VOL. 46/NO. 2 Order YSAer deported ... 3 THE JANUARY 22, 1982 Mason for governor ...... 5 75CENTS Young socialists meet ... 10 .

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE Polish Haitian refugees fight government deals blows Reagan .detention camps to workers Support grows for release and asylum BY ERNEST HARSCH several weeks after the imposition of BY ANDREA BARON martial law on December 13, Poland's MIAMI - Reflecting the tremendous bureaucratic rulers have succeeded in pressure being brought to bear in oppo­ putting down most protest strikes and sition to the Reagan administration's demonstrations. They have dealt the racist immigration policy against the workers movement a severe blow, but Haitian refugee~, the Justice Depart­ the struggle in Poland is far from over. ment's chief lawyer handling the gov­ Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski.has utilized ernment's suit to deny the refugees asy­ a massive show of force against the lum resigned his position according to working class. He ordered the arrest of the January 10 Miami Herald. thousands oftrade unionists, intellectu­ The lawyer, Assistant U.S. Attorney als, students, and political activists; im­ Richard A. Marshall, Jr., explained, "I posed strict control over all communica­ found that I was asserting precisely the tions; sent armed police against strikers opposite of what I believed the Haitians and demonstrators; and outlawed the were entitled to." Marshall is now re­ activities of the 10-million-~ember Sol­ ported to be considering joining the idarity union movement. sixty lawyers who volunteered to fight Under these conditions, the authori­ for political asylum for the Haitians. ties claim, Poland is getting back to Marshall's differences with Immigra­ "normal." To Jaruzelski and the other tion and Naturalization Service (INS) bureaucrats who rule Poland that policy that led to his resignation cen­ means, above all, safeguarding their tered around Washington's combined material privileges and reasserting policy of detaining and interdicting at their absolute control over all political, sea Haitian refugees. This policy, inaug­ econ9mic, and social decision-making­ urated in August, has resulted in the in­ against the interests of the working definite imprisonment of approximately class and to the detriment of the Polish 2,500 refugees. They are subjected to workers state. the wretched· conditions of detention Widespread strikes camps all across the country. Until re-I Haitians fleeing tyrannical regime of Jean-Claude buvalier are subjected to cently they were prevented from obtain­ · The Polish workers - who had al­ wretched conditions in U.S. detention camps. · ready been mobilized for a year and a ing legal counsel and immediate asylum half in the most massive upsurge in Po­ hearings. These are constitutional land's history - have not taken this at­ rights they are legally entitled to. tack lying down. Some of the refugees have been impri­ In factories, mines, and shipyards Protests hit war training soned under these conditions for as long across the country, they have responded as ten months. with defensive protest strikes, and the of Salvador troops in U.S. The Justice Department has even pro­ organization of underground commit­ posed using Fort Drum as a detention tees - despite the fact that almost the camp. The New York Times, in a De­ BY NELSON GONZALEZ tire battalion of foreign troops will train entire Solidarity leadership has been cember 18 editorial headlined "A Hai­ On January 11, solidarity activists in on U.S. soil. They will, in the most effec­ detained, and workers in different cities tian Freeze," protested: "To hold poor, 100 cities across the country participat­ tive manner devised by the Pentagon, cannot communicate effectively on ana­ desperate people from the tropics in a ed in emergency protests called on ten learn counterinsurgency techniques de­ tionallevel because of the suspension of · camp near the Canadian border , where days' notice to denounce what the Com­ signed to kill thousands more Salvado­ telephone service and restrictions on the temperature yesterday morning was mittee in Solidarity wjth the People of ran workers and farmers. Thirty thou­ travel. 12 degrees, would be callous." El Salvador (CISPES) has characterized sand have already been killed by the The government itself admitted that as a "major escalation of United States U.S.-backed Salvadoran junta. some 200 strikes broke out in the wake Growing support for refugees intervention" in the affairs of El Salva­ At the same time, Reagan has decided ofJaruzelski's December 13 declaration. The Reagan administration's meas­ dor. to keep draft registration, which he said Solidarity sources put the figure even ures are a departure from an earlier INS Further actions are scheduled to take he opposed during his election cam­ higher. policy of releasing refugees to relatives place on January 22, in response to an paign. He has threatened to prosecute Because of government censorship, or community age:flcies pending INS international call made by a solidarity those who refuse to register. details about these strikes are sketchy. hearings. conference held in Mexico City in Octob­ One Solidarity bulletin reported that These moves are in response to the In response to the courageous resis­ er. a day after the declaration of martial growing strength of the Salvadoran lib­ tance of the Haitian refugees, who have law, all large factories were paralyzed The January 11 actions, called by eration forces that, despite the massive been org~nizing militant demonstra­ in the key industrial cities of Poznan CISPES, were organized to protest the American aid to the Salvadoran mil­ tions and hunger strikes since Sep­ and Wroclaw.• arrival that day of the first contingent of itary, are pushing the junta closer to the tember, support for the refugees is grow­ The government radio acknowledged 1,500 Salvadoran soldiers and officers to verge of collapse. ing rapidly. other strikes in Warsaw, Gdansk, Kato­ begin military training at Fort Bragg, An emergency news release issued by Protests and demonstrations have oc­ wice, Bydgoszcz, Kielce, Bialogard, North Carolina, and Fort Benning, CISPES January 8 notes, "Training in curred in Miami, New York, Washing­ Georgia. Training is to last between ten Szczecin, Lublin, Olsztyn1 Krakow, the U.S., rather than in El Salvador, is a ton, D.C., Chicago, and other U.S. cities, Swidnica, and Lodz. and sixteen weeks. crude attempt to sidestep public opin­ as well as in Puerto Rico. The offiCial reports on strikes in Swid­ Fort Bragg is the home of the Green ion, which is strongly against U.S. in­ On January 9, in a march organized nica and Szczecin were typical. Accord­ Berets, the 15,000-man 82nd Airborne. tervention in El Salvador. The U.S. peo­ by the January 2 Coalition and other ing to one Polish newspaper, Solidarity This unit is an integral component of ple are not so easily fooled. We know Haitian support groups, 5,000 people members and student activists in Swid­ the Rapid Deployment Force set up by that U.S. military training, whether it turned out in Brooklyn, New York, de­ nica went to an aircraft factory and the Carter administration. Fort Bragg takes place here or there, means more manding an end to U.S. support to the "forced part of the working collective to is also the home of the John F. Kennedy suffering and repression for the Salvad­ repressive Duvalier regime in Haiti and a strike." On December 20, Radio War­ Center for Military Assistance, the oran people." calling for the release of the Hait ian re­ saw declared that "irresponsible groups main U.S. base for counterinsurgency fugees. Forty-four thousand Haitians once again attempted to organize a training. Actions a success have fled Haiti since "Baby Doc" Duva~ strike" in Szczecin and that a mass The December 16 N ew York Times re­ The success of the actions called by lier received power from his father in meeting had been held in one of the ported that Fred Ikle, undersecretary of CISPES on J anuary 11 is concrete proof 1972. Szczecin shipyards in defiance of mar­ defense for policy, admitted that this that not only has no one been fooled, but tial law. move is part of the preparation for solidarity activists more than ever real­ Puerto Rican support to Haitians Some of the ~nost massive and persist­ "American military action in Central ize the importance of a stepped-up cam­ In Puerto Rico, where several Haitian ent resistance was mounted in the America" - military action to crush the paign against U.S. intervention in Cen­ support actions involving thousands northern port ci\y of Gdansk and in the growing liberation movements in that tral America and the Caribbean, have been organized, the Catholic Silesian mining region in the south, two region. The Triad Citizens Concerned for clergy urged that lighted candles be areas that played key roles in the Au­ For the first time in history - at the Central America, together with placed in windows as a sign of support gust 1980 strike wave that gave birth to cost of $18 million wrenched from cut­ CISPES, organized a march of 225 peo­ for the refugees on New Years Eve. The Continued on Page 2 backs in essential social services, an en- Continued on Page 6 Continued on Page 6 Polish government deals blows to workers

Continued from Page 1 resorted not only to direct police and Similar charges against Kuron were typewritten bulletins. Solidarity. In both areas, the response of military action against the workers, but raised in a December 17 television One message, signed by Wladyslaw the police was particularly brutal. to widespread detentions of Solidarity broadcast. In it, he was accused of hav­ Frasyniuk, a member of the union's na­ In Gdansk, workers occupied the Len­ leaders and activists, as·well as numer­ ing "maintained close contacts with em­ tional Presidium, stressed that the in Shipyard, where several prominent ous other supporters of democratic igre circles, especially emigres of the union had to devise new forms of strug­ Solidarity leaders who had escaped ar­ rights. Jewish nationality." gle under the conditions of repression. rest set up a national strike committee The authorities admit that nearly Two days earlier, a Warsaw radio and Another, signed by Zbigniew Janas, and issued a call for a countrywide gen­ 6,000 persons have been detained. Soli­ television broadcast charged that "per­ head of the Solidarity chapter at the Ur­ eral strike. darity estimates put the figure much sons of Jewish origin had turned Soli­ sus tractor factory outside Warsaw, During a meeting of the strike com­ higher. darity into an antinational body." Bro­ urged workers not to engage in direct mittee on December 14, Guetta report­ In cities around the country, workers nislaw Geremek, a key adviser to Soli­ confrontations with the regime, so as to ed, the strikers received greetings from accused of organizing strikes or violat­ darity, was called a "son of a rabbi" who avoid further bloodshed. a Polish farmer who declared, "Dear ing other martial law regulations have spent his time "deforming Polish history "In these difficult days," Janas said, brother shipyard workers, in 1980 the been brought before summary courts, in his books." The broadcast also main­ "we all must prevent the destruction of spark· that set Poland alight came from sometimes in handcuffs. The trials have tained that a "chauvinistic Jewish in­ Solidarity, which is the only hope of here, because of what you decided. To­ been brief, with the defendants drawing ternational" was aiJl!ing to seize power Poles." day, once again, you have decided not to sentences of at least two or three years in Poland through the KOR. During the last year-and-a-half the leave your enterprise. We, the farmers, in prison. Some sentences have been up thinking of millions of workers has will do everything to enslire that you do to eight years or more. The defendants Empty promises changed. They have seen the power of not die of hunger." have no right of appeal. Because of the strength of the workers workers united and mobilized for action On December 16 tanks broke down In addition, many workers are being movement, General Jaruzelski has been and they are absorbing the lessons of the main gates of the shipyard. The fired from their jobs, as part of an offi­ unable to rely on repression alone. He that ·experience. There· can be no return strike was broken and most workers cial "verification"· campaign to weed out has sought to combine the crackdown to the way it was before August 1980. left, although some continued to hold key union activists and terrorize the with pledges of economic concessions From Intercontinental Press out for several more days in a few of the rest of the workforce. and promises to adhere· to the shipyard buildings. Employing the slanderous methods agreements signed with striking On December 17, the eleventh anni­ used during the Stalinist purge trials, workers in 1980. A candle for versary of the 1970 massacre of striking the Polish government has charged the workers in the northern port cities, Solidarity leadership with acting in col­ While the prices of certain staple El Salvador, too Gdansk was swept by large street dem­ lusion with the CIA and other imperial­ goods are likely to go up even more, the onstrations. The police attacked and ist agencies. Documents claimed to have authorities have at the same time prom­ Burlington, Vermont's socialist fighting ensued. Vehicles were over­ been found in Solidarity offices purport­ ised wage increases to help offset the mayor, Bernard Sanders, had this turned and set afire. edly called for "urban guerrilla warfare" price hikes. Though meat rations have to say about the crackdown in Po­ According to Radio Warsaw, police and a "general uprising against the peo­ been cut back further, other items like land and the crocodile tears being clashed with demonstrators at a steel ple's state." One Polish radio broadcast, fish, cheese, carrots, honey, cabbage, shed at the White House: plant and "crowds" of "young rowdies" in what was intended as a smear of the · and beans have turned up in food stores "It is with great sadness that we took to the streets elsewhere. "Street union, compared Solidarity to the Irish in quantities not seen in months. observed the authoritarian Polish barricades began to be erected," the ra­ Republican Army. A number of the most discredited bu­ government impose martial law in dio said. In propagating such charges, the Pol­ reaucrats have been arrested and are their country. A later report on Radio Warsaw stat­ ish bureaucrats have been handed valu­ being brought to trial for corruption. "I regard it as hypocritical, how­ ed that 324 persons were injured in the able ammunition by the Reagan l!dmin­ ever, for President Reagan to show police attack. The government, after istration in Washington. Reagan's In another attempt at undermining displeasure with the Polish gov­ weeks of silence on the death toll, finally phony and hypOcritical claims of sup­ opposition, the authorities have claimed ernment actions while he actively admitted on January 8 that at least nine port for the Polish workers - and par­ that they will allow Solidarity to re­ supports governments in Latin persons had been killed. ticularly his imposition of sanctions sume its activity after martial law is America who are even more brutal Also ·on December 17, thousands at­ against Poland and the Soviet Union - ended. and vicious than the Polish gov­ have made it easier for the Stalinists to ernment." tempted to demonstrate at Victory But at the same time, they have made try to portray Solidarity as an "antiso­ As part of the administration's Square in Warsaw, but were dispersed it clear that it could not be the same cialist" force. anticommunist propaganda cam­ by riot police. Crowds jeered at the po­ kind of organization. "There is certainly paign, Reagan called on the Amer­ lice, chanting, "Long live freedom!" and In seeking to justify their attacks on no place for a trade union as a vehicle ican people to burn candles on "Gestapo! Gestapo!" Solidarity, the Polish authorities have for political activities," Gornicki said. In the northwestern city of Szczecin, revived the vilest anti-Semitic invec­ Christmas Eve in support of the the local authorities were reported to tive. What they want is a new, bureaucrat­ Polish workers. have allowed an anniversary march to ically controlled union that would mas­ Sanders said he would light two proceed unhindered. Trybuna Ludu, the official daily pa­ querade under the name of Solidarity candles in city hall that week, In Silesia, where many coal mines per of the Polish United Workers Party and refrain from challenging any key "one in honor of the workers in the were initially occupied by the workers, (PUWP, the Communist Party) Central aspect of bureaucratic rule. Solidarity union in Poland who the police killed at least eight workers Committee, pointed to the ''Trotskyist have been jailed and whose union (according to the official death toll). leanings, Zionist links and anarchosyn­ Solidarity is now fighting for its sur­ has been destroyed by Communist dicalism of Jacek Kuron," a founder of vival. Though its members were taken authorities." off guard by the scale and suddenness of Thousands arrested the KOR. The other candle will be for "the Jaruzelski's crackdown, they are contin­ Despite this attack, the strikes in workers in El Salvador, Guatema­ In Poland, the term "Zionist," as it is uing to fight a defensive struggle, seek­ Silesia lasted for nearly two more la, and Chile who are being jailed used by the authorities, does not neces­ ing to preserve what they can. weeks. By the end of the year, the last sarily refer to one's political views, but and tortured by military dictator­ major protest strike in Poland, at the Pi­ is employed as an epithet against critics Numerous clandestine committees ships supported by the U.S. gov­ ast coal mine, had been broken. who are Jewish or who are accused of be­ have been established on the local level, ernment." To break these strikes, the authorities ing Jewish. many of them issuing mimeographed or Special offer to King Day marchers The Militant Closing news date: January 13, 1982 Editors: CINDY JAQUITH 4 weeks of the 'Militant' for. only $1 DOUG JENNESS Business Manager: NANCY ROSEN- dollar, we'll send you a copy of the Edu­ by the same capitalists who profit from ra­ STOCK cism, unemployment, and war. cation for Socialists bulletin, "The Nation­ Editorial Staff: Connie Allen, Steve Now, for the next four weeks, you can al Black Independent Political Party: An Bride, Fred Feldman, Nelson Gonzalez, read what socialists have to say about important step forward for "Blacks and William Gottlieb, Suzanne Haig, Mar­ this. other American workers," which includes garet Jayko, Harry Ring, Larry Seigle, • How the policies of the two capitalist the program of that organization. Stu Singer. parties, the Democrats and Republicans, All in all, a good- and inexpensive - Published weekly except two weeks encourage racism. And how groups like introduction to news and ideas you won't in August, the last week of December, and the first week of January by the o_ lSTRICT the Socialist Workers Party and the Na­ find anywhere else. ~- MART__._! N LUTHER KiNG ·Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles MEMORIAl DAY RAlt Y tional Black Independent Political Party 1199 . Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Tele­ IN WASHINGTON 1J. C. are organizing against the two-party mo­ D Enclosed is $1 for four weeks of the phone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; nopoly of American politics. Militant. Business Office, (212) 929-3486. • The real aims of Reagan's economic D 6 months/$15 D one year/$24 Correspondence concerning sub­ austerity program. And what working D Enclosed is $1 for the Education for scriptions or changes of address people can do to fight back. Socialists bulletin. should be addressed to The Militant Racism. Unemployment. The threat of • What steps the revolutionary gov­ Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, war. ernments in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Gren­ Name ______NewYork,N.Y.10014. You read about these things in papers ada have taken to end racism and unem­ Second-class postage paid at New Address, ______York, N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a like the Washington Post and New York ployment. And why their example makes year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first-class these countries prime targets of the U.S. City ______Times. But do these papers ever explain · mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. why such things exist, or how they can be war drive. State______Zip __ Write for airmail rates to all other coun­ ended? Do they ever report on what peo­ • Why a workers government in the tries. ple are doing to fight racism, unemploy­ United States is the only solution to ra­ Clip and mail to: The Militant Business Signed articles by contributors do not ment, and the threat of war? cism, unemployment, and the threat of Office, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. necessarily represent the Militant's The answer is no. The reason is that war. . 10014. (Offer good through January 22, views. These are expressed in editor­ these papers ate owned and controlled Four weeks, only $1. And, for an extra 1982, with this ad only.) ials.

2 The Militant January 22, 1982 U.S. orders socialist deported Nationwide fight launched to overturn ruling

BY LARRY SEIGLE Davis argued, would prove that the INS The Political Rights Defense Fund has engaged in a systematic campaign ( (PRDF) is launching a coast-to-coast to single out immigrants on the basis of campaign to block the deportation of their socialist ideas. \ Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh, an Iranian stu­ Davis also attempted to introduce into \ dent at Morgan State University. Hari­ evidence documents concerning current ri-Vijeh is a member of the Young So­ INS efforts to "proscribe" the SWP. Such cialist Alliance and the Socialist a move would mean that members and Workers Party. supporters of the party could be deport­ In a decision made public January 11, ed on openly political grounds. In the Immigration Judge Joan Arrowsmith meantime, Davis pointed out, the INS ordered the young socialist deported urges investigators to single out "sub­ back to Iran. PRDF attorney Shelley Davis imme­ versives" for deportation on technicali­ diately notified the Immigration and ties. Naturalization Service (INS) that she However, Judge Arrowsmith denied will appeal the ruling. The case will now each of these defense motions. In her go to the Board of Immigration Appeals. written opinion, she justified this refusal In response to the broad support al­ by insisting that even ifHariri-Vijeh had ready mobilized for Hariri-Vijeh, the been singled out "through some Consti­ judge agreed to let her finish the current tutionally impermissible means, that semester at Morgan State, where she is would not be a reason to grant termina­ studying computer science. Under the tion" of the proceedings against her. order, however, she will have to leave Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh explaining her fight against deportation at October con­ the country by June 15. If such a rule were applied, the judge ference of National Organization for Women. Thousands of protest messages are needed now to block deportation order. The central issue in the appeal will be declared, "the errors of Service officials the secret political grounds for the INS could in effect immunize aliens from action against Hariri-Vijeh. Although having to comply with the Immigration she has been in the United States since and Nationality Act." 1977, the INS never bothered her until How INS nails 'subversives' In other words, the INS can violate she joined the YSA. Nineteen days after The INS Investigator's Handbook cur­ investigations of those "allegedly en­ constitutional rights whenever it wants, she took that step, INS cops were knock­ gaging in subversive activities or hav­ and never be held accountable for such rently in use provides some insight into ing at her door, asking for her papers. how the immigration police have pro­ ing subversive backgrounds, can only be "errors." As an enrolled student, the usual ceeded against Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh. conducted after clearance has been re­ procedure would have been for her .to Davis told the Militant that the ap­ This handbook is not generally availa­ ceived from the Federal Bureau of In­ ask for, and be granted, a renewal of her peal will center on the fact that "the Bill ble to the public. Part of it, however, was vestigation." student visa. Instead she has been or­ of Rights prohibits selective enforce­ obtained by the Socialist Workers Party The Handbook further directs, "The dered deported, in a clear case of politi­ ment of the law when done for discrimi­ and Young Socialist Alliance through investigator assigned to subversive cal victimization. natory reasons, including political dis­ their lawsuit against the political po­ work should be equipped with certain At a January 13 PRDF news confer­ crimination." lice. technical knowledge to conduct such in­ ence at the Furniture Workers union Chapter 16, entitled "Subversive In­ vestigations." Investigators are advised hall in Baltimore, labor leaders de­ The Political Rights Defense Fund is vestigations," explains "The most im­ to study up on the "demeanor, manner­ nounced the deportation order. appealing for protests to be sent to the portant weapons used by this Service in ism, and psychology" of "subversives." Earl Keihl, district director of the INS Commissioner, Washington, D.C. combating the Communist conspiracy "For example, a person who has been United Furniture Workers (UFW) Dis­ 20536, demanding a halt to the proceed­ are the exclusion and deportation pro­ an active Communist for a long time," trict 4, and Kenneth Williams, business ings against Hariri-Vijeh. Copies should cesses." says the INS, "usually will find it diffi­ agent ofUFW Local 75A,Jold the press, be sent to PRDF, Box 649, Cooper Sta­ It directs INS cops to try, wherever cult to effect a complete divorce from his "What is clearly involved in Ms. Hariri­ tion, New York, New York 10003. possible, to nail "subversives" for depor­ ideological approach to the Party princi­ Vijeh's case is purely a case of petty re­ tation "on other than subversive ples. Very often he displays an attitude In addition, PRDF Executive Secre­ venge by the United States Government grounds." of superior knowledge. The investigator tary John Studer asked for emergency against dissent. must be aware of this in his dealings financial contributions to cover the im­ If someone can be deported "on a non­ "The labor movement in our country with such a person." mediate costs of the appeal. "PRDF is subversive basis, investigation should was built by people from all over the One point on which any worker pos­ facing a financial crisis because we are be initiated on the latter premise. When world. . . . When those who could not sesses "superior knowledge" to that of fighting on so many fronts right now. considered necessary, efforts should be speak needed a voice the labor move­ the INS is that the Bill of Rights forbids But we can't allow lack of money to made to obtain admissible evidence to ment spoke for them. the government to victimize people on stand in the way of the best possible le­ overcome sympathetic features and to secret political grounds. "We now speak for justice. We speak gal and political campaign in defense of preclude the granting of discretionary The issue in Hariri-Vijeh's fight for decency. And we demand persecu­ Mojgan," he said. relief." against deportation is whether the INS tions of this type cea8e immediately. Contributions should be sent to the The Handbook requires that all such is going to be allowed to continue to op­ Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh must not be de­ Political Rights Defense Fund and ear­ operations shall be carried out in close erate according to its Handbook - that ported." marked for Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh. coordination with the FBI. It states that is, outside the law and the Constitution. Also present at the protest news con­ ference was Professor Clifford DuRand, chairman of the Department of Philoso­ phy at Morgan State. A statement was Iran: Barabeni released from prison read from Ronald Hollie, president of District 1199E, National Union of Hos­ BY FRED MURPHY translator and professor at Tehran Uni­ Cyrus Tahbaz, Mahmoud Enayat, pital and Health Care Employees. A broad defense effort - waged both versity. In all his recent writings, he has Shams al-Ahmad, and Mohammed Ali Hariri-Vijeh told the reporters, "I will inside Iran and internationally - suc­ been a staunch defender of the Iranian Sepanlou. These intellectuals also not be intimidated. I will ap}>eal this ceeded on January 4 in gaining the re­ revolution against the attacks and de­ joined the socialists in campaigning for ruling and continue to fight for my · lease of Dr. Reza Baraheni from Teh­ stabilization attempts mounted by U.S. the release of other literary figures who rights. As long as I am here I will con­ ran's Evin Prison. imperialism. had been detained around the same tinue to exercise those rights, and I will Baraheni, a prominent Iranian poet Support for Baraheni from abroad time as Baraheni. As a result, all of begin this Friday by marching in Wash­ and writer who played a key role in ex­ came from those who share his stance in these prisoners were set free in the days ington, D.C., with thousands of Amer­ posing the crimes of the shah's regime defense of the Iranian revolution. leading up to Baraheni's own release. icans to demand that Martin Luther Among them were Mostafa Rahimi, Ho­ and denouncing U.S. imperialist domi­ According to socialists in Iran, Ba­ King's birthday be made a national holi­ nation oflran, had been detained on Oc­ ma Nategh, Morteza Ravandi, and day." raheni reported upon his release ·that Bagher Parham. tober 12 outside his office at Tehran the international telegram campaign At her deportation hearing last Oc­ University. He was held for a total of had a big impact on the Iranian authori­ Socialists in Iran report that the vic­ tober 15, Hariri-Vijeh argued that the eighty-four days; no specific charges ties. He said that the officials who inter­ torious effort to free the imprisoned in­ immigration cops had singled her out were ever brought against him. rogated him showed him the original co­ tellectuals has resulted in a broader dis­ for deportation because of her political According to the poet's wife, Sanaz pies of some of the telegrams and that he cussion among political activists there activities. Baraheni, who spoke to supporters of was able to explain that his defenders about the need to step up defense of de­ mocratic rights. In particular, writers Attorney Davis demanded that the the defense caiJ;~paign in the United were all active opponents of U.S. impe­ States shortly after Baraheni's release, rialism. and intellectuals associated with the judge allow the defense an opportunity pro-Moscow Tudeh Party have come out to prove that this was, in fact, the case. he was "in excellent spirits" and report­ Inside Iran, the first to publicly de­ ed that he had been well treated while fend Baraheni were the socialists of the publicly against the party leadership's Davis pointed out, for example, that the stance of refraining from any criticism portion ofHariri-Vijeh's file released by under detention. Revolutionary Workers Party (HKE) In 1973, Baraheni was jailed and tor­ and the Workers Unity Party (HVK), of the Islamic Republic Party (IRP) re­ the INS contained nothing to indicate gime on this question. how or why the investigation originat­ tured by the shah's secret police, SAV­ which are affiliated to the Fourth Inter­ ed. .Ordinarily such information would AK. He wrote about those experiences national. After their newspapers pub­ The IRP government, which has used the fight against terrorist attacks as a be in the file. in a book, The Crowned Cannibals, lished some of the messages of support which was an important resource in the that had come from abroad, various pretext to go after intellectuals and mil­ In addition to demanding the com­ international campaign against the Iranian intellectuals were inspired to itant workers, was put increasingly on plete file on Hariri-Vijeh, Davis insisted U.S.-backed Pahlavi monarchy. speak out on Baraheni's behalf. the defensive during the course of the that the INS turn over its central file on Since the downfall of the shah, Ba­ Letters to the Iranian authorities campaign for Baraheni and his col­ the SWP and YSA. These documents, raheni has been working in Iran as a were sent by prominent writers such as leagues.

