· MENTIRAS SOBRE COREA · TRUMP 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 59, No. 11 March 16, 2017 $1

As prison profits soar ICE terrorizes migrants

By Teresa Gutierrez However, this chilling terror over the migrant com- back against growing assaults on all the people in this munity in the U.S. is big business for the prison-­ country. The 13-year-old daughter of Romulo Avelica-Gonza- industrial complex. While migrants live in fear, prison While Trump openly singles out immigrants, racism lez was recording a video as immigration agents picked CEOs salivate. and police terror against African-American commu- him up, just after he had dropped her off at school in nities are also cornerstones of his administration. The Trump/Bannon/ICE roundups profitable Los Angeles. Trump/Bannon/ICE unholy alliance is a big boost to the All the time she was recording, she was sobbing. Trump’s entire presidential campaign was predicat- racist occupying forces that are the police. (Washington Post, March 4) ed against immigrant workers in this country. Law and Prisons and police go hand in hand. A New York The incident shook up not just Avelica-Gonzalez’s order, building a wall and banning Muslims are the cor- Times headline on March 10 read, “Trump immigration daughter and entire family, but students and teachers nerstones of his administration. All are racist and hate- crackdown is great for private prison stocks.” throughout the city. ful and anti-worker. All this while his administration Two companies that have rightfully earned the hatred Reports are rushing in of immigrants being picked up destroys access to health care. of the anti-mass incarceration movement, Co­ reCivic just like that, not just at schools, but in courthouses, at It is all aimed to divide the working class at a time (formerly Corrections Corporation of America) and GEO events advocating for immigrants and at workplaces. when unity is most urgent if the working class is to fight Continued on page 5 In other words, no place is safe. Across the U.S., immigrant communities are desperately pre- paring for roundups. Many, if not all, are living in total anxiety, not knowing what to do or how to do it. Teachers are consoling students, ‘No to DAPL, but are also asking hard questions: “Have you talked to your parents? yes to sovereignty! Do you have power of attorney?” ’ (Los Angeles Times, March 3) Indigenous This is the kind of anxiety and march in terror parents, children and im- Washington, D.C., migrant workers are living with on March 10. every moment of their lives since See report the inauguration of President on continuing Donald Trump. struggle against Children are being kept from Dakota Access school. Doctors’ and lawyers’ ap- Pipeline, pointments are being missed. page 10. Restaurants and businesses are suffering as more and more mi- grants stay home from school, work or shopping.

Editorial MAY DAY: Mass strike! 10 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: WOMEN WORKERS RISING Trump attacks, at home & abroad 3

War crimes against Syria 9 Guatemalan children fire deaths 11

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Street______City / State / Zip______PHOTO: VICTORIA PICKERING Across U.S., demonstrators linked labor struggles with migrant solidarity, anti-racist and women’s issues, LGBTQ+ lives, Workers World 212.627.2994 and more. Here, workers chant ‘Resist!’ as they march in Washington, D.C. See pages 6-7. 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org Page 2 March 16, 2017 workers.org Unarmed Black victim of police shooting to face trial

By Tristen Schmidt and Terri Kay At the beginning of last week’s pre-trial hearing,  In the U.S. San Francisco Moore’s attorney, public defender Brian Pearlman, As prison profits soar – ICE terrorizes migrants ...... 1 appealed to the judge as Moore was brought into the A three-day, pre-trial hearing here ended with the courtroom in jailhouse orange, shackled and in chains. Unarmed Black victim of police shooting to face trial . . . 2 judge’s decision to permit multiple felony charges to pro- Moore’s family, neighbors and a number of community From health care to war in Asia – Trump attacks . . . . . 3 ceed to trial against Sean Moore, a 43-year-old Black supporters were present in the courtroom, along with Nurses return to work, struggle continues ...... 4 man with mental health needs, who was the unarmed members of the press. victim of a police shooting. On Jan. 6, Moore was con- Pearlman told the judge he had requested that Moore Striking Rockford school worker: ‘They need us’ . . . . . 4 fronted on the steps of his home by San Francisco police be allowed to appear in street clothes. Pearlman also stat- Memphis cops serve McDonald’s ...... 4 officers Kenneth Cha and Colin Patino, after a noise com- ed that there had been no history of outbursts to neces- Protest demands freedom for farmworker ...... 5 plaint from a neighbor. sitate the shackles. The judge claimed since no jury was Officer Cha first pepper sprayed and then shot Moore present in the pre-trial, it was all allowable. He only con- International Women’s Day: Women workers rising . . . .6 twice, seriously wounding him. Moore was initially hos- sented to release one of Moore’s wrists from the shackles Ida B. Wells: Anti-lynching crusader ...... 7 pitalized, but is now being held in jail on $100,000 bail. so that he could write and communicate to his attorney. Lynne Stewart: People’s lawyer, freedom fighter . . . . .7 Public defender Jeff Adachi said in a news conference: The district attorney tried to claim that neither officer “This is a situation that could have and should have been was required to testify, as they were “victims” and pro- Behind the murder of Berta Cáceres ...... 8 avoided. This is a situation where Mr. Moore did not tected from testimony under a related victim protection New York guv to import Israeli repression ...... 9 have to be shot. If the officers had used de-escalation statute. The judge denied their coverage as “victims” and Pawnee Nation courts to try energy companies ...... 10 techniques, they could have gone home.” (San Francisco the officers will be required to testify at Moore’s trial. It Chronicle, Jan. 18) was established during the pre-trial that the two officers ‘No to DAPL, yes to sovereignty!’ ...... 10 each had had about two years of experi- ence and neither had received any de-es-  Around the world calation training. U.S. escalates aggression in Syria ...... 9 The judge also agreed with Pearlman’s Upcoming European elections reveal deep divisions . . 11 argument that the officers had no justi- Outrage over death of Guatemalan children ...... 11 fication to attempt arrest when they first approached, as neither had witnessed  Editorial the claimed noise violation reported by May Day: Struggle for a mass strike! ...... 10 Moore’s neighbor, for which the neighbor had not filed a citizen’s arrest.  Noticias en Español Pearlman, attempting to get the charges dropped, also presented two cas- Mentiras sobre corea ...... 12 es related to rights of people in their own Trump y burócratas sindicales ...... 12 homes, one validating that a front porch is part of a person’s home (U.S. v. London) and another establishing that police can seek voluntary interviews as long as they don’t demand egress (People v. Poole). The judge held that despite these rights and the lack of justification for the attempted Workers World arrest in the first place, there were enough 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. questions about the following events to al- New York, NY 10011 low the charges to be heard by a jury. Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 59, No. 11 • March 16, 2017 Closing date: March 14, 2017 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt; Who we are & what we’re fighting for Web Editor Gary Wilson Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin unity among all workers while supporting the right living standards while throwing millions out of their Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 59 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Andrea Bañuelos, Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2017 Workers World. 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From health care to war in Asia Trump attacks at home and abroad

