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Irán • Emmett Till 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 57, No. 37 Sept. 17, 2015 $1 CHARLESTON, S.C. Black jobless rate stays high. 5 . ‘Days of Grace’ hits racism, poverty PHOTOS: WISCONSIN BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE

By Lamont Lilly Charleston, S.C.

Over 800 gathered in the city of Charleston, S.C., on the morning of Sept. 5 for the Days of Grace Mass March and Strategy Conference against racism and for economic justice. Indeed, activists, organizers and at- tendees traveled from all over the United States. Guest speaker, Clarence Thomas, of the International Longshore Workers Union Local 10, came all the way from Oakland, Calif. Several of their leading organizers all journeyed together from the West Coast to East Coast, including dock workers all the way from Seattle. The Southern Workers Assembly proved to be one of the most energetic con- tingents in the march. National activist DeRay McKesson came from Minneapolis, Minn. Organizers with the Fight BLACK for $15 pressed their way from as far as , Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. The Boston-based LIVES Mass Action Against came all the way from Massachusetts. Workers World Party sent a delegation rep- MATTER resenting Durham, N.C., Virginia, Atlanta, and New York. Such solidarity was an affirmation of our collec- tive sense of urgency.  Freddie Gray As old and young, Black and white, women and men stood together, we remembered the fallen nine of Eman- uel African Methodist Episcopal Church in strength and  Yuvette solidarity, innocent victims of the racist shooting spree on Henderson June 17. We lifted the name of Walter Scott, fatally shot in the back by a cop in North Charleston, in the name of justice, truth and liberation. We honored the countless  William victims of police terror and continued state violence, na- tionwide. As nearly a thousand marched through down- Chapman II town Charleston, our display of unity, resistance and sheer determination could not be ignored. Our will to fight could 7 not help but be heard as tourists and onlookers took note. National media sources kept pace and stayed close. Charleston march against racism and economic injustice, Sept. 5. As you looked over the crowd, there were placards and banners commemorating the work and sacrifices of Den- Key issues included police terror and discriminatory KENTUCKY mark Vesey, Robert Smalls and Harriet Tubman — all an- enforcement; the minimum wage and the exploitation of ti-slavery fighters. Slogans such as “Finish the revolution,” low-wage workers; health care, public education, collective Super-rich push bigoted agenda 3 “Stop the war on Black America,” and “Black women mat- bargaining and new strategies toward achieving Black lib- ter” were all fan favorites. Along the march, local ministers eration. It was quite refreshing to see such a wide range of California prisoners sang “We Shall Overcome,” while more militant-minded local and national organizations actually working together, youth chanted “Black Power!” and “No justice, no peace!” very intentionally setting their differences aside for the sake As the morning sun began to rise, we concluded with an of poor, working-class and oppressed communities. END SOLITARY enthusiastic and thunderous rally on Marion Square. Continued on page 6 CONFINEMENT 6

Subscribe to Workers World CENTRAL AMERICA 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 Class struggle heats up 11 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ Name ______THE REFUGEE CRISIS Email ______Phone ______and U.S. wars 9

Street______City / State / Zip ______Workers World 212.627.2994 10 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org OBAMA’S ALASKA TRIP Page 2 Sept. 17, 2015 workers.org Lynne Stewart’s message for Women’s Equality Day  In the U.S. The following statement from the people’s My dear sisters, comrades, warriors: ‘Days of Grace’ hits racism, poverty ...... 1 lawyer and former political prisoner, Lynne Lynne Stewart’s message for Women’s Equality Day . . 2 I truly regret not being able to join you. I am going to take Stewart, was read by Betty Davis, a longtime advantage of some cool, clean upstate air and just sitting on the Kentucky: Billionaires behind racist, anti-LGBT strategy . 3 activist for community control of education porch with a glass of iced tea and thinking. Rasmea Odeh speaks out against police crimes ...... 3 and a member of the New Abolitionist Move- We are in the dog days when things move slowly but no less Facing a lockout: Steelworkers demand ‘fair contracts’ . 4 ment, at the Aug. 26 Women’s Equality Day urgently for that. We must use this hiatus in our busy-ness to get Seattle teachers vote to strike ...... 4 speakout in New York City. ready to go forth into the autumn. There is so much. Iran, ISIS, Brazilian autoworkers strike, layoffs cancelled ...... 4 Greece, and at home, climate, the growing gap between rich and ‘After we pay the rent ... the money’s all spent!’ ...... 4 poor, and the prisons. So much of our work must emanate from African-American jobless rate stays high ...... 5 the horror that are those death camps. Having an impact on so many, and of course, sustained by On the Picket Line ...... 5 the blood-stained dollar are the jails that deliver a living hell to Major victory ends solitary confinement ...... 6 the younger prisoners and often a death warrant to the elders. rally demands ‘Justice for Freddie Gray!’ . . . . 7 As most of you know, since you brought me home from Carswell Police officer charged with killing Black youth ...... 7 [prison] almost two years ago I have been focused on the release Emeryville, Calif.: Release Y. Henderson’s autopsy report . 7 of political prisoners, the heroes of our movement in the ‘60s, Obama’s Alaska trip – Big Oil profits, war threats . . . . 10 ‘70s and ‘80s. Many of them have been imprisoned for almost 50 years and they are dying; witness the transition of our beloved Letter: Deportations, racism vs. ‘humane’ democracy . 10 Hugo Pinell in California. They are counting on us to bring them back now to the com-  Around the world munity of hope and struggle and change that they have contin- Iran deal: Imperialists search for new strategy ...... 8 ued to serve, even behind cruel prison bars. Marxism and the war in Donbass ...... 8 I believe the time has come for us to defeat the omnipotent U.S. wars caused refugee crisis ...... 9 police force that lobbies for continued incarceration; to use all U.S. veteran disputes anti-Korea stories ...... 9 WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN the legal tools available, to go to the centers where people can be Betty Davis roused to bring home these sons and daughters. We must forge a Class struggle heats up in Central America ...... 11 bond, a natural one between those who have  Editorial lost a loved one to the army of occupation and our political prisoners. The govt’s ‘rosy’ jobs report ...... 10 So much to do. So much to accomplish.  Noticias en Español Can we do it?? We can. We must! Start get- ¿Por qué sigue importando la vida de Emmett Till? . . . 12 ting ready for great days ahead! Dare to struggle, dare to Win ! Por qué la clase dominante estadounidense quiere un acuerdo con Irán ...... 12 Love & Struggle, Lynne Stewart

Read more about Women’s Equality Workers World Day speak-out at workers.org 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, N.Y. 10011 Lynne Stewart Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 57, No. 37 • Sept. 17, 2015 Closing date: Sept. 8, 2015 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 56 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Copyright © 2014 Workers World. Verbatim copying and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp without royalty provided this notice is preserved. 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Kentucky Billionaires behind racist, anti-LGBT strategy

By Minnie Bruce Pratt es the minimum wage, progressive tax- residents of Rowan County, Ky., where ation, capital gains taxes, the estate tax, Davis is county clerk, live below the pov- A Kentucky county clerk, Kim Davis, and unions and collective bargaining.” erty line and 95 percent are white. (U.S. was jailed on Sept. 3 for refusing to is- WW Commentary (June 3) Census Bureau) sue marriage licenses to same-sex cou- Despite Davis’ actions, which she says ples. The U.S. Supreme Court legalized The South: racism, religion and are based on her religious beliefs, she is these marriages in June. On Aug. 31, the and an “outreach in Israel.” the working class not protected from sexist slurs on social high court denied Davis’ argument that Right Wing Watch’s blog describes Davis is both being used and caught media. Conservative billionaires are us- her Apostolic Christian faith gave her Liberty Counsel as one of “the most ex- between bourgeois forces in the Demo- ing her as a pawn to promote reaction- grounds to refuse the licenses on the ba- treme religious right groups in the coun- cratic and Republican parties, which are ary religious views that keep workers sis of “freedom of religion.” try.” (June 12, 2014) jockeying for control of the U.S. political from joining unions that would raise Right-wingers and social media have The Liberty Counsel web page de- and legal system. their wages, that oppose women’s ac- spotlighted Davis, both praising her as scribes its goals as “advancing religious In the ramp-up to the 2016 presiden- cess to abortion, contraception and oth- a “martyr” and damning her with vile, freedom, the sanctity of life, and the fam- tial election, Democrats are appealing to er essential health care, and that deny anti-woman epithets for her Appalachian ily”— code words for an extremist Chris- some elements in their base by enforcing LGBTQ people their rights. speech, sexual history and appearance. tian ideology focused on denying women the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage The racism of “Christian-nation” ex- But behind Davis’ media image is a reproductive rights and health care and ruling at the state level. Republicans are tremism divides Davis and others like strategy concocted at the highest levels of denying LGBTQ people the right to mar- vying to see which candidate can cap- her from the growing, dynamic South- the elite U.S. ruling class. It is funded by riage with its accompanying economic ture Southern white workers, and they ern worker organizing led in large part billionaires on Forbes magazine’s list of and parental rights. are linking right-wing Christianity to by African-American and Latino/a ac- the world’s richest people, and it is part of Major donors to Liberty Counsel are their strategy. tivists and members of other oppressed a web of racist, anti-union, anti-worker, brothers Farris and Dan Wilks, Texans The deeply racist character of the far- communities. This rising tide recently anti-woman, anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, who made billions with their company right’s strategy is revealed by Donald won historic advances in raising low- transgender, queer and anti-environ- Frac Tech, selling fracking technology Trump’s immigrant bashing at a rally of paid workers’ wages in Alabama and ment organizing. — also known as “well stimulation ser- 20,000 people in Mobile, Ala., on Aug. 21. North Carolina and has resulted in an Davis’ lawyer, Matt Staver, is the vices.” This is the dangerous gas drilling Also, conservative talk show host upsurge of union campaigns in Ala- founder of Liberty Counsel, a conserva- method opposed by environmentalists. Glenn Beck marshaled 20,000 people to bama, and Tennessee auto tive evangelical law firm affiliated with The Wilks brothers fund projects pro- chant “” in Birmingham, plants. Liberty University, the school established moted by the extreme religious right and Ala., on Aug. 29. Beck’s rally was part of Right-wing Christian ideologue Far- by reactionary televangelist Jerry Falwell those in the Koch brothers’ political net- a reactionary campaign to negate the ris Wilks is a funder of Davis’ legal “de- in 1971. The firm has offices in California, work. Charles G. and David H. Koch are important movement fense.” Right Wing Watch states, “[He] Florida, Virginia and Washington, D.C., the main backers of the bigoted, rightist and co-opt its slogan into a clarion call said, ‘There are only two basic ideas Tea Party movement. Their father made to racists and the anti-choice Christian in the world,’ and they are free enter- a fortune developing a new “cracking” right. prise and socialism.” Wilks is one of the method to refine heavy oil into gasoline. These machinations conceal under- world’s richest individuals and staunch- According to Right Wing Watch, Far- lying contradictions for the capital- est upholders of capitalist exploitation. ris Wilks also “funds a network of [so- ists. Bosses need educated, thoughtful, As Karl Marx explained, “Religion is called] ‘pregnancy centers’ that refuse, on skilled workers to use new technologies the sigh of the oppressed creature. … It principle, to talk to single women about being implemented in the auto, elec- is the opium of the people,” an ideology contraception. (Married women need to tronics and steel industries, and Google that offers hope to workers exploited un- check with their husband and pastor.)” Tech centers, especially in the South. der capitalism who see no hope. Marx- The Wilks brothers adhere to the ideol- Yet, business owners also strive to keep ism counters the reactionary religious ogies of right-wing revisionist “historian” workers misinformed, backward and di- extremism that opposes justice and the David Barton and conservative political vided — to prevent worker solidarity and view of a better world — on earth — for operative David Lane who preach that unionization. They use their tools of rac- workers and oppressed people. the U.S. is “a nation founded by Chris- ism, anti-immigrant bigotry, and gender Marxism gives a scientifically based, Read this series by Leslie Feinberg. Do you tians … for the Glory of God and the ad- and LGBTQ oppression to try to do so. pro-socialist perspective that can ef- know the history of struggle that gave birth to vancement of the Christian faith.” Kim Davis is a white worker who fectively counter the dead-end despair the Stonewall Rebellion and the modern LGBT Right Wing Watch states that the lives in Appalachia, which stretches of high-tech, low-wage capitalism, and struggle for equality and against oppression? Kochs promote religious right leaders from northern Alabama to southern offers the prospects of a hopeful future Find it at: workers.org/lavender-red/ who spout the view that “the Bible oppos- Pennsylvania. Almost 30 percent of the — a world built by and for all workers.