' ., \ January 22, 1982 Th~~itant . 3 Nicaragua builds united response as U .S.-inspired terrorism escalates

the national teachers association, ANDEN. So serious has the situation become, Minister of the Interior Tomas Borge said in a December 21 speech, that the government is considering the declara­ tion of a state of war. Borge said two days later the government had evidence that terrorists would seek to assassinate revolutionary leaders. Some of the members of the counter­ revolutionary bands are former prison­ ers, released through the generosity of the Sandinistas. For this reason, the government decided against granting its usual Christmas pardons this year.

'Unity against aggression' The Sandinista government is trying to prepare the Nicaraguan people politi­ cally as well as militarily for the attacks it fears are coming in the first months of Counterrevolutionary terrorists murdered seven Nicaraguan soldiers in late December. Above, their comrades car­ 1982. The Government of National Re­ ry one of the victims' coffins as the FSLN National Directorate stands by. construction has declared 1982 the "Year of Unity Against Aggression." ran army plane crashed at Puerto Lem­ BY ARNOLD WEISSBERG overthrow those governments was On January 3, the FSLN daily Barrie­ AND'MATILDE ZIMMERMANN pira, just outside Nicaragua on Hondu­ opened with a public celebration in Flor­ ada ran a front-page story entitled MANAGUA, Nicaragua - On Janu­ ras's Atlantic Coast. On the plane were, ida December 27. "Blockade - other nations have sur­ ary 8, the Nicaraguan Ministry of the Assistant Secretary of State for Inter­ among others, fourteen Honduran soldi­ vived it." It described the U.S. aircraft ers, including a major, and Steadman Interior announced the capture here of a American Affairs Thomas Enders had carrier Nimitz, a ship that could be used commando squad of fifteen counterrevo­ already given the administration's Fagoth, a former leader of Nicaragua's in a naval blockade of Nicaragua. "Just lutionaries. The squad possessed 300 blessing, declaring that such camps do Indian population and now a counter­ the waves from this giant," Barricada sticks of dynamite and was preparing to revolutionary exile. not violate U.S. laws "as long as they said, "would be enough to sink our en­ destroy Nicaragua's only oil refinery don't hurt anybody and as long as they In an apparent effort to draw atten­ tire navy." and a Managua cement plant. don't actually conspire to invade in a tion away from Honduran military in­ But in addition to outlining the devas­ According to the Ministry of the Inter­ specific way. . . . It is not illegal to volvement with the Somozaists, repre­ tating impact that a U.S. naval block­ ior, the commando squad was part of the have military exercises, guys running sentatives of the Honduran government ade would have on Nicaragua, the arti­ Honduran-based Nicaraguan Demo­ around the fields with guns, or to say, charged in early January that Sandinis­ cle also described how the Vietnamese cratic Union (UDN) and its armed wing, 'Uncle Sam, we're ready when you're ta troops had crossed into Honduran ter­ and Cuban people have stood up to com­ the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Ni­ ready - wink, wink - and here we ritory December 26 and killed 200 Nica­ mercial and military blockades. ~aragua (FARN). These groups are led go' "(New York Times, December 23). raguan exiles there. As Barricada explained in a year-end by Fernando and Edmundo Chamorro According to counterrevolutionary roundup article December 31, the revo­ Rapaccioli, once prominent figures in leader Hector Fabian, at least 100 Nica­ Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Miguel D'Escoto denounced that charge as lution is in a better position than ever to the bourgeois opposition to Somoza. raguans have sneaked back into that defend itself and move forward. ' UDN-FARN leaders have claimed they country to participate in military ac­ "false and absurd." As of January 4, the Foreign Ministry had received no offi­ "Above all else, 1981 has been a deci­ have no ties to the Somozaists, but three tions against the Sandinista-led govern­ sive year for the consolidation of the rev­ of those captured in Managua were ment. cial complaint from Honduras about the alleged incursion. In fact, Nicaraguan olution. With every day that passed, the ex-National Guardsmen. Two of these "They have to act," Lenin Cerna said revolution wa8 consolidated and streng­ had been in prison but had been re­ in the December 31 interview, speaking authorities first learned of the Hondu­ ran charges from an article in the Wash­ thened, and thus every day was a big leased upon receiving pardons. of Nicaragua's enemies. "First of all, be­ loss for our enemies. Nineteen eighty­ cause time is slipping by. And the pass­ ington Post. The Ministry of the Interior also stat­ one gave us another year, and the for­ age of time makes it possible for the Ni­ FSLN leader Luis Carrion had ed that evidence existed to indicate that eign and domestic enemies of this pro­ caraguan revolution to make progress warned last November of the possibility the UDN-FARN is receiving financing cess know all too well what this means. in accomplishing its goals, which in fact of counterrevolutionary exiles in Hon­ from "military officials of governments "It is absolutely clear that we are is exactly what's been happening." duras carrying out attacks inside that with which Nicaragua maintains diplo­ country while disguised as Sandinistas. stronger than we were yesterday, better matic relations." The specific govern­ The most serious attack so far came Labor and religious organizations, as able to resist any aggression, better able ments involved were not disclosed. on December 12, when a powerful bomb well as liberal opposition figures inside to deal with our problems and to deepen exploded in the passenger compartment the gains the Nicaraguan people have In an interview published here De­ Honduras, have also warned of this pos­ of an Aeronica airliner parked at the made." cember 31, State Security chief Lenin sibility. terminal in Mexico City. Aeronica is Ni­ From Intercontinental Pre;s Cerna predicted a big increase in coun­ caragua's national airline. terrevolutionary terrorism in the com­ 'We have to defend ourselves' ing year. Cerna announced there was evidence The killings and other terrorist at­ Mexican socialist Cerna's statements came after a that the would-be murderers were tacks inside Nicaragua do not appear to month of killings, robberies, rapes, and linked to Cuban and Nicaraguan exile have reduced support for the revolution. gunned down kidnappings by counterrevolutionaries. groups. "Even though I feel a great loss, I be­ These attacks even included an attempt lieve that my son, Carlos Altamirano Francisco Lozano Perez, a member of to destroy a Nicaraguan airliner in mid­ Reign of terror against peasants Borda, gave his life in a just cause, to de­ the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT, flight. Inside Nicaragua, armed counterrev­ fend the revolution," said Elba Borda Mexican section of the Fourth Interna­ The government security chiefs pre­ olutionary bands have created a reign of upon receiving the young soldier's body. tional), was shot to death by a traffic po­ diction ofstepped-up violence in 1982 terror in rutal areas of Boaco, Chon­ "We have to arm ourselves. We have to liceman in Mexico City on November was proven correct almost at once. Be­ tales, and Zelaya provinces. Four armed defend ourselves." 28. fore dawn on January 1, two counterrev­ groups have carried out a string of In another incident, which suggested According to the December 7 issue of olutionaries who had infiltrated the murders, rapes, robberies, and kidnap­ that the terrorists might be preparing the PRT's weekly newspaper, Bandera Sandinista Air Force attempted to hi­ pings. even more serious attacks, an unidenti­ Socialista, the incident resulted from a jack the jet aircraft used to transport N i­ Nicaragua's charges that elements of fied man was killed December 23 in Ma­ minor traffic accident. "The police inter­ caraguan government leaders. The the Honduran army were cooperating nagua when a bomb he was carrying ex­ vened, calling on our comrade to pull counterrevolutionaries were captured with the counterrevolutionaries were ploded. The blast occurred in a park only over. As he was doing so, Officer Jorge after the pilot on duty refused to fly the borne out December 28, when a Hondu- yards away from the headquarters of Nestor Castro, badge number 07478, plane to Miami, even when the terror­ shot him in the head and then fled, pro­ ists threatened to kill him, and after a tected by police from Patrol No. 2817 ." hostage escaped and alerted security. "The PRT," Bandera Socialista con­ forces. New from Pathfinder tinued, "has seen several of its militants At 6 a.m. the same day, a band often fall victim to political repression. Now, counterrevolutionaries attacked a mil­ Nicaragua: with sadness but above all with indigna­ itia post sixty kilometers north of the An introduction tion, we see the loss of a valuable revolu­ town of Jinotega, near the Honduran to the Sandinista tionary cadre owing to the irrationality frontier. Three peasant militia members and arrogance of the police." held them off for almost an hour, killing Revolution Francisco Lozano Perez had been a three of the attackers before the rest of By Arnold Weissberg, Managua correspondent for member of the PRT for more than two the band fled. 'Intercontinental Press,' years at the time of his death. He served 48 pp., $.95. as a delegate to the party's second na­ Encouragement from Washington tional congress. Lozano was also an acti­ It takes no great imagination to see The Struggle vist in the Mexican Union of Electri­ the link between the mounting terror­ cians (SME) and participated in the ism and the threats against Nicaragua for Freedom Trade-Union Struggle Bloc, a current in emanating from the White House. The in Guatemala opposition to the progovernment bu­ connection was 1made particularly ob­ reaucrats that control the SME. vious when a new training camp for Ni­ By Anfbal Yanez, 32 pp.. $. 75. The police officer who killed Lozano caraguan and Cuban exiles seeking to was later detained.

4 The Militant January 22, 1982 Socialist councilman , enters California governor's race Will challenge Democrats, GOP Mel Mason at December 23' news conference outside Seaside City Hall, an­ nouncing his candidacy for governor of California.

BY JANICE LYNN working poor that are now being cut at Segregationists have moved to disman­ talk about welfare. Well, the real wel­ SEASIDE, Calif. At a well-attended the state and federal level," Mason said. tle bilingual and bicultural education fare exists between the multinational news conference in front of city hall De­ He also calls for the dismantlement of programs in California. My campaign corporations and their virtually non­ cember 23, Seaside city Councilman Mel Washington's nuclear arsenal and the will stand for complete desegregation of taxable relationship with the state of Mason announced his candidacy for gov­ immediate closure of all nuclear power the schools by any means necessary and California." ernor of California. plants. the maintenance and expansion ofbilin­ Mason's bid for governor is being sup­ Mason told reporters that he was run­ One reporter asked Mason if he gual-bicultural programs." ported by various community leaders ning for governor because the Demo­ thought his campaign would have the Mason also calls for full equality for and activists from Seaside. Mason told cratic and Republican candidates are in­ effect of drawing votes away from Los women and supports women's struggles reporters that his main campaign office capable of serving the interests and Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley. Bradley, to defend their right to legal abortion. will be located in Seaside. He also aati­ needs of the working people. also Black, is the Democratic Party's Condemning continued attacks upon cipates that other campaign offices will His supporters are beginning to lay undeclared candidate for governor. the rights of undocumented workers, be set up throughout the state. plans for the gigantic effort that will be Mason responded, "Tom Bradley's re­ Mason declared, "What I favor is an op­ As a socialist, Mason will be getting required to collect the 100,000 signa­ cord, with the increase in police brutali­ en border to allow undocumented support from the Socialist Workers Par­ tures on independent nominating peti­ ty, the rise in slum housing, and the rise workers to come in and work, and to ty and the Young Socialist Alliance. He tions necessary to place his name on the in infant mortality in the Los Angeles work for full union scale. I am for an end will also be seeking support from other ballot. Black community, clearly speaks to who to the · deportations of undocumented workers parties throughout the state, as "What we want people to under­ he really represents -that is the corpo­ workers and the protection of their well as from Black activists, women, stand," Mason stated, "is that what is rations and not the interests of Black or rights." union members, the unemployed, oppo­ happening is not Reaganomics, is not a working people. On the question of taxes, Mason de­ nents ofthe U.S. war drive, and all those result of the Republican Party. What is "Bradley has been silent in the face of who see the need for a workers govern-. happening is capitalism is in decay. clared, "I think that the major corpora­ growing opposition to school.desegrega­ tions should be taxed and that working ment that will place human needs be­ What we need to do is organize people to tion and affirmative action programs. people should not be taxed at all. You fore profits. fight for their own interests - which would be to form a labor party· and to work toward the formation of a workers government that would put human Mel Mason: a brief biography needs before profits." Mason is a national leader of the So­ cialist Workers Party and also serves as Mel Mason, thirty-nine, was born in kesman for the Citizens League . for Mason has been active in the newly the Far West Regional Representative the small coal mining town of Provi­ Progress, which supported his campaign founded National Black Independent of the newly founded National Black In­ dence, Kentucky. for city council. In April 1980, he was Political Party (NBIPP). At its founding dependent Political Party. In April He ha8 lived in Seaside, California, elected to a four-year city council term. convention in August 1981, he was 1980, he wa.S elected to a four-year term since the age of thirteen and attended In his nearly two years on the Seaside elected its Far West regional represen­ on the Seaside City Council with sup­ high school and college on the Monterey City Council, Mason has spoken out tative. Mason also heads an active port from the city's Black and working Peninsula. against Washington's prowar, racist, NBIPP chapter in Seaside that is cur­ class community. From 1961 to 1965; Mason was in the and antilabor policies. rently involved in a campaign against Spurred by massive plant closures, U.S. Air Force. He spent some time in In March 1981, Mason visited the Ca­ police brutality. nearly one million people are unem­ the stockade while st ationed in Istan­ ribbean island of Grenada, and has re­ Mason is a member of the Socialist ployed in California . Mason explained, bul, Turkey. ported back on the progress made since Workers Party and was recently elected "As a candidate for governor, I will be In 1966, he attended Monterey Penin­ the revolut.ion there. to the SWP National Committee. addressing the need for jobs for all. sula College, where he · was an All­ Those plants that close down and say American basketball player. He accept­ .that they can't make a profit-we think ed a scholarship to Oregon State Uni­ Ala. civil rights leaders jailed that those plants should be nationalized versity, but because he challenged the discriminatory rules for Black athletes, and put to use by the people." Mason BY ANDY ROSE rallied in Carrollton t6 demand justice he was dismissed from the basketball proposes a gigantic public works pro­ CARROLLTON, Ala. - Two Black for Wilder and Bozeman. gram to create millions of jobs carrying team and left school. women civil rlghts leaders, framed up Wilder told the crowd that in her ef­ out socially necessary projects. He also From 1967 to 1969, he worked at on charges of vote fraud, were led away forts to register Blacks she had always calls for reducing the workweek with no Western Electric Company in Sunny­ to prison J anuary 11 after a circuit court followed the law. She vowed that no­ reduction in pay in order to spread the vale, California. He helped to establish judge here refused to suspend their sent­ thing would stOp her from continuing to available work around. a Black workers caucus that dealt with ences. fight for Black rights. "If they send me Mason denounced the decertification the problems of hiring, affirmative ac­ More than two hundred supporters, to Tutwiler [state prison], I will organ­ of the Professional Air Traffic Controll­ tion, promotions, and discriminatory packing the courtroom, shouted in pro­ ize there." ers Organization (PATCO) as a "direct treatment of Black workers. test and sang "We Shall Not Be Moved." union b\lSting move." He pointed to the From 1968 to 1969, he was a member Speakers from the Southern Chris­ Sheriffs deputies from five counties attack on P ATCO as an example of the of the Black Panther Party and con­ tian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and were used to block the crowd from leav­ bipartisan offensive against the rights tinued his union organizing activities. the NAACP said the frame-up of Boze­ ing the courtroom until after the women of all workers to organize. He was briefly a member of the Nation man and Wilder is an attempt to intimi­ had been whisked away. In response to a reporter's question on oflslam in 1970-71. date Blacks, part of the nationwide as­ whether he favored a stt:ong national Mason finished college in 1972 at Julia Wilder, sixty-nine, chairwoman sault on civil rights. military defense, Mason replied, "What Golden Gate University in San Francis­ of the Pickens County Voters League, "If you needed any evidence that the is happening in Washington, D.C. now co. was sentenced to five years; and Maggie Voting Rights Act roust be renewed, is that there is simply an offensive war Upon moving back to Seaside, Mason Bozeman, fifty-one, fonrier presid~nt of look to Pickens County," said Rev. Jo­ drive on the part of this country. So, this worked as a community counselor at the Pickens County NAACP, was sent­ seph Lowery, national SCLC president. is not national defense we are talking Monterey High School for two years. enced to four years - both on trumped­ "If Wilder and Bozeman go to jail for about. This is a government that is on Since 1974, he has been employed at up charges of falsifying absentee ballots exercising their political rights, then no the verge ofleading people in this coun­ Monterey Peninsula College as student in a 1978 election. citizen's rights are safe, Black or white," try to war." activities coordinator. Their real crime was organizing Lowery said. • "This campaign will be against this Mason has been a longtime political Blacks to register and vote in rural Civil rights leaders are demanding war drive now going on against Cuba activist in Seaside. In 1976, he helped to Pickens County. Although 42 percent of that Alabama Governor Fob James par­ and the people of Central America." found the Community Action Coalition county residents are Black, there are no don Bozeman and Wilder or commute Mason opposes the use of U.S. mil­ to address the needs and issues that Black elected county officials. their sentences. This demand is a theme itary forces anywhere around the world. were affecting Blacks, poor people, and The two women were convicted by all­ of the January 15 Martin Luther King He stands for eliminating the war other minorities in the Seaside commu­ white juries in 1979. Last November, demonstration in Birmingham. Also budget and putting that money to use nity. the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the con­ planned are daily picketing of the for human needt;. In 1977, he ran for a seat on the Mon­ victions by refusing to review the case. Pickens County courthouse, a boycott of "That money could be put to use to terey Peninsula School Board. On January 9, 300 civil rights suppor­ white businesses here, and a march to fund the programs badly needed by the In 197.9, he was a cofounder and spo- ters from across Alabama marched and the state capital of Montgomery.