By Fred Goldstein counts (HSAs). These changes (plus region. Wang, while expressing con- several smaller provisions of the plan) cern over the nuclear tests by the The authoritarian Trump clique in would cost $594 billion over 2017 to DPRK, gave the U.S. imperialists a the White House — Steve Bannon, Jar- 2026, the Joint Committee on Taxation clear message that the PRC will stand ed Kushner, Steven Miller and Donald (JCT) estimates. At the same time, the by the DPRK in any conflict [by] “in- Trump himself — are making an end run plan would seek to offset the cost of these sisting China and North Korea re- around traditional capitalist government windfall tax breaks by ending the ACA’s mained as close as ‘lips and teeth’ — institutions. They are trying to shape Medicaid expansion, radically restruc- an expression famously used by Mao policy and push it far to the right on all turing the entire Medicaid program by Zedong.” (Guardian, March 6) fronts without the input of the traditional converting it to a per capita cap, and This phrase was used by Mao capitalist establishment. dramatically scaling back the subsidies during the Korean War, when 3 mil- Trump and Bannon are floating the that low- and moderate-income families lion Chinese volunteers helped to re- conspiracy theory that the “deep state,” use to purchase affordable health care, pel the U.S. imperialist invaders. So meaning everything from the regulatory as well as other coverage changes that Northfork, W. Va., is in one of the poorest counties the message is ­unambiguous. agencies, the mainstream media, district would undermine the health and finan- in the U.S. with the lowest life expectancy. It voted Expanding role of generals, attorneys, courts, the spy agencies, etc., cial security of millions of households.” 74 percent for Trump and now stands to lose medi- cal care under the Trump-Ryan-Price plan. decline of State Department are saboteurs plotting to undermine the In addition the CBPP states the 400 White House. This is to clear the way for highest-income taxpayers would get tax The sudden deployment of the their attacks on immigrants, on medical cuts averaging $7 million each, adding up North Korea’s nuclear, missile and com- THAAD missile system in the midst care for the masses and on the environ- to $7.8 billion a year. Millionaires would mand and control facilities. It also spe- of a militarily charged situation near ment, as well as their shameless give- get annual tax cuts of more than $50,000 cifically calls for ‘decapitation’ raids by China and the DPRK must be seen to- aways to the banks, the corporations and on average by 2025. Special Forces to neutralize North Ko- gether with other less dramatic but sig- the richest 1%. rea’s senior leadership, according to press nificant ­developments. The Trump administration and the Re- Women’s health care on chopping block reports.” (The Diplomat, March 8) “Neu- There was the quiet deployment of publican congressional caucus are plan- Health care for women, especially the tralize” means kill. 400-plus Marines to Syria to strengthen ning to hand over hundreds of billions of poor, is endangered by the provisions to Washington and the Pentagon justi- forces trying to capture the Islamic State dollars in tax cuts to the wealthy as they defund Planned Parenthood. One in 5 fy their war games by citing the DPRK’s group’s capital, Raqqa. These conven- craft the overturn of the Affordable Care U.S. women have visited a Planned Par- launch of missiles into the sea off Ja- tional forces are added to the hundreds Act passed under Obama. At the same enthood clinic for services like birth con- pan. But the missiles were launched as of Special Forces already there. The Ma- time, Washington is playing with fire trol, cancer screenings, tests and treat- a response to the annual war games.The rines are equipped with Apache helicop- in Asia, with dangerous war maneuvers ment for sexually transmitted diseases or DPRK is surrounded by hostile states, ters and M777 howitzers capable of firing and with the installation of a destabiliz- pregnancy termination. And 78 percent including imperialist Japan, U.S. puppet 155mm shells, among other weapons. ing and aggressive anti-missile system in of them have incomes under 150 percent south Korea, and the U.S. military itself, Their deployment represents a clear es- south Korea. of the poverty level. which has 28,000 troops in south Korea calation of the U.S. war in Syria. Under the guise of repealing and re- Vox reported, “The more than $500 and 54,000 troops in Japan, 12 U.S. bas- The Pentagon has escalated the war in placing the ACA, the Trump administra- million Planned Parenthood receives es in Hawaii, and 5,000 troops and nu- Yemen as well. Previously the war was tion is backing a congressional Repub- annually from the federal government — merous aircraft on Guam, among other carried out by Saudi Arabia, with logis- lican plan to cut $300 billion to $600 the funding that Republicans in Congress places in the region. tical and material support from the Pen- billion in taxes for the rich, under the now want to take away — pays for specific tagon. Recently U.S. commanders in the deliberately misnamed American Health health services, like birth control or cer- Anti-missile system aimed at DPRK ... field have been granted new authority Care Act. These hundreds of billions of vical cancer screening, for people who To add to the provocations as the U.S.- to conduct raids on villages and drone dollars given the rich will be paid for by couldn’t afford them otherwise. south Korea war maneuvers were getting strikes, without prior approval from the cuts in medical coverage for the poor, the “Most of the funds (75 percent) are ac- under way, Washington announced it had White House. elderly and women in general, including tually reimbursements from Medicaid, begun deployment of the Terminal High The U.S. commander in Afghanistan, those with mental illness and addictions. the U.S.’s public health insurance pro- Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., recently tes- Estimates of the number of people slated gram for the poor. at Osari air base in south Korea. tified to Congress that he could use “a to lose their coverage range from 5 mil- “[The bill] threatens to dismantle the THAAD is a relatively new addition few thousand more troops” to break the lion to 15 million. entire private insurance market for abor- to the U.S. military's missile defense ar- “stalemate” in the country. (New York The Republicans have rushed their tion coverage, not just public funding for senal. Produced by Lockheed Martin Times, Feb. 9) plan through before the Congressional abortion providers: If a woman wants (and priced at more than $1 billion per These developments represent a major Budget Office can give its assessment of a health insurance plan that will cover system), THAAD consists of a battery of step forward in the political authority of the impact. House Speaker Paul Ryan abortion, she (and possibly her employer) truck-launched interceptor missiles and the military high command under the and Trump fear a negative assessment won’t be able to use tax credits to buy it powerful X-band radar that can detect, Trump administration. and therefore have already tried to dis- under this bill.” (March 7) track and target inbound missile threats. By contrast, Rex Tillerson, the head of credit the CBO in advance, denouncing ThinkProgress noted that 60 percent of The decision to deploy this anti-mis- the Department of State, has been kept it for “inaccuracies” and “exaggerations.” Planned Parenthood’s funding comes from sile system was made in 2013 and agreed out of meetings with heads of state by Medicaid and Title IX funding for preven- to by south Korea in July 2016, but it Trump, Bannon and Kushner (Trump’s While millions lose health care tative and primary care. “Almost 400,000 was rushed into place for political pur- son-in-law). Tillerson has had no joint under Republican plan ... women would lose access to preventative poses. In the meantime, there is a huge appearances with Trump. His requests The Brookings Institute, a mainstream care and up to 650,000 would have re- political crisis in south Korea. Months for assistants have been turned down. No capitalist think tank, has tried to warn duced preventative care within a year” of mass demonstrations have forced the press will be allowed on his plane on an the public in advance. It issued a report without PP services, estimates the Gov- impeachment and ouster of Park Geun- upcoming trip to Japan, south Korea and estimating that 15 million people or more ernment Accountability Office. “Research hye, the reactionary president convicted China. And the State Department budget will lose their health care over the next has shown that when low-income women on corruption charges is to be cut by 37 percent, while the Pen- 10 years. Brookings used previous CBO have access to free contraception, there The masses of south Korean people tagon is to get a $54 billion increase. methods and estimates for its analysis. are significantly lower rates of unintended are clearly opposed to the deployment of Just days ago Mexico’s Foreign Min- [As we go to press, the CBO has issued teen pregnancy and abortion.” (March 7) THAAD. This opposition includes Park’s ister Luis Videgaray was in Washington. its report on the bill, which far exceeds likely replacement, the popular cen- “The Los Angeles Times’s Tracy Wilkin- the Brookings estimates. The bipartisan Pentagon playing with fire in Asia trist-liberal Moon Jae-in. Moon favors son asked State spokesperson Mark CBO estimates that in fact 14 million At the same time that Trump is trying resumption of talks with the DPRK and a Toner what the plans were for his visit. people will lose their health care by 2018, to destroy health care, Washington is return to the “sunshine policy” that aims Toner, a highly regarded career foreign just one year from now. And by 2026, 24 playing with fire on the Korean penin- toward reunification. So the Pentagon service officer, apparently had no idea million people will have lost their health sula by holding two months of military seized this window of time before new that a key foreign dignitary was even in care. The CBO also estimates that Med- maneuvers aimed at the Democratic Peo- elections to install THAAD. the city.” (Vox, March 10) The foreign icaid will lose $880 billion over 10 years ple’s Republic of Korea and the People’s minister met with Kushner. under the Trump-Ryan-Price plan.] Republic of China. ... and at China To be sure, while the State Depart- The largest ever “war games” involve THAAD’s powerful radar is also a ment wields the so-called “soft power” … rich get hundreds of billions 17,000 U.S. troops and 300,000 south threat to China because when it is point- of U.S. imperialism, it is a vicious enemy in tax breaks Korean troops, as well as advanced U.S. ed at the DPRK it does not stop there. It of the world’s people. It engineers re- According to the Center on Budget and war-fighting equipment. Washington has can see deep into China. The PRC gov- gime change, engages in every manner of Policy Priorities: “House Republicans’ said the exercises are strictly defensive. ernment has said that whether the U.S. subversion against progressive govern- bill to repeal and replace the Affordable But the plans are clearly aimed at “prac- deployed THAAD would be a litmus test ments, and uses nongovernmental orga- Care Act (ACA) would eliminate ACA tax- ticing regime change.” about relations. nizations to promote “color revolutions.” es on wealthy individuals and insurance “U.S.-ROK [south Korean] forces will Now that it has been deployed, Chi- Nevertheless, the shift toward open and drug companies and greatly expand also for the first time carry the OPLAN nese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has de- military power in government under tax-sheltering opportunities for high-in- 5015, a classified war plan signed last nounced it as a provocation that will Trump is a menacing move that will ex- come people through health savings ac- year that includes surgical strikes against upset the “strategic equilibrium” in the pand imperialist war and intervention. Page 4 March 16, 2017 workers.org Nurses return to work, struggle continues

By Joe Piette $60.5 billion. The hedge fund’s primary Philadelphia concern is making profits, not providing health care. On March 10, after a two-day strike The Facebook event page of PASNAP, and a three-day lockout, 370 nurses the nurses’ group, revealed that “Pros- and technicians returned to their jobs pect Medical Holdings’ facilities across at Delaware County Memorial Hospi- the country have come under critical tal (DCMH) in Upper Darby, Pa. Hos- scrutiny. Some of their hospitals have the pital executives wasted $1.5 million on worst possible patient satisfaction scores scab replacements for the week instead and are among the worst ranked in the of coming to an agreement with the nation. The company is under investiga- workforce of mainly women, represent- tion by the IRS and the state of California ed by the Pennsylvania Association of and, despite operating hospitals in Dela- Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals To protect their own and the public’s ware County [in the state of Pennsylva- (PASNAP). health, these nurses need a union contract. nia], the hedge fund is registered in the WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE Bargaining began over a year ago and state of Delaware and does not pay Penn- has been fruitless so far. Negotiations the antics of Prospect. Our patients come tract was fought against the executives sylvania corporation taxes.” are scheduled to resume on March 14. before their profits!” of Crozer-Keystone Health System, a While DCMH may be the nurses’ most Struggling for their first contract, the network of five hospitals and clinics that formidable foe yet, their union has never nurses are fighting for safe staffing levels Union gains includes CCMC, Taylor Hospital, Spring- been stronger. At the rally on the first day and adequate supplies and equipment for Some 1,500 nurses and allied health field Hospital, Community Hospital and of the strike, labor supporters included their patients as well as fair wages, health professionals won a 28-day strike at DCMH, all in Delaware County, border- members of UNITE HERE, United Steel- care and pension benefits for themselves Temple University Hospital in 2010, de- ing Philadelphia. workers, the Teamsters, American Feder- and their families. The workers say they spite management’s use of 850 scabs. That health system was bought by ation of Teachers Local 2026, the Work- are tired of being treated with unrelent- Since then, PASNAP has become the Prospect Medical Holdings Inc. in July ing Educators Caucus of the Philadelphia ing austerity while hospital executives fastest-growing union for nurses and 2016, months after contract negotiations Federation of Teachers and Upper Darby wallow in high salaries and millions are health professionals in Pennsylvania, or- had already commenced at DCMH. The Professional Firefighters Local 2493. spent on mergers, acquisitions and relat- ganizing the nurses at St. Christopher’s sale changed the not-for-profit system to While Democratic U.S. Rep. Bob Brady ed schemes. Hospital, Einstein Hospital, Hahnemann a for-profit entity. and Upper Darby Republican Mayor Tom “We used to have five patients to one Hospital, Crozer-Chester Medical Center Micozzie spoke offering their support, nurse on the floors. Now they’re giving (CCMC) and DCMH, all in the Philadel- Opponent with deep pockets they both urged PASNAP to return to the us up to seven and eight patients. They’ve phia area. (pennanurses.org) Prospect owns 18 hospitals, over 3,000 bargaining table. also cut in half the number of nurses’ As at Delaware County this week, nurs- licensed beds, and a network of more DCMH is located in Upper Darby, a aides, to just one for 20 patients,” said es at CCMC walked picket lines during a than 140 clinics in Southern California, suburb of 83,000 people, almost a fifth of Angela Neopolitano, a 36-year veteran strike and lockout in September 2014 as Texas, Rhode Island, New Jersey and them immigrants. ICU nurse at DCMH and president of the scabs were brought in for those five days. Pennsylvania. If contract negotiations aren’t settled PASNAP nursing chapter, at a rally on They finally agreed to a four-year con- It is a subsidiary of Leonard Green & quickly, the Trump administration’s pol- the first day of the strike. “This is about tract after 14 months of negotiations. The Partners (LGP), a hedge fund that cur- icies on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), patient care. We will no longer stand for long struggle for their first PASNAP con- rently owns 42 companies, including BJ’s immigration, labor and sweeping auster- Wholesale Club, J. Crew, David’s Bridal, ity could have a damaging effect on the Jo-Ann Stores, Lucky Brand, Mister Car outcome. Striking Rockford school worker: Wash, Shake Shack, Signet Jewelers, Tire The nurses’ union PASNAP has partic- Rack and the Union Square Hospitality ipated in rallies against cuts in the ACA Group. Bloomberg reports that LGP “in- and against deportations, gathering com- vests in a range of industries including munity support for the right to health ‘They need us’ retail, consumer products, consumer dis- care, for the rights of migrant workers cretionary and consumer staple product, and their families, and for the right of all By Rockford, Ill., Workers World Bureau a fair compromise. distribution, media, consumer services, workers to adequate working conditions, Here is the direct quote from AFSCME business services, aerospace and defense, wages and benefits. After working since July without on the decision: “The elected AFSCME financial services, industrial machinery Perhaps negotiations will succeed in a contract, more than 900 Rockford Bargaining Committee, from the para- including rotomolded agricultural tanks, reaching an agreement. If not, the next Public School workers from American professionals [to] bus drivers and nutri- etc.” battle for a union contract at DCMH Federation of State, County and Mu- tionists service workers, subsequently LGP has raised over $15 billion of pri- may require an even larger turnout of nicipal Employees locals 692, 3210 and decided to conduct a three-day strike to vate equity capital and has invested in PASNAP members, community support- 1275 will be going on a three-day strike send a strong message to the District that 65 companies with aggregate values of ers and all workers. March 15-17. These locals represent the the members are frustrated with the ex- school paraprofessionals, nutritionists tremely harsh proposal that the District MEMPHIS and bus drivers, respectively. imposed on employees in violation of the Workers World sat down with Pamela Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act. Hillyer, an AFSCME Local 692 para- AFSCME has filed an unfair labor prac- professional worker, to hear from the tice with the Labor Board over this viola- Cops serve McDonald’s rank and file about what led to the vote tion of law.” for a strike and what’s at stake for the WW: Will you continue striking if the By Chris Fry them for violating permit regulations workers. workers’ needs aren’t met? while waiving such requirements for Workers World: What has the school PH: The union has said they will do Police, when they arrest and even white demonstrations. district done to the workers? rolling strikes until they win a fair con- shoot people, usually say they are just They have even invited McDonald’s Pamela Hillyer: The main issue is tract. It’s the only thing that makes sense, “upholding law and order” or “protecting franchise owners to join them in tailing around rising health care premiums that because why would we go on strike for private property.” Sometimes they even organizers. the school district is forcing on us, which three days, then give up if it doesn’t work say they are there to “serve the people.” Despite this harassment, Memphis equates to a substantial cut in our wages. immediately? We will be stuck with this But in this age of Boss Trump, the fast food workers are staying strong and The increased premiums would mean an contract for the next three years and Memphis Police Department has dis- united. Ashley Carter, a Fight for $15 approximately 1,145 percent rise in health struggling to afford health care. pensed with any pretenses. In answer national organizing committee member care costs over the last three years, from WW: How has the school district re- to a civil rights lawsuit filed by the lo- and a Church’s Chicken worker, told a roughly $43 to $544 every month. While sponded to the strike? cal chapter of the Fight for $15 fast food reporter: “They’re trying to stop us from the school district has said that they have PH: The superintendent, Ehren Jar- workers, the cops stated they had “au- speaking out, but even though it’s risk- gone “to great lengths to make sure em- rett, says he respects us, while at the thorization from the president of Mc- ier, we know we have a right to protest ployees came out ahead,” they have in- same time demonizing us and twisting Donald’s to make arrests.” (theguardian. and we’re not going to be intimidated. ... stead refused to negotiate with us and the facts in an attempt to pit the commu- com, March 1) Our Fight for $15 is changing the country insist on the drastic attack on our health nity against the union. The Fight for $15 group is part of the and it’s the Memphis Police Department care. We are already grossly underpaid WW: How is the school providing ser- union-supported national campaign to that’s going to have to change along with skilled workers. vices during the strike? Are they bringing win an increase in the minimum wage it.” (theguardian.com, March 1) WW: Why did the union decide to strike? in scabs? and union rights. Since a nationwide “Day Unionists know cops are not on their PH: The school district has refused to PH: They might have the teachers take of Protest” in 2014, Memphis cops have side. Picket lines are attacked, but scabs compromise or even have a genuine dia- on the paraprofessionals’ positions, but if followed organizers home after meetings, are protected. Union leaders are often logue with the union about the proposed they do, the teachers’ union will be filing banned them from City Hall and ordered arrested on trumped-up charges. Black contract. After the last negotiation meet- grievances. For the nutritionists, Auburn workers not to sign petitions, sometimes and Latinx activists and progressives ing, where the district put forth the same High School’s administration suggested going behind store counters to do so. generally have long known that cops are contract as their supposed “best and final to their gifted academy program students Most of the workers participating in the frontline in protecting big corpora- offer,” the union knew it was time to in- and parents that they volunteer to give the Memphis Fight for $15 campaign are tions’ oppression and exploitation. Now crease pressure on the district to come to Continued on page 9 Black. Cops have consistently arrested the cops are admitting it. workers.org March 16, 2017 Page 5

