Pueblos indígenas en Filipinas 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 60, No. 41 Oct. 11, 2018 $1 Hotel workers unite in national strike By Genevieve Lechat Childs continued: “UNITE HERE has to win this holds like Wisconsin and Michigan in the last few years Boston struggle. The loss of this battle would be another blow that Wall Street and Washington want to see nation- to the union movement following several others. Janus alized; and the attacks on immigrant union members Following the successful September strike of UNITE v. AFSCME, the Supreme Court decision over the sum- through the termination of temporary protected status HERE hotel workers in Chicago, workers in ten cities mer that effectively defunded the largest union in the — these are a few of the weakening blows that have been with unionized hotel locations have taken near unan- U.S; right-to-work laws passed in former labor strong- aimed at our movement. UNITE HERE realizes unions imous strike votes. These sites have recently been ac- Continued on page 5 quired by anti-union mega-chain Marriott International. Five thousand workers in Boston, Detroit, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose walked off the job the week of Oct. 3. Strikes in Hawaii, Seattle, Toron- Boston says, ‘Indigenous Peoples Day now!’ to and Vancouver are imminent. WW PHOTO: STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM This is an unprecedented national coordination by the union and for the whole working class against a be- By Workers World Boston bureau hemoth that has obtained a new property every 18 hours by buying out dozens of hospitality companies around About 150 people participated in the world — from big chains like Sheraton and Westin to an Oct. 6 Boston rally and march smaller brands and independent operations. demanding the city government end Since the purchase of Starwood and Protea, Marriott its celebration of Columbus Day and now owns 136 hotels in Africa and is constructing 65 instead fully recognize the second more, for a total of holdings in 27 countries on the con- Monday of October as Indigenous tinent. Stateside, Marriott is out to bust the union and, Peoples Day. like the Trump Organization, is the face of a complicat- After a rally near Boston Com- ed network of financiers and corporate interests that are mon featuring Indigenous and mostly unknown to the public. Black speakers, the protesters marched to the nearby Ritz-Carl- Workers take on behemoth Marriott ton, Boston, one of seven Marri- Indigenous Peoples Day, Boston, Oct. 6. When housekeepers, cooks, bartenders and bellhops ott-owned hotels in Boston where hit the picket line on Oct. 3, they knew there was much UNITE HERE Local 26 workers guarded by Boston cops. Later that on the statue and faced Boston Har- at stake. Marriott wants to outsource food service. Its are on strike. The Indigenous Peo- afternoon, signs were hung on the bor. They spoke about how “Water deceptive “Green Choice” housekeeping program en- ples Day protesters joined the pick- statue stating that Columbus was a Is Life” for everyone and called out courages guests to decline services, meaning fewer et line to show solidarity and were genocidal slave trader who should blessings to the water, each in their hours for workers. But in the end, they are cleaning dirt- met with great enthusiasm by the not be honored. own language. ier rooms and getting more injuries, on top of seasonal striking workers. After speakers bore witness to The Indigenous Peoples Day ac- layoffs during nonpeak months when their health insur- Chanting “City by city, town by the destructive and painful settler tion was called by United Ameri- ance can be cut off. town, We’re gonna tear Columbus colonialism experienced since 1492, can Indians of New England and And as the union’s campaign slogan, “One Job Should Day down,” the marchers continued demonstrators turned their backs IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org. Be Enough,” suggests, the pay for workers isn’t enough to a Christopher Columbus statue as it is. According to Business Insider, the U.S. Labor Department reported in July 2017 that 7.6 million work- ers had to hold multiple jobs the month before. Hotel workers are barely able to pay for rent, food, daycare and health care, and often cannot make ends meet. STRUGGLE VS KAVANAUGH Meanwhile, Marriott International’s income more Protests coast to coast 6 than doubled to $1.37 billion between 2013 and 2017. Ed Childs, chief shop steward for UNITE HERE Local A legacy of fightback editorial 10 26 at Harvard University, told Workers World: “UNITE HERE’s national intervention against this accelerating acquisition machine has required a decade of organiz- ing to align contract negotiations and prepare workers for the historic struggle of ten locals striking at once. HURRICANE FLORENCE LABOR ON THE MOVE Marriott wants to take [its] scheme to the world, making N.C. victims demand justice 5 Michigan 4 it a problem for the whole working class, but the union is also making international alliances.” UPS strike 4 Subscribe to Workers World ‘McStrike’ in Britain 5 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 TRIBUNAL ON Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/donate PUERTO RICO MIGRANTS WIN Name ______Momentum builds 9 legal victory 9

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Street ______City / State / Zip ______Workers World Weekly Newspaper workers.org 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 212.627.2994 PHILIPPINES DUTERTE’S MISOGYNY 7 BRAZIL ELECTIONS 8 Page 2 Oct. 11, 2018 workers.org

San Diego Historian honors C.L.R. James

Mychal Odom holding By Gloria Verdieu  In the U.S. Lenin’s ‘What Is to Be San Diego, Calif. Done?’ The book below Hotel workers unite in national strike ...... 1 is: ‘The Black Jacobins’ by Boston says, ‘Indigenous Peoples Day now!’ ...... 1 Professor Mychal Odom gave a historical talk mark- C.L.R. James. San Diego: Historian honors C.L.R. James ...... 2 ing the 80th anniversary of the publishing of C.L.R. Portland, Ore., cops kill another Black man ...... 3 (Cyril Lionel Robert) James’ book, “The Black Jaco- of the Russian Revo- bins,” at the Central Library in downtown San Diego lution, explaining that Framed-up rapper released from prison ...... 3 on Oct.1. “The Black Jacobins,” printed by the British “What Is to Be Done” Black activists say: ‘Shut Down AFRICOM!’ ...... 4 publishing house Seckel Warburg in 1938, is a is also the title of a 19th Michigan labor on the move ...... 4 classic account of the Haitian rebellion of 1791- century Russian nov- UPS rank and file overrule leaders, reject two-tier pay . 4 el about political and 1803, the only successful slave revolt in mod- On the picket line ...... 4 ern world history. WW PHOTO: GLORIA VERDIEU ideological struggle. Black activists demand justice in aftermath of hurricane . 5 After welcoming everyone, Marc Chery, for- Everyone listened intently as Odom gave a histori- mer manager of the Malcolm X Library and cal, well-researched, thorough perspective of the con- Widespread resistance to Kavanaugh despite Senate OK . 6 current supervisor of the Literature, Language tinuous radical resistance of the enslaved Africans in Mumia: ‘Man power’ ...... 6 and History section of the Central Library, in- Haiti and their continued fight for freedom, which re- Durham Pride: Revolutionary queerness ...... 6 troduced Odom. sulted in Haiti declaring independence in 1804 after Stop U.S. wars across the globe ...... 8 defeating what was the most powerful army of the day: the Odom began his talk by displaying an image of C.L.R. Tribunal on U.S. crimes against Puerto Rico, Oct. 27: Grand Army of France. James taken in 1972 in San Diego at a Congress of Afri- Anti-colonial notables to get a hearing in NYC . . . . . 9 can Peoples Conference. James’ presence in San Diego Odom acknowledged all the organizations that sup- Judge rules expulsion of immigrants is racist ...... 9 underscores the international reach of his work. He was ported this event, including Pillars of the Communi- a communist who participated in and supported all forms ty, Unión del Barrio, the Friends of Malcolm X Library, Italy and USA: The political power of arms ...... 10 of Black Liberation struggles not only as a scholar but in Workers World Party, the Committee Against Police Bru- Chicago forum highlights anti-colonial struggles . . .10 the streets. tality, and students and community members who took  Around the world Odom began his presentation, speaking on incidents in the time to come on a Monday evening to participate in the life of C.L.R. James that many may not know about; for this important discussion. ‘McStrike’: Low-wage workers walkout in Britain ...... 5 example, James was a cricketer and an accomplished track Odom asked everyone to take a moment of silence for Duterte’s violations of women’s rights in the Philippines . 7 and field athlete, who set a Trinidadian record in the high Paul Pablo Aceves, a longtime member of Unión del Bar- Round two of Brazil elections: Ultra-rightist takes lead . . 8 jump while at Queens Royal College from 1918 to 1922. rio, who dedicated his life to the many struggles in San Brazil’s women say: No to Bolsonaro ...... 8 Diego. Pablo Aceves had joined the ancestors the previous Odom spoke of other works of literature by James that Venezuela: 20 years in the gunsights of U.S. imperialism . .11 chronicle the Haitian Revolution and led to the first print- weekend. ing of “The Black Jacobins.” James produced a play on the The last 45 minutes of the meeting were open for ques-  Editorial life of Toussaint L’Ouverture starring Paul Robeson. He tions and comments. Struggle vs Kavanaugh: A legacy of fightback ...... 10 wrote a pamphlet, “A history of Negro Revolt,” later re- Professor Odom’s research emphasis is in the history  titled “A History of Pan-African Revolt,” followed by his of Pan-African and Black internationalist social move- Noticias en Español masterpiece, “The Black Jacobins.” ments. He is currently working on a book manuscript Detener ataques a pueblos indígenas Bangsamoro Odom had a stack of books that he referenced as he titled “From Southern California to Southern Africa: instigados por régimen Duterte/EUA ...... 12 spoke about the role of literature studies in producing Trans-local Black Internationalism in Los Angeles C.L.R. James’ political ideology; one of the books he picked and San Diego from Civil Rights to Anti-apartheid, up was “What Is to Be Done” by Vladimir Lenin, the leader 1960 to 1994.” Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Join us in the fight Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org Vol. 60, No. 41 • Oct. 11, 2018 Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Lenin- and trans people are gunned down by cops and bigots on Closing date: Oct, 9, 2018 ist party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a regular basis. a multinational, multigenerational and multigendered or- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out de- Editor: Deirdre Griswold ganization that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to cades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought struggles Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, build a socialist society because it’s the only way forward! by people’s movements. The super-rich and their political Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt; Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the representatives have intensified their attacks on the mul- Web Editor Gary Wilson world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for tinational, multigender and multigenerational working ever-greater profits. class. It is time to point the blame at — and challenge the Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and re- capitalist system. pression, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ op- WWP fights for socialism because the working class Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, pression and mistreatment of people with disabilities. It produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should re- Sue Davis, Bob McCubbin, Jeff Sorel means joblessness, increasing homelessness and impov- main in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capital- Contributing Editors: Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, erishment and lack of hope for the future. No social prob- ist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, lems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guar- Teresa Gutierrez, Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one antee basic human needs. John Parker, Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; education or anything else — unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, Carlos Vargas Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis make it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth branch near you. Copyright © 2018 Workers World. 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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.org Oct. 11, 2018 Page 3 Portland, Ore., cops kill another Black man By Lyn Neeley members of Kimmons’ family gathered Portland, Ore. near the memorial with signs reading “Police violence is white supremacy,” Police here shot another young Black “Stop racist police terror” and “Resis- WW PHOTO: LYN NEELEY The family of Patrick Kimmons, Oct. 6. man, Patrick Kimmons, about 10 times tance is happening now.” They marched in the back on Sept. 30, killing him. through downtown Portland to condemn A witness, Ayan Aden, was parked at the the killing. At one point, a driver plowed through scene with her boyfriend. They saw Kim- Kimmons’ family spoke from the steps the march into a protester, pushing him PHOTO: JENELLE BARAJAS mons run by and drop his gun. They heard of the Justice Center demanding police around a park block. The protester was Oct. 6 protest. the police yell “Stop!” and then immediate- accountability for the killing. Charles not injured. Protesters chased the car, not yet released forensic analysis or cor- ly open fire as Kimmons continued run- Kimmons, Patrick’s uncle, said, “We need screaming furiously at the driver. onary reports on Kimmons’ death. They ning away from the cops. At an Oct. 1 vigil, to fight this all the way to the end. These Kimmons’ death was the third police are demanding the truth from the two Aden said, “The shooting was excessive. cops need to be locked up.” shooting of an African-American man in cops, Sgt. Garry Britt and Officer Jeffrey He was clearly running away and threw “How in the hell is it fair to shoot a man Portland this year, and the second fatal Livingston, who said they saw muzzle the gun away.” (oregonlive.com, Oct. 2) that is no longer a threat to you?” said shooting. Portland, with a population flashes and fired multiple times at a man Within days after the shooting, hun- another family member. “This brother that is 6 percent African-American, has who they say turned toward them hold- dreds of people blocked traffic at the site was killed in cold blood by the spineless a history of racial profiling. ing a gun. The two cops are on paid ad- of the killing and set up a memorial with cop that pulled the trigger. How are you In contrast, a white man in Florence, ministrative leave as police continue to signs, pictures of Kimmons, candles and a threat when your back is turned? They S.C., after killing a Black cop and seriously investigate the shooting. flowers that line the block. All week, peo- have racism and hatred in their hearts.” injuring six other policemen, was not shot Kimmons’ mother, Letha Winston, ple have held a vigil for Kimmons. They Teressa Raiford from Don’t Shoot Port- and killed by police. He and his son were asked why police had to shoot her son in- have been chanting “Say his name! Pat- land said of Kimmons, “He was a child, brought in after a two-hour standoff in stead of arresting him. She has launched rick Kimmons!” and “Black lives matter!” he was a father, he was a brother and he which he opened fire on cops with a rifle. a GoFundMe campaign to raise money On Oct. 5, 200 angry protesters and was a son.” Protesters are angry that police have for his funeral and other expenses. Framed-up rapper released from prison

