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Judge Salvadoran aircraft admits bomb civilian areas complicity BY GREG McCARTAN vember 9-14 with a lO~person fact-finding behind us," he said. In one of the biggest nationwide military team. The offensive follows the breakdown in in harm to battles in El Salvador's 10-year civjl war, "There was fighting in different areas of negotiations between the rebel alliance and government aircraft have machine-gunned town most of Saturday night Sunday the the government and bombed civilian areas. whole capital was a ghost town," Duda said The 10-year civil war has led to the exile socialists Rebel forces have engaged government in a telephone interview on his return. of 1 million Salvadorans and has claimed the troops in open combat for nearly a week. In Public transportation was halted across the lives of 70,000, most of whom were killed BY NELSON GONZALEZ San Salvador, the nation's capital, the guer­ country following a call by the FMLN for a by the U.S.-baclced and financed armed LOS ANGELES - A federal judge has rillas occupy positions around the city, espe­ transit boycott Fighting has been reported in forces or by death squads linlced to the mil­ acknowledged for the first time the court's cially in working-class areas. eight of the country's 14 provinces. itary. own complicity in the harm inflicted on the Socialist Workers Party by a lawsuit filed The offensive by the Farabundo Marti State of emergency declared The U.S. government provides the National Liberation Front, a bloc of five against the party 10 years ago by Alan The government responded to the offen­ Salvadoran government with $1.4 million a organizations, began November 11. At least Gelfand. Gelfand's suit is part of a broader sive by strafing neighborhoods with ma­ day, mostly in military aid. Salvadoran troops campaign of harassment and disruption of the 50 targets were attacked, 20 in the capital, chine-gun fire from planes and helicopter are trained in the United States and there are including the home of President Alfredo SWP organized by a small U.S. sect called gunships. The death toll immediately rose at least 55 U.S. military "advisors" in the Cristiani. the Workers League. into the hundreds. war-tom country. The admissions by U.S. Federal District The rebel forces established an especially Sunday evening the Cristiani government Little progress in negotiations Court Judge Mariana Pfaelzer came during strong presence in the industrial city of San declared a 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew and a hearing held here November 13, at which Miguel, the third largest town in the country. suspended civil liberties for up to 30 days Talks between the FMLN and the govern­ the judge denied a motion by Gelfand to "Everywhere we traveled we could hear under a state of emergency. ment were held September 13-15 and again gunfire," reported John Duda. A member of U.S. Ambassador William Walker imme­ October 16-18. While no agreement came the Service Employees International Union diately backed the measures. They "are very out of the sessions, both sides agreed to hold See editorial page 14 from Boston, Duda was in El Salvador No- temporary in nature ifwe can get this violence Continued on Page 13

"amend" the court's "Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law" from August of this year. Pfaelzer's August decision ruled in Mass outpouring for abortion rights favor of the SWP. Both Pfaelzer's denial ofGelfand's motion and her statements accompanying that ruling mark a further victory for the constitutional right to privacy and freedom of association for working-class organizations and other groups. Gelfand's lawsuit was filed in 1979 and went to trial before Pfaelzer in 1983. The suit charged that the SWP is run by FBI agents. Gelfand demanded that the court overturn his expulsion from the SWP and remove the party's leadership from office. U.S. Justice Department officials were also named as defendants by Gelfand in the suit. Gelfand had been expelled from the SWP in 1979 after he filed a legal brief in federal court designed to undermine the party's law­ suit against the FBI for decades of spying and disruption. The SWP's case resulted in a historic ruling against the FBI in 1986. Judge admits 'bad mistake' "1 want to get something on the record," Pfaelzer said in response to an opening state­ ment at the hearing by Gelfand's lawyer, Donald Norris. "I made a bad mistake during the trial," the federal judge asserted. "I should have granted the defendant's motion for summary judgment six years ago," before the trial Militam/Charles Ostrofsky opened ("Summary judgment" means that Washington, D.C., November 12. More than one thousand actions in 150 cities defended abortion rights. Continued on Page 4

BY RONI McCANN WASHINGTON,D.C. -Supporters of a woman's right to choose abortion numbering Crisis shatters E. GeriDan CoiDIDunist Party in the hundreds of thousands filled streets and rally sites across the United States on No­ BY PETER THIERJUNG been announced. People have been chased privileged bureaucratic caste that economi­ vember 12. In a simultaneous show of force, The Communist Party of East Germany, out of their offices by angry groups in East cally and politically dominates the country the prochoice demonstrators held more than the dominant governing party in that country Berlin, and senior ministers have been hu­ comes after the exodus of tens of thousands 1,000 actions in ISO cities, from Kennebunlc­ for more than 40 years, is racked by a crisis miliated in front of their staffs by public of East Germans and after several weeks of port, Maine, to Los Angeles in defense of that threatens to destroy it and end its rule. denunciations, the report said. massive protests throughout the country. abortion rights. In an attempt to stem its further disinte­ Party officials report the party's member­ Since January more than 225,000 East Buses from all over the eastern and mid­ gration, East Germany's party leaders have ship dropped from 2.3 million to less than 2 Germans have emigrated, most to West Ger­ western parts of the country began rolling adopted the perestroika- and glasnost-type million in the month of October. They expect many. The exodus swelled in September into Washington, D.C., at dawn-along policies initiated by Soviet President Mikhail the losses to continue. when Hungary opened its borders, allowing with prochoice supporters in car caravans, Gorbachev in the Soviet Union more than '1'his time, the Soviet Army would not East Germans an open route to West Ger­ trains, and planes-for what was the largest four years ago. Similar policies are being intervene to guard us. We are on our own and many. action of the day. By noon some 150,000 adopted by CP officials in Poland and Hung­ the people have shown that they don't like By mid-October demonstrations in East protesters filled the lawn facing the Lincoln ary. us at all,;' a Central Committee member said. Germany began to involve hundreds of thou­ Memorial and surrounded the Reflecting "It turns out that after four decades, this He was comparing the current situation with sands, bringing down party leader and chief Pool. party structure is very fragile. It would be the massive workers' uprising in 1953 when of state Erich Honecker. The marchers ''Today is historic," said National Organi­ very easy for it simply to be blown away by Soviet troops and tanks rescued the Commu­ chanted "We want to stay!" and "Gorby! zation for Women President Molly Yard, as the wind," an East German CP Central Com­ nist Party's leaders and escorted them into Gorby!" referring to Gorbachev. Protesters she welcomed the protesters. "It marks for mittee member told the New York Times. hiding. also chanted "On to perestroika!" all of us-no turning back!" According to a report in the Washington The collapse of the East German Commu­ Honecker, the East German leader for 18 Continued on Page 9 Post, there are more resignations than have nist Party as a governing instrument for the Continued oa Page 8 French unions demand transformer not be returned to S. Africa BY DEREK JEFFERS Management responded by demanding AND CLAUDE BLETON that all anti-apartheid materials be removed SAINT OUEN, France- A 200-ton from union bulletin boards inside the plant. transformer, in need of repairs, from a nu­ The unions ignored the order. clear-power plant in South Africa was the Instead, the unions went ahead with a subject of protests here at the GEC AJsthom two-week program to educate about apart­ transformer factory. heid. An anti-apartheid display, furnished by The GEC AJsthom plant employs some the African National Congress, was put up in 2,000 workers and is located just outside of the factory cultural center. Lunch-hour show­ Paris. Workers at the factory are organized ings of an anti-apartheid film took place. The by the General Confederation of Labor highlight of the program was to be a visit by (CGT) and the French Democratic Confed­ ANC representative Solly Smith on October eration of Labor (CFDT). When the broken 12 to address workers at the cultural center. Militant transformer arrived from the Koeberg nu­ The center is run by elected union officials, Union members took anti-apartheid posters and used them to cover a transformer from clear-power plant located 20 miles outside of and frequently outside speakers are invited a South African nuclear plant. Unit had been sent to their factory in France for repairs. Capetown, South Africa, both unions initi­ to give presentations. ated protests. GEC Alsthom management then refused minutes to listen to the ANC leader at the dissuade workers from attending. Union members called on GEC AJsthom the ANC representative permission to speak plant gate. Management mobilized more than Efforts continue to get out the word about to respect international economic sanctions to workers in the plant Library and cultural a dozen guards and plainclothes police to the presence of the Koeberg transformer. against the apartheid government of South center. In response, more than 100 workers stand at the gates. The head of personnel Smith announced at a later meeting in Saint Africa and not send the transformer back. walked out of the plant on October 12 for 15 watched from the guard booth and refused to Ouen that the protest actions taken by the answer questions from the half dozen jour­ GEC Alsthom workers received press cover­ nalists on the scene. age in South Africa. ANC leader Smith began by th'anking the The CGT and the CFDT launched a Israel jails rights activist workers for their action against the trans­ jointly-sponsored petitioning campaign to former and then gave an update on the strug­ demand that the company refuse to return the gle against apartheid inside South Africa. BY HARRY RING took photos he had collected of the victims. transformer to the apartheid regime. Shawan Jabarin, a Palestinian human On October l 0 they returned and seized The rally continued for close to an hour as rights worker who was savagely beaten by Jabarin. They beat him so badly he had to be workers used their lunch break to stay longer. Derek Jeffers and Claude Bleton are mem­ Israeli soldiers, has been sentenced to a one­ sent to a major hospital in Jerusalem for Union members were pleased with the turn­ bers of the CGT at the Saint Ouen GEC year term of administrative detention. treatment. out, given that company officials tried to Alsthom plant. Such detention is ordered without trial or Tsemel succeeded in interviewing him charges. A year at a time, it can be extended briefly in the hospital. In an affidavit he gave indefinitely at the will of authorities. her, Jabarin said the soldiers called him a dog In a telephone interview from Jerusalem, and burned his body with a cigarette. They Quake leaves workers homeless Jabarin's lawyer, Leah Tsemel, said the mil­ stuffed a cloth in his mouth to muffle his itary order for Jabarin's detention was issued screams. BY ANDREW HUNT way to pay afterward. Just dump them." October 22. He was beaten and arrested Oc­ Forced to the floor, Jabarin said, one sol­ WATSONVll...LE, Calif.-The powerful "The city council seems more interested tober 10. dier stepped on his hands, chest, and head. earthquake that struck Northern California in rebuilding businesses downtown than Tsemel, a noted Israeli civil rights attorney, Then, "1be soldier grabbed on to something last month hit working people hardest in this helping these people," said another relief said that while no charges have been made located above him and began to jump on me. town of 30,000 people, 60 percent of whom worker. "The Salinas Elks Club came here against Jabarin, officials have made it known "Blood was dripping from my mouth.... are Latino. The damage left 1,200 homeless, and fed 2,200 people. A city councilman told · that they consider him a major leader of the Blood was dripping from my back, face, nose, with 195 homes, 106 mobile homes, and 3 them to get out and not come back." Popular Front for the Liberation of Pal~tine. shoulder, chest" . apartment buHdings destroyed. . Although more thap ~f of ~atson~iiie 's an ·affiliate of the Palestine Liberation Orga­ T~r:nel said that after ft. half day in the Many businesses downtown are boarded residents speak Spanish, it took city officials nization, and a very active figure in the cur­ hospital they returned Jabarin to prison. up, leaving workers out of jobs until they a week to post warning signs in Spanish on rent Palestinian uprising. Since then she has seen Jabarin once, and reopen. Wodc is slow in the frozen food condemned buildings. And, Tsemel added, "they say -correctly one of her staff has seen him a second time. packinghouses and farms in the surrounding At Callaghan Park residents cook their -that he's a very popular figure among She said Jabarin is "all right." Pajaro Valley, the economic lifeblood of the own food, organize security, and clean the Palestinians." Tsernel is ftling a legal challenge against town. camp. They also organize to meet with city Jabarin, 29, is a staff worker for al-Haq, Jabarin's detention. Three hundred of those left homeless are officials to put pressure on them to meet their the Palestinian human rights organization needs. Volunteer workers are mostly from She said the case had drawn wide attention living in a tent city in Callaghan Park. Most based in the West Bank. He has done exten­ churches or people who come on their own. in Israel and that numerous articles have of the residents are farm workers or cannery sive documentation of Israeli atrocities The tent city is funded by donations from appeared in the media. workers and their families. Almost all are against Palestinians. Mexican. churches and individuals. Last year he was held for nine months Protests have begun to be registered. The tent city was set up because of the The Red Cross refuses to recognize without charges at the notorious Ketziot Among these, Tsemel said, has been a letter lack ofprivacy, restrictions, and callous treat­ Callaghan Park as an official shelter and the prison camp in the Negev desert. from former U.S. president James Carter. ment at the official Red Cross and National city wants its residents to move to the official On October 4, in his absence, soldiers Demands that Jabarin be freed and that Guard-run shelter, Ramsey Park. ones. smashed into his home near the West Bank those responsible for brutalizing him be "They treat people like criminals" at "If this were a whites-only tent city, the town of Hebron. They seized affidavits he brought to justice should be addressed, she Ramsey Park, a volunteer worker from Santa Red Cross would be here working their butts had compiled from Palestinians who had said, to Israeli Defense Minister Yitzhak Cruz said. "Then, they put them in hotels off," tent city resident Enrique AJvarez told been brutalized by Israeli troops. They also Rabin, West Jerusalem, Israel. with a week's rent and leave them with no the San Jose Mercury News.