Rasmea Odeh speaks out Support Rasmea Odeh (right) at Fed- against police crimes eral Court in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 14.

Workers World reprints here a speech outrage and the motivation to rise up Action Network, has launched a youth- by Palestinian activist, Rasmea Odeh, against racist law enforcement policies led campaign to stop repression and ra- originally circulated by the Fight Back that push our communities to the mar- cial profiling against Arabs and Muslims News Service. Odeh spoke to the historic gins of humanity. as well. Aug. 29 march in Chicago for communi- The police crimes against Black people I believe our challenges are tough. De- ty control of the police. Fight Back! edi- in the U.S. are almost identical to what constructing racism and national oppres- tors have urged all their readers to go to we experience in Palestine from the Is- sion is not easy. Stopping police crimes Cincinnati, Ohio, on Oct. 14, when argu- raelis. This is why we talk about joint will not be a simple task. But we should ments on the appeal of her unjust convic- struggle, why our responsibility is to sup- not be frightened by the challenges, and tion are to be heard in federal court. For port the struggles of those oppressed in as long as we believe in our rights and the more information go to Stopfbi.net. this country, in Palestine, and all over the principles that we stand for, and rise up country will lead to liberation for all. It is incredibly powerful to see all these world. We Palestinians and Arabs stand together, we become stronger and more Lastly, I want to say that I’m very proud thousands gathered here to raise our in unqualified solidarity with brave Black effective. Then we can achieve our goals to see that most of this crowd is young voices to stop police crimes, to demand community members like all of you, who and beyond. people. You are leading and providing a Civilian Coun- are rising up against every instance of vi- We stand for social justice and liber- fresh air that our communities need to cil, and to continue to fight for justice, cious police violence in this country. ation in this country, the same way my breathe. Combine your resources with because we all have the same hopes and In addition, we demand police ac- people have dedicated their lives to the the wisdom of the older generation; with dreams, and believe in the same princi- countability and an end to racial profil- liberation of Palestine. The struggle of the experiences of your allies; and with ples of freedom, justice and equality. ing. That is why we are here as endorsers the Black Liberation movement in this other communities to ensure that you We Palestinians have been struggling of the campaign to establish a Civilian country, and anti-colonial struggles in achieve the dreams and goals that belong for close to 70 years under Israel’s illegal, Police Accountability Council, why we Africa, Latin America and Asia, have al- to you and to all of us. Keep organizing colonial military occupation and its op- are supporting We Charge Genocide’s ways been an inspiration to us. We con- today and every day until we achieve a pressive and racist practices. They con- challenge to the “Stop and Frisk” policies tinue to find inspiration and strength Civilian Police Accountability Council. I tinue to terrorize our people and commit of the Chicago Police Department, and from those struggles and today’s, and we know we will achieve this goal together! brutal crimes. So we know the anger, the why my organization, the Arab American recognize that Black Liberation in this Thank you all. Page 4 Sept. 17, 2015 workers.org Facing an illegal lockout Steelworkers demand ‘fair contracts’ By Martha Grevatt were taken on a “solidarity tour” to visit Steel, another company making huge the lines at these same facilities on Aug. profits, yet demanding more from the On August 14, Allegheny Technologies 28. On Sept. 1, thousands marched on Steelworkers to boost their bottom line Inc. abruptly locked out 2,200 members ATI’s Pittsburgh headquarters, while even more. “These proposals would take of the United Steelworkers union. Since locked-out workers rallied in Water- us back to the 1950s,” said Dan Sim- then, USW members have been walking bury, Conn.; New Bedford, Mass.; and mons, president of USW Local 1899 at the picket line at ATI’s 12 special metals Lockport, N.Y. the U.S. Steel plant in Granite City, Ill. production facilities in Pennsylvania, Joining workers on the picket line in “We know what [U.S. Steel CEO] Mario Ohio, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New New Bedford were members of USW Longhi makes [about $15 million], and York and Oregon. The company is head- Local 8751, the Boston School Bus Driv- those don’t sound like 1950s wages to quartered in Pittsburgh. ers’ Union, who are in their own fight me.” (usw.org, Sept. 1) Beginning in January, before the against vicious, union-busting Veolia/ September 1 was the day USW con- contract expired June 30 and months Transdev. “Our members went down tracts with U.S. Steel and Arcelor Mittal before negotiations began, ATI hired to show our solidarity. Their issue has expired. Local 2911, representing Arce- high-priced anti-union consultants to Robert Traynham, USW 8751 member; Greg been a long-drawn-out issue just like lor Mittal workers in Weirton, W.Va., recruit scabs to maintain production Oliver, retired member of USW 1357, repre- ours,” Local 8751 President Andre Fran- sent 200 members to the march in Pitts- in the event of a strike or lockout. The senting the locked-out workers and Andre cois told WW. “When we saw the scabs, burgh in solidarity. Steelworkers rallied company forced union members to at- Francois, USW 8751 president, at the New we did what we usually do, called them outside Arcelor Mittal offices in Chicago tend “captive audience” meetings — a Bedford picket line Sept. 1. names and gave them a hard way to go. and Burns Harbor, Ind., as yet another tactic borrowed from nonunion employ- We plan on going back and are going to statement that the union is gearing up ers who use these meetings to intimi- locked the workers out without warn- see if we can send a check at our next for a fight to win fair contracts. In the date pro-union workers — conducted by ing. The union is calling this an illegal, membership meeting.” weeks leading up to the simultaneous the same consultants to scare workers unfair labor practice lockout. USW will return to the bargaining Sept. 1 solidarity actions, thousands into accepting outrageous concessions. In the first week, workers and sup- table with ATI, under the auspices of rallied outside U.S. Steel and Arcelor These givebacks include a wage freeze, porters held mass rallies and marches a federal mediator, Sept. 11-12. In the Mittal mills around the country. health benefit cuts, and reduction in va- in Columbus, Ohio; and Brackenridge meantime, the workers on the picket The union charges that both Arcelor cation time and paid holidays. and Midland, Pa. On Aug. 20, a soli- line remain strong in their determina- Mittal and U.S. Steel “are attempting The USW had nevertheless been bar- darity motorcycle ride went from picket tion to win a decent contract. to use the temporary downturn in the gaining in good faith and was preparing line to picket line, hitting all of ATI’s ATI was not the only protest target domestic steel industry as an excuse to to bring the company’s offer to the mem- seven southwest Pennsylvania facil- on Sept. 1. Steelworkers also marched strip away decades of progress at the bership for a democratic vote, when ATI ities. International union supporters on the Pittsburgh headquarters of U.S. bargaining table.” (usw.org, Sept.1) Seattle teachers vote to strike Brazilian autoworkers strike, By Jim McMahan recess, student equity and workloads,” layoffs cancelled Seattle said Phyllis Campano, a special educa- Most recently, Mercedes Benz was tion teacher and SEA vice president and The contracts between the United forced to cancel 1,500 dismissals after The Seattle Education Association bargaining chair. (seattlewea.org) The Auto Workers and Ford, General Motors the São Bernardo Metalworkers’ Union voted unanimously to strike on Sept. 3. teachers haven’t received a raise in years and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles expire struck on Aug. 24, ending the strike a After a thunderous “yes!” vote to strike, due to the hostility of the school district Sept. 15. Workers want to get back what week later when Mercedes agreed to teachers reported you could hear a pin and state legislature. They are demand- the companies have taken away in re- keep the workers and guarantee job se- drop when the “no” vote was called for. ing an 18 percent raise over three years. cent contracts. Autoworkers in Brazil are curity for one year under an Economic The strike by 5,000 teachers and staff Anti-racist demands of the union in- showing other workers that it is possible Protection Plan. will begin on Sept. 9. The SEA is bargain- clude more support staff and fully funded to fight and win against a big multina- “Without a fight, we do not ensure ing against the anti-labor Seattle School race and equity teams in each school to tional auto company. rights,” said National Confederation of District, which has tens of millions of deal with institutionalized racism, such There have been three successful Metalworkers (CNM/CUT) General Sec- extra funds available in one of the most as the disproportionate suspensions of strikes at GM, Volkswagen and Mercedes retary João Cayres. “CUT metalworkers expensive-to-live-in cities in the country. Black students. The administration has Benz, all of which stopped permanent have, once again, made a demonstration The city also has a large aristocracy and offered just a little “pilot program.” mass layoffs. A 12-day strike at the GM of firmness, unity and class solidarity.” tax base. The SEA has held several contract ral- plant in São José dos Campos ended Aug. (cnmcut.org.br) CUT is the United Work- “The Seattle School Board has rejected lies attended by hundreds of teachers, 24 when the company converted almost ers Confederation of Brazil, which the most of our proposals around competi- staff and community supporters of the 800 permanent layoffs to temporary lay- unions in Taubaté and São Bernardo be- tive pay, reasonable testing, guaranteed 52,000-student district. offs. The Taubaté Metalworkers’ Union long to. CNM/CUT is affiliated with the struck Volkswagen Aug. 17 to protest 100 IndustriALL union, formerly the Inter- layoffs, 50 of which were put into effect national Metalworkers Federation. immediately. The union ended the strike All three strikes received wide inter- Aug. 28, when the company cancelled the national solidarity. The way autoworkers ‘After we pay the rent ... layoffs and amended the contract to cre- around the world can win is by stopping ate a “voluntary redundancy” program production so the companies can’t make and to discuss alternatives to layoffs with a profit by exploiting workers’ labor. the money’s all spent!’ the union when future cuts are planned. —Story by Martha Grevatt

