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Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 57, No. 50 Dec. 17, 2015 $1

PHOTO:AMBER MATHWIG Activists leave Trump rally chanting North Carolina ‘Black lives matter.’ Anti-racist unity shuts down Trump Special to Workers World Raleigh, N.C. Protesters trump Trump, Dec. 4 in Raleigh, N.C. Billionaire realtor Donald Trump has been trav- eling the country, filling stadiums with bigots and building a dangerous movement around a racist, ul- tra-right ideology. When he came to Raleigh, N.C., on Dec. 4, he was likely expecting much of the same. Instead, he was met outside the Dorton Arena by a militant, multinational demonstration and was then disrupted inside over 10 times — forcing the event to end early. Chants of “Hey, let’s be clear, no racists are wel- come here!” greeted Trump supporters from the mo- ment the doors to the arena first opened. The demon- stration quickly grew to several hundred. Many people — particularly young immigrant rights and Black Lives Matter activists — had traveled for hours to join the protest. A group of about a doz- en mostly young Muslims joined the rally and helped lead spirited chants denouncing racism, attacks on immigrants and Islamophobia. The rally outside lasted for nearly three hours. Chants of “Black Lives Matter,” “Undocumented and unafraid,” “Money for jobs and education, not for war and incarceration” rang out to confront those enter- ing the arena. It was a tremendous display of unity and solidarity. The crowd included Black, Latino/a, Arab and white youth and students, fast food workers, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer communi- ties, and many others standing shoulder to shoulder. WW PHOTO: BEN CARROLL They ultimately shut three of the four entrances to the arena. (Trans* is used with an asterisk to indicate the spectrum of all the different genders of people who do not conform to the either/or of male/female or mas- FIGHTING RACISM & REPRESSION culine/feminine.) Inside, several dozen people in groups of two to • Robocop convicted 4 four disrupted Trump’s racist diatribe every five or 10 minutes with chants of “Black Lives Matter!” and • Oakland, Calif., victory 5 “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA,” among many others. Corporate news reports following the demon- • Tamir Rice anniversary 5 stration noted that the number of disruptions at the Trump rally in Raleigh greatly outnumbered those at • Revolutionary Black students speak 6 any previous gathering. The events in Raleigh clearly showed that multina- • Chicago protests continue 7 tional unity and solidarity are the best tools to beat back the rising tide of ultra-right ideology that Trump 7 is spewing nationally, and that these gatherings must • Free Mumia Abu-Jamal be confronted head on by a variety of militant tactics. Plans formulated quickly ahead of rally Save Rev. Pinkney 3 Trump’s campaign gave only four days’ notice of his rally in Raleigh, allowing only a short time to pull Continued on page 10 Subscribe to Workers World SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTINGS 4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 • Rochester, N.Y., protest vs hate 6 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ • Behind the attacks 9 Name______• WWP candidates condemn Islamophobia 10 Email______Phone ______

Street______City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 Venezuela 8 • France 8 • Europe anti-war 8 • China & S. Africa 11 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org Page 2 Dec. 17, 2015 workers.org Detroit’s neocolonial rulers

 In the U.S. ruin public education Anti-racist unity shuts down Trump in N. Carolina . . . . .1 Detroit’s neocolonial rulers ruin public education . . . . 2 By Elena Herrada us voting out the EM again, the governor removes the EM Struggle grows to save Rev. Edward Pinkney ...... 3 Detroit before the first day of the 18th month and appoints a new one. Gov. Snyder and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan are a Leninist party needed to advance class struggle . . . . .3 The Detroit Public Schools have been under an emer- tag team whose administrations are ruled by trickery, Racist cop convicted of beating autoworker ...... 4 gency manager since 2009 for the stated reason that lies and the theft of public resources. Detroit has been set Terror and abortion rights ...... 4 the district was failing students. That myth has been back generations by losing ground in education. People with disabilities protest police murder of McDole .4 exposed. The real reason for the state takeover was so elected officials would not be allowed to govern and the Modern-day urban colonization One year later/ Indict killer cops of Tamir Rice ...... 5 state could grab bond money directly. The elected board was recently threatened by EM Oakland, Calif.: Victory for the ‘Black Friday 14’ ...... 5 A bond had been passed previously and the state Darnell Earley, formerly the Flint, Mich., EM when that Kohler strikers stand firm ...... 5 seized control of the district then, in 1999. A building city switched its water source to the Flint River, poison- Black Students for Revolution: ‘Fight oppression’ . . . . 6 frenzy ensued, although many of the new buildings were ing thousands with lead-tainted water. We were told not soon closed. Walbridge construction company got the li- to meet without Earley’s prior approval of our agenda. Rochester, N.Y. protest against racism, war & Islamophobia . 6 on’s share of the construction contracts. The chair of Wal- He was angered by the board’s refusal to accept an audit Chicago: Demanding justice for McDonald, Johnson . . . 7 bridge is John Rikolta, backer of right-wing politicians. put in front of us for our approval after it had already All out for Mumia on Dec. 18 ...... 7 In 2009, then Gov. Jennifer Granholm met Robert been sent to the state and after the media had it. Behind the San Bernardino shootings ...... 9 Bobb at the Barack Obama inauguration. Bobb soon We had not seen it and were unable to discern the ex- came to Detroit as emergency manager over Detroit Pub- penditures, since we have no authority and no access to Cancel Puerto Rico’s debt! ...... 9 lic Schools. Millions of dollars in consultant fees went information about what the takeover crew does with the Los Angeles forum on war fever and anti-Muslim hatred .9 out of the classroom and into private pockets. Public Act money. It is clearly not going into classrooms, and teach- 72 then made Bobb the emergency financial manager. ers walked out on Dec. 1. Their health care has been cut  Around the world After the finances were blown, the elected school board again and working conditions are so bad they are walk- Forces behind electoral setback in Venezuela ...... 8 sued for the right to determine DPS curriculum. A stun- ing off the job one by one. Racist party ahead in France as gov’t curtails rights . . . 8 ning decision was won in court, affirming that the board There are not enough textbooks in the schools. The Europeans protest war escalation against Syria ...... 8 had a right to determine curriculum. average classroom size is 45 students. Teachers have two Gov. Rick Snyder then changed the law from Public Act prep hours per week and few schools have art or music China-Africa forum commits to development ...... 11 72 to Public Act 4 and created the emergency manager law. classes. Many students get only one physical education Haitian elections discredited by fraud ...... 11 This allowed the EM complete control over all aspects of class per week. Consultants can be seen everywhere. You  Editorial the school district previously held by the elected board. know them because most of them are white in this ma- Emergency managers are rotated every 17 months and jority-Black city. It’s a colonial takeover, with the narra- WWP candidates on San Bernardino: 29 days. Gov. Snyder, when asked in bankruptcy court by tive being that Black cities and school districts are best Imperialist wars breed racism, violence ...... 10 Judge Steven Rhodes if emergency management doesn’t left in the hands of whites, such as Mayor Duggan and  Noticias en Español strip Detroiters of voting rights, answered that it does not emergency managers. because it is only for 18 months, at which time an elected Our schools and our city have been looted by the high- EUA amenaza gobierno centro-izquierdista de Portugal .12 body can vote by a two-thirds majority to remove the EM. est offices of power. Judges affirm these thefts and the Solidaridad de Cuba con Assata Shakur! ...... 12 The Detroit School Board had been under an EM since media repeat whatever the corporate bosses tell them to El pueblo puertorriqueño está luchando ...... 12 2009, so we followed the rule of Public Act 436 and voted say. There is so little information available that the gen- out the EM three times in one month with a super majori- eral public has to come to their own conclusions. ty of the elected board. The EM did not budge. So we went Detroit has all the markings of an internal colony. The to court. The judge told us the law said that only that par- best news is that colonies eventually revolt. Workers World ticular emergency manager would be removed, but the Elena Herrada is an elected member of the Detroit 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. governor could appoint another one in his place. To avoid Public Schools Board-in-exile. New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 57, No. 50 • Dec. 17, 2015 Closing date: Dec.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 Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin unity among all workers while supporting the right living standards while throwing millions out of their Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, 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, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 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. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly National Office Bay Area Cleveland Houston Pittsburgh except the first week of January by WW Publishers, 1305 Franklin St. #411 P.O. Box 5963 P.O. 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By David Sole will be attending the conference. Detroit Pinkney supporters turned out on De- troit’s “Noel Night” on Dec. 5, when main Dec. 5 — An African-American politi- streets around the University District cal prisoner in Michigan may be isolated and Art Institute were closed and thou- in the far north Marquette Branch Prison sands of people thronged to visit booths in the state’s Upper Peninsula, but support and join in holiday caroling. Standing for this embattled activist is growing daily. in front of the Detroit Institute of Arts, The Rev. Edward Pinkney is starting activists unfurled a Free Rev. Pinkney his second year behind bars after an out- banner and held up signs, spoke over a rageous corruption of the legal system powerful sound system and distribut- took place in a Benton Harbor, Mich., ed hundreds of informational leaflets to courtroom. He was sentenced to two- passersby, who showed a great deal of in- and-a-half to 10 years in prison because terest in the case. five dates on a mayoral recall petition Social media outreach has drawn in 2014 allegedly appeared to have been support from France, where activists altered. No evidence was presented to contacted organizers of the Emergency the all-white jury linking Rev. Pinkney Detroit activists hold birthday party for Rev. Pinkney, Oct. 26. Conference to ask how they can help. An to those charges. In fact, the prosecutor international campaign has already been told the jury, “You don’t need evidence to WW PHOTO launched to get supporters to 1) send a convict Pinkney.” Pinkney’s leadership was held there for five days after which he and inadequate medical care. I believe holiday greeting card to Rev. Edward position in the Black community and was returned to Level 1. that [they] have put a hit on me, inside the Pinkney #294671, Marquette Branch progressive movement in Benton Harbor prison system. I believe they are trying to Prison NE-93, 1960 U.S. Hwy. 41 South, was all they needed to find him guilty of Retaliation and burgeoning support force me to die in prison. If I do not sur- Marquette, MI 49855; 2) call Gov. Rick five felony counts of forgery. Rev. Pinkney has informed his support- vive this, you will know the reason why.” Snyder at 517-373-3400 and Legislative Rev. Pinkney, even though he has vi- ers that the bogus charge of “smuggling” Media around the United States have Corrections Ombudsman Keith Barber at olated no prison rules, has been denied was so ridiculous that even the biased pris- started to take note of this miscarriage of 517-373-8573 to demand they investigate telephone use for the next six months be- on system had to dismiss it. Many believe justice. Radio stations in California and the inhumane treatment of Rev. Pinkney; cause of bogus charges by the racist Mar- the real motive for curtailing Rev. Pink- Wisconsin have interviewed leaders of and 3) contribute to Rev. Pinkney’s legal quette guards. On Nov. 20, he was seized ney’s visits and contact with the outside the “Free Rev. Pinkney” movement. defense at bhbanco.org using the PayPal by guards after a visit from a supporter was the widespread coverage of a press Support has been building for the button or mailing a check to BANCO, c/o who had flown to Marquette from De- conference about his case shown on TV-6 Emergency Conference to Save Rev. Dorothy Pinkney, 1940 Union St., Benton troit. The reason given was that his vis- (an NBC affiliate) and TV-10 (ABC) in Mar- Pinkney in Detroit on Dec. 12. Among Harbor, MI 49022. itor had taken notes during their discus- quette, which infuriated prison officials. the scheduled speakers are Dorothy sion, as the visitor and others had done Pinkney had written his supporters: Pinkney, Rev. Pinkney’s spouse, and two The Conference to Save many times in the past, and walked out of “I was transferred to Marquette Prison, of the lawyers working on his appeal. Rev. Edward Pinkney will be held the area with the notes. The 67-year-old shackled, mistreated and intimidated. I Participants are coming from across in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 12, Pinkney was thrown into solitary con- was forced to strip on five different occa- Michigan as well as other regions of 12 noon to 5 p.m., at St. Matthew-St. finement in the super maximum Level 5 sions. I am forced into overcrowding, in- the country. Workers World Party’s vice Joseph Episcopal Church, 8850 section of the mainly Level 1 prison. He adequate exercise, lack of clean clothing, presidential candidate, Lamont Lilly, Woodward Ave. (at King Street). Leninist party needed to advance class struggle