As prison profits soar ICE terrorizes migrants

Continued from page 1 Conditions for migrants Group, operate for-profit prisons and to worsen immigration detention centers in many The bourgeois, pro-business states and for the federal government. entity, global risk analyst Ver- Between October 2015 and September isk Maplecroft recently released 2016, more than 350,000 undocumented a report titled “Human Rights immigrants were detained — a number Outlook 2017.” (The Guardian, that will dramatically rise under Trump’s March 10) The report declares crackdown. that Trump’s hardening immi- WW PHOTO: ANNE PRUDEN As the Times writes, “The worse the gration policy will increase the risk of Hundreds of supporters accompanied immigrant activist Ravi Ragbir to New York ICE office news for immigrants and their lawyers, modern slavery and labor abuses. It will on March 9, preventing him from being deported. the better it has been for the two compa- force “criminal networks to use more nies. When a member of the Trump ad- costly and potentially more dangerous ministration issues a memo or executive trafficking routes by air and sea.” order, gives a speech or tweets about the The Guardian wrote: “Saket Soni, Protest demands freedom crackdown on immigrants, shares of the executive director of ... National Guest- two companies rise: Since the election, workers Alliance, said the Trump ad- CoreCivic’s stock price has climbed 120 ministration’s new regulations will only for farmworker percent, and Geo’s has gained 80 percent.” exacerbate existing problems and proves By Gene Clancy Under the Barack Obama administra- that the U.S. government is ‘part of the Rochester, N.Y. tion, the massive deportations carried problem.’ out were handled differently than under “‘Trump’s policies are a gift to human On March 9, nearly 200 people braved Trump. President Obama stated on Aug. traffickers,’ said Soni. ‘We know firsthand the aftermath of a violent windstorm to 18, 2016, that his administration would what Verisk Maplecroft’s report con- demand freedom and justice for José be phasing out for-profit prisons in the firms: criminalising immigrants makes Coyote Pérez, an immigrant farmwork- federal Bureau of Prisons. The compa- them more vulnerable to forced labour, er in the Rochester area. The rally was nies’ stock shares plummeted. human trafficking, and modern-day slav- supported by a number of community The Obama administration ordered ery. Trump’s mass criminalisation will groups, including Workers World Party. Immigration and Customs Enforcement drive immigrants further into the shad- Two weeks ago Pérez — a dairy worker, to carry out a “catch and release” poli- ows, where increasing numbers of them community leader and father of four — cy. Undocumented workers caught were will face forced labour conditions.’” was detained by U.S. Immigration and to be released if they were awaiting de- Every day the issue of migration across Customs Enforcement, despite his case portation status and were not so-called the world becomes more and more a ma- being closed in September of last year. “hardened criminals.” jor humanitarian crisis. Pérez has advocated for immigrant Trump, through the actions of white Despite the Trump/Bannon/ICE ter- rights and has also been active in the supremacist Attorney General Jeff Ses- ror policies, this will not stop forced Fight for $15 movement and numerous sions, has changed that policy. Now no migration. Until the foreign and eco- other issues. Shortly before his arrest, matter their status in the system, all un- nomic policies of U.S. imperialism are he courageously spoke out at City Hall WW PHOTO: LYDIA BAYONETA documented workers will be held. These overturned, workers will be forced to demanding that the city of Rochester WW reporter Gene Clancy at rally support- workers need a place to be held before de- leave their homelands in order to sur- strengthen its status as a sanctuary city. ing José Pérez. portation, hence the recent boom in the vive, in order to live. Pérez spoke to the demonstrators via prison-industrial complex. The Los Angeles Times reported on a telephone hook-up with the ICE deten- Support rallies are planned at the deten- NBC News reports, “The Federal Bu- March 9 that in 2016 “border agents tion center in Batavia, N.Y. He related tion center to defend her and all the un- reau of Prisons’ ... relationship with pri- saw an unprecedented spike in long-dis- how immigration officials treacherously justly detained immigrants. vately run lockups hinges on the housing tance migrants making the journey from asked him to come and consult with his Ever since the inauguration of Donald of immigrants. Almost all of the 21,405 countries as far as Haiti, India, Bangla- caseworker, and then arrested him with Trump, ICE has behaved in an especial- people currently serving time ... have desh and parts of Africa. About 15,000 no warning. ly sweeping and brutal manner. This has been designated as ‘criminal aliens’ — migrants from outside Latin America His spouse Dolores, a community been true in the upstate New York region, non-citizens who will likely be deported crossed through Baja California last year, leader in her own right, also spoke to the which strongly depends on migrant labor after they serve their sentences, accord- nearly five times as many as in 2015.” gathering, which received many honks of for its vast dairy farms, fruit orchards ing to bureau statistics.” (March 5) The working-class and revolutionary support from passing cars. She is sched- and vineyards. For several years now, article after ar- movements in the U.S. and around the uled for a hearing at the detention cen- The rally in Rochester concluded with ticle and advocate after advocate have world must take up the issue of forced ter in Batavia on March 15, and she and a militant march from the site of the all documented the horrid conditions migration in a major way. Now is the time her supporters are fearful that ICE could demonstration to a nearby office of the of these prisons. Children are held with to come to the defense of migrants. seize this occasion to arrest her as well. U.S. Border Patrol. their parents. The prisons can be ice cold and the food is often rancid. Many a he- roic prisoner has gone on a hunger strike to protest these conditions. All these conditions will intensify under NO WORK NO SCHOOL the Trump administration. It is no won- der, therefore, that one sector of migrants Defend immigrants, is fleeing the U.S. in record numbers. refugees, Muslims & Homeland Security Secretary John Kel- all workers rights! ly had to admit that Trump’s policies were Say NO to creating such a fearful climate that more white supremacists Muslims in the U.S. were seeking refuge in general huelga in the White House! Canada than ever before. Video has been LOS ANGELES Solidarity with the released in which migrants are trekking to huelga general BLACK LIVES MATTER small wooded areas in upstate New York Movement and to cross over into Canada “illegally.” STANDING ROCK! According to various news sourc- JOBS, not jails es, Canadian law cites that people who try to make a refugee claim are turned Disarm police & ICE! away in Canada if they enter the country Stop oppressing “legally.” However, if a migrant enters women and “illegally” — or better said, irregularly LGBTQ people — Canadian law allows people to claim refugee status. More than 2,000 people Fight Washington not Russia have done that since the Trump elec- tion, many of them with legal status in In NYC - GATHER @ 10 AM in UNION SQUARE the U.S. This demonstrates the fear, even 14th St. & Broadway, Manhattan with documents. NO SHOPPING! Help build MAY DAY: 212.627.2994 Page 6 March 16, 2017 workers.org

