FEBRUARY 23, 1973 25 CENTS VOLUME 37 /NUMBER 7

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

-page 5

\ Durban, South Africa. Police fire tear gas during recent strikes by 50,000 Black workers. See page 3.

Issues posed by Penn Central strike/4 What the U.S. has done to Vietnam/9 The revolutionary views of MalcolmX/16 In Brief KITTY HAWK TRIALS CONTINUE: The court-martial a mistrial in the prosecution of Black activist H. Rap machinery set up in San Diego continues to grind out Brown and three codefendants on charges of robbery THIS convictions for the Black seamen being used as scape­ and attempted murder. Louis Moss, the chief jury clerk, goats for the confrontations aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. admitted Jan. 30 that he urged jurors to "give in" rather WEEK'S Militant correspondent Marilee Savage writes that Air­ than hold out for acquittal, and that he complained to man Apprentice Nelson Mouton Jr. was found innocent them about "revolutionaries that are walking out of here MILITANT of the original charges of rioting .and assault, but was scot free because of hung juries." found guilty of refusing to obey an order while in the Brown has been allowed to act as cocounsel in his case. 10 laos deal exposed brig awaiting trial. Mouton, who spent 87 days in the In his opening remarks to the jury he said: "Now I am 11 Thieu bombards lib­ brig and makes $342 a month, was fined $6.80 by a told that this is supposedly a jury of my peers.... If erated areas jury of three white officers. I said that you were in my peer group on the basis of 12 How Peking & Moscow Although many of the sailors being tried have been your racial origin that would exclude a lot of you." (Eight view cease-fire held in the brig for more than 90 days, in violation of of the jurors are white.) Brown pointed out that his ex­ 13 Analysis of French elec­ a 1971 ruling by a military court of appeals, the mil­ cessive bail ($200,000) was an example of preventive tions itary judges trying the cases have refused to release them. detention and violated the presumption of his innocence. Representatives Yvonne Braithwaite and Ron Dellums 14 Texas socialists enter He also attacked the government's claim to stand for of the Congressional Black Caucus sent representatives the law, saying, "This is a country that builds an atomic elections to San Diego on Feb. 12 to attend the courts-martial bomb and drops it on people." 15 N.Y. SWP launches and investigate the cases. Of the 18 prosecution witnesses present so far only campaign two have claimed to identify Brown, and their testimony 17 Supreme Court abortion DEFENDING OUR RIGHTS: The U.S. government is has been discredited by defense attorneys. ruling has world im­ helping local police forces acquire the most sophisticated pact military weaponry and surveillance devices available, N.Y. BAR GROUPS BACK GAY RIGHTS BILL: The 18 New support for Zohroie while creating a vast computerized file on millions of special committee on sex and law and the committee on defense Americans. These charges, made Feb. 4 by the Lawyers civil rights of the New York City Bar Association re­ Committee on Civil Liberties, were given added currency 19 Nixon's '74 budget aims cently urged the city council to pass Intro 475. This bill, by recent disclosures that the Central Intelligence Agency to prop dollar which would prohibit discrimination against homosexuals has been training police intelligence squads. The New in employment, housing, and public accommol;iations, 21 Ariz. supporters cele­ York City police department has announced it is purging has been bottled up in a council subcommittee for more brate Storsky victory its intelligence records of one million names -leaving than two years. Although a majority of the council mem­ 24 Block inquiry exposes 240,000 still on its lists. bers have signed a petition stating their support for the Detroit cops bill, they don't seem very eager to vote on it. DISMISSAL OF TOMBS CHARGES GETS HOGAN'S GOAT: Remaining charges against Herbert X Blyden 'TAXIS FOR MEN AND WOMEN': That was the de­ and Stanley King, the last two prisoners facing trial as 2 In Brief mand raised by 75 demonstrators Jan. 31. They pick­ a result of the 1970 rebellion in the Manhattan House eted the Bank of America's world headquarters in San 6 In Our Opinion of Detention, were dismissed Feb. 13 by New York Su­ Francisco to protest the bank's decision to discontinue Letters preme Court judge Xavier Riccobono. Riccobono main­ taxi service for its women employees. Some 300 women 7 National Picket Line tained that the prisoners' right to a speedy trial had been on the bank's night shift currently use the taxi service, By Any Means Neces­ violated by the two-year delay. He also felt that further minimizing the danger of rape and assault as they leave sary prosecution would be neither "wise, appropriate nor eco­ work at 3 a.m. But when male employees asked for a nomically advisable" in view of the acquittal of four Great Society parking lot, the bank management announced that they 8 previous defendants on similar charges. Women in Revolt had "complained of sex discrimination," and that in order District Attorney. Frank Hogan didn't say whether he to restore "equality" the taxi service would be ended. La Razo en Accion will appeal the ruling, although he called it "a serious The demonstration was called by the Coalition for Equal 20 In Review precedent for having the issue of guilt or innocence ... Rights, which inclu.des Union Women's Alliance to Gain 21 American Way of Life determined by a judge and not by a petty jury." Equality, Chauffeurs Local 265, Bank Employees Data Hogan's concern about the jury system should be viewed Processing Association, and some Bay Area women's in the context of his public attack on the jurors who ac­ liberation groups. WORLD OUTLOOK quitted three of the Tombs defendants last summer. At that time, Hogan attacked the jury for "making polit­ 1 New low threatens BREAKTHROUGH ON PRISONERS' RIGHTS: Accord­ ical statements," and called its verdict "a hideous mis­ ing to California prison officials, "The sending and re­ Quebec unions carriage of justice." ceiving of mail is a privilege, not a right. ... " On Feb. 2 Argentino: socialist 2 a three-judge federal court in San Francisco disagreed, campaign bocks strike DOMINICANS IN NEW YORK HIT REPRESSION: insisting that "the prisoner's right to correspond is a 3 World News Notes Chanting "Joaquin Balaguer, asesino en el poder!" (as­ fundamental right protected by the First Amendment." 4 Doctors defy French sassin in power) and other slogans, and waving ban­ The court ruled on a suit brought against the Depart­ oborti~n low ners and signs denouncing the recent wave of govern­ ment of Correction by San Quentin inmates Robert Mar­ ment repression in the Dominican Republic, several hun­ tinez and Wayne Earley. The decision was the first clear dred Dominicans demonstrated in front of the Dominican court declaration on the right to personal mail. It is par­ consulate in New York Feb. 7. ticularly important because the rules attacked are nearly Under the pretext that a band of nine or 10 guerrillas identical to those in prison systems all over the country. had allegedly "invaded" the country from Cuba and The judges held that only "obscene" material or ma­ were backed by the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano terial that presents a "clear and present danger" to the (Dominican Revolutionary Party- PRD), President Ba­ institution could be banned. Conflicting interpretations laguer has launched a campaign of persecution against of what is "obscene" or a "danger" may be the sub­ ject of future legal action. The ruling also struck down the restriction that pris­ oner interviews for legal defense must be limited to mem­ bers of the bar and investigators licensed by the state.

LAWTON TRIAL GOES ·TO JURY: After five months, the trial of Gary Lawton, Nehemiah Jackson, and Larrie Gardner went to the jury Feb. 8· in Indio, Calif. The THE MILITANT prosecution has spent more than $2-million in its at­ VOLUME 37/NUMBER 7 tempt to convict the three Black activists of the murder FEBRUARY 23, 1973 of two white policemen. But every single prosecution wit­ CLOSING NEWS DATE- FEB. 14, 1973 ness has been shown to have lied about key facts in the case, and every single piece of evidence against the three Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS Business Manager: SHARON CABANISS has been either circumstantial or false. The jury is all­ Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING white and all over 50 years of age.

Published weekly by The Militant Publishing Ass'n., Militant/B. R. Washington NEW FRAME-UP ATTEMPT AGAINST YWLL LEAD­ 14 Charles lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Phone: Ed­ itorial Office (212) 243-6392; Business Office (212) ER: John Line, st~te chairman of the Michigan Young 929-3486. Southwest Bureau: 11071/2 N. Western political activists. Public schools, the university, and five Workers Liberation League (YWLL), has had to face Ave., los Angeles, Calif. 90029. Phone: (213) 463- radio stations in Santo Domingo were closed down. PRD nine charges of passing bad checks over the last two 1917. headquarters were raided and a number of PRD activists years. In eight of the cases charges were dropped for Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes arrested. Juan Bosch and Jose Francisco Pena Gomez, of address should be addressed to The Militant Busi­ lack of evidence. In the ninth an all-white jury found ness Office, 14 Charles lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. central leaders of the PRD, which is the main opposi­ the Black activist innocent after deliberating less than Second-doss postage paid at New York, N.Y. Sub­ tion party, are being sought by the police. 40 minutes. Now Line has been ordered to appear for scription: Domestic, $5 a year; foreign, $8. By first­ The New York demonstration was called by the PRD, trial Feb. 13 on a charge of passing a bad check in class mail: domestic and Canada, $25; all other coun­ which also held a rally in the Dominican section of Man­ tries, $41. Air printed matter: domestic and Canada, the same town and on the same night named in his pre­ $32; latin America and Europe, $40; Africa, Australia, hattan Feb. 10. vious trial. The attempt to railroad Line to prison is Asia (including USSR). $50. Write for sealed air pos­ being led by prosecutor Brooks Patterson, a leader of tage rates. RAP BROWN TRIAL PROCEEDS DESPITE JURY TAM­ the racist anti-busing campaign in Pontiac. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily PERING: Judge Arnold Fraiman has refused to declare r~resent The Militant's views. These are expressed -DAVE FRANKEL in editorials.

'' 50,000 fight starvation wag_g S. African Blacks defy gov't in strike wave By TONY THOMAS these workers back at any time. FEB. 13 -"Seven years ago when Most of the Black workers in Natal Mrs. Msomi began working for a Dur­ are from Kwazulu, the Bantustan of ban textile factory her weekly pay the 4.5 million Zulu people. Peter Haw­ was a little over $4, out of which she thorne, writing in the Feb. 11 New had to pay for her own transporta­ York Times, described Kwazulu as tion to and from her home 20 miles "a territory economically incapable of away. accommodating the whole tribe. So "By the time Mrs. Msomi walked out most of the men work in the white with several thousand workers this man's economy, about 150,000 of week, her pay had risen to a little them in Durban alone." In Natal they over $10. Out of this she still had to find what a white trade-union official pay $2.50 for her transportation, and described as "the lowest-paid province with the rest she supported a pensioner with the highest cost of living." husband and five grandchildren. Militancy among Black workers has "The parent company of the con­ been simmering for weeks. Dock work­ cern for which Mrs. Msomi worked ers, bus drivers, brickworkers, and announced to shareholders last No­ building laborers had recently struck vember that pretax profits had risen in Capetown, Johannesburg, and Pre­ from almost $2-million in 1971 to toria. almost $3.5-million in 1972." (New The Durban strikes began in a brick­ York Times dispatch from Johannes­ works, where striking workers won a burg, South Africa, dated Feb. 3, promise of weekly wage increases of 1973.) $4, bringing them up to about $16. "Meanwhile," the Feb. 4 New York Tens of thousands of Black African Times reported, "otherworkers-most­ workers like Mrs. Msomi revolted ly Zulus, men, women, and some against these conditions at the Asians-began to walk off the job beginning of February in a series of in textile factories, engineering work­ illegal strikes in Durban and other shops and other industrial plants. One parts of South Africa's Natal province. was the city's biggest bakery. others These strikes have been one of the affected by stoppages included the Pepsi-Cola bottling company and most significant blows struck at South Police club Black worker in Durban Africa's apartheid system of racial seg­ some of the city's luxury hotels." regation in many years. The Feb. 7 Christian Science Moni­ South Africa's white minority of four tor reported the extension of the strike been made and truckloads of armed Ron Williams that anyone not back million maintains its rule over 15 mil­ to municipal workers: "Threethousand police are standing by at koy points to work by Feb. 9 would be fired. lion Black Africans by strictly segre­ municipal workers-in thecity'sdrain­ in the city." An AP dispatch dated The dispatch reported that the workers gating all aspects of life. Their aim is age, road, and electricity depart­ Feb. 8 reported that in Durban, "po­ reached the decision at a number of to reduce the political and economic ments-put their tools down at the lice went into action four times against mass meetings. power of Black Africans while using beginning of the week bringing opera­ striking black workers today." The Durban city council promised them as a cheap source of labor. tions to a near complete standstill." the workers an "immediate pay raise The Feb. 19 Time magazine Hawthorne reported in the Feb. 11 A Times dispatch dated Feb. 7 re­ of 15 percent, which would give the reports "the average white worker Times that by Feb. 4 the strikes had ported, "Policemen fired tear gas to­ lowest-paid workers a riase of $2.30 earns $4 7 5 a month and the average affected "100 Durban concerns and day at a crowd of about 200 blacks per week." Reuters said that "without Black receives $30." The Feb. 4 New involved possibly 50,000 work­ at Hammarsdale, an industrial area unions, and therefore [without] strike York Times reported that 80 percent ers.... " about 25 miles from Durban that has pay, remaining on strike was becom­ of Black workers in the Natal prov­ The workers' main demands centered been closed down by strikes." These ing increasingly difficult for the men. ince area were being paid "well below" on wage increases. Thepublicworkers, workers had broken away from a "A worker who returned to his job the poverty level set by the South Afri­ for example, demanded a $13 weekly larger demonstration of about 7,000 at a textile mill said the men were can regime. wage increase, which would give them · in the Hammersdale residential sec­ going back 'because we are hungry, These conditions are fed by the Ban­ a take-home pay of $30, the official tion. The police then attacked the and not because we have accepted the tustan system, an attempt to put large poverty level. crowd with tear gas and clubs. After­ new wages."' numbers of Black Africans in reserva­ The South African regime responded ward, "Policemen armed with riot guns While Reuters reported that several tions separated from the main indus­ to the strikes by sending in special and accompanied by dogscontinuedto thousand textile and rubber workers trial and political centers of South police reinforcements from Pretoria, patrol the residential and factory had joined the 16,000 public workers Africa. Only individual workers, and South Africa's capital. The Monitor areas." in ending their strike, it also stated sometimes their families, are allowed reported, "There have been several On Feb. 8, according to a Reuters that "about 10,000 men were still out, to leave the Bantustans to find work clashes over the past several days as dispatch, most of the municipal work­ and there were several new strikes to­ in the cities. The employers or the pickets attempted to stop workers from ers decided to return to work following day in support of demands for higher South African government can send going to work. Several arrests have an ultimatum from Durban Mayor pay." Philly teachers protest jailing of union officers By JOHN ISENHOWER 4 p.m. each day to take part in ne­ ward Toohey has belatedly urged uni­ PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13- More gotiations with the board of educa­ fied labor support for the striking than 2,500 angry teachers demon­ tion. In his brief sentencing comments teachers, going so far as to suggest strated outside Holmesburg prison Jamieson accused the defendants of the possibility of a one-day general here Feb. 11 to protest the jailing of a "brutish, clumsy attack _on the pub­ strike if the city doesn't back down. two union officers. The demonstration lic welfare," and of having "chosen Tonight a meeting of the Philadel­ followed the sentencing Feb. 9 of Phil­ a route of anarchy." phia AF L-CIO council voted to sup­ adelphia Federation of Teachers This tirade was only a small part port such a strike, although it set (PFT) President Frank Sullivan and of the antiunion hysteria local offi­ no date. chief negotiator John Ryan to prison cials and the media have tried to whip In response to this pressure, Dem­ terms of from six months to four years up around the strike. On Feb. 5 the ocratic Mayor Frank Rizzo has of­ for ignoring an antistrike injunction. board of education announced plans fered to up the board of education Judge D. Donald Jamieson also to hire 2,500 scab teachers. This, to­ proposal by $10-million. Previously fined Sullivan $5,000 for not sending gether with the imprisonment of the he had insisted that no city funds were the teachers back to work. He fined union leadership, represents an at­ available to help the schools. How­ the union $160,000, plus- another tempt to smash the PF T. ever, his offer is not likely to satisfy $10,000 for each day the strike con­ Teachers reacted - to the jailing of the strikers. tinues. The strike ,is now entering its Sullivan and Ryan with a rally of second month. Twenty one other 1,200 PFT members at Temple Uni­ The board has proposed a three­ union leaders have also been convict­ versity Feb. 11, in addition to the year contract with no pay increase ed of contempt of court but have not demonstration outside of the prison. the first year, a 3 percent increase yet been sentenced. Militant picket lines have also been the second year, and a cost-of-living Jamieson vowed not to release Sul­ organized at the homes of city coun­ increase the third year. Tied to this livan and Ryan until the strike is American Teacher cil members and at the board of ed­ would be the firing of 385 teachers, settled, although he later allowed them local 3 teachers voting to strike at mass ucation. an increase in the size of classes, and to leave the prison from 10 a.m. to rally Jan. 3. Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Ed- a longer school day.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 3 Workers are victims of bosses' corruption Issues posed by Penn Central RR strike By FRANK LOVELL thrust into bankruptcy. For the past management "bungling" at Pehn In the case of the railroads, the aim The bankrupt Penn Central Rail­ two and a half years court-approved Central in the past. "But it and other of the Commerce Committee study is road -largest in the country -was trustees have been operating the com­ lines also suffer from featherbedding this: "Free from investor-imposed con­ shut down for less then 18 hours Feb. pany on a $1-billion federal subsidy. work rules and suffocating federal straints, the authority would have suf­ 8. It was long enough, however, to This was gobbled up by a hoard regulation." ficient power to improve the service remind the ruling class that railroads of attorneys hired to untangle the The New York Times renewed its capability from a systems vantage are an essential link in the transporta­ company's legal and financial affairs. campaign for compulsory arbitration. point and, hopefully, would eventually tion system and to prompt a special Meanwhile the tracks and equipment "For more than a decade Presidential restore a revitalized rail system to act of Congress to make the Penn were neglecteq, and have fallen into boards have been recommending arbi­ private ownership and control at little Central run again. disrepair. Accidents are frequent, often tration as a means of ending the · cost to the Federaf Government." About 300,000 passengers, 103,000 serious, sometimes fatal. Service is bad featherbedding that still smothers the Vain hope! of them daily commuters in the New and getting worse. nation's railroads," said the Times. The only rational answer is nation­ York metropolitan area, were affected The management se~s a temporary Recent railroad tragedies have alization of this industry under workers control, with the railroads to be run on a strictly nonprofit basis. Representatives of the employing class have proposed various forms of government intervention, but always with the proviso that private capital be allowed to invest in it. This means that it will be used, as it has in the past, as a source of profits and not as a system of transportation. Workers badly need a mass trans­ portation system in the cities and be­ tween urban areas -to get back and forth to work, and for more enjoyable purposes. The first step would be to nationalize the bankrupt Penn Central. The railroad workers ought to be in the leadership of a movement to na­ tionalize the railroads. It is the only way they can protect their jobs. And Recent Penn Central wreck in New York shows need for larger train crews, not still smaller ones by doing so, they would guarantee the success of the nationalized rail service. The service would be more efficient when Penn Central trains stopped. solution by abandoning 5,000 miles of shown that earlier cuts in the and meet the needs of both passengers Spokesmen for the auto, coal, and the system's 20,000 miles of track, by size of train crews are one of and rail workers better if it were under steel industries were the first and the cutting the size of train crews to the causes of accidents. What is needed workers control. This would also keep loudest to demand government action. eliminate 5, 700 jobs, and by getting now is larger crews, not still smaller the operation on a nonprofit basis, Richard Gerstenberg, chairman of another stop-gap federal subsidy for ones. But this is not all. Road beds which is essential to success. General Motors, predicted that "vir­ $600-$800-million. must be properly maintained, and The big industries that need the tually all GM manufacturing and The trustees provoked the closing of worn-out equipment renewed. freight service and cannot produce assembly operations will be closed the railroad. They secured a federal without it, and that benefit from an down by Monday, Feb. 12." George court order from Penn Central's referee efficient passenger service, should be Stinson, chairman of the National in bankruptcy, Judge John Fullam, Criminal mismanagement charged for the maintenance and oper­ Steel Corporation, wired Nixon that empowering them to reduce the regular A 750-page report on "The Penn ation of the system. his company was "immediately and train crews of three behind freight en­ Central and Other Railroads," issued directly imperiled." Unless the trains gines to a conductor and one brake­ by the staff of the Senate Commerce rolled, more than a million workers man. These crews had previously been Committee finds that the railroads (not would be laid off in a matter of days, cut from four members to three. only Penn Central) have been bled to according to these executives. This issue was the subject of drawn­ death by unscrupulous company of­ The U. S. Congress responded by out union-management negotiations. ficials who paid themselves big enacting emergency legislation direct­ When management unilaterally or­ salaries and bonuses. It said that the ing immediate resumption of service dered the reduction in freight train railroad industry acted in collusion for 90 days. The legislation also in­ crews, the 28,000 members of with the plunderers of Penn Central, structed Nixon to have a report pre­ the United Transportation Union on that Congress failed to halt the crim­ pared in 45 days with a "comprehen­ the Penn Central system walked out. inal mismanagement when it could sive plan for the preservation of the UTU President Al Chesser told a have, that the Nixon administration central rail transportation services in congressional committee that the Penn and the Department of Transportation the Northeast section of the nation." Central shutdown was "not a labor failed to offer remedies for the rail The act was jetted to California, where issue . . . only· a vehicle to get their crisis, and that the Interstate Com­ Nixon met the plane and promptly [management's] problems to Con­ merce Commission presided over the signed, making it law. gress." Chesser, for his part, was just ruin of the Penn Central. This succession of events developed as anxious to turn the problem over Thilil report recommends setting up on schedule and to the surprise of no to Congress. He has no plan for solv­ a quasipublic, federally funded North­ one. It has become standard procedure ing the transportation crisis. eastern transportation authority­ during the past few years for settling The fact that the railroad workers something like the present U. S. Postal railroad tie-ups. But the Penn Central are the first victims of capitalist greed Service, which has been turned over is a special case. and mismanagement in the railroad to private management and is This vast railroad network is a vic­ industry did not deter the media from operated at public expense. It is sys­ tim of capitalist greed, having been branding them as major criminals in tematically cutting back mail deliveries UTU News ' milked dry by the wealthy and pres­ the whole operation. New York's Daily while raising postal rates and paying AI Chesser, president of rail workers tigious board of directors before being News allowed that there had been interest fees to bondholders. union. Longshoremen lose bid to regain lost By ED HARRIS contract expires. During negotiations, the PMA ar­ SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12-The Abolition of the Pay Board Jan. 11 gued that the federal order did not Cost of Living Council-to· no one's meant that provisions to cancel the abolish wage controls but only surprise -rejected the joint request of longshore shipclerks contract upon the changed their form. It happened that the West Coast Longshoremen's union demise of the Pay Board went into they were right. and the shipowners to reinstate the effect. When the International Long­ The CLC rejected the union's bid 30 cents an hour the Pay Board shoremen's and Warehousemen's as "a request for renegotiation of the slashed from the strike settlement last Union ( ILWU) threatened to cancel contract." Renegotiations to regain pay spring. the contract, the shipowners, the Pa­ cuts are specifically forbidden in the Along the waterfront there is little cific Maritime Association ( PMA), Phase 3 guidelines. The CLC action disappointment. Nothing was expect­ agreed to pay the 30 cents an hour makes it clear that wage controls con­ ed. The usual reaction was, "What as of Jan. 20. They also agreed to tinue as under Phase 1 and Phase 2. did you expect?" Sights have already jointly petition the CLC for approval Previously, the CLC had cut the New been set on July 1, when the present of the wage boost. York hospital workers wages.

