Las contradicciones en el capitalismo 12

workers.org March 8, 2012 Vol. 54, No. 9 $1 Widespread uprising calls for U.S. out of Afghanistan By Deirdre Griswold

No longer can soothing words from the White House, the State Department or the Pen- MORATORIUM tagon cover up the intolerable brutality of the U.S.-NATO war of occupation in Afghanistan. ON FORECLOSURES Every attempt by the politicians and mili- WORKING WOMEN’S tary commanders of these imperialist pow- • Detroit conference March 31 ers to justify the war is being shattered by a HISTORY MONTH massive uprising of the Afghan people, who • Chicago & Milwaukee are not only marching and loudly demanding 100 years since “U.S. go home!” but putting their lives on the meetings line to do so. ‘Bread & Roses’ strike Starting Feb. 22, huge protests erupted all 5 • NYC study shows plenty over Afghanistan after it became known that of housing 6 troops at Bagram Air Base, the largest U.S. International base in the country, had confiscated copies of the Quran from hundreds of prisoners held Women’s Day there and burned them. Since then, scores of Editorial 10 Afghans have been killed as the foreign occupi- ers fired on demonstrators. PHILADELPHIA What happened next reveals how utterly hated the occupiers have become after 11 years of war — the longest war in U.S. history. The Pentagon cannot rely on the obedience, much GEORGIA PROTESTS DEMAND less support, of the very troops and police they have been training for years and to whom they SCHOOLS will supposedly “hand over” control of Afghan- ACTIVISTS istan at the end of 2014, according to President Barack Obama’s timetable. IN MOTION Nor can the U.S. rely on the continued par- ticipation of other imperialist countries in • Quitman 10+2 what has been essentially Washington and Wall Street’s war, but one sporting a NATO support rally 3 flag with some 10,000 troops participating from other countries. • Resisting nuclear

Explosion of anti-U.S. fury power 3 The grim situation for the imperialists be- came clear when on Feb. 24, as protests rocked • Taking on AT&T Afghanistan, the dead bodies of a U.S. Air in Atlanta 7 Force lieutenant colonel and an Army major NOT JAILS 8 were discovered in what was considered to be a super-secure room inside the Afghan Ministry WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE of the Interior. An Afghan intelligence officer, who was believed to have shot them through CALIFORNIA the head, escaped and became an instant hero to the people. LOCKED-OUT WORKERS BATTLE 1% 7 That same day, an off-duty police officer LOCKED-OUT WORKERS BATTLE 1% 7 who joined a protest in Kabul told a reporter, “I will take revenge from the infidels for what they did to our Holy Quran, and I will kill them Continued on page 11

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EUROPE IN CRISIS Spain, Portugal, Greece 9 SYRIA & SOMALIA Imperialists plot intervention 11 Page 2 March 8, 2012 workers.org

Detroit kids the poorest WORKERS WORLD this week ... Millions of U.S. children  In the U.S. Millions of U.S. children live in poverty ...... 2 live in poverty March supports Quitman 10+2 ...... 3 New nuclear construction opposed in Georgia...... 3 By Kris Hamel off. Thousands of city workers face wage cuts, layoffs and WWP celebrates Black History in south...... 3 Detroit speed ups while dozens of schools are closed and services Behind the life & death of Whitney Houston...... 4 for city residents are pared to the bone. Mumia Abu-Jamal on Whitney Houston...... 4 The Kids Count report on child poverty in the United An emergency manager takeover is threatened for the 100th anniversary of Bread & Roses strike ...... 5 States was released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation on city because of the fiscal crisis caused by the banks and Student hunger strike demands living wages for workers ...5 Feb. 23. Despite claims in the media and by the govern- their usurious debt servicing. Imposition of an emergen- National conference to demand foreclosure moratorium....6 ment lately that “jobs are being added,” “unemployment cy manager will not improve conditions for the children is down” and “the economy continues to recover,” the or any residents of Detroit. Instead, it will trigger an au- Chicago ghts foreclosures ...... 6 situation is extremely bleak for a huge, vulnerable sec- tomatic default by the city, with $400 million due imme- Homelessness found amidst abundant housing...... 6 tion of the population. diately to the banks. Meeting takes up struggle to stop foreclosures, evictions ...6 The report used U.S. Census Bureau data and deter- Even prior to the current crisis, the city was already Locked-out country club workers stand strong...... 7 mined that the number of children in the U.S. living in hard hit by the racist deindustrialization of the auto in- WWP forum on Black liberation, OWS ...... 7 poor communities went up 25 percent from 2000 to dustry, which closed virtually every auto plant in the Mo- Activists ‘occupy’ AT&T to stop layos ...... 7 2010. Eight million children lived in poor communities tor City and drove employment, wages and union mem- Seattle port truck drivers end strike, make gains ...... 7 in 2010, an increase of 1.6 million from 2000. bership sharply downward. Occupy movement challenges prison-industrial complex ...8 Three-quarters of these children had at least one par- Some 1 million industrial jobs were lost in Michigan WWP leaders speak in Los Angeles...... 8 ent working at a job, although at wages insufficient to between 2000 and 2010. Inequality, capitalism and socialist revolution ...... 10 pull the family out of poverty. A poor community is one where 30 percent or more of the population is living in Michigan’s homeless children Around the world poverty, which means surviving on roughly $22,000 per These job cuts by the auto giants and other corporations, year or less for a family of four. along with the predatory lending of the banks and finan- U.S. out of Afghanistan ...... 1 Of course, it is still a struggle for a family of four — or cial institutions, have created a crisis of survival for tens Greeks struggle against a new colonialism ...... 9 any size — to survive on $22,000 in yearly income. Low of thousands in Detroit and many more around the state. Workers, youth hit streets in Spain and Portugal ...... 9 Some 40,000 people in the state, including an esti- wages or income must purchase housing (rent or mort- Imperialist-backed conferences set stage mated 15,000 children, were recently cut off from wel- gage with required taxes and insurance), food, heat and for intervention in Somalia & Syria ...... 11 other utilities, transportation, child care, clothing, medi- fare cash assistance. Unemployment benefits in Michi- cal care, tuition and education-related expenses and gan end after just 20 weeks. Editorials other necessities of life. Under capitalism these are com- The report says Michigan’s share of children in high- poverty neighborhoods rose from 8 percent in 2000 to 14 modities to be bought and sold at a profit, instead of guar- International Working Women’s Day ...... 10 anteed human rights. percent in 2006-2010. (Associated Press, Feb. 23) There were 341,000 Michigan children in impoverished neigh-  Noticias En Español Detroit has worst child poverty borhoods in 2010, about 124,000 more than in 2000, or Las contradicciones en el capitalismo ...... 12 According to the report, Detroit has the dismal dis- a 57 percent increase. tinction of having the worst child poverty in the coun- Many of the state’s children are homeless. According to try. A staggering 67 percent of Detroit children live in a four-part series in the Detroit Free Press, “In the 2010- high-poverty neighborhoods, more than in any other of 11 school year, more than 31,000 homeless students at- the largest 50 cities in the U.S. That is 10 percent more tended school — 8,500 more than in the previous school than the next worst city, Cleveland, where 57 percent of year, a 37 percent spike attributed to the weak economy, children live in poor communities. (Detroit News, Feb. 23) loss of jobs and the foreclosure crisis. Overall, the number Workers World Detroit, a majority African-American city, lost 25 per- of homeless students in Michigan has jumped more than 55 West 17 Street cent of its population from 2000 to 2010 due in large mea- 300 percent in the last four years.” (freep.com, Dec. 18) New York, N.Y. 10011 sure to the home foreclosure epidemic caused by the racist, These homeless students and their families live not Phone: 212.627.2994 predatory banks and their sub-prime mortgage schemes just in Detroit, but in its suburbs, and in Flint, Grand E-mail: [email protected] aimed at oppressed communities. Vast sections of the city Rapids and other cities, as well as in small towns and ru- Web: www.workers.org are littered with vacant, abandoned and vandalized homes ral areas all over the state. The “lucky” ones have moved Vol. 54, No. 9 • March 8, 2012 where once-thriving neighborhoods used to be. into cramped quarters with relatives; others live in the Closing date: Feb. 28, 2012 The official unemployment rate for Detroit residents woods and in makeshift dwellings. The problems they Editor: Deirdre Griswold is more than 28 percent. If discouraged and part-time face as students and growing children are immense and Technical Editor: Lal Roohk workers are included, it is at least 44 percent. Mayor cruel, with long-lasting effects. Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Dave Bing has admitted he thought joblessness in the Increasing child poverty and homelessness are what Leslie Feinberg, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead, city was closer to 50 percent. the capitalist system offers the youngest and most vul- Gary Wilson Tens of thousands in Detroit have had their water cut nerable members of society, even in the richest country West Coast Editor: John Parker on earth. Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel, MARXISM, REPARATIONS & the Black Freedom Struggle Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited by Monica Moorehead. Includes: Berta Joubert-Ceci, Cheryl LaBash, • Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination Larry Holmes • Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Betsey Piette, Wage Slavery Sam Marcy • Black Youth: Repression & Resistance LeiLani Dowell • The Struggle for Socialism Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac is Key Monica Moorehead • Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle for Human Rights & Global Justice! Sala- Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger, din Muhammad• Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Consuela Lee Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno • Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior Mumia Abu-Jamal • Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez, 40th Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion John Parker • Racism and Poverty in the Delta Larry Hales Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez, • Haiti Needs Reparations, Not Sanctions Pat Chin Carlos Vargas Available at Amazon.com and bookstores around the country workers.org/reparations/ COVER GRAPHIC BY SAHU BARRON Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator join us Copyright © 2011 Workers World. Verbatim copying National O ce Bualo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Pittsburgh and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium Workers World Party 55 W. 17 St. 367 Delaware Ave. 331 W. Main St., Ste. 408 [email protected] without royalty provided this notice is preserved. New York, NY 10011 Bualo, NY 14202 Durham, NC 27701 (WWP) ghts for Rochester, N.Y. 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By Dianne Mathiowetz Board, and one African Ameri- Quitman, Ga. can was elected to the County Commission. Feb. 25 — Several hundred people Almost immediately, the marched to the County Courthouse here Georgia Bureau of Investigation today in support of the the Quitman 10+2 was directed to look into charges for a rally addressed by state and local of voter fraud, and ten activists leaders of numerous civil rights, faith and were arrested on Dec. 21, 2010. community organizations. Two more were charged last Labeled a blatant example of voter sup- November. Then in January, pression, the speakers demanded that all Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal sus- the charges of voter fraud be dropped pended all three Black members against the 11 women and one man who of the School Board, although no were active in registering voters in the one has been convicted of any 2010 School Board and County Commis- wrongdoing. sion elections in Brooks County. Making use of early voting and ab- sentee ballots, many people were able to Edward DuBose, Georgia NAACP vote, some for the first time. Two Black President, addresses rally. members were elected to the School PHOTO: ADRIANE HARDEN New nuclear construction opposed in Georgia

