• GANANCIAS VS OBREROS DE AUTOS 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 58, No. 7 Feb. 25, 2016 $1

Dancers from Beyonce’s Super Bowl Autopsy finds 20 bullets halftime show, Feb. 7. Cops executed Mario Woods By Terri Kay San Francisco, Calif.

According to an autopsy AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY report released Feb. 11 by San Francisco Chief Med- ical Examiner Michael Repression & resistance 6-7 Hunter, the five San Fran- cisco police officers who killed Mario Woods put a total of 20 bullets into his body, many from behind, and one additional “prob- An open letter: GRAPHIC: SINSINVALID.ORG able gunshot graze wound” to his right cheek. (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 11) In- vestigators found at least 27 bullet shell casings at the ‘Standing on scene. The firing-squad-style execution on Dec. 2 was captured by three eyewitness videos. Hunter found Woods’ cause of death to be multiple the wrong side gunshot wounds to his head, back, abdomen, buttocks, legs and hands. Woods also had four clear bruises from beanbag rounds also fired by San Francisco Police De- of history’ WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN partment officers. Monica Moorehead, right, with Dionne Smith, mother The San Francisco Chronicle reported that one of the of James Rivera Jr., killed by police in Stockton, Calif. videos “showed one officer stepping in front of Woods, who was 26, as he shuffled along a wall, with the gun- Dear Rep. John Lewis, fire coming moments later from officers who had sur- rounded Woods. The report lists Woods as 5-foot-9, 156 I am a Black woman, who, like you, was born in Al- tired of waiting for justice. They are using the Sanders pounds.” (Feb. 11) abama at the dawn of the modern day Civil Rights campaign to say they are sick and tired of young peo- John Burris, the family lawyer, described the third Movement. My parents supported the Montgomery Bus ple of color being murdered for the crime of walking, video coverage in a press conference on Dec. 11: “Ma- Boycott. I, like millions of others, suffered through the talking, or driving while Black. rio’s arms were at his sides. He was not committing a indignities of Jim Crow, including watching, as an ado- They are saying they are tired of the police war on dangerous act. He was not threatening police officers at lescent, my mother being “escorted” out of a white-only Black America, and they are tired of mass incarceration. Blurb: Ganancias vs obreros de autos the time. He was walking slowly. It was the police officer public bathroom by the police. They are saying they are not willing to support es- that created confrontation when he jumped in front of So I understand firsthand and respect your bravery tablishment politicians merely because some of us have Blurbs him.” (S.F. Chronicle, Dec. 12) and your contribution to the Black freedom struggle. known them. SFPD Chief Greg Suhr tried to claim the usual “police I know that half a century ago, you were nearly beaten They are saying they don’t want to be told to stay in NATO were in fear of their lives” at a town hall called two days to death when state troopers and Klansmen attacked the their place, to be patient, to be realistic and support the threatens Libya, refugees 9 after the shooting. Displaying an enlarged frame from march from Selma to Montgomery. status quo. They are saying they want more than the one of the videos showing Woods with his arms extend- Back then, you faced the reality of racist violence and false promises of incremental change; they demand rad- JUSTICE FOR FLINT ed, Suhr claimed it showed that Woods was pointing the possibility of your own death on a daily basis. Back ical, revolutionary change and they want it NOW. as scandal unfolds 5 a small kitchen knife at the officers. The slow motion then, you were in the vanguard of the Civil Rights revo- Bernie Sanders refers to himself as a socialist (that’s playback of the same video proved the first shot was lution. Nobody can ever take that away from you. good because it has people talking about socialism). Ac- THE SUPREME COURT fired before Woods’ arm was extended. With all due respect, however, what you did the other tually he’s more of a New Deal liberal. and ‘democracy’ On Jan. 21, even San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, bow- day during the announcement of the Black Congressio- I’m a real socialist, a revolutionary socialist with a Editorial 10 ing to the ongoing community anger over Woods’ kill- nal Caucus Political Action Committee’s support for the capital S. I believe that the Democratic Party is a politi- ing, was forced to call for a federal investigation into candidacy of Hillary Clinton was counterrevolutionary. cal prison for the workers and oppressed, because, just Woods’ death and SFPD practices. The problem isn’t that you didn’t see Bernie Sanders like the Republican Party, it is controlled by and serves In response to a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by at the 1963 March on Washington or during the free- the interests of capitalism. Woods’ family, San Francisco Deputy City Attorney dom rides. The problem is that you are not seeing the Frankly, Sanders is not great on racism. He’s said that Sean Connolly has claimed that the SFPD acted lawfully millions of young people, especially young Black people he opposes reparations for Black people to compensate in killing Woods. According to the Feb. 12 Chronicle, city and other people of color, who are using the Sanders for the crimes against them dating back to slavery. It’s attorneys claimed police officers “need not use the least campaign to send a message to the capitalist political taken considerable pressure to get Sanders to take the intrusive form of force when dealing with an armed sus- establishment. struggle against racism seriously. And he still has a long pect who poses a threat to the public or police officers. They are using the Sanders campaign to say they are way to go. Police officers need not wait until they or a member of Continued on page 6 the public are assaulted before using lethal force.” FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM Continued on page 6 • NATO threatens Libya, refugees 9 A message to young voters 3 Subscribe to Workers World • JUSTICE FOR FLINT

4 weeks trial $4 1 year subscription $30 as scandal unfolds 5 Sign me up for the WWP Supporter Program: workers.org/articles/donate/supporters_/ • SCOTUS, Scalia Name and ‘democracy’ Editorial 10 Email______Phone ______Street______City / State / Zip______• FIGHT FOR SOCIALISM Workers World 212.627.2994 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org Young voters & Sanders 3 Page 2 Feb. 25, 2016 workers.org Protesters challenge Democrats

By Vivian Weinstein and the Workers World Milwaukee Bureau  In the U.S. Cops executed Mario Woods ...... 1 Hundreds took to the streets Feb. 11 in Milwaukee An open letter: ‘Standing on the wrong side of history’ . . 1 to confront the Democratic Party debate between Ber- Protesters challenge Democrats ...... 2 nie Sanders and Hillary Clinton held at the University of So. Florida students: ‘Dump Trump’ ...... 3 Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Zelazo Center. Despite dozens of police and other repressive state A message to young people voting for Bernie Sanders . .3 agents’ harassment, protesters with signs and banners Pacific trade pact protested in 25 U.S. cities ...... 4 from the Fight For $15 movement marched to demand Top-down changes in AFL-CIO, 1995 to 2005 ...... 4 a living wage. Activists from Youth Empowered in the ‘Make GM pay $4 billion to Flint’ ...... 5 Struggle demanded an end to raids and deportations of Evidence against state mounts in Flint water scandal . . .5 migrants and that the U.S. get out of Latin America and S.F. union: ‘Labor action needed for Flint’ ...... 5 the Caribbean. Students for a Democratic Society and other campus organizations demanded a future without Mumia Abu-Jamal: Sundiata Sadiq, gentle warrior . . . . 6 crushing debt, expressed support for campus workers Milwaukee S.F. Labor Council: Stand with the Haitian people . . . . 8 and called for resources to benefit students of color; les- PHOTOS: VIVIAN WEINSTEIN, YOUTH EMPOWERED IN THE STRUGGLE - UWM Michigan legislature reinforces anti-LGBTQ bigotry . . .10 bian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and women With no Zika virus, U.S. falls behind in health ...... 10 students in general; and workers. Message from Leonard Peltier, unjustly imprisoned . . .11 Retirees and other workers, including many Teamsters and members of the Wisconsin Com-  Around the world mittee to Protect Pensions, demanded a secure Haiti: Hungry masses demand Martelly leave, retirement and an end to the theft of their hard- set new elections ...... 8 earned retirement funds. Black Lives Matter activ- What’s Transdev’s role in German rail crash? ...... 8 ists demanded an end to police terror and justice U.S.-NATO flag waves over Europe ...... 9 for Dontre Hamilton, who was killed by a Milwau- kee police officer in 2014, and all those killed and NATO warships target refugees ...... 9 brutalized by the police. Film exposes neo-Nazis in Ukraine ...... 9 Other organizations such as the Latin Ameri-  Black History Month can Solidarity Committee, the Milwaukee Antiwar Denver 70 years after the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, ...... 6 Committee, the Milwaukee Palestine Solidari- ty Coalition, the Wisconsin Bail Out the People Democratic fundraiser in Denver attended by presiden- Nkrumah: 50 years since CIA-led coup ...... 6 Movement and Workers World Party demanded an end tial candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. The  Editorial to imperialist wars and money for the people, not the demonstrators demanded an end to fracking and for de- Scalia, SCOTUS and democracy ...... 10 Pentagon and the banks. Anti-war activists reminded velopment of renewable energy. protesters that the UW-Milwaukee library is named af- The young protesters understand the connections —  Noticias en Español ter the late Israeli prime minister, Golda Meir, who led which not a single candidate has addressed — between Ganancias vs trabajadoras/es automotrices ...... 12 the apartheid settler state to steal Palestinian land and trade deals and environmental imperialism — the dis- Cómo trabajadores negros fueron diezmados por racismo 12 butcher its original occupants. proportionate misery of the poor, who do not produce At one point during the evening, Fight For $15 work- the carbon that the imperialists do. The candidates must ers occupied the media room for the debate, housed at be forced to face these issues. Wars and the U.S. military UW-Milwaukee, to righteously and loudly demand social are enormous users of oil, hence they are producers of Workers World and economic justice. carbon. U.S. wars are bad for the Earth, and the cost im- 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. Two days later, on Feb. 13, hundreds protested at a poverishes our cities and towns. New York, N.Y. 10011 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 58, No. 7 • Feb. 25, 2016 Closing date: Feb. 16, 2016 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Who we are & what we’re fighting for Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Kris Hamel, Monica Moorehead; Web Editor Gary Wilson ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash and production is planned to satisfy human need. This class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, Keith Fine, Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, Fred Goldstein, with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales, means of production. women. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning make that change. That’s why for 57 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; been building a revolutionary party of the working tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, Donna Lazarus, class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every Carlos Vargas We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Copyright © 2016 Workers World. Verbatim copying Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Bay Area Cleveland Houston Pittsburgh Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. 1305 Franklin St. #411 P.O. Box 5963 P.O. 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So. Florida students: ‘Dump Trump’

By Jared Austin Donald Trump has got to go!” and “No “the rally was important to countering USF, and targeted Civil Rights activists Tampa, Fla. more wars! No more hate! Donald Trump right-wing populism on our campus, and other “subversives” who might be get out of our state!” which seeks to undermine progressive sympathetic to communism. Students for a Democratic Society Various speeches were also given by and popular demands. I attended this Tampa SDS activist Jack Ling spoke Tampa hosted a “Dump Trump” rally on groups, including Tampa Bay SDS, the rally because, like anyone else, I did not about this point directly: “While we Feb. 12 in front of the University of South Committee to Stop FBI repression, the want USF complicity in promoting and protest the monstrous queer-phobia of Florida Sun Dome, where Donald Trump Teamsters union and the Freedom Road propagating hate and violence against Trump and his supporters, let us also was given permission to host a sold- Socialist Organization. oppressed peoples to go unchallenged.” recognize that atrocities were committed out rally promoting his racist political Activist and Tampa Bay SDS mem- Tampa Bay SDS extended the anti-rac- against LGBTQAI+ students and faculty ­message. ber Taina Pantoja, who spoke at the ral- ist message of the protest to all racist on this campus that we will never be able Hundreds of USF students organized ly, stated, “We need to stand up against politicians, not just Donald Trump. This to correct so long as a building, which en masse to let Trump know his racist, Donald Trump and other racist politi- included former Florida Sen. C.W. Bill university officials have regarded as the misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ message cians’ capitalist agenda; we need to stand Young, whom the campus ROTC build- core of the university moving forward, was not welcome on the USF campus. up against white supremacy and defend ing is named after. Young was an active enshrines a legacy of hatred and violence The organizers held signs at the entrance affirmative action!” Homam Nasser of member of the Johns Committee, which against queers on campus.” The group is of the Sun Dome and organized chants the Committee to Stop FBI Repression actively persecuted homosexual students currently leading a campaign to change such as “Dump Trump!” “Hey hey! Ho ho! followed this sentiment, stating that across Florida in the 1960s, including at the name of the ROTC building. A message to young people voting for Bernie Sanders