By M. Matsemela-Ali Odom Brown was prosecuted amidst this polit- criminology Charis Kubrin of the Uni- cultural products ical culture. versity of California at Irvine has labeled that support their Anerae Brown, a 44-year-old rap- Charged as an accomplice to murder, “rap trials.” Also in 1992, the late Vallejo, ingrained biases, per from Sacramento, Calif., was final- Brown was tried as an adult, allowed to Calif., rapper Andre “Mac Dre” Hicks was judges accept the Anerae Brown ly granted parole in September after 26 testify in court. His lyrics were used as convicted and sentenced to five years in lyrics as evidence years behind bars. Brown is better known state’s evidence, despite being recorded federal prison on conspiracy to commit and juries use the lyrics to convict. As by his stage name, X-Raided. In 1992, at likely a year before the deadly encoun- robbery, in a case where his lyrics were Kubrin has shown, when lyrics are sub- the age of 17, Brown and four other defen- ter. Sacramento County prosecutor Pete used against him. mitted as evidence of white crime, they dants were convicted for a gang-related Harned presented a passage from the In 1998, Shawn “C-Bo” Thomas, an- are deemed unbelievable. shooting that left one woman dead. track “Still Shooting” on Brown’s inaugu- other Sacramento rapper and childhood Recently, in San Diego, local rapper In the early 1990s, at the dawn of Pete ral album, “Psychoactive,” as a forecast- friend of Brown’s, had his parole revoked Brandon “Tiny Doo” Duncan faced life in Wilson’s governorship, Sacramento, the ing of the March 1992 killing. The judge for his music. In the song “Deadly Game,” prison for his rap songs. Yet, unlike the capital of the state of California, was the and jury accepted Harned’s argument, Thomas focused on the opportunistic ac- other cases, it was admitted, even by the home of a burgeoning gang epidemic. and Brown received a 31-years-to-life sen- tions of Gov. Pete Wilson, the Sacramento prosecutors, that Duncan was not pres- There was arguably nowhere with more tence. Harned eventually vacated his po- district attorney and his parole officer as ent at the time of the crime. Nevertheless, gang activity than the South Sacramento sition as a prosecutor in disgrace amidst a he condemned the recently passed “Three Duncan was charged with benefiting from neighborhood of Meadowview, where the child pornography indictment, but he still Strikes and You’re Out” legislation. This the admission of the crime by way of his local Crips and Bloods gangs battled each practices law in Northern California. law imposed mandatory life sentences on fame and record sales, in a landmark case other. While shocking, Brown’s case is not individuals after they receive three con- that involved 32 other defendants. Thanks It was during this moment that draco- unique. It is emblematic of the many victions for certain crimes. to their persistent assertion of their inno- nian “tough on crime” measures became Black underground and independent rap- Kubrin argues that the root of these cence and the support of family, friends common. Gang enhancements, man- pers that became casualties of the “war rap trials is the codification of old and and other community members, the datory sentencing and even municipal on crime.” Since the early 1990s, Califor- persistent racial stereotypes about Black charges against Duncan were overturned. dress codes regulated gang participation. nia has led the trend in what professor of male deviancy. When presented with Continued on page 11 Black activists say: ‘Shut Down AFRICOM!’

The following press release was issued on Oct. 1, between 53 out of the 54 African countries and the Unit- It costs $267 million to fund AFRICOM in 2018, ac- 2018, by the Black Alliance for Peace, a group of Black ed States. cording to Vanessa Beck, BAP research team lead and anti-imperialist activists. U.S. Special Forces troops now operate in more than Coordinating Committee member. The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) has launched U.S. a dozen African nations. “That money is stolen from Africans/Black people in Out of Africa!: Shut Down AFRICOM, a campaign de- Vice Adm. Robert Moeller, first and former deputy of the U.S. to terrorize and steal resources from our sisters signed to end the U.S. invasion and occupation of Africa. AFRICOM, declared in 2008, “Protecting the free flow of and brothers on the African continent,” Beck said. “In- Today marks the 10th anniversary of the establish- natural resources from Africa to the global market is one stead, that money should be put toward meeting our hu- ment of AFRICOM, short for U.S. Africa Command. of AFRICOM’s guiding principles.” (www.pambazuka. man needs in the U.S. and toward reparations for people Although U.S. leaders say AFRICOM is “fighting terror- org, Nov. 16, 2011) in every African nation affected by U.S. imperialism.” ism” on the continent, we believe geopolitical competi- We say AFRICOM is the flip side of the domestic war BAP makes the following demands: tion with China is the real reason behind AFRICOM’s being waged by the same repressive state structure the complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Africa, existence. AFRICOM is a dangerous structure that has against Black and poor people in the United States. the demilitarization of the African continent, only increased militarism. In the U.S. Out of Africa!: Shut Down AFRICOM the closure of U.S. bases throughout the world, and When AFRICOM was established in the months be- campaign, we link police violence and the domestic war the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) must oppose fore Barack Obama assumed office as the first Black waged on Black people to U.S. interventionism and mil- AFRICOM and conduct hearings on AFRICOM’s impact president of the United States, a majority of African itarism abroad. on the African continent. nations — led by the Pan-Africanist government of Lib- “Not only does there need to be a mass movement in the We ask the public to join us in demanding an end to ya — rejected AFRICOM, forcing the new command to U.S. to shut down AFRICOM, this mass movement needs the U.S. invasion and occupation of the continent of our instead work out of Europe. to become inseparably bound with the movement that ancestors by signing this petition that we will deliver to But with the U.S. and NATO attack on Libya that led has swept this country to end murderous police brutality CBC leaders. to the destruction of that country and the murder of its against Black and Brown people,” says Netfa Freeman, of This campaign is BAP’s effort to help shut down all leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, corrupt African lead- Pan-African Community Action (PACA) and the Institute U.S. foreign military bases as well as NATO bases. BAP ers began to allow AFRICOM forces to operate in their for Policy Studies (IPS). is a founding member of the Coalition Against U.S For- countries and establish military-to-military relations Freeman represents PACA, a BAP member organi- eign Military Bases. with the United States. zation, on BAP’s Coordinating Committee. “The whole Visit blackallianceforpeace.com/USoutofAfrica for Today, those efforts have resulted in 46 various forms world must begin to see AFRICOM and the militariza- resources. of U.S. bases as well as military-to-military relations tion of police departments as counterparts.” Media Contact: ­­[email protected] Page 4 Oct. 11, 2018 workers.org Michigan labor on the move

By Martha Grevatt working without a contract since June. The MNA-affiliated University of Michigan Pro- Almost six years ago, Michigan became a “right- fessional Nurses Council held a number of solidarity to-work” state. The bill, passed by the state legisla- rallies. UMPNC held a protest in August at a cere- ture and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012, was a mony marking Michigan Medicine’s ranking by U.S. big setback for organized labor in a state historical- News & World Report as the fifth best health care ly a union stronghold. However, a number of recent system in the country. Michigan Medicine operates By Alex Bolchi and Sue Davis battles show that unions and worker advocates are the University of Michigan hospitals. stepping up the resistance in Michigan. On Sept. 17, the union voted overwhelmingly in fa- Road construction projects, brought to a stand- vor of a strike. The prime issue of contention was the APWU counters Trump plan to privatize U.S. still in September when the Michigan Industrial and need to maintain safe staffing levels. Other concerns Transportation Association forced members of Op- include a two-tier pay structure based on which fa- Postal Service erating Engineers Local 324 out on layoff, are back cility a nurse works at and cuts to pension plan con- The U.S. Postal Service is once again under attack. In August, on the road for completion. This is a huge relief to the tributions. the White House Office of Management and Budget proposed driving public. On Sept. 29, UMPNC announced a tentative agree- totally privatizing the public postal service. The American MITA, to which hundreds of contractors are af- ment with Michigan Medicine. Details of the agree- Postal Workers Union moved quickly at its national convention filiated, imposed the layoffs after OE members had ment have not been made public, but the bargaining Aug. 20-23 to counter this attack, which would seize $70 bil- worked without a contract for months. The bosses team unanimously recommended ratification. Voting lion in USPS public revenue for private profit. This would elim- were hoping to pressure Local 324, which represents will be completed by October 10. inate services and kill thousands of well-paid union jobs, many all unionized heavy equipment operators in Michi- of which are filled by African Americans and women. Fight for $15 bravely strikes, gan, to accept a master contract with all of its union- This is not the first time an attack has been launched on the blocks roads ized affiliates. USPS. A move to cut jobs by shifting postal services to Staples This contract offered sizable pay increases but did Over 1,000 fast food workers struck McDonald’s was started in 2013, but the struggle by postal unions stopped not address job security issues, allowing the con- and other chains in the Michigan cities of Flint and it.” tractors to subcontract work out to nonunion firms. Detroit on Oct. 2. The bravery of these vulnerable Anti-worker Trump has called USPS’ current business plan Because of MITA’s intransigence on the job security low-paid workers was demonstrated by their willing- “unsustainable,” pointing to debt caused by $5.6 billion year- issue, the union severed its bargaining relationship ness to risk firings as well as injury or arrest during ly prepayment of future retirees’ health care costs imposed by with MITA when the contract expired in June. their protest. Congress in 2006. Without that mandate, unique to USPS, the Gov. Snyder offered to bring in the Michigan Na- Early in the morning, at least six strikers in Flint Postal Service runs in the black. The APWU stresses that the tional Guard to run the equipment. Next, the plan were rushed to the hospital after being hit by a truck. system does not receive taxpayer funds, employs more than was to bring in nonunion operators to scab. Both Fortunately, there were no life-threatening injuries 500,000 workers, plays a critical role in the growing ecom- Snyder and MITA reneged on a back-to-work agree- and so far it appears the strikers were not targeted merce industry and enjoys high favorability ratings. In addition ment agreed to by the union. intentionally. to eliminating the prepayment mandate, one solution APWU “Both MITA and the state of Michigan have the In Detroit, 18 people were arrested when D15 — the and two other postal workers’ unions offer is to have the USPS ability to get the projects started again immediate- Detroit chapter of Fight for $15 — took to the streets resume postal banking, available during World War II. ly,” Local 324 Communications Director Dan McK- to demand union recognition, $15 an hour, and safe APWU President Mark Dimondstein noted that “privat- ernan said at the time. “The state, through MDOT and better working conditions. ization threats are not new. But we have never faced outright [the Michigan Department of Transportation], can Supporters arrested included congressional candi- plans to sell the entire Post Office. … Postal privatization is levy fines and penalties to the contractors for stop- date Rashida Tlaib, who may become the first Pales- about the profits of a few at the expense of the many — period!” ping the work. The state of Michigan needs to protect tinian woman elected to Congress, and unsuccessful the drivers and taxpayers of the state and levy these gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed. FLOC beats back racist N.C. law penalties immediately.” (oe324.org) Gretchen Whitmer, front-runner in the race for The union did not back down. In the end, the gov- governor, attended the action in Flint as well as a A North Carolina federal court ruled Sept. 8 that a 2017 law ernor, MITA and the union agreed to bring the OE meeting of the Operating Engineers that took place Gov. Roy Cooper signed, which stripped the Farm Labor Or- members back to work and continue working without before the lockout ended. ganizing Committee of the right to automatically collect dues a contract while both parties undergo state-super- Clearly, Democratic Party politicians feel com- from farmworkers’ paychecks, was illegal. vised mediation. pelled to be seen supporting workers in struggle. Re- FLOC, in unity with the Southern Poverty Law Center, sistance to exploitation is rising despite the political the American Civil Liberties Union, as well as two individu- Nurses win contract climate of hostility and the many anti-labor bills and al farmworkers charged that the North Carolina Farm Act of At the same time that union members were re- court rulings coming out of state legislatures and 2017 discriminated racially since it targeted Latinx workers, turning to work on the roads, University of Michigan Washington. who make up 90 percent of North Carolina farmworkers. (Pay- nurses also were claiming victory. Over 5,700 nurses, The writer is a 30-year UAW Chrysler worker. day Report, Sept. 20) members of the Michigan Nurses Association, were This is a paramount victory. Because North Carolina is a “right-to-work” (for less!) state, only individual workers can choose to have dues deducted. Because many FLOC members are guest workers who lack access to bank accounts, credit cards and other means of paying union dues regularly, they rely on dues transfer arrangements. UPS rank-and-file overrule “We’re happy that the federal court saw clearly that this rac- ist law was an effort to stop farmworkers from having the re- sources to fund their own institution and fight for a more fair leaders, reject two-tier pay workplace,” said FLOC President Baldemar Velásquez. (ACLU of NC, Sept. 20) By Martha Grevatt not vote are counted, actually rejected the contract. However, negotiator Denis Taylor was feeling the Chicago hotel workers’ strike wins year- The Teamsters union announced on Oct. 5 that mass pressure when he announced that the bargain- a majority of members voting on a new contract at ing team would go back to the table and try to get a round health care coverage United Parcel Service had rejected the contract. The better deal. After nearly a month on strike, hotel workers at 17 out of voting had been taking place across the country for Two-tier and multi-tier pay structures are widely 26 hotels in Chicago had ratified contracts by late September. several weeks. The union leadership, under the direc- unpopular among rank-and-file union members, be- In addition to higher wages and healthy working conditions, tion of President James Hoffa Jr., had been pushing cause they divide the membership by paying differ- the primary issue, which galvanized more than 6,000 service hard for a “yes” vote. ent wages for the same or similar work. “Equal pay workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 1, was having The main issues leading to the contract’s rejection for equal work” has, historically, been a basic union year-round health care coverage. It’s lifesaving during winter were the current low wages for part-time workers and principle. In 2015, UAW members at Fiat Chrysler months when the tourist season is slow and workers are often new language to create a lower-paid “hybrid” driver Automobiles rejected a contract that failed to bring laid off. As one worker told ThinkProgress: “One of the reasons status. An organized movement defied the hard sell second-tier workers up to the top of the pay scale. the strike is so broad is because access to health care is an is- by the union leadership and the company. As UPS Teamsters United points out on its website, sue everyone can rally behind.” (Oct. 3) Two organizations — Teamsters for a Democratic “UPS is making record profits. The economy is strong This hotel strike is the first in decades in Chicago’s histo- Union, founded in the 1970s, and Teamsters United, and there is a nationwide shortage of truck drivers. ry and the first to hit all hotels with unionized workers in all whose slate nearly defeated Hoffa’s in 2016 union Just this week, Amazon raised its minimum wage to service jobs — cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers and door at- elections — built an organized opposition. $15 an hour, putting pressure on UPS to raise part- tendants — at the same time. The workers held a number of Overall, the vote was 54 percent “no.” The oppo- time pay.” joint actions during the strike, with hundreds marching down sition had strong majorities in its urban center and There is no excuse for a union leader to try to sell a Michigan Avenue’s “Magnificent Mile” on Sept. 13 and rallying among drivers. contract that pays some workers less than the $15-an- at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on Oct. 1. Initially, it looked like the Hoffa administration hour minimum wage that the labor movement is ad- Local 1 has repeatedly pointed out that Chicago hotels have would use language in the union constitution to im- vocating for all workers. This vote is sending a mes- been doing well financially, with a record number of visitors pose the contract over rank-and-file objections. They sage to the class collaborationist “labor lieutenants of and $2.3 billion in revenue last year. As of Oct. 8, workers could legally have taken that step, because less than capitalism.” As Teamsters United puts it, “Step up or at only two hotels still have not ratified contracts. (chicago. two-thirds of the membership, when those who did step out of the way.” curbed.com) workers.org Oct. 11, 2018 Page 5