By Courtney Hanson were double that of the national average. dioactive contaminants in drinking water tion is necessary during a rain storm. Atlanta The promise of new construction jobs and food, yet no comprehensive environ- Because of the cost and risks of nuclear at the plant draws some community sup- mental monitoring is in place to deter- power, Wall Street will not invest. Georgia Nearly a year ago, the world’s eyes were port, but just like the first round of con- mine if water, crops, fish or livestock are Power is financing their $14 billion proj- on Japan as the worst nuclear disaster in struction, these jobs will be temporary. safe to consume. ect on the backs of taxpayers and Geor- history began to unfold at Fukushima. Area newspapers also report that many The Department of Energy cut federal gia ratepayers. The company received an Images of nuclear reactors up in flames, of the workers will come from out of state funding for environmental monitoring $8.3 billion federal loan guarantee, and workers in hazmat [hazardous material] and will be nonunion to Georgia in 2004, the same year that is covering other project costs by charg- suits and parents swiping Geiger counters For some Shell Bluff residents, these Southern Company expressed interest in ing every customer a monthly tax called a over their radioactive children lit up tele- jobs are not worth the trade-offs. DOE funding for a new nuclear plant. “nuclear construction cost recovery fee.” vision screens across the world. Germany “Some people did get jobs,” Shell Bluff Shell Bluff residents also live in fear Already $42 million over budget on the and Switzerland have since begun phas- resident Annie Laura Stephens said, “but a of a nuclear meltdown. At a community project, the fee is increasing and will prob- ing out nuclear power altogether. Italy lot of us got something else. We got cancer. meeting in January, residents raised con- ably do so until the new reactors go online canceled plans for their nuclear program. I lost sisters, brothers and cousins to can- cerns that the radios Southern Company around 2017. Considering that Vogtle re- But the U.S. is a different story, and cer, and every family I know has lost some- issued to alert them in case of emergency actors 1 and 2 went over budget by about now the world’s eyes are on the state of body to cancer.” (thegrio.com, Jan. 25) are outdated and unreliable, and that area 1,200 percent when they were built in the Georgia as the Nuclear Regulatory Com- High cancer rates likely result from ra- dirt roads might not hold up if an evacua- Continued on page 10 mission approved plans in early February for Southern Company’s Georgia Power to build the first new nuclear reactors in the U.S. in 30 years at Plant Vogtle in Burke County, Ga. WWP celebrates Black History in south The plant already houses two operating reactors and sits just across the river from By Dante Strobino the Savannah River Site, a nuclear weap- Durham, N.C. ons facility that houses so much Cold War-era waste it’s designated one of the The Durham branch of Workers World most contaminated nuclear sites in the Party on Feb. 25 hosted a Black History country. The residents there worry about Month film screening of “The Black Pow- what these new reactors will do to their er Mixtapes, 1967-1975,” followed by dy- health and the environment. namic political discussion. The 60 people People across the U.S. should be wor- in attendance were mostly from the Black ried too. The industry hopes the Vogtle cultural Hayti district and North Carolina project will kick off a nuclear renaissance, Central University — formerly North Car- and that has far-reaching implications. olina College for Negroes. One of the major safety lessons learned This Swedish-made film contains doc- DURHAM, N.C. at Fukushima was what scientists call the umentary footage from the height of the WW PHOTO: DANTE STROBINO cascade effect — if one nuclear reactor be- Black Power movement in the U.S. and Feb. 25 WWP meeting. gins to melt down, it will have an adverse features interviews with revolutionary and similar effect on the reactor next to leaders like Kwame Ture (aka Stokely self-determination of oppressed peoples. history in forming the Prisoner Solidarity it. Currently, U.S. safety standards for Carmichael), Bobby Seale, Angela Davis, He described WWP’s support for Robert Committee, which did work in North Car- existing and proposed reactors are only Huey Newton and others, along with con- F. Williams, who fought against racist olina, Virginia, and all across the country designed for single reactors at a site, even temporary artists and activists. Many of Klan terror in Union County, N.C., in the in the 1970s in defense of Joan Little, an though most U.S. nuclear power plants the interviews and footage that are includ- 1960s, and also for the Deacons for De- African-American woman who killed a house multiple reactors. ed appear for the first time in this film, as fense and Justice in Louisiana. white jailer as he attempted to rape her in This is likely one reason NRC chair they were discovered only recently. Tameka Graham, a member of United Beaufort, N.C., in 1975. Gregory Jaczko voted against the con- Several scenes show banners in support Electrical Workers Local 150 — the North In the discussion, several people raised struction and operating license at Vogtle. of the Black Panthers carried by Youth Carolina Public Service Workers Union, issues affecting their community. Yao “I cannot support issuing this license as Against War & Fascism, at that time the spoke about struggles of her Black-ma- Lloyd McCarthy from World Africa Di- if Fukushima never happened,” Jaczko youth arm of Workers World Party. This jority union fighting for collective bar- aspora Union spoke about his support said. His was the one dissenting vote in is a must-see film for activists and revo- gaining rights for public workers and the for WWP because of the party’s firm in- the 4-1 decision. (reuters.com, Feb. 9) lutionaries, especially in the U.S. South, passage of a Mental Health Workers’ Bill ternationalist stance, and also about the who want to gain a better understanding of Rights. legacy of Marcus Garvey and A. Phillip Jobs, health and who pays? of the Black Power movement and the im- Eva Panjwani, a member of the youth Randolph. Indiana, a student at Durham Plant Vogtle is housed in the communi- plications it has for our struggle today. organization FIST — Fight Imperialism, Technical Community College, described ty of Shell Bluff, in Burke County, a poor, After the film, Workers World Party Stand Together, talked about the work how the system mis-educates youth. She rural, majority African-American area activist Lamont Lilly led a political dis- FIST is doing to fight racist resegregation said lots of work must be done to over- about 20 miles southeast of Augusta, Ga. cussion about the pressing issues of to- of schools, threats of war on Iran, attacks come that. There were several other good In the first decade of the 21st century, the day and shared historical information on immigrants and more. Dante Strobi- comments from the floor and a lot to fol- county’s poverty and unemployment rates on the role of the party in supporting the no spoke about Workers World Party’s low up on. Page 4 March 8, 2012 workers.org Racism, sexism and exploitation: Behind the life & death of Whitney Houston By Monica Moorehead Dubbed simply as “The sitivity and respect from the media do not Voice,” Houston broke all kinds exist under capitalism. In its recent issue, Under capitalism — a system that of music records more than 20 the notorious tabloid, National Enquirer, puts profits before human needs — years ago which still stand the shows an unauthorized front page photo genuine support needed for develop- test of time. She is, to this day, of Houston laying in an open casket. ing one’s talent is generally not made the only artist to have seven Because Houston was an African- available, much less encouraged. consecutive number one re- American woman, the situation was made Luck, along with having influential cordings; in 1985, her first al- even worse. For many years, the tabloids connections, plays a central role in bum, “Whitney Houston,” sold labeled her a “crack addict” — a racist many instances on whether the indi- more copies than any other de- term that stereotypes Black people, espe- viduals become famous or not. What but album in history. Houston cially in urban areas. Despite Houston’s usually happens is that many talented could take a song previously stardom, she never forgot her roots in people are left to figure out on their made famous by someone else Newark, one of the most impoverished own how best to display their creativ- and turn it into a megahit, like U.S. cities — and neither did the tabloids. ity to others as opposed to hoping to “I Will Always Love You,” which Whenever Houston made any public be “discovered.” remains the largest selling com- appearances during this difficult period, Then, there are those whose tal- mercial single record ever. the tabloids would characterize her be- ent is too unique and too obvious to Similar to Michael Jackson, havior as “bizarre” and “erratic.” They ignore. Eventually, they are trans- Houston sold out concert arenas would publicly say that any problems with formed, usually unconsciously, into around the world, from Spain to her voice had to do with “drug abuse,” a valuable commodity to be bought Brazil to South Africa, as well as though there was no substantial medical and sold — superexploited — to throughout the U.S., especially proof to back these claims. This woman make millions of dollars for the en- in the 1980s and 1990s. She won with an astounding voice, who had given tertainment industry but not without a total of six Grammy trophies. the world so much joy, had been turned its taking its tragic toll on the artist. Nelson Mandela with Houston, Pretoria, 1994. The Grammy is the highest hon- into cannon fodder for the press. The me- This was certainly the case for the or bestowed upon artists within dia have now stooped very low in demon- late, great Whitney Houston. the U.S. recording industry. izing Houston’s 18-year-old daughter, The shocking, untimely death of the a multitude of languages in remembrance Houston made her movie-acting debut Bobby Kristina, claiming that she is also a extraordinarily talented Houston on Feb. of her wondrous gifts. in “The Bodyguard” in 1992, opposite Kev- drug addict and that she got “high” during 11 at the young age of 48 is a devastating in Costner as her love interest. Movie ex- her mother’s funeral. A magnicent voice blow to music lovers around the world. ecutives were very hesitant to hire her be- What really drove home the media’s The medical reasons for her death in Los If Michael Jackson was recognized as cause, even though at the time she was the racist and sexist treatment of Houston Angeles won’t be known for weeks. Mil- “the king of pop music,” then many critics most popular female singer in the world, occurred on Feb. 16, when two bigoted lions of people by live stream viewed her and fans alike argue that Houston is “the they were afraid that with Houston be- “shock jock” deejays, John Kobylt and Ken Feb. 18 funeral with only one TV camera queen of pop music.” Unlike Jackson, ing Black, an interracial love story would Chiampou, referred to her as a “crack ho” placed inside the Newark church. The who was the consummate innovator of alienate white moviegoers. This point was on their radio show. This is an outrage! coverage of her death before the funeral dance moves, all Houston had to do was alluded to by Costner when he spoke at These two should have immediately been was nonstop in all forms of media, espe- open her mouth and sing without moving her funeral. The movie eventually grossed fired for this disgusting racist and sexist cially TV and online. Her music and per- a muscle to totally transfix and mesmerize $400 million worldwide and its original slur. Instead, they were temporarily taken formances permeated every continent in her audiences. soundtrack, featuring music vocalized by off the air, given a slap on the wrist. Houston, is still the highest-grossing mov- Past efforts have been made by pro- ie soundtrack ever. gressive groups to silence them from the airwaves for their racist tirades against Political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal on A victim of the racist tabloids immigrants. The two are scheduled to be Whitney Houston was born in Newark, reinstated on Feb. 27, which is an outrage. N.J., in 1963. Her mother is the famous Once again, ratings, as well as big money gospel singer, Cissy Houston. Her cousin from advertisers, rule the airwaves. Not WHITNEY HOUSTON is Dionne Warwick, one of the most popu- even a world-famous artist like Whitney lar singers during the 1960s, 1970s and Houston is exempt from the racism and 1980s. Her godmother is the legendary sexism faced by other oppressed peoples. (1963-2012) Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. Many Her legacy will live on The death of songbird Whitney Hous- With Somebody,” “Savin’ All My Love popular African-American women artists, ton hit like a thunderclap. For You,” “Run to You,” “You Give Good including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson Houston was far from being a political At the age of 48, she was found dead Love” — and many, many more. and Alicia Keys, give much credit to Hous- person, much less a political activist. She in a Beverly Hills hotel room; as of this Her voice, her pace, her phrasing, ton for inspiring them to become singers. unfortunately sang “the Star-Spangled writing, cause unknown. her stage presence and her beauty were Music industry mogul Clive Davis first Banner” during the 1991 Super Bowl, fol- Her voice was an instrument of which a package that virtually defined “Star.” discovered Houston, when she was a teen- lowing the First Gulf War. She became the one can only marvel. Indeed, she was that rarest of creatures: ager singing in a gospel choir. However, poster person for U.S. patriotism. Apparently, many, many others felt Superstar. she quickly crossed over to pop music She nevertheless performed in Johan- likewise, for she sold an estimated 170 Ironically, the very media that sav- when she burst on the music scene at the nesburg in 1994 before thousands of million records and videos. aged her for years, flipped into worship age of 22. Her rise to stardom can only be adoring fans, including from the Soweto She won virtually every award avail- mode when she was gone and could no described by words like “unprecedented,” Township, and met with Nelson Mande- able. Grammys, it seemed, by the double. longer hear them. “astounding” and “meteoric.” la. She supported community projects in But more important was her music: Whitney Houston was a daughter, All of the fame, fortune and admiration Newark. In fact, a performing arts school love songs, pop songs, ballads and show wife, mother and actress. Her songs could not protect Houston from falling there has been renamed in her honor. tunes that dazzled and delighted, like “I will be heard, sung and loved for victim to drug and alcohol addiction. This Houston’s real-life bodyguard, Ray Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance generations. is an all too familiar fate that many talent- Watson, put her life into perspective dur- ed people are faced with when feeling the ing his moving tribute at her funeral. He pressure to stay on “top” in their profes- called her “a beautiful, caring lady.” He Just released— sion. Any less than that would be viewed also said, “Entertainers need to be treated a new book from as being a failure. with dignity and love” and people need To make matters worse, when such to “stop ridiculing them,” because they Mumia Abu-Jamal illnesses and the treatments for them — are constantly on the road, leaving their and Marc Lamont Hill: which should be private affairs for the loved ones behind. He went on to say, individual and their loved ones — become “Whether they are on court or on stage, THE CLASSROOM public, the tabloids demonize with vile they provide entertainment to make our language the very artist that they claim to lives a little brighter.” AND THE CELL: respect and admire, so that they can make The greatest tribute one can pay to Conversations on profits. Houston was grilled during almost an extraordinary talent like Whitney every interview, whether in audio or in Houston is to not only continue to keep Black Life in America print, about her private life. The tabloids’ her music alive for future generations to The Classroom and The Cell is the latest future treatment of her proves again that they admire, but to fight for a more humane bestseller from Third World Press. This book delves may love and praise you one day, but they society that will enhance and nurture all into the problems of Black life in America and will then turn around and hate you the levels of talent and culture, not exploit it. o ers real, concrete solutions. next day if they can make a buck — in other That will truly be “the greatest love of all” words, the “build you up to tear you down” Order your copy today at: shown for the once-in-a-generation sing- www.freemumia.com/?p=684 syndrome. Consistent, unconditional sen- er known as “The Voice.” workers.org March 8, 2012 Page 5