4 ~ '-.,' -_l eral revaluation of the mark since it would hurt sales of West German Indian products in Europe as well as the United States. But Bonn said it would accept a Common Market bloc reval­ protests BEHI DTHE uation against the dollar. This was • opposed in London because of the desire to have the pound float below grow1n other European currencies, thus gain­ DEVALUATION ing a competitive edge for British products. S. Dakota e Japan argued against a unilat­ By DAN ROSENSHINE eral revaluation of the yen when many FEB. 13-Wesley Bad Heart Bull, OF THE DOLLAR European markets have barriers to a 20-year-old American Indian, was Japanese goods. France, for example, stabbed to death in Buffalo Gap, S.D., has embargoes on Japanese imports Jan. 21. A white man named Darld in 78 of its 120 major industrial clas­ Schmitz was arrested for the killing sifications. and charged with second-degree man­ The international bankers and pol­ slaughter. He is now free on $5,000 iticians squabbled down to the line bail. and finally reached a compromise of These developments have led to a devaluing the dollar against most cur­ series of Indian protests and confron­ rencies, with the Japanese yen float­ tations with local authorities in the ing upward. This means the value nearby Black Hills lumber and resort of the yen will be determined in fi­ town of Custer and in Rapid City. nancial markets, with Tokyo free to Two hundred demonstrators orga­ intervene in these markets if too wide nized by the American Indian Move­ a disparity grows between the yen ment (AIM) attempted to gain en­ and dollar. trance to the Custer County court­ house Feb. 6 to demand that the charge be changed to murder. When U. S. investment only four Indian activists were al­ New threats have increasingly been lowed in at a time, a scuffle broke hinted that if the United States once out between police at the courthouse again fails to stem the flow of for­ door and the Indians waiting outside. eign imports, U.S. multinationals will A two-hour battle ensued, during step up their world drive to take over which 27 Indians were arrested. One markets. of them, Sarah Bad Heart Bull, the Thus while the dollar was devalued slain youth's mother, now faces 10 percent, in effect reducing its pow­ charges carrying a maximum sentence er to purchase foreign corporations of 30 years. On the other hand, by 10 percent, Washington also made Schmitz faces only 10 years on the moves to increase the flow of dollars charge of killing Wesley Bad Heart to foreign markets. This consisted of Bull. removing taxes Congress had erected During the struggle the chamber of in the mid-1960s on U.S. foreign in­ commerce building,was destroyed by By DICK ROBERTS and other imported products will en­ vestments. fire. Russell Means, a leader of AIM, FEB. 13 -"Devaluation of the dollar courage U.S. competitors to raise A none too subtle defense of this was arrested on two counts of arson . . . is at best only a temporary so­ their own prices and add new fuel strategy appeared in Joseph Kraft's and one count of rioting. After being lution.... trade legislation must fol­ to the inflationary fire. nationally syndicated column Feb. 13. released on $3,500 bail, Means issued low." These remarks by President Nix­ This is a struggle where no matter ". . . the country," said Kraft, "has a statement pointing to the current on emphasized the escalated stage of which competing capitalist power tem­ been exporting on a grand scale tech­ actions as part of a struggle that be­ international trade and financial war­ porarily gains the edge, workers al­ nology, management and capital gan 100 years ago when U.S. troops fare that surrounds the second deval­ ways lose. The fundamental aim of which has gone into purchase by crossed the Missouri River, violating uation of the dollar in 14 months. the monopolists is to shift the prob­ American firms of some of the best a treaty with the Indians. The president's meaning was un­ lems of world trade and finance onto companies in Europe. These invest­ On Feb. 8 sheriffs prevented a 13- mistakable. Following the 10 percent workers' backs. ments can be made to yield returns car caravan of Indian activists from devaluation of the dollar, foreign And the central problem remains in the form of dividends and royalty Rapid City from entering Custer, and countries, especially West Germany the persistent inflation of the U. S. dol­ payments which should more than South Dakota Governor Richard and Japan, ·must allow more U.S. lar and the increasing disadvantage of make up for the trade deficit in the Kneip ordered the National Guard goods into their markets. U. S. goods in world trade that re­ long run." into the Custer area. Otherwise the United States will re­ sults from dollar inflation. At the same time, the editors of the Protests spread to nearby Rapid taliate by barring the U. S. market Washington Post, in which Kraft's col­ City, where the arrested Indian ac­ to foreign goods. "To get a policy umn appears, moped that "the effects tivists were imprisoned. On Feb. 10, of freer trade," Nixon said, "we must Massive deficit of these recurrent crises are not lim­ 40 Indians were arrested there after always have in the background pro­ The final stimulant to the dollar ited, unfortunately, to the technicalities street clashes with the police. tection." panic last week was news of the 1972 of international banking. They touch Vernon Bellecoutt, national director Washington moved late at night U.S. trade deficit. The trade deficit the most sensitive aspects of nations' of the AIM, called upon Indians across Monday Feb. 12 to quell the biggest of 1971 -which had been the first lives. Each crisis contributes some­ the country to go to Rapid City to flight from the dollar in history. More in the twentieth century-had not been thing more to a growing mistrust and support continuing actions. "We intend than $1-billion worth of dollars had halted by the Smithsonian Agreement hostility between the United States and to put Rapid City on tl{e map," he poured into West German central of December 1971 to devalue the dol­ its commercial competitors. Its strong­ said, "and use it as a forum to draw banks in just a few hours on Tues­ lar by about 11 percent against other est competitors are also its strongest nationwide attention to the Indian day, Feb. 5. world currencies. military and political friends and al­ movement." According to the Feb. 12 By the end of the week West Ger­ On the contrary, foreign goods con­ lies. The meeting now being prepared Christian Science Monitor, 50 Indian many had purchased more than $6- tinued to swamp the American mar­ [to agree on dollar devaluation] prom­ activists are arriving in Rapid City billion despite barriers it attempted ket. The 1972 deficit of nearly $7- ises to buy a little more time. It prom­ daily. to erect against the unwanted green­ billion tripled that of 1971 -becoming ises nothing more." hacks. the biggest u.S. trade deficit in his­ And what "solution" do they sug­ They poured into other central banks tory. gest for a more long-term health of too, including $250-million into J a­ Thus the main issues at stake in the world economy? pan. On Feb. 11 most of the gov­ the secret meetings last week concerned "When a country began heaping up ernments of Western Europe and Ja­ the inflation of the dollar and U.S. surpluses, its currency would step up pan announced their exchange mar­ trade problems. until a new equilibrium had been kets would be closed. e Foreign bankers urged Washing­ reached." Fancy words for the same Meanwhile, top officials of the major ton to take stiffer measures to dampen thing-revaluation of the West Ger­ capitalist governments and leading the economy and slow the inflation, man mark and Japanese yen. central bankers were locked in secret despite Nixon's already harsh wel­ meetings from Paris to Tokyo to bar­ fare-slashing of the 1974 budget. ( See Within the framework of world cap­ gain over the future of the monetary page 19.) italism there can be no other solutions. system. e Washington urged Bonn and To­ The uncontrollable need to expand Their decisions will affect the lives kyo to revalue their currencies up­ markets means that what one power of everyone in the capitalist world. ward, making their goods more ex­ gains -under the prevailing condi­ Dollar devaluation will immediately pensive in the United States. tions of saturated world markets-an­ hit the prices of foreign goods in this To dramatize the impact of such other power loses. country such as cameras, TV sets, a measure, Japanese industrialists re­ This irrepressible competition is the cars, wines, and imported whiskey. torted that they can't make profits cause of the financial crises, anel the Electricity and gas prices are likely unless they market 50 percent of their increasingly harsh measures against to rise because of the heavy use of autos in the United States. workers' wages and standards of liv­ Custer, S.D., sheriff arrests American In­ imported oil. Higher prices of these e West Germany opposed a unilat- ing the world over. dian Movement leader Dennis Banks.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 5 In Our Opinion Letters Jan. 20: France Taxi drivers In response to SMC and NPAC's The most important contract nego­ call for international antiwar tiations in many years have begun Nixon &civil rights mobilizations to mark Nixon's between Teamsters Local 792 and the inauguration on Jan. 20, demonstra­ Yellow and Blue & White taxi com­ The United States Commission on Civil Rights issued a re­ tions were organized on the panies. The current contract expires port Feb. 9 assessing the federal government's programs initiative of the Front Solidarite Feb. 15 during the peak of cab for enforcing civil rights laws. The commission declared that Indo chine [Indochina Solidarity business in Minneapolis. its findings this year were "dismayingly similar" to its findings Front] in cities all over France. The taxi industry has long been in 1970 that enforcement of civil rights laws by the exec­ Twenty-five of us, American stu­ notorious for long hours, low wages, utive branch "was so inadequate as to render the laws prac­ dents in Aix-en-Provence, took part and a high turnover of personnel. tically meaningless." in the regional march at Marseille Drivers are paid only a commission The report states that "there is no government-wide plan under a banner "Out of Iqdochina of what they collect in fares and for civil rights enforcement." Here are just a few examples Now!" must rely upon tips to survive. Only of the commission's findings: D.J. a minority of drivers are eligible for the miserly pension and insurance • Although some 800 complaints of discrimination against Aix-Marseille, France plans currently maintained by the state and local governments were filed with the Equal Em­ companies. ployment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), not one has Many young workers have entered been referred to the Justice Department for prosecution. Jan. 20: Scotland the industry in recent years. Today, • The backlog of complaints brought before the EEOC In Glasgow, on Jan. 20, about 200 part-time drivers, mainly college stu­ amounted to 53,410 last June and is expected to top 70,000 people marched through the city dents, constitute the majority of the by this June. in a heavy snowstorm demanding work force. These veterans of anti­ e "There has been virtually no effort," says the report, an end to Nixon's bombing of Viet­ war and women's liberation strug­ "to prevent flow of federal funds to nonpublic schools which nam NOW and demanding the gles on campus are now beginning are engaging in discriminatory practices." complete and unconditional with­ to take an interest in the union, hop­ ing to take advantage of the current In cases where agreements were reached with violators drawal of U. S. forces and materiel e negotiations to make a decent job of antidiscrimination laws to correct these violations, the from Indochina. Actions were also staged in out of hacking. EEOC was found to assign low priority to enforcement of At the preliminary contract meet­ these agreements. Edinburgh and Dundee. The following resolution was ing, rank-and-file drivers presented What was the response of the Nixon administration to this passed unanimously at the end of a number of important contract de­ indictment of its policies? Showing open contempt for the the march: mands: aspirations and dignity of the more than 30 million Blacks, "We ... express our support for Elimination of commission differ­ Chicanos, and Puerto Ricans, the administration simply the just struggle of the Vietnamese entials between "full-time" and "part­ brushed it aside. Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of Health, for self-determination. time" drivers. So-called part-time Education and Welfare, rejected the commission's recommen­ "We do not accept that America drivers, many of whom work as dations and said the administration was satisfied with current has any right to be in Vietnam at many as five days a week, receive 3 to 6 percent less commission than civil rights efforts. all, and thus we demand complete and unconditional withdrawal of all other drivers. This is just one more instance in which the Nixon admin­ For a $20 guarantee for each shift istration has publicly given the go-ahead to racist policies. U.S. forces now, and an end to the support which the British govern­ worked. It follows on the heels of Nixon's racist stand on busing, For insurance and pension ment gives to Nixon's vicious ag­ his dumping of the Philadelphia Plan for Black hiring quotas benefits equivalent to unionized driv­ gression. ers in other industries. All funds in the construction industry, and the Navy's racist crack­ "As part of the international to be controlled by the union. down on so-called "misfits"- that is, Black sailors who fight anti-Vietnam-war movement, we These points were incorporated into for their rights. pledge to continue and to intensify the official union demands by the These facts make it clear that the government cannot be our campaign until the Vietnamese leadership. How militantly the Local relied on to end racial oppression. The government in Wash­ have w_on the right to decide their 792 Teamsters officials will fight ington does not represent "all the people." It governs in the own future." for them depends on the extent the Maureen Blackburn, chairperson, interests of the few who profit from maintaining a system rank and file can be mobilized. Glasgow indochina Committee that breeds racism. Bill Beatty Glasgow, Scotland Only by massive struggles, independent of the Democrats Minneapolis, Minn. and Republicans who run this country, can gains be made in the fight to eliminate racial discrimination and oppression. Protest too much Is The Militant never satisfied? Chanel No.5 First you give the antiwar move­ The chairman of Chanel Ltd. in ment credit for the peace accords London, Jacques Leal, recently Socialist alternative when you must know full well that revealed in a newspaper interview This week the Socialist Workers Party launched campaigns the peace movement was at its that one of the ingredients of for municipal offices in New York City, Seattle, Austin, and lowest ebb in years at the time of Chanel No. 5 perfume is the Houston. (See pages 14-15.) Socialist campaigns for city the cease-fire. The most casual "sweat of a whipped Abyssinian office are also under way in Los Angeles, Cleveland, and observer in this country knows civet cat." Atlanta. In addition, the SWP is running a candidate in a the only reason the North He continued, "We usually Vietnamese signed for peace was special state legislative election in San Diego. don't like to admit it, but it's one because President Nixon- right of those ancient techniques the Other branches of the SWP will soon be fielding tickets or wrong morally-bombed them in this year's city campaigns. Chinese invented. They put the into submission. eat's head into a sort of torture The Socialist Workers Party is running candidates for of­ Now that peace is here, you fice because only a socialist government can meet the ur­ chamber, whip it, the cat gets just can't stand it. You advocate mad, and gives off a glandular gent needs of the people of this country. more bloodshed, with the white secretion." City after city has been confronted with school crises stem­ knights (revolutionary forces based Leal admits of course that "a on the workers and peasants) ming from inadequate funding of public education. The mass Frenchman wouldn't whip cats," wiping out the bad guys (land­ transit systems continue to deteriorate, while fares go up but justifies creating a demand lords and capitalists backed by and up. Racist police forces demand more arms and more for the stuff that necessitates the money, while they brutalize and harass Blacks and other U.S. imperialism). You didn't notice that the large, torture: "We just buy the stuff in oppressed nationalities. large majority of people in this bottles. Don't ask me how many Housing in the cities is getting worse, while rents are sky­ country chose overwhelmingly to whipped cats go into a year's out­ rocketing out of reach of many working people. The needs support the biggest landlord­ put. I wouldn't dare hazard a . of the poor, the unemployed, and the workers whose wages capitalist of them all in the last guess." can't keep up with inflation are neglected by the capitalist elections. If your ideas are so ap­ Other ingredients in Chanel politicians who control the city halls in every major city. pealing, tell me how come the No. 5 are castor oil from the These problems are intensifying as a result of the drastic Socialist Workers Party candidates Canadian beaver, ambergris from reductions in social services contained in Nixon's new bud­ didn't muster enough votes the sperm whale of Chile, and get. Everywhere it is the Black, Puerto Rican, and Chicano anywhere in the United States to musk from the Tibetan deer. residents of the central cities who will suffer the most from get one lousy candidate elected? All animal owners, lovers, and these cutbacks. In other words, you protest too humanitarians should express their abhorrence at these practices Last year's SWP presidential campaign showed that there much. There's got to be some­ thing right with our system or you by boycotting Chanel products is a growing recognition of the need for a socialist alterna­ would not be allowed to espouse and writing a letter to the Chanel tive. The socialist municipal candidates are presenting such your far-out, minority viewpoint. company expressing their feelings. an alternative in 1973. They need and deserve the support M.S. Paul Obis Jr. of all those committed to making the cities of this country San Antonio, Texas Chicago, Ill. decent places for working people to live.

6 3 National Picket Line Frank Lovell

Victor Hawks Trotskyists who knew him were sad: $100,000 just to visit Nixon? dened by the death of Victor Hawks Feb. 5 in Oklahoma City. Victor, 28, Sometime shortly before the general election last No­ both the Republican and Democratic parties in the was a member of the Young So­ vember, President Paul Hall of the Seafarers Inter­ 1968 campaign. This wasn't expected to stand up cialist Alliance and Socialist Work­ national Union was invited to the White House, where very well in the courts. ers Party. The immediate cause of he had his picture taken with President Nixon. Something happened between 1970 and 1972 that death was pneumonia. This was the firsf polite public recognition the Nix­ changed Hall's fortunes. He operates on the gen­ Victor had attended the Universi­ on administration accorded Hall. Nixon, or some eral principle that if you happen to buy your way ty of Oklahoma in Norman. He of his agents, were aware that Hall was around into trouble it ought to be just as easy to buy your first became aware of revolutionary long before he got the call to come to the White way out. Especially if you are in a position to use politics as an activist in the 0. U. House for pictures. So it wasn't because they didn't the money of others, and if you think there is more Committee to End the War in the know what he looked like and wanted to find out. where that came from. mid-60's. This awareness soon led They knew a lot about Hall, probably more than For some reason the Justice Department was slow him to the YSA and later into the the 85,000 sailors and others he is supposed to to prosecute the case against Hall. And when a fed­ Socialist Workers Party. represent know about him. eral judge last fall threw out the charges against Born in Tennessee and raised in Paul Hall has long been well known to several him for lack of a speedy trial, the Justice Depart­ Oklahoma, Victor suffered from a government agencies, having worked closely with ment did not appeal the ruling. rare disease ( agammaglobulin ane­ the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II. It was denied at the time ~hat there was any con­ mia) that inevitably results in death For most of the postwar years he has been busy nection between the charges being dropped and the at an early age. Yet he spent the around Washington currying favor with government fact that Hall was then serving as the chairman last several years of his struggle for agents and politicians of all stripes. But he was one of a "labor committee" ·to reelect Nixon. Even so, life fulfilling the demanding tasks of of those pointedly omitted from the guest list when before the election there did not seem to be suffi­ a revolutionary socialist without a Nixon invited 170 union officials and their wives cient reason to invite Hall over to the White House hint of his personal self sacrifice. to dinner at the White House on Labor Day, 1970. in light of all that had gone before. While the absence of his good hu­ After the election Nixon appointed Hall to his Phase mor, his wit, and propensity for George Meany and all his cronies were there, plus 3 labor-management advisory committee. And this singing in the Irish dialect will be others who thought they were being honored. But could hardly be accounted for by the scant number missed by those who were closest to Hall was not among them. Under ordinary circum­ of votes Hall was able to deliver and the tarnished Victor, his personal courage, his po­ stances this would have seemed unusual because "labor image" he lent to the campaign. litical determination, and above all Hall was a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Coun­ Additional information is now available. The Sea­ his awareness of revolutionary duty cil and generally known to be one of Meany's fa­ farers International Union is listed as contributing in the face of personal adversity, can vorite sycophants. At the time, however, everyone $100,000 to the Nixon campaign Nov. 2. On the serve as both a model and an in­ knew why Hall was absent. same day the SIU borrowed $100,000 from the spiration for revolutionary socialists He had been indicted by the Justice Department Chemical Bank in New York, which news accounts everywhere. for illegally contributing union funds to the 1968 say is associated with a member of Nixon's fund­ John Shaffer presidential campaign of Hubert Humphrey. In ad­ raising team. Houston, Texas dition, there was plenty of evidence that Hall had When sailors are told to kick in to repay the bank acquired large sums through a shakedown racket loan, they must surely think that $100,000 is a of foreign seamen on chartered U. S. ships under pretty high price to pay for a visit to the White SIU contracts. About the only defense Hall had was House, even if it brings the dubious status of "ad­ Leave Canada alone the fact that he had contributed union money to viser." As a student and socialist concerned with the issues plaguing our "modern society," I would M.ke to commend The Mili­ tant for its stands on abortion, By Any Means Necessary civil liberties, student rights, et al. However, as a Canadian studying in the United States, I cannot Baxter Smith condone the fact that in your news­ paper the movement to divide my country has found a voice. May I suggest that your paper turn its support to the movement ~vou can't be too Black' to separate Mississippi from the In 1970 the Navy eased its admission standards Although the Navy would like to indict society union to create a state for the and went on a campaign to double its recruitment in general, and Black sail()rs in particular, for Blacks, and leave my country of Blacks to 12 percent. It even coined the phrase, its recent problems, a look at the Navy experiences alone. "You can be Black and Navy too." But in light of of Mark Essex, the New Orleans sniper, tells a dif­ C. B. the Kitty Hawk case and other recent racial inci­ ferent story. Houston, 'II'exas dents, the Navy is having second thoughts about Several Black sailors who knew Essex dispute the wisdom of its 1970 decision. the Navy's assertions that Essex's actions were not A recent ACL U military study exposed some of caused by Navy racism. Fred Allen, one such friend, the Navy's problems. "Racial tension in the military said, "Essex came into the Navy expecting to be 'Savages' has reached the crisis level. There is open racial treated in the same decent way he had always been Native Americans in this area warfare on ships at sea, at bases in Europe and treated back in Emporia, and he found it wasn't are objecting to the symbol Asia and in bars servicing military installations." like that at all. It wasn't long before he wanted and nickname used at The Feb. 2 New York Times revealed that the out of .the Navy, as most of us· Blacks did." Eastern State College at Navy is taking strong measures in response to the Cheney. situation. It has decided to oust from its ranks sailors Essex's Navy friends point out that he was fre­ The school's students and it considers "a burden." Many are white sailors who quently the target of abuse from white racist sailors football team are nicknamed protested the Vietnam war, but a substantial propor­ on the base near San Diego where he was stationed. "savages," and their symbol is an tion, according to the Times, are Black. Allen recounted . one occasion when he and Essex Indian. The Navy is trying to cover over this new move were going to supper and Essex was attacked by Talk about racism! and its racist history by arguing that it can no longer two white enlisted men. J. v. be "responsible" for the problems of society. The brass Essex was brought before a captain's mast (ad­ Seattle, Wash. is claiming that many Black sailors come into the ministrative discipline) hearing, but no charges were Navy predisposed to be "troublemakers." They point made against the whites. Also, white petty officers to the House Armed Services Committee "report" that "seemed to be laying for him, grabbing him for most of the Blacks involved in the Kitty Hawk inci­ special duty and every kind of dirty job. Finally dent were of "below average mental capacity" and he started talking back, telling them to go to hell The letters column is an open forum unfit in other ways for military service. and of course that meant another captain's mast," for all viewpoints on subjects of gen­ Those to be purged will be given general discharges added C. B. Wilson. eral interest to our readers. Please "under honorable conditions." Their discharge papers, Wilson explained what he thought were the reasons keep your letters brief. Where neces­ though, will be coded to indicate that they were "un­ that led to Essex's actions 'atop a New Orleans hotel sary they will be abridged. Please in­ desirable." Prospective employers can read these Jan. 6. " ... the racism, the discrimination and dicate if your name may be used or codes. the hassling finally got to him ~,tnd before he left if you prefer that your initials be used Recruitment "standards" will also be raised so here after his court-martial he was a really torn­ instead. fewer Blacks will be signing up. up young guy." The Navy hopes its new decision will weed out The case of Mark Essex shows that while the all Blacks who might be inclined. to stand up and Navy may purge some Blacks, this will not end rebel against the overt racism endemic to the Navy. its problems. And for those brothers who now face Rather than disciplining the white racists, which the Navy's gaff, Andrew Pulley, the Socialist Work­ would involve charges against most naval officers, ers Party 1972 vice-presidential candidate, recently the Navy has a simple, and very old, solution to had some words: "You can't be too Black and Navy the "racial problem": keep Blacks out. too."

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 7 The Great Society Harry Ring

Take your choice-A University of prone to violence and there will be no Could taste "a little flat" suggests to puff more to get the same dose, Maryland professor advised a Senate cessation of that, not until the Christ C&SSJ. And, we might add, use of people may get tired enough to quit, panel that aspirin is better for colds of our Kingdom comes." deflated tires could lead to inflated right? · than most of the heavily advertised prices. cold and cough mixtures. Another pro­ Opportunist demagogy- Pressed fur­ Just stick to the facts- An AP dis­ fessor told the senators that the best ther about the bombing, Reverend British Health Plan (Phase 1)-The patch from Fuerth, Germany, reports: thing is hot chicken soup. Meanwhile, Graham- apparently with a view to British tobacco industry is experi­ "A man impersonating a U.S. Army the Agriculture Department has been getting published in this column­ menting with ersatz coffin nails, but officer picked up the $11,895 pay­ finding somewhat undue amounts of added: "I deplore the suffering and it will take at least 10 years to deter­ roll for an artillery battery here and a "relatively harmless" variety of ar­ killing of the war and I pray it can mine if they're any safer. Meanwhile, disappeared.... " Our question is, senic in chicken livers. be ended as soon as possible. But the pushers are concerned that they'll Why do they assume he was imper­ we also have to realize that there are be so tasteless nobody will want them sonating an officer? Stoic-When Nixon resumed the,\ anyway. bombing of North Vietnam, reporters also hundreds of thousands of deaths Fertile pot- Police in the Washington, attributed to smoking.... " asked his friend Billy Graham how British Health Plan (Phase II)- In D. C., area raided a dealer who was he felt about it. The spiritual leader Recycling Dep't- The February Coun­ another major safety move, British cutting marijuana with toasted horse responded: "The whole world has a tryside & Small Stock Journal reports, manufacturers are pin-pricking the pa­ manure. Noting that tea or oregano great deal of violence going on which with a ,'certain understandablelj aundice, per around the cigarette filter. This is customarily used in such cutting, doesn't occupy the headlines. -There that Firestone Tire & Ru"Qber scien­ lets in extra air, thus diluting the a somewhat saddened police officer are many people being killed by tists say they can grow yeast-based smoke and reportedly reducing the said, "In this day of consumer fraud, drunken drivers and crime. Man is food on rubber from scrap tires. quantity of tar in each puff. Having nothing surprises me anymore."

Women In Revolt Cindy Jaquith Women's rights in Israel "The popular image of t~e Israeli woman as a men- plain and simple. From this flows an birth control devices. Recently women in a Tel Aviv sexy, gun-toting desert fighter is a big myth. In incredibly backward set of laws. For example, in candy factory went on strike for equal pay. They reality, she's seldom more than a housewife or Israel only men may request divorces. If a closed down the shop and won an increase in a secretary." This is a quote from Marcia Freed­ woman's husband dies, she must receive his wages. man, leader of a group called Israel's Women brother's permission to remarry. The real Israel hardly corresponds to the "egali­ for a Free Society, which was described in an In addition to the divorce law, Israeli women tarian" or even "socialist" image portrayed by Zion­ Oct. 30 Associated Press dispatch from Haifa. must give up virtually all rights when they marry. ist propaganda. How can a society that tells women The article provides an insight into the chang­ Their possessions and they themselv~s become the to be breeders call itself "progressive" on the ques­ ing thinking of some Jewish women on their role legal property of their husbands. tion of women? If Golda Meir and her cohorts in Israeli society, but it totally ignores the most Abortions are illegal, and according to were really out to defend the interests of the Jewish oppressed women in Israel, Arab women. Freedman, the state health service won't even give people, they would not force women to go to Israel's "progressive" image with regard to out contraceptives. The Zionist government has butcher abortionists. women's rights is receiving increased criticism from been conducting a barely disguised racist cam­ How can a government that doesn't even be­ Israeli Jews and from Jews in the United States. paign to increase the birth of Israeli Jews. (Their lieve in child-care centers boast of the success of The Jan. 21 Los Angeles Times, for example, birth ·rate is declining faster than the birth rate communal life in the kibbutzim? With all the money carried an interview on this subject with Dr. Trude of Arabs in 'Israel.) Jewish women are encouraged the U.S. pours into Israel, there surely l's enough Weiss-Rosmarin, editor of The Jewish Spectator. to bear as many children as possible-failure to to build child-care facilities and abortion clinics, "I criticize the prime minister [Golda Meir] be­ accept the role of breeder is tantamount to betray­ and to distribute contraceptives. cause she said Israel does not need women's libera­ ing national defense. But decent child care and access to birth control tion," Weiss-Rosmarin stated. "There is no country Freedman also told AP that the government pro­ pills are obviously not priorities for the Zionist where the specific unfreedom of Jewish women is vides child-care facilities only to those on wel~are. government- more U. S. jets and other military more burdensome and oppressive because the Under these conditions it is not surprising that hardware are. This is one of the contradictions religious law is the law of the state." protests have arisen. Last year high school stu­ feeding the .new challenges women are making According to Judaism, women are inferior to dents in Tel Aviv waged a struggle for access to against their oppression in capitalist Israel. i La Raza en Accidn! Miguel Pendas We should not have to beg With the vast wealth and advanced technology Angeles County. The facts were reported in the these are endangered. that exist in this society, there is little excuse for Dec. 25, 1972, Los Angeles Times. The East Los Angeles Free Clinic is a place any kind of ill health. It is quite likely, for Having these test results in hand, the only the community trusts to solve problems that coun­ example, that science could find a cure for cancer, humane and logical course of action for Los ty health services won't. Old people who speak if the available resources of society were put be­ Angeles medical authorities would be to mount no English go there. Young people who have VD, hind the research effort. an all-out campaign in the Chicano community are pregnant, or are on drugs know they'll get to prevent these children from developing active sympathetic help there. Many are unemployed or For many diseases cures have already been cases of TB. on welfare, or are just poor and too embarrassed found. Yet Chicanos and other poor people However, this is not being done. to go anywhere else. continue to suffer and die from them because "our" Only 50,000 tuberculin skin tests were given to But now the Catholic Campaign for Human government would rather pour the money into school children in all of Los Angeles County last Development has refused to continue funding the implements of war. year. If the resulting inflammation from the skin clinic. Why? The Free Clinic has been giving coun­ For example, with presently available testing and test is 10 millimeters or more in diameter, the seling on birth control and abortions. For having preventive measures, tuberculosis should not be individual may have TB. National standards rec­ committed this "sin" the thousands of Chicanos who a problem today. And for most of America it no ommend that the person be referred to the Health use the services of the Free Clinic will now be longer is. Department for further checking. forced to go elsewhere. But this is not the case in the barrios of Los The Free Clinic is the type of health facility Angeles. Just compare the situation there with that But in Los Angeles, Health Department facilities that is needed in the barrios-where the people of the Anglo community. Only one out of every are so understaffed and overcrowded that only speak our language, understand our problems, 1,000 eighth-grade children in many "middle-in­ 15-mm. cases are referred. This means that a and care about us. come" (i.e., white) areas of Los Angeles County large number of children who may well have TB We should not have to go begging hat in hand test positive for TB. are simply brushed aside. to the Catholic Campaign or some other "charity" But in the barrios it is not uncommon for as And tuberculosis is far from being the only health organization. There should be a network of many as 200 out of every 1,000 chicanitos to problem in the barrio. federally funded clinics. And they should be under test positive. This was proven from tests by the In East Los Angeles not only are present health the direction and control of the Chicano community TB and Respiratory Disease Association of Los facilities criminally inadequate, but even some of they're supposed to serve.

