AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.50 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Nigeria conference: ‘Cuba has always stood by Africa’ — PAGE 4 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 83/no. 43 November 25, 2019 Sales of ‘Turn Back strikers fighting UN vote: End to Industry’ Asarco union busting! Washington’s book boosts Join Nov. 18 solidarity rally in Tucson! economic war fall campaign against Cuba by brian williams by Seth galinsky The Socialist Workers Party drive and Lea Sherman to get 1,100 Militant subscriptions and UNITED NATIONS — For the 1,250 books by revolutionary leaders 28th year in a row, the U.N. General into the hands of working people got a Assembly voted Nov. 7 to demand the boost with the publication of The Turn U.S. rulers end their economic, com- to Industry: Forging a Proletarian mercial and financial embargo against Party by SWP National Secretary Jack Cuba. The resolution passed with 187 Barnes. The new title is getting snapped votes in favor. Only the governments up by workers looking for a road for- of Brazil and Israel joined Washington ward out of the crisis of capitalism. to vote against it. Two governments But with just under four weeks left abstained, Colombia and Ukraine. and a number of areas around the coun- For several months the U.S. gov- try behind schedule on the goals they’ve ernment has escalated its economic adopted, SWP members are review- aggression, Cuban Foreign Minister ing their plans to ensure they can bring Bruno Rodríguez told the assembly, home their goals in full and on time. “increasing the suffering, shortages Militant/Bernie Senter Driver Jerion Evans picked up a copy Copper strikers picket Mission mine in Arizona Nov. 11. Asarco bosses want to break the unions. and damage done to our people.” of the book from SWP campaigners The U.S. capitalist rulers have nev- Samir Hazboun and Maggie Trowe BY BERNIE SENTER picket lines in Arizona Nov. 11 and er forgiven the Cuban people — led when they knocked on his door in SAHUARITA, Ariz. — Some 12. We found strikers are winning by Fidel Castro and the July 26 Move- Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 9. 1,700 copper workers on strike at solidarity from working people and ment — for overthrowing the Fulgen- “I just quit my job because I felt Asarco’s five complexes in Arizona cio Batista dictatorship in 1959 end- it wasn’t safe any more,” Evans said. and Amarillo, Texas, since Oct. 13 ing the imperialist domination of their Now he has a new job as a battery are fighting naked union busting by ALL OUT NOV. 18! country. And for carrying out a so- delivery driver. the bosses. They deserve the support — SWP statement page 9 cialist revolution showing the capaci- Hazboun, who ran as SWP candidate and solidarity of workers everywhere. ties of workers and farmers to build for lieutenant governor of Kentucky, de- Worker-correspondents for the small businesses in the region. a society based on human solidarity, Continued on page 3 Militant from Los Angeles visited the The United Steelworkers, Team- not dog-eat-dog capitalist greed. sters and five other unions on strike Every U.S. president since — have called a demonstration outside Democrat and Republican alike — Stop the execution of Rodney Reed! Continued on page 6 Continued on page 4 Family insists: ‘Do the right thing’ Only the working class can stop capitalism’s plunder of land, labor by terry evans rival governments from Beijing to As the administration of President Paris, from prominent Democratic Donald Trump began the process of 2020 presidential candidates and formally withdrawing the U.S. from countless others. Under U.N. rules, the Paris accords on climate change Washington can’t actually leave the Nov. 4, it was met with rebuke from accord until Nov. 4, 2020. Proclaimed as a deal to cut pol- lution, the accords are a sham, with Tens of thousands nothing but voluntary “targets” for in Iraq protest Continued on page 6 interference by Inside Tehran, US rulers Canadian election reflects crisis of capitalist rulers 2 Texas Observer/Gus Bova by brian williams Nov. 9 protest in Austin, Texas, against execution of Rodney Reed, on death row over 20 years. Tens of thousands of working people Stakes in Gibsons’ fight against and youth in Baghdad and throughout Oberlin smear campaign 7 by Alyson kennedy come out is beyond our wildest southern Iraq continue to join anti- DALLAS — “Free Rodney Reed!” dreams,” said Reed’s brother, Ro- government protests demanding an ‘Big capital rules through its chanted hundreds of people at the Tex- drick, at the rally, asking for Gov. end to the sectarian political system two parties. It supports both’ 8 as Capitol in Austin Nov. 9, protesting Greg Abbott to intervene. “It is a established after Washington’s bloody his scheduled execution. The rally cruel and inhumane punishment to invasion of the country in 2003, a halt –On the picket line, p. 5– followed an hourslong demonstration make our family to wait until the last to deteriorating living conditions and Striking Minnesota steelworkers outside the Texas governor’s mansion. day. We aren’t asking you to do noth- an end to Tehran’s political and mili- rally against 2-tier wages system Reed, who has been on death row for ing special. No favors. Just do the tary intervention. more than 20 years, is set to be killed right thing.” “Are you Iranian? No. Are you Virginia bus drivers strike by lethal injection Nov. 20. Reed, who is African American, American? No. Are you Baathist? No? contractor for equal pay “The amount of people who have Continued on page 9 Continued on page 9 Canadian election reflects crisis of capitalist rulers BY JOE YOUNG that Washington will reward them. MONTREAL — “The outcome of “The fact that Donald Trump unilat- the Oct. 21 Canadian federal elections erally ripped up the North American further deepened the crisis of Canada’s Free Trade Agreement with Canada capitalist rulers,” explained Steve Penner and Mexico and imposed a new trade at the Nov. 2 Militant Labor Forum here. pact on both countries shows how lit- “It puts them into an even weaker posi- tle success Ottawa is having with that tion to implement policies that address ‘strategy’” Penner said. The new pact their deep-rooted problems.” has yet to be approved by either Ot- Penner was one of the two Com- tawa or Washington. munist League candidates in the “Canada’s rulers also need a strong Montreal area. He ran in the Papineau central government to push back work- riding and Pierre-Luc Filion in Lon- ing-class resistance, which will inevita- gueuil-St. Hubert. bly become a threat to their rule as the The Liberal Party of Prime Minister capitalist crisis deepens,” Penner said. Justin Trudeau remains in government, “But a strong federal government is ex- Militant/John Steele but lost its majority in parliament. It got actly what they don’t have.” Communist League federal candidate Pierre-Luc Filion discusses article, “The Stewardship of Nature Also Falls to the Working Class: In Defense of Land and Labor” in New fewer votes than any governing party in The Liberal and Conservative par- International no. 14 with demonstrators in Montreal at Sept. 27 “climate change” rally. Canadian history and fewer votes than ties both won votes from across the the opposition Conservative Party, but country in previous elections, but this en across Canada, especially in rural of wealthy families whose interests it more seats. The Liberals cannot pass time the former got support largely areas, the Atlantic provinces and the serves, not those of working people.” legislation without getting votes from at from the east and the latter largely from north.” Less than one in five hospitals The same day as the forum, Com- least one of the other parties, the Con- the west. All but one of the 48 seats in in Canada provide abortion services. munist League member Katy LeR- servatives, the Bloc Quebecois or the Alberta and Saskatchewan went to the Penner said women’s rights groups ougetel spoke in Toronto with a retired New Democratic Party. Conservatives. The New York Times “follow a lesser evil policy of trying mechanic, Rudolph Terrelange, while The capitalist crisis is rooted in the attributed the decline of Trudeau’s sup- to elect so-called friends of women’s campaigning. He said he voted for the downward curve of world capitalism port in mineral-rich western Canada to rights, mainly the Liberals and NDP. Liberals, because Trudeau said that “he that began in the mid-1970s as a result of his imposition of taxes on the use of “But the right to abortion was won by was protecting workers, making sure the falling profit rate of capitalist corpo- fossil fuels and his “sanctimonious” thousands fighting in the streets to de- they wouldn’t be out of a job,” when the rations, Penner said. It has led to sharp- attempt to “impose public morality.” criminalize abortion, not by voting for prime minister intervened to stop the ening rivalry among the world’s capital- Aurelie McBrearty asked Penner why bourgeois parties.” The unions should prosecution of bosses at SNC-Lavalin ist powers as they attempt to strengthen access to abortion wasn’t addressed fight for a woman’s right to choose abor- who were accused of offering bribes. their own position against each other. during the campaign other than by the tion, he said. LeRougetel answered, “He was just “Canada’s ruling families are far Communist League. trying to hoodwink us. Trudeau defends too weak compared to the world’s big- Penner explained that parties on the Workers need their own party big business, not working people. We gest capitalist countries,” Penner said. left of capitalist politics made a big is- “Workers need to break from the need our own party, a labor party that “They have no choice but to attach sue of Conservative