• AUSTRALIA $2.00 • BELGIUM BF60 • CANADA $2.00 • FRANCE FF1 0 • ICELAND Kr150 • NEW ZEALAND $2.50 • SWEDEN Kr1 0 • UK £1.00 • U.S. $1 .50 INSIDE Socialist candidate arrested at Peoria Caterpillar rally THE - PAGE 2 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 56/ NO. 14 April 10. 1992 Defend Support the socialist abortion alternative in 1992! rights! Tens of thousands of supporters of abor­ Warren and DeBates campaign against tion rights will be marching in the streets of Washington. D.C.. April 5. This demonstra­ tion will be an important countermobilization two parties of war, racism, depression to the unrelenting attacks by the government

BY GREG McCARTAN WASHINGTON. D.C. - The Socialist EDITORIAL Workers Party candidates for U.S. president and vice-president. James Warren and Es­ and right-wing forces against a woman's telle DeBates, kicked off their campaign at right to choose. a national press conference here March 31. The Jan. 22, 1973, Supreme Court de­ The two candidates said they will join c ision legalizing abortion was a historic victory for the rights of women. Be fore supporters across the country for the next the Roe v. Wade decree abortion was ille­ eight months campaigning to present a so­ cialist alternative, raise an internationalist gal in most states. Thousands of women and working-class voice, and build the fight were made to bear children against their against the increasingly reactionary course will or forced into an illegal and danger­ ous back-alley abortion. of the two parties of big business - the Democrats and Republicans. The fight for abortion rights 20 years ago was part of other important social struggles " All of my opponents in this election­ taking place. The involvement of large num­ George Bush. Patrick Buchanan, William bers in the civil rights struggle for Black Clinton. Edmund Brown, and H. Ross Perot equality and the international movement to - have a conspiracy of silence on the central end the war in Vietnam aided the fight to issue in world politics," presidential candi­ establish a woman's right to choose as the date Warren said. "That is the fact that the law of the land. It was these massive fights. imperialist war against Iraq was the opening not the particular combination of judges who guns of World War Ill." sat on the Supreme Court. that forced through Warren is a steelworker from Chicago. abortion rights. Forty years old. he is a member of the Steel­ But from the moment the ink was dry workers union and a central leader of the on the Supreme Court ruling, a woman's SWP. DeBates, 32 years old, has been a production worker in the garment industry Continued on Page 18 and belonged to the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. She is currently a staff writer for the Militant and a leader of the socialist youth movement. i Operation Militant photos by Charles Ostrofsky Held at the National Press Club, the press James Warren, right, and Estelle DeBates announcing the socialist campaign for U.S. conference was attended by reporters from president and vice-president at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Rescue plans the Gannett news service, the Mexican press agency Notimex, Voice ofAmerica , the Chris­ tian Science Monitor, the Chicago Tribune, respond to the new world disorder emanating around the globe in a desperate attempt to Buffalo clinic and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The candi­ out of the combined results of the war against salvage the crisis-ridden system of capital­ dates were later interviewed by the Pacifica Iraq, the disintegration of the Soviet Union, ism." he said. "The true face of what workers, Radio Network and several radio stations. and the world depression that is affecting not farmers, and young people confront becomes blockade only the Third World but Europe, North clearer with each passing day." 'New world disorder' America. and Japan," Warren said. Warren pointed to Washington's war "At the center of the debate in U.S. ruling "They have tactical divisions over how moves against Iraq. North Korea, and Libya; Abortion rights backers call circles in this election year is how they can best to press their assault on working people its unceasing economic blockade and mili­ rallies Aprilll and 26 tary pressure against Cuba; and its determi­ nation to remain the undisputed strategic to help defend clinics Inside: special 'International Soc ialist Review' supplement military power in the world - as detailed in a recent Pentagon report - as examples of BY RONI McCANN this course. BUFFALO, New York-The antiabor­ Buchananism: What It Is and How To Fight It "We call on Washington to get its war­ tion organization Operation Rescue has ships, bombers, submarines, troops, and hit called on its supporters to converge on this The Socialist Alternative In 1992 squads out of every comer of the globe they city April 20 for a month of picketing and are in," Warren said. Along with DeBates, blockades dubbed ''The Spring for Life." ·what has opened up within the c hanan has put a sp otlight on the Warren wi ll travel to North Korea next month Supporters of a woman's right to choose U.S. ruling class Is the most Important rightward political shift of the capi­ to express his solidarity with the Korean abortion are gearing up in the face of the debate on foreign policy since the talist two-party system as a whole. people's struggle for reunification and rightists' actions. 1930s,• said Jack Barnes. national A few days after Barnes's talk, a against the unremitting military and eco­ secretary of the Socialist Workers p ress conference in Washington. nomic pressure from Washington. DeBates Operation Rescue was the central organi­ will then travel to Japan and Warren to Aus­ zation responsible for coalescing antiabor­ Party In a talk at a Militant Labor D.C .• announced the entry Into the tralia and New Zealand. tion forces in a six-week siege of Wichita, Forum In New York City March 28. 1992 campaign of a voice of the Kansas, last summer. The group mobilizes featured in this Issue. working class: the Socialist Workers Campaign against Buchananism its members in the streets using physical •tn this debate.N he sold. •there Party presidential ticket of James violence and intimidation to blockade abor­ has been no voice speaking for the Warren and Estelle DeBates. In response to a reporter's question as to where the candidates planned to campaign, tion clinics, often with the de facto support historic Int erests of the working Read about the burning questions of the police. class.N Warren said both DeBates and himself were of world politics that Warren, De­ heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota. the fol ­ Instead. the nationalistic • Amer­ Ba tes. and their supporters will be After pro-choice forces began organizing lowing day to mobilize opposition to the to defend abortion rights and public opinion ica FlrstN demagogy of Republican discussing with worki ng people and campaign of Republican Patrick Buchanan, p reside ntial conte nde r Patrick Bu- youth. shifted against the rightists, Operation Res­ who is on a tour of the state. cue left the city. Help campaign for the socialist alternative in 1992. They will join Chris Nisan, Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Congress in the Operation Rescue's announcement that it Fifth District, and his supporters who have will target Buffalo in the wake of its actions Order your bundle of 'International led a fight against the White Student Union, in Wichita has polarized the city. Buffalo one face of Buchananism in this country, mayor James Griffin has welcomed Opera­ Socialist Review' supplements now! Warren said. "These forces of an incipient tion Rescue and its founder Randall Terry. fascist movement represent the real voice and Criticized for his actions, the city official 75¢ each for 5 or more (Cover price: $1 ). face of the future of capitalism. We will help said that he welcomes everyone and that he mobilize the broadest opposition to them in did not ban either the Ku Klux Klan or B lack Send your onierto: 1he ~. 410w..t st., New Yodt, NY 1001•. Continued on Page 6 Continued on Page 6 1,000 transit strikers rally in Pittsburgh

BY MATILDE ZIMMERMANN Pittsburgh to blame the strikers for every­ PITTSBURGH- More than l,OOOangry thing from poverty to crime, for poor service bus drivers and mechanics rallied in down­ and high taxes, for the lack of decent-paying town Pittsburgh March 24, nine days into a jobs. strike that has shut down public transporta­ "The ruling families of Pittsburgh are sud­ tion in the city. They shouted chants in sup­ denly concerned about sick people who can't port of their union and against Port Authority take the bus to their doctors," noted the Transit management, reporters who have dis­ socialist candidate. "But it is their system, torted their strike, and cops who threatened the capitalist system, that is responsible for to arrest them whenever the crowd spilled the fact that 35 million workers in this coun­ into the street. try don't even have health insurance." ''I'm a soldier in this war, and it is a war," Kuniansky, 39, is a member of Oil, said one striker. Another said, "It's not about Chemical and Atomic Workers Union race and religion any more, it's about the rich Local 874 and works at the Arco Chemical and the poor." plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania. She has The 2, 700 members of Local 85 of the been talking to workers on the picket line Amalgamated Transit Union went on strike about her campaign and about the issues March 16, after Port Authority Transit (PAT) in the strike. rejected a fact finder's report that recom­ When one striker said there would be mended raises of 1.5 percent a year for the plenty of money for their contract if it were next three years, pension improvements, and not being spent in other countries, Kuniansk y continuation of quarterly cost-of-living explained she did not agree with the "Amer­ raises. ica First" campaign and said that it fed into PAT management claims the raises would the antiworker. antiunion propaganda of Militant/Michael Pennock cost $76 million. " It boils down to one rightists like Patrick Buchanan. When an­ Demonstration March 24 by striking bus drivers and mechanics in downtown Pitts­ burgh. Unionists condemned media distortions about their fight. thing," said PAT board chairman Neal other blamed the PAT deficit partly on the Holmes. "We don't have the money.'' The fact that some riders do not pay their fares, ATU puts the cost at $36 million and says the socialist candidate said she thought ev­ problems. ln this election you have the ultra­ ''will fight against all these divisions that much of this would be offset by worker eryone had a right to access to public trans­ rightist Buchanan appealing to workers to make it difficult for working people to concessions recommended in the report and portation, and that the best thing would be if blame welfare recipients, immigrants, and wage an effective struggle for o ur rights. accepted by the union. The ATU, which has it were free. Japanese workers for the devastating eco­ It is in the interest of all working people worked without a contract for three months, "One of the ways the ruling rich have been nomic crisis. Here PAT wants minimum­ in Pittsburgh to support the bus drivers' is demanding the dispute be sent to binding able to drive workers down over the last 15 wage workers to blame striking drivers for fight to defend their union and hold onto arbitration. years," Kuniansky explained, "is by getting the hardships they suffer. the wages and benefits they have won over Pittsburgh newspapers and television sta­ us to blame other working people for our "My campaign," Kuniansky promised. the years." tions are full of reports on how the strike is hurting the poor and elderly the most. These reports emphasize that the drivers make $13.80 an hour- more than many workers in Pittsburgh - and suggest that any wage Peoria cops arrest socialist candidate increases would come from fare or tax hikes. Typical strike news consists of a picture of a BY MARGARET JA YKO The rally was held in Peoria's Civic Center want socialists distributing literature there. 75-year-old woman carrying her groceries PEORIA, Illinois - Kate Kaku, a mem­ Arena and attracted some 15,000-20,000 ~ ·so we moved the table across the street. 145 steps up a hillside. a story about a single ber of the United Steelworkers of America strikers and their supporters in the UAW, and continued to distribute literature on pub­ mother getting mugged as she walks home and the Socialist Workers Party candidate for other unions, and people from the commu­ lic property," Kaku continued. from work after midnight, interviews with U.S. Senate in Illinois, is demanding that nity. Top UAW officials from Detroit organ­ After campaigning outside for a while. minimum-wage workers and residents of trumped-up charges of criminal trespass and ized and ran the rally. Kaku and Zins went into the civic center to housing projects. A Pittsburgh Post Gazette obstructing police, against her and a cam­ " I and Socialist Workers campaign sup­ hear the rally. A UAW member from Cincin­ poll claims that 63 percent of the city is paign supporter, be dropped immediately. porters around the country arrived at the rally nati introduced Kaku to a coworker who against the strike and calls this "another sign Kaku and campaign supporter Mary Zins, site early in order to distribute our campaign wanted to discuss jailed unionist Mark of the city's transformation from its blue-col­ a laid-off coal miner and member of the newspaper, the Militant; other campaign li t­ Curtis's fight for justice. Curtis is Kaku \ lar past." United Food and Commercial Workers union erature; and a flyer for a socialist campaign husband. in St. Louis. Missouri, were arrested at the open house later in the day," explained Kaku "This worker also expressed his disagree­ Crisis of capitalist system March 22 national rally here in solidarity in an interview after being released from jail. ment with the policy of not allowing cam­ Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. with United Auto Workers (UAW) union Kaku was identified on the leaflet as the paign material to be distributed in the arena:· Congress Joanne Kuniansky said, "PAT man­ members on strike against Caterpillar, Inc. featured speaker at the open house. said Kaku. Despite the fact that the rally wa~ agement and the super-rich families who run Both were released shortly after posting $100 Many campaign supporters are members a public event. open to all who supported the Pittsburgh are trying to blame the bus drivers bail each. A hearing is set for April 20. The of the auto workers and other industrial strike. some marshals began asking for proof for the crisis of their system, the capitalist misdemeanor charges carry penalties of up unions, added Zins, and they came to the of union membership, and arbitrarily exclud­ system. They want other working people in to l3 months in prison and $1 ,500 in fines. rally with their coworkers, many of whom ing some unionists and students. bought copies of the Militant on the way to A socialist campaign supporter from Des the event. Moines. Iowa. was asked by a cop who was Initially, Kaku recalled. campaign sup­ with a group of marshals, .. Are you with that Get the porters were able to freely circulate socialist Oriental woman running for Senate?" After literature inside and outside the arena. Rally grabbing a Militam newspaper out of his bag facts. marshals, most of whom were Caterpillar the marshals and police marched him out of workers, were among those most interested the arena. Some marshals made clear that this in buying the paper that has been supporting exclusionary policy was imposed on them by Subscribe their strike since it began in November, said the top UAW officials; it was not a decision Kaku. made by the striking Peoria local. The "order now. Around 10:45 a.m., the cop who later came from Detroit," was how one put it, arrested Kaku and Zins demanded that a referring to the site of the union's national The Militant reports on: campaign literature table be moved off civic headquarters. • the new U.S. war center property and across the street. The While Kaku was discussing her husband's moves U AW had rented the arena, he said, and didn't Continued on Page 16 how to fight • bank, to above address. By first-class (air­ Buchananism The Militant mail), send $80. Asia: send $80 drawn on a the Caterpillar strike Closing news date: March 31, 1992 U.S. bank to 410 West St., New York, NY • Editor: GREG McCARTAN 10014. Canada: send Canadian $75 for one­ year subscription to Societe d 'Editions AGPP, • the battle to defend Managing Editor: GEORGE BUCHANAN C.P. 340, succ. R, Montreal. Quebec H2S abortion rights Business Manager: Brian Williams 3M2. Britain, Ireland, Africa: £35 for one Editorial Staff: Derek Bracey, Estelle De­ year by check or international money order Bates, Seth Galinsky, Manfn Koppe l, Paul made out to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, Mailhot, Argiris Malapanis, Brian Williams. London, SE 1 8LL, England. Continental Eu­ Published weekly except for next to last week rope: £50 for one year by che.ck or interna­ ~ ------·------in December and biweekly from mid-June to tional money order made out to Militant D Special introductory offer: $10 for 12 weeks mid-August by the Militant (ISSN 0026- Distribution at above address. 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2 The Militant April tO, 1992 Racist attacks on increase in Des Moines Attackers emboldened by police violence and pro-cop campaign in city

BY MIKE GALATI on the city's south side. DES MOINES. Iowa - As many as a This racist attack was part of a campaign dozen white men, yelling "White Power" to terrorize the Belles, a racially mixed and "Let's get the nigger," brutally beat couple, and their children. Police have Lewis Franklin Busch, 38 years old, in the charged that the two youths were planning early morning hours of March 18. to firebomb the Belles' house, and as a Busch, who is Black, was beaten into precaution had the family stay in a motel semiconsciousness and required emergency for a number of days prior to their arresting surgery after the attack. He is currently listed the two. in satisfactory condition by the hospital. The two youths are reported to be mem­ The attack occurred in the parking lot of bers of the group "The Young and the Busch's apartment building, as he was get­ Wasted," a racist gang that has been involved ting out of his car with his girlfriend and two in a number of terror attacks against Blacks small children. Press reports indicated that a and other oppressed minorities in Des number of witnesses tried to come to Busch's Moines. When arrested, police confiscated aid and that they too were attacked by the an amount of racist literature and graffiti, as racist thugs. well as a pellet pistol designed to look like The day after initially reporting the attack, a .45-caliber semi-automatic. the city's big-business newspaper, the Des These attacks occur in the context of the Moines Register, carried an interview with ebbing of the movement demanding that the one of the racists who participated in this cops who beat Larry Milton be jailed, and a attack. He admitted that they had taunted consequent deepening of the counter­ Busch and his family with racist slurs. But campaign against Milton and those who sup­ he claimed that Busch attacked them with a port his fight for justice. tire iron. The Register article concluded by This countercampaign has included a pro­ saying that at this time no criminal charges paganda barrage in the local press praising Militant/Chris Remple had been filed against Busch. the cops and attacking any and all who crit­ Demonstrators in Des Moines, Iowa, protesting police beating of Larry Milton. Racists This case is only the most recent example icize them. It has also included calls by the in the city have gained encouragement from campaign to defend cops. of a growing number of racist attacks that cops for the Federal Communications Com­ have been occurring around this city in recent mission to shut down radio station KUCB, weeks. because of the role it has played in providing last two weeks. First came the arrest of Larry attacks. The beating of Lewis Busch and the On February 26 two 17-year-olds were an open forum for members of the commu­ Milton and his wife on frame-up burglary cross-burning are just the most recent exam­ arrested and charged with burning a cross nity to discuss the question of police brutality. charges, an arrest that was featured on the ples. ln the last few weeks there was also an near the home of Michael and Darlene Belle, This countercampaign was intensified in the front page of the Register. The cops claim attack where vandals painted racist graffiti that a store video camera recorded the theft, around the grounds of Hoover High School. but Milton and his wife were not arrested This is the same school where in December until hours after leaving the store and the a young woman who is Black was attacked, Los Angeles cops arrest item they supposedly stole has never been tied up, and beaten in one of the school recovered. bathrooms by a white woman who threatened Second was the arrest of Dudley Allison, to kill her. While initially the school officials a leader of the Community Support Force and the cops claimed the woman had faked prominent rights activists and one of the main organizers of the recent the attack and tied herself up, the school marches in this city against police brutality. district, in response to public pressure, re­ with a deadly weapon, both activists could BY DAN DICKESON Allison was videotaping the police making cently announced it was forming an indepen­ LOS ANGELES - Michael Zinzun and face years in prison. an arrest in broad daylight from about a block dent panel to investigate this incident. Mafundi Jitahadi, prominent fighters against The Los Angeles Coalition in Solidarity away when a cop came up behind him, put Also, in the past few weeks shots were police brutality in Los Angeles, were arrested with Cuba held a news conference the next a gun to Allison's head, ordered him to put fired through the windows of the Pathfmder March 15 on felony charges of assault while day to tell the truth about what had happened the camera down, then arrested him. Allison Bookstore, and threats have been made helping defend a meeting on Cuba that was and demand that the charges against Zinzun has been charged with two counts of inter­ against KUCB radio station. under attack by rightist thugs. and Jitahadi be dropped. Zinzun, who was fering with the police. The cops claim that Some 80 rightists led by counterrvolution­ able to make bail after midnight, participated they thought be was holding a brick and ary Cubans staged a two-hour siege of a Mike Galati is a packinghouse worker at the in the Monday press conference. Jitahadi was threatening them. community center where the Los Angeles still being held at the time. Monfort packing plant in Marsholltown, Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba was show­ It is this countercampaign that has embold­ Iowa. and a member of United Food and AlJ of the speakers at the press conference ened the racists in the streets to step up their Commercial Workers Local 50N. ing a videotape of the recent "Peace for urged people to attend and publicize the Cuba" rallies. The attackers shouted threats, March 31 Community Demonstration and threw rocks, eggs, and other objects at Against Police Crime and Terror. those coming to the meeting. Some people were shoved or punched. Eli Green, Socialist Workers Party candi­ Iowa cops kill unarmed man The director of the community center had date for County Board of Supervisors in Dis­ trict 2, responded to the attack and frame-up his eyeglasses shattered when he was hit in BY MIKE GALATI Olson, who wimessed the shooting, dis­ by calling for the charges against Michael the face. A woman, who had been struck with DES MOINES-Julius Bryan, a 20- puted the cops' story. He said that deputy Zinzun to be dropped and for the mayor's a stick, called the police. They arrived but year-old student at Des Moines Area Com­ Bennett was standing six to seven feet from office to guarantee the right of people to meet did nothing to protect the people who carne munity College, was shot and killed by an Bryan when he fired into his chest, killing without having their assembly disrupted by to see the video from the violent assault that off-duty Polk County deputy sheriff on the him. right-wing thugs. "The complicity between lasted throughout the meeting. Shortly after morning of March 28. Bryan, who is white, the police and the rightist thugs is obvious Des Moines city cops, who arrived shortly the video showing began, a tear gas cannister was unarmed when he was killed. from the way that the cops encouraged the after the killing, did not perform any tests to was thrown into the meeting room, forcing Deputy sheriff James Bennett together attacks on the meeting by standing back and determine whether Bennett was legally drunk a temporary evacuation assisted by the fire with another cop from the sheriff's depart­ watching while they were going on and then at the time of the killing. They did, however, department. ment admitted that they had been to a arresting activists who tried to defend the right charge David Olson with assault against the After the room was aired out, the video number of different bars drinking prior to of the meeting to take place," said Green sheriff's deputies. showing resumed. Due to the cooperation the killing. of police with the disrupters, organizers Messages of support can be sent to the The cops claim that Bryan and a friend, Later that same morning, a Polk County began calling other activists to come and Committee for Justice, 2824 S. Western Ave., David Olson, attacked them while they were grand jury announced that it had decided not help defend the meeting and help escort Los Angeles, CA 90018; phone (213) 733- walking through an alley. Bennett said that to return any indictments against the three people safely to their cars when the event 2107. during the fight Bryan tried to take his gun, city cops who beat Larry Milton on Decem­ was over. forcing him to shoot. ber 28. Among those called was the Committee for Justice and a Civilian Police Review Quality of health care Board. Zinzun and Jitahadi. two leaders of the committee, agreed to come. When they declining in the U.S. After the March for Women's Lives in Washington, come to ••• arrived they were struck by flying rocks, but BY BRIAN WILLIAMS cops moved in to arrest them instead of their AN OPEN HOUSE The declining state of health care for work­ attackers. Some of the cops recognized ing people in the United States is reflected Zinzun and referred to him by name. Meet the socialist candidates At the Southwest police station, the officer in some recently published statistics. in charge, Sergeant Laughton, and others, "Experts have estimated that 100,000 fraternized with the anti-Castro terrorists for deaths occur annually because people cannot in the 1992 elections hours before coming up with charges against afford health care," writes Vicente Navarro Zinzun and Jitahadi. in the Nation magazine. "Lack of health care james Warren for U.S. President Numerous reports were filed against the causes three times more deaths than AIDS." demonstrators for assault but none of the In 1990, 75 percent of working people Estelle DeBates for Vice-President rightists were detained. During th is time, po­ indicated they had problems paying their lice refused to accept a formal report ofa death medical bills. The overwhelming majority of Sun., April 5 threat made by one of the anti-Castro thugs. U.S. workers lack comprehensive health cov­ According to Sergeant Laughton, "Making a erage. 3-7 p.m. verbal death threat isn't a crime." In the 1980s employers succeeded in sig­ The Los Angeles Police Department later nificantly cutting back the funds they pay for Washington Court Hotel told the press that Zinzun and others had workers' health benefits. Employer-financed ''interrupted the anti-Castro rally, first by contributions for family health coverage fell 524 New jersey Ave., NW shouting at the 150 demonstrators and then from 5 I percent in 1980 to 34 percent in (From the Capitol, go north on New jersey Ave., between E and F St.) by picking up bricks off the street and throw­ 1988. Hourly health insurance benefits have ing them into the crowd." Numerous eye­ been reduced almost by half, from $1.63 per witnesses deny that. If convicted of assault hour in 1980 to $0.85 per hour in 1989. AprillO, 1992 The Militant 3 Legacy of the Communist International Book describes effort to unite workers and peasants against capitalism