its subordination to bourgeois ideology.” Excerpts from the speech given by WWP member ure protections and shared governance Fundamentally — in a pitched political Tommy Cavanaugh of Wisconsin to the Workers in the University of Wisconsin system; and economic battle against the entire World Party 2015 National Conference. damaging education cuts; environmental attacks; prevailing wage laws; attacks on capitalist state, such as 2011 Wisconsin The Wisconsin austerity onslaught is a women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- was — trade unions and community or- significant component of the global class gender and queer people; and much more. ganizations in motion are only a start. A war being waged by the ruling class on This has all been detrimental to the Marxist-Leninist party is the only force the working class and oppressed peoples. movement’s resources and organization- that can pull together all the different In Wisconsin, due to mass people’s al power. Union membership and dues components of the struggle to stop these battles specifically from the late 20th have taken hits. Disorientation, demoral- attacks, advance and ultimately liberate century onward, many progressive re- ization and division have taken their toll the working and oppressed masses from forms and unions have been won. But in on moving forward as a unified force. capitalist ideology. the space of five years much of that has The state Capitol occupation in Febru- The right-wing servants of Wall Street been taken back. ary-March of 2011 was one of the greatest are running the Southern Jim Crow pro- This is another cold reminder that any uprisings in the U.S. since the 1930s. gram in Wisconsin. Since the unions have concession won can be stripped away by Spontaneity in this case did tempo- mostly severed themselves from the South, the ruling class unless there is a people’s rarily stop the right-wing servants of the they don’t see this. Without communist WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN intervention the unions can’t adequate- movement in motion willing and able to Tommy Cavanaugh ruling class, but without Leninist cad- defend its gains. Ultimately, only social- re in strategic and tactical positions the ly counter it. Only by breaking from past ism can firmly cement a working-class the movement that is needed to win, we tide swung to the liberals and Democrats, tactics that isolate the masses and these and oppressed people’s victory over the need a sobering analysis of our current who moved the struggle to the right, struggles from each other can the full pursuits of the ruling class to constantly challenges. This is necessary for us to away from the masses, and also mostly strength of the people be put into motion. erode concessions won by the people. proceed effectively. liquidated the realities of the nationally The Coalition For Justice showed Without a doubt, there have been mil- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s pres- oppressed from the 2011 struggle, par- splendid examples of how the Black Lives itant actions by the youth, the oppressed idential campaign has come to an end, ticularly the fact that the Black masses Matter movement can be a decisive com- and the workers in Wisconsin in the recent but the agenda he puts forward has not. in Wisconsin live under genocidal and ponent of labor struggles with the ATU period. From immigrant youth such as With a Marxist-Leninist understanding, apartheid-like conditions. 998 struggle. And the Young, Gifted and those in “Youth Empowered in the Strug- we know that the situation in Wisconsin Lenin explained this tendency in Black Coalition in Madison has opposed gle,” to Black Lives Matter groups like the does not stem from Walker himself, or “What Is To Be Done?” pointing out that every attack on labor since it formed “Coalition for Justice” and “Young, Gift- the Republican Party, but from the in- the working-class movement has only two shortly after the Ferguson rebellion. ed and Black,” and to union workers such ternational capitalist-imperialist system choices: “either bourgeois or socialist ide- As we carry on in our organizing, we as the members of Amalgamated Transit which is in a deep crisis that has no op- ology,” and that without revolutionaries must always remember that only social- Union 998 — who just won a contract tion but to continue placing the burden of combatting spontaneous, narrow trade ism can save Wisconsin and only the battle — there are forces that continue to their crisis on the workers and oppressed. unionism, “the spontaneous development working class, with communist cadre, resist the increasing racist austerity and of the working-class movement leads to can make that happen. police terror in Wisconsin while inspiring What will stop austerity? hope in those around them. Similarly to places such as Greece and But despite these positive develop- Detroit, the dictates of global finance cap- Capitalism at a Dead End ments, it’s necessary to acknowledge the ital are that of a “no compromise” on the Job destruction, overproduction hard truths about the current setbacks terms of mass austerity at the expense of and crisis in the high-tech era that the working class and oppressed the working class. In Wisconsin, this has For more information on these books and other writings by the taken the form of Act 10; right-to-work- peoples have suffered. Locked into fierce author, Fred Goldstein, go to LowWageCapitalism.com class battles and so focused on building for-less legislation; elimination of ten- Available at all major online booksellers. Page 4 Dec. 17, 2015 workers.org Racist cop convicted of beating autoworker

By Martha Grevatt old Ford worker with ing a pattern of brutality. Remarkably, Detroit 37 years of corporate he and his crew were routinely acquitted service, was stopped by — despite the testimony of other officers “What goes around comes around” is Inkster police last Jan. against him. a popular saying that suggests, one way 28. Inkster, a suburb of “Melendez finally got exactly what he or another, we all pay for our misdeeds. Detroit, is 73 percent deserved,” said attorney David Robinson, That isn’t always true, however, especial- African American, but who represented the Crutchfield family. ly for the many thousands of victims of the police force is 80 (Voice of Detroit, Nov. 21) police brutality. From Ferguson, Mo., to percent white. Detroit has a long history of strug- New York to Cleveland, racist police liter- The dashcam vid- gle against police brutality and killings ally get away with murder. eo, which went vi- growing out of the Black Liberation Thus it was a huge victory on Nov. 19 ral, showed Melendez struggle of the 1960s and 70s. Coleman for Detroit autoworker Floyd Dent and punching, kicking, A. Young, a former communist and the the Black Lives Matter movement when tasing and strangling first African-American mayor of this the perpetrator of Dent’s near-fatal beat- Dent. majority-Black city, was elected in 1973 ing — suburban Inkster, Mich., cop Wil- As to the racist mo- and immediately abolished the racist WW PHOTO: MARTHA GREVATT liam Melendez — was found guilty of as- tivation for the attack, STRESS police unit that was terrorizing Spring demonstration demanding justice for Floyd Dent. sault and misconduct by a jury. He was Dent’s attorney, Greg the Black community. immediately remanded to jail after the Rohl, said of the near-lynching of his supporting Dent. Young served as Detroit’s mayor from conviction. The two felony charges car- client, “If he was a white guy, would it Before joining the Inkster police force, 1974 to 1994. On Nov. 5, 1992, Malice ried a combined maximum sentence of happen? I don’t think so.” (Detroit News, Melendez had a notorious reputation in Green was beaten and killed by cops af- 15 years. The sentencing has been post- Nov. 20) Detroit, earning him the nickname Robo­ ter a traffic stop. Green “was literally poned until February. After Dent’s brutal beating, Rohl re- cop. He was involved in the murders of murdered by police,” Young stated on na- This victory follows a civil jury award ceived a number of calls from Inkster Lou Adkins in 1996 and Ernest Crutch- tional television. White Detroit cops Wal- of $1.4 million to Dent; earlier charges residents alleging racist mistreatment by field II in 2003. He was sued 12 times ter Budzyn and Larry Nevers were both of drug possession, assault and resisting the police. Hundreds of metro Detroiters after being caught planting evidence on convicted of second degree murder for arrest were dropped. Dent, a 57-year- participated in marches and picket lines suspects, falsifying records and display- Green’s death and sent to prison. Terror and abortion rights

By Sharon Eolis decision, pro-choice advocates set up fa- committed infanticide in the process. AK-47, attacked a Planned Parenthood cilities where women could obtain safe In July, a clinic in the Chicago suburb facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., killing Before the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. abortions legally. Planned Parenthood of Aurora reported an attempted arson. three people and wounding nine others Wade decision legalizing abortion in 1973, became a major national provider of the A month later, firefighters found a half- in a five-hour stand-off with police. He many women died of bleeding, tetanus or procedures. burned car at a new clinic’s construction was not shot at or killed by police offi- infections from botched abortions. Others Planned Parenthood is a major health site in New Orleans. Then, in September, cers, who let him surrender. This is a very survived, but lost their ability to have chil- care provider for 2.7 million low-in- a PP clinic in Pullman, Wash., was set different scenario from how police treat dren because they had to have life-saving come women and men; many are Af- ablaze, and later that month, a make- African Americans in encounters, often hysterectomies. As an emergency nurse, I rican-American, Latina, youth, immi- shift bomb was thrown at another PP fa- shooting first, killing unarmed, innocent witnessed these medical crises. grants and women with disabilities. cility’s window in Thousand Oaks, Calif. people. Women who had illegal abortions Their clinics provide reproductive health In response to the attacks, pro-choice Hours after the Colorado shootings, risked their lives — unless they had the care, including contraception, prenatal activists and clients delivered petitions Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro- money and connections to find doctors care and abortions, as well as breast ex- headed “I stand with Planned Parent- Choice America, stated that “the federal who would perform the surgical pro- ams, Pap tests and treatment of sexually hood,” with 2.4 million signatures, on government [should] call these attacks cedures safely. Some women turned to transmitted infections. Sept. 29 to Congress. That day some 300 what they are — domestic terrorism.” unsafe home remedies and self-induced There has been a spate of attacks on rallies and other events took place around The next day, Terry O’Neill, president of abortions. women’s health clinics since a conserva- the country supporting the organization. the National Organization for Women, put The women’s movement of the early tive anti-abortion group posted online out a statement, which stressed, “Let’s be 1970s fought for legalization of abortion, highly edited, fraudulent videos in July, Murders in Colorado clear: This was an act of domestic terror- which gave women some control over which falsely claimed Planned Parent- But the violence got worse. On Nov. 27, ism. NOW calls for a full federal investiga- their own bodies. After the high court’s hood profited from selling fetal tissue and a “lone” white gunman, armed with an Continued on page 10 People with disabilities protest police murder of Jeremy McDole

By Edward Yudelovich veteran with disabilities cess-A-Ride, the Metropolitan Transpor- New York who also suffers from tation Authority’s transit service in New post-traumatic stress York City for people with disabilities. The On Dec. 3, protesters rocked disorder, speaking in her workers are demanding $15 an hour and the normally mundane New York wheelchair, pointed out a union as well as an end to a hostile work City Penn Station rush hour to Penn Station’s disgrace- environment. commemorate the International ful access deficiencies. Kim Ortiz, from NYC Shut It Down, Day for Persons with Disabilities These include inade- showed profound solidarity with the and to protest the murder of Jer- quate signage directing community when she apologized for a emy McDole, a 28-year-old Afri- people with disabilities previous protest where demonstrators can-American paraplegic who was to accessible elevators, were impatient and left people with dis- shot and killed by police in Wilm- which violates the Amer- abilities behind. Trans disabled activist ington, Del., on Sept. 23 while in icans with Disabilities Josephine Perez discussed the special his wheelchair. Act; unacceptably huge oppression of trans people with disabil- This protest was called by the distances for wheelchair ities. Larry Holmes, of the PPA, told the People’s Power Assemblies, an or- users to get to acces- crowd how workers with disabilities are ganization in support of the Black PHOTO: PPA FACEBOOK sible elevators; and an discriminated against and denied the Lives Matter movement to combat Penn Station protest, Dec. 3. extremely narrow ramp same minimum wage rights as other the rising national epidemic of to New Jersey Tran- workers, sometimes earning as little as police murders, particularly of youth of land Rail Road, Amtrak and New Jersey sit. Imperato said she was once almost $2 a day. As many as half of the people color. Transit, with chants of “Jeremy McDole! pushed into a pillar there by a speeding killed by police had a disability. PPA leader and activist Terrea Mitch- What’s his name? Jeremy McDole! Say able-bodied commuter. Sharon Eolis, of Workers World Party, ell, a woman with disabilities, led pro- his name!” “Disabled people need decent Johnnie Stevens, of Parents to Im- talked about her experiences as an emer- testers first outside the 34th Street ele- jobs, quality health care, not police ter- prove School Transportation, urged ev- gency room nurse trying to care for peo- vator bank and then through all sections ror!” and “Disabled Black lives matter!” eryone to show solidarity with the mostly ple with disabilities for whom medical of Penn Station, including the Long Is- Rene Imperato, a transgender Vietnam Black and Brown women workers at Ac- care is woefully underfunded. workers.org Dec. 17, 2015 Page 5 One year later Indict killer cops of Tamir Rice

