¡Mantenla en las calles! 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 37 Sept. 10, 2020 $1

100 days of Portland protests Anti-racists defy police, fascist terror

By Joshua Hanks “fugitive task force” raided his home. The Portland, Ore. task force included U.S. Marshals as well as members of the Washington State This city marked 100 consecutive Dept. of Corrections, Lakewood Police days of anti-racist, anti-police protests Department and Pierce County Sheriff’s on Sept. 5. The protests have shifted Department. away from downtown and into North The military-style assault on Reinoehl Portland—​home to police “union” head- stands in sharp contrast to the way police quarters—​and to the Portland Police handle right-wing and fascist shooters Bureau’s East Precinct. and mass murderers. Kyle Rittenhouse Police continue to deploy large quanti- murdered two anti-racist protesters in ties of tear gas and use other iron-fisted Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 25. Dylann Roof tactics that anger residents. They restrict murdered nine people, all Black, in 2015 access to neighborhoods, harass people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal and occupy their lawns without approval Church in Charleston, S.C. Both were and under threat of retaliation. Residents located, taken alive by police, and given report having to wear gas masks in their food and water as they were arrested. Outside Portland Police Association, Sept. 4. homes or relocate to hotels to escape the This leniency is not granted to untold war zone conditions created by police in numbers of Black and Brown youth who their campaign to “stamp out” the protests. commit far less serious crimes—​if any at all—​and who face immediate arrest and Fight the right with Fascist attacks warrants for re-arrest if they miss a court While tear gas and rampant police bru- hearing. tality continue as major problems, pro- united worker action! testers and bystanders alike face another Right-wing disinformation campaign threat: Out-of-town fascist groups are As Portland completed its 100th day of On Aug. 12, 2017, an angry white postponed a decision to extradite staging violent, armed rallies in the city protest in the face of fascist attacks, cor- nationalist participating in a Unite the Rittenhouse to Wisconsin until Sept. 25. center and then driving around looking porate media from coast to coast reported Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., delib- On Aug. 31, Trump suggested that for fights. the date as a “grim milestone” reflecting erately sped his car up and drove into Rittenhouse “did nothing wrong” and Aaron J. Danielson, a member of the the “grim reality” in Portland. unsuspecting counterdemonstrators, “exercised his god-given, constitutional, Vancouver, Wash.-based Patriot Prayer This skewed description fits in with the striking and killing Heather Heyer and common law and statutory law right to group that organizes many of the fascist highly sensationalized, fact-scarce and injuring dozens more. Donald Trump’s self-defense.” rallies, was killed on Aug. 29 after those distorted reporting on anti-racist mass initial response Meanwhile on forces descended on that night’s anti-rac- protests which dominates U.S. media. For was to condemn Aug. 29, heavily ist protest. The man who shot him, instance, photographs of city-sponsored the “display of armed Trump sup- Michael Reinoehl, states in an interview homeless camps, set up after the COVID- hatred, bigotry and porters in hundreds to Vice Media on Sept. 3 that he fired in 19 pandemic began, have been passed violence on many editorial of trucks staged a self-defense because Danielson threat- around in right-wing media as evidence sides.” violent rally in Portland, Ore., driving ened protesters with a knife. Reinoehl of “antifa training camps.” There are now Fast forward to Aug. 25, 2020. their vehicles into counterdemonstrators said: “I could have watched them kill a fears that the people living in these camps, Trump’s 17-year-old supporter Kyle and attacking them with pepper spray, friend of mine of color. But I wasn’t going who are mostly those most vulnerable to Rittenhouse crossed the Illinois state bats and sticks. Activist Michael Forest to do that.” Reinoehl’s social media reveals the virus, will face violence from conspir- line, carrying an AR-15-style rifle, to Reinoehl went to the aid of a friend who his deep involvement in the three months acy-fueled fascist vigilantes seeking to Kenosha, Wis., where he shot and killed was surrounded by pro-Trump protesters. of Portland’s anti-racist, anti-fascist pro- attack anti-fascists. two people and wounded another at a Feeling he was acting in self-defense, tests. (tinyurl.com/y5yauugk) The disinformation flows from the rally for Jacob Blake. Reinoehl confronted and shot Trump On the evening of Sept. 3 Reinoehl was White House on down, with Trump fix- Kenosha police let Rittenhouse walk rally participant Aaron J. Danielson. A killed in a rain of police bullets in Lacey, ating on Portland as an example of away from the shootings. Following nightly presence at Black Lives Matter his peaceful arrest, an Illinois judge Wash., just south of Seattle, when a federal Continued on page 8 Continued on page 10

Battling racism on many fronts Pensacola and Greensboro 2 Kevin Zeese, Sports focus on Black lives 9 ¡presente! 8 Tribute to Chadwick Boseman 9

Labor’s militant rank and file Capitalist ‘gifts’: evictions and hunger 3 Save the people’s post office! 4-5 #DropTheCops 5 Transitioning behind bars A different Labor Day 11 6-7 Remembering ‘Big Black’ and George Jackson Attica and Paris Commune Martinique and Vietnam 11 Another death in Cleveland jail ‘Against the Loveless World’ 11 Page 2 Sept. 10, 2020 workers.org

From Pensacola to Greensboro to Kenosha Fight police brutality! this week Pensacola is occupied Mvskoke/Creek land; Kenosha is and international occupied Peoria/Potawatomi/Miami/Dakota Sioux land. issues linked to the In the U.S. ongoing struggle ◆ Thirty people gathered Aug. 30 at Florida Square in in Kenosha. The Portland anti-racists defy police, fascist terror . . . 1 downtown Pensacola, Fla., in solidarity with the Kenosha upcoming elec- Fight police brutality! ...... 2 Uprising—​the ongoing protest against police brutality tion and the inac- Epidemic of evictions goes viral ...... 3 and anti-Black violence that erupted after the Aug. 23 tion of Democratic police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, candidates Joe Stock market booms, job report hides hunger . . .3 Wis. The demonstration was organized by the new Central Biden and Kamala Justice for Marcus Smith! ...... 2 Gulf Coast branch of Workers World Party. Harris were dis- What postal workers are demanding ...... 4 Several members of Strive (Socialist Trans Initiative) cussed thoroughly, Voting, self-determination and social change ...... 4 spoke, including vice president Mallory Luana, a Haitian with particular American, nonbinary fem and self-identified “Black punk emphasis on police ‘Drop the cops’ ...... 5 witch,” and Strive secretary and social media coordinator brutality and the prison-industrial complex, which both Message to U.S. postal workers ...... 5 Indigo Lett. Other speakers—​including this writer for candidates have actively supported. Remembering ‘Big Black’ Smith ...... 6 WWP and the North Florida Regional Organizer for Black Transitioning behind bars ...... 6 Voters Matter Jamil Davis—​addressed local, national ­— Report and photo by Devin C. George Jackson ...... 6 Jail death of Black transwoman ...... 7 Paris Commune of the Black Liberation struggle . . . 7 Justice for Marcus Smith! Kevin Zeese, ¡presente! ...... 8 BLM holds court in sports ...... 9 Greensboro Chadwick Boseman: an appreciation ...... 9 Solidarity with frontline workers ...... 11 Two years after Greensboro, N.C., police officers killed Marcus Deon Smith, the Smith family, the Working- ◆ Around the world class Homeless Organizing Alliance, and their allies took to the streets of Greensboro to celebrate Marcus’ Workers and oppressed people, write to us! . . . 10 life and demand justice. “We will march until we get Book review: ‘Against the Loveless World’ . . . .10 #JusticeforMarcusSmith and his family gets reparations; French imperialism: A scourge then, now . . . . .11 we will march for Black liberation and Black freedom. We will march until we abolish both the prison-industrial com- ◆ Editorial plex and racial capitalism,” reads a statement from WHOA. Fight the right with united worker action! . . . . 1 “There will be a new dawn in Greensboro ushered in by the Black masses of people fed up with demoralization and Housing is a right for all! ...... 10 exploitation.” PHOTO: WORKING-CLASS HOMELESS ORGANIZING ALLIANCE ◆ Noticias en Español ­— Report by calvin deutschbein ¡Mantenla en las calles! ...... 12

Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Join us in the fight Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org Vol. 62, No. 37 • Sept. 10, 2020 Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist and trans people are gunned down by cops and bigots on Closing date: Sept. 9, 2020 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a mul- a regular basis. Editor: Deirdre Griswold tinational, multigenerational and multigendered organiza- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out tion that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to build a decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Monica Moorehead, Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational Prisoners Page Editors: Mirinda Crissman, Ted Kelly ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at—​and chal- Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and lenge—the​ capitalist system. Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Mirinda repression, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class Crissman, Sasha Mazumder, Scott Williams oppression and mistreatment of people with disabili- produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, ties. It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Sue Davis, S. Hedgecoke impoverishment and lack of hope for the future. No social talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially Contributing Editors: LeiLani Dowell, G. Dunkel, problems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- K. Durkin, Sara Flounders, Teresa Gutierrez, Joshua The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. Hanks, Makasi Motema, Gloria Rubac has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the education or anything else—​unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Mundo Obero: Teresa Gutierrez, Carlos Vargas Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. If you’re interested in Marxism, socialism Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis seemingly insurmountable student debt, if they even and fighting for a socialist future, please contact a WWP Copyright © 2020 Workers World. Verbatim copying make it to college. Black, Brown and Indigenous youth branch near you. ☐ and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. If you are interested in joining Workers World Party contact: 212.627.2994 Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly except the last week of December by WW Publishers, National Office Boston Durham, N.C. Portland, Ore. 147 W. 24th St., 2nd floor 284 Amory St. 804 Old Fayetteville St. [email protected] 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10011. Phone: New York, NY 10011 Boston, MA 02130 Durham, NC 27701 212.627.2994. Subscriptions: One year: $36; institu- Salt Lake City 212.627.2994 617.522.6626 919.322.9 970 tions: $50. Letters to the editor may be condensed and 801.750.0248 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] edited. Articles can be freely reprinted, with credit to [email protected] Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl., New York, NY Atlanta Buffalo, N.Y. Houston San Antonio 10011. Back issues and individual articles are available PO Box 18123 335 Richmond Ave. P.O. Box 3454 [email protected] Atlanta, GA 30316 Buffalo, NY 14222 Houston, TX 77253-3454 on microfilm and/or photocopy from NA Publishing, 404.627.0185 716.883.2534 713.503.2633 West Virginia Inc, P.O. Box 998, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-0998. [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] A searchable archive is available on the Web at www.workers.org. Austin Cleveland Pensacola, Fla. [email protected] 216.738.0320 [email protected] A headline digest is available via e-mail subscription. [email protected] Subscription information is at workers.org. Bay Area Philadelphia P.O. Box 22947 Dallas P.O. Box 34249 Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. Oakland, CA 94609 [email protected] Philadelphia, PA 19101 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 510.394.2207 610.931.2615 Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. [email protected] [email protected] New York, N.Y. 10011. workers.orgworkers.org Sept.Sept. 10, 10, 2020 2020 Page 3