January 22, 1982 The Militant 5 Protests hit training of ·Salvador army

Continued from Page 1 ation fighters in El Salvador, they global political solution. At the same training of the Salvadoran officers and agreed. time, we would like to make a plea to soldiers, and the increased threat of ple to Spring Lake, North Carolina, the American people to increase the pol­ U.S. military intervention. where Fort Bragg is located. After the march, a brief rally was held itical, moral, and material support for A number of important dates have al­ in front of the municipal building in our forces .... Prior to the start of the march, a news Spring Lake. Barbara Arnwine, a na­ ready been set for activities that are conference was organized that included, tional cochair of the National Black In­ "The people of El Salvador are strug­ part of the anti-intervention campaign. among others, David Dellinger, repre­ dependent Political Party who had par­ gling with our nails. We do not have the means-the arms necessary-equival­ senting the War Resisters Leagt.J.e; Dan ticipated in: the protest, told the demon­ Actions set for January 22 ent to the increasing arms being poured Driscoll, associate director of the Justice strators, ''This country is driving poor The main date coming up is January and Peace Commission of the Maryknoll Black men into the military for employ­ into El Salvador from this nation. So we are openly asking the people of this 22. This has been set as an International Fathers and Brothers; Bishop Antonio ment because they can't get other jobs. Day of Solidarity with the People of El Ramos, Episcopal bishop of the National This has got to stop. Our differences are country to reiterate their support by in­ creasing their solidarity.'' Salvador. The Emergency Campaign Council of Churches; and Moustafa Ran­ not with the people of El Salvador, but Against U.S. Intervention in Central dolph, vice president of the Black Vete­ \Vith the 'Department of Injustice.' The In other actions around the country America and the Caribbean, a coalition rans for Social Justice. real enemy of Black people is not the on January 11, between 100 and 200 of solidarity groups and other organiza­ people of the Third World, but our own During the march to Spring Lake, a people marched or picketed in Tucson; tions, is organizing many actions across government.'' Denver; Portland; Washington, D.C.; town of 20,000- mostly soldiers and ci­ the country. Philadelphia; Ann Arbor, Michigan; vilians employed at the base ~ solidar­ In New York, CISPES activists and and Austin, Texas. Smaller actions were On January 24 and 25, the scheduled ity activists reported very little hostili­ supporters organized a news conference reported .in Oakland, Miami, Detroit, dates for the arrival of 500-600 Salvado­ ty. Instead, a significant number of peo­ at the United Nations, and a picket of Pittsburg, Twin Cities, Boston, Balti­ ran officers at Fort Benning, Georgia, ple joined the march, honked their 100 people at the armed forces recruit­ more, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. local solidarity activists will organize a horns, and joined in shouting such slo­ ment station. Participating in the con­ march similar to the one at Fort Bragg. gans as "Deport the junta's soldiers, n:ot ference were Arnaldo Ramos, represent­ Among the endorsers of the January the refugees." ing the Revolutionary Democratic Front 11 actions was the Labor Committee for On February 27, the Triad Concerned ofEl Salvador; Adeyemi Bandele, repre­ Human Rights and Democracy in El Citizens for Central America have The marchers were perinitted to enter senting the National Black United Salvador. called for another protest at Fort Bragg. the base, where they were received by a Front; Donna Igoe and Debbie Indrieri, CISPES, in a leadership meeting to be As Arnaldo Ramos indicated in New delegati. on of officers. Father Henry At­ the sisters of John Sullivan, a freelance held the weekend of January 16, will York, the time for increased solidarity is kins, coordinator of the Triad Citizens journalist missing in El Salvador since discuss future activities against the now.. Concerned for Central America, headed December 28; and Hallie Wannamaker a delegation that presented the officers ofCISPES. with a letter addressed to the base com­ mander. The letter protested the train­ In a call for support, Ramos noted: "In What U.S. advisers do in Salvador ing program and urged that the monies view of the military escalation, in view instead be used to create jobs and social of the increasing toll that our popula­ · What are U.S. military advisors doing bayonet at the chest and rib cage of the services. When the officers were asked tion is feeling, we would like to reiterate in El Salvador? young man. to join with the marchers in a moment of once again our willingness to partici­ On two occasions last January, eight Then, applying his boot for leverage, pate in the process that will lead to a silence for the martyred nuns and liber- U.S: military advisors attended training the soldier broke the youth's arm at the sessions on torture techniques. Two sus­ elbow. After more tortures, he was pected guerrillas, a seventeen-year-old killed, though not in the presence of the man and a thirteen-year-old girl, were U.S. advisors. tortured while some 260 soldiers At the second session, the young wom­ watched, and then killed. an was similarly tortured and killed. Both their bodies were dumped on a The military advisors, which included street in San Salvador. "Green Berets," had arrived in El Salva­ In one of the torture sessions, the as­ dor a few days earlier to aid the military sembled troops were told by an officer dictatorship in beating back the free­ that they should "not feel any pity of dom fighters. anyone," but only "hate for those who This information, reported in the Jan­ are enemies of our country.'' uary 11 New York Times, came from GOmez said that many freedom figh­ Carlos Antonio GOmez Montano, a Sal­ ters and sympathizers were dropped, vadoran soldier then with the Second alive, into the sea from helicopters, or Parachute Squadron at Ilopango Air their bodies were discarded along roads Force Base outside San Salvador, where after the faces had been slashed beyond the so~calied torture classes occurred. recognition. Gomez later deserted and has fled to Gomez's paratroop unit had also re­ Mexico City. ceived training from U.S. advisors, al­ At the first session, a masked Salvad­ though they did not accompany the sold­ Salvadoran soldiers arrive in North Carolina to begin training at Fort Bragg. oran soldier jabbed with the end ofhis iers on missions. Haitian refugees fight Reagan detention camps

Continued from Page 1 gas and attacked the protesters with communities on behalf of the Haitians plained that "the change has been dra­ Catholic Bishop of Puerto Rico, Cardi­ clubs. In the confusion, 150 Haitian re­ he was given a standing ovation. matic since we listened to Mr. Reagan nal Aponte Martinez, has demanded the fugees managed to escape. Support for the Haitian refugees con­ give us all this baloney about Poland. release of the nearly 800 refugees being tinues to grow. On December 30, Jack­ How can a country talk about human held in the Fort Allen detention camp on Two days later, 2,000 people turned son toured the Krome Camp, denounc­ rights in Poland when we have what's the island. out for the emergency rally in Liberty ing the brutal conditions there, and met going on here. . . .'' On January 2 in Chicago, at a giant City to protest the attack. with Black and religious leaders to dis­ meeting organized by .Rev. Jesse Jack­ Rev. Jesse Jackson, the main speaker cuss further activities on behalf of the son's Operation PUSH, religious leaders refugeees. These meetings received at the rally, hit the government's at­ Subscribe to announced a three day fast in support of tempts to stir up antirefugee hysteria; wide publicity in the media. As a result, the Haitians. "Blacks in South Florida don't set immi­ several groups sent telegrams to Rea­ Intercontinental Press In Miami, an emergency rally was gration policy," he said. "If Black South gan demanding the Haitians be re­ called on two days notice December 29 Floridians could take the Haitians into leased. Intercontinental Press is a unique by the NAACP, the Southern Christian their homes and their churches they source for political developments Leadership Conference, the Haitian Re­ would do it tonight." Politicians pressed to give support throughout the world. IP is the only Eng­ fugee Center Incorporated, and the Cen­ The pressure has been so intense that lish-language magazine with a full-time Jackson explained that the Haitian ter for the Quest for Truth. Florida's Governor Bob Graham has bureau in Nicaragua, providing weekly issue is international: "We support the reversed·his openly reactionary, antire­ reports on the development of the revo­ Police attack evokes demonstration solidarity movement in Poland, but we fugee stance and is now demanding that also support the solidarity movement in lutioflary upsurge in Central America. IP The rally was called to protest the po­ the INS return to its earlier immigra­ correspondents provide our readers South Africa and Haiti. Let's measure tion policy, which would result in the lice attack on a peaceful demonstration with in-depth coverage of events such human rights with one yardstick. The immediate release and resettlement of outside the Krome A venue detention as the Iranian revolution, the freedom government uses two. When they the refugees. Other politicians, such as camp December 27. struggle in South Africa, and the crushed the labor movement in Poland, New York senators Daniel Patrick On Christmas Eve, the 700 refugees workers struggle in Poland. the president imposed sanctions; when Moynihan and Alfonse D'Amato, visited held in Krome began a hunger strike, Many of the documents, speeches, they crush the movements in South Fort Allen in Puerto Rico January 7, in· vowing to 8ontinue until their release. Africa and Haiti, the president in­ further attempts to defuse the situation. and interviews we publish appear no­ On Sunday, December 27, normally a creases trade." . where else in English. Why not sub­ visiting day at the camp, 600 people ar­ On December 31, the refugee Adviso­ scribe? rived at Krome to visit relatives and to Referring to the hypocrisy of the Vati­ ry Committee of the Dade County Metro publicly express their support for the . can, Jackson pointed out that "while the Commission urged the government to $35 for one year. hunger strikers. Pope intervenes in Poland- on the cri­ release the refugees to friends and com­ $17.50 for six months. sis in Haiti, where people are ninety­ munity agencies. $8.75 for three months. But the INS provocatively canceled five percent Catholic too, there is a deaf­ visitation rights and refused to allow The Haitian community is inspired by ening silence from the Vatican.'' 410 West Street anyone to enter the camp. As the angry the growing support. Father Gerard New York, N.Y. 10014 crowd demanded that they be allowed to When Jackson called for continued Jean-Juste, director of the Haitian Re­ enter, the guards suddenly threw tear massive demonstrations by the Black fugee Center Incorporated in Miami, ex-

6 The Militant January 22, 1982 Labor actions hit budget cuts, layoffs Anger mounts as workers seek answers to economic crisis

BY WILLIAM GOTTLIEB workers rallied to protest a move by the After the Solidarity Day march of half city administration to reopen the Chica­ a million people in Washington, D.C. on go transit workers contract. George Dal­ September 19, workers are asking the mas, assistant to the president of Amal­ question, what to do next. gamated Transit Union Local 241, ex­ This question takes on special urgen­ plained that "We were going to do it cy as a result of the worsening economic alone." But, Dalmas explained, "a chap­ situation since that historic action. Re­ ter of the Coalition of Black Trade newed recession has sent unemploy­ Unionists came to help us, and so we ment soaring in almost all branches of said, 'Why not call it Solidarity and industry. Combined with cutbacks in bring in the problems affecting all labor government social spending, mandated and citizens, as well.'" by Reagan and Congress, this has al­ Two thousand workers overflowed the ready led to the return of breadlines and House of Representatives' chamber in soup kitchens. Hartford, Connecticut, November 7 to Workers have been pressing the offi­ listen to William Winpisinger, presi­ cial union leaders for more answers and dent of the International Association of for effective action. This mood is reflect­ Machinists and Aerospace Workers ed in local actions, which are being held (lAM). In addition to Winpisinger, John in many cities throughout the country. Driscoll, head of the state AFL-CIO, spoke, as well as representatives of pub­ 'Solidarity Returns to Muncie' lic employees, the building trades, dis­ In Muncie, Indiana, Mayor Alan Wil­ abled persons, and women. Connecticut Muncie, Indiana, unionists march against attempt by Mayor Alan Wilson to son announced that after January 1 he is suffering from a loss of $38 million in bust municipal workers union. would not recognize Teamster Local 135 federal grants, largely for social servi­ as the bargaining agent for the city ces. workers. The urgency of the situation is "waste a trillion dollars on the military ranks. But they are attempting to chan­ underlined by the expected layoff of city Protest union-busting budget during his term. And we won't nel the mounting anger against govern­ employees. In light of the fact that Mun­ In Louisville, Kentucky, 1,000 angry forget his attack on affirmative action. ment policies into support for electing cie has the eighth highest unemploy­ union workers rallied outside Galt Nor will we forget his attacks on civil Democrats to Congress and state offices ment rate in the nation, it is unlikely House December 15 to protest former rights and the Equal Rights Amend­ in November. To this end, they have in­ that they will be able to find other jobs. President Gerald Ford's address at a ment!" vited Democratic politicians, who are More than 1,000 workers turned out fund-raising dinner for the anti-union Shuttlesworth denounced Reagan pol­ supposedly friendly to labor, to speak at December 19, in ten degree weather, un­ Associated Building Contractors. Ford icies that "put the budget for the mil­ these rallies. der the banner "Solidarity Returns to lectured the union busting construction itary and war before people." The mood of the workers reflected in Muncie." More than twenty-five union bosses about the "deadly serious inter- • A large contingent ofPATCO workers these actions and in the speeches of the locals participated. national problem" caused by the decla­ was warmly received by the crowd. more militant speakers shows the grow­ PATCO speaker David Brady pointed ration of martial law in Poland. Ford's ing insistence for answers and action The Central American Task Force that go beyond supporting the employ­ out, "We must gather our unity, start­ stop in Louisville was one of fifteen carried a banner which proclaimed "Mo­ ing right here today. For together we "productivity" dinners he will address er's parties. ney for Jobs, Not for War, U.S. Out ofEl have strength." across the country for the Associated Salvador." Socialist Workers Party candidate for Building Contractors. The Young Socialist Alliance banner Congress Dave Ellis, in an open letter About 100 union locals participated in distributed at the rally, stated that the rally. Many workers wore "I declared "No Draft, No War: U. S. Unemployment Hands Off Cuba, Nicaragua, Grenada, workers are under attack by both "De­ marched on Solidarity Day on Sep­ goes up mocratic and Republican politicians." tember 19" buttons. Signs carried by and El Salvador!" When rally organizer Jerry Thorn­ unionists declared, "Unions cheered and Supporters of Rachel Knapik, the So­ The U.S. government an­ burg of United Auto Workers (UAW) defended by Americans in Poland cialist Workers candidate for Lt. Gover­ nounced January 8 that unem­ Local 489 tried to explain the absence of Badmouthed and starved in U.S.A." nor of Ohio, circulated a statement that ployment for adult men was 8 per­ Democratic Congressman Phillip Sharp declared, "The overwhelming majority cent for December, up from 7.2 in by saying, "He's with you in spirit," the Black leaders hit war drive of Americans are opposed to U.S. invol­ November. This figure for adult crowd shouted back, "Where the hell is On November 30, 3,000 people packed vement in another Vietnam. Despite males is the highest since World his body?" Fountain Square in downtown Cincin­ this, both the Republicans and the De­ War II. Overall unemployment nati to protest President Reagan's visit mocrats are pouring billions upon bil­ rose to 8.9 percent, from 8.4 per­ Protest cuts in work compensation to the city. Reagan addressed a $5,000- lions into the coffers of the Pentagon. cent in November. This is these­ In Lansing, Michigan, 8,000 unionists a-couple, Republican fund-raising din­ They then turn to working people and cond-highest jobless rate since responded to a call by the State AFL­ ner. Protesters lined up at an old-fa­ tell us cuts have to be made in Social Se­ World War II. Black unemploy­ CIO and Michigan UAW Community shioned soup line reminiscent of the curity, health care, education, and other ment was 16.1 percent in De­ Action Program (CAP) to march on the Great Depression, right outside the ho­ human needs to fund their war drive. cember, up from 15.5 percent in state capitol December 8. The event was tel. That is why working people need our November. It is one of the highest billed as "Michigan Solidarity Day," Speakers included Marian Spencer, own party, a labor party based on the levels since records have been and the slogan was "Don't Reaganize president of the NAACP Cincinnati unions." kept. Counting so-called discour­ Michigan." branch; Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, In the state of Washington, unions aged workers who have stopped The Michigan economy has been in a national board member of the Southern and other organizations have called a looking for a job because they depression for several years now due to Christian Leadership Conference; Wil­ demonstration in Olympia for January know they won't find one, nearly the sharp and protracted decline of the liam Sheehan, the secretary-treasurer 20. The rally is protesting government 11 million people were unem­ auto industry. Recently over 30,000 of the Central Labor . Council (AFL­ cutbacks and layoffs. ployed in the United States in De­ workers had their extended unemploy­ CIO); and Cincinnati Mayor David Union officials across the country cember, according to the U.S. gov­ ment benefits cut off because state un­ Mann. have participated and helped organize ernment. employment dropped below the "trigger Spencer pointed out that Reagan will these actions under pressure from the level" of 5 percent. This, however, doesn't reflect a sudden recovery in the Michigan economy. The official unem­ ployment level is around a depression West Coast dockworkers back socialist suit level of 13 percent. But the government counts as unemployed, for purposes of The following is the text of a by government surveillance, disrup­ awful years remains with us in many determining the "trigger" for extended statement on behalf of the Inter­ tion, provocation, and other forms of ways. And the story in this morning's benefits, only those in their first twenty­ national Longshoremen's and interference. paper on the CIA regaining a "righf' Warehousemen's Union (ILWU) in to spy on the American people is a six weeks of unemployment. We can point to case after case where In addition to cutting payments to the support of the Socialist Workers disruption by repressive government truly frightening reminder that our Party's lawsuit against the gov­ terrible and troubled days are any­ unemployed, bills now before the State actions measurably affected the suc­ ernment and its political police. It thing but over. Indeed, they have ap­ Legislature threaten to weaken workers cess of our bargaining. We can also compensation. The proposed legislation was read at a December 5 rally in point to the poisoning of the very parently begun again and with a ven­ would tighten eligibility requirements, San Francisco, sponsored by the atmosphere within the locals that were geance. reduce benefits, and shorten the length Political Rights Defense Fund, by subject to such activities. Everyone This is why the Socialist Workers Party case is so important. It's also of time a disabled worker can collect be­ Herb Mills, secretary-treasurer of remembers "the everlasting Bridges why this event is so important - it nefits. ILWU Local 10. The statement case." But how many remember the brings together a broad and impressive The workers who responded to the ral­ makes reference to the govern­ very lengthy effort to deport Ernest ly call gathered at the Lansing Civic ment's decades-long efforts to de­ Mangaoang and ten other Filipino­ coalition of people. We may disagree on many important things, but we're Center, then marched around the state port former ILWU President American trade unionists because of capitol. Thousands of workers crowded Harry Bridges, and to victimize their political beliefs? How many re­ here to agree on a basic principle: the other members and leaders of the right of each of us to function is into the halls of the building, chanting member the prosecution of Jack Hall and banging hard hats and picket signs ILWU. and the Reineckes and the other Ha­ threatened when the civil liberties of on the walls and floors waii · Smith Act defendants? How any of us are violated. This is why we, Perhaps more than any other union Bill Marshall, president of the Michi­ many remember the innumerable ha­ the members of the ILWU, know that that is still around, we of the ILWU as this case continues it will gain gan AFL-CIO declared, "We are here to rassments of scores of ILWU locals? tell our elected officials that Michigan understand the terrible effects of politi­ increasing support from many sections workers will nol! stand for the crucifying cal repression on working-class organi­ While we survived those prosecu­ of labor, and especially from those who of our benefits." zations, and the way the history of tions - and actually we've done more know about this sort of thing first On December 19, oOO to 1,000 such organizations has been distorted than survive - the legacy of those hand.

January 22, 1982 T!te Militant 7 rate of profit than they present­ ly do. As a result, rates for local Court ruling telephone service are expected keeps nuclear to rise rapidly, at least doubling in many parts of the country. plant shut down

For example, according to BY WILLIAM GOTTLIEB Delbert C. Staley, president of On January 7, the United New York Telephone Company, States Court of Appeals for the the basic local charge for tele­ District of Columbia ruled that phone service is now $10 per the undamaged Unit 1 reactor month, while the cost to New at the Three Mile Island nu­ York Telephone is $20. This clear power plant could not be means that New York Tele­ restarted until the government phone, claiming that it costs $20 determined the impact on the a month to provide service (only psychological health of people thoroughgoing inspection of the living in nearby communities. phone company's books can de­ In the two-to-one decision, the termine the accuracy of this fig­ court also directed the Nuclear ure), will demand that rates be Regulatory Commission (NRC) raised to something over $20. In to determine whether federal addition to covering costs, it will law mandates a more thorough argue that it has to make a environmental study. "fair" rate of profit. Under 'antitrust' settlement AT&T will be free to invest in high-profit areas Hke the microproce. sor shown There is little doubt that the The court order was the re­ above. New York State authorities will sult of a suit by the People give in, since, after all, no capi­ Against Nuclear Energy. talist will invest his capital in James B. Hurst, treasurer of New York Telephone if he People Against Nuclear AT&T deal will raise phone rates doesn't get a "reasonable" re­ Energy, expressed the hope turn on his investment. that "this may finally convince BY WILLIAM GOTILIEB against monopoly capital. In Under the divestiture the NRC that psychological On January 8, a settlement reality, it is the exact opposite, agreement, local telephone ser­ In return for "sacrificing" the stress really is an issue. Until was announced in the govern­ as anybody who pays a tele­ vice will be reorganized, either local telephone-service busi­ now, they have missed that ment's antitrust suit against phone bill will soon find out. as a separate corporation or as a ness, AT&T will now be able to message." the American Telephone and series of separate corporations invest in the highly profitable Telegraph Company (AT&T). Being a so-called natural mo­ (the details have not been data processing, computer com­ In another setback for nu­ AT&T will, under the terms of nopoly, local telephone rates are worked out yet). The stock­ munications, and telephone and clear power, Moody's Investors the agreement with the Reagan regulated by various govern­ holders of AT&T will exchange computer terminal equipment Services Inc. suspended the administration; divest itself of mental bodies. AT&T has been some of their shares of AT&T businesses. As a government­ credit rating January 7 on two the twenty-two Bell System required to subsidize local tele­ stock for shares in the new "in­ regulated monopoly, it was for­ nuclear power plants that the telephone companies that mo­ phone companies from the prof­ dependent" telephone company bidden to invest in these areas. Washington Public Power nopolize most of the nation's lo­ its earned through its lucrative (or companies). This means that Richard Wiley, former president Supply System (WPPSS) has cal telephone service. These lo­ long-distance telephone service. the same financial groups will of the Federal Communications been trying to build in Wash­ cal telephone companies have This has meant that the capital own the telephone companies Commission, described the set­ ington. The nuclear power assets of over $80 billion, two­ invested by AT&T has not been after the divestiture as own tlement as "a brilliant master­ plants are part of a projected thirds of AT&T's total assets. making as high a rate of profit them now. Only they will own stroke." He explained, "They group of five nuclear plants. AT&T will keep its long-dis­ as it could if the "free market" them directly, instead of indi­ gave away the future railroads The project is already 500 per­ tance service, the Western prevailed. From the viewpoint rectly through AT&T. of this industry, kept the mo­ cent over budget. Capitalist Electric Company, and Bell of the big financial interests Since the local telephone com­ neymakers they already had, investors have forked over a Telephone Laboratories. who dominate AT&T, the local panies will now be "independ­ and won the right to go after total of $6.8 billion to WPPSS At first glance, the settlement telephone service was actually a ent" companies, they will be ex­ everything else on the high-re­ and are reluctant to provide may appear to some to be a blow liability. pected to make a much higher venue side." more. Murry Weiss, former SWP leader, dies in N.Y.