Recently Pathfinder Press published the books on the Second Congress are its Militant: Why do you plan to stop publish­ study, most of whom are hostile to commu­ ~rkers ofth e ~rldand Oppressed Peoples, fourth installment. The series starts in ing the record of the International after the nism. And this is what has happened. Al­ Unile I - tbe latest installment in the series 1907, when Lenin and the Bolsheviks Fourth Congress in /922? though most such reviewers criticize the ' 'The Communist International in Lenin's began building a revolutionary current in Riddell: Beginning late in 1923. direction introductions and footnotes for presenting Time." The Milikmt talked witb John the international socialist movement. Two of the International was taken over by bureau­ communist views. almost all of them have Riddell, editor of the series, on the promo­ books present documents of the years of cratic forces that consolidated around the applauded the selection of documents. re­ tion of this book and plans for the series. preparation before the new internatio nal leadership of Joseph Stalin. This faction dis­ search, annotation. and translation. was launched; a third contains the record carded the revolutionary program fought for Militant: Pathfinder has just put out a Militant: /[you stick to your schedule. the of how it was founded in 1919. by the International in Lenin's time. Within 12-page brochure introducing its new two­ next volume will come out in about two years. At the Comintern 's first four congresses, I 0 years the Stalinist forces had transformed volume book Workers of the World and Op­ What will be its topic? pressed Peoples, Unite! Could you explain held between 19 19 and 1922, fighters from the International into a counterrevolutionary Riddell: The working title is National Lib­ what this book is about? eration and the Communist international. Its John Riddell: This book presents docu­ centerpiece will be the proceedings of the ments of an international congress of revo­ Congress of the Peoples of the East, held in lutionary workers' organizations held in Baku in 1920 just one month after the Second Moscow in 1920. This was the second con­ Congress. A major report at the Baku con­ gress called by the Communist International, gress was given by the U.S. communist John often called the Comintem, a world party of Reed. whom you may have seen portrayed socialist revolution initiated the previous in the film Reds. You'll see remarkable pho­ year by the Bolshevik Party of Russia. Three tographs of this congress in Workers of the years previously, the Bolsheviks had led the World and Oppressed Peoples, Unite! Close workers and peasants of Russia in establish­ to 2,000 revolutionaries came to Baku from ing their own revolutionary regime, the So­ across Asia. It was the first great encounter viet government. between the revolutionary upsurge of Asia Delegates came to the 1920 congress from and the proletarian vanguard that headed the 37 countries, representing hundreds of thou­ workers' state in Russia. sands of workers, and they met for almost three weeks. Their aim was to unite their Militant: Have you made a stan on this parties in a single organization, a single strik­ book? ing force, in order to carry the struggle for Riddell: Pathfinder has just succeeded in socialist revolution forward to victory on a acquiring the rights to a translation of the world scale. congress by Brian Pearce in England. This These two volumes are the record of what will be the first time we have not done the they said and what they decided. translation ourselves from scratch. But in this case there was an existing translation of quite Militant: Why is this congress important Humben-Oroz Archives good quality, and obtaining the rights to it for those seeking to chart a socialist course The second congress of the Communist Inte rnational in session puts us well down the road to having a forward today? finished translation for the book. Riddell: Against all the barriers fostered around the world came together to exchange organization. ln 1943 they formally dissolved by capitalism - against all the national fron­ experiences and hammer out policies for a it. Along the way. Stalin murdered or jailed Militant: Let's return for a moment to the tiers. the chauvinist hatreds - the Commu­ united struggle for national liberation and more than three quarters of the participants in Second Congress. What was happening in nist International sought to unite workers and socialist revolution. "The Communist Inter­ the Second Congress who were in his reach. the world when it took place? peasants around wbat they had in common, national in Lenin's Ttme" will include the So our interest is focused on the earlier Riddell: We 'II have to go back a step. their interest in a consistent fight against full proceedings of those congresses. period, up to the end of 1923- the revolu­ When the working people of Russia estab­ capitalist oppression and for a new world These Pathfinder books on the Communist tionary years. lished a workers' and peasants' government socialist order. International do something never done be­ in October 19 17. their action transformed ln its early years, led by Lenin and the fore. They make it possible for those with no Militant: Pathfinder is a small publisher. world politics. The imperialist powers hurled team of Bolshevik leaders around him, the specialized knowledge to hear the voices of Yet this is an immense undertaking, some­ armies from more than I 0 countries against Communist International took great strides the communists themselves, as they discuss thing that no other publisher in the world has the government ofSoviet Russia. At the same in this direction. It provided the closest we their struggles, talk out their differences. and had the resources or the interest to do. Could time working people internationally were have yet seen to a model of the kind of made decisions on the future of their move­ you tell us how this is possible? impressed by the example of their Russian international organization workers need to ment. Riddell: If you look at the acknowledge­ counterparts and sought to fmd a way to help build in the coming decades. ments page in the Second Congress proceed­ the Soviet republic and to follow its example. Debates and resolutions at the Second Militant: How many books will that be ings, you'll see that publication of this vol­ In 1918, revolutions broke out in many other Congress took up the character of Commu­ altogether? ume was assisted by more than 60 collabo­ countries of Europe. nist parties and their policy toward national Riddell: Pathfinder has published four in­ rators in 19 countries. Many of these are At that time, very few workers or workers' liberation struggles, the peasantry, trade communist workers who do the translations organizations had any direct contact with the unions, parliamentary e lections, and other stallments, the latest consisting of two vol­ umes. Two more installments will contain the on which these volumes are based or research Communists in Russia. They couldn 't get questions essential to setting the Interna­ there. They had no access to the Bolsheviks' proceedings of the third and founh congresses at libraries in their area. tional's basic program and strategy. writings. All they knew was what they could -two volumes each. And then there will be Already thousands of pages have been Publishing the proceedings of this con­ translated, mostly from German and Russian, sift from the capitalist press in their own gress is part of Pathfinder's long-term effort a book on the Communist International's re­ cord on the struggle of oppressed nations for and we are pressing ahead with translation countries. to make the record of the early Comintern work on the Fourth Congress. But during the next year the Soviet repub­ accessible to today 's fighters. their liberation. That is our target for the next few years. The series remains open for the In addition, the project has received help lic drove back the armies of the imperialist from socialists of many stripes as well as powers and the Russian counterrevolutionar­ Militant: Pathfinder is publishing a series addition of other volumes as we proceed. university-based specialists, many of whom ies they were sponsoring. The first tenuous of books on this topic, going back to the are hostile to socialism but see the value of links were established with the workers· earliest years of the struggle to build a new Militant: Do you have a schedule for this? making this documentary record available. movement abroad. And at the same time international. Could you tell us something Riddell: Well. to give you an idea. so far And so, through the efforts of this wide millions of working people across Europe about the series? we are averaging a little more than a book international team, it has been possible to and in other continents began to move into Riddell: The series is called "The Com­ every two years. So it will take some time assemble documents and information on a action in support of the Soviet republic and munist International in Lenin's Time," and yet. scale that has never been done before. its example. So it was possible in 1920 for representa­ Militam: You mentioned that Pathfinder tives of the broad range of currents that The Communist International seeks to give fighters a record of their own looked to the Communist International to continuity with the communist movement of come together in a congress to hammer out in Lenin's Time Lenin's time. How do these books make their what this International was to be. That gath­ way to readers? ....., ... l..alin's Stragle for ering was the Second Congress. I• • •:t•nohoo.ll.~t·•.t•• · ll a R.evolutioDIII'}' tol 11111 f·,. Riddell: Many readers have come across the Comintem books in Pathfinder book­ Militant: Did the delegates get to meet lntemational many working people in Russia? DOCUMENTS 1907· 1916: stores and at Pathfinder book tables around niE PREPARA1'0RY YEARS the world. But many more find these books Riddell: Yes, in fact, the workers and 604 pp. $31.95 on library shelves, on university reading lists, peasants of Russia had a strong impact on The German or in commercial bookstores. the delegates and the course of debates. s~ Delegates talked to them during numerous Revolution and Militant: What is the role of the new bro­ the Debate on ~ visits to factories and army bases. Delegates INil:.RNATDw. chure on the Second Congress hooks? addressed them and listened to them at rallies Soviet Power n..ll'u~~~: ...... nf\ HI'M&, ...... DOCUM.ENTS.I918·1919; Riddell: It contains an extensive de­ in Moscow and other cities. Delegates took PREPARING TilE scription of the books for those consider­ part, along with Soviet citizens, in many Workers of the World FOUNDING CONGRESS ing buying them. including excerpts from demonstrations and a giant day-long cele­ and Oppressed Peoples, Unite! 540 pp. $30.95 the text and photographs. In addition to bration. There were special theater perfor­ PROCEEDINGS AND DOCUMENTS OF TilE Founding the Communist being available in Pathfinder bookstores. mances with casts of thousands and even a SECOND CONGRESS OFTIIECOM.MUNIST International the brochure will be sent to thousands of sculpture display in the delegates· honor. INTERNATIONAL, 1920 PROCEEDINGS AND DOCUMENTS OF TilE FIRST major libraries around the world, as well The Bolshevik Pany. which was itself This two-volume set tells how delegates met in CONGRESS: MARCH 1919 as to university teachers who select books based among the Russian workers sent sev­ Moscow to build an international organization 424 pp. $26.95 dedicated to the world struggle for socialist like these for library purchases and for eral dozen of its leaders to the congress. and revolution. Available from Pathfinder bookstores listed on page classroom reading lists. they spent long hours in informal discussion 1,147 pp. $60 16. Or by mail from Pathfinder, 41 0 West St., New To push their way into the libraries and with the delegates ...The Russians seemed to York. NY 10014. Please add $3 shipping and campuses. the books must win a reputation be incapable of exhaustion by discussion:· handling for first title, $.50 each additional title. among university specialists in this field of one of the delegates from Britain later re-

4 The Militant AprillO, 1992 ....

Humben-Droz archives Metalworkers of Putilov factory, Petrograd, greet delegates (left). Banner reads: "The Third International is the rising sun of a new era in human existence." (Right) Artist depiction of celebration in front of Uritsky Theater in Petrograd at opening of second congress, J uly 19, 1920. Tens of thousands of wor kers joined delegates there. called. "Patiently they would argue, go over zations around the world? International did not survive the rise of victory in Cuba in 1959, and the struggles the ground a second time, a third, a fourth if Stalinism. Is there any sense in which the under way today in South Africa. Riddell: The congress resolutions were in need be, until night turned into day and day achievements of its Second Congress live on print in several languages and circulating in More fundamentally, the Comintern ap­ today? into night." several countries on several continents within plied the example of the Russian revolution Militanr: Were there major disagreements two to three months. Immediately, the mass Riddell: Despite the rise of Stalinism, to the struggle for revolutionary workers' and among the delegates? panies whose members were looking to the basic historic gains of the Russian revolution farmers' governments in countries around Communist International plunged into a de­ were not overturned, and these gains are still the world. That task is posed with even Riddell: Yes, there were. The revolution­ bate on the congress decisions, for and with us today. For example, the Russian greater urgency today as capitalism sinks aries from abroad were inspired by the exam­ against. Factions were formed in a debate that revolution and the Communist International into depression and heads towards world ple of the Russian revolution but knew very stretched over many months. In most coun­ -especially its Second Congress-gave war. We need to know how the communists little about how it had actually been carried tries. the Com intern ·s supporters were able to impetus to the great upsurge of colonial lib­ of Lenin's rime fought for this goal and the out. Some of them rejected with disdain the separate themselves from procapitalist forces eration struggles and helped set this move­ lessons they drew from this experience. That notion of revolutionary politics, of tactical and constitute organizations based on the ment on its course toward the winning of is why working-class fighters need to be maneuver. They opposed Communists pre­ principles adopted by the Second Congress. independence in colonies around the world. familiar with the decisions and record of the senting candidates in parliamentary elections Other advances flowing from this whole Communist international in its revolutionary or fighting for their views in trade unions led Militant: You said that the Communist course of events include the revolutionary years. by procapitalist forces. Yet these policies had been used with success by the Bolsheviks. All the basic views held among revolu­ tionary currents were represented among the 'I'm against taking more concessions,' delegates in Moscow. But another force was there too. Many mass panies of the workers' move­ states laid-off Caterpillar worker ment - Social Democratic parties - were headed by officials who opposed socialist off workers have been called back. "They are plant, provocatively looking over the revolution but saw that the ranks of their BY JEFF POWERS bringing back whoever they want. They don't parties were swept up in the great current of AND GLOV A SCOIT shoulders of workers doing their jobs. support for the Communist Internati onal. If YORK, Pennsylvania - Some 145 Cat­ care who has the most seniority or even who Nieman believes that the outcome of the erpillar workers and their families traveled is qualified for the job," Nieman explained. only to maintain their influence, these offi­ Caterpillar strike is important to every from here for a 16-hour trip to Peoria, Illinois, Nieman, a skilled machine operator, nor­ cials felt compelled, in turn, to make state­ worker. especially to UAW members in ments of suppon for communism and the to attend the March 22 United Auto Workers mally runs a $3 million dollar cell which is the auto industry. "The reported decision (UAW) strike support rally. pan of a massive retooling of the York plant. principles of the Russian revolution. They by auto workers in Arlington, Texas, to The York plant has remained open during Nieman recalled working seven days a week too were invited - in fact urged - to come accept flexible shift scheduling undoubt­ the five-month selective UAW strike against for one and years to get the machines to the congress. half edly encouraged Caterpillar to try it here," Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest earth­ running properly. 'This is the thanks I get for Congress organizers pledged that every­ Nieman said. In York, Caterpillar wants to moving equipment manufacturer. Three making all those sacrifices," he said referring thing said there would be recorded and pub­ run the plant around the clock, Nieman plants make up the York complex. Two are to the layoff. lished rapidly so that everyone could see said. Management wants two 10-hours machine shops producing parts for the entire Despite the retooling, Caterpillar has been where the different currents stood, what was shifts Monday to Thursday and two 12- chain; one is a parts warehouse. circulating rumors about closing the plant, a revolutionary policy and what was not. hour shifts Friday to Sunday. About I ,400 workers are employed at the claiming it is not cost-productive. Last Feb­ complex, down from 2,000 who worked ruary, management contracted janitorial jobs "They are forgetting our human rights," Militant: There was a special resolUJion Nieman complained. "I am against taking on just that question. wasn't there? there before the strike. Two hundred have in the plant to a firm that pays one half the been permanently furloughed. An additional wages of the previous workers. any more concessions." Riddell: Yes - it later became known as 490 people were initially placed on tempo­ Under the proposed Caterpillar contract, On March 29 at 2 p.m. UAW Local786 the '1\venty-One Conditions." The key idea rary layoff. workers on indefinite layoff could be called is planning a peaceful protest to bring the of the Second Congress of the Communist Thiny workers from U AW Loca1786 made back at the parts warehouse. They would be plight of the temporarily laid-off workers International was that for workers to be vic­ sandwiches Friday night for the delegation to paid $7 an hour. This is less than one half of to the public. Demonstrators are planning torious in revolution they had to build a Peoria. One of those helping out was Lonnie the average $16 an hour that workers now to assemble a few blocks down the street revolutionary party based on communist Nieman, now on temporary layoff. earn. New hires brought into the warehouse from the York complex for a march to the principles, as the Russian workers had done. Nieman noted that temporary layoffs had would also get $7 an hour. facilities. That was the focus of the congress. been made without regard to seniority pro­ New contract language would give local Lengthy discussions took place with lead­ visions in the contract. "They laid off almost agreements more weight regarding work rule Glova Scott is a member ofUnited Transpor­ ers of the massive noncommunist parties who everybody on my shift and I was given no changes. "The company will be able to play tation Union Local 454. Jeff Powers is a had come to Moscow. The task was to provide chance to bump to either second or first shift," one plant against another, threatening to close member of United Food and Commercial the ranks of these parties with some standard he said. "The person doing my job on second down those which don't agree to save Workers Local 27. Both are in Baltimore. to measure whether their parties were making shift has 15 years seniority; I have 19 years. money," Nieman said. genuine progress toward communism, a stan­ I know people who are out the door with 25 Caterpillar also proposes no wage in­ dard by which to distinguish between leaders and more years. Some union officers have creases for six years other than the cost of 'Militant' Prisoner who were moving toward communism and been laid off too." Nieman added that he was living increases, which have a cap of 4 those basically opposed to it. not against the people with less seniority percent a year for the duration of the agree­ Subscription Fund The congress aimed to set down basic remaining in the plant, but he was angry with ment. The Militant special prisoner characteristics of a communist pany in the the company. Other takebacks proposed fund makes it possible to send form of conditions required of any party Caterpillar management claims that they reduced-rate subscriptions to wishing to join the Communist International. are not bound to the contract because of the Takebacks are also proposed in medical Originally there were 17, then 18 points. The selective strike. Caterpillar has denied work­ benefits and bidding rights. Under the new prisoners who can't pay for discussion produced more suggestions, and ers on temporary layoff sub pay, which if offer Nieman said. ''I would not be able to them. To help this important finally there were 21 conditions, which were received would bring them up to 95 percent bid to a lower job classification even though cause, send your contribution the focus of rich and unsparing debate. of normal earnings. I might want to do that job." to Militant Prisoner Caterpillar has hired Vance Security, the Subscription Fund, 410 West Militant: Was the Second Congress suc­ Seniority ignored in callbacks same union-busting outfit used during the cessful in gerring the record of this debate Lately production has picked up at the Pittston and Daily News strikes. Ten Vance St., New York, NY 10014. and discussion out to working-class organi- York complex and about 90 temporarily laid Security guards routinely patrol the York