of apartment repairs con- capitalize by turning rented apart- ment does not serve their interests. tinues. ments into condos, even when there These groups will continue to orga- Today, tenants rallied are not affordable homes to move to. nize, demanding fairness, affordable to demand a meeting and Today’s rally enjoyed the support housing and to live under a system that fair agreement with their of the Crown Heights Tenants Union. protects and guarantees such rights for landlord, Renaissance Several politicians showed up to stand everyone. Realty. They spoke out in the spotlight of cameras and re- A citywide demonstration by home- in front of their Sche- porters — although some of them have less and housing/tenant groups is nectady Avenue apart- been seen, more than once, support- planned for Sept. 17 by the Brooklyn ments, declaring a state ing developers with long-range plans Anti-gentrification Network. Commu- of emergency. They told for more racist gentrification of this nity organizers plan to publicize this how their landlord “is area! demonstration by tabling at Brooklyn’s exploiting loopholes in While elected officials present West Indian Day Parade. Held on La- the laws to double or themselves as sympathetic to evicted bor Day, the parade brings thousands Sept. 2 — More than 200 people even triple our rents!” Many explained tenants/renters, they ignore the dis- together to celebrate a cultural and po- from 60 families face eviction from how their families have lived here for placement of working-class families litical time. BAN will be there to sup- two apartment buildings in Brook- 40 years or more, but “today our land- by developers whom they make deals port working-class and oppressed peo- lyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood. lord tries to kick us out. We built this with. So tenants’ groups grow, with ples’ unity building. As was chanted at These mostly Black and West Indian neighborhood!” plans to expose what these politicians the Schenectady Avenue tenants’ rally, tenants demand an end to unfair rent As luxury housing intrudes in more really offer! Meanwhile, people learn “If they don’t get it — shut it down!” increases, while management’s neglect working-class neighborhoods, realtors firsthand how the capitalist govern- — Story and photo by Anne Pruden workers.org Sept. 17, 2015 Page 5 On the Picket Line By Matty Starrdust and Sue Davis African-American Oregon domestic workers jobless rate stays high win bill of rights By Abayomi Azikiwe ing for schools in urban areas. Others include educa- Domestic workers in Oregon, including nannies, in-home Editor, Pan-African News Wire tional achievement with previous career experience. caregivers and housekeepers, won historic protections when Nonetheless, the upcoming generations of Afri- the Oregon Domestic Workers’ Protection Act became law Despite the unemployment figures released Sept. 4, can-American students are finishing colleges and on June 17. Called the domestic workers’ “bill of rights,” indicating that the rate of joblessness has gone down universities at increased rates, yet a degree is still not the law extends the basic protections in the National Labor to 5.1 percent, the figure among enough to protect African Americans from the system- Rights Act to farm and domestic workers who were explicitly remains more than twice that of whites. ic institutional racism still permeating the work force. excluded, as demanded by Southern congresspeople, when Historically, since the advent of the tabulation of With no governmental or judicial pressure to establish the NLRA was passed in 1935. The Southern economy was so jobless statistics, African Americans have maintained guidelines and quotas in hiring practices, it is almost heavily based on superexploitation of Black workers that any consistently higher figures for those looking for work impossible to prove in court the intent to discriminate. law threatening that would never have passed. who cannot find employment. This is a symptom of The Center for Economic Policy Research under- The Oregon law, which takes effect in 2016, mandates that how national oppression overlaps class exploitation. took an evaluation of hiring practices in 2014, which employers provide live-in workers eight consecutive hours of That African-American unemployment rates over revealed that 12.4 percent of African-American col- time off during each 24-hour period, overtime payment, and the course of the last five decades are consistently dou- lege graduates ranging in age from 22 to 27 were protection against sexual harassment or harassment based ble that of whites illustrates that institutional racism is without jobs in comparison to 5.6 percent of college on race, nationality, gender, religion, disability or sexual still alive and well within the economic structures of graduates overall in the same age category. orientation. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Sara Gelser, noted that the United States. The massive closings of industrial EPI Director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity and domestic workers are still predominantly low-waged wom- facilities in the last four decades, as well as outlawing Economy Valerie Wilson was quoted in the Sept. 7 en of color. Oregon is the fifth state to enact protections for affirmative action in many states, have served to re- Black Enterprise magazine: “Even when you compare domestic workers. (StatesmanJournal.com, Aug. 10) strict employment opportunities and fuel the substan- blacks and whites with the same backgrounds, blacks tially higher levels of poverty among the oppressed. get less employment opportunities. When we say ra- NLRB ruling on ‘joint employers’ An article published in the Aug. 8 Atlanta Blackstar cial discrimination, we often have overt practices in says “that [the] percentage masks the unemployment our minds. But it’s taken on different forms. It’s not as could help low-wage workers disparities between white Americans and minorities blatant as it once was, but it still plays out in decisions On Aug. 27, the National Labor Relations Board, which across individual states. Right now the national un- and perceptions about blacks,” she emphasized. oversees the National Labor Rights Act, ruled that a com- employment rate for white Americans is about 4.6 pany in a California case was a “joint employer” with the percent, for Hispanics, it is 6.5, and for Blacks, 9.1.” Labor participation rate worst in decades contractor it hired to run its recycling center. This ruling, if This same article continues: “On the record, Wash- The recent jobless figures from the Bureau of Labor applied to workers at fast food franchises, could give a huge ington, D.C., hit the peak of Black unemployment Statistics and other sources fail to properly account for boost to the Fight for $15 campaign. The Aug. 29 New York with a 14.2 percent rate. New Jersey followed with 13 the decreasing labor participation rate, which is the Times noted that joint employers “could be held accountable percent, South Carolina was at 12.8 percent, and Illi- lowest in four decades. Tens of millions of people have for pay and working conditions” and would have to bargain nois at 11.5 percent. Tennessee holds the lowest rate of dropped out of the official labor market in large part with employees who unionize. No wonder the U.S. Chamber Black unemployment, which is equivalent to the high- because of the lack of jobs and the stagnation in wages. of Commerce and other business organizations are up in est rate of white unemployment in West Virginia.” The website of zerohedge.com on Sept. 4 notes that arms at this ruling. But, as the Times notes, “Corporations Compounding this problem is the failure of the “the main reason why the unemployment rate tum- routinely impose rules, policies, fees and technology on their federal government, the U.S. Congress and the cor- bled to the lowest since April 2008 is because anoth- franchises that effectively determine … how much fast-food porate community to even address this glaring crisis. er 261,000 Americans dropped out of the labor force, employees work and … how much they are paid.” Instead, law enforcement agencies across the country as a result pushing the total number of U.S. potential How will this ruling affect the long-term tug of war that is have intensified the repressive apparatus of the state, workers who are not in the labor force, to a record 94 the class struggle? As Frederick Douglass observed in 1857: killing African Americans in astronomical numbers million, an increase of 1.8 million in the past year, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” And: “If there is and placing many more in the clutches of the prosecu- and a whopping 14.9 million since the start of the sec- no struggle, there is no progress.” Stay tuned. torial offices, the courts and the prisons. ond great depression in December 2007 while only 4 million new jobs have been created.” Northeast Verizon workers Political context for jobless rates Even according to the BLS, the labor participation Latino/a unemployment continues to be dispro- rate is hovering around 62 percent, meaning that continue contract fight portionately high as well, but African Americans nearly 40 percent of the work force either is not seek- About 40,000 Verizon workers, represented from Maine to have the highest rate in the country of the ethnic ing traditional jobs or is employed in the informal Virginia by the Communication Workers and International groups in the Economic Policy Institute study enti- sectors of the economy. Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, have been exposing the tled “How the Economy Has Performed for Workers In many African-American urban communities, blatantly anti-worker, union-busting concessions demand- This Year.” The study, published Aug. 25, reveals that such as Detroit, centers of employment are located ed by Verizon since their contract expired Aug. 1. The giant pre-recession and “post-recession” jobless rates for miles outside of their neighborhoods. The lack of pub- telecom company wants to slash job and retirement security African Americans are basically the same. lic transportation and non-ownership and access to while raising health care costs that would wipe out raises. The EPI analysis Algernon Austin published in his vehicles hamper African Americans’ ability to reach No wonder the workers have dubbed the telecom company, June 19, 2013, study entitled “50 Years of Recession- areas where hiring is taking place even for low-wage which posts $1 billion a month in profits, “Verigreedy.” ary-Level Unemployment in Black America” holds employment. This absence of transportation resourc- The latest union report on contract negotiations states true today: “The figures show the average of the an- es, coupled with institutional discrimination, creates that Verizon “continues to have only one goal: to lower their nual unemployment rates for whites and blacks from conditions that are potentially volatile socially. costs of business at our members’ expense. Their agenda 1963 to 2012. It also shows the average of the national In areas where rebellions and mass demonstrations continues to include retrogressive demands across virtually unemployment rate during recession years in this pe- have erupted over the last 13 months — specifically St. every area of our contracts from job security to pensions riod. The average unemployment rate for the reces- Louis County, Mo., and Baltimore — both have high and work rules.” (cwalocal2108.org, Sept. 3) That’s why the sion years is 6.7 percent. Over this period, whites have rates of unemployment and poverty. Also the repres- workers say, “Hell no!” an average unemployment rate of 5.1 percent, signifi- sive nature of the municipal police and courts places cantly below the recession average.” further obstacles to obtaining employment due to the This observation continues, stressing, “In fact, for rate of traffic stops, citations and incarceration. UE first U.S. union to support most of the 50 years, the white unemployment rate Until these issues are addressed on a national lev- was below 5.1 percent, at times falling to as low as 3.1 el, the situations prevailing in African-American BDS movement percent. By contrast, the average unemployment rate communities across the country will remain tense. In keeping with its longtime activist commitment to social for blacks over the past 50 years, at 11.6 percent, is Anti-racist movements, including Black Lives Mat- unionism, the United Electrical Workers union adopted a considerably higher than the average rate during re- ter, must continue their efforts to halt the arbitrary resolution at its national convention endorsing the Boycott, cessions of 6.7 percent. In only one year (1969), did harassment, physical abuse and killing of African Divestment and Sanctions movement and calling on Israel the black unemployment rate dip slightly below the Americans. At the same time the growing resistance to end the occupation and recognize Palestinian self-de- recession average to 6.4 percent. Thus, over the last to state-sanctioned violence must expand to include termination. Representing 30,000 workers, UE is the first 50 years, the black unemployment rate has been at a an economic program demanding jobs, quality educa- national U.S. union to endorse BDS. level typical for a recession or higher.” tion, public services and a guaranteed income. The resolution, passed Aug. 20, calls on Congress and The lower rate in 1969 coincided with the advent of the Obama administration “to end all U.S. military aid to urban rebellions and revolutionary mass organizing Israel; and to pressure Israel to end the occupation of the in the industrial, civic and educational arenas. The re- West Bank and East Jerusalem and the siege of Gaza and pressive apparatus of the U.S. during this period saw Capitalism negotiate a peace agreement [that includes] Palestinian the wholesale attack on a wide range of organizations at a Dead End self-­determination and the right of return for refugees.” The from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, resolution also urged UE to become fully engaged in “the Job destruction, overproduction the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the and crisis in the high-tech era movement for peace, justice and equality between the Pales- Black Panther Party and other community and youth tinians and Israelis.” (ueunion.org, Sept. 1) Though UE has formations leading to political assassinations, forced For information on this book and other received angry protests from pro-Israeli organizations, the exile and domestic imprisonment. writings by the author, Fred Goldstein, BDS movement has welcomed its support with open arms. Oftentimes economists link unemployment in the go to LowWageCapitalism.com Continued on page 6 African-American community with the lack of fund- Available at major online booksellers. Page 6 Sept. 17, 2015 workers.org Due to prisoner hunger strikes Major victory ends solitary confinement

By Terri Kay man beings. ... We celebrate this victory [involving] over 30,000 prisoners across educational, and vocational program- Oakland, Calif. while, at the same time, we recognize that California. ... Their[s] is a long-standing ming. ... Prisoners validated as gang affil- achieving our goal of fundamentally trans- struggle to abolish a torturous practice iates used to face indefinite SHU confine- The Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidar- forming the criminal justice system and that was instated to repress and attack ment, with a review for possible release ity Coalition (PHSSC) announced at a stopping the practice of warehousing peo- the powerful prisoner-led movement in to general population only once every press conference Sept. 1 that a historic ple in prison will be a protracted struggle.” the 1960’s and 70’s. six years, at which even a single piece of agreement had been reached in a feder- When Ashker v. (Gov. Jerry) Brown “The settlement ... limit[s] the use of evidence of alleged continued gang affil- al class action suit. The state of Califor- was filed in 2012, thousands were held punitive isolation to only cases where iation led to another six years of solitary nia has agreed to end long-term solitary in SHUs in California. According to the there has been a substantiated serious confinement. That evidence was often as ­confinement. Center for Constitutional Rights, as of violation of ‘behavior.’ The prison system problematic as the original evidence ... — The named plaintiffs, Todd Ashker, Aug. 31, 2,858 prisoners were in SHUs. can no longer send people to the SHU be- for example, a book, a poem or a tattoo.” Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa, Luis Esquivel, CCR states, “This landmark ... funda- cause of accusations of gang affiliation or Under the settlement, “after serving a George Franco, Richard Johnson, Paul mentally alter[s] all aspects of this cruel their political ideas and interests. ... determinate sentence for a SHU offense, Redd, Gabriel Reyes, George Ruiz and and unconstitutional regime. Ultimately, it “The settlement was negotiated with the prisoners whose offense is related to gang Danny Troxell, all held in Pelican Bay’s is the result ... of a widespread community active participation of prisoner represen- activity will enter a two-year, four-step, infamous Security Housing Units for effort led by prisoners and their families.” tatives, who will continue to participate step-down program to return to the gen- more than 10 years, issued a statement: “From the historic prisoner-led hunger formally ... to monitor implementation.” eral prisoner population. Prisoners will “This settlement represents ... an im- strikes ... to the work of families, loved The PHSSC says: “It is estimated that receive increased privileges at each step. portant step toward our goal of end- ones and advocates, this settlement is a between 1,500 and 2,000 prisoners will “California will review all current ing solitary confinement. ... California’s direct result of our grassroots organiz- be released from SHU within one year. gang-validated SHU prisoners within one agreement to abandon indeterminate ing,” said Dolores Canales of California ... A higher security general population year. ... The vast majority of such prison- SHU confinement based on gang affili- Families Against Solitary Confinement, unit will be created for a small number ers are expected to be released.” ation demonstrates the power of unity and mother of a Pelican Bay prisoner. of cases where people have been in SHU Anne Weills, a lawyer who has spent and collective action. This victory was “It will only make the struggle against for more than 10 years and have a recent countless hours on this suit, said at the achieved by the efforts of people in pris- solitary and imprisonment everywhere serious rule violation.” press conference, “We wouldn’t be here on, their families and loved ones, law- stronger.” (ccrjustice.org, Sept 1) According to CCR, hundreds have for if not for the leadership of our prisoner yers, and outside supporters. ... A PHSSC press release notes, “The pris- decades “spent nearly 24 hours per day clients. All honor to the jailhouse lawyers, “The prisoners’ human rights move- oners embarked on two hunger strikes in in cramped cells, often without windows, who were the leaders and strategists of ment is awakening the conscience of the 2011 and another in 2013 that became the and were denied phone calls, all physical this struggle.” nation to recognize that we are fellow hu- largest prisoner hunger strike in history, contact with visitors, and recreational, Read the entire article at workers.org. ‘Days of Grace’ Charleston, S.C. hits racism, poverty