BY GEORGE NOVACK by Leon Trotsky. personality and his experience as an Fourth International, headed by Pierre Murry Weiss, a former leader of the Three years later, when the Trotsky­ organizer prepared him for this kind of Lambert and Hugo Moreno. Socialist Workers Party and Militant ists were members of the Socialist work. His therapeutic advice was espe­ Memorial meetings honoring Murry editor, died of a stroke at the age of Party (SP) for a brief period, Weiss was cially helpful for patients who had Weiss's contributions to the Marxist sixty-six in New York December 26. I elected to the national committee of the been associated with the radical move­ movement will be held in the following learned of his death upon returning Young People's Socialist League, the ment. cities: from the Young Socialist Alliance con­ SP's youth organization. When the From the 1930s on, I collaborated vention in Philadelphia over New Trotskyists were expelled from the SP, with Murry on various party projects • New York, Machinists Audito­ Year's weekend. he became a founding member of the and assignments, and always found rium, 7 East 15th Street, January .24. How unfortunate it was, I thought, Socialist Workers Party in 1938 and him to be an agreeable and reliable co­ Program 3 p.m., buffet 5 p.m. that scarcely any of the youth there served on its national committee for worker. I particularly remember the • Los Angeles, Modern Playschool­ knew about Murry's long and worthy nearly a quarter of a century. Over the care and consideration with which he Play Mountain Place, 6063 Hargis record of service to our party. A radical years, he acted as party organizer in and Myra treated me when I visited Street, January 24. Brunch 12 noon, since his early teens, Murry was a such key branches as Los Angeles, San Los Angeles during wartime in the program 1 p.m. pioneer builder of the vanguard politi­ Francisco, Youngstown, and New spring of 1944. It was the last stop for • San Francisco, 3016-16 Street (at cal organization of the U.S. working York. a wearied traveler on a strenuous Mission), January 24. Brunch 12 noon, class. Together with Myra Tanner Weiss, nationwide speaking tour in behalf of program 1:30 p.m. Some of today's young people are his close co-worker in union and party the eighteen SWP defendants in the • Seattle, Freeway Hall, 3815 5th being introduced to the liberating activities, whom he married in 1942, he famous Minneapolis "Smith Act" case. Avenue N.E., January 23. Dinner 6:30 spirit of the October 1917 Russian was instrumental in launching a mass, Murry was largely self-educated. He p.m., program 8 p.m. revolution by viewing the career of unified opposition to the antilabor had a driving desire to master the • Portland, 2831 N.E. Union, Janu­ John Reed through the film Reds. drive of the fascist Gerald L.K. Smith elements of Marxist theory and pass ary 23. Dinner 6:30 p.m., program 8 Murry was inspired by that colossal in the mid-1940s. He was the editor of on knowledge of its teachings to oth­ p.m. event during the 1920s, only a few the Militant between 1954 and 1956. ers. He studied Capital assiduously years after its victory. He also edited the International Social­ and gave many classes on political He was born in Chicago and grew up ist Review. He was a source of strength economy as well as on political issues. on Manhattan's Lower East Side with and stability throughout the ordeal of He had an amiable, even ingratiat­ parents who were active in the Interna­ the McCarthy witch-hunt era. ing, disposition, and his powers of tional Ladies' Garment Workers Un­ Murry played a prominent role in the persuasion recruited scores of members ion. In that nursery of radicalism he united-front election campaign of the to the socialist ranks. He easily won became a precocious socialist, stirred Independent Socialist ticket in New the confidence of young people, some by such injustices as the execution in York State during 1958. This was a of whom regarded themselves as his 1927 of the anarchists Sacco and Van­ short-lived political coalition that disciples. He was an intimate friend zetti. issued from the shakeup in the Com­ and favorite of the founder of Ameri­ Murry joined the children's organiza­ munist Party circles following Khrush­ can Trotskyism, James P. Cannon, tion of the Communist Party, the chev's partial disclosures of Stalin's who valued his selfless dedication and Young Pioneers, and graduated to the crimes. his capacity for initiative, among his Young Communist League at fifteen. Murray had suffered from a murmur other qualities. Murry was ever on the Together with his older brother David, of the heart caused by rheumatic fever alert to make the most of new openings he spoke up against the fatal Stalinist in his boyhood. He had open-heart in the class struggle. course of refusing to form a united surgery in 1952, and was hit by a We all regretted his departure from front with Socialist Party and union stroke in 1960. This caused him to take our party and its leadership. After a forces against the threat of Hitlerism a protracted leave of absence from period of quiescence, he reemerged into in Germany. This led to his expulsion party activity, and he eventually left political activity in the late 1970s as in 1933 and subsequent adherence to the party. cochairman of the Freedom Socialist the Communist League of America He took up training as a psychother­ Party, an opponent of the SWP. In (CLA) and its )lOUth group, the Sparta­ apist and conducted private practice in December 1980 he participated in the cus Youth Clubs. The CLA was part of that profession for the last thirteen world conference of the Parity Commit­ the International Left Opposition led years of his life. The sensitivity of his tee for the Reorganization of the Murry Weiss

8 'J,'he Militant January 22, 1982 Oil workers contract won't protect jobs or work rules BY STU SINGER The new model for labor relations is The national bargaining committee of the attack on the air traffic controllers' the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers strike. (OCAW) union approved a two-year con­ Time lost to strikes is the lowest since tract with Gulf Oil January 11. Shell Oil World War II. also agreed to the same proposals. The These facts had an impact on the agreements may result in new contracts OCAW negotiations. for 55,000 union-organized workers in oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Profit rate down, overproduction Wages and benefits for the equal· The oil industry includes the richest number of nonunion oil-company corporations in the world. But they are workers usually follow the pattern set not immune from the economic crisis . by the union. gripping capitalism. The new contract calls for a 9 percent Oil company profits are very high, but pay raise in 1982 and a 90 cent-an-hour their profit rate is declining. There are hike in 1983. This would be about a 16 more oil products than can be pur­ percent increase over two years. OCAW chased. members in these industries now aver­ The overproduction of oil is matched age about $12 an hour. With overtime by 'overproduction of steel, autos, rub­ and shift differentials, their weekly pay ber, appliances, electrical capacity, air­ is the highest of any industrial workers. line seats, wheat, corn, soybeans, and The proposed contracts have to be ap­ cheese. Working people cannot afford to proved by each local. There is no indus­ buy what has been produced. try-wide contract. OCAW holds about The capitalist solution is to bolster 400 contracts with about 100 compan­ profits. To do that they are cutting em­ Ies. ployment; raising prices and interest , Militant/Walter Lippmann Most OCAW contracts expired Janu­ rates; and slashing unemployment com­ West coast dock-workers march in solidarity with refinery workers strike, ary 8. All but one of the companies pensation, food stamps, Social Security, Los Angeles Harbor, 1980. Union solidarity is key to taking on oil barons. agreed to a proposal by fed~ral media­ and welfare. tors to extend the contract while negoti­ The victims can purchase even fewer ations continued. The exception was the commodities. The crisis gets worse. Workers have to face double shifts, ro­ wanted. The whole contract was ex­ Phillips refinery in Pasadena, Texas. tating schedules, job combinations, .and tended through January 1982. But the OCAW local there stayed on the Who fuels inflation? work-rule changes. Management scabs and contract job. Oil workers' pay went up 20.5 percent Little of the billions invested in the oil workers kept most of the refineries oper­ In Port Arthur, Texas, OCAW locals the last two years. Inflation went up industry are going into refineries. There ating during the 1980 strike. Teamster­ at Texaco and American Petrofina set 22.5 percent. The union had demanded are higher profits in drilling. Machinery organized oil workers, whose contract is up picket lines January 8. Their strike 13.5 percent a year in the new contract. is being run into the ground. based on OCAW, did not go on strike. was sanctioned by the international . When the oil monopolies claimed The ability of the companies to keep 1979 contract, 1980 strike union leadership. It was called to pro­ there was a shortage, they blamed the operating was only possible thanks to OCAW got a two-year contract in test company violations of local Iranian revolution, "greedy" Arabs, and government cooperation. Safety and pol­ 1979 without a strike. It had an option agreements on pensions and other "wasteful" American workers who insist lution rules were dropped. Federal anti­ to reopen wages and benefits in 1980. issues. on driving cars. They also pin the blame labor laws were backed up by antipick­ With inflation twice as high as the 1980 Initial reports indicate that the new for inflation on workers. eting injunctions and police protection • pay hike; the union was forced to reopen contractprovidessomeimprovementsin The chairman ofUnion Oil of Califor­ for scabs. hospitalization and other benefits. nia complained that the industry's the contract. But there is no information yet (as of "passiveness in agreeing to past wage OCAW went on strike in January Oil workers are still evaluating the January 11) on whether any of the com­ increases that exceed productivity gains 1980. Some workers remained on the lessons of that strike. They are consider­ pany takeback demands concerning has helped fuel the fires of inflation." picket lines until July. A few lost their ing the growing attacks by the compan­ work rules and job eliminations are part But oil-industry price hikes have lit­ jobs as a result of the strike. ies against their jobs, safety, and work­ of the proposed agreement. Gulf Oil, for tle to do with refinery-worker wages. It was the longest oil strike ever. Tens ing conditions. example, handed the union nine pages Oil-refining labor costs are estimated of thousands of workers and their fami­ They are confronting the same ques­ of takeback demands during negotia­ at 9.5 percent, compared to 34.3 percent lies stood up to the companies and cops tions facing all working people and look­ tions. in the auto industry and 36.9 percent in for months. ing for answers to how their jobs, wages, It was announced that the union textiles. Less than one-and-a-half cents The final contract won a pay hike, but and safety can be protected; and how made no progress on the issue of job se­ of the $1.40 we pay for a gallon of gaso­ not the benefit improvements the union this deepening crisis can be stopped. curity, which had been posed as central line covers refinery labor. to negotiations. At least 3,000 OCAW refinery No answers from union heads Forum commemorates Kampuchea's workers are on layoff. A number of The OCAW leadership presented no plants have been closed and others are clear proposals to protect jobs. Union liberation from Pol Pot regime operating at 65 percent of capacity. A President Robert Goss wrote in the De­ Wall Street analyst predicts the employ­ cember issue of OCA W Union N ews, "If BY SANDI SHERMAN journalist from the Southeast Asia Re­ ers will shut down production of another they say there is a surplus of employees, NEW YORK - A forum to commemo­ source Center, gave a first-hand report 1 million barrels a day of the 18.6 mil­ let them get rid of the contractor em­ rate the third anniversary of the libera­ on his trip to Kampuchea in 1979. lion barrels of U.S. refinery capacity. ployees and let OCAW members, who tion of Kampuchea from Pol Pot and his Luce explained the role the U.S. is There is an oil glut. After years of an are the company's regular, full-time em­ genocidal regime was held here January continuing to play in stopping aid from artificial shortage designed to boost ployees, do the work." 8. reaching Kampuchea. An example of prices and profits, the economy is satu­ Thousands of union jobs have been Hosted by the Vietnamese Students this was the hypocritical refusal of the rated with more oil than can be pur­ wiped out as the companies replace Association at New York University, U.S. government to allow the Menno­ chased. them with contractors employing lower­ and cosponsored by the Committee in nites to send school kits to Kampuchea Refinery workers are legitimately paid and often nonunion labor. Solidarity with Vietnam, Kampuchea, on the grounds that this was not human­ concerned about tlieir jobs. But Goss did not propose a campaign· and Laos, the meeting drew eighty peo­ itarian aid, but "development" aid. . The union's initial contract proposal to organize all the workers at the refin­ ple. "Part of the irony of all this," Luce included that there should be no layoffs eries into OCAW. Merle Ratner, from the Committee in noted, "is that in the 1980 election cam­ or shutdowns for the life of the contract. There was no proposal for a shorter Solidarity with Vietnam, Kampuchea, paign Reagan attacked Carter for being But they dropped that proposal when workweek with no cut in pay in order to and Laos, chaired the event. She ex­ a hypocrite on human rights, and used the companies said outright that they spread around the work. In a special edi­ plained in opening remarks that the the example of Carter's support to Pol would take a strike if the union pushed tion of OCA W Union News, it is ex­ U.S. government has maintained and Pot. Last September, the Reagan ad­ the demand. plained that "the oil industry has rigid­ intensified its hostility toward the gov­ ministration voted for Pol Pot to be seat­ The Oil and Gas Journal reported, ly resisted institution of a shorter work ernment of Kampuchea. ed at the U.N." "To accede to the demand would give the week and some years ago OCAW gave "The U.S. hasn't learned anything Luce called on the U.S. government to union power to prevent management up asking for it." from its· defeat in Vietnam," she said. normalize relations with Vietnam and from shutting down unprofitable capac­ The union reports the companies· are Noting that the United States is prepar­ Kampuchea, resume trade with both ity." lengthening the workweek in order to ing for interventions around the world, countries, and remove the obstacles it lay off more workers. The average work­ Ratner said, "The struggle of the people has set up for aid to Vietnam. He also Labor movement under attack week in refineries is now 43.3 hours. in Kampuchea is linked to the struggle stated that the U.S. government should The same day the OCAW contracts This is a safety hazard. of the people ofEl Salvador to overthrow stop supporting the Pol Pot forces and expired, the leaders of the United Auto the Duarte regime and establish a peo­ should use its influence with China to Workers decided to reopen contracts Job safety - getting worse ple's government there." prevent another attack on Vietnam. with Ford and General Motors nine Refinery work is inherently danger­ A newsreel produced by the Kampu­ "Anyone who is pushing for a with­ months early to give back past contract ous. It involves volatile and often poi­ chean National Film Studio, entitled 3 drawal of Vietnamese troops from Kam­ gains. sonous fluids under high pressure. The + 4, was shown. It documented the ge­ puchea without . guarantees to prevent Union-organ~d workers in the rub­ company scramble for profits is increas­ nocidal acts of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot's return has no concern for the ber industry, steel, trucking, meat pack­ ing the danger. Chan Bun Han, a Kampuchean na­ people of Kampuchea," said Luce. ing, airlines, and railroads have been There are cutbacks in safety proce­ tional, showed slides from his first trip A lively discussion followed the meet­ forced into contract concessions. dures, equipment, and training. home in 1981. Don Luce, an American ing.

January 22, 1982 The Militant 9 Young Socialist Alliance conve1 • ga1ns among workiilg-class JOI

elections in 1982 and 1984 to rebuild the Democratic Party. Their betrayal of PATCO confirms a political truth today. No section of the labor bureaucracy has any perspective of organizing the kind of fight that is necessary to beat back the ruling-class offensive. "Only from the fresh ranks of the young workers, Blacks, and women can a fighting leadership for labor be forged. Only from the workers who have :not complied with sell-out after sell-out can a new leadership emerge." Despite the massive turnout for the historic Solidarity Day demonstration last September, Malik Miah explained in his report, the labor misleaders mul­ ishly cling to their bankrupt course. The union misleaders' plans for "Solidarity Day II" are aimed at nothing more than a vote-hustling campaign for the Demo­ cratic Party, Miah said. The YSA and SWP put forward an al­ ternative course. "We are for a break from the big-business parties that are carrying out this offensive against working people," Miah said. "We argue As YSA convention concluded with singing of the 'Internationale,' a group of participants gathered on stage for singing for the perspective that workers must and added, as finale, the anthem of Nicaragua's Sandinista movement. YSA National Chairman Malik Miah, right, organize their own party, a labor party reported to convention on political situation in United States. based on the unions, to fight for a workers government to transform this society." BY HARRY RING across the country. imperialism and the revolutionary gov­ PHILADELPHIA - Nine hundred The YSA also voted to throw its active ernments in Cuba, Nicaragua, and And, he added, just as many" PATCO people attended the national convention support behind Mel Mason, who has an­ Grenada, as well as the insurgent forces workers are drawing basic political con­ of the Young Socialist Alliance, held nounced his campaign for governor of in Guatemala and El Salvador, Hickler clusions from their struggle, so in the here December 31 through January 3. California. Mason, a member of the city said, is at the hea.rt of world politics. days ahead the most exploited of Amer­ It was an unusually successful gath­ council in Seaside, California, is a lead­ Therefore, she explained, at the center ican workers - Black workers, Latinos, ering in all respects. The convention er of the SWP and the Far West regional of the YSA's activities in the United women, and youth - will become jn­ capped a year in which the YSA, for the director of the NBIPP. States must be efforts to mobilize maxi­ creasingly receptive to socialist ideas. · first time in a number of years, has mum opposition to threats and plans for The delegates further decided that the Worst crisis since 1930s grown significantly in size. The organi­ YSA will participate in helping to U.S. military intervention in the area. zation is also more working-class in Similarly, she declared, the YSA This theme was developed by Doug launch a campaign within the labor Jenness, coeditor of the Militant, who composition, and a greater number 'of movement against the firings of union must continue to oppose Washington's Black and Latino youth have been won unceasing efforts to destabilize the gov­ delivered greetings from the SWP Polit­ members in the war industries on the ical Committee. to the movement. basis of their political beliefs and union ernment in Iran. She also called for a big All of these gains were reflected in the step-up in the activity of the YSA aimed Jenness pointed to the ravaging ef­ activities. Several YSA members at the fects of the current recession, which "are confidence with which the young social­ Lockheed aircraft plant near Atlanta, atopposing the U.S. campaign to politi­ ists discussed the challenges facing the cally and economically isolate Vietnam, hitting the working class harder than and at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, any recession since the 1930s." working-class movement in the United have been among those fired. Laos, and Kampuchea. States, and the enthusiasm they dis­ Turning to the imposition of martial "It shows the depth of the crisis the played in charting a course for 1982. The YSA's support for the defense of law in Poland, Hickler declared, "The capitalist system is in. The capitalists The principal business of the conven­ these fired union members, which is be­ YSA condemns these acts." The attempt have no alternative but to drive forward tion was conducted by the 105 elected ing coordinated by the Political Rights to crush Solidarity, she said, is "a blow with their attacks on working people in delegates and alternates. But many of Defense Fund, will be closely connected to the worldwide struggle for socialism." order to maintain their profits. the visitors participated in the wide to the continuing efforts to mobilize sup­ The crackdown in Poland, however, "But the measures they must take are range of workshops and classes held port for the suit filed by the YSA and the will not put an end to the "irrepressible also educating the working class about during the gathering. SWP against the FBI, the Immigration struggle" of the Polish working class this system and the role of the govern­ One focus of the convention was dis­ and Naturalization Service, and other and its allies, she said. The political rev­ ment, and are driving more workers to cussion of the recently established Na­ government political police agencies. olution that has been shaking Poland look for answers. More and more tional Black Independent Political Par­ This suit is now pending in federal court since August 1980 will continue, seek­ workers are beginning to realize that ty (NBIPP). The delegates assessed the in New York. ing new forms as the working class ab­ the problems can't be solved on the level emergence of the NBIPP, with its anti­ Delegates were elected from each sorbs the lessons of its experiences. capitalist and anti-imperialist program, chapter following discussions based on Denouncing the hypocrisy of Reagan's as a development of signal importance documents circulated to the entire mem­ "solidarity" with Polish workers, for Black liberation and the entire bership. The voting at the convention Hickler charged, "The last thing the im­ workers movement. confirmed that all but a small handful of perialists. want to see is workers demo­ delegates were in agreement with the cracy in Poland. They much prefer Industrial working class stands taken by the gathering. 'stable' bureaucratic rule." The convention also decided to press The convention elected a new YSA She also scored the stand of AFL-CIO forward with the YSA's drive to have National Committee, and the committee officials, explaining that their backing the big majority of its members be in­ in turn selected two national officers. for Reagan's foreign policy and partici­ dustrial workers. A major component in Malik Miah was designated national pation in the rulers' "orgy of anticom­ this endeavor will be to expand the chairman. Lisa Hickler was selected na­ munist propaganda" are of no aid to the number ofYSA members working in the tional secretary. Polish workers. garment ·and textile industries. The su­ Hickler and Miah gave two of the perexploited workers in these industries principal reports to the convention. New leadership needed are certain to play a vital role in the Hickler's report focused on internation­ On the domestic front, the convention developing labor fightback against the al developments, while Miah discussed discussion centered on the problem of ruling-class drive to lower living .stan­ the political situation in the United developing new leaderships for the dards, weaken the unions, and further States. struggles that are urgently needed to restrict democratic rights. beat back the rulers' offensive. The reso­ The resolution adopted by the conven­ Revolution in Caribbean lution adopted by the convention ana­ tion explained, "Only an organization Hickler opened her report by focusing lyzed the default of the labor bureau­ that is firmly planted in the working on the advances for the world revolution cracy in the Professional Air Traffic class, and one that has its eyes on the being registered in Central America Controllers Organization (PATCO) young workers; the women, Black, and and the Caribbean. It is in response to strike and other struggles. "'J'heir class­ . Latino workers; can maintain a revolu­ these gains for the workers and peas­ collaborationist perspective;" the reso­ tionary perspective today." ants, she said, that Washington is mov­ lution stated, "makes them opponents of High priority was also given to activ­ ing toward direct military intervention the independent political action needed Left, YSA National Secretary Lisa Hi ity in support of the 1982 election cam­ in the region. to take on the bosses' government and opments. Right, Melvin Chappell, wh• paigns of the Socialist Workers Party The sharpening conflict between U.S. win. They are already looking to the ment.