International Women’s Day Women workers rising WW PHOTO: JILL WHITE Rally in solidarity with global women’s struggles at Chicago Teachers Union. By Minnie Bruce Pratt in every occupation and industry.” (wom- enworkersrising on Facebook) Calls for a Women’s Strike ignited In- The One Billion coalition included ternational Women’s Day in the U.S. on the African American Policy Forum, the March 8. Organizers were following up American Federation of Teachers, Fam- on the massive Jan. 21 women’s protests, ily Values @ Work, International Labor held on all seven continents, against the Rights Forum, Jobs with Justice, Nation- inauguration of the extreme-far-right al Domestic Workers Alliance, National Donald Trump administration. Nurses United, National Organization According to womenstrikeus.org, 50 for Women and the Restaurant Opportu- U.S. actions on March 8 were part of a nities Centers United. Also present were “new international feminist movement” to OUR Walmart members from Alabama, specifically defend “women who have been Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, marginalized and silenced by decades of North Carolina, Missouri, Pennsylvania, neoliberalism directed towards working Minnesota, Colorado and California. women, women of color, Native wom- Schools in both Alexandria, Va., and en, disabled women, immigrant women, Chapel Hill-Carrboro, N.C., were closed Muslim women, lesbian, queer and trans on March 8 because of expected large women.” They condemned not only the staff absences due to the strike. In Ithaca, Trump administration’s woman-hating N.Y., organizers from the Women Strike policies but also the U.S. “decades-long and Decarcerate Tompkins County came Philly IWD march advances in solidarity. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE economic inequality, racial and sexual vi- together in a March for Incarcerated olence, and imperial wars abroad.” Women and Their Families. Under the connected International Women’s Day the inclusion of Black, Brown, immigrant, Also organizing for March 8 were U.S. slogan #SayHerName, they reached out to its revolutionary socialist origins and LGBTQ+ and Muslim concerns. Speakers sponsors of the Jan. 21 Women’s March on to supporters: “We ask you to bring your promoted the hope that a new movement demanded solidarity with sex workers Washington, mobilized as “A Day Without body for the women who cannot; to re- for women’s liberation is emerging, root- as well as low-wage workers fighting for a Woman,” to recognize “the enormous val- member our sisters who are behind bars.” ed in class struggle. Plans are already the right to unionize. Others voiced out- ue that women of all backgrounds add to This March 8 was not a day of polite underway for participation in the May 1 rage over the recent increased murders of our socio-economic system — while receiv- lip-service and compliments to women. Global Strike. women of color and transgender people. ing lower wages and experiencing greater Instead it was “feminism of the 99%” with In New York City, the International The march ended at Thomas Paine Plaza inequities, vulnerability to discrimin­ation, walk-outs and stay-homes from workplac- Working Women’s Day Coalition held an with an outdoor speak-out. sexual harassment, and job insecurity.” es; rallies, protests and marches; work- intergenerational, multiracial “Women — Betsey Piette (womensmarch.com/womensday) shops on how to organize at work, the his- Rise and Organize!” roundtable discussion Close to 400 people took to the streets One Billion Rising, a campaign to end tory of women’s labor, how to leaflet your on March 11. The meeting was dedicated to in Baltimore to protest on International the exploitation of women, joined with la- neighborhood; dance, music and theater the fighting spirit of people’s lawyer Lynne Women’s Day. Called by the newly formed bor organizations in a strong show of force performances; and a cry of “Resist, resist, Stewart, who died on March 7. In keeping Women’s Fightback Network, the march at a demonstration at the Department of resist!” ringing throughout the day. with the coalition’s perspective that “every attracted a diverse crowd of mostly young Labor in Washington, D.C., under the ban- But most significant was the call for issue is a woman’s issue,” panelists from Black, Latinx and white women, though ner “Women Workers Rising.” The protest women to strike, issued at a mass level various groups discussed a wide array of older activists also joined. The 77-year- was announced in solidarity with women of organizing and appeal. This class-con- struggles, including reproductive justice old Rev. Annie Chambers, a veteran hous- marching around the world. Highlighted scious rallying cry connected women’s and health care; immigrant rights; public ing organizer, boldly led from her electric was the fight to end sexual harassment struggle for liberation with workers’ pow- education; students with disabilities and wheelchair despite continuous harass- and violence against women workers “ev- er to withhold labor as a weapon against the right to accessible, public transporta- ment from police, who threatened to ar- ery day at workplaces across the country, capitalism. The call “Women Strike!” re- tion; affordable housing; war and occu- rest protesters en masse at several points. pation; Indigenous sovereignty; political Stopping at the women’s jail, protesters prisoners; violence against women; Haiti; demanded an end to mass incarceration, the right to organize; Black and trans lives and then marched to the Douglass Homes matter; and more. public housing development for a speak- Each issue was discussed within the out on how women are exploited in pub- framework of organizing goals and of chal- lic housing. Then the Women’s Fightback lenges faced and lessons learned from or- Network marched to the police station, ganizing experiences. When the coalition past City Hall, and ended their event at meets again in early April, among various McKeldin Square. activities to be discussed will be support Along with major issues facing wom- for the Global May Day Strike. en, including trans women, LGBTQ+ and — Monica Moorehead gender-nonconforming women, the event Hundreds of protesters gathered in addressed Immigration and Customs En- early evening on March 8 at Logan Square forcement violence against immigrant in Philadelphia, then took to Center City communities. Many chants and speeches streets to protest economic and political were called out in Spanish. inequality as part of the global call for a The WFN asked marchers to pledge “Day Without a Woman.” Earlier that day, support for anyone targeted by their boss, city teachers had picketed before class- ICE or cops for participating in protests es, with about 930 of them staying out and strikes. The group’s next step is to or- of work and using the day to lobby the ganize for the Global May Day Strike. City Council on educational issues. Many — Sharon Black joined the evening protest. Along with several marches through- As the march advanced, often against out Chicago on March 8, more than 300 WW PHOTO: GLORIA RUBAC city traffic, signs and chants called for women and supporters rallied at the offic- Socialists in Houston, including Sabrina Smith and Nikki Luellen, FRSO members.

WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN Some participants in New York IWD discussion, March 11. workers.org March 16, 2017 Page 7

Ida B. Wells ANTI-LYNCHING CRUSADER

By Abayomi Azikiwe rials in her newspaper, Free Speech and Editor, Pan-African News Wire Headlight, denouncing racist lynchings. Subsequently, there was a boycott of The many references by African-Amer- street car services and white-owned Women’s ican women intellectuals and activists businesses, followed by a mass exo- History to educational achievement, economic dus of Black people from Memphis to Month self-reliance, sobriety and religious ad- Oklahoma. herence suggest that Western bourgeois Writings by Wells exposed the fal- values influenced their thinking and or- lacy of the racist myths that Black ganizational approaches. However, the men were a threat to white women. social conditions created by Reconstruc- When one of her newspaper’s edito- tion’s failure must be considered. rials noted that some white women The profit-driven system of institu- sought social relations with Afri- WW PHOTO: DAMON MITCHELL tional racism and national oppression can-American men, racists threatened Housing activist Annie Chambers leads Balti- required super-exploitation of African Wells, destroyed her Memphis ­office and more march from her wheelchair. people. They were systematically denied drove her out of the city. Wells added, “Those visiting the World’s access to education, adequate wages, After moving to Chicago, Wells opposed es of the Chicago Teachers Union. Led by a Columbian Exposition who know these quality housing and job opportunities. the terms under which the 1893 World’s coalition of union, community and politi- facts … will ask: Why are not the ‘colored’ The criminalization of their communities Columbian Exposition, also known as cal activists, the speakers were predomi- people, who constitute so large an element by law enforcement represented key as- the Chicago World’s Fair, was being held nantly women of color. The program was of the American population, and who have pects of the repressive mechanism which to celebrate the 400 years since coloniz- chaired by Christel Williams, of the CTU, contributed so much to American great- served capitalism. er Christopher Columbus arrived on this representing the movement to create true ness, more visibly present and better Knowing that the federal government continent. African-American organiza- sanctuary in Chicago Public Schools, pro- ­represented in this World’s Exposition?” and corporations would likely not provide tions, churches and newspapers called tecting all children and families from ICE The pamphlet documented proof of the assistance to alleviate workers’ and farm- for a boycott of the fair. The community deportations and from the school-to-pris- exclusion, exploitation and repression ers’ social conditions, African Americans demanded positions on the whites-only on pipeline. of African-American people. Wells did were compelled to create their own insti- board of directors and planning commit- Williams is one of hundreds of clerks not speak at the World’s Fair; however, tutions to foster social reproduction and tees that designed the project and space threatened with layoff from their import- her voice was heard loudly and clearly ensure survival. Consequently, during for exhibits. Ruling-class forces reject- ant service to parents, children and staff. through the document. this period, there was strong emphasis ed these legitimate requests. Eventually, The clerks are predominantly single wom- Highlighting the dangerous situation on self-improvement through education, some concessions were made, although en of color from the communities; they are facing African-American people, Wells personal discipline and the adoption of many African Americans remained dis- also graduates of CPS schools and parents recounted extrajudicial mob killings. perceived societal norms. satisfied and refused to attend. of children attending CPS schools. Other Chapter 4 entitled “Lynch Law” reported, Ida B. Wells was born in Holly Springs, “A lynching equally as cold-blooded took union struggles addressed were those of Miss., in 1862 as an enslaved African ‘The Reason Why’ day care and transit workers and of re- place in Memphis, Tennessee, March, child. Her parents instilled in her a sense Prior to the exposition’s opening, Wells 1892. Three young ‘colored’ men in an cently organized charter school teachers, of pride and yearning for education. They initiated, contributed to, edited and pub- who are preparing to strike in the coming altercation at their place of business fired died in the late 1870s during a yellow fever lished a pamphlet attacking the event; it on white men in self-defense. They were week. epidemic. Wells then moved to Memphis contained sections written by Frederick Co-chairing the meeting was Adriana imprisoned for three days, then taken out to live with relatives and became a teacher Douglass, Ferdinand L. Barnett and I. by the mob and horribly shot to death. Alvarez, a McDonald’s worker from Fight in the Shelby County school system. Garland Penn. It was entitled “The Rea- for $15. A woman from Black Youth Proj- Thomas Moss, Will Stewart and Calvin After being physically ejected from a son Why the ‘Colored’ American Is Not in McDowell were energetic businessmen. ect 100 highlighted the struggles of Black, segregated train in Woodstock, Tenn., be- the World’s Columbian Exposition — the queer, trans and gender-nonconforming ... Their [grocery] business had prospered cause she refused to move out of her seat, Afro-American’s Contribution to Colum- and that of a rival white grocer named people against recent violence and mur- Wells filed a lawsuit in 1884 against the bian Literature.” der. There were performances by several Barrett had declined.” Chesapeake, Ohio Railroad Co. for dis- Wells noted, “The ‘colored’ people of Wells recounted, “Barrett led the at- groups, including a spoken-word piece ti- crimination. She won a judgment in the this great Republic number eight millions tled “Pussy Grabs Back.” tack on their grocery which resulted in lower courts, but the company appealed — more than one-tenth the whole popula- the wounding of three white men. For International connections were made to the Tennessee Supreme Court, which tion of the United States. They [landed] … by Rasmea Odeh, the Palestinian lead- this cause were three innocent men bar- overturned her winning settlement. at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619 in a slave barously lynched, and their families left er of Arab American Action Network, Wells became well-known as a teacher ship, before the Puritans, who landed at who spoke on the U.S. government’s case without protectors. … They were the of- and newspaper editor. She was eventually Plymouth in 1620. They have contribut- ficers of the company which conducted against her as an example of political re- fired by school system officials after she ed a large share to American prosperity pression. Nerissa Allegretti, from GABRI- the grocery. … [A]ll three were men of criticized the inferior education provided and civilization. The labor of one-half of splendid reputation for honesty, integrity ELA USA, talked of the growing move- to African-American students. this country has always been, and is still ment for solidarity and justice for women and sobriety. But their murderers, though Wells protested the racist lynching being, done through them. The first cred- well-known, have never been counted, around the world. of three African-American men, her it this country had in its trade with for- — Jill White were not even troubled with a prelimi- friends, Thomas Moss, Will Stewart and eign nations was created by productions nary examination.” In Houston the IWD celebration, orga- Calvin McDowell, in Memphis on March resulting from their labor. The wealth nized by Freedom Road Socialist Organi- Although he submitted an article to 9, 1892. They were only guilty of defend- created by their industry has made it “The Reason Why,” Douglass attended zation, educated and motivated activists ing themselves against a lawless, white possible for them to make the most of and students as well as some new to the the exposition and delivered an address. racist mob which attacked them in their their progress in education, art, science, Concerning the Exposition’s aspects Continued on page 8 grocery store. She wrote a series of edito- ­industry and invention.” which focused on African people’s affairs, some administrative control was relin- From a Prison Radio broadcast quished. Douglass, the formerly enslaved, of March 9. self-emancipated African turned aboli- Lynne Stewart tionist and propagandist, was named ad- ministrator for “Colored” American Day. People’s lawyer, freedom fighter. ¡presente! Christopher Robert Reed, of Roosevelt University, wrote in 1999, “Ida B. Wells By Mumia Abu-Jamal well in the city’s courts. stayed away from the celebration but ret- Her husband Ralph was a stalwart of roactively reversed her assessment … and Lynne Stewart, after 78 winters in the Black Panther Party and her most [sought] out Douglass at the Haitian Pa- America, has died after battling for years committed defender. vilion.” There, they handed out copies of against breast cancer. When Lynne was targeted by the U.S. “The Reason Why.” But that was just some of her battles, Justice Department, and she was tried Initially sentenced to 28 months, the Wells traveled around the U.S. and and like most of us, she won some and lost and convicted for putting out a press re- Second Circuit sent her case back for re- abroad as a leader of the anti-lynching some. But she never stopped fighting! lease for her client, the blind Egyptian sentencing — and she got 10 years! crusade. She continued to write, speak For decades, she and her husband Sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, Ralph Her support only grew. out and organize against racism and in- Ralph fought for New York’s political ac- stood in the hot Washington, D.C., sun, The late activist lawyer Bill Kunstler justice for the rest of her life. Also a fight- tivists and revolutionaries, like the Black with a sign in front of the White House, once opined that defense lawyers should er for women’s rights, Wells established Panthers and the Young Lords, a Puerto demanding his wife’s release. be officers of their clients, instead of offi- an African-American women’s suffrage Rican socialist collective. But mostly, Her defense of her client was in the best cers of the court. organization. they fought for the freedom of the poor tradition of criminal defense lawyers, and Lynne Stewart was an officer of her Ida B. Wells Barnett married Ferdi- and dispossessed of New York’s Black and she received significant support from a clients; a People’s Lawyer, beloved and nand Barnett in 1895, and they had four Brown ghettos. broad swath of the bar — from lawyers, respected. children. This internationally renowned She — they — fought often and fought yes; judges, no. May she ever be so. “crusader for justice” died in 1931. Page 8 March 16, 2017 workers.org Behind the murder of Berta Cáceres By Chris Fry who later commit- Honduran Indigenous leader ted ­human rights PHOTO: SOA WATCH Washington, D.C., March 14, 2016 and environmental activist Berta ­abuses. Bustillo was Cáceres was shot to death a year ago also head of Desa at her home in a gated community, corporate security without at least implicit authorization of supposedly under Honduran gov- between 2013 and military high command.” ernment protection. 2015. In 2009, the Honduran military over- An investigation by the British Berta Cáceres had threw the elected government in Hondu- newspaper The Guardian revealed reported 33 death ras, with Washington’s tacit support. The Feb. 28 that the death of Cáceres, threats linked to her U.S. State Department, at the time head- winner of the prestigious Goldman campaign against ed by Hillary Clinton, violated Organi- Environmental Prize in 2015, was the Desa dam, in- zation of American States rules by doing “an extrajudicial killing planned cluding many from nothing to oppose the military junta. by military intelligence specialists Desa management. Since then, military death squads have linked to the country’s U.S.-trained A former Honduran roamed the country, murdering tens special forces.” Honduran military special forces sniper. soldier reported that Cáceres was on a of thousands, particularly Indigenous Cáceres’ murder caused such an out- Sergio Rodríguez, a manager for the hit list that was passed on to U.S.-trained people, at the behest of mining compa- cry within Honduras and international- internationally funded Agua Zarca hy- military units. nies who need dams to power their op- ly that the Honduran government was droelectric dam, which Cáceres had op- Because of these threats, the Hondu- erations. The U.S. government has pro- forced to put eight men on trial for her posed. This dam project is funded by ran government set up a guard station at claimed its opposition to these murders, murder. The Guardian’s investigation re- Desarrollos Energéticos SA (Desa), a the gate of Cáceres’ home, but it was left but has not stopped sending funds to the vealed that among the accused were: corporation headed by Roberto David empty on the night of the murder. Honduran military, amounting to $18 Major Mariano Díaz, chief of Hondu- Castillo Mejía, a former military intelli- A legal source told the Guardian re- million a year. ran army intelligence at the time of the gence officer. porter: “The murder of Berta Cáceres has The Trump regime has made its posi- murder, on track to be promoted to lieu- Retired Lt. Douglas Giovanny Bustillo, all the characteristics of a well-planned tion quite clear. Homeland Security Chief tenant colonel. He attended cadet leader- who joined the military on the same day operation designed by military intelli- John Kelly has proposed tearing Hondu- ship courses at Ft. Benning, Ga., in 1997, as Díaz and had been in constant ­contact gence, where it is absolutely normal to ran and other Central American refugee and a counterterrorism course at the with him. Bustillo attended logistics and contract civilians as assassins. It is in- children from their mother’s arms if they Inter-American Air Forces Academy at artillery courses at the School of the conceivable that someone with her high somehow manage to reach the U.S. bor- Lackland AFB, Texas, in 2005. Americas at Ft. Benning, which trained profile, whose campaign had made her a der, fleeing death squads. (washington- Sgt. Henry Javier Hernández, a former hundreds of Latin American officers problem for the state, could be murdered post.com, March 7)