By Susan Schnur by new hire Loehmann and Garmback, Cleveland the senior officer training him. (New York Times, Oct. 15) November 22 marked one year since Garmback has a racist record. The city the police murder of 12-year-old Tamir of Cleveland had to pay $100,000 to an Rice. The video of Cleveland police of- African-American woman for the beat- ficers Timothy Loehmann and Frank ing she received from Garmback on Aug. Garmback pulling up to the youngster 7, 2010. Then this vicious racist trains a and gunning him down in less than two new officer! seconds has been viewed by horrified McGinty timed his tainted and biased WW PHOTO: SUSAN SCHNUR people in the U.S. and around the world. releases to the public while the grand Rally at the Cuyahoga Adding to the trauma incurred by jury is deciding whether to indict the bru- ­County Justice Center Tamir’s family is despicable treatment tal cops. The obviously hateful conduct of Nov. 23; Latonya Goldsby by Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timo- this prosecutor has led to increased calls and Elle Hearns at center. thy McGinty. Not only has there been no for a special prosecutor to take over the indictment of the officers, but McGinty case. for the life cut short by the police and to back around the country by the Black launched a vicious personal attack on Sa- support the Rice family. There were also Lives Matter movement, the moneyed maria Rice, mother of the slain youth. Keeping the pressure on solidarity actions in more than 20 cities. interests in northeast Ohio are conflicted On Nov. 19, while speaking at a sub- To mark one year with no justice for the On Nov. 23, a militant rally was held on about what to do with this case. Big-busi- urban Democratic Club meeting, Mc- family, the Tamir Rice Justice Commit- the steps of the Cuyahoga County “Jus- ness print media mouthpiece, The Plain Ginty was asked about calls for a special tee, spearheaded by Tamir’s cousin, Lato- tice” Center to support the Rice family’s Dealer, has published the expert reports prosecutor to take over the investigation. nya Goldsby, held three days of events in call for prosecutor McGinty to resign. In commissioned by the Rice family, which McGinty replied, “They waited until they Cleveland. Healing events for young peo- an effort spearheaded by the Tamir Rice state that the shooting was unreasonable didn’t like the reports they received. ple who knew Tamir were held on Nov. 21, Justice Committee and colorofchange. and there was no way Tamir was given They’re very interesting people … let me as well as two town hall meetings, which org, more than 200,000 people signed any warning to hold up his hands. Even just leave it at that … and they have their included briefings by the family and their petitions demanding McGinty step down Garmback’s police report states that the own economic motives.” (WKYC-TV, attorney, Subodh Chandra. and a special prosecutor take over. The windows of the patrol car were up. Nov. 15) The vigil on Nov. 22, held at the site of petitions were delivered to the prosecu- No longer can the hired hands of the McGinty’s office released reports to Tamir’s execution, drew over 400 par- tor’s office. ruling class hide their ugly crimes. The the press by so-called “expert” witness- ticipants, including car caravans from The way the rules are written, McGinty Black Lives Matter movement, supported es, who concluded that Loehmann, who around the Midwest. A busload of multi- himself gets to decide whether to recuse by people of all nationalities, cannot and pulled the trigger, thought he was in im- national Black Lives Matter activists and himself and step down. He has steadfast- will not be stopped. minent danger and “acted reasonably.” their supporters came from Ohio State ly refused. Justice for Tamir Rice and all those McGinty also issued unsworn statements University. People came to show respect However, due to the militant push- killed by racist cops!

Oakland, Calif. Victory for the ‘Black Friday 14’ By Dave Welsh “Our criminal case is over, but the war canceled a plan to honor Nancy O’Malley color who face a crisis of inequality and Oakland, Calif. on Black lives remains,” read a state- at its annual dinner, citing her handling displacement as well as police violence ment issued by Black Lives Matter Bay of the BF14 case. A BART union member and injustice from the courts. We know On the so-called “Black Friday” shop- Area. “There can be no business as usu- showed up at a BART hearing to support that economic justice and racial justice ping day of Nov. 27, 2014, following the al while young Black men and women … the BF14. are inseparable. And we honor the ac- failure to charge cops in the killing of are murdered with impunity by police Then on Nov. 10, as part of a national tions of the Black Friday 14 as part of a Mike Brown in Ferguson, Mo., 14 Black officers, security guards and vigilantes. Fight for $15 action and in solidarity with long tradition of fighting for dignity in activists chained themselves together on The police remain an occupying force in Black Lives Matter, 14 labor leaders held the civil rights and labor movements. … a Bay Area Rapid Transit platform. They our communities. Black bodies are not a sit-in at the DA’s office, demanding she “While the charges are dropped, the wanted to stop trains from moving at the only over-policed and over-incarcerated, drop the charges against the BF14. movement continues,” the statement West Oakland station in response to the we are also underpaid, overworked, and The labor leaders, including the pres- went on, “and continued injustices — police war against Black communities. priced out of communities we’ve lived in ident of the California Labor Federation from Chicago, to Minneapolis, to the lat- The 14, a majority of them women, faced our entire lives.” and key officers of nine unions, repre- est police killing in San Francisco — will criminal charges. senting service workers, university em- keep calling us to action. As leaders of the Now, after a year-long campaign by Union leaders tie struggles together ployees, teachers and hotel workers, is- labor movement, we reaffirm our com- the “BF14” and a broad coalition of al- Organized labor took several key ac- sued the following statement: mitment to our workers, to Black work- lies, District Attorney Nancy O’Malley tions in advance of the DA’s decision. In “Half of Black workers make under $15 ers, to Black people and to standing for dropped all the charges on Dec. 4. May the Alameda (Calif.) Labor Council an hour, and our members are people of the freedom side.”

Kohler strikers stand firm

By Workers World Milwaukee Bureau of Dec. 6, its leadership and company of- community sup- ficials will sit down for a discussion over porters, walked the Members of United Auto Workers Local major strike issues. picket lines. 833 are standing strong on the picket lines Since the first day of the strike, numer- “This strike has at Kohler Co. By the hour, the workers in ous solidarity actions have taken place, gone national. Kohler, Wis., continue to receive solidarity including mass rallies and marches, food We are looking as support from across the country. drives, around-the-clock picket line sup- strong as ever!” stat- The strike started on Nov. 15 when 94 port and more. The UAW Local 833 Face- ed Local 833 leader- percent of members voted to reject an book page is updated frequently to show ship on Nov. 29. ‘We unequal, two-tier wage system which worldwide support for the strike. The thank those who are Kohler refuses to scrap. Wisconsin AFL-CIO is helping to coor- out there and those Two-tier wages were rammed through dinate support from its member unions, in the community in a 2010 contract that had other ma- while the Milwaukee Teachers Education and across the state jor concessions, including skyrocketing Association is offering a variety of sup- who are supporting PHOTO: UAW REGION 4 health care insurance costs. “Tier B” port. Every day numerous labor-commu- us, walking with us, and donating to our Kohler strikers and supporters in Wisconsin. workers make at least $10 less an hour nity delegations join the picket lines and strike fund. There is more support than #kohlerstrike and wibailoutpeople.org. than “Tier A” workers. visit the Local 833 union hall. we could have even imagined.” Supporters can send or drop off con- The wealth that Kohler rips off from On Dec. 5, a Milwaukee delegation, in- For more information and how to sup- tributions, solidarity resolutions and workers increased over $5 billion during cluding Youth Empowered in the Strug- port Local 833, visit nonperishable goods to UAW Local 833, the last five-year contract. gle or YES, members of the Wisconsin facebook.com/Local833local, Emil Mazey Hall, 5425 Superior Ave., Local 833 reports that during the week Bail Out The People Movement and other facebook.com/defeatrighttowork, Sheboygan, WI 53083. Page 6 Dec. 17, 2015 workers.org

Black Students for Revolution ‘Fight oppression which seeks to destroy us’

The following interview was conducted The rally brought the Black students come our colonized position results in Anti-racist rally at University of Illinois — Urbana Champaign. in early December 2015 by WW Chicago of UIUC together in solidarity with other serious repression, particularly the cre- correspondent, Danielle Boachie, with Black students at universities and colleges ation of white supremacist regimes and intersection of oppressions is a key reason representatives of the Black Students for across the country. The rally did exact- increased state-sponsored violence by why Black revolutions of times past failed. Revolution (BSFR) at the University of ly what it was designed to do: It ignited police forces. It is completely unacceptable that one Illinois—Urbana Champaign. a revolutionary and radical spirit across These white supremacy groups that are in three Black women will be raped in her Workers World: What led to the for- the Black student body. Already, just days being created across major universities lifetime and that, just this year, over 16 mation of BSFR? after the rally, there is a newfound com- and colleges in America are a direct re- black trans women have been murdered. Black Students for Revolution at UIUC munity and drive amongst Black students. sult of America’s historically foundation- We cannot afford to believe that freedom formed from the desperate need for a Additionally, the rally centralized Black al, toxic racial climate. #ConcernedStu- is the right of only one particular group modern Black student movement that re- struggle, Black voices and Black cultural dent1950’s success in organizing against of Black people. Rather, we must fight op- jects reformist strategies and contributes pride on the campus. and outside of the system sent shock- pression wherever it seeks to destroy us. to a grassroots intersectional revolution. Several students, both undergradu- waves through the white ruling class. WW: What connections does BSFR With over 2 million Black college students ate and graduate, spoke during the ral- Additionally, the white ruling class make between capitalism and white in the U.S., the need has never been great- ly. Hip-hop and spoken word were em- fears that Blacks will copy the Mizzou ­supremacy? er for setting a new standard in how Black ployed throughout and one participant model and shut down the profit-generat- Black Students for Revolution recogniz- students utilize their intellectual privilege performed a chilling rendition of Billie ing machines on their campuses. We do es that capitalism is the creator and driv- to transform the material/social condi- Holiday’s “Strange Fruit.” Unsurprising- not believe the creation of white suprema- ing force behind racial oppression in the tions of Black communities. In sum, this ly, there was also immediate pushback cist groups on campuses across the coun- American empire and world history. Cap- organization was formed by like-minded from members of the white student body. try is a legitimate response to the Black italism derives from a Eurocentric concept radical Black students at UIUC as a vehi- This pushback included the formation of a Lives Matter movement. These anti-Black of “civilization” and “progress.” Thus, for cle through which to fight for the freedom white supremacist group, the “Illini White groups were created out of white fear of Europeans, capitalism has always been of Black people and lend our minds, bod- Student Union,” which has been thor- Black collective, radical actions against some sort of “evolution” where communal ies and souls to the revolution at hand. oughly covered by multiple news outlets. racial capitalism on college campuses. people “progressed” to individualist, com- WW: What occurred during the Black Despite the racist response of the white WW: Your statement references Black petitive and colonial. As a result, the Eu- Student Solidarity Rally? What respons- student body, we remain committed to feminist and intersectional ideologies. ropean powers competed with each other es did you receive from the racist group seeing Black students on our campus, as How does BSFR tie this to the coloniza- to conquer as much land in the Western “Illini White Student Union”? well as campuses across the country, de- tion of the Black nation and the system- Hemisphere and extract as much profit as mand and seize equal treatment at their atic oppression of people of color? possible from colonized Indigenous groups. respective universities. Frantz Fanon once described colo- Capitalism became more racialized fol- WW: Mizzou’s ­#ConcernedStudent1950 nialism as “violence in its natural state.” lowing Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676, where has brought awareness to the formation Fanon’s conclusion still holds weight to- Black slaves and white indentured ser- and/or existence of anti-Black student day. The present condition of Black peo- vants collectivized to overthrow their groups on various college campuses ples cannot be detached from the violence rulers. The white ruling class understood like U.C. Berkeley and UCLA. What is that shaped our past. Black women have, this rebellion as dangerous to their sys- your analysis of this trend and its re- inarguably, borne the brunt of this vio- tem, so racialized laws were enacted to lationship to the Black Lives Matter lence. For, even as Black men were worked subordinate Black people. movement? to death and murdered, forced into poor As agricultural capitalism transformed As Karl Marx stated, history is driv- schools and denied good-paying jobs, we into industrial capitalism during the en by a dialectical relationship between too were starved, and lynched, housed World War I era, racialized working con- oppression and resistance. As more col- in the worst neighborhoods, sent to the ditions in industry further separated the lective consciousness develops amongst worst schools and raped. Black and white working class by posi- oppressed groups and they construct A society that silences its women can- tioning Black people as the subproletari- counter hegemonic actions, the ruling not survive; similarly, the oppression of at (Black people received the dirtiest jobs class responds by repressing the colo- the Black community has always been and lowest wages with no chance of mo- nized through violence, intimidation and linked to the oppression of Black women bility). So when labor activism developed, removing more material needs. Now that and Black queer identities. Black feminism Black and white workers were in conflict; we are in a period of neoliberalism, David argues that class oppression, racism and therefore, no serious revolution to over- Harvey argues that any form of genuine sexism are inextricably bound together. throw capitalism developed. democracy or oppressed struggle to over- Our previous refusal to acknowledge the As industrial capitalism shifted to neo- PHOTO: BSFR liberal global capitalism in the mid 1970s, deindustrialization devastated Black ur- ban communities more than any other Protesters denounce racism, war space in America. As Huey P. Newton’s “Intercommunalism” argues, the remov- al of resources and working-class jobs and Islamophobia from Black urban centers results in a Rochester, N.Y. larger lumpenproletariat; when working By Gene Clancy class jobs leave America, Black people can Rochester, N.Y. no longer obtain basic material needs to survive via subproletariat work, so they The Rochester International Action become lumpen, or members of an un- Center organized a protest Dec. 5 against derground economy (what some would the racist, Islamophobic, anti-migrant call “criminal” activity, but I argue dein- frenzy which has followed the recent at- dustrialization and imperialism is much tacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. more criminal). This climate of fear had seemingly para- In other words, institutionalized rac- lyzed many local progressive forces. ism helps keep capitalism afloat because The rally included representatives from it divides the working class along racial the Nation of Islam, Christians Witnessing lines so that class-consciousness cannot for Palestine and local Palestinian refu- develop. Without racial oppression, cap- gees. A large banner proclaimed: “Say No italism would fall to working-class com- to Racism, War, Police Violence, and An- munities organizing together to end their ti-Muslim and Anti-Immigrant Bashing.” oppressive state. The protest received significant local WW: What does BSFR hope to change media coverage, including on two TV at UIUC? What are its goals? stations. “As you can see, there is an an- Protesters say ‘no’ to racism and hate, Dec. 5. Foremost, we hope to encourage the ti-immigrant, anti-Muslim hysteria going WW PHOTO: LYDIA BAYONETA development of intersectional revolution- on around the country by politicians and are from], whether it be Syria, Iraq, Af- gogy, which is not only demonizing Mus- ary thought within the minds of Black their supporters,” organizer Lydia Bay- ghanistan, occupied Palestine and all the lims and other immigrants, but trying to students at UIUC. Never again should it oneta told the media. “We are here first countries that have been ravaged with distract people from the issues of police be said that Black college graduates turn and foremost to say that all refugees are war and poverty.” terror, inequality, lack of jobs and poverty their back on the Black communities they welcome, no matter what country [they Protesters denounced the racist dema- in the United States. come from and the Black communities workers.org Dec. 17, 2015 Page 7

