secret trials threaten Iivas ol Iran socialists -PAGE 8
AUGUST 31, 1979 50 CENTS VOLUME 43/NUMBER 33
A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY /PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE
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Launch 1980 presidential campaign By Arnold Weissberg WASHINGTON, August 22-At a news conference here today announc ing the Socialist Workers Party 1980 presidential campaign, Andrew Pulley and Matilde Zimmermann, SWP candi dates for president and vice-president denounced the threat of U.S. military intervention against the Nicaraguan revolution. "In overthrowing the Somoza dicta torship, the people ·of Nicaragua achieved a heroic victory," Pulley said, "one that has inspired the exploited and oppressed masses the world over." "We think that the Sandinista gov ernment that is trying to get Nicara gua on its feet is doing a good job of it," Zimmermann added. "It has the confidence of the masses of the Nicara guan people. They see this government as leading the way toward the goals that they have fought for: a decent standard of living, education Nicaragua has one of the highest illiteracy rates in Central America Militant/Arnold Weissberg decent health care. Andrew Pulley and Matllde Zimmermann, Socialist Workers Party candidates for president and vice-president in 1980. "The main problem the Sandinista government has is the refusal of Amer ican imperialism to come across with They failed. But they're not giving up. crecy, chaos, shortages, and rip-offs for mayor of a city, or for Congress. its promises of aid." "We call upon American working that working people are victims of The United Mine Workers could an Pulley branded the United States people to stand ready to oppose any every day of our lives." nounce a candidate for Congress in the government as responsible for the military intervention either by the The statement noted that "working next election in West Virginia. Such a United States government or its client people are angry and are looking for candidate would get tremendous sup More coverage inside on launching states," said Pulley. radical solutions. One sign of this was port and would inspire similar cam of socialist campaign. See pages 6- "Carter should send food and medi the recent decision of the AFlrCIO paigns around the country." 7. cine, not marines, to Nicaragua." Executive Council to favor nationaliza "We also think," Zimmermann went On the domestic scene, Pulley noted, tion of the oil companies." on, "that a labor party is important 40,000 deaths and widespread destruc "American working people are being But, they asked, "How can such not just for dealing with the economic tion and hunger that resulted from the squeezed on all sides. Our living stan progressive and necessary changes be problems that workers face, but for the fight to oust Somoza. "The arms with dard has deteriorated. The cost of brought about? How can we challenge big social problems as well." which the Somoza forces fought the everything from gasoline to food is the control that oil barons and other In particular, Zimmermann noted Nicaraguan people came from the Uni reaching the sky." capitalists now have over govern the refusal of the Democrats and Re ted States government," Pulley said. In a statement released to the press, ment?" publicans to ratify the Equal Rights "Without U.S. military arms, there Pulley and Zimmermann called for The answer, the socialists said, is for Amendment. would have been no Somoza." immediately nationalizing the energy the union movement to launch an Also speaking at the news confer Pulley noted the threat of U.S. mil industry. "Place the production and independent labor party in opposition ence was Cathy Sedwick, national itary intervention against the revolu distribution of energy under public to the capitalist Democratic and Re chairperson of the Young Socialist tion. "Any time there's a popular revo ownership," the socialist candidates publican parties. Alliance, who pledged the YSA's sup lution," Pulley said, "where people demanded. "Every aspect of the indus Asked by a reporter how such a port for the Pulley-Zimmermann cam have sought to get control of their own try should be open to public scrutiny. party could come into being, Zimmer paign. affairs, the rulers of this country have All books and records should be open mann responded, "We think that a Sedwick, who recently returned from always found it in their interests to and easily available for inspection. powerful union like the United Auto a trip to Cuba, cited that country as an oppose it. They tried in Nicaragua. That is the only way to end the se- Workers could announce a candidate Continued on page 5 In Our Opinion VOLUME 43/NUMBER 32 AUGUST 31, 1979 CLOSING NEWS DATE-AUG. 22