April 10, 1992 The Militant s Operation Rescue announces Buffalo clinic blockade Continued from front page to do something in response, said Marilynn activist AJ Sharpton from protesting. Buckham, director of one of the targeted City council members voted 11-to-1 to bar clinics, Womenservices, and a leader of the the group from coming. "Terry has shown a network. flagrant disrespect for the law," said David "Eighty-five percent of people polled in Franczyk, author of the resolution. Buffalo have said they do not want Operation A 50-page coun decision and accomp­ Rescue here," said Buckham. explaining that anying preliminary injuncti on was handed the network was formed with 10 people in down by U.S. Districr Judge Richard Arcara 1989. the last time Operation Rescue blocked that bars demonstrati ons within 15 feet of the clinics here. The network has a membership clinics and specifies violators would be sub­ of 8,000 in western New York State. ject to $10,000 in fines a day. The ruling The clinic director said she has simply dug strengthens a temporary restraining order in her heels in deeper in the face of the anti­ effect since 1990 that prohibits demonstra­ abonion group's announcement. "I will not tors from blocking clinics and harassing pa­ close this clinic. I will never close this clinic tients and staff. not even for one hour," she stated. "They can Militant/Steve Marshall come to Buffalo but they will have a real. August 1991 Operation Rescue action in Wichita, Kansas. Operation Rescue's an­ A host of organi zations including relig­ nouncement that it will target Buffalo, New York, has polarized the city. ious groups such as the Presbytery of West­ fight on their hands." Buckham said if she em New York and the Buffalo Board of does not get the response locally she feels is Rabbis have taken a stand against Operation necessary to back up the injunction and keep er agenda, aimed at, among other things, a with pro-choice activists will also attend the Rescue's plans. Many organizations have the clinic open, she will put out a call to total ban on birth control and an attack on national April 5 march to defend abonion planned events protesting the attack on abor­ pro-choice supponers from across the coun­ democratic rights such as freedom of reli­ rights in Washington, D.C. tion rights, including Buffalo United for try for help. "We're not going to get caught gion. sleeping." Buffalo United for Choice, initiated by a Choice and the Pro-<:hoice Network. Buckham said there is so far no clinic host of groups such as the University of Since Operation Rescue announced its Buckham explained that in her opinion defense organized by pro-choice forces. She Buffalo Pro-choice Coalition, Buffalo Na­ actions the Pro-choice Network has re­ Operation Rescue's actions were not just urged supponers to come to Buffalo for an tional Organization for Women, Women's ceived some 50 calls a day by people wanting about abonioo rights but are part of a broad- April 26 rally, and said several buses filled Health Action Mobilization (WHAM), and AJI Peoples Congress, has called a National March and Rally for Choice in Buffalo April II . They are also holding planning meetings Cops continue to smear Rodney King and clinic defense workshops. In response to the court injunctions and question of the chokehold in his thesis on ln 1987, Briseno was suspended for 66 threats of fines, Operation Rescue head Ran­ At Los Angeles trial, criminal justice. days without pay after he forced a handcuffed dall Terry said the group ''has had federal A form of strangulation, the chokehold prisoner to the floor and clubbed him in the injunctions in every major city where we've cops who beat King try was formally restricted by the LAPD in 1982 head. been and it hasn't deterred us from doing what we have to do under God. to turn him into criminal after a public outcry against it. Currently, its A witness testified that when the victim use is limited to "life-threatening" situations. asked him for his badge number. Briseno "People can't grasp that they're dealing In a seven-year period prior to that, cops brandished his club in the man's face and with a dedicated group of activists who are had killed at least 17 people with the prepared to die, if need be, to put an end to BY HARRY RING declared, 'Til give you my badge number up chokehold. your nose, buddy." child-killing, so the threat of a few thousand LOS ANGELES -Sgt. Stacey Koon, Responding to the charge that a dispropor­ dollars is irrelevant," said Terry. "God's law one of the cops on trial in the beating of tionate number of chokehold victims were At his police hearing. Briseno testified: is higher than man's Jaw." Rodney King, used his appearance on the Blacks, Police Chief Daryl Gates had com­ " I got a little too aggressive out there, but Terry said Buffalo has all the ingredients witness stand to promote public sentiment in mented in 1978 that Blacks were more likely suppon of restoring the chokehold as official I can assure you that it will not happen again for "a showdown between righteousness and to die from the choke hold than "normal peo­ ever." unrighteousness." police department policy. ple." Looking straight into the TV camera that Koon. in his testimony, said that he had is providing trial coverage for two stations here, Koon declared that if he had been able considered using the chokehold on King add­ ing that he would have done it himself. A Support Warren and DeBates, to use the chokehold, the King incident 14-year veteran of the force. he said he was would have been over "in 15 seconds.'' the only one on the scene who had been Defense lawyers moved to funher escalate the socialist alternative in 1992 their smear campaign against King, the vic­ trained in the use of the lethal procedure. tim they are trying to tum into the criminal. He said the onl y reason he had not used Continued from front page mands that are the basic elements of working A motion was filed by the lawyer for one of the chokehold was because King is Black. the streets and politically answer their ultra· people defending ourselves on a world scale. the four defendants asking court permission The suggestion was that he was concerned ri ghtist political course. This begins with canceling the debt of the to present evidence that King had engaged about the possible repercussions if King died. "The failure of capitalism. the bipanisan semi-industrialized and semicolonial coun­ in a series of criminal acts, demonstrating a Koon 's pitch for restoration of the choke­ offensive against working people, and the tries, enforcing affirmative action, and shon­ pattern of violent behavior. hold was reiterated by Sgt. Charles Duke who rightward drift of the Democmtic and Re­ ening the workweek with no cut in pay.'' As of this writing, the judge has not ruled testified for the defense as a "use-of-force" publican parties puts wind in the sails of and "Falling into the framework of nationalist on the motion. However, the allegations are expen. His expenise derives from his work emboldens fascist forces such as Buchanan," appeals to working people is the greatest being duly reponed in the media. training Los Angeles cops. He too assured the socialist candidate said. danger for the labor movement and for all In addition to the grocery store holdup for that King could have been subdued in sec­ DeBates added that both candidates will who want to fight,'' Warren said in response which King had been convicted, the smear onds by a chokehold. be back in Washington, D.C., Sunday, April to a reponer who asked how he would help charges include five other alleged offenses, While it is a diversion for the defense to 5, to campaign in defense of abon:ion rights protect jobs and "save" a floundering corpo­ all reported previously. In not one of these propose that unsubstantiated allegations along with hundreds of thousands of young ration such as General Motors. cases were charges fi led against King. against King be introduced in the case, it people from across the country. She made a ''Every one of our opponents tries to get In his coun testimony, Koon continued to would be relevant for the prosecution to pres­ special appeal to young people, who recog­ working people to think as 'we Americans,· depict King as a fearsome drug-crazed mon­ ent evidence ofthe racism and brutality of the nize and are deeply affected by the social or 'we the company'-against the world or ster, impervious to pain and displaying su­ police department. This would go a long way impact of the capitalist crisis and the wars it against those residents of the United States perhuman strength. in explaining what happened to King. engenders, to join with young socialists cam­ whom they don't consider 'real Americans. • Struck by a torrent of nightstick blows, he For instance, the prosecution could solicit paigning across the country. "We begin and end with the defense of the testified, King "growled like a wounded an­ the testimony of Janine Bouey, a Los Angeles working class on a world scale, not with what imal" and kept trying to "attack" the cops policewoman who is Black. She had worked U.S. imperialism has lost Cold War is good for ' America' or General Motors. The who were clubbing him. with defendant Laurence Powell. Asked why he was not dismayed by the United States, like all countries today, is Koon continued to repeat his assenion that Currently on a medical leave. Bouey told events in Eastern Europe and the former class-divided," he said. "We, the working King was a menace to the cops because he the February 3 Los Angeles Times: Soviet Union, Warren said, "What former people of the world, are the majority and was intoxicated on the drug PCP. This in the "If I could get out of working with Powell, president Richard Nixon wrote and said ear­ have common interests against them . the face of the fact that defense attorneys ac­ I would .... He treated everybody like crap. lier this month is only half true. Washington owners of banking, industry, and large agri­ cepted as unchaJlenged evidence that a test He always had his hand on his gun .... has not only not won the Cold War, as Nixon cultural businesses." performed the night of the beating showed "lf things didn 't happen during the course said. U.S. imperialism has in fact lost the Warren held up a copy of the magazine not a trace of the drug. of a normal tour, he would be out looking Cold War because working people in Eastern New International, a recent issue of which is Admitting under cross-examination that for problems.... He was always bragging Europe and the former Soviet Union have entitled, "Washington's assault on Iraq: King never grabbed, kicked, or struck any­ about altercations he was in and how he already shown they retain the capacity to Opening Guns of World War UI." Campaign­ one, and in the face of the devastating evi­ kicked bun." resist and fight against the attempt to reim­ ers for the socialist alternative in 1992 will dence of the video film of the beating, Koon As one example. she told how Powell pose capitalism. As they do, they join and be distributing the magazine, along with the doggedly assened that every blow and every stopped and cursed a Black motorist simply will be affected by workers, farmers , and Mi/itam. he said. "Reading, studying, dis­ kick dealt to King was justified. because he was driving in a white neighbor­ youth around the world in our common strug­ cussing, and debating these issues is an es­ Commenting on the film of the beating, hood. gle against the march toward the devastating sential pan of becoming a better fighter. Koon piously declared, "Yes, it's violent and Last July, Salvador Castaneda, a Salva­ future the ruling rich have in store for us. "'The ruling rich will attempt to break any it's brutal." doran factory worker, won a $70,000 out-of­ "In order for Washington to begin a world resistance to their assaults and to take us to Again looking straight into the camera, he coun settlement on his charge that Powell war they must break the resistance among war. We are campaigning in opposition to added, ''Sometimes police work is brutal. It's had clubbed his elbow so badly that it re­ working people to their assaults," DeBates that course," Warren said. "We urge every a fact of life." quired surgery to pin it together. said. ''We can unite on a world scale to fight young person, every young socialist, every Koon, who has two university masters Background testimony would also be use­ against their wars and for protection from the working person to campaign with us and fight degrees, indicated that he had dealt with the ful about defendant Theodore Briseno. ravages of capitalism. We put forward de- to prevent World War ill." 6 The Militant April 10, 1992 International Socialist

~e~ie~ ...... s. u.pp.'e•m•e•nt• t•o •th•e•MU· ·'.ib• n•t ....A• p•r·il ··~.. 2 Bucha nan1sm:• What it is and how to fight it The socialist alternative in 1992 BY STEVE CLARK terms of Ronald Reagan in the United States and Margaret NEW YORK -"Contrary to what we read and hear in Thatcher in Britain. had ushered in an era of stability, the media - that the central issue of contention before the expansion, and dominance of the capitalist world market Democrats and Republicans in this election year is domestic system. policy-the truth is that what has opened up within the "It is marked by the end of the illusion, generated over U.S. ruling class is the most important debate on foreign more than half a century, that the Stalinist bureaucracy in policy since the 1930s," said Jack Barnes, national secretary the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe could use force and of the Socialist Workers Party, at a Militant Labor Forum violence to keep working people out of politics forever. Or here. that even if the death grip of the bureaucracy was removed "In this debate. as covered in the U.S. and world media," from their shoulders, workers could be prevented from he said, "there has been no voice speaking for the historic returning to poli tical life and resisting the assaults on the ir interests of the working class.'' living standards and rights that are encouraged by world The March 28 forum, attended by some 400 people. was finance capital. followed the next day in New York by a meeting of " It is marked by the disintegration of the illusion that campaigners for the socialist alternative in the 1992 elec­ military power can impose bourgeois regimes capable of tions from across the East Coast. These meetings were part somehow resolving the growing economic and social con­ of five days of li vely political activities that culminated at tradictions in the semi-industrialized and semicolonial the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., with the world." announcement of the entry into the 1992 presidential cam­ As the privileged bureaucratic rulers throughout Eastern paign of a voice of the working class - the Socialist Europe and then in the Soviet Union cashed in their chips Workers Party ticket of James Warren for president and over the past two years. Barnes said, bourgeois commenta­ Estelle DeBates for vice-president (see front-page article). tors and spokespeople-as well as the great majority of A joint meeting of the National Committees of the organizations around the world calling themselves commu­ SWP and Young Socialist Alliance was also held March nist or socialist - initially converged around the judgement 27-29. The two organi zatio ns decided to put campaign­ that U.S capitalism and the "West" had won the Cold War. ing for the socialist alternative in 1992 at the center of Combined with the military slaughter that marked the their work. They will organize thousands to campaign " triumph" of the U.S.-organized coalition in lraq last year, among workers at plant gates and on the job, on high the events in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union were school and college campuses, at farm meetings. and assumed by a broad consensus to represent the dawn of a wherever resistance to the oppression and exploitation "New World Order." of the capitalist system is mobilized. The butchery in the Gulf, however. ended in a political They will help build a movement of fighting young fiasco for the U.S. government, exacerbating the contradic­ people, both in the United States and abroad. who support tions confronting the imperialist rulers and Washington's and campaign for the socialist alternative to the reactionary relations with the rival bourgeois regimes in the region. The course of the two parties of big business, the Democrats collapse of the Stalinist parties and apparatuses, as it turned and Republicans. out, did not remove the enormous obstacles that stand in These supporters will be election campaigners of a special the way of the reintegration of the one-third of the earth's kind. They will be actively involved in rallies, marches, population who have overthrown rule by the bourgeoisie picket lines, and other social protest actions-defending into the imperialist world market system. abortion rights, opposing cop brutality, mobilizing support The fact is, Barnes said. that the U.S. rulers confront a for striking workers, and speaking out against U.S. war "new world disorder." In an election year where the big­ moves that target peoples around the world. Out of such business media is concentrating on so-called domestic pol­ resistance come the kind of fighters who will be attracted icy. he said. "it is clearer than at any time since the last to the revolutionary socialist alternative to a crisis-ridden Militant/Theresa Williams world depression and social crisis in the 1930s that the world market system that devastates the lives of working Laura Garza, SWP candidate for U.S. Congress from questions confronting the working class, and all major people the world over as it marches toward reaction and MUami (above). Socialists are election campaigners of classes, can only be confronted from the standpoint of war. a special kind. They are actively involved in protest genuine world politics. During the weekend activities, the Young Socialist Alli­ actions to defend abortion rights, oppose cop brublity "What is posed for the bourgeoisie- for the class of ance National Committee voted to propose to YSA chapters and U.S. war moves, and fight against the reactionary owners of banking, industry, and large agricultural produc­ around the country that they dissolve themselves into this demagogy promoted by incipient fascists such as Pat· tion - is the necessity to take on working people around movement of young campaigners for the SWP candidates. rick Buchanan (below). the world in the attempt to defeat their resistance. This is The YSA leaders saw this as the best way to take maximum the only way for them to establish even the preconditions advantage of the broad opportunities for working people, to try to open up a new wave of capitalist expansion." students, and youth to join in campaigning against the If the employing classes succeed in imposing such de­ bipartisan drive toward new wars, racism, police violence, feats. Barnes said, these blows will culminate in a massive and other brutal assaults on humanity -all of which are new world war, as competing capitalist powers struggle to occurring today in face ofan unfolding economic depression reorder and redivide their domination over the world. It will and the political polarization and class tensions that inevi­ be a war whose fury and destructive consequences for tably accompany such a social crisis. humanity are truly indescribable from any past experience, he said. Last year's assault against the peoples of Iraq New world disorder registered the opening guns of the march toward such a war. Barnes's talk was entitled, "Buchananism: What lt Is and This is what humanity faces in the coming years. It is How To Fight It." He has spoken on the topic over the past why the stakes are so high for working people to understand two months at Militant Labor Forums in Stockholm, Swe­ this and organize the struggles that can score victories in den; London. Manchester, and Sheffield in Britain; Toronto, face of the capitalists' escalating assaults. to make it possible Canada: and St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago, Illinois. for the working class and its allies to act independently in We are in the midst of a great turning point in world their own historic interests, and thus prevent such a world history. Barnes said. catastrophe. It is marked, he said. ''by the crumbling of the illusion What the socialist candidates in 1992 offer above all to fostered by bourgeois public opinion-makers that the debt­ thinking workers and to young fighters from all walks of fueled 'boom· in the mid- 1980s, widely associated with the Continued on next page

April tO, 1992 The Militant 7 International Socialist

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variety - and an organizing center today - of an incipient which are aimed at playing on the Jew-hatred of many of American fascism. his supporters by raising the specter of "dual loyalties" This bald characterization of the Buchanan campaign in among Jewish supporters of the state of Israel. the respectable daily press marked a new and significant "The politics of resentment - targeting scapegoats in a departure for an established bourgeois columnist. The col­ time of economic and social pressures, political polarization. umn, Barnes said, was pointing to something that aJI the and class tensions exacerbated by a depression - lays the other media apologists for capitalism have tried to keep basis for radical social demagogy," Barnes said. "Such hidden - the fact that a fascist program is being advanced demagogy is aimed against those who have 'let America as a "legitimate" perspective within the two-party system down' at a time of crisis. It targets those whom middle-class by one of the four leading contenders in the presidential layers and sections of working people can be convinced are primaries. ''This is the first time any of us in this room have the source of the problems they face, rather than capitalism lived through such a development in politics," Barnes being the source of the crisis." emphasized. ,, ______Most importantly. he said. "each and every position in Buchanan's campaign is an open and unapologetic exten­ sion of what is being said by other politicians in the What has opened up within two-party system - liberal and conservative alike. from the U.S. ruling class is the Jesse Jackson to Jesse Helms - aiJ of whom vie to present themselves as the most authentic exponent of 'America most important debate on foreign First.'" policy since the 1930s ... Roots of Buchananism Incipient fascist currents such as Buchanan's have arisen in bou~geois politics before. Barnes said. He pointed to Sen. These targets of fascist demagogy. Barnes said, include Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s as the first example in the '' growing numbers of bourgeois politicians themselves, both post-World War II period of a leader of an incipient fasci st liberals and conservatives. Ultrarightist demagogues, for movement. Other ultrarightist campaigns were organized in example, play on resentments over the corrupt behavior of 1964 by Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater capitalist politicians, regardless of the weight and impact of and by Gov. George Wallace of Alabama in the 1960s. these matters on the evolution of economic and social "But none of these figures arose in conditions of an conditions. Even scandals as minor as the recent check-kit­ economic and social crisis that was bound to get worse," ing revelations at the House of Representatives bank can Barnes said. "None arose in world depression-like condi­ stoke this kind of social resentment and demagogy. tions under which the radical social demagogy and aggres­ sive nationalism necessary to inspire a cadre can enable a Breakup of pattern of bourgeois politics mass fascist movement to get organized and grow. Developments within the Democratic and Republi­ "Buchanan doesn't look backward in history-as Wal­ can parties over the last few months highlight the "be­ lace did - but forward to forces" that will build a move­ ginning of the breakup of the pattern of bourgeois ment that seeks to establish a brutal dictatorial regime like politics and the stability of bipartisan domesti c and that of Franco in Spain or Pinochet in Chile - among the foreign policy relations that have marked the past forty figures that Buchanan publicly admires. years." the SWP leader said. Fascism is a special kind of extreme nationalist movement. Barnes said. It is not a form of capitalist Buchanan, said Barnes, is not pushing Bush and other rule. It is a radical movement supported by growing politicians to the right. To the contrary, it is the failure of wi ngs of the bourgeoisie in order to maintain capitalist capitalism and the rightward drift of the two parties that rule in the face of deep social crisis. Buchanan keeps provides Buchanan with the themes of his campaign and one foot firmly planted in "normal" bourgeois politics. makes other capitalist politicians so vulnerable to his barbs. At the same time, Barnes said. " Buchanan appeals to He simply states openly, without qualification and regard­ those who are willing to fun ction outside that frame­ less of his audience. what various of his colleagues in the work and to fight in the streets to impose radical solu­ White House and Congress say in private. U.S. Secretary tions to tum back the threat of a ' New Sodom.' " of State James Baker paces around the Oval Office and When questioned about statements such as those cited growls "F- the Jews, they don 't vote for us," so he's not by Krauthammer. Buchanan does not back off, apologize. in a strong position to take on Buchanan's anti-Semitism. or tone down his positions. While candidates who resort to Barnes said. rightist demagogy on this or that point, such as Edward How many politicians. Democratic or Republican. are Brown, Jr., or H. Ross Perot, aim their message at the willing to answer Buchanan's rightist demagogy by saying electorate, Buchanan is talking to what he hopes will be the that they are for quotas if necessary to establish equality in cadre of a movement, Barnes said. Buchanan's goal is not hiring and education? the SWP leader asked. Or that they to be popular with the broadest numbers of people in the welcome all those who choose to immigrate to the United context of bourgeois public opinion today, but to take States? Or that they're not for "America First"? Iraqi boy sells produce in front of bombed shops and positions that aid him in identifying and carving out that "The truth is," said Barnes. "that a harsher and harsher homes in Baghdad. The US. government is threaten­ rightist cadre. nationalism, regardless of platitudes about world peace and ing to repeat devastating military strikes against Iraq As with other tribunes of an incipient fascist movement, cooperation, increasingly mark the language of capitalist and maintains an embargo of tbe country. Buchanan aggressively defines who "Americans" are - politics. This is true not only in the United States, but from and aren't. This is the aim of his anti-immigrant demagogy. Japan to Sweden, Canada, and Germany. At the same time, He proposes, for example, that a giant ditch be built along with each passing month it becomes clearer to thoughtful Continued from previous page the U.S.-Mexico border and that those seeking to cross it working people that no convincing answers to today 's life, Barnes said, is the prospect that they and others like be met by armed soldiers. economic and social crisis are possible if one starts from them can stop World War III. In doing so they can become This is the content of his calculated anti-Semitic forays. the framework of the United States or any other single part of rebuilding an intern ational working-class movement that can triumph over the capitalist rulers and open the road to a socialist world. Bucbananism Barnes pointed to three events from the month of March as examples of the kind of debates going on within the ruling class, as reflected in columns and statements by political figures, major newspaper col­ umnists, and others. First was an opinion piece by Charles Krauthammer printed in the Washington Post March I and syndicated in daily papers throughout the country. The conservative col­ umnist wrote that the central problem with the Republican presidential campaign of Patrick Buchanan is not his anti­ Semitism - which several other columnists have accu­ rately pointed to - nor his various other particular reac­ tionary views. (Krauthammer catalogs some of these: Buchanan's ex­ hortations against "a morally cancerous welfare state"; his racist alarm bells about the "flood tide of immigration"; his warning that "white Americans will be a minority by 2050"; his question, "Who speaks for the Euro-Americans?"; his hero worship of fascist leader Francisco Franco of Spain and the butcher of Chile, Gen. Augusto Pinochet; and his euphemistic reference to the apartheid regime in South Africa as "the Boer republic.") "The real problem with Buchanan," Krauthammer said, is that his views are "in various and distinct ways, fascistic.·· That's an accurate description of Buchanan's "America Militant/Helen Nelson First" demagogy. Barnes said. Buchanan's extreme nation­ J ack Barnes, national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party, speaking at Militant Labor Forum in Toronto. He alism, in a period of intensifying social crisis, is indeed a has recently spoken at similar forums in Sweden, Britain, Chicago, New York City, a nd St. Paul, Minnesota.