LESSONS FOR TODAY ON UNITY, STRUGGLE 100th anniversary of Bread & Roses strike

By Sue Davis should be in school instead of slaving in Women textile the mills,” Haywood responded. On this International Working Wom- workers on Adopting a strategy employed by en’s Day, March 8, it’s instructive to com- strike in 1912, French and Italian strikers, the workers, Lawrence, memorate the 100th anniversary of the assisted by Mother Jones, sent 120 chil- Mass. Bread & Roses strike, which provides dren to New York City on Feb. 10, where valuable lessons for our struggles today. they were welcomed by 5,000 Italian The March 12 date marks the end of socialists, who fed, clothed and housed the two-month strike of 25,000 textile them. After another group of 92 children workers in Lawrence, Mass., which was were sent there a few weeks later, Law- the center of the New England textile in- rence officials, outraged by the sympa- dustry. It’s estimated that one company of the World, thetic publicity generated, ordered that annually produced woolen and cotton organizing in no more children could leave the city. goods worth $45 million — an amazing the mills since On Feb. 24, as 150 children were to sum 100 years ago! 1907, tele- leave for Philadelphia, police and militia But the companies did not share that graphed experi- waded into the crowd, swinging billy clubs wealth with the workers, who averaged enced IWW or- as they tore children away from parents. less than $9 a week. Living and working ganizer Joseph They arrested 35 women and children, conditions were so bad that a Lawrence Ettor to help organize the strike. test peacefully. Police violence and arrests beating them mercilessly on their way physician reported that “thirty-six out Immediately, Ettor set up a strike com- began the first week. When strikers, who to jail. That display of heartless brutality of every 100 of all men and women who mittee, with two representatives from after being drenched with water from fire was the turning point in the strike. work in the mill die before or by the time each nationality, which met every morn- hoses, retaliated by throwing chunks of A national outcry ensued, leading to a they are twenty-five years of age” due to ing to plan the day’s activities. Mass pick- ice, 36 were arrested and sentenced to a congressional investigation in Lawrence malnutrition, occupational diseases and eting was conducted daily. The strikers year in jail. in early March. When truth about the speed-up. issued demands: a 15 percent increase in One of the largest demonstrations oc- horrific working and living conditions Known as the Bread & Roses strike wages, double time for overtime and no curred on Jan. 29, after Ettor addressed emerged, the biggest textile company — because at least half the strikers were reprisals for striking. Ray Standard Bark- a mass meeting on the town commons. capitulated on March 12, accepting all young women between 14 and 18 who er, writing in the American Magazine, When militia, summoned from neighbor- the strikers’ demands. Soon, wages were carried signs reading “We want bread called it the first openly socialist strike ing towns, tried to halt the march, Ettor raised for all textile workers throughout and roses too” – this work stoppage of- because its demand for higher wages was averted violence, leading protesters down New England. It took a two-month trial fers a shining example of how the unity, tied to the abolition of the entire wage a side street. Later that evening, a woman in the fall before Ettor, Giovannitti and organization and determined spirit of the system and of private ownership of in- striker was killed when police tried to Caruso were acquitted on Nov. 26. workers stopped corporate greed and the dustry. break up a picket line. Unfortunately, however, no contract police state that imprisoned strikers on Answering the call for organizers, Ar- Even though Ettor and Giovannitti was signed and the union floundered. its behalf. It also shows how a strike can turo Giovannitti, editor of the Italian were at a meeting three miles away, they During the 1913 recession, workers’ wag- become an incipient revolution. Socialist Federation’s newspaper, set up were arrested as “accessories to the mur- es were once again cut, and speedup be- strike relief, with a network of soup kitch- der,” charged with inciting violence, re- came even more ruthless. Strikers organize, invent new tactics ens and food distribution centers run by fused bail and imprisoned without trial But the heroic example of the Bread & What provoked the strike? The state each national group. Volunteer doctors for eight months. In April, striker Joseph Roses strike endures. The key elements of Massachusetts, responding to notori- provided medical care. In response to a Caruso was charged with the murder, were unity of the workers, though divided ously harsh working conditions, passed a national appeal, donations poured in and though protesters identified a Lawrence by language and nationality; inventive law effective Jan. 1, 1912, reducing weekly were distributed equitably, so no one was cop as the killer. Martial law was declared, tactics that exposed the wrongs and de- hours for women and children from 56 to evicted from company housing. public meetings were declared illegal, and manded rights; and openly promoting the 54. On Jan. 11, when Polish women weav- The picketers invented a new tactic — 22 more militia units were called in. strike as a struggle against capitalism and ers noticed their weekly pay had been cut an endless chain of thousands marching for socialism. Not deterred by police state tactics by 32 cents (which would deprive them around the mill district wearing white It’s time to adopt similar strategies in- of three loaves of bread), they shut their armbands reading “Don’t be a scab.” Police state tactics did not stop the spired by this struggle to counter the cur- looms and marched to all the other facto- (There were none.) Large groups also strikers. IWW organizers Big Bill Hay- rent war against the working class. ries, shouting “Short pay, short pay!” locked arms on business district side- wood and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn joined Sources: Joyce Kornbluh, “Rebel Voic- The next day, all the mills were silent, walks, and when local cops and militia them. After Haywood addressed thou- es: An IWW Anthology” (Chicago: Kerr, as the workers from 30 countries, speak- tried to disperse them, the crowds went sands of strikers on the commons, they 1988); and Milton Meltzer, “Bread and ing 45 languages, held a mass meeting. into stores, clogging the aisles. serenaded him with “The Internationale” Roses: The Struggle of American Labor The socialist-oriented Industrial Workers But picketers were not allowed to pro- sung in their native tongues. “Those kids 1865-1915” (New York: Knopf, 1967). Students on hunger strike demand living wages for campus workers

By Gene Clancy ship in my life. Growing up, I moved over ple A rating from Wall Street. (The Daily 30 times, including various stays in home- Progress, May 21) Joseph Williams is a student athlete less shelters, the homes of family friends This is not counting the millions of dol- with a lot of courage, both on and off the and church basements. [Because] of these lars that the university receives in research playing field. He and 18 other students at experiences, I know firsthand what the grants from the federal government and the University of Virginia have joined the economic struggle is like for many of these other sources, nor its income from tuition Living Wage Campaign and are on a hun- underpaid workers. payments. These fees run to $14,000 per ger strike “to protest the economic and “One UVA employee anonymously year for out-of-state students. social injustices perpetrated by the UVA shared that though she works full time for Another big money maker for the uni- administration against the vast majority the University, over 40 hours a week, her versity, as for many other institutions of of the University’s service-sector employ- family was still forced to go without elec- higher education across the country, is ees.” (michaelmoore.com, Feb. 23) tricity for nearly three months, unable to student athletics. UVA garnered nearly UVA football player Joseph Williams. Hundreds of contract employees at pay for the rent, electric bill and other ba- $82 million in income from these activi- UVA make as little as $7.25 per hour while sic necessities on the meager wages she is ties in the 2009-2010 school year. Ath- or to universities. In this way, colleges six out of the top 10 highest paid state em- paid by the [school]. Such stories are the letes like Williams, a football player, get and universities preserve their monopo- ployees in Virginia hold administrative reason that I and countless other Living no part of this largess, although some listic control over aspiring athletes who positions at the school. Many employees Wage supporters have chosen to take up receive scholarships. Considered a “walk provide the institutions’ income from col- — mostly women and African Americans this cause and give a voice to the many on,” he was not initially granted a scholar- lege athletics in the first place. — do not receive sufficient pay to cover University employees who often cannot ship for playing. Progressive and working people every- their basic necessities in Charlottesville, speak up for fear of retaliation from the The National Collegiate Athletic As- where should support and stand in soli- where the cost of living is nearly 10 per- administration.” sociation vigilantly ensures that student darity with the UVA workers and hunger cent higher than the national average. The university can certainly afford to athletes receive no income from any strikers. Their unity in opposing the ex- Williams explains why this struggle has pay its workers a living wage. With an en- source other than their scholarship. Com- ploitation of low-wage workers has sig- a personal aspect: “As one of four children dowment of $5.24 billion, UVA has the mercial endorsements, contributions and nificance today for the growing movement supported by a single mother, I have expe- largest per capita endowment of any pub- even part-time jobs are forbidden. Of against corporate and institutional wealth. rienced many periods of economic hard- lic college in the U.S. and maintains a tri- course, this rule does not apply to coaches Page 6 March 8, 2012 workers.org