New U.S. propaganda drive against Nicaragua The following statement was released by they say, to cliches about 'the new Cuba' and 'rising not financing 'a new Cuba.' " the Political Committee of the Socialist anti-Americanism.'" The Times editorially advises Congress not to get Workers Party on August 21. This is certainly not objective news reporting on in the way of this blackmail plan by placing any the contradictions in the Nicaraguan revolution. By restrictions on the State Department's maneuvers: The imperialist enemies of the revolution in asserting that the "civilian junta," which includes "No one can say that Nicaragua will not go the Nicaragua have opened a concerted international bourgeois figures, is in command as against the Cuban route but it is significant that the junta is campaign to pressure the Sandinista leaders, to Sandinistas, by asserting that "conservative busi pressing for American economic help. The legisla isolate the revolution from its supporters and poten nessmen" are the mainstay of the revolution and tion needed to expand American aid programs must tial supporters, and to divide and confuse the forces left "extremists" are the enemy of it, these mouth pass a Congress in which diehard Somoza support organized in solidarity with the revolution. pieces for the State Department are giving clear ers command key [congressional] committees. Three articles that recently appeared in the New warning to the Sandinista fighters: this is the way Doubtless they will fight every outburst about York Times and Washington Post, and were picked it has got to be-the revolution is a bourgeois 'Yankee Imperialism' as proof that Nicaragua is up by papers across the country, convey the line the revolution and must stay within bourgeois limits. undeserving, in tum confirming the leftist view that State Department and top circles of the ruling rich In warning of the "extremist" danger to the America is an implacable antagonist. It will be a are promoting. Articles with the identical line have revolution both Simons and Meislin are very pre test of American maturity to keep extremists on all appeared in major capitalist dailies in Europe and cise. They point to any measures that "could sides from fulfilling their own dire prophecies.'' in Latin America. frighten both the domestic and foreign private In her article, Simons utilizes the Sim6n Bolivar The three items are: an editorial in the August 15 sectors.'' As an example, Meislin singles out the Brigade to launch an attack on Trotskyism (see Times entitled "Crosswinds in Nicaragua"; an proposal that workers be paid back pay "for the two article page 4). This attack is designed to further August 20 piece by Times special correspondent months the country was at war. It is money the one of Washington's key objectives: to divide and Richard J. Meislin in Managua, titled "Adversity government has promised the workers but that few thus weaken the international solidarity movement forges unity among rebel Nicaraguan leaders"; and of the hard-pressed employers have been able to with the Nicaraguan revolution. an August 21 Post article by Marlise Simons, also in pay." The Sim6n Bolivar Brigade was organized by the Managua, titled "Nicaragua expels Trotskyist Simons and Meislin utilize the activities of the Colombian PST (Partido Socialista de los group in crackdown." "Sim6n Bolivar Brigade" in Nicaragua (the Trabajadores-Socialist Workers Party), under the Contrary to previous reports by Times corres "Trotskyists" Simons refers to) as a convenient direction of an international grouping known as the pondents, Meislin writes: "In Managua, the percep target. But their warning is directed squarely "Bolshevik Faction," led by Nahuel Moreno. tion that the Sandinist military leadership, and against the Sandinistas. Their message is that any The Bolshevik Faction, most of whose members not the five highest members of the civilian junta, measures the new leadership has to take against belong to sections or sympathizing organizations of was running the country, which was prevalent in either the native or foreign capitalists to advance the Fourth International, claims adherence to the diplomatic circles and among some junta members the interests of the Nicaraguan masses will be Fourth International. However, it has its own themselves only two weeks ago, has virtually disap considered "extremism" by Washington. international structure, finances, and discipline. It peared." These are not idle threats. Washington is backing sets its own policies without regard for the policies Simons' article begins, "Despite the revolutionary them up by making desperately needed aid contin decided by the elected leadership bodies of the euphoria of the past months, the first signs of gent upon acceptance of political concessions. If Fourth International. organized opposition to Nicaragua's new govern these concessions prove insufficient they are hold In the case of the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade, the ment are coming from the extreme left and not, as ing in reserve