The Militant THE MILITANT Closing news date: November 15, 1989 Editor: DOUG JENNESS Circulation Director: NORTON SANDLER TELLS THE TRUTH Nicaragua Bureau Director: LARRY SEIGLE Business Manager: JIM WHITE Editorial Staff: Susan Apstein, Seth Galinsky (Nicaragua), Arthur Hughes, Susan LaMont, Sam Manuel, Roni McCann, Subscribe today! Greg McCartan, Selva Nebbia; Peter Thierjung, Judy White (Nicaragua). Published weekly except one week in August and the last 12 weeks for $4 - week of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Of­ an $8 savings fice, (212) 243-6392; Fax 727-0150; Telex. 497-4278; Busi­ ness Office, (212) 929-3486. Nicaragua Bureau, Apartado 2222, Managua. Telephone 24845. The Militant features: • International coverage of the fight to win, de­ Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business fend, and extend women's right to abortion and birth Office, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. control. • Firsthand reports of labor battles, from strikes Second-class postage paJd at New York, N.Y. and at addi­ tional mal ling offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes 0 $4 for 12 ~eks, new readers 0 $9 for 12 weeks, re· at Eastern Alr11nes and Boeing to the fightback In the 410 10014. newals to The Militant, West St.; New York, N.Y. Sub­ coalfields. scriPtions: U.S., Canada, Latin America: for one-year sub­ • Regular coverage of advances being made by 0 $17 for 6 months 0 $30 for 1 year 0 $55 for 2 years scription send $30, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. Cuban working people, and speeches by Fidel Castro 0$1.00 for An Action Program to Confront the Coming By first-class (aJnnaJI), send $65. Britain, Ireland, Continen­ and other Cuban leaders. Economic Crisis, a Pathfinder pamph~t tal Europe, Africa: £22 for one year, £12 for six months, or • Weekly reports on developments In southern Name ______£6 for three-month renewal. Send check or international Africa, Including mounting anti-apartheid protests in money order made out to Militant Distribution and send to 4 7 Address------The Cut, London SE I 8LL, England. Australia, Asia, Pacific: South Africa and freedom fight in Namibia. Clty______State. ___ Zip ____ From the Salvadoran people's fight to the campaign send Australian $60 to Pathfinder Press. P.O. Box 153, Glebe, Phone Unior\ISchooVOrganization ___ _ Sydney, NSW 2037, Australia. to defend Mark Curtis, the Militant covers the strug­ Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent gles of working people around the wor1d. Send to THE MIUTANT, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014 the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant November 24, 1989 Cuban author kicks off tour in Montreal BYJOHNSTEELE scheduled for Toronto and Vancouver. last year. "Cuba's role in Africa is in the spirit MONTREAL- Cuban economist Car­ Tablada' s two-week cross-Canada tour is tak­ of Che Guevara's ideas," he said. "I want to los Tablada. author of the new Pathfinder ing him to eight cities and 12 university personally thank Carlos Tablada for his book, book, Che Guevara: Economics and Politics campuses. which is a powerful tool·for the liberation of in the Transition to Socialism, spoke on a our country." platfonn here November 5, with a wide range Che's ideas relevant today "Che explains that building a new society of speakers who 1"\ad come to celebrate the At the Montreal meeting, which drew is a question of consciousness, and not just book's publication in English. It was origi­ some 100 people, chairperson Michel Dugre, the distribution of riches," said Fred Michel, nally published in Spanish in Cuba as El an executive member of the Quebec-Cuba speaking on behalf of the executive body of pensamiento economico de Ernesto Che friendship society, pointed to the Halifax the Quebec-Cuba friendship society. "The Guevara. The book launching was hosted by conference and Tablada's tour as a blow to ideas of Che are one of the elements of the the Pathfmder Bookstore in Montreal. the U.S. government's efforts to isolate and rectification process in Cuba today. Cuba is Hours before the meeting, Tablada had bury the truth about the Cuban revolution. going in the right direction because Che is arrived from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he Michel Prairie, editor of the new French­ not dead. He is still living." was part of a delegation of some 40 Cubans language Pathfinder pamphlet Le Socialisme The rectification process was launched who participated in the November l-4 inter­ et I' homme a Cuba (Socialism and man in three years ago by the leadership of the national conference "Thirty Years of the Cuba) by Ernesto Che Guevara, stressed the Communist Party of Cuba to overcome, Cuban Revolution: An Assessment." need to get out the facts about the intercon­ through the mobilization of Cuban working The Montreal meeting to promote the book nection between the deepening of the Cuban people. the problems of growing bureaucra­ was the .second in a series of four organized revolution today and Guevara's ideas. tism, inefficiency, and declining political by Pathfinder in canada. Two hundred of the Chengiah Ragaven, representative of the consciousness. Halifax conference participants attended a African National Congress of South Africa, In hailing the publication of the book, Guy Mel Kosentl'llaJ reception and book launching with Tablada focused on the decisive role of Cuban troops Roomer, Montreal correspondent for the Carlos Tablada, author of book on Che Guevara, is on an eight-city tour of Can­ during ~e conference. . Other launchings are in defeating South African forces in Angola New York-based newspaper Haiti Progres, said the Cuban road was the one needed by ada. the Haitian people for their liberation. of capitalism such as the marlcet economy, Socialist meeting to discuss Discussion welcomed Cuba was advancing where "no revolution Greetings were read to the meeting from had gone before." She described the rectifi­ Oaude Morin, a professor from the Univer­ cation process in Cuba as "a profoundly activities in the coalfields sity of Montreal; Nicaraguan ambassador to working-class mass movement" that shows Canada, Sergio Lacayo; and Jean-Claude the capacity of working men and women to BY GREG McCARTAN to broaden support for the miners' fight in Parrot, president of the Canadian Union of build a society based on human solidarity and The ftrSt of three political conferences the labor movement, increase circulation of Postal Workers. transfonn themselves as they do it. hosted by the Socialist Workers Party in late the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial among "This book no doubt will have an impor­ Following Waters' presentation, Tablada November and early December will take miners, and take steps to reinforce socialist tant role to play in shaping the debate on was introduced by Lourdes Urrutia, consul place in St. Louis, November 24-26. The forces in the coal fields. understanding the struggle for socialism in general of Cuba in Montreal. She pointed out conference will be held at the Sheraton-St. An "International Rally for Justice" spon­ Cuba and in clarifying our appreciation of that the Tablada book bad already been pub­ Louis Hotel. sored by the Marie Curtis Defense Committee events in other 'socialist' states where dis­ lished in several other languages in many Attended by socialist activists from the will be a special event Saturday evening. cussion sharpens daily on such subjects as editions and in many countries. It is a best Appalachian and western coal mining re· Curtis is a union meatpacker and political the role of 'profit,' of the market, of incentive seller in Cuba with 250,000 copies sold, she gions, as well as the South and Midwest, the activist framed-up on phony rape and bur­ systems and of economic planning," said said. weekend will open with a public forum Fri­ glary charges. He is now serving a 25-year Parrot in his greetings. "This is one of the most beautiful meetings day evening. Jack Barnes, National Secretary sentence in Anamosa Prison in Iowa. (See I have ever participated in," Tablada said, Suzanne Dagenais, manager of the Nou­ of the SWP, will present a talk entitled. ''The page 12 for infonnation on the rally.) commenting on the multinational composi­ velles Frontieres bookstore, distributor of 'Failure of Socialism' and the Future ofCom ­ "Conversations on Contemporary Cuban tion of the audience that received translation Progress Publishers in Quebec, also empha­ munism." Art," a program featuljng Cuban artist Aldo in English, Spanish, and French. "This meet­ sized the Tablada book's contribution to the John Gaige, SWP national trade union Soler, will take place Sunday afternoon. Soler ing is an example of how Che still lives, of discussion on the future of socialism in the director, will open the meeting Saturday with is on a tour of several U.S. cities after painting Che's vision of a humanity without borders." world. "I wanttothank Pathfinder for inviting a presentation on the "Changing Patterns of the portraits of Karl Marx and Cuban Presi­ "Since the time of Lenin, Marxism in the me to participate in this meeting," she said. U.S. Politics." The report and discussion will dent Fidel Castro on the Pathfmder Mural in socialist countries has become uncreative and 'This kind of collaboration should continue. focus on developments in the U.S. class strug­ New Yorlc City. dogmatic," Tablada noted. "It came prepack­ These complex questions need to be dis­ gle, the rise in labor militancy today, and the · A confereoce in New York qty for social­ aged to Cuba as though all problems had cussed. People look at Poland, Hungary, and significant links between the Eastern Airlines ists on the East Coast will take place Decem­ already been solved." · tl'le Soviet Union and say socialism is dead. strike and resistance in the coal fields, which ber 2-3. Socialists in California, the Pacific He said that between 1975 and 1985 Cuba But events in these countries show that Marx­ centers on support to the Pittston strike. Northwest, and Southwest will attend a con­ had copied this "prepackaged" Marxism ism is alive and is not frozen. There is a debate The strengthening of the work of socialist ference in San Francisco, December 9-1 0. from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. on the role of the marlcet and Carlos Tablada activists in coal mining areas will be the Both the New York and San Francisco "We are correcting our errors through the has helped contribute to this debate." theme of a report presented Sunday by Mary meetings will begin Saturday morning. The rectification process," he explained. "by dis­ Zins from St. Louis. She is a coal miner and public forums in both cities will take place Mary-Alice Waters, from Pathfinder New cussing and understanding the ideas of Che" member of the United Mine Workers of Saturday evening. York and the editor of the Pathfmder book that were promoted in the early years of the America. The three gatherings will coincide with by Cuban President Fidel Castro In Defense Cuban revolution. Zins has participated, along with other three conferences sponsored by the Young ofSocialism , explained that Marxism is "not On the Montreat leg of the tour, Tablada miners, in the caravans, rallies, and other Socialist Alliance in St. Louis, New York, a set of ideas, but the generalization of the spoke to 65 students and professors at meet­ activities in support of the UMWA strike and San Francisco. The meeting in St. Louis experience of the working class as it struggles ings at McGill University, the University of against Pittston Coal Group. Over the past will take place Sunday, November 26, at 8:30 to advance along its historic line of march." Montreal, and the University of Quebec in several months socialist activists have sought a.m. at the Sheraton-St. Louis Hotel. She underlined that in rejecting the methods Montreal. ST. LOUIS *NEW YORK CITY* BAY AREA Contribute to the Pathfinder Fund The 'Failure of Socialism' Pathfinder Press publishes In August a $150,0CO fund wrffings and speeches by was established to help get $150,000 and the Future of Communism communist and working­ into print a book on the rec­ Discuss: class fighters such. os Adel ffficotfon process In Cuba, a Castro, Ernesto Che volume in the series The * The weight of the German Question in world politics Guevara, Malcolm X, Mau­ Communist International in The "triumph of capitalism" and the historic tasks of the $119,260s * rice Bishop, Thomas Lenin's Time, and French­ working class Sonkora, Farrell Dobbs, language editions of * The importance of Ernesto Che Guevara, Malcolm X, James P. Connon, Nelson Thomas Sonkoro Speaks and Thomas Sankara In Eastern Europe today Mondela, Karl Marx, Fred­ and Socialism and Man in erick Engels, V.I. Lenin, and Cuba, by Che Guevara * Why Cuba and South Africa are at the center of Leon Trotsky. and Adel Castro. resolving the crisis of working-class leadership on a To corry out ffs ombffious So for $119,260 has been world scale program of publishing and collected. The deadline for ST. LOUIS: promotion of revolutionary completing the fund is De­ books and pamphlets, cember 1. Please con­ Speaker: Jack Barnes National Secretary, Socialist Workers Party Pathfinder needs financial tribute as generously os pos­ Friday, November 24, 7:30 p.m. support from people like sible. Sheraton-St. Louis Hotel -West Ballroom yourself. 910 North 7th St. (near Convention Center) NEW YORK: Enclosed my contribution of$ Editor of the MUitant D is Doug Jenness I wish to pledge $ toward the fund. Saturday, December 2, 7:00p.m. D Public School 11 , 314 West 21 St. Name ______(between 8th ~ 9th aves., Manhattan) Address ______SAN FRANOSCO BAY AREA: Cffy ______Mary-Allee Waters Editor of New International ~ote/Pro0nce ______Saturday, December 9, 7:00p.m Zip/Postal Code_____ Country ______For location and more Information call (415) 282-6255 or (415) 420-1165. Clip and send to Pathfinder, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Sponsored by Militant Labor Forums.

November 24, 1989 The Militant 3 Salt Lake NAACP endorses Curtis defense effort Mark Curtis is a unionist and Curtis' fight for justice also won sought to unify workers in a fight NOW conference, eight participants tis Defense Committee to win political activist from~ Moines, support at the Utah state conference for better conditions in a hazardous signed the petition and many others Curtis and other prisoners the Iowa, wbo is serving a 25-year jail of the National Organization for industry. stopped by a literature table to pick right to obtain literature and cor­ term on frame-up charges of rape Women and at the state's Hispanic up defense committee materials . respondence in the language of and burglary. conference. • their choice and to share literature Tbe Mark Curtis Defense Com­ Many members of the Utah state When thousands marched for • with each other. Prison authorities mittee is leading an international National Organization for Women abortion rights in cities across Can­ The following message was re­ have denied Curtis and other pris­ campaign to fight for justice for were familiar with the case and 24 ada last month, two Curtis support­ ceived by the Mark Curtis Defense oners non-English materials and Curtis. For more information signed a petition protesting Iowa ers in Toronto gathered 99 signatures Committee in Des Moines: "At our letters claiming they are a "secu­ about tbe case or bow you can prison authorities' denial of"non-En- on petitions. Many people readily meeting tonight, the branch decided rity" problem. signed when it was explained that to support the campaign for justice You can help in this fight by send­ Curtis' fight to receive correspon­ for Mark Curtis. ing a protest message of your own DEFEND MARK CURTIS! · dence and publications in languages "Every struggle against injustice or from your organization to: John other than English was a prisoners' is a sign of hope for all people who A. Thalacker, Warden, Iowa State help, write to the Mark Curtis glish materials and correspondence rights issue and that Curtis himself suffer oppression and discrimination Men's Reformatory, Anamosa, Iowa Defense Comlitittee, Box 1048, to Curtis and other inmates. The is a frame-up victim. Some unionists throughout the world. 52205. Des Moines, Iowa 50311; tele­ petition also protested restrictions attending the action also signed. "By supporting campaigns like Copies should be sent to: Attor­ phone (515) 246-1695. on prisoners' rights to share litera­ Mark's, as well as defending our ney General Thomas J. Miller, Hoo­ If you have news or reports on ture. Among the signers were • own union members, we hope to ver State Office Building, Des activities in support of Mark Cur­ NOW's Southwest Regional Direc­ Curtis supporters set up a litera­ broaden our participation in the Moines, Iowa 50319; Paul tis from your city or. country, tor Luci Malin and National NOW ture table at a recent statewide abor­ struggle for a better world. Grossheim, Director, Department of pleaSe send them to the Mililani. Executive Vice-president Patricia tion rights action in Trenton, New "In solidarity, P. Holmes, branch Corrections, Capitol Annex, 523 E. Ireland. Jersey. The protest drew several president, and E.J. Cox, branch sec­ 12th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50309; 1be Executive Board of the Salt About 18 people signed a similar thousand demonstrators. Eighteen retary." and the Mark Curtis Defense Com­ Lake National Association for the petition at the Hispanic conference. abortion rights activists signed peti­ The message came from the Shef­ mittee. Advancement ofColored People has At both conferences several mem­ tions protesting the non-English ban field, England, branch of the Amal­ endorsed the Mark Curtis defense bers of the Utah Injured Workers at Curtis' prison. A member of the gamated Union of Engineering Nancy B oyasko and Steve campaign. Lenoris Bush; a leader of Association, an organization aiding Committee in Solidarity with the Workers (Engineering Section). Warshell from Salt Lake City, the Utah NAACP branch, now plans disabled workers afftliated with the People of El Salvador decided to Utah; Dave Hurst from Newark, a showing for NAACP members of AFL-CIO, signed the petition. They become an endorser of the Mark • New Jersey; and Lynda Little from the video produced by Nick Castle, identified with Curtis because they Curtis Defense Committee. An international campaign is Toronto contributed to this week's Jr., The Frame-Up ofMark Curtis. learned he was a meat-packer who At an earlier New Jersey state being conducted by the Mark Cur- column. Judge admits complicity in 10 year harassment suit

Continued from front page Workers League. This outfit has become the judge would have dismissed Gelfand's known and increasingly despised for its dis­ suit without a trial based on lack ofevidence. ) ruptive activities in the labor movement - "I believed at the time of the trial that I against striking copper miners, packinghouse should have granted the motion for summary workers, paper workers, coal miners, and judgment," Pfaelzer said, "but I wanted to others. give the plaintiff [Gelfand] every opportunity The Workers League is currently on a to put on his case. campaign to lend credence to the police "But I want to get on the record that I never frame-up of packinghouse worker, unionist, believed that the evidence presented by Mr. and political activist Mark Curtis. The group Gelfand raised true material facts." and its collaborators around the world ac­ tively seek to disrupt the Mark Curtis Defense Harassment of SWP Committee's work. Later in the hearing, Pfaelzer told the On Aug. 15, 1989, Pfaelzer issued written SWP's attorney David Epstein, "I have al­ fmdings affinning her oral decision against ways believed that tliere is more to this case Gelfand at the close of the 1983 trial. l than just a lawsuit" Pfaelzer's findings stated that Gelfand had Gelfand's case, the judge said, "is ground­ no evidence to back up any of his accusations less, and always was. A lot of it was simply and that his motive in bringing the suit was harassment 1bere is evidence to back that to "disrupt the SWP." up." The judge also ruled that one of the suit's Pfaelzer told Epstein that she found this "main purposes was to generate material for case "painful, because it cost your client so political attacks on the SWP by the Workers much money. All the trips [back and forth to League." Pfaelzer concluded that Gelfand 's Los Angeles for various legal proceedings] "initiation of this litigation was not in good were a drain on the party treasury," she said. faith." "I allowed Mr. Gelfand to carry out exten­ The final judgment by Pfaelzer was signed sive pretrial discovery procedures. I refused and flied on September 29. As part of the the defendant's motion for summary judg­ judgment, the SWP was awarded some of its ment." court costs. A court administrator subse­ Epstein replied, ''That is correct. The aim quently awarded the SWP more than $5,000, of the suit was to harm a political party. And despite objections filed by Gelfand 's attor­ this motion before us today is an effort to ney. An immediate result of the November abuse the court process in the same way as 13 victory is that the SWP and its attorneys was done throughout the entire case." can now begin efforts to collect the $5,000 Mter allowing the U.S. Justice Depart­ from Gelfand. ment attorney to make a brief statement, Pfaelzer declared Gelfand's motion denied. Earlier this year, another victory was reg­ istered by an out-of-court settlement in which Workers League disruption eft'ort the SWP recovered from Gelfand's previous lawyers part of the money the party has had U.S. secret police. tance of pushing back the disruption opera­ Gelfand's suit against the SWP has been Jack Barnes, the SWP's current national tions of the Workers League, have a stake in supported and fmanced from the start by the to lay out for attorneys' fees since the suit was filed. secretary, was complicit with Hansen, Norris speaking out against this ongoing violation That settlement lessened the financial bur­ charged, and is also "an agent of the govern­ of democratic rights." den on the SWP. It also serves as a deterrent ment." Funds needed to to other Ja wyers taking similar cases that have Norris said that Gelfand's case was "com­ as their sole aim the harassment and disrup­ pelling," and that Pfaelzer should reconsider ...----- LOS ANGELES -----. defend victory tion of a political organization. her ruling. Short of that, however, he re­ quested that she at least drop the character­ in Gelfand case Repeats old slanders ization of Gelfand's suit as "frivolous" and The Fight Against Thousands of dollars will be needed to Gelfand's proposed "amendment" to having been filed in "bad faith." Antilabor Disruption ensure that the victories won so far against Pfaelzer's August findings would have gutted The denial of Gelfand's motion opens the the Workers League disruption effort are not and reversed the court's decision. next stage in the fight against the Workers Victory scored against the 10-year overturned by the federal court of appeals. The legal memorandum submitted by the League disruption effort. Gelfand now has harassment suit by Alan Gelfand 1be Socialist Workers Party is asking that SWP and its attorney for the November 13 60 days to appeal Pfaelzer's fmal judgment targeting the Socialist Workers contributions be made to help meet the legal hearing explains that Gelfand's motion pres­ to the federal court of appeals. Party. and defense costs that have already begun to As a statement by the SWP National Com­ ents no new evidence. It only repeats his and Speaker be incurred in fighting the Workers League's the Workers League's political slanders and mittee explained in September when Pfaelzer anticipated appeal of the August decision in attacks against the SWP. issued her findings, the Workers League's Joel Britton the Gelfand case. Since the call for contribu­ In presenting the motion at the hearing, aim in pressing the appeal "will betocontinue Socialist Workers Party tions was issued in September, $225 ~as been Gelfand's attorney reiterated the litany of their harassment effort, and continue to force National Committee raised from Militant readers; thousands of smears that form the heart of the 10-year the SWP to devote considerable time and dollars more are needed. disruption campaign. financial resources to pay for lawyers and the Tues., Nov. 21, 7 p.m. Tax-deductible contributions can be sent Norris, who is a political cothinker of the costs of defending themselves. 2546 W. Pico Blvd. to the Political Rights Defense Fund, Inc., Workers League. slandered Joseph Hansen, "All defenders of democratic rights, all P.O. Box 761, Church Street Station, New a longtime central leader of the SWP who opponents of the use of the courts by unscru­ Donation: $2. Sponsored by Militant York, N.Y. 10007. Copies of Pfaelzer's Au­ died in 1979. Parroting Gelfand's motion, pulous lawyers to bleed and divert the re­ labor Forum. For more information gust fmdings can be obtained for $5 from Norris claimed that Hansen had infiltrated sources of working-class organizations, and call (213) 380-9460. PROF at the same address. the SWP on behalf of both the Soviet and all who have come to recognize the impor-