8 NixOn·s···P-eace with honor· a lie What u.s. has done to south Vietnam

By PETER SEIDMAN "The Cratering of Indochina," Scien­ positional political activity there. In old Continental Palace Hotel, popu­ " ... we finally have achieved a tific American, May 1972. his book War Without End (New larly known as the Continental Shelf. peace with honor. e "Four million of [South Viet­ York, 1972) Michael Klare cites the "The charm has gone, and the ter­ "I know it gags some of you to write nam's] 14 million acres of forest were testimony of an ex-CIA agent, Wil­ race has become one of the most sor­ that phrase, but it is true, amd most defoliated by American planes between liam Colby, who headed one of the did places on earth. [There are] young Americans realize it is true. . . . " 1961 and 1970, in an effort to re­ pacification projects in Vietnam, be­ homosexual boy prostitutes, children These are the words of Richard Nix­ move the triple layers of leaves and fore the Senate Foreign Relations selling cigarettes, men selling bad on at a presidential news conference jungle growth under which the Com­ Committee. paintings and dirty pictures, and pros­ held Jan. 31, 1973. munists hid and lived. " ... Colby stated that in 1969 a titutes who are mutes. There is even Aware of the deep hatred masses of "Another 500,000 acres of the coun­ total of 19,534 suspected VCI agents a mute midget. people around the world feel for this try's 7.5 million acres of cropland had been 'neutralized'- of this num­ "The scene might stagger the imag­ dirty war, Nixon cannot even make were sprayed with herbicides, a mili­ ber 6,187 had been killed, 8,515 ar­ ination of an Italian film director, his triumphal announcement without tary strategy designed to deprive the rested, and 4,832 persuaded to join but it is a matter of fact to habitues referring to how the description "hon­ Communist forces of food. the Saigon side. By May 1971, 20,587 of downtown Saigon." orable" makes people "gag." people had been killed under the Phoe­ Washington has artificially main­ Indeed, there is no honor for the "Giant U. S. Rome plows bulldozed nix program." tained the economy of Vietnam for people of the US. in the government's more than 800,000 acres of land used "Pacification" did not end the strug­ many years. Only the $660-million war of genocide against Vietnam. by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong gle of the Vietnamese peasantry for in aid the U. S. supplied kept the coun­ Honor is due the antiwar majority forces for sanctuaries and base camp land reform and self-determination, try solvent last year. The rea$,on for in this country, which by going into areas ... . but it did de;> terrible damage to the this lies in the U. S. destruction of action against the war stayed Nixon "Before ... March, 1972, it was es- rural economy of Vietnam and drive the agricultural base of the Vietnam­ from committing even more terrible timated there were 26 million craters millions away from. the countryside ese economy. crimes than he did to achieve his in the South alone"- New York Post, and into the cities. This excerpt from the Jan. 24 New "peace with honor." Jan. 24, 1973. The Senate Refugee Subcommittee York Post tells the story: "In 1964, During the Tet offensive of 1968, South Vietnam was still exporting rice U. S. forces leveled the town of Ben from its rich paddy lands. in 1972, Tre to prevent it from coming under the country imported 250,000 tons the control of the National Libera­ of rice and will need more next year­ tion Front. An American officer jus­ even if the war really ends for good­ tified this action by explaining, "it be­ a Vietnamese government official pre­ came necessary to destroy the town dicted. to save it." This is the logic of im­ "The nation's rubber crop- once a perialism, as is revealed by the record prime export- totaled 83,000 tons in of what the U. S. aggression has done 1961, and was worth $44 million in to South Vietnam. export income. This year the crop fell to 20,000 tons and will be worth 'Pacification' only $6 million on the international In order to "pacify" the rebellious market:" countryside of South Vietnam, the im­ perialists sought to drive the peasant Inflation & unemployment population into "strategic hamlets" or The massive injection of U.S. cap­ into the cities by launching a cam­ ital into South Vietnam's economy has paign of terror bombing, ecological produced a staggering inflation- 23 destruction, and police dragnet. percent in 1972. What this means for • "In the seven years between 1965 the people is that a bunch of bananas and 1971 the U.S. military forces Peace with honor? that cost seven piasters in 1960 in exploded 26 billion pounds (13 mil­ Saigon today cost 70 piasters, eggs lion tons) of munitions in Indochina, The National Liberation Front es­ has estimated that between 1965 and cost 10 times more today than they half from the air and half from wea­ timates that about 1.3 million persons 1972, U. S. bombing and military op­ did in 1959, and the price of rice has pons on the ground. This staggering in South· Vietnam alone have felt the erations killed 415,000 South Viet­ increased five times since 1966. weight of ordnance amounts to the effects of some type of U. S. poison. namese civilians, and wounded an­ Unemployment threatens to rise as energy of 450 Hiroshima nuclear e To this log of imperialist horror other 935,000. the U.S. withdraws the last of its thou­ bombs. must be added the fiendish weapons Between six and eight million peo­ sands of troops and cuts back on "For the area and people of Indo­ created to wage a war against the ple in South Vietnam have been made military construction projects. By De­ china as a whole it represents an av­ masses of Indochina: refugees, out of a total population cember 1972 as many as 200,000 erage of 142 pounds of explosive per Napalm (more than 200,000 tons of approximately 18 million! There had lost their jobs. The Jan. 24 New acre of land and 584 pounds per per­ were dropped on Vietnam between are an estimated 700,000 orphans in York Post quoted bne South Vietnam­ son. It means that over the seven­ 1965 and the cease-fire). South Vietnam. ese official who explained that one year period the average rate of det­ Antipersonnel bombs. ~ .. a peace with honor. I know million jobs would have to be found onation was 118 pounds per second. Weathercontrol projects (Operation it gags some of you. .•. " quickly after the cease-fire. "We must "These average figures, however, Intermediary-Compatriot) aimed at These refugees have flooded into the or we'll have trouble." give no indication of the actual con­ producing massive floods. cities of Vietnam. Only 10 percent are This is the country the U. S. has centration; most of the bombardment Techniques designed to start mas­ in the miserable, barbed-wire prisons created in its genocidal war to pre­ was concentrated in time (within the sive fire storms in the jungles of Viet­ called "refugee camps." serve capitalism in Southeast Asia. years from 1967 on) and in area. nam (Operations Sherwood Forest The population of Danang, for ex­ Only a tiny handful of corrupt pol­ Of the 26 billion pounds, 21 billion and Pink Rose). ample, had swelled from 108,000 in iticians and heroin profiteers benefit were exploded within South Vietnam, e The U. S. set up Operation Phoe­ 1959 to 437,000 by the beginning from the Thieu regime for which the one billion in North Vietnam and 2. 6 nix, part of its pacification program, of 1972. After the NLF April-May U. S. imperialists have caused so billion in southern Laos ...."­ to "eliminate" NL F cadre in the coun­ offensive, another 400,000 refugees much blood to be shed. In The Pol­ Arthur H. Westing and E. W. Pfeiffer, tryside and thus discourage any op- from the furious U. S. bombardment itics of Heroin in Southeast Asia (New of Quang Tri flooded into the city. Continued on page 22 The population of Saigon has gone from one million people in 1960 to more than three million today. Almost 40 percent of South Vietnam's pop­ ulation today lives in the cities, com­ pared to only 15 percent at the be­ ginning of the war. These cities have become centers of corruption, black-marketeering, crime, and disease as millions of Vietnam­ ese victims of the war fall prey to the unemployment, inflation, and hope­ lessness that are the realities of those parts of Vietnam considered "secure" by the U.S. imperialists. "As American troops rapidly de­ part," writes Charles Mohr in the Feb. 1 New York Times, "vice is a de­ pressed industry in Saigon. But the Between 1965 and 1971 the U.S. exploded fittest- if that's the word-have sur­ the equivalent of 450 Hiroshima nuclear There are 26 million bomb craters in vived and congregate in astonishing bombs in Indochina. South Vietnam alone. numbers in the roofed terrace of the namese have been made refugees.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 9 advisers and military personnel, ar­ led by tanks staged what was called exactly enough military pressure on maments, munitions and war ma­ a very heavy attack on government Vientiane to force a cease-fire-one terial." (Paragraph b.) forces near Saravan. A 'large number' that will entail, according to Article From Intercontinental Press of government troops fled the field 20 of the Vietnam pact, a withdrawal By JON ROTHSCHILD Administration officials are now of battle and are still missing, mili­ of North Vietnamese troops while "Q. Dr. Kissinger, because of a news saying that a careful reading of Ar­ tary sources said. . . . some sort of coalition government re­ report from Paris this morning that ticle 20 shows that there is no spe­ "Forty miles .farther south, on the mains in power in Vientiane. It seems actually there were some 15 or 20 cific time set for the cessation of U. S. Bolovens Plateau, North Vietnamese equally clear that in Laos, much more protocols of which only four are be­ military actions in Laos or Cam­ troops staged a heavy shelling and than in South Vietnam, the puppet ing made public, were there any se­ bodia. This is in marked contrast to ground attack on Pak Song and an­ administration has been incapable of cret protocols agreed to? the details packed into most of the other on Phouthevada. Yesterday resisting the advance of the revolu­ "A. The only protocols that exist are other provisions of the accord. The [February '4], military sources said, tionary forces. the protocols that have been made absence of a vigorous public North government troops attempting to re­ The immediate question that arises public. Vietnamese denunciation of continued open the road to Phouthevada were is: Did Kissinger warn Hanoi that if "Q. Wait a minute-what about un­ U. S. aggression in Laos and Cam­ driven back by 'fierce' North Viet­ the liberation forces in Laos did not derstandings? bodia now becomes explainable. At namese gunfire. agree to a quick -settlement, U.S. B- 52s would be turned loose on Hanoi and Haiphong once again? Is that why the North Vietnamese leaders agreed to the secret clause pledging to urge the Pathet Lao to settle and lliSSIIBER CIUBHT II ANOTHER LIE tacitly agreeing not to vigorously pro- · test U.S. bombing of Laos until a cease-fire was reached? If this is the case-and no one can SECRET DEAL 01 LAOS REVEALED doubt Nixon's willingness to obliterate North Vietnam if he believed it neces­ sary to attain his objectives -then it "A. There are with respect to cer­ the negotiating table Hanoi agreed, "In the middle of the panhandle, must be said that Hanoi has done tain phrases read into the record cer­ in effect, that it would not object if near Thakhek, by the Thai border, the the Indochinese peoples and the inter­ tain statements as to what they mean. the U. S. air force continued to drop situation -was described as 'deterior­ national working-class movement a But these have been explained in these bombs on Laos and Cambodia un­ ating.' grave disservice by keeping this im­ briefings and made clear. There are til the domestic liberation forces could perialist blackmail a secret. no secret understandings."- From Jan­ be convinced to agree to a cease-fire. "At another central panhandle loca­ In whose interest was the secret uary 25 New York Times transcript tion, Muong Palan, North Vietnamese deal made? Does it help. the masses of of Henry Kissinger's January 24 news In both countries the effect of this forces drove back attacking govern­ revolutionary fighters in South Viet­ conference explaining the Vietnam ac­ secret clause has been far from trivial. ment forces in a battle which began nam continue their struggle? Or does cord. U. S. bombing in Laos has been on Friday (February 2] and continued it help Nixon obtain what he wants? heavy. "Pentagon sources say," the today (February 5]." It may well be that the North Viet­ "'!'he United States and North Viet­ February 9 Washington Post re­ It is difficult to resist concluding that namese are not in a strong enough nam agreed secretly in their negotia­ ported, "that while the number of U.S. the liberation forces have the ability military position to defend themselves tions in Paris last month that a ban planes [involved in the bombing of to militarily depose the Souvanna against genocidal destruction by the on foreign military activity in Laos Laos] varies daily, the average in­ Phouma government. There is no evi­ U.S. air force. If that is the case, and Cambodia would not take effect volves 30 to 50 B-52 heavy bombers, dence that any significant section ofthe then certainly no one can fault peo­ immediately, sources in the Nixon ad­ about 200 smaller fighter-bombers, Laotian people support the pro-U.S. ple who have fought so heroically ministration reported today."- New and about a dozen heavily-armed AC- clique that rules in Vientiane and its for so many years against such odds. York Times, February 10. 130 gunships." environs. South Vietnamese gunships, it was Nevertheless, the opinion of most It is no surprise to learn that Henry reported, are also being used "to spray observers is that the current liberation Kissinger does not always tell the machine gun fire along the border forces' offensive is intended not as a truth. The fact that imperialist govern­ areas." bid for state power, but as pressure ments fail to inform their citizenry . The reason for the U.S. bombing in negotiations. On February 6, while of what is being said and done in is beyond dispute. The military re­ his army was in shambles throughout their name, that the Nixon adminis­ lationship of forces in Laos is much the country, Souvanna Phouma sud­ tration has carried this "normal" gov­ more unfavorable to the pro-U.S. denly expressed great confidence that ernmental penchant for deceit to rec­ regime than is the case in South a cease-fire agreement would be con­ ord heights, is likewise no great Vietnam. The offensive launched in re- cluded within one week. shock. Also on February 6, Ronald Ziegler What is disturbing about the news announced that Henry Kissinger about Laos-apart from the nature would stop in Vientiane on February of the secret agreement itself-is that 9 on his way to Hanoi and Peking. the North Vietnamese leadership has Ziegler said Kissinger would engage in discussions aimed at bringing· not only engaged in secret diplomacy, Der Spiegel but has in fact agreed to secret clauses, about an early cease-fire in Laos. thus keeping important information On February 8, a ''highly informed about the cease-fire accords hidden diplomatic source" in Vientiane re­ from the Vietnamese people, the inter­ ported that agreement had been But if it is the case, the North Viet­ national workers' movement, and the reached in principle between the gov­ namese leadership should say so, worldwide antiwar movement. Why ernment and the liberation forces on should explain to their own people did Hanoi fail to expose Kissinger's a Laotian cease-fire to take effect on and to the worldwide labor movement lie, thus in effect covering for the February 14. "It is felt," Malcolm and antiwar movement that the So­ Nixon regime? Browne wrote in the February 9 New viet and Chinese bureaucracies have The U.S. sources that revealed the York Times, "that the precarious mili­ not provided them with the means secret understanding said that Kissin­ tary situation of the Vientiane Covern­ to defend themselves, and that U. S. ger and Tho "entered into an explic­ ment-in which several key towns and imperialism has threatened them with it oral agreement" that neither the bases are either under siege or threat­ total destruction. United States nor North Vietnam ened ~has contributed to bringing the One of the most revolutionary-con­ would stop military activities in Laos Kissinger and Le Due Tho negotiation process to a conclusion." tributions made by the Bolsheviks to and Cambodia until the opposing par­ In the February 11 New York Times the conduct of foreign policy was their ties of the civil war in both countries Browne quoted an unidentified West­ rejection of secret diplomacy -the as­ had reached a cease-fire accord on ern diplomat in Vientiane as evaluat­ sertion of the absolute right of the their own. ing the situation rather more starkly: world working class to know what "According to the sources," the New cent weeks by the Pathet Lao has "Prince Souvanna is in a most un­ was going on at the top levels of com­ York Times reported, "they also been meeting with considerable success, enviable position. His forces are be­ mand. When the Bolsheviks were com­ agreed that Washington would urge despite the bombing. ing slaughtered, and the longer the pelled by circumstances they could not the Vientiane government and Hanoi The February 6 Washington Post cease-fire waits the more Laotians control to make major concessions would urge the Pathet Lao to ap­ carried a report on the Laotian mil­ [read puppet troops] will die need­ to imperialism-as in the Brest­ prove a cease-fire within 15 days of itary situation. Government troops, lessly." Litovsk Treaty -they did so openly, the Vietnam cease-fire. . . . Lewis M. Simons wrote, were "nowhere On February 12 Laotian govern­ explaining to the world movement "They also reported that Mr. Kis­ on the offensive." The Pathet Lao, who ment sources announced that a formal that the agreement was a temporary singer . . . and Mr. Tho . . . had ~lready control between two-thirds and accord inaugurating a cease-fire retreat. agreed in some detail as to the mean­ four-fifths of the country, were advanc­ would be signed February 13 by rep­ The question now arises, are there ing of 'foreign military activity'; their ing on a series of fronts: resentatives of the Vientiane regime further secret clauses on Indochina? understanding provided for a cessa­ · "The most effective Communist at­ and the Pathet Lao. The agreement Has a deal been made for Cambodia? tion of all American air raids and tack, described as a 'blow to the gov­ was said to be scheduled to go into Are there "understandings" covering for a withdrawal of the 50,000 to ernment side,' took place at N am Yeu, effect the following day. No details the question of North Vietnamese 60,000 North Vietnamese troops cur­ in the far northeastern corner of Laos were released, but it was assumed that troops in South Vietnam? The North rently believed to be in Laos." near the Burmese border. Pathet Lao the opposing camps would maintain Vietnamese leaders owe it to their own Article 20 of the Paris agreement troops, attacking in battalion strength, their present positions throughout the people, to the fighters of South Viet­ states: "Foreign countries shall put an overran the government base there country. nam, and the rest of Indochina, and · end to all military activities in Cam­ Saturday morning [February 3], mil­ The secret Tho-Kissinger clause to the international working class and bodia and Laos, totallywithdrawfrom itary sources said. . . . must be viewed in light of this entire antiwar movements to reveal any such and refrain from reintroducing into "Far to · the south, in the Laotian chain of events. It seems clear that clauses. To do otherwise is to free these two countries troops, military panhandle, North Vietnamese soldiers the North Vietnamese leadership put . Nixon's hand for new aggression.