the threat of military intervention, Bolshevik Faction never consulted the Fourth Inter widely anticipated, from conservative businessmen. possibly through the Somocista National Guard national about this project or about the policies the "At the same time, the government's first act of units that withdrew to El Salvador and Honduras. Brigade followed. These policies ran counter to the political impatience has been to expel some sixty The fact is Washington has reneged on its prom policies decided by the leadership bodies of the Latin American Trotskyists who were charged with ises to send the necessary aid. For decades it armed Fourth International. being 'counter-revolutionaries' and 'creating prob and backed the Somoza dictatorship. Now that the Through the Simon Bolivar Brigade the Bol lems for the Sandinista revolution.' Nicaraguan people face a desperate situation shevik Faction led young militants from several "Although the government is anxious not to caused by the massive destruction inflicted on them Latin American countries-people who wanted to disappoint popular expectations of change, it by that dictatorship, Washington cruelly withholds help the fight against Somoza-into a sectarian seemed determined to resist extremist pressure for aid to blackmail the Sandinistas and the Nicara adventure. Masquerading as a section of the Sandi sudden, radical measures that could frighten both guan masses. nista front (FSLN), the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade the domestic and foreign private sectors and retard Simons drives the knife home: "In recent days, entered Nicaragua from outside to engage in its economic reconstruction.'' leaders of the Sandinista command and junta own organizing efforts along the lines of "outflank That this is the line the State Department wants members have said privately they fear they may be ing" the Sandinistas on the left. Their tactic was to the "responsible" capitalist press to take is under caught in a vicious circle: they require fast massive up the ante in what the Sandinistas were saying, lined by Simons: "Some U.S. diplomats here agree foreign assistance to ensure that moderation pre trying in this way to build a counterforce to them. that several reports in the U.S. media have been vails, yet Western governments appear to be with This grotesque idea-that people from the outside 'irresponsible,' or 'distorting the truth.' This applies, holding funds until they can be sure that they are Continued on page 4
The Militant Militant Highlights This Week Editor: STEVE CLARK Associate Editors: CINDY JAQUITH ANDY ROSE 3 Nicaraguans vow to rebuild Business Manager: ANDREA BARON Editorial Staff: Nancy Cole, Fred Feldman, David 4 Simon Bolivar Brigade Frankel, Jim Garrison, Suzanne Haig, Osborne 6 Rally launches Socialist Hart, Shelley Kramer, Ivan Licho, Janice Lynn, Workers cam~algn August Nimtz. Harry Ring, Dick Roberts, Priscilla Schenk, Arnold Weissberg. 7 'Cuba and Nicaragua' speech Published weekly by the Militant (ISSN 9 Resignation of Andrew Young 0026-3885), 14 Charles Lane, New 10 Layoffs hit auto workers York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial 11 Nationalize Chrysler! Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Office, 14 Actions mark Hiroshima Day (212) 929-3486. Correspondence concerning sub- 15 Virginia union wins In court Haitians protest killing scriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant 16-17 Interview with Victor Caban Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New 18 Testimony of Piedra York, N.Y. 10014. 20 In Brief Second-class postage paid at New 21 Great Society York, N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $20.00 a Union Talk year, outside U.S. $25.00. By first-class 22 Our Revolutionary Heritage mail: U.S., Canada, and Mexico: $52.00. Letters Write for airmail rates to all other coun 23 Leamlng About Socialism New step for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment tries. If You Uke This Paper . . . For subscriptions airfreighted to London and Unionists and women's rights activists met August 12 in a powerful show of unity to then posted to Britain and Ireland: £3.00 for ten demand passage of the ERA. They are calling for an education and action campaign issues. £6.00 for six months (twenty-four issues), £11.00 for one year (lourty-eight issues). Posted leading toward a January 20 march for the ERA in Richmond, Virginia like the one from London to Continental Europe: £4.50 for ten shown above from 1978. Page 12. issues, £10.00 for six months (twenty-four issues), £15.00 for one year (forty-eight issues). Send checks or international money order (payable to Intercontinental Press account) to Intercontinental Press (The Militant), P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XP, England. Signed articles by contributors do not necessar ily represent the Militant's views. These are ex pressed in editorials.