4 The Militant November 24, 1989 ... •. , ·:· ~ ~ ' ~ r . ,.. Yakima farm workers organize meeting for Cuban painter

BY PETER THIERJUNG traits of Cuban President Fidel Castro and "In Cuba there is no division between Karl Marx on the six-story mural on the side artists and workers. All are equal before the of the Pathfinder Building in New York. world," Cuban painter Aldo Soler told a Artists and muralists from around the world meeting of fann workers in Granger, Wash­ participated in the project which has just been ington. The meeting was organized by the completed. A dedication and celebration are United Fann Workers of Washington State at slated for November 19. their Yakima Valley headquarters at the end From Washington state, Soler went to Chi­ of October. cago for a three-day tour. There he spoke to Soler, who is touring several U.S. cities, more than 80 people at the Rafael Cintur6n showed slides of Cuban art and answered Ortiz Cultural Center at the University of questions about the Cuban revolution. "Be­ Illinois. The meeting raised $600. I fore the triumph of the revolution almost WGCI radio host Cliff Terry interviewed everyone was poor," he said. "We began to I . 1 Soler during his call-in talk show. Militant/Eric Simpson create the conditions for everyone to live as At an evening reception at the Ruiz Belvis human beings," he continued, explaining the Tomas Villanueva, president of the United Farm Workers of Washington State (left), Cultural Center in Chicago's Puerto Rican welcomed Cuban painter Aldo Soler. revolution's achievements. community, Juan Mendez of the Puerto Rican UFWWS President Tomas Villanueva in­ Socialist Party's Cultural Commission, African warriors' song. terviewed Soler for Radio KDNA, which is Rican Prisoners of War made special pre­ representatives of the Ruiz Belvis and Juan sentations to Soler. The evening was closed listened to by thousands of fann workers in Antiento Corrjeter Cultural Centers, and the by Nikho Xaba of the African National Con­ Matt Herreshofffrom SeaJtle and John Vota­ the area. National Committee in Support of Puerto gress of South Africa who .sang the South va from Chicago contributed to this article. His meetings with the fann workers were "an activity of profound human and revolu­ tionary content," Soler said. In Seattle Soler spoke to a gathering of 65 people at the 911 Contemporary Arts Center. New video is an introduction to mural Katalina Montero, a member of the Vence­ remos Brigade's National Committee, wel­ BY GREG McCARTAN The respect Cuba has earned is also based The portraits and short biographical infor­ comed Soler to Seattle and encouraged those A video program produced by the Path­ on its advances and its unstinting internation­ mation on some of the scores of leaders in attendance to travel to Cuba with the finder Mural Project is an enjoyable, educa­ alist actions, the narrator points out. depicted in the crowd scene are then re­ brigade. The meeting was cosponsored by tional, professional, and artistic promotional "This internationalist spirit was embodied viewed. the center and the Pathfmder Mural Project work. It gives the viewer an appreciation of by the Argentine-born leader of the Cuban rd raised more than $1,000. the political and artistic achievement of the revolution, Emesto Che Guevara." The nar­ 50 artists from 15 countries Washington State Congressman James six-story mural painted on the wall of the rator briefly recounts Guevara's role in the At the end of the video, Sam Manuel, the McDermott sent a message to Soler welcom­ Pathfinder publishing house in New York's guerrilla struggle against Fulgencio Batista's mural project's director, points out the work ing him to Seattle. "I applaud your participa­ Greenwich Village. dictatorship in Cuba, his leadership of the "is one of the broadest political and artistic tion in the Pathfinder Mural Project," the 'The centerpiece of the mural is a giant revolutionary government, and his interna­ projects of this type ever attempted. Nearly message said. "This project will bring to­ printing press churning out sheets of paper tionalism. 50 artists from 15 countries have made it a gether the portraits, and the ideals, of many and books adorned with the portraits of out­ Pathfinder publishes two books that shed truly international effort.. When complete, it who have shaped the major social impulses standing working-class and revolutionary light on Guevara's approach on the building will be one of the largest, multifaceted polit­ of our time," McDermott wrote. "The ideas leaders whose speeches and writings Path­ of socialism-Che Guevara and the Cuban ical murals in the world." of those featured in the mural transcend na­ finder publishes and promotes," explains the Revolution and Che Guevara: Economics Durnile Feni describes the conversations narrator. and Politics in the Transition to Socialism. tional boundaries and political structures. he has had with groups of people who have Mural coordinator Malcolm McAllister The Pathfinder mural portrait of Guevara This powerful work of art reflects the resis­ given an enthusiastic response to the mural produced the video. He enlisted professional was painted by the well-known Argentine tance to· oppression and exploitation that is and Pathfinder· books. He says discussions help to transpose dozens of slides of the artist Ricardo Carpani, whose artistic and universal to us." are provoked "about the people in the strug­ In October the Cuban artist painted por- muial, Pathfmder book covers, artists who political backround is described in the vi<:Jeo. worked on the mural, and scenes ofstrugg ling gle for a better world" who are depicted in the mural. "Tiris is truly an effort that all of people around the world onto the videotape. Nelson Mandela us should participate in and support," he Pathfmder Mural Project supponers Oau­ The video similarly describes African Na­ urges. dia Hommel, Selva Nebbia, and John Staggs tional Congress leader Nelson Mandela, CELEBRATE THE narrate the 38-minute show. Background painted by ANC artist Durnile Feni; work­ To complete the mural "your support and music from different countries and eras, co­ ing-class and communist leaders James P. generous donations are needed,.. mural fund ordinated with each portion of the video, Cannon and Farrell Dobbs, who were both director Mark Severs explains. Financed al­ effectively adds to the content of the presen­ founders of the Socialist Workers Party in the most entirely by individual contributions, COMPlETION OF THE tation. United States, painted by Bob Allen; Nica­ every donation helps, he points out. The video opens explaining, "Pathfinder raguan revolutionary leaders Augusto cesar has emerged over the last 30 years as a major Sandino and Carlos Fonseca, painted by The video is an excellent introduction to publisher of the modem world's revolution­ Amoldo Guillen ofNicaragua; working-class the mural and to the books Pathfinder pub­ ary leaders, presenting the . ideas of Fidel leader and founder of scientific socialism lishes. A history Jesson in itself, this profes­ Castro, Malcolm X, and the Sandinistas of Frederick Engels, painted by Iranian-born sionally assembled promotional piece for the PATHFINDER mural and Pathfinder can be used by support­ Nicaragua in their own words. These books artist Maljan Hormozi; and the other major reach young fighters all around the world." portraits on the mural. ers of the mural project and the "fighting The program begins with slides of the civil people" of today who want to learn about the MURAL rights movement; the fight against the U.S. The narration continues, "Fighting peoples history of struggle for the emancipation of war in Vietnam; scenes of the Cuban, Nica­ of the world are another of the mural 's humanity. raguan, and Grenadian revolutions; the strug­ themes. They represent the ordinary people To order the video send $25 to Pathfinder gle against the apartheid regime in South fighting for social justice today and in years Mural Project, 410 West St., New York, N.Y. Africa; the fight for women's equality; and past." 10014. ~UNDAY, resistance to union-busting and other attacks on the rights and living standards of workers and working fanners in the United States and Turkish group hosts London meeting NOV.l9 around the world. TralbJ:ian ~ ... 'Possible and timely' for Pathfinder Mural Project mddan .. ~ These ''developments have fundamentally In a lively discussion that followed, sev­ DEDICATION AT MURAL SITE: altered U.S. and world politics and make the BY JONATHAN SILBERMAN 1:30PM PATHFINDER BUILDING, Pathfinder mural both possible and timely," LONOON-Thirty-five Thrkish workers eral people asked why there were no Turkish saw the Pathfinder mural video at a showing or Kurdish fighters in the mural. One mural CORNER OF CHARLES AND explains the narrator. These social struggles hosted by the Turkish Education Group here supporter replied that this was not meant as WEST STREETS, MANHATTAN are aJso the reason for the expansion of With folk singer PETE SEEGER I Pathfmder's publishing program, and there­ November 12. A majority of the 35 had been a slight to workers and fanners in Turkey or PAUL O'DWYER former N.Y. City ceptivity to the books by fighters around the in Britain just a few months and spoke little Kurdistan, but stemmed from the organizers' Council president I CHRISTINE world. English. Most work in the garment industry lack of know ledge about the struggles in these VOGEL, Newark Arts Council or in Turkish restaurants; a few are students. countries. This prompted a member of the The second portion of the program focuses A number are members of the Turkish polit­ Turkish group to say that it was the respon­ BENEFIT PROGRAM: 3:00PM AT on the major portraits on the mural -with ical party, Revolutionary Path. There are sibility of people from the area themselves WESTBETH GALLERY, 55 BE­ a photo and description ofthe person depicted more than 100,000 Thrkish workers in Lon­ to bring the names and faces of such fighters THUNE ST. (3 BLOCKS NORTH OF and the struggle he or she led, the Pathfinder don. to the attention of the mural organizers. MURAL) Program: ALDO SOLER, books that contain their writings and The video and the talk by London mural One participant said, "If this video show­ Cuban artist I performance by speeches, and information on the artist who promoter Denny Fitzpatrick that followed WOMEN of the CALABASH I mural painted the portrait and samples oftheir other ing had happened a couple of months ago, were translated into 1\Jrkish. there would have been such people in the project director SAM MANUEL I work. There was an enthusiastic welcome for SANDY BOYER, Irish Arts Center I mural and we could have organized people Fitzpatrick's argument that the mural, and the TEBOGO MAFOLE, chief represen­ For example, one segment explains, "Rev­ from Turkey or Kurdistan to paint them." tative of ANC mission to UN. olutionary Cuba's refusal to bend to the dic­ popularity of books and pamphlets published DONATION: $10; SPONSORED BY tates of Washington has given it tremendous by Pathfinder, give the lie to the claim of the A collection was held and£ 18.50 (US$30) THE PATHFINDER MURAL PROJ­ moral and political authority among fighters British government and others that socialist was raised for the mural project. There was ECT AND VENTANA. for national liberation and socialism the ideas are dead. "In the world that's develop­ much activity around the Pathfmder Book­ For more Information call (212) 741-o&90. world over." The video shows the range of ing, socialist ideas will have greater meaning shop stall too and £21 worth ofliterature was titles by Pathfinder on the Cuban revolution. and be more relevant," she said. purchased.

November 24, 1989 The Militant 5 Portland Boeing strikers lend Eastern fight a hand

Some 8,500 International Asso­ a striking Eastern flight attendant. postal workers, and others. on strike is located. The need for are in the Teamsters union. On No­ ciation of Machinists members Local newspapers and television More than 20 members of the solidarity among all unions was a vember 17, unionists will rally in struck Eastern Airlines March 4 and radio stations covered the pro­ AWPPW joined the afternoon picket major topic of discussion on the Lynn at the NYNEX telephone in an effort to block tbe company's test. line during a break in a meeting to picket line, and AWPPW members building; on November 20, at Kraft drive to break the union and im· took leaflets for the Boeing strikers' warehouse; and at Logan Interna­ Ten members of lAM Local 63, discuss upcoming contracts with pose massive concessions on Hardship Food Bank. tional Airport on November 22. on strike at Boeing's parts plant in workers. Boise Cascade and Weyerhaeuser Boeing Machinists and AWPPW Portland, helped distribute leaflets Backed by flight attendants and forest products companies. They members at the picket signed mes­ • pilots, the walkout crippled Ea&t· about the Eastern strike. Mechanics represented I 0 locals in Oregon and sages of support for the Eastern and from United Airlines also joined the Washington. One paperworker was Some 45 unionists joined a No­ Pittston strikes. More than SO other vember I picket line at Greater Cin­ picket, along with meat-packers, from Everett, Washington, where Boeing strikers added their names garment workers, rail workers, one ofthe biggest Boeing plants now c innati International Airport later that day when they gathered to November I to protest the start-up SUPPORT collect their weekly strike benefits. of three flights by Continental Air­ lines. Both Eastern and Continental EASTERN • are owned by Texas Air Corp., "Students. . . . Aying home for headed by Frank Lorenzo. the hotidays? Please don't fly East­ The action was called on short STRIKERS! em or Continental airlines." That's the headline of a leaflet issued by notice by the Cincinnati AFL-CIO ern, grounding a big majority of Labor Council. Eastern has no Frontlash AFL-CIO in Massachu­ its 1,040 prestrike daily flights. setts urging the 200,000 students in flights into Cincinnati and Conti­ Since July Eastern bas been try· that state to support the fight at East­ nental had discontinued flights sev­ eral years ago. ing to restart operations. By No­ em. The leaflet explains the issues vember 1 it was scheduling 775 in the strike and why young people Jerry Buty, Eastern strike coordi­ daily flights. have a stake in defending unions. nator from Columbus, was joined at The Ea&1ern workers' fight has Frontlash is the youth affiliate of the the protest by other Machinists won broad support from working AFL-CIO. union members, auto workers, people in the United States and The appeal comes at a time when teachers, carpenters, hospital work­ Canada. Readers - especially Eastern and Continental will be ers, and other unionists. They dis­ Eastern strikers - are encour­ pushing low fares to attract students. tributed leaflets urging people not to aged to send news of &trike soli· Eastern strikers and supporters fly Continental. darity activities to this column. began to get the word out on the Dan Radford, executive secre­ student campaign by speaking at tary-treasurer of the Cincinnati Boeing strikers and members of campuses in the Boston area, leaflet­ AFL-CIO Labor Council, an­ the Association of Western Pulp and ing the many buses headed for the nounced that the council will hold Paper Workers (AWPPW) joined November 12 abortion rights rally periodic airport protests and orga­ other unionists at a picket of two in Washington, D.C., and contacting nize holiday fund-raising activities hiring sessions set up by Eastern to local media. for Eastern and Pittston strikers. recruit scab mechanics in Portland The North Shore Labor Council November 9. Pickets far out­ AFL-CIO is sponsoring three labor Striking lAM Local 1726 member numbered would-be applicants. solidarity rallies in November to Maggie Pucci from Boston contrib­ "We're trying to remind people back workers on strike at Eastern, uted to this column, along with Con­ they would be hired to replace work­ Militant/K.C. Ellis NYNEX telephone company, and nie A./len from Portland and Val ers on strike," explained Jack Elliott, Unionists picket Eastern hiring session in Portland, Oregon. Kraft Warehouse. The Kraft strikers Libby from Cincinnati. Florida unions organize solidarity rally in Miami

BY PETE SEIDMAN and Pittston Coal company. In Titusville lAM Local 2383, which or­ corned a team of three Local 702 strike ac­ MIAMI-The headquarters of Interna­ Members of Local 702's Outreach Com­ ganizes workers at the McDonnell Douglas tivists and donated more than $200. tional Association of Machinists Local 702, mittee have been building the action through­ plant near Cape Canaveral, also voted funds The lAM's Naval Air Locall630 in Jack­ on strike at Eastern Airlines, is covered with out Aorida. to send a bus to the Miami march. sonville reports that several carloads of Ma­ signs that say, 'They are coming." The Orlando Central Labor Council is Machinists Local 971 at the large Pratt & chinists plan to make the 11-bour drive to '"They" are the hundreds ofsupporters who sending a bus load of striking Eastern workers Whitney plant in West Palm Beach gave $600 Miami for the march. will be corning to Miami November 19 to and supporters. The council also donated and is chartering a bus. At a November 10 In Miami 25 Eastern strikers joined United participate in a statewide march and rally in $500 after an appeal for help by Local 702 plant-gate collection to raise funds for the Farm Workers union members in a "Walk for solidarity with the strikes at Eastern, Boeing, members. · strike, Pratt & Whitney workers warmly wei- Justice" November 11. The next day strikers spoke to 2,000 participants at an American Postal Workers Union picnic. Local 702 members have addressed some Strikers counter Boeing drive against union two dozen union and community meetings to urge support for the statewide march. BY KAREN RAY in response to Boeing's call for a vote. '"The · to work. "No one really wants to be a scab," The Machinists local is sending out a SEATILE - On Monday mornings doz­ company is making an effort to make our their flyer said. "However, in coming weeks, 7 ,000-piece mailing to all its mernbers and ens of strike volunteers turn out to strengthen people crawl back to work." many are going to be financially forced to retirees, signed by lAM District 100 Presi­ the picket lines at Boeing's plant gates. 'The company arrogantly came up with a make a very bard decision to hold out or go dent Charles Bryan and Local 702 President The volunteers go to the gates through revised offer that is essentially the same pro­ back-that's reality!" which they had driven to work before the posal as the October 3 one and that has, in Frank Ortis. The largest union meetings since the strike An October 23 demonstration of 1.500 strike .started October 4. They watch to .see fact, some takeaways," explained a letter began took place November 8 and 9, with Eastern strikers and supporters in Miami if anyone they know has crossed the picket from the lAM to union members. more than I ,200 members turning out. 'The "was a tremendous success," the lener says, line. This doesn't happen often. When a meetings registered the solid determination striker does spot someone, shouts of "scab, Some impact "and we must continue. to build on that. mo- of most strikers to resist the company's pres­ mentum." go home" fill the air. The company ads had an impact on some sure campaign. Plans were made to continue 'The day before the demonstration, Local Since negotiations between the Interna­ union members, however. On November 7 a the expanded picket lines on Mondays. tional Association of Machinists and Boeing group of 43 workers went to the union hall 702 is sponsoring a "Camp Solidarity - Miami'' at its headquarters on NW 36th Street broke off November 4, more strikers are in Everett, where one of Boeing's biggest Technical workers and Sheridan Drive. Plans for the day include concerned that scabbing will increase. Many plants is located, and demanded a vote. After In another challenge to the strike, Boeing fear that financial pressures will push some a discussion with other union members, many expanded picket lines at Miami International has threatened to start laying off technical Airport. A contingent of United Mine Work­ strikers to return to work. left agreeing that the company's proposal to workers if they don't work some of the As of now, lAM officials estimate that 1 vote on their latest offer was a move to divide ers members on strike at Pittston Coal will Machinists' jobs. Some 28,000 members of be coming down for the weekend's activities. percent of union members have crossed; the the union. Others said they were going to the Seattle Professional Engineering Em­ company says the figure is 4 percent. There start a petition campaign to demand a vote ployees Association are currently crossing The November 18-19 activities are spon­ are 43,000 lAM members on strike at Boeing on the November 4 proposal. picket lines to work, although many SPEEA sored by the Aorida State AFL-CIO; the plants in the Seanle area. On November 8 a group of picket captains members support the strike. SPEEA's con­ South Aorida AFL-CIO; Transport Workers When talks broke off, the company - and volunteers organized a demonstration of tract with Boeing expires December I; it is Union Local 553, representing Eastern's with the aid of the big-business media­ 150 strikers at Boeing's corporate headquar­ currently in negotiations. striking flight attendants; and Air Line Pilots launched a campaign calling on union mem­ ters. They chanted, "It's union time, not over­ SPEEA spokesman Dan Mahoney said the Association Local Executive Council 18. bers to demand a vote on the contract rejected time" and "Kingdome no, bargaining table decision to do the struck work should be by union negotiators. Boeing immediately The Miami march and rally come on the yes." The Kingdome is the stadium where "controlled by the conscience of individual heels of several announcements confirming took out full-page ads in eight papers in the the contract votes are held. SPEEA members." Seanle area; Portland, Oregon; and Wichita, the continued impact of the eight-month-long Kansas - the three centers of the strike. Spirits were high at the rally. For many, it "Whereas we sincerely wish the lAM strike on Eastern's attempts to rebuild as a "We believe your bargaining conunittee was their first strike activity outside their maximum success in its efforts and sacrifices, nonunion carrier. should give you the opportunity to vote on assigned picket duty. Some protesters said we are unable to conclude that we should On November 7 Eastern informed the this contract," Boeing's ad said, referring to they planned to help on other strike activities. urge our members on a course of action that creditors committee that it is $200 million their November 4 offer. The next day flyers were handed out by would cause some of them to sacrifice their short in its fmancial projections and will not While the latest offer included increased the union at the distribution centers where own salary and benefits." emerge from bankruptcy until spring at the year-end bonuses, it cut the cost-of-living thousands of strikers come to pick up their lAM spokesman Jack Daniels denounced earliest; having requested bankruptcy court adjustment and medical benefits. It left the strike benefit checks. Boeing wants "you the threat of layoffs as "more pressure on us approval for a 60-day extension of its reor-. same general wage increase as in the proposal back, but at the cheapest possible price," the to make us worry." ganization plan. Eastern filed for bankruptcy that was overwhelmingly rejected by Boeing flyer said. "We'll go back, but with dignity on March 9, five days after the strike began; workers October 3. and a just offer!" Karen Ray is a member ofJAM District 751, its "reorganization" plan originally called for 'The company is trying to undermine us," Another leaflet was handed out by union Local A, on strike at Boeing's plant in coming out of bankruptcy proceedings in said lAM District 751 President Tom Baker, members organizing for a vote and a return Everett, Washington. December.