CHICAGO Demanding justice for McDonald, Johnson By Jill White the number of shots fired at McDonald. Chicago They demanded the firing of all cops Ronald Johnson and Anti-racist rally at University of Illinois — Urbana Champaign. complicit in the shooting and cover up. Laquan McDonald PHOTO: BSFR Dec. 7 — Demonstrations against the The next day, demonstrations took they live near while they are in school. We police murder of Laquan McDonald con- place again on the “Magnificent Mile” act with impunity to hope to encourage diasporic, Black cul- tinued all week in light of more and more to bring economic pressure on the city. kill Black youth. tural pride, using hip-hop and the work of evidence that officer Jason Van Dyke shot Stores claimed 25- to 50-percent few- The Johnson fami- Black intellectuals as primary analytical McDonald 16 times on Oct. 20, 2014, with er sales for so-called Black Friday last ly’s attorney, Michael frameworks. no provocation. week, after thousands of youth and sup- Oppenheimer, told We aim to organize with students Another dash-cam video revealed clear porters blocked entrances to stores shout- CNN on Dec. 2: “The dash-cam video, across the country against the exorbitant contradictions in the official report, which ing, “Sixteen times! 13 months!” referring which I’m not allowed to show you today, cost of higher education and push for free was also released following the filing of a to the number of times McDonald was shot clearly shows that he was not carrying a tuition in all public institutions. Perhaps request under the Freedom of Informa- and the number of months the city author- weapon, nor did he ever turn and point most critically, we intend to take an Afro- tion Act. The report includes hundreds of ities covered up the murder. More demon- anything. The police department planted centric approach to our struggle for Black pages of police incident reports and police strations are called for this week. that gun because there’s no way anything liberation, forging international connec- witness statements. would have stayed in Ronald Johnson’s No justice for Ronald Johnson tions with student populations on the Af- Three lies in the reports were clear hand after he was shot.” Johnson was the rican continent, in the Caribbean, South from the video. First, the 17-year-old Mc- The mass actions’ impact can be seen father of five small children. America and Palestine. Donald never advanced toward the offi- and not only in the backpedaling of the Today, however, Cook County State’s WW: How can our readers support cer. Second, after he was initially shot, he politicians, who are clearly on the de- Attorney Anita Alvarez announced she Black Students for Revolution and your did not try to get up. He was incapacitat- fensive. Pressure on them mounts as the would not press charges against the cop struggle against racism on your campus? ed. One document even stated that Van culture of rampant police terror and cov- who killed Johnson. The best way for readers to support Dyke was injured by McDonald, which er-up is exposed. This week, again after As more outrages continue to occur, Black Students for Revolution is to contin- was a complete fabrication. months of refusal by the authorities to only the constant mobilization of youth ue radically organizing their own commu- Van Dyke was charged with first-degree release a dash-cam video that would ex- and supporters will expose and challenge nities to abolish racial oppression. Politi- murder last week, 13 months after Mc- pose another murder, the mayor agreed to the racist nature of this system. cal education, survival programs through Donald was killed. The cop’s family easily release the video at the requests of attor- These actions show who are the real ter- the community and radical grassroots made bail, which was set at a $1.5 million neys for Ronald Johnson’s family. rorists and mass murderers in a city like organizing are vital to our effort to secure bond, and he is now free on the street. Johnson, 25, was shot and killed by a Chicago, where there have been over 300 human rights for all oppressed people. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in an attempt to white cop eight days prior to McDonald’s police shootings of civilians since 2010. With more organized revolutionaries in save his own job, withdrew his official sup- shooting. The officer remains on desk More young Black men have been shot our society, Black Students for Revolu- port of the police commissioner and then duty. Johnson’s mother filed a federal and killed by police in Chicago than any tion will have more comrades to struggle fired him. Pressure remains for both the lawsuit against Chicago police shortly af- other U.S. city. McDonald’s case is the alongside and thus, will be better sup- mayor and the state’s attorney to resign. ter the shooting of her son. This release first time in this city any police officer has ported as we struggle within our own On Dec. 4, protesters marched around is clearly a result of the mass actions that been charged with murder for a shooting community. Chicago City Hall 16 times, representing are unraveling the power of the police to while on the job. All out for Mumia on Dec. 18