Black activists demand justice in aftermath of Hurricane Florence

By Zachary Richardson away from vulnerable populations; that year’s state operating budget. As Raleigh, N.C. large corporate tax cuts scheduled to go several speakers pointed out, into effect in 2019 be rolled back; and for however, the damage inflicted As the North Carolina General Assem- the defeat of six North Carolina constitu- by hurricanes does not honor WW PHOTO: ZACHARY RICHARDSON bly met Oct. 2 in the Capitol in Raleigh to tional amendments (which are widely seen such restrictions. Oct. 2 press conference debate official responses to the devasta- as attacks on voting rights and economic When Hurricane Florence in Raleigh. tion wrought upon the eastern part of the equality) on the ballot in November. made landfall in mid-Septem- state by Hurricane Florence, a coalition ber, it brought unprecedented rainfall often sprayed onto nearby land, already of Black activists convened only a few Activists speak truth to power and unleashed destructive forces on overflow during heavy rains. The amount miles away, holding a press conference “I am a survivor of Florence,” said the people and communities of Eastern of water brought by a weather event like at the Anchorlight art space to explain activist Resea Willis. “Where I was, it North and South Carolina that are just Florence can spill out their contents over why they are uniting to fight for racial, rained almost 30 inches on us. So if there beginning to be understood. Follow- vast tracts. Thirteen lagoons breached economic and environmental justice in is a rainy day fund, I’m here to tell you ing the storm and subsequent flooding due to Florence, with an additional nine recovery efforts. that it’s already raining. We need your inland, 48 individuals have been con- flooded. Under the aegis of A Just Florence Re- help.” firmed dead, 37 of them in North Caro- Farmworker communities, primarily covery, representatives of organizations “We need a recovery, people. ... We don’t lina. Many still remain in shelters; up to Latinx, face a dual danger. The storm it- and communities from all across Eastern need to put a Band-Aid on this. We need a 21,000 residents will need to permanent- self, of course, posed a direct threat to life North Carolina called upon state legisla- long term recovery,” echoed the Rev. Ty- ly relocate; millions of livestock animals and limb, but once it passed came a new tors to release resources — including a $2 rone Watson, the president of the Unified have drowned; and overall damage is es- complication: accounting for work that’s billion “rainy day fund” — to help those Robeson County NAACP. “What do they timated in the tens of billions of dollars. no longer there to be done. Florence’s most affected by the historic storm, and define as a rainy day? Because it’s been floodwaters will likely ruin the 2018 to ensure that the corporate powers re- raining on Robeson County and Colum- Impact of climate change, racism sweet potato crop, whose harvest brought sponsible for decades of environmental bus County for a long time. ... The hurri- Often overlooked in mainstream, sen- thousands of workers to North Carolina degradation in Eastern North Carolina cane is gone but the storm has just begun sationalistic media coverage, with its hy- under the H-2A work visa program. aren’t let off the hook for their role in the for a lot of individuals. We need housing. perventilating over looting and exploit- H-2A visas lock workers into contracts disaster. We need environmental changes.” ative presentations of human misery, is with specific employers and legally pro- Activists promulgated a set of political While later that day the state Gener- the inherently political nature of “natu- hibit them from searching for alternate demands, including a legislative override al Assembly authorized $50 million in ral” disasters. As climate change contin- arrangements. If a farmer/corporation of restrictions on the full use of the rainy emergency funding, that sum accounts ues to worsen, storms such as Florence decides to file an insurance claim rather day fund; that companies such as Smith- for only a miniscule fraction of available are expected to increase in frequency and than harvest a crop, workers must take a field Foods, Duke Energy and others pay monies. Disbursements from the fund, severity, and as they hit the United States loss on a season’s work and instead use into North Carolina’s disaster relief fund; established in 2016 after the state was hit with greater regularity, Black, Indige- their limited resources to get home. that toxic sites in Eastern North Caroli- by Hurricane Matthew, cannot amount nous, Latinx and economically marginal- Undocumented workers are in an even na created by these companies be moved to more than 7.5 percent of the previous ized communities will bear the brunt of more tenuous position, as reports of U.S. their impact. Immigration and Customs Enforcement “It’s clear to see that communities agents circulating through damaged that are most impacted by this destruc- communities, and even standing guard tion are disproportionately low-income over emergency shelters, have filtered out ‘McStrike’: Low-wage workers communities and communities of color, of affected areas. which are already burdened by decades Federal and national disaster relief or- of pollution,” said Friends of the Earth’s ganizations like the Federal Emergency La’Meshia ­Whittington-Kaminski. Management Agency and the Red Cross walkout in Britain In Eastern North Carolina, predom- have a poor track record when it comes to inantly Black towns are often clustered effectively providing aid to intentionally By Kathy Durkin Boni Adeliyi, age 21, works days and along low-lying, flood-prone land — the marginalized populations, leaving a gap nights at three jobs, including one at only kind historically available to them to be filled by local partners and nontra- Low-wage workers at four companies TGI Fridays. She explained that she was following the end of slavery — a racist leg- ditional actors. in the retail and hospitality industry, sick striking because the higher minimum acy whose effects are felt anew with ev- While the Just Florence Recovery net- and tired of being exploited on the job, wage would allow her to “focus on one ery major storm. Black communities are work has made efforts to direct resources staged a coordinated one-day work stop- job.” Her Unite membership gave her also far more likely to be located near and to those who need them most, it is clear page on Oct. 4 in six cities in England; a “sense of safety and confidence [she] damaged by North Carolina’s hog farming that a real recovery will require sus- Cardiff, Wales; and Glasgow, Scotland. never had before,” reported the Oct. 4 industry, whose numerous concentrated tained efforts and tremendous funding — They struck McDonald’s, TGI Fridays Guardian newspaper. animal feeding operations (CAFOs) cre- and that state actors will need to grapple and JD Wetherspoon, demanding a This is the eighth 24-hour walkout by ate massive “lagoons” of animal waste. with obstacles, both manmade and natu- $13.12 hourly minimum wage, union rec- Unite members employed by TGI Fridays These lagoons, whose contents are ral, to develop effective solutions. ognition and an end to precarious con- against a change in its tip policy. Strikers tracts. UberEats drivers joined, insisting say the company is pocketing their tips on payments of $6.55 per delivery and and ignoring their complaints. another $1.31 for each additional mile Hotel workers strike they must travel per assignment. Show of solidarity UNITE HERE Local 26 president, Brian Lang,welcomes The strikers were backed by the Bakers, Trade Union Congress General Secre- to the picket line, Mahtowin Munro, co-chair Food and Allied Workers Union, labeling tary Frances O’Grady spoke at the Lon- of United American Indians of New England and the fast food action a “McStrike,” and don rally at Leicester Square. She told other Indigenous Peoples Day marchers. calling the walkout at JD Wetherspoon the media that the actions are “growing WW PHOTO: STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM pubs a “Spoon’s strike.” Unite the Union, and spreading,” adding, “What I find re- Continued from page 1 rivals, the mood at the baseball games known as “Unite,” which has 1.2 million ally touching is that these are workers face a national struggle for survival in ad- and in the press exposed increasing class members, and War on Want helped build from different companies coming out to dition to the fight to protect the standard consciousness. The Yankees were public- the work stoppage. Momentum, a Labor support each other.” (Guardian) of living for hotel workers.” ly denounced as scabs. Party organization, set up picket lines at A key struggle is over zero-hour con- Childs added: “The spirited picket Then on Oct. 6, the annual march of McDonald’s eateries. tracts, where companies refuse to guar- lines in front of Boston’s seven striking Boston’s Indigenous People’s Day brought This is a youth-led movement, and it antee workers a minimum number of hotels are very militant, confrontational a crowd of 150 to triple the size of the ho- was inspired, in part, by the Fight for $15 working hours, making it impossible for and loud. Boston’s Local 26 hotel workers tel workers’ picket at the Ritz Carlton. an hour movement of low-wage workers them to pay bills. O’Grady stressed that are possibly the most diverse constitu- Childs emphasized: “This struggle in the U.S. Many strikers are young work- wealthy transnational companies “have ency in the entire city. The mostly immi- shows the necessity of unity at this time. ers and students; many are members of deliberately put their workers on contracts grant women-of-color members chant in While the ruling class makes it difficult immigrant communities. They are chal- that keep them scared. If you are on a ze- dozens of languages and represent nearly to see who is funding these attacks, how lenging the exploitative conditions of ro-hours contract, they don’t have to sack 80 nationalities.” companies like Marriott are able to get their employment — low-wage jobs lack- you; they can just stop offering you shifts.” Solidarity from other unions has been so powerful, people are recognizing the ing benefits are their only options. Only But many workers flouted their em- extremely strong. Boston’s Teamsters danger. And unions, youth and commu- 8 percent of workers under 25 are union- ployers and walked out of their workplac- have refused deliveries to striking hotels, nity movements are uniting.” ized. Their weekly wages are abomina- es despite the risks, joining other strikers and that will have a huge impact. Every- With optimism, he added: “The life or ble, while company executives roll in in a show of solidarity. This collective thing from food and alcohol to laundry death fight against Marriott has brought luxury, with exorbitant salaries and bo- action boosted the morale of these work- and garbage depends on truck drivers. big, needed advancements to class con- nuses. The strikers were challenging the ers and reinforced their determination to When the New York Yankees crossed sciousness in this country that could essence of capitalist profitmaking on em- keep up the struggle for their rights and Boston hotel picket lines this week and lead to victory for UNITE HERE and the ployees’ backs. those of other workers. then lost to the Red Sox, their bitterest whole working class.” Page 6 Oct. 11, 2018 workers.org