10 'Many_ hamlets razed' Thieu army bombards liberated territory From Intercontinental Press FEB. 12 -Since the Vietnam cease­ fire went into effect, an estimated 200,- 000 South Vietnamese civilians have been driven from their homes, mostly by government attempts to "nibble" at liberated territory. Some people have been able to return to their vil­ lages after brief fire fights between Saigon soldiers and the liberation forces. But 40,000 to 50,000, accord­ ing to statistics released by U.S. and South Vietnamese officials, remain in temporary shelters as of February 8. In the February 8 New York Times, correspondent Joseph Treaster report­ ed that since the cease-fire was pro­ claimed between 200 and 300 ham­ lets have changed hands. One official of the Saigon regime, Tran Nguon Phieu, told reporters that about 20,- 000 homes had been destroyed in the provinces around Saigon during the period January 28 to February 7. liberated village in Mekong Delta flies National liberation Front flags. He said the total number destroyed in South Vietnam could be as high as 40,000. "The government can claim a vic­ The Saigon troops used "the heav­ that the Saigon army had carried out In the February 8 Christian Science tory in that it has driven the Com­ iest weapons at their disposal, includ­ 328 encroachment operations against Monitor, Daniel Southerland described munist troops out of all twelve of ing bombs, artillery shells, and heli­ liberated areas between January 28 the effects of the battle for hamlets the hamlets which they penetrated in copter rockets." and February 8. "Many hamlets were on the population of Long Khanh this province to the northeast of Sai­ That Thieu's soldiers have been at­ razed," the ministry said, and there province. The upsurge of post-cease­ gon.... tacking liberated villages without were "thousands of dead and wound­ fire fighting in the area, Southerland "But the manner in which the gov­ provocation has been established by ed." wrote, "has left no one a clear winner. ernment's local defense forces melted reports from several Western newsmen While Thieu has been systematically who have visited villages being ad­ violating the terms of the cease-fire ministered by the Provisional Revo­ agreement, his American backers have lutionary Government. In the. Febru­ been busy devising ways to get around Antiwar protest set for Feb. 24 ary 8 Washington Post, Martin Wool­ the accords' provision that there be On Saturday, Feb. 24-only three days before the opening of the lacott, a correspondent of the British no foreign intervention in the affairs of South Vietnam. Essentially, the scheduled international conference to, "guarantee" the Paris accords­ Manchester Guardian, described his experiences in Binhphu, "a Commu­ U.S. technique involves sending Pen­ antiwar groups will be picketing the White House demanding an end nist-controlled village in Dinhtuong tagon employees to the haberdasher's to all forms of U.S. intervention in Southeast Asia: an end to U.S. Province [south of Saigon], which is to get fitted out with non-khaki gear. bombing in Laos and Cambodia, an end to U.S. military presence in brave or foolhardy enough to flaunt The size of the "nonmilitary" U.S. Thailand and off the shores of Vietnam, and an end to U.S. support its blue, red, and yellow Vietcong flags presence in South Vietnam, according of the Thieu regime. The picket ~ill take place from 10 to 11:30 a.m. within sight of the government-con­ to Peter Osnos, writing in the Feb­ ruary 9 Washington Post, while much On the same day, from 12 noon to 5 p.m., the National Peace Ac­ trolled highway." "Let this'· be clear," a PRG official reduced from the peak . years in the tion Coalition, sponsor of the picket line, will be holding a national told W oollacott and other reporters as late 1960s, will still be ·larger than steering committee meeting that is open to all antiwar activists. A panel they entered the village. "Since the that maintained by the United States on the current stage of the war will include Professor Gabriel Kolko cease-fire, the government has repeat­ in any other country. The old "pac­ of the University of Toronto, Fred Branfman of Pro;ect Air War, and edly bombed, mortared, and shelled ification" project, one of the most no­ Dick Roberts of The Militant. us, wounding and killing many peo­ torious mechanisms of U. S. interven­ The meeting will be held at the Metropolitan AME Church, 1518 ple and creating many problems. Be­ tion, will be taken over by a "direc­ M St. NW, in the Downstairs Meeting Room. cause of these acts by the other side, torate" in the U.S. embassy. it is at your own risk that you stay While the U. S. military mission will here." be reduced to fewer than 100 persons, "It is only clear who the losers have away in the face of some of the initial The official was not exaggerating. between 5,000 and 6,000 civilians will been. They are the people whose Communist attacks hardly inspired "The shells started dropping just as be retained on contracts paid for by homes were destroyed as the South confidence. And the brutal manner in we raised our fourth glass of rice the Defense Department. Vietnamese forces retook one ham­ which the government forces blasted wine," Woollacott wrote. "These contract employees," Osnos let after another which had been tem­ their way back into the hamlets has On February 10 the North Viet­ wrote, "most of whom have been here porarily lost to the Communists. hardly won friends." namese Foreign Ministry announced Continued on page 22 Nixon, others exploit return ofex-POWs By CAROLINE LUND The hospital commander at Clark The one thing Nixon is worried publicity that would result from a tri­ FEB. 13-The return of American Air Force Base in the Philippines, about, however, is that some of the al. Although the discharge was less prisoners of the Vietnam war began where the first group of American released prisoners may spoil his plans than honorable, Heck plans to fight yesterday amid a fanfare comparable POWs arrived yesterday, announced by coming out with antiwar state­ for an honorable one in the courts. only to those accompanying the Apol­ that the men were in "reasonably ments. For this reason, he insisted In addition to gagging the former lo moon flights. With the live televi­ good" health. The humane treatment that all POWs be turned over to mil­ POWs, the military wants to keep them sion coverage of the returns, head­ of prisoners by the North Vietnamese itary authorities and be prohibited isolated to reassert military authority lines in all the newspapers, and a -as demonstrated by the condition from making any statements to the over them and put pressure on them mass of detailed coverage of the red­ of these prisoners as well as others press. not to speak out against the war in carpet treatment initially being given released in the past-belies the image Nixon's fears that some of the POWs the future. One purpose of the so­ the POW s, Nixon no doubt hopes to of the North Vietnamese the U.S. gov­ will be opponents of the war appear called "debriefings," according to mil­ strengthen his image as a bringer of ernment promotes. For instance, it to be well founded. On Jan. 2 the itary spokesmen, is to "put in proper peace and detract attention from the would be hard today for Nixon to official Vietnam News Agency in balance" accounts of the extent of anti­ fighting still going on in Southeast get away with his April 1971 state­ North Vietnam published a statement war sentiment in the United States. Asia. ment that the North Vietnamese "with- by 30 American prisoners of war call-· Meanwhile, the Thieu regime in Sai­ out question have been the most bar­ ing for an end to the war. The signers Members of Congress, meanwhile, gon directly flaunted the provisions baric in the handling of prisoners of included 20 crewmen from B-52 are trying to outdo each other in "pa­ of the Vietnam accords. Thieu claims any nation in history." bombers downed during the Christ­ triotism" by proposing benefits for the to have released thousands of North Nixon is attempting to use the mas bombing of Hanoi and Hai­ released prisoners. Senators, including Vietnamese and National Liberation POWs, as he has ever since 1969, phong. George McGovern, and representatives Front prisoners but has not turned to counteract antiwar sentiment in this have proposed amending the veteran's them over to the North Vietnamese country. Several years ago he sent The military brass's fear of anti­ benefits laws to grant ex-POWs a life­ or· Provisional Revolutionary Govern­ astronaut Frank Borman around the war sentiment even among officers time income of $30 to $40 a month mep,t authorities. There is no way of world to try to promote international was also indicated by their kid-glove for each year of imprisonment. knowing whether these prisoners were sympathy for U.S. aggression in handling of the case of Captain Mi­ While publicizing the initial benefits in fact released, or were simply killed. Southeast Asia. He also successfully chael Heck. Heck refused to continue ex-POWs will receive, the Nixon ad­ Thieu made the preposterous claim used the POW issue to keep the weak­ taking part in last December's bomb­ ministration proposed to Congress that the 10,600 prisoners had declared kneed "doves" in Congress from pass­ ing raids. He was given a discharge Feb. 10 to cut out millions of dol­ their loyalty to the Saigon govern­ ing any kind of effective antiwar leg­ from the Air Force rather than being lars in physical disability benefits for ment. islation. court-martialed, no doubt to avoid Vietnam veterans.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 11 ·clamped the blockade on North Viet­ in their counterrevolution-Renmin for consolidating security and world nam last May 8. This "produced a Ribao has already proclaimed that the peace open now," he said; "The From Intercontinental Press situation in which North Vietnam be­ Vietnamese need no longer fear "out­ political settlement in Vietnam can be By JON ROTHSCHIW came 100 percent dependent upon side armed intervention"-but because expected to have a positive effect on An editorial published in the Jan­ China for the provision of its equip­ "a certain country would not give up relations among states involved in one uary 28 issue of Renmin Ribao, the ment- its attempt to dominate the area." way or another in events in Indochina. leading newspaper of the Chinese "Everything from the Soviet Union "The Chinese leader," the Washing­ Moreover, this shows it is possible to Communist party, called the Vietnam had to transit Chinese territory. Noth­ ton Post explained, "explicitly exon­ find a peaceful and just solution to cease-fire agreement a "brllliant vic­ ing could go through the waters and erated the United States, saying that other conflicts, to liquidate the tory" for the liberation forces. The ar­ come into Haiphong overseas. This Washington and Peking had agreed danger from existing hotbeds of war, ticle noted two respects in which the ac- means that China's preoccupation with not to seek hegemony over Asia and above all in the Middle East.... " In an article published in the February 4 New York Times, Hedrick Smith quoted the above section of Brezhnev's address and commented: "Those expansive words of almost parental pride were spoken by neither Richard Nixon nor Henry Kissinger but Leonid Brezhnev. The Soviet leader-who had gambled so deli­ cately last May by hosting Mr. Nixon over Hanoi's objections while Hai­ phong harbor was mined, and then had to endure the embarrassment [!] cords allegedly represent an advance Soviet encirclement came into play. the Pacific.... " The "certain country" of the intensive American bombing of for the people of Southeast Asia. The This means that China's feeling that is the Soviet Union unless, of course, Hanoi in December-chose a banquet Vietnamese question could now be it would rather have four Balkanized the Maoists have North Vietnam in honoring visiting North Vietnamese solved, the Maoist journal claimed, states -in Indochina rather than an mind. dignitaries last Thesday to relish what "without outside armed intervention." Indochina dominated by Hanoi and Chou's second observation had to he saw as the moment of peace with And the end of the fighting would possibly susceptible to Moscow, came do with U. S. .Japanese relations. victory." have a "positive influence on the re­ into play." Kimura's account was reported in the Brezhnev himself noted that the duction in tension in Asia and the Sullivan concluded that as a result January 20 issue of the Paris daily Soviet Union had "helped actively on world." of "calculating" the quantity of sup­ Le Monde: "In the future, the Japanese­ all fronts [to bring the agreement On February 1, Chinese Premier plies they could get through China, American Security Treaty will cease about], military, political, and diplo­ Chou En-lai made his first public com­ the North Vietnamese leaders "probab­ to exist, Japan being an independent matic." And he further hinted that the ment on the agreement. At a Peking ly came to the conclusion that they country. But for the present, since Soviet Union intended to press for banquet honoring chief North Viet­ had to drop all these demands that Japan needs the protection of the strict implementation of the terms of namese negotiator Le Due Tho, Chou they had sought continuously since American nuclear umbrella, it is in­ the agreement when the twelve-power called the accords a great victory and 1968: the overthrow of President evitable, Mr. Chou En-lai believes, that "international conference" on Indo­ paid special tribute to the "valiant, Thieu, the establishment of a coali­ the treaty be preserved. It is in the china convenes: "The peoples expect tenacious, inspiring, and heart-stirring tion government, the cutoff of all context of Japan's relationship with that other parties will honor and com­ struggle under difficult conditions" that American support [to Saigon] ... " the Soviet Union that this is necessary, pletely observe the commitments as~ Flora Lewis, the New York Times sumed. An important role in this is correspondent who covered the Paris to be played by the coming interna­ negotiations, shares Sullivan's anal­ tional conference, in which the Soviet ysis. On January 30 she wrote that Union will take an active part." "the United States helped China gain Spartak Beglov, a political commen­ control over the flow of supplies to tator for the Novosti press agency, North Vietnam [!] by shutting off So­ went somewhat further than Brezhnev viet sea routes when it mined Hai­ in lauding the effect the Vietnam cease­ phong and other ports. That increased fire would have on Soviet-American Peking's leverage on Hanoi. relations: "The greater has been a turn "In the American analysis, Peking in America from the illusions of a now opposes the idea of Hanoi's policy of strength to a recognition of domination of the Indochinese penin­ the political realities, the wider have sula, for fear that this would permit opened goodwill sluices in search of an entrenched Soviet influence on more fruitful relations on .the basis China's southern flank. Therefore, of the principles of peaceful coexis­ with the sea lanes shut, Peking mea­ tence." sured carefully its nourishment of And he further observed, "Of course North Vietnam's offensive capacity, the work of restoring peace in Viet­ to help convince Hanoi _that a com­ nam is only begun. The implementa­ promise settlement was essential." tion of a just peace will depend to a A similar interpretation of the Chi­ large extent on how unswervingly and nese bureaucracy's notion of "victory" consistently this agreement is put into in Indochina appeared in the Febru­ practice by the parties." (Not by the ary 5 issue of the U. S. weekly News­ Leonid Brezhnev United States or Saigmt, but by the week: "The cease-fire in Vietnam has parties. Is this perhaps a warning to brought an about-face in China's at­ and not because of Japan's relations the liberation forces that the Kremlin titude toward U. S. forces in South­ with China. It would serve no purpose will tolerate no "violation" of the ac­ cord, such as armed defense against Richard Nixon east Asia. Chinese diplomats are for Japan to pass from the American spreading the word that Peking now atomic umbrella to the Chinese, be­ Thieu' s repressive terror? ) had been waged by the Vietnamese believes the U.S. should keep its air cause Chinese nuclear arms are not On the international arena, tlie next liberation forces. strength in Thailand and the Seventh of an offensive type." stage in "implementation of a just Chou's remarks were apparently Fleet in Asian waters. The rationale The "brilliant victory" that the Peking peace" will come at the convening of greeted approvingly by the assembled apparently is that China sees these bureaucrats are now hailing, it may the international conference provided dignitaries. But he neglected to men­ forces as a counter to the growing fairly be concluded, is the ·victory of for in the Paris accords. The partici­ tion that his own government played Soviet presence in that part of the "peaceful coexistence," not the victory pants will include North Vietnam, the a not inconsequential part in making world. In addition, Peking no longer of the Vietnamese revolution. "The Provisional Revolutionary Govern­ the already difficult conditions of the regards them as a threat to its own Nixon administration," the New York ment, the Siagon clique, the United Vietnamese struggle still more difficult territory." Times observed in a February 3 edi­ States, the Soviet Union, China, Peking was congratulated for its role, It might be hoped that such reports torial, "appears to have good reason Continued on page 22 however, by an authority who, while are nothing but CIA-inspired slander, to believe, that an improvement of lacking Chou's extensive knowledge of brazen attempts to introduce dissen­ economic as well as political relation:s the specifics of Chinese aid to the Viet­ sion into the "socialist camp," perhaps with China could be one of the earliest namese, had enjoyed the advantage even provocations planted by Khru­ and most profound benefits to this of participation in U.S. strategy ses­ shchevite revisionists who have infil­ country from the Vietnam settlement." sions on how to crush the Vietnamese trated the State Department. But un­ Peking's predominant concern is to revolution. fortunately, there is corroborating evi­ outbid its rivals in Moscow for the Speaking on the U.S. television pro­ dence-from Chou En-lai himself.- favor of U.S. imperialism, to ensure gram "Meet the Press" on January 28, In the middle of January, Takeo that the American ruling class is con­ Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kimura, a member of the ruling Lib­ vinced that Chairman Mao is fully William H. Sullivan, former U.S. am­ eral Democratic party in Japan, visited committed to the new "Concert of bassador to Laos and recently Henry China with several other Japanese Asia," even if that entails a continued Kissinger's right-hand man d_uring the luminaries. Naturally, they had dis­ massive U. S. military presence. secret Paris negotiations, explained the cussions with Chou, who, they report, It cannot be said that the Soviet dynamics of the process leading to the made two important points in the leaders have ceded victory to Peking cease-fire: course of their talks about the future in the struggle for accommodation "It is very clear that the attitude of of the Asian continent. First, as re­ with Nixon. On January 30, the Krem­ China has had a great deal to do ported in the January 29 Washington lin bureaucrats had their own banquet with th-e way in which this situation Post, Chou said that the Vietnam cease­ for Le Due Tho. Communist party has worked out." fire would not bring peace to Asia. General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev The Chinese leadership, Sullivan Not because the United States and took the occasion to make a speech. said, was put on the spot when Nixon its Saigon puppets intend to .press on "New possibilities for easing tension, Chou En-lai

12 A weekly international supplement to The Militant based on selections from Intercontinental Press, a newsmagazine reflecting the viewpoint of revolutionary socialism.

FEBRUARY 23, 1973

[The following are excerpts from an could be referred to the National As­ weighs against them. While the three article in the January-February issue sembly and to "commissioners of dis­ leaders decided to appeal their sen­ of the Quebec revolutionary socialist putes" whose decision will be binding tences to the Supreme Court of Cana­ Anti-strike newspaper Liberation. The translation on the parties. da, following the rejection by the Su­ is by Labor Challenge.] Business columnist Claude Beau­ perior Court of Quebec, they appealed champ wrote in La Presse December to the membership to remain calm and 26: "The right to strike ... is to all not to react in the same way as in legislation By Alain Beiner intents and purposes abolished in the May, thereby confining the defense public sector.... " campaign within the narrow frame­ After a year of unprecedented work­ Since the crushing of the,public and work of the bourgeois courts. ers upsurge, 1973 threatens to be a This confusion in the labor move­ period of government offensive against para,public strike last April, and since threatens ment at the moment of the boss offen­ the Quebec trade unions. The increas­ the crumbling of the big May wild­ sive has already provoked grum- ingly serious crisis shaking the labor cat-for lack of leadership and po­ movement challenges the ability of the litical perspectives- the government Quebec unions to reply to the blows of this thinks it is able, in the interests of offensive. maintaining the "social peace" that is On December 21 Labor Minister so necessary to imperialist invest­ Cournoyer had presented the nation­ ments, to eliminate the gains which trade unions al assembly with his "Christmas pres­ were won from Prime Minister Lesage ent" to the working class. Entitled in 1965 by the organized labor move­ "Law assuring the welfare of the pop­ ment. ulation in case of a labor conflict," This attempt to use Bill 89 to legis­ Bill 89 includes a series of very com­ late or formalize such a setback of plex articles claiming to protect "es­ the Quebec working class comes after sential services." months of threats by Cournoyer, who Among other provisions, this gov­ was studying the possible reaction of ernment bill declares that any strike the union leadership before proceed­ is outlawed in the public services (not ing. In this sense the presentation of only the public and parapublic sec­ the law, and its imminent adoption, are only the beginning of the govern­ tors at the provincial level, but also Radical America ment offensive, while the decisive test the municipal employees and the 'We will win.' This is the symbol chosen workers in all aspects of public and of forces will take place when the gov­ by workers in the city of Sept-lies, who private transport, maritime, air or ernment tries to apply the law to a took over their town last spring. It points rail) as long as "essential services" strike movement. to the united power of the three main have not been "defined" by "agreement" But it is certainly no accident that trade-union federations. between the parties or by the labor tri­ the government chose this time to pre­ bunal. sent its anti-strike bill, six days after According to the draft law, the gov­ the three labor leaders had buried one of the principal achievements of ernment can end any strike "or lock­ blings among important groups, as the struggles at La Presse and in the out" in the public services to "verify demonstrated by the January 12 state­ civil service strike, that is, the unit­ if this conflict endangers health, s~ ment of the Federal Bureau of the curity, public welfare or the education ed action of the three centrales, FTQ­ National Federation of Quebec Teach­ of a group of pupils." Such conflicts CSN-CEQ [Federation des Travail­ ers. This resolution, adopted on the leurs du Quebec- Quebec Workers initiative of the Professors Union at Federation; Confederation des Syndi­ the University of Quebec in Montreal, cats Nationaux- Confederation of underscores the necessity of returning National Unions; Corporation des to common fronts in the struggle Enseignants du Quebec- Quebec against Bill 89, in order to "commit Teachers Corporation]. all the union forces to oppose any In a December 15 statement, the intervention of the State in the union union leaders canceled the important organizations." meeting of the executives of the three centrales set for the 18th and 19th of Meeting in Quebec City January 17- the same month and postponed to an 20, the leading body of the CSN "undetermined date" the setting up of pledged to mobilize all its forces in a permanent common front which w·as the coming months in struggle against to elaborate in the short run an over­ Bill 89. The 150 members of the all strategy for the language struggle CSN's Confederal Council voted that and for regional political action. if the bill is adopted "in whole or in This decision not only convinced part" the public service workers in the government that the time was ripe both public and private sectors will for the boss offensive, but it is in use all methods to fight it, including flagrant contradiction with the aspira­ if necessary illegal strikes or refusal tions of the membership expressed so to negotiate under the anti-strike law. well in the May uprising. The council also voted to approach The government offensive was also the other three union centrales (FTQ, On~ of the many mass demonstrations of Quebec workers duri119 last spring's strike encouraged by the refusal of the three CEQ, and the Centrale des Syndicats upsurge, triggered by walkouts of public employees. Quebec workers seized control labor leaders to rely on the force of Democratique, a right-wing split-off of more than a dozen radio and TV stations as well as several entire industrial towns. the working masses, which could have from the CSN) to discover "the pos­ Bill 89 is part of an attempt of Quebec bosses to head off such powerful upsurges been mobilized in a defense campaign sibilities of common action" in strug­ in the future. against the one-year sentence which gle against Bill 89. D World Outlook W0/2

Argentine socialist campaign backs strike,

The articles on this page are tory and neighborhood com­ reprinted from the January 24 mittees; and the Socialist Front, issue of Avanzada Socialista, which includes several socialist Chronology of the Somisa s1 the weekly newspaper of the groups, the main one being Partido Socialista de los Tra­ the PST. The purpose of the On Friday [January 12], two op­ of the workers, and led the most im­ bajadores (PST- Socialist Work­ Workers and Socialist Pole is to posing worlds coexisted, separated by portant activities inside the factory. ers Party) of Argentina. They present a pro-working-class al­ the impeccable lawn of a golf course. The company had no choice but to describe a recent strike at the ternative in the elections, op­ On one side, the Colonial Hotel­ take a cautious attitude toward this holdout of the oligarchy and custom­ Somisa steel plant in the city posed to all candidates and new development, which although not ary lodging of Jose Rucci [Peronist legally recognized, gained recognition of San Nicolas in the province parties of the capitalist -class. head of the General Federation of La­ among the workers. Instead, the steel­ of Buenos Aires. The role of the Frente Obrero bor] when he visits his division-was workers bureaucracy of Cechi and The PST is becoming known in the strike de~cribed in these barely stirred by the aides of [Somisa Rucci constantly attacked the STASA in Argentina as the initiator articles shows how the cam­ steel company] president, General activists with their goons. The dam of the Workers and Socialist paign of the Workers and So­ Chescotta. Chescotta had come to finally burst on Wednesday [January Pole in the current election cam­ cialist Pole is being conducted. speak with the 8,000 steel workers 10], when an armed gang attacked on the other side, who had taken over three compaiieros from STASA: Val­ paign there. The Workers and It is not simply intended to get the plant. divia, Primavera, and Urqueaga. The Socialist Pole is an electoral votes or win posts, but to help Somisa was rising up over a prob­ latter's blood-stained shirt became the bloc that is running 2,300 can­ mobilize the workers them­ lem that we feel in every factory: the flag for the struggle that broke out didates throughout Argentina. selves in struggle. It seeks to domination and goon tactics of the at dawn. Included within it are the carry this struggle from the union leaders and their inability to Frente Obrero (Workers Front), plant level to the political level. defend our rights against the bosses. The conflict an organization of trade union­ The translation is by The How STASA was born ists and other workers in foe- Militant. To the cry of "Out with the UOM Exploitation, unsanitary conditions, goons!" and "For the recognition of and low wages have prevailed in So­ STASA!," a group of activists of the misa for years. One compaiiero, who Tocho and Palanquilla section began shovels 14,000 kilograms during his calling for a strike. Little by little, Luis Gomez: strike leader, shift and earns 480 pesos [about 48 they were joined by every other sec­ cents] a day, explained to us on Fri­ tion, and then by the workers on the day, as he marched with a picket other shifts, until all the workers were Workers Front candidate that traveled around the city seeking inside the plant. "Let the socialist mayor speak!" support for the strike: In a magnificent display of unity, Hundreds of times that chant was re­ 'We struggle against the sellout lead­ courage, and combativeness, they re­ peated during the days of continuous ers of the UOM [Union Obrera Metal­ mained there until Saturday [January meetings inside Somisa. That is be­ urgica- Metalworkers Union] to re­ 13] morning holding permanent meet­ cause Luis Gomez is not only the place them with new compaiieros. If ings, and gained the support of the soul and nerve of the struggle; he is they betray us or are not capable of foremen of ASIMIRA and the IBM also the candidate for mayor [of improving things, we'll get rid of them technicians. Buenos Aires] of the Frente de los too. But we can't go on this way." Trabajadores. For the past two years, the Somisa 'Is father coming?' His name is clearly identified with workers have been trying to combat this strike, as well as with the long the ineffectiveness of the UOM and At 8 p.m. on Friday, the army and battle for union democracy and for have demanded the right to form a the police, which had been stationed a militant organization to improve the new organization to represent this spe­ nearby, made known their intention terrible working conditions at Somisa. cialized branch of the steel industry. to vacate the plant. A meeting was then He went into Somisa eight years That is how STASA (Sindicato de held silently attended by some 500 rel­ Luis Gomez Avanzada Social isla ago. And with the same determination Trabajadores Siderurgicos de Argen­ atives who had brought provisions. with which he had tamed colts in the tina- Argentine Steelworkers Union) The workers voted to stay in the plant countryside, he has been fighting he has been organizing STASA [the was born- a union that brought to­ and to resist the troops' charge. On the against the union bureaucracy and rebel union at Somisa]. gether the best activists in the plant, other side of the gate a four-year-old the bosses. He was a delegate from His campaign on the ticket of the gained growing support from the rest boy who was playing with a poster Tocho and Palanquilla [factory com­ Frente de los Trabajadores -like that mittee] and later a member of the of Diaz Jordan, the Ramos brothers, Internal Commission [executive com­ and other outstanding activists at mittee of the factory committee], from Somisa- is at the disposal of the which he was removed by the UOM struggles of the workers and popular masses. 0 bureaucracy. For the last two years Socialist candidate joins wo The National Commission of the Frente de los Trabajadores [Workers Front] spoke to the Somisa workers San Nicolas workers over a telephone they had taken con­ trol of to inform them o£ its initial solidarity actions. show the way forward • Jorge Mera, candidate for gover­ The Somisa workers occupied the movement is asking itself what to do nor [of Buenos Aires province] of the plant for two days, condemning the about that swamp, the compaiieros Frente Obrero and the Partido Social- cowardly assault of the trade-union at Somisa have given us the answer . ista de los Trabajadores [PST- So­ goons and demanding the legalization with their valiant strike. Let us listen cialist Workers Party], was on his way of the new union. There were other to their just battle cries; let us ap­ to San Nicolas to organize support motives behind the strike as well: low plaud their decision; let us discuss from there. salaries, unsanitary conditions, lack their correct and just demands in the • Another compaiiero was on his of dining rooms. factories; let us support their strug­ way to Cordoba to inform SMATA gle for workers democracy and for [a rebel auto union in Cordoba] and These workers, who suffer the same the recognition of their union; and compaiieros Paez and Tosco of problems as the rest of us, have shown let us be ready to fight all together, the strike. (As a result, a meeting of that unity and combativeness force in the same way they did, for a 50 SMA TA of 3,000 workers learned of the bosses, the government, and the percent general wage increase and the strike through a message from the repressive apparatus to retreat, and 120,000 pesos [about $120 per Frente de los Trabajadores and unan­ that the only way out of the swamp of month] minimum salary, retroactive imously resolved to solidarize with it.) hunger and misery is through strug­ to December 1, 1972, and for a slid­ • In Buenos Aires, the printing and Jorge Mera, candidate for governor of gle. ing scale of wages, to be adjusted distribution of 20,000 leaflets and 10,- Buenos Aires Province, formerly a lead­ At a time when the entire labor every two months. 0 000 posters asking for solidarity state- er of bank workers union. W0/3

plant occupation World news notes decided to end the strike, maintaining Police battle students in Beirut their stand of no collaboration, and to call on Somisa to conduct nego­ Recent clashes between students and police in Beirut, Lebanon, rike tiations with the minister and the presi­ were characterized by Los Angeles Times correspondent William dent. Coughlin as "the worst street battles since the confrontation between the government and Palestinian guerrillas in 1970." Armed riot condemning the goons asked his These compaiieros have won a very police attacks on student demonstrators lasted for more than a mother: "Is father coming?"-"No. He important victory in their first bat­ week in early February. is staying inside and we're staying tle. They have successfully tested a tool Students took to the streets in support of a strike by 15,000 ele­ outside." of organization and struggle. All the mentary and high school teachers. The teachers were asking a 40 workers recognize STASA and its percent wage increase and reinstatement of 324 teachers the gov­ magnificent group of courageous ac­ ernment dismissed as "agitators" or organizers of the strike. tivists as the new undisputed leader­ According to Coughlin, "Newspaper front pages here have been The repressive forces didn't dare ship. filled with photos of police clubbing both students and passers-by Their firmness and determination and with vivid descriptions of casualties in the street war." On Feb­ The troops never came. The work­ have forced the government to pause ruary 3, "police fired into the air over the heads of taunting stu­ ers' determined unity frustrated thein­ for negotiations. That pause must be dents, who had barricaded one of Beirut's main thoroughfares." tended attack and forced the authori­ · . taken advantage of to complete the The wave of student demonstrations, which continued after the ties to maintain an extremely cautious process. of internal organization, striking teachers went back to work, spread to other Lebanese cities approach. Management called the choosing delegates in every section as well, Coughlin reports. STASA leadership to negotiations and who will constitute a powerful frame­ agreed, along with the police and mili­ work for the battles to come.. tary authorities, to arrange a meeting Avanzada Socialista fraternally sa­ Thought-control move in Czechoslovakia between the workers and General Ches­ lutes the compaiieros, pledges its sup­ cotta. port to the struggle for the formal The Husak regime in Czechoslovakia is broadening its witch­ The following morning, Chescotta recognition of STASA, and calls upon hunt for dissidents by forcing all workers-party members and agreed not to take any punitive mea­ them to use the same method to wring non-party workers- to fill out a questionnaire designed to finger sures of any kind and to act as media­ out of the bosses and the government anyone who was sympathetic with the movement for democratic tor before San Sebastilm and [Argen­ a just settlement and a solution to the socialism during the 1968 "Prague spring." The questionnaire asks tine President) Lanusse. The workers old problems that plague Somisa. 0 workers to write an autobiography and says, "Include your po­ litical activities during the years 1968 and 1969 and your con­ temporary attitude toward this activity." The Czechoslovak Communist Party purged one..J:hird of its mem­ bership at the time of the 1968 events in its attempt to silence crit­ icism. Last summer 46 oppositionists were tried and sentenced to prison terms for publishing oppositional leaflets and journals.