8 The Militant April tO, 1992 April1992 ISR/3

behalf of imperialist interests, but to begin contributing blood chattels to future U.S.-organized military aggression such as that in Iraq. "This too has been the U.S. rulers'policy for some time," the SWP leader said. "The change in the axis of the conflicts of our time centers around the sharpening disputes between these three imperialist powers. ''In the years that lie ahead, war after war will have the consequences of the war against Iraq. Each will result in less social and political stability, not more, in the area where the aggression takes place and a less favorable situation for the rulers than when the war began. Each war will also exacerbate conflicts within and among Washington's coali­ tion partners. "The results of the Gulf war, for example," Barnes remarked, "accelerated the divergence of interests between the U.S. and Israeli rulers." This process continues today, he said, with the sharp disputes over loan guarantees for Israeli expansion into occupied Palestinian territories and U.S. charges that Israel has sold sophisticated U.S.-made weapons technology to the governments of China and other countries. Relations between the U.S. and Israeli govern­ ments "are at their lowest point since 1956, when Washing­ ton forced Tel Aviv, London, and Paris to pull back from their military assault on Egypt for its nationalization of the Suez Canal." Instead of bringing together the "coalition" against Iraq that was formed at Washington's initiative last year, Barnes added, "the war and its outcome accelerated the divisions Germany sent tanks like those above to Thrkey during Gulf War. Tensions are mounting between the two between them." governments. In late March the German rulers announced they were suspending all export of military hardware to For example, Barnes cited the sharpening trade disputes Thrkey, supposedly in response to Thrkish regime's use of arms against the Kurds. between U.S. and Canadian capitalists, pointing out that these conflicts are probably more acute right now than the more-publicized clashes between Washington and Tokyo, country," Barnes said. how Washington should use its military might to chart a (which are accompanied by mounting racist attacks against Any solutions that take as their starting point "we Ameri­ world course of intervention that could preclude "the emer­ cans" versus "them" - whether "they" live beyond or gence of any potential future global competitor,"- be it Asians). Barnes noted that the front page of the New York within the U.S. borders - hitches the prospects of working Japan, Germany, or Russia. Times that day reported that New York governor Mario Cuomo had abruptly cancelled a $12 billion, 20-year con­ people to those of the capitalists who are responsible for While debate over this document broke out in the opinion trdct with the government of Quebec to purchase electric exploitation. oppression. and wars. he said. "Instead of columns of the daily press- in which some commentators power from a giant hydroelectric complex that Quebec defending the working class in ways that unite working piously eschewed the suggestion that Washington serves as people. national socialism in any of its varieties- Social a world cop and pointed to the need for a "post-Cold War planned to build. Democracy, fascism. or Stalinism- differentiates within relaxation of tensions"-such protests were clearly in bad Barnes called attention to the economic and political the working class. pitting toilers against each other, thereby faith. "What is striking about the document:' Barnes noted, forces that are already tearing apart agreements for steps ______"is that it accurately outlines not only what the U.S. gov­ toward so-called European unity reached just last December ,, in Maastricht, the Netherlands. He quoted a March 25 article ernment plans to do, but above all wbat it has been doing since soon after World War II. And what it has been doing in the New York Times that stated that: "the cost of integrating Wherever possible the imperialist whether a Democrat or Republican occupied the White Eastern European countries has already been brought home House." by the richer members' committnent to develop the [Euro­ rulers will seek 'international' In brief, the document states tbat Washington must pean Community's] current 'poor four'- Spain, Portugal, cover for their wars and aggression be prepared to intervene militarily anywhere in the Greece and Ireland. Germany, for one, wants to focus its world that imperialist interests are threatened, and in spending on Eastern Europe. 'Germans are increasingly as they did in Korea in the 1950s . .. more than one place at the same time, the SWP leader asking why they should show more solidarity with Portugal explained. It says that a central flash-point is the former than with Poland.'" The Germans being spoken of here, of Soviet Union and it points to the need to defend U.S. course, are industrialists, financiers, and their political hire­ interests in face of the continuing disintegration of the lings. reinforcing every reactionary trend." '' former Soviet Union. Continued on next page Such nationalism has long been the hallmark of the trade "The document parallels the military black­ union officialdom, Barnes explained, and it will become mail being organized by the U.S. government t. L. c:::.. w .u . even more so. "The bureaucrats base themselves on a today against a number of countries, such as (\ t ( relatively thin layer of privileged workers, pledge to main­ North Korea and Iraq," Barnes said. Clearly tain their jobs and conditions. and then seek to defend this warning Iran - "the biggest winner from the narrowingjob trust through collaboration with the capitalists imperialist war against Iraq," Barnes noted- against the interests of the majority of working people, both the document stresses that "it remains funda- at home and around the world. mentally important to prevent a hegemon or "If you accept capitalism and its various rival national alignment of powers from dominating the [Gulf] , . ~ ruling classes as an unchangeable framework," Barnes region." The document also singles out revolu­ added, "then - whether or not you are a socialist - there tionary Cuba as a source generating "new chal­ is no way to defeat fascist demagogues." lenges to U.S. policy" and thus a target of U.S. An example of the logic of such national socialism economic and military pressures. was played out in France at the end of March. There "Above all," Barnes said, "the Defense some Socialist Party candidates, in order to ensure their Department authors of the document state own election, made voting deals with the fascist Na­ that the U.S. government will take upon it­ tional Front of Jean-Marie Le Pen, while other Socialist self the right, as the New York Times reporter Party and Communist Party politicians called for a vote put it, to use ' military force, if necessary, to for the bourgeois conservative coalition, the Union for preve nt the proliferation of nuclear France, as a lesser evil to Le Pen's candidates. At the weapons' to other countries. same time, Barnes said, a significant percentage of the "Building a nuclear weapon," Barnes com­ votes for Le Pen's National Front were cast by former mented, "has become possible for any country members of the Communist Party, who were made vul­ with a relatively advanced capitalist economy nerable to such demagogy by the lack of uncompromis­ and infrastructure. Nuclear proliferation will ing internationalist perspectives on the part of the CP's continue to accelerate and it will become an Stalinist leadership. additional excuse for Washington to march to­ Barnes also cited the example of the Communist Party ward war with those countries whose govern­ in the United States. Shortly after the end of the bloody and ments or peoples U.S. imperialism comes into destructive war in the Gulf last spring, the CP's People's conflict with. Weekly World featured a news article with the headline, "It will be a new club to wield against the "Rebuild Brooklyn, not Kuwait!" peoples of the semicolonial world, in order to Huelga De Ha "Only by beginning with the world, with the resistance smash their struggles for land and national lib­ of working people who see their common class interests in eration and against the onerous burden of debt the face of wars, assaults. and social crises can this deadly payments to the imperialist bankers and other trap be avoided," Barnes continued "Above all, the task of forms of capitalist superexploitation." Justicia De Lo s communist workers and other fighters is to present an The Defense Department document also internationalist view in order to be able to struggle." states that a central goal of U.S. foreign policy must be. as it is and has been to prevent Germany Trabajadoresd eLa s Fabric as Military policy and Japan from becoming military powers in Less than a week after Krauthammer's column dubbing any way equivalent to the United States. At the Buchanan a fascist, a Defense Department strategic docu­ same time the U.S. rulers will continue to press El Pru;o Herald-Post/Billy Calzada ment was leaked to the press and featured on the front pages the German and Japanese rulers not only to pick Hunger strike at Texas gar ment shop. Immigrants are more and of major capitalist dailies across the United States. It detailed up more of the tab for policing the world on more a n integral part.of the working c.l ass in imperialist countries.

AprillO, 1992 The Militant 9 International Socialist

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400,000 Kurdish workers who Hotel in Washington, D.C. In this talk, pointedly entitled have immigrated to Germany. In "The New World," not the "New World Order," Barnes said, recent days Kurdish groups have "this supposedly discredited U.S. president stood up and organized protest demonstrations told the Bush administration and others in the bipartisan against the Turkish regime's U.S. government that the most important thing to understand reign of terror and Turkish diplo­ about the world is that Washington has not won the Cold matic and commercial offices War. were bombed in several German "Nixon told the U.S. rulers, that they will have to wage cities. a fight to somehow transform Russia into a stable market This is just o ne example economy before they can say they've won more than they've among many, Barnes explained, lost from the events of the past two years. Without that, no of the political and social conse­ ,, ______quences of the growing integra­ tion of the world working class in the cities and towns of every Every step toward capitalism major industrialized capitalist in Russia and Eastern Europe must country. Imperialism has not only produced an unstable involve massive assaults on world. he said, "but also one in which its tentacles extend into workers and will meet resistance ... powder kegs around the globe. In every case where a semicolo­ nial country is assaulted today, durable regime can be consolidated in Russia or any other resistance and protest will de­ part of the former Soviet Union either. Nixon said." '' U.S. immigration police harassing Latino worker at Mexican border. Rightist velop inside several imperialist Nixon's speech was front-page news in the United States Patrick Buchanan scapegoats immigrant workers for the problems of capital­ countries among workers who and around the world. It was televised live around the globe ism. Neither liberals nor conservatives answer Buchanan's demagogy. have emigrated from the country on C-Span, with major excerpts broadcast later by CNN. under attack." These immigrant Continued from previous page workers and their children are a source of solidarity The speech followed by a few days the publicizing of a memorandum circulated by Nixon to prominent ruling-class Tensions are also mounting between the govenunents of with struggles throughout the world 's oppressed nations figures. The memorandum, entitled "How to lose the Cold Germany, the economically strongest European member of as well as a growing and more and more integral com­ ponent of the working class inside the imperialist coun­ War," was widely quoted in major newspapers in the United the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and of Turkey, the States and other countries. economically weakest and least industrialized NATO mem­ tries themselves. ber, Barnes noted. For allowing its soil to be used last year Wherever possible, the imperialist rulers will seek the Nixon called the Bush administration's policy toward Russia "pathetically inadequate." Barnes pointed to Nixon's as a staging operation for air assaults against Iraq, the cover of "international" underwriting of their wars and warning that if U.S. government leaders do not act rapidly Turkish government was promised increased aid and trade aggression, as they did in their war to block Korean unifi­ from North America and Europe and expedited access to cation at the opening of the 1950s, their trampling on the to reverse the current situation, they risk becoming the membership in the European Community. sovereignty of the Congolese peoples in the early 1960s, targets of a demagogic rightist campaign over ''Who lost and the murderous onslaught against the Iraqi peoples last Russia?" - just as the accusatory question "Who lost Here too, things have turned out differently. Only months year. In all these cases the United Nations Security Council China?" was hurled at major bourgeois politicians as part after the end of the war the Turkish prime minister, who sanctioned the military operations needed by the imperialists of launching the McCarthyite witch-hunt in the 1950s. (The had been Washington's "ally" in the war against Iraq, was -and the U.S. ruling families above all- to advance their issue at that time was assessing blame for the revolutionary turned out of office. The new Turkish cabinet is now staging class interests. overturn of the landlord-capitalist regime in China in 1949, bombing assaults against Iraq, brutally leveling Kurdish Right now, Barnes pointed out, the largest-ever imperi­ an event that dashed U.S. imperialist plans following World settlements in the northern part of that country in an effort alist-instigated military interventions under the UN flag are War II to dominate and exploit that massive country's to crush Kurdish resistance to national oppression inside under way. Some 14,000 troops are being deployed in working people and resources.) Nixon should be an expert Turkey. Yugoslavia. In Cambodia 22,000 troops will be under the at such prognoses, Barnes pointed out, since he was one of In late March the German rulers announced they command of a ON-appointed version of a colonial gover­ the central instigators of the witch-hunting campaign four were suspending all export of military hardware to nor-general, in violation of the national sovereignty of the decades ago. Turkey, s upposedly in response to the Turkish peoples of that country. Working people and youth in the The big obstacle to establishing a stable market system government's use of these arms against the Kurds. United States and the rest of the world must not be taken in Russia, Nixon stressed in his March II speech, was what Berlin's action was not some humanitarian gesture. in by these operations, which are carried out in the name he called "the Jack of a management class." In one sense, however, Barnes said. It was a result of internal pres­ of international peace and cooperation. These "peacekeep­ Barnes commented, Nixon is on to the key question here. sures confronting the German government in face of the ing" armies, the SWP leader said, will be used against fellow "Following the mighty proletarian-led revolution of Oc­ workers in both these countries, as they have been repeatedly tober 1917," Barnes said, "the communist leadership guided since the end of World War II. by V.I. Lenin organized the working class to expropriate the FOR FURTHER READING capitalist class.The new social relations that resulted from Nixon's memorandum this conquest could not be reversed by the national socialist, The Defense Department "leak" was in fact a preemptive bureaucratic counterrevolution carried out under Joseph The Opening Guns strike against the anti-Bush administration assault launched Stalin in the latter 1920s and 1930s." of World War Ill a few days later by former U.S. president Richard Nixon. What exists in the Soviet Union, as well as the countries This was the third political development in March cited by of Eastern and Central Europe where capitalism was abol­ The War Ag~inst Iraq the SWP leader. ished following World War II, are workers' states. Barnes On March II Nixon gave a speech at the Four Seasons said. They have been horribly deformed by decades of By Jack Barnes In New Intenulticnal no. 7. Washington's recent threats against 'Iraq, Libya, and North Korea, indicate that the U;S. government is on the road to new military ag­ gression. This i~.ue of New Interrultional, published. just after the 1991 Gulf War ended, remains indispensable for understanding the threat of war today and what w9rking. pe<>ple can do to fight against it. 333 pp. .$12. What is American Fascism By James.P. Cannon and Joseph Hansen $8 The Changing Face of U.S. Politics The Proletarian Party and the Trade Unions By Jack Barnes 346 pp. $18.95 The Economic and Political Crisis in the Soviet Union In the September 1991 'International Socialist Revjew' 8 pp. $1.50 An Action Program to Confront the Coming Economic Crisis Edited by Doug Jenness 34pp. $250 Available from bookstores listed on page 16 or from Path­ Impact Visuals/Robert Fox finder, 410 West St., New York, NY 10014. Include $3 ship­ Line outside unemployment office in Brooklyn, New York. 'It is clearer than at any time since the last world ping, $.50 each additional title. depression and social crisis in the 1930s that the questions facing the working class can only be confronted from the standpoint of genuine world politics,' said Barnes.

10 The Militant April tO, 1992 Aprill992 ISR/5

bureaucratic domination and totalitarian repression ofwork­ But the Soviet Union, gro­ ing people but the social relations established on the basis tesqu ely deformed by the Stalinist of nationalized property have survived. That is shown by bureaucracy, could not be perma­ the resistance by working people throughout these countries nently held together by force and -despite the fact that workers there commonly think violence, Sames said. It does not favorably of "capitalism·· as the opposite of the tyranny they even have the glue that holds to­ have li ved under for so many years - to any steps to gether oppressed and oppressor na­ dismantle their social wage, job guarantees, and state-con­ tions in capitalist countries in trolled prices of basic commodities. today's world: the glue of inter­ "The enormous problem the imperialist rulers face is twined markets for capital, lalx>r, how to reestablish the capitalist system in the former and commodities. The shared fear Soviet Unio n and other workers' states," Barnes of the working class by the capital­ pointed out " But the problem is not a lack of managers, ists of different nationalities weighs that's where Nixon is dead wrong. There are hundreds more heavily in their scales than of thousands of managers among the dominant privi­ their conflicts with each other. leged layers in these countries. Nixon's proposal to The fracturing and disintegration send a 'free enterprise corps' of thousands of ' Western of the former Soviet Union will managers' to Russia is sheer fantasy. It would accom­ continue, Barnes said, as will the plish nothing in solving their problems. need for efforts by vanguard work­ "The U.S. rulers' problem is that there is no capitalist ing people to combat all forms of class in Russia or the other workers' states," Sames said. It national oppression and religious takes a long time for historic classes to be created: for a prejudice in order to overcome di­ lx>urgeoisie to consolidate ownership of banking, industrial. visions inherited from history and and landed capital and for lx>urgeois values. legal systems. wage a united struggle for the com­ and money and credit networks to become dominant. "A mon class interests of those who rising exploiting class, can only accomplish ;HTs through produce the wealth of all societies. accumulating capital, establishing its own dominance, and Only when church and state are imposing on the toiling majority the social relations that go truly separated, and freedom of re­ along with this domination. ligious worship assured. can reli­ "Capital does not arise by destroying the modem indus- gion be depoliticized once and for ,, ______all, as the Bolsheviks had set out to do. and thus returned to the purview of purely private life. The enormous problem the "Resistance and bitterness will grow among working people in the imperialist rulers face is how former Soviet Union and through­ Demonstrators in Moscow demand the arrest and trial of leaders of the August to reestablish capitalism in the out Eastern and Central Europe," 1991 coup in the former Soviet Union. The illusion that the Sta linist bureaucracy Barnes pointed out, "as they learn could forever use force and violence to keep working people out of politics bas ended. former Soviet Union ... that the attempt to impose the mir­ acle of the market promised by the Voice of America for decades cannot solve their problems fellow workers in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet trial working class," he pointed out "A modem capitalist but only make them worse." Discussions, strikes, and other Union. The battle is just opening against those who think class rises alongside the working class. Capitalism can't'' rise protests by working people will grow, and they will spill they can impose a market system there," Barnes underlined. without creating and expanding the modem industrial work­ across national boundaries. "Nixon complains that the U.S. rulers don't have what he ing class. It must even make concessions to workers' strug­ Barnes mentioned the fear of the German ruling class calls enough 'managers' to work. with in Russia, but we gle along the way, and these reforms - the byproducts of over the prospect of united actions between workers in the have an enormous and potentially powerful working class revolutionary action by the toilers-strengthen the work­ eastern and western parts of the country. At the time of to struggle alongside." ing class. German unification just two years ago, he said, German (See 'The economic and political crisis in the Soviet "The problem the imperialist rulers confront in Russia chancellor Helmut Kohl promised that within five years Union: What road forward for working people?" in the today is that they are hoping to build capitalism, but in a wages and social conditions would be equalized east and September 6, 1991 , issue of the Militant. Copies can be situation where there is no capitalist class and where every west. A recent study commissioned by the German govern­ ordered by sending $1.50 to the address listed in the business information on page 2.) serious step in that direction must involve massive assaults ment. however, has asserted that it will take at least two decades for living standards in the east to reach 90 percent on the working class that meet resistance and threaten social Capitalist catastrophe stability." That's the reality that Nixon is calling on the U.S. of those in the west. "This is not a perspective. It is an rulers to look at square in the face, but neither he nor those admission of failure and a warning to the toilers,'' Barnes The world in which the U.S. rulers' foreign policy he so sharply berates have any solutions to offer to their said. debates occur is one in which what appeared as endur­ collective dilemma. "Working people around the world must not sell short Continued on next page None of the loans or other "aid" from imperialist powers has changed conditions in the former Soviet Union or other workers' states, Sames said. He pointed to the example of Poland, where conditions have declined to the level of some semicolonial countries as the new regime there has imposed Support the Socialist Workers ''shock therapy" austerity measures urged on them by var­ ious imperialist governments and financial institutions. 1992 Campaign

Disintegration of former Soviet Union T he Socialist Workers 1992 Campaign appeals to all youth and working people to join us in the "The fracturing of the various components of the internationalist alternative to the wars, racism, and world econom ic catastrophe capitalism h as created. former Soviet Union will accelerate,'' Barnes said. "In T he Socialist Workers campaign is fielding candidates for President and Vice-president, U.S. Senate, the early 1920s the Soviet Union was a union of soviets -of councils of urban and rural workers and toiling Congress, and numerous state positions. Join us! peasants," S ames said. " It was not a collection of na­ tion-states. It was held together by a revolutionary Please clip and mail to regional offices listed below or give ou.r campaign volunteers a call. struggle and the internationalist outlook of tens of mil­ Enclosed is my contribution of$ __. lions of working people." 0 0 I endorse the Socialist Workers 1992 Campaign. The Stalinist counterrevolution in the mid-1920s and 0 I would like to : _ Campaign for the socialist candidates in my area._ Help petition to put the campaign 1930s, however, revived Great Russian nationalism, rein­ on the ballot. _ Set up a meeting for a candidate in ( ) my union, ( ) school, ( ) church, or ( ) community. forced all the national and religious divisions - even while 0 Please send me __ campaign brochures at $. 10 each. Enclosed is$ __. driving many of their open manifestations underground through repression and terror- and turned all these prej­ 0 Yes! I would like to attend the international socialist education and campaign conference of youth, workers, udices and reactionary attitudes to account in strengthening and activists scheduled for August S-9 in Oberl in, Ohio. the power and privileges of the dominant bureaucratic social 0 I would like to subscribe to the Militant, the weekly socialist paper that covers the campaign. caste. Enclosed is $10 for 12 weeks. "The Bolsheviks' initial goal of the voluntary union of workers and toilers was to end prejudice and discrimina­ 0 Send me a six-month subscription to the Spanish-language Perspectiva Mundia/. Enclosed is $10 for six issues. tion," Sames said. " It aimed to leave the era of the nation­ 0 Send me a one-year subscription to the French-language L'internationaliste. Enclosed is $12 fo r four issues. state behind. Despite what the Stalinist regime promoted for more than half a century, the goal of the voluntary union was never to create a new Soviet nation-state, a new Soviet Nome ______nationality. "It tried to forge a new 'Soviet man', loyal and depolit­ Address ______icized suoordinates to the bureaucratic police regime ... This For local information, City ______State ______is the opposite, he said, "of what Emesto Che Guevam, a see addresses on page 16. leader of the Cuban revolution. called 'socialist men and Zip ____ Phone ______Age ___ _ women.· Che was looking beyond all lx>rders and nation­ alities, seeking to promote the unity and solidarity of toiling humanity. His eyes were on the capacities of working men Send to the Socialist Workers 1992 Campaign at: 191 7th Ave., New York, NY 1001 I, Phone (2 12) 675-6740 • 2546 W. Pico Blvd., Los and women to transform themselves as they consciously Angeles, CA 90006, Phone (213) 380-9460 • 545 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, lL 60607, Phone (312) 829-6815. organized to take over more and more of the running of the Paid for by the Socialist Worl