6 The Militant November 24, 1989 Boeing pickets on line in Everett look at their strike BY SUSAN LaMONT flight line. He got a job at Boeing after a stint SEATILE- "Boeing talks a lot about in the air force. "I didn't appreciate going on how we're supposed to be 'family,"' said one strike, but now I feel like I have to support young striker as he stood around the bum the union." barrel with other pickets trying to catch a Another electrician, Greg, who came to little warmth. "We're 'family' alright- the Boeing from the navy, said he voted no on family dog." the contract. "The pay raises and bonuses Out at Boeing's Everett plant, a little north were not sufficient," he said. "We want a of Seattle, some 19,000 workers usually work decent raise and no mandatory overtime." long hours assembling Boeing 747 and 767 "My wife is for the strike," Greg added. commercial aircraft. On October 4 they and "Boeing makes a lot of widows and orphans. thousands of other Boeing workers in the "Before the strike, people were so tired, Seattle area; Portland, Oregon; and Wichita, they were falling. off airplanes and having Kansas, went on strike. After six years of no other accidents," he said. The company's wage increases, mounting forced overtime, latest offer proposes reduced mandatory and erosion of union strength, the workers overtime of 144 hours a quarter - after the -members of the International Association company has made up for production lost in Militant/Karen Ray of Machinists - are fighting to gain some the strike. Boeing workers are coming to grips with the prospect that their strike may not end ground for the union at a time when Boeing Some workers have become discouraged quickly. On November 6 workers at the Everett plant talked with Eastern striker is boasting record profits and orders. by the strike, Greg added. Ernest Mailhot (in union jacket) about how Eastern workers have maintained their I visited the picket line at the Everett plant strike for eight months. November 6 with Boeing striker Karen Ray, 'Employee Appraisal' who works there as a mechanic, and Ernest Another gain workers at Boeing are fight­ Mailhot. Mailhot is on strike against Eastern ing for is a change 1n how their job perfor­ company every time he tried to get into a aircraft electrical systems are assembled. Airlines at New York's La Guardia Airport mance is evaluated-a process known as better-paying job. ''The wire shop is like a ghetto inside the and was in Seattle for a few days visiting the Employee Appraisal. The latest contract offer proposes setting Everett facility," Simpson explained. Most of Boeing strikers' union halls and picket lines. An older inspector explained how incom­ up ajointcompany-unioncomrnittee to come the workers there are women, and they're It was cold and windy that morning, but petent supervisors, who often don't know the up with a new evaluation system. kept at the lowest pay grades. That's also the picket line.,s were larger than usual. More job or employee they 're "appraising," give Another step that has weakened the union where many of the Black workers are, and strikers had turned out to beef up the lines - EA ratings every six months. was the introduction ofa 45-day probationary many of the immigrant workers who came a response to rumors circulated over the This degrading procedure, which under­ period, instituted by a letter of agreement to the Seattle area from Vietnam and other weekend that there would be more strikers mines union strength and pits workers against between the company and union after the Asian countries. The shop is crowded, there's crossing the picket line to return to work after each other, plays a big pan in determining 1986 contract had been approved. little ventilation, and the workers spend most the breakdown in negotiations November 4. whether a worker can transfer to another plant of the workday-frequently 12 hours-on The surge of scabs didn't materialize. or get into a better-paying job. 'Strike, strike' their feet. Sexual harassment by supervisors Although some strikers were disappointed "Dump EA system" was one of the signs Another common sign at the October 3 is also a problem. that the talks had broken off, most agreed that workers brought to the Kingdome in Seattle Kingdome meeting was for "Upgrades"-a During the week before the walkout the company's latest offer was unacceptable. October 3 for the meeting where the contract demand that certain jobs be moved up into started, Simpson said, some workers at the "Since we've been out this long, we shouldn't vote was taken. higher pay job classifications. Everett plant began campaigning for a strike. go back until we get something," said one ''The union at Boeing does not have a Pay at Boeing now ranges from $8.88 to Workers stood on the upper levels of the mechanic. strong seniority system," explained striker $18 an hour, and it takes five years to reach "jigs"-the large metal frames that hold the Some 60 percent of the workers at the Karen Ray. "Seniority doesn't determine top pay in a given job. There are 12 job aircraft as they're assembled- and banged Everett plant have worked at Boeing for two transfers, bidding into better-paying jobs, classifications. tools, chanting "Strike, strike." Several work­ years or less. Many are young, and some,have what shift you work, nothing ~ it's all up to Striker Eric Simpson expl$ed that sev­ ers unfurled a banner with ''Strike" written just come out of the military. During their the company, based largely on 'your EA. The eral months before the walkout, some work­ on it from the fourth story of one j.ig. There entire time at Boeing they've had to work company even has a right to lay off 10 percent ers in the Everett plant began a campaign to were repeated lunchtime rallies and one massive amounts of forced overtime- up of the workers affected out of seniority." get their jobs upgraded in the new contract. lunchtime march by a couple hundred work­ to 200 hours in a three-month period, up to One worker at the Everett picket line said Simpson is an electrician at Everett. ers that went through the plant to the corpo­ four weekends straight without a break. This simply he didn't have anything good to say Among the most active in the campaign rate cafeteria. These actions strengthened amounts to 20 extra weeks of work per year. about Boeing. He had started there 10 years were workers from the wire shop, where the workers' confidence going into the contract ago as a janitor and has had to fight the complicated wire harnesses and bundles for vote, Simpson said Workers discuss strike's prospects Eastern striker Mailhot got a warm wel­ come on the picket line. One indication of the identification that many Boeing strikers Venceremos Brigade banquet celebrates have with the fight at Eastern is a sign on the "Overtime Inn," an abandoned tavern across from the picket site that union members have 20 years of solidarity with Cuba covered with strike slogans. "Eastern has Frank Lorenzo, Boeing has Frank Shrontz­ BY GREG McCART AN Kenneth Jones, a leader of the brigade, Aldo Soler, who is in the United States for Solidarity with the Eastern strike," says one NEW YORK - Chants of"Cuba sf! Yan­ said, "Cuba's uncompromising and consis­ two months speaking on Cuban an and who sign. Lorenzo and Shrontz are the corporate kee no!" and "Cuba sf! Bloqueo no!" punc­ tent support for struggles internationally has painted Fidel Castro on the Pathfinder mural. chairmen. tuated the opening of the Venceremos been a light for us." The mural, Mealy said, "has become a wall Some workers were surprised to hear that Brigade's 20th Anniversary Awards Banquet. He explained that the Cuban revolution's of heroes and heroines." the Eastern strikers had been out for more The November 11 event drew 300 brigade support for independence for Puerto Rico, its The chief representative of the Cuban In­ than eight months. How did they manage? members and supporters, activists from other defense of Angolan sovereignty, including terests Section in Washington, D.C., Jose several asked. With the recent breakdown in Cuba solidarity groups, and representatives the defeat of South African military forces in Abresu, said, "Cubans consider this a signif~ negotiations at Boeing, many workers are of the Cuban government. The meeting cel­ 1988, and the extensive support for Nicara­ icant date in the history of the solidarity with beginning to realize that their strike may not ebrated 20 years of the Venceremos Brigade's gua have "given us a much better understand­ the revolution." be settled as quickly as they had thought. work, protested the U.S. blockade of Cuba, ing of what internationalism is." "In midst ofefforts by the U.S. government Many Eastern strikers have had to get other raised funds for the organization, and Jones said the brigade would "take on the to isolate Cuba," he explained "the Ven­ jobs, Mailhot explained, although most re­ launched the 21st contingent of the brigade. task of ending travel restrictions" to Cuba. ceremos Brigade appeared as a challenge by main part of the fight at Eastern. The broad The first contingent of 300 brigadistas left "There is another wall we have to tear down:' finding ways and means to travel to Cuba, support Eastern strikers have won from other for Cuba in November 1969. They started a he said, "and that is the criminal U.S. block­ thereby allowing the Cuban reality to reach unions, especially the Pittston Coal miners in tradition ofbuilding solidarity with the Cuban ade of Cuba." the people of the United States." Appalachia, has made it possible to last this revolution through which 5,000 people have He urged everyone in the audience "to join The Cuban people are determined "to long, he stressed, adding that the Boeing defied travel restrictions and gone to Cuba us on the 21st contingent, and join with us to maintain socialism and a society without workers • decision to fight had been a boost with the brigade. end the blockade and travel restrictions." The exploiters and exploited. One of our principal for many Eastern strikers. These exchanges have helped bring the 21st contingent will visit Cuba in Aprill990. achievements is our dignity and sovereignty "We do need more solidarity, and for all truth about the Cuban revolution to millions Nearly one-fourth of the audience had and we do not see relations as a favor the the unions to get together," agreed one young of North Americans. The brigade has also been on a brigade to Cuba, including nine U.S. grants us," he explained. Boeing striker. brought Cubans to the United State'S to speak who were on the first brigade. The Cuban Institute for Solidarity with the and to~. Some of those present had participated in Peoples, the brigade's host in Cuba, sent Flight line The meeting, co-chaired by brigade mem­ the 1989 contingent. "It changed my life," greetings to the meeting as well. A large group of pickets was also out at bers Rosemari Mealy and Cathy Sedwick, said a woman from Albany. ''The truth about An award was given to the mother of the flight line, where the planes are finished, opened with the reading of a message from Cuba is so different from what we hear in the Sandy Pollack, a national leader of the bri­ checked, and tested for several hundred hours Cuban President Fidel Castro. The Cuban United States." She was especially impressed gade who lost her Jife in a 1985 plane crash before being flown away by the customer. leader extended his "cordial congratulations with the attention paid to· the health and while traveling between Cuba and Nicaragua. A long line of unfinished aircraft- des­ and best wishes for the continuing success of education of children in Cuba. Five special awards were given to "orga­ tined for every comer of the globe - stood the beautiful task ofso lidarity with the Cuban Cuban poet Pedro Perez Sarduy, who won nizations and individuals who have made a on the field in silent testimony to the power people." a visa to study at Columbia University in significant contribution toward a better un­ of the strike. The message expressed the "thanks of our New York, read one of his poems. The derstanding between the U.S. and Cuban Before the strike Boeing workers produced people for the fruitful labor done in these 20 Sechaba Singers of the African National Con­ people, and worked for an end to the block­ 27 aircraft a month. The company wants to years by the Venceremos Brigade," espe­ gress of South Africa and Women of the ade." Casa de Las Americas, the Center for boost that figure to 34. cially for maintaining "the line of communi­ Calabash both performed during the pro­ Cuban Studies, the Antonio Maceo Brigade, "I voted to accept the contract," explained cation between the people of Cuba and the gram. the National Lawyers Guild, and musician Tom, a young electrician who works on the people of the United States." Rosemari Mealy introduced Cuban artist Dizzy GiJiespie all received awards.

Nov,ember 24,.1989 The Militant 7 East German crisis shatters country's Communist Party

Continued from front page Bulgarians assembled for the first mass pro­ years and an opponent of Gort>achev's poli­ test in four decades. They shouted "glasnost!" cies, was replaced by Egon Krenz on October and "democracy!" 24. The new Bulgarian Communist Party Krenz immediately made concessions. leader Petar Mladenov embraced demands of loosening travel restrictions and dismissing the fledgling opposition movement and other party leaders. He traveled to Moscow pledged economic changes and political re­ for a meeting with Gorbachev. Afterward forms. He invited opposition figures who Krenz said he was ready to put Gorbachev's were expelled from the party to rejoin and "vanguard experience to use" in East Ger­ promised to "radicalize the press," lifting Hundreds of thousands have demonstrated across East Germany. Members of New many. He later traveled to Poland to meet some resnictions. Forum, an opposition group, march in Leipzig. with leaders of the Solidarity-led government The Washington Post reported that there. Mladenov's supporters have encouraged the Despite these steps, demonstrations con­ opposition to bring out a large crowd at a economy and allowing plant managers more criticized even by his own supporters for tinued and protestors began calling for open demonstration November 18 to support leeway to make decisions along the lines of assuming "absolute power." elections. By November 9 the entire moves by the new Bulgarian leader to "cut profitability. The presidential elections in Hungary in Politbureau had resigned and the govenunent out all the Zhivkov puppets in the Politburo." If managers of a steel plant, for example, January are intended to accomplish the same. was forced to open the border to West Ger­ are permitted greater freedom to organize Far from improving the lives of working many. Sections of the Berlin Wall, built in Tbe last straw production to get more units of steel per hour people and moving toward communism, the 1961, were dismantled, and more than 30 "'The events in East Germany were the of labor than other steel plants, the plant will petty-bourgeois bureaucracies' measures border crossings have been created so far. straw that broke Zhivkov's back," according continue operating and the workers will only accelerate and deepen the current crisis. Hans Modrow, a popular party leader from to a West Ewopean diplomat quoted by the likely get bonuses. Inefficient plants are to Poland's plight begins to expose what the city of Dresden who is known as a vig­ Washington Post. "An apparently strong re­ be closed and unemployment will result with working people in these countries will face. orous supporter of perestroika- and glasnost­ gime, like that one, came apart overnight wider social inequalities among workers. With cuts in government subsidies, prices type policies, was elected the new prime This really got to the Bulgarians." The aim is to use the spur of the market, have increased 107 percent in the third quar­ minister November 13. In Czechoslovakia, where cops dispersed competition among workers, and the threat ter of 1989. Prices on food staples - meat, At a special session of the party's Central thousands of demonstrators with clubs only of unemployment to prod workers to work sugar, flour, and bread -rise almost daily. Committee Krenz made further concessions a few weeks ago, the government announced harder. Production in the crucial food-processing in­ favoring the legalization ofopposition groups November 14 that major restrictions on travel Moreover, the cost of introducing more dustry dropped in August by 23 percent. and mandating open elections. to the West would be lifted. ·high technology into industry is to be paid Pensioners and workers with low ftxed The swift changes in East Germany and for in part by cuts in worlters' social benefits, incomes are finding it impossible to make A minority party now Bulgaria mirror developments in Poland such as state-subsidized food and transporta­ ends meet. Unemployed workers from un­ "We have to think about becoming a mi­ and Hungary since the beginning of the year. tion prices and free health care. profitable enterprises are finding themselves nority party," a CP member told the Central In Poland, the Solidarity trade union orga­ Glasnost, which means "openness," in­ without incomes and ineligible for welfare. Committee. "If events were to provoke the nization outlawed in 1981 was legalized this cludes elections where groups other than the The Polish Red Cross which had previously dissolving of the parliament now and free year and successfully contended in open elec­ dominant Communist Parties can also partic­ operated one soup kitchen in Warsaw, now elections were held immediately, the com­ tions. It established a Solidarity-led coalition ipate. Calls for glasnost use the promise of operates eight. It has set up 21 kitchens in munists would be swept away," another of­ government, the first government not domi­ lifting dictatorial restraints on political activ­ the southern industrial region of Katowice ficial said. nated by the Polish United Workers Party ity to sugarcoat the bitter capitalist pill work­ and plans to have 50 more going by the end Under pressure from the party's member­ (Corrununist Party) in more than 40 years. ing people in the Soviet Union and Eastern of this year. ship, Krenz has called a special party con­ Their credibility destroyed by the inability to Europe are being asked to swallow and to Labor Minister Jacek Kuron, a prominent gress for December 15 to put "really radical stem the growing economic crisis and by . attract more loans and investment from cap­ leader of Solidarity, bas set up an "SOS" reforms" into place as quickly. as possible. previous efforts to suppress the Solidarity., italist countries. charity fund and has appeared on television The congress will have the authority to elect trade unions, Communist Party leaders re­ The real result of these measures is to to appeal for contributions for the growing a new policy-making Central Committee. cently announced their organization would create a strong executive authority or presi­ number of needy who will require help this Diplomats in East Germany said it was not be revamped and dressed up with a new name dency that seemingly has a mandate from the winter. inconceivable that Krenz himself could be and program. "The Polish United Worlters people to more easily carry through anti­ In the midst of this growing poverty, a layer replaced at the congress by a more popular Party has used up its time," the party 's 173 working-class economic proposals. of wealthy speculators and entrepreneurs has leader. . Gorbachev, the Soviet president, has been made great profits supplying scarce goods. Moscow praised the steps taken by the East parliamentary deputies said in an October 28 German leaders. The leadership changes declaration. were a "positive" part of a "renewal of so­ In Hungary, pro-Gorbachev officials cialism" in East Germany and a "movement ousted longtime leader Janos Kadar last year. The creation of two Germanys toward perestroika on their own terms," Their policies include opening Hungary's Gennadi Gerasimov, a Soviet Foreign Min­ borders, establishing a stock market, and istry spokesman, said. proclaiming Hungary a republic where When the German government uncondi­ tion authorities established the German Dem­ . Having taken hold in Poland, Hungary, and "bourgeois democracy and socialist democ­ tionally surrendered on May 8, 1945, bring­ ocratic Republic -East Germany. East Germany, it is apparent that the po1icies racy are expressed equally," and setting mul­ ing World War II to an end in Europe, Ger­ In 1951 the three imperialist powers for­ many was occupied by U.S., British, and of perestroika and glasnost are certain to tiparty elections for January. The Hungarian mally terminated the state of war with Ger­ sweep all of Eastern Europe. government recently signed military cooper­ Soviet military forces and divided into three many. The Soviet Union followed suit in Bulgaria's entrenched leader Todor ation accords with Belgium, the first such zones. 1955. Zhivkov was toppled at the beginning of agreement between a Warsaw Pact country The three military commanders exercised On May 5, 1955, the British, French, and and a member of the North Atlantic Treaty authority in their respective zones and sat November just days after more than 4,000 U.S. governments revoked the occupation Organization. together in the Allied Control Council, acting statutes and established the sovereignty of Marking its disintegration, the Conununist by unanimous vote on questions affecting the FRG. Party repudiated even the pretense of being Germany as a whole. France subsequently Management of West Berlin was turned Sharp rise in number Marxist-Leninist and changed its name to joined the ACC and was given a separate over to local governing bodies, and the city of elderly held Hungarian Socialist Party. The 720,000 zone of occupation. was given nonvoting representation in the members of the CP were asked to sign up Berlin, Germany's principal city, was geo­ FRG parliament. in U.S. prisons with the new party. Almost four weeks later graphically situated in the Soviet zone. But In 1955 the FRG was also permitted to party officials had to admit that at most it was administered as a separate area, which Longer and mandatory sentences are a form its own military forces and joined the 30,000 have joined. Within the ftTSt week was divided into four zones under control of imperialist military alliance, North Atlantic major force behind an increase in ~e number some 4,000 members had registered in the occupation powers. of elderly in U.S. prisons, according to a Treaty Organization. East Germany became Budapest's Ftfth District where most govern­ In the immediate postwar years, Moscow a member of the Soviet-dominated Warsaw report in the summer issue of the Journal of ment functionaries work, while in the rest of stripped its sector of Germany of factories the National Prison Project. Pact. Hungary fewer than that had signed up. and rail and rolling stock, as well as industrial The lower standard of Jiving and the total­ In 1985, 10,563 persons over 55 were goods and livestock, which were transported itarian police-state rule in East Germany incarcerated in state and federal prisons. Bureaucracy's solution to the Soviet Union. The plants, mines, and Three years later that number rose to 12,878. spurred 2 million Germans to emigrate to The perestroika- and glasnost-type poli­ so on that remained were made into state West Germany through Berlin by 1961. In 1987 Aorida confined 1,350 prisoners cies now taking hold in Eastern Europe are property, and a planned economy was estab­ aged 50 and over. Projections put that number the Soviet leadership's answer to the crisis lished. The unpopularity of the Stalinist regime at 3,094 by the year 2000. The number of the privileged bureaucratic strata throughout In 1948 the British, French, and U.S. gov­ in the GDR among worlting people had been inmates aged 56 to 65 in Aorida grew by 56 Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union face ernments united their zones of Germany into exposed and deepened when it called on percent between 1981 and 1987. The general today, without exception. a single capitalist economic unit and insti­ Moscow to use Soviet troops and tanks to prison population increased by 25 percent Underlying the crisis in these states, where tuted a currency reform in what would be­ crush a massive working-class revolt In 1982, 42,451 people convicted of capitalist rule has been overturned and state come West Germany and West Berlin. The throughout East Germany in June 1953. crimes in 42 states and the federal system property forms have been established, are low Soviet government then withdrew from the In August 1961 the Soviet and East Ger­ were sentenced to 20 or more years in prison. labor productivity, inefficiency, low eco­ ACC and imposed a blockade of the western man governments sealed the border between By 1988 the figure had risen to 71,848 in 45 nomic growth, and declining living stan­ sectors of Berlin. East and West Berlin with a wall of concrete states, including 8,569 inmates sentenced to dards. The three imperialist powers carried out and barbed wire stretching for nearly 30 life imprisonment. Perestroika, which means "resttucturing," an 11 -rnonth airlift of food, fuel. and other miles. In 1988 prisoners serving 20 or more years is Gorbachev's proposal to ameliorate this necessities into West Berlin, breaking the In the early 1970s the GDR and the FRG totaled almost half the prisoner population in situation by using capitalist market methods blockade. concluded a number of trade and transit the states of Vrrginia, Tennessee, and Ala­ to organize and motivate working people to In September 1949 the British, French, and agreements, and in 1974 exchanged penna­ bama. In New Jersey in 1979,51 of the state's produce. It involves giving government plan­ U.S. governments set up the Federal Republic nent diplomatic representatives. In 1973 both inmates were sentenced to 10 or more years. ners less say over organizing relations be­ of Germany - West Germany - in their countries were admitted to the United Na­ By 1985, that figure had jumped to 1,645. tween different enterprises and sectors of the zones. A few weeks later, the Soviet occupa- tions with separate seats.