Continued from page 1 Lamont Lilly, Keynote speaker, the Rev. William Louisha Barnett and Barber, president of the North Carolina Johnnie Stevens NAACP, took attendees to the mountaintop of truth and grace. “We’re in the embryonic stages of the third reconstruction,” Barber vening at the Interna- said, noting that many of the same issues tional Long­shoremen from 100 years ago are still with us today. Association Hall on

“The first consciousness we have to change Morrison Drive that PHOTOS: WISCONSIN BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE is the consciousness of the people,” he said, hosted workshops, noting that it will take a mass movement to vendors and teach-ins. Angaza Laughing- $15.” Dillahunt was absolutely correct. This On the Picket Line continued from page 5 move state legislatures to win progressive house, Vice-President of the United Elec- brand of working-class unity is something concessions for the oppressed. trical Workers Local 150 and Black Work- the U.S. South hasn’t seen for decades. S.F. Letter Carriers Clarence Thomas gave a stirring speech ers for Justice, led a session discussing the Though the number of attendees was a calling for workers to shut down the econ- economic plight of Southern workers who little lighter than expected, it’s very im- against jail expansion omy, mentioning the recent May Day shut- are mostly un-unionized and without col- portant to note that most of the organiz- Letter carriers in the Greater San Fran- down of the docks on the West Coast. lective bargaining. ers and participants were actually based cisco Bay Area took a stand against jail ex- Though supporters of presidential can- Local Black Lives Matter organizer in the Southeast (the Southern Black pansion and mass incarceration on Sept. didate Bernie Sanders were in attendance, Muhiyyidin d’Baha conducted a teach-in Belt). That development will only aid in 2. The resolution passed by the Letter Car- guest speakers and conference organizers on “Strategizing Against Police Terror.” the process of organizing. Connections riers (NALC), Golden Gate Branch 214, reminded the people that neither Repub- T-shirts bearing the images of Denmark were made and meaningful relationships opposes a proposal by the San Francisco licans nor Democrats will grant the poor Vesey and the 1739 Stono Rebellion, the were able to be established. The Days of sheriff to construct a new jail there, calling and working class genuine people power — largest rebellion in the colonies led by Grace were only the start. Revolution is it “costly and unnecessary.” a valid point that was carefully articulated slaves outside Charleston, were quite the next step forward. “The reality is that San Francisco al- later in the day. inspiring. ready has too much jail space,” the reso- A solidarity message from the National During the Sept. 6 final plenary, Ajamu lution notes, citing the city’s continually Network on Cuba was read from the stage. Dillahunt, long-time organizer with Black declining jail pop- Workers for Justice, reminded us, “This Working-class unity not usually MARXISM, REPARATIONS & ulation and glut march was very unique. We had the Civil seen in the South of vacant jail cells. Rights Movement, the Black Power Move- the Black Freedom Struggle The union calls in- Following the march was a mass con- ment, Black Lives Matter and the Fight for An anthology of writings from Workers World stead for sentenc- newspaper. Edited by Monica Moorehead. Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination ing reform, crime Larry Holmes • Black Labor from Chattel Slavery prevention mea- to Wage Slavery Sam Marcy • Black Youth: sures and pretrial Repression & Resistance LeiLani Dowell • The diversion, which Struggle for Socialism Is Key Monica Moorehead “have proven to be Domestic Workers United Demand Passage best for keeping of a Bill of Rights Imani Henry • Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights families together, & Global Justice! Saladin Muhammad • Harriet stabilizing com- Tubman, Woman Warrior Mumia Abu-Jamal munities, and preparing prisoners for a • Racism & Poverty in the Delta Larry Hales productive life on the outside.” The NALC • Haiti Needs Reparations, Not Sanctions Pat Chin local joins a growing list of groups oppos- • Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Consuela Lee ing new jail construction, including the •Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? United Educators of San Francisco, the Anniversary of 1965 Watts Rebellion John Parker National Lawyers Guild, the Coalition on Cover graphic: Sahu Barron Homelessness and the S.F. Tenants Union. Available at Amazon and other bookstores. (Read the full resolution at workers.org.) workers.org Sept. 17, 2015 Page 7 Baltimore rally demands ‘Justice for Freddie Gray!’

By Colleen Gillan family of Tyrone West, who had been Baltimore beaten to death by Baltimore cops in 2013. His family is still seeking justice, About 100 protesters rallied outside two years later. the Clarence Mitchell Courthouse in Bal- The speakers testified about the vio- timore on Sept. 2 in a protest to demand lence they had faced at the hands of the justice for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old police; demanded justice for Freddie Black man who died in the custody of Bal- Gray, Tyrone West and all victims of po- timore cops on April 19. The protest was lice brutality; and included some poetry called by the Baltimore People’s Power and creative expression. Assembly. David Card of “Fight Imperialism, April 2 marked the first pretrial hear- Stand Together” said, “The only reason ing in the case of the six police officers that the six officers were indicted was charged in Gray’s death. Three major de- because of the power of the people in the fense motions were being decided upon. streets, and the only thing that will see The first was that State’s Attorney Marilyn them convicted and jailed is if we con- Mosby, who was elected to her position, be tinue to stay in the streets and fight for dismissed from the case. The second was justice.” that the charges be dismissed against the Rev. C.D. Witherspoon speaks outside of Sept. 2 hearing. As the rally came to a close, the crowd officers who killed Gray, and the third was was optimistic, having just received news that the cops be tried separately. Rose had fallen behind and then been received none. Instead, he was dragged that the judge had denied the motion to The protesters gathered at 8 a.m., to co- hit by a car, which some said was a po- into a police van, and it wasn’t until the drop all charges against the officers and incide with the start of the hearing. Many lice vehicle. He was handcuffed and held protesters demanded multiple times for also denied the motion to dismiss Mari- people shared their testimonies of living in down by four officers, even though wit- the police to allow him medical attention lyn Mosby from the case. He approved the fear of being brutalized by the police. nesses say he was not resisting in any way that an ambulance arrived. He was tak- motion for the officers to be tried sepa- After the rally, a group of about 50 pro- and had been injured by the car that hit en away in an ambulance and was later rately, however. testers marched downtown and blocked him. As he lay on the street handcuffed, transferred to Baltimore’s Central Book- These were some small but important a major intersection. As they linked arms police held a Taser to his back and re- ing, where he was released on bail later victories and a step forward in what will across the street and began to face off with peatedly screamed, “Do you want to get that night. be a long and arduous struggle for justice the police, one protester, Kwame Rose, Tased? Is that what you want?” At 6:30 p.m., protesters gathered again for Freddie Gray and all victims of police was attacked by police. Rose yelled for medical attention and at the courthouse for a rally led by the brutality. Police officer charged Release Yuvette Emeryville, Calif. with killing Black youth Henderson’s autopsy report Sally Chapman, the slain youth’s Family and community supporters seek- mother, was “thankful” and “felt justi- ing justice for Yuvette Henderson converged fied” by the indictment, saying “Justice, on the Emeryville, Calif., City Council on justice, justice.” Earl Lewis, another rel- Sept. 1, demanding that the council call ative, said, “Justice has been served, and on the Alameda County Coroner to release it has been shown that black lives mat- Henderson’s autopsy report. The action was ter in Portsmouth, Virginia.” (Atlanta organized by the Anti Police-Terror Project. Blackstar, Sept. 4) At least 30 people spoke during the Rankin had a history of using lethal council’s public comment period, each de- from the Anti Police-Terror Project force. When he gunned down unarmed manding the release of the report and the at Emeryville City Council meeting, Sept. 1. 26-year-old Kazakh Kirill Denyakin in demilitarization of Emeryville’s police de- 2011, a grand jury absolved him of re- partment, including the removal of AR-15 who used weapons including an AR-15. An sponsibility for the death. The June 1 rifles and other assault weapons from their employee at the Emeryville Home Depot Guardian newspaper says that he was arsenal. In a door-knocking event the pre- had accused her of shoplifting. Henderson then removed from street patrols for vious weekend, members of “Showing Up had sustained a head injury from a Home three years. for Racial Justice” launched a petition cam- Depot security guard and requested an Rankin was put on administrative paign that received overwhelming support ambulance. When police came instead, she leave after shooting Chapman, but only from Emeryville residents. wound up fleeing to Hollis Street, just inside William Chapman II after his indictment did police officials Henderson, a Black woman, mother of Oakland city limits, where she was shot and By Kathy Durkin fire him. Babineau criticized police brass four and grandmother, was killed in Oak- killed. for allowing Rankin to stay on the job, land, Calif., on Feb. 3 by Emeryville police, — Caption and photo by Terri Kay A police officer in Portsmouth, Va., first after shooting Denyakin, and then has been charged with in the after killing Chapman. mouth chapter, expressed the commu- the names of African Americans who deliberate and senseless killing of Afri- A Navy veteran and former Marine nity’s outrage and anger at “what’s been have been killed by police and whose can-American youth, William Chapman Corps martial arts expert who served in going on in our community for the last stories are being told on social media at II. A grand jury indicted officer Stephen Iraq, Rankin was said to be “dangerous” couple of months. They want answers #BlackLivesMatter. Rankin on Sept. 3 for first-degree mur- by police commanders. After he gunned and we want answers!” (13newsnow, Samantha Conyers, president of the der and using a firearm to commit a fel- down Denyakin, Rankin showed no re- April 28) school’s NAACP chapter, which orga- ony, announced Commonwealth Attor- morse, writing: “When I was in Iraq, that Boyd condemned Chapman’s brutal nized the activity, stated, “We’re here to ney Stephanie Morales. would have been a good shoot. … Nobody death and the March 24 Portsmouth pay tribute to those who have lost their Rankin, who is white, fatally shot would have given it a second thought.” police killing of Walter Brown III, a lives due to police brutality,” reported the unarmed 18-year-old Chapman in (Atlanta Blackstar) He has posted racist 29-year-old African American. Despite the Sept. 5 Mace & Crown, the student a Walmart parking lot in Portsmouth pro-lynching and anti-Serbian, pro-Nazi “official” investigations, no one has newspaper. on April 22. Medical Examiner Donna images on social media. been charged in Brown’s death. Chapman was among those honored. Price ruled the death a homicide. The Press conferences and protests have Sally Chapman and Earl Lewis spoke to Virginian-Pilot newspaper obtained the Activism matters! been held with Chapman’s family mem- the group about the importance of activ- autopsy report, which showed that the Sally Chapman, whose innocent son bers, students and other community ism in their communities. Lewis empha- slain youth had been shot in the face was “murdered for no reason,” has supporters, calling for justice for the sized: “We just want justice. That’s what and chest from a distance. It noted that steadfastly pushed for answers and ac- slain youth. Demonstrators rallied this is all about.” his hands were handcuffed behind his countability for his death. Yet, she was on May 1 in Walmart’s parking lot on The influence and strength of the na- back. mistreated, too, while investigating what Frederick Boulevard, site of his death. tional Black Lives Matter movement Jon Babineau, a Chapman family at- happened. When she sought informa- They chanted and carried signs saying, doubtlessly contributed to the indict- torney, calling the indictment “unprece- tion at Walmart’s regarding the store’s “Black lives matter!” “End police brutal- ment of Rankin — in addition to the local dented,” said that the evidence and facts allegation of her son’s “shoplifting” that ity!” and “No justice, no peace!” protests and family persistence. The be- were so significant that the Common- fatal night — which she says he never did Some 100 students and faculty mem- ginning of justice for Chapman’s young wealth charged Rankin with the highest — and requested the surveillance video, bers assembled outside Webb Center at life was obtained. Now, the struggle will charge of first-degree murder, “which as managers called the police to eject her. Old Dominion University on Sept. 1, to be to ensure that Rankin is found guilty an essential element includes premedi- Six days after Chapman’s death, James support the Black Lives Matter move- and imprisoned — and that there is jus- tation.” (Virginian-Pilot, Sept. 4) Boyd, president of the NAACP’s Ports- ment. They distributed leaflets listing tice for Walter Brown, too. Page 8 Sept. 17, 2015 workers.org Iran deal Imperialists search for new strategy