leader Andrew lesser evil policies also shared by the fights to overthrow capitalist rule and themselves to the U.S. capitalists’ Scheer’s personal opposition to abor- union officials, and fight independent- establish a government that will act in coattails and support their imperialist tion. “That was just a cover for the ly of the bosses’ parties and build a the interests of working people.” foreign policy from the Middle East fact that the real issue is the lack of ac- fighting labor party. Penner concluded, “The Communist to Cuba and Venezuela in the hope cess to abortion for millions of wom- “That’s the burning question facing League is building a party that partici- Canadian National Railway workers pates in every struggle of the oppressed who voted over 99% to strike,” Penner and exploited to advance a revolutionary said. They have been without a con- strategy, the only course that can win tract since July. But rail union lead- lasting gains.” During the campaign CL ers postponed a strike until after the candidates joined the picket line of strik- elections. Instead, they supported the ing steelworkers, a rally against Anka- “Anybody but Scheer” campaign of ra’s attack on the Kurds in Syria and an the trade union bureaucracy. Their fo- action against Quebec’s Law 21, which Defend women’s right to choose abortion! cus is now on working with the Liber- bans teachers and other public sector als in its efforts to “make the minority workers wearing religious symbols. Women’s rights support- government work.” He invited forum participants to join ers are fighting the Missouri “But it’s a capitalist government,” the League in its activities and to join state government’s campaign Penner pointed out. “It will only work the party. “There is nothing more worth- to close the last remaining in the interests of the small handful while you can do with your life.” family planning clinic in the state that offers women the Latin America, Caribbean: For one year send option of having an abor- The Militant $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Vol. 83/No. 43 Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: For tion. The ‘Militant’ stands one year send $85 drawn on a U.S. bank to AP photo/Jeff Roberson Closing news date: November 13, 2019 above address. for women’s right to choose Protest defends Planned Parenthood fam- Editor: John Studer Canada: For one year send Canadian $45 and supports the protests. ily planning clinic in St. Louis in May. to the Militant, 7107 St. Denis #204, Mon- Managing Editor: Terry Evans treal, Quebec H2S 2S5. Editorial volunteers: Róger Calero, Seth Ga- United Kingdom: Send £30 for one year linsky, Emma Johnson, Martín Koppel, Roy by check or international money order SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Landersen, Jacob Perasso, Brian Williams. made out to CL London, 5 Norman Road (first floor), Seven Sisters, London, N15 Published weekly except for one week in 4ND, England. January, one week in June, one week in NEW READERS NAME July, one week in September. 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Submissions to the Militant may be pub- q $35 for 1 year 306 W. 37th st., 13th Floor new york, ny 10018. Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY. lished in the newspaper in print and digital . Or subscribe online at: www.themilitant.com format. By submitting, authors represent POSTMASTER: Send address changes to that their submissions are original and the Militant, 306 W. 37th Street, 13th floor, consent to publication in this manner. 12 weeks of the Militant outside the U.S.: Australia, A$10 • United Kingdom, £4 • New York, NY 10018. Canada, Can$7 • Caribbean and Latin America, US$10 • Continental Europe, £8 • Signed articles by contributors do not France, 8 euros • New Zealand and the PacificIslands, NZ$7 • All other areas, US$16 SUBSCRIPTIONS: United States: For necessarily represent the Militant’s views. (Send payment to addresses listed in business information box) one year send $35 to above address. These are expressed in editorials.

2 The Militant November 25, 2019 ‘Turn to Industry’ boosts drive Continued from front page plex in Arizona, picked up a Militant scribed how bosses at the Walmart store subscription from SWP campaigner where he works push workers to work Bernie Senter, after Senter visited the unsafely. “What we need to do is fight picket line to bring a letter of solidar- to wrest control of job conditions away ity from 25 of his Walmart co-workers. from the bosses and win the right to de- Copeland texted Senter to say he liked cide for ourselves what is safe,” he said. the Militant’s coverage of the strike. “I “After I started wearing my campaign especially like how there wasn’t any button calling for workers control of anti-red or blue stuff,” in the paper, job conditions, my co-workers snatched he said, referring to the Democratic them up and wore them proudly.” and Republican parties, “just a mature Trowe showed Evans pictures from case for a working-class political party. the book of rail workers marching for I liked how the tally numbers for the rail safety in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, GM ratification vote was reported,” af- two years after a runaway oil train with ter the strike by United Auto Workers a one-person “crew” derailed, killing members, he added. 47 people there; of miners in Harlan Communist League members and County, Kentucky, blocking rail tracks supporters in Canada went door to door Militant/Jacquie Henderson Jerion Evans gets The Turn to Industry: Forging a Proletarian Party by SWP National Secretary to prevent bankrupt Blackjewel Coal in Princeville, Quebec, Nov. 7, where Jack Barnes, from Maggie Trowe, and Samir Hazboun, right, in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 9. Co. from hauling coal until bosses paid they met Vincent Arseneault, a young wages they were owed; of the recent GM mechanical designer in Victoriaville. ly needed to cover the party’s political revolutionary books and to contribute workers on strike; and others. “These Some 400 workers at the Olymel work. Contributions can be expanded to the fund can contact the SWP or are the kind of things that are possible meatpacking company are on strike in by asking those being introduced to the Communist League branches listed in when we recognize our worth as human Princeville fighting to get their wages party on their doorsteps to also make a the directory on page 8. beings,” said Trowe, “as Malcolm X en- up to the same level of workers at other donation to the fund. couraged us to do.” Olymel operations. To encourage greater understanding Evans agreed, saying, “We all really “I support the strike,” Arseneault told of the party’s revolutionary program, do need to fight together!” CL member Lynda Little. “The cost of all Pathfinder books and copies of the militant The introduction to the new title ex- living is always going up and wages Marxist magazine New International plains that revolutionary leaders like are not keeping up. I’m not in a union are being offered at a 20% discount until labor Malcolm, “never tired of reminding where I work, but I would like to have Dec. 10 when the drive ends. In addition forums working people why discovering our one there.” He purchased a Militant eight titles are offered at half price when worth is more important than harping subscription and the French edition of purchased with a Militant subscription. CALIFORNIA on our oppression and exploitation. … In Defense of the US Working Class by Malcolm Keenan in London got a Oakland New Developments in Middle East — And of showing us in action how we SWP leader Mary-Alice Waters. copy of Women in Cuba: The Making What Is Road Forward for Working are capable of transforming ourselves of a Revolution Within the Revolution People? Speaker: Andrea Morell, Social- — and the foundations of society itself Fund drive needs boost and a subscription to the Militant, ist Workers Party. Fri., Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. Donation: $5. 675 Hegenberger Road, — as we organize together and fight.” Alongside the campaign to expand when Communist League members Suite 250. Tel.: (510) 686-1351. Evans also got a Militant subscription the Militant readership SWP members Andrés Mendoza and Julie Crawford and Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and are also raising $100,000 to finance the knocked on his door. New york the Road to Workers Power. party’s activities. Through week five the “I don’t see communism working Albany David Copeland, a striking shovel and Party-Building Fund remains behind anywhere,” he had told the CL cam- Jew-Hatred in the Epoch of Imperi- drill mechanic at Asarco’s Mission com- schedule by 11%. The funds are urgent- paigners. Crawford described how the alism. Speaker: Dave Prince, Social- ist Workers Party National Committee. revolutionary government in Cuba re- Sun., Nov. 17. Program, 3 p.m. $5; dinner, lied on the capacities of working people 5 p.m. $7. 