Soviet citizen's question on Vietnam An interesting question was raised by a Muscovite at a current events forum held in Moscow in December. The forum, described in the January 11 Christian Science Monitor, consisted of a panel of Soviet newsmen who answered questions from an audience of about 300. "Wasn't it time to call Mr. Nixon a criminal for deceiving the people, a questioner demanded, and shouldn't Soviet citizens be demonstrating against the United States? The audience sat hushed.... "Let the American people speak out about Mr. Nixon, replied Mr. Smirnov. They re-elected him recently on a promise of peace. It was up to them to influence their President." The Kremlin bureaucrats refused throughout the Vietnam war to call for worldwide mass actions against the war. The question Avanzada Social isla raised at the Moscow forum would indicate that this policy of be­ A group of strikers at Somisa. Jorge Mera is near center, with fist raised. trayal of the Vietnamese does not have the support of many Soviet citizens.

Anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday'

The February 3 issue of Red Mole, biweekly paper of the Inter­ national Marxist Group in England, reported the following on soli­ :-kers in occupied plant darity actions in London marking the anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre in Ireland last year: ments and actions was under way. expresses solidarity and reports on the "A monster rally which packed the Camden Town Hall, with an • In San Nicolas, the Frente was actions being carried out. The delega­ overflow of thousands spread out into the surrounding streets-this at that point beginning to organize tion is invited to come in and received was the high point of the anti-Internment League activities in Brit­ neighborhood committees for the task with embraces and applause. ain calculated to use the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, on Sunday of collecting provisions and forming a Diaz Jordan, one of the candidates January 28, to rejuvenate the solidarity movement in this country. city-wide organization of workers and from San Nicolas of the Frente de "At two simultaneous meetings, one inside and one outside the popular masses in support of the los Trabajadores, said: "We are proud Town Hall, speakers ranging from one mother and four wives of strike. In addition, propaganda in to meet you at the barricades." Thou­ internees, James Wray, father of one of the victims of Bloody Sun­ support of the strike was being dis­ sands of surprised and curious work­ day, through Provo, Official, PD [People's Democracy], Gery Law­ seminated through leaflets, news­ ers see, for the first time, a political less ( IMG) and Paul Foot (International Socialists) and including papers, radio, and TV. leader and a candidate for governor Fulvio Grimaldi (editor of Lotta Continua, the Italian left-wing daily) and Mike Cooley of the AUEW (TASS) [the technical section e Friday, 8 p.m.- 500 women send as one more worker participating in of the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers], urged the need food through the gates. 3,000 workers the meeting in a disciplined way. fo.r solidarity with the struggle in Ireland, and explained the con­ are meeting. Barrionuevo, secretary 8:30 p.m. - The meeting decides to nection between this struggle and the political conjuncture in the of STASA, is reporting on the ulti­ resist the army's imminent attack. world anti-imperialist struggle." Mera asks to be allowed to stay along­ matum sent by Colonel Carro. He is In addition to the demonstrations held in the United States, about interrupted by an announcement: side the compaiieros, despite the fact 100 people marched to the British Government Office in Toronto, Jorge Mera and a national delega­ that he does not work at Somisa. Two Canada, to demand an end to the concentration camp system in tion of the Frente de los Trabajadores hours later, when the government Northern Ireland and the withdrawal of British troops. have arrived and are waiting outside. withdraws the ultimatum and begins The meeting is informed. The visitors negotiations, Mera leaves to help from are received with an ovation. the outside and utilize the platform Barrionuevo, Valdivia, Gomez, Ra­ and propaganda openings of the mos, and other compaiieros from Frente de los Trabajadores to help STASA go outside to meet them. Mera the strike. 0 ·-r;

World Outlook W0/4

345 doctors publicly defy French abortion law [On February 5, 331 French doc­ mammg countries still in the Middle to the possibility of prosecution. of everybody so that women can inter­ tors caused a big stir by revealing Ages. In spite of the hundreds of thou­ Doctors, who . know about these rupt their pregnancies under the best publicly that they had performed sands of secret abortions and the trag­ risks, objectively share in responsibil­ medical and psychological conditions. abortions. They did so in a signed ic consequences they bring, public au­ ity for these deaths. Many of them Freedom of abortion means that the manifesto for the "freedom of abor­ thorities and the board of the Ordre have become aware of this and their decision to have or to perform one tion." Their admission entails the risk des Medecins [Medical Society] persist attitude has evolved. The position of must be made on the basis of nothing of penalties of up to ten years in pris­ in not taking this reality into account. the [Medical] Society's board is not but one's own moral or religious con­ on and fines as high as $14,000. They put off indefinitely any change the position of all doctors, upon whom victions. In theory, they could also be barred in the existing legislation. it cannot foist its own moral rules. The undersigned doctors state that from medical practice. Nevertheless, when a woman has France, "the country of liberty," does they perform abortions or do what [The text of their manifesto was pub­ decided to interrupt a pregnancy she not give women the liberty to control they can to help obtain them outside lished in the February 4-5 issue of does so in spite of the law and the their own bodies. Sexual education of any considerations of financial the Paris daily Le Monde. A trans­ personal convictions of her doctor. is nonexistent; the law on contracep­ gain; and that they solemnly pledge lation by Intercontinental Press fol­ Depending on her financial means, tion is not applied; couples are de­ to answer collectively for their action lows.] she can get an abortion in complete prived of information permitting them before all judicial or medical author­ safety abroad, and even in France, to achieve sexual equilibrium and ity, as well as before public opinion. D For several months now, and par­ or else she is forced to seek a secret choose the moment they wish to bring ticularly since the Bobigny trial [See abortion at the risk of her life (there a child into the world; the National Intercontinental Press, November 27, are dozens of such deaths each year). Family Planning Program has just 1972, p. 1295], everyone has been Every year, thousands of women fall been refused recognition as a useful, Eight women, ranging in age from able to see that, as far as questions victim in this way to tragic compli­ nonprofit organization, which pre­ twenty-two ·to fifty-two, faced trial in of sexuality and abortion are con­ cations (perforations, hemorrhaging, vents it from receiving any subsidies. Strasbourg, France, January 19 for undergoing abortions. Six were re­ cerned, France is one of the last re- infections, etc.) and expose themselves We believe that all individuals must leased, including several who failed be in a position to be responsible for to appear- a very unusual occurence their own bodies and their own health, in French court practice- and two ·as well as to benefit from all progress were given suspended fines of 300 in scientific knowledge. francs (about US$60). We want: "A strong current of public opmwn 1. All means of contraception to be was running in favor of the accused made available to everyone, including before their trial," the Paris daily Le minors, thanks to a broad informa­ Monde reported January 21. "On the tional campaign, and to be reim­ eve of the trial 250 demonstrators bursed by social security. marched demanding their release and 2. Abortion to be free. free abortion on demand. A more im­ The decision to have an abortion portant development was that for the must be left entirely up to the woman. first time unity was achieved among We reject any commission being set women of all tendencies." D up that forces her to justify her choice, that retains the notion of guilt, and that allows secret abortions to con­ tinue (as the experience in foreign countries shows that it would). Abortion, just like any other med­ ical and surgical operation, must be reimbursed by social security. French women's demonstration for right to abortion. Sign says 'For years and years, Modern methods, which have made one million women have had clandestine abortions every year. Why is it only today abortion into a simple act involving that people speak of it?' no risks, must be put within reach

If you think you really know what's Belgium going on in Ireland today, you might try the following test: • What were the main topics of dis­ cussion at the recent convention of the Thousands come to defense of abortionist Official Republican movement? e What are the major differences be­ Abortion laws in Belgium carry a 320 abortions during 1972. gium or the gas strike that is para­ tween the Officials and the Pro­ maximum of twenty years for a doc­ A second request to free Dr. Peers lyzing the country." tor who performs an illegal abortion was rejected by the court of Namur "The case of Willy Peers . is rap- visionals today? and five years for a woman who un­ on February 1. Given the lack of a idly becoming a national demonstra­ e What is the strength of the Repub­ dergoes one. The law recognizes le­ bail system in Belgium, Dr. Peers is tion to legalize abortion, and to a licans, and the nationalist population, gal abortion only in specific thera­ at the mercy of the court, although large extent the breadth of the cam­ in the North today? peutic cases when a woman's life is his lawyers will again on February paign is surpassing everything that e Insofar as their political outlook endangered. 17 file a request for his release pend­ has occurred in France during the is concerned, what important changes Under this reactionary legislation, ing trial. On January 27 in Namur, past few years," said de Vos. D have occurred in the Official ronks? Dr. William Peers, head of the Cen­ just prior to the denial of the second If you were able to answer these ter of Obstetrics and Gynecology in plea, some 10,000 supporters of the questions corredly, you probably read the province of Namur, Belgium, and Willy Peers Committee demanded his ... and in Italy the United Irishman, An Phoblacht, the cofounder of the Belgian Society to release. Starry Plough, the Irish Times, and Legalize Abortion, was jailed on Jan­ A proposed abortion law has been Le Monde's Pierre de Vos described several Gaelic-language monthlies. uary 18 following denial of his law­ the Peers case as "currently occupy­ submitted to the Italian parliament by Either that, or you read Intercontinen­ yers' request for release. He was ing as much news space as the un­ Loris Fortuna, also the sponsor of tal Press. charged with having performed about folding governmental crisis in Bel- the controversial divorce law. His law would give a woman the right to an If you flunked the lest, we'd like to abortion only when three doctors state suggest a subscription to Intercontinen­ that continued pregnancy constitutes tal Press. It's the only American weekly On January 31 two organiza­ fice, 489 Fifth Avenue (near "a threat to her physical and mental that consistently covers movements tions in the United States-the 47th Street), starting at 1 p.m. health." At present, abortions are like the struggle to free Ireland. Be­ Ad Hoc Artists' Movement for This action will be in solidarity banned under all circumstances in sides news analysis and interviews, Freedom and the Women's Na­ with a demonstration planned Italy. Intercontinental Press regularly pub­ tional Abortion Action Coali­ on the same day in Belgium Opposition to the proposed law is lishes the documents of the struggle coming from the Vatican, the neofas­ tion- held a picket line in front on Dr. Peer's behalf. itself. Send $7.50 for six months. cists, the Christian Democrats, and al­ of the Belgian Consulate in most all bourgeois parties, according New York City to demand free­ Telegrams and letters of sup­ to a report in the Danish daily Poli­ INTERCONTINENTAL PRESS dom for Dr. Peers. WONAAC port for this defense effort can tiken January 22. There are an esti­ P. 0. Box 116, Village Station is building another picket line be sent to: Comite Willy Peers, mated 800,000 illegal abortions in New York, N.Y. 10014 to be held February 24 at the 75 Rue Roberts-Jones, Brussels Italy each year, from which 20,000 Belgian airlines (Sabena) of- 1180, Belgium. to 25,000 women die for lack of medi­ cal help. D What's wrong with Union of the Left? Analysis of March election in France By TONY THOMAS The UDR has been the dominant they robbed from the French workers The Jan. 20 Daily World, a news­ capitalist formation in France since is both unfair and economically un­ paper that reflects the viewpoint of Charles DeGaulle came to power in feasible. the Communist Party of the U. S., car­ 1958. It controls a big majority in the Yet the Communist and Socialist ried two pages of articles on the current National Assembly. French leaders propose this to placate "anti­ French Communist Party's policy in Premier Pierre Messmer and President monopoly" bosses. These nationaliza­ the parliamentary elections scheduled Georges Pompidou are both UDR tions would increase the size of the for March 4 and 11. The French Com­ members. nationalized sector of the French eco­ munists have formed a bloc with the The elections to the National As­ nomy from the current figure of 10 Socialist Party and a splinter group sembly will be held in two rounds. In percent of the gross national product from the Radical-Socialist Party called the first round, scheduled for March to 14 percent. the Left Radicals. The bloc is called 4, only candidates who secure an ab­ Still another example of the spirit the Union of the Left. solute majority in their districts will in which the Union of the Left presents One of the articles in the World is be elected to the Assembly. In dis­ its demands is given in the Nov. 28, a speech James Jackson, a top leader tricts where no candidate wins a first 1972, issue of Lutte Ouvrier, a of the U. S. Communist Party, gave round majority- usually the case in French socialist newspaper. at the December 1972 congress of the most of the districts- there will be At an election rally at a factory in French Communists. Jackson praises a runoff among the leading candi­ Porte de Lois, a worker asked Georges the Union of the Left as "an outstand­ dates March 11. In this second round Marchais, general secretary of the ing contribution, an experience which only a plurality is required to win. Communist Party, if the demand for holds particularly rich lessons for us." The participants in the Union of a 40-hour workweek would be im­ Jackson claims that the Union of the Left will run their own candidates plemented immediately after a Union the Left is a model of the political ef­ in the first round. On the second rountl of the Left victory. Marchais replied fectiveness of the "anti-monopoly coali­ they have agreed to support a com­ that such a demand would have to tion" electoral strategy pushed by the mon candidate on the basis of which­ wait until the end of the Assembly CPUSA. This concept holds that there ever candidate receives the highest session, which could be as much as are two types of capitalist exploiters­ number of votes on the first round five years after the ~lections. the smaller ones and the bigger mono­ or on the basis of the political impor­ Georges Marchais, general secretary of If Marchais is wary of implement­ polists- and that working people can tance of the candidates involved. French communist Party. ing this demand, which has been won make progress by uniting with the If the Union of the Left gains a in a number of other capitalist coun­ "non-monopoly" sector of the capitalist majority in the 487-seat National As~ coming elections, Mr. Mitterrand needs tries, including the U. S., how will class in the political arena. sembly, or if they can combine with the Communists' well-oiled, vote­ some of the other more far-reaching This view assumes that the basic other forces to make a majority, they producing machinery, particularly reforms fare under a Union of the are pledged to attempt to elect a gov­ among workers." Left government? ernment, that is a cabinet and a pre­ "The Communists also need the So­ An article in the Feb. 3 issue of mier. cialists, "the Monitor continued, "to Rouge, newspaper of the Communist Even if they do gain a majority show voters that they are indeed pre­ League, the French section of the in the March elections, however, Porn­ pared to share power, to take the pictou, whose term runs to 1976, will parliamentary road rather than that have the right to immediately call new of violent revolution. Hence the al­ Assembly elections. If the Union of liance." the Left wins this second series of The Union of the Left's main com­ elections, it will have the undisputed ponents are the Communist and So­ right to form a government. cialist parties, which are seen as the main workers parties in France. How­ Election bloc ever, the Communist and Socialist The Union of the Left originated in leaders do not project the Union of an attempt to heighten the vote-catch­ the Left as a clear working-class slate ing appeal of the Communist and So­ counterposed to all of the capitalist cialist parties. The fact that the two parties and politicians. In fact they parties had not launched a joint ef­ have tried to involve capitalist poli­ fort since the cold war began in the ticians and formations in the Union late 1940s had reduced their electoral of the Left. appeal. Jackson is quoted in the Daily World As Henry Giniger wrote in the July as saying that the French Communists 2, 1972 New York Times, "So long and Socialists have "extended an open as the left was divided, it did not ap­ hand to all other popular parites and pear very credible to the electorate as groups to join, and since then they an effective replacement for the Gaul­ have enlisted the left-wing of the Radi­ list-dominated coalition in power. cal-Socialist Party, several left groups Now that the main forces of the left formerly associated with the UDR or French President Georges Pompidou are united, its critics are changing Gaullists, and many others." their tune. . . . " The Radical-Socialist Party is a political and economic interests of However, in forming the Union of liberal capitalist party. The Commu­ working people coincide more or less the Left, the Socialists and Commu­ nists and Socialists attempted to get with the interests of the non-monopoly nists were not attempting to unite the this party to join the Union of the Francois Mitterrand, first secretary of capitalists. In reality, however, the in­ working class parties of France for Left. However, only a small splinter French Socialist Party. terests of all employers are diamet­ a struggle for socialism. While the from _this party, now known as the rically opposed to the interests of France Communists claim their strat­ Left Radicals, opted for the Union of working people. Thus the erid result egy will lead to socialism in the long the Left. The rest refused and are Fourth International, outlines the po­ of such an "anti-monopoly" coalition run, they have been explicit that a backing their own slate in the elec­ litical retreat the Union of the Left is to subordinate the demands and Union of the Left regime will remain tions. has made. Henri Weber writes: "Each The "Common Program" of the struggles of the working class and within a capitalist context. They label day leads to a new restriction. No, Union of the Left projects the reforms other oppressed groups to the political their chief goal the achievement of they will not set up socialism during the Communist and Socialist leaders positions and interests of their capi­ "advanced democracy," a more "dem­ the five years of their legislative pow­ ocratic" variant of capitalism that claim they will carry out in govern­ talist oppressors. er; yes, they will keep Pompidou presi­ An examination of the Union of the would carry out reforms in the in­ ment. The program rhetorically men­ dent. No, they will not touch the in­ Left and the French Communists' po­ terests of "anti-monopoly" forces. tions an ultimate, "peaceful transition stitutions of the Fifth Republic (or sition will show how this strategy of In fact, one of the reasons the Com­ to socialism," after a prolonged period so little that it would hardly be any­ "anti-monopoly coalition"- or "ad­ munists desire the bloc with the So­ of "advanced democracy." But the core thing to speak of); yes, they will be vanced democracy" as it's called in cialists is to dispel anti-communist­ of this program is to limit the strug­ faithful to the Atlantic Alliance and France-stands in the way of fed illusions many in France hold that gles and demands of the French work­ the Common Market. . No, the cost the struggle of the oppressed. the Communists aim to overturn ing class to reforms within the con­ French capitalism. text of maintaining the capitalist of their social reforms will not be Union of the Left The Socialists' dedicatio'n to the de­ system. unreasonable, they don't exceed an The Communist and Socialist par­ fense of capitalism in France is more While some of these demands reflect annual increase in the budget of 10 ties of France initiated the Union of widely recognized than that of the the interests of the French workers, percent; yes, they will energetically op­ the Left June 27, 1972, although the Communist Party. At the same time, most of them are intended to gain the pose all new demands of the rank and Communist Party and sections of the Socialist Party First Secretary Fran­ Union of the Left a more "responsible" file ...." Socialist Party had favored such c,;ois Mitterrand thinks that such a bloc image among supporters of French As Weber points out, the Union of a block for years. Its principal aim with the Communists will help the So­ capitalism. the Left maintains a position of po­ is to win a parliamentary majority cialists regain lost influence, particu­ In the nationalizations proposed by litical support to the Atlantic Alliance. in opposition to the government coali­ larly within the working class, where the "Common Program," the Union of This is an anti-Communist alliance tion controlled by the UDR (Union the Communists are very strong. the Left calls for full compensation of the Western imperialist powers pour la Defense de la Republique­ The Aug. 23, 1972, Christian Sci­ to the owners rather than direct con­ against the Soviet Union that even Union for the Defense of the Republic.) ence Monitor observed that "in the fiscation. To pay these bosses for what Continued on page 22

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 13 Houston Singler Scherr socialists to head campa1gn• enter Austin ga1ns• city race SWPticket momentum By PAUL McKNIGHT By JAMES BURFIEND By DUNCAN WILLIAMS HOUSTON, Feb. 8-Three Socialist Workers Par­ AUSTIN, Feb. 9 -Melissa Singler, a long-time CLEVELAND, Feb. 10 -"I'm not just your typ­ ty candidates today filed declarations of candi­ antiwar and women's liberation activist, has an­ ical candidate for mayor, you know. Most can­ dacy in the 1973 city elections. Two television nounced her candidacy for mayor of Austin on didates are men who make over $25,000 a year, stations, four radio stations, and both of Hous­ the Socialist Workers Party ticket. The announce­ and who tend to be well, let's say, on the mature ton's dally newspapers covered the filing, which ment, made at a press conference here Feb. 7, side of life. And generally they don't have antiwar took place in the mayor's office. was covered by all the local radio and TV sta­ activists, feminists, and radical students address The city clerk who accepted the affidavits warned tions and by both the city daily newspaper and their campaign rallies." With these words, Cleve­ the socialist candidates that this did not guarantee the University of Texas paper. land Socialist Workers Party mayoral candidate their names would be on the ballot in November. Singler promised to take her campaign "from Roberta Scherr opened her speech to 75 enthu­ The city is going to wait until June to print of­ one end of this city to the other." She emphasized siastic supporters at a banquet at Debs Hall to­ ficial filing forms for candidates. the need for Blacks and Chicanos in Austin to night. Mayoral candidate Dan Fein, a Houston school gain control of their communities in order to put Several Cleveland-area activists addressed the teacher, termed the city's action in not fully ac­ a stop to the series of cases of police brutality. rally, including Kathy Palumbo of the Cleveland cepting the declarations of candidacy "illegal." He She also focused on the many problems women Abortion Project Coalition. "I know that none of stated that as a result of two successful suits the face in Austin, and expressed the hope that the the other parties will nominate a candidate who SWP filed during the last city elections, the present SWP campaign will succeed in altering the all­ will take such a strong stand on the abortion · candidates were fully qualified to file now. male composition of the city council. issue, and the feminist movement in general," she The suits abolished the requirements that can­ In the last Austin municipal elections in 1971, said. "Therefore I would like to suggest ~hat all didates must have been residents of Houston for the SWP candidates were denied ballot status be­ women here support Roberta Scherr for mayor." five years and have owned real estate for two cause of laws requiring candidates to be at least Richard Cramer, a coordinator of the Cleve­ years before the election. They also abolished filing 25 years old, have three years' residency in the land Area Peace Action Coalition and Cleveland fees for city offices and struck down a state loyalty city, and to sign a loyalty oath. Federal courts Area Vets for Peace, echoed these sentiments. "The oath that required candidates to promise to resist antiwar movement was in several areas quite an any attempts to alter "the present representative education for me. . . . I got quite a crash course form of government." The city is appealing these in who could be counted on and who couldn't. court decisions and is also trying to get the state fOR ASOCIAUSl When there was an antiwar activity, I've seen legislature to pass new restrictions. Roberta Scherr when she was tired or drenched In a statement to news media Fein said, "The or half frozen . . . and when she said she was SWP stands shoulder to shoulder with· the strikers CllY goirig to do something she did it." at Shell Oil in Deer Park, who are fighting for Ann Weld Harrington, chairperson of the Cleve­ safer working conditions. I'm glad to see such land Gay Activists Alliance, extended her support wide support for this strike in the community and to the socialist campaign and urged others to especially the picketing being carried out by the do the same. strikers' wives and relatives. Cleveland is 40 percent Black and, like other "We also support the demands of Houston fire­ major cities, faces the problem of police brutality. men for collective bargaining, and under our ad.­ In her speech, Scherr charged that Cleveland May­ ministration all city workers would have the right or Ralph Perk and the Democratic city council to strike." Militant/Derek Jeffers are "pouring millions of dollars into the police Brenda Brdar, SWP candidate for city council, Steven Fuchs addressing Austin campaign banquet. force. For example, Perk set up the $29-million District C, said that the SWP campaign would Impact program to combat 'stranger to stranger' support the demands of the women's movement have since upheld an SWP challenge to the loyalty crimes. Now Perk, along with· the county, wants for equal pay and equal job opportunities. She oath and residency requirements. to spend.$91-million on a new justice center." said she would work to enforce the recent Supreme It was learned Feb. 6 that the city attorney's Scherr said that both Perk and former mayor Court decision legalizing abortions. She also said office had quietly reduced the age requirement Carl Stokes are responsible for the brutality of she would move to appropriate city funds to es­ to 21, and the residency requirement to one year. the Cleveland police department. "Almost every tablish free abortion clinics so that abortions would The next day, Singler declared she would refuse week the papers carry stories of young Blacks be available to anyone who needed them. to sign the loyalty oath because it was clearly who are murdered in cold blood for 'suspected' Kathy Stallworth, the candidate for at-large po­ unconstitutional. She pointed out that the other crimes. And when the Black community proposes sition number 1 on the city council, explained changes in the election code were made because action against this problem, such as a civilian of the court fights the SWP had undertaken. review board, it is met by virtual silence from The next day the city attorney's office decided every Democratic and Republican politician. " they couldn't stand up to the socialist campaign and totally rewrote the oath, elminating those parts the courts objected to and leaving only one vaguely worded sentence. Singler immediately issued a statement welcom­ ing the change as a concession, but pointing out that any loyalty oath is a violation of constitu­ tional rights. The SWP will sign the revised oath under protest. The SWP and the Young Socialist Alliance topped off the week with a banquet Feb. 9, at­ tended by 70 people, to open a new headquarters and to officially start the campaign. The speak­ Roberta Scherr at Cleveland rally · Militant/Charles Ostrolsky ers included Linda Jenness; Steve Wattenmaker, an active-duty GI stationed at Fort Sam Houston; The rally also heard Karol Stern, former mem­ Professor Robert Palter of the University of Texas; ber of the Cleveland chapter of the Young Workers Steven Fuchs, a member of the YSA; and Melissa Liberation League. "The YWLL has consistently Singler. supported liberal Democratic Party candidates why the SWP opposes the way city council members More than $400 was raised to· help finance the since its inception . . . because of its political de­ are elected. initial campaign activities. The SWP will announce pendence on the Soviet bureaucracy, it does not "Council people representing individual districts its slate of candidates for city council next week. have the program or the ability to bring about are elected by all the voters in the city as a whole. the necessary social change- a socialist revolu­ The results are that predominantly Black and tion. To the Young Socialist Alliance and the So­ Chicano districts are deprived of the opportunity , cialist Workers Party concrete, visible activities to elect Black and Chicano city council members aimed at achieving a socialist revolution are a to represent them," she said. way of life.... Thousands of voters in Cleveland At a campaign rally Feb. 11, the three candi­ can enjoy the novel experience this fall of voting dates spoke to an enthusiastic audience about the for the best candidate for mayor, Roberta Scherr." goals of their campaign. "We're out to win," said In response to an appeal by campaign man­ Dan Fein. "And we're out to convince more and ager Duncan Williams, $3,345 was raised in con­ more people of the need to fight for a socialist tributions and pledges. America." Debby Leonard, SWP candidate for may­ Young Socialists for Scherr coordinator Mary or of Houston in 1971 and for governor of Texas Zinn announced a socialist petition drive to gather in 1972, chaired the rally. 6,000 signatures to place Scherr on the ballot. Linda Jenness, SWP candidate for president in The drive will take place March 30 to April 21 1972, also spoke. She urged everyone present and will culminate in a conference entitled "To­ "to endorse this campaign, actively support it, give ward a Socialist America." The conference, to be your money to it, and help show these Texas held April 20-21 at Case Western Reserve Uni­ Democrats and Republicans what the socialists Melissa Singler versity, is sponsored by the Young Socialists for can'do." Scherr and the Young Socialist Alliance.