As COVID spreads Epidemic of evictions goes viral By Mirinda Crissman “Housing is a human right” Houston is to the wealthy can be seen in what hap- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pened to the organization announced a federal eviction moratorium on Sept. 1 to Moms4Housing. In their prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Coming several own words, “On January months into the pandemic, it may help keep many in 14, 2020, in a pre-dawn their homes—but​ only until Dec. 31. raid of a residential home This is very much a case of too little, too late. Millions in Oakland, Calif., the of renters and mortgage payers nationwide face uncer- Alameda County Sheriff’s tain futures, with the potential for houselessness. [office] spent tens of thou- Since May 19, Houston has been the largest city in sands of taxpayer dollars the country with no eviction protections, as the Texas to evict women and chil- Supreme Court let a statewide eviction moratorium dren from a vacant, spec- expire on that date. Since then, the eviction machine in ulator-acquired property.” this city has been churning out orders damning many Tanks and militarized families deeper into poverty. Houston-area landlords law enforcement were PHOTO: GERARDO MONARCA VELAZQUEZ have filed nearly 10,000 eviction orders since March, deployed against them. Eviction defense at Harris County Southwest Courthouse, Houston, Aug. 21. according to Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. At a time when millions (evictionlab.org) are unemployed, eviction moratoriums are the bare min- (Texashousers.org, Sept. 2) Many folks evicted since the start of this crisis have imum needed to keep the public housed and safe from The only thing that could ease the scale of the crisis contracted COVID. Evictions present a direct threat, not the virus. As soon as the moratoriums expire, those who at this moment is to cancel rents and mortgages. This only to those removed from their housing, but to pub- were already living paycheck-to-paycheck before the should include any amount owed. lic health in general. Eviction moratoriums are better pandemic—if​ they are still able to get a paycheck—​will Other countries have done it in the name of public than nothing, but they just kick the housing crisis farther be expected to continue paying rent which many do not health. But to respect human life over property is not down the road. have, on top of being responsible for paying thousands something we can expect the ruling class to suddenly Houston political leaders like Mayor Sylvester Turner in back rent owed as well. start doing here in the U.S., not after hundreds of years explain that they are relying on the goodwill of landlords The CDC moratorium supposedly protects tenants of violently disrespecting life in the name of property. in these hard times to do the right thing. This violent lack from being evicted for nonpayment of rent. But it leaves This is going to take a mass movement of people fighting of policy protects only landlords, and we know they are open measures for landlords to harass and sabotage for these protections. not going to hold themselves accountable. renters with eviction by other means. Evictions can still In New Orleans, in Kansas City, in Philadelphia and be carried out for violation of lease terms. even in Houston, people have banded together in front of Most city dwellers are renters According to the information service Texas Housers, eviction courts to block landlords from entering. Eviction In a city of 2.6 million people, 53.6% of Houstonians “A tenant in the state of Texas can still be evicted for defense is likely to grow in popularity, as the state pro- are renters. They don’t own the property they live in and compounding late fees, and nowhere in the [CDC] tects the interests of private property over human life often have to turn over the majority of what they earn to protection is this remedied when the moratorium is and violently displaces the living. a landlord. As owners of property who charge people to up; conversely, it empowers states to make their own Charging people for a human necessity, such as hous- live there, landlords are a protected class. decisions. The Texas Legislature has passed a law that ing, is not necessary. It serves to benefit the class of peo- Their eviction notices are delivered by a flunky with lets landlords define what a reasonable late fee is, ple who own and accumulate property. Abolish private a gun on their hip. Law enforcement, like the constable which is a decision that recent history has shown to be property on stolen land! smugly delivering eight evictions in one day in a now-vi- used in cruel and exorbitant ways. We need to elimi- Join your local tenants’ union. Housing is a human ral news clip, protect and serve property—​not people. nate these punitive rules that exist only to line land- right! ☐ A clear example of how threatening the slogan lords’ pockets and exploit the confusion of tenants.”

While the stock market is booming, jobs report hides hunger

By G. Dunkel seven U.S. families uses food banks to sup- ply some of their food. The Houston Food Getting enough food was hard for people working low- Bank estimated that 1.1 million people wage jobs before the pandemic. Now it’s harder, given in the 17 counties around Houston in its the huge increase in unemployment—​29 million jobless service area were food insecure in 2019. workers now live off meager unemployment insurance. During the pandemic, this grew to 2.45 Millions without work are getting nothing, and more million people. Private food banks and than 50 million people are “food insecure,” meaning they pantries exist in almost every part of the lack adequate food to live active, healthy lives. United States. Despite this grim news for the working class, the stock Some 5,000 Meals on Wheels programs market has boomed to nearly record heights, which gives supplied 7 million seniors with hot meals. a false picture of a vibrant economy, as did the report Seniors are especially vulnerable to food that the U.S. economy added 1.4 million jobs in August. insecurity. Due to the threat of COVID- 19, many seniors are forced to rely on food Income loss means hunger spreads delivery services, which are expensive and Based on Census Bureau and other government data, offer limited selections. PHOTO: GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK Greater Boston Food Bank protests outside Massachusetts State House, the organization Feeding America estimates that as September 2019. A year later, the crisis of hunger is much greater. many as 54 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, Report of job gains deceptive up from 37 million in 2018. (tinyurl.com/yx8hfn7a) It In the August job numbers, a big part estimates the number of children separately, because in of the job gain was hiring short-term Census workers. reflects these other kinds of job losses, called the U-6 a significant number of families the adults go without The reports of the official unemployment rate falling and rate, which currently is 14.2%. food so the kids will get enough to eat. At least 14 million the Federal Reserve keeping interest rates low helped to The 7 million jobs gained since the spring lockdown children in the United States are “food insecure.” pump up the stock market. ended fell far short of restoring the 22 million jobs that A Brookings Institute study (July 9) estimates that This official unemployment rate, known as the U-3 the U.S. economy lost in March and April. And in the last unemployment is responsible for about 65% of food rate, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports week of August, 880,000 workers filed for state unem- insecurity. From the pictures displayed when you search monthly, often hides real, negative developments in ployment insurance, and 790,000 filed for the separate Google for images of hunger in the U.S., many of the the economy. Nevertheless, it gets all the headlines and federal Pandemic unemployment insurance. hungry are Black or Latinx. attention from politicians. They often use this rate to jus- Nearly one out of every five of the 160 million work- Before the pandemic swelled the need for food, the U.S. tify expanding or contracting all sorts of benefits. ers in the U.S. labor force have been collecting unem- Department of Agriculture had 15 nutrition assistance For August 2020, the U-3 rate was 8.4%, which ployment compensation—​that is one out of every five programs in 2019: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance was a significant improvement from July, when it was workers! Tens of thousands exhaust benefits every week. Program (SNAP) provided food monthly to 35.7 million 10.2%. The BLS publishes other rates, often ignored Hit hardest are workers of color, women, migrants, and people; the school lunch program provided lunch every in the media, which reveal more about problems with other super-exploited workers. school day to 29.4 million children; and the Women, unemployment. The number of these claims and other data on retail Infants, and Children (WIC program) provided food assis- For example, if workers have had their hours cut or sales indicate that the boost to the economy from March’s tance to 7.3 million people. (tinyurl.com/y3c2evg2) have stopped looking for a job because they know none CARES-1 benefits package—​that ended on July 31—​is The U.S. government’s $92 billion in 2019 in food are available near where they live, this is excluded from drying up. This threatens more economic decline and assistance was by no means enough. About one out of the U-3 rate. The BLS reports an alternate figure that more hunger. ☐ Page 4 Sept. 10, 2020 workers.org What postal workers are demanding

