J ~: in Hands of Capitalists * C(/~~ · -Page6 in Brief
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JANUARY 11, 1974 25 CENTS VOLUME 38/NUMBER 1 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE Prices, profits soar; layoffs hit thousands . -p~e3 Coal barons threaten ·ners, environment _ -pageS .Nudear energy: peril _,; .j ~: in hands of capitalists * C(/~~ · -page6 In Brief IT'S ABOUT TIME: For years the American Psychiatric This time jurors told reporters they just couldn't swallow Association (APA) has been a hated target of gay rights the testimony of the star prosecution witnesses, Avon White activists because it labeled homosexuality a "mental disor and John Rivers. White had admitted in court that he der." This cla~sification helped justify discrimination made a deal with the government to testify against Chesi~ against gays in the military, in employment, and in child mard and Hilton, in return for the dropping of two bank custody cases, not to mention the degrading psychological robbery charges. THIS effect it had on homosexuals. The prosecutor had to concede that he had "no finger But on Dec. 15 the trustees of the APA announced that prints, no pictures of the defendants at the bank, no guns," WEEK'S they had unanimously decided to drop homosexuality and none of the stolen money to produce as evidence. from their list of "mental disorders," an important victory No sooner was she acquitted than Chesimard was hit MILITANT for the gay liberation struggle. The psychiatrists also with a new indictment, charging her and four other alleged called for local, state, and federal legislation to protect "Black Liberation Army" members with trying to kill 3 U.S. oil trusts drive up the civil rights of homosexuals, and urged the repeal two cops last year. Chesimard also faces murder charges fuel prices of antigay laws. in connection with the killing of a New Jersey state trooper. 4 Contrast between While the new APA classification of homosexuality as Hilton has been indicted. on charges of attempted murder miners' and rail work a "sexual orientation disturbance" still leaves the door against two other policemen. ers' conventions open to prejudice, the trustees emphasized that they believe "homosexuality ... by itself does not necessarily con 7 Court orders new ANTIWAR DESERTERS LAUNCH AMNESTY FIGHT: stitute a psychiatric disorder." "At the age of 17, a great vacuum cleaner passed through election in NYC Oist. One APA official explained that the long overdue move my neighborhood and took me and my friends off to war. 8 Demonstrations shake was "fanned by the organized homosexual community, I've been at war ever since and now I want to come lebanese regime which has vigorously protested the prejudice that derives home," Ed McNally told a New York news conference 9 How CP Mideast posi from classifying their condition as a mental illness." Dec. 19. The 24-year-old Vietnam veteran, who deserted tion denies Palestinian in 1969, surrendered to the Army at the news conference, NYC DEMOCRATS KILL GAY CIVIL RIGHTS BILL: along with another deserter, 29-year-old Lew Simon. rights For the fourth time in three years, the New York city coun The public surrender was organized by the Safe Return 13 Why did Nixon ditch cil has rejected a bill to outlaw discrimination against Amnesty Committee. After McNally and Simon explained 'Operation Candor'? homosexuals. The bill was killed Dec. 20 before it even 14 Issues facing Raza got out of committee. The 13 council members voting, Unida parties all Democrats, defeated the measure 9 to 4. The bill would outlaw discrimination in housing, employ 16 3,500 at congress of ment, and public accommodations. It has been the focus of Argentine Trotskyists much activity by gay liberation groups in the past This 17 Oregon Black activist time, however, there were no demonstrations outside City fights extradition Hall, because of assurances from legislators that the mea 18 History of left Opposi sure would pass, and cautions that protest actions might tion: Soviet economy "turn ofr' city council members. A meeting of gay organizations following the defeat in danger denounced the vote as "yet another example of the cynical indifference to human beings demonstrated by the city 2 In Brief council." The groups declared that they are "at the end 10 In Our Opinion of their patience" and will launch a renewed campaign Letters to win passage of the bill this year. 11 Women in Revolt VICTORY FOR INDIAN MILITANTS: It took a federal National Picket Line jury less than an . hour to find three Indians innocent 12 The Great Society of government charges. stemming from the November La Raza en Accion 1972 occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) By Any Means Neces in Washington, D. C. Army deserters McNally, left, and Lewis Simon announcing plans to fight for amnesty. sary Keever Locklear, Dock Locklear, and William Sargent 19 Jn Review were acquitted Dec. 19 on a series of charges, including possession of stolen BIA documents and threatening FBI their actions to reporters, FBI agents handcuffed the two agents. The documents - containing secret information men and took them away. They face possible jail terms WORLD OUTLOOK on how the government oppresses Indians-were taken and dishonorable discharges. 