By Betsey Piette launched to pressure the PA DOC to al- DOC should be allowed to implement its low Abu-Jamal access to doctors of his own protocols for prisoners with hep C. U.S. Federal Court Judge Robert Mari- choice who could review his records and However, the PA DOC “treatment proto- ani has ordered a full evidentiary hearing determine exactly what was going on. In col” is to deny testing and to deliver no for Mumia Abu-Jamal in Scranton, Pa., on August he was finally diagnosed with the treatment. In June, the U.S. Bureau of Dec. 18 based on a preliminary injunction hepatitis C virus, which impacts nearly Prisons amended its guidelines regarding filed in August seeking medical care to 10,000 prisoners in Pennsylvania. HCV infection to include use of the new treat the hepatitis C virus he contracted Despite the diagnosis, prison officials medications and to prioritize treatment from a blood transfusion in 1981. refused to give Abu-Jamal a new di- for HCV cases as having the most urgent Abu-Jamal’s family and supporters, rect-acting anti-viral drug with a 90-95 need. Many state prison systems have yet who for months have been demanding percent cure rate for HCV. The medication, to follow suit. that the Pennsylvania Department of manufactured by Gilead Sciences, comes At the Dec. 18 hearing, attorney Boyle Corrections cease their efforts to murder with a hefty price tag. At about $1,000 per will be able to cross examine DOC wit- Mumia through medical malpractice, ap- pill, it costs $95,000 for a 12-week course nesses, including prison administrators plauded news of the hearing. of treatment. Prison officials decided to and doctors about why they are deny- Suzanne Ross visited Mumia Abu-Jamal on For over a year doctors employed by hold off on treatment until the final stages ing medically indicated treatment for Nov. 27. the PA DOC ignored Abu-Jamal’s growing of the condition — in other words, when it Mumia. The DOC has also been ordered keeping Mumia alive and helping to re- health crisis. They never informed him would be too late to save Mumia. to turn over critical discovery: Abu-Ja- store his health. Africa noted, “A legal vic- about his rising blood sugar levels and Speaking at a November meeting in mal’s medical records. Mumia will also tory in Mumia’s case will also be a victory gave him medications for a severe skin Philadelphia, Abu-Jamal’s attorney Robert testify via video hookup, the first in de- for the other 10,000 PA prisoners afflicted rash that only made it worse. Boyle noted that the cost of the hospital cades where he will be able to testify on by hep C.” The prison even punished him by de- care Mumia needed because the HCV went his own behalf. Undiagnosed and untreated HCV is nying phone calls when he failed to turn untreated was easily double that expense. People who have recently visited a major cause of death for millions of up for morning check-in because he was Abu-Jamal report that his condition people in the U.S., particularly in Afri- too sick to stand. It was only the interven- Cruel and unusual punishment seems greatly improved. Yet they caution can-American communities. Several peo- tion of another prisoner, Major George In early September, lawyers for that as long as the prison refuses to ad- ple at the gathering proposed opening up Tillery, who told prison officials, “Mumia Abu-Jamal filed an injunction on his be- minister drugs that can cure HCV, he re- a campaign to expose Gilead for putting is dying,” which saved his life. The prison half seeking immediate relief through the mains in grave danger. its profits before people’s health. subsequently punished Tillery by moving administration of the anti-viral drug. On Suzanne Ross, with the Free Mumia Co- The Dec. 18 hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. him to another prison and putting him in Sept. 18, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the alition NYC, stated in a reportback on her at the William J. Nealon Federal Build- solitary confinement. Middle District of Pennsylvania Karoline recent visit with Mumia, “Only through ing, U.S. Court House, 235 N. Washing- In March, Abu-Jamal was rushed to a Mehalchick denied Abu-Jamal’s motion, the collective power of the people have ton Ave., Scranton, PA 18501. hospital after collapsing from near lethal even before his attorneys had a chance to we been able to pressure prison officials For transportation from Philadelphia, blood sugar levels and renal failure. Even respond to the PA DOC’s opposition as al- to provide treatment for the symptoms of call 215-724-1618 or email HepCcure- after treatment for diabetes, he continued lowed by court rules. hep C that Mumia has suffered. However, [email protected]. In New to suffer severe skin rashes and lesions Mehalchick claimed that Abu-Jamal without the medication to treat the actual York call 212-330-8029. over much of his body as well as swelling would not be irreparably harmed if he re- disease he could relapse at any time.” If you are unable to get to Scranton, you of his arms and legs. His skin developed a ceived no care, even though she acknowl- Speaking at a gathering in Philadelphia can still show your support on Dec. 18 by leatherlike appearance, and he had diffi- edged that HCV is a “sufficiently serious” on Dec. 5, Pam Africa, with the Interna- calling the PA Department of Corrections culty standing and walking. condition under the Eighth Amendment tional Concerned Family and Friends of at 717-728-2573 and PA Gov. Tom Wolf at As it became clear that prison doctors to the U.S. Constitution that prohibits Mumia Abu-Jamal, credited the inter- 717-787-2500 to demand immediate hep were deliberately ignoring Abu-Jamal’s “cruel and unusual punishment.” vention of Abu-Jamal’s supporters, along C treatment for Mumia and 10,000 other health crisis, a global campaign was Mehalchick also suggested that the PA with the diligence of other prisoners, for prisoners. Page 8 Dec. 17, 2015 workers.org Forces behind electoral setback in Venezuela By Berta Joubert-Ceci ica and in the world. Although it is still a Several other factors play a role, such Despite the parliamentary majority capitalist country, the possibility of freeing as the leak of subsidized products across achieved by MUD, the elections do not After midnight on Dec. 6, when the itself from the U.S. imperialist yoke, con- the border with Colombia. put an end to the Bolivarian Revolution. trend was already irreversible, the Na- trolling its own resources and economy Although the government has taken The right is itself divided and won thanks tional Electoral Commission (CNE) pub- and speaking in its own voice aroused some measures to counteract all this, to U.S. advice and injections of aid and licly announced the results of that day’s within the rulers of the empire and their these steps have not been sufficiently vig- the intervention of the international right parliamentary elections in Venezuela. Of allies worldwide the urgency to overthrow orous and consistent to avoid the huge wing, both of current and former presi- the 167 seats at stake in the legislature, this focus of continental aspiration. price increases in some commodities and dents, as well as the corporate media. In the opposition Democratic Unity Round- Therefore all of Latin America was the shortages of some products. This forc- this global campaign many participat- table (MUD) won 99, while the ruling hanging onto these elections. Solidarity es many of the people to wait in long lines ed, including Mauricio Macri, the newly Great Patriotic Pole coalition won only 46 messages flooded the social networks, to buy certain goods, causing dissatisfac- elected president of Argentina. Macri seats. There were 22 seats still in ques- including an email from Puerto Rico’s tion. The Democratic Unity Roundtable requested that the Democratic Charter tion, whose results would not change the tireless hero, Rafael Cancel Miranda, who used these problems in its campaign of be applied to suspend Venezuela as a full parliamentary majority. sent this brief but eloquent message to his “change,” stating that if they win, this sit- member of Mercosur. Shortly thereafter, President Nicolás list: “Right now, Venezuela is all of us!” uation and the economy would improve. Other participants in the destabilization Maduro addressed the people, congrat- To the above we should add the infu- campaign who were in Venezuela during ulating them on the massive turnout, Imperialist aggression sion of millions of dollars from the U.S. the elections as guests of MUD were Ricar- amounting to almost 75 percent of the When capitalism is backed against the to destabilize the Bolivarian Revolution. do Lagos of Chile, Andrés Pastrana of Co- electorate. With the phrase, “We trust wall, it becomes more vicious and stirs In an article in the Nov. 12 edition of RT, lombia, Alejandro Toledo of Peru, Luis Al- your intention. We accept it,” he conced- up the putrid waters of the most recalci- entitled “U.S.: Ambush Against Venezu- berto Lacalle of Uruguay, former president ed defeat. He added, “It was not the op- trant right wing. Faced with progressive ela,” Eva Golinger wrote, “Over the past of Panama Mireya Moscoso, the Spanish position, but the counterrevolution, that movements worldwide, fascist waves year, the U.S. government has spent more Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and for- won” and “We must accelerate a new eco- awaken, used by the capitalists in their than $18 million in public funding for mer Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga. The nomic policy.” (telesurtv.net) quest to dominate the people. This has anti-government groups in Venezuela” behavior and public statements of some of This, the 20th election in 17 years of happened in Venezuela in the recent past, through agencies attached to the State these leaders were so grossly intervention- the Bolivarian Revolution, was held in but the Venezuelan government was able Department, the National Endowment ist that Tibisay Lucena, the president of the a climate of peace, despite the dire pre- to choke off these violent hordes. for Democracy and U.S. Agency for Inter- CNE, withdrew their credentials. dictions of the national and international Now, however, the right wing, with U.S. national Development. Later in the article The Bolivarian people, however, have right-wing media. aid, has begun a more subtle campaign, she mentioned, “$400,000 has been de- not forgotten the great progress made in Never before has a nonpresidential elec- taking advantage of the global economic livered to a program to support members just 17 years. Despite the long lines, the tion in that nation awakened so many ru- crisis that has affected many countries, of the National Assembly and policy de- “World Hunger Map 2015, released by the mors and predictions both nationally and including Venezuela. velopment.” And there is $40,000 dedi- Food and Agricultural Organization, cer- globally. Why did this new situation arise? The economic situation in the country cated to “monitor the National Assembly tifies that this scourge does not exist in The Bolivarian Revolution is not only has deteriorated, caused by external fac- of Venezuela.” (actualidad.rt.com) Venezuela. In 40 years, right-wing govern- the government of one country. Since tors such as the global decline in oil pric- “You can’t trust imperialism, not even ments built 5,000 health centers. The Bo- Hugo Chávez won in 1998, starting the lo- es, as well as by the economic war of the a little bit.” Che Guevara’s famous phrase livarian Revolution, in 16 years, has built comotive of hope for liberation and partic- Venezuelan oligarchs who dominate the needs no further explanation. Unfor- 9,000 medical centers.” (“The 50 Great ipation of the most excluded peoples, for import sector. The oligarchs take advan- tunately, the Venezuelan government, Achievements of the Unstoppable Bolivar- regional unity, dignity and sovereignty to- tage of the exchange rates on the illegal under the immense pressure of the eco- ian Revolution,” chavezvive.info.ve) gether with the glorious Cuban Revolution, market, using currency that the govern- nomic crisis, and maybe in order to try to As with any process, the Bolivarian Venezuela turned into the compass of pro- ment turns over to them at low prices. It reconcile with the Venezuelan financial Revolution has made and will make mis- gressive movements both in Latin Amer- amounts to theft. right and get some benefits for the people, takes, as well as wonderful steps forward. made some concessions. Perhaps they Now, as it embarks on a new stage, the were only temporary, but this opened the solidarity of the international progres- door to the voracious appetite of the right sive movement is crucial for the Bolivar- Racist party ahead in France wing. This is perhaps what President ian people to find the road to socialism Maduro referred to when he said, “We that they want to attempt, but which has as gov’t curtails rights must accelerate a new economic policy.” run into great difficulties. By G. Dunkel state of emergency that give the cops and the justice system wide latitude for repres- sion against popular organizations and Europeans protest war In the first round of regional elections Dec. 6, the National Front (FN) led in six the Muslim community: demonstrations of France’s 12 regions. While the FN is are prohibited; persons who “trouble the often called “far right,” its current lead- public order” can be placed under house escalation against Syria er, Marine Le Pen, rebranded it from an arrest; and searches can be conducted, day openly fascist party founded by her fa- or night, without any judicial oversight. By Chris Fry Labour Party members for war displayed ther, Jean Marie Le Pen, a torturer for the fractures within that party on this is- the French army during the Algerian war. Cops can close mosques Dec. 6 — Thousands of people marched sue. The London Labour councilor, Dar- The next, and deciding round, of these French cops can also close Islamic in England, Spain and Germany in the ren Hackett, described the anti-war por- elections is set for Dec. 13, but the FN’s schools and mosques. One mosque in last eight days