2 Nicaraguans vow to rebuild ByMirtttleir devastated country LEON, Nicaragua, August 19- Today, people throughout Nicaragua celebrated the thirtieth day since the fall of the hated Somoza dictatorship. Canadian labor sends aid toNica Here in Le6n, the second largest city, MONTREAL, Canada-Operation peasants, workers, and students Solidarity, Canadian labor's re poured out in spite of the rain for a sponse to the needs of the Nicara rally in the city's main plaza. guan people, is under way. Chants like, "Long live free Nicara A plane left Toronto August 11 for gua," "A free country or death," and Nicaragua loaded with 75,000 "Long live the FSLN [Sandinist Na pounds of food and other desperately tional Liberation Front]" punctuated needed supplies. the speeches. Organized by the Canadian Labor Periodically, the audience would be Congress, the Canadian counterpart asked from the platform, "Are we of the AFL-CIO, Operation Solidar tired?" "No!" they would roar in reply. ity is being financed by local union "Are we united?" donations. "Yes!," the roar growing even louder, John Simonds, a Labor Congress illustrating a sense of optimism and spokesperson, said the unions have confidence that prevails today in Nica raised $250,000 in the past month. ragua. He also said that unions in the While preparations for the celebra food and garment industries have tion were under way, I walked around negotiated agreements with various what is now the skeleton of a once companies so that they will be able thriving city. to send food and clothing worth "Le6n has a tradition of combativ $500,000. ity," a stationary store owner told me. Included in the initial shipment "The entire population was mobil was 6,000 pounds of clothing col Militant/Fred Murphy Bombed-out area of San Antonio sugar mill, Nicaragua's biggest refinery. ized against Somoza's National lected through public appeals by Guard," explained a taxi driver. "We unions in the city of Ottawa. Saturation bombing by U.S.-installed dictator left country In ruins. pushed them into a comer, and when Operation Solidarity got under they saw no way out, they began the way after the CLC sent a fact ticipated in solidarity actions with ing whose keynote speaker was bombing raids." finding delegation to Nicaragua fol Nicaragua. In July, just before the Neils Thibeau, representing the Ma The bombings destroyed the center lowing the overthrow of the Somoza fall of Somoza, the union body nitoba Federation of Labor and the of the city, killing thousands of inno dictatorship. joined in a demonstration of a thou New Democratic Party, Canada's cent victims. Simonds said the initial shipment sand people. And at a Quebec City labor party. On a side street in a section of the also included $60,000 worth of medi gathering of the union, the agenda In Vanouver, the NDP is partici city where most buildings are still cines, including vaccines against included greetings from a represen pating in a medical aid committee standing, fifteen-year-old youth in polio, tuberculosis, tetanus, measles, tative of the Sandinista National for Nicaragua. green uniforms, rifles in hand, guard and other diseases, along with neces Liberation Front. He received a Meanwhile, socialists and other the central supply depot, housed in sary refrigeration equipment. standing ovation. union activists have begun the pro what was once the light and power Here in Quebec, the Confederation In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the defeat cess of deepening local union . in building. of National Trade Unions has par- of Somoza was celebrated at a meet- volvement in Operation Solidarity. Inside, in a small patio, Vladimir Cordero, a young man in charge of the FSLN supplies commission made time to discuss with me the problems they face. Women have played a prominent "All we have done so far is throw out Clearly referring to Washington, he Cordero emphasized the inadequacy role in the revolutionary process. One Somozaism and the National Guard. warned, "Those who think they can of the international aid they have keynote speaker at the Le6n celebra The revolution is only beginning." organize a counterrevolution may received so far. tion, a middle-aged peasant woman, He explained that hundreds of volun know how it will begin, but they do not Given the shortage of goods, priority urged women to take their place in the teers are needed now to pave the know how it will end." is being given to the rural areas, hospi process by joining the neighborhood streets of Le6n. He pointed out that tals, and the troops. The peasants, committees-the Sandinista Defense when the junta took office the city had The final speaker was a young organized into the Agricultural Produc Committees-and to take part in the inherited a debt of 3 million cordobas woman of the FSLN known by the tion Units, are working in exchange political discussions in order to learn. [$300,000] and that workers had not name Commandante Dos [Commander Two]. for food alone. "And let us not differentiate between been paid back wages for two months. The rest of the civilian population is those who are coordinators and repre When they opened the books, they Commandante Dos explained that thus in great need of supplies. sentatives, and the rest. Let us all be