dollars to rescue capitalist corporations neighborhoods across the U.S. President support DeJoy being removed from office. from pandemic-related financial losses Trump compounded public concerns by (tinyurl.com/y4ztq25s) but has refused to give aid to the peo- falsely claiming the USPS couldn’t handle On the “Save Our Postal Service” ple’s postal service to get past this crisis. the crisis-level demand for mail-in voting. Facebook page, you can get information Remember the slogan: “Banks got bailed (tinyurl.com/yxshwff5) on how to contact members of the Postal out; we got sold out” after the Great After a lot of protests, DeJoy announced Board of Governors. That’s the Board Recession? It’s still true today. he would put a stop to his harmful poli- who appointed DeJoy, and they have the cies, but he refused to bring the sorting power to fire him. Postal pandemic relief needed machines and blue collection boxes back. During this pandemic, it hasn’t been The USPS needs legislation passed in the And postal workers say work rules are easy organizing postal workers. They’ve By Joe Piette House and Senate, based on H.R. 8015, to still not the same as before DeJoy took been working 12-hour days. Many have provide $25 billion in direct emergency office. been exposed to COVID-19 and have had Below is a lightly edited version of a relief. With USPS forecasting COVID- DeJoy is considering further extreme to self-quarantine. As with everything talk given by Joe Piette on the Sept. 3 related losses of up to $50 billion over the cuts after Nov. 3rd, including raising else, there haven’t been union meetings, Workers World Party webinar: “Save next decade, Congress should not settle package rates, particularly when deliver- because of social spacing requirements. the people’s post office.” for the scaled-down Republican proposal ing the last mile on behalf of big retailers Nevertheless, protests have taken of $10 billion in aid. (inequality.org) (they have actually already announced place, thanks to the solidarity of other The pandemic was the trigger that The second necessary demand is to holiday surcharges on commercial cus- workers and members of the public. On began the current crisis for the post office. rescind the 2006 bill that requires the tomers); setting higher prices for ser- Aug 22, over 800 protests took place It caused financial harm to the U.S. Postal Postal Service to put aside over $5 bil- vice in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico; across the U.S. to support the people’s Service (USPS), but, more importantly, it lion annually to pay for retiree health curbing discounts for nonprofits; and postal service. The majority of those pro- put essential postal workers in harm’s benefits—​75 years into the future. No requiring election ballots to use first-class testers were not postal workers. That is way. Over 80 postal workers have died, other company or federal agency has that postage. real solidarity! and tens of thousands have been exposed requirement. That requirement must be After the elections, no matter who Solidarity is not a one-way street. On to COVID-19. ended immediately. wins, we ask all postal service supporters June 25, postal workers marched for On the job, the demands for masks Postmaster General Louis DeJoy—​ to pay attention and come out to oppose Black Lives Matter in Minneapolis. That’s and other personal protective equip- nicknamed Delay—​took multiple actions any new rules DeJoy imposes that will solidarity too. ment, deep cleaning of postal facilities that created a mail slowdown across the harm the right of everyone to affordable, This year, “an injury to one is an injury and social distancing are still recurring country. DeJoy ordered employees to universal mail delivery. to all” should be our everyday slogan. In demands six months into the pandemic. leave mail and packages behind, rather solidarity in the streets is where we need Forcing supervisors and managers to than work overtime, at a time of pandem- DeJoy must go! to be. wear masks and to enforce rules requir- ic-related staffing shortage and increased Thousands of phone calls and signa- ing all workers to wear masks and use package demand. (Washington Post, tures on petitions have demanded DeJoy Piette is a retired letter carrier and social distancing are still issues which Aug. 14) be fired. In a new poll, 56% of respon- member of the National Association of many shop stewards and union officials DeJoy also removed 671 high-speed dents—​including 77% of Democrats, Letter Carriers. are fighting for. mail-sorting machines and [at least 49% of Independents and 39% of Congress approved half a trillion 700] blue mail collection boxes from Republicans—​strongly or somewhat Voting, self-determination and social change By Monica Moorehead the KKK, Jim Crow and—​yes—​voter public transportation. suppression. Millions of disenfranchised people Below is a slightly edited talk by The social impact of voter suppression in the U.S. have been denied the right Monica Moorehead at the Workers is still felt today, in so many ways, and to vote: Black people, undocumented World Party webinar on Sept. 3 on “Save not just for Black people. For instance, migrants also denied the right to health the people’s post office. in 2013 WW printed an article by Ben care and drivers’ licenses for work, pris- Carroll on restrictions on voting rights in oners and former prisoners—​many of Voter suppression is an issue I have North Carolina, known for its notorious whom have lost this right forever due to both personal and political knowledge “right to work”—​meaning the right to incarceration, young people and others. of. I was born and raised under segrega- nonunion labor laws for workers. Here is These are millions of people who need tion in Alabama. Black and white activ- a brief summary from this article: class solidarity, not to be lectured on ists were beaten, jailed, water-hosed and “North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory the limitations of voting, especially with lynched to insure this basic democratic signed into law on Aug. 12 a sweeping white-supremacist Trump trying to close right, which was both won during and lost anti-voting rights bill that attacks the basic down post offices in primary communi- after Reconstruction post-Civil War. It is democratic rights of people of color, youth ties of color, to squash voting rights. Monica Moorehead a right that most whites have had since and other members of the working class. Our 2016 election campaign statement 1920, when mainly white women won the “As voter ID bills sponsored by the emphasized—​when so many young jobs, wages, education, rates of police right to vote. American Legislative Exchange Council people gravitated to the Bernie Sanders murders and incarceration, etc. These cit- When the Voting Rights Act was passed (ALEC) make their way through many campaign—and​ much remains true four ies struggle just to provide the most basic in 1965, I saw firsthand as an adolescent state legislatures, the recently signed bill years later: “A capitalist election can be a services, while the banks and real estate this right guaranteed to my mom at age in N.C. has earned the distinction as the barometer of progressive mass sentiment, interests profit off the people’s misery. 39, her mother at age 65 and her grand- most severe voter suppression law yet whether voters reject a war-making presi- Even as political concessions have been mother at age 85. This was won through passed in the U.S. dent or vote in a person of color.” made to mass struggles for democratic blood, sweat and tears and is still dearly “In a blow to young voters, it does away However, a barometer is not an instru- reform, the obscene gap between rich and cherished today by the most oppressed. with preregistration of 16- and 17-year- ment by which to effect change; it only poor has widened. That gap also intensi- Despite the fact there is no fundamen- olds and invalidates school IDs as a valid measures change. To really make change fies national oppression, as the poorest tal class difference between candidates form of identification. Additionally, it happen, you need more than a barometer. are disproportionately people of color. from either big business, pro-war cap- empowers vigilante poll observers to You need an instrument of struggle. New movements are gaining strength italist party, Republican or Democrat, challenge other voters’ eligibility. After the massive Civil Rights and outside the electoral arena—​especially this doesn’t diminish the duty of revo- “Many of the provisions of the bill Black Liberation movements defeated the militant movement against police lutionary socialists to defend any bour- attack measures, such as Sunday voting, segregation, Black people began enter- murders. Workers World Party sees the geois democratic right that whites have same-day registration and the early vot- ing the electoral arena. Many times a pressing need for a working-class, revolu- been privileged to have—like​ the right to ing period, which have been utilized over- majority of voters, including some whites tionary socialist program that will endure vote—if​ we hope to build class unity for whelmingly by Black, low-income and as well as people of color, have chosen after the elections are over, regardless of a socialist future. elderly voters.” African Americans to represent them in who wins office. We need a movement to Voting is tied to the right to self-deter- Members of the Disability Rights Caucus various public offices, finally reaching as not only reform or soften capitalism, but mination. The right to vote is more than of Workers World Party wrote of an high as the president of the United States. get rid of it. pulling a lever every four years. During attempted attack on the Voter Accessibility This is certainly a step forward from the Socialism is not just capitalism with Reconstruction, newly freed Black peo- for the Elderly and Handicapped Act of days of open segregation in the South and government controls; it is an entirely ple could, for the first time, have political 1984, when a Georgia County Board of the refusal of the Northern establishment opposite social system. It is based on the representation in state legislatures in the Elections proposed to close seven out of to allow more than a token few Black peo- working class taking power and liberating Deep South, establishing basic services nine accessible polling places. While this ple into political office. the means of production from the stran- like education. The counterrevolutionary proposal was defeated, it is important to Yet even in cities that have had Black glehold of capitalist ownership, so eco- defeat of this radical period ushered in a note that rural Randolph County in 2018 elected officials—​like Detroit, Baltimore, nomic life can be planned to meet human period of white supremacy in the forms was 61% African American with one of the Cleveland, Flint and Newark—​racism needs, not to profit a few. ☐ of semi-slavery, repressive penal codes, seven precincts being 95% Black, with no continues and even deepens in housing, workers.org Sept. 10, 2020 Page 5 Workers organize to demand unions ‘Drop the Cops’ By calvin deutschbein caucuses of the local, prior to building has been a delegate in CIR for toward the union-wide campaign. She two years and is running for The Service Employees Union (SEIU) presented SEIU Drop the Cops’ demands national president under the is one of the largest labor unions in the before providing a class analysis rooted progressive slate “Housestaff U.S., representing approximately 2 in the struggle for Black liberation. She for a Democratic Union.” million employees in this country and spoke of the moral imperative, which Shalvoy said, “We resolved, as Canada. But as with many large unions unionists in SEIU have as workers, to CIR, that SEIU should disaffili- in the U.S., where internal colonization expel any cop bargaining units. ate from police and other unions is the de facto way of life for the tens of Following Wallace, Ann Montague representing repressive work- millions of nationally oppressed workers, from Local 503 in Oregon, also an SEIU places like ICE (Immigration it has been fused to the carceral state by Drop the Cops organizer, shared the les- and Customs Enforcement), “unionizing” police, prison guards and sons from her local: “I have been a rank- Border Patrol and corrections CREDIT: SEIU DROP THE COPS. parole and probation officers. and-file member of SEIU 503 for over officers.” CIR resolved not to The four panelists and chairperson in the webinar. However, there can be no union for 20 years. I knew my local had armed allow political funds to support police—​who are not workers. A rank- Portland State University (PSU) cops, candidates who work with police “unions” be held accountable for investing in our and-file campaign within the SEIU, called but when I read in the New York Times or fund policing, similar to the demand of communities.” (tinyurl.com/y6ra5eyh) “SEIU Drop the Cops,” formed earlier that the cops who shot Rayshard Brooks “No cop candidates.” Nolan said SEIU President Mary Kay this year. It has set forth demands for the in the back were ‘represented by SEIU,’ I Workers have raised the same demands Henry told In these Times on June 19, union and begun a union-wide organizing realized how prevalent cop unions are in throughout the SEIU, demonstrating “We have to consider expulsion of police campaign of its rank and file. SEIU, and I joined Drop The Cops.” their political clarity and the urgency of unions from the labor movement.” On Aug. 30, SEIU Drop the Cops held the demands. (tinyurl.com/y2nxbl4j) He noted that an online forum to present their vision ‘Disarm PSU’ ousts campus The final panelist was Hamilton Nolan, promised next steps never materialized. of a union that reflects its promise of cops from SEIU a labor reporter with In These Times Nolan urged SEIU workers to push the being of, and for, workers. (View at face- As an SEIU rank-and-file worker, and a council member at the Writers issue at all levels of the union, to pressure book.com/SEIUDropTheCops.) Marina Montague was part of the Disarm PSU Guild of America East, an AFL-CIO affil- officers and workers to take a position on Stankov-Hodge, an SEIU nurse, chaired struggle to oust cops from the bargaining iate. He helped get the Council of the expelling the police and simply to learn the event. unit—​and off the campus. She shared WGA to unanimously pass a resolution where they stand. Julia Wallace, a SEIU Drop the Cops how after seven years of struggle, Disarm calling on the AFL-CIO to disaffiliate Panelists then took questions from SEIU organizer explained: “Cops are not work- PSU recently won both demands: to dis- with the International Union of Police workers. Over 100 workers attended, and ers, and they are certainly not members of arm campus cops and to expel them from Associations. (wgaeast.org, June 8) the SEIU Drop the Cops Facebook page our union. We need to expel them, and we the workers SEIU bargaining unit—​ The International Executive Board of says it has had over 2,000 views. need to be fighting for our lives. As Black showing their power. the SEIU passed a resolution on June 12 While much work remains for the cam- people, as Black women, as immigrants, Keriann Shalvoy, a member of the aligning with the movement for Black paign, one thing is clear. It is time that as trans people, queer people, we need to Committee of Interns and Residents/ Lives Matter. It includes a call to “divest SEIU drop the cops! When workers fight, be fighting for our lives and organizing SEIU Healthcare, addressed internal from and demilitarize the police and they win! ourselves as the working class.” organizing within the union. Hers is the invest in and build Black communities,” Wallace is a rank-and-file member of largest house-staff union in the U.S., for “dialogue to reimagine the role of The writer is a member of Workers SEIU Local 721. She passed disaffilia- representing over 17,000 interns, resi- police and the criminal justice system,” United Southern Region of the SEIU, tion resolutions in the Black and Latino dents and fellows across the country. She and further declares “corporations must Local 32, in Chapel Hill, N.C. A message to U.S. postal workers sharecropping family of former slaves. His Perhaps I was not eating the right diet? Sept. 4 is Richard Wright’s 112th birth- mother was a school teacher; but deserted Perhaps my chronic anxiety kept my day. This message is as a birthday present by her husband, she had to look for jobs weight down. I drank milk, ate steak, but to my father who died in 1960. in white people’s kitchens to feed her two it did not give me an extra pound of flesh. From where he is, if he saw the U.S. sons, before suffering a series of strokes. … Autumn came, and I was called for my scene today, Richard Wright would At the core of Richard’s childhood, physical examination. I had not told my understand the strategic importance one bitter, visceral, scarring experience mother or brother or aunt that I knew I of the postal services to desperately remains: hunger—​daily hunger, would fail. On the morning of the exam- needed systemic change in our society. relentless hunger that would mold his ination, I drank 2 quarts of buttermilk, Today, Richard would stand with you to moods, his character, his attitude toward ate 6 bananas, but it did not hoist the red protect the machines he had learned to the world during the rest of his short life. arrow of the government scales. … I went work almost blindfolded. Today Richard Down South, the only time Richard home hating myself.” Wright would stand with you, because the got enough to eat was when, aged 8, he Ironically, although Richard finally is postal service is like justice; it cannot be was taken to live with his Uncle Hoskins able to put on the required weight and stopped, hindered or delayed. in Elaine, Ark. But Silas Hoskins was obtains the coveted job at the post office, Having lived through a military coup lynched by whites who considered the the 1929-1930 Depression is on the hori- d’etat—​the one organized in 1966 at saloon he owned had grown too profitable. zon, and he is put on the dole like millions the behest of U.S. interests against the Finally, like so many before him and of others. socialist Republic of Ghana—​and having PHOTO: ROBERTO MERCADO after him, Richard escaped to the North, I am struck by the similarity of those read at least one book on the tactics and to Chicago and looked for a job there. times to ours: lynchings in the South, but strategy of coups d’etat (“The War of the The following message from inter- In “Black Boy/ American Hunger,” he in the North as well; rampant racism; Flea” by Robert Taber), I am witness to nationally known human rights leader writes: “In June I was called for tempo- economic depression; mass unemploy- the fact and given to understand that the Julia Wright, eldest daughter of famed rary duty at the post office. My confidence ment; and an old disease rearing its ugly first thing the opposing force does is to writer Richard Wright, was read by soared; if I obtained an appointment as a head—​syphilis. Like COVID-19 today, paralyze the centers of communication of Sophia Williams, from the Campaign regular clerk, I could spend at least five the Tuskegee experiment scandalously the targeted state: shutting down of the to Bring Mumia [Abu-Jamal] Home, hours a day writing. targeted Blacks: Rural, illiterate south- airport, radio HQ, and so on and so forth. during the Workers World Webinar: “I reported at the post office and was ern farmers afflicted with the disease The postal services constitute a stra- “Save the people’s post office” on Sept. 3. sworn in as a temporary clerk. I earned were used as guinea pigs to watch the tegic network of communication staffed Richard Wright was a postal worker seventy cents an hour, and I went to progression of the infection, under the by us, the people, which Trump needs to in the late 1920s in Chicago, before he bed each night with a full stomach for pretense of a newly discovered treatment. paralyze in more ways than one. joined the Federal Writers Project and the first time in my life. … But before I The number of lost lives are to this day If not prevented, this would be the became a novelist. The former postal could receive a permanent appointment, unknown. beginning of a silent coup d’etat! worker is widely acknowledged as one I would have to take a physical examina- Although my father left the post office Our votes matter! Our votes matter of the most important writers of the 20th tion, and the weight requirement was 125 for other jobs and became a known writer, more each day! century. pounds, and I—​with my long years of his experience sorting mail remained with Our Postal Workers are the strate- semistarvation—barely​ tipped the scales him to the point that the heroes of two of gic foot soldiers in a battle to begin to By Julia Wright at 110. his novels work at the post office—​Lawd back down fascism! The struggle will be “Frantically I turned all of my spare Today and The Outsider. He collected protracted! My father, Richard Wright, was born money into food and ate. But my skin stamps with the enthusiasm of a kid for “It is the hour of the furnaces, we only near Natchez, Mississippi, in 1908 to a and flesh would not respond to the food. the rest of his life. see the light,” said Che Guevara. ☐ Page 6 Sept. 10, 2020 workers.org Attica: Spirit of Uprising Lives on Remembering ‘Big Black’ Smith