8 The Militant November 24, 1989 Mass outpouring for abortion rights Continued from front page 1be Washington, D.C., action, organized The rallying masses are sending ames­ by more than 130 abortion rights groups, was sage to the politicians and the courts, said called by NOW immediately following the Yard, which is, "Do not overturn Roe v. July 3 Webster decision by the U.S. Supreme Wade and stop dismantling access to abor­ Court upholding restrictions on abortion tion!" rights imposed by the state of Missouri. Yard was referring to the 1973 Supreme July call to battle Court ruling legalizing abortion. She warned of the danger in being pushed back to the Prochoice supporters took the July court days when abortion was illegal. ruling as a battle call and began to mobilize "Before 1973 it was the leading cause of to defend abortion rights. Organizations such maternal death in this country," said Yard. as NOW, National Abortion Rights Action "and today around the world 200,000 women League, and prochoice coalitions throughout the country won increasing support as hun­ dreds of thousands decided to take action to Washington, D.C., keep abortion safe and legal. Prochoice demonstrators were enthusias­ rally tic and confident at the November 12 action, having won some victories since July. overwhelmingly young. Many govenunent officials, or those seek­ ing to be elected to office, took note of the die every year from illegal, botched abor­ overwhelming sentiment in support of abor­ tions. "lbe NOW president promised contin­ tion rights. In several states where officials ued action to defend abortion rights. promised new antiabortion measures after the 1be tens of thousands gathered at the rally July ruling, state legislatures defeated initia­ were overwhelmingly young - college- and tives or decided not to hear arguments for high school- age women. Hundreds of ban­ restrictions at all. Some candidates gauged ners identified the 400 college contingents the mood and adjusted their positions accord­ from 38 states, from the University of Cali­ ingly taking a stronger stand on abortion fornia at Berkeley to Georgia Southern. rights-and were elected. More than 300 students came from Speakers reflect recent elections Wesleyan University in Connecticut, two This was reflected on the speakers plat­ busloads from Michigan State University, form , which included mayor-elect. David and 500 from Wellesley in Massachusetts. Dinkins and comptroller-elect Elizabeth For many it was their first demonstration - Holtzman of New Yort as well as some 20 or second-having been to April9, the last other elected officials, Democrats as well as national abortion rights march. Republicans. "I care a lot about this issue and decided A roar of approval greeted Ron Silver, a to get involved/' said one student from Ohio Member of garment workers' union at Washington, D.C., abortion rights rally. Along representative of the Hollywood Women's Wesleyan who was getting her sign ready for with the D.-GWU, teachers' and miners' unions were among those endorsing. Striking Political Committee, when he said, "A the rally. This was her first demonstration, Eastern Airlines workers from three cities staffed an information table during action. woman's body belongs to her alone-not to and she came with 56 fellow students. the United States of America or any govern­ Student e.ft'orts blocked ment on the face of this earth." A busload of prochoice activists from To­ of America, International Ladies' Garment As thousands demonstrated in Washing­ Organizations of students working with ronto, along with a handful from Montreal, Workers' Union, and Communications ton, D.C., supporters of abortion rights held prochoice groups on campuses helped build came down for the action. Workers of America District I. marches and rallies in cities around the coun­ the rally. However, at a few schools in Wash­ Participants carried hand-lettered signs de­ Six members of the International Associ­ try. ington, D.C., authorities blocked efforts to claring "Abortion rights for rich and poor," ation of Machinists on strike against Boeing • Some 2,000 prochoice supporters held educate and organize for the action. Catholic "My body, my choice," and "President Bush came from Portland, Oregon, and Seattle. a dawn candlelight vigil at a church a few University canceled a slated talk by Yard, and -you mind your body and I'll mind mine." "You know what we say-No money, no miles from President George Bush's summer ~etown University campus official~ f~r­ Thousands wore prochoice butrQns, .T-sh~ . planes!" said two strikers carrying union home in Kennebunkport. bade editors of the Hoya from running an ad and sweatshirts. NOW volunteers staffed ta­ signs. • In Milwaukee more than 100 support­ for the November 12 rally. ln response, the bles with abortion rights materials. Machinists on strike against Eastern Air­ ers of abortion rights held a "back alley" editors suspended publication. lines set up a table at the rally and handed Union bac.king protest drawing attention to unsafe condi­ At the rally Georgetown students said the out literature on their fight. Strikers were tions that were the norm when abortion other student newspaper on campus, the Some 150 members of the National Edu­ present from New York, Philadelphia, and was illegal. Voice also suspended publication in protest. cation Association made up one ofthe largest Washington, D.C. • Some 5,000 gathered in Jefferson City, Students say the two papers ~ill stay shut union contingents present. NEA member "Many people have come by and we've Missouri, on the steps of the state capitol. down until campus officials back off. Will Luna works with the union's Human sold a lot of buttons," said Arnold, who is on Speakers pledged to fight the restrictions on High school students from as far away as and Civil Rights Division, which organized strike at New York's La Guardia Airport .. He abortion imposed when the Supreme Court Minnesota attended the rally. Special empha­ the panicipation. "Sixty-seven percent of our explained many didn't know about the East­ upheld the Webster case. sis was placed on getting high school students union is made up of women and we have all em strike or that it was still on. Arnold was • Spirits were high in Los Angeles as to the action from Chicago said Jan, an ac­ got to take a stand for their right to choose," also at the April 9 abortion rights rally. 30,000 demonstrators squeezed shoulder to tivist with the Emergency Clinic Defense he said. Luna helped organize NEA partici­ A handful of striking UMWA coal miners shoulder at a Rancho Park rally. The crowd Coalition there. "We told people that a lot of pation in the October march in support of were present too. was predominantly young, and speakers in­ teenagers wanted to come and asked them to housing for the homeless and the National Jeff, a worker in a VIrginia power plant, cluded a host of Hollywood celebrities and give money to help." Association for Colored People's march in decided to come to Washington, D.C., after Democratic Party politicians. Richard Drey­ In all, 15 high school students from Chi­ August to demand affmnative action. attending a local prochoice rally. "It's really fuss and Barbara Streisand joined Jesse Jack­ cago made the trip, and 21 students came The NEA was a national endorser of No­ violence against women to not have the right son and numerous state govenunent officials. from Lake Forest College. Eight to I0 buses vember 12, along with some 15 other trade to abortion," he said. This was the first big High school student Sonia Slutsky spoke on from Chicago made it to the rally. unions including the United Mine Workers demonstration he had been to. behalf of the Los Angeles Student Coalition. • Some 3.000 marched and rallied in Port­ land, Oregon, organized by a local prochoice coalition. Elsewhere in Oregon I ,000 rallied Young socialist open house draws crowd in Ashland, 500 in Salem, and 500 in Eugene. • Abortion rights supporters numbering BY MEG HALL they supported the November 12 action. 6,000 rallied at the University of Washington WASHINGTON, D.C. -An enthusiastic Dick McBride, Socialist Workers Party in Seattle. Mayor-elect Norman Rice spoke crowd of more than 200 people from around candidate for U.S. Senate from West VIrginia, along with former New York congresswoman the country attended an open house spon­ also spoke. He pointed out that attacks on the BellaAbzug. sored by the Socialist Workers Party and 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing • A Texas rally for choice drew some Young Socialist Alliance here November 12. abortion are part of the offensive by the 20,000 to Austin, the state capital. Six buses The event was held at George Washington capitalist rulers against the rights and living from Houston rolled in along with more than University as the abortion rights rally at the standards of all working people. l 0 from Dallas and cars from every corner Lincoln Memorial was winding down. Union battles have begun heating up, Mc­ of the state. Faye Wattleton, president of YSA National Secretary Heather Randle Bride said, indicating that more workers are Planned Parenthood, spoke along with poli­ welcomed everyone and opened the informal willing to fight against concessions and other ticians and celebrities. program. attacks, including those on abortion rights. November 12 was marked by rallies de­ In the fight to defend and extend abortion His coworkers at the K.rogers Supermarket fending a woman's right to abortion around rights, Randle said, young people and other in Morgantown were pleased with his deci­ the world, reported Maria Jose Ragab, direc­ prochoice activists can depend only on them­ sion to run against Sen. John D. Rockefeller, tor of NOW's International Affairs Depart­ selves. Abortion rights supporters need to he said. ment, in a telephone interview. explain that the issue is a political one that Other speakers were Nan Bailey from the For the fU"St time, an action for abortion goes to the heart of the fight for women to Mark Curtis Defense Committee in Des rights was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. as participate fully and equally in every aspect Moines, Iowa, and Beverly Bernardo from 200 picketed in front of the capitol. of society. Montreal. Bernardo, an activist in the Amal­ Major cities in Australia, including Sydney The struggle for abortion rights has been gamated Clothing and Textile Workers and Melbourne; Tel Aviv, Israel; Warsaw, led largely by youth, Randle stressed, adding Union, reported that a busload of abortion Poland; Paris; Stockholm, Sweden; Welling­ that unions are playing an increasingly im­ rights supporters had come down from Can­ ton, New Zealand; and Sao Paulo, Brazil, portant role in the fight. ada to participate in the November 12 mobi­ were all sites of abortion rights actions. All Militant/ Yvonne Hayes Two Machinists union members-Mario lization. were organized in solidarity with the U.S. YSA National Secretary Heather Randle Zayas, on strike at Eastern Airlines in New A young student from the Washington, mobilization, but many also included de­ welcomed activists to discussion after York, and striker Antoinette Gainer from D.C., area decided to join the YSA at the mands aimed at the governments in their own Washington, D.C. , rally. Boeing in Portland, Oregon, explained why open house. countries for the right to abortion.

November 24, 1989 The Militant 9 Sales at abortion rights actions take drive over the top BY JON HILLSON "1 was surprised by how many people WASHINGTON, D.C. - Spurred by knew about the mural," said Shirley Peiia, sales of nearly 500 subscriptions to the Mili­ who staffed one of the displays. Young ac­ tant,Perspectiva Mundial, and other socialist tivists took leaflets describing the mural, said periodicals at abortion rights rallies across the they •d been following its progress, and United States. the international circulation bought $80 worth ofphoto s of various figures drive to win 9,000 new readers went over the on the wall. The most popular photo was of top November 12, capping a nine-week effort. Nicaraguan national hero Augusto Cesar In Washington, D.C., a college student Sandino. who participated in the abortion rights mo­ Hundreds of the youthful demonstrators bilization walked up to one of the 20 portable took home a copy of the attractive new bro­ Pathfinder literature tables that dotted the chure being distributed by the Young Social­ protest site. "My girlfriend couldn't come, ist Alliance. but she'd really like that," he said, pointing Distributors sold an average ofhalf a dozen Militant/Arthur Hughes to the likeness of Cuban revolutionary leader subscriptions at the portable tables, the big Militant distributors sold more than 400 subscriptions to participants in the rally to Ernesto Che Guevara that adorned the T-shirt, majority to marchers under 21. defend abortion rights November 12 in Washington, D.C. Dozens more were sold at "and a subscription to that newspaper," the They were like the 18-year-old student actions across the country. Militant. who came from the University of Georgia in "He bought two shirts and a couple of a van because, as she explained, "I believe subscriptions," explained Joanne Kuniansky, in pro-choice and wanted to see what it was who was st.affing the table. The incident was all about." . Final subscription drive scoreboard not unusual. Altogether, the team from Pins­ These youth wanted to learn more about Perspectlva Lutte burgh sold 16 subscriptions, most of them as the independence struggle in Namibia, the part of an offer that included the shirts. But, DRIVE GOALS Militant New lnt'l Muildlal ouvrlere shake-up in the Soviet Union and Eastern .ub.crlptloM .mt1Je coplea .uiMCI'Iflll- ~ she said, "people got the subs because they Europe, and what's happening in CUba. A TotalS- % wanted them." Areas Goal Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold Goal Sold distributor noted that one new subscriber old Sold "wanted to know why the Militant didn 't Bought copies at April 9 action have anything this week on East Germany UNITED STATES Many of those who bought 31 subscrip­ and got a sub when l explained that the Austin, Minn: 102 169 166% 75 133 10 17 15 17 2 2 tions from the Detroit Pathfinder table had Detroit' 260 357 137% 207 . 303 30 29 18 21 5 4 Militant has had coverage and will have more Cleveland 105 141 134% 75 109 18 20 10 10 2 2 "already seen the Militant," Mark Friedman coverage on events there." Kansas City 117 154 132% 80 116 20 20 15 15 2 3 noted. "A lot of them said they'd bought Jaime, a new member of the Young So­ St. Louis' 200 259 129% 165 217 25 31 7 8 3 3 single copies on April 9," at the massive cialist Alliance from New York, had never abortion rights march and rally in Washing­ Greensboro, NC' 120 147 123% 95 113 '15 22 8 10 2 2 been to a national demonstration before. He Milwaukee 123 147 120% 85 119 15 14 20 12 3 2 ton, D.C., last spring, "and hadn't seen it since donned an apron, and, working the crowd, Price. Utah 52 62 119% 35 40 8 13 8 8 1 1 then and wanted to buy subs." sold 15 buttons and several copies of the Salt Lake City 137 162 118% 100 108 20 33 15 20 2 1 Distributors at the two big main tables sold Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. "It was a Miami 300 337 112% 180 183 40 62 50 51 30 41 120 subscriptions and over $600 in literature beautiful experience," he said Los Angeles 510 571 112% 285 332 90 95 130 143 5 1 to a steady flow ofdemonstrators. Many were Altogether, distributors sold 394 subscriP­ Houston 227 254 112% 150 186 30 27 45 37 2 4 attracted by a prominent display of the six­ tions to the Militant, nine to Perspectiva Pittsburgh' 200 223 111% 155 176 30 35 10 10 5 2 story mural of heroes and leaders of the Mundial, one to Lutte ouvriere and 14 copies Portland, Ore. 195 217 111% 150 175 20 21 20 18 5 3 international revolutionary movement that of New International at the Washington rally. Omaha, Neb: 137 152 111% 100 113 20 22 15 16 2 1 covers the south wall of the Pathfinder Build­ Dozens more were sold at prochoice demon­ Newark, NJ 490 543 111% 250 308 95 136 95 75 50 24 ing in New York City. strations across the country. Baltimore• 205 225 11 0% 165 176 25 30 10 14 5 5 Washington, DC' 205 225 110% 140 157 25 27 35 36 5 5 Morgantown, WV 137 150 109% 100 125 25 22 10 3 2 0 Subscription team in coalfields Brooklyn 410 448 109% 260 261 60 76 65 80 25 31 Phoenix n 84 109% 45 55 15 14 15 15 2 0 Binningham, Ala 1n 190 107% 140 166 25 19 10 4 2 1 wins readers at western mines Seattle 138 148 107% 95 104 20 21 20 23 3 0 Boston 250 268 107% 160 177 35 35 40 40 15 16 BY STEVE MARSHALL Three hours west near Kayenta, Arizona, Des Moines, Iowa 225 240 107% 170 178 25 26 25 31 5 5 three HAYDEN, Colo. - For the next stretches Black Mesa-named for the dark Chicago 360 382 106% 225 261 50 57 75 58 10 6 months.some 62 houses, trailers, union halls, bituminous coal under its surface of dust and San Francisco 240 253 105% 165 180 35 32 35 41 5 0 and cafes across two vast western coalfields shrubs. Peabody Coal's Black Mesa Com­ Oakland, Calif. 200 208 104% 125 137 30 31 40 36 5 4 will receive the Militant each week. In late plex includes the Kayenta and Black Mesa Twin Cities. Minn. 320 326 102% 250 260 35 40 30 23 5 3 October, for two weeks and 4,000 miles, a strip mines. New York 665 674 101% 330 382 150 125 150 150 35 17 "western coal subscription team" hit the road The Militant subscription team got a Philadelphia 225 228 101% 155 159 30 30 35 38 5 1 with the socialist newspaper. They discussed Charleston, WV 112 113 101% 90 90 15 16 5 7 2 0 politics with some of the workers who dig friendly welcome, some lessons in Navajo, and 15 subscriptions from miners at the Pea­ Atlanta 210 211 100% 155 143 30 42 20 21 5 5 millions of tons of coal each year from the National teams - 96 - 96 . . . . body complex. Quite a few signed up at the - deep underground pits and enormous surface Binghamton, NY' 45 46 36 41 3 2 4 2 2 1 mines west of the Rocky Mountains. Yumbo Kitchen cafe and an adjacent trailer 102% park at the foot of the mesa. Cincinnati 10 13 130% 10 12 - 1 - Beside the shimmering heat of a New Denver 20 22 110% 10 12 - - 10 10 Mexico desert highway, in the predawn frost At the headquarters of three UMWA locals Louisville, Ky. 8 8 100% 8 8 . . . - of an Arizona mesa, and among the snow­ in Kayenta stands a big ''Solidarity" bulletin Other U.S. 50 63 126% 40 54 5 2 5 7 - covered rocks of Colorado mountainsides, board with news and pictures from the U.S. TOTAL 7,564 8,516 113% 5,061 5,965 1,124 1,244 1,120 1,111 259 196 dozens of coal miners looked through the Pittston miners' strike. AUSTRALIA 60 51 85% 35 28 6 4 17 17 2 2 Militant and signed up for 12-week subscrip­ Colorado miners BRITAIN tions. South Wales 62 80 129% 40 56 10 17 10 4 2 3 They liked the paper's support of strikes On the western slope of the Rocky Moun­ London 165 202 122% 105 117 30 53 25 30 5 2 at Pittston, Eastern, and Boeing-and wel­ tains, 800 miles away, Colorado UMWA -South Yorks 107 119 111% 70 72 25 32 10 12 2 3 comed its linkage of these fights with other members know the Navajo coal miners. Manchester 74 81 109% 50 53 18 20 5 6 1 2 struggles of working people. "They won our strike for us," was a comment Other Britain 30 - - 26 - . 4 - - United Mine Workers of America mem­ the Militant team heard several times. BRITAIN TOTAL '408 512 125% 265 324 83 122 50 56 10 10 bers fought rough contract battles across the Nineteen UMWA members in three large CANADA western coalfields three years ago. Colorado mines took out subscriptions, as did Vancouver 145 156 108% 100 102 20 21 20 26 5 7 Montreal 230 234 102% 90 77 40 47 40 59 60 51 They are now preparing for the expiration a couple of cafes in mining towns. Toronto' 290 281 97% 180 180 40 41 55 48 15 12 of those agreements in 1990 and 1991. Most Miners at Peabody's Seneca mine near Other Canada 14 - 12 . . 1 . 1 expect the coal companies to demand con­ Hayden bought seven subscriptions, includ­ CANADA TOTAL 665 685 103% 370 371 100 109 115 134 80 71 cessions; some anticipate union-busting as­ ing one for a year. Three drivers for Western FRANCE 40 60 150% 5 9 5 16 10 14 20 21 saults, especially at the mines where the Coal Hauling, who move coal from the mine ICELAND* 32 36 113% 25 29 3 3 3 3 1 1 UMWA is weakest. to a nearby power plant and are members of NEW ZEALAND "Naalnishi 'aseezf binaaltsoos ... union." the same UMWA local, signed up as well. Wellington 86 116 135% 70 88 12 25 3 2 1 1 That's close to "a working-class, prounion A couple of miners wouldn 't subscribe Christchurch n 89 116% 60 67 10 16 5 5 2 1 newspaper" - in Navajo, a language that because they "read it every week in the Auckland 162 175 108% 120 132 30 31 10 11 2 1 bas no words for concepts of property own­ bathhouse." Every week? Had they mistaken N. Z. TOTAL 325 380 117% 250 287 52 72 18 18 5 3 ership. the Militant for another publication? "No, SWEDEN 66 73 111% 35 38 5 5 25 29 1 1 Some 900 miners -several dozen whites that's the one- the socialist paper." PUERTO RICO 35 26 74% 7 1 2 0 25 25 1 0 and Hopis, the rest Navajos -dig coal at Five miners at Cypress' Empire Mine near lnt'l teams 205 128 62% 100 95 25 14 75 15 5 4 three mines on the Navajo Nation, which Craig signed up, but one got a refund because Other int'l 34 - 16 . 18 . covers parts of four states. he had mistakenly thought the Militant team TOTAL 9,400 10,501 117% 6.153 7.163 1,405 1,589 1,458 1,440 384 309 Oil was raising money for the Pittston miners. Chevron owns the open-pit McKinley DRIVE GOALS 9,000 5,800 1,400 1.400 400 Mine near Gallup, New Mexico. Of the 360 And four miners at Deseret 's Deserado Mine miners who work there, 15 subscribed and near Rangeley - a big surface and under­ 'Raised goal during drive nearly 100 bought single copies ground operation - subscribed.