14 Norman Oliver candidate for may.Ql. SWP maps plans for New York elections By GINNY HILDEBRAND against racist States Attorney Edward The SWP candidate for Manhattan speaking community to gain control NEW YORK, Feb. 13 -Members of Hanrahan in Cook County, Ill. He borough president is B. R. Washing­ of the schools. the three New York City branches of is the only Black candidate announced ton, a graduate of Manhattan Voca­ Richard Ariza, a Latino activist and the Socialist Workers Party held a for mayor. tional High School and former mem­ member of the Young Socialist joint meeting Feb. 10 to discuss the Joanna Misnik is the SWP candidate ber of Transit Workers Local 100. Alliance, is the SWP candidate for 1973 municipal elections and nomi­ for president of the city council. Misnik Washington, who was the SWP 1972 Manhattan council at large. nate a slate of SWP candidates for is a well-known antiwar leader who candidate for Congress in Harlem, is Maxine Williams, candidate for the major offices in New York City. was one of four women seeking the a leading activist in the New York Brooklyn borough president, was ac­ The meeting mapped out an am­ congressional seat now held by Bella African Liberation Support Commit­ tive in the Hunter College Third World bitious campaign to put forward so­ Abzug in a nationally prominent race tee. Women's Organization. She has cialist solutions to the deteriorating last year. Eva Chertov is the SWP candidate spoken and written frequently on quality of life faced by most New Dick Roberts, a staff writer for The in council district 3 on Manhattan's Black women and feminism. Yorkers; especially the Black and Militant, is the SWP candidate for Lower East Side. Chertov, who lived Mark Friedman, a Young Socialist Puerto Rican communities. Based on comptroller. A lecturer on Marxist eco­ in Cuba for seven years, has many Alliance activist at Brooklyn College, the experiences of the 1972 SWP cam­ nomics, Roberts is well qualified to years of experience in bilingual edu­ will run for Brooklyn council-at-large. paign, enthusiasm over the prospects present solutions to the financial crisis cation. This is a key focus in the James Mendieta, the 1972 SWP for support in this campaign was confronting New. York. struggle of the district's Spanish- candidate for Congress in Brooklyn's high. 14th District, will seek the office of The New York mayoral race began Brooklyn district attorney. A 34-year­ last November, and the media devotes old transit worker, Mendieta spent sev­ daily attention to the candidates and eral years in federal prison for drug­ issues affecting the lives of eight mil­ related crimes before joining the so­ lion New Yorkers. cialist movement. The nine SWP nominees comprise Norman Oliver will launch his cam­ the largest slate the party has run paign with a tour of New York cam­ since it first fielded candidates in New puses, coordinated by the Young So­ York in 1939. Heading the ticket will cialists for Oliver, a group open to all be Norman Oliver, candidate for may­ young supporters of the socialist may­ or. Oliver, 22, has been a participant oral alternative. Meetings are already in the Black liberation movement since set on 10 major campuses and high high school, when he edited a city-wide schools. newspaper, Black Student Voice, in On March 2, Norman Oliver will be Detroit. As an antiwar activist, he has the featured speaker at a city-wide toured U.S. military bases in Europe kick-off rally for the New York SWP investigating racism in the armed campaign. Linda Jenness, the 1972 forces. SWP candidate for president, will also A member of the Young Socialist speak. The rally will take place in Alliance since 1968, Oliver is a mem­ u;l;•nn''""'"" Soli Tishman Auditorium, New York Uni­ ber of the YSA national committee. Doug Jenness, New York City organizer for the SWP, presents report on election cam­ versity, 40 Washington Square South, In 1972, he was the SWP candidate paign to city-wide meeting. at 8 p.m. Seattle socialists denounce budget cutbacks By GARY JOHNSON for the mass struggles against a sys- · pointing out that youth under 18 can­ plaintiff in a suit challenging the SEATTLE, Feb. 5 -At a news con­ tern that puts military spending above not vote but are nonetheless bound Washington State filing fees, stemming ference today the Socialist Workers the real problems we face." "by the laws and decisions of this from his 1972 campaign for superin­ Party launched its 1973 campaign for Louise Pitell, 22, a former national system." Huffman reminded the report­ tendent of public instruction on the municipal and county elections in Se­ staff member of the Women's National ers that it is young people who are SWP ticket. attle. Heading the slate of six can­ Abortion Action Coalition, announced in the forefront of all the struggles didates is Craig Honts, 21, a leader her intention to run for the Seattle for social change in this country. of the antiwar movement at the Uni­ city council. Pitell hailed the Supreme Three other candidates are also run­ versity of Washington and a mem­ Court decision on abortion as a his­ ning on the SWP slate. Clare Fraenzl, ber of the Young Socialist Alliance, toric victory for women. She also 28, former high school teacher and running for mayor against incumbent urged all supporters of the Equal now a secretary, is the candidate for Wes Uhlman. Rights Amendment to join at the state the Seattle school board. Patrick Honts, who was the 1972 SWP can­ capitol Feb. 7 to demonstrate sup-· Hayes, 23, candidate for King County didate in the 1st Congressional Dis­ port for the ERA at a legislative hear­ executive, is a former sailor who was trict, blasted Nixon's budget, saying, ing. discharged from the Navy because "the budget gives Boeing $860-million Eric Huffman, who won a .seat on of his antiwar activities. He is a vet­ to build the B-1 bomber, missiles, and the Franklin High School senate run­ eran antiwar activist and helped helicopters but cuts out $475,000 from ning as a socialist, responded to re­ organize last month's antiwar dem­ the Seattle school district and closes porters' questions about his age and onstrations. down the in-patient treatment at the qualifications for city council. Gary .Johnson, 20, is running for Public Health Service Hospital." He Huffman, a member of the Young city council. In 1971, he polled more pledged that if he is elected city hall Socialist Alliance, defended the right than 5 percent of the vote in a city would "become an organizing center of young people to run for office, council primary. He is currently a co- Craig Honts Berkeley SWP wins fight against filing fee By RICK CONGRESS involving successful filing-fee chal­ i'oday, while SWP campaign workers of the Berkeley city council for its BERKELEY, Feb. 7- Acting on a lenges by SWP candidates were cited. were checking over the election codes meeting Feb. 13. The resolution reads: motion initiated by the Socialist Work­ A brief prepared for the council by at the city clerk's office, a Black wom­ "Whereas students have the right to ers Party and the Committee for Dem­ attorney .Keith Roberts pointed out an who had previously filed as a participate in the determination of ed­ ocratic Election Laws ( CoDEL), the that the $100 fee bore no relation candidate for city council but had been ucational policies; be it resolved: The Berkeley city council yesterday waived to the actual printing costs, and thus unable to pay the fee, approached Berkeley council allow high school a $100 filing fee for candidates who served only as a means to exclude the city clerk and said, "I'm one of students to run for the Berkeley board could not afford to pay. poor candidates from equal publicity. those dingbats who wants to get her of education." A city ordinance requires the $100 Councilman and Vice-mayor Wil­ name in print." fee for candidates in municipal elec­ mont Sweeney, a champion of "mod­ In a press statement, Hewell said, tions to appear in a voter's pamphlet erate'' liberalism in Berkeley politics, BERKELEY, Feb. 9-Doug Hewell, "Students and faculty must have great­ prepared by the city. The city council and Councilman McLaren, a conser­ a 15-year-old member of the Young er control over all aspects of public motion; which passed by a 7-2 vote, vative, cast the only . no votes. By Socialist Alliance, has been denied the education, including the hiring and stated that any candidate who filed way of explaining his vote, McLaren right to file for the board of education firing of teachers. . . ." an affidavit declaring inability to pay fumed, "This will let every dingbat for the April 17th elections. In refusing Today the Daily Californian, the would be exempted. in the whole community get his name to accept his candidate papers on Feb. University of California at Berkeley In arguing for the motion, a rep­ up in print to make antiestablishment 8, the city clerk cited the age require­ student newspaper, editorialized in fa­ resentative of CoDEL pointed out that statements." ment of 18 to run for city office. vor of the right of high school stu­ the fee discriminated against poor can­ The passage of the motion was wide­ Hewell then promptly submitted a dents to run for the board of edu­ didates. Several recent court decisions ly reported in the Bay Area media. resolution to appear on the agenda cation.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 15 New book distorts views was Malcolm x a revolutionary? By GEORGE BREITMAN b.enefit the revolutionary cause. Peter Goldman, a reporter when he "He was a revolutionary without an first interviewed Malcolm X in 1962 army, or an ideology, or any clear and now a senior editor at Newsweek, sense of how the revolution was to be insists on calling this "a white book waged and what it would do if it won. about Malcolm X . . . written from a Malcolm, instead, was a revolutionary white perspective." He would have of the spirit, which is the 'most sub­ done better to call it a white liberal versive sort of all; he was interested book, from a white liberal perspective; less in overthrowing institutions than and since Black and white liberals in undermining the assumptions on share basic assumptions, it would which n•1r institutions have run." have been even more- accurate to say a A revolutionary of the spirit (only), liberal book and a liberal perspective. that is, one who has no clear sense of · Liberals have changed many of revolutionary principles, strategy or their ideas since 1962, especially tactics, is usually acceptable to the about race relations; they used to liberals. It makes you wonder why think everything would be taken care the liberals almost without exception of by passing a few laws, and now wouldn't have anything to do with many of them think nothing can be Malcolm in his last year. done and have stopped trying. Gold­ Although he doesn't say so flatly - man has not become quite that pessi­ and cleanly, Goldman is admitting mistic, but in most other respects he in the passages cited that Malcolm was remains a typical liberal. He was some sort of revolutionary. So let's strongly influenced by Malcolm and see next what he does about the adjec­ he tries to pay tribute to his memory tives prosocialist and anticapitalist. by telling the truth about him. But Writing about Malcolm on his re­ the truth as he sees it is blurred and turn from Mecca and Africa in the in some places stood on its head by spring of 1964, Goldman says: "He his incorrigible liberal biases. did come home impressed by his A clear example of this is the way glimpse of socialism and his intro­ he presents Malcolm's views on in­ duction to its vocabulary. He worked dependent Black political action in some of it tentatively into a few 1964 after Malcolm had left the Na­ speeches and interviews, arguing that tion of Islam (Black Muslims)­ racism wasn't the only problem -that views that remained unchanged un­ it was the handmaiden of colonialism til Malcolm's death the following year: and capitalism." The key words for "He was adamantly against regis­ Goldman there are "tentatively" and tering black people as Democrats or "few." Republicans, a commitment that "One guesses that Malcolm's interest struck him as a sellout in advance. in African socialism at that point was There was a vein of political naivete more that it was African than that it in this, since most of the real political was socialist; it was in any case a decisions in Harlem are taken by minor motif in his speeches." There it's signed-up Democrats in Democratic "minor." clubhouses and Democratic primaries; to register blacks as independents Goldman then uncritically cites some would, whatever its spiritual satisfac­ condescending testimony from Charles tion, cut them out of the real electoral Silberman about a radio panel on process." which he and Malcolm spoke in June For most liberals political action 1964: "I got the feeling that he [Mal­ means being part of the Democratic colm] really didn't know what he ing that it may have given him porting to show thi:lt Malcolm was Party. They simply cannot understand meant by the [radical] words [he used] "spiritual satisfaction" to attack the evolving into a prosocialist, anti­ how anyone fails to see this. In their and that he didn't have any real con­ two-party system that oppresses capitalist revolutionary .... My own minds people who think· of political viction about them. He was trying out Blacks. action in any other terms are blind, feeling is that the book is too narrow any idea that would come to him and Not all of Goldman's liberal preju­ and . schematic a treatment of Mal- retarded, or _naive. Malcolm was asking himself, 'Is this the way I go?' dices are as glaring as that one. Some colm's lively and free-running intelli­ breaking with this conception and try­ I remember thinking he was really are not of much importance, but gence ing to move the Black masses in ...." floundering." others have a ruinous effect on his "Or improvising," Goldman adds. another direction. His reasons for do­ Leaving aside questions of tone attempts to understand and explain "Socialism remaineli a downtown idea ing so were political. But Goldman, style, or method, let's try to stick with what Malcolm was trying to do, es­ when he tries to explain Malcolm's the substantive questions -was Mal­ and a downtown theme for Mal- pecially in his last year. colm. . .." (Downtown here means position, is capable only of suggest- colm a revolutionary in his last year In part, Goldman's book is a po­ or not? Here's how Goldman handles not in Harlem.) The Death and life of Malcolm X lemic against the conclusions reached that: But, Goldman has to add in a later in my book, The Last Year of Mal­ chapter, "A strand of Left rhetoric did by Peter Goldman. Harper &Row. "He thought of himself," Goldman colm X, which was completed in the writes, "as a teacher, a minister, a appear in some of Malcolm's later New York, 1973. 438 pp. Cloth, spring of 1966. He calls it "an in­ Muslim, an African, an international­ speeches and interviews, particularly $8.95. geniously done Marxist analysis, pur- ist and in the most general terms a but not exclusively downtown. He con­ revolutionary; and, before any of tinued to see color as central but not these things, as black." But the fact necessarily the single motive force in that he thought of himself as (and his world: Malcolm began arguing SWP: 'trendiest of Old Left'? was) ma~y things did not make him that the nonwhite people of the world Peter Goldman's dislike of socialism rubs off onto the Socialist Workers any the less a revolutionary. had not only their nonwhiteness in Party, the only party on the left with whom Malcolm X had friendly "He talked about revolution, without common but their exploitation by the relations during his last year. Goldman's designation of the SWP defining either its means (except that West. Occasionally, he identified as "trendiest of America's Old Left parties" still has me puzzled. it probably wouldn't be nonviolent) capitalism straight out as an enemy­ "Trendy," if I understand the term correctly, refers to people who are or its ends (beyond 'respect and recog­ 'You show me a capitalist, I'll show very sensitive to shifts in fashion and who swiftly change their own nition' for black people)," Goldman you a bloodsucker' -and socialism stance or position in response to such shifts; in politics, this would asserts. I think that most objective as the almost universal system among refer to unprincipled opportunism, I think. Goldman seems to be charg­ readers of Malcolm X Speaks or By the new Third World nations coming ing the SWP with "trendyism" because it supported Malcolm in every Any Means Necessary would consider into independence." Quite a strand. way possible during his last year, and he expresses this when he that a bad distortion. Goldman doesn't take this seriously, quotes an unnamed journalist as saying the SWP "really jumped on "His radicalism directed itself only however; whatever clashes with his Malcolm's bandwagon." Goldman and his fellow journalist both seem gradually or fragmentarily at the prejudices can easily be labeled to have forgotten that there was no Malcolm bandwagon in his last basic institutions of American democ­ "rhetoric." Furthermore, he assures us, year. That was when he was virtually alone, fought or boycotted racy and American capitalism; Mal­ "his Left language and Left themes by virtually all Black groups, and when the SWP's support for Mal­ colm attacked those institutions were hardly more than asides for Mal­ colm brought forth denunciations of "racism" from virtually all groups savagely for their hypocrisies and colm- and in his very last speeches claiming to be Marxist. In fact, the evidence is that the SWP's support cruelties, but he accepted them then and interviews they abruptly van­ for Malcolm showed it to be the least trendy of any organizations­ [March 1964] as given and proposed ished." He then proceeds to speculate left, right, or center. But any stick seems suitable for liberals beat­ that they might even be used." Why about why Malcolm's radical "rhetoric" ing the Marxist dog. Say what you've said before, and that proves the "but"? Every intelligent revolution­ vanished from his last speeches. We you're dogmatic, schematic, and hopelessly doctrinaire. Say some-; ary accepts the institutions of capital­ need not bother with his speculations thing you've never said before (called for by something as urgent ism as "given," until they are replaced, here because the statement itself as the emergence of Black nationalism in the 1960s), and you're and everyone but infantile ultraleftists is simply untrue. trendy. - G. B. tries to make use of some (elections, Malcolm's last complete speech, legal action, etc.), whenever that will three days before his death, was at

16 Supreme Court abortion ruling has impact around the world Columbia University, where he said, By CINDY JAQUITH . in France. Dr. Barbara Roberts, a Island have been ruled unconstitution­ "We are living in an age of revolution, FEB. 13 -The U. S. Supreme Court WONAAC national coordinator, will al, and major parts of the New Mex­ and the revolt of the American Negro decision legalizing abortion continues also speak. ico law have been overturned. is part of the rebellion against the to have a powerful impact in this For further information on the oppression and colonialism which has country and around the world. In March 10 meeting, contact WONAAC According to the Feb. 5 El Diario, characterized this era.... It is incor­ Italy, 33 Socialist deputies endorsed at 150 Fifth Ave., Room 437, New Representative David Urbina has in­ rect to classify the revolt of the Negro a bill Feb. 11 allowing a panel of York, N.Y. 10011. Telephone: (212) troduced a bill into the Puerto Rican as simply a racial conflict of black three doctors to permit abortion where 675-9150. House to make abortion legal through against white, or as a purely Ameri­ "the physical and mental" health of Based on the Supreme Court ruling, the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. can problem. Rather, we are today see­ the woman is endangered. At pres­ women in Washington, D. C., won two The anti-abortion forces continue to ing a global rebellion of the oppressed ent, all abortions are illegal in Italy. significant victories this week. A Dis­ denounce the decision and threaten against the oppressor, the exploited In France, hundreds of doctors and trictiSuperior Court judge ruled Feb.12 action against it. Congressman Law­ against the exploiter." professionals, inspired by the U.S. that age must not be th~ only factor rence Hogan of Maryland proposed For some reason (his own politics?), abortion ruling, have publicly stated in a hospital's refusal to perform an a constitutional amendment to recog­ Goldman seems driven to belittle any their support for doing away with the abortion. The case in question con­ nize the fetus .as a human being from and every sign or evidence that Mal­ archaic French abortion law. And in cerned a 17 -year-old woman whose the moment of conception. Senator colm was becoming prosocialist. For Belgium, a demonstration has been mother had denied her permission for James Buckley of New York has also him, they are at most "bits of socialism called for Feb. 24 to defend Dr. Willy an abortion. announced his intention of submitting in his late vocabulary, whatever they Peers, jailed for performing abortions. The judge's decision, termed "un­ an amendment, perhaps based on a may have signaled about his (See World Outlook, WOf4.) precedented" by the Washington Post, states' rights argument. thinking." He even offers a kind In solidarity with the Belgian ac­ said in part: "neither the Fourteenth WONAAC and other abortion rights of "logic" for his stubbornness on this tion, chapters of the Women's Na­ Amendment nor the Bill of Rights is groups have declared their intention point: "Having once indentured his tional Abortion Action Coalition for adults alone." Although the rul­ to fight any attempts by the reaction­ soul to a particular leader [Muham­ (WONAAC) here will hold picket lines ing is not binding on other judges aries to defy the court decision. In mad] and a particular dogma [that Feb. 24. unless upheld by a higher court, it addition, WONAAC and other sup­ of the Nation of Islam], he would One of the major activities for represents a major victory for the porters of women's rights are support­ not have done so again [indenture WONAAC in the coming weeks will thousands of young women who seek ing bills to repeal all restrictions on his soul to socialism or other be building the March 10 meeting on abortions every year. It could also abortion wherever such bills are in­ "dogmas"]." This aspect of Goldman's the international struggle for abor­ apply to many other spheres where troduced. Malcolm ends up somehow more like tion rights. Three of the featured there are age restrictions. Wide interest in the abortion issue Goldman than Malcolm. speakers at this meeting, which will On Feb. 6 the D. C. city council remains. In Boston, 200 men and Goldman does not seem aware, of take place in New York, are leaders repealed a regulation that required women attended a Feb. 10 meeting what he is doing, perhaps, but in of the French abortion rights move­ women to undergo a 24-hour waiting called by the Women's Abortion Ac­ his eagerness to minimize Malcolm's ment: Gisele Halimi, the lawyer who period before obtaining an abortion. tion Coalition. In Minneapolis, more interest in socialism and revolution­ defended Marie-Claire Chevalier and The regulation was aimed at making than 300 women attended a New Fem­ ary ideas generally, he succeeds in her mother Michelle in the recent it more difficult for nonresidents to inism Conference sponsored by the disparaging Malcolm's intelligence French abortion trials; Michelle Che­ get abortions. Women's Liberation Group on the Uni­ and integrity: valier; and Claude Servan-Schreiber, Also in the wake of the court de­ versity of Minnesota campus. Abor­ "Malcolm had only a provisional a journalist and leader of Choisir cision, the abortion laws in Illinois, tion was one of several topics dis­ public philosophy in those days (Choice), an abortion rights group Ohio, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Rhode cussed at the conference. [March 1964]-not so much a single, coherent system of thought as a loosely strung set of positions that were changing even as he announced them ...." "The truth, as Malcolm himself kept telling us, was that he didn't know where he was going or what he wanted to be, exceptflexible." "His ideology and his program, to the extent that he had any.... [May 1964f' Continued on page 22

Malcolm x titles from Pathfinder By Any Means Necessary by Malcolm X. edited by George Breitman, 192 pp., $5.95, pbk Gisele Halimi (1), Michelle Chevalier, and Marie-Claire Chevalier. Halimi and Michelle Chevalier will be attending the $1.95. March 10 WONAAC meeting. The Last Year of Malcolm X by George Breitman, 159 pp., $4.95. Debates structure, not issues Malcolm X on Afro-American His­ tory 80 pp., $1. Women's Political Caucus meets By LINDA JENNESS ing the NWPC for not supporting her One of the most active caucuses at Malcolm X Speaks HOUSTON- The National Women's campaign for president in 1972, also the convention was the Chicana Cau­ edited by George Breitman, 242 Political Caucus (NWPC) held its first criticized feminists in the NWPC who cus. It presented several resolutions, pp., $6.95. national convehtion here Feb. 9-11. "downgraded the traditional role of one of which called upon the NWPC Almost 2,000 women from 48 states women." to recognize La Raza Unida Party The Assassination of Malcolm X attended, many more than anticipated She said it was "not the function and to include the name of the party by George Breitman and Herman by convention organizers. Most of of the National Women's Political in all of its official and promotional Porter, 60 cents. those attending were women active in Caucus to be the cutting edge of the materials. the Democratic and Republican parties Women's Liberation movement." Bella Malcolm X Talks to Young People who seek to involve more women in Abzug ( D-N. Y.) also criticized the 35 cents. The Chicana Caucus, along with the two-party system and get more caucus for having focused too much the Union Women Workshop, also Democratic and Republican women on "narrow feminist issues" and urged Malolm X: The Man and His asked that the NWPC endorse the Far­ the caucus to take up ''broader" issues. Ideas elected to office. ah boycott and the lettuce boycott. by George Breitman, 50 cents. The convention was called "the first So instead of discussing the need A refreshing break from the organi­ national political convention of wom­ to implement the Supreme Court de­ zational hassles was a demonstration Myths About Malcolm X: Two en in 100 years." But unlike the Sen­ cision legalizing abortion, or the im­ of several hundred convention partic­ Views eca Falls convention in 1872, where portance of fighting for the passage ipants at Foley's department store to by Rev. Albert Cleage and George Victoria Woodhull was nominated as of the ERA, or any other issues re­ protest the sale of men's pants made Breitman, 50 cents. the first woman candidate for the pres­ lated to the oppression of women, al­ by the Farah Manufacturing Com­ idency of the United States by the most all the time was taken up es­ pany. Two Speeches by Malcolm X Equal Rights Party, the NWPC con­ tablishing a national structure for the Workers at Farah plants in Texas 50 cents. vention did not attempt to set a pace NWPC. Democratic Texas legislator and New Mexico have been on strike PATHFINDER PRESS, 410 West for the feminist struggle. Frances (Sissy) Farenthold was elect­ for 10 months. About 85 percent of St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm ed chairwoman, and a new steering the workers in the Farah plants are (D-N. Y. ), for example, .after criticiz- committee was set up. Chicanas.