285 Washington Ave. to fight together to change their condi- Tel.: (518) 810-1586. tions and in the process change them- selves, not the creation of a big welfare state to administer workers and farmers. Fall Campaign to sell The book Keenan picked up describes how women were part of the revolution’s Militant subscriptions leadership at every point in the struggle. and books “I may have something to vote for,” Keenan added as he signed nomina- Oct. 5 - Dec. 10 (Week 5) tion papers to put Jonathan Silberman, Sub Subs Books Books the CL’s candidate for Tottenham in Country quota sold quota sold London, on the ballot for the Dec. 12 UNITED STATES parliamentary election. Albany 70 30 70 17 Those wanting to join the effort to Atlanta 70 39 110 68 broaden the reach of the Militant and Chicago* 110 86 100 66 Dallas 35 25 35 12 Lincoln 12 7 15 10 Militant/Bernie Senter Socialist Workers Striking Asarco miner Mike Sepulveda talks with Ellie Garcia, a member of the Socialist Los Angeles 90 61 90 62 Workers Party on a solidarity visit at the Mission mine in Sahuarita, Arizona, Nov. 11. Party Fund Drive Louisville 60 33 60 26 Oct. 5 - Dec. 10 (Week 5) Miami 25 11 25 12 New Jersey 40 28 70 51 Area Quota Collected Special offer on new book available now New York 80 27 120 89 Albany $6,000 $1,750 Oakland 70 43 100 67 Atlanta $9,250 $3,900 The Turn to Industry: Philadelphia 25 12 25 13 Chicago $11,000 $5,089 Pittsburgh 25 17 25 12 Dallas $2,500 $728 Forging a Proletarian Party Seattle 70 43 90 37 Explains the working-class program, composition, Lincoln $250 $189 Twin Cities 35 21 45 26 and course of conduct of the only kind of party worthy Los Angeles $10,500 $4,468 Washington 50 28 50 38 of the name ‘revolutionary’ in the imperialist epoch. Louisville* $2,800 $1,680 Total U.S. 867 511 1,030 606 The only kind of party that can recognize the most Miami $3,500 $2,116 Prisoners 25 16 revolutionary fact of this epoch — the worth of work- New York $14,000 $6,317 ing people, and our power to change society when N. New Jersey $3,300 $915 UNITED KINGDOM we organize and act against the capitalist class in all London 50 33 75 43 its economic, social, and political forms. Oakland $12,000 $7,613 Philadelphia $2,500 $930 Manchester 35 21 45 23 This book is about building such a party in the Total U.K. 85 54 120 66 United States and in other capitalist countries around Pittsburgh* $2,300 $1,500 the world. Seattle $10,000 $4,157 Canada 70 40 150 55 Twin Cities $4,500 $1,550 — Jack Barnes, National Secretary of New Zealand 20 18 20 14 the Socialist Workers Party Washington, DC $4,600 $1,564 Other $500 Australia 25 18 25 9 Special offer: $12 — or $10 with Militant subscription Total $99,000 $44,966 Total 1,092 657 1,345 750 Should Be $100,000 $55,555 SHOULD BE 1,100 605 1,250 688 pathfinderpress.com *raised quota *Raised goal

The Militant November 25, 2019 3 Nigeria conference: ‘Cuba has always stood by Africa’ By James Harris legendary. Remember the sacrifices that and Ved Dookhun the Cubans made to come here even ABUJA, Nigeria — Some 300 par- when others were running away,” Onu ticipants attended the 6th African Con- said to loud cheers and applause. tinental Conference of Solidarity with “Cuba has always stood at the side Cuba Sept. 23-25 at the International of Africa and we are here reaffirming Conference Center here in the capital. that Africa stands by the side of Cuba Twenty-six African nations were rep- in these difficult times,” Cuban Ambas- resented, along with delegations from sador to Nigeria Carlos Trejo told the Venezuela, Cuba and the U.S. delegates. “The blockade against us is The gathering was co-sponsored by not only a blockade against Cuba. It is a the Nigeria Movement in Solidarity blockade of ideas and of the Cuban ex- with Cuba and the Cuban Institute for ample. To fight for Cuba is to fight for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP). yourself. It is a fight for humanity.” Militant photos by Ved Dookhun Five previous Africa-wide Cuba solidar- Christine Hoebes, Namibian deputy Delegates, at African Continental Conference of Solidarity with Cuba, Sept. 23. Inset, Fernando González, president of Cuban ity conferences have been held between minister of foreign affairs, spoke about Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, speaks at the gathering. 1995 and 2017, in South Africa, Ghana, Cuba’s role in the Namibian war of inde- Angola, Ethiopia and Namibia. pendence from apartheid South Africa. is still here,” Abiodun Aremu, interim in the closing session. “The U.S. is the The Cuban delegation was headed “As Namibians we remember the sacri- coordinator of the Nigeria Movement chief imperialist power in the world but by ICAP President Fernando González, fice of many Cubans and remain forever in Solidarity with Cuba and one of the it is not a monolith. It is class divided,” one of five Cuban revolutionaries who in their debt,” she said. main conference organizers, said in his Harris said. “Workers and farmers in served some 15 years in U.S. federal Sheriff Sholagbunde, from the Amil- closing remarks. “We will never aban- the U.S., and youth who are won to their prisons, framed up by Washington for car Cabral Ideological School-Move- don Cuba. The future of Africa is insep- side, are interested in the Cuban exam- their defense of the revolution. He also ment, called for the meeting to demand arable from the future of Cuba.” ple when they learn about it. They can fought in Angola from 1987 to 1989, as African governments promote trade James Harris, a leader of the D.C. be won to support the revolution.” part of Cuba’s internationalist mission to with Cuba despite the U.S. embargo. Metro Coalition in Solidarity with the Conference participants wanted to help defeat the invading forces of South “In spite of the many obstacles that Cuban Revolution and of the Socialist learn about working-class struggles in Africa’s apartheid regime. “Africa is a the enemies of Cuba presented, Cuba Workers Party in the U.S., also spoke Continued on page 5 stronghold of solidarity with Cuba in the world,” González told those at the meeting. “Affection and support from UN: End Washington’s economic war against Cuba the peoples of Africa have always ac- Continued from front page empted from the embargo. Cuba has to port,” stated Ingha Rhonda King, the companied generations of Cubans, from has waged economic war against the pay cash up front; is not allowed to buy representative of Saint Vincent and the the early days of the Cuban Revolution.” Cuban people, their government and on credit; Cuba is prohibited from using Grenadines. “In the areas of health care Conference sponsors included the their revolution. its own ships to transport goods it can and humanitarian assistance, Cuba’s Nigeria Labour Congress; Trade Union Rodríguez listed many of the recent purchase; and, he said, “banks that pro- contribution to underserved areas in the Congress; Nigeria Cuba Friendship and U.S. attacks, including blocking Cuba cess our transactions are persecuted.” world is unparalleled and was typified Cultural Association; Amilcar Cabral from importing fuel by sanctioning and “Who in the world trades under these with its role in the fight against the Ebola Ideological School-Movement; National threatening maritime shipping and in- conditions?” he said. epidemic in Africa.” Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring surance companies; reinstating limits Pointing to U.S. military interven- Belize Ambassador Lois Young said Workers of Nigeria; National Union of on remittances Cuban Americans send tions around the world, as well as the U.S. embargo is meant “to drive a Air Transport Employees; and others. to their families on the island; banning widespread police brutality, the racist wedge between Cuba and the rest of the Cuba’s selfless contributions to the Cuba from leasing airplanes or purchas- application of the death penalty, and world,” and this was “unacceptable.” people of Africa — from liberation ing just about anything with more than abusive treatment of immigrants in Representatives of several African struggles to medical aid and education 10% U.S. components; tightening the the U.S., Rodríguez said, “The U.S. governments noted the role of Cuba — were discussed, including by for- squeeze on banks that handle Cuban government doesn’t have the tini- in helping them win independence mer students who had been educated transactions; and ending cruise ship est bit of moral authority to criticize from colonial rule and in the fight in Cuba. How best to aid Cuba in the stops as well as direct flights to Cuban Cuba or anyone else over human against South African apartheid. In struggle against the U.S. government’s airports, except for Havana, measures rights.” He noted that fully one-quar- the 1988 battle of Cuito Cuanavale, 60-year economic war and occupation aimed at sabotaging tourism and the in- ter of all those incarcerated in the the combined forces of Cuban inter- of Guantánamo was also debated. come it brings to those on the island. world are in U.S. prisons. nationalists, Namibian freedom fight- But not every representative who ers and Angolan soldiers defeated an ‘In Africa, Cuba is special’ US proclaims ‘right’ to punish Cuba voted for the resolution did so out of invasion by the white supremacist “For the working people of Africa, Before Rodríguez spoke, U.S. Am- solidarity with Cuba. Finnish represen- South African army. friendship and solidarity with Cuba is bassador Kelly Craft denounced the tative Jukka Salovaara, speaking in the By the early 1990s, Namibia gained special,” said Ayuba Wabba, president resolution, saying the embargo was name of the European Union, said EU its independence from South Africa, of the Nigeria Labour Congress, in his just Washington asserting its “sover- members were voting for an end to the Nelson Mandela was freed and the hated welcome. “Without the intervention eign right” to “choose which countries embargo because “critical engagement” apartheid regime crumbled. of Cuba in the liberation wars on the we trade with.” is necessary to undermine Cuba’s politi- Cuba has been “at the forefront of mother continent, many of us gathered She said nothing about the objection cal and economic system. contributing to the freedom and inde- here today would still be in one jungle raised by almost every speaker during The latest moves intensifying the U.S. pendence of my country,” Nelville Ger- or another fighting guerrilla battles. But the two-day debate — that Washington embargo, he complained, were “very tze, Namibian U.N. ambassador, said. Cuba happened and our chains were dictates that all other