MARCH 31 in Detroit National conference to demand moratorium on foreclosures By Mike Shane and to save homes, proposed by Occupy needed to come up with a long-term so- vestors at steep discounts. These homes Detroit Atlanta and coordinated by Occupy Our lution to the worst economic crisis to hit belong to the people, and should be re- Homes, is taking shape for March 12-16. working people since the 1930s. And if two turned to families who have been evicted. A national conference devoted to the Take Back the Land has announced a years is not enough to solve the foreclosure The March 31 conference will take place fight to stop foreclosures and evictions is spring initiative to move families back crisis, then we can fight for an extension. at Central United Methodist Church in set to take place in Detroit on Saturday, into foreclosed homes. The conference takes on even greater downtown Detroit. The gathering will be March 31. The conference, initiated by On March 13 in Detroit, a coalition importance in light of the recent an- streamed live using the internet for those the Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop including Occupy Detroit, People Before nouncement that the federally controlled unable to attend in person. For more in- Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility Shut- Banks, Jobs with Justice, United Auto — and taxpayer-funded — Fannie Mae formation and to register for the confer- offs, aims to bring together activists to Workers Local 600 and Moratorium and Freddie Mac will sell several hundred ence, visit nationalmoratorium.org or call share experiences about fighting foreclo- NOW! will hold a demonstration against thousand foreclosed homes to private in- 313-680-5508. sures and evictions through direct action Chase Bank in support of the national day and to plan a national campaign to raise of action against that criminal bank. and win a national moratorium on or halt The coalition will “package” together to all foreclosures. Chase foreclosures threatening several Chicago ghts foreclosures Strategies for challenging the banks Detroit and Detroit-area families — flip- Detroit Moratorium NOW! organizer ference in Detroit. (See nationalmorato- in the courts and in the streets will be ping the script on the banks that “pack- Jerry Goldberg spoke in the Chicago area rium.org.) Goldberg spoke Feb. 27 to a shared. Demands to move people back age” and sell mortgages and routinely on Feb. 26-27. At Rock of Ages Baptist Dominican College social justice and di- into government- and bank-owned fore- toss people out of their homes. Protesters Church in Maywood, Ill., he received a versity class, where a number of students closed homes, for a principal reduction will demand that the foreclosures against warm reception from more than 1,000 said their families are facing foreclosures. on home mortgages, and for related de- eight families be stopped immediately people at Sunday services when he spoke Later he met with Chicago Anti-Eviction mands and ideas will also be discussed. and that Chase place a moratorium on all on stopping foreclosures and evictions. Committee organizers who are leading the The conference is extremely timely as foreclosures and evictions. The church’s Clinical and Social Services fight to challenge and stop foreclosures already this winter there has been a tre- These important actions may prove effec- Committee plans to send a delegate to and evictions through direct action and by mendous upsurge in the struggle against tive in keeping a few more families in their the March 31 National Moratorium Con- asserting the right to housing for all. foreclosures and evictions. Across the homes. But they are not enough to stop the — WW Chicago bureau U.S., the Occupy movement has joined 2 million foreclosures currently in progress with community groups and unions to or the projected 4 million additional foreclo- confront the banks — along with Fannie sures anticipated over the next couple years. Mae and Freddy Mac — in challenging The demand for an immediate national two- ‘Banking on Vacancy’ study and stopping unjust evictions. year moratorium on foreclosures and evic- This spring promises a further intensi- tions is what is needed. fication of the anti-foreclosure movement Such a moratorium would help stabilize Homelessness found around the country. A nationally coordi- our communities, while giving homeown- nated week of actions against the banks ers, renters and families breathing room amidst abundant housing

WISCONSIN By Caleb T. Maupin conditions throughout the entire city. The report also argues that a construc- Picture The Homeless recently per- tion program for empty lots would provide Meeting takes up struggle formed a great service to the people of New jobs for many workers, while resolving the York City, the U.S. and the world. PTH de- housing crisis for many others, if it were scribes itself as an organization “founded combined with a program to provide af- to stop foreclosures, evictions and led by homeless people” that opposes fordable housing to low-income New York- the “quality of life laws” that “criminalize ers. PTH’s position is that the high cost of By Bryan G. Pfeifer homeless people.” PTH aims to “change funding shelters would be much better Milwaukee these laws and policies as well as to chal- spent subsidizing rent for currently home- lenge the root causes of homelessness.” less people and providing housing space. Metro Milwaukee residents and others PTH, along with Hunter College, re- This study illustrates the words of the from Fondulac and Racine, Wis., Chicago cently conducted a study called “Banking labor anthem, “Solidarity Forever”: “We and Detroit participated in a “Stop Fore- on Vacancy” that sent 295 volunteers to stand outcast and starving midst the won- closures and Evictions” meeting Feb. 25 walk the streets of 20 of New York City’s ders we have made.” in the heart of Milwaukee’s African-Amer- 59 community districts to investigate the The current global capitalist meltdown ican community at the Center Street Li- housing situation. They discovered that was touched off in 2008 when the housing brary. Members of the Occupy Wall Street there were approximately 3,500 vacant bubble burst. This “burst” did not occur movement, including the Milwaukee Oc- residential buildings and about 2,400 va- due to any shortage of living space. Mil- cupy Coalition, participated, as did mem- cant lots in those districts. lions of construction workers, bricklay- bers of the Amalgamated Transit Union Researchers estimate the vacant build- ers, architects, engineers, electricians and and the American Federation of Teachers. ings could house 70,000 people, while other workers sweated hard and long to The meeting began with an announce- the lots could house more than 120,000 create countless private homes, apartment ment honoring Black History Month and people if buildings were constructed. buildings, condominiums and other de- the reading of poems by people’s poet Eric The study shows that the 40,000 people cent places of residence. Disambwa. Special mention was made of in New York City’s shelter system, a num- Yet, despite all this abundance, home- Whitney Houston, Etta James and Don WW PHOTO: BRYAN G. PFEIFER ber that has doubled since 2002, no longer lessness continues, and many housing Cornelius, three towering figures in the Jerry Goldberg addresses meeting. have any rational reason to be homeless or units made by collective human labor re- Black Nation who recently passed on. to endure poor conditions in overcrowded main vacant. They remain vacant because Featured speaker Jerry Goldberg, invited everyone to Detroit for a March shelters. A rational system could easily under capitalism housing is not provided people’s attorney and a leader of the De- 31 national conference on that topic. For provide a decent home. because people need it. Housing is only troit-based Moratorium NOW! Coalition more information on the conference, see While the report concentrates on the useful if profits — in this example, very to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility nationalmoratorium.org. findings, it also makes a strong argument high profits — can be made. Shutoffs, thanked the poor and working Participants in the meeting held a live- that the rule of private property is an ob- This very important report will force people of Wisconsin for their inspiring ly discussion on how to defend poor and stacle to a rational solution to the housing many to rethink the “free market” that peo- fightback. He gave a presentation on the working people’s homes and apartments problem. ple in the U.S. have been taught to worship. banks’ and other capitalist financial insti- from the racist, predatory banks. They The report points out that often apart- In the modern age of “We are the 99%,” tutions’ responsibility for the foreclosure shared tactics of previous victories that ments are kept vacant for years so that real this study conducted by PTH and Hunter and eviction epidemic that continues to saved people’s homes and many other re- estate developers can remove a building College sheds light on the real problem. sweep the U.S. Since 2007, there have lated struggles such as the fight for jobs. from rent controls. PTH calls this “banking The fact that the basis of homelessness is been more than 20,000 foreclosures in The meeting was sponsored by the Wis- on homelessness.” It makes a proposal to that housing, production and all economic Milwaukee alone, most in African-Ameri- consin Bail Out the People Movement restrict the amount of time a landlord can activity is conducted, not for human need, can and Latino/a neighborhoods. which is mobilizing for the March 31 De- keep a property vacant — up to three years, but to make profits. Goldberg urged those present to join troit conference. For more information on which is modest but still challenges pri- To read a copy of the complete report, the growing movement fighting for a mor- upcoming meetings see wibailoutpeople. vate property and its owners. It also asks “Banking on Vacancy,” visit the PTH site atorium on foreclosures and evictions. He org. that the city do its own study of similar at picturethehomeless.org. workers.org March 8, 2012 Page 7 CALIFORNIA Locked-out country club workers stand strong By Terri Kay tinuing to lock out employees in support Pleasanton, Calif. of an illegal bargaining position. The Em- ployer’s proposal to eliminate seniority as Hundreds turned out to support the the basis for scheduling work and layoffs locked-out Castlewood Country Club and/or to allow replacement employees workers on Feb. 25, the second anniversa- to displace locked-out employees after the ry of management’s lockout. Notably, Oc- lockout ends is unlawful.” cupy Oakland and many union supporters The NLRB is conducting a hearing on came to this high-income suburb to chal- the lockout, which isn’t expected to con- lenge the club, which has been unrepen- clude until sometime in March. tant in refusing to pay for health insurance The workers continue to regularly pick- for the workers and their families. et the club. A few sympathetic members Occupy Oakland staged a counter-pro- have brought them food and offered sup- test mocking club members. Their signs port. However, other club members have read “Golfing is a human right” and other arrogantly demeaned the workers and demands of the 1%. Their fake press re- shown disdain for their rights. One tried lease read: “ ‘O.K., sure, they didn’t re- to physically harm a worker, and another ally make enough money to actually pay flippantly said that since he paid for his the premiums, but sometimes a person own health insurance, why couldn’t the hasn’t really earned medical care for their WW PHOTO: TERRI KAY Mock ‘counter-protest by the 1%’ outside swank country club. workers pay for theirs? children,’ said member Roger Greenwell. In delegations of five to 10 people, the ‘I mean, I work in private equity, so of time domestic work but says it’s a struggle complaint alleged the club threatened to workers and supporters from Occupy course my kids get good doctors. But the to make ends meet. Her spouse is disabled discipline workers who distributed union Oakland have visited several club mem- guy who pours my scotch? Really?’” and two of her children live at home. flyers during non-work hours. bers’ workplaces, attempting to embar- The workers, mostly Latino/a immi- On Aug. 30, 2010, the National Labor The union filed an Unfair Labor Prac- rass them into pressuring the board to grants, are members of UNITE HERE Lo- Relations Board’s general counsel issued tice case on Oct. 18, 2010, which charged: end the lockout. cal 2850. For two years they have coura- a complaint against Castlewood Country “During the past six months, the above- Because of the union’s outreach efforts, geously been fighting for their livelihoods, Club, alleging that it has been “interfering named Employer has failed and refused several major golf tournaments have can- their families’ health care and for their with, restraining, and coercing” employ- to bargain in good faith, including but not celled their events at the club. Support right to bargain collectively with those in ees and “failing and refusing to bargain- limited to, by refusing to meet for bar- is growing for this important workers’ the super-rich 1%. Golfers pay thousands ing collectively and in good faith.” The gaining at reasonable times and by con- struggle. of dollars just to join the country club and then spend hundreds of dollars a month to remain members — yet they have no problem keeping health insurance out of New York City reach for employees’ families. The club is demanding that any em- ployee who wants family health insur- WWP forum on ance pay about $850 per month, which amounts to almost half of some workers’ Black liberation, OWS wages. When UNITE HERE tried to nego- tiate, the club locked out the workers on Feb. 25, 2010, and told them they would The New York branch of Workers World Party be barred from returning to work while held a Black History forum Feb. 25 entitled they remained unionized. “Occupy Black Liberation: The Occupy Wall Street Movement and the Black Struggle.” Community support is growing WWP members and activists opened up the The workers have stayed strong, and discussion with remarks on the impact of the community support is growing. Francisca OWS movement on the struggles against rac- Carranza, one of the locked-out workers, ism, cutbacks and repression at home. They said they have “always received a lot of sup- also discussed the struggle against auster- Speakers Johnnie Stevens, Dinae Anderson, Monica Moorehead, ity in Europe and elsewhere. Podcasts of the Larry Hales, Imani Henry, LeiLani Dowell & Larry Holmes. port” and that she was “happy that Occupy talks will be available at workers.org. Oakland supported” them. Since being — WW New York bureau locked out, Carranza has found some part- WW PHOTO: G. DUNKEL SEATTLE Activists ‘occupy’ AT&T to stop layo s Port truck drivers end strike, By Dianne Mathiowetz say they are forced to work excessive Atlanta overtime now and customers complain of long waits to get service repairs. make gains By Feb. 27, the occupation of AT&T had AT&T’s public relations department been going on here for two weeks. Activ- spins the layoffs as necessary and cites all By Jim McMahan ten face racism on the job. Yet, the bosses ists have added more tents to the original the jobs being created in the mobile phone Seattle make a bundle from their labor. 15, which stretch down Atlanta’s West division. What isn’t mentioned is that the The port drivers got a boost from the Peachtree Street in front of the communi- jobs in mobile phones come with lower Seattle port truck drivers, mainly Afri- Occupy movement’s Dec. 12 port shut- cation giant’s midtown office tower. pay, little or no benefits, or part-time work. can immigrants, carried out a two-week down, which was also in solidarity with The action began on Feb. 13 when a CWA officials charge that the company is strike, which ended on Feb. 14. These the truck drivers. The years of organizing dozen members of Occupy Atlanta, Jobs using the changes in technology as a cover workers have taken a big step forward and by California port drivers have also built with Justice, the Communication Work- for its union-busting, anti-worker policies. exposed the terrible sweatshop conditions the movement. The Seattle port drivers ers union and others started a sit-in in the Since Feb. 13, Occupy AT&T has held in their industry. The Seattle Truck Driv- received good labor and community sup- lobby of the AT&T headquarters. Those several press conferences, a rally of hun- ers Association now has a road map for port during their strike, especially from sitting-in said they would stay until AT&T dreds of people, ongoing leaflet distribu- advancement to dignity and unionization. the Teamsters union. management rescinded its announced tions, interfaith prayer vigils and other The 400 to 500 strikers stopped work- The drivers forced the trucking com- layoffs of hundreds of union workers. The creative forms of protest. Labor unions ing on Jan. 31 to protest second-class panies to negotiate with them. They re- activists were arrested immediately on and community activists have provided working conditions in a highly profitable ceived pay increases above the $40 to $44 charges of trespass. tents, blankets, food and water to those industry. The drivers are misclassified as price per shipping container that they had Simultaneously, demonstrators began taking up residence in the shadow of the independent contractors instead of em- been getting. Their strike forced the State an occupation outside, pitching their tents towering building. ployees. This means they get no Social House to pass a bill requiring port truck- on the sidewalk. That encampment has Since the occupation began, the plaza Security, Medicare, or unemployment ing companies to change their classifica- grown and support actions take place daily. entrance doors to AT&T’s Southern head- or other benefits. However, they have to tion as “independent contractors” to em- The issue is the loss of good-paying quarters have been locked to customers. make payments on their trucks and pay ployees. Passage of this in the State Senate union jobs with health care and other ben- Occupy Atlanta often holds its night-time for vehicle repairs, gas, insurance which would open the way for them to unionize, efits. Meanwhile, AT&T rakes in billions General Assemblies there. costs $120 per week, and other fees. as the workers have demanded. in profits yearly, and its CEO Randall Ste- On Feb. 29, protesters are taking their The drivers make less than minimum The port truck drivers are among the phenson pocketed $27 million in 2011. demands for good jobs to another AT&T wage. In addition to lacking a decent in- new wave of workers rising up against the The corporation claims its landline location in the Buckhead area of Atlanta. come, the drivers work in unsafe condi- bosses’ cutbacks, union busting, racism business is shrinking so much that these For more information, see www.occu- tions, are treated disrespectfully and of- and war. jobs are superfluous. Yet the technicians pyatlanta.org Page 8 March 8, 2012 workers.org Occupy movement challenges prison-industrial complex