No to Brett Kavanaugh Widespread resistance to continue despite Senate OK

By Minnie Bruce Pratt ugh represents flooded the atrium and every floor. Over 300 chanting, militant At the vote confirming Brett Kavana- protesters were arrested that day. ugh to the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. Hundreds of people organized by Miss- 6, woman after woman screamed out ing and Murdered Indigenous Women in protest from the Senate gallery and marched through downtown Seattle Oct. was carried away by guards. Reaction- 4 to remind those watching of the centu- ary presiding Vice President Mike Pence ries of U.S. colonizer rape and violence hammered for “order,” while at one point toward Indigenous women and peoples. WW PHOTO: G. DUNKEL there were so many disruptions the vot- On the same day, in upstate New York, An Oct. 6 protest in New York City against the confirmation of reactionary Kavanaugh to the ing had to be paused. People were pound- students walked out of classes in protest U.S. Supreme Court. ing in outrage on the closed entrance to at Syracuse University, built on the land the Senate floor. stolen from the Onondaga Nation. One on Capitol Hill, the very night Trump an- confirmation is acknowledged widely at U.S. Capitol Police said a total of 164 student asserted: “Brett Kavanaughs” nounced the nomination. the national level. “The stakes could not people were arrested that day for “crowd- don’t come out of nowhere — that the cul- Hundreds continued to demonstrate be higher,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, Direc- ing, obstructing, or incommoding.” ture develops abusers. Another student, throughout the month. tor-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense (Washington Post, Oct. 6) reading from a letter to her sexual abuser, During Senate Judiciary Committee and Educational Fund. She named in The main focus of protest was Kavana- said, “This has been going on for forev- hearings the first week in September, over particular his threat to voting rights, fair ugh’s denial, under oath during the Senate er,” and signed it “an unapologetic Brown 227 demonstrators were arrested. (NPR, housing, affirmative action, the right to confirmation hearings, that he had sexu- girl.” (Syracuse Post-Standard, Oct. 4) Sept. 8) Protests intensified during the health care and the right to “equal justice ally assaulted three women, including Dr. There were too many acts of indigna- week of struggle leading up to Kavana- under the law.” (Essence, July 12) Christine Blasey Ford. Dr. Ford testified tion and outrage at Kavanaugh’s nomina- ugh’s confirmation by the Senate. An AFL-CIO statement on the occasion extensively to the Senate Judiciary Com- tion to list them all. Hundreds were trained in a technique of Kavanaugh’s nomination was clear: mittee about Kavanaugh assaulting her The ultra-right ruling class represent- called “bird-dogging” — how to per- “Judge Kavanaugh has a dangerous track when she was 15. ed by President Trump have swept aside sistently follow and confront U.S. sena- record of protecting the privileges of the even the possibility of Kavanaugh’s sexu- tors and representatives on crucial issues. wealthy and powerful at the expense of Hundreds arrested in D.C. protests al assaults and endorsed him wholeheart- The most dramatic example was caught working people.” (July 9) Protests of Kavanaugh have ranged edly for his proven judicial record, which on CNN video Sept. 28 when Ana Ma­ ria All progressive U.S. organizations are from coast-to-coast and into the U.S. is racist, anti-woman, anti-worker, an- Archila, co-executive director for the calling for the energized fight to continue. heartland — Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver; ti-civil rights and thoroughly reactionary. Center for Popular Democracy, and Maria Without doubt, there will be many more Kalamazoo, Mich.; Austin, Texas; Tope- Trump tried to discredit the women Gallagher, both sexual assault survivors, protests to come, as the people mobilize ka, Kan.; and New York City. who brought forward their assaults by confronted Sen. Jeff Flake of the Judicia- and organize to stop the woman-hating, The depth of opposition to Kavana- tweeting they must have been “paid” for ry Committee in an elevator. racist, anti-LGBTQ prejudice and the ugh was revealed when on Oct. 4 over a their testimony. Trump viciously parallels To cover himself, Flake then called for anti-worker agenda of those in seats of thousand people from throughout the a defamation used against justice seekers an additional FBI “investigation” of some power. As the struggles of the past have country, mostly women, demonstrated on over and over in U.S. history — the lie that assault claims against Kavanaugh, which taught, the people cannot depend on the Capitol Hill. A hundred people even flew anyone fighting for change must either be unsurprisingly failed to back the women courts or on capitalist elections to bring in from Alaska. an “outside agitator” or have been “put up up — a reminder that the FBI is first and justice. The people must depend on sol- Someone had rented a truck with a to it” for money. The NAACP even had to foremost an arm of state power. idarity and the power they win arm-in- movie screen in order to play and de- fight this smear in 1957 against the nine The reactionary impact of Kavanaugh’s arm with each other. nounce President Trump’s infamous “Ac- Black children seeking to integrate the cess Hollywood” tape in which he boasted public schools in Little Rock, Ark. of sexually assaulting women. At the Senate Hart Office Building, Energizing fightback to continue Durham Pride crowds saying “NO” to sexual assault and Outrage against Kavanaugh broke out to the reactionary agenda that Kavana- initially on July 9 at the Supreme Court Revolutionary queerness

Taken from a Sept. 23 audio By Enzo Moretti that the event — set to happen in three ‘Man power’ recording on prisonradio.org. months — was cancelled. By Mumia Abu-Jamal rogative, and women, unless they act as Durham, N.C. — The struggle for Quickly, the local queer community, man-like as possible, are, more often LGBTQ liberation in the South has its including the LGBTQ Center of Durham, It has been over a generation since the than not, treated like children: seen and roots in strong resistance to the constant rose to the challenge of reclaiming Pride U.S. Senate hearings on the sexual ha- not heard. onslaught from reactionaries. The queer and hosted the event on Sept. 29. The for- rassment charges of a law professor, Ani- For at the nexus between law and pow- community in North Carolina has fought mer leaders in NC Pride had been most- ta Hill, against then judge, now Supreme er lies the courts, one of the last, mighty to return LGBTQ Pride to its roots by be- ly white cis gay men. The new leadership Court justice, Clarence Thomas. bastions of male power. ing outspoken and political — which is was centered around queer trans people A lot has changed since then. The remarkable #Me Too movement sorely needed to defend our communities. of color, including the House of Coxx, Or has it? may have enormous power in the realm North Carolina is among 16 states that a prominent Durham drag family. One The French have a saying, “Plus ça of culture (think Hollywood), but law re- still have anti-sodomy laws on the books, grand marshall was a founder of North change,” or “The more things change, the mains a largely (white) male preserve. despite those laws having been declared Carolina’s original Pride in 1981, and two more they stay the same.” Still. unconstitutional at the national level. were co-founders of Southerners on New The charges now poised against a sit- Women, the majority of the U.S. pop- In addition, North Carolina joined with Ground (SONG). ting judge, and possible justice, Brett Ka- ulation, are not the majority of political several other states in passing anti-trans The shift in leadership at Durham’s vanaugh, by a psychology professor, Dr. leaders, don’t earn the highest incomes “bathroom bills” in 2016. The law, which Pride opened up opportunities to reclaim Christine B. Ford, of sexual assault over and aren’t paid wages equal to men. excludes trans people from legal protec- the day from corporations and white su- 30 years ago, show us that things have In other words, their power is quite tion, was only half repealed in 2017. premacy. The most notable win was a ban changed very little. limited. Any celebration of Pride in North Car- on uniformed police officers marching in For power remains a mostly male pre- They are, however, the highest number olina should be a fight against these re- the parade. of law students in the actionary attacks and a fight for LGBTQ While this was a win, uniformed cops country, so that day is liberation — not based on pinkwashing were still present, providing “security” for coming when they will white supremacy. the event, so it is clear that many strug- dominate the field. That is why Workers World Party’s gles still need to be opened. Wells Fargo But not today. Durham branch organized an anti-capi- was still a sponsor, and lots of businesses Man power still reigns talist contingent to march in the Sept. 29 sought to capitalize and co-opt our com- in politics and law, and Durham Pride parade — and focused its munity. Pride was still held on Duke Uni- unless I miss my guess, chants and placards on the fight for queer versity’s campus and marched through in the next few days, we liberation. an area that has contributed to the gen- shall see Brett Kavana- But for a while this year, it wasn’t clear trification of the neighboring Black com- ugh don the dark robe that Pride would even take place. In June, munity, Walltown. According to an event of a junior justice of the NC Pride, the organization previously in organizer, the event was only held there U.S. Supreme Court. charge of Pride in Durham, announced because the space was already reserved workers.org Oct. 11, 2018 Page 7 Duterte’s violations of women’s rights in the Philippines International Peoples’ Tribunal The following testimony was presented by Joan May Salvador at the Sept. 18-19 International Peoples’ Tribunal in Brussels, Belgium, on the violations of women’s regards women’s rights and promotes a rights and misogyny in the Philippines. Salvador is Secretary General of GABRI- culture of impunity for perpetrators and ELA Philippines, a mass women’s organization. abuse of authority. In his words and deeds, President As a Filipino woman activist and hu- a short video clip of some of the most Duterte has committed — and by exten- man rights defender, I recognize the op- abominable displays of his misogyny sion through the actions of Philippine pression and injustice against the many from the time he was campaigning for the state security forces — grave violations in our society — the marginalized, voice- presidency up until today as the president of the Philippines’ obligations under the less, nameless, underserved sectors, the of the Republic of the Philippines. Convention on the Elimination of all farmers, workers, rural and urban poor, Ladies and gentlemen of this Interna- forms of Discrimination Against Women Indigenous people and women. My work tional People’s Tribunal, President Dute- (CEDAW) and Philippine laws, such as constantly seeks to contribute toward the rte has repeatedly displayed ingrained the Magna Carta of Women, the Women elimination of oppression and injustice prejudice against women. He has contrib- Development Code of Davao and about against our people. uted immensely to reinforcing inequality, 20 other national laws. This is demon- Joan May Salvador, Sept. 19. For many Filipino women like myself, not simply between men and women, but strated by the growing number of cases every day under the presidency of Ro- in a larger context between the powerful of violence against Filipino women and the number of reported cases of rape to- drigo Roa Duterte is a day of fierce resis- and the powerless. girls, and in a host of other social practic- taled 9,943. There were 3,463 more rape tance amidst waves upon waves of attacks es that normalize and trivialize rape and cases that year than the annual average on our rights. Duterte: ‘Misogyny personified’ violence against women. of 6,480 for the prior decade. This was an I cannot stand idly by while President President Duterte has spewed rhetoric The Philippines is a signatory to CE- increase of 53 percent! Rodrigo Duterte, the highest elected offi- that pushes women to conform to certain DAW, which is also called the Interna- Meanwhile, the Philippine National cial in our land, serially violates women’s standards and to make them feel inade- tional Bill of Rights of Women, and is Police’s Bantay Krimen Web-Based Mon- rights with his sexist and misogynistic quate. He has promoted discrimination obligated to eliminate all forms of dis- itoring System showed 8,461 rape cases statements and deeds. I cannot stand idly and violence against women in its various crimination against women and to re- were reported in different police stations by while the most powerful man in the forms. Indeed, Philippine President Ro- spect, protect and fulfill women’s human in the country in 2017. That total is still a country — whose words are easily trans- drigo Duterte is misogyny personified. rights. lot higher than the average annual num- lated into policy directives — contributes Filipino women continue to be treated In line with its above-mentioned com- ber of reported rape cases prior to Duter- heavily to reinforcing a feudal and patri- as sources of cheap labor, as commodi- mitments and obligations under CEDAW, te’s presidency. archal culture that treats women as infe- ties, as mere properties. Against a back- the Philippines 1987 Constitution en- Meanwhile, about 15 cases of rape na- rior, as sex objects, as properties, which drop of a feudal and patriarchal culture shrined a state policy that recognizes the tionwide have been reported every day includes a whole range of sexist customs, systemic within Philippine society, Pres- role of women in nation-building and the during the current year. Ironically, Dute- practices and ideas. ident Duterte’s blatant display of misog- fundamental equality of women and men rte’s hometown of Davao City — where he President Duterte has disrespected, yny correlates well with the troubling before the law. served as mayor — is ranked as the city demeaned and abused women of the Phil- persistence of violence against Filipino with the highest number of reported cas- Women activists fight back! ippines. This is not, and will never be, ac- women and children. es of rape. Women activists, feminists and wom- ceptable to me and to the many fierce and President Duterte often tells rape jokes, Similarly, reported cases of other forms en’s organizations, myself and GABRIE- fearless women of the Philippines. despite constant insistence by women’s of violence against women and children LA included, have also played a crucial By way of presenting evidence of Pres- rights activists that rape is no laughing — including domestic and partner abuse, role in the adoption by various local gov- ident Duterte’s serial sexism and misog- matter — especially so because during the sexual harassment, prostitution and sex ernmental units of gender and develop- yny, I will show this Honorable Court first year of Duterte’s presidency in 2016, trafficking — are also on the rise. Poor ment codes, such as the Women Devel- women are consistently more vulnerable opment Code of Davao City, which was to abuse. For example, the Philippine Sta- approved on Oct. 14, 1997, by President tistics Authority reports that the rate of Duterte, then the mayor of that city. spousal or partner violence committed The law supposedly affords special pro- Durham Pride against women is 31.6 percent in low- tection to women, particularly in regard er-income households, as compared to to the following concerns: ensuring that 18.3 percent in highest-income house- women are treated equally in law and in Revolutionary queerness holds. fact; that women enjoy the same rights It is important to bear in mind that and privileges as men; and that women these are conservative numbers. In the are not treated as objects but as human Philippines — and globally — only one beings whose dignity the state values and in every three women who are victims of whose human rights are guaranteed and violence report the abuse to authorities afforded full respect and protection. Also, (U.N. National Demographic and Health that all forms of violence and discrimina- Survey data). This is particularly true tion against women are eliminated; that when their own family members are the women are treated as equal partners of