governments and damaging for Cuba’s burgeoning private Despite U.S. hostility and slanders, broken sooner rather than later.” corporations around the world also pun- sector” and “EU economic interests.” Cuban Ambassador Rodríguez said Wabba also said Africans need to ish Cuba or face U.S. retribution. He called on Cuba “to pursue a com- Cuba does not “renounce our will- look to Cuba as an example in the strug- The U.S. ambassador slandered prehensive reform and modernization ingness to achieve a civilized rela- gles they face today. He cited the recent the Cuban government, claiming it agenda,” code words for bringing back tionship” with Washington “based on xenophobic attacks being carried out “abuses” its own people and violates capitalism, and echoed the U.S. slanders mutual respect and recognition of our against Nigerian immigrants and Nige- their human rights. She pushed Wash- that Cuba violates human rights. profound differences.” rian-owned businesses in South Africa. ington’s lie that Cuban doctors who The Cuban Revolution, its 60-year “True solidarity with Cuba” means volunteer for the country’s health Cuba’s example of solidarity battle resisting the U.S. capitalist rulers’ showing “love to other Africans,” Wab- care missions around the world, are Rodríguez didn’t need to answer aggression and economic war, and its ba said. “The recent xenophobic attacks, “held in servitude.” the U.S. slander on Cuba’s interna- internationalist solidarity with working or rather ‘afrophobic’ attacks, would not And she claimed that Cuba is allowed tional solidarity missions, which people the world over stand as an exam- have happened if we truly take up the to purchase $100 million worth of agri- include thousands of doctors and ple for workers and farmers to emulate, Cuban ideals of shared humanity.” cultural products and medicines from nurses in dozens of countries. One including in the U.S. In his welcoming remarks Nigerian the U.S. but refuses to do so. ambassador after another, regardless Minister of Science and Technology Cuban Foreign Minister Rodríguez of their government’s opinions on Ogbonnaya Onu recalled Cuba’s medi- answered her, citing examples of medi- Cuba’s revolution, spoke about their Subscribe, cal aid to the poorest regions of the con- cines and medical devices that Wash- experience with Cuban international- contribute to the tinent. He expressed his contempt for ington refuses to allow Cuba to get. ist volunteers. the U.S. propaganda campaign against He explained how Washington im- “The majority of members of this or- ‘Militant’ online at Cuban medical workers. poses restrictions on Cuba that no other ganization have profited from Cuba’s in- themilitant.com “In the fight against Ebola, Cuba is nation faces to buy the few products ex- valuable assistance, solidarity and sup-

4 The Militant November 25, 2019 on the picket line Are you involved in a union organizing drive or strike? Brought soli- darity to fellow workers on the picket line? Let us know! Send articles, photos and letters to [email protected] or through our website, or mail them to 306 W. 37th St., 13th floor, New York, NY 10018. Striking Minnesota steelworkers workers for the Washington, D.C., Met- rally against 2-tier wages system ro public transportation system. BLAINE, Minn. — Chanting After opening the Cinder Bed facil- “What’s disgusting? Union busting,” ity in 2018, Metro contracted out opera- some 200 union members and others tion of the garage, and all the northern joined an expanded picket line for strik- Virginia bus routes that are run from it, ing members of United Steelworkers to Transdev. Workers there have been Local 63B Nov. 7 outside the Carley without a contract since February. Foundry. The 220 workers there have “Until last year, these were Metro been on strike since Nov. 2. Their con- jobs paying the union rate of over $33 an tract expired May 31. hour,” union organizer Brian Wivell told “The company makes millions of the Militant on the picket line Nov. 3. dollars, and they still want to take from “Metro brought in Transdev and they’re paying workers a little over $20 per hour the employees,” striker John Abrizenski Militant/Kevin Dwire told this Militant worker-correspondent. now, with much worse insurance ben- efits. They deserve to be paid what all United Steelworkers Local 63B members on strike against Carley Foundry in Blaine, Minnesota, The company is demanding a two-tier and supporters rally outside plant Nov 7, protesting bosses’ demand for two-tier wage system. wage system, paying overtime after 40 the other bus drivers in the Metro sys- tem make.” “CUPE, the painters union, and bus hours a week instead of after eight hours British Columbia hotel workers “The company offered a 20 cents drivers are joining us in our rallies ev- a day and other concessions. gain solidarity in contract fight wage increase,” said Titus Biney, one ery Thursday,” Richard Reddy, a hos- “The new contract they want is not VANCOUVER, British Columbia of the striking drivers. “That’s an insult. pitality worker and bargaining com- fair,” said Donteh Smith, who had tried — Hotel workers, members of UNITE Twenty cents doesn’t buy a small bottle mittee member, told the Militant on the to help organize a union at another HERE Local 40, have been picketing of water for your baby.” picket line. foundry before being hired at Carley. the Rosewood Hotel Georgia here since Biney, who is originally from Ghana, On Oct. 27 some 1,500 other Local 40 “They want to be able to move you from had worked as a union bus driver in Chi- walking out Sept. 22. Management members ended a 28-day strike at sever- one position to another and give you cago. He talked to his co-workers about broke off talks Oct. 23. al other area hotels, winning wage raises lower pay.” why they should support the union and The workers are fighting for a wage of up to 25% over four years. But the Among the union members bring- the strike. Many are from other coun- raise, safe working conditions and an Rosewood Hotel bosses insist “they’re ing solidarity was a carload of United tries and were initially hesitant, he said, end to sexual harassment of women not going to give us what the other hotels Auto Workers Local 722 members but now they’re walking the picket line. workers. They’ve stood up to employer got,” Reddy said. who had been on strike at the GM — Mike Galati attempts to divide and intimidate them. — Dan Grant parts distribution center in Hudson, Wisconsin. “We’re here to support our brothers and sisters,” UAW mem- ber Dashawn Ramsey said. “They’re Nigeria conference: ‘Cuba has always stood by Africa’ fighting for the same thing we did — Continued from page 4 and women who were descendants of 2-mile march ended with a rally of against two-tier wages.” the U.S. A point of interest throughout the slaves who played a fundamental 300 in a well-known park in Abuja. “It’s good to see different unions the conference was a large table featur- role in the struggle for the indepen- come to show solidarity,” said striker ing books by Thomas Sankara, Nelson dence of Cuba.” Cuba an example for Africa Greg McDowell. “It lets the company Mandela, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, On the last day of the conference Ever present at the conference was know we’re not going anywhere.” and SWP leaders Jack Barnes and Mary- participants took to the streets of Abu- the backdrop of the world capitalist eco- — Kevin Dwire Alice Waters. Many participants were ja to protest the U.S. government’s nomic crisis and imperialism’s devastat- surprised to learn that communist litera- economic war against Cuba and its oc- ing consequences for the people of Af- Virginia bus drivers strike ture could be openly sold in the U.S. cupation of Guantánamo. The march rica. It’s clearly the reason why Cuba’s contractor for equal pay “The relations between our coun- had originally been set to finish at the socialist revolution is so attractive to LORTON, Va. — Over 50 Metrobus tries are part of our history rooted in U.S. Embassy, but U.S. government those gathered here. Many contrasted drivers, mechanics and other workers at deep cultural and historical roots,” officials complained to the Nigerian conditions in Cuba, a small island coun- the Cinder Bed garage and maintenance said a declaration adopted by the con- government. Conference organizers try of 11 million with limited natural facility here walked off the job Oct. 24. ference. “Sealed by the blood spilled told delegates they agreed to an alter- resources, to the crisis facing working They are members of Amalgamated by the more than 2,000 Cuban fighters native route to avoid involving foreign people in Nigeria and the rest of Africa. Transit Union Local 689, which rep- who lost their lives in the struggle for guests in any possible altercation with In Nigeria, more than half the popula- resents bus, subway and maintenance the sovereignty of our Nations, men Nigerian police. Instead, the spirited tion of 190 million is estimated to live on less than $2 a day and life expectancy is only 54 years of age. This is despite 25, 50, and 75 years ago the fact that imperialist-dominated mo- nopolies have profited greatly off trans- forming Nigeria into one of the largest oil producers in the world, and the coun- try is rich in other natural resources. November 28, 1994 November 28, 1969 November 25, 1944 Traveling the 300 miles by road from The trial of Canadian Auto Workers WASHINGTON, D.C. — From every Defiantly answering the Allied- Abuja to Lagos, as we did after the con- member Roger Warren on nine counts conceivable city, village and town they supported attempt of the counter- ference, the social and economic devas- of murder is being exposed as a frame- came to participate in the most massive revolutionary Pierlot government to tation facing