to try to stop their govern- tion of the party as “scum.” (theguardian. electoral victories have already shocked Brest was closed. The cops can also close ments from joining the U.S. war against com, Dec. 2) France, according to the French Com- down organizations, but they don’t ap- Syria. Despite these protests, both the One of Labour’s anti-war shadow cab- munist Party’s (PCF’s) newspaper l’Hu- pear to have done this yet. German and the British parliaments vot- inet members, Diane Abbot, addressed manité and the conservative newspaper When militant ecologists tried to hold ed to send troops and aircraft to the re- the anti-war crowd outside Parliament: Le Figaro. a demonstration the day the Paris Cli- gion to join the bombing campaign. “In 24 hours, British bombers could be The FN’s reactionary policies were mate Change Congress opened, the cops Just as the U.S. is using the Paris attack bombing Raqqa. It will be a tragedy. It widely adopted by its rivals in the Social- broke it up, arresting a few hundred peo- last month, and now the San Bernardino, will not keep the British people safer and ist Party and the Republican Party of for- ple after using stun grenades and pepper Calif., assault, to motivate its continued will bring forward a further spiral of vio- mer French president Nicolas Sarkozy, and spray to drive them away from Place de la military campaign against “terror,” so too lence in the region.” have these junior partners jumped in to even supported by left parties like the PCF, République. Britain starts bombing Syria albeit grudgingly. These policies and the The CGT, a major trade union confed- get their share of the spoils of war. Though Sure enough, the British military be- intensified French airstrikes in Syria — a eration, did have a demonstration at Bo- only the Islamic State is named as a target, gan daily bombing raids in northern former French colony — support the asser- bigny on Dec. 2 to support airline workers the military moves will prolong and deep- Syria even as the vote was taken. A year tion that the FN won before the election. facing trial for an altercation with their en the war against Syria, not stop it. earlier, Cameron couldn’t push a pro-war These elections were held under “a management. But this is the only demon- The Syrian people will suffer even vote through Parliament. state of emergency” declared shortly stration the CGT has held since Nov. 13. more from this military escalation. Al- In Madrid, 5,000 anti-war marchers, after the Nov. 13 massacre in Paris and Commercial demonstrations like Christ- ready 250,000 have died and 10 million chanting “No to war!” and “Not in our extended to Feb. 26, 2016, with only six mas markets have been allowed. have been displaced from their homes. name!” protested outside of the Reina votes against the measure, in the French The French media have stopped re- On Nov. 29, some 5,000 anti-war pro- Sofía museum on Nov. 28. They forced Parliament. Three from the Greens and porting the number of searches that the testers took to the streets in London, car- the rightist Popular Party prime minis- three from the Socialists voted against. cops have carried out nationwide, as well rying signs that read, “Don’t bomb Syria” ter, Mariano Rajoy, to “hold off any deci- PCF spokesperson and parliamentary as the number of house arrests. The last and “Drop Cameron, not bombs.” Then, sion” on joining the U.S. war campaign. leader André Chassaigne explained his figure available was given at over 2,000 on Dec. 2, thousands more marched in (Aljazeera.com, Nov. 28) party’s anti-worker vote, saying “an equi- searches. Le Parisien newspaper reported front of Parliament demanding that the Anti-war protests also erupted in more librium between the maintenance of se- 84 searches — about three a day — in the ministers vote down Prime Minister Da- than two dozen cities in Germany, where curity and the respect for public liberties Paris suburb of Saint-Denis, with a total of vid Cameron’s proposal to join the U.S. the Bundestag voted to send the German was necessary.” (L’Humanité, Nov. 19) 12 weapons, a kilo of explosives, 27 kilos and France with airstrikes in Syria. There are three main effects of this of marijuana and 35,000 euros seized. The vote by a large minority of some 60 Continued on page 9 workers.org Dec. 17, 2015 Page 9 Behind the San Bernardino shootings By Deirdre Griswold What people living in the U.S. and other imperialist countries vastly increase their profits by introduc- ing labor-saving technology, but the rise The Dec. 3 mass shooting in San Ber- need to know is that these governments’ military interventions in productivity while jobs are being cut nardino, Calif., which claimed the lives in Southwest Asia and North Africa – where a majority practice eventually leads to a big crash and in- of 14 county workers and injured 21 tense suffering for the masses of people. others, occurred less than a week after Islam – have created a hell on earth for the people living there. Demagogic politicians who know that a mass shooting Nov. 27 at the Colorado even tougher times are coming are trying Springs, Colo., Planned Parenthood facil- How ridiculous and insulting that than half of the price of just one year ago.” to focus mass anger anywhere except on ity. There, it was a “lone gunman” (white) must sound to peoples whose rich cultur- Even more recently, petroleum pric- the capitalist rulers who have brought the who killed three people and wounded al and political histories go back thou- es fell from $100 a barrel in 2014 to $37 world to this disastrous situation. That nine others. In San Bernardino, however, sands of years! a barrel on Dec. 7. The political fallout was the role of Hitler and Mussolini in the official FBI narrative says the alleged from this can be seen in all the oil-pro- the 1920s and 1930s, of Le Pen in France U.S. intensifies airstrikes shooters expressed sympathy with the ducing countries, from the U.S. itself to today, and of Donald Trump and his viru- group known as the Islamic State group Obama in his talk said the U.S. would Russia, Venezuela and of course the area lent Muslim-bashing in the U.S. (often called ISIS or I.S.). Why did this intensify its air strikes against the Islamic now engulfed in war. If we are to defend the lives of inno- deadly attack happen and how can others State group. The U.S. has already conduct- This reflects the completely chaotic cent people not only from random killers be prevented? ed roughly 6,700 strikes in Iraq and Syria, character of the capitalist mode of pro- but from the ravages of more wars and On Dec. 6, President Barack Obama dropping more than 20,000 missiles and duction. The boom-bust cycle has been depressions, we must fight for the uni- gave a prime-time talk from the Oval Of- bombs during a campaign supposedly di- made even more intractable with the ty of all workers and oppressed peoples fice of the White House in which he de- rected at terrorist groups. Air Force Secre- high-tech revolution. Initially, the bosses against the racist warmongers. plored the event and laid out measures tary Deborah Lee said, “We’re in the busi- the U.S. government would take in re- ness of killing terrorists and business is sponse. While he didn’t echo the extreme good.” (USA Today, Dec. 4) But the trans- Islamophobia being pushed by his politi- parency group Airwars estimates those cal rivals, and instead cautioned against strikes have killed almost 1,000 civilians. Cancel Puerto Rico’s debt! blaming all Muslim people for the acts of The U.S., like the Islamic State group, a few, he failed in any way to mention the has been engaged in a war against the underlying social and economic crises secular government of Syria. On the same that could bring about such an attack. day that Obama talked about intensifying What people living in the U.S. and oth- attacks on I.S., the Syrian government er imperialist countries need to know is sent an official protest to the United Na- that these governments’ military inter- tions Security Council charging that U.S. ventions in Southwest Asia and North warplanes had just bombed a military Africa — where a majority practice some base in Deir al-Zor province, killing three form of Islam — have created a hell on Syrian soldiers and wounding 13 others. earth for the people living there. The de- The U.S. has also been supporting Saudi Arabia’s air strikes against an in- struction is so horrendous that literally WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE millions have been displaced from their surgent group in Yemen, the Houthis. In Members and supporters of the Phil- the island. That same day in Washington, homes and hundreds of thousands of ref- doing so, it is helping the I.S., which is adelphia-Camden Boricua Committee D.C., the U.S. Senate Judiciary Commit- ugees have been risking their lives trying carrying out a ground offensive against demonstrated on Dec. 2 in front of the tee held hearings on Puerto Rico’s finan- to get away from the fighting. the Houthis. UBS Financial Services office in Phila- cial crisis. Puerto Rican elected officials These crisis conditions began as far One thing is clear: The military actions delphia Center City. The protest was part testified, requesting approval of a law back as the CIA’s funding and organizing taken by the Pentagon in the Middle East of a national appeal by the New York Call providing for Puerto Rico’s right to de- of right-wing Islamic forces against a rev- have not diminished groups like I.S. — to Action on Puerto Rico to demand the clare bankruptcy, among other demands. olutionary government in Afghanistan in they have only elevated them. cancellation of Puerto Rico’s debt and ex- The action in New York City was held on the 1980s. Since then, things have wors- Economic crisis exacerbates pose the criminal role of the banks and Wall Street, and there were similar pro- ened with the “regime change” invasions The rising tensions in this area, which financial institutions that impose brutal tests in Puerto Rico. and devastation of Iraq and Libya. This are now spilling over into Europe and the austerity measures on the residents of — Berta Joubert-Ceci has created a level of desperation for the U.S., cannot be separated from the un- respective populations comparable to raveling of the capitalist world economy. that in Europe in the era of fascism and While the profits of a tiny group of bil- Los Angeles WWP forum two world wars. lionaires soar into the stratosphere, the What are the current wars all about? signs of crisis keep multiplying. Obama won’t talk about that, because to A key sign of capitalist crisis is over- Exposing the media’s war fever do so would expose the fact that U.S. for- production: a glut on the market caused eign policy is crafted by advisers closely by producing more goods than people associated with the multinational corpo- can afford to buy. As far back as April 24 and anti-Muslim hatred rations and banks. the Wall Street Journal wrote, “The glob- For more than a century, U.S. foreign al economy is awash as never before in By Scott Scheffer to United States-backed terrorism. These policy has facilitated the drive by these commodities like oil, cotton and iron ore, Los Angeles events were never covered in the main- pillars of monopoly capitalism to amass but also with capital and labor.” The sit- stream capitalist media. If an imperialist superprofits abroad from the exploitation uation has only deteriorated since then. Despite all the distractions during the country like France experiences recoil, of other countries’ labor and natural re- As Sara Flounders reported to the holiday season, people turned out for a Los however, we are taught to blame op- sources. In the case of the Middle East, Workers World Party national confer- Angeles Workers World Party meeting in pressed peoples in the Third World and this particularly means oil companies and ence in November, “The world commod- the aftermath of the Nov. 13 events in Par- attack their migrant brothers and sisters the banks behind them. But this is never ity markets are crashing. Machine parts, is. They were eager to hear a working-class living within the belly of the beast.” mentioned. Instead, the interventions are heavy equipment, tubing and pipes, along and internationalist view of the mounting Irena Varjabedian, a longtime activist explained as “helping” the peoples of the with oil, gas, steel, coal, copper, zinc, anti-immigrant sentiment and war fever and member of Arab Americans for Syria region create “stable governments.” corn, soy and wheat are all valued at less being whipped up by the ruling classes in in Los Angeles, also spoke. Her group has both France and the United States. led the movement to oppose a U.S. over- The meeting was held at the Harriet throw of the elected government in Syria. Continued from page 8 withdraw its military from Iraqi territory. Tubman Center for Social Justice on Nov. Varjabedian explained how the U.S. military to join the U.S. war. Some 3,000 There are signs that the U.S.-led coali- 21. It featured Ramiro Fúnez, national influenced the opposition to the Syrian marched and rallied at the Brandenburg tion intends to widen the war by having secretary of Fight Imperialism, Stand government, provided funds and other Gate in Berlin. The opposition Left Party its “coalition” attack Libya, a country dev- Together (FIST) and member of the Na- forms of support and abetted its transfor- in Germany instead proposed that Ger- astated by war since the U.S.