By L.T. Pham cops and vigilantes. So the demands young people are In 2008, we saw an increase in the making are in many ways very sim- mainstream political participation of ple. We want jobs, an education, young people. Sen. Barack Obama was housing and communities where we an enthusiastic candidate out of the state can be safe and free from fear and in- of Illinois with a platform promising pro- timidation. gressive change. In the past eight years of President Obama’s administration, we A global youth struggle have seen young people become yet again While some of Sanders’ promis- disillusioned by two-party politics and es seem appealing, we must think a government that continually represses about what the impact of his capital- and opposes any grassroots efforts to istic populist agenda means not just change the conditions of workers and the for youth here in the U.S. but also for oppressed. young people all around the world. We In 2016, we are up against another should be clear that Sanders is com- bourgeois election dominated by the two mitted to the same corporate-funded big capitalist political parties. For the Democratic Party as Hillary Clinton, Republicans, one candidate is more re- even if he is not officially a member. actionary and racist than the next, and Of the two Democratic candidates, openly so. The Iowa caucuses gave the Sanders has shown more success in St. Louis mall protest on Black Friday, Nov. 27. United States insight on who may win in attracting young people. this political circus. Sanders knows how to speak to the Now is the time more than ever to ex- pose the bourgeois elections and the cap- With Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clin- urgent issues impacting youth when it press our solidarity with young people italist system that they are wedded to, a ton vying for the Democratic Party candi- comes to the economy and higher edu- globally who will be negatively impacted system in crisis, under which young peo- dacy, many people — particularly young cation, but his take on foreign economic by the continued violence of the U.S. em- ple are forced to believe we have no better people — are excited about the prospect and social policy is almost identical to pire. We can do this best by understand- options than the least of many evils. Our of electing a “socialist” into office. In that of any candidate running for presi- ing how our struggles are interconnected candidates, Monica Moorehead for presi- Iowa, where 30,000 youth voters cau- dent of the two capitalist parties. and how the U.S. plays a significant role dent and Lamont Lilly for vice president, cused for Sanders and Clinton, 84 per- Similarly, his hesitancy to speak di- in preventing us from building a global represent a 15-point program that seeks cent of the youth caucused for Sanders. rectly and boldly about the role racism youth struggle that relies on people pow- to address the most urgent demands of Recently, in New Hampshire, Sanders plays in preventing young people from er instead of capitalist politicians. our communities while also offering a vi- won again, with 60 percent of all voters obtaining jobs, housing and education sion for a socialist society. and, according to exit polls, more than 83 exposes the real nature of his campaign. Why we’re building toward Workers World Party’s candidates percent of the youth. His program is not about socialism — a real socialist revolution want reparations, an end to the murders where the wealth created by workers It is clear that young people are look- of transgender women of color, an imme- The desperate state of young people and the oppressed are in our own hands, ing for leaders who are bold, who have diate stop to the deportations and raids, With a campaign slogan of “A Future where we decide how our communities experience fighting for change and who and U.S. troops out of Asia, Latin Amer- to Believe In,” it’s understandable why will share and distribute resources. And have the vision to create a world where ica, Africa and the Middle East. We want so many young people are canvassing, it definitely is not about a kind of social- all people can thrive. Yet, we cannot to build a working-class struggle here in advocating and voting for Sanders. What ism that recognizes the necessity of dis- continue to believe that the promises of the U.S. and in solidarity with communi- is important to consider is how the youth mantling racism, white supremacy and capitalist politicians will be delivered ties all across the world who experience vote for Sanders is more of a reflection on capitalism as a necessary part of uplift- without continued damage on the lives the harm of U.S. imperialism. the desperate state of young people, rath- ing struggling communities around the of workers and oppressed people. er than on any real changes Sanders can world. Sanders says openly he does not want The world we are fighting for deliver at this stage of permanent capital- Globally, youth are facing attacks, an end to capitalism, the system that Youth, workers and oppressed peo- ist crisis. whether it be displacement triggered by relies on dividing workers through op- ple deserve a world where our needs are From Black Lives Matter to the fight U.S. trade policies in Latin America, vi- pression. Sanders calls for reforms that met; where access to jobs, education and for a living wage, from immigrants’ olence from the ongoing Israeli occupa- provide temporary Band-Aids that still housing is unquestionable; where we do rights to the struggle for a Free Palestine, tion of Palestine or austerity measures in leave gaping wounds in other parts of not live in fear of police and state repres- young people are under attack. There are Greece, where banks and politicians are the world. sion because we are Black and Brown, no jobs and the jobs that are available getting bailouts before the people. We need to build a real socialist rev- LGBTQ, homeless, with disabilities or are underpaying. There are no affordable It is important to have this global per- olution that prioritizes human needs poor; where we are not displaced from homes and the ones that are affordable spective when we consider the bourgeois and the self-determination of oppressed our homes because of gentrification or are supremely neglected by government elections in the belly of the beast: the U.S. communities. The only way that this is war; where we have control over our housing agencies. empire. The election of any candidate possible is by organizing together — as communities, our labor and our wealth; The idea of an affordable higher edu- from the Democratic or Republican Par- youth, as workers and as oppressed peo- where the dangers of capitalism do not cation belongs to decades past, as young ty in this country means, for the global ple. A socialist revolution does not rely exist and in capitalism’s place, a kind of people are now used to taking out mas- youth struggle, continued war, displace- on the fake democratic process that is socialism that is revolutionary, radical sive amounts of loans in order to access ment, economic crises and exploitation. currently propagandized to us as the and worth struggling for. the academy. Youth of color; lesbian, No politician whose power relies on the only option. We cannot vote our way out We are fighting for a world worth liv- gay, bisexual, transgender and queer subjugation of developing nations will put of the dangers of capitalism, we can only ing in. youth; and working-class youth in gen- an end to the imperialist conquests for fight. The writer is an LGBTQ youth orga- eral are facing heightened levels of po- more capital acquisition and destruction Workers World Party is running an nizer of Vietnamese descent in North litical repression and are being killed by that requires the stolen labor of youth. election campaign because we want to ex- Carolina. Page 4 Feb. 25, 2016 workers.org

Pacific trade pact protested in 25 U.S. cities

By Dante Strobino and Martha Grevatt loss. All 12 countries signed Worker and community organizations the pact in New Zealand in more than 25 U.S. cities held a day of ac- on Feb. 3, but it must still tion on Feb. 4 to protest the Trans Pacific be ratified by each coun- Partnership signed by the U.S. and 11 oth- try’s legislative or par- er Pacific Rim countries. Like the North liamentary bodies. This American Free Trade Agreement of 1994, could take months in the the TPP is expected to increase the profits U.S.; opponents of the of big businesses and banks while elimi- TPP are trying to build nating workers’ jobs all over the country public pressure to “flush and the world, driving smaller businesses t he TPP.” and small farmers into bankruptcy. Many In Durham, N.C., on call the TPP “NAFTA on steroids.” Feb. 3, a broad coalition Most of the TPP language is not of labor unions, environ- trade-specific, but it creates a supra-legal mental and community structure that allows corporations to sue groups, including Food & countries if national laws interfere with Water Watch, the Com- PHOTO: AIDEN GRAHAM corporate profit making. If the TPP be- munication Workers union, North Caro- Durham anti-TPP demonstration. comes law in all 12 countries, there could lina AFL-CIO, Black Workers for Justice, be a loss of jobs, a drop in workers’ in- A. Philip Randolph Institute and United bargaining rights in North Carolina. The alition, Detroit Light Brigade and other comes, and threats to laws protecting the Electrical Local 150, the N.C. Public Ser- National Administrative Office of the groups demonstrated downtown. rights of labor, the environment, food vice Workers Union, held a press confer- North American Agreement on Labor In Chicago, TPP protesters joined and drug safety, and other areas. ence outside Rep. G.K. Butterfield’s office Cooperation found the public employees’ forces with Chicago Teachers Union For example, since NAFTA was passed opposing the TPP and highlighting how basic human and labor rights were violat- members gearing up for a strike. In other North Carolina has lost more than prior trade deals have harmed the people ed. Yet the state Legislature, the Obama cities people demonstrated outside con- 138,000 jobs because of “free trade” of North Carolina. administration and the Department of gressional representatives’ offices. deals, including many textile and other In 2012, the UE filed a complaint, un- Labor refused to act on these findings. Besides the protests in the U.S., manufacturing jobs. This new proposed der NAFTA’s supposed labor protections, In Detroit, demonstrators from Au- demonstrations of thousands took place trade deal will result in equal or more job about the ban on public sector collective toworker Caravan, Moratorium Now! Co- in New Zealand, Peru and Chile.

Labor at the crossroads, part 2: Top-down changes in AFL-CIO, 1995 to 2005

By Carl Lewis their own history and experience in their labor movement to subordination to the walkout of 200,000 postal workers that home countries. Democratic Party and their automatic ac- started in New York and spread to other It was announced in 2005 at the AFL- ceptance of the profit motive. Forgotten cities, in which Nixon was forced to call CIO convention that a significant group Top-down changes in AFL-CIO is the militant history of the unions in in the National Guard in order to move of national unions, headed by the Service Both Sweeney’s initiative in 1995, as the CIO, which embraced the idea of sit- the mail. This was followed by a rank- Employees union (SEIU), had disassoci- well as the departure of some of the major down strikes and picket lines in defiance and-file walkout of autoworkers in Lord- ated themselves or otherwise “split” from AFL-CIO unions to the Change to Win or- of the police and court “injunctions,” and stown, Ohio, against speedup and forced their parent organization, the AFL-CIO. ganization in 2005, had common ideolog- carried out broader efforts to mobilize overtime in 1972. The rise of the Detroit Also included were UNITE HERE, the ical threads. It is an inescapable fact that the people of the communities to become Revolutionary Union Movement and the Teamsters union, the Food and Commer- both of these endeavors were top-down af- part of the struggle, as well as their con- League of Revolutionary Black Workers cial Workers union and the Carpenters fairs, in which few rank-and-file members scious effort to include oppressed work- beginning in 1968 was a reaction to the union. of the unions, or local union presidents, ers as a unifying aspect of the struggle, colorblindness of the United Auto Work- Interestingly, this was 10 years after were aware of these proposed changes to which in essence meant a fight against ers, which had allowed the auto bosses John Sweeney of the SEIU had led the “reinvigorate the labor movement.” racism. to keep Black workers in the lowest and “New Voice” team that replaced AFL- This was especially true of the 2005 Of course, all this would have been most dangerous job classifications. CIO head Lane Kirkland, successor to “split,” which was based more on person- impossible without the contribution and These movements were of critical im- the anti-communist misleader and class alities and “turf wars,” despite claims by leadership of communist and socialist or- portance in the development of Black collaborationist George Meany. Sweeney both Change to Win and the AFL-CIO ganizations, which defined the struggle Power and the right of oppressed nations had promised to move forward with an that it was about devoting more resources as one of class. The really historic split of to self-determination. More recently, the aggressive plan for organizing the unor- to organizing. In short, there was no mo- the CIO from the craft unions in the AFL struggle of the Boston School Bus Driv- ganized and turning around a long-de- tivation for any of the rank-and-file work- in 1938 was something that all workers ers should instill in revolutionary social- clining membership. ers, especially workers from oppressed could understand and identify with. It ists the determination that there should After his victory, Sweeney called a nationalities, to “rally to the cause.” The was the time when unskilled, mass-pro- never be a wall between class struggle number of high-level meetings with issue then became one of a lack of credi- duction workers were first brought into unionism and the struggle for self-deter- women’s organizations, such as the Coa- bility, because very few union workers at the fold. mination of oppressed nations. There is lition of Labor Union Women, as well as the base knew anything about what was Both the Cold War and anti-commu- no contradiction between supporting in- establishment Civil Rights organizations, going on. nism, with their demonization of the dependent movements for liberation and and met with the leadership of numerous SEIU President Andy Stern, who led Soviet Union and its allies, as well as self-determination, and the unity of the central labor councils in different cities. the CTW faction and ironically had been the imperialist war against People’s Ko- working-class movement. The new AFL-CIO agenda was focused groomed by Sweeney to be his successor, rea and the threats against the People’s The struggle of the Appalachian Work- on a “living wage” campaign in order never elaborated on a precise program or Republic of China, played no small part ers Alliance in West Virginia against a to jumpstart the central labor coun- strategy on how to reverse membership in diminishing the fight of labor against “right-to-work” anti-union law being cils, which were doing very little except erosion and union decline, other than re- capital. The AFL and the CIO became proposed by the West Virginia Senate is endorsing “labor-friendly candidates.” peating the mantra of “organize the un- complicit partners in purging leftists an example of how revolutionary social- The model Sweeney used was a blitz- organized.” and expelling left and anti-imperialist ists can fight by intervening in the labor krieg-style organizing of low-income All the militant rhetoric about turn- unions from the fold, in conformity with movement from the “bottom up.” (See the nursing home workers as well as janitors, ing back the tide of eroding union mem- ­anti-communism. article on West Virginia in the Workers most of whom were immigrants. This bership, especially after the CIO merged In the 1960s, with few exceptions, World of Feb. 4.) campaign mobilized under the slogan of with the AFL in 1955, lacked any political the AFL-CIO had to play catch-up to This is also true whether it involves “Justice for Janitors.” and historical analysis about the abysmal the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement. rank-and-file UAW support for auto work- The campaign was notable not only for decline in both the membership and the And even in this instance, they did not ers in Colombia against General Motors, its militancy, but the fact that most of the strength of unions to mount a fight against mobilize or educate the white rank and or visits by North American trade union- workforce being organized came from capital. However, if the leadership of the file about the importance of unity and ists, be they rank and file or leaders, to El Salvador and other Central American labor movement had real political class the need for solidarity with the Afri- Cuba to see how labor unions operate un- countries, as well as Mexico. The demo- consciousness, they would see that the an- can-American masses. der socialism, or the struggle for $15 an graphics of these workers meant they swer to the decline is not difficult to find. hour. Let’s get involved with the central did not need much prodding by the top- Rank and file lead strikes, walkouts labor councils, when and where we can, heavy staff of SEIU in order to be con- Building a class and anti-racist struggle That said, there have also been some to unite the movement against racism vinced; the militancy and determination First and foremost are the unques- noticeable and stalwart exceptions to and special oppression with the workers’ they exhibited was part and parcel of tioned adherence of the leadership of the “business as usual.” There was the 1970 movement. workers.org Feb. 25, 2016 Page 5