Nigerian toilers becomes up, even as the government presses for- demonstration in American history. The disarm the revolutionary fighters of clear. Once you leave Abuja with its ward with its case. One of the prosecu- roughly one million Americans who the Resistance Forces in Belgium, government buildings, paved roads and tion’s main witnesses, Royal Canadian marched on Washington and San Fran- 15,000 men and women workers numerous construction projects under- Mounted Police Sgt. Gregg McMartin, cisco Nov. 15 were taking part in the marched through the streets Nov. 19 way, conditions change abruptly. admitted in court that he lied several largest political confrontation ever be- in a militant and tumultuous demon- The roads — some paved, others times while interrogating Warren. tween masses of American people and stration demanding the resignation not, or simply flooded out — provide Warren is a member of CAW Lo- the government that supposedly repre- of Pierlot’s government. a source of income for many Nigerians cal 2304. He and his coworkers waged sents them. The unmistakenly revolutionary who attempt to survive as petty traders an 18-month strike against Royal Oak The Nov. 15 march was a powerful mood of the demonstrators was evi- on the roadside. Travelers are swamped Mines in Yellowknife, Northwest Ter- refutation of the notion that a march on denced in their singing of the battle song by women and children, snaking ritories. The battle ended with a union the nation’s capital demanding immedi- of Socialism, “The Internationale,” by through congested traffic competing to victory in December 1993. The charges ate, unconditional U.S. withdrawal from the red flags predominant among their sell every conceivable commodity. against Warren stem from a mine explo- Vietnam, organized on a nonexclusion banners, and by the Hammer and Sickle The 15-hour trip is made much longer sion that killed strikebreakers employed basis, was far too radical an action to emblem of the Bolshevik Revolution on by checkpoints of armed state police and by the company during the strike. win the support of the millions of Amer- their armbands. security forces. Officially supposed to Many miners believe that it was the icans opposed to the war. About half the marchers were wom- deter the threat posed by Boko Haram, company’s criminal negligence around When a million citizens of the most en. Also among the demonstrators were an Islamist terrorist outfit based in the mine safety that led to the deaths and powerful imperialist country march a considerable number of men in Bel- northern part of Nigeria, the roadblocks that the trial of Warren is a continuation through the streets saying stop the war, gian army uniform. They paraded and are seen by many working people as a of attempts to bust the union. it is a portent of things to come. shouted, “Down with Pierlot!” means of harassment to take bribes. The Militant November 25, 2019 5 Back strikers in Asarco fight Stakes in Gibsons’ fight against Oberlin College smear campaign Continued from front page bosses and give them the choice jobs.” by Roy Landersen hardly put a price on that, could you?” Asarco’s offices in Tucson on Nov. 18 In July 2017 Gabriel Benitez was run The stakes are growing for the po- Ambar tries to change the subject, say- from noon to 2 p.m. (See ad below.) over by a mine dump truck while sitting litical rights of the working class in the ing “we” — the officials of the well- “We know the company is highly in his pickup truck at the Mission mine. landmark Ohio court battle won June 7 endowed liberal institution — believe profitable,” said Ryan Connolly, a truck “He was a new guy, not adequately by the Gibsons, the family owners of a the jury “determination was exces- shop mechanic at the Silver Bell mine trained,” Copeland said. “The company local bakery, against a malicious smear sive.” Elsewhere, college officials have north of Tucson and member of USW found a way to blame the dead guy be- campaign by senior Oberlin College of- shown their true colors, saying this Local 937. “The company is willing cause he can’t defend himself.” ficials accusing them of racism and at- was due to “prejudices” by local work- to take on significant losses to bust the Miguel Romero, a welder at the Mis- tempting to drive them out of business. ing-class jury members. union in the long run.” sion complex for 12 years, said, “They The institution’s course to defend its The fact is Oberlin is a company Members of the seven unions at the used to have 22 welders. Now they’re race-baiting slanders — and merito- town, where everyone is expected to do mine voted 77% to reject the com- down to five. Still no raise in 10 years cratic class disdain for working people the bidding of the campus administra- pany’s “last, final and best” offer that and they want us to do all the work that — by appealing the multimillion dol- tion. They are currently on a campaign workers call “insulting.” That’s an un- 22 people used to do.” lar award on bogus grounds of “free to cut the number of campus workers — derstatement. In addition to Asarco, Grupo Mexico speech” has been reinforced by a new members of United Auto Workers Lo- “With every contract we’ve signed owns mines in Mexico, Peru, Argen- lawsuit launched against the Gibsons cal 2192 — and take other steps against we’ve lost something and we’re just tina, Chile, Ecuador and Spain. “What Oct. 31 by some local media bosses. their wages and working conditions. tired of them taking advantage of us,” they pay those people per day is what The group, which includes some The slander campaign by Oberlin said Kathy Coleman, a haul truck driver we get in an hour,” Romero said. “That’s USW Local 5613 College, one of the most expensive cam- Cleveland news outlets who haven’t Legal Insurrection at the Ray mine near Kearny. Unionists support copper miners’ picket line at Asarco refinery Nov. 6 in Amarillo, Texas. just wrong.” previously shown much interest in cov- Gibson family members celebrate June court victory over Oberlin “racism” libel campaign. puses in the country, began with a shop- “There’s been a whole lot of contempt Only a few dozen out of 800 at the Workers are in serious fight against bosses’ union busting at five facilities in Texas and Arizona. ering the fight, is now backing the col- lifting incident at the Gibson’s store in towards the union,” said Tim Davies, Ray mine have crossed the picket line, November 2016. At the Silver Bell mine, the company’s Workers at the Amarillo refinery held lege’s efforts to smear the Gibsons un- Lorain County jury finding college of- journalist Ted Koppel, college President chief shop steward for the Operating which is lively and boisterous, especial- An Oberlin student, who is Black, smallest facility, most of the workers an expanded picket line Nov. 6, joined der the guise of “freedom of the press.” ficials guilty of slander and awarding Carmen Twillie Ambar had to acknowl- Engineers at the Mission complex. ly when trucks enter or exit the mine. failed in an effort to use fake ID to buy crossed the picket line with only 10 stay- by members of Local 13-487 from the Their legal moves now are an exact $31.5 million in damages and legal fees edge the jury’s findings, but claimed that Asarco’s proposal would continue a “We had no choice but to go on strike,” wine, then stole two bottles. He and two ing out on strike. Valero oil refinery in Dumas, Texas, copy of moves by the college that were to the Gibsons. one could have different “perceptions” freeze on wages for nearly two-thirds said Fidel Aborca, an operator at the Ray friends attacked store clerk Allyn Gib- There is a long history of hard-fought who cooked a meal for participants. rejected by the trial judge. They seek to Oberlin College’s campaign against of “disparate treatment with respect to of the workers, who haven’t had a pay mine. “A neighbor said the other day he son Jr., who had tried to stop him. Nine bitter miners’ battles in Arizona, in- Send solidarity messages to the unseal Facebook records of a Gibson the Gibson family and their court vic- people of color in the store.” increase in 10 years, while slightly in- got called by Asarco for a job. ‘I’m not months later, the three pled guilty to at- cluding the 1983-86 Phelps Dodge strikers via [email protected]. family member who wasn’t directly in- tory took a hit Nov. 3 when the national But neither Ambar’s interview nor crossing any picket line,’ he told me.” tempted theft, stating no racism was in- creasing the wages of the highest paid bosses’ assault on workers in Morenci Donations to the strike fund and the volved in the lawsuit or trial. Oberlin’s CBS “Sunday Morning” show ran a any court testimony raised a single ob- volved in the affair. — an attempt to divide workers and that broke the union. So workers know food pantry can be made via: paypal. earlier effort to unseal the Facebook 13-minute program on the dispute. The jective fact of any actual discrimina- Solidarity makes a difference An article in the Grape, Oberlin’s stu- weaken the unions. It would double or the stakes are high. me/palfcommunityservice. Everyone records was rejected because the school feature allows both college administra- tion by the Gibsons. The college didn’t Recently a group of airline workers dent life magazine, said students regu- triple health care premiums and deduct- Retired miner Bill Becker worked at is welcome to join the picket lines in never argued they were pertinent to tors and the Gibsons to explain how they present a single area resident at trial to stopped by the picket line to bring sup- larly shoplifted from stores in the towns, ibles and undermine seniority rights. Silver Bell for 10 years. He has been a Arizona and Amarillo, Texas. their case at the trial. see the case, but it clearly shines a criti- back