International Women’s Day Women workers rising

Continued from page 7 and Texas Southern University student, works with Black Movement Media. struggle. Kinsey Tamsin, a trans wom- Speaking about several revolutionary an and FRSO activist, spoke about daily women, Sabrina Smith, also with FRSO, obstacles trans people face. She praised focused on Yuri Kochiyama, a U.S. citi- socialist Cuba for the tremendous prog- zen who survived the U.S. internment of ress made through CENESEX, the Cuban Japanese people in camps during World National Center for Sex Education, on War II. Kochiyama became a strong ad- LGBTQ+ rights, including free sex-affir- vocate for Black, Latinx, Native Ameri- mation operations for trans people. Tam- can and Asian-American liberation. Her sin also praised Workers World Party friend, Malcolm X, died in her arms at member Leslie Feinberg as a trailblazer the Audubon Ballroom in 1965. for trans liberation. Gloria Rubac, speaking for Workers Nikki Luellen, who works against po- World Party, gave a history of Interna- PHOTO: PANOS PHOTOGRAPHY lice brutality, spoke eloquently about the tional Women’s Day and its socialist or- San Francisco says “Gender Strike!” horror that continues after people are igins. She explained that the material murdered by the police. She cited the basis for women’s oppression was the back against New York City cops in the allowed to testify on the role of torture in struggle of the spouse of Alva Braziel, who beginning of class society, and how that 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. Assata Shak- relation to her conviction. was shot and killed by Houston cops in oppression will only end when the capi- ur, a Black Liberation Army member, During the discussion, Janie Torres the summer of 2016. Not a single cop has talist ruling class is replaced by a social- was framed on murder charges, impris- spoke about her brother, Jose Campos been charged, and the family is still fight- ist revolution. oned and escaped to liberation in Cuba. Torres, who was murdered by Houston ing for justice. Luellen, a FRSO member Rubac’s talk focused on five women. Leslie Feinberg, a friend and comrade of cops 40 years ago. She and her family Emma Tenayuca, a Rubac, wrote the first Marxist analysis are organizing the Second Annual Joe San Antonio labor of trans liberation. Feinberg’s writings, Campos Torres Solidarity Walk for Fu- union organizer, was read worldwide, include “Rainbow Sol- ture Generations on the anniversary of also a Communist idarity with Cuba,” “Transgender War- his death in May. Torres invited Braziel’s Party member in the riors: Making History from Joan of Arc spouse and her family to participate. 1930s and 1940s. to RuPaul” and “Stone Butch Blues.” — Joanne Gavin Marsha P. Johnson FRSO leader Fabien Sneevliet updated Several thousand women and support- and Sylvia Rivera, an the struggle of Rasmea Odeh, the Pales- ers rallied and marched in San Francis- African-American tinian activist and former political pris- co and Oakland, Calif., on International trans woman and a oner in Israel facing a new U.S. trial for Women’s Day. The demonstration, titled Latinx trans woman, “immigration irregularities.” Odeh’s sen- “Gender Strike, Bay Area,” started at respectively, fought tence was vacated, and experts will be Chelsea Manning Plaza with a rally and Buffalo, N.Y. then marched to the ICE Detention Cen- WW PHOTO: ELLIE DORRITIE ter in downtown San Francisco. A strong chant was “No borders, no nations, no deportations.” Later that night, another large ral- ly gathered at Oscar Grant Plaza in Oakland. Organized by the Oakland Women’s Strike Organizing Collective, protesters marched to Sheriff Gregory Ahern’s office to denounce him. Ahern has announced he will continue to coop- erate with ICE. On March 11, a multinational rally and march of hundreds in San Francis- co was led by GABRIELA SF, with the theme “Rise Against Fear, Resist Attacks on Our Communities and Unite for Self-­ San Francisco Determination.” PHOTOS: SUNSHINE VELASCO IMAGES — Terri Kay workers.org March 16, 2017 Page 9 U.S. escalates aggression in Syria

By Ava Lipatti U.S. war crimes uncovered ish-led SDF in the fight to retake Raqqa Given its need to reduce antagonism Meanwhile, U.S. war crimes in Syr- from IS. with the Turkish regime, it remains un- The Syrian “civil war” has entered ia have recently surfaced. The U.S. gov- The next day, 2,500 U.S. paratroopers clear the extent to which Washington its seventh year. While the Syrian Arab ernment has admitted to using depleted were to be deployed to Kuwait to prepare will temporarily support the Kurdish Army and its allies have successfully uranium (DU) weapons in Syria in No- for missions in Mosul, Iraq, in addition to SDF in order to gain a foothold in the retaken the cities of Aleppo and Palmy- vember 2015, despite promising in March Raqqa. (Army Times, March 9) north of Syria. ra from the Islamic State (IS) group, the 2015 that they would not use DU in Iraq While the stated reason for this in- Hands off Syria! proxy groups that have backing from or Syria. As Foreign Policy magazine re- creased military presence is to fight IS, U.S., NATO and Gulf Cooperation Coun- ported: “U.S. Central Command (CENT- the U.S.’s track record of focusing its ef- As history has proven time and time cil forces continue their bloody offensive COM) spokesman Maj. Josh Jacques told forts against the Syrian government indi- again, U.S. boots on the ground bring against the Syrian government. Airwars and Foreign Policy that 5,265 ar- cates that this is unlikely. In reality, the about nothing but death and destruction. “Rebel” groups continue to rebrand mor-piercing 30 mm rounds containing U.S. has already begun to build military Only the Syrian Army and their allies are and regroup into various coalitions. All depleted uranium (DU) were shot from Air bases in Kurdish-held northeast Syria. capable of driving out the IS and other these groups aim to destroy Syria, which Force A-10 fixed-wing aircraft on Nov. 16 Washington’s temporary support for Syr- sectarian reactionary forces. is why the U.S. and NATO powers as well and Nov. 22, 2015, destroying about 350 ian Kurds gives the U.S. an opportunity The Trump administration, rather as their allies Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qa- vehicles in the country’s eastern desert.” to gain a foothold in northern Syria. than being “isolationist,” has pushed the tar and Israel have at times armed or fi- The U.S. used large amounts of DU However, this strategy may prove dan- war on Syria even further and has an- nanced them or given them other aid. weapons in Iraq in 1991, in Yugoslavia in gerous. Ethnic Kurds, who primarily in- nounced it will give the U.S. generals the The Syrian Army, with the support of 1999 and again in Iraq in 2003, mainly habit Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran, are authority to take military measures in Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq and Russia, leads against tanks, as DU shells penetrate ar- an oppressed nationality in Turkey. Tur- Syria without needing affirmation from the charge against these forces. mor. Iraqi scientists found an increased key’s Erdogan regime, which has been a the president. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic incidence of cancer, birth defects and military ally of the U.S. Ultimately, the only path to Forces (SDF), including the Democrat- other health problems in regions where and NATO, opposes any peace for countries like Syria is to ic Union Party (PYD) and their fighting there had been heavy use of DU weapons. independent role for drive out the imperialist powers arm, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), Kurds, in Syria as well and their proxy forces. It is the job have carved out an autonomous region Desperate, U.S. escalates conflict as in Turkey, and has for revolutionary socialists in the in northeast Syria. The YPG’s primary As the Syrian Army continues its offen- denounced the YPG as United States to oppose our own fight is against IS, especially in the city sive against reactionary sectarian forces, a terrorist organization. ruling class at home and demand, of Raqqa. They have coordinated at times some U.S.-backed, the U.S. deployed an Thus, U.S. support for “Hands off Syria!” with the Syrian Army in this effort, but Kurdish forces in Syria estimated 400 Marines and Rangers to For more information on DU, see they also have had a working relation Manbij, Syria. (Reuters, March 9) A U.S. may undermine its rela- the video by Sue Harris, “Poison with U.S. forces, which have contradicto- Air Force official stated that the purpose tionship with an Erdo- DUst,” at tinyurl.com/zo2yfkv. ry interests opposed to the Syrian Army. of the deployment is to aid the Kurd- gan-led Turkey. New York guv to import Israeli repression