WW PHOTO perpetrators, as in cases of incest, and men in development; and that they are WWP anti-capitalist contingent at Durham, N.C. Pride, Sept. 29. they are powerful men. It is also due to provided the same spaces in governance the prevalent culture of victim blaming, and public service. by the previous organizers and may white supremacy that have taken over in as police officers, media personalities and Thus, any violation of women’s rights — change next year. other major cities across the country. even President Duterte himself exempli- and worse, when wantonly and repeated- Durham WWP branch’s anti-capitalist In North Carolina, Charlotte Pride has fy. ly committed by the highest official in the contingent raised the issue of police bru- been named the “Bank of America Pride land — must be seen not only as an attack tality by wearing shirts reading, “Queer Parade” for six years. It’s been thoroughly Police abuse of women against women, but as a grave and there- as in fuck the police.” Signs also raised co-opted by the same corporations that Alarmingly, Duterte’s drug war against fore punishable violation of existing laws. the murder of North Carolina Central threw queer workers out of foreclosed the poor and his continued imposition of Therefore misogyny is no longer seen University student Deandre Ballard by a homes in 2008, and are engaging in the martial law in Mindanao have provided as a simple case of one’s personal dislike private security guard days before. NCCU violent gentrification of oppressed com- more fertile ground for rampant abuses of, contempt for or ingrained prejudice is a historically Black university. munities. by state security forces. On several occa- against women. Rather it must be seen as The struggle for queer liberation is nec- The strong and militant WWP pres- sions, the president addressed them with a violation of particular laws that protect essarily a struggle against police brutality ence in the march was a hopeful reinvig- his own misogynist and sexist orders. women. It is a crime that, like any other, and for the connection between Black and oration of Durham Pride with revolution- Since 2017 — or since the start of the must be punished. queer liberation, as well as with other lib- ary queerness. Next year, 2019, the 50th Philip­pine National Police’s campaign President Duterte’s public statements eration movements. Many people watch- anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, against illegal drugs — 13 policemen have promote, rather than discourage or pre- ing the parade cheered as WWP Durham offers the Durham queer community an- been involved in eight rape cases, 13 acts vent, discrimination against women. They marched by, calling for cops to be kicked other opportunity to gather together mil- of lasciviousness, and one case of sexual are offensive to women. They are tanta- out of Pride and chanting, “Be loud! Don’t itantly against police brutality and rain- harassment and physical assault against mount to verbal abuse of women. They ha- be silent! The first Pride was a riot!” bow capitalism. women. rass women. They degrade women. They In addition to the strong anti-capitalist Cops out of Pride! End the murders of It is contemptible that while the police harm and endanger the lives of women. WWP presence, white liberals were also Black and Brown trans women! Pride is a try to justify the war on drugs as a way to Honorable members of this Interna- there, with many groups waving pink- riot! curb the prevalence of rape in the coun- tional People’s Tribunal: It is about time washed U.S. flags. Work still needs to be Minnie Bruce Pratt and several mem- try, members of the PNP are raping wom- that President Duterte is held account- done to orient the community away from bers of the WW Durham branch contrib- en and committing other forms of sexual able for his grave violations of the rights the dangerous rainbow capitalism and uted to this article. abuse under a regime that blatantly dis- of Filipino women. Page 8 Oct. 11, 2018 workers.org

Round two of Brazil elections Ultra-rightist takes lead in face-off with Workers Party

By John Catalinotto streets to defeat fascism and elect the When it became apparent earlier this bo reporters for alleged “fake news” — its candidate who represents democracy on year that Lula was the leading candidate attacks on the PT fertilized the ground for Oct. 8 — The first round of elections the second round: Fernando Haddad. in the presidential election and might his fascist-type campaign. He has been in Brazil took place yesterday and, as ex- #EleNão.” (Vermelho, Oct. 8) well win, the judiciary framed him to compared to Donald Trump or Rodrigo pected, left the ultra-rightist Jair Bolson- Cops, the political section of the mili- keep him in jail and off the ballot. The Duterte of the Philippines. There was a aro facing the Workers Party (PT) can- tary and many members of the evangeli- media giant O Globo kept up a continual report that ultra-rightist publicist Steve didate, Fernando Haddad, in the run-off cal churches — about a quarter of Brazil’s campaign against the PT and its leaders Bannon aided his election campaign. election on Oct. 28. population — support Bolsonaro’s candi- and railed against “delinquency” in the Bolsonaro was stabbed while cam- What was less expected from polling dacy. Winning the election for the PT is poor neighborhoods, while it attacked paigning on Sept. 6 and apparently bare- during the last week of the campaign was an important goal, but it is only the first “corruption” of all politicians. ly escaped with his life. This may have that Bolsonaro would come as close as he step to defending the Brazilian working U.S. imperialism has been lined up actually helped his campaign as he avoid- did to the 50 percent needed to win on the class and all the oppressed. It is only the with those in Brazil who want to remove ed all debates where he might expose his first round. He got 46 percent. Haddad, first step in defending democratic rights. the PT from office and keep them out. own weaknesses. Instead he played the with 29.3 percent, finished a strong sec- While O Globo did not support Bolson- outsider and wound up in first place. The ond, but was still far behind Bolsonaro. Who is Bolsonaro? aro — his supporters even attacked O Glo- struggle continues. In terms of electoral politics, this The ultra-right candidate, a former leaves the Workers Party and their allies army captain who served seven terms in in an uphill battle in the three weeks be- the National Assembly with little accom- Brazil’s women say: fore the second round. The PT needs to plishment, has said he supported Brazil’s hold on to their votes and win nearly all 1964-85 military dictatorship. He openly the votes of the center, center-right and rants against women, LGBTQ people, In- No to Bolsonaro leftist parties. The other possibility is digenous people, Venezuelans and other that the ultra-rightist candidate exposes immigrants, and calls for more open cop According to reports his weaknesses on how his economic pro- and army violence against alleged crimi- on Sept. 30 in the Bra- gram will hurt workers and poor people nals in the poor neighborhoods, the fave- zilian web newspa- who may have voted for him as a sign of las, in the big cities like Rio de Janeiro. per, Vermelho, about protest. Bolsonaro runs for the newly formed a half-million women Brazil’s class struggle goes beyond Social Liberal Party. His vice presiden- and their supporters electoral politics, so the Brazilian left tial candidate is Gen. Antônio Mourão, a demonstrated in cities must organize in the streets as well as for former general in the Brazilian Army. As large and small in Bra- the voting booth. could be expected, he too is pro-milita- zil on Sept. 29, march- rist. While Bolsonaro was not the favorite Left-wing coalition ing under the slogan candidate of Brazil’s big bourgeoisie, they #EleNão (not him). For the left, Haddad, a university hate the Workers Party more. This was a solid rejec- teacher of Lebanese ancestry who was Brazil’s super-rich ruling class tolerat- tion of the ultra-rightist presidential can- first round of the election, set for Oct. 7. once mayor of São Paulo, is representing ed the first PT governments under Luiz didate Jair Bolsonaro, an ex-military cap- Haddad is the candidate of a coalition the PT. Running for vice president with Inácio “Lula” da Silva (2003-11) in a pe- tain who has campaigned on a misogynist, supported by the Workers Party and the Haddad is the candidate of the Commu- riod of unprecedented prosperity. At that racist and anti-poor platform disguised as Communist Party of Brazil. Each has nist Party of Brazil (PCdoB), Manuela time the PT passed laws aiding tens of anti-corruption. Bolsonaro is considered about a quarter of the votes in the polls, D’Ávila, a former youth leader. The PT, millions of Brazil’s very poor. Once the to be the Brazilian military version of U.S. and they are expected to face each other the PCdoB and the small Party of So- price of raw materials collapsed, and President Donald Trump. in the Oct. 28 run-off election. There are cial Order make up “The People Happy the economy shrunk, this ruling class Vermelho reported that there were also elections for the National Congress Again” coalition on the ballot. has waged a vicious austerity offensive demonstrations of 200,000 people in and the State Assemblies. The first to bring the struggle to the against all of Brazil’s working people. both São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with The massive mobilization of women, streets were a half million to a million The right wing first impeached and re- smaller but still significant demonstra- led by Women United Against Bolsona- women and their supporters, who demon- moved PT President Dilma Rousseff from tions in dozens of other cities. ro, indicates growing hostility to the ul- strated in Brazilian cities large and small office with a parliamentary coup in 2016. The latest polls show Bolsonaro neck- tra-rightist Bolsonaro. on Sept. 29, marching under the slogan The succeeding government of current and-neck with Fernando Haddad for the — Report by John Catalinotto #EleNão (not him, meaning not Bolsona- President Michel Temer started rolling ro). back the social security programs. Ciro Gomes, candidate of the Dem- They have especially attacked Brazil- ocratic Labor Party (PDT), has already ians of African descent — who are half thrown his support to the #EleNão move- the population — and the remaining Invest in Workers World! ment for the second turn. Indigenous peoples. They have also at- Guilherme Boulos, the leader of the tacked women’s rights on the job and • If you’re sick, sick, sick of the U.S.’s • If you believe from reading WW that Homeless Movement and candidate for elsewhere and increased persecution of endless wars — the lengthy occupa- capitalism is at a dead end. the leftist Socialism and Freedom Party LGBTQ people, even before Bolsonaro’s tions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the • If you consider yourself lucky to still (PSOL), wrote, “Now we will be in the rhetoric took it a few steps further. ongoing warmongering in Syria, and have a job. all the armaments and intelligence the • If you want to fight for a better way of U.S. supplies so Saudi Arabia can wage life based on economic planning and Stop U.S. wars across the globe its genocidal war in Yemen. the equitable distribution of wealth • If you detest the bosses boosting their the workers create. bottom lines by paying workers low Then invest your hard-earned dollars wages and cutting benefits — even in Workers World and help us put out the after Trump gave them billions in a only remaining progressive weekly in the mega-tax law. U.S. that’s both printed and on the web. • If you’re furious that Black and Brown We plan to keep issuing a printed edition people continue to be shot and killed to hand out to people we meet on demon- by cops who are rarely put on trial, let strations, picket lines and street corners. alone found guilty. We invite you to sign up today! For the past 41 years, WW subscribers • If you’re angry at Congress after have helped maintain the paper by joining confirming liar, racist, sexist, an- the WW Supporter Program. For a dona- ti-worker, anti-LGBTQ, elitist Brett tion of at least $75 or $100 or $300 a year Kavanaugh so he can rubberstamp the — and much more if you’re able — mem- ruling-class’s reactionary agenda via bers receive a year’s subscription to WW, the Supreme Court. a monthly letter about timely issues and • If you hate the Trump administration five free subscriptions to give to friends. WW PHOTO: RAFAEL JUSTO because it’s deregulating laws when Write checks (either monthly or once a On the 17th anniversary of the invasion and Japan spoke to a growing audience you want to heal the environment and year) to Workers World and mail them, of Afghanistan, activists gathered in Her- before marching to the U.S. Armed Forces promote human life from the cradle to with your name and address, to 147 W. ald Square in New York City to oppose U.S. Recruiting Station in Times Square. The the grave. 24th St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10011. military occupations, violence and imperi- action ended with a Yemeni child speaking • If you don’t trust ruling-class bankers Or sign up to donate online at workers. alism across the world. Groups represent- out against the U.S.-funded Saudi war on and CEOs because you’re a member org/donate/; it’s easy to set up monthly ing anti-imperialist struggles in Yemen, the Yemeni people. of the working class and know you’re deductions. Know that we’re grateful for Syria, Palestine, Iran, Venezuela, Brazil, — Kayla Popuchet and oppressed by this system based on your help in building Workers World — Ecuador, the Philippines, Korea, Okinawa Cosmia Bohannan-Blumke capitalist private property. for today and for the future. workers.org Oct. 11, 2018 Page 9

Tribunal on U.S. Crimes Against Puerto Rico, OCT. 27 Anti-colonial notables to get a hearing in NYC