10 The Militant November 24, 1989 2,000 welcome Guildford Four to Ireland

BYJONATHANSaBERMAN a prison officer "who was one of 14 acquitted were six men in Birmingham, in Guildford Paul Boateng on the TV program "Question LONDON- More than 2,000 people ral­ in 1976 of beating up the Birmingham Six there's four, that were picked up and tonured Time" screened on the day of the anniversary. lied outside the General Post Office in Dublin has admitted his guilt for the frrst time." and framed by the law. And the filth got Boateng challenged government minister November 4 to welcome the Guildford Four The unnamed officer explained that he saw promotion, but they're still doing time, for Linda Chalker on the same program if she home to Ireland. On the platform were two five of the six men naked soon after their being Irish in the wrong place and at the thought that a government ban that censored of the four- Paul Hill and Gerard Conlon arrival on remand at Winson Green jail in wrong time." this song should be maintained in the light - Hill's uncle, Erol Smalley, and British Birmingham. "As he joined a renewed as­ These verses were quoted by Labour MP of the release of the Guildford Four. Labour Member of Parliament Jeremy sault, he saw that they bore marks of earlier Corbyn. While in Dublin, Hill and Conlon injuries, sustained in the custody of the police met with Irish Prime Minister Charles to whom they had confessed. . . . He first Haughey. spoke about the men's previous injuries to an The Guildford Four were released in Oc­ internal prison inquiry in 1974. He repeated tober after serving 14 years on a frame-up his allegation in a statement to Devon and charge of bombing a pub frequented by Brit­ Cornwall police during inquiries initiated by ish soldiers in the town of Guildford, En­ [British Home Secretary Douglas] Hurd be­ GREG McCARTAN gland. The four, supponers of the struggle for fore the 1987 appeal." The timing of the Irish freedom, were convicted in 1975 on the injuries is important because it confirms that Pathfinder, located in New York Caner said he found in the Pathfinder basis of forced confessions extracted by the they were inflicted by police engaged in with distributors in Australia, Britain, book how "Malcolm lived by a vision." police. A massive international campaign questioning, in addition to subsequent beat­ Canada, and New Zealand, publishes He taught us "to understand how our over many years led to a government decision ings by prison wardens. the works of working-class and com­ problems have to be understood globally. in October to ovenurn their convictions. The unnamed officer's admission con­ munist leaders who have made central He helped us understand bow the system Each of the speakers at the Dublin cele­ firms evidence that was presented in coun in contributions to the forward march of operates. Once you understand the bration called for the release of the Birming­ the original 1974 trial that the injuries pre­ humanity against exploitation and op­ global," Carter emphasized, "you can ham Six, the main theme of the rally, and dated their arrival in Winson Green; and that pression. handle the local." argued that by campaigning their freedom of the senior forensic consultant at the trial Pathfinder bookstores are located in A professor of Afro-American studies could be won. of the 14 officers in 1976. 44 cities in seven countries. The ad­ at WVU, Wilben Jenkins, also spoke at The demand for freeing the Birmingham dresses of the bookstores are listed on the meeting. Caner and Jenkins, reports Six has been fueled by the Guildford deci­ Impact of Guildford Four release page 12. Bernie Senter, both plan to use the book sion. In an interview with the London mag­ The revelations concerning the Birming­ in their college courses next semester. ~ Meetings this season to discuss books azine City Limits, Paul Hill said, "We hope ham Six are the most spectacular of the Another meeting on the book was held we have breached the wall and that the Bir­ consequences following the Guildford Four recently published by Pathfinder are tak­ ing place around the world. at Howard University in Washington, mingham Six will come through the hole. At release. D.C. The meeting was cosponsored by a. the moment, Pathfinder bookstores are sponsoring it's damage control [by the Not a day has passed here since the release number of student organizations and British government]-it's everybody's duty events such as the one held in Oakland, of the four without some newspaper or media drew200. to ensure that they don't shore up the hole in California, October 22. Sixty people at­ program reponing on miscarriages of British The Philadelphia Pathfinder bookstore the wall, so we can ensure that the Birming­ tended the meeting to hear a panel pre­ justice or commenting on the implications of hosted a discussion on In Defense of So­ ham Six will eventually emerge. Then, per­ sentation and hold a discussion on Mal­ the case. The director of public prosecutions colm X: The Last Speeches, repons cialism. The book contains fouT speeches haps, we can finally smash the wall once and has asked the High Coun to reopen a case for all." Margaret Jayko. given by Cuban President Fidel Castro in against police officers accused of conspiracy December of 1988 and January of 1989 Convicted in August 1975 of bombing a One panelist, Cecelia Arrington, the to perven the course of justice during the on the occasion of the 30th anniversary pub in the city of Birmingham, the six Irish chair of the Ethnic Studies Department at printers' strike against media billionaire Ru­ Merritt College in Oakland, said, "I have of the Cuban revolution. nationalists -Patrick Hill, Hugh Callaghan, pen Murdoch's Wapping plant in London. A John Walker, Richard Mcllkenny, Gerard learned somuch from these last speeches." The meeting heard Jill Kobelssi from senior appeal court judge, Lord Justice The book, she explained, is "excellent" the Venceremos Brigade and Bob Stan­ Hunter and Billy Power- were, like the Woolf, has raised doubts about contradictions Guildford Four, sentenced to life imprison­ for "getting into the old Malcolm X as ton from the Pathfinder bookstore. between English law and the European Con­ well as the evolved Malcolm X." ment. Demands that their case be reopened vention on Human Rights. A Black prison have been mounting. The book contains six previously un­ • warden has suffered such racial harassment published speeches and interviews of The October 11 New Zealand maga­ Forced confessions from other wardens that he was transferred Malcolm X. The book includes the last zine National Midweek briefly reviewed to another jail from Durham. These cases give The six were convicted on the basis of speech of Malcolm's to appear in print. It In Defense of Socialism, reports Russell a flavor of the degree to which the authority is the first new material by the revolu­ Johnson from Auckland. The reviewer forced confessions while in police custody of the judicial system and police agencies has tionary leader to come out in 18 years. notes that Castro, in defending socialism and on the evidence of a forensic scientist been undermined. who was subsequently fired for incompe­ .Keryl McCord, a director of the Oak­ as the only road forward for the op­ tence. The forensic tests that allegedly re­ On October 19 protests marked the ftrst land Ensemble Theatre, spoke about the pressed, emphasizes the economic and vealed that the six had been handling explo­ anniversary of the British government's evolution of Malcolm's views on the social gains won by the Cuban people sives would have given the same results if broadcasting ban, which targets the Irish re­ civil rights movement and the role of through their revolution, "particularly in they'd been playing cards or using matches. publican organization Sinn Fein and its sup­ women in society. the fields of health care and education, porters. Demonstrations took place in six "Malcolm X gave expression to the The October 29 Sunday Correspondent where its achievements have made it a cities in Britain. thoughts of millions of people," McCord world model." carried an article in which the arresting officer said. Johnson recently returned from the of five of the six said that the six are innocent. A petition backed by three national trade Ad.ramatic reading from the book was Philippines after making arrangements Fred Willoughby, now retired, said that he unions and the National Council for Civil performed by Piri Thomas, poet and au­ for Pathfinder's participation in the an­ was satisfied of this at the time of the original Liberties called for an end to the ban and was thor of Down These Mean Streets. nual Manila International Bookfair. arrests. Speaking of Patrick HiU, Willoughby handed into 10 Downing Street, the prime "Malcolm X was one of the greatest said, "Any question I had, he answered me. minister's residence. leaders of the 20th century. People knew He repons tbat in addition to two es­ He did not seem to have anything to hide." that he wasn't going to sell them out," tablished Pathfinder outlets in the coun­ Willoughby added that the confessions con­ Films and songs banned Todd Twymann noted at a meeting of 50 try, Popular Bookstore and Great Books cern him because of contradictions between Films and pop songs have been victims of in Morgantown, West Virginia. Trading, three university outlets have the confessions and what the forensic expens the broadcasting ban as well as news reports. Twymann is a law student at West been established this year. All three stock told the court. Further confmnation about the One song by an Irish group, the Pogues, was Virginia University and a founder of the a wide range of Pathfinder books and forced character of the confessions came in banned because it took up the cause of the Black Action Committee on the WVU pamphlets. They are now available from the October25 Guardian, which reponed that Guildford Four and Birmingham Six: "There campus. He was joined on the speakers the Sociology Department of the Poly­ platform by Phil Carter, the president of technic University of the Philippines. At the Huntington, West Virginia, chapter of Diliman campus of the University of the the National Association for the Advance­ Philippines Pathfmder titles can be ob­ 'Militant' makes staff changes ment of Colored People. Carter is also a tained from the Third World Studies professor at Marshall University there. Center and the campus bookstore. Susan Apstein has joined the Militant and cess on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast. White Perspectiva Mundial bureau in Managua, plans to get reinvolved in socialist activity Nicaragua, in one of several changes in our and the labor movement in the United States. staff. She will be replacing Judy White. Before going to Managua she had worked as Apstein has been a copyeditor and trans­ an aircraft assembler and was a member of lator for the Militant for the past four years. the United Auto Workers. She joins Seth Galinsky and Larry Seigle, the A textile worker from Greensboro, North other two Militant staff members currently Carolina, Yvonne Hayes, will take Apstein 's assigned in Nicaragua. place on the Militant staff. The Militant has been bringing readers A member of the Amalgamated Clothing on-the-scene reports from Nicaragua since and Textile Workers Union, Hayes was the August 1979, just weeks after the revolution Socjalist Workers Party candidate for mayor triumphed there. of Greensboro in the November 7 election. The coverage for over lO years bas pro­ Staff writer Sam Manuel will be moving vided Militant and Perspectiva Mundial to Washington, D.C., following the Novem­ readers with the most timely, accurate, and ber 19 event in New York to celebrate the direct reports available in the English-lan­ completion of the Pathfinder mural. guage press. Manuel joined the staff in the spring of The bureau's reports over the next several 1987 and has done several extensive report­ months on the election campaign and the ing trips in Africa and the Pacific since then. continued efforts by the Nicaraguan govern­ For the past year and a half Manuel has ment to force the demobilization of the U.S.­ devoted a great deal of time to the Pathfmder backed contras will be an imponant source Mural Project. As project director he organ­ ofnews on the political developments in the ized the work of the dozens of artists and country. supporters who helped make the completion White has been part of the reponing team of the six-story landmark mural possible. Students from the Sociological Society at the Polytechnic University of the Phil­ in the country since the spring of 1988. Her In Washington, Manuel will become active ippines in Manila staff a Pathfinder table during the college's anniversary cele­ articles included co-authoring a special four­ in working-class struggles and continue to brations in October. · part series on the peace and autonomy pro- carry out socialist activi ty~

November 24, 1989 The Militant 11 --CALENDAR------...... ---- ST. LOUIS ---.