By Joe Catron rious responses to Israel’s construction stores and cafes, as well as political or- those in St. Louis County, Mo., and Bal- of settlements in the West Bank, a figure ganizations like Al-Awda: The Palestine timore, whose killings of Black people New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made that had grown by 11 percent in a year. Right to Return Coalition. have sparked mass uprisings, as well as a 15-hour visit to Israel on March 5-6, The sentiment at his party’s grass-roots Even after the unit’s dissolution, May- from notoriously racist agencies like Im- pledging to forge stronger ties between may have pushed then President Barack or Bill de Blasio continued to defend its migration and Customs Enforcement. Tel Aviv and his government. Obama to abstain from, rather than veto, explicit targeting of ethnic and religious The NYPD even has an office inside Before ths trip, Cuomo tried to justi- a Dec. 23 U.N. Security Council resolution minorities against legal challenges. the Sharon District Police Headquarters fy the flight as responding to a wave of condemning Israel’s illegal colonization. “It really is a full-throated defense by in Kfar Saba, its expenses paid by the anti-Semitism within the United States, Fatigue with establishment Demo- the de Blasio administration of the same New York City Police Foundation. but he reportedly told Israeli officials crats’ bloodlust almost certainly ranked practices that his predecessor put in Ultimately, only popular movements, that he also hoped to bolster the flagging among the factors that led millions of place,” Omar Farah, a Center for Consti- not electoral politics, can end both do- support for their occupying state within their voters to avoid the polls on Nov. 8, tutional Rights attorney, said before the mestic repression and U.S. support for his Democratic Party. propelling Republican nominee Donald two cases were finally settled last year. atrocities committed overseas. After Cuomo’s return, Dani Dayan, Is- Trump to a shocking victory. (theintercept.com) But the growth of these movements in rael’s consul general in New York and a the Trump era may make it harder for de former West Bank settler leader who had ‘Best practices’ Israel trains U.S. cops Blasio, Cuomo and the rest of the Demo- accompanied the governor, told WNYC’s Cuomo also used his trip to announce Israeli occupation forces have also cratic establishment to find traction for Brian Lehrer Show that Cuomo “said that the launch of a 22-member New York-Is- trained over 10,000 U.S. police officers their racist policies, even within the nar- the Democratic Party was traditional- rael Commission “to strengthen eco- and federal agents since 2002 on trips row confines of Democratic politics. ly the most pro-Israeli of the two [U.S.] nomic and cultural ties” with Israel. funded by Zionist groups like the Amer- Catron is a member of Al-Awda New American parties and he doesn’t under- The body, chaired by New York Dai- ican Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defa- York: The Palestine Right to Return stand why in the fringes of the Demo- ly News and U.S. News & World Report mation League and the Jewish Institute Coalition and an organizer with Sami- cratic Party there is a different attitude owner Mort Zuckerman, includes a raft for National Security Affairs. doun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity towards Israel.” of Zionist leaders and business figures, as Many come from departments, like Network. Dayan added, “You cannot unfortu- well as two union presidents: Stuart Ap- nately miss the fact that in the fringe left pelbaum of the Department Store Union of the Democratic Party there are some and Randi Weingarten of the American elements that are blatantly anti-Israel, Federation of Teachers. Among other Striking Rockford worker: ‘They need us’ some even support BDS [Boycott, Divest- tasks, the commission will “connect New ment and Sanctions].” (mondoweiss.net) York and Israeli law enforcement to share Continued from page 4 WW: How will the union win? The party establishment, which mobi- best practices for counterterrorism opera- out meals for supposed college credit. PH: The district is going to realize that lized behind Hillary Clinton’s disastrous tions.” (governor.ny.gov) They won’t be able to provide transporta- they need us. The schools can’t proper- campaign last year and shows early signs With increased attention to racist kill- tion to the students, so they are putting it ly function without us — whether we’re of favoring Cuomo as a presidential con- ings and other police abuses, Cuomo and on the parents to get their children to and driving the buses, serving the food or tender in 2020, has typically competed the Democratic establishment may find from school every day. taking care of students with special with Republican leaders to express the the importation of Israel’s methods of WW: What has been the community’s needs. They can try to continue to refuse most enthusiasm for Israel’s massacres, repression no more popular among their response, and are there any other groups any discussion, but eventually they are displacement and other crimes against party’s voters than their lockstep sup- supporting you? going to be pressured into a compromise, Palestinians. port for its crimes. PH: Many parents are confused and because we’re necessary to ensure a safe, Before her defeat, Clinton promised In one notorious instance of sharing upset. Thousands of students will be with- positive learning environment. the American Israel Public Affairs Com- “best practices,” Israeli intelligence op- out transportation and won’t receive the The following schools, and possibly mittee “to take the U.S./Israel alliance to erations in the West Bank inspired the amount of care they need. A lot of confu- more, will have picket lines: Auburn the next level.” (time.com) New York Police Department’s Demo- sion comes from the misleading informa- High School, East High School, Guilford But public opinion polls show that graphics Unit, a far-reaching effort to tion sent out by the school district, paint- High School, Jefferson High School, Democratic voters’ disgust with their par- surveil 28 overwhelmingly Muslim “an- ing us as greedy. But we’ve also gotten help West Middle School, Nashold Elementa- ty’s unwavering support for Israeli atroci- cestries of interest.” from youth activists, who are planning a ry, Rolling Green Elementary, Fairview ties is rapidly entering its mainstream. Facing public outrage and two law- solidarity march on March 14. They will Early Childhood Center and Summer- One poll released by the Brookings In- suits, the NYPD dissolved the unit in gather at 201 7th Street at 5:15 p.m., then dale Early Childhood Center. We urge stitute in December found 60 percent fa- 2014, but its “rakers” had already infil- march to join a rally outside of the school all our Rockford readers to get out and voring economic sanctions and other se- trated mosques, student groups, book- administration building at 501 7th Street. show solidarity with RPS workers. Page 10 March 16, 2017 workers.org