10 The Militant January 22, 1982 alion registers growth, ~th

of getting a better union contract. They woman's life - the right to choose characterize the leaderships of the AFL­ his city council seat to build opposition realize more is needed, and are looking whether and when to have children." . CIO, NOW, and the etablished civil to the ruling-class attacks. Chappell for explanations that give a broader pic­ Opposition to abortion and reproduc­ rights groups, stands the newly formed said Mason's independent campaign for ture." tive rights in general, she continued, National Black Independent Political governor will be particularly valuable Jenness cited the big change that has "are clearly the cutting edge of the anti­ Party. The significance of this positive in promoting the example of independ­ taken place in the thinking of thousands woman drive." development was a theme that ran ent political action within the Black ofPATCO workers in just a few months. Discussing the activities of the most through the entire convention. communities. "And this is only a taste of the changes vociferous of the anti-abortion forces - It was the centerpiece of the ·report we are going to see as hundreds of thou­ the Catholic Church hierarchy, Moral presented by Melvin Chappell on per­ 1982 elections sands, millions of workers get hit as Majority, and other "misnomered right­ spectives for the Black liberation move­ Participation in the Mason-for-gover­ hard as the air controllers." to-lifers"-Jayko noted that the Demo­ ment. nor campaign, and support to SWP can­ He noted the importance of the YSA crats and Republicans peddle the idea, The development of NBIPP, which didates around the country, was project­ convention's decision to deepen its turn accepted. by some feminists, that this had its first national conference last Au­ ed as a major activity of the YSA in are­ to the working class, especially its deci­ "radical right" is pressuring the govern­ gust, Chappell explained, points the port by Etta Ettlinger. sion to get more members into the gar­ ment to cut back on abortion rightS. way forward for the entire working It will take a huge effort to win ballot ment and textile industries. "If we can't "But the real relationship is the oppo­ class. status for Mason she reported. The YSA win members from this most exploited site," Jayko explained. "The party's break from support to will help achieve this goal. It was pro­ sector of the industrial working class," "It's the open anti-abortion stance of capitalist parties," he said, "sets an ex­ jected that, in addition to Mason cam·· he said, "there can be no socialist revo­ Reagan-and before him Carter-that ample to labor and to the women's move­ paigners in California, fifty activisu: lution in this country." encouraged and emboldened these ment. It helps concretize our slogan for a will be enlisted to spend three weeks ir. Jenness pointed to the importance of groups. And it's the two parties - not labor party by providing an example in California helping to organize the huge Mel Mason's campaign for governor in Jerry Falwell or Phyllis Schlafly-that action of independent working-class po­ petition drive. California and to SWP campaigns in call the shots." -litics. The mere existence of NBIPP A very important election tool, Ettlin­ many states as excellent opportunities The development of a leadership that helps to deepen the debate and discus­ ger said, will be the Militant, which will to reach tens of thousands of workers can effectively mobilize women requires sion in the labor movement over the serve to publicize the campaign nation­ with the broader picture. "Our answer an understanding of the basic issue in­ need to take a similar step to build a ally. to capitalism is socialism," he said. volved, Jayko said. ''The oppression of mass labor party based on the trade Additionally, she said, it is important "And to get socialism, the workers and women," she said, "is a central pillar of uni~ns . The NBIPP is a living example for YSA members to help expand the cir­ their allies must establish a workers capitalism. That's why women's welfare of what a union-based labor party would culation of Perspectiva Mundial, the government. And to get a workers gov­ and women's status is a class question. do: adopt a radical program, reach out to Spanish-language sister publication of arnment, a labor party based on the This is, objectively, a big concern for the other forces with its perspective, and try the Militant. · unions needs to be established." working class, which is the class that to win adherents to the·idea of independ­ This assumes greater importance, she must ultimately solve the question." ent labor political action." noted, as recruitment of Latinos to the Ferment in women's movement Chappell also explained that "the YSA increases. (Of those who have The widening gap between the kind of Friedan's betrayal development of NBIPP reconfirms our joined the YSA in the past nine months, leadership needed to defeat the new at­ As an illustration of the treason being analysis that Blacks will be a major part 13 percent have been Latino.) tacks and the miserable performance of committed by the established leaders of of'the vanguard of the American work­ Presently, she.said, 45 percent of the the official leaders of the established the women's rights movement, Jayko ing class. It shows the Black liberation YSA members are industrial workers, women's rights groups has stimulated analyzed the new book by Betty Frie­ movement as a central, dynamic compo­ and another 4 percent are laid-off new discussions on the road to women's dan, entitled The Second Stage. nent of the battle that must be waged to workers. An additional 13 percent are equality. This was the topic of a report Friedan's 1963 book, Tft,e Feminine overturn capitalism and begin to con­ now seeking jobs in industry. on the fight for women's rights present­ Mystique, had an important and positive struct a socialist society. Of new recruits to the YSA, 18 per­ ed by Margaret Jayko. · impact on women's consciousness, Jay­ "When Blacks are in motion," Chap­ cent are industrial workers. This is a To achieve desperately needed in­ ko said. But the present book amounts pell said, "when they struggle for social gain of 3 percent over the previous peri­ creases in their profit margins, Jayko to a shameful capitulation to the ruling­ and economic equality, it wins gains for od. explained, the capitalists must try to di­ class offensive against women's rights. the entire working class." As an illus­ In addition to winning some 122 new vide, demoralize, and ultimately crush Friedan argues that the women's tration, he pointed to the positive stands members since last April, the organiza­ ;he organized capacity of the working movement is suffering setbacks because taken by NBIPP on the fight for wom­ tion has also been greatly strengthened !lass to resist their offensive. its goals are too radical and women en's rights, including its strong position by the return of more than 100 former "It is under the lash of this offensive," must modify their demands and per­ on affirmative action for women within members who had left the YSA for activ­ she said, "that the oppressed and ex­ spectives. the party itself. ity in the SWP. ploited in every country, including the Friedan goes so far as to advise that Another significant side of the devel­ Ettlinger's report emphasized the United States, are being shaken up. women should not be "unreasonable" in opment of the NBIPP has been its posi­ need for sustained, organized education­ New ideas are being generated, interest their demand for child care and other es­ tive stance toward the advancing revo­ al activity in the YSA. It was agreed in class-struggle alternatives is develop­ sential social services when "our coun­ lutions in the Caribbean. Chappell not­ that the YSA will give special attention ing, along with a willingness to fight try" is in crisis. ed the participation of NBIPP co-chair to studying the writings of V.I. Lenin. back on the basis of our class interests Friedan has fallen to this level, Jayko Ron Daniels in a recent conference in This was as it should be. The high lev­ as against their class interests." pointed out, because she accepts the Havana on the situation of minority el of the political discussion at the con­ A central factor in the oppression of framework of capitalism. "In 1982," she communities in the United States. He vention, combined with the confident women, Jayko continued, is "that most added, "to accept the limits ofcapitalism also noted the fraternal ties that NBIPP revolutionary spirit so apparent at the fundamental of all questions affecting a is to give up the struggle." is forging with the People's Revolution­ gathering ~arked it as a genuinely Len­ The leadership ofthe National Organ­ ary Government of Grenada, the first inist youth organization. ization for Women (NOW), Jayko con­ Black workers and farmers government tinued, falls into this same political trap ever. as Friedan, going so far as to be propo­ Chappell explained that the develop­ Lenin, Cuba books nents of drafting women to fight in the ment of NBIPP should be viewed as part imperialist wars Reagan is preparing. of the international struggle against are best seUers The YSA, Jayko concluded, needs to capitalism and imperialism. participate in every meaningful activity "In this current period, when the lib­ The high level of political inter­ carried out in behalf of women's rights, erals are collapsing under the pressure est at the YSA convention was re­ doing everything it can to advance the of the Reagan anti-working-class offen­ flected in the record sales of social­ kind of fightback actions needed. A cru­ sive, it is the YSA and SWP, the NBIPP, ist literature offered by Pathfinder cial part of this perspective, she and revolutionary Grenada, Nicaragua, Press at the convention. stressed, is explaining to the member­ and Cuba that are standing up and A total of more than $8,000 ship of NOW and other women's rights pointing the way to fight back." worth of books and pamphlets groups the kind of fight that is needed to The main job of the YSA is to help ex­ were sold. The tally at the pre­ achieve their objectives. "There is simp­ plain and publicize NBIPP's ideas and vious year's convention, then a re­ ly no way around thinking and talking activities, and collaborate with it in cord, ha.d been $5,500. in the women's movement today," she united actions. Black YSAers are active The biggest single block of liter­ said. "We have to present a perspective as members of the new party, encourag­ ature sold was the various writ­ of stuggle that points toward political ing all who agree with its perspectives ings of V.I. Lenin. Twelve sets of action independent of ~he capitalist par­ to join up. Lenin's Collected Works were sold ties. Discussing the role of Black elected at $100 a set. "We have to talk socialism. Friedan officials who are tied to the Democratic Runnerup was material on the and the other misleaders are talking and Republican parties, Chappell said, Cuban revolution. There were 166 capitalism. We must talk socialism." "Black Democrats and Republicans, re­ copies sold of Pathfinder's newly gardless of their intentions, can only ad­ published Women and the Cuban Independent Black party minister the capitalist apparatus for the Revolution, a compilation of Cu­ lder reported on international devel­ In sharp contrast to the policy of re­ needs of the ruling rich." banmaterial with an introductory :ave report on Black Hberation move- treat and the orientation toward deeper An excellent contrast , he said, is how essay by Elizabeth Stone. ties with the Democratic Party .that Mel Mason, a Black socialist, utilizes

January 22, 1982 The Militant 11 Revolutionary greetings to YSA convention from U.S. and abroad Rev. Ben Chavis, a national leader of the National Black Independent Political Party, sent greetings expressing the need to find alternatives to American monopoly cap­ italism. Antonio Maceo Brigade gle of progressive mankind for peace, your contributions to the anti-imperial­ cieties on a socialist basis." From Andres Gomez, member of justice, equality, international solidar­ ist struggle. We express our firmest soli­ He told the convention that in 1981 the Executive Committee of the An­ ity, and the bright future-of the young darity with you and look forward to our the Kampuchean people registered tonio Maceo Brigade, an organiza­ generations. continued relations. May your conven­ progress in rebuilding their country af­ tion of young Cubans in the United We believe that with traditions and tion be a success. Greetings. Forward ter the horrifying devastation brought States that supports the Cuban revo­ members' active participation, the ever, backward never. on, first by the U.S. military, and then lution. Young Socialist Alliance will record by the barbaric Pol Pot regime whose many new achievements in activities for PHILADELPHIA - Among those right-wing guerrilla forces still enjoy The Antonio Maceo Brigade salutes who gave greetings to the Young Social­ the Young Socialist Alliance and its lofty objectives. Washington's support. ist Alliance convention was Dennis Bru­ Following Chan's remarks, the con­ Twenty-first National Convention. We Being fighters struggling constantly tus, exiled South African poet and anti­ are confident that at the present critical for national liberation independence, vention sent a telegram to Reagan de­ apartheid activist, now threatened with manding a halt to the support of the Pol time for the peoples of the Caribbean the Vietnamese people and youth are deportation from this country. ·and Central America in their heroic deeply aware of the value of peace and Pot forces, recognition of the Vietnam­ Brutus thanked the members of the ese and Kampuchean governments, and struggle to establish more just societies friendship among nations and resolute­ YSA for the support they have given and resist U.S. military intervention, ly fight for peace and the developing of the sending of massive food and econom­ him in his fight against deportation. ic aid to these countries. the YSA will continue f.o work for the friendship with nations the world over. The attack against him, he pointed out, solidarity movement in the United Greetings were also presented by Ri­ In the current situation we believe "is part of a broader pattern." Such at­ chard Rozanski, a member of the nation­ States to achieve the unity and strength that action for maintaining peace tacks by the U.S. government he said, which are so necessary. · al committee of Revolution Youth, the against the arms race and new war stem from its increased collaboration recently established revolutionary so­ threat should be world youth's noble ob­ with the racist South African regime . cialist youth organiiation in Britain Casa Nicaragua ligation and responsibility. He urged that his fight be seen in the and Neusa Rodriguez of the Puerto Ri­ Casa Nicaragua sends revolutionary Dear friends, on this occasion we ex­ context of this larger struggle. can Internationalist Workers League. and fraternal greetings to this young so­ press deep gratitude to the Young So­ The convention voted unanimously to Numerous written messages were al­ cialist convention, and at the same time cialist [Alliance and] American peace­ send a telegram to the Immigration Ser­ so received from individuals and organi­ wishes you success. in all your future loving youth and people for the precious vice demanding that the deportation zations here and abroad. In addition to events. support to our struggle for national de­ proceedings against Brutus be halted those published on this page, there were As Nicaragua won, El Salvador will fense and reconstruction. and that his application for permanent greetings from the United Secretariat of win. residence status be granted. May friendship and solidarity be­ the Fourth International; ·the Belgian Free homeland or death! There were w.eetings from Chan Bun Socialist Youth Guard; Resistance, a tween our two youth organizations be Han, a Kampuchean, who is a supporter ever consolidated. revolutionary socialist youth organiza­ of the New York based Committee in tion in Australia; the New Zealand Rev. Ben Chavis We wish all congress participants a Solidarity with Vietnam, Kampuchea From Reverend Ben Chavis, na­ Young Socialists; and the· Communist happy new year. and Laos. tional corepresentative of the Na­ League of India. Also greetings were re­ Chan thanked the YSA for its "con­ tional Black Independent Political ceived from Mario Dones, president of sistent support" to the liberation strug­ Party. Grenada Youth the Puerto Rican union, UTIER - gles of the people of Indochina. I wish to exercise this opportunity to The New Jewel Movement National Union of Electrical and Irrigation send warm greetings to the national Youth Organization salutes the twenty­ He also assailed the current U.S. Workers and Marcos Virgilio Carias, convention of the Young Socialist Al­ first annual national convention of the threats against Cuba, Nicaragua, and president of the Socialist Party of Hon­ liance. Young Socialist Al-liance. We salute Grenada "for trying to rebuild their so- duras. At a time in America when the poor and oppressed are facing increased suf­ fering as a result of Reaganomics and the increased militarization of Amer­ Gathering seen as serious, internationalist ican society, this conference is very im­ BY NELSON GONZALEZ of the solidarity movement in Philadel­ seemed to be bumping heads with portant. PHILADELPHIA - Among the 900 phia. management when he was a training I think that we need to find alterna­ people who attended the recent na­ "The discussion about the defense of officer for air traffic. controllers. tive institutions, alternative systems, tional convention of the Young Social­ revolutionary Cuba, Nicaragua, Gre­ "I wanted to teach them what they and certainly an alternative ideology to ist Alliance here, there were over 200 nada, and El Salvador was extremely needed to know, but the Federal Avia­ American monopoly capitalism. There­ who were attending such an event for impressive;" Leonel pointed out, "and tion Administration wanted me to cut fore, the Young Socialist Alliance the first time. also the large number of people who comers and do it their way." This stands in the tradition of progressive "I found an organization that agrees came here and who are obviously defense of trainees and other workers forces seeking alternative ways of mo­ with the way I feel - that represents working so hard to change the face of . eventually led to Sheehan being bilizing the grass roots to achieve self­ me," said Karen Stockbert, a twenty­ American politics. I've been to many elected president of his local. determination, to achieve political and year-old member of American Postal meetings, but this convention is very When he was asked about what he economic liberation from the predomi­ Workers Union Local125 in Minneapo­ different." thought about socialists before the nance of the ruling class. lis and a new YSA member. "I found Sebastian interrupted to say, "Yes, PATCO strike, he replied, "Only what Speaking on behalf of the National out when I joined that everybody is it's different. At this convention we get I read in the papers, but I didn't Black Independent Political Party, ·We trying to learn and teach at the same the feeling that the serious, hard­ believe 90 percent of that, anyway. It believe that Black people should espe­ time," she said, "and it was also nice working people here are the begin­ was the PATCO strike that really cially organize around the common in­ to see that other chapters were as nings of a strong revolutionary na­ opened my eyes about the manipula­ terest of stopping the injustice, stopping active as my chapter, too." tional movement that we count on to tive role of the media and how com­ pletely controlled it is. the repression, stopping the suffering Asked to give her impression of the support our revolution. "But it wasn't until the socialists and the hunger and the poverty. When convention, Karen pointed out, "The "You must keep this up, because organized a Militant Forum at which I Black people take that kind of initia­ convention reinforces my belief in the while we are learning from you, we tive, it helps all other people who are know that the young workers in the spoke - and the support work and totally democratic process of the YSA enthusiasm shown by these people - poor and oppressed. and the internationalist side of the United State!i are learning from our revolution how to make their own." that it started to change for me. It was And therefore, I send this message of YSA. It's a very serious organization." like night and day." solidarity and hope that you have a suc­ Gabino Quele, a young Guatemalan One of those young American work­ When he was asked about his im­ cessful convention. from Dallas, was so impressed that he ers attending the YSA convention was pressions of the YSA convention, he felt that he learned five years' worth of Chuck Sheehan, president of P ATCO pointed out, "The rally that took place Vietnam Youth a university education in the three Local 593 in Los Angeles and P ATCO last night was fantastic. You can't From the Vietnam Youth Federa­ days he had attended the conference. labor coordinator in the Los Angeles­ help getting caught up in the emotions. tion Central Committee. He was so grateful that he promised to Orange County area. I'm learning more and more about the On behalf of the Vietnamese youth, add those five years and twenty more He pointed out to the Militant that socialists." we convey our warmest greetings to toward fruitful collaboration with the he gave up voting for Democrats and Chuck made it clear that he plans to your congress, YSA here in the United States. Republicans a long time ago because stay in close contact with the YSA in We wish the Young Socialist Alliance Also impressed with the seriousness he figured the elections were rigged, Los Angeles, and looks forward to success in making new developments of the YSA were two young Nicara­ anyway. But, while he never got in­ more collaboration in defense of the and contributing actively to the strug- guans, Leonel and Sebastian, leaders volved in electoral politics, he always PATCO workers.

12 The Militant January 22, 1982 Convention rally: 'All revolutions depend on the youth'

a national Black independ~nt political Locomotive Engineers. He was a dele­ party. We said the answer is to unite gate to the YSA convention from the with people throughout the world, of YSA's Manhattan chapter. all colors, who are struggling against Pontolillo told the rally about some the capitalist order." of the YSA's activities and announced Arnwine went over eight points of a $10,000 fund drive to help continue the program of the NBIPP, a party she the publication of the Young Socialist described as the "soul of the Black and YSA participation in international community coming forth. gatherings. The YSA recently partici­ "We're against the threats to Gre­ pated in revolutionary youth meetings nada. We're organizing a contingent of in Grenada and Britain. 100 people to go to Grenada in June." The fund appeal to the mostly young The rally broke out in shouts of audience met a terrific response. There · "Forward ever, backward never! For­ was only one large contribution of ward ever, backward never!" The slo­ $1,000, but all together over $16,000 in gan of the revolutionary government contributions and pledges was raised, on the small Caribbean island rocked far exceeding the projections. the large room. An injury to one Socialist city councilman Four other speakers at the rally were NBIPP leader Barbara Arnwine was victims of police, government, and followed by Socialist Workers Party employer persecution. Militant photos by Charles Ostrofsky Left, Victor Rubio, representative of the Revolutionary Democratic Front leader Mel Mason. W adyia Jamal read a letter from her and the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador. Right, Mel Mason is the only revolutionary husband, Mumia Abu-Jamal, a promi­ Barbara Arnwine, National Black Independent Political Party. socialist elected official in the United nent Black journalist in Philadelphia. States. He is a member of the city He is being held without bail, charged council in Seaside, California, a city of with attempted murder of a cop. The BY STU SINGER standing chants of"PATCO! PATCO!" 36,000 people. When he was intro­ letter described the physical punish­ PHILADELPHIA ~ "It was the best Then Newark PATCO President duced, it was announced that Mel ment he has been undergoing while in rally I ever attended." Greg Pardlo spoke: Mason is running as an independent the hands of Philadelphia's notorious "The speakers represented forces I "On August 3 [the day 11,500 strik­ candidate for governor of California, cops and hospitalized for a bullet expect to come together to make the ing controllers were fired] Ronald Rea­ in the election next November. wound from the cop he supposedly American revolution." l{an showed me the light." Mel Mason's talk was something tried to kill. These were reactions to the rally The young, Black union leader ex­ new. Few in the audience had ever The entire body approved a telegram "The Fight Against Reaganism at plained that he had grown up in Phila­ heard or considered the question of a to the Philadelphia district attorney Home and Abroad." It was held at the delphia. In 1968 he was involved in a revolutionary socialist elected to public demanding Jamal's release and the Philadelphia Centre Hotel on the last march on the board of education and office in capitalist America. dropping of all charges. night of the twenty-first convention of helped set up the first officially recog­ What does Mel Mason do? Jody Curran, a YSA member from the Young Socialist Alliance. nized Black Student Union. He explained it. St. Louis, spoke about the witch-hunt National Black Independent Politi­ "I've been asked why so many Recognized as a leader and fighter in and firings that have already taken cal Party leader Barbara Arnwine told PATCO speakers have been at social­ the Seaside Black community where he place at McDonnell Douglas where she the crowd, "I like you guys, you're fired ist rallies when we had been, up to had grown up, Mel Mason ran for city works. Two other YSA members there up." August 3, the classic middle-American council in 1980 on a shoe-string budget have been fired, and the company and There was no question about it. group, supporters of President Reagan. of $499.61. His campaign faced red­ military intelligence are investigating Jumping to their feet, yelling, chant­ "Well, as so eloquently stated in the baiting, death threats, and intimida­ her and others. Her union, Interna­ ing, clapping; the rally kept building in popular recording, 'Mandate my ass.'" tion. But he was elected. tional Association of Machinists Lodge excitement. Pardlo said that in some ways he is He campaigned on the ideas put 837B, is defending the fired aircraft "All revolutions depend on the better off now than before August 3. forward by the SWP: that jobs, hous­ workers. youth," Socialist Workers Party leader "Then I was a government employee, a ing, and medical care should be the Black Philadelphia poet and Temple Mel Mason said. second class citizen, prohibited from rights of workers; that Blacks and University professor Sonia Sanchez Rally chairperson DeAnn Rathbun getting involved in politics. Now I'm other working people should take their spoke, describing the intimidation by of the YSA pointed out, "The battle is free. destiny into their own hands. the FBI who invaded her home on the between the working class worldwide "And right now I don't give a damn Mason ended his talk by urging pretext of questioning her about the and all those who wish to exploit us for who hears me. I'm here and I'll stay.'' young people to join the YSA. Brink's robbery. She also read some of personal fortune. That is the fight The crowd was on its feet. "PATCO! "The YSA has a history of struggle. her powerful poems. against Reaganism at home and PATCO! PATCO!" If you're young and you want to fight Anita Morales, a leader of the com­ abroad." racism, join the YSA. If you want to mittee against the tuition hike at the Forward ever, backward never fight high unemployment among University of Puerto Rico, spoke. The Salvador will win From PATCO to the National Black young people, join the YSA. If you committee is leading the strike that "No Draft, No War! Salvador Independent Political Party. NBIPP want to fight for women's rights, really has shut down the university in oppo­ Venceni! . National Representative Barbara Am­ fight, not struggling beside Lady Bird sition to the attempt to triple tuition The 1,000 young socialists and wine addressed her "brothers, sisters, Johnson and Betty Ford, for the ERA, fees. She was met with chants of friends chanted after Victor Rubio and comrades in struggle" join the YSA.'' "Independencia para Puerto Rico!" spoke. Rubio was the official represen­ She explained the enemy is not just Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh was introduced tative of the Revolutionary Democratic Reagan the cowboy actor, but both the YSA union president from the floor, and the facts of her case Front (FDR) and the Farabundo Marti Democratic and Republican parties. The next speaker was someone who to avoid deportation from the U.S. National Liberation Front (FMLN) of "Right now, throughout the world, had taken Mel Mason's advice several explained. She is an Iranian who is a El Salvador. He denounced the escalat­ there is a growing crisis in capitalism. months earlier. Twenty-seven-year-old college student in Baltimore and has ing war measures against El Salvador And that we say godspeed to. Tom Pontolillo is an engineer on the been threatened with deportation since and the war threats against Grenada, "In November 1980, we gathered Conrail system. He is the chairman of she joined the YSA. Nicaragua, and Cuba. "The people of together and said we're going to found Division 501 of the Brotherhood of the land of Farabundo Marti [the Sal­ 'We are the real socialists' vadoran revolutionary leader killed in YSA leader DeAnn Rathbun, who 1932] are fighting to establish a new chaired the rally, is a member of the order to overthrow a historically sur­ United Mine Workers of America Local passed class." 1190 in Ellsworth, Pennsylvania. She Rubio, referring to the victorious announced that she is one of the SWP revolutions in Cuba, Grenada, and candidates for public office in Pennsyl­ Nicaragua, said, "These are countries vania in 1982. She introduced some of where the working people truly have the other state candidates. political power and are determining Among the banners behind the their own destinies." speakers was one calling for support to The talk by the FDR and FMLN Solidarity, the Polish workers union. representative conveyed optimism. The Rathbun was in Poland last spring. U.S. is training 1,600 officers of the She denounced the imposition of mar­ army of the dictatorship and supplying tial law by the Polish government. She increasing arms. But he pointed to the condemned the slander campaign be­ solidarity between revolutionary fight­ ing pushed by both Reagan and the ers in Central America and the an­ Polish and Soviet bureaucrats to label tiwar American youth, like those at the the Polish workers as procapitalist. YSA convention, to show the imperial­ "Again and again I heard from ists do not have a free hand. Polish workers, 'The most anti­ socialist elements in our country are PATCO the government officials themselves. The head of· the Professional Air Left, Anita Morales, University of Puerto Rico Committee Against the Tui­ They have mansions and fancy cars Traffic Controllers Organization tion Hikes. Right, Gregory Pardlo, head of P ATCO in northern New Jersey: while we stand in line for bread. But (PATCO) in Los Angeles, Chuck Shee­ 'Reagan showed me the light August 3. . . . I don't give a damn who hears the factories and the mines belong to han, was introduced from the floor to me. I'm here and I'll stay.' Continued on next page