The Emergency International Tribunal on U.S. Colonial Crimes in Puerto Rico A panel of jurors will examine the There are many theories. Some spec- will take place Oct. 27 in New York City. Workers World reporter Cheryl LaBash testimony and render a verdict: They ulate on an agreement between Rosselló interviewed Berta Joubert-Ceci, a proud Boricua and central organizer for this include Nieves Moreno, a Chilean wom- and Trump to advance a pro-statehood historic event, for an update. an political exile who was tortured by agenda. I think that is irrelevant. the Pinochet dictatorship and testified Rosselló is carrying out U.S. orders. He Workers World: What is the reaction #SeAcabaronLasPromesas activists in in the prosecution of Augusto Pinochet, had the nerve to call a press conference in Puerto Rico to the Tribunal? the forefront of opposing the Fiscal Con- the U.S.-installed Chilean dictator; Ber- with Antonio Ledezma, a Venezuelan ter- Berta Joubert-Ceci: The reaction has trol Board. nadette Ellorin from the New York chap- rorist, to announce this move. This is an- been tremendous. People feel this is very The government has made it a crime ter of the Filipino organization BAYAN- other example of Rosselló working against important. They have been silenced for to resist, to fight back against imperial- USA, which is battling U.S. domination the people of Puerto Rico since day one. so long. They want to have their voices ism and colonialism. Nina Droz’s case in the Philippines; Ajamu Baraka from The people are against what the gover- heard on an international level when so is an example of the many Puerto Rican Black Alliance for Peace and an inter- nor is doing. Indignation against that press many lies and misconceptions have been political prisoners jailed or killed for nationally recognized leader of the U.S. conference came first from the progressive put out on what is really happening there. struggling for independence. The United human rights movement who has worked movement, then others immediately took Participants from many parts of Puer- States fought for independence, but this to apply the international human rights to social media opposing the statement to Rico are coming to New York to tes- has been denied to us in Puerto Rico. framework to social justice advocacy in and action of the governor. A demonstra- tify. The Tribunal is seen as a vehicle to Representatives from several cities in the U.S.; Andre Francois, president of tion took place in solidarity with Bolivari- denounce the crimes of colonialism — the south of the island, like Guayama and Steelworkers Local 8751, Boston School an Venezuela. Outrage continues to be ex- whether by the military, the pharmaceu- Peñuelas, will testify on coal ash and the Bus Union and a leader in the local Hai- pressed on radio shows, in conversations tical companies or the AES energy com- role of AES in environmental contami- tian community. and on social media against putting U.S. pany. When we talk about U.S. crimes in nation now impacting 14 municipalities Others include Deirdre Griswold, editor interests above the needs of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico, we are talking about crimes throughout the region. Salvador Tió will of Workers World newspaper, author of Venezuela is not the enemy. These sis- being committed right now. testify about the pollution of bioengineer- “Indonesia: The Second Greatest Crime of ters and brothers offered hurricane relief A much longer tribunal would be need- ing companies, like notorious Monsanto. the Century,” chair of the 1966 Public In- that was rejected by the governor because ed to detail all 120 years of U.S. colonial Ismael Guadalupe, a leader of the Vi- quest on the Indonesian massacres, and of PR’s condition as a U.S. colony. Vene- crimes. The people in Puerto Rico are eques struggle, will testify on the conse- an organizer of the 1967 Bertrand Russell zuela offered a shipload of diesel fuel free viewing this as an emergency tribunal to quences of the U.S. bombing of Vieques War Crimes Tribunal on the U.S. role in of charge when generators needed fuel. expose the tip of the iceberg. Puerto Ri- and illnesses that resulted. Carlos Zenón, Vietnam; Gerardo Cajamarca, a Colombi- Uruguay, Mexico and Cuba offered soli- can radio stations have requested inter- whose family was the first to be evicted an union organizer now in exile after death darity, which also was blocked. views about the Tribunal. to build the U.S. military base in Vieques, threats; and the Rev. Luis Barrios, a pro- Puerto Rico has always been a U.S. lab- fessor at John Jay College of Criminal Jus- WW: Who are some of the people will testify by video. oratory for many things: to experiment tice and pastor of Holyrood Church/Iglesia coming from the island to testify? Researcher Ana María Garcia, producer with birth control pills; a laboratory of of a very well-known documentary on the Santa Cruz, which is the Tribunal venue militarization, like Vieques; invasions, Joubert-Ceci: Ava Ayala, a teacher forced sterilization of Puerto Rican women, and provides a sanctuary and organizing like Santo Domingo, Grenada, Panama. from the union EDUCAMOS, is speaking “La Operación,” will also testify by video. center for many New York communities. What happens in Puerto Rico doesn’t stay on the fight for public education. WW: Who are the prosecutor WW: The governor of Puerto Rico, in Puerto Rico. Mariana Nogales, the lawyer for Nina and jurors? Ricardo Rosselló, just announced he Right-wing governments now installed Droz, will speak on her case. Droz is a would allow the city of Ponce to be used across Latin America are part of the en- Joubert-Ceci: The charges against the young person arrested on May Day 2017, as a staging area for a U.S.-backed Vene- vironment in which the colonial govern- United States will be leveled by prosecu- accused of attempting to set fire to the zuelan opposition. Your comment? ment of Puerto Rico is being used against concrete Banco Popular building with a tor Dr. Augusto Zamora, an international Joubert-Ceci: Historically, the govern- Venezuela. The U.S. views Puerto Rico as match. It’s a ridiculous charge, but she is lawyer from Nicaragua. He took a case on ment of Puerto Rico facilitates the domi- a laboratory, and will try to impose fiscal in a U.S. federal prison as an example to U.S. violations of Nicaraguan sovereign- nation of PR by the United States. That is control boards, like the one they are try- intimidate the resistance in Puerto Rico. ty to the International Court and won a the role of a governor in a colony. ing out in Puerto Rico, in other places. Also testifying about repression are judgment against the U.S. The U.S. wants to reconquer Venezuela. The Emergency Tribunal is a step in First came the destabilization campaign. building solidarity to close down the im- Then the Organization of American States perialist laboratory. zeroed in on Venezuela, the U.S. imposed For more information or to reserve Judge rules expulsion is racist sanctions and Trump declared that a mil- space at the Oct. 27 Tribunal, go to itary invasion is an option. PuertoRicoTribunal.org. By G. Dunkel Trump has made it abundantly clear “that people with brown skin are unwelcome.” In a decision issued Oct. 3 in Cali- Wilson has visited Haiti and seen the fornia, Judge Edward Chen called the extreme devastation, including damage Department of Homeland Security’s from hurricanes, a 2010 earthquake and “actions … based on animus against non- two outbreaks of cholera introduced by white, non-European immigrants in vio- United Nations “peacekeepers.” Accord- lation of Equal Protection guaranteed by ing to Wilson, “There is a definite need to the Constitution.” He said politely, with continue TPS for Haitian nationals.” a lot of wiggle room, what most people According to the Center for Migra- would simply call “racist” and protected tion Studies, 51,700 TPS holders work the immigrants from expulsion. in construction. Other industries also The DHS had decided that nearly have thousands of TPS workers: 32,400 300,000 people who had temporary pro- in restaurants and food services, 15,800 tected status (TPS), which allows them to in landscaping services, 10,000 in child live and work in the United States, would care and 9,200 in grocery stores. have to wrap up their lives and leave the On the same day that Chen made his U.S. Following Judge Chen’s decision, ruling, six tractor-trailers driven by immi- citizens of Sudan, El Salvador, Haiti and grants with TPS surrounded the Los Ange- Nicaragua who legally live and work in les Detention Center. This action was part the U.S. will now have their status con- of three days of protests at the port by the tinued. Meanwhile, a lawsuit challenging Teamsters, demanding that drivers be giv- the DHS attempt to eliminate their pro- en the status of workers, with benefits, not tections continues. treated as independent contractors. TPS protects migrants in the U.S. who Ron Herrera, vice president of the West- come from countries that have been hit ern Region of the Teamsters, said that the by dire conditions, such as epidemics, action is part of a new era in the Teamsters war or natural disaster. union, where they intend to advocate on Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), whose behalf of their immigrant members. Miami district includes a large communi- “We’re a little late and we were never ty of Haitian-Americans, told the Miami at the front, but when the dynamics of Herald on Oct. 4 that she wasn’t surprised our people changed, we had to change that the judge found “direct evidence of with it,” Herrera told BuzzFeed News on animus.” From the beginning of Trump’s Oct. 3. “We realized a majority of workers administration, and especially “more we’re trying to organize are TPS holders recently with the inhumane treatment and immigrants. A lot of them were pre- of migrant children,” President Donald dominantly immigrant Hispanics.” Page 10 Oct. 11, 2018 workers.org

Italy and USA The political power of arms

Struggle against The author is an Italian military cause a deficit of almost $1 trillion in the analyst who first published this article federal budget in fiscal year 2019. This in the Oct. 2 issue of Il Manifesto. will further increase the U.S. federal A legacy of fightback Workers World Managing Editor John government’s debt, which has risen to Catalinotto translated the article. around $21.5 trillion. This debt is countered domestically By Manlio Dinucci The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh meate every aspect of class relations in by cuts in social spending and abroad by to the Supreme Court on Oct. 6 was un- the U.S. today. When the Italian government an- printing dollars. The U.S. dollar is used doubtedly a win — for the moment — for In “The Origin of the Family, Private nounced that a financial maneuver by as the main currency of the world’s cur- the U.S. capitalist class seeking to keep Property and the State,” Friedrich Engels the government would result in a defi- rency reserves and commodity prices. its grip on repressive state power. That wrote that the fall of matriarchal society cit of around 27 billion euros ($31.3 bil- But there are those who grow wealthy he was voted in despite credible and pow- in prehistory had been a “world defeat of lion), there was an immediate alarm in from the growing military expenditures. erful evidence that he sexually assaulted women.” He referred to the partitioning the markets and the European Union, They are the giants of the war industry. several women emphasizes the shameless of society into classes as ruling-class men the political opposition went on the at- Among the world’s 10 largest arms man- brutality of this ruling class. asserted control over surplus resources, tack and the president of the republic ufacturers, six are based in the U.S.: Millions experienced this reactionary over the bodies of men who were workers appealed to the constitution. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon victory as agony, as the hearings called up and over the bodies of women, who were There was absolute silence, however, Company, Northrop Grumman, Gen- their own experiences of trauma — women, both workers and the only people who both in the government and in the oppo- eral Dynamics and L3 Technologies. especially women of color, gender noncon- could produce more people. sition, about the fact that Italy spends a These are followed by the British BAE forming women, young and older women, Now, as anger has built again over similar amount in one year for military Systems, the French-Dutch Airbus, the women with disabilities, trans people of women being abused and treated as prop- purposes. The 2018 figure is around 25 Italian Leonardo (formerly Finmeccan- all genders. And others also — women and erty, there is the chance to build solidarity billion euros; other military items bring ica), which climbed to ninth place, and men assaulted when they were children by and intertwined struggles for justice. As it to over 27 billion. That’s more than the French Thales. those who held power over them. Dorothy Ballan noted in “Feminism and 70 million euros ($81 million) a day. These manufacturers are not just in- And millions have been called to fury Marxism,” Engels understood that patri- Though that’s increasing as Italy has dividual giant arms companies. They and renewed fightback, as the depth of archy was not eternal. If patriarchy was committed itself in NATO to bring it up form the military-industrial complex, sexual violence toward women and other established at the same time as class soci- to around 100 million euros ($116 mil- closely integrated with institutions and genders was revealed. ety, then it could also be dismantled along lion) a day. parties, in a wide and deep interweaving As the struggle continues, those ready to with class society. Why does no politician question the of interests. This creates a true arms es- act have powerful histories of organized re- We are inspired by the rising of the re- growing disbursement of public money tablishment, whose profits and powers sistance to draw on. The march of Missing cent U.S. strike of low-wage McDonald’s for weapons, armed forces and military increase as tension and wars increase. and Murdered Indigenous Women in Se- workers. Led by women of color, they de- interventions? Because it would mean The Italian company Leonardo, attle on Oct. 4 is a reminder of how Native clared a Sept. 18 walkout against rampant going against the United States, the which derives 85 percent of its revenues peoples have fought colonizing assaults, in- sexual abuse at their jobs. Supported by “privileged ally” (i.e.. the dominant im- from the sale of arms, is integrated in cluding rape, for centuries with women and male worker allies, the women demanded perialist state), which requires Italy to the U.S. military-industrial complex. It two-spirit people in leadership. both their rights as workers and their liber- continuously increase military spend- supplies products and services not only For Black women in the U.S., the strug- ation as women — to end their bodies being ing. to the armed forces and the companies gles against rape, sexual assault and many used as company property at the whim of For the fiscal year 2019 (which began of the Pentagon, but also to the intelli- other crimes of racism — led by Ida B. Bells, owners, managers and customers. Oct. 1, 2018), the U.S. arms expendi- gence agencies, while in Italy it manages Anna J. Cooper and others — are inextrica- Marx and Engels, in the Communist ture exceeds $700 billion, plus other the plant in Cameri making Lockheed bly intertwined. Perhaps the earliest U.S. Manifesto, said the goal of communists military items, including almost $200 Martin F-35 fighters. record of an organized anti-rape effort was a world in which women were liberat- billion for retired soldiers. Total U.S. In September, Leonardo was chosen comes from 1866, when a group of Afri- ed from being “articles of commerce and military spending thus rises to over $1 by the Pentagon, with Boeing as the first can-American women testified before Con- instruments of labor.” trillion per year, or a quarter of federal contractor, to supply the U.S. Air Force gress that a white mob, including police, In Workers World Party, we are fight- spending [including Social Security and with the AW139 attack helicopter. had perpetrated gang rape against them ing for the liberation of all women from Medicare benefits]. In August, Fincantieri (controlled by and their community during the Memphis all forms of sexual violence and exploita- A growing investment in war allows the finance company of the Ministry of Riot. (tinyurl.com/gny47ox) tion. We are fighting for a world in which the U.S., according to the 2018 National Economy and Finance) with Lockheed This legacy of resistance remind us that all people of every gender, sexuality, age, Defense Strategy Summary, to meet its Martin delivered to the U.S. Navy two a struggle against violence toward women nationality, ability and disability are free goal to “remain the pre-eminent mili- additional Coast Guard ships. must be simultaneously a struggle against from abuse and exploitation, and free to tary power in the world, ensure that All this must be kept in mind when racism and national oppression, and a develop brilliantly and beautifully in all the balance of power remains ... and one wonders why, in Italian parliamen- struggle to overturn the system of private their many aspects. We are fighting to advances in our favor an international tary and institutional bodies, there is an property relations that historically gave build a socialist road to that world. We order that is most conducive to our se- overwhelming consensus among many rise to the ideas and practices of male su- must be willing to meet every challenge to curity and prosperity.” of the parties not to cut, but instead to premacy and white supremacy that per- make that happen. However, military expenditure will increase military spending. Chicago forum highlights anti-colonial struggles