By Betsey Piette More African Americans in prison today Philadelphia than enslaved in 1850 Michelle Alexander, author of “The Demonstrators chanted, “Tear down New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in Jailhouses! Build up School Houses!” out- the Age of Colorblindness,” says there are side Heery International Inc.’s Philadel- “more African-Americans … in prisons or phia office as part of a national call from jail, on probation or parole — than were Occupy Oakland to Occupy for Prisoners enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civ- on Feb. 20. il War began.” Between 1970 and 1995, Organized by DecarceratePA and en- the incarceration of African Americans dorsed by Occupy Philadelphia, the pro- increased seven-fold. test targeted the disparity between in- African Americans make up 12 percent creased funding for prison construction of the U.S. population but comprise 40 while Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett percent of the prison population — a legacy slashes funding for education and is push- of more than three decades of the so-called ing for more cuts. “war on drugs” with its “three strikes” bills, Heery, which profits from private pris- mandatory harsh prison terms and jail on construction, was paid $316 million in time for minor drug offenses. October to build a Graterford Prison ex- Occupy events targeted for-profit pris- tension to house 4,100 more inmates and ons and companies like Wells Fargo, a new death row facility. which is heavily invested in the private Political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal’s WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE prison industry with 3.5 million shares statement was a rally highlight. Now Jamila Wilson addresses Feb. 20 rally. in the second largest prison operator, the housed in general population at Pennsylva- GEO Group. Companies make money nia’s SCI-Mahanoy prison, a decades-long where there are prisons, there is torture: with the Prison Industrial Complex!” through prison construction and from struggle won his December release from brutal beatings, grave humiliations, per- Theresa Shoatz read her father’s state- prison labor, paying prisoners as little as death row. He said of the call to Occupy for verse censorship — and even murders.” ment; Russell “Maroon” Shoatz has been $0.23 an hour. Prisoners, “It was not an especially radical Abu-Jamal called on the Occupy Move- held for 21 years in solitary confinement The disparity in funding for prisons call, but it was right on. Prisons have be- ment to support the calls for freedom for at SCI Green. Former inmates also spoke. versus education and the incarceration of come a metaphor — the shadow-side … of political prisoners Leonard Peltier, the More than 700 people demonstrated juveniles as adults were common themes. America. With oceans of words about free- MOVE 9, Sundiata Acoli, Russell “Maroon” outside San Quentin on Feb. 20, stress- The Broad Foundation says the U.S. dom — and the reality that the U.S. is the Shoatz and others, but urged the move- ing, “Unless all of us are free, we are all spends $9,644 to educate a student but world’s leader of the incarceration indus- ment to do more to stop “a destructive, imprisoned.” Many protesters had been $22,600 per prison inmate. High school try — it’s more than time for the focused counter-productive, annual $69 billion illegally arrested and imprisoned at Oc- dropouts comprise 65 percent of U.S. attention of the Occupy Movement. boondoggle of repression, better known cupy Oakland. prisoners. “Every state, every rural district, every … as the Prison Industrial Complex.” He Kevin Cooper, a San Quentin death row Protesters condemned the widespread hamlet in America has a prison, a place urged the Occupy Movement to build “a prisoner, inspired the call to Occupy for use of solitary confinement and outright where the Constitution doesn’t exist and mass movement that demands and fights Prisoners initiated by Occupy Oakland. torture inside U.S. prisons. Prison Legal where slavery is all but legalized. And for real change,” and concluded, “Down He urged the Occupy Movement to in- News explains, “The kind of torture of clude prisoners in their movement for the prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq … is com- 99%, saying, “No man or woman on death monplace within U.S. prisons.” Theory, action and history row … is a ‘have.’ We are the ‘have nots.’ Super max prisons hold an estimated We are the bottom 1%.” 20,000 U.S. prisoners in solitary, while Protests took place in 19 cities, includ- thousands more are so confined in state ing New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and local prisons, including hundreds of WWP leaders speak Washington and Durham, N.C., where Muslims. their flier noted, “Prior to incarceration, Prolonged solitary confinement is rec- two-thirds of all prisoners lived in con- ognized internationally as torture, which in Los Angeles ditions of economic hardship, while the violates the Universal Declaration of Hu- perpetrators of ‘white-collar’ crime large- man Rights, the U.N. Convention against By John Parker Workers World Party carries out prin- ly go free.” No Wall Street banker has Torture and the U.N. Convention on the Los Angeles cipled solidarity with oppressed workers. been jailed for stealing billions of dollars Elimination of all forms of Discrimination. A co-coordinator and steering commit- through mortgage fraud. Abu-Jamal, who spent nearly 30 years The current crisis facing the working tee member of the May 1st Coalition for Occupy for Prisoners exposed mass in solidarity, told Occupy for Prisoners, class is like none other, Workers World Worker and Immigrant Rights in New incarceration in the U.S. — the world’s “Justice demands the end of solitary … Editor Deirdre Griswold told a forum at the York, she related how the coalition is or- largest jailer — where more than 3 million it is no more than a modern-day torture office of Workers World Party here on Feb. ganizing for a united demonstration this people are behind bars. chamber for the poor.” 18. Citing figures showing that the recov- year that encompasses immigrant groups, ery of profits since the crash of 2008 has labor unions and the Occupy movement. meant no recovery for the working class, Very thoughtful questions and dis- Griswold, a WWP Secretariat member, ex- cussion followed the reports. Long-time plained that long-term unemployment has members of the Communist Party USA STOP the 1% from become a permanent feature of high-tech and Southern California Immigration capitalism’s growth around the world. Coalition contributed their views in the Teresa Gutierrez, a national leader of exchange of ideas. All were in agreement closing 4,000 WWP and Secretariat member, reported by the end of the night that only a power- on the party’s work in solidarity with op- ful, united, independent movement of the pressed workers, especially immigrants. oppressed, workers and immigrant move- Post Offices! The two talks illustrated how the capi- ments would be capable of making any talist crisis, by imposing immense bur- progress toward overturning capitalism. dens on hundreds of millions of workers, Earlier in the day at a class for mem- has also laid the basis for greater class bers and candidate members of WWP, Save 200,000 Union Jobs! unity. However, the crisis has come down Griswold, a founding member of the Stop Union Busting, Privatization & Racism! especially hard on those already most op- party, reviewed its origins in the context pressed. Whether people are struggling of the world communist movement and against foreclosures and evictions, layoffs, the struggle against imperialism and neo- 12 Noon Rally at Union Square, 14th & Broadway, Manhattan low wages, deportation, wars of interven- colonialism. She traced the party’s politi- tion, environmental pollution or attacks cal perspective and struggle orientation, 2 pm Rally at the General Post Office, 33 St & 8 Ave on basic social services like public edu- beginning with the early writings of Karl cation and health care, the common en- Marx and Frederick Engels to the victory emy of the 99% is the super-wealthy 1%. of the Bolshevik Revolution. She stressed Sat. March 17 This is the signature slogan of the Occupy that the new conditions workers and op- movement, which has inspired many new pressed around the world face today are activists and sparked a renewed interest pushing forward the struggle to tear down Community/Labor United for Postal Jobs & Services in socialism and Marxism. capitalism and build a better world, free 212.633.6646 [email protected] Gutierrez showed concretely how of exploitation and repression. workers.org March 8, 2012 Page 9 Greeks struggle against a new colonialism