-arranged tional Popular Resistance Front (FNRP) mation into an armed insurgency in the man arms exports going to ISIS-support- torture and murder of President Moam- of Honduras. service of U.S. imperialism. This imperi- ing countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and mar Gadhafi in 2011. The U.S. is already In his remarks, Fúnez exposed how the alist plan, Varjabedian said, kicked into Turkey be stopped. (jungewelt.de, Dec. 4) launching its dreaded drone strikes in corporate media in imperialist countries high gear at a time when the Assad gov- The German military will supply re- Libya, and now French reconnaissance fuel hatred and violence against immi- ernment was negotiating with opposition connaissance jets and plans to send 1,200 planes are eying the town of Sirte for grants and refugees. “The media frenzy figures and seemed — from the point of more soldiers to the region, where already their next bombing campaign. (theguard- around the Paris attacks is testimony view of both sides — to be nearing a suc- 100 are currently in Iraq as “trainers.” ian.com, Dec. 5) to the double standard of journalism in cessful outcome to the talks. Recently exposed by Russia for its This widening war in the Middle East capitalist-imperialist society. This double Varjabedian pointed out how U.S. wars leaders pocketing huge profits by selling and West Asia is wreaking death and de- standard manifests itself as racism and against Libya and Iraq, and Washington’s ISIS oil, Turkey’s government sent troops struction throughout the area and only first-world privilege. relentless and destructive campaign in and some 25 tanks into northern Iraq, benefits the giant oil monopolies that “Several days before the attacks in Syria, led to the massive migration from with the bizarre explanation that this is thrive from the vast wealth of the region, Paris, hundreds of people in Yemen, Leb- the Middle East and Africa into Europe a “training mission.” Iraq’s government wealth that is denied to the millions of anon, Afghanistan, the Philippines, Iraq as hundreds of thousands flee with their protested and demanded that Turkey people who live there. and several other countries were victim families. Page 10 Dec. 17, 2015 workers.org Unity shuts down Trump rally WWP candidates Lamont Continued from page 1 ironic this statement would soon become. Lilly Monica Moorehead He told the crowd to “Be nice.” But at the for V.P for President on San Bernardino: together action plans. same time he fabricated the claim that be- After consultation among various or- ing nice to protesters would result in him ganizations and individual activists, us- being criticized as “weak.” The continuing Imperialist wars ing social media and conference calls, disruptions were then met with far greater plans were quickly developed for both hostility, often including physical violence the demonstrations outside and the dis- from both Trump supporters and police. breed racism, violence ruptions inside. Trump’s stream-of-consciousness rant- The danger that Trump and his fol- ing then sank ever lower, tapping into lowers represent in this period, and the deep reservoirs of all kinds of chauvinism Workers World Party candidates ery kind, ramping up the military arse- hate and racist vitriol that pour out of his latent in this audience of mostly white Monica Moorehead and Lamont Lilly, nals at their disposal. mouth every time he speaks, have been people so fearful of losing what they have, running in the 2016 national election for Both these reactions will only make easily recognized. Trump’s words move yet themselves increasingly made poorer president and vice president, issued the things worse for the multinational work- his supporters to violence; he is a mod- by the functioning of the economic sys- following statement on Dec. 4 regard- ing class here, especially people of col- ern-day George Wallace or David Duke. tem for which they seek scapegoats. ing the most recent mass shootings or and immigrants who are leading the The shooting of Black Lives Matter activ- Trump agitated the crowd with some in the United States, this time in San struggle against poverty wages. ists in Minneapolis, the attack on Planned of the following: racist imagery of strong, ­Bernardino, Calif. The FBI claims there were two shoot- Parenthood in Colorado, the attacks on young, male refugees from foreign lands As revolutionary socialists committed ers, the young Muslim married couple, mosques, the Muslims pulled off flights, infiltrating the U.S.; promises to “go a cou- to the struggle of getting rid of this rot- although early reports spoke of three. the refugees barred from entering the U.S., ple of steps beyond waterboarding” and to ting capitalist system, we are horrified Both the accused were killed by police in the vicious anti-immigrant slurs and the take Iraqi oil, leading a call and response and saddened at the latest explosion of a hail of bullets, meaning we will never escalating police killings — all these vi- of “To the victor, go the spoils”; boasts of violence in this country. This time it was hear what they might have had to say. cious acts are on the minds of many. They being “the most militaristic,” followed by at a holiday luncheon of San Bernardino This leaves the field free for official clearly demonstrate the urgent need for a vow to “make this country proud again,” County Health Department workers held speculation that this was an “act of ter- progressive forces to unite and fight back presumably through war; claims that the in a center for the care of people with dis- rorism,” similar to others that have hap- against this ultra-right movement. San Bernardino, Calif., shooting would abilities. The attack left 14 dead and even pened in recent months in France, Leba- The main banner at the demonstration have been anticipated were it not for “po- more wounded. non, Syria and other parts of the world. clearly illustrated this understanding: litical correctness”; and, of course, laying At this point, we have only the official Already there is pressure to intensify “No to fascist Trump! No to Muslim and all the country’s economic woes at the feet story to rely on regarding what happened. the bombing of Syria by the U.S. and oth- immigrant bashing, bigotry, racism, war of immigrants, whom he plans to forcibly Therefore, we must proceed with caution, er NATO powers, ostensibly aimed at the and police violence! Black Lives Matter!” expel while constructing a great wall to given the history of endemic twisting of Islamic State group. However, the openly Under the auspices of a rally for presi- block further immigration. facts and outright lies by police author- stated U.S. position all along has been to dential candidate Trump, enraged bigots ities, particularly when people of color topple the elected government of Syria, of every stripe gathered like an ominous Disruptions wear down the bigots are involved. This has been proven again which has also been under fierce attack cloud. The white supremacist, misogynis- Against this frenzied current, protesters and again by videos and brought to public by the Islamic State. tic and heterosexist character of this event repeatedly rose from the crowd to affirm attention by the courageous struggles of If reports about FBI speculation turn was readily apparent. “We can’t all be on the rights of oppressed peoples to live with the Black Lives Matter movement. out to be true, then all the more reason welfare” and “Benghazi matters” were dignity and be treated with respect. Nevertheless, while we do not just ac- NOT to widen the war against Muslims among the cries of those selling buttons Every five minutes, like clockwork, an- cept the word of the FBI and local police and other people of the oil-rich Middle and bumper-stickers reading “Trump other group or individual bravely stood as good coin, we can subject what they are East, North Africa and West Asia. Inten- that bitch” to the eager, almost exclusively up to halt the hateful proceedings. With saying to examination. They say that one of sifying hatred of the imperialists doesn’t white crowd, whose whole sense of rea- each successive disruption, Trump and the workers, Syed Rizwan Farook, left the come out of thin air. These destructive son was fogged by fury. The crowd moved the crowd grew more belligerent. Chants festive gathering and then returned with wars — instigated and directed by the through a Secret Service checkpoint into of “U.S.A.!” were replaced with shrieks of Tashfeen Malik, his spouse and mother of multibillion-dollar oil and banking in- the arena, filling it with a sea of hate. “You’re a traitor to this country!” Trump’s their small child, the two of them wielding terests in the U.S. and other imperial- After a convocation delivered by a pretense of kindness was replaced by bel- military-style weapons and proceeding to ist countries — have killed hundreds of Black pastor, in which we were exhort- lows of “Get ‘em out of here!” shoot indiscriminately into the crowd. If thousands and driven millions of desper- ed to pray to “the God of the Bible,” and In the standing section of the audi- this scenario is really true, then how is this ate people from their homes. Capitalist heard an utterly terrible rendition of the torium, right in front of the podium, a kind of terrible, unpredictable slaughter to politicians and the gutter media then un- U.S. national anthem, Trump came onto young man was punched in the face, to be prevented in the future? leash a tide of Muslim-bashing to justify the stage. He started by boasting of his the cheers of the ravenous crowd. At one We know what the answer of the liberal the horrors the wars have produced. polling numbers, assuring his supporters point, three undocumented immigrants politicians is: stiffer gun control. Howev- The working people of the United States that, once he’s elected, they too will feel disrupted Trump’s speech with “Stop the er, California already has the most re- didn’t create imperialism. We are its vic- the joy of “winning.” hate, we make America great!” Felyta strictive gun laws of any state! tims, too. The best thing we can do is re- Hernandez, one of the three, told Work- ject prejudices and warmongering, and Trump rallies crowd with hateful diatribe ers World: “After we led chants about the Stop racism and Islamophobia instead build multinational unity in the Four minutes into this self-aggran- deaths on the border between Mexico The answer of hardcore right-wingers struggle against the class of exploiters dizing diatribe, the first disruption oc- and the United States, Trump supporters is to impose Draconian anti-immigrant who put our lives at risk every day in their curred. A solitary demonstrator began immediately began to grab us, shouting laws and strengthen state repression vile drive to amass obscene fortunes and exclaiming “Black Lives Matter,” effec- racist, anti-immigrant threats. One of us, in this country, which already has the dominate the whole world. Say “no!” to Is- tively halting the proceedings. This af- a 12-year-old girl, was scratched by police highest rate of mass incarceration in the lamophobia! U.S. out of the Middle East, firmation of the importance of Black life as they violently escorted us out.” world and spends billions of dollars on North Africa and West Asia! Stop police was quickly drowned out by thousands All three are members of Si a Las Li- uniformed and plainclothes police of ev- terror against Black and Brown peoples! chanting “U.S.A.! U.S.A.!” cencias, which organized militant sit-ins After the demonstrator was removed by and rallies in October to challenge Gov. police, Trump claimed that the “dishon- Pat McCrory’s signing of a reactionary Terror and abortion rights est media” were going to blow the disrup- bill. It restricts the types of identification tion out of proportion, noting that it was recognized by law enforcement and the Continued from page 4 GOP legislative attacks on reproductive just one person — totally unaware of how Continued on page 11 tion into the shooter and any others who rights.” These legal restrictions have se- may be connected with his act.” verely impacted women’s access to repro- Yet, even before the bogus videos ductive health care in many states. surfaced or the Colorado murders oc- Texas laws now require abortion-per- Olga Khazan’s Nov. 17 Atlantic arti- eral types of contraception, which they curred, there has been a long history of forming clinics to unnecessarily meet the cle, entitled “Texas Women Are Inducing falsely claim are abortifacients (causing violence against women’s health centers. standards of ambulatory surgery centers Their Own Abortions,” addresses how abortion). The National Abortion Federation states and their doctors must have admitting these laws affect women. It is based on The terrorism that is aimed at the “since 1993, eight doctors and clinic staff privileges at local hospitals. Since most Texas Evaluation Project surveys on the Black Lives Matter movement and at members have been murdered for work- clinics did not meet these requirements, impact of state reproductive policies, Planned Parenthood is meant to intim- ing to provide abortion, most recently, only 17 clinics now perform the proce- conducted by the University of Texas. idate activists and break their fighting Dr. George Tiller of Wichita, Kansas, in dures, while 41 facilities provided abor- The study reads, “Between 100,000 spirit. But BLM and all the struggles 2009.” (slate.com, Oct. 19) tions in 2012. and 240,000 Texas women between the against racism, sexism and the oppres- The Feminist Majority Foundation’s In the coming year the Supreme Court ages of 18 and 49 have tried to end a preg- sion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and report in 2014, entitled “National Clinic will hear the case of Whole Women’s nancy by themselves.” The most common queer people will continue. The fight for Violence Survey,” said, “The percentage Health vs. Cole to decide the constitu- method used is Misoprostol (Cytotec), a women’s rights — including for repro- of women’s health clinics that received tionality of Texas’ laws concerning clinics drug which induces medical abortion; it ductive and other health care — is part of threats of violence doubled since 2010.” which perform abortions. If the restric- can be purchased without a prescription that struggle. The fightback against capi- RH Reality Check, a pro-choice web- tions are upheld, seven more clinics will in Mexico. talist reaction goes on. site, said on Sept. 18 that “radical an- be forced to close there, with only 10 re- The right-wing’s goal is to abolish wom- Eolis is a retired emergency depart- ti-choice activists are emboldened by maining open. en’s right to safe, legal abortion and sev- ment nurse/family nurse practitioner. workers.org Dec. 17, 2015 Page 11 China-Africa forum commits to development