By Andy Shihadeh cupied by Israel. Representatives of the seeks to directly give voice to the people financial support and solidarity network Chicago Puerto Rico Tribunal, Chicago Boricua of Puerto Rico, to hear their testimony building, among many other things.” Resistance, Anakbayan Chicago, Chicago and to place the blame for these colonial Dozens of Chicago activists gathered Workers World Party, and a Palestinian crimes at the feet of the United States.” Movement against Duterte dictatorship for a Sept. 30 public forum on current an- scholar spoke on these interconnected The International Tribunal on U.S. in the Philippines ti-colonial struggles in Puerto Rico, the struggles. Crimes in Puerto Rico is being held on Julian Ignacio, secretary general of Philippines and Palestine to discuss the “As people living in the United States, Oct. 27 in New York City. For more infor- Anakbayan Chicago, a comprehensive upcoming International Tribunal on U.S. we have a special duty to support these mation, visit PuertoRicoTribunal.org. To organization of Filipino youth working Colonial Crimes in Puerto Rico. These liberation struggles,” Kaitlyn Griffith, help contribute to cover the costs of the to support the national democratic strug- countries all share a common history of Chicago WWP member, said in introduc- Tribunal, visit gofundme.com/Tribunal- gle in the Philippines, spoke on the cur- colonial oppression, and the people of ing the panel. “It is the U.S. that provides PuertoRico. rent movement against the dictatorship each offer inspiring examples, both past military aid to Israel and the Philippines, Miguel Alvelo, an activist with Chica- of President Rodrigo Duterte. “The so- and current, of struggles for liberation. bankrupted Puerto Rico and failed to pro- go Boricua Resistance, an organization called ‘war on drugs’ in the Philippines It has been 120 years since the U.S. in- vide real aid during Hurricane Maria.” of Puerto Ricans opposed to the Fiscal is a war on the poor, workers, Muslims vasion and colonization of Puerto Rico; Berta Joubert-Ceci, a key organizer Control Board, highlighted actions that and the people’s movements, and the U.S. 120 years since the people of the Philip- of the Tribunal, provided detailed back- Puerto Ricans in the diaspora can take in provides millions in funds that support pines liberated themselves from Spanish ground on U.S. policies and economic solidarity with those living on the island. these policies,” Ignacio said. “But there is rule; and 70 years since the Nakba — “the warfare that contributed to the unnat- “Puerto Rico constitutes a people divided a strong movement against Duterte and catastrophe” — the forced expulsion of ural disaster that came in the wake of across an ocean by the forces of imperi- bureaucrat-capitalism being led by the Palestinians from their homeland by Zi- Hurricane Maria. “The island and its alism, colonialism and capitalism,” Al- Communist Party of the Philippines and onist settlers. people have been exploited for the ben- velo said. “We always refer to the people the National Democratic Movement.” Today, Puerto Rico is still a colony of efit of the U.S. ruling class through low on the ground in Puerto Rico to inform Ignacio also highlighted the struggle of the U.S.; the Philippines is nominally in- wages, high-interest debt and plunder of our actions. Using this as a guiding force, Filipino NutriAsia workers, who became dependent, but in reality is a neocolony natural resources — all before Maria hit,” the diaspora can engage in advocacy, di- the target of anti-worker violence at the of the United States; and Palestine is oc- Joubert-Ceci pointed out. “The Tribunal rect action, education, physical support, Continued on the next page workers.org Oct. 11, 2018 Page 11 Venezuela 20 years in the gunsights of U.S. imperialism

By Kayla Popuchet lishment as a sovereign state aiming to machines which are 100 percent audit- Thus, Washington blatantly intervened establish socialism has made it the target. able at each stage, unlike machines used against a sovereign nation. The U.S. and its proxies in Latin Amer- The oil reserves make it a valuable target. in the U.S. ica are gearing up for possible military The U.S. has continued to follow the The Venezuelan opposition had public- What this means for Latin Americans intervention against the Bolivarian gov- racist and chauvinistic 1823 Monroe ly boycotted the elections despite Maduro Poverty in Venezuela has been reduced ernment of Venezuela. Last February, Doctrine, when U.S. President James urging them to participate and even agree- since the Bolivarian government started then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Monroe declared U.S. hegemony regard- ing to give the opposition an extra month using revenue from the nationalized oil toured Latin American countries, rally- ing all the land, resources and people of to campaign. Despite this clear victory industry to invest in social programs, ing support for such aggression. U.S. of- the Western Hemisphere. While the orig- with no basis for claiming the election was which have increased by 60 percent in ficials have met since then with dissident inal declaration appeared to be aimed at questionable, the U.S. government placed the past ten years. Alliances with Cuba Venezuelan officers to discuss support for European colonizers, the doctrine has additional sanctions on Maduro. have made it possible for Cuban doctors, a coup. And President Donald Trump re- been applied against any attempt of the To counter the U.S.’s sanctions and renowned for their skill and solidarity, to portedly asked his administration to con- Latin American and Caribbean countries their damage to the Venezuelan currency, treat people in rural Venezuelan commu- sider a U.S. intervention. to obtain real sovereignty. the Bolívar Fuerte, the Maduro adminis- nities free of charge. What has turned this country on the When countries like Cuba — which tration announced a series of economic According to Gini Coefficient, inequal- northern coast of South America, which established socialism — Venezuela, Bo- reforms. The reforms included estab- ity in Venezuela has been reduced by 54 possesses the single largest oil reserves livia, Nicaragua and earlier Chile have lishing a new currency called the Bolívar percent and poverty by 44 percent. In in the world, into a prime target of U.S. challenged U.S. control over the region Soberano, which has five zeros less than 1996, 70.8 percent of Venezuelans lived imperialism? simply by calling for self-determination, the Bolívar Fuerte (1 Soberano = 10,000 in poverty. By 2010, this figure was re- Since the first victory of the late Hugo the U.S. has replied with economic sanc- Fuerte) and would be backed by Venezue- duced to 21 percent. During his 13 years Chávez 20 years ago in Venezuela’s pres- tions, blockades, violent subversion and la’s oil reserves. in office, Chávez initiated a program idential elections and the process of the military intervention. President Maduro announced these re- called “Misiones,” an anti-poverty pro- Bolivarian Revolution, Venezuela’s estab- What Washington seeks to do in Ven- forms on July 25. Less than two weeks lat- gram which benefited 20 million peo- ezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua is parallel er, an attempt was made on Maduro’s life. ple. Pre-Chávez, 387,000 elderly people to similar U.S. interventionism in 2014 received retirement pensions. Now, 2.1 Framed-up rapper Ukraine, in 1970-73 against the Chilean Assassination attempt million of Venezuela’s 24 million people government led by Salvador Allende and On Aug. 5, during an event commem- receive pensions. released from prison against the Muammar Qaddafi govern- orating the Bolivarian National Guard Additionally, UNESCO has recognized Continued from page 3 ment in 2011 in Libya, which all resulted Forces, two small drones flew maliciously that illiteracy in the Bolivarian Republic in reactionary, fascist-like regimes. above while Maduro was speaking. Sud- has been eliminated. Some 72 percent Rappers have used their own record- denly, one of the drones spun out of con- of children attend public daycare while ings to defy mass incarceration. Brown Sanctions and violent subversion trol and hit the side of a building while the 85 percent of school-age children are in recorded more than a dozen albums Since 2015, the U.S. and its European other exploded midair and injured sever- public school. Venezuela is rated number while imprisoned, and told the Los Ange- allies have placed heavy sanctions on Bo- al people, including Venezuelan soldiers. 2 among Latin American nations with les Times in 2002 that “the music takes livarian Venezuelan leaders while fund- This failed drone attack was a clear students in university while being num- me over these walls.” He used his songs ing and allying with opposition leaders. attempt to kill Maduro only two months ber 5 in the world, proportionately. to maintain his innocence, attack the in- The Venezuelan opposition comes from after his overwhelming re-election. Ven- To combat food shortages, President humanity of mass incarceration and ad- the bourgeois class that is mainly of Eu- ezuelan authorities have identified 43 Maduro in early 2016 announced an ini- vance his developing political worldview. ropean white heritage and that is racist, people involved in this assassination at- tiative, Local Provision and Production Brown is not a politician and his works sexist, and seeks to oppress and exploit tempt, all linked to Julio Borges, a Ven- Committees (CLAPS), which connects maintain many contradictions. Still, on Black, Indigenous and working-class ezuelan opposition leader who resides in grassroot activists and the administra- his Instagram page, Brown has expressed Venezuelans. and coordinates from Bogotá in neigh- tion to provide direct food distribution joy at his early release and commitment In 2015, the opposition in Venezuela boring Colombia. and subsidies to communities which, up to bettering his community. Brown has adopted a new tactic to undermine the Bo- Jorge Rodríguez, the minister for to the present, has been the most effec- immediately begun working in the stu- livarian government by creating violence Communication and Information of Ven- tive program for Venezuelans. dio, but has also displayed his struggles and fear against Chavistas. These rightists ezuela, has relayed that the Colombian The vast majority of Venezuelans are with shifting to small responsibilities he fabricated a narrative of humanitarian government had trained the terrorist Mestizx, Indigenous and Black, while the had not prioritized as a teenager, such as crisis in Venezuela that ultimately put the group aligned with Borges and allowed opposition and the bourgeois are white, washing his own clothes. onus for all problems on Nicolás Maduro several members to cross the border into of colonial Spanish descent, whose wealth Though Brown is no activist, his per- and the United Socialist Party of Venezue- Venezuela. was gained through landlordship and sistence and cultural work undoubtedly la (PSUV) that governed the country. slave labor. María Emilia Durán, an Af- played a role in advancing the current Members of the opposition group Ven- Continued aggression ro-Venezuelan activist, told TeleSUR, “It’s movement against mass incarceration. te Venezuela, who the U.S. calls freedom Every September in New York City at the a white, bourgeois, classist, racist and sex- We should all remember that during a fighters, shot and killed civilians. This United Nations headquarters, high-level ist elite that has no patriotism,” and that time in which liberals and Democratic opposition set on fire and killed Orlando delegates from all over the world attend “they want a Venezuela where only they Party officials both supported manda- Figuera, a 17-year-old Afro-Venezuelan, the opening of the General Assembly. exist, not Black, Indigenous and poor peo- tory sentencing, rappers like Brown had for being a supporter of the Bolivarian On Sept. 21, U.S. Secretary of State Mike ple.” South America has a rich racial diver- already begun to sound the alarm. Revolution. In 2017, the opposition set Pompeo told Fox News, “You’ll see in the sity, yet, due to colonialism, much racial 40 tons of subsidized food on fire while at coming days a series of actions that con- discrimination and exploitation exist. the same time claiming Venezuelans are tinue to increase the pressure level against While Black, Mestizx and Indigenous Chicago forum highlights dying of starvation through the fault of the Venezuelan leadership folks.” people make up the continent, the ruling the government. Opposition leader Julio On Sept. 25, as the debates in the U.N. class of most of the nations is wealthy anti-colonial struggles Borges has called for banks to freeze the began, the U.S. placed sanctions on Cil- and white. In the summer of 2017, after Continued from page 10 accounts of Venezuelan leaders. ia Flores de Maduro, the president of the much outcry from Black Latinx people, hands of police when they went on strike In New York City on Sept. 27, Jorge National Assembly and former attorney multiple Latin American nations such as against exploitative conditions. You can Arreaza, the minister of Foreign Affairs general of Venezuela, and on an addition- Peru and Mexico finally recognized “Af- donate to support the NutriAsia campaign of Venezuela, told supporters of the Boli- al two Venezuelan officials. Cilia Flores is rolatinidad” as a category. at tinyurl.com/supportNutriAsiaworkers. varian Revolution that sanctions the U.S. also President Maduro’s spouse. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Addressing the special connection be- placed on members of the Venezuelan Maduro made a last-minute decision to remains one of the few Latin American tween the Philippines and Puerto Rico, government ultimately prevent money come to New York City and speak at the countries that actively works to decon- Alvelo said, “We share the same colonial from going to the state, which would then General Assembly. At Riverside Church struct racism and discrimination, and masters — both Spain in the past and the use the funds for the people. in Harlem on Sept. 26, Maduro made a celebrates the most oppressed in the United States now. We see solidarity as Arreaza explained that Venezuela will surprise appearance, giving a message country. It is this, too, that the Venezue- absolutely essential in our struggles; we send oil to European countries and when from the Venezuelan people to counter lan opposition wants to turn back. are both islands!” One of the ways the these countries try to pay for the oil, be- imperialist propaganda to a crowd of over The Bolivarian Revolution, much like Puerto Rican diaspora is organizing to cause of these sanctions, the bank holds 2,000 people who had come to hear Cu- the Cuban Revolution, is symbolic to the support the island is through Solidarity the money. According to the Venezuela ban President Miguel Díaz Canel speak. working and oppressed that it is possible Brigades, which you can support at re- Analysis, Trump’s sanctions against the The next day outside the U.N., right- for the people to win. As Jorge Arreaza dapoyomutuo.org/donaciones. country have cost the Bolivarian Repub- wing Venezuelans protested the Maduro said in New York City on Sept. 27, “They Samer Owaida, a Chicago-based Pal- lic $6 billion. This one example can show administration and called for military [the U.S.] demonize us because we are estinian activist and scholar, presented how sanctions are causing economic cri- intervention in the country. U.S. Ambas- socialists.” a slideshow displaying original research sis, not the Bolivarian system. sador Nikki Haley, known for her sup- These revolutions are integral to the that he helped conduct while in Palestine Last May 20, Nicolás Maduro was re- port for Israel and Saudi Arabia, not to Black Latin American Revolution, and during the summer. He used both quan- elected president of Venezuela with 68 mention the U.S. Confederacy, joined the it is important for those in the imperial- titative and qualitative methods to inves- percent of the vote. International observ- protest. Haley reassured the “escuálidos” ist core to defend Bolivarian ideals from tigate the environmental effects of the ers and the Venezuelan National Elector- [the filthy, weak ones] that the Trump U.S. and fascist aggression. Israeli occupation and its consequences al Commision confirmed the transparen- administration backs their agenda and Joe Emersberger - https://venezuela- on Palestinians. cy of the election. Venezuela uses voting will work to remove Maduro from office. nalysis.com/analysis/14073 Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 60 Núm. 41 11 de Oct. 2018 $1 Detener ataques a pueblos indígenas Bangsamoro instigados por régimen Duterte/EUA