By Ida Robinson the people in the courthouse, it’s just like men, you know, Eric Garner, George he was gentle; he was wise. And he was a huge crescendo here. I can’t tell you how Floyd, Big Black. And in that you can go on there for you. You know, he was there Ida Robinson is a co-founder with I feel other than that. This can’t last too and on about how they are treated. They for me in California, and he was there for Families with a Future. She is an ex-pris- long. It’s going to be revo- are dehumanized because me when I went through a crisis after my oner, ex-fugitive and a current activist lution tomorrow. of their size, because size imprisonment in New York, and in that he working with women and LGBTQ2S+ That was Black August, means power to them and never, ever gave up. people. This is an edited version of her and then when Attica dehumanization. The struggle has to continue, and it is talk during the Aug. 29 Black Lives jumped off Sept. 9 and we And he [Big Black] was continued. But we can’t fall for the Band- Matter Webinar: Justice for Peaceful saw the mutilation and the burned and beaten. Beaten Aid programs that we did back in the ’60s Soledad Prisoners. burning and the killing of and burned and laid out because we didn’t know any better. So so many men inside there where they just took him and I am very hopeful in this movement, as My name is Ida Robinson. I can’t talk behind asking for the min- hit his genitals and all over people continue to do what they can in about Big Black [Frank “Big Black” Smith] imal list of humanitarian his body. In that picture that their worlds to create a structural change, or Attica without mentioning Elizabeth goals—​it was like, okay, you saw earlier, he was still because there will be no reformism when Fink, who was his attorney for many this can’t last too much humble, intelligent, working we’re talking about capitalism on ste- years, and Sister T who is with the ances- longer. The revolution is with a colleague and inves- roids, it just won’t work. tors, as well as Rita Brown. I hold them going to be tomorrow. tigator and how they antici- And in that I’m gonna check out right in my heart. This is what I and many Ida Robinson and Frank pated all over that this can’t now. Thank you. Continua la lucha. As a very young woman, I used to go other people thought. It ‘Big Black’ Smith. last too much longer. to the Connection center, an organization accelerated our whole And here we are today. Big Black died of cancer in 2004. founded by Kathy Kornbluth. And after sense of feeling and activism that it [the Attica is all of us. And one of the things Following his release from Attica, he Aug. 21, [1971], when Conrad was mur- revolution] was right here tomorrow. This that Big Black had said is he called on us moved to New York City where he dered, I used to be in the visiting room is before we even knew about the coun- to do something, whatever it is that you worked as a paralegal on the $2.8 bil- and seeing Bernard Garden, Gordon terintelligence program and all that. But I can do, and Attica is all of us. And in that, lion civil liability suit filed in 1974, which Wells and Conrad, who were in the vis- just wanted to say about that moment—it​ he told me a lot of things about myself. alleged that 1,200 prisoners had been iting room. You create families in those was just over the top. I just want to talk to humanize the beaten, tortured or denied medical visiting rooms. But after the murders of America has a problem with big Black beauty of his spirit. He was charismatic; care. ☐ Transitioning behind bars: ‘Nothing less than torture!’

By Vanessa Lee Naisha or “the Punk.” Prison staff have stood next am still referred to as “he” and “him.” The That single action goes against every- to prisoners as I pass by and get laughed at. prison staff’s clear intent is to discourage thing. It is well-established throughout Vanessa Lee Naisha is a Black trans- I am forced to wear facial hair, because me from being transgender. the federal court system that gender dys- gender woman being held in an all-male the razors that the prison permits ruin The prison staff know that if they phoria is a serious psychological con- prison in Pennsylvania. She is a subscriber my face and skin. Laser hair removal is place me in a cell with random peo- dition. Therefore by law I have certain to Workers World newspaper and is a readily available, but the prison would ple that it would bring about problems. rights, and I know this. member of Food Not Bombs Solidarity. rather have me drag a razor across my Needless to say, security placed me in The same way that male guards are face three times a week cells and on units with individuals who not permitted to strip-search women at My name is Vanessa and have me damage my are transphobic. female facilities, it should not be permit- Lee Naisha. I am a face and endure pain and Violence came about and put me in a ted with me. How is it that I am seen as a 57-years-young trans- suffering. position to defend myself, and I did so woman up until the point of strip search? gender woman. I am an When I was finally effectively. Each time that I was attacked, By prison staff knowing that I am trans- African American woman approved for Hormone I turned the tables, and still I was gender and still allowing male guards to born April 25, 1963. I was Replacement Therapy placed in isolation (the hole), and secu- strip-search me shows they are intention- born in Philadelphia; (HRT), the torture rity allowed others to steal my personal ally hostile to my gender dysphoria. however, in the early years reached new levels. The property. of my life I ended up in medical provider did Simply put, transitioning in a male Civil suit to combat transphobic terror New York state. not prescribe the correct prison has been a living hell. Currently pending before the District Transitioning in a male amounts. At first it was Court of Delaware is a civil action that I prison has been nothing found that I was ingesting Illegal strip searches filed against officers and prison officials. less than torture! I have too little, and then it was Now I am on HRT, which has caused me The action asserts that the officers and PHOTO: CINDY LOU MILLER/ purposely been placed in FOOD NOT BOMBS SOLIDARITY too much. I felt like a test to develop visible breasts, and still male officials were deliberately indifferent to very hostile situations by Vanessa Lee Naisha. dummy or a lab rat. But guards are allowed to strip-search me. I my gender dysphoria by allowing male the authorities. I have had then again, test dummies have been threatened that if I do not strip, guards to strip-search me. I am also chal- prison staff as well as prisoners degrade and lab rats are treated a whole lot better. then I will be placed in the hole, where I am lenging the constitutionality of the strip- me verbally, and prisoners refuse to sit at As much as I am laughed at and mocked, I forced to strip. How is it that I am on HRT; search policy. a table with me in the chow hall. I basically sometimes feel like the circus is the place I have breasts; I wear bras and panties; I This is not exclusively about me. My live on an island. where I belong. am on the Transgender List, and my name main objective is to get a policy put in I am treated as if I were toxic. The com- Although it is well known that I am is Vanessa, but a male guard may strip me, place that will protect the LGBTQ2S+ mon names I am called are “fag,” “homo” transgender and my name is Vanessa, I viewing my breasts and undergarments? prison community. ☐

George Jackson Marxist-Leninist, abolitionist, revolutionary! By Ted Kelly historic rebellion just a few weeks later. His words remain relevant: “Settle your quarrels, As we commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Attica come together, understand the reality of our situation, Uprising of 1971, the Prisoners Solidarity Committee of understand that fascism is already here, that people are Workers World Party is inspired to once again raise the already dying who could be saved, that generations more name of our comrade George Jackson. A revolutionary will live poor butchered half-lives if you fail to act. Do philosopher and communist militant, Jackson’s writings what must be done, discover your humanity and your have inspired workers on both sides of the prison walls love in revolution.” for decades. His assassination in California’s Soledad This September 23 would have been the 79th birthday State Prison on Aug. 21, 1971, set off a chain of events of Jackson, one of the leaders of the Black Panther Party. that led to prisoners at Attica organizing their own George Jackson, presente! ☐ workers.org Sept. 10, 2020 Page 7 Attica: Spirit of Uprising Lives on Outrage over jail death of Black trans woman By Martha Grevatt racism, transphobia, poverty and mass extension of lynching.” Gwen Stembridge as “the men in black.” A guard sexu- Cleveland incarceration. of Equality Ohio pointed out that half ally assaulted her while she was taking The news conference featured speakers of all Black trans women spend time in a shower. Several years ago her friend Anger over the tragic death of 28-year- on all these issues, including representa- prison, and Chris Knestrick of NEOCH Mahogany, also a Black trans woman, old Lea Rayshon Daye tives of the Coalition to added that 30% of transgender people died in jail when authorities denied her in Cleveland’s Cuyahoga Stop the Inhumanity experience homelessness and declared anti-seizure medication. County Jail came out force- at the Cuyahoga that “housing is a human right.” The Jail Coalition was formed in fully in a virtual press con- County Jail, Northeast Devinity Jones, founder and coordi- December 2018 in response to eight deaths ference held Sept. 4. Daye’s Ohio Coalition for the nator of the Community Center’s Trans that had occurred over the previous six was the second jail death Homeless (NEOCH), Wellness Program, spoke movingly about months, along with conditions that a U.S. here in less than two months Equality Ohio, Trans her own experiences with the so-called federal marshals’ report called “the worst in and the 11th in two years. Ohio and the LGBT “justice system.” When she appeared in the country.” The county jail drew national Found unresponsive in her Community Center of court to pay a fine, a transphobic judge media attention earlier this year, when it cell Aug. 30, the Black trans Greater Cleveland. wrongfully sentenced her to 60 days in released hundreds of prisoners to address woman died in a city deemed Rev. Reegie Bunch jail after making blatantly bigoted com- overcrowding and reduce COVID spread. WW PHOTO: MARTHA GREVATT “an epicenter for America’s May 29, outside Cuyahoga of the Jail Coalition ments. In jail, she was subjected to a But recently the trend has been reversed, trans murder crisis” by an County Jail. Since this protest condemned “the final range of abuses. with numbers of prisoners climbing from Aug. 17 op-ed piece in the two more prisoners have died. indignity of misgen- Jones was celled with a cisgender male a low of under a thousand to around 1,500, Cleveland Scene. dering” by jail author- prisoner. Like numerous other prison- approaching capacity. Like Michael Wormick, who died in ities and then the news media. Ellie ers she slept on a mat on the floor, was Activists here will continue to build the same jail on July 8, Daye was house- Turan, the Community Center’s Director fed horrible food, had inadequate med- unity around the main demand raised at less at the time of her arrest. Her death of Development and author of the above ical care, was denied basic hygiene and the press conference: “No more deaths in spotlighted the intersectionality of mentioned op-ed, called Daye’s death “an was abused by the vicious guards known the Cuyahoga County Jail.” ☐ ATTICA REBELLION: Paris Commune of the Black Liberation struggle By Larry Holmes committee asked that a leading comrade, Tom Soto, be we have many differences with anarchists, but we should an observer during negotiations with the state. give credit where credit is due. The following excerpted article first appeared Ultimately the repression came. Nelson Rockefeller, The I.W.W. writings on why they are motivated should online Sept. 14, 2016, to mark the 45th anniversary the oil billionaire then the governor, gave the orders to be read by unionists. These make clear that while they of this historic uprising of incarcerated workers and crush the uprising. He had a reputation as an Eastern lib- are supporting prisoners to have workers’ rights, their revolutionaries. eral, but he was actually a ruling-class monster with pres- ultimate objective is to abolish prison slave labor. This idential aspirations, so he ordered in more than 1,000 is a good reminder to labor unionists that our ultimate The story of Attica, Sept. 9, 1971, is the story of how troops, guards and state troopers from four to five states objective should be to end slave labor. prisons can be incubators of revolutionaries—​like around, to shoot indiscriminately. The state killed more This is a reminder to the labor movement of the neces- George Jackson, assassinated 2 ½ weeks earlier at San than 30 prisoners and 10 hostages. The bourgeois pro- sity to adopt revolutionary methods in the labor struggle. Quentin State Prison. paganda was that the prisoners had killed the hostages, Revolutionaries aid in the organization of the working Attica has been described as the biggest deployment of with the media giving all sorts of lying details. But it later class so that workers can better their conditions. state violence since the crushing of the Native uprising at came out that all who died, died of bullet wounds—​and However, revolutionaries never forget that our ulti- Wounded Knee—81​ years before. the prisoners had no guns. Surviving prisoners were tor- mate goal is not merely improving the conditions under The significance of the Attica uprising as a prison tured, without their wounds being treated. which workers’ labor is exploited, but rather the aboli- rebellion transcends prison. Attica was a high-water The ruling class made their point: “There is a price to tion of exploitation, the abolition of all wage slavery and mark in the Black Liberation Movement of the 1960s and pay” if there is ­rebellion. capitalism. 1970s. It was almost the Black Liberation Movement’s The strike raises larger issues. For instance, in 1977 the Paris Commune of 100 years before in France in 1871. Organize prisoners, NOT cops and guards! U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case brought by a North Attica was spontaneous, but to the extent that it was But the uprising opened up the question of prisoners’ Carolina prisoners’ union that the prisoners do not have led, it was organized by revolutionaries—​highly polit- rights and liberation. From rights as workers. ical individuals who considered themselves Marxists, then on, the cutoff, isolated But when has the claim of “no Maoists, Black liberationists. They organized commit- prisoners became a much rights” ever stopped us from tees for food and for negotiations. They put together 28 bigger issue in our move- organizing workers? demands in a few hours! ment, as well as the issue of Fighting for legal rights is Their demands addressed every aspect of survival in prisoners as workers. part of organizing! We fight for prison: health, food, an end to solitary confinement, legal This brings us to yester- workers organizing in the right- rights, the right to family visitation, the right to get political day’s strike, on Sept. 9. The to-work states in the South, for material in the mail. Particularly noteworthy, in relation to prison population was per- undocumented workers who yesterday’s national prison strike, is that almost one-third haps under 500,000 in 1971. don’t have bourgeois rights as of their demands addressed prisoner labor rights. Now it is six to seven times workers. This is from their statement: “We demand an end to that, and there is the pris- One problem for some unions prison labor exploitation. . . . Prisoners who refuse to on-industrial complex. More is that they have cops and prison work are punished and segregated. This is a class issue.” than one million of those guards in these unions. That Their demands included: Prisoners should be con- prisoners work within the makes it harder for the union sidered workers. The work day should be eight hours. prisons. They do construc- to take anti-racist and solidarity Prisoners should have the right to form a union. Prisons tion and clearing land; they positions. They should get rid of should be made to conform to New York state labor laws, do clothing manufacture; or the prison guards and organize including wages and workers’ compensation for acci- they work for McDonalds, the prisoners! dents. Prisoners should have access to vocational train- ATT or Walmart. Many, The working class is chang- ing, union pay scales, union membership. many corporations are using ing. Now a big section is tempo- Workers World Party played an important role at prison labor. Attica prison rebellion. rary and unorganized. The Black Attica. The Party had a tremendous reputation with pris- The prisoners are a Lives Matter movement is part of oners, through both Youth Against War and Fascism and detachment of the working class, working under prison the working class in motion and is demanding a stop to the Prisoners’ Solidarity Committee, and was known in slave-like conditions for pennies a day. For yesterday’s killing Black and Brown workers and demanding jobs all state prisons. We did work, ranging from solidarity strike, unionization and minimum wages were among and employment. with political prisoners and legal help, to providing buses the many demands, as well as abolition of prisons. Our Party has to take the lead in acknowledging who to take prisoners’ families for visits to upstate prisons. It is noteworthy that foremost among the forces is at the forefront of working-class organizing. If you We were also known for our political program: “Prisons helping the prisoners are anarchists, members of the have a Marxist view of the working class, our class is far are concentration camps for the poor! Tear them down!” International Workers of the World, who are also work- from disappearing—​it is expanding! End prison slave Our reputation was such that the Attica negotiating ing with low-wage workers. As revolutionary Marxists labor! ☐ Page 8 Sept. 10, 2020 workers.org Kevin Zeese, ¡presente! The anti-imperialist and anti-war organization is in full solidarity with the was a gentle giant, and his death movement suffered a great loss Sept. 6 Black Lives Matter movement and every is a huge loss for me personally with the sudden death of activist Kevin social justice movement in the U.S. and for the many people who are Zeese, 64, at his home in Baltimore, Md. Zeese, along with Flowers, was a a friend or who worked with him In summer 2019 Kevin Zeese and consistent unifying force in the United over the years.” his life-partner Margaret Flowers National Antiwar Coalition and its All those who knew Kevin led resistance as part of the Embassy Administrative Committee, organizing Zeese, his work and his deter- Protection Collective, which stayed in the UNAC conference in February, and mination to breathe confidence, the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, leading the Sanctions Kill Campaign, No resistance and solidarity into the D.C., after the Venezuelan ambassador Foreign Bases Coalition, Hands Off Syria movement, are deeply saddened was forced to leave. The collective was Coalition and many other campaigns. by his passing. We extend our subjected to 37 days of constant right- Several chapters by these two leaders love and confidence to Margaret wing attack. are included in the book,“Capitalism on Flowers. We can best remem- Zeese was co-director with Flowers a Ventilator: The Impact of COVID-19 on ber Kevin Zeese by our deter- of Popular Resistance, an indepen- China and the U.S.” mination to organize and resist dent news website, which challenges Margaret Flowers reflected on how at the center of the U.S. empire. U.S. imperialist propaganda, military “amazing, kind and selfless a person threats and deadly sanctions against Kevin was. He never asked for anything, — By Sara Flounders for Workers Venezuela, Nicaragua, China, Russia, but was always there for others. He had World Party Palestine, Cuba, Syria and Belarus. The such great knowledge and wisdom. He

