies afloat. • Set budgets and contracts two years af- Flint Mayor Dayne Walling announced that of labor unions are negotiating new collec- Flint’s elected officials are doing exactly ter their last day in office. what Benton Harbor, Pontiac and Ecorse That’s not a mayor—that’s a dictator. city councilmen, mayors and commission- Any elected official that sees Public Act 4 People’s Tribune ers did respectively: they have pledged to as a means to gain financial stability is tram- P.O. Box 3524 PRESORTED co-operate. Rightfully so—if you haven’t pling the constitution and rights they swear STANDARD done well managing the finances of the mu- to protect. This situation in Flint is growing Chicago, Illinois 60654-3524 U.S. POSTAGE nicipality you’ve been elected to govern, the as odious as Michigan’s Emergency Manag- Return service requested PAID state should step in and review what’s going er law. There’s a deal being made between CHICAGO, IL on. That’s not my main bone to pick about Lansing and Flint. The 83,000 voters in the PERMIT NO. 874 Michigan’s Emergency Manager law. This city will be paying the bill. I pray that the law creates bureaucrats on steroids with next 30 days of preliminary review aren’t powers of both branches of government. just window dressing for the inevitable in Here’s why this process is so danger- Flint. However, I think the die has been cast. ous. Under Michigan’s Emergency Man- The only option for the people of the city of ager Law, once the process starts, you’re Flint is the best option: Lean on Democracy pretty much sledding down an ice mountain and pick up a petition to repeal Michigan’s at a 60-degree angle in a sled with greased Emergency Manager law. skids. Before Flint’s city council knows what hit them, the doors to Flint’s City Hall Brandon Jessup is Chairman and CEO will be locked. Would you want a “mayor” of Michigan Forward of Detroit which that could: launched the state wide petition drive.This • Eliminate public contracts with em- is an edited version of a more comprehen- ployees and contractors. sive article. For further information go to • Sell public assets without the vote of michiganforward.org. city council or public input.