ARIZONA and Mary Joe Doyle, members of the 20th NEW YORK Defend Mark Curtis! Phoenix Veqceremos Brigade to Cuba; Charles Manhattan International Rally As a Recession Looms: How Can Workers Katjivirue, Namibian student at Macalester Col­ Elections in Nicaragua. Spe;lkers: Julie Wei­ Fight for Jobs? Speaker: Danny Booher, So­ lege; Dave Miller, Young Socialist Alliance, ner; Dr. Harold Osborn, Nicaraguan Medical for Justice cialist Workers Party, member United Steel­ student at Macalester; Gale ShangoJd, Socialist Aid Campaign; guest representative from Nica­ workers of America Local 3937. Translation to Workers Party, member United Food and Com­ ragua. Sat., Nov. 18, 7 p.m. Casa de las Hear fighters from around the world Spanish. Sun., Nov. 19, 3 p.m. 1809 W Indian mercial Workers Local 9; Henry Zamarron, Americas, 104 W 14 St. Donation: $5. Sponsor: speak out on behalf of Mark Curtis, a School Rd. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant member United Auto Workers Local 2125 and Casa Nicaragua. For more information call union packinghouse worker framed Labor Forum. For more information call (602) civil rights activist. Sun., Nov. 19. Reception (212) 769-4293. up on rape and burglary charges last 6:30 p.m.; program 7 p.m. N Main St. 279-5850. 407112 Exhibit of Cuban Painl;ings. View 40 paintings year in Des Moines, Iowa. He is now Donation: $2. Sponsor: Pathfinder Bookstore. by Cuban artist Aldo Soler and others. Fri., Nov. For more information call (507) 433-3461. in the state prison at Anamosa, Iowa. CALIFORNIA 17; Mon., Nov. 20; Tues., Nov. 21, 5 p.m.- 8 St. Paul p.m. and Sat., Nov. 18, I p.m. -7 p.m. Westbeth Sat., Nov. 25 7:30p.m. Oakland Gallery, 55 Bethune St. Sponsor: Pathfinder The 'War Against Drugs.' Speaker: Diane Discussion of In Defense ofSocialism by Fidel She.raton-St. Louis Hotel Castro. A panel of speakers on the recently Mural Project. For more information, call (212) Wang, Socialist Workers Party. Translation to 675-6740. West Ballroom Spanish. Sat., Nov. 18, 7 p.m. 3702 Telegraph published Pathfinder book. Sat., Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. 508 N Snelling Ave. Donation: $2. Spon­ Palestine: Healing the Wounds of Occupa­ 910 N. 7th Street Ave., Donation: $3. Sponsor: Mmtant Labor tion. Benefit concert for Palestinian medical aid. Forum. For more information call (415) 420- sor: Militant Forum. For more information call (next to Convention Center) (612) 644-6325. Music by Roy Brown, Human Condition, Toshi 1165. Reagon, AI-Watan. Wed., Dec. 6, 7:30p.m. The Why the Palesti.nian People Fight. A panel Donation: $5.00. For more informa­ discussion on the West Bank and Ga.za uprising. Triplex, Theatre 1, Borough of Manhattan Com­ munity College, 199 Chambers St. Donation: tion call Mark Curtis Defense Com­ IOWA SaL, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m. 508 N Snelling Ave. mittee in Des Moines (515) 246- Des Moines Donation: $2. Sponsor: Militant Forum. For $10 to $50. Sponsor: Palestine Solidarity Com­ more information call (612) 644-6325. mittee, Arab Club of BMCC. For more informa­ 1695. In St. Louis call (618) Celebrate the publication of In Defense of tion call (212) 964-7299. SoeUUism by Fidel Castro. Speakers: Adelheid 452-0089 or (314) 361-0250. Butkus, South West Africa People's Organisa­ tion; Edna Griffin, Des Moines civil rights activ­ MISSOURI NORTH CAROLINA ist; Hector Marroqufn, Pathfmder Bookstore. St. Louis Greensboro Sheffield Sat., Nov. 18, 7:30p.m. 2105Forest Ave. Dona­ Tbe New Rise ln Labor Militancy. Panel dis­ Celebrate the .Pathfinder Mural. See new Crisis in Eastern Europe. Wed., Nov. 22,7:30 tion: $3. Sponsor: Pathfinder Bookstore. For cussion on the Eastern Airlines, Pittston Coal, mural video, meet local artists, and hear from p.m. 2A Waverley House, 10 Joiner St. Dona­ more information call (515) 246-8249. and Boeing strikes. 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Sponsor: Path­ Mine Workers of America member and Pittston Introducing tbe Pathfmder Mural. Featuring Toronto the new mural video, speakers, poetry. Sat., finder Bookstore. For more information call Hands Off Panama. Speaker: Tom Leys, striker; Nathan Head, United Auto Workers (801) 355-1124. Civil Rights Committee; Andrew Pulley, Path­ Nov. 18,7 p.m. 140 S 40th St. Sponsor: Militant Young Socialists. Sat., Nov. 18, 7:30p.m. 410 finder Bookstore; Peter Mahlangu, African Na­ Labor Forum. For more information call (402) Adelaide St. W, Suite 400. Donation: $3. Spon­ tional Congress of South Africa. Sun., Nov. 19, 553-0245. WEST VIRGINIA sor: Militant Labor Forum. For more informa­ 4 p.m. Museum of African American History, Charleston tion call (416) 861-1399. 301 Frederick Douglass Blvd. Sponsor: Path­ Response to the South AfricGn Escalation. NEW JERSEY The Pathfmder Mural. Video presentation on Showing of Cuban-made documentary video on finder Bookstore. For more information call mural in New York that features portraits of (313) 831-1177. Newark the defeat of South African troops in Angola. The Roots or Women' s Oppression. Speaker: revolutionary leaders whose writings are pub­ Sat., Nov. 25, 7 p.m. 410 Adelaide St. W, Suite Andrea Morell, Socialist Workers Party Na­ lished by Pathfinder Press. Sat., Nov. 18,7 p.m. 400. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor MINNESOTA tional Committee. Sat., Nov. 18, 7:30p.m. 141 116 McFarland St. Donation: $2. Sponsor: Mili­ Forum. For more information call (416) 861- Austin Halsey St., 2nd floor. Donation: $3. Sponsor: ' tant Labor Fo~m . For more information call 1399. Celebrate Pathfinder's In Defense of SQCial· Militant Labor Forum. For more information (304) 345-3040. ism by Fidel Castro. Speakers: David Carey call (201) 643-3341. Vancouver Morgantown Celebrate Ope.ning of Pathfinder Books. Pathfinder Mural Project Benefit. Music by Speaker: Michel Prairie, editor of Lutte Carla Daruda, Ed Cabbell, Rose Robards, Steve ouvriere. Video presentation on the Pathfinder Namibians celebrate election victory Thompson and Cindy Taapken; poetry by Mural Project. Sat., Nov. 18, 3 p.m. 1053 Cosmo Pieterse, exiled South African. Sat., Kingsway, Suite 102. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Nov. 18. Reception 7 p.m.; program 8 p.m.; Pathfmder Books. For more information call Continued from Page 13 after the elections which will "put an end to music and poetry 9 p.m. John Henry Blues Soci­ (604) 872-8343. and Ahtisaari "immediately correct the situ­ the last 106 years of colonialism. imperial­ ety, 227 Spruce St. Donation: $5. Sponsor: Path­ ation against victimizations, harassment, ism, and foreign domination and exploitation finder Bookstore. For more information call smear campaigns, and dismissals of workers" of Namibia" (304) 296"0055. SWEDEN plaguing the voting process. He paid tribute to all those who died fight­ Stockholm Tile November 10 issue of the Namibian ing for the liberation of Namibia and pledged • The Struggle for Palestine: Two Years of the reported that "workers are being sacked for continuing support for the fight against South 'Intifada.' Eyewitness report and slideshow. taking time off of their jobs to go and vote." African apartheid. "Our freedom would be BRITAIN Speaker: Tony Carlsson. Sat., ~ov. 25, 3 p.m. Some 15 workers were fired from their jobs meaningless unless linked up with the rest of Vikingagatan 10 (T-bana St Eriksplan). Spon­ sor: Militant Labor Forum. For more informa­ in the Windhoek area. ·independent African nations including South London .. After the Guildford Four Victory. Speakers: tion call (08) 31 69 33. In the northern part of the counny leaflets Africa. Paul May, Birmingham Six Campaign; Tony Meeting to Present In Defense ofSocialism by defaming SWAPO were dropped by helicop­ SWAPO leaders elected to the constituent Hunt, member Amalgamated Engineering Fidel Castro. Speakers: Cuban Ambassador ters. Ahtisaari said UNTAG would investi­ assembly include Nujoma. Toivo ja Toivo, Union, supporter Mark Curtis Defence Cam­ Dennys Guzman P~rez, Bengt Hallberg, Daniel gate. Gurirab, Moses Garoeb, administrative sec­ paign; representative of Winchester Three Cam­ HAkansson, others. Sun., Dec. 3, 3:00p.m. Lilla At a rally held before the elections began, retary of SWAPO's political bureau, Hage paign. Fri., Nov. 24, 7:30p.m. 47 The Cut, SE I. Horsii.len, Medborgarhuset (T-bana Medbor­ SWAPO President Sam Nujoma spoke about Geingob, and Hidipo Hamutenya, secretary Donation: £1. Sponsor: New International Fo­ garplatsen). Sponsors: Pathfinder, Sweden­ the responsibilities of the new government 9f information and publicity. rums. 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U . The Militant November 24, 1989 -THE .GREAT SOCIETY------...,....--____,.;.....--- Oh - "We believe in reduction ditions since 1906 when there has accident in four days, a spokesman Palestinians assertedly enjoy the "Kill, rape, pillage, burn." A pro­ of carbon dioxide. But we're not been no right to strike in Britain but said there bad been 64 major acci­ rights of citizenship. The cops said testing U.S. senator said it was prepared to say by what time and a limited immunity, under certain dents this year. A major accident was the songs inflame nationalist pas­ contrary to the corps' "high stan­ by what level.''-William Reilly. conditions, for those who organize defined as a death or accident in sions. dards." U.S. environment official on why strikes."-Employment Secretary which there was more than $1 mil­ Norman Fowler, castigating a pro­ lion damage. Image-makers- Looking to How liberal can you get - "In posed Ewopean Community favor­ brush up the image of its paramilit­ my view, people with homosextaal ing the right to strike and other rights Beg your royal pardon -A ary cops, the Hungarian government tendencies could be enlisted so loag for workers. note in tbe British paper the invited in French Interior Minister as they did not engage in homose&­ Guardian advised: "A picture cap­ Pierre Joxe. He'll provide French ual acts." - Prof. Michael Noone, Class care-Some of San tion which appeared on page 2 of instructors on the right way to han­ former air force judge advocate .. ··. Harry Francisco's snazziest hotels offered the Guardian on November 3 dle truncheons, tear gas, etc., as per­ Ring free rooms to earthquake victims­ should have referred. to the Royal formed by the odious French Face Uft - Your Rolex lookillg but only to those who live in the Bank of Scotland, not the Bank of security riot police. dull? Anew Jersey jeweler wiD passe prosperous Marina district, which Scotland." some diamonds on the dial. $495 to Washington said no to a world was hit by ftre. Even though it was Semper fidelis- A platoon of $775. Same day service. pact to slow down the greenhouse on the house, credit cards were re­ Law 'n order, Israeli style­ marine recruits at Parris Island effect. quired. Israeli cops cracked down on per­ marched behind several posters, Thought for the week-"Ev­ formers who sing Palestinian. na­ including one that showed a naked erybody has to make a living."­ Un-British-"The right to American meaSure- With tional songs at weddings inside woman and a second with a skull Bush on Reagan's $2 million Jap­ strike conflicts with our national tra- five sailors injured in the navy's fifth Israel's pre-1967 borders, where and crossbones and the words, anese honoraria. Salvadoran aircraft strafe, bomb civilian areas Continued from front page . A communique read over the rebels' one who ventures out. At a news conference the same day in another meeting in Caracas, Venezuela, in Radio Venceremos November 14 said the The government stepped up the use of Managua, Nicaragua, FMLN leader November. FMLN had raised "realistic peace perspec­ helicopter gunships and aircraft in an attempt Venancio Salvaterra said, 'The campaign has The FMLN proposals to the government tives" in the negotiations. to dislodge the guerrillas, shooting rockets exceeded our ex.pectations in that there is growing participation of the people" in the during the talks inclu~ a m~;~tual cease-ftre, The government's response, it stated, "was into neighborhoods. The death toll continued to mount, with at offensive. the formation of a single anny, reforms in the one of an escalation of the repression through least 700 civilians wounded, 200 of them He added that the government has pulled constitution, and an end to the erosion of a tortures and assassinations that culminated In land reform program initiated under the pre­ children, by Tuesday, November 14. The troops out of Morazan Province to reinforce the massacre of the FENASTRAS workers." anny said 101 soldiers and 299 rebels had troops in San Miguel and the capital. · vious regime of Jose Napole6n Duarte. Guillermo Rojas, a leader of the trade died in the fighting. The FMLN called on the Organization of union federation National Unity of As a step toward ending the war, the In response to the rising number of civilian American States, meeting in Washington, Salvadoran Workers (UNTS), called the sus­ FMLN also proposed the dismissal of 18 wounded, the PMLN held a news conference D.C., to "convene a meeting to discuss the pension of negotiations "logical" given that senior commanders of the 57 ,000-man armed cease-fire in El Salvador." the government has "declared war on the in a community housing complex in the cap­ forces. ital and proposed a temporary cease-fire to At the OAS meeting, Nicaragua's foreign In the October meeting the government Salvadoran people by ordering attacks on minister, Miguel d'Escoto offered a resolu­ labor union headquarters." allow relief groups to bring food, water, and demanded the "FMLN and all its support medicine to the population. tion appealing to the Salvadoran government organizations" end all actions "that affect Civilian casualties high A dispatch from El Salvador in the Nica­ to "cease immediately the bombing of the national life in the political, economic, social, civilian population." By Monday, November 13, officials at the raguan daily Barricada November 15 quotes and military areas." two guerrilla commanders in the working­ President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua had main hospitals in San Salvador reported a Such sweeping demands amounted to a class neighborhood of Zacamil in San Salva­ earlier denounced the bombing of the civilian total of 363 wounded civilians. Most of the call for surrender, the rebels pointed out They dor who appealed "to the international com­ population by the Salvadoran government. wounded appeared to have been hit by the told the government they would intensify the munity to intervene immediately to permit He called the actions "genocide against the war if it did "not take the dialogue process military's aerial attacks. This .figure was far higher than those cited wounded civilians to receive medical atten­ people" of El Salvador. seriously." tion." U.S. President George Bush, ignoring the by U.S. Ambassador Walker. Citing the The FMLN stressed that without progress The army, which has not permitted Red mounting civilian toll from the U.S.-trained on human rights abuses by the government, military's figures, Walker put the number of and -supplied anny, said, ''The FMLN in El wounded civilians at 88. Cross units to care for the civilians, rejected and if "the assassins and corrupt members of the proposal as a propaganda ploy and an Salvador, aided and abetted by Nicaragua and The government statistics were so low that the Armed Forces are not purged. there is no effort to resupply rebel forces. the Cuban government, has reverted to sense­ a New Ydtk Times reporter adrnttted the fig­ possibility of democracy." The November 14 Radio Venceremos less bloodshed in gross violation of all the ures "are widely dismissed by independent communique urged the guerrilla forces to agreements reached to promote peace in Cen­ Union offices bombed observers." They put the civilian and anny "increase fighting to secure total control of tral America." casualty figures at three or four times official On October 31 the headquarters of the the country." U.S. Ambassador Walker made U.S. gov­ levels. National Federation of Salvadoran Workers' It also called on the country's "working ernment intentions clear by encouraging the "'There is no way to remove [the guerrillas] Unions (FENASTRAS) was bombed. people to cease their activities as a form of "anny to establish order throughout the city without major civilian casualties," a military Ten members and leaders of FENAS­ the generalization of the struggle." and inflict a nasty defeat" on the rebel forces, TRAS were kiUed in the attack, and 30 more source told the Washington Post. seriously wounded. On November 2 the Although Cristiani claimed on Sunday, FMLN announced that because of the attack November 12, that the "troops will soon have on FENASTRAS it would not attend the definitive control of the situation," the rebels -10AND25 YEARSAGO-- Caracas meeting and suspended the negotia­ maintained control of large areas of the city tions. throughout the week. was jailed at the liscomia camp near Ha­ The FMLN leadership stated, "We must On Tuesday the government extended the THE MILITANT vana. Five days later I was deported; Batista not allow our presence in the dialogue to be curfew to 24 hours a day in six heavily handed me over to the U.S. officials in used to cover up the government's responsi­ populated areas of the city. The curfew in­ Nov. 23, 1979 Puerto Rico. bility for that massacre.'' cludes permission for the army to shoot any- (Four Puerto Rican nationalists impris­ oned for armed attacks on a presidential THE residence and Congress in 1950 and '54 Namibian election victory were released Sept. 10,1979. They were the MILITANT longest-held political prisoners in U.S. his­ l'ubllah..t in the Interest• of the Worl

November 24, 1989 The Militant 13 - EDITORIALS ------Socialism: what is it and where Blood on Washington's hands to learn about it ''The army's got the guns to end it all in a couple of afloat. The CIA has provided training and inteHigence to BY DOUG JENNESS hours. The question is what is an acceptable number of security forces directly involved in death-squad activity. In the past 10 weeks we have signed up more than 7,000 civilian casualties," a senior U.S. advisor to the Salva­ A request for more anns and ammunition after five days new readers of the Militant. Some are attracted by our doran armed forces said this week. of fighting this week was immediately filled by Washing­ coverage of the Eastern Airlines strike, miners' resistance, William Walker, U.S. Ambassador to the country, gave ton. and other labor battles. Others want to read what we have the go-ahead to escalate government violence by saying, The helicopters and airplanes that spew death on work­ to say about the struggles in southern Africa, the revolu­ "I am confident the army can establish order throughout ing-class neighborhoods in San Salvador are paid for by tionary changes in Cuba, the civil war in El Salvador, and ~he city and inflict a nasty defeat" on the rebel movement. the U.S. government. The fact that the U.S. Embassy significant political developments in other parts of the These statements underscore Washington's immediate gives briefmgs every day in San Salvador underscores world. backing for the savage measures taken by the Salvadoran Washington's extensive involvement in Salvadoran af­ Most readers are not only curious about how a socialist government this past week in combating liberation fight­ fairs. newspaper sizes up the political situation in the world ers led by the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. While President George Bush denounces Cuba, Nica­ today, but they also want to learn what socialism is. The U.S.-backed regime has bombarded and machine­ ragua, and the FMLN for reverting "to senseless blood­ It's an obvious question in a world where many promi­ gunned the civilian population in San Salvador, instituted shed" and violating "agreements reached to promote nent socialist figures hail the virtues of capitalism, from a 24-hour curfew in large sections of the city, and de­ peace in Central America," it is the U.S. government that Fran~ois Mitterand, head of state in imperialist France, to clared a nationwide state of emergency. At least 700 civil­ has been pursuing war policies in the region. ians have been wounded, 200 of them children. Congress continues to approve funding for the contra These measures now add to the bloody toll of succes­ mercenary forces against the Nicaraguan government. At­ sive regimes which have attempted to stamp out a deep­ tacks by these forces have killed 736 and injured 1,153 LEARNING ABOUT rooted revolt over the past 10 years: 70,000 killed; I Nicaraguans during a unilateral cease-ftre by the Nicara­ million driven into refugee camps or exile; and countless guan government between March 1988 and October SOCIALISM others maimed, tortured, "disappeared," or jailed. 1989. Behind this struggle lies the gigantic gulf between the Washington has continually used its military, political, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. If these defenders of impoverished working people of El Salvador and a tiny and economic might to try to force the removal of the privilege, who praise the "efficiency" of the capitalist mar­ oligarchy of capitalists and landlords that, together with government of Panama. In a brazen violation of the right ket and oppose working-class struggles, are socialists, then U.S. big businessmen and bankers, dominate the econ­ to sovereignty, U.S. officials were involved in a military why would any militant worker, who wants to fight for a omy. coup attempt in that country last month. better world, want to become a socialist? Some 2 percent of the population controls 60 percent of The U.S. government has consistently tried to block The Militant gives a totally different perspective about the land. About half of the infants born in El Salvador die every peace proposal in the region. This includes a series socialism. We denounce all forms of privilege and exploi­ before their first birthday. Illiteracy runs up to 40 percent of proposals presented by the FMLN prior to the tation and unambiguously state that capitalism can't be in th~ cities, and 60 percent in the countryside. Salvadoran elections last winter and again this fall. fixed up to work in the interests of working people. It is to stop the struggle against these conditions, that Unions, antiwar organizations, and other democratic­ To the contrary, we anticipate that the capitalist system the U.S. ruling families bankroll the repressive regime in minded people everywhere have an obligation to demand will be racked by ever more severe crises that will drasti­ El Salvador and would like to "inflict a nasty defeat" this that Washington cease all backing for the Salvadoran cally worsen conditions for working people and lead to time around Their only concern for the number of civil­ regime and its bloody repression. The state of emergency revolutionary mobilizations. ian deaths is the political costs involved in the murders. should be lifted immediately and the FMLN's proposal to Generally, when someone ftrSt becomes interested in The U.S. government has provided $4 billion dollars the Organization of American States that it immediately learning more about socialism, they want to know the name since 1980, mostly in military aid, to keep the regime organize a cease-fire should be backed. of a book or pamphlet that will explain what it is. But there is no such single work. It can only be learned by studying many writings by socialist activists and by direct experi­ ence in working-class struggles through participation in a communist party. Victory in 10-year disruption case Saying this, however, doesn't mean that useful sugges­ tions for introductory materials to read can't be made. I will Courts and judges have a long history of victimizing SWP to unjustified and damaging interference. recommend three. workers' organizations. But only rarely are they forced to That precedent endangers unions, Black rights organi­ First, is the Communist Manifesto drafted by Karl Marx admit it. ~tions, wpmen's rights groups, and political associations and Frederick Engels in 184 7-48 on behalf of the Commu­ That is just what happened in a Los Angeles courtroom of many kinds. It is an assault on the elbowroom needed nist League, an international association of workers to November 13. Federal Judge Mariana Pfaelzer acknowl­ to carry out union and working-class political activity free which they belonged. This pamphlet, available from Path­ edged that she has allowed an antilabor outfit called the from government intervention. finder for $1.50, describes where the modem working class Workers League to pursue a 10-year harassment lawsuit That is why so many individuals in the labor movement came from and its irrepressible conflict with the capitalist against the Socialist Workers Party. and other organizations signed up as supporters of the exploiters. The suit was flied in 1979 by Alan Gelfand, a Los SWP's fight - and welcomed the victory against The Manifesto explains, 'The modem labourer ... in­ Angeles County lawyer associated with the Workers Gelfand in August. · stead of rising with the progress of industry, sinks deeper League. Pfaelzer now admits that she should have dis­ The new pattern of working-class resistance in the and deeper below the conditions of existence of his own missed Gelfand's case for lack of evidence before it went United States-especially the nationwide struggles this class. He becomes a pauper, and pauperism develops more to trial in 1983. year by Eastern airlines workers, coal miners, telephone rapidly than population and wealth." The capital.ist class This acknowledgment is cause for celebration by sup­ workers, Boeing employees -creates a political atmo­ becomes "unfit to rule because it is incompetent to assure porters of democratic rights. The victory must now be sphere in which further blows can be dealt to the antilabor an existence" to working people. used to tum back the Workers League's ongoing disrup­ activities of the Workers League. This rings true today as millions are devastated in Third tive activities and prepare the labor movement to recog­ Despite its socialist pretensions and claims to back World countries by the consequences of the massive debt nize and combat such antilabor outfits in the future. workers' battles, the Workers League's actions are con­ owed to imperialist bankers, and as the proportion of those The aim of Gelfand's suit is to bolster the Workers vincing growing numbers of working people that its sole living in poverty increases in many advanced capitalist League's slander that the SWP is run by FBI agents. The aim is to disrupt strikes and other struggles for union countries, including the United States. And it will become suit demands that the court remove the "FBI agents" from rights and social justice. even more clear with the next big international depression. the SWP's elected leadership bodies and overturn The result, Marx and Engels wrote, will be that the Today, for example, the Workers League is actively Gelfand's expulsion from the party. "veiled civil war, raging within existing society" will de­ supporting the government frame-up of packinghouse velop to the point where it will break out "into open Gelfand hired a prominent Los Angeles-area law ftrm worker and political activist Mark Curtis, who is currently revolution." The capitalists will be overturned and the to represent him. Paid well for its efforts, this firm joined serving a 25-year sentence on trumped-up rape and bur­ working class will become the new ruling class. in the harassment of the SWP. (Earlier this year, the SWP glary charges in Iowa. As thousands of unionists and This perspective was quite different than that held by _ won an out-of-court settlement enabling it to recover from others have learned about this frame-up and joined in the most "socialists" at the time. In a preface to the Manifesto, Gelfand's lawyers some of the attorneys' fees it had to pay international defense effort, they have had to confront and written more than 40 years later, Engels said, 'The section during the case. This will help deter unscrupulous lawyers reject slanders spread by the Workers League. from seeking to profit off other disruption suits in the of the working class ... which demanded a radical recon­ At the same time, experiences many workers have had future.) struction of society, then called itself Communist." with the Workers League's disruptive and provocative Pfaelzer, too, got into the act. The judge routinely Socialism, he noted, "signifie4 a bourgeois movement, actions in strikes and other struggles have helped them ·granted Gelfand's requests for "pretrial discovery" and communism. a working-class movement. Socialism was . .. better understand why to defend Mark Curtis. refused SWP motions to dismiss the case. After ruling in quite respectable, whereas communism was the very oppo­ favor of the SWP at the trial, she let the case drag on six Organized political and physical disruption of the labor site. And since we were very decidedly of the opinion as more years before issuing a final judgment in August movement wilJ mount in the 1990s, as workers continue early as then that 'the emancipation of the workers must be 1989. to resist attacks on their living standards and job condi­ the act of the working class itself,' we could have no The federal judge now admits this was "a bad mistake." tions. The courts will be used to tie up and bleed workers' hesitations which of the two names we should choose. Nor Gelfand's case "is groundless and always was," she said organizations. Antilabor outfits - forerunners of future has it ever occurred to us since to repudiate it." at the November 13 hearing. fascist movements - will seek to confuse and divide A similar counterposition exists today between pro­ Pfaelzer also denied a motion by Gelfand that would workers, resorting to violence, agent-baiting, and provo­ capitalist socialists who attempt to make capitalism work have gutted the August ruling. He now has 60 days to file cations. better and put off to the Greek calends any prospect of an appeal. The most far-sighted workers need to prepare them­ moving toward socialism, and the socialists like Marx and As a result of Pfaelzer's refusal to throw out the suit at selves and other workers to recognize and combat disrup­ Engels who prefer to be called communists and "who have the start, substantial harm was done to the SWP. The party tion by the government and outfits such as the Workers no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat had to divert enormous leadership time and resources, as League. as a whole," "support every revolutionary movement well as tens of thousands of dollars, to defending itself. Public meetings can help do this. In Los Angeles, for against the existing social and political order of things," and As Pfaelzer acknowledged, the court's actions "drained example, supporters of the defense effort are holding an recognize that the ''emancipation of the workers must be the party treasury." emergency meeting November 21 to celebrate the latest the working class itself." Pfaelzer's admissions underline the stakes in continu­ victory in Pfaelzer's court and to publicize the stakes in For further reading I suggest Socialism: Utopian and ing to mobilize broad opposition to this disruption effort. this fight. Scientific, by Frederick Engels (Pathfinder, $1.95), which Gelfand's suit poses a threat to the right of privacy and Funds are badly needed as well. The Socialist Workers has recently been reprinted in an attractive new edition; and freedom of association. The Workers League is calling on Party must raise thousands of dollars to fight the appeal Socialism on Trial, by James P. Cannon (Pathfmder, $6.95.) the courts to reach in and change the membership deci­ that Gelfand and the Workers League will soon file. The latter is Cannon's courtroom testimony in ~e 1941 sions and elected leadership of a voluntary organization. To get more information and make a contribution, see Smith Act trial of 18 Minneapolis Teamster and Socialist For 10 years, Pfaelzer took up this call and subjected the the article on page 4. Workers Party leaders.