After fracking-caused earthquakes Pawnee Nation courts May Day: Struggle to try energy companies By Betsey Piette creased seismic activity and injection for a mass strike! wells after a Colorado 5.5-magnitude For nearly three decades prior to 2008, earthquake was attributed to the U.S. Oklahoma averaged only two earth- Army’s disposal of toxic fluids into a More than a dozen calls have been is- disabilities who are working or want to quakes a year of magnitude 2.7 or higher. 12,000-foot well. sued for a general strike in the U.S. on and are denied that chance, people who Then the state experienced a boom in hy- Yet 60 years later, the wastewater May 1, International Workers Day. These are losing health care, environmental draulic fracturing, or fracking. By 2014 from fracking continues to be pumped have come from a wide range of organiza- protection and so much more. the annual number of reported earth- into salty aquifers, deemed unsuitable tions of migrant workers, women, prison- A mass strike of all workers and op- quakes had spiked to around 2,500. sources of drinking water. The fluid ers, socialist revolutionaries and others. pressed people would militantly and In 2015 earthquakes in Oklaho- pressure from pumping massive vol- Big media is sending up flares of alarm directly counter the capitalist war be- ma nearly doubled to 4,000, including umes of wastewater into these aquifers by covering May 1 as a “story.” Big busi- ing waged against us through racist, an- 857 with a magnitude 3.0 or higher — gets transmitted into underground rock ness itself is starting to worry, while ti-worker, woman-hating nationalism amounting to more than in the rest of the formations, where it acts to lubricate an- broadcasting strategies on how to “neu- and imperialism. lower 48 states combined. The quakes, cient faults, causing them to shift over tralize” a rising of workers and oppressed A call by the unions for a mass or gen- more than three a day, were linked to the time. (arstechnica.com, Dec. 20) power on May Day. eral strike would assert solidarity of or- underground disposal of wastewater, a As of 2011, there were over 800,000 Since Trump’s inauguration, there ganized labor with the entirety of work- byproduct of fracking for oil and gas. underground injection wells across the have been two national strike days in- ing-class and oppressed people. Such a After Oklahoma restricted the number U.S., with over 30,000 strictly autho- volving thousands. There was the Day call should include protection for those and volume of wastewater injection wells, rized for disposing of wastewater from Without an Immigrant on Feb. 16 and the who risk themselves and their jobs by the number of earthquakes dropped to oil and gas operations. With the rapid Day Without a Woman on March 8. Other participating in May Day actions. 2,500 in 2016. However, in September expansion of drilling in Pennsylvania, local strike actions are multiplying, like On March 13, the San Francisco Labor 2016 a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ohio and other states, these numbers the New York Taxi Workers Alliance’s Council “enthusiastically endorsed work- nine miles from the center of the Paw- are no doubt higher today, involving bil- refusal to pick up airport passengers in er solidarity actions planned for May 1, nee Nation in north-central Oklahoma. lions of gallons of highly salty and toxic a show of solidarity with protests of the International Workers Day … to protest It caused extensive damage to buildings wastewater. anti-Muslim travel ban. the recent attacks on immigrants, health in the town of Pawnee, which has about In March 2016 a U.S. Geological There has been some support in labor care, and the right to a voice at work.” 2,200 residents. Survey concluded that “induced earth- unions for workers “shutting it down.” The resolution called for “NO RETAL- The Oklahoma Corporation Commis- quakes” from human activity like frack- For instance, SEIU United Service Work- IATION against any worker — union or sion responded by shutting down 37 in- ing put around 8 million people in Okla- ers West, representing over 40,000 Cali- non-union” who participates in that day. jection wells within a 725-square-mile homa, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, fornia workers, said in a statement: “It’s We need more of this unity as a step- radius of the epicenter. The Pawnee Na- Texas and Arkansas at “the same risk of time to stand up as a people against fas- ping-stone to turning May 1 into a mass tion responded March 4 by filing a law- earthquakes as people in quake-prone cism and autocratic leadership.” strike against an ever more repressive suit accusing 27 oil and gas companies California.” However, unlike Califor- A general strike, as traditionally called state that showers money on the su- with causing the earthquakes. nia, buildings in these states were not by organized labor unions, is a flexing of per-rich while targeting workers and the The Indigenous tribe is seeking com- designed with seismic activity in mind. working-class power against capital and oppressed. And as a stepping-stone to- pensation for damage to hundreds of (ibtimes.com, Dec. 20) the bosses. Such a strike demonstrates ward socialism and workers’ power! homes and public property, including the Because of increased earthquake ac- powerful class consciousness that there And we need a global mass strike, former Pawnee Nation Indian School, a tivity, officials in Oklahoma finally es- is an “all of us” stretching far beyond a because capitalism in its highly global- nearly 100-year-old building listed in the tablished “guidelines” on fracking and local. ized form cannot be successfully fought National Register of Historic Places. The the use of injection wells in 2015, tem- Working and oppressed people right city-by-city or region-by-region or coun- lawsuit is also seeking punitive damages. porarily closing several in areas with the now know that Trump & Company are try-by-country. First earthquake case filed in tribal court most earthquake activity. However, the state took no legal action to hold the oil trying to smash the working class into Can there be such a strike? As the great While other lawsuits have been filed and gas companies responsible for dam- pieces, to wreck our solidarity, to split us communist revolutionary Rosa Luxem- against the gas and oil industry for earth- age from the quakes. along lines of oppression. The ruling class burg wrote about the mass strike: “The quake-related damage in Oklahoma, is trying to make us fight each other in- rigid, mechanical-bureaucratic concep- what makes this case unique is that it Trump’s pick Pruitt protected stead of capitalism and imperialism. tion cannot conceive of the struggle save will be heard in the tribe’s district court. fracking companies A mass May Day strike could be not as the product of organization at a certain The jury will be selected from 3,200 Not only do the Pawnee have tribal just unionized workers, but all of us be- stage of its strength. On the contrary, the members of the Pawnee Nation. laws on their side, they have science as ing targeted — people of color, migrants living, dialectical explanation makes the If the oil and gas company defendants well. However, the oil and gas companies and immigrants, temp and low-wage organization arise as a product of the appeal the jury’s decision, a five-member have climate-change denier Scott Pruitt workers, unemployed and underem- struggle.” (tinyurl.com/hw4wlgl) tribal Supreme Court gets to hear the on theirs. ployed, LGBTQ+ people, prisoners, wom- Let us struggle, and in that struggle let case, and their decision will be final. The Pruitt, Donald Trump’s choice to head en working inside and outside the home, us build what we need to win. tribal court’s judgment will then go to a the Environmental Protection Agency, young people and students, people with Onward to the May Day strike! state district court for enforcement. recently caused an uproar when he de- There is no appeal of a tribal supreme nied that human activity was a major court ruling. In 2016 the U.S. Supreme contributor to climate change, openly Court upheld the authority of Native contradicting scientific consensus on the American courts to judge complaints issue. against nontribal entities. ‘No to DAPL, As Oklahoma’s former attorney gener- Pawnee Nation Executive Director An- al, Pruitt was responsible for protecting drew Knife Chief said, “We are a sover- the people of that state. It was during eign nation and we have the rule of law yes to sovereignty!’ Pruitt’s tenure that Oklahoma developed here. We are using our tribal laws, our the human-made earthquake epidemic. tribal processes to hold these guys ac- Even after the U.S. Geological Survey Thousands of Indigenous people and the Dakota Access Pipeline, could begin countable.” (nytimes.com, March 4) established the link between injection their supporters marched in Washing- drilling under the Missouri River to fi- Knife Chief noted that the quake left wells and earthquakes averaging three ton, D.C., on March 10, taking a stand nalize the project. It then moved to the extensive cracks, bowed ceilings and sag- a day, Pruitt’s response to the crisis was for Native sovereignty and in defense of Trump International Hotel, where a tipi ging roofs in all of the impacted histor- to dismantle the environmental protec- water and land. This march was called was erected, to other federal buildings ic buildings. The tribe wants the oil and tion unit. Pruitt was very proactive on after the Trump administration ordered and ended in front of the White House. gas companies to be held accountable for lawsuits favoring the oil and gas indus- resumption of the illegal construction of Those at the march demanded that the damage caused by their operations. try, while ignoring the industry-induced the Dakota Access Pipeline on Dakota Trump meet with tribal leaders, that fed- Cummings Oil Company of Oklahoma earthquakes and their impact on Okla- Sioux treaty land in Standing Rock, N.D., eral and state governments respect Native City and Eagle Road Oil of Tulsa are homa communities. after a U.S. judge refused to impose an sovereignty, and that no pipeline or other among the companies cited. Both were Harold Hamm, head of Pruitt’s re- injunction to stop the multibillion-dol- projects affecting Indigenous Nations operating wastewater injection wells less election campaign in 2014, argued that lar underground project. The oil pipeline should be approved without full consent. than 10 miles from the epicenter of the wastewater injections did not cause the poses a threat to the water supply of 18 Satellite rallies and marches took place September quake. million people in four states. in many other cities, including San Fran- earthquakes. An oil billionaire, Hamm The march began at the headquarters cisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle. For more Millions at risk from made his fortune from fracking shale of the Army Corps of Engineers, which online coverage, see workers.org. ‘induced earthquakes’ deposits in North Dakota. He served as energy advisor to Trump during his elec- granted final easements so that Energy — Report by Mahtowin Munro In 1957 the U.S. Army Corp of En- Transfer Partners, the company behind and Monica Moorehead gineers established a link between in- Continued on next page workers.org March 16, 2017 Page 11

Upcoming European elections reveal deep divisions

By G. Dunkel called for removing Muslims from the old and claims that it is neither left nor for work they didn’t do. Similar charges, Netherlands, taxing head scarves, ban- right. Macron is a former Rothschild in- for smaller amounts, have been made March 13 — After the Brexit vote and ning the Koran and rejecting all refugees vestment banker and was minister of the against the National Front. the U.S. presidential election, nobody from Muslim countries. He also wants to economy under François Holland. Many is discounting the chances of far-right leave the European Union. politicians from the Socialist Party’s Germany parties in three national elections com- U.S. reactionaries like David Horo­ right wing have endorsed him. Macron’s Germany’s election is not until the fall, ing up in Europe: Netherlands, March witz have contributed about $150,000 results in polls put him neck to neck with so polling is still tentative. But it appears 15; France’s presidential vote the end of to Wilders over the past two years. (New Marine Le Pen, who had been leading in that the gap between German Chancellor April, with a likely second round in early York Times, March 7) Wilders also openly the polls up to now. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic May; Germany on Sept. 24. supports Donald Trump and his policies. The National Front, under Jean-Marie Union and her Social Democratic Par- Economic conditions in these three The PVV is projected to come in first Le Pen, Marine’s father, was an openly ty (SPD) rivals is narrow. There is sig- countries are better than those in much or second in the parliamentary election, fascist party — both anti-Semitic and nificant support for the SPD candidate of the European Union, especially those but not win a majority. Since none of the racist against Arabs. She took over in Martin Schulz, who was formerly head in the south. But unemployment is still other parties will — as of now — work 2011 and moved the FN in a more “re- of the European Parliament. Other more high, social and health services are be- with this ultra-rightist party, it is highly spectable” direction. However, after she progressive German parties like the ing cut, and inflation is eroding workers’ unlikely the PVV will become part of the ousted Jean-Marie in 2015, she didn’t se- Left Party are also doing better in early wages. government. riously change the party’s basic reaction- ­polling. Ultra-right and centrist parties are ary policies, including its opposition to Germany’s economy is perhaps the campaigning against immigration and France Islam, the EU, NATO, the euro and labor ­ strongest in Europe among the big pow- refugees, and blaming Islam for “terror- Two leading candidates for the French unions. ers, but the class struggle is active there ism,” much as in the U.S. presidency, Emmanuel Macron, who Marine Le Pen has made a big point because workers have had wage cuts heads the En Marche! (On the Move) of corruption, particularly the corrup- forced on them over the past decade. Now The Netherlands organization, and Marine Le Pen, who tion among the center-right Republi- they are demanding raises. Berlin’s two Geert Wilders, who heads the far-right heads the racist, anti-Muslim National cans, whose candidate François Fillon airports were shut down for three days and misnamed Party for Freedom (PVV), Front party, have taken anti-Muslim po- has been accused of getting the French beginning March 13 by 2,000 baggage has been convicted of inciting discrim- sitions. government to pay his wife and children handlers and passenger service employ- ination against Muslims. Wilders has En Marche! is slightly less than a year nearly a million euros, around $900,000, ees who want a dollar-an-hour raise. Guatemalans protest girls’ deaths

By Teresa Gutierrez are still coming in about conditions, but there had been reports of trouble at The deaths of over 40 young women the shelter for several years. (New York in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on March Times, March 9) In fact, a prosecutor had 8 — International Women’s Day, no less already recommended shutting it down. — demonstrate how imperialism and all Family members of the young girls its byproducts continue to grossly fail the have joined other Guatemalans in protest world’s youth. and thousands have taken to the streets. Over 40 young women were burned to The movement is declaring “Fue el esta- death as a fire swept a Guatemalan chil- do” (It was the state) that was responsi- dren’s shelter. Nineteen died at the scene ble. Hundreds of women are organizing and the rest in hospitals. against this attack, the latest on the lives Early reports said the fire started when of women and youth, and adding to the the young women, angered by deplorable charge that the state was responsible for conditions, set a mattress on fire to get the lives of the 40 young women. the officials’ attention. But as more infor- Independent journalists are pulling mation is discovered, reports point to the together facts that indicate the state is fact that the children died because they completely responsible. Witnesses told were intentionally locked in the building the Guatemalan publication Noma- and could not get out when the fire got da that other youth had been trying to out of control. help the young girls days before the fire. WW PHOTO BRENDA RYAN The shelter, overcrowded and neglect- (March 13) The girls were trying to get Meches Rosales-Maupin reported on the protest at the Guatemalan Consulate to the Inter- ed by the state, held poor children, some help, witnesses report, because of sexual national Working Women’s Day Roundtable on March 11. of whom were orphans. Many were vic- abuse and other vile misconduct by the tims of child abuse. Reports indicate that staff. These protests had been ignored Guatemalan Consulate on March 11. An- and declaring no more femicide in all of the girls had run away from the shelter by the state, leading to the youth run- other protest is planned there on Satur- Latin America. Please join us in front of because of the terrible conditions, were ning away, their recapture and then the day, March 25, at 3 p.m. the consulate at 276 Park Avenue at 23rd recaptured, and then the administration ghastly fire. One of the Guatemalan activists in Street.” punished them by locking them in. It re- Guatemalans in New York took to the New York told WW, “We are organizing For more information, visit iacenter. portedly took almost an hour for fire of- streets and held a protest in front of the in support of our sisters in Guatemala org. ficials to arrive. The shelter was built to house 500 people but was actually housing 750 children at the time of the fire. Reports Detroit Workers World Party is co-hosting a Midwest Fightback Conference on March tion campaign and is firmly committed to doing away with any regulation of the oil 25-26 with the Wayne State University branch and gas industry. of Students for a Democratic Society. WWP Now his protégée Scott Pruitt is busy members from across the ravaged rustbelt filling high-level EPA positions with fos- will come together to put forward an analy- sil fuel industry lobbyists. The Trump administration and the EPA are talking sis, forged in struggle, of the austerity, eco- about eliminating the EPA’s Office of En- nomic crises and national oppression that vironmental Justice, which was estab- have come to characterize the region. lished to protect communities of color, Indigenous lands and poor communities Guest speakers include the Venezuelan in general from the impact of environ- ­Consul General in Chicago and representa- mental racism. tives of the Boston School Bus Drivers Union, In this context, the Pawnee Nation’s lawsuit against the energy industry, to United Steelworkers Local 8751. be tried in their own sovereign courts, For details, view the Facebook event page at holds out promise to all people in Okla- homa and beyond who are fighting for ­tinyurl.com/zpnhrej; complete online regis- environmental justice. tration at tinyurl.com/hqcpc2h. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] UN DíA SIN 1° Mayo TRABAJADORES! Huelga general ¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 59 Núm. 11 16 de marzo 2017 $1 Detrás de las nuevas mentiras sobre Corea