up its slanders. In fact, testimony port. Food donations are plentiful. One including Gibson’s. They didn’t do this The bosses’ ultimatum also takes away regular at the picket line. “This is a long The college recently hired an addi- cal light on Oberlin’s dishonesty about and evidence at trial confirmed the ex- UPS driver dropped off a truckload of because they needed to, the paper’s edi- contractual protections for the unions to run kind of thing and if you don’t stand Bernie Senter is a worker at Walmart tional phalanx of high-priced lawyers its slander campaign. act opposite. firewood to get strikers through the cold tor wrote, but because they “felt like it.” defend workers on the jobs. up you get stepped on,” he said. in Los Angeles. in an effort to overturn the unanimous In an interview with well-known TV Koppel interviewed Nathan Car- In an Oct. 24 phone conference with weather. “I didn’t think solidarity would penter, editor-in-chief of the Oberlin For the two days after the arrest, its investors, Asarco owner Grupo Mex- be this good,” said Romero. Review, the student paper, which often the CBS clip shows, college officials ico — the fourth largest copper con- On Nov. 11, 30 members of the echoes the administration’s line of dis- helped organize students to protest at glomerate worldwide — boasted quar- UNITE HERE union joined United Only the working class can stop capitalism’s plunder of land and labor dain for the Gibsons. Carpenter claims the bakery and “put out and distribute terly sales reached $2 billion, an 8.4% Food and Commercial Workers mem- Continued from front page In the name of competing success- harm to working people,” Melanie electricity, predominantly in Africa, the issue is students’ free speech, their a defamatory flyer which described increase, despite a drop in copper and bers who came with lunch for everyone emission reductions that are set by the fully with rivals abroad, the Trump Meade, who is involved in the fight by will continue to go without. “right to say what they said during the Gibson’s Bakery as ‘a racist establish- zinc prices. The company made it clear and bolstered the picket line for hours. polluting regimes themselves. Dis- administration has enacted regulations area workers against the steel bosses’ In contrast, the Socialist Workers initial protests and whether the college ment with a long account of racial pro- it’s not interested in negotiating with the After Union Pacific rail workers and charges of carbon dioxide and other that require power plant bosses to re- pollution, told a Militant Labor Fo- Party and its candidates explain that the is on the hook [for that].” filing and discrimination.’” unions. Its goal is to get workers to cross their union announced they wouldn’t heat-trapping gases contribute to the duce hourly carbon emissions, but not rum in Pittsburgh in August. And “the fight to defend land and labor falls to The college administration‘s appeal, College administrators cancelled the picket lines and add in more scab la- cross the picket line, the rail bosses no- gradual rise in the temperature of the their total amount. Health Department is in cahoots with the working class and requires that we filed Oct. 8, makes the same argument, their contracts with Gibson’s bakery. bor to get the Mission mine production tified Asarco they would no longer ser- earth’s atmosphere. Coal miners face the biggest rise in industry,” she added. organize independently of the bosses insisting the jury’s decision jeopar- And when some faculty members ques- up to 100% by the end of the year. vice the mine. The capitalist rulers have no con- black lung disease in decades, as mine When governments do adopt mea- and their parties. They explain that the dized First Amendment rights to free tioned and objected to these actions, the Many strikers told us how condi- Maria Garcia runs Maria’s Cafe in cern for the social consequences of bosses push speedup, lengthen the sures in the name of combating pollu- fight workers need to wage for control speech by students. officials’ response was “f--k em.” tions on the job have been steadily Mammoth and her husband is a striking their rapacious exploitation of labor, working day and have driven relent- tion, they target working people, not the over production and safety in the plants, But the Gibsons didn’t sue any stu- Lawyers for the Gibsons family deteriorating, increasingly jeopardiz- miner. “If the workers don’t have work, nor their depletion of the soil, destruc- lessly to run production without work- bosses. They say we make stupid choic- mines and other workplaces must in- dents. They sued the college and some have filed a cross-appeal against the we don’t have work,” she told us. “That’s college, to restore the original $44 ing safety. Vehicles and equipment in tion of the forests, elimination of spe- ers having union protection. The debil- es because we don’t know better, and clude control over emissions of CO2 and of its officials for their actions to try open pit mines make individual cars why I’m helping. I take food to them. A cies from overhunting or fishing, and itating and ultimately fatal disease had push for regulations that will force us to other greenhouse gases. and smear and crush the family and million jury verdict against it. This and trucks look like toys. The tires union contract isn’t just for the workers, poisoning of the waters. declined 90% from the 1970s to the do “what’s right.” Eleven state govern- “Science and technology,” a reso- their store. was reduced by the judge under an alone can be more than 12 feet tall and it goes to maintain the families.” None of the rival capitalist govern- mid-1990s as a result of a massive fight ments are considering a “Transportation lution adopted by the party in 2007 The “Sunday Morning” report makes Ohio law that limits punitive damage weigh 10,000 lbs. A solidarity letter signed by some two ments, nor U.S. politicians of whatever waged by miners and their union that and Climate Initiative” that would force states, “have established the knowl- it clear it was only “when the college re- awards. Similar laws challenged in 13 dozen workers from a Walmart store in position on the Paris agreement, offer a won the right to shut down production fuel suppliers to buy “allowances” to edge and the means to lessen the bur- fused to issue a statement exonerating other states in recent years have been Fight for workers control over safety Los Angeles where this Militant corre- serious course to halt the rulers’ ongo- in unsafe conditions. keep burning fossil fuels. This wouldn’t dens and dangers of work, to advance the family of racism [that] the Gibsons declared unconstitutional. “The bosses say we don’t matter,” spondent works was greatly appreciated ing damage to the earth, seas and sky. do much to stop pollution, but would the quality of life, and to conserve and filed a lawsuit.” The CBS program can be viewed at: David Copeland, a shovel and drill me- by striking workers. Nor to halt their simultaneous attacks Residents fight steel bosses pollution lead to higher prices for working people. improve the earth’s patrimony.” And, as the CBS clip notes, “Freedom https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ober- chanic who has worked at the Mission Steelworkers Local 937 President on workers’ lives and limbs. Demo- Bosses in all industries operate in the Likewise, the U.N. summit on climate “Yet under capitalism … this liberat- of speech does not grant a license to li- lin-college-and-gibsons-bakery-a-pro- mine for over 20 years, told the Militant. Alex Terrazas said he had been a crats and Republicans alike subordinate same manner. Last year when anti-pol- change in September discussed propos- ing potential is turned into its opposite,” bel.” But it equivocates, saying “there test-against-racism-and-a-31-5-million- “They tell us they’ve got people beating Walmart worker before he started work- workers’ interests to those of the bosses, lution controls were destroyed in a fire als from imperialist powers to limit the says the resolution titled “The Steward- are real concerns that the size of this dollar-defamation-award/ down the door to get your job.” He de- ing at the Mission mine. “This letter for whom they both seek to rule. at the U.S. Steel plant at Clairton, Penn- development of energy resources by ship of Nature Also Falls to the Working award — $31.5 million — could under- scribed one boss who is fond of getting means a lot to me because I know how Their calls that “we” must all sacrifice sylvania, bosses kept the plant right on governments in semicolonial countries. Class; In Defense of Land and Labor,” mine genuine freedom of speech on col- in the face of new hires to say, “I could abusive Walmart is,” he said. to protect the natural environment are working, letting debilitating levels of “It’s too late for them to develop as we available in New International no. 14. lege campuses.” Are They Rich Because fire you right now if I want to.” Miners continue reaching out for actually directed at the working people sulphur dioxide pour into the air. did,” they lamented, ensuring that the Only organizing working people to David Gibson, the store owner, was They’re Smart? “We’ve done nothing but go back- support. “Two weeks ago we paired here and in the semicolonial world. It is “U.S. Steel denies they caused any hundreds of millions with no access to take political power out of the hands asked by Koppel, “You had been brand- wards and lost ground,” he said. “Se- up in groups of two or three to pass only the working class and its allies that of the capitalist exploiting class and ed as racists and you felt that was unjust, Class, Privilege and niority is not honored for anything. out flyers at supermarkets in Sahuari- have the power to act against the