discovered that 38,000 cordobas were the revolution is a process of economic, The basic foodstuffs urgently needed united," she appealed. "phantom salaries which' paid for peo political and social transformation. include rice, beans, wheat, flour, sugar, In Le6n the Sandinista Defense ple to persecute all of you." "Our people," she explained, "can choose their own representatives, can soap, and oil. Committees are organized on a block After several revolutionary songs But while the Nicaraguan people by-block basis, including every person performed by local groups, the rally say whether or not they agree with what we are doing." have inherited devastated cities, and a on the block. Representatives are then heard two FSLN representatives. shattered economy, spirits are high. elected to a central committee which The first addressed himself to the Commandante Dos stressed the need There is a universal understanding meets with the local governing junta to role of U.S. imperialism in maintain to understand the tasks facing a na that the destiny of the country is now discuss the neighborhood's problems ing the Somoza dictatorship for forty tion which has been left in ruins. She in the hands of the masses. and present their demands. five years. Like the other speakers, he said the people need to "organize our This was the theme of the speeches The five members of the local junta emphasized that it was the combativ selves. We need everyone's participa at the rally in Leon, including in the were elected at a mass rally several ity of the masses that overthrew the tion in this process." signs and slogans. weeks ago, with the approval of the dictatorship. She urged everyone to join the Sandi One placard a young boy displayed FSLN. "This revolution is a revolution of all nista Trade Union Federation and the summed up the mood. It read: "The A junta spokesperson at the rally the Nicaraguan people," he said. "But Sandinista Defense Committees. insurrection is over, but the revolution picked up on the central theme: "The it is not for those who are opposed to "This revolution, she declared, "has has just begun." revolution has not ended," he said. the revolutionary process." to be an active revolution."
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THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 3 The facts about the Simon Bolivar Brigade The following was compiled by The FSLN leadership has pro Somoza has absolutely nothing in El Socialista, organ of the PST, singles the 'Militant' from eyewitness re claimed a policy that would guarantee common with the position of the out Jaime Galarza, Ricardo Sanchez, ports of leaders of the Fourth In workers back pay and a raise in wages. Fourth International, the world Trot and Ciro Roldan, calling them gusanos ternational who were in Nicara It has declared the nationalization of skyist organization. (counter-revolutionary worms). gua when the events described the huge Somocista landholdings for The three are leaders of the Colom took place. distribution to the landless. It has The FSLN leadership met on several bian PSR (Partido Socialista sought to integrate all independently occasions with the leadership of the Revolucionario-Revolutionary Social In recent days the bourgeois media armed groups into a disciplined and Brigade, to try to obtain the agreement ist Party, like the PST a sympathizing around the world have been carrying effective army and militia. of the Brigade to coordinate its activi organization of the Fourth Interna ties with those of the FSLN, and to stories about left-wing groups that Several left groups operating in Ni tional). The PSR is active in the Nica have challenged the leadership of the place all armed units under a single raguan solidarity movement in Colom caragua, in particular the Maoists and FSLN command. Sandinist National Liberation Front the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade, have chal bia. The PST attack only serves to (FSLN) in Nicaragua. lenged the FSLN in these areas, trying The FSLN then issued a public divide that movement. summons-over radio, television, and Because the Brigade was organized Much publicity has centered on the to outflank it from the left. in the press-for all Brigade members by the Colombian PST, the capitalist "Sim6n Bolivar Brigade," which has They have utilized objective to meet on August 14 at the FSLN media have tried to use these develop been referred to as Trotskyist. problems-the gap between the great offices (Somoza's former "bunker"). ments to try to discredit Trotskyism What is involved? hopes for immediate improvements The Brigade leadership took the occa arid the Fourth International. The Sandinista leadership is con and the difficulties in achieving all sion to convene a public demonstration In fact, however, the leaders of the fronted by very grave problems. these goals quickly-to encourage con at the headquarters of about 1,000 Brigade have carried out their activi The country was devastated by Som flicts by sectors of the masses against persons, who were brought out by the ties on their own account, without oza's desperate and ruthless attempts the FSLN leadership. promise-totally false-that they regard to the policy of the United to hold power. Sections of the