By Kevin Zeese it’s not until that wall begins to crack and in college going to an anti-racism we start to see the light come through that demonstration in Boston in favor The following is the slightly edited ver- we realize we’re getting close to that break- of school integration, at that time Margaret Flowers and Kevin Zeese. sion of a talk given at the Aug. 30 UNAC- through moment when change can occur. Biden opposed school integration. sponsored online rally, “After the DNC We see the 2020s as a decade of trans- Then I worked on ending mass and RNC: We Can’t Breathe!” formation. The movements have been incarceration, ending the drug war, while ending the wealth divide and ending the growing since Occupy in 2011, then the Biden was passing laws to escalate the drug never-ending wars. Power to the people! We have the Black Lives Matter movement, Fight For war, passing laws for mandatory sentenc- We all have the power to vote for what power to change if we stay united. We 15—​all during the Obama era—​and now ing to increase mass incarceration. He’s the we believe in, for candidates [who] reflect have incredible opportunity now. We see the growing of the movements during the architect of mass incarceration! the movement. There are many more the movement’s growing, especially after Trump era. We see the 2020s as a decade Later in his career Biden became choices than a few corrupt candidates the Democratic National Convention and of social transformation. In order to have chair of the Senate Foreign Relations of the millionaires. And we need to use Republican National Convention. The that transformation, we need to be orga- Committee and led in not just voting for what little power we have in the elections conventions showed us that those parties nized and educated. … It’s normal for us to the Iraq War, but in the effort to make to send a message of what we are for, to do not represent the people and that our not always be on a linear path to success. the Iraq War happen. As chair of Foreign show that those who speak for movement power is not in elections. Our power is in It’s a jagged path. We move up and down, Relations, he put in place massive mili- issues get the movement’s support. After building people power—and​ we see that we get stronger. tary budgets, bloated corrupt budgets, we vote, we must build people power, so happening. We all know that Donald Trump is ter- while leading us into war after war. When that people can rule from below. We need to build power, so that in 2021 rible. The worst president of my life! His it came to student bankruptcy, he led the We must build people power, so that people can rule from below. So that we overt racism; his open support for violent effort to make it so students can’t get no matter who’s in office, we can stop the can call general strikes. So we can stop white supremacists; his mishandling of rid of student debt even in bankruptcy. government from operating. We can make business as usual. That is the only way the COVID-19 virus, causing more than Now he’s even calling for cutting Social the country ungovernable. We can put in change will occur. It will not come from 180,000 deaths so far and probably more Security when we should be doubling or place general strikes, so that our demands Joe Biden or Donald Trump. It will come than 200,000 by the time of the election; even tripling Social Security payments. are heard and met. That is how we will win. from the people. his poor response to the economic col- So I’m going to vote against Trump We have a lot to build on. … There We also have to understand—​and it’s lapse. He’s leading us into another Great by voting for what I believe in. There have been over 900 wildcat strikes since often very hard for people to understand—​ Depression, and he constantly puts in are more alternatives than the two par- March. The labor movement is growing. that the only path to success is failure. We place laws for the wealthy—​while pov- ties. I’ll be voting for the Green [Party] The climate justice movement is grow- fail and fail and fail until we win. But every erty, homelessness, debt and joblessness candidates Howie Hawkins and Angela ing. The anti-racist movement is growing. time we try, we build the movement. And increase. Walker, because I’m going to be voting The anti-inequality movement is growing. we get stronger. We can never tell how But Biden is no better. And I mean for Medicare For All. I’m going to be vot- We have a lot to build on. The 1% cannot close we are to success. It’s like we’re bang- no better. For 47 years he’s been wrong ing for community control of the police, defeat the 99%. So let’s not underestimate ing on a wall, pounding and pounding, and on every important issue. When I was for the eco-socialist Green New Deal, for ourselves. ☐ Portland marks 100 days of protests Continued from page 1 re-routes in the following weeks, now also continue to terrorize Portland neigh- the highest number of arrests since the run mostly on schedule, sometimes pass- borhoods with impunity. One resident protests began in late May. “everything wrong” with the country. ing through billowing clouds of tear gas tweeted during such an assault that “some- Wild conspiracy theories are spreading deployed by police just blocks away. one is still yelling ‘No tear gas please. We Continuing resistance unchecked, promoted by high-ranking don’t have any masks’ over and over again As Portland and other cities continue government officials like U.S. Attorney Continuing police assault even though there aren’t any protesters left anti-racist, anti-cop, anti-fascist protest, General William Barr. Federal forces, including the U.S. in the area to gas.” it is clear that the state’s desire to sup- The reality on the ground in Portland Secret Service, Immigration and Customs Such huge amounts of tear gas and press this movement has not abated. bears little resemblance to the far right’s Enforcement and Customs and Border other unknown chemical weapons have As the November elections draw near, fever dreams. The city’s downtown area—​ Protection, have largely withdrawn from never before been deployed in Portland’s calls for “law and order” from both the the site of many large demonstrations and Portland after having operated without dense neighborhoods. The effect on Republican and Democratic parties will overwhelming police repression—​con- identification, snatching protesters off the humans, and also on animal and plant grow louder, and disinformation spread tinues its reopening after months of busi- streets into unmarked vans. life, is not understood. The city’s environ- about protests will be amplified. ness closure due to the pandemic. Buses Oregon’s Democratic Gov. Kate Brown mental bureau has requested increased But as past months have shown, this and trains, suspended in the wake of the has now deputized Oregon State Police as testing of soil and the waters of the movement will not fold so easily. It stub- initial protests and with many delays and federal agents. They have the authority Willamette River, which flows just blocks bornly continues fighting for racial justice to charge people with committing federal from the downtown protests. There is fear and against police brutality, even in the offenses and have already begun to do so. that with the arrival of heavy rains in the face of ever-more violent and inhumane The Portland chapter of the Democratic fall, there will be a mass run-off of tear state repression and vigilante violence. Socialists of America stated in an Sept. 6 gas residue into the area’s waterways, As more and more people directly par- Facebook post: “Last night, on the 100 causing untold damage to marine eco- ticipate in the protests or witness them day anniversary of the uprising against systems still recovering from decades of from their front porches and living room police violence, several Portland DSA rampant industrial pollution. windows, more see that the narrative members, including members of the Records obtained by The Oregonian pushed by the police and politicians is PHOTO: DIRECT ACTION ALLIANCE. steering committee, were arrested on fab- revealed that Portland police spent more completely unmoored from reality. Night of Sept. 5 near the Ventura Park ricated felony charges.” than $117,500 between May 30 and At this critical juncture, it is more Elementary School, police in riot gear Oregon State Police and the Portland July 14 on impact munitions, tear gas and important than ever for all anti-fascist, deployed large amounts of CS/tear gas in Police Bureau continue to beat, brutalize other weapons. (oregonlive.com, Aug. 6) progressive and leftist forces to stand in the neighborhood, affecting residents in and gas peaceful protesters at the behest of On day 100 of the protests, between solidarity with the movement initiated their homes. The neighborhood is one of politicians who say they are on the protest- the night of Sept. 5 and the morning of under the banner of Black Lives Matter, Portland’s poorest and most diverse, one of the few majority people of color. ers’ side. These forces of state repression Sept. 6, police arrested 59 people, by far and to continue to fight back. ☐ workers.org Sept. 10, 2020 Page 9 Black Lives Matter holds court in sports By Monica Moorehead local police, a growing number of armed violinist and massage therapist killed neofascists have felt emboldened to vio- by Aurora, Colo., police on Aug. 30, Two months before George lently confront peaceful BLM protests. 2019. The murder in Brunswick, Ga., Floyd was publicly lynched President Donald Trump has egged on the this February of Arbery, a 26-year-old May 25 by a Minneapolis far right, actually defending the 17-year- unarmed Black man shot by a white police officer pressing a knee old white supremacist, Kyle Rittenhouse, supremacist father and son while jogging on his neck for almost nine who shot to death two anti-racist protest- was captured on videotape. The murder minutes, Breonna Taylor ers in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The two had of Trayvon Martin by a vigilante in 2012 was lynched in late March by been protesting the maiming of a 29-year- launched the BLM movement. three Louisville, Ky., police old Black man, Jacob Blake, who was shot Osaka had also refused to play her officers. seven times in the back by police. match at the Western and Southern Open, The 26-year-old African After the shooting of Blake, National a late August warm-up tournament to the American emergency med- Basketball Association (NBA) players U.S. Open, to protest police brutality and Thousands attend ‘Justice for Breonna Taylor’ protest ical technician was fatally outside Kentucky Derby, Sept. 5. carried out a historic three-day strike systemic racism. Her action prompted shot multiple times in her against police brutality. This heroic action the tournament organizers to shut down bed, as three white police prompted a strike in other sports to show matches for all the players for one day. officers illegally entered her home with not stop thousands of activists from using solidarity with Black Lives Matter. She stated: “None of these deaths had a search warrant for drugs. The officer the occasion of the scheduled race to raise to happen. For me, I just want everyone who shot her was fired, but no charges or their angry voices to shout Taylor’s name Athletes continue support for BLM to know the names more. For me, just arrests have been made. The other two and chant “No justice, no Derby,” loud While anti-racist protesters remain in spreading awareness. I feel like the more officers involved were put on administra- and clear. the streets, prominent athletes continue people know the story, then the more tive leave. A so-called investigation has Brittany Wiley, one of the main orga- to call for justice in their respective sport interesting or interested they’ll become been going on for almost six months. nizers, told the crowd: “What are we cel- venues. Take one of the top five tennis in it.” (AP, Sept. 6) The Floyd lynching helped to reignite ebrating? We don’t want mint juleps. We players in the world, Naomi Osaka, who Jamal Murray, a talented guard with the Black Lives Matter struggle all over want justice. We’re not partying. We’re is of Haitian and Japanese heritage. the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, has been the country in an unprecedented man- protesting. No justice? No Derby.” An During the U.S. Open in Queens, N.Y., wearing tennis shoes depicting Breonna ner, with demands to defund and even airplane flew over the track and unfurled through the first four rounds of four Taylor’s image on one and George Floyd’s abolish the police as protesters stayed a huge banner reading, “Arrest the cops matches, Osaka wore face masks with the on the other, while playing in the “bub- in the streets. The BLM struggle has also who killed Breonna Taylor.” (Washington names of Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, bled” NBA playoffs—​meant to protect given new life to the demand of justice Post, Sept. 6) Ahmaud Arbery and Trayvon Martin. players from the coronavirus. for Breonna Taylor, starting with arrest- In a simultaneous protest held in McClain was a 23-year-old Black During a post-game interview on TNT, ing the cop who killed her. For over three front of Metro Hall in Murray explained what the months, almost daily protests have been downtown Louisville, shoes mean to him: “In life, called in Louisville for Taylor, including anti-racists faced off you find things that hold one on June 1 in which David McAtee. a against armed neo- value to you and things to beloved Black barbeque cook was shot to fascist militia who fight for. And we found some- death by police. (tinyurl.com/y9upp9ux) supported the police. thing worth fighting for, as an The latest protest took place Sept. 5, Some of the anti-rac- NBA, as a collective unit. And right outside the fabled Churchill Downs ist protesters carried I use these shoes as a symbol Racetrack, home to the Kentucky Derby. arms to defend them- to me to keep fighting. … This race is the second leg of the Triple selves, after threats of They give me a lot of power.” Crown, the most prestigious of all horse right-wing violence. (Aug. 30). ☐ race titles. The fact that the stands were With sometimes Jamal Murray’s shoes honor George Floyd Naomi Osaka at U.S. Open. and Breonna Taylor. empty of fans, due to the coronavirus, did blatant support from Chadwick Boseman: An appreciation By Monica Moorehead affection and sadness had much to do the year before. police. In part the letter with Boseman’s powerful movie portrayal Boseman had put his reads: Like so many millions of other mov- of T’Challa, the African king of the mys- indelible stamp on much “Historically and ie-going fans, I was shocked and sad- tical land of Wakanda, that originated in smaller budget films currently, Hollywood dened with the news of the untimely the Marvel comic series, “Black Panther.” before “Black Panther.” encourages the epidemic death of super-talented African American When the blockbuster movie “Black Those films included of police violence and actor, Chadwick Boseman, who died at the Panther” debuted in 2018, it broke all “42” in 2013, playing culture of anti-Blackness. young age of 43 on Aug. 28. kinds of box-office records, grossing $1.3 Jackie Robinson, the The way that Hollywood His family let it be known that he had billion worldwide. It became the first Brooklyn Dodger who and mainstream media finally succumbed to stage IV colon can- movie in Hollywood history with a nearly broke the color barrier in Chadwick Boseman have contributed to the cer, following a four-year battle with the all-Black cast and a Black director, Ryan Major League Baseball in criminalization of Black disease that began in 2016. A few days Coogler, to achieve this feat. Boseman was 1947; “Get On Up” in 2014, playing leg- people, the misrepresentation of the legal after his death, Twitter owners announced praised for portraying T’Challa with such endary soul singer James Brown; and in system, and the glorification of police that Boseman’s death had been the most grace, dignity and power. No one knew “Marshall” in 2017, playing the first Black corruption and violence has had dire con- retweeted ever at 6 million to date. while filming “Black Panther” in 2017 that U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood sequences on Black lives. We demand The worldwide outpouring of respect, Boseman had been diagnosed with cancer Marshall, in his early days as a lawyer. better. Prove that Black Lives Matter Sports leagues and players in leagues to Hollywood by taking bold moves to including Major League Baseball, affirm, defend and invest in Black lives. Why Colin Kaepernick is Right the National Football League and the Follow the examples of the Minneapolis National Basketball Association honored School District, Denver Public Schools, A 2017 pamphlet of articles from Workers World newspaper. With articles Boseman on social media. the University of Minnesota and many from Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt and guest author Michael Bennett. other institutions in divesting from the A strong supporter of Black Lives Matter policing system and investing in the Black Boseman had publicly admired the community.” (Vanity Fair, June 24) includes: heroic anti-war stance taken by the late Boseman brings to mind a comparison to • Kaepernick: ‘This generation’s Muhammad Ali’ Muhammad Ali during the late 1960s. the great actor, Sidney Poitier, who during • Editorial Why is Colin Kaepernick unemployed? In a recent Instagram post, Boseman his career, which began in the late 1940s, • The political rebellion of Colin Kaepernick expressed solidarity with Black Lives consciously took roles that were devoid of • Kaepernick ‘effect’ grows with every police atrocity Matter stating, “From this country’s found- negative Hollywood stereotypes of Black • Sparked by Kaepernick – Sports protests pummel ing history; its economic base, its social people. This has been a constant character- racism standard, its penal system, its protection istic from Boseman’s early days as an actor, • The intersection between sports and fighting of property … White Supremacy and Racial when he was fired from the soap opera, “All police violence Prejudice are its Pre-existing Conditions. My Children,” for complaining how his • Athletes repudiate NFL’s trip to Israel Change is here. #BlackLivesMatter” character was negatively written. The pain of Boseman dying so soon will • Desatada por Kaepernick – protestas deportivas (tinyurl.com/y3g4dn3z) Even while terminally ill, Boseman linger for a long time, but the political leg- golpean el racismo along with 300 other prominent Black acy he left behind, with his genuine acting Download free PDF format. entertainers and celebrities signed a pub- of such integrity, will inspire new gener- ations of Black filmmakers and film buffs Visit workers.org/books to get your copy. lic letter demanding that the Hollywood industry divest in various ways from the of all nationalities. ☐ Page 10 Sept. 10, 2020 workers.org