April 10, 1992 The Militant 11 International Socialist

Revievv ...... A.p. ril•1•99•2 ...•s. w.6

Continued from previous page possibilities for revolutionaries capable of leading working for working-class politics today," Barnes added, "paves the ing patterns and stable relations are being tom apart. people in mighty class battles. way for greater gains for the revolutionary workers move­ "Everything that was presented as an advantage to the In every imperialist country, Barnes said, the international ment as the class struggle sharpens and young fighters come ruling class has now been shown to be its opposite, ·• character of the working class, whose countries of origin forward in greater numbers tomorrow. Barnes said. "The supposedly growing stability of an span the globe. is reflected more and more directly in the "The opening guns of World War III were sounded in expanding free market. the development of capitalist factories and major urban centers, expanding the experi­ Iraq," he said. "But the capitalists will confront resistance trading blocs in Europe and North America with na­ ences, world reach, and possibilities for forging unity across by working people in their hundreds of millions around the tional currencies and state power supposedly playing national boundaries. world on the way to that unthinkable war. You -young declinjng roles, the domination of liberal democracy The battles to end Jim Crow segregation in the U.S. South people especially-can prevent World War III ," the SWP over a burgeoning market system, the permanence of and other struggles to win Black rights, as well as the leader concluded, "if you fight and present an internation­ the coalition that waged a brutal imperialist assault on integration of tens of millions of women into the work force alist, socialist alternative. Iraq with the blessing of the United Nations Security and subsequent conquests for of women's rights, have "There has never been a generation since the rise of Council- none of these tell the real story of what's unified and strengthened the working class well beyond modem socialism that had such a powerful opportunity to unfolding in the world today. anything that was possible in the 1930s. accomplish this." "Instead, world politics is increasingly marked by the "lt is also possible to see exhaustion of the capitalist expansion begun following the face of international com­ World War II and by all the economic, social, and political munist leadership today in a contradictions revealed by the consequences of the U.S.-or­ way not seen for decades," ganized war against Iraq last year. The truth is that a war Barnes said. "The revolution­ in the Gulf. a steep recession in the United States and several ary leadership of Maurice other imperialist countries, and the unexpected economic Bishop in Grenada, of Mal­ and social burdens accompanying the breakdown of the colm X, of Nelson Mandela, Stalinist apparatuses in Eastern Europe and the Soviet of Che Guevara can be drawn Union, have all combined to thrust the world into a depres­ on by working people. These sion and deepening social crisis," the SWP leader said. "The are convincing examples of crisis of the market system is becoming more and more the worldwide character of worldwide in its scope. the internationalist leader­ "This world, with the new wars and the unimaginable ship that our class will push assaults on working people and immigrants that it will breed, forward through struggle. will bring forward the social questions around which the "Moreover, revolutionary­ general political resistance within the working class can and minded workers continue to will be built. The deepening depression and social crisis is find space to practice politics accelerating every conflict and driving the imperialists on the job and among other 'allies' toward war," Barnes noted. working people and union­ ists. They find interest in Strengths of working class what socialist candidates for "The wealthy rulers cannot unite on a world scale public office have to say. under these conditions," the SWP leader said. "But the They find interest in socialist accelerated breakdown of their social system thrusts the publications such as the Mil­ working class in the opposite direction: toward solidar­ itant and in books and pam­ ity and united action. And today the working class has phlets by communist and great strengths that it did not yet have during the last other revolutionary leaders. world social crisis in the 1930s." They find layers of students Nowhere in the world do the Stalinist Communist Parties and youth who want to be have the opportunity to take the unchallenged leadership of part of campaigning for a so­ a ri sing workers movement today, Barnes said. The weak­ cialist alternative to capitalist Impact Visuals/Wim Van Cappellen ening of these counterrevolutionary organizations. and the wars, reaction. and depres­ Breadline in Moscow. Aid from the imperialist powers has not changed conditions in end of the illusion that the bureaucracy in the Soviet Union sion. the former Soviet Union or Eastern Europe. In Poland conditions have declined to the was building a bastion of workers· power, opens up new "Makillg use of this space level of some semi colonial countries. Young socialists join world youth federation

BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS themselves working closer on the international level with Young Socialist Group of Britain also took part in many of MADRID. Spain-The Young Socialist Alliance was leaders of the African National Congress Youth League of these meetings. · voted in as a full member of the World Federation of South Africa, the Union of Young Communists (UJC) of YSA delegations took part in the Second Congress of the Democratic Youth (WFDY) at a meeting of the federation 's Cuba, the Sandinista Youth (JS-19) of Nicaragua, the youth South Africa Youth Congress in 1990 and the ANC Youth General Council here from March 21 to 23. who later became leaders of the Maurice Bishop Patriotic League Congress in December, 1991 , both held in South "On behalf of the entire membership I would like to Movement of Grenada, and others, in advancing interna­ Africa. YSA leaders attended the World Festival of Youth express our warm welcome and congratulations for being tionalist solidarity with these revolutions. and Students that took place in Pyongyang, North Korea, newly affiliated to the World Federation of Democratic The YSA was founded in 1960, gaining early strength in 1989. The next year a YSA delegation took part in the Youth," wrote Puso Leonard Tladi in a message to the YSA among young people attracted to, and actively engaged in, conference of the youth section of COPPPAL (Permanent March 25. "We are confident that your presence will enrich defending the Cuban revolution and participating in the civil Conference of Latin American Political Parties), held in the Federation and make it aU the stronger." rights battles in the United States. Mexico City. Tladi, a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) WFDY, which was founded in 1945 in London, was Other meetings included a congress of the Maurice Youth League, is the president of WFDY. Tladi has visited dominated for decades by youth groups affiliated with Bishop Patriotic Youth in Grenada and the International the United States twice, in 1989 and 1991, speakillg on Communist parties that looked to Moscow for pOlitical Youth Conference for Peace in the Middle East in Paris in college campuses in several states about the antiapartheid direction and sustenance. January 1991. The UJC hosted a YSA leadership delegation struggle in South Africa. The recent disintegration of the regimes and parties that in Cuba in November 1991. The Young Socialist Group from Britain was also admit­ controlled the governments in Eastern Europe and the In April 1991 YSA and Young Socialist Group leaders ted to membership by the General Council, along with seven former Soviet Union brought rapid changes among the youth attended the Youth Forum for a Just and Lasting Peace in other organizations from Bangladesh, India, Benin, Mexico, affiliates of WFDY as well the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean in Cyprus, Britain, and Hungary. The other affiliate from the United The 13th assembly of member organizations of sponsored by WFDY. A debate broke out at that conference States is the Young Communist League, which is a member WFDY, which took place December 1990 in Athens, between the majority of organizations that opposed the of the General Council. It did not have a representative Greece, made a number of important changes to the U.S.-Ied war against Iraq and those like Komsomol, the present at the Madrid meeting. constitution and policies of the federation. A previous youth organization of the Communist Party in the Soviet More than 60 youth representing 34 organizations from practice that a member organization from a country Union. which supported it. 3 I countries participated in the General Council meeting. could veto the affiliation of another youth group from The council, made up of 44 members, is the body elected the same country was dropped. Following tbe unsuccessful coup attempt in the fom1er by the federation's general assembly to lead its work be­ The political declaration adopted at that meeting rejected Soviet Union in August 1991 Komsomol dissolved its tween meetings of all the member organizations. More than "a general practice of imposing on national organizations national structure. Its successor is the Coordinating Com­ 150 organizations in I 17 countries are affiliated to WFDY. foreign models and ideologies. mainly Eurocentric in na­ mittee of Republican and Regional Youth Organizations. Its Several of the participants at the Madrid meeting ex­ ture." The declaration described WFDY as "a broad inter­ representatives along with those of the Democratic Youth pressed an interest in hosting James Warren and Estelle national non-governmental youth organization, bringing Federation of Hungary, the former Communist Party youth DeBates, Socialist Workers Party candidates for U.S. pres­ together left-wing, democratic, revolutionary, and progres­ there, and the Socialist Youth of Ecuador resigned from all ident and vice-president, in their countries. sive forces." The assembly, after vigorous debate, reaffirmed leadership bodies of WFDY during the General Council The discussion and membership decisions made at the the anti-imperialist character of WFDY "as an essential part meeting. Madrid General Council meeting reflect the political of its identity." The YSA National Committee at its March 28 meeting changes in the world working-class movement going back This was important because a number of member orga­ passed a resolution welcoming its affiliation to the world to the mid I 970s. nizations now challenge anti-imperialism as the axis of the youth federation. The resolution stated that, in its long-stand­ The I 976 Soweto rebellion in South Africa marked a new organization. ing efforts to work with others in building the kind of stage in the struggle to overthrow the apartheid regime, The ANC Youth League was elected to the presidency internationalist revolutionary socialist youth movement that bringing forward a whole new generation of revolutionary of the federation at that assembly. was given its initial impetus by the Russian revolution and youth. The triumph of the Nicaraguan and Grenadian rev­ In recent years YSA delegations have participated in the founding of the Communist International, the YSA is olutions in I 979 gave new impetus to struggles of young numerous international conferences and congresses which looking forward to closer and more fruitful collaboration revolutionaries throughout the Americas. advanced collaboration with anti-imperialist youth around with the World Federation of Democratic Youth and its Members of the Young Socialist Alliance (YSA) found the world who are part of WFDY. Representatives of the affiliate organizations.

12 The Militant April 10, 1992 Aprill992 ISR/7 Fighters for the rights of working people

her participation in labor and other struggles, James Warren the Militant newspaper requested she become a staff writer, a position she currently holds. James Warren, a 40-year-old steelworker, Prior to joining the Militant staff, DeBates is a central leader of the Socialist Workers was the organizer of the Socialist Workers Party and a longtime activist in the Black rights Party branch in Chicago, illinois. She was and labor movements. He is a member of the candidate for city clerk as pan of the SWP's United Steelworkers of America Local 3247. slate in the Chicago mayoral campaign headed With the help of his local he won a leave of by James Warren in November, 1991. absence from his job at AM Castlemetals to DeBates was born in Sioux Falls, South campaign for president. He was also the SWP Dakota, and grew up on a family farm in the candidate for U.S. president in 1988. area. The depression-like conditions in the late Warren was the SWP's candidate for mayor 1970s and early 1980s, in which thousands of of Chicago in 1991, which coincided with the families lost their farms through foreclosures, build-up to the U.S. war against Iraq. He used led her to seek broader answers to the unfold­ his election campaign as a platform to speak ing social crisis. out against that war, and explain why the As a student at the University of Minnesota opening guns of World War ffi were being in Minneapolis, DeBates became active in the fired. struggle for women's rights. Inspired by the Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, in the 1979 Nicaraguan revolution, she also became 1950s and '60s, Warren was deeply affected an active opponent of the U.S. war in Central by the civil rights movement, which over­ America. Through her activities, she met the turned Jim Crow segregation in the South. He socialist movement and became a member of first became active in high school, participat­ the Young Socialist Alliance in 1982. ing in a successful petition campaign to force DeBates has been a national leader of the a neighborhood YMCA to open its doors to Militant photos by Arthur Hughes socialist youth movement for several years, Blacks. James Warren a nd Estelle DeBates are the Socialist W:>rkers Party candidates for US. working with young people opposed to In 1968 Warren and other students at Ham­ president and vice-president in the 1992 elections. Washington's wars, fighting against racism ilton High shut down their school several times and to defend the rights of women. She has in support of a militant strike by Memphis's panicipated in dozens of youth conferences sanitation workers for union recognition and against racist a convention of 1,500 in Philadelphia in November 1980. and spoken at college and high school campuses. treatment at the hands of the city government. When the union meat-packers at Geo. A. Hormel & Co. Defense of a woman's right to choose abortion has been Warren panicipated in the massive protest following the went on strike in 1985 in Austin, Minnesota, Warren helped an important aspect of DeBates's political activity. For more assassination of Manin Luther King, Jr., in 1968 in Mem­ organize solidarity for this important labor battle among than a decade she has helped organize defense of abortion phis. The civil rights leader had been in the city to lend his unionists and farmers throughout the country. clinics, and local and national demonstrations defending support to the strikers. Warren, a member of the SWP National Committee since abortion rights. 1976, has carried a series of responsibilities from the lead­ Warren's political activities broadened with the impact In August of 1991, she spent rwo weeks in Wichita, of the U.S. war on Vietnam. After graduating from high ership of it's trade union work ro the party 's participation in the fight for Black rights. Kansas, during the ullrarightist siege led by Operation school in 1970, Warren moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, Rescue, which drew thousands of right-wing cadre to that where he worked for a radical newspaper, the and Warren has traveled widely. In 1980 he visited Grenada. Root. city. There. she helped organize dozens of members of the became active in the anti- Vietnam War movement. then under the leadership of Maurice Bishop and the New Jewel Movement, to learn more about the revolutionary SWP and socia.list youth to campaign in defense of abortion After joining the socialist youth movement, he moved to rights among working people throughout the area, to explain Atlanta in 1972 where he joined the Socialist Workers Party. process in that Caribbean nation. He also visited Nicaragua in 1984 and 1986. during the period of that country's the stakes in defeating the ultraright ·s offensive, and to build There, Warren became active in the movement against the August 16 pro-choice demonstration in the city. police brutality. revolution. ln 1975 Warren travelled to Boston at the request of the Along with DeBates, Warren will ki ck off this interna­ Her political work has taken her to other countries. In National Student Coali tion Against Racism to join in the tionalist campaign with a trip to Pyongyang. North Korea, 1990 she visited revolutionary Cuba. a target of U.S. war battle to enforce desegregation of the Boston public schools. for a national celebration in April. The candidates will threats. Upon her return. DeBates spoke to organizations ordered by Judge Arthur Garrity to begin in the fall of 1974. express solidarity with the Korean people in their fight and at public meetings in defense of the Cuban revoluti on Following the desegregation battle in Boston, Warren against stepped-up U.S. war threats. and against the U.S. embargo and travel ban. spent several years in Detroit, where he was a member of A longtime defender of revolutionary Cuba, he visited DeBates has written and spoken on the struggle for the United Auto Workers Local 600 at the giant Ford River that country in 198 1. reunification of Korea. U.S. policy in Korea has divided Rouge plant. that country for nearly 50 years. Coming out of the war in Warren participated in the National Black Political As­ Iraq, North Korea has been a special target of Washington ·s sembly conventions in 1972, ' 74, and '76, defending with Estelle DeBates war threats. In February of this year, she attended the Second other forces the perspective of independent Black political International Youth Conference for the Reunification of action. Estelle DeBates, 32 years old, has worked in the garment Korea. in Madrid, Spain. Following the conference she He also panicipated in founding and leading the National and machine tool industry, and most recently was a member spoke in Britain. Iceland and the United States against U.S. Black Independent Political Party, which was launched at of the International Association of Machinists. Drawing on policy in Korea. Socialist alternative to Democrats and Republicans Continued from Page 14 economic cri sis of capitalism is dragging us into wars, humanity," Curtis concluded to loud applause. and is currently in jail for defending immigrant coworkers. economic catastrophe. more breakdowns, prisons, and po­ Willie Mae Reid. also a national co-chair for the socialist Kaku was arrested by the police while campaigning in lice brutality- which I was a victim of." campaign, joined the platform at the rally. Reid, 52, works Peoria, Illinois. during a rally to support striking Caterpillar Curtis recently won a lawsuit against the two cops that at a Shell oil refinery in Houston, Texas. She brings long workers March 22. She was charged, along with a campaign beat him and fractured his cheekbone following his arrest experience in the fight for civil rights and for the rights of supporter, for criminal trespass and obstructing the police in 1988. One of the cops called him "a Mexican lover. just women to the socialist campaign effort. She was the party's [See article on page 2]. like you love those coloreds," as they bloodied him while vice-presidential candidate in 1976. handcuffed. Kaku said her campaign supporters planned to wage a National co-chair Hector Marroqufn, could not be present major effort to have the charges dropped. "This is a fight to "Even though I can't be with you this afternoon, I will at the rally because the company he works for would not defend the democratic rights of all workers," she said. be campaigning among my coworkers and fellow inmates grant him a leave of absence. He sent a message to the rally. no matter which prison they send me to," Curtis continued. Marroquin was framed up for his political activities as a Six national co-chairpeople "I know my fellow inmates - like thousands of youth and student in Mexico in the 1970s and was forced to flee to Pulley and Kaku are two of the six national co-chairs for working people- will appreciate the answers the socialist the United States, where he helped organize a union at a the SWP 1992 presidential campaign. They will travel campaign is giving to the ultrarightist demagogues, who are Coca-Cola factory he worked at in Texas. around the country to speak for the Warren and DeBates raising their heads in this election, and to the whole He was arrested by the Immigration and Naturalization ticket rightward course of the Democratic and Republican parties. Service in 1977. His It-year fight for political asylum Co-chair Derek Bracey, 26, has worked in the airline Opposing scapegoating received wide publicity and ended successfully when he industry and was a member of the International Association was granted permanent residency in 1988. of Machinists. He has spoken frequently on the fight against "We 'II be opposing their attempts to create scapegoats apartheid in South Africa, which he visited twice last year. for unemployment. The Democratic and Republican parties Other socialist candidates who were introduced at the He is currently a staff writer for the Militant newspaper. want more deportation raids by the immigration police at meeting included James Harris. who is running for U.S. Bracey read a message to the rally from one campaign the workplace. They approve of sending Haitians back to Senate in Michigan; Ed Warren, candidate for U.S. Senate co-chairperson who could not attend because he is incar­ their death in Haiti,'' he added. Curtis pointed to proposals in New York; and William "Ted'' Leonard and Jane Harris. cerated in Fort Madison, Iowa. The audience greeted with by Patrick Buchanan to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico who are running for U.S. Congress in New Jersey. Also enthusiasm the message from Marl< Curtis. border. "In France, Britain, and Sweden capitalist politicians present at the rally was Chris Nisan. SWP candidate for "I offer my full and unqualified support to the Socialist are also on a racist campaign against immigrants. Our U.S. Congress in Minneapolis. Workers 1992 campaign," said Curtis. " I' m excited that this campaign wi ll be internationalist to the core." he said. McCartan announced that the Warren-DeBates ticket will rally is happening as the kickoff of an effort to take com­ "I especially call on all young people to support the seek ballot status in 25 states. 10 morl! than in the last munist politics to working people around the world. The socialist alternative . . . and join the fight for the future of presidential campaign of the SWP in 1988.