‘Make GM pay $4 billion to Flint’

By Martha Grevatt majority of them in Michigan and 24 roded the pipes, allowing lead to leach Detroit of them specifically in Flint’s Genesee into the water supply. County. The selective closings by a com- The demonstration was announced The Moratorium Now! Coalition to Stop pany with a history of racism have devas- Feb. 3 after GM reported its earnings Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility Shutoffs tated majority-Black Michigan cities like for 2015: an all-time record high of $9.7 demonstrated Feb. 10 outside General Detroit, Pontiac, Saginaw and Flint. GM billion after paying taxes and interest. A WW PHOTO: ABAYOMI AZIKIWE Motors world headquarters in downtown is complicit in the environmental racism leaflet pointed out GM’s wanton disre- posed to public health. Detroit. The coalition is demanding GM that has left 100,000 people without safe gard for public safety, going back to the While Detroiters were protesting GM, pay $4 billion to cover Flint’s massive drinking water. Signs called on GM to 1920s when GM’s major shareholder, Du- dozens were demonstrating outside Gov. medical needs and completely recon- pay reparations to the people of Flint. Pont, developed leaded gasoline to make Rick Snyder’s swank new condo in Ann struct its water infrastructure. GM is also responsible for polluting GM’s engines run smoothly — and knock Arbor, Mich. Others were demonstrating Moratorium Now! holds GM respon- the Flint River with its toxic waste over out competition from Ford. More recent- at the state Capitol in Lansing. University sible for impoverishing Flint, Mich., by the past century. The lead poisoning in ly, when GM realized the Flint River wa- of Michigan students held a march even closing most of its plants in the city where Flint came about after the city began ter was corroding its engine parts, the after an event featuring Snyder was can- GM was founded 108 years ago, elimi- drawing its water, which was highly cor- company arranged for an alternate water celled over fear of protests. “Flint Lives nating 72,000 out of 80,000 jobs. Since rosive, from the river and then failed to source but did not voice concern about Matter” is becoming a rallying cry in the 1979, GM has closed over 170 plants, the add anti-corrosive phosphates. This cor- the probable danger that the same water struggle for justice for Flint’s people. Evidence against state mounts in Flint water scandal

By Martha Grevatt On Oct. 17, 2014, Susan Bohm of the Flint to go back to Detroit whose mothers ingested state Department of Health and Human water, his appointees at the Flint water while pregnant. Feb. 14 — Rick Snyder ran for Michigan Services wrote that Liane Shekter-Smith, DEQ insisted Flint water She is looking into a possi- governor in 2010 on the slogan “one tough chief of the state Department of Environ- met federal standards and ble spike in miscarriages, nerd.” With no political experience, the mental Quality’s Office of Drinking Wa- was safe to drink and wash stillbirths and low birth Republican venture capitalist and former ter and Municipal Assistance, reportedly with. weights, which lead expo- Gateway Computer CEO used his millions told Bohm, “There have been numerous sure can trigger. to outspend his opponent. Now, mass pro- complaints about the Flint water, that the Criminals insisted: ‘Drink “They killed my babies,” tests are calling for his arrest. Neither his Governor’s Office had been involved and up, it’s safe!’ said Nakiya Wakes. “They nerdy toughness nor his personal fortune that any announcement by public health Flint skipped a standard knowingly poisoned the can pull him out of his current political about the quality of the water would cer- treatment practice of adding whole city of Flint.” She crisis: the Flint water scandal. tainly inflame the situation.” That same anti-corrosive phosphates lost both twins she was The public has obtained access to month, after General Motors found an al- to the water. Phosphates ef- carrying after drinking 24,000 pages of emails and other com- ternate water source because Flint water fectively coat the pipes, pre- Flint water. One day after munications, released under the Free- was corroding parts at its engine plant, venting toxic metals such as the second miscarriage, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the dom of Information Act, between feder- DEQ district engineer Michael Prysby lead, copper, aluminum and whistleblower who exposed she received a letter advis- al, state and Genesee County agencies. wrote, “I stressed the importance of not chromium from leaching Flint lead poisoning. ing pregnant women not to These records form part of a mountain branding Flint’s water as ‘corrosive’ from into the water. For months, drink the city’s water. Re- of evidence against the state, whose of- a public health standpoint simply be- the state blew off Environmental Protec- searchers are finding that lead exposure ficials repeatedly ignored Flint residents’ cause it does not meet a manufacturing tion Agency officials urging Flint to add during pregnancy changes DNA, even complaints about medical problems and facility’s limit for production.” (Detroit anti-corrosives. in the exposed mother’s grandchildren. water quality. Potentially life-saving in- News, Feb. 12) Penny-pinching austerity by the capi- (abc12.com, Feb. 12) formation, not only about lead in the wa- From April 2014, when Flint discon- talist state exposed the entire city — in- There is no degree of normalcy in this ter but of a deadly Legionnaires’ disease nected from Detroit’s water system, to cluding 27,000 minors, a third of them poor city. Parents, now dealing with outbreak, was deliberately suppressed. October 2015, when Gov. Snyder ordered six or younger — to lead and other toxins. their children’s learning and behavioral For months the EPA’s Miguel Del Toro disabilities caused by lead, plan meals fought to get his findings on the water’s around how much water they have on high lead levels taken seriously — not hand; a short supply means no soup or only by the DEQ but by some higher-ups pasta. They weigh the cost of bathing in in his agency. bottled water against the health conse- S.F. union: The Legionella outbreak, which coin- quences of using tap water. Families have cided with Flint’s decision in April 2014 lost beloved pets that drank the poison to disconnect from Detroit’s water and get water. Churches cannot conduct bap- ‘Labor action needed for Flint’ water from the Flint River, was only made tisms. “My students cannot even walk to public a few weeks ago on Jan. 13. Gov. a nearest fountain to quench their thirst. The following resolution was passed unanimously at the January membership Snyder claimed to have learned of the 87 This has become their new normal,” Flint meeting of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10, based in cases, nine of them fatal, two days earli- School Superintendent Bilal Tawaab told San Francisco. er. The first Legionnaires’ case was dis- a congressional committee. covered June 6, 2014. After 45 cases and Every Feb. 11, United Auto Workers For Labor Action to Stop Flint’s Poisoned tional public health crises; five deaths, in March 2015 federal EPA members gather at a Flint union hall to Water Crisis and Hold Michigan’s Gover- Therefore Be It Resolved that Local 10 officials held a conference call about the commemorate the victory of the 1937 sit- nor Accountable holds Michigan Gov. Snyder accountable outbreak. Emails indicate they were told down strike that forced General Motors Whereas, the drinking water in Flint, for the Flint disaster and calls for a feder- by state officials that the situation would to recognize the union. They enjoy bean Mich., has been poisoned with lead ever al investigation to bring criminal charges be made public. It was not. Two months soup from a strike kitchen recipe. This since the decision was made more than against him and that he be suspended later, a state health official told the Cen- year, cooks could not use tap water to a year ago to use the contaminated Flint from office immediately pending its out- ters for Disease Control that “the outbreak make the soup. River as the source of drinking water; come, is over.” Another 42 cases and four deaths A city that saw its living standards rise and And Be It Further Resolved that Dar- followed. According to former Genesee dramatically because of this union victory Whereas, it has now been revealed that nell Earley, the Flint emergency manager County health supervisor Jim Henry, the is now suffering unendurably. “Flint Lives Michigan’s Gov. [Rick] Snyder’s adminis- when Flint switched its drinking water state told the CDC not to investigate. Fam- Matter” shirts have become popular. The tration has known about Flint’s severe source to the poisoned Flint River water, ilies of the deceased are suing the DEQ. racist system that allows police to mur- water problems for more than a year but also be a subject of federal criminal in- Among the volumes of emails are com- der Black youth also allowed Michigan’s lied to residents that the water was safe; vestigation, and that he be immediately munications between Flint and the De- top cop, Rick Snyder, to poison the state’s and removed from his position as emergency troit Water and Sewerage Department ­second-largest, majority-Black city. Whereas, the deaths and permanent manager of Detroit Public Schools (the that expose the lie that the switch to the The governor and his cronies must long-term damage from this disaster position to which Snyder promoted him heavily polluted Flint River — carried face justice. The state and federal gov- to tens of thousands of Flint’s predomi- in 2015) so that he can do no further out by the governor-appointed dictator, ernments must produce the funds to nantly Black residents, especially chil- harm to the children of Michigan;* Emergency Manager Darnell Earley — address the medical crisis in Flint and dren, is the latest tragic consequence of And Finally Be It Resolved that upon was necessary to save money. to repair the water infrastructure top to human rights violations that elected and approval, this motion will be taken to bottom. The residents of Flint are due appointed officials in this country have the San Francisco Labor Council and the The ‘new normal’ — no end to the pain reparations. Not only the capitalist state made that disproportionately affects the California State Federation of Labor. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the whis- but also General Motors and the banks — health and well-being of Blacks; and *Editor’s note: Earley announced his tleblowing pediatrician who exposed the ones who made Flint cash-starved to Whereas, failure to act decisively now resignation Feb. 2 as DPS emergency elevated lead levels in Flint children, is begin with — must pay for this genocidal can only lead to more man-made, inten- manager, effective Feb. 29. studying the metal’s impact on children mass poisoning. Page 6 Feb. 25, 2016 workers.org