editorials Housing is a right for all!

Even before the COVID pandemic hit, for all the rent they can’t pay now. Their emergency rental relief funds in May, this evicted from their “homeless camp.” the U.S. was in a deep housing crisis. Not back rent is piling up, like snow in bitter helped only 1,600 of the 11,000 people When evictions loomed in Brooklyn, a stock market property crisis. The crisis cold, and people will end up thrown out who applied. (kvue.com, May 1) the anti-gentrification group Equality of hundreds of thousands of people living into the streets in January or February Cuba, which has subdued the pan- for Flatbush rushed a social media call in grossly inadequate housing—​or actu- anyway. demic through centralized planning, to activists: “Illegal lock out in prog- ally houseless, with no access at all to per- The COVID-19 Eviction Defense already has protections in place against ress—​Go and support tenants now!” In manent shelter. Project calculates that 19 to 23 mil- houselessness and evictions. In 1959, the Oakland, Calif., Moms 4 Housing “repos- In recent years, homelessness in New lion U.S. renters are at risk of eviction victory of the Cuban Revolution granted sessed” a vacant and abandoned house to York City has reached its highest point by the end of 2020—​as much as 21% peasants the land they had worked for give their families a home. (See Workers since the 1930s Great Depression. In May, of renter households. (Aspen Institute, wealthy landowners. In the cities, people World, Jan. 20 and Aug. 20) with the current health emergency, there Aug. 7) This does not include homeown- collectively built and own their apartment This defiant working-class solidarity were almost 60,000 houseless people in ers who will lose homes because they buildings. The government keeps housing can end the housing crisis caused by cap- the city. (coalitionforthehomeless.org) cannot make mortgage payments. A prices low, so the rate of homeownership italism and give priority to the needs of Many of those who do have housing are Columbia University economist, Brendan is around 85%. (tinyurl.com/y48aarz3) the most oppressed, particularly people unable to pay their rent or home mort- O’Flaherty, estimates that U.S. houseless- What socialist Cuba has achieved in of color. gages after losing jobs and wages in the ness could increase as much as 45% in housing is yet to be won in the U.S. But We demand: No evictions; abolish all economic shutdown. The federal mora- 2020. (tinyurl.com/yafpaaus) those in struggle here are showing tre- pandemic rental and mortgage debt; can- torium on evictions passed by Congress This crisis has hit people of color mendous determination, recalling the cel all pandemic utility charges; reduce, in March expired July 24. On Sept. 2, and the poorest people hardest, along fighting example of the militant, commu- freeze and stabilize rent payments; con- President Trump finally renewed that with women, seniors, immigrants, the nist-led movement in the 1930s, which vert vacant buildings and short-term through the Centers for Disease Control LGBTQ2S+ community and people with blocked evictions by predatory landlords rentals into available housing for those and Prevention. Evictions are now pro- disabilities. and bankers. in need; and provide free housing for hibited from Sept. 4 through Dec. 31. The skimpy patchwork of eviction In Philadelphia, people who are house- those in COVID quarantine, including for But this stopgap merely delays evic- protection in some cities and states is less set up an encampment beside the released prisoners. tions until after the November presi- grossly inadequate. For instance, when gentrified development that displaced We say, “Housing is a right for all!” ☐ dential election. Renters are responsible Austin, Texas, distributed $1.2 million of them—​and are now resisting being Right-wing threats call for bold working class actions Continued from page 1 how the state dealt with Rittenhouse. Allies?” (1983), Workers World Party’s for a Labor for Black Lives and Against Trump has frequently praised the vio- late founder and Chairperson Sam Marcy Fascism action against a planned right- protests in Portland, Reinoehl had been lence of right-wing militias, while por- reminds us that “The growth of fascism wing protest there Sept. 26. shot in the arm earlier in August trying traying antifa specifically and the left in everywhere has been securely tied to big On Sept. 4, several unions represent- to wrestle a gun from a right-wing pro- general as the “terrorist threat.” It is abso- business; that is its lifeline. … Even in the ing millions of workers called for work tester. He explained his decision in an lutely clear that Trump will not hesitate to so-called best of times the capitalist gov- stoppages for racial justice. “The status interview shortly before he was killed, unleash state-sanctioned policing forces ernment not only tolerates terrorist orga- quo—​of police killing Black people, of execution style, by federal forces Sept. 3. and, when convenient, paramilitary forces nizations like the Klan, but once the class armed white nationalists killing demon- (tinyurl.com/y2rwh6ry) whose visibility is growing rapidly. struggle of the workers and oppressed strators, of millions sick and increasingly No formal charges had been issued Trump is not alone. Police across the people takes on the character of a genuine desperate—is​ clearly unjust, and it can- against Reinoehl, yet federal agents, under U.S. have a long, notorious history of sup- mass upsurge, the capitalist government not continue,” the joint statement read. the leadership of the Pacific Northwest port for and from extralegal white suprem- is more likely than ever to encourage and (tinyurl.com/y2erez23) Violent Offender Task Force, assassi- acist terrorist groups. A popular chant for promote the likes of the Klan and other Union leaders are following the lead of nated him at his home in Olympia, Wash. decades, now heard at some BLM rallies, is mediums of repression. professional athletes who staged walkouts This state overkill unit included the U.S. “Cops and the Klan work hand-in-hand!” “It is impossible to conduct a consis- in late August over the shooting of Jacob Marshals Service fugitive task force, local tent anti-fascist policy unless one takes Blake, which forced the postponement of How to answer the fascist danger police, county sheriffs and Washington into account the key and decisive factor several major league games: “They remind State Department of Corrections guards—​ How does the progressive, anti-rac- in overwhelming and destroying the fas- us that when we strike to withhold our all without body cameras. ist, pro-BLM movement respond to the cist menace; it is the working class, the labor, we have the power to bring an unjust U.S. Attorney General William Barr upsurge in paramilitary, right-wing, pro- oppressed people and their allies.” (Read status quo to a grinding halt.” called this government hit by a military Trump violence? Just waiting to vote for “The Klan & Government: Foes or Allies?” Now is not the time to go underground force “a significant accomplishment in the Joe Biden is not enough. Biden has his at workers.org/books ) or run to the border. The threat from the ongoing effort to restore law and order in own pro-police history. Shortly after Heather Heyer’s murder, right calls for bold, anti-racist, unifying Portland and other cities.” It is critical to understand the his- activists in Durham, N.C., responded by and class-conscious actions. The struggle The coordinated state assassination toric role played by right-wing terrorists toppling a hated Confederate statue, ele- must still be in the streets. ☐ prevented Reinoehl from ever having his during capitalist crises. vating the movement to a higher level. case heard in court. It is a far cry from In “The Klan & Government: Foes or Activists in Portland, Ore., are calling