AprillO, 1992 T he Militant 13 International Socialist Revievv ...... A•p -ril-19•9•2--·Is.w.s Socialists announce alternative to parties of war, racism, and economic depression BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS oil worker at a Chevron re­ NEW YORK -"Do you want to stan campaigning now. fin ery near Los Angeles. for the real alternative, the socialist alternative. to the twin Brinon, who just returned parties of war. racism, and economic depression?" asked from a t.rip to Japan where he Greg McCartan, to the cheers of campaign workers from met with oil workers and oth­ east coast cities at a rally kicking off the Socialist Workers ers, is one of the SWP's can­ Party presidential campaign. McCartan, editor of the Mili­ didates for U.S. Senate in tant newspaper, is the national campaign director. California. Margaret Jayko, James Warren, 40. a steelworker from Chicago, and an auto worker from San Estelle DeBates, 32. a former member of the International Francisco who is also run­ Association of Machinists. are the party's candidates for ning for Senate on the social­ U.S. president and vice-president. They were the featured ist ticket, was introduced speakers at the March 29 rally at the Days Inn in midtown from the audience. Manhattan. "This campaign is for those who want to go out and Against Japan-bashing answer the more and more reactionary policies and direction "Our campaign in Califor­ of our opponents in the Democratic and Republican parties,'' nia is part of the internation­ said DeBates to the 300 participants. The stakes in this fight alist alternative in L992,"said are high." Britton. "We are not a Cali­ "The deeper the world crisis of capitalism gets the farther fornia or West Coast cam­ to the right the capitalist politicians move. The logic of their paign. We are looking for­ course is fascism and World War III. Patrick Buchanan ward to getting the presiden­ represents what's in store for us if they are allowed to continue tial ticket out to California to rule,'' said the socialist leader. and campaigning with them." "Around the world millions are questioning: Can't we Britton denounced the na­ do better? Some are going into action - resisting. That's tionalist appeals and anti-im­ where we have to go- to the action. But we're not going migrant attacks by Patrick just to participate. We will bring to the action what we know: Buchanan and other Repub­ a perspective to fight for a better world that is so eloquently lican and Democratic Party #'7 explained in Pathfinder books and the Militant newspaper. candidates. " In California, "And we will tell the truth, that there are no solutions for Democratic and Republican "Militant/Marc?: Lichtman the problems we face that can be found within the confines politicians are pushing to end of this country." DeBates added. "There is nothing we can U.S. citizenship for the chil­ do acting solely within this country to tum the situation dren of so-called 'illegal around. We are not Americans; we're not part of America, aliens,· .. he said, "and to . but part of an international working class. slash or end welfare and med­ ''They tell us that what we do as workers or as young ical benefits for ' non­ people doesn't make a difference. But what we do in this Americans' and even 'non­ world makes all the difference. don't ever let anyone tell Californians.' " you otherwise." Socialist candidates will "As we all go out campaigning ovenhe coming months speak out against immigrant­ we want you to invite all of the young people you meet to and Japan-bashing he said. Oberlin, Ohio, August 5-9. Youth from around the world Commenting on his visit to will gather there for an international socialist education and Japan at the invitation of Jap­ campaign conference. It is the place to be this summer. anese oil workers, Britton Don't miss it!'' DeBates said. said he found Japanese and "This is your campaign. James Warren, myself, and the U.S . workers face similar other socialist candidates are at your service. We are not problems. here to use you. We will be going out to have you use us "As Japan's economy has to help reach out to others. We want you to bring us to the slid into recession in recent fights and meet other fighters. Together we can build a months, the rulers there have movement throughout this world that will save humanity stepped up their moves to and open up the fight for a world without borders." victimize immigrant work­ After DeBates spoke, the audience rose to its feet and ers," Britton noted. Oil work­ greeted Warren with applause. ers in Tokyo told him they Militant/Marc Lichtman Militant/Marc LIAndrew Pulley. Clinton, and another named Jerry Brown?" The audience sponsibilities as unionists." Several international responded with loud boos. Warren continued, "Well, they Cleve Andrew Pulley is running on the socialist ticket for think exactly the same thing about you, about working people. guests joined the socialist candidates on the platform. Mc­ Cartan introduced Michel Dugre, a garment worker from U.S. Senate in Iowa. Pulley was part of a group ofGis who, in the late 1960s, fought for their right to study and discuss No solution to crisis Montreal who is currently the editor of the French-language the ideas of Malcolm X while in the army and publicly quarterly L'lnternarionaliste, and Catharina Tirsen. a leader "If you listen to what they have presented so far you will opposed Washington's war against Vietnam. They became not hear any of them offering a solution or even saying there of the Communist League in Sweden and member of the food and commercial workers union. known as the Fort-Jackson Eight. Pulley has been the SWP's is a solution to the crisis of their system. There is no solution vice-presidential and presidential candidate in past elections. to the crisis of their system. What they offer is a deadly "It is a great honor to be invited to speak at the launching perspective of war, racism, and depression. of this international campaign," said Marcella FitzGerald. "It's been over one year since Washington organized the "With this campaign we' II counterpose our own inter­ national spokesperson for the Communist League election slaughter of thousands of Iraqis fleeing on the road to Basra,'' national action program to their family, faith, and nation campaign in Britain. The league is running candidates in said Pulley. The U.S. government did not achieve its goal perspective." three parliamentary districts for Britain's general election of overthrowing Saddam Hussein and "is now preparing Warren presented his campaign's demands that aim to April9. new military strikes." Organizing opposition to the U.S. war defend and unite working people around the world: cancel threats against Iraq, Libya, North Korea, and other countries the foreign debt ofThird World countries, defend and extend International fight will be a central goal of the socialist campaign, Pulley said. affirmative action programs. and shorten the workweek with FitzGerald said one of the central demands raised by the Another ofthe socialist candidates who addressed the rally no reduction in pay in order to create jobs. communist candidates there is that British troops get out of was Kate Kaku, who is running for Senate in Illinois. Kaku, 'These are not demands for the American workers. for the Ireland and that the Westminster government cease placing 31. was born in Japan. Her father was one of thousands of British ... the Japanese workers. They are demands for conditions on its willingness to talk with the republican Sinn Japanese-Americans who were locked up in internment workers and toilers the world over. no matter what nation Fein party. She pointed to recent demonstrations in both camps by the U.S. government during World War II. A former they happen to reside in." he said. Dublin and London protesting the Dublin High Court's packinghouse worker. she is currently a member of United Warren and DeBates were joined on the platform by attempt to ban a young woman from travelling to Britain Steelworkers of America Local 5488 in Chicago. She has socialist candidates for U.S. Senate and Congress from to obtain an abortion. That ruling was overturned. "This traveled extensive! y around the world to win support for her around the country. shows how a fight together across borders can win,.. Fitz­ husband, Mark Curtis, a unionist who has been framed up Campaign di rector McCanan introduced Joel Brinon. an Gerald said. Continued on Page 13

14 The Militant April tO, 1992 Pathfinder Books for today'sfighters against war, racism, and anti-union attacks

Woman's Evolution NEW INTERNATIONAL by Evelyn Reed A magazine ofMarxist Assesses women's leading and little known politics and theory contributions to the development of human civilization. Opening Guns of World War m 491 pp. $21.95 by Jack Barnes Essential reading as Wash ington heads Cosmetics, Fashions, and . . toward war w ith Iraq, Korea, and Libya. .. ~~- ~ __ .~-~~ "" the Exploitation of Women .::;._. In New International No. 7. by Joseph Hansen and Evelyn Reed 333 pp. $12 138 pp. $11.95 tk•:-. \. Che Guevara, Cuba, and the Road The Origin of the Family, Private to Socialism Property, and the State In New International No. 8. by Frederick Engels 204 pp. $10 191 pp. $13.95 The Coming Revolution in Women's Liberation and South Africa the African Freedom Struggle In New International No. 5. by 1bonuu Sankara 198pp.$9 36 pp. $2.50

How Far We Slaves Malcolm X Talks to Have Come! Young People by Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro A new collection of speeches given in the United Mandel a and Castro on the struggle against apartheid, States, Britain, and Africa. Selected for the New York racism, and social injustice. 83 pp. $7.95 Public Library's 1992 list of best books for young people. The Struggle is My life 110 pp. $9.95 by Nelson Mandela 281 pp. $12.95 By Any Means Necessary by Malcolm X In Defense of Socialism 184 pp. $13.95 by Fidel Castro 142 pp. $12.95 Malcolm X: The Last Speeches 189 pp. $15.95 Che Guevara and the Cuban Revolution Writings and speeches. The Assassination of Malcolm X 413 pp. $20.95 by George Breitman and others. 96 pp. $13.95

The Revolution Betrayed What is American Fascism? WUCATKJN FOR SOCIAUSTS By James P. cannon andJoseph Hansen THE by Leon Trotsky What Is Ametican Fascism? ,..,~""""' ~ """"" Writings on Father Coughlin, Mayor Frank ...... _s...-,..,... ~ .... ~V~U~D A study of the Soviet Union's bureaucratic ..,...... ,,<-- ...... aT 5 .,.liMIT- degeneration under Stalin . Hague, and Joseph McCarthy. --~~"-' 314 pp. $18.95 47 pp. $8 The Communist Manifesto Fascism and Big Business Karl Marx and Frederick Engels by Daniel Guerin 47 pp. $2.50 318 pp. $18.95 Socialism: Utopian and Scientific Fascism: What It Is and How to by Frederick Engels Fight It. 63 pp. $3. by Leon Trotsky Karl Marx and His Teac.hings 3 1 pp. $2 by V.I. Lenin. $2 Six-story high Pathfinder Join the Pathfinder Mural in New York 25°/o OFF Readers Club Full-color posters of the mural are now avai lable for just $20. Write to Pathfinder or $1 0 for one-year membership, visit the Pathfinder bookstore nearest you. ANY BOOK includes 15% discount on all Come see the mural at the corner of Charles Pathfinder titles, and other special and West streets in Manhattan, New York. on this page for members of discounts. Join by visiting a Pathfinder iliePailifin~rR~Crub table at the Apri I 5 abortion rights march, visiting a Pathfinder bookstore join the reader/s club listed on page 16, or w riting to and present a copy of this Pathfinder, 410 West Street, New York, advertisement. Offer good for all books NY 10014. Ask for your free 1992 on this page, Pathfinder catalog. To order these "New International" books by mail, please enclose $3 magazine and posters handling for the first title, $.50 each not included. additional copy.

April 10, 1992 The Militant 15 -MILITANT LABOR FORUMS------The Militant Labor Forum is a weekly tion: £2. Tel: 71-401-2293. Association for Old and New Members. Sat., MINNESOTA Stop the War T hreats Against Libya, Iraq, April 4, I p.m. Klapparstfgur 26. 2nd floor. Tel: free-speech meeting for workers, farmers, St. Paul youth, and others. All those seeking to and Korea. Speaker: representative of Commu­ (9 1) 17513. Buchananism ·What It Is and How To Fight nist League. Sat., April II, 7:30p.m. 47 The Cut. advance the fight against injustice and ex­ It. The Socialist Answer in 1992. Speaker: Donation: £2. Tel: 71-401 -2293. ploitation are welcome to attend and par· Chris Nisan. Socialist Workers candidate for NEW ZEALAND ticipate in these discussions on issues of U.S. Congress (5th C.D.). Sat., April I I, 7:30 Manchester Working-Class Answer to War and Depres­ Auckland importance to working people. p.m. 508 N Snelling Ave. Donation: $5. Tel: Fighting the Employment Contracts Act. (6 12) 644-6325. sion. Speaker: Andrew Buchanan, Communist At the Militant Labor Forum you can League candidate for Manchester Central. Sat.. Speakers: Ray Bianchi, leader of Amalgamated express your opinion, listen to the views of April 4, 7 p.m. Unit 4. 60 Shudehill. Donation: Workers Union; Tony Gibson. member Engi­ fellow fighters, and exchange ideas on WASHINGTON £1. Tel: 06 1-839 1766. neers Union and Communist League. Sat., how best to advance the interests of work· Seattle April 4. 7 p.m. La Gonda Arcade, 203 ers and farmers the world over. What is Behind Operation Weed and Seed? Karangahape Rd., Donation: $3. Tel: (9) 793- Cops, Courts, and the Fight Against Police CANADA 075. Brutality. Speakers: Harriet Walden, Mothers Montreal South Africa: The Meaning or the Referen­ FLORIDA Against Police Harassment; George Chalmers, New York State Cancels Hydro-Quebec Con­ dum. Speaker: representative of Communist Miami Socialist Workers Party, member Amalgamated tract: Workers in Quebec Lose Nothing! Dis­ League. Sat.. April II. 7 p.m. La Gonda Arcade, The Struggle Against Apartheid: What Next Clothing and Textile Workers Union Local cuss Action Program to Confront Economic 203 Karangahape Rd .. Donation: $3. Tel: (9) After the Whites-Only Referendum? Speaker: 102G. Sat., April4, 7:30p.m. 1405 E Madison. Depression. Sat., April 4. 7:30p.m. 6566, boul. 793-075. Jim Kendrick, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., Donation: $3. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Saint-Laurent. Donation: $4. Tel: (5 14) 273-2503. Wellington April4, 7:30p.m. 137 NE 54th St. Donation: $3. Toronto South Africa: Crisis or the Apartheid Regime. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Iraq-Libya-Korea: Say No to New Imperial­ Sat .. April 4. 7 p.m. 23 Majoribanks St., near • ist War Preparations. Speakers: James Stone, Courtenay Pl. Donation: $3. Tel: (4) 384-4205. ILLINOIS Communist League; Hedayat Nizamy, Young Chicago BRITAIN Socialists. Sat., April4, 7:30p.m. 827 Bloor St. U.S. Prepares New Wars: Threats Against London West. Donation: $4. Tel: (416) 533-4324. SWEDEN North Korea, Iraq, Libya are Prowar Propa­ The General Election: Communist League Stockholm ganda. Panel discussion. Sat., April I I, 7 p.m. Candidate Explains ChaUenges Facing Work· The Elections in the U.S.: Is Buchanan a Fas­ 545 W Roosevelt Rd. Donation: $4. Tel: (312) ing People. Speaker: Brian Grogan, Communist ICELAND cist? Speaker: representative of Communist 829-6815. League Candidate for Southwark and Bermond­ Reykjavik League. Sat.. April 4. 3 p.m. Vikingagatan 10 sey. Sat., April 4, 7:30 p.m. 47 The Cut. Dona- General Meeting of the International Forum (T -bana St Eriksplan). Tel: (08) 31 69 33. IOWA Des Moines Fight Cop Brutality and Racist Attacks! Peoria cops arrest socialist candidate Speakers: Dudley Allison, chair Direct Action; Cleve Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party, member United Food and Commercial Workers Continued from Page 2 At that point, recalled Zins, the police of­ marshal agreed to escort Kaku and Zins into Localll49. Sat., April 4, 7:30p.m. 2105 Forest fight for parole, the same cop who had de­ ficer claimed the UA W officials didn't want the rally. Both went in and assumed the mat­ Ave. Donation: $3. Tel: (5 IS) 246-8249. manded that the campaign table be removed "disrupters" at their rally, and had asked him ter was settled. reappeared and asked Kaku and Zins to step to especially kick out Kaku and Zins. " We "A little while later. as we were walking Militant Labor Forum presents outside. "He claimed he already told us we asked him who in the U A W had said this," out of the restroom, the same cop came back Cuba 1992: couldnotbeon arena property," the candidate Zins continued. But he refused to discuss the and told us we were under arrest," said explained. "We reminded him all he had matter further and threatened them with arrest Kaku. ·•we told him UA W marshals had let Meeting the Challenges asked was for us to move the campaign table, unless they left immediately. Both complied. us in, but he demanded we go outside. We Confronting the Revolution which we did. We weren't distributing liter­ Some UAW members from St. Louis then asked to be able to talk to the marshals who ature inside the arena, and we were attending went inside to talk to union officials about let us in. The cop retorted we could call them Hear: Mary-Alice Waters, the rally like other supporters of the strike." reversing this undemocratic move. A UAW to bail us out of jail." Socialist Workers Party National The two women were then searched. Committee member, and editor handcuffed, and put in a police car. They o f New International. were never read their Miranda rights. Then New York: Fri., April3, 7:30p.m. 191 the cop pulled a Militam out of each of their 7th Ave., Manhattan. Donation: $5. purses saying, "This is Exhibit A." For more information: (212) 727-8421 ''Since being in the rally was not a crime, Philadelphia: Sat., April18, 7:30p.m. he obviously decided to lie and claim we 1906 South St. Donation: $5. For more were distributing literature inside," said information: (215) 546-8218. Kaku. " The c harges against us should be dropped immediately," emphasized Kaku. "They are a violation of my right to free UA W-Caterpillar speech and they are an attack on our right to campaign for the socialist alternative in the talks break down 1992 elections and for working people to discuss politics.'' In addition, she said, "Such BY PAUL MAILHOT harassment and threats are a blow to the After just two days the latest round of Caterpillar strike. They make it harder for talks between Caterpillar Inc. and the United these fellow fighters to win the solidarity Auto Workers broke down March 26. The they need- and have earned- in the face five-month-long strike by the UAW against of a concerted company attack on their Caterpillar is the biggest labor battle taking wages and conditions.. , place in the U nited States today. In an interview with the editorial board of Margaret Jayko is a member of UAW Local the Chicago Tribune the day contract talks Militant/Dennis Chambers 2244 in Fremont, California. and works on broke down, Donald Fites, Caterpillar presi­ Cop at Caterpillar rally tells socialist activists to remove literature table. Mary Zins the truck assembly line at New United Mo­ dent, stated that the company considers itself (with glasses) and socialist candidate Kate Kaku were later arrested. tors Manufacturing, Inc. at an impasse in negotiations and could de­ cide to unilaterally impose its final contract offer. IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP Asked if the company would try to get union members to cross the picket line or Where to find Pathfinder books and MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: 508 N. Snelling BRITAIN hire scabs, Fites said, "We haven't ruled it distributors of the Militant, Perspectiva Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) 644-6325. London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEI 8LL. out yet." He added, "Our people have suf­ Mundial, New lnJei7Ullional, Nouvelle In· MISSOURI: St. Louis: 1622 S. Broadway. Tel: 71-401 2293. Zip: 63104. Tel: (314) 421-3808. fered enough, our hourly employees want to tei7Ullionale, Nueva lnternacional, and Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal go back to work." L 'intei7Ullionaliste. NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Zip: code: M4 4AA. Tel: 061-839 1766. 07102. Tel: (201)643-3341. Sheffield: I Gower St., Spital Hill, Postal The strike by 10,800 members of the NEW YORK: New York: 191 7th Ave. Zip: code: S47HA. Tel: 0742-765070. U A W is based in central Jllinois, where most UNITED STATES 10011. Tel: (212) 727-8421. of Caterpillar's giant assembly plants are lo­ ALABAMA: Birmingham: II I 21st St. CANADA cated. Caterpillar's refusal to settle with the South. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079, 328- NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: 2000- Montreal: 6566, boul. St-Laurent. Postal 3314. C S. Elm-Eugene St. Zip 27406. Tel: (919) 272- code: H2S 3C6. Tel: (514) 273-2503. union has had a big impact on the economy 5996. Toronto: 827 Bloor St. West. Postal code: in Illinois. It is estimated to have driven up CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460. San OHIO: Cincinnati: P.O.Box 19484. Zip: M6G !M I. Tel: (4 16) 533-4324 the state's unemployment rate 1 percent. Francisco: 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 45219. Tel: (513) 221-2691. Cleveland: 1863 Vancouver: 3967 Main St. Postal code: V5V The company is trying to impose a 282-6255. W. 25th St. Zip: 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. 3P3. Tel: (604) 872-8343. takeback contract that would include a two­ CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing ad ­ PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 1906 ICELAND tier wage and benefit system at some of its dress: P.O. Box 16751, Baybrook Station, West South St. Zip: 19146. Tel: (21 5) 546-8196. Pitts­ Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing address: plants. New hires and laid-off workers who Haven. Zip: 06516. burgh: 4905 Penn Ave. Zip 15224. Tel: (412) P. Box 233. 121 Reykjavik. Tel: (91) 17513. accepted recall would be paid $7 an hour, FLORIDA: Miami: 137 NE 54th St. Zip: 362-6767. 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. MEXICO less than half the average $16 an hour that TEXAS: Houston: 4806 Almeda. Zip: Mexico City: Nevin Siders. Apdo. Postal27- Caterpillar workers now make. Scores of GEORGIA: Atlanta: 172 Trinity Ave. Zip: 77004. Tel: (7 13) 522-8054. 30303. Tel: (404) 577-4065. 575, Col. Roma Sur. Mexico OF. other concessions are also still being de­ ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt UTAH: Salt Lake City: 147 E 900 South. manded of the union. NEW ZEALAND Rd. Zip: 60607. Tel: (3 12) 829-681 5, 829- Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. Auckland: La Gonda Arcade, 203 Karan­ Caterpillar has attempted to blackmail 7018. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 523 8th St. SE. Zip: gahape Road. Postal Address: P.O. Box 3025. workers into accepting the contract by IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. Zip: 20003. Tel: (202) 547-7557. Tel: (9) 793-075. threatening to close its York, Pennsylvania, 50311. Tel: (5 I 5) 246-8249. WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madison. Christchurch: 593a Colombo St. (upstairs). facilities unless the two-tier proposals are KENTUCKY: Louisville: P.O. Box 4103. Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. Postal address: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3)656-055. accepted. Zip: 40204-4103. WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown : 242 Wellington: 23 Majoribanks St.. Courtenay MARYLAND: Baltimore: 2905 Green­ The union is fighting for a contract with­ Walnut. Mailing address: P.O. Box 203. Pl. Postal address: P.O. Box 9092. Tel: (4) 384- mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. Zip: 26507. Tel: (304) 296-0055. 4205. out major concessions similar to the agree­ MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 605 Mas­ ment reached between the UAW and John sachusetts Ave. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247-6772. AUSTRALIA SWEDEN Deere and Company, another maker of MICHIGAN: Detroit: 5019\12 Woodward Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills. Sydney Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10. Postal code: heavy construction equipment. Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (3 13) 831-1 177. NSW 2010. Tel: 02-281-3297. S-113 42. Tel: (08) 31 69 33.