Black History Month: Sundiata Sadiq, 70 years after the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, gentle warrior African Americans still murdered with impunity By political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal ed younger activists, who came to admire By Abayomi Azikiwe impunity. Although Dorsey served over- and respect Sadiq, for how he invited Editor, Pan-African News Wire seas in the military for five years during His name was Sundiata, and for over them into the Movement — and taught WWII, he could only find work as a field 40 years, he fought for the freedom of his them about struggles before their time(s). One of the most outrageous and hand after returning to the South. people. Sundiata Sadiq was, despite being a well-publicized lynchings in U.S. histo- Some 2.5 million African-American men Headquartered in Ossining, N.Y., warrior for freedom, a truly gentle man. ry took place on July 25, 1946, when two registered for the draft between 1941 and Sundiata worked in, or led, a number of He talked to people with respect and dig- African-American couples were brutal- 1945, along with more than 6,000 Black groups working for Black Liberation and nity; he welcomed them; he cared about ly killed by a white mob in Monroe, Ga., women who volunteered for segregated Social Justice. them — and they could feel it. near Moore’s Ford Bridge. George W. units in the Army and the Navy. After ex- To list them all would exhaust our time, MOVE’s Pam Africa always spoke high- Dorsey and Mae Murray Dorsey, along periencing racism in the military while de- but just to mention a few: He chaired ly of him, and when she said, “That’s a with Roger Malcolm and Dorothy Mal- ployed in the U.S., Europe, Africa and the CORE [Congress of Racial Equality] in good brotha,” you could feel it, for he was. colm, all in their 20s, were employed as Pacific, many veterans were not willing to Rockland County [N.Y.] back in 1968 and When I met him a few years ago, it sharecroppers on the land of a white man accept legalized segregation and racial ex- 1969; in the 1970s, he chaired the Os- seemed like we’d known each other for named J. Loy Harrison. ploitation on their return to civilian life. sining Black Liberation Front; and later years. He was kind, gentle, determined — Two weeks earlier, Roger Malcolm al- A more militant political mood was he led the NAACP’s Ossining chapter in and he loved his people. legedly stabbed in self-defense a white evident in the South and other regions suits against police brutality and helped He was a Freedom Fighter, who will man named Barnette Hester, who was of the U.S. that began during the war spark the nation’s first environmental be sorely missed by his partner, Debra employed on the Harrison farm. Mal- and extended into the late 1940s and racism suit against a notorious Ossining James; by his family; by his comrades; colm spent nearly two weeks in jail, but early 1950s. This discontent with the sta- waste transfer station. and by his people. was released after Harrison paid his bail. tus quo prompted violent retribution by He shined not just as a leader, but as an Sundiata Sadiq — born July 1, 1955 Harrison drove Dorothy Malcolm and the white racists who dominated law enforce- organizer, working for freedom for polit- — returned to his ancestors, the 29th of Dorseys to pick up Malcolm when they ment, agricultural production, business ical prisoners. January, 2016. were allegedly hijacked by a lynch mob and public service. His quiet, reassuring manner attract- Peace, good brother. who killed both couples. Another highly publicized racist attack The Malcolms and Dorseys rode with occurred earlier on Feb. 12, 1946, against Harrison from the local jail in Walton a recently returned African-American County where Monroe is located, osten- war veteran. The website Today in Civil Cops execute Mario Woods sibly returning to the farm where they Liberties History reads, “Hours after be- worked. Harrison claimed that he was ing discharged from the Army following stopped by a group of 15 to 20 men who World War II, Sgt. Isaac Woodard was Continued from page 1 bought tickets to the Feb. 7 Super Bowl first ordered the African-American men taken from a bus in Batesburg-Leesville, Community keeps up unrelenting with the intent to get international pub- out of the vehicle and later took the wom- South Carolina, beaten and blinded by struggle licity for Wood’s case, in juxtaposition to en into custody. police and then jailed. Reports of the bru- Just the day before, on Feb. 10, Chief the multimillion dollar spectacle of the The racists tied the four people to tal incident aroused national outrage.” Suhr had brought out a revised proposal game. They succeeded in getting some trees, beat them severely and shot them The African-American press captured to equip some officers with Tasers or stun of Beyoncé’s dancers to hold a sign after to death while Harrison stood by in si- the exploitative and repressive conditions guns. Tasers are proposed as nonlethal the halftime show reading “Justice for lence, he claimed. Mae Murray Dorsey alternatives to guns but have proven to Woods” and, with raised fists, chanting was seven months pregnant at the time be fatal; the Washington Post revealed the same. The dancers were dressed in of the lynching. that 48 people died in 2015 alone after all black, sporting Black-Panther-style This cold-blooded, calculated slaugh- being tased by police. Many are enraged berets, in what is widely regarded as Be- ter was carried out after World War II Nkrumah: that the police chief is using the killing of yoncé’s tribute to the 50th anniversary of during a wave of such killings throughout 50 years since CIA-led coup Woods to justify reintroducing the pro- the founding of the Black Panther Party. the South. George W. Dorsey had been By Abayomi Azikiwe posal, which had previously been defeat- Additionally, at Alicia Keys’ Feb. 6 con- out of the Army for nine months when he Editor, Pan-African News Wire ed by community campaigns. cert in San Francisco the night before the was murdered by the lynch mob. The community, led by Black activists Super Bowl, Keys said: “I want to thank On Feb. 24, 1966, a coup was carried in the Bayview Hunters Point neighbor- you for your commitment to making sure Lynching sparked national outrage out against Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, lead- hood where Woods was killed, has been justice is done for Mario Woods. As the Despite a nationwide outcry demand- er of Ghana’s independence movement unrelenting in keeping the pressure on mother of two Black sons, it breaks my ing justice, no one was ever indicted for and the chief architect of the 20th-cen- for justice for Woods. Demands include heart to see what we’ve been seeing, the murder or violating the couples’ civil tury African revolutionary struggle. He prosecuting the five cops who killed killings we’ve been seeing on camera and rights. A large number of FBI agents were founded the Convention People’s Party in Woods, the firing of Chief Suhr and the all the people that we’ll never see. Black sent to Monroe to investigate the lynch- 1949, which led the former British colony resignation of Mayor Lee. lives matter, and we all of every color ing, take statements from potential wit- of the Gold Coast to national indepen- Ronnisha Johnson and Rheema Emy need to come together to end systemic nesses and collect material evidence. dence in 1957. Calloway of Black Lives Matter Bay Area racism.” (S.F. Chronicle, Feb. 8) U.S. District Judge T. Hoyt Davis im- During the coup, he was on a peace paneled and directed a 23-man grand mission aimed at ending U.S. intervention An open letter: jury, which included two African Amer- in Vietnam. The president had stopped in icans. The grand jury began to hear testi- Beijing to consult People’s Republic of Chi- mony in the case on Dec. 2, 1946. na Premier Chou En-lai and had planned ‘Standing on the wrong side of history’ Then-Georgia Gov. Ellis Arnall stated, to go to Hanoi. When Nkrumah met with “15 to 20 of the mob members are known Chou, he informed him of the military Continued from page 1 tality. Surely you remember all the times by name.” (Atlanta Daily World, Dec. 4, coup in Ghana. Chou’s initial reaction But within the narrow confines of the you were told to slow down, cool down, 1946) Evidence collected from the inves- was disbelief, yet the Chinese leader told Democratic Party, next to Hillary Clin- and follow the lead of the older leaders. tigation was delivered to the grand jury by him these setbacks occurred during the ton, who personifies the political estab- Indeed, 50 years ago this year, the U.S. District Attorney John P. Cowart and course of the revolutionary struggle. lishment, Sanders looks radical. Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was John Kelly, who were employed by the De- Lower-ranking military and police Sure, Clinton has felt the pressure to formed in part because old guard Civil partment of Justice’s Criminal Division. officers carried out the coup with CIA give more lip service to fighting racism, Rights leaders were not doing anything to Judge Davis “pointed out that federal and U.S. State Department assistance sexism, and LGBTQ oppression. stop police violence against Black people. courts have no jurisdiction over the offense and coordination. CPP leading members But Clinton’s real campaign message On the surface, this all seems like a of murder except under well-defined con- were killed, arrested and driven into exile is that radical change is unrealistic and generational struggle, and to some ex- ditions.” (ADW, Dec. 5, 1946) The federal while the party press and national radio she’s the realistic candidate. tent, it is. But it’s more than that. It’s a court, White House and the FBI said there and television stations were seized. The I’m sure, Brother Lewis, that when you struggle between those who stand with was insufficient evidence to file charges CIA and military-police clique that seized were young, you were on the receiving the capitalist establishment and those against the 20 to 30 white men involved in power encouraged counterrevolutionary end of many lectures about the need to who demand radical change. the murders. One man who testified before mobs to attack CPP offices. Books by Nk- be “realistic” and to be “patient.” You re- I still respect your contribution to the grand jury was charged with perjury rumah and other socialist leaders were member when older Civil Rights leaders our struggle for freedom. But this time, for providing false information about his burned. made you tone down your speech at the Brother Lewis, sadly, you are standing on location at the time of the lynching. Coup leaders, who called themselves 1963 march on Washington because they the wrong side of history. The Dorseys and Malcolms had worked the “National Liberation Council” (NLC), felt it was too militant. Respectfully, on the plantation where they were sub- deported cadre from national liberation You remember your just criticism of the Monica Moorehead jected to slave-like conditions after an movements who had taken refuge in Gha- Civil Rights Act of 1964 because it did not Workers World Party 2016 imperialist war that ostensibly was de- na and were receiving political and mili- address the prevalence of racist police bru- ­presidential candidate signed to end racial oppression and legal tary training there. Other fraternal allies workers.org Feb. 25, 2016 Page 7 Black History Month: 70 years after the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, African Americans still murdered with impunity

in the post-WW II period; it was filled resurfaced. Demands were made to re- with accounts of police beatings, killings open the investigation into the killings. and mob violence. In 1948, the Dixiecrat Nonetheless, these efforts did not result Party arose, a splinter from the Democrat- in the filing of criminal charges against ic Party that was bitterly opposed to even any living participants in the murders. minimal reforms granting civil rights to Every year a re-enactment of the the formerly enslaved oppressed nation. lynching is staged to continue to keep this horrendous crime in the minds of African “We Charge Genocide” Americans and their allies. The powerful book “We Charge Geno- cide” was published by the Civil Rights Racist murders today Congress in 1951 as a petition to the This pattern continues today as police United Nations. Attorney William L. Pat- and vigilantes routinely gun down Af- terson, its main author, writes about the rican Americans with impunity. In the social atmosphere after WWII and the overwhelming number of cases, no one beginning of the Korean War: “Now there has been held accountable. is not a great American city from New In most cases, local law enforcement York to Cleveland or Detroit, from Wash- agencies, courts and the federal govern- ington, the nation’s capital, to Chicago, ment have proved incapable of prosecut- from Memphis to Atlanta or Birming- ing those who engage in racist violence ham, from New Orleans to Los Angeles, against the oppressed. The Justice De- that is not disgraced by the wanton kill- partment has admitted that it does not ing of innocent Negroes. It is no longer a accurately document police killings and sectional phenomenon.” the racism involved. Patterson also reports, “Once the clas- The British Guardian’s website docu- sic method of lynching was the rope. Now ments police killings of 1,140 people in it is the policeman’s bullet. To many an 2015. A significant and disproportionate American the police are the government, number of these victims were African certainly its most visible representative. Americans. We submit that the evidence suggests Mass demonstrations and urban rebel- that the killing of Negroes has become lions against the unjustified use of lethal police policy in the United States and that force by the police have accelerated since police policy is the most practical expres- the vigilante killing of Trayvon Martin in sion of government policy.” Florida in 2012 and the police shooting of violence against the nationally oppressed Violence and repression against the op- In the 1990s, interest in the 1946 Michael Brown in Missouri in 2014. will not end until there is a structural pressed and working people are designed lynching of the Dorseys and Malcolms Nonetheless, organized and racist state transformation of the capitalist system. to maintain capitalism and imperialism. Nkrumah: 50 years since CIA-led coup of the Ghanaian and African revolutions speak in African-American churches. X’s itinerary when he travelled to Ghana airstrips, drone stations and military were fired from their jobs in the govern- After leaving the U.S. in 1945, Nk- in May 1964; and Vicki Holmes Garvin, bases in various regions across the con- ment, the educational sector and media rumah settled in Britain for two years a labor activist and Communist Party tinent. affairs. where he helped organize the historic member who worked with Robert Wil- U.S. imperialism designed Nkrumah’s CIA involvement was widely believed Fifth Pan-African Congress at Manches- liams and Mabel Williams in China after overthrow to halt the African Revolu- to be pivotal at the time, but later on, it ter that year. Du Bois chaired the gath- leaving Ghana. tion’s advance and the internationaliza- was documented with the declassifica- ering, in which other African liberation Julius Mayfield, the novelist and essay- tion of the struggle of African Americans. tion of State Department files under Pres- movement leaders participated, includ- ist who left the U.S. amid the attacks on However, global solidarity efforts accel- ident Lyndon Johnson’s administration. ing George Padmore of Trinidad, who had Robert Williams, worked in Ghana as a erated from the late 1960s through the U.S. Undersecretary of State for African worked with the Communist Internation- journalist and editor of African Review, 1990s when the last vestiges of white-mi- Affairs G. Mennen Williams had sent a al during the late 1920s and early 1930s; a Pan-Africanist journal supporting the nority rule were eliminated in South Af- letter of protest to Ghana’s embassy in Amy Ashwood Garvey, spouse of Marcus CPP government. W.E.B. Du Bois was rica and Namibia. Washington in late 1965 after the pub- Garvey, who held left-leaning politics; given Ghanaian citizenship and appoint- It’s important to note that Afri- lication of Nkrumah’s book “Neo-colo- Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya; students; and ed director of the Encyclopedia Africana. can-American political organizations nialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism.” representatives of trade unions and farm- Shirley Graham Du Bois, spouse of Du played a key role in influencing Nkrumah It outlined Washington and Wall Street’s ers’ organizations. Bois, was a political organizer, Commu- from the 1930s until his ouster in 1966 central role in the continuing underde- After Nkrumah returned to Ghana in nist Party member, prolific writer and and up until his death in 1972 in Romania. velopment of Africa. late 1947 and founded the CPP in 1949, producer. Nkrumah appointed her to Younger generations of African-Amer- he landed in prison twice for organizing head Ghana National Television. ican activists can gain much from study- Nkrumah and African-American history against British imperialism. Due to his After the coup in February 1966, most ing the intersection of the struggle for lib- Nkrumah was born in Nkroful in Gha- party’s mass support during a colonial- progressive African Americans were eration in the U.S., the Caribbean, Latin na’s Nzima region in 1909. He traveled to ist-controlled reform election in Febru- forced to leave Ghana due to the NLC’s’ America, Europe and the African conti- the U.S. in 1935 to pursue higher educa- ary 1951, Nkrumah was released from pro-imperialist character. Dr. Du Bois nent. During the period after World War tion at Lincoln University in Pennsylva- prison and appointed Leader of Govern- had died in August 1963. However, Shir- II through the beginning of the 21st cen- nia, the first Historically Black College ment Business as part of a transitional ley Graham Du Bois, who worked as a tury, tremendous gains were won in the and University in the country founded arrangement toward independence won leading figure in Ghana’s government, areas of national liberation, Pan-African during slavery in 1854. in March 1957. was placed under house arrest by mili- unity and a socialist perspective. Lincoln was an ideal atmosphere for During the independence period, tary police officials. She left Ghana and With a strong emphasis in the U.S. Nkrumah, who studied the social sci- Ghana became a haven for African- later lived in Egypt and China where she today on demonstrations against police ences, philosophy and theology. He be- American political figures, artists, pro- died in 1976. and vigilante use of lethal force against came involved in the African- American fessionals and business people. Some African Americans, identification with struggle through work with the African of them became staunch defenders of 50 years later: U.S. still broader struggles taking place in the Af- Students Association, where he served as Nkrumah’s government, which faced destabilizing Africa rican world are often overlooked. This president for several years, and the Coun- increasing CIA and State Department The anti-imperialist struggle against development, if gone unchecked, will cil on African Affairs with Dr. W.E.B. Du pressure after 1961. interventions in Africa is just as relevant break off the African-American move- Bois, Dr. William A. Hunton and Paul Hundreds of African Americans took today as it was in 1966. Five decades after ment from allies among like-minded Robeson. up residence in Ghana, including Maya the coup ousted Nkrumah, the CIA and forces within the entire African world. During his college days, Nkrumah Angelou, the writer, dancer and support- State Department are still heavily en- In addition, without an emphasis on in- worked doing odd jobs and experienced er of African liberation movements; Alice gaged in destabilizing African states and ternationalism, the African-American poverty. He became a licensed Presby- Windom of St. Louis, a social worker and progressive movements. The U.S. Africa struggle will be hard-pressed to reach its terian minister, which enabled him to educator who helped organize Malcolm Command (AFRICOM) is constructing full potential by winning global allies. Page 8 Feb. 25, 2016 workers.org