By Abayomi Azikiwe Dlamini-Zuma also said, “We are go- Zimbabwe, led by President Robert Mug- port to Zimbabwe after a deal was struck Editor, Pan-African News ing to cooperate with China whether in abe, who is the current AU rotating chair. with international creditors on how the modernizing agriculture, infrastructure, Xi signed additional agreements with country intends to repay its arrears. Zim- A gathering of African Union mem- energy, training of the young people and Zimbabwe, which is still under sanctions babwe intends to clear its arrears to the ber-states and the People’s Republic of culture. The cooperation with China will by the U.S. and other imperialist coun- three multinational institutions, the IMF China on Dec. 4-5 under the banner of the enable us to implement the three network tries. Zimbabwe’s state media gave lead ($110 million), the World Bank ($1.15 bil- Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has projects, which include highways, rail- coverage to the visit of President Xi and lion) and the [African Development Bank] placed strong emphasis on greater collab- ways and aviation.” his large delegation. ($601 million) by the end of April 2016.” oration between the two regions based on During President Xi’s Africa tour to The Zimbabwe Herald on Dec. 2 re- In South Africa, Xi signed agreements mutual benefit. It was held in Johannes- both South Africa and neighboring Zim- ported: “Landmark deals worth $4 bil- worth $6.5 billion with the ANC-led gov- burg, South Africa, under the theme “Chi- babwe earlier that week, some 26 agree- lion signed between Zimbabwe and Chi- ernment. These agreements are mainly na-Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win ments were signed that center around the na on [Dec. 1] will convert provisions of designed to build infrastructure in the Cooperation for Common Development.” construction and strengthening of infra- the Government’s economic blueprint, continent’s most industrialized nation. Chinese President Xi Jinping empha- structural development, which will result Zim-Asset, into programs of action. The During Xi’s visit, President Zuma cham- sized during his speech before the FO- in what Xi called “win-win cooperation.” two nations signed 12 investment agree- pioned relations between South Africa and CAC Summit that Beijing has become Hosted by President Jacob Zuma of the ments covering different sectors of the China as being at their “best ever” after the Africa’s principal cooperation partner in ruling African National Congress party, economy. The deals include financing for two leaders held discussions concentrat- several significant areas. By the conclu- the Johannesburg gathering represented the expansion of the Hwange Power Sta- ing on the boosting of investments. sion of 2014, the volume of Chinese in- the continuation of a decades-long rela- tion, construction of a new parliament “China and South Africa relations are vestment in Africa reached $101 billion in tionship, dating back to the early years building and a pharmaceutical ware- at a new historical level. We want to build more than 3,100 Africa-based enterpris- of the Chinese Revolution, which paral- house, expansion of a national fiber-op- it into a model for relationships between es. During 2014, bilateral trade reached leled the emergence of the national in- tic broadband project and provisions of China and other emerging economies,” $221.9 billion. (Xinhua, Dec. 5) dependence movements on the African wildlife monitoring equipment.” Xi told media representatives after the Xi announced that China was offering continent. During the course of various initial talks. (TVC, Dec. 3) $60 billion in funding, including $5 bil- political and military struggles against Western banks suppressed development In response to criticism leveled by lion of grant assistance and interest-free colonialism, China, under the leadership Zimbabwe is still overwhelmed with Western imperialist states, including the loans, $35 billion in preferential loans and of the Communist Party, has provided debts to global capitalist financial in- U.S., over allegations that Africa-China export credits on more favorable terms, $5 material and political support. stitutions. An attempt to reschedule its relations represent a new form of “colo- billion each in additional capital to both Currently, China, through its role as a obligations to Western banks and their nialism,” Kenyan President Uhuru Ken- the China-Africa Development Fund and permanent member of the United Nations subservient lending agencies will prove yatta rejected this, saying that both re- the Special Loan for the Development of Security Council, has blocked the impo- formidable in light of declining commod- gions are benefiting from the burgeoning African SMEs (small- and medium-sized sition of even more draconian Western ity prices that the African state depends partnerships. “China is ready to help us enterprises), and a China-Africa produc- sanctions against the states of Sudan and on to earn foreign exchange revenue develop and meet our socio-economic ob- tion capacity cooperation fund, with initial Zimbabwe. Beijing also deploys troops as known as hard currency. jectives without imposing its agenda on capital funding of $10 billion. participants in peacekeeping operations The Herald article adds: “Zimbabwe us. This is the outstanding aspect of our AU Commission Chairperson Dr. in the Darfur region of Sudan and in the has, for over 15 years, been unable to secure cooperation with China,” Kenyatta said at Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said, “Presi- Horn of Africa state of Djibouti. long-term loans to fund infrastructure be- the FOCAC Summit. dent Xi Jinping’s speech was great in the The South African gathering is the lat- cause it is in arrears with global lenders Xinhua news agency quoted Kenyat- sense that it identified areas where Africa est in a series of such meetings since 2000. — the [International Monetary Fund] and ta: “China is doing what the colonialists is interested in and which are in our agen- There have been five other ministerial the World Bank. However, the multilateral failed to do in the past: help Africa out of da 2063. Those are areas we are going to conferences, four of them held in Beijing. institutions might resume financial sup- poverty.” (Dec. 5) cooperate on and take this relationship to The current meeting, officially de- new heights.” (Xinhua, Dec. 7) scribed as the second FOCAC Summit, China-Africa cooperation on infrastructure was treated as a major event in both geo- Plan 2063 is a 50-year plan for devel- political regions. Preliminary meetings, opment and unification outlined at the as well as the two days of deliberations, Haitian elections 2013 AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethi- placed the summit in the context of the opia. A state-of-the-art AU headquarters world economic crisis, which has impact- in Addis Ababa was recently constructed ed both China and the African continent. discredited by fraud by the Chinese. Before the summit, Xi Jinping visited By G. Dunkel The Haitian people had a vastly differ- ent perspective. They wanted their votes Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council counted fairly. They wanted to run their Continued from page 10 45 minutes — half of Trump’s normal (CEP), in an attempt to silence its critics, own country and it was obvious that ex- time, during which he was interrupted 10 opened up a selection of its vote tallies to tensive ballot stuffing and other fraud state of North Carolina that would also times. Rather than being worn down by public inspection. Seventy-eight out of had been perpetuated to produce favor- deny local governments from adopting the torrent of bigotry, the demonstrators 13,000 were randomly selected and then able results for the PHTK. “sanctuary city” policies. wore down the bigots. Through endur- inspected. One hundred percent of this A U.S. delegation of election monitors The waves of verbal abuse and physi- ance, they carried the day and effectively sample was found to be invalid. (Haiti from the National Lawyers Guild and cal repression did not erode the stalwart dispersed the cloud of hate. Sentinel, Dec. 2) International Association of Democrat- demonstrators, and the increasingly frus- But what was on display that evening The CEP threw out the 78 fraudulent ic Lawyers said the voting arrangements trated Trump was clearly stumbling. As has not ceased to exist. This storm will tallies, but still went ahead and decided “fell far short of minimum standards for he tried to speak over the protesters, he appear again and must be opposed al- not to review how they were counted and fair elections” and called for an indepen- also made hand gestures calling for their ways, lest the storm produce stormtroop- how the counting was conducted. They dent investigation. (Haïti-Liberté, Nov. 25) expulsion. Groups of three or more would ers. Victory can only be achieved through declared the vote count “official,” with The Haitian people came out in the bring the entire event to a shrieking halt determined, sustained resistance. Jovenel Moïse of the governing Parti Haï- tens of thousands both in Port-au-Prince for a minute or two, only to have the next As we build from the momentum of our tien Tèt Kale (PHTK) coming in first with and nationwide to protest the CEP and to disruption occur five minutes later. victory and continue our revolutionary 33 percent and Jude Célestine, running demand a fair vote. This happened day This lurching, stop-and-go movement work, it is important that our opposition for the Alternative League for Progress after day at the call of LAPEH, Fanmi took its toll. Trump’s speech lasted only to Trump and his right-wing supporters and Haitian Emancipation (LAPEH), Lavalas and Dessalines Children Plat- about 25 minutes before transitioning to is understood in the larger context of cap- second, with 25 percent of the vote. form (Pitit Dessalines), three of the op- questions and answers. One question- italism and colonial imperialism. Célestin has endorsed a statement by position parties. er asked what would befall “our women” Trump is not an abnormal product a group of eight Haitian political parties After Martelly resigned, some of the if the refugees didn’t become celibate. of the system. Though he may be forth- saying that he will not contest the next protesters raised a call for a transitional Trump pretended not to hear so that it coming and unabashed in his violent round of voting on Dec. 27, but he has not government and completely new elections. would be repeated. The protests kept com- and hateful rhetoric against immigrants, officially withdrawn. In a country where many working ing. He stoked the petty, infantile perse- Muslims, women, Black lives, non- The U.S. government invested $30 mil- people live without electricity or tele- cution complex of the crowd by assuring able-bodied individuals, refugees, the lion in these elections. The European Com- phone service such massive and frequent them he’d “Bring Merry Christmas back to LGBT*Q community and more, the nar- munity sent in teams of observers. Both demonstrations reflect a deep anger. America.” And the protests kept coming. ratives that he and his supporters sub- were quick to accept the results of these Both the Catholic hierarchy and the He exploited the emotional distress scribe to stem from the illogic of white elections. What this means is that the im- Protestant churches in Haiti called for an of a 12-year-old by making her repeat supremacy, which is intrinsic to the foun- perialist powers support the policies of independent investigation and examina- three times a question about what he dation of this country. It is not Trump Martelly’s PHTK government and want to tion of the Aug. 9 and Oct. 25 elections. would do to make the country safe so alone, but the entire capitalist system see them continued under Moïse. The new U.S. ambassador to Haiti, Peter she wouldn’t have to be scared anymore. that must be fought. Martelly has announced that he is tak- Mulrean, said he hoped the new Haitian She finally wailed over the microphone, The actions in Raleigh must be replicated ing steps to reinstitute the Haitian army. president would be chosen by the ballot “You will build our military SO strong, elsewhere to beat back this growing danger This instrument of state power will make box rather than in the streets. He was SO ­POWERFUL!” And the protests kept wherever and however it rears its ugly head. it easier for the bourgeois rulers to repress speaking at a Christmas party held at coming. Danielle B., Ben Carroll and Patrick and exploit the Haitian people and guar- his private residence. (Radio Metropole, The event finally ended after about Snipes contributed to this article. antee “stability.” (Haïti-Liberté, Dec. 2) Dec. 6) 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. 50 17 de diciembre 2015 $1 ‘¡Manos fuera de Assata!’ EUA amenaza gobierno centro-izquierdista de Portugal Por John Catalinotto electoral para la coalición derechista. noritario. El 10 de noviembre, esta moción probable que la coalición PS-BE-PCP, aun- En las elecciones del 4 de octubre, la ganó en la AN, mientras miles de traba- que permanezcan unidos en la AN, podrá ¿Es enviado de EUA a Portugal o pro-cón- coalición de centro-derecha perdió el 12 por jadoras/es se manifestaban movilizados obtener logros para las/os trabajadores a sul del Imperio? El embajador Robert Sher- ciento de los votos y 25 escaños. Ahora esta por la federación sindical CGP-IN. través de la vía parlamentaria. Es posible, man, hablando en Radio Renascença de coalición derechista, odiada por las/os tra- El PCP y BE están apoyando al gobier- sin embargo, que los partidos de izquierda Portugal hace una semana advirtió a los bajadores, no podrá formar una mayoría. no PS desde afuera. No van a participar utilicen su presencia en la AN para movi- portugueses que EUA estaba “preocupado” El Partido Socialista (PS) tuvo algunos como ministros. Según el acuerdo, el PS lizar la lucha de clases en las bases de las por el nuevo gobierno. Preguntó si el gobi- logros, pero con 86 puestos no tenía lo su- no atacará la clase obrera, y la coalición masas populares en las calles, fábricas y erno de centro-izquierda portugués se man- ficiente para una mayoría. El Bloque de Iz- intentará revertir algunas medidas de recintos universitarios. tendría leal a la OTAN y cumpliría con las quierda (BE), cuyo programa y estructura austeridad impuestas anteriormente. El De 1974 a 1978, el embajador estadoun- crecientes demandas de la alianza. es similar al de Syriza en Grecia, es decir, BE y PCP, quienes se oponen a la OTAN, idense Frank Carlucci actuó exactamente Si el imperialismo EUA dice que está izquierda socialdemócrata, duplicó sus vo- no harán de esta oposición una condición como un pro-cónsul del Imperio. Amenazó “preocupado”, es una amenaza. Eso hace tos y ganó 19 escaños. La alianza del Parti- para permanecer en la coalición. con intervención militar por la OTAN desde que sea importante examinar lo que ha es- do Comunista Portugués—Verdes, llamada No hay que hacerse ilusiones sobre el el Atlántico, maniobró con los elementos de tado sucediendo en Portugal. CDU, ganó un poco y obtuvo 16 escaños. PS. Este partido nació en el período revo- derecha que quedaban en el Ejército y con Durante los últimos cuatro años, mien- Si los tres se ponen de acuerdo sobre una lucionario de 1974-1975 nutrido por EUA y el PS. Su objetivo era evitar una revolución tras un gobierno de centro-derecha es- coalición, podrían garantizar una mayoría el imperialismo alemán con el fin de sacar obrera y mantener al PCP fuera del gobierno. taba recortando pensiones, eliminando estable en la Asamblea Nacional (AN) . al PCP. Desde los 40 años transcurridos Por eso es un recordatorio para ­todas/ la atención médica y disminuyendo la En las semanas siguientes a la elección, desde ese período, el PS ha alternado en os nosotros cuando el odiario.info educación, la economía estaba estanca- el derechista Presidente Cavaco da Silva, el poder con los dos principales partidos ­advierte en un editorial que Sherman está da. Hubo una tasa de un 14 por ciento de estaba violando la Constitución. Se negó a de derecha, y últimamente también ha im- “imitando” a Carlucci. Washington está desempleo oficial en marzo y una tasa de invitar al PS para tratar de formar un go- puesto austeridad. amenazando nuevamente la soberanía de desempleo real - que teniendo en cuenta la bierno haciendo algún tipo de acuerdo con Hasta el momento, la única victoria Portugal. El movimiento obrero aquí tiene emigración y los trabajos de tiempo parcial el PCP y BE. En vez, trató de mantener al de las/os trabajadores es que derrocaron que estar listo para protestar y detener - era más como un 29 por ciento. (­Algarve antiguo régimen en el poder. el gobierno de centro-derecha. Es poco esta intervención. News, 26 de marzo) Finalmente, el PCP hizo una moción Estas condiciones llevaron a un fiasco para rechazar el gobierno derechista mi- El pueblo puertorriqueño Solidaridad de Cuba está luchando con Assata Shakur Por Berta Joubert-Ceci EUA, son los verdaderos gobernantes. Puerto Rico ha sido un laboratorio para Al título de la conferencia, “Poniendo Por Cheryl LaBash souri, y Baltimore, las personas en prime- las prácticas de EUA desde que invadió en el socialismo revolucionario en el tapete”, ra línea de resistencia del movimiento Vi- 1898. Trató de borrar nuestra historia y agrego “en el tiempo del capitalismo en un En una entrevista el 9 de noviembre con das Negras Importan usan camisetas que nuestros héroes y suprimir nuestro lenguaje callejón sin salida”. Necesitamos un de- Kenia Serrano, presidenta del Instituto de declaran “Assata me enseñó”. Después de y nuestra bandera; nos usó para experimen- bate serio y profundo sobre la manera de Amistad con los Pueblos y delegada a la testificar la verdad en las audiencias de tos farmacéuticos; esterilizó a nuestras mu- derrotar al capitalismo. No con reformas, Asamblea Nacional de Cuba, el periodista la comisión de la policía de Chicago y en jeres; usó nuestra tierra para probar armas no con parches; necesitamos un cambio de radio Netfa Freeman basado en Wash- reuniones grandes y pequeñas captura- tóxicas y practicar sus intervenciones mili- estructural. ington, D.C. preguntó acerca de Assata das por todas partes en vídeo - incluyen- tares en otros países; atacó, mató y encar- ¡Necesitamos socialismo! Shakur. do la conferencia del Partido WW-Mundo celó a líderes del movimiento independen- Fidel dijo una vez que mientras el impe- A Assata le fue concedido asilo político Obrero 2015 – las/os participantes corean tista; etc. — un largo etcétera. rialismo EUA esté, el racismo no acabará. en Cuba en 1984, después que la policía la afirmación de Assata: Una de las prácticas más criminales ha El imperialismo alimenta el racismo, se le disparó teniendo sus manos en alto, “Es nuestro deber luchar por nuestra sido la destrucción económica. Ha dejado beneficia de él y de todas las diferencias tratando de matarla durante una parada libertad. a PR en una profunda depresión. Todas las que puede utilizar para dividir a la clase de tráfico y luego condenándola falsamente Es nuestro deber a ganar. medidas para hacer frente a la crisis actu- trabajadora para que no se una y luche por vida en una prisión de Nueva Jersey. Debemos amarnos y apoyarnos mutu- al son en beneficio a los bonistas de Wall contra los capitalistas. Después de su fuga, se le concedió asilo amente. Street, de fondos buitres. Durante varios años he estado infor- político en Cuba. Las relaciones diplomáti- No tenemos nada que perder, solo nues- El gobierno puertorriqueño ahoga a las/ mando sobre el giro a la izquierda en Lati- cas renovadas entre EUA y Cuba - iniciadas tras cadenas”. os trabajadores y las/os pobres para pagar a noamérica. Pero quisiera plantear las difi- el pasado 17 de diciembre, después de que el - Assata Shakur , 4 de julio 1973 los bonistas. Mientras el pueblo es cada vez cultades enfrentadas por los movimientos gobierno de EUA liberara los 3 restantes de En Nueva York y Wisconsin, el nom- más pobre, leyes han sido implementadas y gobiernos progresistas allí, porque mu- los 5 agentes de seguridad estatal cubanos bre de Assata se ha cubierto y removido para gratificar a multimillonarios estadoun- chas de esas dificultades surgen del im- en prisiones EUA - ha llevado el caso de As- de centros de estudiantes. El gobernador idenses — eximiéndolos de pagar impuestos perialismo estadounidense. ¡Los grandes sata al frente, tanto entre combatientes del de Nueva Jersey Chris Christie dijo que de sus ganancias obtenidas en la isla. logros ganados en la región son insoporta- movimiento Vidas Negras Importan y como no habrá vuelos charter a Cuba desde los El pueblo puertorriqueño recibe aumen- bles para el imperialismo! condición para las fuerzas que se oponen a aeropuertos de NJ mientras ella esté libre tos de impuestos y mayores costos por ser- EUA ha intensificado su intervención en la continuación de la normalización de las en Cuba. El FBI la etiquetó de “terrorista” vicios públicos, gasolina y medicamentos. la región, alineado con la derecha reaccio- relaciones diplomáticas entre EUA y Cuba. ofreciendo recompensa de $2 millones. Medicare, que se deduce de los salarios en naria de muchos de esos países. El capital- Freeman: Y por último, para aquellos Ella es tema en un reciente drama políti- la misma proporción que aquí, solo pro- ismo en su fase en encrucijada está tratando que están preocupados por la hermana co, “Señora secretaria,” donde su retorno porciona cerca de la mitad del beneficio. de dar marcha atrás a los avances logrados. Assata Shakur, quien tiene asilo político, voluntario a EUA es la clave para poner Y mientras que los beneficios de Medicare La crisis del capitalismo es global, pero algunos piensan que tal vez… fin al bloqueo. Incluso allí, funcionarios serán aumentados en EUA, en PR se redu- también la lucha. Hay dos campos en el Serrano: Bueno, ya mencioné que nos cubanos crudamente retratados rechazan cirán aún más – un 11 por ciento. mundo: los capitalistas junto a quienes los guiamos por principios. Nos guiamos por airadamente cualquier sugerencia de en- El gobierno de Puerto Rico está pagan- sirven, y las masas que luchan contra ellos. principios y Cuba ha tomado una decisión tregar a Assata a las autoridades EUA – do millones a agencias consultoras yankis Pero yo quiero enfocarme en Puerto Rico, muy importante en el caso de Assata y en reconociendo los principios de asilo políti- para “resolver” la crisis. Economistas del un país que durante mucho tiempo no fue otros casos. Cuando aceptamos a una per- co de Cuba por esta heroica mujer negra. FMI han elaborado un informe que el go- siquiera considerado latinoamericano, y sona como refugiada política debido a las Serrano estuvo en Washington-DC, bierno está tratando de imponer. Incluye la que ha estado en las noticias debido a su in- diferentes consideraciones que tenemos, como parte de una visita a tres ciudades privatización de la educación, electricidad, mensa deuda de $73 mil millones. es algo que no está sujeto a ningún debate, EUA del 3 al 17 de noviembre. Además, agua y alcantarillado, y carreteras; re- Puerto Rico es el ejemplo perfecto de la diálogo o precondición. Cuba se rige por mientras en DC, Serrano intercambió con cortes de salario; aumento de la matrícula virulencia del capitalismo en su etapa sin principios—nuestros compañeros aquí, representantes de organizaciones EUA en universitaria, etc. salida final. nuestros hermanos y hermanas, deben sa- solidaridad con Cuba en la reunión anual Pero el pueblo de Puerto Rico está ber que somos así. Estamos aquí por eso. Si de la Red Nacional sobre Cuba y habló en Puerto Rico: colonia de EUA luchando. Hay asambleas populares sobre hubiéramos hecho concesiones en nuestra una reunión pública. La entrevista com- las consecuencias de las reformas del gobi- historia, Cuba no sería el país soberano y pleta de Serrano fue transmitida el 24 de Puerto Rico es una colonia de EUA. No erno. Hay un llamado a una huelga general socialista independiente que somos. noviembre en la estación de radio Pacifica tiene soberanía. El capital extranjero es que debemos apoyar en todo lo posible aquí. WPFW en la segunda mitad del programa dueño de todo, lo decide todo. El gobierno ¡Viva Puerto Rico libre! ¡EUA/Wall ‘¡Manos fuera de Assata!’ “Voces con Visión”. Está disponible en los de la isla es solo una figura decorativa; Wall Street fuera de Puerto Rico! ¡Libertad para Desde Oakland-Calif., a Ferguson-Mis- archivos: tinyurl.com/pr6sobc. Street y el Pentágono, a través del Congreso Óscar López Rivera!