By Deirdre Griswold votes to put the agreement in place over eign policy — and especially the launch- back off from one, even when they know fierce and united Republican opposition. ing of aggression to facilitate imperial- it will only blow back on them. In this What made crucial U.S. senators get One after another, lawmakers pointed to ist plunder — they have always joined case, however, that’s what their imperial- behind the Iran nuclear deal? the warnings from foreign leaders that together in waving the flag and voting ist masters want the politicians to do, at The agreement was the product of ne- their own sanctions against Iran would be funds for war. least for now. gotiations between the Iranian govern- lifted regardless of what the United States Republican and Democratic admin- It is clear that the foreign policy es- ment and what are called the P5+1 — the did.” istrations have alternated in launching tablishment is trying to come up with a five permanent members of the United Once Obama announced that Congress these wars, with the enthusiastic support new strategy that will boost Wall Street’s Nations Security Council plus Germa- couldn’t nix the deal, Gen. Colin Powell, of the party out of office. fortunes in this strategic area. That’s not ny. Four of the six are imperialist coun- a Republican who had once been chair of But right now, the imperialists are in a easy. While the U.S. and its European im- tries that have fought major wars among the Joint Chiefs of Staff and then secre- big mess in Southwest Asia and Northern perialist allies have often joined in bomb- themselves to recarve the world: the U.S., tary of state under George Bush, also en- Africa. Their costly wars against Afghan- ing and/or invading countries in an at- Britain, France and Germany. dorsed it. istan, Iraq, Syria and Libya may have tempt to set up neocolonial regimes, they Just before the Obama administration This writer cannot recall any previous pumped up the profits of the military in- are also in cutthroat competition with one announced that it had secured enough instance of Britain, France, Germany, dustries, but they have yielded little else another, made all the fiercer by worldwide votes in Congress to keep its political op- Russia and China in a bloc telling U.S. except immense suffering of the people, capitalist economic stagnation. ponents from shooting down the deal, we politicians they would no longer go along completely unstable puppet regimes and Moreover, all the previous Pentagon wrote in Workers World that the agree- with sanctions that had been imposed an unprecedented flood of desperate ref- interventions have only turned more ment was generally supported by the U.S. mainly through Washington’s pressure. ugees into Europe. and more of the targeted peoples against imperialist ruling class. This certainly has never happened in Ever since the Iranian Revolution of them. Two days after that, the newspaper that the 55 years of sanctions on Cuba, despite 1979 overthrew the Shah, a puppet put on The working class in the United States speaks most authoritatively for the bil- yearly U.N. General Assembly resolutions the throne by a CIA coup, both U.S. cap- — the 99% — has the same enemy as do lionaire corporations and banks on Wall to end the blockade, in which Washington italist parties have stoked hatred against the peoples of Iran, Libya, Syria, Afghan- Street and their policy makers revealed usually could count on only one or two Iran. But Iran has survived, even under istan and Iraq: the imperialist plutocrats. what had happened to tie down the votes other votes against the rest of the world. sanctions, and imperialist efforts at re- These robbers will do anything to boost in Congress that Obama needed. Of course, China and the USSR, later Rus- gime change have not succeeded. their profits, from paying below-min- In a front-page story in the Sept. 3 New sia, never joined in the sanctions against Politics in the imperialist countries imum wages at home to laying waste to York Times, Carl Hulse and David M. Cuba. are so geared to pumping up big-power whole countries. A setback to their plans Herszenhorn wrote from Washington: The unprecedented intervention in fa- chauvinism that it seems easier for the would be a welcome development for all “Just before the Senate left town for vor of the Iran deal by the five countries capitalist parties to start a war than to workers and oppressed peoples. its August break, a dozen or so undecid- was of course welcomed — and presum- ed Democrats met in the Capitol with the ably engineered — by the Obama admin- senior diplomats from Britain, China, istration, which had faced stiff, although France, Germany and Russia who deliv- largely demagogic, Republican opposition. WAR WITHOUT VICTORY ered a blunt joint message: Their nuclear by Sara Flounders Two parties, one ruling class agreement with Iran was the best they “By revealing the underbelly of the empire, Flounders sheds insight on could expect. The five world powers had Most liberal media in this country por- how to stand up to the imperialist war machine and, in so doing, save no intention of returning to the negotiat- tray the Democratic Party as the party of ourselves and humanity.” ing table. ... the “people” and the Republicans as the – Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, “For many if not most Democrats, it party of big business. The truth is quite President, U.N. General Assembly, 2008-2009; was that message that ultimately solidi- different. Both are really parties of big Foreign Minister of Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. fied their decisions, leading to President business and have served the interests of Available at bookstores around the country. Obama on Wednesday securing enough the super-rich well. When it comes to for- PentagonAchillesHeel.com Marxism and the war in Donbass

Borotba organization spokesperson ignored by even the most hard-nosed legalization of paramilitary Nazi groups nonetheless reject the following features Victor Shapinov wrote a comprehensive “Euro-optimists.” and the integration of the Nazis into the of the Kiev regime: extreme nationalism, analysis that aims to show that revo- The new regime in Kiev also final- law enforcement agencies of the state. chauvinistic language policy, anti-com- lutionary and workers’ parties should ly abandoned sovereignty and became 4. The violent suppression of po- munism and anti-Sovietism, repression support the Donbass rebellion against a puppet state. The handing over of litical opponents, repression, censor- of political opponents, exoneration of the Kiev regime and its Western impe- the militarily and logistically strategic ship of the media, banning of communist Nazi war criminals and collaborators. rialist backers, rather than taking a Odessa region to the direct control of a ideology. 2. Anti-oligarchism. The role of the neutral position. The full article can be U.S protégé, former Georgian President 5. Contempt for the working Ukrainian oligarchy, as the main spon- found at tinyurl.com/odj9sg4. Below we Mikhail Saakashvili, clearly testifies to class, “class racism.” Established on sor and beneficiary of Maidan and the publish brief excerpts from Shapinov’s this. Maidan under the leadership of the oli- right-nationalist coup, became an essen- conclusions: 2. Neoliberalism. The post-Maidan garchy, the ideology of the social bloc tial element of the consciousness of the “War is nothing more than the contin- government has consistently pursued of nationalist intelligentsia and “middle resistance movement in the South-East. uation of policy by other means,” wrote policies dictated by the IMF. Movement class” petty proprietors has infected the Also, during the winter and spring of the military theorist Carl von Clause- toward all-out privatization and the sys- Western Ukrainian “man in the street,” 2014, the complete dependence and sub- witz. This statement is recognized ap- tematic destruction of the remnants of who clearly defines his class enemy: the ordination of the Ukrainian oligarchy provingly by the classics of Marxism. the welfare state -- that is the essence of “cattle” in Donbass. With this “class rac- to imperialism, headed by the United What are the policies continued by the economic policies of the Poroshen- ism” against the working-class majority States, became apparent. Kiev and Donbass? ko-Yatsenyuk regime. of the South-East, the oligarchy rallies In this regard, it can be argued: for 3. Nationalism and fascism. Na- broad social strata around itself. the rebels of Donbass and the masses in- Policies in Kiev tionalists and outright fascists man- These are the main elements of the volved in the resistance movement in the The policies of Kiev in the civil war aged to impose their agenda through policy of the new regime in Kiev. This South-East, anti-oligarchic slogans are are a logical continuation of the policies the Maidan. Our organization wrote in is the class politics of transnational im- not mere “populism.” This distinguishes of the Maidan. This has several compo- winter 2014: “The undoubted success of perialist capital and the Ukrainian cap- the mass progressive movement in the nents: the nationalists is due to the fact that, italist oligarchy, which tries to escape its South-East from the mass reactionary 1. “European integration” and because of their high level of activity, crisis at the expense of the working class. movement of Maidan. subordination to imperialism. The they have managed to impose ideologi- 3. Anti-neoliberal policies. An im- first slogan of the Maidan was so-called cal leadership on the Euromaidan move- Policies in Donbass portant feature of the internal life of the “European integration,” which in eco- ment. ... The rest of the opposition par- Since the statehood of the territories Donbass republics is the trend towards nomic terms means the surrender of ties did not have a clear-cut ideological liberated by the rebels of the Donetsk social-democratic, Keynesian models of Ukrainian markets to European corpo- line or set of slogans, leaving the neolib- and Lugansk regions is just being estab- economic development, socially orient- rations, the transformation of Ukraine eral opposition to adopt the nationalist lished, it is probably too early to draw fi- ed state capitalism. While this is only a into a colony of the European Union as slogans and nationalist agenda.” nal conclusions about the policies of the trend, though an important one, it is the a source of raw materials and disenfran- Thus, the neoliberal-Nazi alliance was DNR and LC. However, we can highlight opposite of the economic policy of the chised migrant worker-slaves. Today, formed. This alliance was “consecrated” some trends. Kiev authorities. more than a year after the victory of by representatives of imperialism, such 1. Anti-fascism. The rebels of all po- 4. Friendship of peoples, inter- Maidan [the victory of the counterrev- as Catherine Ashton, Victoria Nuland litical persuasions definitely character- nationalism and Russian nationalism. olution with pro-fascists in the leader- and John McCain. ize the regime established in Kiev after Everyone who has been in the Donbass ship], the economic results are already Another important point in the fascis- Maidan as fascist. Often without a clear Continued on page 9 being felt so deeply that they cannot be tization of society after Maidan was the scientific understanding of fascism, they workers.org Sept. 17, 2015 Page 9 U.S. wars caused refugee crisis