Haiti Hungry masses demand Martelly leave, set new elections

By G. Dunkel quickly, leaving their dead colleague in They pointed out that last Aug. 9’s parlia- insecure,” which means they almost al- the roadway. Neither the soldiers of Mi- mentary elections were neither fair nor ways go hungry. In the first week of February, tens of nustah, the United Nation’s occupation free. With a third of those parliamentary Although 50 percent of Haitians are thousands of Haitians, both in Port-au- force in Haiti, nor the Haitian National seats still undecided, it was ridiculous to farmers, Haiti has to import 60 percent Prince, the capital, and other major cit- Police made any attempt to control these accept the Oct. 25 presidential elections of its food. With inflation at 11 percent ies, poured into the streets to tell Pres- paramilitary gangs attacking protesters. as fair and free. annually and the gourde, Haiti’s curren- ident Michel Martelly to get out. They (Haiti Elections blog, Feb. 9) The more radical opposition, including cy, dropping in value compared to the were not going to allow him to extend his The day before he left office, Martel- Fanmi Lavalas, is calling for the head of U.S. dollar, the cost of food in Haiti is ris- hold on power by a single day past Feb. 7. ly announced a deal with the leadership the Cour de Cassation (Supreme Court) ing fast. And due to the weather phenom- February 7 was the 30th anniversary of of Haiti’s parliament. According to the to be appointed interim president and enon called El Niño, farmers in many the Haitian people’s uprooting of the dic- deal, within five days parliament will se- for holding completely new, fair and free parts of Haiti are facing the loss of their tatorial regime of Jean-Claude Duvalier. lect a provisional president, who will in elections for parliament and president. third crop in a row due to drought. In 1986, they forced the dictator to drive turn select a prime minister and a head In the midst of Martelly’s succession his fancy car into a U.S. aircraft and fly of the electoral commission. A runoff Hunger and protests crisis, a conference in Port-au-Prince on to the French Riviera. The U.S. role has between the top two candidates from Political mobilizations in Haiti are Feb. 4 of “patriotic” political parties and been up close and ongoing since even be- the 2015 presidential elections will take massive even though 75 percent of the groups, mainly left-wing and in the strug- fore U.S. Marines landed in Haiti in 1915. place April 24, with definitive results an- people who join the protests live on less gle, demanded in their final statement an Last year was the 100th anniversary of nounced May 6. than $2 a day. About 50 percent of them “urgent measure to satisfy the immediate that direct U.S. military and political in- The U.S. State Department and the live on less than $1 a day, according to economic demands of the popular mass- tervention into Haiti’s internal affairs. Core Group, which represents Canada, U.N. estimates, and most lose even this es,” which addressed the high price of On Feb. 5, heavily armed men dressed France and Brazil and includes represen- meager wage when protesting. basic necessities. (Haïti-Liberté, Feb. 10) in old Haitian army uniforms began tatives from the Organization of Ameri- Most Haitians don’t have a secure job, U.S. imperialism and its minions in riding pickups and trucks through the can States and the U.N., immediately en- one with a paycheck and benefits. This Haiti want to impose their own candi- streets of Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes and dorsed this “solution” to Haiti’s electoral makes real unemployment rates a guess- date. But they don’t want to be as obvious other cities. In the capital they fired at crisis. Washington and the European ing game. as then-Secretary-of-State Hillary Clin- protesters demanding the immediate de- Union issued another call to accept this The World Food Program, a U.N. agen- ton was when Washington imposed Mi- parture of Martelly. deal on Feb. 12. cy, just released a report Feb. 9 estimat- chel Martelly in 2011, so they are working Answering this vicious attack from Haiti’s moderate opposition, based in a ing that 3.5 million Haitians are “food through an interim president. But the pro-Martelly forces, protesters threw group called G-8, which consists of some insecure,” a euphemism meaning they Haitian people suffered through Martel- rocks, killing a former soldier, and of the major presidential candidates and often go hungry. It further estimates that ly, and are hungry for justice, democracy drove away the gangsters, who retreated their parties, condemned this agreement. 1.5 million of them are “extremely food and a better standard of living. San Francisco Labor Council: Stand with the Haitian people – overturn the stolen elections

The following San Francisco Labor egation which visited Haiti in April and dence documenting the fraud – which has Francisco Labor Council stands in soli- Council resolution was adopted Feb. 8 May of 2004. The delegation concluded given the lead position to the party of Hai- darity with the people of Haiti and their by unanimous vote. that the coup had led to serious attacks tian President Michel Martelly – the U.S. inalienable right to self-determination, Whereas, in December 2003 the San on Haiti’s trade unions, deterioration in government has endorsed the elections. including the right to freely choose their Francisco Labor Council sent greetings living conditions, and a wave of killings, The U.S. paid $31 million to finance the representatives through fair elections free of solidarity on the occasion of the 200th jailings and persecution directed at those elections, plus $2.8 million to the Nation- of coercion or intimidation. We support anniversary of the Haitian Revolution, associated with the popular movement. al Police to fund its election duties. the Haitian people’s demand for invalida- “which abolished slavery and ended co- Whereas, in 2015, after being exclud- Whereas, the defiant Haitian peo- tion of the demonstrably fraudulent Aug. lonial rule in Haiti — an earth-shatter- ed for 11 years, Aristide’s Lavalas party ple have mounted huge demonstrations 9 and Oct. 25 elections, and for an end to ing development in the struggle for the was finally able to run candidates again, and marches throughout the country to U.S. support for this “electoral coup.” emancipation of labor all over the world.” headed by presidential standard-bearer protest the stolen elections, over many And be it further resolved, that we sup- Whereas, on Feb. 29, 2004, the U.S., Dr. Maryse Narcisse. However, the Aug. months, involving tens of thousands of port the Haitian people’s demand for an French and Canadian military overthrew 9 and Oct. 25 “first-round” elections were people in the street, demanding that their end to U.S. financing of police and para- the elected government of Haiti, abduct- marked by massive voter suppression, votes be counted and the stolen elections military forces, who have been terroriz- ing President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and ballot stuffing, vote buying, armed coer- thrown out. They have been shot down, ing peaceful demonstrators. Haiti’s poor flying him to exile in Africa on a U.S. mil- cion and naked vote rigging all the way tear gassed, beaten and some have been majority is marching for their votes to be itary plane. The SFLC passed a resolution from polling places to final tabulation. killed. Yet they have come back the next counted, and for their country to be free on March 8 demanding “an investigation National police and paramilitaries fired day, denouncing what they call an “elec- from foreign intervention and control. into the Bush administration’s role in automatic weapons into working-class toral coup.” Fanmi Lavalas, long the most And be it finally resolved, that we con- the coup” and “the immediate release of areas to discourage the vote, killing popular political party in Haiti, has filed tact our elected representatives and urge Aristide” and his “restoration as the dem- scores of people. (Report of the Human legal challenges. Still, the State Depart- them to call a halt to the U.S. government ocratically elected President of Haiti.” Rights & Labor Fact-Finding Delegation ment and the U.N. occupying force con- policy of supporting electoral fraud and po- Whereas, the SFLC initiated the Labor/ to Haiti, November 2015) tinue to push the electoral coup forward. lice terror in Haiti and of interfering with Religious/Community Fact-Finding Del- Whereas, despite a mountain of evi- Therefore be it resolved, that the San the democratic process in that country. What’s Transdev’s role in German rail crash?

By John Catalinotto its article of Feb. 9 reporting the disaster private corporation took over the com- It’s also the company that, when part raised the privatization of the European muter trains in Bavaria. of Veolia, ran an apartheid-like bus line A tragic head-on collision of two com- railroads as a negative factor leading to in- Regional rail provider Meridian oper- in the occupied West Bank until last Au- muter trains in the German state of Ba- security in the network: ated both of the trains in the crash. The gust, and had been the legitimate target varia that killed 10 people — drivers, “Many countries in the region have parent company of Meridian is Bayeri- of Boycott-Divestment-Sanctions activ- conductors and passengers — on Feb. abandoned government-run monopolies sche Oberlandbahn, which in turn “[is] ists who support Palestinian rights. 9 and injured many more raised issues in favor of privately-run rail systems, even owned by the German subsidiary of the Veolia-Transdev’s history is that of that reverberate through Europe and as the European Union is spending bil- French railway conglomerate Transdev.” taking over transportation and water here in the United States. lions of euros to modernize rail networks. (Times) systems from government-owned enter- Thirty years ago, people could set their “The result is an increasingly precarious Regular Workers World readers know prises, breaking unions if they existed, watches by train schedules in Germany, system, with a patchwork of old and new that Transdev is a French-based trans- and reducing the number of workers to France and Switzerland, where commut- technologies in use at the same time, and national that handles bus and rail trans- keep increasing profits. They excel in er and intercity trains carry the bulk of with drivers, who are often alone in cars, portation, often replacing or attempting profiteering, not in providing services. commuting passengers. Given all the au- shouldering more responsibility for safety.” to replace government-owned utilities. Commuters in Bavaria and the unions tomatic safeguards now, why should an The Times found that leaving drivers Formerly a subsidiary of Veolia, which of railroad workers would do well to accident occur in which two trains going alone in the cab — which is the private is involved globally in privatizing water investigate the cost-cutting measures in opposite directions were using the corporation’s way of increasing profits by supplies, Transdev is the company that that Transdev-Bayerische Oberland- same track? employing fewer workers to do the same tried and failed to break United Steel- bahn-Meridian put in place, which may The New York Times often goes out of amount of work — added to the danger. workers Local 8751, the Boston school have led to the tragedy 35 miles south- its way to extol the market economy. But The other point to consider is which bus drivers’ union. east of Munich, Bavaria’s capital. workers.org Feb. 25, 2016 Page 9