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 17 Za!lraie defense comm. Tril-ingual ballot urged

on for New York's Dist. 1 ference~~LIE~}~~!'"~~~~~!!~~'""' here, the Committee to Defend a trip Zahraie took to Canada, these By CLAUDIO TAVAREZ and students and defeat the UFT-sup­ Babak Zahraie announced that it has charges took up the bulk of the ses- NEW YORK, Feb. 14- On Feb. 10, ported slate. received the endorsement of Congress- sion. 130 people attended a rally conduct­ Luis Fuentes, District 1 school su­ man Ronald Dellums (D-Calif.) and The INS officer stated that the 1m- ed in Spanish, Chinese, and English perintendent, urged people at the rally Seattle Mayor Wes Uhlman in its cam- migration Service had definitely grant- to discuss the upcoming schbol board to join the fight to get trilingual nom­ paign to stop attempts to deport Ba- ed Zahraie's motion to reconsider and elections in District 1. The pro-com­ inating petitions and ballots for the bak Zahraie. Dellums and Uhlman is now processing Zahraie's perma­ munity-control Coalition for Educa­ May 1 election. He referred to a suit endorsed the committee's campaign in nent residency application. This is a tion in District 1 organized the rally, being filed today by the Puerto Rican response to an appeal for support reversal of a previous INS decision which took place on Manhattan's to Babak Zahraie's request for per­ to not even consider the application. Legal Defense Fund and the Com­ manent residence status in the U.S. A ruling on the application is expect­ Lower EastSide. mittee for Democratic Election Laws The Committee to Defend Babak Za­ ed in six weeks. The May 1 school board elections (CoDEL). hraie continues to urge organizations Mter the hearing, Zahraie told The will test whether the Albert Shanker The suit seeks an injunction prevent­ and individuals to send letters of sup­ Militant, "Under public pressure the leadership of the United Federation ing the board of elections from print­ port to John Boyd, Seattle Immigra­ INS has now been forced t<~ consider of Teachers can again successfully ap­ ing English-only nominating petitions tion and Naturalization Service (INS) my application. ·I feel that only the peal to the. racism of older white Dis­ and ballots. An English-only ballot district director. In addition to the continuing pressure of an outraged trict 1 residents to elect a school board would not only have the effect of dis­ letters by Dellums and Uhlman, the public will force them to grant my . hostile to the Puerto Rican, Chinese, enfranchising non-English-speaking committee released letters and tele­ application." and Black parents and their children. registered voters. It would also dis­ grams that had been sent by Allard The Committee to Defend Babak It is these children who make up the enfranchise thousands of Puerto Rican Lowenstein; Benjamin Spock; the Ira­ Zahraie has called upon its support­ vast majority of District 1 students. and Chinese parents who are neither nian Students Association in the U. S.; ers to keep the pressure on in support At the rally parents were encour­ citizens nor registered, but who have Ramona Ripston, executive director of Zahraie's application. aged to join the coalition and to par­ the right to vote on school board of the Southern California ACL U; the Zahraie began a nine-city speaking ticipate in the Feb. 18 screening of elections. entire faculty of the philosophy de­ tour Feb. 12 to publicize his case school board candidates. The coali- The District 1 school board, Paul partment at Portland State University; and win full support for civil liber­ tion will choose candidates who can O'Dwyer, a civil liberties attorney and and many other concerned individuals ties for foreign students. Among the best represent the interests of parents candidate for president of the city across the country. major tour activities will be a speech council; and Congressman Herman At Zahraie's hearing Feb. 8, the to the National Lawyers Guild con- Badillo (D-Bronx) are supporting the Immigration officer commented on the vention Feb. 18. suit. Virtually all the participants at "heavy mail traffic" in the INS o(fice the rally signed a petition urging a surrounding this case. The question­ To obtain materials from the com- trilingual ballot. ing of Zahraie centered on the tech­ mittee or to send donations, contact Rosa Esper6n, a parent and coali­ nical aspects of his application for the Committee to Defend Babak Za­ tion activist, gave a brief history of permanent residency. At no time did hraie, P. 0. Box 15422, Wedgewood the development of the community the INS attempt to introduce unsub­ Station, Seattle, Wash. 98115. Tele­ control conflict in New York. Clay­ stantiated charges of "conspiracy" or phone: (206) 543-8958. ton Flowers, director of District 1 's Black studies program; Claudio Ta­ varez, a district paraprofessional; and Georgina Hoggard, chairwoman of the District 1 school board, also spoke. Hoggard called for unity around a pro-community-control slate and declared her intention to run again for the board.

RUP candidate wins ballot status in Ca. race By MIGUEL PENDAS as an independent. LOS ANGELES- In a Jan. 30 pri­ In the primary, he polled more votes Feb. 8 picket line in front of Department of Immigration office in mary election, Raza Unida Party can­ than one of the Democrats and five of organized by Committee to Defend Bobak Zohroie. didate Andres Torres won ballot sta­ the Republicans. tus for the runoff election for state Several of the Democratic and Re­ senator in the San Fernando Valley's publican candidates spent more than 22nd District. $100,000 on their campaigns. The Torres ran sixth in a field of 14 Democratic winner, Alan Robbins, State rests case in with 595 votes. By outpolling two gave away 59,000 ball-point pens to candidates who were seeking the win over the voters. James Keysor, Peace and Freedom Party nomina­ another Democrat, gave away long­ Ruchell Magee trial tion, he qualifies for the Feb. 27 run­ playing records of six presidents' in­ By MICHAEL SCHREIBER small blood clot could have been the off ballot. Because the contest is sup­ augural speeches. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 14-The result of the heart having already posedly "nonpartisan," he will be listed It was a particularly hotly contested state plans to rest its case against Ru­ stopped beating. The pathologist said race because it may tip the balance chell Magee today. None of the pros­ sheepishly. that this key piece of ev­ of power between the almost evenly ecution witnesses have testified conclu­ idence can no longer be analyzed be­ matched Republicans and Democrats sively that the defendant killed Judge cause he flushed the blood clot down in the State Senate. Harold Haley during the escape at­ the toilet. The Raza Unida campaign faced tempt of several Black prisoners Aug. Manwaring's testimony illustrates harassment from Los Angeles police. 7, 1970.· the mishandling of evidence that re­ On two separate occasions, fund-rais­ Dr. John Manwaring, a pathologist, sulted from the hurried attempts to ing dances w~re raided on the pretext reported yesterday that the autopsy fabricate a case against Ruchell Ma­ of checking for liquor violations. Po­ performed on Judge Haley revealed gee and his former codefendant, An­ lice confiscated door proceeds, beat two wounds on the body. Manwaring gela Davis. County and state officials people up, and arrested several cam­ repeated the opinion he expressed in have reported that they lost shell cas­ paign workers, including local RUP the·trial of Angela Davis that "neither ings, left weapons used as exhibits Chairman Ray Porras. one of these wounds by itself could unidentified, and neglected to take fin­ In addition to the confiscations, the be fatal." gerprints at the scene of the shooting. problem of raising bail was an added The state contends that Ruchell Ma­ financial hardship on the campaign. gee killed Judge Haley by firing a The contradictory testimony of the Legal action is planned against the shotgun at his head. According to prison guards and sheriff's deputies cops. the Feb. 12 testimony of criminalist demonstrates that they, too, prepared Those interested in the Raza Unida Fred Wynbrandt, the bullet that was their reports hastily in order to cover campaign may contact: Partido Raza found lodged in Haley's back eame up the brutal manner in which they Unida, 551 South Maclay, San Fer­ from the pistol held by San Quentin opened fire on the prisoners' escape nando, Calif. 91340. Telephone: (213) convict William Christmas. vehicle. Sergeant Joseph Murphy ex­ Andres Torres Militant/Jock Borrell 361-6281. During cross-examination, Manwar­ plained earlier in the trial that San ing said that the autopsy revealed Quentin riflemen are instructed to dis­ an unusually small clot of blood in regard hostages in their attempts to the head wound. He admitted that the stop escaping prisoners.

18 NIXO 'S 1974 BUDGET AIMS 500atLA. TO PROP UP WEAKENED DOLLAR rally for By DICK ROBERTS gress. "The history of this policy goes that further expansion could trigger LosTres President Nixon's budget-slashing pol­ back before 1972," Nixon said, "and further rapid inflation. Nixon's 1974 By MIGUEL PENDAS icies are being viewed by many as a back before the dramatic moves taken budget is part of a policy aimed at LOS ANGELES- More than 500 reflection of the president's personal on August 15, 1971. It goes back "cooling off' the economy, and just people- mostly Chicano students­ philosophy. His proposals are being to the decision made in 1969 to bring as in 1969, this means cutting the rallied here Feb. 5 to free Los Tres compared to the "do-nothing" Repub­ an end to the dangerous inflation that budget and increasing the unem­ del Barrio. Los Tres are three young licanism of the Hoover era 40 years had started in the mid-sixties." ployed. Chicanos who were entrapped by po­ ago. (This decision to restrain the econ­ "Only by holding the line on Fed­ lice agents for their anti-drug activities. But the 1974 U.S. budget has little omy was actually made in 1968 dur­ eral spending will we be able to re­ Speakers at the rally included Bert to do with Nixon's personal ideas. ing the Johnson administration, as duce the inflation rate further in 1973," Corona from CASA-Hermandad It has been molded by the needs of Nixon indirectly states in the next sen­ Nixon emphasized in the economic General de Trabajadores (General U. S. capitalism in world trade and tence.) "The decision was carried out," report to Congress. Brotherhood of Workers), Rodolfo finance. And Nixon, like the other he said, "by slowing down the rise Times economist Eileen Shanahan "Corky" Gonzales of the Denver Cru­ top Republican and Democratic party of Federal spending and continuing explained that "Maybe an unemploy­ sade for Justice, and Raul Ruiz from officials, is following the dictates of the temporary tax increase that had ment rate of less than 4.5 per cent the Raza Unida Party. U. S. monopoly. been enacted in 1968 and by tight­ would be all right in 1974, the Ad­ Corky Gonzales was in the same A financial commentator in the Feb. ening monetary conditions." ministration's argument goes on, but jail with Los Tres while he was serv­ 4 New York Times observed that "the The president admitted that "curb­ to continue to reduce unemployment ing time on frame-up charges result­ first budget of the second Nixon Ad­ ing inflation and cutting back on de­ very rapidly this year would threaten ing from the Aug. 29, 1970, Chicano ministration marks the end of an era fense production necessarily involved a resurgence of inflationary pressures Moratorium. Corky described how that began with the pursuit of both a downturn in the economy and a that would have a number of unde­ deeply impressed he was with the de­ sirable results." votion of Los Tres to the Chicano Thus the drastic slashes in social liberation movement. welfare programs in the budget are Also speaking were representatives rooted in the government economic from the National United Committee program to stabilize the dollar to Free All Political Prisoners, the through increased unemployment. Ac­ Labor Committee of La Raza Unida cording to the plan, this .. will provide Party, and the Irish Republican needed labor power to keep the ex­ Clubs. pansion going without giving work­ A student leader of the recent strike ers the leverage to fight for needed that shut down the National Uni­ wage increases. versity of Mexico called for greater Shanahan remarks in the beginning solidarity between the Mexican student of her Feb. 4 analysis, "There is a movement and the Chicano movement. paradox in the response that is com­ A message from Olga Rodriguez, ing from Congress- and from the Socialist Workers Party candidate for public for that rna tter- to President mayor, was read urging a united de­ Nixon's economic and budgetary fense of Los Tres. plans. Jorge Rodriguez, an activist from Richard Nixon's 1974 budget calls for squeezing the economy. So did Lyndon John­ "The cutbacks in specific programs the Committee to Free Los Tres, son's 1969 budget. have generated a hurricane of crit­ chaired the rally. He announced that icism. But the broad underlying eco­ three days earlier, police had dispersed guns and butter, the Vietnam war and rise of unemployment." nomic assumptions of the budget and a peaceful protest at the American the war on poverty, and ended with In other words the ranks of job­ the President's economic report have Embassy in Mexico City demanding excessive inflation and excessive un­ less were swelled to more than five gone essentially unchallenged." freedom for Los Tres. employment- and with the collapse million in order to dampen workers' This is not hard to explain. The After the rally about 100 people of the international monetary system wage demands. This "reduces infla­ capitalist politicians who are criticiz­ marched to the nearby federal court­ to boot." tion" because it gives the monopolists ing the budget cutbacks, from the Con­ house and formed a picket line out This gets at the main considerations greater leverage for competition in gress to the mayors of big cities across front. When Los Tres attorney An­ of Nixon's proposed budget. world trade. the country, accept the underlying as­ tonio Rodriguez returned from the The Johnson administration "Great "And to speed up both the decline sumptions. They agree with Nixon courtroom, he announced that the Society" programs were launched in of inflation and the recovery of the that the needs of U.S. monopoly to judge had heard arguments in favor the mid-1960s under the impact of economy," Nixon continued, "I an­ stabilize the dollar are paramount, of appeal motions filed by the defense. the civil-rights struggle and the Black nounced the New Economic Policy. and they cooperate with the admin­ A ruling on the motions is not ex­ rebellions in the cities. They were to­ Temporary controls were im­ istration in not exposing the real rea­ pected for some time. ken programs aimed at heading off posed on prices, rents, and wages." sons for the budget slashes. The motions, if granted, would set the Black movement, and they were fi­ The combination of recession and The result is that desperately needed the basis for a new trial. A motion nanced when the U. S. economy was wage freeze ultimately paved the way social-reform programs become a po­ is also pending to reduce bail, which on the biggest upswing in its history, for economic recovery. But already, litical football, and no attention is is presently set at $50,000 each. fueled by armaments spending for the with unemployment still officially at given to the pressing question of pro­ Los Tres- Rodolfa "Rudy" Sanchez, war in Vietnam. The stock market 5 percent and numbering about 4. 8 tecting workers against inflation and Juan Fernandez, and Alberto "Beta" climbed to near-record highs, and the million workers, the government fears unemployment. Ortiz- were activists at La Cas a de arrogant rulers of the United States Carnalismo, a Chicano community set their sights on teaching the lib­ organization that was involved in an eration forces of Vietnam a lesson effort to drive heroin dealers out of the no matter what the cost. barrio. They were convicted of shoot­ A lot has changed since then! ing the armed federal agent who en­ Of overshadowing importance, so trapped and threatened them. They far as the economic policies of the are now serving time in federal prison. government are concerned, is the dol­ For further information about the lar inflation that was triggered by case, contact: Committee to Free Los escalated war spending. The dollar Tres, P. 0. Box 33511, Los Angeles, was toppled from its once paramount Calif. 90033. Contributions to aid the position in world finance, and the in­ defense should be sent to the same ternational monetary system that had been constructed around the dollar in 1944 collapsed. This is a central concern to the rulers of this country. Inflation doesn't mean the same thing to the owners of industry as to the workers who produce their wealth. If rents and grocery prices go up, it has little impact on the luxurious living standards of ruling-class fam­ ilies whose income from stocks and bonds is measured in the tens of thou­ sands of dollars. The monopolists' concern is the fact that inflation erodes the value of the dollar and it makes U.S. products less competitive in world trade. President Nixon explained the real reasons for slashing the budget in his Jan. 31 economic report to Con-

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 19 In Review ~Reefer ~Revolution' Madness' in New Reefer Madness. A G&H Produc­ tion. 1936. Distributed by the Na­ tional Organization for the Reform York City of Marijuana Laws. Project for a Revolution in New Don't pass up a chance to see this York by Alain Robbe-Grillet. pioneer effort in the government's anti­ Grove Press, Inc. New York, 1972. marijuana campaign. The movie, 183 pp. Paper $1.65. made in 1936 in close collaboration with the FBI, is even better than the poster. Alain Robbe-Grillet, a leading French "May, bring me some more reefers!" novelist and an internationally known "Quit that crazy laughing, Ralph. filmmaker, has spliced together in this It gives me the creeps." new novel a nightmare vision of New "I want to see Bill." York City in its death throes. But the Unfortunately, he can't. Bill's on "project for revolution" he explores trial for murdering his girl friend, bears no resemblance to the political realities or to the actual aspirations The First Circle. Directed by Aleksander Ford. Distributed of those living amid the 4ecaying flesh of "Fun City." by Paramount Pictures. Film Bringing to his fiction the techniques of cinema, Robbe-Grillet's scenes shift Mary, while under the influence of When Aleksander Ford, a Polish film director now living in Israel, and merge with each other, clash and the weed. And Ralph himself, along began working on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn' s First Circle, he must rebound, producing a rich montage with his girl friend, Blanche, is being not have been able to gauge the immensity of the undertaking. of fear and uncertainty. held prisoner in the apartment of two But this isn't just another case of a first-rate book getting turned pushers, May and Jack. into a Z-rate movie. Both Ralph and Blanche know Jack In the Soviet Union and the other bureaucratized workers states, really fired the shot that killed Mary. critics are rated according to how willing they are to slander and Books And Ralph is beginning to crack. Too suppress rebels like Solzhenitsyn. In the West, however, media per­ much marijuana has already started sonalities are ranked according to how cleverly they can miss the His nebulous characters trade iden­ to turn his brain to jelly. point. tities like masks; perspectives alternate When the jury finds Bill guilty, Ford's movie ends up as an extreme example of the latter ap­ as he switches from one camera to the Ralph snaps and bludgeons Jack to proach. He mixes things up according to the worst traditions of next; the future becomes the past be­ death with a handy fireplace poker. Hollywood: a few vignettes of brooding prisoners, typical "heavies" comes the present; wishes and dreams, Hopelessly insane by this time, he's rolling cigarettes and philosophizing bitterly, a couple of flashbacks nightmares and hallucinations take on carted off to a mental institution. a hard solidity as apparent reality dis­ The cops take Blanche, May, and solves into dust and shadow. He fo­ the poker down to headquarters, Film cuses in on objects and surfaces, and where Blanche tells all. This gets Bill brings out their shapes and textures off the hook, but Blanche still feels (true love, war, etc.), with scenes of torture and execution thrown with a clarity and precision few other guilty. As a series of flashbacks high­ in (a man walking around with a sledgehammer, making sure writers attain. lights her marijuana-smoking past, everyone's dead). But Robbe-Grillet's camera-eye be­ she leaps from a twentieth-story win­ What keeps this film from being unrelieved torture is Gunther Malz­ comes so fascinated with the colors of dow. acher, who plays Solzhenitsyn's hero, Gleb Nerzhin. Gleb represents breaking glass or with the lines etched In case you've somehow missed the the revolutionary spirit that cannot be crushed by the bureaucracy. in a person's face that it sees little else. point about the dangers of the weed, And Malzacher plays Gleb with a dignity that is impressive, even It has no curiosity, asks no questions, there's more. Bill's high school prin­ though it's incongruous in such an undignified movie. seeks no causes. cipal and the local FBI agent examine Gleb inhabits the Mavrino labor camp. ( Solzhenitsyn terms it the Thus, rather than pointing accusing some "case histories" of marijuana "ad­ "first circle of hell" because the hardship of prison life is cushioned fingers at the social ills he describes, dicts." One 16-year-old "addict," they but not eliminated by the relatively comfortable living conditions.) Robbe-Grillet's scenes of torture, mur­ tell us, killed a family of five with Prisoners at the camp work on scientific research for the Stalinist der, arson, and rape resemble nothing bureaucracy's secret needs. But unfortunately, the subtle hell-fires more than a pastiche of clippings and that are supposed to flicker around Gleb in this first circle are turned headlines taken from the New York to soggy ashes under Ford's direction. Daily News. A striking departure from the book is the insertion of more than His conspiracies, plots, and counter­ enough skin-shots to give the film its "R" rating. This will shock plots- all under the banner of "rev­ any viewer who has read Solzhenitsyn, since he is always cautious olution"- smack of the kind of sen­ and serious in his treatment of sex. sationalism stirred up around the In his works on prison life, the characters dwell on the emotional Charles Manson affair. His pages reek aspects of sexual experiences; remembering them is one of the subtle with the stench of sacrificial executions tortures associated with the first circle. as his protagonists burn, bomb, rape, But under Ford's direction, this subtle theme becomes its brutal and pillage under the guise of "libera­ opposite. For example, one of the prisoners periodically groans, tion." "Give me a woman!" Is this The First Circle, we ask, or are we One character declares, "Crime is in­ overhearing a voice from the X-rated spectacular next door? dispensable to the revolution. Rape, The movie's treatment of Volodin is a particularly annoying murder, arson are the three meta­ distortion. Volodin is a well-off bureaucrat who gets fed up with phoric acts which will free the blacks, his life of back-stabbing and betrayal. His descent into the first the impoverished proletariat, and the circle is unwittingly abetted by one of the Mavrino prisoners. intellectual workers from their slav­ In the movie this ironic relationship is lost. Volodin becomes the film's narrator, so that he can obediently explain everything ery." the visual images and action fail to relay. Robbe-Grillet may have simply been Several reviewers have excused Ford for this hodge-podge of a experimenting with his style, creating film by pointing to the difficulty of putting a 600-page novel on "art for art's sake" -for stylistically the screen. But Anna Karenina, The Grapes of Wrath, and Catch-22 this novel is sophisticated and consis­ are three examples of books of great scope that were successfully tent. But whether he intended it or not, transformed into films. (Casper Wrede's adaptation of Solzhenitsyn' s his "project for revolution" slanders A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich shows that even the most those who are sincerely interested in difficult works can be brought to life on the screen.) making a revolution, those who would an ax. Another, after sampling one Solzhenitsyn's First Circle brings home the' demoralizing impact like to build a new society free of the joint, went out to rob a bank. of bureaucratic rule and the bewildering paradox of reaction in the conditions that foster murder and Reefer Madness is so crude that it's land of the first socialist revolution. rape. hard to imagine the reaction of its It is unlikely that Ford's failure to convey this in the film is the The atmosphere of crime, fear, and original audience in 1936. Its wooden result of conscious distortion. But. what this demonstrates is that confusion that he depicts exists as part acting and lurid dialogue reminded movies lacking aesthetic judgment and political insight can often of the decay of urban life under capi­ me of a 1950s skin flick. It was, how­ be as misleading· as those with an obviously exploitative intention. talism, not as part of the revolution­ ever, the government's opening shot in If you're already tired of superficial attempts to interpret the works the socialist revolution- that will the scare campaign against mari­ of rebels like SolzhenitsyJ1, you'll want to miss this one. eventually sweep away such condi­ juana. -MICHAEL BAUMANN -DAVID SALNER tions. -ERNEST HARSCH

20 How-doctors ARIZ. SUPPORTERS CELEBRATE swindle PROF. STARSKY RIGHTS VICTORY Medicaid By HARRY RING by right~wing politicians and editors, ~n effective PHOENIX-"Arizona." The word imariably fight was mounted in Starsky' s behalf. It focused evokes an image of hard-bitten political reaction. clearly and sharply on the issues of civil liberties In many ways, the image is distorted. There and academic freedom. have always been · liberal and radical forces in Significant support was won locally and na­ Arizona, and the state has not been immune to the tionally, and three years later, the effort was radicalism that has been spreading in this country crowned by U.S. District Judge Carl Muecke's since the 1960s. forthright affirmation that Starsky' s constitutional Yet it is undeniable that support for radical rights had indeed been trampled on. ideas-or simply for the principles enunciated in Starsky was back in Phoenix for the first time the Bill of Rights-requires a greater degree of since the judge's decision, and the dinner party commitment in a place like Arizona than in many was the end of a busy, rewarding day. other parts of the country. Arriving at the Phoenix airport from Los In areas where reactionary forces exert a strong Angeles, where he's been living, Starsky was met pressure you invariably find a group of individuals by a reporter for the Phoenix Gazette. The next who are firmly committed to radical or civil liber­ day's issue featured a long political interview with tarian ideas. They often tend to band together into him. a kind of community where like-minded individuals Starsky was invited back to give a guest lecture can sustain one another, exchange ideas, and try at the Phoenix Press Club. The invitation is a prestigious one. Every president of the United States since the club was founded 24 years ago Dr. Mortimer Greenberg of Brooklyn has never has spoken there, along with many other notables. been heard to complain about "socialized medi­ The invitation to Starsky reflected the difference cine." He sees, and claims he treats, an average between those who control the media and those of 30 Medicaid patients an hour. For this he bills who work in it. Throughout the fight against his the city $70,000 a year. ouster, a big majority of the Arizona· working Medicaid is supposed to provide decent medical press had reported the case honestly and fairly. care for people with low incomes. But the biggest Their/ objective news accounts often stood in sharp benefits seem to be going to doctors like Greenberg. contrast to editorial tirades appearing in the same issue of a paper. Starsky's appearance was treated as a combined American Way of Life lecture and news conference. All three local affiliates of the national networks televised his talk and the questions that followed. Radio and press coverage A few years ago doctors, dentists, and chiro­ was also extensive. Starsky's appraisal of the practors discovered that for them· Medicaid meant major significance of his civil liberties victory was a new way to rake in higher fees than usual. widely quoted. All they had to do was set up rip-off clinics in Following the press club meeting, Starsky, was Black and Puerto Rican neighborhoods and ram invited to tape an appearance on the widely viewed patients through the examining room at assembly­ local program "Face the State." The moderator line speeds. A high percentage of the residents of the show and the station's news editor inter­ qualify for Medicaid, and there is little compe­ Morris Starsky Militant/Harry Ring viewed him for half an hour. tition from other doctors. The previous day, the ASU campus daily, the Medicaid pays $5.20 for each patient's first visit, to determine what they can do in behalf of those State Press, devoted its front-page lead to Starsky. $4.16 for each visit after that. This is a good ideas. Usually social ties develop that help to sus­ An editorial in the same issue called on the ad­ deal less than private physicians charge. But en­ tain such groupings. ministration to accept the court decision, declaring, terprising medics found they could make $500 On the evening of Jan. 24, I attended a dinner "We hope assistant professor Starsky returns to a day and more by examining patients at the party at a Phoenix restaurant with this kind of ASU as soon as possible." rate of one or two every five minutes. Kickbacks a group. At the dinner party, there were reminiscences of from referring patients to other "specialists" in the Among those present were Alan and Joyce the fight. All, of course, were delighted with the same clinic bring in even more. Kyman. An attorney, Alan Kyman is considered outcome. Alan Kyman, who bore the legal brunt To find out firsthand what kind of treatment an expert in cases involving the draft. He is also from the outset, was confident that even if the New York City Medicaid patients get, a Daily on the legal board of the Arizona Civil Liberties board of regents should decide to appeal the rein­ News reporter borrowed a Medicaid card, visited Union. statement order, the prospects are good that it a clinic in Queens, and pretended he had a cold. Also present were John and Chris Hoult. John will not be reversed. "He was directed immediately to a foot doctor," Hoult is the author of the recently published book As we talked, I asked if any of them had thought the News reports, "then sent twice to an internist March to the Right: A Case Study in Political at the beginning that they would win the fight. No with directions for a third visit, and then to a Repression. It's the story of Dr. Morris Starsky one answered in the affirmative. One of them re­ psychiatrist. He sat through chest X-rays, a car­ and his fight for reinstatement after being ousted sponded: diogram, gave two urine specimens, gave blood from the philosophy department of Arizona State "The issue wasn't if we would win. The issue was samples, and was given prescriptions for six dif­ University for his radical views and activities. that one of our colleagues was under attack for ferent medicines." Hoult is a professor of sociology at ASU. He unjust reasons." If he'd actually taken the combination of cough was chairman of the department until he protested They may not have known if they could win, syrup, sleeping pills, and tranquilizers the var­ Starsky' s ouster and the board of regents forced but they fought to win. That is, they fought in­ ious doctors prescribed, he'd have really been him to resign the chairmanship. telligently and effectively, rallying broad support sick. Another of the group was Jean Wiffen. A physical on a clear-cut basis of the civil libert~es issue at Consider what happened to Health Department therapist, she is nationally known in her field for stake. attorney Stuart Laurence when he borrowed a her work in relation to respiratory diseases. Their example, and the results obtained, will medicaid card and put on a pair of blue jeans. She's also a controversial figure in Arizona be­ surely hearten those who face similar attacks. He went to a clinic in a Puerto Rican neighbor­ cause of her strongly expressed views on the need hood and asked to see a foot doctor. for socialized medicine. "They took my Medicaid card and told me to Her husband, Marcus Wiffen, teaches archi­ join a line for chest X-rays," he reports. "I re­ tectural history at ASU. He was out of town that JUDGE ORDERS ISU fused and went to see the podiatrist." He told the night or he too would have been at the dinner podiatrist he "walked around a lot and sometimes party. TO REINSTATE STIRSIY my feet get tired." The podiatrist X-rayed his feet Then there was John Hudson. Also an ASU PHOENIX, Ariz.- Federal Judge Carl · and wrapped them in bandages. sociology professor, he's blind and comments, "If Muecke issued an order Feb. 2 directing He hobbled to another clinic and asked to see they would fire Morris for his political beliefs, they Arizona State University to reinstate fac­ an eye doctor. "... a chiropractor came out and could fire me because I'm blind." ulty member Morris Starsky. The univer­ offered to take care of me," he recalls. She "gave me a short lecture on what chiropractors do and The guest of honor was Morris Starsky. sity board of regents then announced it The party was to celebrate the ruling by a federal then made adjustments in my spine for the next judge this past December 26 that Starsky has b.een would appeal the decision to the Ninth 10 minutes." illegally ousted for his socialist beliefs and District Court in San Francisco. He went back to the reception desk and asked activities and must be reinstated. Meanwhile, the ;udge ordered the re­ again to see the eye doctor. The people present had good reason to celebrate. gents to post a $30,000 appeal bond to "This time, the receptionist told me I had to have my teeth X-rayed because I was a new pa­ Three years previous, they and a few others had cover possible damages to Starsky. He gathered at the home of John Hudson to discuss tient." He protested that his teeth had been X­ how they should respond to Starsky's termination said that despite the appeal he would rayed only three months ago, but the receptionist from the faculty. Though not agreeing with all of now schedule hearings on Starsky's claim insisted on a full set of X-rays anyway. Starsky's ideas, they decided it was necessary to for damages for his illegal termination. Still asking to see the eye doctor, he was led fight for his right to teach. They began the work Tl1e court ruled Dec. 26 that Starsky had to a dental chair, where he had three teeth filled. of initiating a defense committee. been ousted for his political views in vio­ He never did get his eyes examined. In the face of a furious barrage of red-baiting lation of his constitutional rights. -MICHAEL BAUMANN

THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 will provide for Thieu's right to con­ It is not an attempt to present a solidate his rule through terror and principled program to defend the in­ ... S. Viet ...Thieu the liberation forces' lack of right to terests of the French working class Continued from page 9 Continued from page J J resist with arms. Nixon and Kissinger or to fundamentally transform French York, 1972) Alfred McCoy describes for some time, will be performing what have already made this clear in their society. Instead it is an opportunistic how, "While only the slightest hint of informed sources described as 'logis­ appeals (and threats) to the workers' vote-catching operation based on sub­ the pro-Thieu faction's massive smug­ tical, supply, and training functions' states to exercise "restraint." ordinating the struggles and demands gling operation has leaked out of the for the South Vietnamese, intended pri­ There is unfortunately every indi­ of the French working class to the security-conscious military, the opera marily to assist in the maintenance of cation that the Moscow and Peking Communist and Socialist strategy of bouffe antics of bumbling lower house sophisticated U. S.-supplied aircraft Stalinists will go along with Washing­ collaboration with capitalism in representatives have rated incredulous and equipment. ton. In his speech at the Le Due Tho France. headlines around the world. "U.S. officials say that the fund­ banquet, Brezhnev seemed to warn the Future articles in The Militant will "Between September 1970 and ing of civilian technicians to work North Vietnamese leaders that the describe the election campaign the March 1971 no less than seven rep­ with South Vietnam's armed forces Kremlin does not consider military Communist League is running against resentatives returning from foreign does not violate the provisions in the aid to Hanoi on the agenda: "The the reformist strategies of the Union study tours were caught trying to cease-fire agreement prohibiting 'mil­ Democratic Republic of Vietnam re­ of the Left. smuggle everything from gold and itary advisers . . . including technical sumes the constructive work. It now heroin to Playboy calendars and bras­ military personnel.'" has an opportunity to concentrate its sieres into South Vietnam." efforts on socialist construction, and ": . . a peace with honor. I know FEB. 13- The National Liberation new prospects implementing the ... Malcolm it gags some of you. ... " Front and the North Vietnamese For­ behests of President Ho Chi Minh­ Continued from page 17 To fight its war against the Viet­ eign Ministry both issued statements for creating a peaceful, united, demo­ "That new politics [which Malcolm namese people, the imperialists assem­ yesterday charging that Saigon troops era tic Vietnam-have opened. was trying to create in his last months] bled a huge puppet army. All those were launching attacks against zones "A road for peaceful democratic de­ remained a composite rather than a who died fighting to preserve the controlled by the rebel forces in South velopment, for upholding true inde­ system- a loosely strung series of po­ Thieu regime were . surely as much Vietnam. pendence and for conducting the sitions held together more by victims of Washington's war as the The NLF spokesman, Ly Van Sau, policy of national concord and unifi­ Malcolm's militant bearing than by fighters for North Vietnam and the also charged that the United States cation opens before South Vietnam." any single coherent philosophy." NLF who were killed by U. S. bombs had refused to dismantle all its mil­ The fact that a peaceful road of "He was not a saint, really; neither and the military forces of Washing­ itary bases in South Vietnam, and democratic development has opened was he a strategist or a seminal think­ ton and Saigon. Official Saigon es­ that North Vietnamese and NLF del­ in South Vietnam may be news to the er or even a major leader.... Mal­ people of the South-the refugees be­ timates of military deaths in Vietnam egates on the joint cease-fire commis­ colm X was something more impor­ hind Thieu's barbed wire, the political for the 12 years before the cease-fire sion were being subjected to bad treat­ tant than any of these things. He was oppositionists facing torture and death are: ment and "indecent" housing. a prophet." in Saigon's jails, the peasants and e South Vietnam- 183,528 killed "We will not go on tolerating these "He made substantial contributions violations· because it would encourage workers ·exploited under the guns of to what is now orthodox Black and 499,026 wounded. Thieu's army. All this is part of Hrezh­ • North Vietnam and NLF-924,- the Saigon administration and lead Thought -the stresses on land, power, nev's and Chou's "victory." Their mes­ 048 killed, no figures available on to the complete sabotage of the Paris community control, national identity, cease-fire and peace accord," said Sau. sage to Hanoi-and to Washington­ Pan-Africanism, the right to self-de­ wounded. will surely not be misunderstood. This tally of destruction is not com­ fense. . . . But his more important plete. We can expect that the Vietnam­ legacy was his example, his bearing, his affirmation of blackness.... " ese people will supply far more pre­ Goldman thinks Malcolm was a cise accounts of what the imperialists ... cease-fire ... France Continued from page J2 great man, but not because of his have done to their country. Continued from page 13 France, Great Britain, and the four ideas during his last year. Malcolm, The vastness of this destruction­ sections of the French capitalist class countries that make up the Interna­ by contrast, thought those ideas im­ in bombs alone South Vietnam has (for their own reactionary reasons) tional Commission of Control and Su­ portant enough to risk his life for. been hit with two and a half times the have at times been unhappy with. pervision-Poland, Hungary, Cana­ Fortunately, the major speeches and worldwide total dropped from U. S. The Communists are in a particu­ planes during all of World War II­ da, and Indonesia. It has been re­ statements of Malcolm's last year are larly awkward position on this ques­ in print, and the reader can consult was the necessary course for the im­ ported that United Nations Secretary General Kurt Waldheim will be asked tion since they follow the political lead them to make independent judgments perialists to follow if they were to to chair the meeting. of the bureaucracy in the Soviet about the issues discussed above. Un­ impose their power on the masses of "The unstated purpose of the con­ Union, which is the target of this anti­ fortunately, there are two other issues Southeast Asia. ference, and its real importance," Communist alliance. In fact, previous discussed in Goldman's book that can­ ". . . a peace with honor. I know Flora Lewis wrote on January 30, to the Union of the Left campaign, the not be tested in this way -the internal it gags some of you. ... " "will be to de-Americanize the peace, Communists had opposed French par­ life and problems of the organizations Nixon's idea of honor reveals the involving the major powers and the ticipation in the Atlantic Alliance. Malcolm created after he left the Black arrogance and moral depravity of United Nations in responsibility for The Communist Party's reversal of Muslims, and the assassination of U.S. imperialism. Nixon has even considering what to do if the cease­ its position on the Atlantic Alliance, Malcolm. I say unfortunately because been nominated by one of his sup­ fire breaks down." along with similar shifts the Commu­ in my opinion Goldman is not only porters for the Nobel Peace Prize! The A more exact term would be to "tri­ nist Party .and the Socialist Party have wrong in the way he handles them, judgment that he deserves should partize" the peace; that is, for the made on other questions, underlines but irresponsible as well. These ques­ come not from the Nobel Prize com­ United States, China, and the Soviet the real character of the Union of the tions will be discussed in coming mittee, but from a war crimes tribunal. Union to arrive at an agreement that Left and its program. issues. Socialist Directory ALABAMA: Tuscaloosa: YSA, P. 0. Box 5462, University, Ala. 35486. KENTUCKY: Lexington: YSA, P. 0. Box 952, University Station, Lexing­ Cincinnati: YSA, c/o C.R. Mitts, P.O. Box 32084, Cincinnati, Ohio 45232 ARIZONA: Phoenix: YSA, c/o Angelo Mercure, P. 0. Box 890, Tempe, ton, Ky. 40506. Tel: (513) 242-6132. Ariz. 85281. MARYLAND: College Park: YSA, University P.O. Box 73, U of Md., Cleveland: SWP and YSA, 4420 Superior Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44)03. CALIFORNIA: Berkeley-Ooldond: SWP and YSA, 3536 Telegraph Ave., College Park, Md. 20742. Tel: (216) 391-5553. Oakland, Calif. 94609. Tel: (415) 654-9728. MASSACHUSffiS: Amherst: YSA, R. S. 0. 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Lower Manhattan: SWP, YSA, and Merit Bookstore, 706 Broadway WASHINGTON: Pullman: YSA, c/o Dean W. Johnson, 1718 A St., Chicago: SWP, YSA, cind bookstore, 180 N. Wacker Dr., Room 310, (4th St.), Eighth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10003. Tel: SWP, YSA-(212) Pullman, Wash. 99163. Chicago, Ill. 60606. Tel: SWP-(312) 641-0147, YSA-(312) 641-0233. 982-6051; Merit Books- (212) 982-5940. Seattle: SWP, YSA, and Militant Bookstore, 5257 University Way N. E., INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities Desk, Indiana Uni­ Upper West Side: SWP and YSA, 2744 Broadway (106th St.), New Seattle, Wash. 98105. Hrs. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Mon.-Sat. Tel: (206) 523- versity, Bloomington, Ind. 47401. York, N.Y. 10025. Tel: (212) 663-3000. 2555. IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, c/o Mark Jacobsen, 2310 College St., Apt. B, OHIO: Bowling Green: YSA, c/o Sharon Rees, 212 Prout Hall, Bowl­ WISCONSIN: Madison: YSA, c/o James Levitt, 411 W. Gorham St., Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613. Tel: (319) 277-2544. ing Green State University, Bawling Green, Ohio 43402. Madison, Wis. 53703. Tel: (608) 257-2835.

22 NEW YORK: LOWER MANHATTAN CRISIS IN THE NEW YORK SCHOOLS: Community leaders speak out. Speakers: Luis Fuentes, superinten­ dent, District 1; Margarita Gonzales, head of parent. Calendar _association of P.S. 81 in East Harlem; Reverend Wilbur WHY IS THE DOLLAR ATLANTA Miller, leader af Canarsie struggle. Fri., Feb. 23, MILITANT BOOKSTORE FORUM SERIES. Held every 8 p.m. Loeb Student Center, New York University. week on topi~s of interest- the Black struggle, women's Ausp: Militant Forum and LUCHA. For more infor­ IN TROUBLE AGAIN? liberation, the Vietnamese revolution, socialism- pan· mation call (212) 982-60S1. els, films, guest speakers, debates. Every Friday, 8:30 p.m., 68 Peachtree St., downtown Atlanta. For infor­ OAKLAND/BERKELEY In DECLINE OF THE DOLLAR: A Marxist View of the Monetary Crisis, mation call(404) S23-061 0. MALCOLM X: THE MAN AND HIS IDEAS. Speakers: internationally renowned Marxist economist Ernest Mandel offers a clear Clifton DeBerry, Socialist Workers Party 1964 pres­ explanation of the complex causes for the recurrent monetary crises. BOSTON idential candidate; Ken Miliner, SWP candidate for Probing below the immediate causes of mqnetary upheavals, be dem­ CIVIL LIBERTIES ·UNDER ATTACK: The case of Bobak Berkeley city council. Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Tan Oak and Siamak Zahraie. Panel: Siamak Zahraie, Iranian Room, Fourth Floor, Student Union, UC Berkeley. r:>o­ onstrates how they reflect broader economic, social, and political prob­ graduate student at U Mass, Amherst, who the Im­ nation: $1. Sponsored by Militant Forum. For more lems- problems of importance in understanding the increasing antilabor migration and Naturalization Service is attempting information caii(41S) 6S4-9728. policies of capitalist governments. Notes, Chronology, Glossary. 128 pp., to deport; Mark Severs, coordinator of the Commit­ $4.95, pbk $1.75. PHILADELPHIA tee to Defend Bobak Zahraie; and others. Fri., Feb. A Monad Press Book, exclusively distributed by Pathfinder Press, Inc., 23, 8 p.m. 655 Atlantic Ave., Third Floor (opp. South PHILADELPHIA TEACHERS' STRIKE. Panel with Nancy Sta.). Donation: $1, h. s. students SOc. Sponsored by Strebe, Socialist Workers Party candidate for district 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. Militant Labor Forum. For more information call (617) attorney; teachers; students. Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. 482-80SO. University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St., Second Floor. Donation: $1, h. s. students SOc. CHICAGO For more information caii(21S) 92S-4316. MEMORIAL MEETING FOR MALCOLM X- Speakers from the Socialist Workers Party and Black Masses SAN FRANCISCO Party of Milwaukee. Feb. 23, 8 p.m. 180 N. Wacker MALCOLM X: The Man and His Ideas. Fri., Feb. 23, Young Socialist Teams Fund Dr., Room 310. Donation: $1, students 7Sc. For more 8 p.m. 2338 Market St. Donation: $1, h. s. students information call(312) 641-0147. SOc. Sponsored by Militant Labor Forum. For more information caii(41S) 626-99S8. CLEVELAND needs $10,000 by March 31! POLITICAL REPRESSION IN SRI LANKA (CEYLON). SEA mE Umbrellas, sleeping bags, credit cards, cars-these ore some of the items Speaker: Vijaya Wickrama from the London-based MEMORIAL TO MALCOLM X: filll): (Struggle for Free­ that have been pledged to help put 12 young socialist teams on the road Ceylon Solidarity Committee. Thurs., Feb. 22, 8 p.m. dom) and tape (Ballot or the Bullet). Fri., Feb. 23, Thwing Hall, Case Western Reserve University. Do­ 8 p.m. Militant Bookstore, 5257 University· Way, N. E. from March through May. nation: $1, h. s. students and unemployed SOc. For Donation: $1. Sponsored by Young Socialist Alliance One additional thing is needed, however. About$] 0,000. more information call(216) 391-SSS3. and Socialist Workers Party. For more information The,$] 0,000 will help provide the teams with more than 40,000 copies of call (206) S23-2SSS. The Militant and Young Socialist, 24,000 brochures and other literature, and DENVER an ample supply of books and pamphlets from Pathfinder Press, all to dis­ SOCIALIST SCHOOL BOARD CAMPAIGN BANQUET. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Militant Bookstore, 1203 Calif­ THE SWP ON THE AIR. Listen to Theodore Edwards, tribute to thousands of young people from coast to coast. The money is also fornia St. Donation: $1, h. s. students SOc. spokesman for the Socialist Workers Party, on his needed to help pay for gas and minimal living expenses for the team volun­ weekly radio program, 2 p.m. every Saturday, KPFK­ teers. DETROIT FM, 90.7. The Young Socialist Teams Fund has been launched to raise this$] 0,000. MALCOLM X AND AFRICAN LIBERATION. Speakers to be announced. Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. 3737 Wood­ TWIN CITIES A total of $]32 was received in the last week, bringing the amount raised ward Ave. Donation: $1, h. s. students SOc. Sponsored FOREIGN STUDENTS AND THE RIGHT TO DISSENT: to $4,402. The remaining amount must be raised by March 31 to ensure that by Militant Forum. For more information call (313) The case of Bobak Zahraie. Speaker: Bobak Zahraie. all 12 teams can be out on the road for the projected eight-week period. 831-613S. Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. 1 University Ave. N. E., Mpls. You can help. Clip out the coupon below and send your contribution to the Donation: $1, h. s. students and unemployed SOc. Spon­ Young Socialist Teams Fund. LOS ANGELES sored by Militant Forum. Fo; more information call BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY -In commemoration of (612) 332-7781. the assassination of Malcolm X. Speakers: Laura Moor­ 'UI¥6 SOCIALISTS --- head, African Liberation Support Committee and " "' f:'OR ~ Young Socialist Alliance '73 Campaign; Harry Ring, Calendar and classified ad rates: 75 Southwest Bureau of The Militant. Plus a taped speech cents per line of 56-character-wide type­ by Malcolm X that was given at the Militant Labor wriHen copy. Display ad rates: $10 per Forum. Fri., Feb. 23, 8 p.m. 11071/2 N. Western '~PUlLEY· Ave. Donation: $1, h. s. students SOc. For more in­ column inch ($7.50 if camera-ready ad formation call(213) 463-1917. is enclosed). Payment must be included with ads. The Militant is published each NEW YORK CITY week on Friday. Deadlines for ad copy: CITY-WIDE KICK-OFF RALLY FOR NEW YORK SOCIAL­ Friday, one week preceding publication, IST WORKERS PARTY CAMPAIGN. Speakers: Norman for classified and display ads; Wednes­ Oliver, SWP candidate for mayor; Linda Jenness, SWP 1972 presidential candidate. Fri., March 2, 8 p.m. day noon, two days preceding publica­ Tishman Auditorium, New York University, 40 Wash­ tion, for calendar ads. Telephone: {212) Young socialist team spreads socialist ideas during 1972 election campaign ington Square South. For more information call (212) 243-6392. 982-60Sl.

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THE MILITANT/FEBRUARY 23, 1973 23 THE MILITANT Detroit hearings on 'STRESS' Black inquiry exposes cops' racist terror By RONALD LOCKETT lice swerved in front of him and forced DETROIT, Feb. 11-Black residents him over to the side of the road. They continued to protest the reign of ter­ demanded to see his license and reg­ ror police unleashed here in the wake istration but offered no explanation of a shoot-out last December in which when he asked why. They then be­ one policeman was killed and several gan asking him a series of questions wounded. In a series of hearings and totally unrelated to his car or driv­ rallies, a broad spectrum of the Black ing. This stopping, searching, and ha­ community spoke out against the po­ rassing of Blacks the police deem "sus­ lice harassment and calied for an end picious" has been a common com­ to the special unit of the Detroit po­ plaint voiced in the hearings. lice most responsible for it, the Morris said that he understood why STRESS ("Stop the Robberies- Enjoy some younger Blacks might get fed Safe Streets") unit. up with this behavior and defend The broad-based Independent Black themselves, especially when the police Commission of Inquiry into Police brandish their weapons in such cases, Terror has held three of five sched­ which is frequent. He also said, "I uled hearings. Press and TV cover­ hope something can be done before age of the first hearing (see The Mil­ some of the old men like me give up itant, Feb. 16) was extensive. Both the few years we have left" in defend­ major dailies, the News and the Free ing themselves against the police. Press, had detailed stories on the hear­ The commission announced in a ing. The Michigan Chronicle, Mich­ Feb. 9 news release that Kenneth igan's Black newsweekly, covered the Cockrel was joining the commission commission's activities on the front and would be seated for the fourth page of its Feb. 10 issue. and fifth hearings. Cockrel, a prom­ In addition, TV channels 7 (ABC) inent Black attorney, is defending and 4 (NBC) provided filmed cover­ Hayward Brown, who is charged age. Reports of the hearings have been with murder in the death of one of broadcast daily on the area's Black the STRESS policemen. stations, especially WCHB. Channel In the same release the commission 56, UHF-TV station, filmed the en­ also announced that Louella Buck tire first hearing for airing at a later had been unanimously chosen as hon­ date. The commission coordinators al­ orary chairwoman. Her 15-year-old so gave extensive interviews to Mu­ son Ricardo was a victim of the hammad Speaks and The Black Pan­ STRESS squad Sept. 15, 1971. ther. The Black Commission has two Trigger-happy plainclothes cops in Detroit, like this STRESS officer, are harassing and Blacks from all walks of life have more hearings scheduled. The fourth brutalizing Blacks who''look suspicious.' testified about the daily insults, ha­ one will take place Feb. 13 at Pre­ rassment, and brutal treatment they sentation Catholic High School at receive at the hands of the racist po­ 7:30 p.m. The fifth and last hearing, request by Police Commissioner Nich­ any difference to "anti-S'I'RESS radi­ lice force. Typical of the witnesses step­ to take up courses of action to deal ols to hear behind closed doors his cals." "They wouldn't believe us if Mal­ ping forward was Ray Jenkins, who with the police terror, will be held at reports on charges of police brutality. colm X were the commander of testified at the hearing held Feb. 11 Wayne State University on Feb. 17 The reports will be on only six of STRESS," Bannon said. at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church on at 10:00 a.m. the 20 complaints heard at a Jan. 11 He made the real purpose of the Detroit's West Side. On Feb. 11 a protest rally was common council meeting. No expla­ new director clear when he admitted ~enkins is a middle-aged real estate called by the Labor Defense Coalition, nation was given for dropping the that many Blacks who are now pre­ broker. He was detained Dec. 7 by a group headed by Kenneth Cockrel. other 14. Nichols said public disclo­ disposed to opposing STRESS might two white policemen who objected to More than 600 attended the predom­ sure of the reports "would serve no be swayed in their attitude towarc his waiting in his car for a client inantly Black event. Prominent lead­ purpose but to fan the flames already the unit after Jackson's appointment. who was inspecting a nearby house. ers of the Black community denounced licking at our city." What the reaction of the community He was searched and insulted by the the police terror and called for the The common council and police de­ will be remains to be seen. It is un­ police. Complaints he made to Po­ dissolution of STRESS. Speakers in­ partment are trying to defuse the de­ likely that opposition to STRESS will lice Commissioner John Nichols, the cluded Councilwoman Erma Hender­ veloping protest movement in the city. decrease simply because a Black co­ Civil Rights Commission, and the Cit­ son, State Representative Jackie The police department announced it signs the squad's "death warrants." izens Complaint Bureau brought no Vaughn III, the Reverend Charles had appointed a Black codirector of The common council, obviously response. He stated, to the applause Butler of the New Calvary Baptist the STRESS unit, George Jackson. stung by criticisms of its functioning of the audience, that the "police are Church, Harold Wilson of UAW Lo­ Jackson, a 25-year veteran of the de­ and the formation of the Independent as racist as any you can find in Mis­ cal 600, and others. partment, defended the actions of the Black Commission, has announced sissippi" and that "police investigating In the meantime, Detroit's common STRESS unit. the formation of a nine-member com­ police is the biggest joke in the world." council has continued its do-nothing The other codirector, James Ban­ mittee to "study relations between cit­ James Morris, 50, became a vic­ policy. The whitewash of STRESS the non, in commenting on the appoint­ izens and the police." Council Pres­ tim of harassment for the first time Black Commission has warned about ment, radical-baited the opposition to ident Mel Ravitz admitted it was in two weeks ago. He was stopped by came to pass last week. The council STRESS when he charged that he did response to a "number of complaints police while driving in his car. Po- announced that it had agreed to a not believe Jackson's race would make regarding the police department." Cities will suffer from budget cutbacks The following otatement was made nos, and other oppressed nationalities Democrats and Republicans will both Feb. 14 by Norman Oliver, Socialist concentrated in the central cities. Mas­ go along with his plan to enrich the Workers Par~ candidate for mayor sive social programs are urgently few at the expense of the many. They of New York. needed to begin to alleviate the press­ can't solve the problems because they ing problems facing the American peo­ are on the side of the capitalist sys­ President Nixon's 1974 budget reveals ple. Yet even the minimal, inadequate tem, which puts private profits ahead the real priorities of the capitalist pol­ social welfare programs are being tak­ of human needs. iticians who run this country. Nixon en away. We must oppose these cutbacks. We wants an increase of $4.2-billion for Millions face exorbitant rents in di­ must demand: Shorten the work week the war budget. At the same time he lapidated, rat- and roach-infested so there can be jobs for all! Union wants to slash spending on social ser­ apartments. Our right to a decent ed­ wages for all workers and for those vices. ucation is being denied because of unable to work! Preferential hiring The working pe6ple will be the ones the lack of funds for schools. And and promotion for Blacks and other to suffer while the war contractors now Nixon proposes even to cut off oppressed nationalities! A crash pro­ continue to get rich at our expense. funds for milk for school children! gram of public works! Put the needs The cutbacks are going to hit hard­ Although there has been a massive of the people ahead of the profits of est at Blacks, Puerto Ricans, Chica- outcry against Nixon's budget, the the rich!

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