Workers and oppressed people of the world, write to us! The Klan & Government Workers World received the how fake this pro- Foes or Allies? two letters below from friends in paganda is by our Bangladesh and Europe. past experiences. By Sam Marcy In the meantime Dear Comrades, I’ve noticed your editorial headed “Not being Trump is Dear Editors, This 1983 book Let me deliver revolutionary greet- not enough” published in the current examines the special ings to you and your party. I’m from issue (Aug 27) as your [Democratic I welcome this article by Greg Dunkel relationship with Bangladesh. You’re passing a tran- National Convention] evaluation. I’ve on the situation to date in Martinique the state that has sitional period of struggle and mass translated it into Bengali, our moth- about environmental poisoning. The allowed the Ku Klux uprising. I would like to proclaim sol- er-tongue, and sent you a copy here. article is going straight to Martinique Klan to exist for over idarity from the heart of the people of I would like to publish it in a Bengali via Paris, where it will do so much to Bangladesh to the heroic movement news portal so our people know the buoy up the spirits of our brothers and a century despite its of U.S people against oppression, working-class voice of the U.S, if you sisters there. Ninety-two percent of the criminal history of exploitation and injustice. allow. I expect it will be helpful to population—​men, women and chil- lynchings, murders, By this time you have to face your strengthen the working-class solidar- dren—are​ already contaminated. and intimidation. This classic book national election too. The ruling class ity of different regions. With no known antidote except remains as relevant as ever. will try to avail of the election to get rid I’m waiting for your kind reply. Red activism, they need to know they have of this people’s power. Like the whole salute. our unmitigated support. world, Bangladeshis are also very curi- Thanks again for giving their voices Available online without cost. Sincerely yours, ous about your national election. As a platform! Rashib Rahman Read it at: workers.org/marcy/klan expected, the media is busy telecast- Former Organizing Secretary, Socialist Ona Move, ing the speeches of the two leading Students’ Front Julia Wright capitalist parties. Some of them even Find additional titles at: Bangladesh Europe ☐ announced the Democratic Party as a www.workers.org/books pro-left organization. Though we know workers.org Sept. 10, 2020 Page 11 Book review: ‘Against the Loveless World’ By Shelley Ettinger Susan Abulhawa is a of the Zionist settler state, to every sub- story, as it interweaves with stories of her Palestinian-American poet, sequent attack and land grab, to the U.S. family, friends and neighbors. The result “Against the Loveless novelist and activist. In her wars against Iraq, to the West Bank set- is a novel that powerfully conveys both the World,” Susan Abulhawa’s hands, as in the hands of tlers’ murderous terror campaigns against everyday lived experience of struggling to third novel, is that rarest of the great masters like Toni the people, their lands and livelihoods—​ survive under Israeli occupation and how treasures, a bona fide master- Morrison and James Baldwin, all this intersects with Nahr’s daily life that experience gives rise to resistance. piece. The kind of novel that the novel transcends its own and its trajectory through the years. How Nahr and her comrades resist—​ you don’t just read, but inhale. form. It becomes more than But Nahr is no mere symbol. She is a and the price they pay for their actions—​ The kind that fills your heart mere story. It is a lesson, and fully drawn character, with all the quirks can’t be described without spoilers. Suffice and mind for long after you’ve it is a weapon. It will open and contradictions that every human it to say that, as the novel reaches its cli- turned the last page. the eyes of readers with little being has. Abulhawa deploys exquisite max, it becomes clear that these freedom Why? Not only because knowledge or understanding skill in depicting Nahr, drawing the reader fighters have the right to fight in any way this is great art, although that it surely is. about Palestine. For those who are already in to care about her deeply. The novel also they can and by any means they choose. The writing is gorgeous. The characteri- partisans of the great Palestinian struggle explores issues around sex work, LGBTQ+ For those who know little about zations are deep and complex. The story for liberation and self-determination, it will oppression, friendship and more, all Palestine, that might be an eye opener. is engaging, with a page-turning plot, an strengthen and inspire. woven together through Nahr’s story. They will finish the book with a fuller un-put-down-able momentum. She suffers much. She survives. This understanding of the struggle. For those This is also political art—​a category From Nakba to settler terror too is part of the book’s political art, to who already stand in solidarity with which is derided and largely suppressed The protagonist, Nahr, is a Palestinian show through Nahr how Palestine sur- Palestine, “Against the Loveless World” by this country’s bourgeois literary estab- woman whose life unfolds in unexpected vives no matter what. will deepen their unconditional support. lishment, but rightly valued in most of directions. Imperialism, invasion, occupa- For in a sense, Palestine itself is the This is a beautiful, wrenching, soaring, the world for its capacity to inform, edu- tion, colonialism, racism, sexism, class are book’s other key character. Depictions of searing novel. It will move you to tears. cate and raise consciousness. “Against the the context of her life. From the Nakba, the Palestinian landscape, culture, tradi- Let it also move you to action. Long live Loveless World” does all that and more. the great catastrophe of the establishment tions and struggle are integral to Nahr’s Palestine! ☐ WW Commentary French Imperialism: a scourge then, a scourge now! By Comrade Tano known carcinogenic chemical, why was French colonial rule, was still used by the it allowed to be used in the first place overseers on my people. It is easy to see There are some who say history is writ- on crops tended to by the working peo- a similarity between this and the use of ten by the victors. I, however, say that his- ples of Martinique? After all, it was the chlordecone on the plantations and peo- tory is written not by the victors, but by French Minister of Agriculture, Jacques ples of Martinique, despite the pesticide the rich and powerful. This is particularly Chirac, who allowed the use of the chemi- being recognized internationally as a car- true in the case of imperialism, and it is cal in 1972, despite it being recognized as cinogenic chemical. one reason why it has been able to survive hazardous. What then are we as Marxists supposed into the modern era. The answer is simple: The cruel and cold to take away from this? Imperialism is alive Currently in Martinique, there is hand of imperialism decided the health of Protesters in Martinique ask, ‘When is the and well in the 21st century, and we must unrest and anger over the use of a pesti- the citizens of Martinique was worth risk- trial of the poisoners?’ continue to oppose it just like our prede- cide linked to cancer, called chlordecone. ing, if using this pesticide would save costs cessors did in the past. Whether it be on For nearly two decades, this chemical and increase profits. Were this not the case, something my people can understand on the battlefield of Dien Bien Phu or on the was sprayed over the banana crops of the Macron would not have to claim “responsi- a deep level. Similar to the choices made banana plantations of Martinique, the mes- islands, and now nearly every one of the bility” for such a “scandal,” for there would today in Martinique by French neocolonial- sage is clear: Freedom for the colonized, local residents have traces of it in their be no scandal at all. ism, French rule in Vietnam was motivated and down with French imperialism! blood. (tinyurl.com/y3cxsyqa) For all their progressive talk, France by profit, with no care for the health or French President Emmanuel Macron is still a country steeply involved in the safety of the colonized. Vietnamese peasant Comrade Tano is a nonbinary, gen- has appeared to be outspoken in call- exploitation of less developed countries. workers were called a derogatory term for derfluid person of Vietnamese descent. ing this an “environmental scandal,” As a Vietnamese socialist, I cannot help but Asian laborers and were forced to work on They choose to write under this name to and he claims that the French state feel much empathy for those affected by this rice plantations in terrible conditions that protect themselves, while still support- will take responsibility immediately. chemical used on the banana plantations. led to sickness and death on a daily basis. ing and celebrating their history as a However, one must ask: If this were a Cruelty from French imperialism is Corporal punishment, outlawed by Vietnamese socialist. Solidarity with frontline workers By Betsey Piette workers, hazard pay and no cuts or layoffs. Community College of Philadelphia. 1637 (911/Fire Operators & Philadelphia Participants were urged to call Philadelphia One dominant theme was the impor- Parking Division), AFSCME DC 47, When Philadelphia city officials banned Mayor Jim Kenney and other city officials tance of rank-and-file workers in pushing AFSCME Local 2187 (Library), BMWED- all large parades due to COVID-19, AFL- to lift up these workers’ demands and to their unions to take a more active role in IBT Local 3012 (Railroad Workers), CIO officials cancelled their annual Labor sign their petition. (tinyurl.com/yy9t8nwa) promoting workers’ demands. Three orga- Teamsters Local 623 (UPS workers), AFT Day parade, opting for a virtual event One speaker from Teamsters Local 623, nized rank-and-file union caucuses pres- Local 2026 (CCP staff), TAUP (Temple and telling workers to “stay home and representing UPS workers, challenged ent included WE (Working Educators of Association of University Professionals), watch it on TV.” Rank-and-file workers, the bosses’ use of the word “essential” to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers), TAUP-RAFT (Temple University rank however, made other plans. As a result, describe the jobs he and other workers RAFT (Rank-and-File Temple Caucus) and file caucus) and AFSCME rank and Labor Day 2020 will go down as one of do, day-in-and-day-out, facing the risk of and the newly formed group UNITY, file city workers. Philadelphia’s most politically significant COVID-19. “For seven months, we have a progressive caucus organized within The rally ended with a moment of and progressive celebrations of Labor Day been called ‘essential,’ but how can we AFSCME locals. silence for all the essential workers who in recent memory. feel essential when we don’t get PPE, we Endorsers included AFSCME DC 33 have lost lives to COVID-19, followed by a Outside City Hall, the militant Solidarity don’t get hazard pay and when the bosses Local 427 (Sanitation), AFSCME DC 33 rousing promise that the struggle for the Rally with Frontline Workers brought out threaten us with layoffs? We need to orga- Local 403 (Highways), AFSCME DC 33 rights of frontline workers will continue. nearly 200 workers from a broad range of nize and take back our worth!” Local 394 (Water), AFSCME DC 33 Local When we fight, we win! ☐ public service jobs. Key demands included While there was no traditional blocks- personal protective equipment (PPE) for all long Labor Day march, the diversity and militancy of the speakers more than made up the difference. In addition to the tra- ¡Mantenla en las calles! ditional wearing of T-shirts identifying Continúa de la págína 12 solo podemos confiar en nosotros mis- union affiliations, many wore Black Lives mos, armados con nuestras armas duales Matter shirts or face masks. israelí, cuando el Nuevo Ejército Popular de solidaridad y organización para contra- Noticeably absent were the plethora en Filipinas recluta nuevos