January 22, 1982 The Militant 13 Supreme Court to rule on Ohio disclosure law BY LARRY SEIGLE many states. Only one federal court, in The United States Supreme Court has Oregon, has ruled against the SWP. decided to review a lower-court ruling The Communist Party recently won a that an Ohio law requiring disclosure of parallel victory from a federal judge in contributors to candidates for public of­ New York. fice cannot be applied to the Socialist The SWP has also won an exemption Workers Party. This will be the first Su­ from the disclosure requirements of the preme Court opinion on the issue of federal election law until 1984. Under whether the disclosure requirements terms of a consent decree reached with can be applied to the SWP. the Federal Election Commission, the The outcome of the case will be criti­ SWP will apply for a further exemption cal, not only for the SWP, but also for in that year. other organizations, such as the Com­ Now, however, the Supreme Court munist Party and the National Black will decide whether it thinks the evi­ Independent Political Party, who are in dence of ongoing harassment submitted the same boat. to the judges in Ohio is sufficient to jus­ A string of lower courts has held that tify their unanimous finding in favor of because of government and employer ha­ theSWP. rassment and disruption directed at the After reviewing the facts, the judges SWP, the party can't be forced to turn ruled that "FBI documents admitted in­ over lists of financial contributors. To do to evidence establish both governmental so, the courts have ruled, would violate and private hostility toward and harass­ the First Amendment guarantee of free­ ment·ofSWP members and supporters." MilitanUDoug ··· dom of association. Therefore, they found, forcing the party Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party 1980 candidate for president, on In the most recent decision of this to disclose names of contributors would campaign trail. Disclosure laws are aimed at forclng SWP to turn over names kind, a federal court in Chicago ruled be unconstitutional. of contributors to such campaigns. November 30 that the SWP cannot be In urging the Supreme Court to over­ compelled to comply with an Illinois dis­ turn the ruling and order the SWP to closure law. The judge based his ruling turn over the contributors lists, the on the principle that "the right to freely Ohio secretary of state claims that the Jury orders $711,000 paid to associate with the political party of evidence of government spying and dis­ one's choosing and participate in the ruption is "very stale" and that the SWP electoral process, without fear of intimi­ was able to prove only "a very few isolat­ D.C. victitns of 'Cointelpro' dation or harassment, is a particularly ed instances of harassment directed to­ important safeguard in a democratic ward the party and its members" in Ohio. A federal jury in Washington, D.C. turning a verdict of substantial damages system." The American Civil Liberties Union has found FBI and local police officials for the victims, the jury found that - Similar rulings have been issued by Attorney Thomas Buckley is represent­ liable for violations of constitutional contrary to the position of the govern­ federal courts and state agencies in ing the SWP in the case. rights of antiwar and Black rights acti­ ment - constitutional rights are worth vists to the tune of nearly three-quar­ something. ters of a million dollars. The decision by the all-Black jury is Judge says cops n1ust answer The jury decided December 23 that the most important of its kind to date. fourteen G-men and city cops have to Several similar suits have been settled pay $711,937.50. The sum will be di­ out of court as a result of lawyers' argu­ questions on Red Squad deal vided among seven individual activists ments that such cases can't be won at and the Washington Peace Center. trial. BY JIM MACK The main "victory" claimed by the The jury found that the FBI and the In the Washington, D.C. case, how­ A federal judge inNew York has ruled New York Civil Liberties Union and city's "Red Squad" had conspired to vio­ ever, attorneys Anne Pilsbury, J.E. that objectors to the proposed settle­ other promoters of the settlement is the late the civil rights of the plaintiffs McNeil, and Daniel Schember brought ment of a ten-year-old lawsuit against establishment of a three-member board through FBI disruption operations, the case to trial despite many obstacles the New York City "Red Squad" have to supervise police "intelligence" activi­ known as COINTELPRO and city police thrown in their way by the government. the right to question the police about the ties, consisting of two top cops and a use of provocateurs. The individual plaintiffs who were meaning of the vague and ambiguous third civilian member to be chosen by The defendants were found liable for awarded damages are: Tina Hobson, terms of the deal. the mayor "upon consultation with the violating constitutional rights. By re- widow of former D.C. city council United States District Court Judge Police Commissioner." member and Black activist Julius Hob­ Charles Haight ordered the police to an­ The stench of this deal was so great, son; Rev. David Eaton, pastor of the All swer written questions submitted by the however, that a movement began to Soul's Unitarian Church; Sammie Ab­ objectors. The Socialist Workers Party force the judge to reject its terms as un­ bott; Arthur Waskow; Abraham Bloom; and Young Socialist Alliance, which fair to the victims of cop spying. Under Richard Pollock; and Reginald Booker, a have formally entered an objection to the rules governing class-action suits, co-founder of a Washington group the settlement deal, have submitted any settlement has to be approved by known as the Black United Front. fifty questions for the police to answer. the judge as reasonable and fair to all The defendants were accused of incit­ Other objectors have also submitted in­ concerned. ing disagreements and dissension be­ terrogatories. tween antiwar and Black rights organi­ Under the terms of the court order the In the forefront of the fight against zations·to prevent them from uniting in police have until January 22 to provide the proposed settlement have been a action and of directing undercover the written responses. number of Black activists, including agents to provoke violence at demon­ The settlement was cooked up be­ former members of the Black Panther strations against the war in Washing­ tween Mayor Koch's administration and Party who were special targets of the ton. some liberal lawyers, led by the New Red Squad. The Justice Department contended York Civil Liberties Union, as a way to Pointing out that the "guarantees" that the statute of limitations had ex­ end the suit. Under its terms, the cops contained in the settlement are so vague pired before the suit was filed. This ar­ would not be held liable for any of the that the cops can continue doing what gument, which the jury rejected, is ex­ criminal violations they have commit­ they have been doing all along, the ob­ pected to be the government's main ted against the rights of New Yorkers. jectors argued that at least the cops issue in its appeal. They would be authorized to spy on pol­ should be forced to say on the record The government has elevated the sta­ itical groups and activists whenever what the language in the deal means. tute of limitations to one of its major de­ they had "good cause" - a term no­ The city's attorneys and the liberal fenses in other similar cases, including, where defined. lawyers who cooked up the deal argued most notably, the historic Socialist Moreover, victims of past illegal spy­ this was improper and a waste of time, Workers Party suit against the FBI, ing and harassment by the cops would but Judge Haight overruled them. "I which is now awaiting a decision from a lose their right to sue for damages, even agree with objectors that certain provi­ Julius Hobson, victim of police and federal judge in New York. though they were not involved in the sions require clarification," he ruled. FBI conspiracy. lawsuit, and even if they objected to the terms of the settlement. Turn to 'Revolutions depend on the youth' Radio Havana Political Rights Continued from Page 13 tion which recently held its own con­ Radio Havana has begun English-lan­ Defense Fund us and we shall become the masters of vention. guage broadcasts on 1160 on the AM The Political Rights Defense our factories.' " "I come from a country where the dial. Any good AM receiver can pick it Fund is organizing support and Also speaking were Lisa Baird from present government has been blazing up in the eastern part of the United raising funds for the Socialist the Philadelphia Women's Reproduc­ the trail for Reagan. States. Programming begins shortly af­ Workers Party's lawsuit against tive Rights Campaign and Richard "In Britain today the working class ter midnight and continues through the government spying and Rozanski from Revolution Youth, the and the oppressed are fighting back. predawn hours. YSA's sister organization in Britain. "The number one task for revolution­ Recent features have included a re­ disruption. To get more Baird described the moves to restrict aries in Britain is to stand in solidarity port on the progress being made by the information about the lawsuit and abortion rights in Pennsylvania. with the Irish people to kick the British workers and peasants of Guatemala in to send your contribution, write: "We're going to struggle for our rights troops out of Ireland.'' their struggle against the U.S.-support­ Political Rights Defense · Fund, along with other oppressed people, and Rozanski also reported on the Black ed military dictatorship. Radio Havana P.O. Box 049, New · York, New I think we'll win.'' and youth rebellions in British cities also has a mailbag program with listen­ York 10003. Rozanski brought greetings from the last summer and the massive move­ ers' letters broadcast. The address is British revolutionary youth organiza- ment against nuclear missiles. ·P.O. Box 7026, Havana, Cuba.

14 The Militant January 22,.1982 'Yellow rain': facts on the frame-up Behind the U.S. claim that Vietnam wages chemical war

Evidence then began to emerge from after it was pointed out in Science maga­ scientists who actually know something zine that two halves of one leaf and stem about mycotoxins. sample contained widely different doses According to the September 17 issue of toxin. of Britain's New Scientist magazine, Ju­ Dr. Meselson disputed the State De­ lian Perry Robinson, who authored a partment contention that mycotoxins text on chemical warfare, "says they are are common only to colder climates. 'rather weak' poisons [that] need a day Natural occurrences, he said, have been or so to take effect. . . _, .. reported in Brazil, India, and Japan­ "Mycotoxins would be the worst in doses far larger than those claimed by agents to choose," added scientist Tony the State Department. ''There are very Rose of Bath University, because they serious questions about the adequacy of have to be eaten regularly for days or the evidence,"' Meselson concluded. weeks to have any effect. The verdict from Julian Robinson was As to whether mycotoxins "do not oc­ the same: "You can't conclude any­ cur naturally in Southeast Asia," a thing." third expert interviewed by New Scient­ To cap things off, on November 23 the ist, John Smith of Strathclyde Univer­ UN team reported back from Thailand, sity, said, "I would be surprised if that where it had interviewed refugees and statement were actually true." Fusari­ doctors in three camps along the Kam­ um fungi (from which mycotoxins are puchean border. It found no symptoms Jeremy Ross derived) occur throughout the world, he among the refugees, and the doctors Left, member of Hmong tribe in Laos growing opium poppies. Hmong, who "stated they did not come across cases were organized into secret army by CIA, are a major source for poison gas al­ stated. They are "one of the most common which could be attributed to chemical legations. Right, Sterling Seagrave. State Department called his book, Yel­ fungi on the planet," Dr. Matthew Me­ warfare agents." low Rain, 'instrumental' to its campaign. selson, Harvard biologist and chemical warfare expert, told the Portland Ore­ Militarization policy BY STEVE BRIDE the major component ofthe Laotian gov­ gonian. Washington hopes to gain four things by these charges: After months of trying, the Reagan ernment. Consequently, most scientists who • Further its policy of politically and administration has convinced almost no While running the CIA's secret army, were asked shared the view of James economically isolating Vietnam, and one that the Vietnamese are dropping V ang Pao also ran a heroin processing Bamberg, the Colorado State University militarily harassing it via the Khmer poison gas on the rest of Indochina. plant at Long Tieng, headquarters for biologist who first identified the fusari­ Rouge, Hmong, and other proxies. This is not surprising, in that Wash­ CIA operations in northern Laos. um fungus: Washington's case was ington has never had much evidence for Today, V ang Pao exercises command "pretty shaky." • Distract attention from its plans to this supposed mass murder, and what of the Hmong forces from his exile in the Undeterred, the State Department deploy missiles in Western Europe, and evidence it does have is not very persua­ United States. said it was turning its leaf antl stem silence somewhat the massive move­ sive. Seagrave is obviously aware of all over to the United Nations, which was ment that has developed in opposition to The charge got its initial boost from this, but if it occurred to him that it planning to dispatch a team to South­ those plans. Hence, the timing and loca­ the publication, in August 1981, of the might have something to do with the east Asia to investigate Haig's charges. tion of Haig's September 13 speech. book Yellow Rain. This was advertised anti-Vietnamese tales emanating from • Provide a rationale for not nego­ as a work of nonfiction in which the au­ Laos, he doesn't say so. Dubious evidence-II tiating arms limitation with the Soviet thor, Sterling Seagrave, offers evidence He maintains a similar silence when, On November 10, the State Depart­ Union. As the Wall Street Journal put it thatVietnam is waging chemical war. halfway through the book, he does ment said it had come up with three on November 6, "Once we recognize that another twenty pages of "research." more samples. "We now·have the smok­ the Soviets are poisoning the Hmong Mercenaries and medics This consists of traveling to Afghanis­ ing gun," declared Richard Burt, direc­ and Afghan rebels with toxins in callous Stripped of his own lurid prose, Sea­ tan and interviewing more heroin traf­ tor of the department's Bureau of Politi­ violation of international laws, it fol­ grave's story is this: fickers: that country's armed rebels. co-Military Affairs. lows as night after day that we have no In October 1978, in Washington, D.C., Seagrave notes their reports of being Burt reiterated that the fusarium fun­ business thinking we can conclude he is introduced by an intelligence offic­ gassed are identical to the Hmong's. He gus was not indigenous to Southeast meaningful arms control treaties with er to a man named Jack Schramm, who also notes the place is crawling with Asia, and that victims died "within an them." had been wandering about Laos in the CIA agents, but does not connect the two hour" of being gassed. · • Justify its own buildup of chemical company of armed Hmong tribespeople, facts. Of the three samples, one came from weapons. In May, the Senate approved opponents of the Laotian regime. In his He finds no symptoms and no physical the Khmer Rouge and two from Laos. At $20 million to equip a nerve gas facility travels, Schramm met four French mer­ traces. least one of the latter traveled a rather at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. In October, it cenaries. The mercenaries (who, it is The last 130 pages of the book are de­ curious route: from the Hmong to a "re­ was revealed Washington plans to later learned, were in all likelihood traf­ voted to more history and his own specu­ porter" for Soldier of Fortune, a maga­ spend $8 billion over five years to ex­ ficking heroin out of Laos) told him the lation on what "yellow rain" might be. zine for mercenaries; to an unidentified pand its chemical arsenal. Vietnamese· had gassed a nearby What sort of poison, he wonders, produc­ third party; to James Leach, a Republi­ Hmong village. es the reported symptoms, causes "death can congressman from Iowa; to the State Taken together, these add up to the A year later, the State Department in minutes," yet leaves no physical Department; to the lab of the scientist Reagan administration's policy of sends an army medical team to Thai­ trace? He decides it is mycotoxins - who testified for the department. deepening the militarization of Amer­ land to investigate. Seagrave follows fungal poisons - produced by the fusa­ This was a bit much for the New York ican society and preparing· it for war. them. Hmong refugees tell the army rium fungus. Times. "What company is the depart­ It is a matter of record that the last medics stories about "yellow rain" fall­ It is at this point that Seagrave'.s fic­ ment keeping?" it editorialized on No­ time chemical weapons are known with ing from the sky, but display no symp­ tion becomes the State Department's. vember 17. "With what certainty can it certainty to have been deployed was toms of having been gassed. The medics assure the public that itS samples are during the Vietnam War by Washing­ are given samples of tree bark covered Dubious evidence - I genuine?" ton. It is now certain that Washington with a yellow substance. This turns out On September 13, in a speech in Ber­ There was indeed some suspicion that plans to deploy them again. Such is the to be .soap. The army medics and Sea­ lin, Secretary of State Alexander Haig the samples may have been spiked en real danger that hides behind the "yel­ grave nevertheless conclude the poison announced Washington had "physical route to Washington. This doubt grew low rain." gas reports are true. evidence" that the "Soviet Union and its This is Seagrave's evidence. It takes allies have been using lethal chemical · up twenty-five of the first thirty-six Kampuchea, and . pages of the book. The next 100 pages ~;;::~st!~."Laos, Black GI _lynched in Georgia are turned over to a history of chemical Next day, the State Department held warfare. a news conference and unveiled its evi­ BY MACEO DIXON and his family is still free." Understandably, the army team's dence: a single leaf and stem from Kam­ ATLANTA- On December 8, Lynn Walton County has a history of race conclusions met with skepticism. This puchea. A panel of "defense, intelli­ McKinley Jackson was found dead, violence against Blacks. Walton is troubles Seagrave. Why, he asks, would gence and medical experts," who hanging near Social Circle, Georgia. forty miles east of Atlanta. The county people not believe "simple, straightfor­ wouldn't give their names, said it was Jackson, a twenty-three-year-old is generally known for being the last ward details offered up by earnest hill loaded with mycotoxins. Black, was on leave from the Army. place in the United States to have an people"? He relates one story from a The department's statement con­ Last August, he mysteriously disap­ open, public rally during a lynching. Hmong tribesman: tended these mycotoxins "do not occur peared from downtown Monroe, Geor­ This was in 1946. Four Blacks, includ­ "I was up on a hillside across a stream naturally in Southeast Asia." It de­ gia. ing a GI, were lynched that year. from the village, tending my pop­ scribed the "rapid onset" of symptoms It wasn't until December that his In 1974, a Black woman was repeat­ pies . .."· and death from the poison. A depart­ body was found, badly decomposed. edly run over by a white man. He ment ·spokesman said Seagrave's re­ Walton County Coroner Joyce Curry wasn't apprehended until a few days Heroin and the CIA search had been "instrumental" in mak­ Rowe has ruled the young Black man ago. ing their case. Their case began to fall committed suicide. .._ Laos is one corner of what is called the Civil rights groups are also being "Golden Triangle." It is called this be­ Jackson's body was found hanging apart the next day. asked to intervene in this lynching. cause it is a center of the opium and he­ First it was learned that the sample eighteen feet off the ground. Jackson's sister has sent a telegram to roin trade. The Hmong have been in­ had been provided by right-wing Khmer Relatives are pushing for an investi­ Tyrone Brooks of Atlanta, a leader of volved in this trade for decades. Rouge guerrillas. These are the people gation into the death. They don't be­ the Southern Christian Leadership The Hmong are also involved in a CIA who exterminated an estimated 3 mil­ lieve it was a suicide, but an outright Conference (SCLC) and a Georgia operation that dates back to the Viet­ lion Kampucheans in the four years lynching. According to Jackson's sis­ state legislator. nam War. They formed the ranks of a they ruled that country, and are now ter, Mrs. Mae Strong of Somerset, New mercenary army recruited and trained supported in exile by the U.S. govern­ Jersey, the local investigators are cal­ The telegram read, in part, "My by the CIA, and led by General V ang ment. Even the Wall Street Journal had ling it a suicide as a way "to wipe the family calls upon you to take imme­ Pao. This army \'ought the Pathet Lao, to admit their "credibility is close to slate clean while the person who d~d diate steps to determine the cause of Vietnam's ally during the war and now zero." this dreadful and mean deed to him his death. "

January 22, 1982 The Militant 15 --THEGREATSOC~TY------Progress report for the first time since it was school lunch. Diet plan? - The sheriff in Macy's is offering four-pound "SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 5 originally imposed by Ameri­ Lawrence, Kansas, says that tins of caviar, regularly $960, can occupation forces 36 years with increased crime and for a mere $768. $2 on Atomic Cloud - ago at the end of World War II. stiffer sentences, prisoners are Those who scoff at the civil The midnight-to-4A.M. curfew eating a hole in his food defense setup as useless should All in the family - The Los was ended on the orders of budget. He hoped this wouldn't consider the case of Hermosa Angeles police approved a con­ President Chun Doo Hwan, alter the public's attitude to­ Beach, Calif. Two members of tract for purchase of tear gas who said the 39 million South ward aggressive law enforce­ the fire department there, and from a company that submit­ Koreans were 'mature' enough ment. "I don't feel," he said, three of the city's four detec­ ted the third-lowest bid. A ser­ Harry to do without the curfew." "just because we don't have tives, were suspended on money to feed a man who geant is part owner of the Ring charges of operating a book­ committed a crime we should company. Meanwhile, a cap­ Military justice - Subsidiz­ making business. Allegedly, turn him loose." tain sued for harassment, ing dining by top military and bets taken in various bars were charging he was hassled for (UPI)- South Korea's nation­ civilian officials in the Pen­ phoned in to the fire chiefs criticizing the contract. His wide curfew was lifted through­ tagon costs taxpayers $14 a emergency civil defense tele­ Shopping tip - As part of wife owns a competing com­ out most of the country today meal as against $1.20 for a phone. its post-Xmas clearance, pany. Science wins victory in Arkansas Bible case