By G. Dunkel

While the stock markets in the United States and Europe have recovered — a bit — and the Greek workers have not had a general strike and massive protests for a few weeks, the struggle is far from over. The Troika — the European Commis- sion, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund — which is the group directing Greece’s second “bailout,” will have permanent financial monitoring groups in Athens. Some 160 German tax collectors will be in Greece shortly to supervise tax collections. (dem- ocraticunderground.com) That German officials will have direct control of Greece’s internal affairs is evi- Banners outside the Acropolis in Athens. dence for the charge that German impe- rialism is treating Greece like its colony. system, the Kilkis workers have not been to a segregated account of Greece’s pay- cessive governments borrowed heavily to Those making this charge also observe getting paid regularly. ing agent.” This money would come from pay for the tax cuts they gave to the big that life in Greece for working people is According to an open letter by Leta Zo- what was borrowed and from Greece’s companies and the rich supposedly in an as bad as or worse than it was during the taki, president of the doctors’ union in Kil- own funds. (zerohedge.com, a market attempt to stimulate the economy. World War II German occupation. kis and a member of the General Assem- blog to which the New York Times links.) Greece was also one of the major cus- While the popular anger over this ar- bly running the hospital, some of the staff The Troika also requires Greece to tomers for the French, German and U.S. rangement is strong, major sectors of the got only $5.40 or $12.00 in mid-February change its constitution so that debt ser- arms suppliers, spending far more in rela- Greek capitalist ruling class (banks, con- for a month’s work. One worker, who in- vice takes top priority in state expenses. tion to its economy’s size than any other struction, tourism, the shipping industry, stead of getting her $1,070 salary got a Thus, the Greek nation is reduced to a EU country. energy) are openly supporting the strat- demand to pay back $225 if she wanted to mechanism for bailing out the big Euro- Major infrastructure projects, both egy of imposing austerity. keep her job, had a heart attack. pean banks. for military equipment and to modern- These new and very harsh auster- ize Greece’s telecommunications, saw Who the ‘bailout’ really helps Greek’s toxic debt ity measures include cutting government huge cost overruns and equally huge employment by 15,000, lowering the The Troika’s requirements for Greece The corporate media distort the expla- bribes paid mainly by the big German minimum wage, and slashing pensions are strict. They are quickly installing nation of the debt crisis, by repeating over firm Siemens. and social services. Some economists monitors to ensure that all the require- and over that Greece “borrowed beyond And, of course, there were the 2004 estimate these cuts will drive the Greek ments are rigorously followed. Yet it’s un- its means.” (New York Times, Feb 26) In Olympic Games, for which “Greece had economy, which contracted about 7 per- clear exactly how much money the Greek reality, much of the borrowing was im- spent some $14.2 billion, pushing the cent in 2011, only deeper into recession. government is borrowing and how much posed on the Greek people. country’s budget deficit to record levels.” Even these bourgeois analysts see Greece it must pay back. What is clear is that the In an illuminating article, Eric Tous- (tinyurl.com/8678npl) heading for a third “bailout.” loans Greece must pay back go directly to saint of the Committee to Abolish Third While there is no reason the Greek the banks that hold the bonds. World Debt describes some of the com- workers should be held responsible for Hospital workers take over Eurogroup, the official name of the ponents of Greece’s public debt, which any part of the capitalist debt crisis, large The vicious attacks coming down on Troika directing Greece’s finances, says: stretches back to the 1970s, when Greece parts of the Greek debt are “toxic” even Greek workers have pushed hospital “The Eurogroup also welcomes Greece’s was ruled by a military junta. Public debt under capitalist law, as described above. workers in Kilkis, a small city north of intention to put in place a mechanism … quadrupled between 1965 and 1974. (ti- An investigation could show just how Salonika, to seize their facility. Like many paying an amount corresponding to the nyurl.com/4zq4hxn) much the Greek workers’ suffering is due Greek medical workers in the state-run coming quarter’s debt service directly After the junta was overthrown, suc- to open capitalist theft. Workers, youth hit streets in Spain and Portugal