16 The Militant April10, 1992 - GREAT SOCIETY------True spirit of free enterprise ­ ber checks on the House Bank to Angeles. The trans-Alaska pipe­ And that's in an election year - tal Protection Agency to clean up One congress member loaned his buy stamps at the House Post Of­ line terminates there. An ex-in­ "WASHI NGTON - White House toxic sites is being probed for its campaign reelecti on committee fice, and then peddle them for spector charges that X-rays of officials unveiled a blueprint for swindle sheets. Some of the chal­ $10,000 by writing a rubber check cash. pipeline welds have been faked helping America's 200,000 mentally lenged items seem kind of routine and that untended leaks and vapor ill homeless, but advocacy groups - $2,272 for basketball game tick­ Alliance for Progress - "MI­ loss endanger oil workers as well said President Bush had put only ets, etc. But the item that intrigued AMI -The CIA and the Medellin as poisoning the air. He charges enough money behind it to help a us was $2.500 for"customized choc­ Harry cocaine cartel helped finance the that the oil companies sacrifice dozen in each state."- news item. olate bars." successful 1984 campaign of a Pan­ safety "in favor of profits." Ring amanian president, according to Impress the neighbors - The Until death do you part? - Ac­ transcripts released in Manuel Not meaning to sound imprac­ Zoo Doo Compost Co. is offering a cording to federal court, women in Noriega's drug trafficking trial." ­ tical - Last year there was the gourmet, nutrient-rich organic fertil­ Utah can change the name on their news item. knock-down carton that the home­ izer culled from the droppings of driver's license by showing a mar­ on the House Bank. When the loan less could use as a portable shelter. exotic zoo animals. Try the Grand riage certificate. But a divorce de­ was repaid, he pocketed a 16 percent This year, it's Shelter-Pal<, an ample Tour Safari Package. $20. cree is not enough to shed a marriage interest fee. Greening of Alaska - Valdez. coat designed to double as a sleeping name. for that, a court order-in­ scene of the notorious Exxon oil bag. Maybe one year, they'll get the cluding consent of the ex-spo use­ Psst, hot postage! - Some spill, has a population of 4,000 and crazy idea of designing homes for One size doesn't fit all?- A is necessary. Or, you can fork over members of Congress wrote rub- a smog level comparable to Los the homeless. company hired by the Environmen- $400 for a legal name change. Socialist rail workers discuss political polarization

BY HARVEY McARTHUR ployers succeed in imposing them, socialist document is a lengthy defense of the actions coworkers at Swift the day he was framed WASHINGTON, D.C. - Socialist work­ workers have put the money to good use by of the cops, courts, and prosecutors. and arrested. ers who are members of the United Trans­ donating it to the Expansion Fund. At the "The facts show that Mark did not get a The cops knew full well who Curtis was, portation Union met here March 14- 15 to meeting, an additional half-dozen workers fair trial,'' McCartan continued. "In fact, no McCartan noted, because they yelled that he discuss how they can best respond to the pledged more than $100,000. worker ever gets a fair trial in this country, was a "Mexican-lover, just like you love sharp polarization in politics today and the where the cops and courts are organized by those coloreds," as they beat him viciously increasingly reactionary direction of the Caterpillar strike and for the ruling rich." the night of his arrest. Democratic and Republican parties. The reports and discussion took up the Central to McNaghten 's letter- and The widespread effort to push back world­ Working people around the world face a many blows the raiJ bosses have dealt work­ other such articles circulated by the forces wide support for the imprisoned fighter is a capitalist system in crisis and the wars, rac­ ers in recent months. These include massive organizing against Curtis- is the attempt to continuation of this assault on a vanguard ism. police brutality, and economic depres­ cuts in jobs as the companies reduce the deny Curtis's history as a unionist and polit­ worker. It aims to keep Curtis from contin­ sion it engenders. By answering the dema­ num ber of workers used to operate each train ical activist. This is aimed at undercutting the uing his political work as a socialist, McCar­ gogy and arguments of politicians in both and stepped-up firings and other disciplinary understanding of why the cops had reason to tan said. "They want to send a warning to big-business parties- including the ultra­ actions. Safety is getting worse as the com­ victimize Curtis. "He was just another guy others: this is what will happen to you if you rightist forces such as Patrick Buchanan - panies cut back on maintenance of tracks and and not the big Union activist or tighter his stand up for your rights." and joining in the struggles going on today, equipment and force smaller crews to do defense committee literature makes out," Defense of Curtis must be explained in socialist workers can effectively reach out to more work. often without adequate rest. McNaghten writes. this light, he continued. "The fact that these those who seek to resist the assault on work­ The meeting assessed the impact of last rightist forces continue their efforts shows While Curtis did not hold any union post, that the attack on Curtis has not been suc­ ing people around the world. year's 19-hour national rai I strike, when McCartan countered. he is just the sort of cessful. Supporters of Mark can present this The socialists. who work on railroads union officials called off the action instead militant rank-and-tile worker the employers, fight as part of the growing polarization and across the country, discussed building sup­ of organizing a serious fight to stand up to cops. and many middle-class and trade union port for striking auto workers at Caterpillar: the employers and their government. This class tensions in this country." officials fear and hate. For years Curtis had The rail workers discussed plans for participation in the April5 march for abortion has emboldened the bosses to press ahead been an activist in protests against Washing­ broader circulation ofdefensecomminee ma­ rights in Washington, D.C.: and launching a with their assault and created a widespread ton's wars in Central America, in support of sharper political response in defense of im­ discussion among workers about the pros­ terials among coworkers, seeking contribu­ striking packinghouse workers, and against tions for the Mark Curtis Parole Now! Fund, prisoned union activist Mark Curtis. pects for fighting back. police racism and brutality. He organized James Warren, Socialist Workers candi­ The Caterpillar strike has big stakes for and taking up the political challenge posed support among coworkers and from his union by McNaghten and other rightists. date for U.S. president, addressed the work­ rail workers, explained San Francisco rail to win his job back after the Swift packing­ ers in a public forum on ''Bucbananism: What worker Joe Swanson in a report. 'They won house bosses ftred him for seeking medical Harvey McArthur is a switchman on the it is and how to tight it." relatively high wages by going on strike attention for an on-the-job injury. And he was Burlington Northern Railroad in Seattle and Warren analyzed the phenomenon of every three years from 1948 to 1982," he involved in protests supporting immigrant a member of UTU Local 845. Buchananism and the further shift to the right noted. 'They showed that you only get some­ of both the Democratic and Republican par­ thing from the bosses by fighting. Now, em­ ties. World war and fascism are the natural ployers around the world are watching to see outcome of the bourgeois drive to totally how much resistance these workers will put - 25 AND 50 YEARS AGO restructure the relations between capital and up. If they can crush the Caterpillar strike, wrong to send troops to Vietnam but now labor," he explained. "This is the logic of the employers wi!l try to tum it into a new TH£ that they are there we can't withdraw them. Buchananism." rout for the entire labor movement." ln addition. he stands for a greater share This shift to the right in bourgeois politics for Australian business in defense con­ is giving rise "to the broadest political debate Defending Mark Curtis MILITANT tracts. in U.S. presidential elections in 25 years," he A key discussion focused on a report by Pt •c ~ l Ot continued. "Buchanan is antihuman, antiwo­ SWP leader Greg McCartan on the opportu­ April 10, 1967 man. anti-Black, and anti worker. While other nities and challenges rail workers face in defending Mark Curtis. Curtis is a union and Stop-work meetings of seamen in major TH£ MILITANT capitalist candidates are not as rightist as PUa U I MI . tW fMI IN'U.Itfl Of TM I WOI:JU:IIM "Of'U political activist serving a 25-year sentence ports throughout Australia in March showed Buchanan, they do not answer his demagogic ~f., VC'nuc. N v scapegoating of Jews and immigrant work­ after being framed-up on charges of rape by that Australian seamen are overwhelmingly April 11, 1942 ers. They all seek to head a government at the police in Des Moines. Iowa. solid with the crews of the Boonaroo and the the service of the rul ing rich. This means they Curtis recently won an important victory Jeparit, who refused to carry bombs and LOS ANGELES, April l -While en­ will implement more cuts in social serv ices. when a federal judge ruled that cops who other war supplies for use by Australian gaged in their customary sale of papers on attack the political rights of working people, beat him in the Des Moines police station forces in Vietnam. As a result of the crews' the street in front of the CIO building here, and wage war abroad to defend the interests violated his civil rights and ordered them to action, the two ships have been taken to two young women workers, distributors re­ of U.S. billionaires." pay him damages. This gives new momen­ Vietnam with crews supplied by the Royal spectively of the Militant and Labor Action, Warren urged workers to promote the per­ tum to the tight to win Curtis's release on Australian Navy. were assaulted and manhandled last night by spective advanced in An Action Program to parole, McCartan said. Messages of congratulation have come an organized group of about 20 men led by Confront the Coming Economic Crisis. This "We must aggressively take up the broad from ships at sea and ports in New Guinea, known Stalinists. is a series of proposals for the labor move­ campaign against Mark organized by the Fiji and New Zealand. Seamen in Welling­ Two young male companions of the dis­ ment to unite all working people in a world cops, the City of Des Moines, some union ton said: " We warmly congratulate our tributors were also seized and one of them fight against the devastating impact of the officials, and some self-proclaimed defend­ Australian brothers on their dignified and was severely beaten. capitalist crisis. ers of women's and Black rights," he contin­ principled stand.'' The Vietnamese Na­ This attack, part of a general nation-wide The rail workers had just completed a two­ ued. "This effort is one face of rightism in tional Liberation Front has also sent a lynch campaign against Trotskyists and all month campaign to increase sales of the Mil­ the United States. It goes hand-in-hand with message of solidarity and thanks to the other working-class militants who oppose itant to their coworkers. They fell short of the the Buchanan and Duke campaigns. the vi­ seamen. reactionary Stalinism, was made under cover total goal they had ~et. but reported progress olent attacks on abortion clinics, and the At the meetings around the coast, in­ of a resolution which the Stalinist union in increasing and regularizing circulation of mobilizations by cops and their supporters volving hundreds of seamen, only eleven leaders on March 30 succeeded in slipping the paper on the job. The meeting voted to set against critics of police brutality. men in all voted against the union 's stand. over in the Los Angeles CIO Industrial Union an initial goal of selling 45 Militant subscrip­ This rightist campaign is very active But this overwhelming solidarity contrasts Council. tions and 20copies ofthe MarxistjoumaiNew within the United Transportation Union quite starkly with the actions of Albert This resolution called for discouraging the lmernational to rai I workers during this (UTU). he noted. Greg McNaghten, chair­ Monk and the other leaders of the Austra­ distribution before the CIO building of THE spring's circulation campaign. man of UTU Local l 024 in Seattle, is dis­ lian Council of Trade Unions, and the MIUTANT. Labor Action and the Socialist The workers also voted to continue support tributing a 29-page attack on Mark Curtis. stand taken on Vietnam by Edward Gough farty Call. for the international Expansion Fund. which "My goal ... has been to get the UTU, its Whittam. QC, the newly elected leader of The resolution included an attack on "trade aims to raise nearly $3 million to finance the members and especially its elected officers the Labor Party. Despite the fact that the unionism as usual," that is militant indepen­ expansion and modernization of the print completely divorced from any association seamen's stand was in line with the dent union defense of the workers' rights and shop and offices where theMilitallf and Path­ with Mr. Curtis or his defense committee," ACTU's policy against the war, the ACTU conditions, thereby demonstrating that the finder books are edited and produced. McNaghten writes. leadership openly supported the govern­ attack on the Trotskyists is really part of a Rail workers have already contributed McNaghten says he "spent hours on the ment in the Boonaroo and J eparit disputes. broader campaign to victimize all union mil­ $330,000 to the fund by taking advantage of phone" with the prosecuting attorney and When ACTU President Monk's efforts to itants and help put over the Stalinists· pro­ job buyouts and contract signing bonuses spoke with the Iowa State Board of Parole get the ships sailing with civilian crews gram for surrender of union rights, speed-up offered on several railroads. These are bribes and the Polk Counry Prosecutor's office. His had failed, the government commissioned and wage-slashing. As usual, the Stalinists offered by the rail bosses in attempts to get piece attempts to undermine the historic the ships and put navy crews aboard. pushed through their attack on free speech workers to accept cuts in jobs and other working-class conquest of the presumption Meanwhile, in the Labor Party, Whittam and free press for labor militants under the concessions. The socialists have consistently of innocence, by going back to fill in the gaps has moved to reverse the policy of oppo­ guise of "patriotism" and defending the opposed the~c agreements. but when the em- in the prosecution's case against Curtis. The sition to the war. His new policy is: It was unions from "agents of Hitler."

AprillO, 1992 The Militant 17 - EDITORIALS Join int'l drive Support the socialist campaign! to circulate the The Socialist Workers Party national election campaign He wants to end the long-standing conquest of a progres­ 'Militant' of James Warren for president and Estelle DeBates for sive income tax. His proposal would mean increased taxes vice-president, which was launched in New York City March on working people and big reductions for the wealthy. BY BRIAN WILLIAMS 29, provides an important vehicle for all those looking for The demagogy of Patrick Buchanan scapegoats immi­ Militant supporters in cities throughout the United States a way to fight back against Washington's accelerating course grant workers, Jews, Japanese, and others for the social crisis and in several other countries around the world are adopting toward war and to defend working people against the ravages caused by capitalism. His fascist-like campaign is an out­ subscription goals for a nine-week drive to win 3,600 new of the capitalist economic crisis. growth of the rightward direction of the politics of the readers. The drive begins April 4. The socialists are the only candidates to explain the truth Democratic and Republican parties. Supporters of the Socialist Workers Party election cam­ that the rulers are preparing for wars in the coming months Socialist candidates offer an entirely different perspec­ paign of James Warren for president and Estelle DeBates and leading humanity toward World War Ill. They are the tive. While the capitalist politicians say, "Vote for me and for vice-president are discussing plans for placing the cir­ only candidates speaking out against these wars and de­ I will solve your problems," the socialists explain that culation campaign at the center of their political work for manding that Washington get its troops, bombers, and Navy working people and youth can only look to our own the next two months. ships out of the rest of the world. collective action to defend our rights against the attacks The Militant provides invaluable political analysis of the The SWP presidential ticket also spearheads dozens of by the employers and their government. What is needed threat posed to working people by Buchananism. and ex­ local SWP election campaigns being launched throughout is a fighting social movement-in the streets and on the plains the need for a united working-class response to the the country for federal, state, and local offices. picket lines-that unites working people internationally. ideas and actions of the ultralight. The Militant will continue The socialist campaigns will be answering the anti­ In this way, our class can prevent World War Ill and defeat to sound the alarm about the new wars that U.S. imperialism working-class solutions being put forward by all political the threat posed by ultrarightists. is threatening to launch against the peoples of Iraq, Libya, figures within the Democratic and Republican parties. The Militant appeals to our readers to support the So­ and North Korea. These capitalist politicians offer no alternatives to the cialist Workers Party election campaigns. During the coming As the newspaper of the SWP election campaigns, a government's present course of war, racism, worldwide months we will provide extensive coverage on the answers subscription to the Militant will be an attractive buy. Many depression, and attacks on the rights and living standards being put forward by the socialist candidates to Buchanan­ working people and youth will want to know the campaign's of working people. ism and other capitalist political positions. along with news answers to the increasingly reactionary policies being put The deep crisis of the market system has moved capi­ on socialist campaign activities. forward by politicians from the Democratic and Republican talist politics in this country further to the right. All the We urge our readers to support the SWP campaigns in parties. capitalist presidential candidates- including George any way you can. This could mean endorsing the campaign. The sales effort will also include the promotion of the Bush, William Clinton, Edmund Brown, Patrick Bu­ contributing funds. or arranging speaking engagements for Spanish-language monthly Perspectiva Mundial, the chanan, and H. Ross Perot -promote the interests of the the candidates. First and foremost it means helping distribute French-language quarterly L' internationaliste, and the ruling rich. All of their proposals shift the burden of the the campaign newspaper, the Militant. Marxist magazine New International in English, Spanish, economic and social crisis further onto the shoulders of You are invited to order bundles to sell subscriptions to and French. workers and farmers. Their solutions aim only to pit your fellow students or coworkers, or to join the organized In Illinois, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate Kate Kaku, working people against each other. Even Brown, who distribution efforts in cities where supporters are participat­ after publicly announcing her campaign, led a team of projects himself as an anti-establishment candidate, pres­ ing in the nine-week circulation drive that has just been supporters to several areas in central and southern Illinois. ents as his main plank a reactionary "flat tax" proposal. launched. See the directory on page 16. In the town of Pawnee, where a Peabody coal mine portal is located, I0 miners and an area farmer bought copies of the Militant. At a campaign meeting organized at the Uni­ versity of Illinois in Champaign, students bought II Mili­ tants and one long-term subscription. De Klerk tries to block progress Caterpillar strike rally Opportunities for winning a hearing from unionists for The latest proposals by the South African government for is necessary of the country's mineral and industrial wealth the Militant's political perspective were evident from the the transition to a new constitution represent one more of a to improve the living conditions of the working people of response the paper received from workers attending the series of attempts by the apartheid rulers to block the South Africa. In addition, the ANC advocates the rights of March 22 rally in Peoria, Illinois, in solidarity with Cater­ liberation movement there. Blacks to have land to farm, despite the fact that today most pillar strikers. Some 435 Militants were sold to the thousands Since negotiations with the African National Congress do not have the means to buy it of unionists attending this event. began. the regime of South African president F. W. de Klerk Many of the ruling rich in South Africa oppose this. They "Some bought the paper for its coverage of the Caterpillar has sought to maximize its power to put the brakes on and want to limit progress to only eliminating the apartheid laws. strike," said Mitchel Rosenberg, a member of the United control the transition to a new constitution. De Klerk sug­ The March 17 referendum, where a majority of white Food and Commercial Workers union who rode on one of gests that the ANC and other political parties serve on South Africans expressed their support for dismantling the buses that came from Des Moines, Iowa. "Others were councils with power only to persuade the president of their apartheid, is a major step forward in the fight for a interested in the paper for its analysis of Buchananism, the views. democratic. nonracial, and nonsexist South Africa. It adds war threats, and the abortion rights demonstration." But, despite de Klerk's continuing efforts to apply brakes more pressure in favor of proceeding in the negotiations "I talked to people all day long and sold about 30 papers," to establishing democracy in South Africa, this process. led without delay. said steelworker Josefina Otero who came to the rally from by the ANC, is moving toward winning political freedoms However, the fight remains. The de Klerk proposals Pittsburgh. "I told people that it's a socialist newspaper and for the oppressed masses. This will place the majority of underline how much, as ANC president Nelson Mandela that it gives the workers' side of the story. Most people had South African working people in the best possible position said last week, apartheid is still alive. The Black majority never seen the paper before. I also talked about the fact that to address the massive poverty, underdevelopment, and other still has no say in running the country and no rights to the Militant is an international paper. I related that to the devastating social consequences apartheid has bequeathed citizenship on an equal level with white South Africans. international battle workers are fighting." to millions of Blacks. Securing these gains will result from the battles in the coming The ANC has said that the new government will use what months. Teams to Buffalo In April, Militant supporters from Toronto, Cleveland, and New York will be participating in special sales teams to Buffalo, New York, where the rightist outfit Operation Rescue has announced plans to shut down abortion clinics. The fight for abortion rights Militant readers will be participating with other women's rights supporters in defending the clinics and ensuring that Continued from front page A more effective perspective for supporters of abortion they remain open. right to choose has been under attack. In 1976 Congress rights is to continue to mobilize in street actions like the Many activists will be interested in the Militant's work­ pa')sed the Hyde Amendment, cutting off Medicaid fund­ April 5 march. We also need more and bigger actions at ing-class perspective on how to defend abortion rights ing for abortion and putting safe abortions out of reach for abortion clinics that are under threat, to counter the right­ through massive countermobilizations that can beat back many poor women. A gag rule has been instituted at wing campaign. A big immediate challenge is to answer the the ultrarightists' street actions. federally funded clinics, making it illegal for most clinic antiabortionists' propaganda and outrnobilize Operation Last summer, when Operation Rescue mobilized to attack workers to discuss the option of abortion. Scores of states Rescue as they begin their "Spring of Life" campaign in abortion clinics in Wichita, Kansas. many students and have passed parental consent laws to make it more difficult Buffalo this month. Abortion rights supporters have called working people in that area came to see the coverage and for young women to obtain abortions. for rallies on April II and April 26. analysis of the events provided by the Militant as an indis­ The Court now has before it a case from Pennsylvania Fighters for of abortion rights should give their support pensable part of the fightback. Over the course of several that severely restricts abortion rights. This case poses the to other important struggles of working people taking place weeks, special sales teams to the Wichita area sold some possibility of gutting or overturning Roe v. Wade and open­ today. The fight for a decent contract for 16,000 members 1,000 single copies and more than 50 subscriptions to the ing a new stage in the struggle to defend a woman's right of the United Auto Workers union at Caterpillar and the paper. to choose. fight against police brutality taking place in many cities The government's hostility to the right to abortion has are part of the same struggle to defend the rights of working Saturday campaigning encouraged right-wing forces like Operation Rescue to people. A special focus of the drive will be extended sales and blockade clinics and violently harass doctors, clinic owners, The stakes in this fight have been raised because the campaigning each Saturday, when Militant supporters and others associated with providing abortion services. The attacks on abortion rights are escalating as the United States throughout the world will be hitting the streets with attractive combined government and right-wing offensive is respon­ slides deeper into economic depression. The capitalist sys­ literature tables and organizing door-to-door subscription sible for the situation where an abortion is now simply out tem is in cri sis and the corporations and the government are sales in working-class areas. of reach for about 20 percent of women in the United States out to drive down the standard of living of working people. In Stockholm, Sweden, Militant supporters report an who want them. Today only 17 percent of the nation 's Hand in hand with this, they drive after the rights to speak excellent response at recent sales and literature tables. On counties, almost exclusively in urban centers. have hospitals out and organize that working people have won over past March 21 sales by supporters there included 20 Militants, or clinics that provide abortions. decades. 7 copies of the Pathfinder pamphlet An Action Program to With the election year in full swing, many women's Restricting or denying abortion rights is part of the Confront the Coming Economic Crisis, and 2 subscriptions rights leaders have argued that those seeking to defend employers' efforts to heighten the burdens on working to Perspectiva Mundial. abortion rights must now focus their energies on electing women and undermine their self-confidence. Its aim is to We urge all our readers to join in this campaign. Any friendly Democratic and Republican party politicians. But keep the second-class status of women intact by taking away individual or group can adopt a subscription goal and order the assault on a woman's right to choose has been a a woman's most fundamental right - control over her own a bundle of papers for $1.05 per copy. A list of all the goals bipartisan campaign from the very beginning. No serious body. adopted will be printed in next week's issue. effort, by politicians from either party, has ever been made The outcome of this battle is important not just in the To be counted on the scoreboard each week, subscriptions to reverse the attacks on abortion rights. In Buffalo, it is United States but throughout the world where women are and reports on New Internationals sold must be received a Democratic mayor who is welcoming Operation Rescue seeking to defend and extend their right to contraception by the Militant business office by noon every Friday, be­ to the city to protest at the clinics. and abortion. gi nning April I 0. 18 The MiUtant April lO, 1992 Canadian film shows cover-up in racist murder