BY STU SINGER against the Arkansas law. ment of Science. The paper purported to they insist on divorcing government en­ The January 5 Federal District Court prove that "criminal tendencies may be tirely from spiritual thought," their Religion and pseudoscience are in­ decision in the Arkansas Bible case was inherited," as the Times headline read. January 7 editorial said. creasingly used as a cover for racist and a victory for science over religion. This old myth is part of the belief anti-working Class attacks. The Reagan "We hope the forces who have won The ruling by Judge William Overton called biological determinism. Crime is administration took a big step in revers­ this narrow battle in court won't labor upheld the opposition to Act 590 adopt­ inherited, so is poverty and low intelli­ ing the stance of the government too long with the notion that they have ed by the Arkansas legislature last gence; Blacks and women are inferior, against school segregation under cover scored some major victory against reli­ spring. It would have required teaching these theories hold. of defending religion. This was the deci­ gious belief." Bible stories in public schools to "bal­ The Wall Street Journal did not like sion to give tax-exempt status to there­ ance" the teaching of science. the Arkansas decision. "We suspect that The Wall Street Journal editors up­ ligious schools set up by racists to avoid The court ruling points to the contra­ efforts to break down societal mores and hold the spiritual and religious beliefs of school desegregation. diction between science and religion. standards of conduct that have a reli­ capitalism, of war, racism, and poverty. The "creation science" referred to in Act Another incident was a January 8 re­ gious base are more than a little bit re­ Religion is one of the few ideological 590, the Judge wrote, "is not science be­ port in the New York Times about a pa­ sponsible for the fundamentalist back­ pillars left to prop up their decaying sys­ cause it depends upon supernatural in­ per presented to the meeting of the lash. . . . We are not sure the courts tem. Science is more and more a threat tervention which is not guided by natu­ American Association for the Advance- have considered what it might be like if to them. ral law. It is not explanatory by refer­ ence to natural law, is not testable and is not falsifiable. "Since creation science is not science, Suit challenges ban o~ Cuban publications the conclusion is inescapable that the only real effect of Act 590 is the ad­ BY JOSE PEREZ Plaintiffs in the suit include a broad Amendment to receive such publica­ vancement of religion." More than 100 groups and individuals range of publications, scholars, writers, tions, and pay for them if necessary." This violates the separation between have filed suit in U.S. District Court in organizations, and individuals. ·Among The complaint also charges that the re­ church and state established in the U.S. Boston, Massachusetts, to overturn the them are the Nation, the Black Scholar, quirement to obtain a license to receive Constitution. Reagan administration's ban on Gron­ Monthly Review, the Guardian, various periodicals would lead to government Arkansas state officials are still con­ ma and other Cuban periodicals. Cuban studies and solidarity organiza­ harassment and possible attacks by sidering whether to appeal the ruling. Since last May, when, for the first tions, the Communist Party, and the So­ right-wing Cuban groups on those that And a similar case is expected in Louisi­ time in twenty years, the government cialist Workers Party. It also includes receive the periodicals. The suit asks ana where the American Civil Liberties decided to apply its economic blockade prominent individuals such as Massa­ that the blockade regulations be de­ Union, which organized the Arkansas regulations to Cuban periodicals, the chusetts legislator Melvin H. King, Lee clared unconstitutional, as applied to case, is challenging a similar law. U.S. Customs Service has been sporadi­ Lockwood (author of Castro's Cuba, Cu­ periodicals, and that the government be Harvard professor Stephen J. Gould cally confiscating periodicals sent to ba's Fidel), Black journalist William permanently barred from enforcing wrote in the New York Times op-ed page subscribers in the United States. Worthy, Nobel Laureate George Wald, them. January 12: "I only wish that the entire In theory, people are required to have and the Rev. Harvey Cox of the Harvard nation could have taken two weeks off a specific government license to receive Divinity School. Lawyers from the American Civil Lib­ and sat in Judge Overton's courtroom to the publications. But even the few per­ The complaint, filed November 24, erties Union, the Center for Constitu­ witness the utter intellectual bankrupt­ sons that have such licenses have been charges that the application of blockade tional Rights, the National Conference cy of 'scientific creationism.'" unable to recover the confiscated period­ regulations to periodicals violates of Black Lawyers, and others are repre­ Gould was a witness for the plaintiffs icals. "plaintiffs' rights under the First senting the plaintiffs in this suit. --CALENDAR------KENTUCKY MISSOURI Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Fo­ Reagan's War on Women's Rights: Which rum. For more information call (212) 852- Way for the Women's Movement in 1982? Louisville Kansas City 7922. Panel discussion on Betty Friedan's book, Martin Luther King: His Legacy for To­ Poland: First Lessons of the Workers' The Second Stage. Speakers to be announced. day. Speakers: Thomas Mozee, member, Struggle. Speakers: Barbara Hennigan, So­ Sat., Jan. 30,7 p.m. 2230 Superior. Donation: cialist Workers Party; John Hardy, Louis­ Black United Front; Frank Mikula, Young NORTH CAROLINA $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more ville civil rights activist, visited Poland in Socialist Alliance, International Association information call (216) 579-9369. 1972. Sun., Jan. 17, 7:30p.m. 131 W. Main of Machinists. Sun., Jan. 17, 8 p.m. 4715A Winston-Salem St. (corner of Main and 2nd). Donation: $2. Troost. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor llflartin Luther King and the Struggle for Ausp: Militant Forum. -For more information Forum. For more information call (816) 753- Freedom Today. Film: The Assassin Years. Toiedo call (502) 587-8418. 0404. Speaker from the Young Socialist Alliance. Poland: Solidarity with the Workers' Re­ Sat., Jan. 16, 7:30 p.m. 216 E. 6th St., 2nd volt. Speakers: Mike Ferner, American Fed­ Fares Go Up, Services Go Down: The Sto­ floor. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Fo­ eration of State, County, and Municipal Em­ ry of Public Transportation Today. · rum. For more information . call (919) 723- , ployees, Joe Callahan, SOC1alist Workers' Par­ Speakers: Bud Munson, Kansas City Area 3419. ty. Sat., Jan. 16, 7:30p.m. 2120 Dorr. Dona­ MINNESOTA Transit Authority; Otis Rusher, president, tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For St. Paul Amalgamated Transit Union Division 1287; Defend the Right to Abortion. Speakers to more information call (419) 536-0383. King's Dream in the '80s: Black Rights Bob Kutchko, Socialist Workers Party, Na­ be announced. Sat., Jan. 23, 7:30p.m. 216 E. Under Attack - Twin Cities to South tional Association of Letter Carriers Local 6th St., 2nd floor. Donation: $2. Ausp: Mil­ Africa. Speakers: Tiffany Patterson, Univer­ 30. S\m., Jan. 24, 8 p.m. 4715A Troost. Dona­ itant Labor Forum. For more information sity of Minnesota History Department; Au­ tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For call (919) 723-3419. YSA regional gust Nimtz, Socialist Workers Party. Sun., more information call (816) 753-0404. Jan.17, 7 p.m. 508 N. Snelling. Donation: $2. conference Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call (612) 644-6325. OHIO WASHINGTON NEW JERSEY Cincinnati Seattle Revolution in Nicaragua: Eyewitness Ac­ Reds: John Reed and the Early American Eyewitness Account from Poland: _ Newark Lessons of Solidarity. Speakers: count from Vemon Bellecourt. Speakers: Abortion Rights Under Attack._ How Do Communists. Speaker: Morris Starsky, So­ Vernon Bellecourt and Dick Bancroft, cialist Workers Party. Film: excerpts from Martin Koppel, staff writer for Pers­ We Fight Back? Speakers: Charlene Adam­ pectiva Mundial, attended Solidarity Amerian Indian Movement. Sun., Jan. 24,4 son, Socialist Workers Party; others. Sat., Ten Days That Shook the World. Sat., Jan. p.m. 508 N. Snelling. Donation: $2. Ausp: 23, 7:30 p.m. 2531 Gilbert Ave. Donation: union congress; Chris Remple, Social­ Jan. 23, 7:30p.m. 11-A Central Ave. Dona­ ist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Militant Forum. For more information call tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more (612) 644-6325. information call (513) 751-2636. Senate, member, International Associ­ more information call (201) 643-3341. ation of Machinists Local 751. Sat., Jan. 23, 7:30p.m. Donation: $2. Class­ Virginia Cleveland es: "Background to Polish Crisis," Sat., Support Polish Workers: What Solidarity Solidarity with Solidamosc: The Strug­ Jan. 23, 2 p.m.; "World Revolution and is Fighting For. Speakers: Joseph Krause, NEW YORK gle for Socialism in Poland. Speakers: Jim Poland Today," Sun., Jan. 24, 11 a.m. professor at University of Minnesota, Du­ Miller, Cleveland New American Movement; Brooklyn 4868 Rainier Ave. South. Donation: $2 luth; Warren Simons, Young Socialist Al­ Marxism and Christianity: Are They Bob Rowand, United Steelworkers Local per class. Ausp: Young Socialist Al­ liance. Fri., Jan. 15, 7 p.m. 1012 Second Ave. Compatible? Speakers: Pierre Douchemin, 1179, Socialist Workers Party; others. Sat., liance. For more information call (206) South. Donation=. $2. Ausp: 'Solidarity Book­ lay priest from ·Liberation Theology Move­ Jan. 23, 7 p.m. 2230 Superior. Donation: 723-5330. store Forum Series. For more information ment; Jose Perez, editor, Perspectiva Mun­ $1.50. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more call (218) 749-6327. dial; others. Sat., Jan. 23, 8 p.m. 335 Atlantic information call (216) 579-9369.

16 The Militant January 22, 1982 -cAMPAIGNING FOR SOCIALISM------ty is one of six candidates who smashed on December 11. One have officially filed in the New week later, two more were brok­ Teaching 'free Orleans mayoral race. The elec­ en. Harassing phone calls fol­ enterprise 101' tion will be held February 6. lowed each attack. The large number of reporters The office of Mayor-elect Har­ JERSEY CITY - There was who covered Ali's filing asked vey Sloane issued a statement an interesting item in the Janu­ him a lot of questions about po­ at a news conference the next ary 4 edition of The Record, lice brutality. This is a major day protesting these attacks "New Jersey's Largest Evening issue in the city. and pledging that "continued Newspaper." /2 harassment of the Socialist The article explains how the Ostrofsky A year ago, four Blacks were Workers Party headquarters northern New Jersey Chamber Mark Zola announces campaign for governor at Jan. 2 news gunned down by the New Or­ will be investigated fully and of Commerce is holding "out-of­ conference leans cops. The officers involved that anyone charged with crimi­ school" seminars on economics were all let off scot-free. One of nal activity will be prosecuted." for hundreds of teachers and of the Young Socialist Alliance. them was even given the police­ students. But the perspective is Pa. socialists man of the year award. Long-time civil rights activist She's a member of United Auto Anne Braden read a statement all from the standpoint of busi­ ness. Workers Local 92 and works at Ali told reporters, "Police from the Kentucky Civil Liber­ launch campaign "The program's lessons are the Budd plant in Philadelphia. Chief Parsons should be made to ties Union that pointed out, kept simple," according to The PHILADELPHIA The Campaign supporters will be stand trial for the murder of "The systematic harassment of Record. Pennsylvania Socialist Workers forced to collect 65,000 signa­ those people. The cops responsi­ the SWP has a chilling effect on How simple? Party's statewide slate for the tures to comply with Pennsylva­ ble should be jailed." the right of free speech for all of November 1982 elections was nia's undemocratic ballot re­ us." What causes inflation? "Ex­ announced here on January 2. strictions. Ali called for removing the Mattie Jones, co-chair of the pensive• government and 'extor­ Petitioning will begin at the cops from the Black community tionate' union demands." Heading the ticket is Mark Kentucky Alliance Against Ra­ end of March. For more informa­ and replacing them with a se­ What causes unemployment? Zola, the gubernatorial candi­ cist and Political Repression, tion, contact one of the Pennsyl­ curity force elected and con­ The minimum wage. date. He works as a machinist at said that the "government is vania socialist headquarters trolled by the Black community. How to get rid of pollution? U.S. Steel National Tube giving the go-ahead to these listed on page 17. right-wing attacks. We must Turn public lands over to pri­ Works, outside of Pittsburgh, vate owners. and is a member of United stand up to this." SWPoffices Chris Rayson, SWP 1981 can­ Some educators are leary Steelworkers of America Local about the lack of "balance" in Candidate blasts didate for mayor, pointed out 1408. attacked the program. cops in New that the YSA and SWP would Katherine Sojourner, a steel­ not be intimidated by threats According to The Record, worker from the Harrisburg Orleans BY BOB HILL and harassment. "they wonder if the schools area, is the party's candidate for LOUISVILLE - Three win­ "Never has the reception to would be as willing to allow, lieutenant governor. BYRONREPPS dows at the Young Socialist Al­ our ideas been better, and that say, the Socialist Workers Party Cathy Emminizer, the candi­ NEW ORLEANS - Rashaad liance and Socialist Workers is exactly what the government to teach economics to its most date for U.S. Senate, is a leader Ali of the Socialist Workers Par- Party's headquarters were and right-wing are afraid of." promising students." Lockheed Tristar phase-out menaces 9,500 jobs

BY NANCY BROWN among Lockheed workers," said a fif. We shouldn't worry, though, Lock­ years of their life here walked out the LOS ANGELES - "I guess they teen-year Lockheed veteran. heed told us. The phase-out will take gate. Don't believe one word they say." think they'll make a killing on war con­ two-and-a-half years, with some of it No one does. For more than a year, tracts," said a young Black machinist as The company announced the phase­ "occurring by normal job turnover. Most there have been rumors that the L-1011 we listened to the announcement on the out "with deep regret." But ditching the manufacturing and assembly areas will was being ditched. To frighten employ­ L-1011 has saved Lockheed millions of public address system. Lockheed-Cali­ be little affected in the immediate fu­ ees, there has been repeated talk of mas­ fornia Company had just told its em­ dollars. Losses on the plane have totaled ture.... " sive layoffs, and a tightening of security ployees that it was phasing out produc­ more than $2 billion since production procedures. began in 1970. This year the company And, Lockheed promises, "We will, of tion of the L-1011 Tristar-'---- a move that course, make every effort to place sur­ Every employee has received a fif­ can write off$400 million. The day after· teen-page security questionnaire. If it is jeopardizes 9,500 jobs. plused employees on other Lockheed the announcement, Lockheed stock shot not filled out, you can face layoff be­ programs or to help them find jobs out­ up $7.87 per share. cause you have denied yourself a poten­ side the corporation." The stockholders inay have been tial job. U.S. citizenship is now required UNION thrilled, but the workers were not. At Of course! One of Lockheed's options to be hired by Lockheed. the gate, we received a written bulletin is to send us to work at Rockwell, the Lockheed's parting shot to us at TALK informing us that "regrettably, some company that battled Lockheed for the Christmas was summed up by one su­ layoffs will be unavoidable." B-1 bomber contract. A month ago, pervisor: "You'd better pray that Rea­ Rockwell announced it would have · The announcement came December 7. gan comes up with defense contracts to "Some layoffs" could include up to 11,000 jobs by 1984. Within days, they The workers in my department thought save your job." had 21,000 applications. it was ironic. Lockheed announced its 9,500 of us who work on the L-1011. A As for the young workers, they under­ day later, another 2,000 were added to "It's all bullshit," said one older Black move out of the commercial aircraft in­ stand that war budgets mean war. As worker. "Secure till 1983? We went dustry to concentrate on the war indus­ the list when Lockheed announced it we walked out the gate, an apprentice may lose government funding on the P- through this in 1972. They gave us al­ try on Pearl Harbor Day. turned to me and said, ''The last thing 3C, a military aircraft. The combined most no warning. It's called an emer­ I'm praying for over Christmas is anoth­ It became something of a joke. "This is layoffs would cut Lockheed-Burbank's gency layoff. They wiped out 9,000 jobs er war. I'd rather lose my job than lose a day that will really live in infamy workforce in half. almost overnight. People with thirty my life." --DIRECTORY------

Where to find the Socialist Workers polis: SWP, YSA, 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and so­ Tel: (317) 283-6149. YSA, 1417 Central Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: P.O. Box 261, Annex Station. Zip: 02901. cialist books and pamphlets IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, Box 352. Zip: (505)) 842-0954. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 50613. NEW YORK: Capital District (Schenec­ Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923. 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323- KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 131 tady): SWP, YSA, 323 State St. Zip: 12305. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. Zip: 3079. W. Main #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 587-8418. Tel: (518) 374-1494. New York, Brooklyn: 75223. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, SWP, YSA, 335 Atlantic Ave. Zip: 11201. Tel: YSA, 6333 Gulf Freeway, Room 222. Zip: McDowell. Zip: 85006. Tel: (602) 255-0450. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486- (212) 852-7922. New York, Manhattan: 77023. Tel: (713) 924-4056. San Antonio: Tucson: SWP, P.O. Box 2585. Zip: 85702. 8048. SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: Tel: (602) 622-3880 or 882-4304. MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 SWP, YSA, 337 W. Josephine. Zip: 78212. 10003. Tel: (212) 260-6400. New York: City­ Tel: (512) 736-9218. CALIFORNIA: Oakland: SWP, YSA, Greenmount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- wide SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. 2864 Telegraph Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 0013. UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 533-2902. 7th East, 2nd Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: (801) 763-3792. Los Angeles: SWP, YSA, 2211 N. MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, P.O. 355-1124. Broadway. Zip: 90031. Tel: (213) 225-3126. Box 837. Zip: 01004. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport San Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: 02215. YSA, 2'16 E. 6th St., Winston-Salem. Zip: News): SWP, YSA, 111 28th St. Zip: 23607. 92101. Tel: (714) 234-4630.San Francisco: Tel: (617) 262-4621. 27101. Tel: (919) 723-3419. Tel: (804) 380-0133. SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA. Tel: (313) OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 2531 Gil­ (415) 824-1992. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 46¥2 663-7068. Detroit: SWP, YSA, 6404 Wood­ bert Ave. Zip: 45206. Tel: (513) 751-2636. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. ward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875-5322. Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 2230 Superior. Zip: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, 44114. Tel: (216) 579-9369. Toledo: SWP, 797-7699. Baltimore-Washington District: 12th Ave. Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. YSA, 1012 2nd Ave. South, Virginia, Minn. YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: (419) 536- 3106 Mt. Pleasant St., NW., Washington, FLORIDA: Gainesville: YSA, c/o Bill Pe­ Send mail to P.O. Box 1287. Zip: 55792. Tel: 0383. D.C. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7021. tersen, 1118 NW 3rd Ave. Zip: 32601. Miami: (218) 749-6327. Twin Cities: SWP, YSA, 508 OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW WASffiNGTON: Olympia: YSA, Room SWP, YSA, 1237 NW 119th St., North Miami. N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: Everett. Zip: 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. 3208, The Evergreen State College. Zip: Zip: 33167. Tel: (305) 769-3478. (612) 644-6325. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, 98501. Tel: (206) 866-7332. Seattle: SWP, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, Edinboro State College. Zip: 16444. Tel: (814) YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118. Peachtree St. NE Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 872- 4715A Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. 734-4415. Harrisburg: SWP, YSA, 803 N. Tel: (206) 723-5330. 7229. • St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 2nd St. Zip: 17105. Philadelphia: SWP, WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 63130. Tel: (314) 725-1570. YSA, 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) YSA, Box 3761. Zip: 25337. Tel: (304) 345- 1301 W. Green, Room 284. Zip: 61801. Chica­ NEBRASKA: Lincoln: YSA, P.O. Box 927-4747 or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, 3040. Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 957 S. Uni­ go: SWP, YSA, 434 S. Wabash, Room 700. Zip: 30221. Zip: 68503. Tel: (402) 483-6236. YSA, 1102 E. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: versity Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. 60605. Tel: (312) 93~-0737 . NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11- (412) 488-7000. State College: YSA, P.O. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA, INDIANA: Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broad­ A Central Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643- Box 464, Bellefonte. Zip: 16823. Tel: (814) 4707 W. Lisbon Ave. Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) way. Zip: 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Indiana- 3341. 238-3296. 445-2076.

January 22, 1982 The Militant· 17 -EDITORIALS------­ 'Peaceful coexistence Make Dr._ King's birthday a holiday between states, not classes'- Fidel Castro All working people should support the demand that These escalating attacks on Black people and other Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, birthday be made a na­ victims of oppression stem from the present economic The following excerpt is from an interview tional holiday. crisis and the determination of the ruling rich to put with Fidel Castro on January 16, 1962, with re­ It is high time that at least one Black who has died the burden of the crisis on those who can least afford porters attending a Havana meeting of the Inter­ in the fight for freedom is honored in this way. it. national Organization of Journalists. The inter­ And in demanding official recognition for the mar­ Black people have traditionally been the "last view was published in the January 18 issue of tyred rights leader, Black people are, at the same hired, first fired." Whenever there is a general attack the Havana daily, Revolucion, and was reprint­ time, demanding recognition for themselves and for on working people, they are invariably the first ed in the Feburary 5, 1962, Militant their long denied constitutional rights. target. Now is surely the time. Spurred by the naked ra­ But just as Black people have been the first victims Q. (Delegate from Italy) Dr. Castro . . .. Is the cism of the Reagan administration, anti-Black forces of the present offensive, so too are they in the front struggle for coexistence a question of tactics in the are growing bolder by the day. line of those fighting back. The Martin Luther King struggle against imperialism or a permanent strategy We see the shocking case of the two Alabama civil Day demonstrations are a good example of this. ofthe workers' movement? Do you think that socialism rights workers jailed on trumped-up charges of "vot­ The demonstrations this year are a good time to sa­ can win- not only in some countries, but throughout ing fraud." (See story, page 5.) The prosecutor and lute the emergence of the National Black Independ­ the world-through the stable means ofpeaceful coex­ judge. responsible for that outrage simply took their ent Political Party. Less than one year old, this prom­ isting that will erase war forever from the lives ofhu­ cue from the White House. ising organization is being built on the basis of the manity? On January 8, the Reagan administration an­ sound belief that both major parties are responible for A. I do not believe . . . that peaceful coexistence is nounced it was scrapping a federal policy of denying the situation of Black people. The new party holds a question of tactics. Peaceful coexistence is simply­ tax exemptions to private colleges that are Jim Crow. that the capitalist system- which both the Republi­ as you say- a correct strategy. But there is some- This will immediately entitle more than 100 avowed­ cans and Democrats uphold-is the root source of ra­ ly "white-only" institutions to favored tax treatment cism. and encourage.the further spread of such "schooling." Then, after granting the tax exemptions, Reagan hy­ We believe the National Black Independent Politi­ OUR pocritically proposed Congress enact a law barring cal Party points the way forward. Black people will such exemptions. certainly benefit if the new party gains ground, and REVOLUTIONARY Earlier, the White House advised that the presi­ so will all other working people as well. dent is against affirmative action quotas intended to To move forward, the entire working class needs its combat discrimination. Reagan says the Supreme own party, a labor party, to combat the employer-con­ HERITAGE Court was wrong in rejecting a demagogic "reverse trolled Republicans and Democrats and the profit discriminatiQn" plea by Brian Weber, a white Kaiser system on which they stand. thing else. Peaceful coexistence is truly a necessity Aluminum employee. His case was intended to scrap Building such an independent, anticapitalist, and for humanity. That is to say, it is necessary at all a training program, negotiated by the United Steel­ antiracist movement is the very best tribute that can costs to avoid an atomic world war because of theca­ workers with Kaiser, to give Blacks and women a be paid to Dr. King and to all the others who have giv­ tastrophic consequences it would bring on all human­ chance at skilled jobs. en their lives in the cause of Black freedom. ity. Therefore it is a question of principle, a line that meets the needs and hopes of humanity, and it is cor­ rect politically. It is the politics of socialism, whose · economy does not need wars, colonies or redivision of the world. . . . The politics of peace and peaceful coexistence is, in all senses, the politics of socialism. Now, the politics of peaceful coexistence is coexist­ Stop the deportations! ence between states. That does not mean coexistence between classes. That is to say I do not mean . . . The U.S. government has opened the new year with member of the Socialist Workers Party and Young coexistence between the exploiters and the exploited. a fierce campaign to further restrict the rights of im­ Socialist Alliance. The judge ruled that even if Hari­ It would be impossible to have coexistence between migrants who live and work in this country. Its goal ri-Vijeh had been illegally singled out by INS cops be­ the exploited masses of Latin America and the Y an­ is to deepen the divisions that exist within the work­ cause of her political activities, she must still be de­ kee monopolists. It would be impossible to have coex­ ing class. It thereby hopes to weaken our ability to ported on the basis of a technical violation (see story, istence with these monopolists and with the big ex­ fight to defend our jobs, our wages, our liberties, and page 3). ploiting bourgeoisie and the great landlords, who are our right to a decent life. Also caught in a technical violation is Dennis Bru­ allies of the Yankee imperialists. . . . • The despised immigration cops, the INS, have tus, an exiled South African poet, who is a prominent The class struggle will exist as long as capitalist announced they are stepping up daily raids of facto­ fighter against apartheid. Brutus was ordered de­ and imperialist regimes exist because the class strug­ ries and neighborhoods as part of a nationwide drive ported, and is now appealing that decision. gle is a natural consequence of the socio-economic to arrest workers without documents. La migra's Through expensive legal move&, such victims of system, of the existence of the great working masses man in Los Angeles announced that raids there will political persecution by the immigration political po­ confronting a minority that owns the riches and the be tripled starting at the end of January. lice have sometimes been able to stall, and occasion­ means of production. In the past, the INS has targeted the garment in­ ally overturn, such deportation orders. Now, how­ That is to say, the class struggle will exist as long dustry, where many undocumented workers can get ever, the Reagan administration is asking Congress as capitalism exists. The international class struggle jobs because of the low wages. Now; however, the INS to revise the immigration laws, drastically restrict­ between the exploited masses and the monopolists raiders will hit other industries, including large fac­ ing the right of appeal in such cases. will exist so long as imperialism exists. This is abso­ tories, as well. Immigration cops will also swoop • Finally, on January 12, the Supreme Court added lutely independent of the politics of peaceful coexist­ down on bus stops, train depots, and other places some high-sounding legal trappings to this drive ence of states with different economic and social re­ where "undocumented aliens are believed to cc;mgre­ against our democratic rights. In a decision uphold­ gimes. gate," reports the J anuary 6 Los Angeles Times. ing the right of California to refuse to hire noncitizen That is to say, for instance, Cuba could have main­ tained, and should maintain, peaceful coexistence • In a closely related move, a federal judge, in a residents for some state jobs, the Court stated: "The with Venezuela. Cuba would have maintained its re­ Christmas Eve ruling, gave the INS the green light to exclusion of aliens from basic governmental pro­ lations with Venezuela, and even without diplomatic start deporting an estimated 100,000 Mexican cesses is not a deficiency in the democratic system, relations it should and will maintain peaceful coex­ workers, many of whom have been living here for but a necessary consequence of the community's pro­ years. The workers had benefited from a court ruling cess of self-definition. . . . istence with Venezuela. Now, this peaceful coexist­ ence between the government of Cuba and the gov­ known as the Silva decision, which has now been lift­ "Self-government, whether direct or through repre­ ernment of Venezuela does not mean peaceful coex­ ed. Letters are at this moment being sent out to these sentatives, begins by defining the scope of the com­ istence between the working masses of Venezuela · workers, demanding they turn themselves in for "in­ munity of the governed and thus of the governors as and the Standard Oil Company, Shell, Esso, the mo­ terviews." well: aliens are by definition those outside the com­ munity." nopolies. It does not mean coexistence between the Protests against the planned mass deportations The capitalist rulers of this country would like us workers and peasants of Venezuela and the big ex­ have already begun in the Chicano and Mexican com­ to swallow their line that foreign-born workers are ploiting bourgeoisie allied to these interests. munities. A giant public reaction in Mexico forced the "outside the community." But more and more work­ There can and there should be peaceful coexistence government there to recall its ambassador from ing people are realizing just the opposite: our class is between states. But that is independent of the class Washington for "consultations." international. Divisions on the basis of national orig­ struggle within each country. • In addition to its planned mass deportations, the in or citizenship papers serve the employers, not the INS is intensifying its persecution of noncitizens workers. whose ideas it finds offensive. Two parallel cases are From the standpoint of working people - though of special importance. not the Supreme Court- the "community of the gov­ This week, an INS judge ordered the deportation of erned" knows no borders. Mojgan Hariri-Vijeh, an Iranian student and Stop the deportations!