By John Catalinotto 2010. They also signed an agreement with tally, first with batons, then rubber bullets Portugal, and Ireland — had up to now the government accepting cuts in work- and teargas. Forty youth were arrested. been treated as part of the imperialist The European ruling class is still focus- ers’ wages and protections. Because of this By the end of the week, there were club, but now their workers are being ing its weapons against the Greek work- capitulation to the bosses, the leadership demonstrations in dozens of other cities clubbed into semicolonial status. Even ers. But now all European workers are has lost much, if not all, of its authority in solidarity with the students and youth Spain and Italy face these pressures, re- under attack. In the week that ended Feb. with militant workers and revolutionary of Valencia, which has become the epi- sulting to a direct assault on the working 26, some of the hardest class battles took elements. Still, the depth of the economic center of the youth struggle. class in those countries. place in the Spanish state. There, in the crisis has resulted in a situation where Portugal general strike set for March 22 fourth biggest economy in the eurozone, the masses are demanding that the union Protests in Italy, Germany official unemployment is more than 21 leadership call a struggle with the bosses The major labor federation in Portugal, In Italy, where workers also face an percent. and the now right-wing government. the CGTP-IN, has called another general austerity program from a government On Feb. 19, the two largest union con- strike for March 22. As in most of the imposed by the European banks, the met- Students vs. cops in Valencia federations, the CCOO and the UGT, countries on the eurozone’s periphery, alworkers (FIOM) have called an 8-hour which represent 80 percent of organized Overall youth unemployment in Spain Portugal’s working class faces cutbacks to general strike on March 9. labor, called a countrywide protest. Ac- is more than 49 percent. This means social services and an attack on such work- In Germany, the most powerful imperi- cording to the organizers, more than 1 many young people have had to put their ers’ rights as job protection, vacations and alist state at the center of Europe, the gov- million people joined the actions, held in lives on hold. In Valencia, a port city on other benefits. These cuts have been de- ernment workers’ union, Ver.di, called a 57 cities across Spain, that attacked the the Mediterranean, the third-largest city manded not only by the Portuguese bosses protest Feb. 27 in Berlin in solidarity with government’s new labor “reforms.” in Spain with about 2 million people in but also by the eurozone bankers. the workers’ struggle in Greece under the Many consider these laws the biggest the metropolitan area, youth unemploy- The CGTP-IN has declared that its ac- slogan “Today Greece, tomorrow it’s us.” attacks on workers’ rights since the fascist ment is even higher than average. tions are in the interest of all workers, not (Junge Welt, Feb. 27) Franco dictatorship, which ended in the When government budget cuts led to just its own members, and has called on The European ruling class has coordi- mid-1970s. Those in the M15 movement cutting off heat, water and electricity in all the unions — whether or not they are nated its assault on the working class us- of “the indignant ones,” analogous to the Valencia’s schools in mid-February, it was affiliated with a federation — to help build ing the European Commission, the Euro- Occupy movement in the U.S., joined the no surprise that students began to pro- a united workers’ action against the new pean Central Bank and the International mass action. They also joined shout-outs test, sometimes occupying buildings. On labor contract that increases the exploita- Monetary Fund — with the support of U.S. to the union leadership to call for a gen- Feb. 20, 10,000 youth and students took tion of all workers. banks. Up to now Europe’s workers have eral strike on Feb. 29. to the streets. The police responded bru- The peripheral countries — Greece, responded on a country-by-country basis. So far, only the independent unions in In Greece and Portugal, where com- the Basque Country have called for the The Lavender and Red series of articles by Leslie Feinberg, author munist parties have influence among the Feb. 29 strike. In the Basque Country es- of Stone Butch Blues, is now available online. The series includes: workers, these parties have made it clear pecially, as well as in Galicia in the north- that they see no solution to the crisis un- west and Catalonia, the working class has Rainbow Solidarity der the capitalist system. The challenge to been more actively engaged in the class workers’ leadership throughout Europe, and political struggle. In Defense of CUBA as well as in the U.S., is how to defend the The official union leadership on the fed- workers.org/lavender-red workers even though a struggle to over- eral level has called only one general strike This groundbreaking book documents revolutionary Cuba’s inspiring trajectory of progress turn the system does not appear to be an — with limited success — on Sept. 29, towards liberation of sexualities, genders and sexes. Book available at Amazon.com immediate option. Page 10 March 8, 2012 workers.org editorial Inequality, Capitalism INTERNATIONAL and Socialist Revolution WORKING WOMEN’S DAY By Fred Goldstein And the fight for equality includes the takes to survive. Some workers are struggle to ensure economic equality paid somewhat more than that and eople all over the world are in motion in response to The Occupy Wall Street move- for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer can have a degree of comfort. Many the global economic crisis. They are refusing to be ment has made the inequality in workers with straight workers. workers, more and more these days, Pground down under the heel of the capitalist boot. capitalist society an issue that has Demanding equality for immi- get just about enough to live a life Women in many countries are actively leading and put the rich on the defensive, at least grant and undocumented work- of austerity while others barely get organizing struggles — from the Philippines to Palestine, in public. The growth of inequality ers with workers born in the U.S., enough to survive. Wages under Honduras to Greece, Spain and Portugal. The same goes in the last 30 years, and especially especially with white workers, is capitalism are basically what it costs here too — from Detroit where women take the lead in in the last decade, has been talked an essential ingredient in building a worker to subsist and to keep the stopping foreclosures and evictions to Los Angeles and about for years in many quarters by solidarity and advancing the class family going so that the bosses are New York where immigrant women workers are organiz- economic analysts and even some struggle of all workers. assured of the next generation of ing for rights and dignity. politicians. But before the Occupy Indeed, the struggle for economic workers to exploit. Wall Street movement raised the equality within our class and be- Workers’ wages always remain This year how will women observe March 8, Interna- slogan of the 1% versus the 99%, tween the oppressed and the oppres- within a narrow range when con- tional Working Women’s Day, with its focus on ending this condition went entirely unchal- sors is fundamental to building soli- trasted with the income of the boss- the oppression of women? lenged and was merely observed as darity against the bosses. Inequality es. No workers can ever get wealthy We hope they’ll continue to ramp up their struggles an inevitable, undesirable (unless and division within the working class on wages, no matter how high-paid against the capitalist beast. The origin of women’s op- you were part of the 1%) fact of life. is both an economic problem and they are. But the capitalist class as pression — private property — is central to the inequality The inequalities that gave the a dangerous political problem. It a whole automatically grows richer, and injustice built into capitalism. OWS its battle cry are truly obscene, breaks solidarity and strengthens even if individual capitalists go out The ruling class of capitalists owns the means of reminiscent of the gap between the bosses and their government. of business or are swallowed up. production, from which it extracts profits created by and monarchs of old and the peasant But the problem of gross econom- The bosses continuously reinvest stolen from the workers. That owning class is increas- serfs. On the one hand, 50 million ic inequality in capitalist society is their capital and keep alive the on- ingly desperate to maintain control of their property and people live on food stamps, 47 mil- not fundamentally a problem of in- going process of the exploitation of wealth. They perpetuate male supremacy so they can lion live in official poverty, half the equality within our class or between more and more labor. exploit women workers even more than men and keep population is classified as poor [i], the middle class and the working The bosses leave their personal working-class men and women divided — with low wages 30 million are unemployed or un- class. The fundamental problem of wealth to their children as well as for everyone. deremployed, and tens of millions massive inequality is inequality be- their capital. Their descendants, as The capitalist system is in crisis because private own- of workers live on low wages. tween the capitalist ruling class and a rule, get richer and richer from ership is on a collision course with the urgent needs of On the other hand, from 2001 to all other classes, but primarily the generation to generation, while the the world’s working class. That’s why more women are in 2006 the top 1 percent got 53 cents multinational working class. workers leave their children their struggle today than ever before. out of every dollar of wealth creat- The inequality between the work- meager possessions generation af- Women in the U.S. will continue to be in the forefront ed. From 1979 to 2005 the top one ing class and the capitalist class is ter generation. The workers have to of many battles — opposing U.S. wars and occupations tenth of 1 percent (0.001 percent) built into the system and is at the struggle to preserve whatever they while demanding funding for human needs, defending — 300,000 people — got more than root of the question. So-called “ex- can through the ups and downs of collective bargaining in their unions, demanding wages 180 million people combined.[ii] In cessive” inequality between the rul- capitalist crises and periodic unem- that allow their families to keep up with the cost of living, 2009, while workers were still be- ing class and the rest of society is ployment. stopping foreclosures so they can stay in their homes, de- ing laid off in huge numbers, execu- constantly under attack, as it should How do you ever achieve social manding contraceptives and other free preventive health tives at the top 38 largest companies be. But the general inequality be- and economic equality under these care, and fighting for basic rights to affordable education, “earned” a total of $140 billion.[iii] tween the ruling class and all other circumstances? quality health care and housing, and good-paying jobs. These numbers are just one re- classes is taken for granted as a giv- In this context, for the OWS Women in public sector jobs — who are a majority flection of the vast income inequal- en and rarely questioned. movement and all others who are women of color — are coming under heavy fire now as ity between the bankers, brokers, for genuine equality, the question Inequality built into capitalism they defend their right to belong to unions. And they are and corporate exploiters on the one arises as to what exactly they are rising to the challenge. Immigrant women are blazing hand and the mass of the people That is because of the way in- fighting for. If the ultimate goal ahead despite obstacles and organizing new unions for on the other. This has become a come is distributed under the profit is to reform the tax code, or to re- domestic workers. scandal, but no one made a move system. The income of the capitalist duce corporate money in politics, On International Working Women’s Day 2012, we to do anything about it. So the Oc- class comes from the unpaid labor or to regulate the predatory capital- remember the women garment workers in New York City cupy Wall Street movement began of the workers in the form of profit, ist class and the greedy bankers — who marched for better working and living conditions its struggle in the name of the 99% or surplus value. Everything cre- then the ultimate goal reduces itself on March 8, 1908, and the socialist women who founded versus the 1%. And it caught on like ated by the workers belongs to the down to a fight for a less obscene IWWD in 1910 in their honor. wildfire. bosses. And everything created by form of inequality. And we salute the millions of women all over the world Since the fundamental moving the workers contains unpaid labor That is certainly a progressive fighting to overthrow capitalism’s many chains and has- force of the movement is the strug- time in it. The bosses sell goods and goal and should always be pursued ten the birth of a better world. gle against obscene income inequal- services and get the money for the as a means of giving relief to the ity, Marxists must give support to unpaid labor time of the workers workers and to the mass of the peo- and participate fully in the struggle. — that is, profit. They keep part of ple in general. But no matter how But Marxism must also address this it for themselves and become rich. you boil it down, if you limit the fight question and give it a class interpre- The other part they reinvest so that against inequality to keeping it with- Nuclear construction tation. they can get richer in the next cycle in the framework of capitalism, then One can begin by asking the ques- of production and selling. it means fighting to lessen inequal- tion: What does it mean to fight The income of the workers, on ity, but also to retain it and allow it. opposed in Georgia against obscene inequality of wealth? the other hand, comes from the Extreme class inequality is built into It certainly means fighting to tax sale of their labor power to a boss, the system of class exploitation. Continued from page 3 the rich and using the money to help an exploiter. The workers receive wages or salaries from the bosses. [i] “Census data: Half of U.S. poor or low the workers and the oppressed sur- income,” Associated Press, Dec. 15. The amount is always kept some- 1980s, and that the Georgia Public Service Commission vive the economic hardships of capi- [ii] Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson, last fall struck down a risk-sharing mechanism that would talism. It means fighting for jobs. where within the range of what it “Winner-Take-All Politics” (New York: hold Georgia Power, not the public, responsible for their After all, being unemployed makes a Simon & Schuster, Kindle Edition, cost overages, Georgia residents can expect this financial worker about as unequal as you can 2010), p. 3. burden to become heavier over time. [iii] Perry L. Weed, “Inequality, the Middle get under capitalism. Class & the Fading American Dream,” Economy in Crisis online, Feb. 12, 2011. ‘Stop Vogtle’ campaign gears up Equality within the working class People across the Southeast will gather in Shell Bluff on and inequality between classes Next, Part 2: How the character of wealth distribution flows from March 11, the Fukushima disaster anniversary, to stand Usually, when we think of fight- in solidarity with the community. Buses from Atlanta and the mode of production, and Control ing for economic equality, we think of corporate wealth: The source of Asheville, N.C., have been organized. of the struggle for affirmative action extreme personal wealth. Georgia environmental groups have several lawsuits in employment for Black, Latino/a, Reprinted from the addendum to against the NRC for safety violations. Activists have Asian and Native peoples. The fight the forthcoming book, “Capitalism at launched a pledge drive to encourage ratepayers not to pay for equality entails fighting for equal a Dead End” by Fred Goldstein. Gold- the nuclear construction cost recovery fee on their bills, as wages and working conditions with stein is also the author of “Low-Wage well as a “Stop Vogtle” outreach and education campaign. whites. Capitalism.” For more information visit georgiawand.org, georgiapow- It also involves fighting for equal Goldstein’s books, articles and erripoff.wordpress.com and nonukesyall.org. pay for equal work for women work- talks can be found at lowwage- Courtney Hanson is Public Outreach Director for Coming ers — i.e., for women to get the same soon! capitalism.com and on Facebook at Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions. pay as men for comparable work. lowwagecapitalism. workers.org March 8, 2012 Page 11 Imperialist-backed conferences set stage for intervention in Somalia & Syria By Abayomi Azikiwe government offering humanitarian aid the U.S. failed to resolve the internal crises. the Tunisian section of the Baath Party, Editor, Pan-African News Wire and security assistance in the hope of a The current politico-military situation said that the “Friends of Syria” confer- stake in the beleaguered country’s future in Somalia is not caused by the conflict ence was held “under the supervision of Back-to-back conferences held Feb. 23- energy industry. … away from the public among Somali politicians but by the role American imperialism.” He also rejected 24 to determine the destiny of Somalia focus … talks are going on between Brit- of the imperialist states that will stand to the Tunisian government’s collaboration and Syria took place outside the respec- ish officials and Somali counterparts over benefit the most from the forceful subjuga- in this effort and said that U.S. imperialist tive countries with the full backing of the exploiting oil reserves that have been ex- tion of the country and the exploitation of figures such as Hillary Clinton and John imperialist states, guaranteeing that these plored in the arid north-eastern region of oil, waterways and other strategic resourc- McCain were behind it. efforts oppose the best interests of the two the country.” (British Observer, Feb. 27) es throughout the Horn of Africa region. A statement issued by the Russian gov- countries’ people. Abdulkadir Abdi Hashi, the minister U.S. policy in Somalia represents the ernment said: “The invitations to attend Somalia has had no legitimately recog- for international cooperation in Punt- continuation of the same policies from the Tunis meeting were issued to some nized government since 1991. In London, land, said, “We have spoken to a number successive administrations as it relates to parts of the opposition, but representa- the British government promoted the of UK officials, some have offered to help the region. “Terrorism” is abstractly used tives of the Syrian government were not conference on Somalia as a turning point us with the future management of oil rev- as a justification and rationale for escalat- invited. … This means that the interests to purportedly stabilize the country. enues. They will help us build our capac- ing the destabilization of Somalia. of the majority of the Syrian population, Representatives of the U.S.-backed ity to maximize future earnings from the which supports the authorities, will not Transitional Federal Government attend- oil industry.” (Observer, Feb. 27) Tunis hosts ‘Friends of Syria’ conference be represented. We cannot accept the of- ed the conference. The conference orga- Conservative estimates of Somalia’s On Feb. 24 in the capital of Tunisia, fer to attend this meeting.” (Middle East nizers invited no one from al-Shabab, the oil reserves put them at 4 billion barrels, another conference was held under the Online, Feb. 21) Islamic resistance movement. The impe- worth approximately $500 billion today. sponsorship of the so-called “Friends of rialists support outside military forces Others estimate up to as much as 10 bil- Syria.” This initiative grew out of the fail- Oppose imperialist intervention occupying Somalia that put al-Shabab lion barrels in Puntland alone. The Ob- ure of the U.S. and other imperialist states in Somalia and Syria under siege. server article says that “it is the extent of to get the U.N. Security Council endorse- Inside the Western capitalist states, it The African Union Mission to Somalia, oil deposits beneath the Indian Ocean” ment for a war against Syria. is important for the peace and anti-war composed of troops from Uganda, Bu- that have a potential “comparable to that Russia and China vetoed the resolution movements to protest the current efforts rundi and Djibouti, is attacking al-Sha- of Kuwait, which has more than 100 bil- calling for the total isolation of Syria. Both by the imperialists to determine Somalia bab supporters in the capital of Mogadi- lion barrels of proven oil reserves. … If Russia and China refused to recognize the and Syria’s future. The people of Somalia shu. The Ethiopian Defense Forces have true, this would … make Somalia the sev- conference in Tunis, which was attended and Syria must be allowed to resolve their launched a major offensive in the central enth largest oil-rich nation.” by over 60 nations and numerous oppo- own internal conflicts, without imperial- region, taking control of the city of Baidoa. In addition to Britain, where BP has ex- sition groups claiming to represent dis- ist interventions. U.S. drone surveillance and strikes, pressed an interest, Canada, the U.S. and sidents in Syria as well as high-ranking In Somalia, the imperialists have region- along with French naval forces and Israeli China are also seeking ways to get involved officials from the Western states and their al designs on the Horn of Africa and other intelligence, have supported the more in the initial onslaught of production. Arab allied governments. areas of the continent. The war against than 2,000 troops from the Kenyan De- This is not the first time that imperial- The conference was condemned by Syria is also directed against the Islamic fense Forces that entered Somalia last Oc- ist-oriented efforts to shape developments the Syria government, which called the Republic of Iran, the Hezbollah resistance tober to attack supposed al-Shabab bases. in Somalia have taken place. Previous di- gathering, the “Enemies of Syria.” Several party in Lebanon and the Palestinians. rect and indirect military interventions in hundred pro-Syrian-government dem- Also, both destabilization campaigns British interests in Somalia Somalia have failed to stabilize the coun- onstrators attempted to storm the con- are directed towards weakening the in- Several reports indicate that Britain is try in the interest of the West. ference, saying that it should not be held fluence of China and Russia, which have seeking to exploit the emerging oil indus- In 1992-93, Somalis rose up and resisted inside Tunisia, which is undergoing a po- opposed U.S. and British imperialism in try in Puntland — a breakaway region of the U.S. Marines and the United Nations litical transformation process since Janu- Syria and Iran. Both Syria and Somalia Somalia — and within existing Somalia. so-called peacekeepers, forcing them to ary 2011 after a popular uprising toppled will continue to be a focal point for West- “Britain is involved in a secret high- leave the country. A 2006-2009 invasion dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali. ern intrigue in Africa and the Middle East stakes dash for oil in Somalia, with the and occupation by Ethiopia at the aegis of Ezz Eddine Koutali, the spokesman for in the months to come. Widespread uprising calls for U.S. out of Afghanistan