rulers’ transforming ourselves in the strug- unfair, untrue?” Learning Under Capitalism They hire people who are related to the ta and Tucson,” said striker Bill Foor. plunder of the earth’s natural resources, New International #14 gle, the resolution explains, can lead “Absolutely,” Gibson responds. by Jack Barnes “I went to Fry’s in Sahuarita and got as we organize together to fight the im- The Stewardship of Nature Also Falls to the Working Class: to creating “social relations that are “What you have in life is your reputa- out 30 to 40 flyers. I was surprised by pact of their assaults on our living and based on human solidarity and that tion. It had taken generations to build ”The meritocracy Solidarity Rally for the good response. Half knew about working conditions. In Defense of Land and Labor serve our interaction with and pro- this reputation for us.” are mortified to a Fair Contract the strike and half didn’t.” The bosses’ competition for markets “Under capitalist social relations, human hardship from natural tection of the natural sources of well- The Gibsons family bakery had pro- be identified with Karla Schumann, a strike coordinator exacerbates their unrestrained pollution occurrences falls in starkly different ways on different social classes.” being and culture.” visioned the college for over a century. working people. on unfair labor practice for Teamsters Local 104, said, “In the of the earth’s atmosphere, as they seek to — Socialist Workers Party statement It will take confidently and boldly The trial revealed the college had never They fear someday strike against ASARCO being ruled by coming weeks, we’ll have a much big- cut costs and cut corners. New International #13 organizing along this course to chart a before made any complaint of racism ger push for community outreach.” Though scrubbers on coal-fired elec- road forward to defend land and labor — against the store owners. those they worry could become the Asarco has been trying to keep pro- trical plants — a method of eliminating Our Politics Start With the World not the hysterical campaigns advanced Koppel asks Ambar, “You’re a very ‘great mob’: the duction going but had to shut down the most sulphur produced in the process of by middle-class layers to blame work- distinguished academic. What is your $14 “All the questions posed by the ongoing crises and breakdowns toiling and pro- refinery in Amarillo, Texas, and smelter burning coal — have been around for of international capitalism can only be understood clearly, and an- ing people for the fouling of earth, water reputation worth?” to which she replies: ducing majority.” $10 in Hayden, Arizona. They have hired four decades, almost 30% of coal-fired swered in practice, if we start from a world perspective. $14 and skies, while instilling fear about the “My reputation is important.” Tucson, Arizona scabs at the Mission complex to join power plants in the U.S. still operate — Jack Barnes, national secretary, Socialist Workers Party coming “catastrophe” and breeding col- He then asks, “If your reputation some miners crossing the picket line. without them. laboration with the exploiting class. was destroyed overnight, you could pathfinderpress.com pathfinderpress.com

6 The Militant November 25, 2019 The Militant November 25, 2019 7 ‘Big capital rules through its two parties. It supports both.’ Letters from Prison by James P. an illusion entertained by tice by the political analyst. Cannon, the founding leader of the many workers and fos- But one can lose his bear- Socialist Workers Party, is one of tered by the bulk of the ing entirely if he does not Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for labor bureaucracy, the recognize their secondary November. In 1944, Cannon and 17 Social Democrats, and character. other leaders of the SWP and the Min- the Stalinists. The Mili- They complicate the po- neapolis Teamsters union were impris- tant does well to center litical situation in which the oned for opposing Washington’s entry its fire on this illusion; big capitalists have to ma- into the second imperialist world war. this is the main point, and nipulate the masses in order They were the first to be framed up should be the burden of to assure their firm rule. But under the thought-control Smith Act. our agitation. Big capital in the absence of an inde- Cannon’s letters take up questions of rules through the mecha- pendent class opposition on program and perspectives key to pre- nism of the two parties as the political field they will paring a communist party for the ex- far as fundamental issues continue, as in the past, to plosive labor battles that would erupt are concerned, but not al- solve the problem without after the war. The excerpt is from Let- ways directly in response too much difficulty. ter 82, written from the federal prison to their unanimous com- What is their fundamental in Sandstone, Minnesota, on Aug. 9, mands. method? It is the two-party 1944. Copyright © 1968 by Pathfinder There are deep con- system. Which party do they Press. Reprinted by permission. flicts of interest as well support? They support both. as differences of opinion And what is even more in the ranks of the capi- important, both parties sup- Books of talists. The two parties, port them in all fundamental which are in reality two Cartoon from July 29, 1944, Militant depicts big capital cracking whip questions. It could not be big factions of a unique astride an elephant and donkey, symbols of Republicans and Democrats. otherwise under the present the month two-party system united political scheme. by James P. Cannon on fundamentals, and the numerous fac- ties. There are differences of origin The petty bourgeoisie (including Who is the “J.M.” who writes from tions and cross-currents within them, — this ought to be the starting point the farmers) cannot play an indepen- Chicago about the two-party system? reflect these conflicts and differences. in the analysis of every organism — dent role in politics; and the workers Just judging by his lack of manners The big capitalists on the whole are differences of tradition, composition, — under the Murray-Green policy alone I would take him to be an over- more class conscious than the workers, sectional interests, political machines — have renounced it. In this situation educated college boy who “majored” but they are by no means omniscient with their own special interests to the presidential election becomes a di- in “iconoclasm.” in judging their own political interests. serve, different techniques and meth- version and a safety valve, not a class There are differences in the Repub- They don’t always know what is best for ods of demagogy to hold various fight. I would like to see this question lican and Democratic parties, in my them; and as The Militant correctly ob- strata of the population in line. These treated in an FI [Fourth International opinion, though not in the sense that serves, they are not notably grateful to are important factors worthy of no- magazine] article. J.M. takes as his point of departure politicians who have served them best — that the Republicans are more “re- in a given situation. actionary” than the Democrats. This is These Oliver Twists always cry for more with an animal instinct. And they are not a bit squeamist about their methods of getting it. Their ruthless Books criticism, obstruction and sabotage of Novemberof the Month the Roosevelt administration — un- deterred by the plaintive bleats of the PATHFINDER “liberals” and labor fakers that they 30% were hurting the “war effort” — have READERS CLUB discount SPECIALS to be understood as methods of pres- sure to compel Roosevelt & Co. to do Letters from Prison things their way. A Revolutionary Party Prepares for It is not an unreasoning “opposition,” Post-World War II Labor Battles by James P. Cannon as the labor fakers represent it. Results In 1944, 18 SWP and union leaders have shown that their brutal “opposi- were imprisoned for opposing tion,” which put Roosevelt in his place U.S. rulers’ entry into World War II. Militant/Dan Fein Cannon addresses key questions as their servant, has been far more ef- Socialist Workers Party fights for working-class inde- of building a communist party pre- fective than the lackey-like support of pendence from bosses’ two-party system. Above, Alyson pared for explosive postwar labor battles. the labor leaders offered to Roosevelt as Kennedy campaigns in Illinois as Socialist Workers Party $20. Special price: $14 the master. Why should he pay for sup- presidential candidate in 2016. Right, James P. Cannon. He ran for mayor of New York in 1941 at same time fac- Their Trotsky and Ours port that he can get for nothing? ing charges for opposing Washington’s moves to enter by Jack Barnes The classes are not homogeneous, World War II. Above, headquarter’s banners, “Socialist $12. 