Por Deirdre Griswold con cara seria esta extraña acusación? El parlamento votó el 9 de diciembre para Ahora, el ejército estadounidense ha En ambos casos, existen razones con- acusarla de corrupción. Ella se ha negado comenzado sus mayores “juegos” de guer- Los medios de comunicación del esta- vincentes para sospechar que las histo- a dimitir, y la dinastía Park (su padre se ra, llamados Foal Eagle y Key Resolve, en blecimiento están sugiriendo que los tu- rias dadas son falsas y auto convenientes. convirtió en presidente en 1961 a través de Corea del Sur. Con duración hasta abril, its de Donald Trump acusando a Barack En el caso coreano, desvía la atención de un golpe militar) está colgando de un hilo. éstos implican fuerzas aéreas y marítimas Obama de infiltrar sus llamadas telefóni- un escándalo mucho más grande que in- equipadas con armas nucleares que sim- EUA usa Corea del Sur como base militar cas son sólo una distracción para evitar volucra a las autoridades gobernantes de ulan una invasión de Corea del Norte. En que los medios se concentren en por qué Corea del Sur. La RPDC en el norte ha permanecido los ejercicios del año pasado, participaron el procurador general Jeff Sessions tuvo Sin embargo, en todos los informes de independiente de la dominación extran- 300.000 soldados, incluidos personal de que recusarse de una investigación feder- los medios de comunicación de EUA so- jera desde su revolución socialista en los Corea del Sur y Japón. al sobre las conexiones de la campaña de bre las acusaciones del régimen de Seúl, años cuarenta. El Pentágono también está preparán- Trump con Rusia. no hay ni una palabra sobre la enorme Una lucha guerrillera había liberado al dose para instalar su sistema de misiles Es una suposición probable. Trump crisis política que enfrenta ahora el grupo pueblo del norte del dominio colonial ja- THAAD en Corea del Sur, que está dirigi- tiene una historia de inundar los medios gobernante en Corea del Sur y los multi- ponés, y el líder de esa lucha, Kim Il Sung, do tanto a China y Rusia, como a la RPDC. de comunicación con acusaciones locas. millonarios que están envueltos en él. se convirtió en el primer presidente del China y Rusia han denunciado esta esca- Pero aquí está la pregunta: ¿Por qué los El jefe de Samsung, la corporación más norte. lada de amenazas militares en la región medios de comunicación no están igual- grande del país, fue arrestado el 17 de febre- El sur, por otra parte, ha estado bajo el como un peligro de guerra nuclear. mente escépticos sobre la historia - aún ro y acusado de sobornar con 38 millones control de Washington y Wall Street desde No hay que ser sabio para ver que la clase más melodramática - del grupo gobernante de dólares a la presidente surcoreana, Park que las tropas estadounidenses aterrizaron dominante de EUA - incluyendo tanto el de Corea del Sur que acusa al gobierno Geun-hye, quien había indultado al jefe de allí al final de la Segunda Guerra Mundi- campo de Trump como quienes están en de Corea del Norte - la República Popu- Samsung por cargos criminales anteriores. al. El primer presidente instalado en el sur, su contra - tiene mucho en juego en des- lar Democrática de Corea - de asesinar al Durante casi un año, millones de sur- Syngman Rhee, pasó la guerra en Nueva viar la atención del levantamiento masivo medio hermano del líder de ese país en un coreanas/os han salido a las calles exi- Jersey y fue transportado a Corea en un que amenaza con derrocar al corrupto rég- aeropuerto de Malasia? ¿Por qué informan giendo la renuncia de la presidente Park. avión militar estadounidense en 1945. imen de Park en Corea del Sur. Discurso de Trump ¿’su mejor momento’? Los burócratas sindicales traicionan a la clase obrera Por Martha Grevatt (TPP), sabiendo muy bien que el tratado su muerte en 1952. as, los salarios están cayendo, la inflación anti obrero ya estaba muerto antes de que Fueron los United Mineworkers de está matando los presupuestos de las/ El Presidente ultraderechista de los Trump asumiera el cargo. Trumka, bajo el liderazgo anterior de os trabajadores, y millones están todavía EUA pronunció su primer discurso ante el ¡Y peor aún, Trumka estuvo de acuer- John L. Lewis, quien lideró la escisión de desempleadas/os y subempleadas/os. El Congreso el 28 de febrero. En sus prime- do con la mentira racista de que la inmi- la AFL. Pero ahora, Trumka simboliza esa sindicalismo organizado debería estar ras palabras, empleó clichés liberales so- gración reduce los salarios! tradición conservadora de colaboración entre quienes quieren paralizarlo todo. bre “condenar el odio y el mal en todas sus Trumka no está solo en su traicionero de clases. Los colaboracionistas se com- El plan de Trump para recortar empleos formas”. Luego expuso un programa de re- posicionamiento. En enero, días después portan como si llevarse bien con el ene- federales debe ser respondido con exigir galos fiscales y desregulación para los cap- de la inauguración, Hoffa hizo declara- migo - a través de la “cooperación sindi- una semana de trabajo más corta - sin re- italistas, un sistema antisindical de vales ciones elogiando a Trump por haber “dado cal-patronal” - pueden negociar algunas cortar la paga - para extender los trabajos escolares, un congelamiento de empleos el primer paso arreglando 30 años de malas migajas para su membresía. a más personas. de trabajadoras/es federales (culpando a políticas comerciales” y por “las órdenes Esta corriente ha dominado el mov- Aunque hay sólo alrededor de 10 por las/os inmigrantes del desempleo y bajos ejecutivas de hoy que avanzarán la con- imiento sindical estadounidense desde ciento de la clase trabajadora estadoun- salarios) y “uno de los mayores aumentos strucción del oleoducto Keystone XL y el la purga de los sindicatos y líderes izqui- idense en sindicatos, representan a en el gasto de defensa nacional en la histo- Dakota Access Pipeline, creando miles de erdistas durante la era de McCarthy. Poco millones de trabajadoras/es estratégi- ria de Estados Unidos”. buenos empleos sindicales”. Incluso antes tiempo después de las purgas, la AFL y el camente posicionados para detener la Trump no dijo el hecho obvio de que de que el presidente asumiera el cargo, los CIO se reunieron bajo el tercer presidente economía. ¡Qué crisis fue para Wall la clase trabajadora, especialmente las/ líderes de los sindicatos de construcción, perpetuo, George (“nunca caminé en una Street la última huelga de tránsito en la os más pobres y oprimidos, pagarán por los trabajadores del automóvil y los sindica- línea de piquete”) Meany. Ciudad de Nueva York! este masivo regalo a los militares y cor- tos del metalúrgico expresaron su voluntad En los años ochenta, dar concesiones en Si el movimiento sindical apoyara un poraciones. Todo está potencialmente en de “darle a Trump una oportunidad”. las negociaciones se convirtió en la norma llamado a una huelga general, no sólo para su tabla de picar - desde cupones de al- Este acomodamiento es un retroceso al del movimiento sindical. La clase capital- sus propias/os miembros, sino para toda imentos, Medicare y Medicaid, hasta la sindicalismo racista de Samuel Gompers, ista usó el proceso de negociación para in- la clase obrera, proporcionaría una red de Agencia de Protección Ambiental y la Ad- que fundó la Federación Americana del timidar a los sindicatos a que renunciaran seguridad para todas/os los trabajadores ministración de Seguridad y Salud Ocu- Trabajo (AFL) en 1884. Excepto por un lo que habían ganado por luchas en el pas- que salieran. Diría a las/os inmigrantes pacional. breve intervalo de un año, Gompers fue ado. Los dirigentes sindicales convencían y a las/os trabajadores de bajos salarios: Una/o esperaría que incluso los líde- presidente vitalicio hasta su muerte en a sus miembros de que devolvieran benefi- si ustedes son lo suficientemente valien- res laborales más moderados de este país 1924. Aunque nació en Bretaña, Gompers cios para que las empresas estadounidens- tes como para arriesgar sus empleos en emitieran una rápida condena. El pres- apoyó la legislación contra inmigrantes es fueran rentables o “competitivas”. Los una huelga el 1 de mayo, los sindicatos les idente de la AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, y abogó por su estricta aplicación, desde trabajadores fueron llevados a creer que ­protegerán. o el presidente del Change to Win, James la Ley de Exclusión de chinas/os de 1882 podrían perder sus puestos si luchaban. Hay voces que apoyan esta orientación. Hoffa Jr., quien también es presidente hasta la Ley de Inmigración de 1924. Ahora Trumka, Hoffa y sus colegas SEIU United Service Workers West, que de Teamsters, podrían haber deshecho En lugar de unificar a toda la clase obre- han llevado la colaboración de clases a su representa a más de 40.000 trabajadoras/ la ridícula afirmación de que “las com- ra, la AFL fomentó la división; muchos manifestación extrema. Yendo más allá es del servicio de propiedad de California, pañías estadounidenses están gravadas sindicatos de AFL negaron la membrecía de la asociación con compañías individ- emitió una declaración que dice en parte: en una de las tasas más altas en el mun- a trabajadores de color y a mujeres. La uales, Trumka usó la palabra “socio” para “Es hora de levantarse como pueblo con- do”. De hecho, la General Motors, General AFL evitó organizar la vasta mano de obra describir su trabajo sobre asuntos comer- tra el fascismo y el liderazgo autocrático”. Electric, Pfizer, Citibank y otras, han lo- industrial, organizando principalmente a ciales con el administrador fascista del “Es hora de RESISTIR. Es hora de de- grado escudar de los impuestos, miles de trabajadores de oficios especializados. estado capitalista. fender a todas las personas, incluyendo a millones en ganancias e incluso obtener Gompers apoyó la máquina de guerra im- Muchas/os miembros de base están las/os trabajadores, inmigrantes, musul- créditos fiscales. perialista en la Primera Guerra Mundial. disgustados. Si los falsarios “líderes” del manes, mujeres, y personas LGBTQ. Es Después de la muerte de Gompers, Wil- movimiento sindical continúan en este hora de defender nuestro clima, nuestras ‘Tradición colaboracionista de clase’ liam Green mantuvo la orientación divi- desastroso curso suicida pueden encon- escuelas y nuestros sindicatos”. Sin embargo, el día después del dis- siva. Green denunció las huelgas heroicas trarse que tienen que cruzar una línea de “Este es un llamado a todas/os los curso, Trumka entró a los estudios de de los años treinta y atacó el Congreso de piquete en camino a sus lujosas oficinas. trabajadores, a todas las comunidades: Fox Business News y calificó el discurso Organizaciones Industriales (CIO), que únanse a nosotros en las calles en una ¡Hablemos de huelga! como “uno de los mejores momentos [de organizó a los desorganizados después de huelga general el 1 de mayo de 2017”! Trump]”. Le dio crédito al presidente por separarse de la AFL en 1935. Green tam- Aún cuando la híper-especulación em- ¡Ha llegado el momento de paralizarlo la desaparición del Tratado Transpacífico bién sirvió como presidente vitalicio hasta puja el mercado de valores a nuevas altur- todo!