1 1973 in review: Over during the occupation in order to bring the truth about However, Simon and MeN ally will be fighting for am throw of Allende & the BIA's role to the public. - nesty. They see their surrender as a test case, which they return of Peron The trial itself was one more example of the thousands hope will set a precedent for the right of amnesty of all 3 Crackdown on Soviet of broken promises made by the government to Indians. the men who deserted or resisted the draft during the dissidents At the end of the BIA take-over, federal officials made Vietnam war. an agreement with the protesters that no . one would be In the words of Simon's father, "ll they can give am Detente the Asian 5 & prosecuted for the action. Judge Arthur Stanley- a one nesty to Agnew and the rest, they can give it to my son." revolution time sergeant in the Seventh Cavalry -wouldn't even -CINDY JAQUITH allow this evidence in court, but the government's case 1"ell through anyway. SALAZAR FAMILY WINS SETTLEMENT: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to pay a YOUR FIRST THE MILITANT settlement of $700,000 to the widow and three children VOLUME 38/NUMBER 1 of slain newsman Ruben Salazar.- ISSUE? JANUARY 11, 1974 Salazar was struck in the head and killed by a tear QOSING NEWS DATE-JAN. 2, 1974 gas projectile fired by a sheriff's deputy during the police SUBSCRIBE Editor: MARY-<\LICE WATERS riot at the Aug. 29, 1970, Chicano Moratorium against Business Manager: SHARON CABANISS the Vietnam war. Some 30,000 Chicanos demonstrated Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING that day. TO THE Published weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass'n., Salazar was a reporter for the Los Angeles Times and 14 Charles lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: the Spanish-language TV station KMEX. His killing, and Editorial Office 1212) 243-6392; Business Office 1212) that of two others at the demonstration, evoked outrage MILITAIT 929-3486. Southwest Bureau: 1107 1/2 N. Western in the Chicano community against this blatant police Ave., los Angeles, Calif. 90029. Telephone: 1213) 463- THE 'ENERGY CRISIS': Why did shortages develop ... who's 1917. brutality. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes The family had sued for $1.5-million. In recommending to blame ... the socialist alternative .... For weekly analy of address should be dddressed to The Militant Business the compromise, Judge Alfred McCourtney hastened to sis you won't want to miss, subscribe now. Office, 14Charleslane, New York, N.Y. 10014. ·add that the settlement did not imply that the sheriff's Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. Sub. office was guilty of any wrongdoing. scriptions: Domestic: S5 a year; foreign, S8. By first IntrodUCtory ollar-S1/3monlhS doss mail: domestic and Canada, S25; all other coun Expressing similar "compassion," County Supervisor tries, S41. Air printed maHer: domestic and Canada, Kenneth Hahn explained why he voted for the settlement ( ) Sl for three months of The Militant. ~32; Mexico and the Caribbean, S30; loti n America "It chills me, but this will avoid a long costly trial. A ( ) S2 for three months of The Militant and three months and Europe, S40; Africa, Australia, and Asia !including jury might vote even more money." of the International Socialist Review. USSRI, S50. Write for sealed air postage ratea. ( ) $5 for one year of The Militant For subscriptions airmailed from New York and then ( ) New ( ) Renewal posted from london directly: Britain and Ireland, L1.20 JURY FOILS GOVERNMENT AT 'BLACK LIBERA for 10 issues, l4.SO for one year; Continental Europe, TION ARMY' TRIAL: Joanne Chesimard and Fred Hil ll.50 for 10 issues, l5.50 for one year. Send banker's ADDRESSNAME----------------------------------- ________________________________ draft directly to Pathfinder Press, 47 The Cut, london, ton, accused by the government of being members of the SE1 8ll, England. Inquire for air rates from London at "Black Liberation Army," were acquitted of bank-robbery CITY STATE ZIP---- the same address. charges Dec. 28 in New York. It was their second trial; 14 Charles lane, New York, N.Y. I 0014. Signed qrticles by contributors do nat necessarily the first ended in a hung jury. represent The Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials. 2 Poor nations hardest hit U.S. oil trusts drive up world fuel prices By DICK ROBERTS saying this, the shah was not speak As 1973 ended, a series of develop ing for the needs of the oppressed Arab ments nationally and internationally and Iranian masses.