By Sara Flounders itary contracts for U.S. and European ghan refugees in Pakistan and 1 million U.S. aircraft bombing Libya. Union corporations — and ruin for mil- Afghan refugees in Iran and millions of U.S. wars, starvation sanctions and lions of people. displaced people within Afghanistan it- planned destabilization are the over- Washington’s strategy in each of these self. whelming cause of the surge of hundreds imperialist wars has been to enflame In Libya, seven months of U.S./NATO of thousands of war refugees flooding sectarian, ethnic, national and religious bombing in 2010 destroyed the entire in- across European borders and across the differences. This means organizing con- frastructure of a modern state where na- Mediterranean Sea. The major Europe- tending militias, pitting group against tionalized oil helped achieve the highest an-NATO powers collaborated with U.S. group to break down national pride and standard of living in Africa. Hundreds imperialism in each war. unified resistance. Divide and conquer is of thousands of workers throughout Af- The corporate media are publishing the strategy that dates back to the U.S. rica had found jobs in Libya, which had painful pictures of drowned children, wars against Indigenous peoples on the also provided economic development aid sinking boats, news stories of suffocating North American continent. throughout Africa. trucks and reports of thousands camped The Pentagon cynically targets civil- In appealing for assistance, Tunisia’s in train stations and along roadways. ian infrastructure, including electric President Moncef Marzouki explained They rob these reports of context by grids, fuel depots, irrigation, water pu- that two million Libyans, or one-third omitting the cause of the refugee crisis. rification, sanitation, local industries of Libya’s pre-NATO-intervention pop- Some people fear the enormous media and especially schools in an effort to de- ulation, have taken refuge in Tunisia. coverage could even be cynical prepara- moralize and disorient the population. The number is equivalent to one-fifth of tion to justify a new military offensive by Washington arms and empowers the ­Tunisia’s population. NATO countries against Syria. most reactionary forces and corrupt Today, South Sudan has the largest The real dimensions of the humani- warlords as collaborators. number of refugees in Africa. Accord- tarian disaster are largely hidden. The ing to the U.N. Refugee Agency, there Funding militias, warlords and drug 340,000 destitute refugees who have Refugees of current U.S. wars are 2.25 million refugees and spiraling lords was U.S. policy in Central Amer- reached Europe constitute only 3 per- Syria today has the highest number of civil war in this oil-rich country. As the ica in the 1980s. The U.N. estimated that cent of the over 10 million displaced peo- people displaced by war. U.S. sanctions Jan. 3, 2014, New York Times explained, one-third of the workforce of El Salvador ple barely surviving in refugee camps in as of 2010 were followed in 2011 by U.S./ South Sudan is in many ways a U.S. fled the country in the 1980s. More than Syria or in countries bordering Syria. NATO and Saudi arming and financing “creation, carved out of war-torn Sudan a half million reached the U.S. These neighboring countries are also of mercenary forces. This war has de- in a referendum largely orchestrated The war to expand NATO and dismem- destabilized by the surge of refugees and stroyed a formerly prosperous country by the United States, its fragile institu- ber Yugoslavia, in Bosnia in 1995 and disruptive sanctions against Syria that where the population had modern infra- tions nurtured with billions of dollars in in Serbia in 1999, again used destruction ripple throughout the region. structure, quality free health care and American aid.” of civilian infrastructure and enflaming The European governments dismissed free education. More than 2 million refugees in sectarian differences. According to the the war-caused havoc as long as the cri- Now almost half of Syria’s 23 million Ukraine represent the newest refugee U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, sis was kept off their doorstep. population is displaced. More than 4 crisis, caused by the expansion of the 3.7 to 4 million people were displaced The refugees’ dire conditions wors- million Syrians have fled to neighboring U.S.-commanded NATO military al- and became refugees. ened because the meager United Na- countries. Mercenary and fanatic sec- liance to the borders of Russia. While It should not be forgotten that it is tions Food Program has exhausted its tarian forces within Syria now number Washington fails to provide funds to feed more than 60 years of U.S. funding and funds and is now cutting hundreds of about 125,000 in a thousand competing refugees from U.S. wars of aggression, equipping of Israel that enabled the ex- thousands of refugees off its aid in U.N. bands from 80 or more countries. the U.S. government spent $5 billion to propriation of hundreds of thousands of administered refugee camps in Jordan, The U.S. war in Iraq from 1990 to fund the fascist forces and social net- people from Palestine, the longest and Turkey, Iraq and Syria. The U.N. agency 2003 included massive, systematic works that overturned the elected gov- most protracted refugee problem in the needed a mere $236 million to keep the destruction of infrastructure and 13 ernment in Ukraine. Assistant Secretary world. BADIL, a research and advocacy program funded through November. years of economic sanctions. The 2003 of State Victoria Nuland even bragged of center focusing on refugee rights, esti- According to NationalPriorities.org, U.S.-British invasion and occupation of this funding. The Kiev coup government mates that there are more than 7 mil- the U.S. government has spent that much Iraq brought catastrophic ruin and or- is now waging war against anti-fascists lion Palestinian refugees and displaced on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria chestrated sectarian violence unknown in east Ukraine. persons. This figure includes the 4.2 every 28 hours since 2001. in Iraqi history. Refugees and internal- According to Russian Federal Migra- million Palestinians registered with the The largest numbers of refugees are ly displaced people reached 4.7 million tion Service-FMS statistics, a total of 2.6 United Nations Relief and Works Agency fleeing from war-torn Syria, Iraq, Af- people. Almost half of the Iraqi refugees million Ukrainians are currently in Rus- for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ghanistan, Libya and South Sudan. received shelter in overburdened Syria. sian territory. Some 1 million are from (UNRWA) and other Palestinians dis- U.S. corporate power, driven by its in- Since the 1978 Saur Revolution, which Ukraine’s southeastern regions, fleeing placed in 1967 and still displaced inter- satiable drive to secure control of valu- overthrew the monarchy in Afghani- armed conflict in the Donetsk and Lu- nally in Israel. able resources and push back progres- stan, the Pentagon has provided more gansk regions. While billions of dollars continue to sive change, had targeted each of these than $3 billion to counterrevolutionary be allocated for war preparation, the countries. Not one of these wars was for and warlord forces to destroy the rev- Past waves of U.S. war refugees World Food Program cut 1 million Iraqi humanitarian purposes. Each war is a olution. For three decades, war-torn U.S. wars in Southeast Asia ripped refugees and millions of Syrian refugees source of enormous super profit in mil- Afghanistan led in the U.N. lists in the Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos apart from receiving $14 monthly food cou- number of war refugees. Through the in the 1960s and 1970s. The effort to pons. This confirms in the most violent 1980s, there were 3.5 million Afghan ref- dominate the region failed but the mas- terms that capitalist rulers are incapable ugees in Pakistan and 2 million in Iran. sive destruction left 4 million dead, mil- of solving the humanitarian disaster that War in Donbass The 2001 U.S./NATO occupation of lions maimed and 2 million Vietnamese they have created. War preparation is Afghanistan created new waves of refu- and Cambodian refugees desperate for profitable. Distributions of surplus food Continued from page 8 gees. There are currently 1.5 million Af- resettlement. are not. notes the international character of the region. Dangerous trends of Russian na- tionalism in response to the Ukrainian chauvinism of the new Kiev authorities U.S. veteran disputes have not developed in a serious way (al- though that danger has been actively ex- ploited by opponents of the people’s re- publics for propaganda purposes). anti-Korea stories Also, there has been no serious devel- opment of another danger -- clericaliza- By Deirdre Griswold The DPRK rejected the charge, call- email “to remain skeptical about the tion of the resistance movement. This ing it “a ridiculous farce.” A former U.S. mainstream media’s reports on Korea distinguishes the resistance forces from Tensions on the Korean peninsula es- soldier who had been stationed in south and to call on the White House and Con- the Maidan, wherein the Greek Catholic calated in August as the U.S. carried out Korea agrees. gress to take steps to reduce military Church played a significant role. massive “war games” aimed at the Dem- Michael Bassett, a retired U.S. Army tensions in Korea, including entering These are the main elements of the pol- ocratic People’s Republic of Korea in the staff sergeant, had this to say: “Having talks with North Korea, and to support icy of the people’s republics of Donbass. north. At the same time, the U.S. media patrolled those same trails for years as H. Res. 384, which is co-sponsored by Of course, this policy is not socialist. But said little about the 30,000 U.S. and a recon team leader, I find it impossible three remaining veterans of the Korean it leaves room for the left, the commu- 50,000 south Korean troops that were to believe that KPA (North Korean) sol- War in the Congress, calling for a formal nists, to participate in such a movement menacing the DPRK. diers could walk 450 meters south across end to the Korean War. War is not the under their own banner, with their own Instead, they were full of stories ac- the military demarcation fence with AP solution; ending the lingering Korean ideas and slogans, without abandoning cusing the DPRK of having planted three mines in hand, and not get blown up or War with a peace treaty is the right an- their own views and program. landmines in the demilitarized zone that captured on camera.” Bassett is a mem- swer.” (veteransforpeace.org) Translation by Workers World con- separates the two halves of Korea, mines ber of Veterans for Peace. tributing editor Greg Butterfield. that injured two south Korean soldiers. The VFP called on its members in an Page 10 Sept. 17, 2015 workers.org