With attack on Libya planned U.S.-NATO flag waves over Europe

We reprint this article, written on Feb. U.S. influence and participation in Eu- the NATO Summit, set in Warsaw in which does not exist in this arena as a 9 by Manlio Dinucci, the military ana- ropean affairs, preventing the creation July, Poland plans to establish a joint bri- unified entity, but individually with the lyst for the Italian newspaper Il Manifes- of solely European arrangements that gade of 4,000 soldiers along with Lithu- dominant European powers, especial- to, about U.S.-NATO forces increasing would undermine the command struc- ania and Ukraine (which are already in ly France, Britain and Germany. These pressure in the East against Russia and ture of the alliance — that is, the U.S. NATO), trained by U.S. forces. powers are in competition with each oth- planning yet another invasion of Libya command. In Estonia the government announced er and with the United States, but they in Africa. Mission accomplished: Twenty-two a military “Schengen Area,” which al- join together when their fundamental Participating (as is now required) in of the 28 EU countries, with more than lows U.S.-NATO forces to freely enter the [imperialist] interests are at stake. the meeting of European Union defense 90 percent of the EU population, are country. [The Schengen Agreement al- What was revealed recently in a 2011 ministers on Feb. 5 in Amsterdam, NATO now part of NATO under U.S. command, lows movement of people inside the EU.] email to Hillary Clinton, [from Sidney Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg which the EU recognizes as the founda- On the southern front, connected to Blumenthal, Clinton’s adviser] when she praised U.S. “plans to substantially in- tion of collective defense. By pressuring the east, the United States is about to was secretary of state, was emblemat- crease their military presence in Europe, East European governments, which are launch a new war from Europe to occupy ic of the policy toward Libya: The U.S. by increasing four times the amount they closer to the U.S. than to the EU, Wash- the economically and strategically im- and France attacked Libya primarily spend on military presence in Europe, so ington has been able to reopen a new portant coastal zone in Libya, with the to block Gadhafi’s plan to use the huge they can fund more troops in the Eastern Cold War on the eastern front, breaking pretext of liberating this region from the Libyan gold and silver reserves to create part of the Alliance, so they can finance growing Russia-EU economic ties that Islamic State group, also called ISIS. an African currency as an alternative to the prepositioning of heavy equipment, are dangerous to U.S. interests. Through- This is a move to regain ground, now the CFA franc. The CFA franc is the cur- tanks, armored vehicles and other kinds out Eastern Europe, on the highest flag- that the Russian intervention in Syria in rency set by France in its 14 former col- of heavy equipment. And also more poles, the stars and stripes banner is now support of government forces has blocked onies. The Libyan plan [which Dinucci exercises and more investments in in- waving, along with that of NATO. U.S.-NATO plans to demolish the Syrian wrote about in Il Manifesto newspaper frastructure.” In this way, according to In Poland, new Prime Minister Beata state, using, as they did in Libya in 2011, in April 2011] sought further to free Af- Stoltenberg, “EU-NATO cooperation is Szydlo has held his press conferences groups like ISIS and al-Qaida, armed and rica from the domination of the Interna- reinforced.” [nato.int, Feb. 5] with the flag of the EU lowered. Indeed trained by the CIA, funded by Saudi Ara- tional Monetary Fund and World Bank. But it had a very different purpose. the EU flag has often been burned in the bia and supported by Turkey and others. For that reason Libya was destroyed, Immediately after the end of the Cold streets by “patriots” who support the The operation in Libya “under Italian and the same forces that destroyed Lib- War in 1992, Washington emphasized in government’s refusal to host refugees management” that the Pentagon warned ya are now preparing to invade Libya to a “white paper” on military strategy, the (who were forced out of their homelands would require “boots on the ground” — bring “peace.” fundamental importance to preserve the by U.S.-NATO wars), calling them “non- that is, ground forces — has come from Translation by WW Managing Editor NATO military alliance as the channel of white invaders.” While they prepare for an agreement of the U.S. not with the EU, John Catalinotto. NATO warships target refugees

By G. Dunkel refugees were single men. As the year This has pressured the EU government a glacier flows to the sea. progressed, many more women and chil- to use NATO warships to stop the flow at There is documentation of the substan- Feb. 14 — In 2015, over 1 million refu- dren started taking part. Of those who EU’s external borders. tial aid that the United States and its ma- gees entered Europe, the greatest human entered Europe so far this year, 19,781 jor allies like Saudi Arabia and Qatar have flow of desperate people since World War were minors. Real cause of refugee crisis given to a shifting constellation of forces II. So far in the first six weeks of 2016, What makes them so desperate to risk The European and U.S. media admit trying to overthrow the Syrian govern- 80,000 people fleeing their homelands a winter crossing, instead of waiting for that fighting and turmoil in Syria have ment. But this is reported separately from have entered Europe, according to the warmer weather, is that the political compelled many people to leave for Eu- the refugees, as if there were no connec- United Nations High Commissioner for climate indicates relatively prosperous rope, and they describe the desperation tion between the two phenomena. Refugees. countries like Germany and Sweden may and dangers the refugees face. Some It’s as if the U.S. and its allies threw At an emergency meeting on Feb. 9, soon close their doors. Only 190 refugees 3,692 refugees died in 2015 trying to gasoline on the fires burning in Syria but the European Union authorized sending of the more than 1 million who entered reach Europe. denied responsibility for the resulting a flotilla the next day to the Aegean Sea Europe in 2015 have been formally re- These same media avoid explaining conflagration. They keep on lying about between Greece and Turkey. The NATO settled, according to the Feb. 3 New York what is behind the fighting in Syria and who started the fires, at the same time flotilla is under German command, with Times. The vast majority of the flow has the turmoil in the region: First, U.S.-NA- avoiding responsibility for what they’ve a Turkish ship operating in Turkish wa- been from Turkey to close-by Greek is- TO aggression against Libya destabilized done. ters and a Canadian ship, as well as as- lands in the Aegean Sea. all of North Africa and then U.S.-NATO Now major European imperialists like sorted planes. While the pretext is to stop Right-wing and fascist political groups intervention in Syria displaced millions Great Britain and France are trying to “human trafficking” and “terrorists,” the use the presence of refugees, especially of Syrians. Instead, the media hide the use the threat of more terrorist attacks to effect is to stop refugees from entering those from Muslim areas, to incite an- responsibility of the imperialist states justify new military intervention in both Europe. ti-foreign sentiment and demand EU and treat the refugees as if they are a nat- Libya in North Africa and in the region In the beginning of 2015, most of the countries close their internal borders. ural disaster, flowing toward Europe like centered in Syria. Film exposes neo-Nazis in Ukraine By Greg Butterfield “Over 40 people were killed in a huge fire forced into exile. with English subtitles on LiveLeak.com. in the heart of a major European city in Though focused on the Odessa events, (tinyurl.com/zspzppa or search “Ukraine For the first time, the role of fascist pol- the 21st century. Everything was filmed Moreira’s film also exposes the role of the Masks of Revolution”) iticians and neo-Nazi gangs in the 2014 by dozens of cameras and cell phones. Yet Western imperialist powers, especially U.S.-backed coup in Kiev has reached a around me, no one remembered. … It had the United States, in the February 2014 Exposes lies of ‘democratic revolution’ mass audience in the West with the Feb. been addressed, discussed, but never in- coup in Kiev. Shown is the collaboration The film’s broadcast marks an import- 1 broadcast of journalist Paul Moreira’s vestigated. of U.S. and European Union officials with ant breakthrough against the two-year documentary “Ukraine: Masks of the “Why no investigation? Probably be- known fascists in overthrowing the legal- conspiracy of lies and censorship by Revolution” on the French Canal+ televi- cause the victims were Russian speak- ly elected government of President Victor Western media and governments denying sion network. ers.” (English translation at website The Yanukovich. or ignoring the role of armed neo-Nazis The 55-minute film shines a bright New Cold War: Ukraine and Beyond) The film’s broadcast outraged the and right-wing nationalists in Ukraine’s light on the massacre carried out by ul- Moreira also lets anti-fascists give Ukrainian regime headed by oligarch so-called “revolution of dignity.” tra-right forces at the House of Trade their perspective — something they are President Petro Poroshenko. Ukrainian Their rise to power led to war against Unions in the multinational port city of denied in Ukraine where their views are officials and the French capitalist news- the mainly Russian-speaking Donbass Odessa on May 2, 2014, where at least banned and criminalized. paper Le Monde tried unsuccessfully to region, formerly part of eastern Ukraine, 48 anti-fascists and trade unionists were Among those interviewed are Fatima have Moreira’s film pulled before broad- where at least 10,000 people have been brutally murdered. Papura, mother of Vadim, a teenager and cast. Since then, a campaign of slander killed. One of the film’s great strengths — member of the Communist Youth who has been waged to discredit the director Washington and the EU continue to though it makes for difficult viewing — is was the youngest victim of the May 2 and the anti-fascists he interviewed. provide money, arms and political cov- that it allows the neo-Nazis and support- massacre; and Alexey Albu, former Odes- Complete English- and Russian-dubbed er for both the Poroshenko government ers of the Kiev regime to indict them- sa Regional Council deputy and a leader versions appeared online after the French and the neo-Nazis while expanding the selves through interviews, juxtaposed of the revolutionary Marxist organiza- broadcast. Both were immediately cen- NATO military alliance to Russia’s west- with footage shot at the scene. tion Union Borotba (Struggle), who sur- sored by YouTube. ern border. Paul Moreira wrote on his blog Jan. 30: vived the massacre and was subsequently As of Feb. 8, the full film is available Continued on page 11 Page 10 Feb. 25, 2016 workers.org Michigan legislature reinforces anti-LGBTQ bigotry Scalia, SCOTUS By Martha Grevatt Why not make state law consistent Detroit with the U.S. Constitution and affirm the and democracy rights of all people to privacy in their sex- Logan was an Alaskan husky blinded ual affairs — and not do so in the context when someone doused him with acid. of protecting defenseless animals? Supreme Court Justice Antonin Sca- tion. SCOTUS defended the slaveholders The dog died a few months later. Logan’s Republican Sen. Rick Jones, a sponsor, lia, known for his reactionary, racist, in the 19th century and the big capitalists Law is a package of four bills in the Mich- gave his excuse: “The minute I cross that anti-woman, anti-gay and anti-work- and bankers against the working class igan Legislature, with most of the lan- line and I start talking about the other ing class decisions, which he disguised and oppressed peoples in the 20th and guage written to prevent animal abuse. stuff” — dropping the unconstitutional as erudite, strict interpretation of legal 21st, with only a few exceptions in times Who could be against that? language — “I won’t even get a hearing. text, died suddenly on Feb. 13. Recalling of great mass struggle. The controversy that has erupted on … Nobody wants to touch it.” Jones is his 1986 appointment to the court, some In a July 20, 1989, article, Workers social media involves the one bill ad- saying essentially that he was powerless may say that his death came 30 years too World Party chairperson Sam Marcy dressing the crime of bestiality. Rather to change the wording because the Mich- late. Taking into account the adage that wrote that despite the process extend- than write new language that makes the igan Legislature is so bigoted it won’t one should say only good of the dead or ing voting rights to African Americans, crime animal-specific, the bill left intact “touch” the issue of taking anti-LGBTQ nothing at all, we say nothing. women and youth since the Constitution words from the state’s 1931 so-called laws off the books. Jones himself, how- We do have something to say about was written, “there has been a simul- anti-sodomy law. Thus, “a person who ever, has voted for every one of a slew of the Supreme Court of the United States. taneous social and economic process commits the abominable and detestable anti-LGBTQ, anti-reproductive rights Initial political reactions to Scalia’s death which is superior in strength. That is the crime against nature either with man- and anti-labor bills introduced since the suggest there will be a battle royale with- process of the concentration of power in kind or with any animal shall be guilty now notorious Gov. Rick Snyder took of- in the ruling class — in this case between undemocratic bodies. It comes from the of a felony,” and still subject to up to 15 fice in 2011. In June of 2015, Jones voted the two big capitalist political parties — concentration of the means of produc- years in prison. A person already “sexu- to allow “faith-based” adoption agencies about the next appointment. Upcoming tion in the hands of a ruling class which ally delinquent” could be jailed for life. to refuse to serve potential parents — i.e. SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the Unit- holds the power and distributes it in ar- It would have been ever so simple to same-sex couples — under the guise of ed States) votes are expected to be 4-4. eas most conducive to them. So it’s not an delete the words “either with mankind religious freedom. The battle may be as bitter a conflict as accident that power should ultimately be or,” effectively striking down a law that Any one of the legislators could have that for the next presidency, although exercised by the Supreme Court. That’s is already unconstitutional and there- voted no, demanding a new Logan’s Law one with no popular vote. The question most reliable to them, most conservative, fore unenforceable. In 2004, the U.S. Su- without irrelevant language that rein- is: Can the working class jump into this responsive only to those who have ap- preme Court ruled, in Lawrence v. Texas, forces hatred of the LGBTQ communi- internal ruling-class battle with indepen- pointed them.” (For complete article, see to overturn the despicable 1984 Hard- ty. Yet the Democrats, who take LGBTQ dent demands? tinyurl.com/hqbwl46) wick decision that upheld Georgia’s law votes for granted, voted with the Repub- Of the three branches of the U.S. With the Democratic and Republican against anal sex. The high court ruled licans. Thus, with a nearly unanimous bi- government — the legislative branch, parties clashing over whether SCOTUS unconstitutional all state laws that pro- partisan vote, Michigan legislators have Congress; the executive branch, the should be a flexible or a rigid obstacle hibited private sexual acts between con- again demonstrated their bigotry — or, at president; and the judicial branch, the to social progress, working-class and senting adults — laws that were mainly best, sheer cowardice in the face of big- Supreme Court — SCOTUS is the most oppressed people should use the open- used to punish same-sex relationships. otry. undemocratic. Its members are unelect- ing this conflict creates, expose the an- Michigan was then one of 17 states that Meanwhile, thousands of pets are dead ed, appointed for life by the president and ti-democratic nature of the court and de- still had these laws targeting lesbian, gay, or in terrible pain and suffering after approved by the Senate composed of mil- mand an end to its role as an appointed bisexual, transgender and queer people drinking Flint’s toxic water — but those lionaires, and it has been the most stable body that defends the class rule of the on the books; only five states, none of poor animals don’t seem to be a priority bulwark of class oppression and exploita- super-rich. them Michigan, have eliminated theirs. in Lansing. With no Zika virus, U.S. falls behind in health By Sara Flounders port a “national embarrassment.” (Sept. the rate of maternal deaths, calculated plained that in every other industrialized 29, 2014) during and up to 42 days after childbirth. country, all women had access to free or With much attention being paid to the The CDC report found high rates of Globally, there has been a steady de- low-cost medical care, including contra- recent birth of more than 4,000 babies low birth-weight babies and birth de- crease in the rate of maternal mortality. ception. with microcephaly — abnormally small fects. Most of these problems are caused The U.S. is the only one among the devel- The deterioration extends far beyond heads — in Brazil, an underdeveloped by premature births, which are very high oped countries where the reverse is true. immediate health issues. country with a history of colonial oppres- in the U.S. A CNN report of Dec. 1, 2015, based sion and deep poverty, it is time to also As a whole, the infant mortality rate — on studies by the medical journal Lancet Child poverty growing turn a spotlight on infant mortality, ma- babies who die before age 1 — in the U.S. and the Centers for Disease Control and Child poverty in the U.S. is also the ternal deaths and longevity in the Unit- has dropped from 9 deaths per 1,000 live Prevention, stated: “It’s hard to compre- worst in the developed world and grow- ed States, one of the most developed and births in 1990 to 6 in 2013. This figure, hend how the United States, one of the ing with every passing day. wealthiest countries in the world, but one however, puts the U.S. behind 25 other wealthiest nations in the world, is now For the first time in at least 50 years, a with a large number of very poor people industrialized countries. Even socialist one of only eight countries — including majority of public school students across and a history of virulent racism. Cuba, which has been under a U.S. block- Afghanistan and South Sudan — where the country are considered “low-income” As reports of microcephaly became ade for more than half a century, has a the number of women dying as a result of and in need of basic nutrition, according international news, the New York Times, lower infant mortality rate: 4.63 deaths pregnancy and childbirth is going up. ... to a 2015 study by the Southern Educa- the Washington Post and other news per 1,000 live births. “First, the numbers: More than 25 tion Foundation. sources on Feb. 1 reported that, accord- However, this is not the whole story. years ago, in 1987, there were 7.2 deaths Of course, the growing poverty of chil- ing to the American Academy of Neu- For white America, the mortality rate is of mothers per 100,000 live births in the dren is connected to the growing pover- rology, an estimated 25,000 newborns 5.2 infant deaths out of 1,000 live births, United States, according to the Centers ty of parents. All families, but especially receive a microcephaly diagnosis each while for Black America the rate is more for Disease Control and Prevention. In those headed by single mothers, are im- year in the U.S. Unlike in Brazil, where than double that: 11.5 deaths per 1,000 2011, that number more than doubled, pacted by wages that have been falling an outbreak of the Zika virus is suspect- births. This means that Black babies in jumping to 17.8 deaths per 100,000 for almost 30 years, according to a report ed as the possible cause, there is no such the U.S. have a survival rate lower than births.” from the Pew Research Center. link here. Microcephaly can be caused by babies in 64 other countries, putting The totals grew still worse, to 18.5 ma- Life expectancy in the U.S., despite many factors, but the prevalence of mi- them at about the level of Thailand. ternal deaths per 100,000 live births, in stunning advances in medical science, crocephaly in the U.S. must be evaluat- The role and responsibility of the capi- 2014. has not kept up with the rest of the de- ed in conjunction with other devastating talist class for this disastrous failing, here A woman in the U.S. is more than 10 veloped world. The U.S. ranks below 41 news on children’s and mothers’ health in the very center of world imperialism, times as likely as a woman in Austria, other countries in life expectancy. care in this country. must be highlighted. The clear impact of Belarus or Poland to die from a pregnan- Two studies, one from the University of racism at every level of U.S. society and cy-related cause, according to the com- Wisconsin that evaluated data from 1992 Racism and infant mortality at every level of social services must be prehensive report “State of the World’s to 2006 and the other from the Universi- The U.S. has the worst rate of infant challenged. Mothers 2015,” published by Save the ty of Washington covering 1985 to 2010, mortality in the industrialized or devel- Children. The report warned, “It’s the found that female life expectancy had oped world, higher than any of the other Maternal deaths increase in U.S. worst performance of any developed either stagnated or declined in 45 per- 27 developed countries, according to a In most of the world, health statistics country in the world.” cent of U.S. counties. While advances in 2014 Centers for Disease Control report. are showing steady improvement. But Almost every commentary on this medicine and technology have prolonged The Washington Post called the CDC re- not in the U.S. Consider the statistics on continuing deterioration in the U.S. ex- Continued on page 11 workers.org Feb. 25, 2016 Page 11