Continued from page 1 from Afghan ministries where they had fired on, they continued to battle, resulting that many of those who resist are rallying whenever I get the chance. I don’t care been calling the shots. in the death of several U.S. soldiers. to the banner of Islam. about the job I have.” (New York Times, The French and German foreign minis- What people in the U.S. should not Latest in long line of atrocities Feb. 24) tries quickly followed up with announce- forget, however, is that in 1978 there was Even a bloc of members of the Afghan ments that they were “temporarily” with- The burning of the Quran was the last a secular, progressive revolution in Af- Parliament, elected in the stifling politi- drawing all their advisers from Afghan straw after years of vicious war and occu- ghanistan that promoted equal rights for cal climate of a country occupied by for- government institutions. Just a month pation against the Afghan people. Shep- women and an end to debt slavery to the eign troops, “called on Afghans to take earlier, France had said it would with- herd boys have been attacked and killed landlords. The U.S. government, through up arms against the American military.” draw all its forces by the end of 2013, a by U.S. planes. U.S. soldiers have made the CIA, organized a clandestine army in (New York Times, Feb. 22) year earlier than expected. President videos showing themselves urinating on collaboration with the enemies of that rev- If people who work for the state express Nicolas Sarkozy is in a close election race the dead bodies of Afghans. olution which brought it down, all in the these sentiments, what must be the views at a time when the French population is A photo of Marine snipers in Helmand name of fighting “godless Communism.” of ordinary people? overwhelmingly against the war. province posing in front of a U.S. flag and The only consistent thread in imperial- In response to this explosion of anti- Der Spiegel reported Feb. 24 on the a Nazi SS banner turned up on the Inter- ist foreign policy is to protect the profit in- U.S. fury, General John R. Allen, overall closing of a German base in Afghanistan: net site of arms manufacturer Knight’s terests of the ruling U.S. corporations and commander of the U.S. war in Afghani- “Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, Armaments. A news release on the web- banks. These capitalists and their military stan, ordered all U.S. military personnel reported that thousands of people pro- site of the 170th Infantry Brigade Combat view the world only as a source of super- in the country to undergo 10 days of “sen- tested in the area covered by Regional Team referred to their base as Combat profits; if the people impede this process sitivity training.” Command North, which is headed up by Outpost Aryan. (Military Times, Feb. 14) they must be pacified or gotten out of the Obama made a weak apology for the the Germans. The military reported that Clearly, the problem is not just a “few way. Quran burning and said the military protests attracted between 100 and 2,000 bad apples.” The day-to-day work of But the Afghan people refuse to be commanders would investigate this “ac- people in different cities including Talo- wielding brute force to subjugate a na- pacified. cident.” This only further enraged the Af- kan, Maimana, Baglan and Faizabad. In tion of people fosters the vilest racism There is only one way out: Bring all the ghan people, as such apologies after U.S. Talokan, 300 protesters gathered in front and chauvinism, akin to the Nazi “Über- troops home now. That’s what working atrocities have become routine and have of the Bundeswehr base. A reporter for mensch” worldview that was cultivated people in the U.S. want and need too. De- led nowhere. German public broadcaster ZDF said pro- by German imperialism prior to World manding an end to the war in Afghanistan With the killing of the two U.S. officers, testers attacked the base with stones.” War II. Then it was the Jewish people must be brought into every struggle here Washington and NATO — in the arrogant Thousands of Afghans were in the who were scapegoated. Today, Muslims — for jobs, housing, health care, educa- style that colonial overlords employ at streets all over the country, fighting heavi- are under attack because the imperialists tion, decent wages and all the other rights their own peril — immediately withdrew ly armed foreign troops with nothing more want control over their countries’ oil and that have been sacrificed on the altar of all their civilian and military personnel than sticks and stones. Even after being other valuable resources. It is no wonder profits. Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los países uníos! Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] SEGUNDA PARTE Las contradicciones en el capitalismo

A continuación se presentan extractos El capitalista calcula de forma muy El capitalismo era una dialéctica in- de una charla dada por Richard Kossal- precisa la cantidad de materia prima y la evitable en la evolución de la sociedad hu- ly, miembro de Workers World Party/ maquinaria que son necesarias y cuántos mana. Los anteriores sistemas sociales se Partido Mundo Obrero durante un foro trabajadores hay que explotar con el fin desarrollaron lentamente. El capitalismo del mismo en Nueva York el 3 de febrero. de tener una cantidad dada de producto ha desarrollado los medios de producción final; pero no tienen un plan general para muy rápidamente, pero en un tiempo rela- Anarquía está incorporada satisfacer las necesidades de la sociedad. tivamente corto ha sobrepasado la utilidad en la producción capitalista Sus únicos objetivos son el lucro y la su- que algún día tuvo. El capitalismo no pu- Es necesario que los capitalistas reba- pervivencia. ede absorber las masas desempleadas de jen el precio del producto con el fin de so- La competencia que acabó con el modo trabajadores. Ha llegado a un punto donde cavar a sus competidores. Pero al bajar los de producción feudal se ha convertido en ahora hay una nueva situación: Vivimos precios, tienen que producirse y venderse competencia entre capitalistas. Esta com- en la era de la recuperación sin empleos. muchos artículos más para que el capi- petencia se intensifica y los más débiles Las contradicciones fundamentales talista pueda mantener o aumentar sus siempre están bajo amenaza de ruina. de la producción capitalista dan lugar a ganancias. Pronto la producción supera Ésta, sin embargo, no es el tipo de ruina otras graves contradicciones. Estas con- el consumo, ya que la competencia even- que los trabajadores enfrentan. Una em- tradicciones del capitalismo son inher- tualmente conlleva a que haya más pro- presa capitalista puede ser absorbida por entes al propio sistema: La competencia ductos en el mercado que lo que se puede una empresa más fuerte o tiene que cer- capitalista conduce inevitablemente a la vender obteniendo ganancias. rar e invertir su capital en otro lugar. En crisis. Estas contradicciones no pueden Si el capitalista tiene más artículos que cualquier caso, la ruina del capitalista no ser eliminadas dentro de los límites del lo que puede venderse de manera rent- WW PHOTO: GREG BUTTERFIELD merece ni una lágrima del trabajador. sistema capitalista. Se presentan de for- able, entonces, las fábricas se cierran y Richard Kossally El sistema en sí es inestable. Estos ma independiente, fuera de la voluntad y los trabajadores son despedidos deján- capitalistas que compiten entre sí, están el control de los propios capitalistas. doles inactivos y sin ingresos. No pueden nalmente vendido, y la producción se re- impulsados por una ley fundamental del comprar los productos que han produci- cupera. Este estado de sobreproducción capitalismo — expandir o morir. En un Sistema irracional crea do. Entonces hay un estancamiento pro- es el resultado de lo que nosotros, los co- momento de estancamiento prolongado sus propios sepultureros longado hasta que baja la saturación del munistas, nos referimos cuando decimos los capitalistas más fuertes absorben a los El capitalismo no es un sistema racio- mercado, el exceso de los productos es fi- que hay anarquía en la producción. más débiles. El sufrimiento de los traba- nal. Los capitalistas no tienen ninguna jadores se intensifica. Como dice Engels, función necesaria en la sociedad actual y “A la masa de los trabajadores les falta los son responsables de casi todos los prob- medios de subsistencia, ya que han produ- lemas de la sociedad. Las atrocidades co- LIBERTAD POR LOS CINCOS CUBANS cido demasiado medios de subsistencia”. metidas contra el planeta en su búsqueda La guerra no es uno de los inventos del desenfrenada de riquezas son alucinantes. capitalismo, pero bajo el capitalismo, los La búsqueda de petróleo y gas natural, sin instrumentos de guerra se han revolucio- un estudio previo o medidas de precau- nado a tal grado que no se hubiera imagi- ción contra los posibles riesgos es una de nado antes de que la producción fuera so- las más perjudiciales. El mismo aire que cializada. Hoy, un solo dispositivo puede respiramos y el agua que bebemos, dos de matar a más personas que las que muri- los elementos esenciales que sustentan la eron en guerras enteras en los períodos vida, han sido envenenados por los capi- anteriores. Los gobiernos capitalistas no talistas. Es una contradicción increíble son tímidos a la hora de emplear sus ar- que la competencia capitalista los haga Agenda la fecha del 17 al 21 de Abril: mas. Ellos están en pie de guerra perma- tan temerarios que puedan causar una re- nentemente. ducción en la calidad del agua que bebe- mos y el aire que respiramos. Capitalismo engendra monopolio Mi contradicción favorita de este ter- 5 Días por los 5 Cubanos Los capitalistas que sobreviven estas rible sistema es la siguiente: Al revolu- crisis cíclicas y emergen vencedores son cionar incesantemente los medios de pro- en Washington D.C. menos en número pero más grandes y ducción, la comunicación y el comercio, más fuertes — monstruos que explotan los capitalistas han creado un proletari- En este año crucial para los 5 Patriotas Cubanos necesitamos incrementar las acciones más aún la fuerza de trabajo de los obre- ado mundial masivo. Esta clase, nuestra en la misma capital de los Estados Unidos. El Comité Internacional por la Libertad de los ros. Así es como la anarquía de la produc- clase, será su perdición. Ellos han creado 5 hace un llamado a todas las organizaciones solidarias y amigos dentro de los EEUU y ción en la sociedad capitalista conduce sus propios sepultureros. La tarea históri- en el mundo para apoyar la realización de “5 Días de acciones consecutivas por los 5”. al monopolio. Hoy en día, la clase capi- ca del proletariado es la abolición del cap- talista, a través de unos cientos de ban- italismo y la construcción del socialismo. Las jornadas de denuncia y solidaridad se llevarán a cos, corporaciones y otras instituciones, Si pensamos racionalmente, el aumen- controla el comercio a nivel mundial. to en la productividad del trabajo no de- cabo del 17 al 21 de Abril en Washington D.C. En búsqueda de mercados y recur- bería crear miseria para los productores, Entre ellas destacamos: sos, los capitalistas han demostrado que ni la productividad debería conducir a la • Evento público con la participación de personalidades de EEUU y otros países; harían cualquier cosa. Como en las pal- escasez. La abundancia no debería ser • Lobby y entrega de información a miembros del Congreso y el Senado de los EEUU; abras de un famoso Señor Dunning cita- fuente de angustia y de miseria. Sin em- • Muestra de documentales en universidades y espacios públicos; do por Marx, “Asegúresele un 10 por 100 bargo, mientras el producto social de la • Contacto con los medios de comunicación; y acudirá a donde sea; un 20 por 100, y se clase obrera sea robado por la clase capi- sentirá ya animado; con un 50 por 100, talista, la sociedad no podrá avanzar de • Reunión con grupos religiosos de diferentes denominaciones; y positivamente temerario; al 100 por 100, manera significativa. • Mesas con información y actividades culturales. es capaz de saltar por encima de todas las Ningún país hasta ahora ha logrado Paralelamente se colocarán miles de carteles “Obama Give me Five” en leyes humanas; el 300 por 100, y no hay aún el objetivo del socialismo, pero los puntos claves de la ciudad y se publicarán anuncios en distintos medios. crimen a que no se arriesgue, aunque ar- que lo han intentado, y los que aspiran a rostre el patíbulo”. la construcción socialista de la sociedad Participe y apoye estas acciones para dar a conocer el caso de los 5 cubanos En estos días, sin embargo, la horca o tienen más que comprobado que una Diferentes formas de participar y apoyar las acciones de 5 días por los 5 Cubanos: cualquier otro castigo es poco probable economía planificada es lo que los pueblos • Endosar las acciones enviando el nombre de su organización a [email protected]; para el capitalista. Después de todo, es su del mundo necesitan. Una importante lec- sistema y, como tal, está diseñado para ción aprendida por el intento de tomar el • Participar en las acciones de Washington DC; servirles. El rápido avance de la capacid- poder del estado por la Comuna de París • Enviar una donacion ad productiva del mundo con los medios en 1871, es que el capitalista debe ser er- Muy pronto enviaremos la información detallada sobre cada actividad. de producción principalmente en las ma- radicado. Tiene que haber un cambio rev- Comite Internacional por la Libertad de los 5 Cubanos nos de la clase capitalista ha concentrado olucionario y no ha habido una revolución Mesa Consultiva del Comite Internacional tanta riqueza en manos de los capitalistas sin un partido revolucionario. ¡Bienveni- que ya es una obscenidad. dos a Workers World/Mundo Obrero! Para informacion actualizada visite: www.thecuban5.org