Obama’s Alaska trip – Big Oil profits, The gov’t ‘rosy’ jobs report war threats “There are three kinds of lies: lies, enough to have a job. For most workers, damned lies, and statistics,” wrote Mark real wages — adjusted for inflation — By Chris Fry the droughts, the intensifying cyclones Twain. have stayed flat or been falling for de- (all rooted in the burning of fossil fuels), The U.S. government issued its month- cades. And for those working in the top With great fanfare, while making an the giant Shell Oil drilling rig is planted ly jobs report on Sept. 4. Although only four employment categories today — re- unprecedented presidential trip to Alas- on the Alaskan shore of the Arctic Ocean. 173,000 new jobs were added — fewer tail sales, food preparation and serving, ka on Aug. 31, President Barack Obama The U.S. Coast Guard prevented environ- than expected — the Obama administra- cashiers and office clerks — the pay is less “renamed” the tallest mountain in North mental activists from stopping the rig tion immediately heralded the new un- than $10 per hour. America back to Mount Denali, the name from leaving Seattle in June. employment figure of 5.1 percent, which Then there are the millions of workers given it long ago by the Indigenous com- And just as those same activists have they claim is the lowest since 2007. who earn less than minimum wage or do munity of the area, the Athabascan na- foretold, strong storms in the Arctic Does this mean — as many capitalist unpaid work, who are among the most ex- tion. Ocean have forced Shell to shut down the apologists and economists claim — that ploited, including agricultural and dairy This was indeed a long-standing de- rig and temporarily evacuate it. Obvious- the U.S economy is improving and that workers, domestic workers, those toiling mand by the Native Alaskan people and ly, the oil companies would not be able workers are better off now? It is crucial in sweatshops, immigrants, prisoners, their supporters, who have long rejected to stop an oil leak in this area. “Imagine to look at the lies and obfuscations be- people with disabilities, tipped employ- the name “Mount McKinley.” trying to respond to a spill in that kind of hind the report. ees and victims of human trafficking. But President Obama did not make weather,” stated Pam Miller, a longtime The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which this trip to Alaska to rename mountains. Arctic researcher and environmental ad- creates these figures, has a very arcane BLS omits biases in hiring It is a bitter irony that while changing the vocate in Fairbanks, in an Aug. 31 Juneau way of determining who is “unemployed.” Moreover, government reports do not name of Alaska’s most famous mountain Empire article. (tinyurl.com/ouhpnec) The figure is not an accurate measure of address racist, anti-immigrant, sexist from that of an imperialist war maker, U.S. Navy and Wall Street — the number of people who want and need and anti-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgen- William McKinley, Obama is “planting partners in crime jobs. The real unemployed are not co­ unted. der-queer bigotry and discrimination the flag” of U.S. imperialism in the Arc- Rather, the BLS surveys 60,000 house- which factor into who is hired and who is tic Ocean region to “square off” against Environmental impact or not, oil glut holds, which are selected because they not. Discrimination against people with Russia, China and other countries to as- or not, estimates are that there are $1 “represent” different U.S. regions and disabilities is omitted. Prisoners are not sert U.S. oil companies’ domination of trillion worth of oil and natural gas in the populations. The bureau asks people in even counted. The denial of educational this treasure house of oil and natural gas U.S. Arctic region. That is a lot of profits those households whether they have been opportunities to low-income individuals wealth. for investors on Wall Street to forego ver- actively seeking work in the prior four and the exclusion of youth — especially In a fundamental way, Obama is im- sus protecting the planet from a climate weeks. If they have worked at all during African American, Latino/a and Indige- itating the same policy of imperialist catastrophe. that period, regardless of their earnings, nous — from many jobs are not discussed. domination that McKinley exhibited The U.S. Navy is publicizing its nuclear or whether the work is part-time or spo- The biases against entire groupings of more than a century ago, when he presid- submarine operations in the Arctic region, radic, they are counted as employed. workers — so endemic to capitalism — ed over a war of conquest and the coloni- each sub carrying missiles, torpedoes and are not mentioned in “official” reports. zation of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and mines. Why? “The Arctic is going to be a Jobless number at 38-year high The “reserve army of labor” is the term the Philippines. place of growing strategic importance. A more accurate, but still very imper- coined by Karl Marx for the vast num- Obama’s trip to Alaska is being parad- The Russians are active there,” Defense fect, BLS figure is the labor force partic- bers of jobless workers. This unemployed ed by the White House as a campaign Secretary Ash Carter told a Senate Armed ipation rate. This shows that only 62.6 “army” is intrinsic to capitalism and key against the terrible effects of global Services Committee hearing in March. percent of the non-institutionalized, to how it functions. But it is one of the sys- warming. After all, even the Pentagon (cnn.com, Aug. 31, 2015) non-military population was employed tem’s greatest vulnerabilities. Corporate measures the warming of the Arctic re- As with the U.S. military’s support of for the third month in a row. This means bosses fear that the multinational work- gion to be twice the rate of the rest of the the right-wing regime in the Ukraine, the that 37.4 percent — or 94 million people ing class will launch a powerful fightback, planet. (tinyurl.com/2wslkbk) Pentagon is eager to brandish its saber — were not employed. This is the highest expanding the current “$15 and a union” But at the same time that Obama railed against Russia in the Arctic. number since 1977. demand for low-wage workers to “Jobs for against the terrible wildfires wreaking The U.S. Navy actually sees global The U.S. government does not report all at a livable income!” havoc in the West, the global heat waves, warming in the Arctic as a great oppor- or explain why these people do not have jobs. For one reason, there has not been a real jobs’ recovery since the Great Re- cession began. Many employers have cut their work forces, using speed-ups and Deportations, racism vs. ‘humane’ democracy automation with fewer workers, hiring part-time or temporary employees or out- Jorge Ramos, the nightly news co-­ expend the money and resources for such tains, with such a large undertaking it is sourcing jobs abroad. anchor on Spanish-language TV station a massive undertaking? Conservative all but guaranteed that people who are The government statistics omit the mil- Univisión who was thrown out of Donald columnist and TV personality George not intended targets will get caught up lions of unemployed workers who despair Trump’s press conference in Dubuque, Will estimates that this would be about in the web. If history offers any lessons of ever finding jobs and have given up. The Iowa on Aug. 25, 2015, and was then 94 times as large an undertaking as the it will also be done not only with intim- Sept. 4 Fiscal Times says that the low la- allowed back in, asked Trump how he rounding up of the 117,000 Japanese idation and threats of violence, but with bor force participation is “a sign that the would deport 11 million undocumented. Americans at Manzanares during WWII. actual violence. [official] unemployment rate may be low Trump responded: “Humanely. I have a Will we sacrifice all of the other things Another lesson of history is that because workers who might otherwise be bigger heart than you.” that demand the nation’s attention, such Trump’s type of nativist, anti-immigrant seeking jobs become discouraged by the As an activist with an immigrant- as crumbling schools and infrastructure? rhetoric leads to violent attacks on “the lingering effects of the Great Recession rights organization who has personally Will we officially become a dictator- other” or the perceived “other,” promotes and have permanently left the labor force.” known a number of immigrants in ship? And, while I do not like this type the so-called “security State” and de- The BLS does note that 6.48 million deportation proceedings, I can safely say of hyperbole, will we become like Nazi stroys all remnants of “democracy.” One people who need full-time jobs are invol- that deportations may be many things, Germany when it was rounding up Jews, need not look too far to see this. untarily working part time, an increasing but “humane” is not one of them. Gypsies [Roma people] and other groups After being told of a homeless im- trend. The government also reports, but However, Ramos’s question goes to the in disfavor with the régime? migrant being beaten up in Boston in neglects to explain, the steady decline heart of something even deeper. What In addition to the fact that it will not August by a couple of men who invoked in wages and benefits for workers lucky type of country will we become if we be done “humanely,” as Trump main- his name, Trump initially replied that he hadn’t heard about it but that if it were true, it would “be a shame.” He then has- tened to add: “I will say, the people that Un acuerdo con Irán are following me are very passionate. Continua de pagina 12 They love this country. They want this secretario de estado Kerry en un evento y hacer miles de millones por fractura- country to be great again.” idenses, una pérdida de confianza en el de Reuters Newsmaker”. miento hidráulico para petróleo y gas, una Coupled with his demand in 2011 to liderazgo de EUA podría amenazar la Es muy raro que un funcionario del go- manera muy costosa de obtener energía - posición del dólar como moneda de res- bierno suene con pánico sobre la economía ha resultado totalmente contraproducen- erva del mundo, dijo el jefe de la diploma- estadounidense, incluso cuando esté mo- te cuando la sobreproducción mundial y Esto explica por qué hay apoyo para el cia estadounidense el martes. ‘Si damos tivado por la necesidad de defender algu- las economías estancadas o en contrac- acuerdo de Irán de un sector poderoso del la vuelta y anulamos el acuerdo y luego na gran iniciativa. Pero el pánico, al pare- ción, recientemente condujeron el precio complejo industrial-militar-bancario. La decimos: “Tú tendrás que obedecer nues- cer, está en el aire tanto en Wall Street del crudo por debajo de $40 por barril. El agenda de la administración Obama no tras reglas y sanciones de todos modos”, como en las juntas de administración de petróleo de Arabia Saudita e Irán todavía es más “liberal” que la de muchos repub- esto es una receta, muy rápido... para las grandes compañías petroleras. puede ser rentable a ese precio - pero no licanos - sólo que está más en sintonía con que el dólar estadounidense deje de ser Su estrategia para ampliar grande- el petróleo de las arenas bituminosas de Wall Street y menos afectada por la retóri- la moneda de reserva del mundo”, dijo el mente la producción de petróleo de EUA Canadá o de gran parte de EUA. ca e ideología de la extrema derecha. workers.org Sept. 17, 2015 Page 11 Class struggle heats up in Central America

By Ramiro S. Fúnez

There is an important struggle taking place in Central America — the same one A victim of global warming in the Arctic. that is being waged all over the world: the tunity to industrialize the area and array class struggle between the rich and the its forces in the region: “The observed poor, the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. changes in the Arctic region climate and This struggle is intensifying by the the reduced extent of summer ice reveal minute, like a tea kettle reaching its boil- the potential for the Arctic Ocean to ing point. The bourgeoisie, who repre- become a more visible route of interna- sent the steel casing of the kettle, are no tional shipping over the coming decades. longer able to contain the proletariat, the Opportunities exist for infrastructure boiling water, from violently bursting out development and commercial invest- of its boundaries. ment, resource exploitation, fishing and However, the bourgeoisie are often tourism. … If the Arctic becomes more prone to temporarily tone down the in- heavily traveled, and some nation poses tensity of the fire, to prevent the water a threat, the U.S. Navy plans to be ready.” from escaping as steam from the kettle. (cnn.com, Aug. 31) This is what is happening to the class