Por Monica Moorehead de pueblos indígenas a los grupos paramil- extranjeros de energía, minería y planta- itares, especialmente en las comunidades ciones. El siguiente testimonio fue presentado lumad de Mindanao. Trump dijo durante su visita en noviem- en el Tribunal Internacional de los Pueblos Estos grupos paramilitares siembran bre 2017 que las Filipinas son “el más valioso sobre delitos económicos, políticos y socia- el terror, la división y la desintegración de inmueble desde el punto de vista militar.” El les contra el pueblo filipino. El tribunal se estructuras sociopolíticas tradicionales en 31 de agosto, EUA afirmó su apoyo a la guer- llevó a cabo del 18 al 19 de septiembre en nuestras comunidades. Otras manifesta- ra contra el “terror,” la ley marcial y Oplan Bruselas, Bélgica. Para leer sobre el tribu- ciones del programa de contrainsurgencia Kanayapaan diciendo que “las fuerzas de nal, vaya a tinyurl.com/y9jn8mxq/. enfocado en los pueblos indígenas son la operaciones especiales de EUA continu- Soy Pya Macliing Malayao, miembro del presentación de cargos exagerados contra arán asistiendo a las Fuerzas Armadas de consejo de líderes de SANDUGO, el Mov- líderes comunitarios indígenas; destruc- las Filipinas (AFP) en Mindanao mediante imiento de los Pueblos Moro e Indígenas ción de las facilidades y el sustento comu- apoyo que ayuda a los comandantes de AFP para la Autodeterminación. También soy nitario; el cierre forzado de escuelas lumad, en su lucha contra los militantes”. El apoyo secretaria general de Katribu Kalipunan Monica Moorehead, una jurado, (izquierda) que expresan nuestro derecho a la autode- estadounidense es para “aumentar capaci- ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, y Pya Macliing Malayao en el Tribunal Inter- terminación. dades de inteligencia, vigilancia, y recono- o Katribu. Katribu es la alianza nacional de nacional del Pueblo en Bruselas, Belgica. Maestras/os, madres, padres e hijas/os cimiento” de las AFP. En los últimos años organizaciones de pueblos indígenas en Fil- saquean nuestros territorios ancestrales, reciben amenazas de muerte y son acosa- las Filipinas han sido el mayor receptor de ipinas. Fue fundada en 1987 en respuesta a las políticas contrainsurgente, y la “guerra das/os. El 5 de septiembre de 2017, Obello ayuda militar en la región Indo-Pacífica. la escalada en violaciones de nuestros dere- contra el terror”. Bay-ao, un joven líder manobo y estudi- Una serie reciente de ataques aéreos y chos colectivos a nuestras tierras ancestral- Bajo las políticas neoliberales prevaleci- ante del 7º grado en la escuela comunitar- bombardeos indiscriminados por el AFP es y a nuestra autodeterminación. entes, los territorios de los pueblos moro e ia Lumad Salugpongan, fue asesinado por en Maguindanao, que duró 10 días, y que Soy una Igorot de la tribu Bontok en Mt indígenas están invadidos por las grandes miembros de un grupo paramilitar que fue dirigido por las Fuerzas Especiales de Province. Bajo el régimen de los EUA y transnacionales, burócratas, empresas lo- fueron reclutados, armados, y entrenados EUA mató a un civil, hirió severamente a Duterte, fui víctima de un intento de ase- cales, y por el mismo gobierno. Entre los por fuerzas del estado. tres y desplazó a más de 7.000 personas sinato y arresto ilegal durante la violenta territorios ancestrales que ataca el régimen Cuando organizamos una manifestación moro, incluyendo 400 niños y 50 mujeres dispersión de una acción de protesta de los EUA-Duterte están el valle Andap, las sier- exigiendo una política exterior independ- embarazadas. El 14 de septiembre, siete pueblos indígenas y Moro frente a la Emba- ras de Pantaron, Daguma, Zambales, Sierra iente en frente de la embajada de EUA, la campesinos jóvenes Tausug Moro fueron jada de los EUA en Manila exigiendo una Madre, Cordillera, y el pantano Liguassan, policía nos dispersó para no avergonzarse torturados y masacrados por el ejército en política exterior independiente. e incluso las tierras del pueblo Bangsam- ante los oficiales de la embajada estadoun- Sulu. Además, la prohibición de Trump Solo para dar una breve introducción oro. Esto ha llevado a la destrucción de idense. contra los musulmanes en EUA causó que sobre los pueblos indígenas y moro en Fil- nuestros lugares sagrados ancestrales, a la Al igual que una unidad móvil de la nuestro co-líder, Jerome Succor Aba, fuera ipinas: los pueblos indígenas representan pobreza, al desplazamiento y a la pérdida policía mató a decenas de personas moro torturado por fuerzas estadounidenses en aproximadamente el 15 por ciento de la de territorios ancestrales. e indígenas, el régimen Duterte pisotea sin California. población total del país. Están compues- Para asegurar el control completo sobre piedad los derechos de los pueblos moro e El desplazamiento de comunidades tos por más de 100 grupos principales, la estos territorios ancestrales y sus recursos, indígena. moro e indígenas – resultado de los llama- mayoría de los cuales se encuentran en el presidente Rodrigo Duterte ha continua- La guerra desatada de Duterte, la guer- dos programas de desarrollo y los ataques Mindanao, denominados colectivamente do implementando la guerra contra el “ter- ra contra el “terror” y la imposición de la fascistas contra nuestra lucha por los dere- Lumad; el resto están en diferentes par- ror” impulsada por EUA contra los pueblos ley marcial en Mindanao han resultado en chos colectivos a los territorios ancestrales tes de Luzón y las Visayas. Los moros son indígenas y bangsamoro. Ha expandido violaciones masivas de los derechos de los y la autodeterminación – llevarían final- 13 grupos etnolingüísticos en Filipinas, la los programas de contrainsurgencia de las pueblos Moro e indígenas, tanto sus dere- mente al etnocidio, la muerte y la extinción mayoría de los cuales abrazaron el Islam previas administraciones mediante la Op- chos como pueblo, como sus derechos bajo de nuestras vidas, cultura e identidad. y resistieron ferozmente el colonialismo eración Kapayapaan, un programa modela- la ley humanitaria internacional. El régimen EUA-Duterte ha decidido de- struir cualquier forma de resistencia. español y estadounidense. Comprenden el do en la Guía de Contrainsurgencia de EUA. Entre los casos reportados hay 67 vícti- cinco por ciento de la población filipina y se mas de asesinatos extrajudiciales, 27 in- Enfrentándose a estos ataques de etno- encuentran principalmente en Mindanao Duterte y Trump trabajan mano a mano cidencias de bombardeos que afectaron cidio, los pueblos moro e indígenas están Central, Basilan, Sulu y Tawi-Tawi. a 353.988 personas; 58 incidencias de aún más determinados a elevar nuestra Siguiendo las órdenes de los imperialis- Los moros y los pueblos indígenas evacuación forzada afectando a 401.582 lucha por nuestros derechos colectivos tas estadounidenses, el régimen Duterte se enfrentan el problema distintivo de la personas; 140 incidencias de ataques contra y democráticos. Los crímenes contra los ha comprometido a apoyar la Operación opresión nacional, la negación sistemática e escuelas comunitarias lumad; el cierre for- pueblos moro e indígenas tienen que ce- “Pacific Eagle Philippines” (Águila Pacífica institucionalizada y la violación de nuestro zado de 70 escuelas lumad afectando a más sar, y Duterte y el gobierno estadounidense de las Filipinas), un programa estadoun- derecho a la autodeterminación para alca- de 2.600 estudiantes, y cientos de víctimas tiene que ser obligados a asumir respons- idense de contrainsurgencia que también nzar libremente nuestro desarrollo social, de detención ilegal y cargos exageradas. abilidad. afecta a los bangsamoro. El régimen Dute- económico y cultural y determinar nuestro El asedio de la ciudad de Mara- rte intensificó aún más su represión de los estatus político. wi ha resultado en la devastación moro y lumad con su guerra descontrolada La opresión nacional instigada por el es- del principal centro del pueblo y la ley marcial en Mindanao. tado y las elites gobernantes incluye la den- moro, causando su diáspora a El régimen Duterte continuó la Apli- egación de nuestros derechos territoriales, otras regiones y la pérdida de su cación del Programa Nacional de Seguri- la falsa representación y subversión de nues- patrimonio cultural. dad Interna sobre Pueblos Indígenas y el tros sistemas sociales y políticos, la discrim- Otras comunidades moro son Enfoque Centrado en Pueblos Indígenas en inación institucionalizada, el chauvinismo consistentemente militarizadas sus programas de contrainsurgencia. Estos cristiano, la islamofobia, la comercialización bajo el régimen Duterte. De julio se enfocan particularmente en el papel que de la cultura, la negligencia social o la neg- 2016 a finales de mayo 2018, por tienen los pueblos indígenas en neutralizar ación de servicios básicos, y ataques fascis- lo menos 15.757 personas se han la insurgencia en las zonas rurales. tas y militarización. reportado evacuadas solo en la Mediante la “neutralización” de nuestras Hemos estado afirmando nuestro dere- provincia de Maguindanao. comunidades, las Fuerzas Armadas de las cho a la autodeterminación durante déca- El imperialismo estadoun- Filipinas esperan contener la expansión das mediante la defensa de nuestros terri- idense bajo Donald Trump apoya y la movilidad del Nuevo Ejército Popular torios y el desarrollo continuo de nuestros activamente al fascista Duter- en las áreas remotas. Duterte usa una es- sistemas económicos, políticos y culturales. te, proporcionando orientación, trategia inter-agencial, involucrando acti- Hemos lanzado una campaña legal para la entrenamiento, fondos, armas, vamente a las agencias gubernamentales en autodeterminación y la democracia nacio- e información de inteligencia a los programas de contrainsurgencia tanto nal, y también una lucha armada. Usamos las fuerzas del estado. También a nivel regional como nacional, incluyen- nuestros sistemas tradicionales de defensa proporciona intervención militar do las agencias de los pueblos indígenas, y participamos en la resistencia armada directa bajo la cobertura de trat- el seguro social, la educación, la justicia, y para la autodeterminación que está libran- ados unilaterales con el gobierno otras. Duterte aprovecha el sistema tradi- do el Partido Comunista de las Filipinas, el Filipino. El gobierno estadoun- cional de cultura y defensa para aumentar Frente de Liberación Islámica Moro, Frente idense tiene extensos intereses las fuerzas del estado y sus operaciones de de Liberación Nacional Moro, Movimiento económicos y geopolíticos en los contrainsurgencia. de Libertad Islámica Bangsamoro e incluso territorios de los pueblos moro e Las comunidades y los territorios ataca- grupos crecientes extremistas. indígenas. Estas regiones alojan dos por la contrainsurgencia y los pro- Hemos sido criminalizados y atacados bases militares de los Estados gramas económicos están severamente por nuestra resistencia y la afirmación de Unidos, exploraciones petroleras afectadas por la militarización. Entre las nuestros derechos colectivos en contra multinacionales en el mar Sulu y estrategias que usan son el reclutamiento de las políticas del estado que invaden y el pantano Liguasan y proyectos