Message from Leonard Peltier, unjustly imprisoned for 40 years

prisoned for 40 years! I’m 71 years old But NOT if you’re Leonard Peltier, I guess. security prison. We don’t get sent for and still in a maximum security peniten- As you’ll remember, the history of my treatment until it is terminal. tiary. At my age, I’m not sure I have much bid for clemency is long. My first app was As President [Barack] Obama com- time left. with Jimmy Carter. He denied it. Ron- pletes the final year of his term, I hope I have earned about 4-5 years good ald Reagan promised President Mikhail that he will continue to fight to fulfill his time that no one seems to want to recog- Gorbachev that he would release me if promises, and further the progress his nize. It doesn’t count, I guess? And when the Soviet Union released a prisoner, but administration has made towards work- I was indicted the average time served Reagan reneged. George H.W. Bush did ing in partnership with First Peoples. on a life sentence before being given nothing. The next app was with Bill Clin- It gives me hope that this president has parole was seven years. So that means ton. He left office without taking action worked hard to affirm the trust relation- I’ve served nearly six life sentences and even though the pardon attorney did an ship with the Tribal Nations. With YOUR Feb. 6 — Greetings friends, supporters I should have been released on parole a 11-month investigation (it usually takes encouragement, I believe Obama will and all Native Peoples. very long time ago. Then there’s manda- nine months) and we were told she had have the courage and conviction to com- What can I say that I have not said tory release after serving 30 years. I’m recommended clemency. George W. Bush mute my sentence and send me home to before? I guess I can start by saying, 10 years past that. The government isn’t denied that petition in 2009. And in all of my family. “See you later,” to all of those who have supposed to change the laws to keep you the applications for clemency, the FBI has Looking back on the 40 years of ef- passed in the last year. We Natives don’t in prison — EXCEPT if you’re Leonard interfered with an executive order. That’s forts on my behalf, I am overwhelmed like to mention their names. We believe Peltier, it seems. illegal as hell! and humbled. I would like to say thank that if we speak their names it disrupts Now, I’m told I’ll be kept at USP Cole- Today, I’m facing another dilemma — you to all the supporters who have be- their journey. They may lose their way man I until 2017, when they’ll decide if I an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). lieved in me over the years. Some of you and their spirits wander forever. If too can go to a medium security facility — or It’s the size of an AAA battery. The doctor have been supporters since the begin- many call out to them, they will try to NOT. But, check this out: I have been clas- told me if it bursts, I can bleed to death. ning. You made sure I had books to read come back. But their spirits know we are sified as a medium security prisoner now It’s also close to my spine and I could end and commissary funds to buy what I may thinking about them, so all I will say is for at least 15 years, and Bureau of Pris- up paralyzed. The good news is that it’s need to be as comfortable as one can be safe journey and I hope to see you soon. ons regulations say elders shall be kept treatable and the operation has a 96-98 in this place. On February 6, I will have been im- in a less dangerous facility/environment. percent success rate. BUT I’m in a max You made donations to the defense committee so we could continue fighting for my freedom, too. You all worked hard — are still working hard — to spread the word about what is now being called the most outrageous conviction in U.S. histo- ry. There are good-hearted people in this Cómo trabajadores negros fueron diezmados por racismo world, and you’re among them. I’m sorry I cannot keep up with answering all of Continua de página 12 temían que los afroamericanos pudieran las campañas sindicales. influir en los blancos a sindicalizarse. Durante décadas, el mayor empleador your letters. But thanks for the love you Stergar le dijo a este escritor que 16 traba- La huelga de brazos caídos de 1973 en privado de afroamericanos era la Com- have shown me. Without it, I could never jadores negros fueron la clave para ganar Detroit en la planta Jefferson Avenue de pañía Pullman, como porteros del co- have made it this long. I’m sure of it. una huelga organizativa en su pequeña Chrysler provocó una revuelta de traba- che-cama. Luego, la U.S. Steel y después I believe that my incarceration, the fábrica en Milwaukee. Stergar era un jadores negros y blancos, en gran medida la GM les contrataron y se colocaron en constitutional violations in my case and líder del Partido WW-Mundo Obrero que polo-americanos, contra las condiciones primera posición, con Ford y Chrysler the government misconduct in prosecut- falleció en 1996. inseguras de trabajo en la planta Lynch siguiendo de cerca. Ese fue un gran salto ing my case are issues far more import- Los patronos sabían que los afroamer- Road Forge de Chrysler. (“Detroit: I Do hacia adelante. ant than just my life or freedom. I feel icanos eran la piedra angular de las cam- Mind Dying”, por Dan Georgakas y Mar- Es un tremendo retroceso que la prin- that each of you who have fought for my pañas de organización sindical. Clarence vin Surkin) cipal fuente de empleo de afroamerica- freedom have been a part of the greater E. Elsas, dueño de la fábrica - ya cerradas Los patronos ponen las fábricas y al- nas/os hoy en día es Walmart, con sus struggle of Native Peoples — for treaty - de textiles y bolsas Industrias Fulton en macenes nuevos en lugares remotos le- salarios de pobreza. Sin embargo estas rights, sovereignty and our very survival. Atlanta, admitió en 1962 que él no contra- jos de la última parada de autobús para tiendas representan una nueva concen- If I should be called home, please don’t taba a trabajadores negros para manten- evitar la contratación de trabajadores tración de ­trabajadoras/es que inevita- give up on our struggle. er fuera los sindicatos. (“Hiring the Black negros. Estas tácticas van junto a mon- blemente forzarán un contrato sindical In the Spirit of Crazy Horse… Worker” por Timothy Minchin) Hasta tar redadas de deportación de ICE contra a la familia Walton y su fortuna de $149 Doksha, en el sur de hace 54 años, los patronos las/os trabajadores inmigrantes durante mil millones. Leonard Peltier