Our new look With this issue, we are introducing changes in our short news and opinion articles. It gives us more ed­ design. We have redesigned our page layouts and itorial space and establishes a regular place in the pa­ changed the typefaces we use. per for both educational and opinion columns. In addition to being more attractive and easier to In addition, we think the greater simplicity of this read, the new design will allow more efficient use of layout will make it easier for the staff. our space. This is especially important because costs have forced us to restrict the normal size of each We hope that the new design will prove attractive issue, for the time being, to twenty pages. and contribute toward increased circulation. The desi~ change gives greater flexibility in how We will be interested in what our readers think of we use the front page and will allow us to use more the new layout. Your letters will be appreciated.

18 The Militant J anuary 22, 1982 'Independent' politics, Communist Party style

BY LINDA JOYCE civilian police review board to monitor police abuse. strike support work. Nagin, however, did not men­ In the recent mayoral elections in Cleveland, the I was at the meeting and pointed out that this tion the PATCO strike once during the campaign, Socialist Workers Party squared off against the totally ignores the role of the police, which is to bust and the CP here was visibly absent from the Republicans and Democrats. The fourth candidate __ heads of picketers, keep rebellious youth - espe­ solidarity efforts. in the race was Rick N agin, chairman of the cially minority youth - "in their place," and to The Communist Party's electoral strategy is a Communist Party (CP) of Ohio, who ran as an protect private property. logical extension of its past positions. Two years '",., During the primary campaign, N agin refused to ago, they supported the "populist" Democrat Den­ appear with me on TV or radio in any situation nis Kucinich for mayor of Cleveland. They were ASI where I would have the chance to debate him one­ caught in an embarrassing situation when Kucinich on-one. In this way he could avoid discussing the embraced the support of antibusing groups, and the CP's embarrassing position on Poland, and its Communist Party resorted to telling its members SEE IT inactivity in Cleveland around the Professional Air and supporters to vote for "who they wanted." They Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) strike. are now lining up behind Howard Metzenbaum for reelection to the U.S. Senate in 1982. A Democrat, independent. His campaign, however, was anything N agin totally avoided the issue of Poland. It but independent. he voted for Reagan's budget cuts and supports would have been very embarrassing for him to have Reagan's firing of the PATCO strikers. Nagin's strategy was to aim heavy fire at Reagan to explain the CP's anti-working-class position that and the Republicans with the slogan, "To stop The centerpiece of the SWP campaign was inde­ the gigantic struggle of millions of workers and pendent working-class political action. we called for Reagan, vote for Nagin." He never included th~ farmers in Poland is, in the words of the CP's paper, a break from the Democrats and Republicans- to Democrats in his criticisms of governmental poh­ the Daily World, a "subversive conspiracy of antiso­ cies. In fact, at the first public debate between the form our own party, a labor party based on the cialist elements." unions. Nagin called for "antimonopoly coalitions four candidates, Nagin urged a vote for the Demo­ The SWP, however, actively supported the Polish crat, should he not survive the primaries. or parties" that would include the Democrats. workers and utilized the opportunities provided by George Voinovich, the incumbent Republican, Then, he followed right along with the Republi­ the campaign to get out the truth about what they won the mayoral election with a record 77 percent of can and Democratic candidates as they beat the are fighting for. the vote. drum for more cops in the streets. At a meeting in a The SWP also supports the PATCO workers, and We garnered 2 percent of the vote, to the Commu­ settlement house in the heart of the Black commun­ urged solidarity with the strike as a central part of nist Party's 1 percent, in the primary. ity, Nagin called for more cops, even after two our campaign. As a candidate and fellow unionist, I women had explained incidents that justified their and my supporters walked the picket line, visited Linda Joyce was the 1981 Socialist Workers Party frustration and contempt for the police. N agin strike headquarters, got out the truth about the candidate for mayor of Cleveland. She is a member qualified his stance by saying Cleveland needed a strike, and collaborated with the air controllers on of United Auto Workers Local 70. --LETTERS------Iran & imperialism Solidarity can make short is as guilty of self-contradic­ cal party which "must develop a friend and I sold eleven Mil­ I was very interested in the term gains by accepting the of­ tions. Thus, while the U.S.leads membership base of workers itants featuring ''Lessons of Pol­ article by Dave Frankel in the fers (and capitulating to the de­ in showing "indignation" over and farmers" if it is to succeed, ish Workers in Struggle," and November 20 Militant, replying mands) of imperialism. For the declaration of martial law in the paper reported him as say­ had many in-depth conversa­ to David Keil's letter on Iran. It them, this is the only way for­ Poland, it unreservedly sup­ ing. tions. seems to me that a lot of so­ ward to economic success, and ports dictatorships in the Phi­ Such a party can take control We want to educate about the called "revolutionaries" are all this is the direction that they lippines and South Africa and of Vermont, Sanders said, if it Polish struggle, and we should over the place on Iran, often cav­ are going. That is the essence vows to collaborate to the end not be afraid to do it at these ing in to the imperialist offen­ and the nature of Solidarity. It with the Zionists and with such "anticommuntst" rallies. sive. In their inability to situate draws tremendous strength and military juntas as in El Salva­ Betsy McDonald each development into the over­ allies throughout the imperial­ dor and in Turkey with her mar­ Phoenix, Arizona all framework of the revolution ist world. tial law. It tells us to pray for and the real line of march of the Gene Lantz the hunger and cold of the Poles, Dallas, Texas Iranian workers and peasants, while it cuts off food and cloth­ Lola Dallin memorial many of these people default on ing for them, to "punish" their their responsibility to defend government. A memorial meeting for Lola the revolution from the impe­ Poland II Reja-e Busailah Dallin was held at Community rialists. All they see in Iran is Kokomo, Indiana Church in New York by rela­ Your lead editorial on the si­ tives and friends on October 27, what the capitalist media tells tuation in Poland (December 25 them. 1981. She had died the preced­ issue) said that the crackdown ing August, following an opera­ At a recent meeting in Lon­ on Solidarity "must be con­ Artis released don in solidarity with the revo­ tion. demned by everyone who is I read a four sentence article Born before the turn of the lutions in the Americas and fighting for workers' rights and in the New York Times recently Bernie Sanders against the current imperialist century into a Jewish family in for socialism." I agree with this announcing that John Artis was Latvia, then a part of tsarist campaign of lies and threats, a wholeheartedly. paroled after spending fifteen focuses on issues that the two group of Peoples Mujahedeen Russia, Lola became a socialist But I was puzzled by another years in New Jersey's prisons. major parties avoid. and studied law. In Berlin, Lola Organization of Iran and sim­ article in the same issue titled He was convicted with Rubin These issues, he was reported ilarly-minded Iranian students married a fellow socialist and "News media have field day (Hurricane) Carter, the great as saying, involve people gain­ law student, Samuel Estrin. were more interested in attack­ with anti-Soviet protests." Most middleweight title contender, ing control of their own lives ing Fidel Castro for not con­ The menace of Nazism forced of this article was devoted to an for the 1966 shotgun slayings of and charting the kind of society Lola and her husband to move to demning the executions and for attack on a Solidarity-supported a bartender and two patrons in a · in which they want to live. Paris where they expanded welcoming Iranian parliament­ picket line organized by a coali­ Patterson tavern. The paper added, "Today, arians to Cuba. their efforts to help political pri­ tion of socialist groups. Artis knew Carter slightly Sanders said, control lies in the soners and refugees, to aiding Gary Erlisker The article seemed to suggest since both worked in the same· hands of the one percent of the London victims of the Nazi terror. that socialists should not dem­ children's playground sports population that possesses most In this period of the 1930s, Lo­ onstrate their solidarity with program, and he got a lift home of the country's wealth. la became the assistant and col­ Solidarity. The reason given in from Carter the night of the "Socialism, the Burlington laborator of Leon Sedov, Trots­ Poland I the article was that the media slayings. Neither was anywhere mayor said, means 'nothing ky's son, who coordinated the didn't make it clear that the so­ near the bar that night. The ride more than democracy . ... It I urge you to reevaluate your work of the movement for a cialist picket line was neither cost John his freedom. He was a means, to as great an extent as position on Poland before con­ Fourth International and pub­ antisocialist nor pro-U.S. But college-bound twenty year old possible, that ordinary people tinuing to mislead the many lished the Russian-language the media will always distort when he was put away. A con­ will have control over their own deeply committed revolutionar­ Bulletin of the Opposition. Arti­ the activities of socialists. fession linking Rubin to the lives.... ies affected by your view. You cles she contributed to that jour­ I think it is particularly ur­ crime would have meant instant "'The only hope for the [new] are marching with the identical nal are signed Yakovlev. gent right now to demonstrate release, but he always told the party is the rejection of the De­ banner as the social democracy, As the cloud of Nazi conquest -as publicly and as aggressive­ prosecutors and cops what they mocratic and Republican par­ U.S.labor bureaucracy, Voice of darkened over France, Lola and ly as possible- that real social- . could do with their deals. ties,' Sanders said." America, and the C.I.A. h~r husband fled to the U.S. ists stand with the Polish Why was Carter framed and Vermont has had third par­ You must look at what things There she dropped out of radical workers. If we fail to do this, Artis dragged in? Because Car­ ties which did not fully recog­ are in their essence. You claim political activity. Throughout most working people will as'­ ter was an outspoken defender nize that to succeed they must that Solidarity is primarily an this period, however, and, in­ sume that socialists stand on of Black rights and he com­ have the workers and farmers attempt to further and refine deed, up to the time of her fatal the side of those who are crush­ manded a lot of media attention. as their main base. This gives the gains of the Polish workers illness, she remained active in ing the workers. Isn't this what Michael Smith added significance to what May- state; but this is not its essential the work of assisting political Moscow and the U.S. Commu­ New York, New York . or Sanders has to say on this. nature. The Solidarity move­ refugees and emigres. nist Party, on the one hand, and Jon Flanders ment is essentially a reaction to George Weissman Reagan and the right wingers Burlington, Vermont New York, New York severe economic hardship. on the other, would have Amer­ Taken by itself and out of the ican workers believe? Socialist mayor context of the world struggle Rick Miles Recently, Bernard Sanders, against imperialism, their eco­ New York, New York the socialist mayor of Burling­ Educating on Poland The letters column is an open nomic struggle should be sup­ ton, made a speech at Vermont A demonstration on Poland forum for all viewpoints on ported by all. But the stakes on Law School in South Royalton. was held in Phoenix on January subjects of general interest to the world scale are also clear - From what the Burlington Free 2. The slogans and speakers our readers. Please keep your it is imperialism that will win Poland III Press reported, it sounded like a supported Reagan and were letters brief. Where necessary and the world working class No government -or regime is speech that the law students, anticommunist, anti-Russian, they will be abridged. Please that will lose if the Polish expressing as much indignation and a lot of other people, should and anti-Cuban. indicate if you prefer that your workers state is o~rthrown by over current events in Poland as hear. However, among many who initials be used rather than this struggle for economic relief. the U.S. government. Yet none Sanders called for a new, radi- attended there was confusion. A your full name.

January 22, 1982 The Militant 19 TH£ MILITANT Milw. cops indicted for murder in killing of Black youth

BY PETE SEIDMAN judge is expected to issue warrants for cause race was used as a factor in select­ zation, a broad coalition of Black com­ MILWAUKEE -After six months, the officers arrest and to set a date for a ing the coroners jury of three whites and munity organizations held a news con­ homicide charges have finally been pre­ preliminary hearing. three Blacks. ference Christmas morning. pared against two cops guilty of murder­ McCann says his new complaint NAACP leader Chris Belnavis said, Charges against the three cops for ing Ernest Lacy, a twenty-two-year-old against the cops will hold up in the "the Common Council can not properly homicide by reckless conduct had been Black youth. The cops, George Kalt and courts. The district attorney's decision pass judgement on Alderman Nabors's issued earlier as a result of a month­ Thomas Eliopul, beat Lacy to death July to file these new charges following a De­ remarks, to which he is constitutionally long hearing before a coroners inquest 9 after they had arrested him on suspi­ cember 24 racist strike by Milwaukee entitled and which mirrors the outlook jury. That jury also recommended that cion of a rape they later learned he cops demonstrates the intense pressure of his constituents. Alderman Nabors Dekker and two other cops be charged the officials here feel from the Milwau­ must not be made a scapegoat for the po­ didn't commit. As a result of technicali­ with misconduct in public office for re­ kee Black community. lice union's attempted intimidation of ties, a third killer cop, James Dekker, fusing to give Lacy medical attention af­ faces similar charges from a special pro­ The Black community scored another the Black community in general and the ter he was beaten. secutor. victory here December 16. district attorney in performance of his District Attorney E. Michael McCann But on December 10, McCann asked a A federal jury upheld charges that pledge to prosecute in the Lacy case." has submitted the charges to Myrtle judge to drop these charges. McCann Milwaukee cops and officials had violat­ Milwaukee police went back to work Lacy, Ernest's mother, for her signa­ claimed higher courts would rule that ed the civil rights of Daniel Bell, a . when the Common Council agreed to ture. When the complaint is signed, a the cops' rights had been violated be- twenty-three-year-old Black youth their two major demands. killed in 1958. The jury awarded $1.8 · Cheryll Hidalgo, the Socialist million in damages to Bell's family. Workers Party candidate in the 5th Milwaukee policeman Thomas Grady Congressional District, blasted the cops' planted a knife on Bell after shooting strike. him in the back. "The Milwaukee Police Association is Milwaukee cops organized a sixteen­ not a union of workers, but an organiza­ hour racist strike December 24-25 in re­ tion of racist union busters," the candi­ sponse to the successful mobilizations date from the city's northside Black challenging their lawlessness here. community said. The cops walked off their jobs after "This terrorist organization has con­ the broadcast of a TV interview with tinued to beat, shoot, and murder citi­ Black city Alderman Roy Nabors. Na­ zens of Milwaukee- white and Black bors was commenting on the death of -despite the massive public outcry pro­ two white officers who were shot while voked by the murder of Ernest Lacy. trying to arrest a Black holdup man. "Only the ongoing protests of the Nabors called the policemens' deaths Black community and increasing sup­ "tragic." But he added that the incident port for these actions among all working · could have been avoided if the extreme people have pressured authorities to tensions between the police and the take whatever steps have been taken so far to win justice for the Lacy and Bell community hadn't made the suspect act "out of fear rather than any kind of sens­ families. ible surrender to the police." "The Black community needs to take :responsibility for its own protection," Cops demanded that the Common Hildago said. "Black workers, not white Council repudiate Nabors's statement killer cops, are the best guarantors of and grant total amnesty to the strikers justice on the streets. The Milwaukee as a precondition for returning to work. police department should be withdrawn Milwaukee's Black community responded with demonstrations in the thou­ They also presented a list of other de­ from the Black community and replaced sands to the police murder of Ernie Lacy last July. Increasing demands to mands for further negotiations. with patrols responsible to the commu­ stop cop terror have forced the district attorney to prosecute the killers. In response to this right-wing mobili- nity as a whole." Calif. Black party hits war drive, racist attacks

BY SAM MANUEL pendent political action against the bi­ the NBIPP's founding charter and pro­ called upon Washington to immediately OAKLAND, Calif. - The National partisan attack of the U.S. rulers gram, Mel Mason, Far West regional break all ties with South Africa because Black Independent Political Party against Black rights. representative ofthe NBIPP, explained, of its collusion in the attempt to over­ (NBIPP) registered continued growth Daniels explained, "Our party is a dif­ "Some people asked us, 'Why are you for throw the government of the Seychelles. and expansion at its first California ferent party. We are not like any party forming a Black party?' They thought The conference also heard a speaker State conference held here in December that's ever been on the scene. . . . we shouldn't do this in the face of Rea­ from a Haitian rights group, and later at Laney Community College. Some people keep asking us, 'Who are ganism. We had to look for the lesser supported efforts in defense of Haitian The highlight of the meeting was a you going to run for office?' And we keep evil. They were worried about Reagan­ rights and against deportations. rally marking the first anniversary of · saying we're different. Our party be­ ism. But Reaganism is really Carter­ Among the many other workshops the party. The featured speaker was Na­ lieves that there must be a politics of so­ ism, which was also Nixonism and held were discussions on defending the tional Cochairperson Ron Daniels. cial transformation . . . of self-determi­ Johnsonism, all the way back to Wash­ rights of Black women; the problems Attacking the Reagan administra­ nation for the Black nation. . . . ingtonism. They all add up to racism." facing youth, particularly unemploy­ tion's military spending, he said, "The "We stand for the creation of a new so­ Mason, a city councilman in Seaside, ment; and fighting against the budget worst kind of spending the government ciety . . . where there will be economic California, has been active in the fight cuts. can do is defense spending. You can't eat democracy; that is to say, where the peo­ against police brutality there. The im­ The conference, held December 11-13, a bomb. You can't wear a B-1 bomb­ ple will control the major instruments pact of his role was acknowledged in the was attended by 135 people from across er.... If we're concerned with defense, and means ofpr.oduction, where the peo­ workshop on polic~ and prison repres­ the state. Sixteen people decided to join the NBIPP at the conference. then why in the hell aren't we concerned ple who make the profits will be the peo­ sion by a brother who had just been re­ about defense against hunger? Why are ple who control the profits of this society leased from Soledad prison. He ex­ Twenty~six people came from Los An­ we not concerned about defense against in their own interest," Daniels told the claimed about Mason, "Yeah, he's the geles. Many of them were students at poverty? Why are we not concerned cheering crowd. Black socialist fighting them crackers Los Angeles City College. One student about defense against inadequate edu­ in Seaside." explained that more people would have cation, defense against ill housing?" he The keynote speech at the opening The conference heard reports and come, but the college administration said to much applause. session of the conference was presented proposals from workshops. These withheld funds allocated for transporta­ Daniels continued: "They need such a by Mtangulizi Sanyika. Sanyika is a covered a broad spectrum of issues and tion. Not to be discouraged, the students large defense budget in this country be­ longtime Black activist, and helped to concerns of the Black community. organized a car caravan to the confer­ cause it is clear that imperialism is pre­ organize the NBIPP founding confer­ The workshop on southern Africa and ence. Activists also attended from San paring for war.... We don't want our ence in Chicago last August. the Caribbean urged NBIPP to oppose Francisco, Vallejo, Sacramento, Rich­ sons and daughters, the poor Black peo­ He traced the hisory of the develop­ the war hysteria being whipped up mond, and Seaside. The conference was ple and the working people, or any other ment of the NBIPP, and described what against Libya. It urged support for the broadly publicized throughout the state. people in this country marching off to the party has learned from the experien­ Clark Amendment, which would osten­ In closing the meeting, Pat Wright, Cuba, or marching off to El Salvador, or ces of the Black movement in the 1960s sibly outlaw U.S. covert military actions one of the conference organizers, ex­ Nicaragua, or Grenada." and 1970s. Underscoring the NBIPP's in Angola, and support for Assembly pressed the enthusiasm felt by the par­ The NBIPP. represents a break with importance, he. stated, "The Chicago Bill 1431 introduced by California As­ ticipants: "We are inspired to go back the lesser-evil con game of the Demo­ congress was the firtest hour in the his­ semblywoman Maxine Waters. The lat­ and fight against racist oppression by cratic and Republican parties. It is tory of the movement for an independ­ ter would prohibit the investment of building our party. This conference has charting a course of mobilizing the ent Black political party." state funds in institutions making loans helped to cement the bonds of the Black community and its allies in inde- Speaking about the development of to South Africa. Another resolution NBIPP."