14 The Militant November 24, 1989 Missouri auto workers say no to 10-hour day idea BY JOE ALLOR Had Chrysler been able to implement this proposal, it The company and big-business media in St. Louis are ST. LOUlS-On November l workers at Chrysler's would have set a precedent for the auto industry in North waging a campaign to blame these layoffs on workers at No. 2 Plant in nearby Fenton voted 2,340 to 300 to reject America. Plant No. 2. "Chrysler contract rejected, union denies more a company proposa) to change our work schedule in order The extended workday has already been instituted in a jobs," read one headline in the St. Louis Sun. to boost production of the popular minivan that is built here. few auto plants in Europe. In Antwerp, Belgium, there used Many LocalllO members see this campaign as a move The proposed scheduling change would have resulted in to be two General Motors assembly plants side-by-side. In to pit one group of auto workers against another, and workers union members working lO-hour days, four days a week, order to increase production and cut costs, GM closed one at both plants have been discussing how to respond. Several plant and moved some of the workers into the other facility. union members have written letters to the editors of the Sun They then rescheduled the remaining plant to work on two and Post-Dispatch explaining why it was right to vote no. UNION TALK 10-hour shifts per day, with three teams rotating to keep the Most workers at Plant No. 2 see the resounding no vote plant working 110 hours a week. Now, GM "is getting the as a victory in what promises to be the next round in same output from one plant that it used to get from two," Chrysler's war against the work force. on a rotating schedule that would allow a third production the Wall Street Journal noted. The October 1987 stock market crash, followed by the shift to be added. October 1989 market dive, indicate a serious economic Workers at the plant, who members of United Auto The summary of Chrysler's proposal that was given to are Local llO members sparked a lot of discussion in the plant. downturn is on the way - something many Chrysler work­ Workers Local 110, had voted in August to reopen the ers are aware of. national contract so the company and UAW officials could The company and union officials said the new proposal With a slump already hitting the auto industry - as discuss the idea. would create l 00 to 1,3 00 added jobs in our plant. With a shown by recent plant closings and the begin.niogs of The proposal the company finally carne up with called major downturn in the auto industry looming, the question large-scale layoffs - we can expect further moves by the for union members to work without overtime pay after eight of layoffs is on many auto workers' minds. But most workers auto bosses against the union, as they try to squeeze more hours and to be paid only time-and-a-quarter for Saturdays were not convinced that this proposal would result in any profits from the workers. new jobs in the long run. - not time-and-a-half as currently specified in the contract. As layoffs mount, auto workers will need to join with The proposal also left open the option of working 101;2 or Several leaflets were distributed in the plant explaining other workers to build a movement to demand a shorter 1I hours a day. the need to vote no on the proposal. One, signed by Con­ workweek witft rio loss of pay, in order to create jobs for Workers at the Fenton plant, as at many other Chrysler cerned Members of UAW LocalllO, said, "The mask they the millions out of work. plants, have been on an overtime schedule of nine flours a hide behind is that [the new schedule] will create more jobs. Auto workers and other unionists will also need to deepen day and two or three Saturdays a month since 1984. Al­ Since when does the same corporation which closed Keno­ the fight for affirmati.ve action for workers who are Black, though they are tired of the long working days and six-day sha and 20 other plants during the 1980s care about creating Latino, Asian, and women -those already hit hardest by weeks, this proposal was seen by most union members as jobs? This is the same corporation which refused to adopt the mounting economic ·crisis. Such a movement will help a demand for further concessions by Chrysler. the 35 hour workweek for 40 hours' pay, which would have strengthen the position of the whole working class by Chrysler's proposal was aimed at running the plant 120 created thousands of jobs." unifying in a fight to overcome the unequal treatment hours a week, up from l08, in order tQ tum out as many After the proposed schedule change was rejected, capitalism metes

November 24, 1989 The Militant lS THEMJLITANT Namibians celebrate victory Liberation group wins first elections in former colony

BY SELVA NEBBIA World War I. The apartheid regime bas ruled million, 670,830 Namibians voted. SWAPO WINDHOEK, Namibia, Nov. 15 - ever since. won more than 90 percent of the vote in Chants of "Viva SWAPO, Viva!" and "A In 1966 the United Nations General As­ northern Ovambo where 248,000 people reg­ lura continua!" echoed through the down­ sembly terminated South Africa's mandate istered to vote. This area was the main battle town area as people took to the streets cele­ over Namibia. In 1978 the UN Security zone during the 23-year war between brating the election victory scored by the Council adopted Resolution 435 whose pro­ SWAPO's People's Liberation Army of South West Africa People's Organisation. visions called for a "United Nations Transi­ Namibia (PLAN) and South African troops. With raised fists, leaning out of windows tion Assistance Group (UNTAG)," under the The area borders Angola and is Namibia's of cars, trucks, and buses, bonking horns, authority of the Security Council, "to ensure most populated region. It is the heartland of cheering and waving SWAPO blue, red, and the early independence of Namibia through the Ovambo-speaking people, Namibia's green flags, and dancing in the stre~ts, free and fair elections under the supervision largest ethnic group. Namibians hailed the triumph. and control of the United Nations." It is estimated that 50,000 whites voted in Construction workers and restaurant, shop, lt was not until December 1988, however, the elections, the majority for the DTA. and hotel workers in the area left their job when a treaty was signed by Angola, Cuba, sites and joined the cheering crowds as white and South Africa, that Resolution 435 was UN presence shop owners looked on. set into motion. The treaty resulted from the UNTAG has some 4,300 military person­ "Today we must celebrate our victory," military defeat of Pretoria by the combined nel in Namibia, a police force of 1,400, and said Andimba Toivo ja Toivo, SWAPO gen­ forces of Angola, SWAPO combatants, and a staff of 1,600 to monitor the elections. The eral secretary. He spoke to Namibians gath­ tens of thousands of Cuban internationalist elections themselves have been conducted ered outside the organization's headquarters volunteers early that year. under South Africa's colonial governor, Ad­ shortly after the election results were made ministrator General Louis Pienaar. public. He led the group in chants of "Viva Election process begins Each polling station was under the direc­ Sam Nujoma, president of SWAPO- Viva Ten political parties participated in the tion of an AG representative working with Sam Nujoma, president of the Namibian peo­ elections. Of these, seven received enough the UNTAG staff. Interpreters were on hand ple." votes to have seats in the new assembly. No in most places to translate for the voters, most "Say it loud so they can hear you in Pre­ party received the two-thirds majority needed of whom spoke neither English - spoken by toria," he urged. to adopt a constitution, a requirement set forth most UNTAG personnel-nor Afrikaans, Based on universal adult suffrage, in UN Resolution 435. the officiallang~~e of Namibia. Namibians went to the polls November 7-ll SWAPO received a total of 41 seats in the On November 7 thousands of people lined to elect a constituent assembly that will draft constituent assembly, the South African­ up to vote, many arriving as early as 4 a.m a constitution. SWAPO won more than 57 backed Democratic Turnhalle Alliance got Polls were scheduled to open at 7 a.m., but percent of the vote. 21 seats, and the United Democratic Front of in the Ovambo region most did not open until Namibia received four seats. The Action after 7:30 a.m. Hundreds of Namibians Colony of South Africa Christian National party secured three seats. waited all day under the scorching sun before Namibia, originally called South West Af­ The Federal Convention of Namibia, the they were able to cast a ballot. SWAPO Militant/Sam rica, has been under colonial domination for Namibia National Front, and the National mobilized its forces during the voting period SWAPO President Sam Nujoma was more than a century. Frrst under German rule, Patriotic Front each secured one seat to transport voters to the polling stations. elected to new assembly. the country was awarded to South Africa after Out of an estimated population of 1.5 Continued on Page 13 Unionists framed in West Virginia mine bombing

BY JIM ALTENBERG near the mine's electrical transformers. After a six-week walkout by 44,000 miners use of federal charges. CHARLESTON, W.Va.-Nine union The arrests come at a time when scores of backing the Pittston strikers in June and July, The new laws were frrst used to frame and miners facing charges ranging from conspir­ federal marshals, state troopers, and local federal BATF agents launched an investiga­ imprison Donnie Thornsbury, David acy to bombing mine property pleaded inno­ police are stationed throughout the Appala­ tion into coalfield bombings and acts of arson Thornsbury, Arnold Heightland, and James cent to all charges in a federal court in Blue­ chia coalfields n~ the mine portals, union that supposedly took place over the last two Darryl Smith, four Kentucky miners active field, West Vrrginia, on November 3. halls, and picket lines ofPittston strikers. years. Without presenting any evidence, U.S. in the 1984-85 miners' strike against A.T. Two weeks earlier federal Bureau of Al­ Some 1,700 UMWA miners have been on Attorney .Michael Carey stated that more than Massey Coal. cohol, Tobacco & Firearms (BATF) agents strike against Pittston Coal Group since April 50 such incidents have occurred and that all The four were convicted for the 1985 death and state police arrested the nine, all members 5 in Virginia and West Vrrginia. Pittston min­ were strike-related. of scab coal-hauler Hayes West. They went of the United Mine Workers of America, at ers in Kentucky joined the strike a couple of The charges against the Fayette County to prison for interfering with interstate com­ their homes in Fayette County, West Vrrginia. weeks later. Since the strike began more than miners fall under violations of federal. inter­ merce, a federal offense, and remain in jail Billie Lafferty, Jesse Harvey, Michael 2,000 miners and supporters have been ar­ state commerce laws. These laws were al­ on long sentences. A fifth miner, Paul Smith, Woodson, Darrell Ray Sharp, Alan Ray rested. Union officials and strikers have been tered by the U.S. Congress a few years ago was cleared of the federal charges and im­ Sharp, Raymond Thomas, Russell Delung, thrown in jail. And more than $30 million in to provide a legal basis for broader govern­ mediately charged for murder by the state of and Julian Bryant Wriston were charged with fmes have been levied against the union. ment intervention against unionists with the Kentucky. His trial has not taken place yet. conspiracy in connection with the destruction of a bridge, ventilation system, and coal tipple belonging to Milburn Colliery Co. last sum­ mer. The eight men could get up to five years May be 6 years before parole, Curtis told in prison and $250,000 in fines if convicted of the charges. BYKATEKAKU of correspondence on your behalf, all very tiwar activist; Berta Behrend, Curtis' grand­ The ninth miner, Larry Massey, faces up ANAMOSA, Iowa- In his first parole supportive." She also cited Curtis' good re­ mother; Bob and Nellie Berry, activists in the to l 0 years if convicted on charges of bomb­ hearing since he was jailed last year, a three­ cord. Curtis defense corrunittee; and other support­ ing mine property. On October 27 two more member board here reviewed Mark Curtis' The defense committee had asked a few ers and members of the defense committee. miners, Danny Fout and Douglas Stover, records, but made no motion to parole him. prominent endorsers to write to the board to Curtis in his remarlcs to the board said, ".1 were charged with aiding in the bombings. "The average parole on a 25-year sentence ask for Curtis' parole. Those sending letters will continue to carry out activities and fight The miners were also charged with counts is around six years," one of the board mem­ included: Robert Verdier, honorary president for workers' and minority rights and tight for of making, receiving, and possessing "de­ bers told Curtis when he asked about parole. of the League of the Rights ofMan in France, democratic rights." on behalf· of the organization; Angela structive devices." If convicted on all the When Curtis then asked if he would get Keith and Denise Morris, parents of the charges related to these "devices," they could out before six years, board member Walter Sanbrano, executive director of the Commit­ tee in Solidarity with the People of EL Salva­ alleged victim, addressed the parole board each be jailed for as long as 55 to 80 years Saur stated, "Everything is pointing well for after Curtis left the hearing. Since the begin­ and be fined as much as $2.25 million. you, but after the first year we would be loath dor; William Jewett, chief shop steward, United Food and Commercial Workers union ning of the frame-up, the Workers League, to make any move." an antilabor outfit, has carried out an inter­ Milburn strike Local 431 at Swift/Monfort, where Curtis national disruption campaign against the Cur­ UMWA Local 5948 struck Milburn Col­ Curtis, a packinghouse worker, was sen­ worked; Dan Schmitt, president of American tenced on Nov. 14, 1988, to 25 years for Agriculture Movement of Iowa; Edna Grif­ tis defense committee in their paper, the Bul­ liery in October 1984 after the company letin, by circulating a slanderous Jetter signed refused to sign the national coal contract. The frrst-degree burglary and 10 years for third­ fin, longtime civil rights activist; Annika degree sexual assault. He is serving them Ahnberg, member ofthe Swedish parliament; by Keith Morris that was produced following local has remained on strike since then. In Curtis' conviction. June this year Milburn leased the property to concurrently and has been in prison since his Alfredo Alvarez, chairperson of the Des Mountain Minerals, Inc., which began to conviction on Sept. 14, 1988. Moines Human Rights Commission; Ruth Curtis has recently been moved from Level reopen the mine with nonunion workers. The Mark Curtis Defense Committee, Morris, executive director of the John How­ IV to Level V, which gives him a few more Michael Brooks, president of Mountain which is organizing support for the jailed ard Society of Metropolitan Toronto; and privileges. This includes more visits, and, for Minerals, claimed to have found a bomb unionist, charges that Curtis was framed up. others. the first time since he has been in prison, he consisting of 51 sticks of dynamite and det­ Parole board member Jo Anne Lorence Among the supporters of Curtis attending can make some phone calls to approved onating equipment attached to a power pole said that the board had received a "great deal the hearing were John Tinker, prominent an- persons outside the prison.

16 The Militant November 24, 1989