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The employ- vention of Tehran and Washington in Iraq, and the urges readers to join the Asarco copper strikers’ ers and their press work hard to deter other work- tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein’s Baathist Party rally in Tucson, Arizona, Nov. 18! Their fight in ers learning about this fight and identifying with that was based among Iraq’s Sunni minority. Arizona and Texas deserves support and solidar- it as their own. Above all they try to prevent the After Saddam Hussein was overthrown in Wash- ity from working people everywhere. Speak out mobilization of the solidarity necessary to sustain ington’s 2003 war and invasion, the U.S. rulers sought about their struggle and build support among your the strike. to impose a regime loyal to their interests, setting up co-workers, your union, your church and in every As more workers learn about this labor battle, a sectarian political system that ensured the predomi- other way possible. Send a contribution, a letter our solidarity can strengthen the strikers’ resolve. nance of capitalist parties based among the Shiite of support, join their picket lines. You can make Everything we do to break down the divisions population. It divided government branches and top a difference. the bosses sow — between employed and unem- positions on a sectarian basis, guaranteeing that the Like bosses everywhere, Asarco believes they ployed, native-born and immigrant, men and wom- most powerful post of prime minister goes to a Shiite. can foster divisions among workers, encouraging en, Black and Caucasian — strengthens fights to- But this setup has not produced a strong govern- each of us to think only of “me, myself and mine.” day like the copper workers and helps us build the ment for the country’s ruling capitalists. They de- After nearly 10 years without any raises, Asarco self-confidence and, most importantly, the class pended in part on Tehran-backed militias to defeat proposes in its insulting “last, final and best” offer consciousness, necessary to fight and win. the reactionary Islamic State after it seized control to give a paltry raise to about a third of the workers, We need to take our working-class battles onto of parts of Iraq and to push Kurdish-led forces out of those who are the highest paid. Workers said, “Hell the political plane. Not the self-defeating search Kirkuk in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2017. Today they rely no!” and went on strike. for a “lesser evil” among the twin bosses’ parties, on the same forces to carry out murderous assaults The bosses want us to see other workers as our the Democrats and Republicans. We need to build on anti-government protesters. problem, not to see ourselves as part of a class, the a labor party to represent our class interests and Since the protests started in the beginning of Octo- vast majority, capable of fighting together against those of all those oppressed and exploited by capi- ber, over 280 people have been killed and more than them and their rapacious class. talist rule. 12,000 injured by government-backed forces. Police, Asarco is hiring so-called replacement workers All out to Tucson Nov. 18! the military and Tehran-backed paramilitary groups have used live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas against demonstrators. The Iranian rulers organize militias in Iraq along- side the military forces they back in Lebanon, Syria Stop Texas execution of Rodney Reed! and Yemen, to extend their clout across the region and Continued from front page witnesses came forth to say Fennell threatened to to threaten Israel. was convicted by an all-white jury in 1998 for kill Stites and that he has confessed. Other prisoners Protesters across southern Iraq have targeted the rape and murder two years earlier of 19-year- say Fennell bragged that he “murdered his wife for buildings linked to the Tehran-backed militia groups old Stacey Stites, a cashier in Bastrop. Stites was sleeping with a Black man.” Witnesses who attended like the Popular Mobilization Forces. The Iranian Caucasian. Reed, now 51, has maintained his in- Stites’ funeral say Fennell told them, “She got what Consulate in Karbala has been attacked four times nocence since his arrest. she deserved.” since early October. Reed was in a consensual relationship with Stites, The campaign to stop the execution has growing Since Oct. 25 protesters have remained camped out but she was living with her fiancé, Jimmy Fennell support. More than 2.7 million people have signed an in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square. Many others have joined Jr., a cop in nearby Georgetown who was the ini- online petition. Support for Abbott to call off Reed’s them during the day expressing solidarity, bringing tial suspect. Reed was arrested and convicted after execution has come from celebrities, including Be- home-cooked meals, music and offering free haircuts. his DNA was found in her body. Reed said the two yonce, Kim Kardashian West, Meek Mill, Rhianna But at night assaults have increased against those at the had sex, but there was no physical evidence linking and Oprah Winfrey. Sen. Ted Cruz, Austin Mayor camp by Iraqi-government and Tehran-backed forces. him to the killing. For years, the Reed family has Steve Adler, and several other elected Texas officials, “I’m doing it … for dignity,” 29-year-old Al Ham- demanded DNA testing on the belt used to strangle both Democrats and Republicans, have called for re- sa Hamid told Al Jazeera at the Tahrir Square camp. Stites, to no avail. view of the new evidence. “I don’t want militias in my country,” he added. Ha- Fennell is in prison for kidnapping and sexually Another rally in support of Reed is being organized mid fought Islamic State serving in the Iraqi Coun- assaulting another woman. After Reed’s conviction, for Nov. 14 at the governor’s mansion in Austin. terterrorism Forces, participating in the recapture of the city of Fallujah from the sect. Now he volunteers as one of the “goalies” at Tahrir Square, that stop and neutralize tear gas canisters fired at protesters Georgia cop imprisoned for killing Anthony Hill by security forces. BY JANICE LYNN never posed a threat to the cop. Iraqi state television reported that authorities or- DECATUR, Ga. — Former DeKalb County cop Carolyn Baylor Giummo, Hill’s mother, told the dered “explosive experts” to detonate a bomb under Robert Olsen was sentenced to 12 years in prison, packed courtroom about the family’s more than Sinak bridge Nov. 7 to drive back protesters trying to and eight more on probation, Nov. 1 for the March four-year fight to hold Olsen accountable for kill- cross into the Green Zone where government offices 2015 killing of Anthony Hill. The 26-year-old Af- ing her son. “He has never taken responsibility for are located. rican American veteran of the Afghanistan War, taking my son’s life. He never just said, ‘I’m sorry In Basra, masked men attacked anti-government who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, for killing Tony,’” she said. protesters Nov. 6, killing five and wounding about 120 had been wandering naked and unarmed around “The fact that this cop will serve jail time for the people, according to medical officials. The day before, his apartment complex after going off his medica- murder of Anthony Hill is a victory for Hill’s fam- protesters seized armored vehicles from the 36th ar- tions. He had struggled to get the support he need- ily and for other victims of police killings,” Social- mored brigade of the Iraqi army. ed from the Department of Veterans Affairs. ist Workers Party Atlanta School Board candidate In early November the government reimposed an A jury had found Olsen guilty of aggravated as- Rachele Fruit told this worker-correspondent. “It is internet blackout that had been in effect for two weeks sault Oct. 14 for firing the two shots that killed a reflection of the changing attitudes among work- in October. Hill, as well as making false statements about the ing people towards police murders and a testament In the country’s south, sit-ins kept schools and gov- shooting. to the fight waged by Hill’s family, friends and oth- ernment buildings shut in Nasiriyah, Kut, Hillah, Di- Olsen said he acted in self-defense, claiming er opponents of police brutality.” waniyah and Najaf, reported Agence France-Presse. Hill had attacked him and pounded on his chest. At a press conference following the sentencing, Authorities have threatened to sack school and col- This was proved false by numerous eyewitnesses Giummo thanked all those who had rallied over the lege heads in Mosul, the country’s second-largest city, who testified that Hill never touched Olsen and had years in support of the fight for the indictment and located in the predominantly Sunni area in the north conviction of Olsen. She added that even though of the country if they allow any students to organize she wanted a longer sentence, some time is better protests there, reported Rudaw. letters than no time. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi has now Nearly 4,000 people were killed by on-duty pulled back from his earlier announcement that he Correction on George Johnson cops from 2015 to 2018, according to Washing- would resign, after the Iranian government insisted I am writing to correct errors in the letter I wrote ton Post data. Only 50 cops were charged with a he stay in office. The prime minister now promises on George Johnson’s life that appeared in the Nov. crime. And fewer than half of those cases ended to announce new electoral reforms in the “coming 18 issue of the paper. with any conviction. few days.” George Johnson was 83 years when he passed, “These are just words,” 30-year-old Noor Moham- not 82. He was a member of the Brooklyn Socialist med told Al Jazeera in Tahrir Square. Mohammed has Workers Party branch, not the Newark branch, in ‘Militant’ Prisoners’ Fund been unable to get a job and wants to see Mahdi quit. the early 1980s and in 1986 was also a member of The fund makes it possible to send prisoners reduced “Is this how we’re repaid?” he asked. the Oakland branch. rate subscriptions. Send a check or money order pay- “We stood up for our country and fought IS. … We His companion, Louise Goodman, remains a able to the ‘Militant’ and earmarked “Prisoners’ Fund” deserve to be ruled without corruption.” Washington loyal party supporter in Oregon. Thanks. to 306 W. 37th St., 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018. has 5,200 troops stationed in Iraq, part of the tens of Edwin Fruit Or donate online at www.themilitant.com thousands it deploys throughout the Mideast to defend Seattle, Washington its interests against rival capitalist powers.

The Militant November 25, 2019 9