Conspiracy of Silence. Produced by Bernard Zuker­ friends of the four attackers in the man, written by Suzette Couture, directed by Francis months and years following the Mankiewicz. A Canadian Broadcasting Company pro­ murder. the film provides a powerful :fuction. expose of the racism of which Na­ tive people in Canada are victims. BY ROGER ANNIS The unfortunate weakness of this Television viewers in Canada got a powerful insight into film is that it doesn't answer the the violence and institutional racism against Native people question that jumps out at the viewer in Canada when Conspiracy of Silence was broadcast on as the movie professes, namely, how ~I 0 I? E J\ ND ~In 1~ E the CBC television network last December. was it the RCMP took so long to Conspiracy is a three-and-one-half-hour dramatization of arrest the attackers when the whole CJ\ NJ\lliJ\ NS the brutal killing of Cree Indian Helen Betty Osborne in town seemed to know about the 1be Pas, Manitoba. Nov. 12, 1971, and the subsequent murder? SUPPOI?T THE cover-up of her murder by officials and residents of the Bumbling investigation NJ\ TIVE PEOPLE According to the interpre~tion presented in the film, the 1971-72 IN REVIEW investigation was flawed by bum­ bling, but otherwise well-inten­ town. According to the network, 2.5 million viewers tuned tioned, RCMP investigators. in to watch the movie. But many working people, in­ Osborne was an 18-year-old student from northern Man­ cluding most Native people, will itoba who had moved to The Pas in order to finish high have trouble believing this line. We school. The Pas is a papermill town which numbered some know through experience that the 7,500 residents in 1971. Of those. 1.500 lived on The Pas RCMP is precisely the body that is Indian Reserve, just across the river from the town center. used to maintain through force and On the evening of November 12, Osborne was kidnapped violence the grinding poverty and by four young white men and driven to a remote location discrimination against Natives like Militant/Cheryl Pruitt outside of town. She was sexually assaulted and then mur­ Osborne. RCMP squads routinely The growing impact of Native peoples' struggles in Canada helped unravel the dered as she tried to fight off her attackers. She was stabbed break up peaceful demonstrations of cover-up of the brutal murder of Helen Betty Osborne, a Cree Indian. some 50 times. Natives fighting for land rights such Several of the men who took part in the gruesome murder as in British Columbia, at Lubicon began talking to friends, employers, or schoolmates about Lake, or the Old Man River in Alberta, or at the Mohawk the relaunching of the RCMP investigation in 1984. ln what they had done. The murder became common knowl­ reserves in Ontario and Quebec. response to newspaper advertisements placed by the RCMP edge among many in the town within weeks. The ftlm 's interpretation ofthi s same force's investigation across western Canada, a former schoolmate of Colgan Despite this, the initial investigation by the Royal Canadian of Betty Osborne's murder doesn't stand up to serious comes forward to tell of Colgan's admission to her in 1971 Mounted Police (RCMP), the federal police force in Canada examination. The film itself shows, for example, how the of his role in the murder. She expresses her regret in not that performs local policing in many small towns, including RCMP was led to an early identification of the car used by coming forward in 1971 . The Pas, produced no results. No charges were laid. the attackers, but then refused to search it for evidence. "Some people have such happy memories of high school. But the story of the murder just wouldn't go away. The Having determined that the car was owned by Colgan's They remember football games, dates, proms," she recalls movie describes that one of the four, Lee Colgan, frequently father, the local liquor store manager, the RCMP simply sadly. "Alii can remember is an Indian girl lying dead in talked about his role in the killing. Much of the movie dismissed the possibility that a Colgan family member could the snow and my friends laughing about it. consists of a portrayal of Colgan's life in the years following have been involved in such a gruesome murder. "Those Native girls from the north like Betty Osborne, the murder. It gives a glimpse of other racist prejudices prevalent in we never even tried to make them feel welcome here. Not The failure of the RCMP to charge the killers was a the RCMP through the comments of some officers during one of us ever invited them home." continuing embarrassment that the force couldn't shake. ln the initial investigation and through the assumption by the December 1984 a second full -time investigation was force in the first few weeks after the murder that it must Public inquiry launched. Colgan was arrested in October 1986, the first of have been pe~trated by another lndian. But these appear Osborne's story, along with the murder of Native leader the four to be arrested. as incidental aberrations. J. J. Harper by Winnipeg police in 1988, forced the Manitoba In exchange for immunity from prosecution, Colgan and The 1989 book by Lisa Priest, a Winnipeg Free Press government to hold a widely publicized, yearlong public Normand Manger testified at the 1987 trial that the murder journalist, also entitled Conspiracy ofSilence, gives further inquiry in 1989 into the racism faced by Native people there. was carried out by Dwayne Johnston while they sat in the evidence of how the RCMPbotched the initial investigation. Conspiracy is the third major film produced in recent car unaware of what was actually happening. Jim Houghton, They neglected. for example, to properly identify and record years in Canada dealing with Native rights. Where The Spirit according to their testimony, was outside the car with the two sets of footprints in the snow leading to and from Lives was shown on CBC earlier in 1991 and it tells the Johnston during the savage beating and murder of Osborne Osborne's body. This became an important factor in the story of the racist residential school system for Native and may have played a direct role. acquittal of Houghton. children which operated in Canada through most of the 20th Johnston was convicted of murder and was sentenced to The film is also flawed by the almost complete absence century. Justice Denied. produced in 1989, tells the story of life imprisonment. Houghton was found not guilty. of Native people from the story. This is a serious failing Donald Marshall, a Micmac Indian imprisoned for 11 years The long trial scene in the movie serves as the film's because the only plausible explanation of why the cover-up for a murder he did not commit. dramatic high point. Viewers are tempted at the beginning of the murder finally unraveled lies in understanding the According to Tamara McKeegan, publicist for the film to think that justice is being served, but in the end we're growing impact of Native peoples' struggles against dis­ at CBC in Toronto, Conspiracy may be rebroadcast on CBC left seething. We've already seen how Colgan and Manger crimination in social and political life in Canada in the 1970s in the fall of 1992. Ftlm rights have been sold to CBS in were granted immunity. Then Houghton walks free. How and 1980s. the United States, to JTV in Britain, and to a host of other could a 'justice system'let three of them walk free? During these two decades there has been a dramatic rise networks in Australia, New Zealand, Iceland. and Sweden. Osborne's mother leaves the courtroom in anger follow­ of militant struggles by Native people for land rights and A presentation is tentatively scheduled for May of this ing the jury's verdict. against racism and national oppression. These have resulted year on CBS. Watch for it. This is a film worth seeing. Conspiracy is a powerful film. In exposing the true story in growing support for Native rights among workers and of Osborne's murder and in detailing a part of the "conspir­ farmers in Canada. Roger Annis is a member of Canadian Auto Workers Local acy of silence" kept by scores of lawyers. employers, and This is illustrated at one point in the movie, following 1900 in Montreal. Quebec. -LETTERS------Curtis lawsuit victory going back several years. Last fall picket afterwards wac; held on a a normal life if even only one fam­ now, in their land! my union committee distributed major road and attracted quite a bit ily-member was not registered as a The news of Mark Curtis's recent We, a group of Israeli peace ac­ copies of the Mark Curtis Defense of attention and some support. resident as of some arbitrary date, tivists, have decided to bring the victory in his lawsuit against the Des Committee brochure "Who Is Mark Brian Riggs, an organizer of the set by the occupation authorities. issue of Palestinian famiJy reunifi­ Moines police was welcomed by Curtis?" throughout the factory and action, explained after the picket that If the family member in question many of my fellow union members cation to the attention of Israeli and it sponsored a lunch-hour video the campaign in some cities has won is present in the Occupied Territories in the factory where I work. worldwide public opinion. showing of the On Trial television union support and that there have by virtue of having been granted a They were pleased to hear that episode in 1989 that featured Mark's been actions as large as 500 in At­ visitor's permit, s/he can expect to You can help by sending a dona­ Mark's fight has won some results case. We mostly used French-lan­ lanta and Detroit. be expelled upon the expiration of tion to the Alternative Information and several dozen took my photo­ Center, P.O. Box 24278, Jerusalem, guage versions of the video and bro­ Sarah Harris that permit; if s/he is outside the copied material to read about the Israel, 91319 chure as the large percentage of my Greensboro, North Carolina territories, s/he is frequently refused j udge's decision. One worker coworkers are Quebecois. a visitor's permit. This is not a matter Alternative Information Center bought the issue of the Militant that Roger Annis of distant relatives only, but of hus­ Jerusalem, Israel contained the full text of the judge's Montreal, Quebec Right to residency bands, wives, and children. decision. I explained the significance of The very existence of the Pales­ With the deportation of hundreds The letters column is an open Mark's victory for his fight for a Gay rights protest tinian community in its homeland is of thousands of Palestinians from forum for all viewpoints on sub­ parole release and also for the appeal facing a direct and immediate threat. Kuwait and the other Gulf Emirates, jects of general interest to our A spirited protest action took of his original conviction. Fourteen We are referring to the threat tens of thousands of new such cases readers. Please keep your let­ place March 15 at the Cracker Barrel people gave contributions of$2 to $5 against a basic human right, even have been added to the thousands of ters brief. Where necessary they to help support Mark'songoing fight. restaurant in Greensboro. more basic than the right to national existing cases of systematic preven­ will be abridged. Please indi­ In discussing Mark's case, several The sit-in and picket line here was existence: the right to live in one's tion of famiJy reunification. cate if you prefer that your ini­ of us shared experiences we have had part of a national campaign against country along with the members of Anyone who holds the rights of tials be used rather than your with police brutality on picket lines, the Southern-based chain, which es­ one's family. This right is not recog­ residency and offamily reunification full name. while being stopped for traffic tickets tablished a discriminatory hiring pol­ nized or accepted by the Israeli gov­ close to his/her heart. and especially and so on. Police brutality is seen as icy one year ago. In April of 1991 , it ernment as applying to the Palestin­ anyone who has struggled for the The Militant special prisoner a v owing problem by many union began carrying out the stated policy ian residents of the West Bank and right of Soviet and Ethiopian Jews to fund makes it possible to send members in Montreal because of the of firing gay and lesbian employees. Gaza Strip. For them, residency is be reunited with their families in reduced-rate subscriptions to growing numbers of Blacks and In Greensboro, about 25 protes­ not a right, but a privilege. FamiJy Israel, cannot remain indifferent to prisoners who can' t pay for other workers being shot or other­ tors slowed the Sunday brunch traf­ reunification. so talked-about when­ the circumstances ofthe tens of thou­ them. To help this important wise brutalized by Montreal police. fic measurably by tying up tables for ever the Israeli authorities bring up sands of Palestinians being refused cause, send your contribution to Many coworkers were already fa­ over an hour. Sit-in participants the question of Soviet Jewry, is not the right offamily reunification. S/he Militant Prisoner Subscription miliar with Mark's case thanks to noted support from restaurant work­ seen to apply to Palestinians, whose must speak up and demand the re­ Fund, 410 West St., New York, the discussions I have had with them ers and left generous gratuities. The families do not have the right to live unification of Palestinian families NY 10014.

April 10, 1992 The Militant 19 THE MILITANT Haiti pact for Aristide return fails

BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS have unloaded in Port -au-Prince, Haiti's cap­ An agreement signed in Washington be­ ital. since November. They have brought tween deposed Haitian president Jean­ cargoes of sheet metal, cotton fiber, wire, Bertrand Aristide and leaders of the Haitian batteries, gas stoves, diesel engines, and legislature collapsed in Haiti 's Parliament tires. In addition seven oil tankers from Eu­ March 18. rope and Colombia have brought oil. The February 25 accord provided for the Of the thousands of Haitians who fled eventual return of Aristide, but with much their country since the military coup- cit­ diminished powers. It also called for the ing violent repression by the army and eco­ granting of amnesty to all those involved in nomic misery- more than 11,000 have the September 30 military coup. now been forcibly repatriated by the U.S. After four hours of shouting, shoving, and government. Some 16,250 were previously brandishing guns on the assembly floor, sev­ intercepted in international waters by U.S. eral conservative members of Parliament ships. U.S. authorities are considering the walked out of the House of Deputies the day claims for political asylum of 5,000. the vote on the accord was scheduled. The protest deprived the legislature of a quorum The OAS was rebuffed in its attempt to and allowed the conservative president of the send an international team of civilians to assembly, Dejean Belizaire. to end the ses­ Haiti to monitor human rights violations sion. This move all but killed the chances of when Nerette said such a group would be the settlement being ratified any time soon. considered an invasion force aiming to stir "We have had enough of this nonstop up opposition. debate over the return or non-return of Aris­ A March 24 New York Times editorial tide," said Sen. Thomas Eddy who joined the called for military action against the Haitian walkout. "We have work to do." regime. "The time has come to create a new The army, and the interim government it Haitians fleeing military regime. Washington has forcibly returned 11,000 refugees. inter-American military force that could in­ has installed, ran a serious campaign against tervene to protect democratic governments ratification of the accord. Right-wing politi­ from hijacking by armed terrorists," it said. cians were featured on government television in. Gen. Raul Cedras, the army chief, warned Organization of American States (OAS) of­ The editorial suggested that such a force calling for the arrest of legislators who voted that he might not be able to control them. ficials said they would consider tightening could also be used to intervene in other for the agreement. The week before the Joseph Nerette, the army-appointed pres­ economic sanctions against Haiti. countries in Latin America such as Peru. ident, stated the weekend of March 8 that he The economic embargo against Haiti has scheduled vote the Heavy Weapons Corps of Anticipating that the military would try to would not step aside if Aristide returned. already been violated numerous times. At the army threatened to descend from their thwart the negotiated plan for his return, mountain camp if Aristide was voted back In the aftermath of the accord's collapse, least 10 ships from Europe and the Americas Aristide organized a tour to take his case to people in the United States. ln public appear­ ances from California to Washington Aris­ tide told audiences that Haitians are proud South African regime seeks to block of their sovereignty and don't want military intervention. Speaking at a meeting of the United Na­ rapid shift to interim government tions Human Rights Commission, Aristide called for a tougher embargo of Haiti. en­ BY DERE K BRACEY proposals represent a retreat from that agree­ elected to retreat to the old and discredited forced by a blockade. South African president F.W. de Klerk's ment. Earlier in March the regime had pro­ approach of consultative and advisory ' toy One thousand people packed Oakland's government announced proposals March 23 posed to add Black leaders to the existing telephones."' First Congregational Church March 15 to for a new setup to prepare constitutional cabinet but this was rejected by the ANC as The latest government announcement hear the exiled president. "One day democ­ changes. The arrangement would leave the a cover for continuing apartheid. also proposed the creation of a two-house racy will come back to Haiti," the Haitian existing white minority regime in power, The ANC pointed out that the gov­ parliament that would have one house leader told the audience. The military forces running counter to the African National ernment's latest announcement contradicted elected on the basis of proportional repre­ now running the country would be quelled Congress's call for an interim government. an understanding reached three weeks pre­ sentation, with every citizen more than 18 by the "power of love," he added. Oakland The proposal for the appointment of viously that projected a multiracial transi­ years old eligible to vote. The other house mayor Elihu Harris, along with I 00 others, multiracial "transitional councils" comes tional executive body that would lead the would be formed by regional representa­ welcomed Aristide at the airport when he just one week after voters in a whites-only country to a new constitution. tives or by members of the existing Par­ arrived. referendum endorsed the perspective of "By these means the government wants liament, which excludes Blacks. scrapping apartheid and instituting a gov­ to act both as the referee and player," the The government proposed a rotating group Margaret Jayko. an auto assembly worker ernment based on one person, one vote. ANC statement said. " It is particularly presidency, which would pick a cabinet by and member of United Auto Workers Union These councils would be appointed by the outrageous that in making their proposals, consensus. The ANC rejected this concept Local2244 in Fremont, California, corurib­ president and would set up a body that the NP [National Party J government has when it was first suggested in September. uted to this article. could "adopt by consensus resolutions with persuasive power." In a press statement, the African National Congress (AN C) denounced the proposals as British Coal lays off 1 ,OOOs of mine workers "objectionable in many fundamental re­ spe~ts," essentially leaving "all powers in the BY JIMSPAUL sible comers are being cut in the drive for tions were big enough or long enough to hands of the present Government. British Coal has announced a new round greater productivity and it is our members overcome the divisions, but that has to be "Secondly, the Government's proposal im­ of job cuts in the Wakefield District of North and their families who are suffering," ex­ our ultimate goal and the strikes showed plies that the present constitution will stay Yorkshire. The new cuts of 2,000 jobs come plained Dave Hopper, a leader of the National that united action is possible." unamended until an elected constitution­ on top of 17 pit closures and 14,640 jobs lost Union of Mineworkers. While no action has been taking place to making body is in place. in the district since 198 1. In the Yorkshire The latest cuts have generated a broad fight against pit closures or layoffs, the lead­ "Their [the transition councils] functions Coalfield the work force has been reduced discussion among miners, as the state of the ership of the NUM has begun arguing against have nothing or very little to do with the basic from 60,000 to less than 20,000 since the whole economy continues to deteriorate. coal imports. Bill Doughty, Kellingley Col­ objectives of Phase I of the transition, which 1984-85 National Union of Mineworkers Unemployment has risen for 22 consecutive liery NUM secretary, gave his view that, "the is to level the playing field and ensure free (NUM) strike. months and now stands officially at 2.6 mil­ imports are supposed to take advantage of and fair elections under conditions of free In order to pressure miners into taking a lion, I 0.6 percent of the labor force. cheap subsidized foreign coal, but once we and fair political activity," the statement con­ redundancy (layoff) British Coal has offered The increasing pit closures and layoffs haven't got an industry anymore and the tinued. a "sweetener" payment of up to $58,500 for have started to change the attitudes of miners foreigners have cornered the market those The ANC statement noted that under the miners who have been employed for more in the Nottingham area, where many miners subsidies will stop." government proposals, the existing regime than 30 years. The latest round of cuts will belong to the Union of Democratic Miners Jo O'Brien, Communist League candi­ would be able to veto recommendations of leave fewer than 50,000 employed miners, (UDM). The UDM was formed during the date for Sheffield Central in the general the transitional councils, "control and run all less than a quarter of the 200,000 British Coal 1984- 85 strike by leaders of strike-breaking election, commented on the anti-import aspects of the executive, including security had on their books at the end of the 12-month miners centered in this area. campaign. "These arguments set miners and public media," and continue to pass and strike in March 1985. Paul Galloway, a Nottingham NUM against workers in other countries and sug­ implement new Jaws. Communities that relied solely on the local miner, pointed out, "Many of the young Nons gest 'we' miners and other workers have pits for their survival have been devastated miners started in the industry after the strike something in common with British bosses ANC call for interim government by the closures. This comes at a time when and those who were in during the strike have and their government," O'Brien said. "But The ANC has called for replacing the cur­ productivity has soared to undreamed of lev­ begun to change. its the bosses who are responsible for the rent government with an interim one that els, making some of the surviving pits the "There was a recent strike at Ollerton attack on our wages, jobs, and working would run the country until a constituent as­ most productive in Europe. of 800 NUM a nd UDM miners who conditions." sembly is elected. The Congress maintains Safety for miners who are left working has walked out over the issue of bonus pay­ that the transition to one person, one vote also been affected. In February, 2 miners ments last November," Galloway said. ''In Jim Spaul is co-chair of the Communist cannot be organized by the current rulers. were killed at the Wearmouth Colliery when February, miners from both unions walked League election campaign for Jo 0' Brien in De Klerk had agreed to the principle of an a train carrying about 70 men jackknifed out at Bolsover over changes in normal Sheffield Central. He is a member of the interim government in December. The latest I ,000 feet underground. "We believe alJ pos- working assignments. Neither of these ac- National Union of Mineworkers.

20 The Militant April 10, 1992