miembros, rrestar el movimiento hacia la derecha y of politicians who often use the Labor cuando el sistema de salud pública de derrotar a este sistema horrible, podrido, Day parades to promote their individual Vietnam continúa protegiendo a su gente racista, misógino, homofóbico y transfó- campaigns. del COVID-19, cuando un soldado en la bico. Ese seguirá siendo el caso ya sea que Instead, most speakers were rank- Corea Popular se entrena para defender a un burro capitalista o un elefante capita- and-file members of unions representing su nación contra el imperialismo estadou- lista entren en la Casa Blanca en enero. sanitation workers, firefighters, library nidense, y cuando la República Popular Todos los días, los trabajadores y los WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE workers, railroad workers, nurses, postal de China una vez más levanta a miles de oprimidos se organizarán y resistirán Workers participate in Labor Day rally for workers, public school teachers and uni- la pobreza. hasta que hayamos arrojado el capita- frontline workers in Philadelphia on Sept. 7. versity staff from Temple University and Las personas trabajadoras y oprimidas lismo al basurero de la historia. ☐ Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 62 Núm. 37 10 de septiembre 2020 $1 FOTO: SINTRACARBÓN Sintracarbón inicia huelga 1 de septiembre en la mina el Cerrejón, la Guajira, Colombia. Biden no nos salvará ¡Mantenla en las calles! Por Nathaniel Chase un senador que supervisó el mayor encarcelamiento ser el país más próspero de África a un lugar donde las de personas negras desde la Guerra Civil, con una fis- personas esclavizadas eran subastadas públicamente. A medida que se acercan las elecciones de noviembre, cal, Kamala Harris, como su compañera de fórmula. ¿Se aumentará la presión sobre las organizaciones revolucio- puede esperar que tal boleto escuche a los que están en Asistencia sanitaria narias dentro de los Estados Unidos para que se alinien las calles o los reprima? Apoyar a Medicare para Todos parece una obviedad con el Partido Demócrata y respalden a Joe Biden. durante una crisis de salud pública sin precedentes que ya El argumento que se hace a menudo es que se necesita Bienestar público ha matado a más de 160.000 personas en los EE.UU., con un presidente demócrata para contrarrestar las políticas La decisión de Trump y del Partido Republicano de no millones de trabajadores despedidos porque ya no reci- reaccionarias implementadas por una administración extender los beneficios federales de desempleo de $600 ben un seguro médico irracional basado en el empleador. republicana. por semana, a pesar de un desempleo récord como resul- Una encuesta de abril mostró que el 69 por ciento de los ¿Esta afirmación resiste el escrutinio? Si Joe Biden tado de su respuesta fallida a la pandemia de COVID-19, votantes registrados lo apoyan. (Newsweek, 24 de abril) es elegido, ¿podemos esperar que revierta las políti- es un acto de crueldad atroz. Pero Biden apoya a Trump y a la industria de seguros al cas reaccionarias y supremacistas blancas de Trump? rechazar este paso básico para mejorar el acceso a la aten- Examinemos el historial de Biden, así como el historial ción médica. Frente a esa posición, cualquier cosa que de las dos últimas administraciones demócratas, para ver sugiera Biden en respuesta al COVID-19 suena hueco. si esta es una expectativa razonable. Misoginia Deportaciones El profundo disgusto por la descarada misoginia de La gente en todo Estados Unidos está indignada por los Trump y el admitido abuso sexual a una serie de muje- crímenes diarios contra la humanidad cometidos por ICE res encendió uno de los días más grandes de manifesta- y la Patrulla Fronteriza bajo Trump. ¿Podemos esperar que ciones en la historia de Estados Unidos: la Marcha de las Biden detenga la maquinaria de detención y deportación, o Mujeres de 2017. Pero, ¿y Biden? Numerosas mujeres lo incluso la ralentice? Su historial, así como sus comentarios han acusado de agresión sexual y comportamiento ina- recientes, dicen lo contrario. propiado. Cuando se le preguntó sobre las acusaciones de De 2009 a 2017, mientras Biden era el vicepresidente Tara Reade, miembro del personal de Biden a principios Filadelfia, 12 de julio. WW/MO FOTO: JOE PIETTE de Barack Obama, Estados Unidos deportó a más de 2,5 de la década de 1990, las negó y respondió: “Si creen a millones de inmigrantes indocumentados, más de los que Tara Reade, probablemente no deberían votar por mí”. habían sido deportados durante todo el siglo XX. (abc- Biden no ha exigido la reanudación del beneficio de news.com, 29 de agosto de 2016) $600 por semana, sino que ofrece un programa vago de Seguridad Social En noviembre pasado, en un evento del ayuntamiento “seguro de empleo”. Tampoco ha presionado para que los Si es reelegido, Trump ha prometido poner fin al en Greenwood, Carolina del Sur, un exmigrante indocu- inmigrantes indocumentados reciban beneficios. impuesto sobre la nómina responsable de una parte mentado desafió a Biden sobre su historial de deportacio- Esta negativa a respaldar firmemente los pagos direc- importante de los fondos del Seguro Social. (american- nes. ¿La respuesta de Biden? “Vote por Trump”. Biden no tos en efectivo para abordar la pobreza no es nueva para progress.org, 12 de agosto) ¿Protegerá Biden este pro- desmantelará la misma máquina que ayudó a construir. los presidentes demócratas. Mientras que el republicano grama crucial? En repetidas ocasiones ha abogado por Ronald Reagan llevó el mito racista de la “reina dela recortar el Seguro Social desde la década de 1980, como Black Lives Matter, brutalidad policial beneficencia pública” a la presidencia, le tocó al presi- se detalla en un artículo del 13 de enero en The Intercept. y encarcelamiento masivo dente demócrata Bill Clinton desmantelar la Ayuda a las Este verano ha sido testigo de protestas y rebeliones familias con hijos dependientes en 1996. Biden se auto revela de Black Lives Matter sin precedentes en todo el país a En su lugar estaba la escasa Asistencia Temporal para En un elegante evento para recaudar fondos en raíz del asesinato de George Floyd por parte de la policía Familias Necesitadas (énfasis en el “temporal”). Biden, Manhattan en junio, Biden resumió qué esperar de su de Minneapolis. Si bien muchas fuerzas revolucionarias, un senador de Delaware en ese momento, votó a favor de presidencia: “Nada cambiaría fundamentalmente”. Si eso incluido el Workers World Party, abogan por la abolición esta reaccionaria “reforma del bienestar” y desde enton- no fuera suficiente, tuvo palabras amables para el sena- de la policía, la demanda más leve de desfinanciar a la ces ha evitado respaldar o repudiar ese voto. (nbcnews. dor James Eastland del Mississippi de la era Jim-Crow, policía ha ganado una amplia circulación, incluso entre las com, 10 de febrero) quien una vez dijo: “Lo que la gente de este país debe fuerzas moderadas. ¿Biden ha prometido asumir este man- darse cuenta es que la raza blanca es una raza superior, Guerra dato y rechazar la brutalidad policial racista? Dejó clara su y Negra es una raza inferior”. Cuando Biden elogia a los posición en un artículo de opinión del 10 de junio en USA Los ejemplos del militarismo de Trump son demasiado supremacistas blancos del pasado, ¿por qué esperar que Today: “No apoyo la eliminación de fondos para la policía”. numerosos para contarlos, pero una selección debería luche hoy contra la supremacía blanca? Trump ha desplegado agentes federales en varias ciu- incluir: el ruido de sables contra Irán, incluido el asesinato A medida que la crisis del colapso del imperialismo dades en respuesta a las protestas, una medida amplia- con drones del general iraní Qasem Soleimani; una guerra estadounidense empuja al país cada vez más hacia la mente criticada como un paso hacia un estado policial. comercial y una creciente tensión con China; un intento derecha, el registro deja en claro que no debemos con- Biden se ha involucrado en un poco de doble discurso, de golpe de estado y sanciones debilitantes a Venezuela; tar con Biden, o el Partido Demócrata en general, para oponiéndose al despliegue y también diciendo que “los rechazo a la demanda de Irak de que se retiren las tropas salvarnos. Lo sabemos directamente de su boca cuando anarquistas deben ser procesados”. estadounidenses; importantes aumentos del presupuesto Biden dice: “Nada cambiará fundamentalmente”. Esta declaración criminaliza a las personas por tener una militar; apoyo al genocida bloqueo saudita de Yemen y al Si bien la lealtad del Partido Demócrata es hacia la perspectiva política particular y ofrece una forma para que genocidio israelí de palestinos; y sanciones y amenazas de clase dominante, la pura grotesca de la retórica y las polí- la clase dominante considere a sus oponentes como “anar- la fuerza militar contra la Corea Popular. ticas supremacistas blancas de Trump hará que muchos quistas” y los arreste. Si bien condena a Trump, Biden en ¿Tomará Biden un rumbo diferente? De hecho, ha criti- sientan que deben votar por Biden, independientemente realidad respalda los principios de la política de Trump. cado a Trump por ser blando con China y Corea Popular. de su historial. En cualquier caso, la crisis cada vez peor Bill Clinton fue elegido presidente en 1992 después Apoyó la invasión de Irak en 2003, las sanciones a Irán, del imperialismo estadounidense no se abordará en la de 12 años de los republicanos Ronald Reagan y George los intentos de golpe de Estado de Estados Unidos y las cabina de votación el 3 de noviembre. H.W. Bush. Reagan había expandido enormemente la sanciones contra Venezuela, y es un promotor de Israel En cambio, las personas trabajadoras y oprimidas “guerra contra las drogas” racista, lo que llevó a que el desde hace mucho tiempo. abordarán la dominación imperialista de Estados Unidos encarcelamiento masivo creciera en casi medio millón, la Esta similitud entre los dos principales partidos capi- el 4 de noviembre cuando una vez más salgamos a las mayoría negros, morenos y/o indígenas. Esta tendencia talistas cuando se trata de la guerra no es nueva. George calles. Y al día siguiente, cuando los residentes de un continuó con George H.W. Bush. H.W. Bush presidió la invasión estadounidense de Irak barrio abandonado organizan una asociación de inqui- Cuando el demócrata Bill Clinton asumió el cargo, ¿cam- en 1990, pero Clinton, con el apoyo de Biden, continuó linos, cuando un maestro exige un entorno de aprendi- bió de rumbo? Todo lo contrario. La población encarce- con un régimen brutal de sanciones que fueron respon- zaje seguro para sus estudiantes, los trabajadores de un lada creció en un increible 650.200, el mayor aumento en sables de la muerte de más de 500.000 niños iraquíes. La hospital luchan por equipos de protección privada y la la historia de los Estados Unidos. Una fuerza importante Secretaria de Estado demócrata Madeleine Albright dijo mejor atención posible para sus pacientes, cuando una detrás del encarcelamiento continuo fue la Ley de Control que estas muertes “valieron la pena”. comunidad se moviliza para detener un desalojo, la gente del Crimen Violento y Aplicación de la Ley de 1994, el De manera similar, la administración Obama / Biden luchará dentro y fuera de los EE.UU. intento de los demócratas de cumplir y superar la imagen continuó las guerras en Irak y Afganistán, dio marcha Cuando una manifestación dice “No a la guerra contra de “fuerte contra el crimen” del Partido Republicano. atrás en una promesa de campaña para cerrar la Bahía de Irán”, cuando un Comité de Defensa de la Revolución ¿Qué senador tomó la iniciativa de redactar el proyecto Guantánamo, comenzó una modernización de $ 1 billón se reúne en Cuba, cuando una comuna en Venezuela de ley? Nada menos que Joe Biden. Mientras que los tra- del arsenal de armas nucleares de Estados Unidos y llevó distribuye alimentos frente a las sanciones de Estados bajadores y los oprimidos están en las calles como nunca a cabo golpes en Honduras y Libia, creando crisis migra- Unidos, cuando un palestino se resiste a la ocupación antes, el Partido Demócrata ha optado por presentar a torias que Continuar hasta el día de hoy. Libia pasó de Continúa en la página 11