The U.S. military burns more oil than struggle in two particular Central Ameri- any other single institution in the world: can countries: Guatemala and Honduras. Venezuela more than 100 million barrels a year. In the former country, this is being done Colombia (“The U.S. Military and Oil,” ucsusa.org) through illegitimate elections, and in the They are the single greatest source of latter, through illegitimate dialogues. global warming, and for what purpose? the government of incumbent right-wing features of a situation that are directly To force the will of Washington and Wall ‘Elections’ in Guatemala President Juan Orlando Hernández. opposed to one another. German social Street on the peoples of the planet with General elections were held on Sept. 6 Last June, the left-wing political news theorist and revolutionary Karl Marx aircraft carriers, with bombs and with in Guatemala for the selection of a new channel Globo TV revealed that cor- elaborated on this understanding of the infamous drones. president and vice president, as well as porations linked to an embezzlement contradiction, applying it directly to the With summer melting of the Arctic ice for new deputies in municipal offices, scandal involving the Honduran Social class struggle between the rich and the pack expected to accelerate over the com- the national Congress and the Central Security Institute (IHSS) provided funds poor, the bourgeoisie and the proletar- ing decades, the Pentagon has already American Parliament. This follows the for Hernández’s National Party during iat. Marx explained that class struggles drawn up plans to send more and more of Sept. 2 resignation and Sept. 3 arrest of his 2013 presidential campaign. Private are the locomotive of history, each time its surface fleet into the region, to parade former right-wing president Otto Pérez Honduran medical companies like Dime- ending either in the “revolutionary re- its military might and protect oil compa- Molina, who was involved in two major sa helped finance Hernández’s campaign, constitution of society at large, or in the ny property. corruption scandals. using profits made from backroom deals common ruin of the contending classes.” The Arctic region, just like the rest of The first involved a multimillion-dol- with IHSS officials. Dimesa has held a Chinese communist revolutionary Mao the planet, belongs to all of the people lar customs fraud exposed by a United contract with the IHSS since 2011. Social Tse-tung contributed to Marx’s theory of the world. Whatever Obama says, it is Nations report released in April. Gua- security officials knowingly approved the of contradiction with his understanding under threat by the mad quest for profits temalan government officials were re- purchase of overpriced medical equip- of the universality of these antagonisms, and domination by Washington and Wall ported to have been accepting bribes in ment and low-quality medicines in ex- mentioning that “contradiction exists in Street. Only a revolutionary, worldwide, exchange for lower customs duties for change for bribes, just like in Guatemala. the process of development of all things,” organized movement by the workers and private corporations. As mentioned in a previous article including political concessions. oppressed can protect it. The second involved Guatemalan (WW, June 28), approximately $330 If we apply their theoretical and prac- Social Security Institute officials who million was stolen from the IHSS, sig- tical contributions to present conditions signed a $15 million contract for dialysis nificant portions of which were siphoned in Guatemala and Honduras, it becomes with a company that had no experience into Hernández’s campaign. Thousands easier to understand why the class strug- or adequate medical tools in exchange of Hondurans have died, and are still dy- gle in both countries will continue to in- Deportations, racism vs. ‘humane’ democracy for kickbacks. Molina was an accomplice ing, as a result of the theft of IHSS funds tensify. to and beneficiary of both acts of corrup- originally intended for medicine and Although the flames that ignite the see President Obama’s birth certificate tion. equipment. contradiction between the bourgeoi- and his not-so-subtle insult of Jorge Now that he and other politicians in- Now that Hernández’s involvement in sie and the proletariat of these Central Ramos for being Latino, telling him to volved in the scandals have been arrest- the scandal has been exposed, OAS rep- American nations have been temporari- go back to Univisión, Trump may be the ed, the Organization of American States resentatives and IHSS officials are hop- ly toned down by way of minor conces- most racist candidate for President of and other United States-aligned political ing the Indignant Hondurans will not sions such as “elections” and “dialogues,” the USA since Strom Thurmond ran as a institutions are promoting the general replicate the actions of their Guatema- the fire still exists, and will continue to Dixiecrat in 1948. elections as the solution to corruption in lan neighbors and initiate a movement intensify if it is not turned off, as in the Even Ronald Reagan — of whom Guatemala. The representatives of these to remove the president. Instead, these case of the water boiling inside the kettle. Trump was an early supporter, and who institutions hope the millions of Guate- politicians are calling for “dialogues” This is because the fundamental contra- was the first major-party candidate to be malan masses who successfully ousted and “compromises” between the right- diction has not been resolved; poverty openly endorsed by both the KKK and Molina will trade their protest signs for wing government and the masses, who and corruption persist, despite cosmetic the Nazis — was a little more subtle. As election ballots. have been calling for the resignation of changes. Even if new representatives are bad as Reagan’s appeals to racism were, But as Guatemalan activist María Lu- Hernández for several months. elected and amicable dialogue is held, the and they were pretty terrible, did he isa Rosal said during a recent interview, These “conversations,” however, have real-life material conditions remain the ever say how much people who engaged “People are trying to vote for the least almost exclusively been dominated by same. These conditions of poverty and in racist violence “love this country” or worst candidate.” (Think Progress, Sept. the OAS and Honduran politicians on corruption are directly produced by cap- “want it to be great again?” 6) These include Jimmy Morales, a com- Hernández’s payroll, all of whom have ex- italism, the globally dominant economic Trump’s appeals to racism, not to ic actor with no political experience, and pressed opposition to his ousting. Many system. mention his sexism, and his willingness Manuel Baldizón, a right-wing business in Honduras refer to the talks as “mono- As long as the systemic exploitation of to waste precious financial and human owner connected to Molina, among oth- logues,” since the primary demand of the the poor by the rich continues, the an- resources on deporting 11 million undoc- ers. Rosal added that these elections only masses has been silenced and ruled out. tagonism between these irreconcilable umented immigrants while ignoring the served to legitimize “an oppressive sys- These illegitimate dialogues represent classes with opposed interests will con- country’s actual needs, indicate that he is tem that has only benefitted the oligarchs the attempts of the bourgeoisie to tone tinue. The contradiction between those sending all of the wrong messages. Ramos and the multinational corporations.” down the class struggle in Honduras. in favor of minor policy reforms and These illegitimate elections represent those in favor of major structural revo- said in an interview on CNN that report- Struggle intensifies despite the attempts of the bourgeoisie to tone lutions is already coming to the fore in ers are only thrown out of press confer- minor concessions ences in dictatorships. Not very “humane.” down the class struggle in Guatemala. Guatemala and Honduras. That is something worth pondering. If the bourgeoisie is toning down the The boiling water, the oppressed, will ‘Dialogues’ in Honduras class struggle in Guatemala and Hondu- eventually burst outside the boundaries Dave Schraeger Aug. 31 National dialogues have been held be- ras, why does the title of this article claim of the kettle, the oppressors, and bring Email: [email protected] tween OAS leaders and representatives the struggle is heating up? The reason is forth a revolutionary reconstitution of simple: contradiction. society. The recent concessions are cer- The writer is a longtime labor, peace of Hondureños Indignados (Indignant Contradiction is commonly defined tainly not the end of the class struggle — and immigrant rights activist in New Hondurans), a mass movement leading as a combination of statements, ideas or only a new beginning. Jersey. weekly, and often daily, protests against Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 57 Núm. 37 17 de septiembre, 2015 $1 Emmett Till y su madre Mamie Till Mobley Editorial, 1º de septiembre Por qué la clase dominante ¿Por qué sigue estadounidense quiere un importando la vida acuerdo con Irán de Emmett Till? Por Deirdre Griswold 1953. El agente de EUA que coordinó ese golpe fue Durante el apogeo del Movimiento de Derechos Civiles en el Sur Kermit Roosevelt Jr., nieto del famoso imperialis- en la década de los 1960s, activistas como Jimmy Lee Jackson, Ahora que la temporada de 18 meses de elec- ta Theodore Roosevelt. En su libro “Contragolpe: Medgar Evers, Viola Liuzzo, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, ciones nacionales burguesas en EUA ha comenza- la lucha por el control de Irán”, KR se jactó de lle- Michael Schwerner, el Rev. James Reeb y otros perdieron la vida do, no sorprende que un acuerdo negociado entre gar a Teherán montado en un tanque. a manos del Ku Klux Klan. Pero la reacción a un linchamiento an- el gobierno iraní y el P5+1 — los cinco miembros La industria del petróleo iraní, que había pert- terior, junto con el boicot de autobuses de Montgomery-Alabama, permanentes del Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU enecido a la nación iraní, fue desnacionalizada en ayudó a desencadenar este movimiento. Fue el linchamiento brutal más Alemania — se haya convertido en una gran 1955. Tres años más tarde, Kermit Roosevelt dejó de Emmett Till, un joven afroamericano de 14 años quien hace 60 cuestión política. la CIA para trabajar para la Gulf Oil, convirtién- años, el 28 de agosto, perdió su preciosa vida en Money-Misisipi. La administración Obama dice que el acuerdo dose pronto en vicepresidente de la empresa. Emmett Till nació el 25 de julio de 1941 y creció en Chicago. Sus impedirá que Irán desarrolle armas nucleares al El Shah en su Trono de Pavo Real fue el conducto padres habían migrado al Norte al igual que millones de negras/ menos durante 15 años. A cambio, los imperialis- para que el imperialismo occidental se enriqueciera os para escapar de la opresión del Sur. A finales de agosto de 1955, tas occidentales dicen que levantarán algunas — del mayor recurso comercial de Irán, el petróleo. Emmett viajó al corazón del Delta de Misisipi para visitar a un tío. no todas — de las sanciones que se han impues- Tan pronto como el Shah fue investido por EUA, Su madre Mamie Till Mobley, le advirtió que la actitud de los to a Irán desde 2005. Al impedirle a Irán vender los banqueros británicos y los magnates petroleros, blancos en Money hacia los negros era “diferente” de la de los blan- petróleo en el mercado mundial, entre otras re- anunció en 1953 que Irán lanzaría un programa cos en Chicago a pesar de que ambas ciudades estaban marcadas stricciones, han limitado su economía. nuclear civil como parte de la iniciativa “Átomos por la segregación. El acuerdo está siendo atacado por todos los pre- para la paz” del presidente estadounidense Dwight Roy Bryant, un rabioso segregacionista, era dueño de una tienda candidatos republicanos casi como una ­“traición”. D. Eisenhower. en Money frecuentada por aparceros negros. Cuando Till salía de El congreso debe votar para el 17 de septiembre Los imperialistas occidentales estaban todos de la tienda, la esposa de Bryant alegó que el adolescente, quien sufría si aprobar o no el acuerdo. Algunos demócratas acuerdo - incluso facilitaron el programa nuclear de un defecto del habla, le había silbado. se han unido a los republicanos diciendo que se de Irán - hasta 1979, cuando las masas se levan- Días después en medio de la noche, Bryant, J.W. Milam y otro opondrán. Hay un cabildeo furioso por ambos la- taron en una lucha heroica y derrocaron al Shah y blanco racista secuestraron al adolescente a punta de pistola de la dos, incluyendo no sólo presión directa sobre rep- su brutal policía, la Savak. casa de su tío. resentantes y senadores, sino también anuncios en Fue entonces cuando los imperialistas comen- Willie Reed, un aparcero negro que trabajaba para Milam, periódicos y televisión. zaron a buscar maneras de justificar una guerra afirmó en el documental de 2003, “El asesinato de Emmett Till”, El último ejemplo fue una carta a Obama firma- económica contra Irán. A mediados de la década de que escuchó a Till siendo golpeado por los tres hombres en un co- da por 214 generales y almirantes estadounidenses 1990, la administración Clinton impuso sanciones bertizo de herramientas. Oyó al adolescente gritando en agonía. jubilados que también apareció como un anuncio contra Irán, ostensiblemente por su programa nu- Till, empapado de sangre, fue conducido a las orillas del Río Talla- en el New York Times el 30 de agosto. Llamó el ac- clear. Eso fue hace 20 años, y la hostilidad de EUA hatchie donde le dispararon en la cabeza. uerdo, conocido como el Plan Completo Conjunto ha empeorado desde entonces. Un ventilador desmotador de algodón fue atado con alambre de Acción, “peligroso” y dijo que el acuerdo “hace Si la razón para las sanciones realmente fuera la alrededor de su cuello. Su cuerpo fue arrojado en el río donde fue probable que la guerra que el régimen iraní ha em- posibilidad de que en algún momento el programa encontrado días después. Después de que Reed fue obligado a la- prendido contra nosotros desde 1979 [sic] siga, con de energía pacífica de Irán pueda terminar en ar- var la sangre de Till de la parte trasera del camión, desapareció riesgos mucho más altos para nuestros intereses mas nucleares, entonces ¿por qué no se ha sancio- temiendo por su propia vida. de seguridad nacional”. nado a Israel por su ampliamente conocido pero El asesinato de Emmett Till salió en titulares nacionales e inter- Anteriormente, el 11 de agosto, un grupo de tres nunca admitido arsenal nuclear? Nunca ha firmado nacionales. Cincuenta mil personas negras asistieron a su funeral docenas de generales y almirantes jubilados habían el Tratado de No Proliferación; Irán sí lo ha firmado. en Chicago. enviado una carta a Obama argumentando lo opues- Ahora viene la posibilidad de que, a pesar de Su madre exigió que se abriera el ataúd para que todo el mundo to. Dijeron que “el acuerdo con Irán beneficia la se- todo el alboroto sobre “los riesgos para la seguri- pudiera ver la cara irreconocible y mutilada de su hijo debido a la guridad nacional estadounidense”. El Washington dad nacional”, el acuerdo del P5+1 con Irán pueda salvaje golpiza con la culata de una pistola de calibre .45. Post indicó: “Los firmantes de la carta [a favor del llegar a ser una realidad - aunque podría ser nece- Roy Bryant y J.W. Milam fueron absueltos por un jurado blanco acuerdo] incluyen a un general retirado y oficiales de sario que el presidente tenga que vetar una may- después de solo cinco días de testimonios. Cuatro meses después, bandera de cada rama del servicio. Incluyen a los ge- oría “no” en la Cámara y/o en el Senado para con- Bryant y Milam, sabiendo que legalmente no podían ser juzgados, nerales de cuatro estrellas de la Marina James Cart- seguir la aprobación del acuerdo. Sesenta y siete admitieron en un artículo de la revista Look que habían asesinado wright, el ex-vicepresidente de los Jefes del Estado de los 100 senadores tendrían que votar “no” para a Till. Mayor Conjunto, y Joseph P. Hoar, ex-jefe del Co- anular el veto de Obama. Menos de cinco años después de este linchamiento, estudi- mando Central EUA; y los generales Merrill McPeak antes universitarios negras/os comenzaron heroicas sentadas en y Lloyd W. Newton de la Fuerza Aérea”. Inestabilidad impulsa Washington mostradores de almuerzo contra la segregación en Woolworth y El gobierno de Netanyahu en Israel se opone vi- Hay especulación en los medios de comuni- otras tiendas. olentamente al acuerdo. Para demostrar que había cación corporativa que Obama quiere aprobar el Como Christopher Benson, co-autor del libro “Muerte de la in- apoyo judío y hasta sionista, sin embargo, el Post acuerdo con el fin de consolidar su “legado”. Pero ocencia” dijo sobre el asesinato de Till en una entrevista: “Antes también indicó que uno de los firmantes, el almi- los informes muestran que el gobierno estadoun- de , antes de Michael Brown, antes de Tamir Rice, rante jubilado Harold L. Robinson, era un rabino idense – y una parte importante de la clase dom- estuvo Emmett Till. Esta fue la primera historia de “Vidas Negras que se describe como “sionista de por vida”. inante que se basa en las ganancias del exterior Importan”. No es de extrañar entonces que cada vez que leemos El Post añadió: “La carta de los militares reti- - tiene preocupaciones mucho más grandes que acerca de otro joven negro desarmado ha sido matado en la cal- rados siguió a la publicación este pasado fin de se- esa. De hecho, ellos están tratando de encontrar la le — injustamente — por una figura de autoridad, se menciona el mana de una carta a Obama por 29 de los científ- manera de apuntalar su posición, sobre todo en el nombre de Emmett”. (New York Times, 31 de agosto) icos más importantes del país, quienes llamaron suroeste de Asia, donde las horrendas guerras de Y ¿qué con los cientos de Emmett Tills anónimos que perdieron el acuerdo de Irán ‘técnicamente sólido, riguroso agresión EUA/OTAN han creado condiciones críti- la vida durante el Huracán Katrina hace 10 años en lo que hoy e innovador’ y dijo que proporcionará la seguridad cas para decenas de millones de personas - y han conocemos fue la inundación planificada del barrio negro (Ninth necesaria en la próxima década y más, de que Irán perturbado totalmente la vida económica en la que Ward) con diques deteriorados, y los homicidios policiales de ne- no desarrollará armas nucleares”. las grandes empresas se robustecen. gros que intentaban escapar de la inundación de Nueva Orleáns? La volatilidad actual en los mercados financieros Cientos de miles de gente negra hasta hoy en día han sido despla- Argumentos falsos distorsionan historia internacionales es sólo una de las indicaciones de zadas de forma permanente después de Katrina mientras Nueva Hay tantos argumentos falsos puestos en este lo inestable que se ha convertido la posición de los Orleáns sigue aburguesándose por los grandes intereses de bienes debate que un poco de historia es necesaria para principales países capitalistas. raíces para traer de vuelta a blancos ricos y prósperos. También entender lo que realmente está pasando. El secretario de estado John Kerry defendió hay los Emmett Tills que viven en un infierno en vida, ya que lan- En primer lugar, EUA y los otros imperialistas el acuerdo en un acto televisado el 12 de agosto. guidecen bajo la encarcelación en masa. occidentales no tenían problemas con Irán cuan- El servicio de noticias Reuters informó: “Si EUA El linchamiento de Emmett Till nos recuerda a todas/os que la ver- do fue gobernada por el autocrático y brutal Shah se aleja del acuerdo nuclear con Irán y exige que dadera justicia para Till y otras víctimas que vinieron antes y después Reza Pahlevi, quien había conseguido su puesto sus aliados cumplan con las sanciones estadoun- de él, solo puede ocurrir con una eliminación revolucionaria del siste- por un golpe de estado organizado por la CIA en Continua a página 10 ma capitalista que perpetúa diariamente el racismo sistémico.