With no Zika virus, U.S. falls behind in health Film exposes neo-Nazis in Ukraine Continued from page 10 Continued from page 9 life expectancy and decreased premature ly sabotage government initiatives that social welfare programs of the Ghost Bri- deaths overall, women in almost half the could seriously reverse this slide, for The war against Donbass continues to- gade. He was interviewed in “Ukraine: counties in the U.S. were dying five years one reason: profits. The concentration of day, and the threat of a wider outbreak of Masks of the Revolution” about the Odes- earlier than their mothers did. wealth into fewer and fewer hands takes war hangs over the heads of Donbass res- sa massacre, and has come under vicious This falling behind the rest of the de- precedence over human needs. idents, who voted for independence in a attack from Kiev’s propagandists seeking veloped world in infant mortality, in the This is the only statistic that is increas- popular referendum in May 2014. Today to discredit the documentary. percentage of children born with severe ing at a rate never seen before — the con- the crisis is heating up again. On Feb. 4, Albu released a statement: birth defects, in maternal mortality and centration of wealth in the hands of a tiny On Feb. 5, First Head of the Donetsk “All my life I’ve been a supporter of left- in life expectancy is especially alarming group of corporate and financial own- People’s Republic Alexander Zakharch- wing and progressive ideas, based on because it has been happening under ers. These figures on extreme capitalist enko stated, “The number of attacks [by non-discrimination against people on what are considered normal conditions. wealth must be highlighted again and Ukrainian forces] has increased tenfold. the grounds of nationality, race and sex- But lurking behind all these studies is the again when discussing the deteriorating … Judging by what is going on, Ukraine ual, cultural or ideological grounds. growing awareness that the U.S. is un- conditions for millions of people. is preparing a full-scale provocation. We “Paul Moreira managed to accurately prepared to deal with new or extraordi- To ignore the growing concentration are waiting. We are ready.” (DONi News) convey the atmosphere of fear and pow- nary crises, whether it is the outbreak of of wealth hides the essence of the prob- erlessness prevailing today in Ukraine. a new or unstudied virus, such as Zika, a lem. The world’s 62 richest billionaires, Odessa communist leader … The film shows the truth that the climate catastrophe or an economic col- many of whom use their financial clout to replies to slanders Ukrainian authorities try so carefully to lapse that would wreak further havoc on control U.S. politics, now have as much Regular readers of Workers World hide.” the lives of millions who are struggling to wealth as the poorest half of the world’s will recognize the name of Alexey Albu, Though these same charges were made barely survive. population. Their wealth has soared. Just the Borotba coordinator exiled from his and publicly refuted in Ukrainian- and Studies by respected international five years ago, it was 388 megarich whose hometown after the May 2014 massacre. Russian-language media long before the and national health organizations and wealth equaled that of half of humanity. WW has recently published interviews release of Moreira’s documentary, today concerned coverage in major corporate Just to widen this to the richest 1 per- conducted by Albu with women fighters they’re being uncritically published by media can’t change these dynamics. The cent of the world, they now own more of the Ghost Brigade anti-fascist militia. Western media attempting to undermine corporate ruling class in the U.S., with than the other 99 percent combined. Albu currently lives in the Lugansk the film’s impact. its tremendous control over the political This is the roadblock to all human de- People’s Republic where he helps to co- Read Albu’s complete statement at apparatus, has been able to consistent- velopment. ordinate the economic development and RedStarOverDonbass.blogspot.com. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 58 Núm. 7 25 de febrero 2016 $1 Ganancias récord dejan inseguridad a trabajadoras/es automotrices

Por Martha Grevatt empleaba a 100.000 trabajadoras/es. os trabajadores de la FCA se les presentó lesionados y despedidos ilegalmente. Los Ahora hay sólo una planta de ensambla- la proyección de pérdidas de empleos y trabajadores de GM en la India, donde los El 3 de febrero, la General Motors je de Chrysler, altamente automatizada, ganancias en cada planta. Basado en es- trabajadores antiguos hacen 92 centavos anunció sus ganancias en 2015. Aún des- construida sólo después de que Detroit le tas estimaciones, el área de Detroit perd- la hora y los nuevos 47 centavos, también contando impuestos e intereses, GM regis- diera a la Chrysler una enorme exención ería alrededor de 750 puestos de trabajo tienen una alta tasa de lesiones. tró las mayores ganancias en sus 108 años de impuestos. en FCA. El público conductor no tiene tampo- de historia, $9,7 mil millones! Este anun- Después de Michigan, Ohio e Indiana Mientras tanto, Ford ha indicado que co mejor seguridad. GM causó cientos de cio se produce tras la noticia de Ford el 28 han sido los estados más afectados. En va a trasladar la producción de coches muertes por un interruptor de encendido de enero informando su récord histórico los tres estados, las mayores pérdidas de pequeños a México, donde los salarios defectuoso que la patronal eligió usar, ya de ganancias, $7,6 mil millones en 2015. empleo han sido en zonas urbanas, lo que bajos generarán enormes ganancias. La que era más barato. Durante muchos años La Fiat Chrysler Auto (FCA) tuvo un ha tenido un impacto devastador en las planta de ensamblaje de GM de Orión que Chrysler luchó contra los requisitos de bol- desempeño menos robusto, que atribuye familias negras de clase trabajadora. Con fabrica subcompactos, reabrió en 2010 sas de aire para evitar el costo añadido. principalmente a los costos de “reajuste la introducción del divisivo sistema de con un menor número de trabajadoras/es, La negligencia ambiental ha definido del producto”. Sin esos cargos, la FCA pago dual y un repunte en las ventas im- muchos con baja paga. Orion ha visto una el comportamiento de la industria desde habría hecho $ 5,7 miles de millones en pulsadas por el crédito fácil, las empresas gran caída en los niveles de empleo. GM sus primeros días. La excesiva dependen- ganancias. empezaron a contratar a miles de jóvenes cerrará otra planta de ensamblaje durante cia de la FCA en motores devoradores de Estas tres compañías no hacen $23 afroamericanos, pero ya no con un sala- la vigencia del actual convenio colectivo. gasolina está contribuyendo al cambio miles de millones siendo amables con rio que podría mantener a una familia. Las ganancias récord de hoy han lle- climático. Para hacer que sus motores sus trabajadoras/es o el medio ambiente. Los contratos recién negociados entre gado a costo de cientos de miles de pues- funcionaran sin problemas, la GM pro- Tienen una larga y sórdida historia de an- las Tres de Detroit y UAW elevaron sus- tos de trabajo en los últimos años - sin movió en la década de 1920, el uso en la teponer las ganancias a las personas y el tancialmente los salarios para las/os tra- embargo, la reestructuración continúa. gasolina del plomo, un veneno ya cono- planeta. bajadores nuevos. El problema que hoy ¿Cómo les irá a estas/os trabajadores cido durante mucho tiempo. Con el casi Con el escándalo de agua en Flint ocu- enfrentan estas/os trabajadores es que jóvenes recientemente contratados en abandono de Flint, GM dejó el suelo y río pando los titulares, la gente está haciendo en un futuro próximo, lo que la compañía caso de una recesión económica? contaminados. la conexión entre el empobrecimiento de llama “reajuste del producto” podría sig- Cuando Flint comenzó a usar el agua Flint y la larga reestructuración de GM. nificar despidos indefinidos. Ganancias vs. seguridad del río Flint, GM se dio cuenta de que el La compañía y sus dependencias han cer- El 27 de enero, cuando el CEO de FCA Al menos una familia de GM no agua podría corroer sus motores. En si- rado 24 plantas en Flint y alrededor del Sergio Marchionne anunció los resulta- brindará por las ganancias récord de los lencio, la empresa dispuso obtener agua condado de Genesee desde 1979. Ese cam- dos de las ganancias, indicó también que patronos. El 2 de febrero, Terry Boden- de una fuente alterna. Si la GM hubiera bio ha robado a Flint - lugar de nacimien- la FCA suspenderá la construcción de au- bender, un electricista de GM en Defi- hecho público su preocupación por la cor- to de GM - de 72.000 puestos de trabajo, tos en EUA. Él tiene previsto suspender ance-Ohio, murió en una caída. rosión, una ciudad entera podría haberse dejando sólo 8.000 trabajadoras/es en la dos modelos, el Dodge Dart y el Chrysler A nivel mundial, las/os trabajadores salvado del envenenamiento por plomo. ciudad. 200. La compañía planea construir sólo automotrices sufren altas tasas de le- Estas y otras razones hacen que la Todo el estado de Michigan ha sufrido camiones y vehículos utilitarios deporti- siones. En Bogotá-Colombia, la Asocia- industria automotriz esté lista para la por el cierre de más de 170 plantas de GM, vos en sus plantas actuales con miembros ción de Trabajadores Lesionados y ex tra- toma por las/os trabajadores para una Ford y Chrysler. Ahora parte de la FCA, de la UAW. Estos vehículos producen el bajadores de GM Colmotores, han estado economía socialista planificada, donde Chrysler fue una vez el mayor empleador mayor margen de ganancia. luchando durante más de cuatro años las personas y el medio ambiente se ante- privado en Detroit, donde sólo Dodge Main Durante la votación del contrato, a las/ para obtener justicia para los trabajadores ponen a las ganancias. Cómo trabajadores negros fueron diezmados por racismo

Por Stephen Millies tomóviles en los años 1960 y 1970. La Liga plantilla de Chrysler pasó de ser 70 por ta de monturas de autos A.O. Smith, del de Trabajadores Negros Revolucionarios ciento afroamericana, a un 30 por ciento. cierre de American Motors y muchas otras El gobernador de Michigan Rick Sny- condujo huelgas no aprobadas por el lider- fábricas. Uno de cada 25 afroamericanos der no es el único criminal que debe ser azgo sindical en Detroit. Había una banca- Cárceles sí, trabajos no en este estado está ahora en prisión. castigado por el envenenamiento por da del Partido Panteras Negras en la planta La destrucción total de la industria pe- plomo de las/os niños de Flint. General de GM en Fremont-California. sada en el medio oeste hizo que el ingreso Cuando las vidas de trabajadores negros Motors empobreció a la mayoría negra de “Como una tremenda carga explo- medio de las/os afroamericanos cayera importan, todos los trabajadores importan Flint al cerrar nueve de las 10 plantas que siva, el empuje irresistible por la liber- un 36 por ciento entre 1978 y 1982. (Ofi- Los ataques a las/os trabajadores ne- tenía allí. GM debe miles de millones en tad negra, un empuje que incluye nece- cina del Censo) Una migración inversa gros fueron una derrota para toda la clase indemnización. sariamente todas las nacionalidades comenzó de nuevo al Sur. trabajadora multinacional. Los contratos Flint era el centro de lo que fue la empre- oprimidas, está siendo impulsado en las El despido de cientos de miles de tra- del UAW que las/os trabajadores negros sa manufacturera más grande del mundo. plantas”, fue como Vince Copeland de- bajadoras/es negros en fábricas de au- ayudaron a ganar a través de huelgas, se Así que ¿por qué GM masacró Flint? scribió este período en el libro “Populis- tomóviles, acero y otras ocupaciones convirtieron en un estándar para las/os GM y otros gigantes de la industria mo sureño y trabajo negro”. Copeland fue sindicalizadas fue acompañado de su en- trabajadores de costa a costa. querían poner fin a su dependencia en el el editor fundador de Workers World. carcelamiento masivo. Aún las/os trabajadores no sindicaliza- trabajo negro. Hace cuarenta y cinco años, El 24 de julio de 1973, dos trabajadores El capitalismo cerró las fábricas y dos en oficinas y otros lugares de trabajo una cuarta parte de los trabajadores de negros - Larry Carter e Isaac Shorter - vertió drogas y armas en las comunidades recibirían seguro dental y otros benefi- las fábricas de acero y las plantas de au- apagaron la planta Jefferson Avenue de negras. Las/os 2,3 millones de presos en cios que llegaron a ser esperados como tomóviles de EUA eran afroamericanos. Chrysler en Detroit. Esta fue la primera EUA son también trabajadoras/es. parte del paquete salarial. (“Organized Labor and the Black Worker,” gran huelga de brazos caídos en 36 años. El carácter racista de la nueva inversión La principal razón para la disminución por Philip Foner) La respuesta del capitalismo fue con- capitalista se puede ver en Wisconsin. de la afiliación sindical fue el cierre de Malcolm X había trabajado en la plan- struir la mayor parte de las nuevas plan- El Condado de Milwaukee tiene miles de fábricas, muchas de las cuales ta de Lincoln-Mercury de Detroit. Tam- tas de automóviles lejos de comunidades grandes comunidades negras y latinas. tenían un gran número de trabajadoras/es bién Berry Gordy, fundador de Motown negras grandes. Esto se convirtió en una Unos 55.000 empleos manufactureros afroamericanos. ­Records. práctica habitual a partir de 1968, cuando fueron destruidos entre 1977 y 1992, El número de huelgas que involucraron La desindustrialización no fue sólo el GM abrió su planta Lordstown en Ohio. antes de la implementación del TLCAN. a más de un millar de trabajadores se re- resultado de la automatización y la sobre- La clase capitalista destruyó económi- Pero el resto del estado, el cual es con po- dujo de 424 en 1974 a sólo cinco en 2009. explotación de trabajadoras/es en otros camente a Detroit, al igual que dejó ahog- cas excepciones abrumadoramente blan- Eso es una caída del 99 por ciento. (Ofici- países. También fue una decisión política arse y pasar hambre al pueblo negro en co, ganó 66.000 de estos trabajos. (Censo na de Estadísticas Laborales) dirigida contra las/os trabajadores negros. Nueva Orleáns. de Manufactura) El militante organizador sindical Al Wall Street nunca olvidó cómo los Chrysler se deshizo de 35.000 trabajado- La comunidad negra de Milwaukee nun- afroamericanos sacudieron plantas de au- ras/es en Motown. De 1979 a 1982, toda la ca se ha recuperado del cierre de la plan- Continua a página 11