cities The Simon Bolivar Brigade, an would be discussing trade union and Secretariat of the Fourth Interna and towns were left in rubble. Agricul armed unit composed of non salary problems with the FSLN leader tional. ture, transport, communication, and Nicaraguans, entered Nicaragua only ship. The line of the Brigade in Nicaragua manufacturing were severely dis recently. After this provocative clash, non has been contrary to the position rupted. More than a million people are The Brigade carried out its Nicaraguan members of the Brigade adopted by the United Secretariat of in need of food. At the same time, the activities-recruitment, propaganda, the Fourth International. The Fourth were ordered out of the country. Some threat of imperialist-sponsored armed and agitation in the neighborhoods International is in no way responsible were expelled. Others are still being intervention remains ever-present. and unions-in the name of the FSLN, for the activities of the Brigade. sought by FSLN authorities. Under these conditions, the Sandi although it was not acting under the The line of the Fourth International nista leadership faces a difficult and direction of the FSLN. The working The leaders of the Brigade have was spelled out in a statement issued complex leadership job in carrying the people who supported the Brigade's acted irresponsibly in other ways. The on August 15. That statement called revolution forward. It must seek food activities were thus left with the false Brigade was organized in Colombia by for building "the broadest possible and financial aid from all possible impression that they were following the Colombian PST (Partido Socialista international movement-united and sources, including the imperialists. It the FSLN. de los Trabajadores-Socialist Workers nonexclusionary-in support of the must make inroads into the bourgeois This attempt by a grouping from Party). The PST has labeled everyone struggle of the Nicaraguan people and order, without giving the imperialists outside the country to substitute itself who disagreed with their project as the fighters of the FSLN whose cour easy pretexts to whip up propaganda for the real leadership that was forged "traitors" to the Nicaraguan revolu age has become the most precious in favor of intervention . in the revolutionary struggle against tion. For example, the July 27 issue of heritage of the world proletariat." .. .statement by Socialist Workers Party Continued from page 2 In this country, the obvious aim is to try to isolate movement. Should this be insufficient to block can maneuver to capture the leadership of the the Socialist Workers Party, which, as the govern- further advances of the Nicaraguan revolution, the revolution from those who have emerged in the ment is well aware, just held a national convention imperialists hope these tactics will isolate the course of the struggle-has nothing whatever to do which laun~hed a campaign to help build a broad revolution from the toilers of the world. This would with Trotskyism, revolutionary socialism. solidarity movement with other forces. This move- open the way to military attacks against the revolu- The unfortunate episode of the Simon Bolivar ment will be demanding, among other things, that tion. Brigade was just what the Carter administration Washington immediately send massive aid toNica- Against the machinations of the imperialists, the was waiting for. This is why the Washington Post, ragua. Socialist Workers Party calls on working people and which is not noted for featuring news about Trotsk The ruling class's objective is furthered by Si- all others who are for fair play for Nicaragua to yism, splashed Simons's article on the front page. mons's unfounded assertion that there are "some unite in a broad and nonexclusionary movement in The incident gave Simons the opportunity to Americans" in the Sim6n Bolivar Brigade. In fact support of the struggle of the Nicaraguan people smear all proponents of the socialist road in Nicara there was not a single U.S. Trotskyist in the group. and their leaders in the FSLN. gua, as we have noted. It serves two other functions The deadly objective of the imperialist bourgeoisie Immediate aid to Nicaragua with no strings at- as well. is clear: to bring massive economic pressure to bear tached! The first is to falsely portray the Sandinistas as against Nicaragua, while at the same time to lull, Imperialist hands off1 bourgeois liberals, or at least in the tow of bourgeois confuse, and divide the Nicaraguan solidarity Solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution! liberals. This is sucker bait for inexperienced revolu tionists. The purpose is to sow confusion among working class forces around the world, who would be less inclined, if this were true, to wage a cam Miami picket to defend Nicaragua paign in solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution. MIAMI-A Nicaragua solidarity demon~tra The demonstration will also demand that the These articles give the impression that a solidar tion will be held here Saturday, September 1, at 1 U.S. government deliver the material aid it has ity campaign among the toiling masses outside p.m. at the Federal Building in downtown Miami. promised to the Nicaraguan people. It will also Nicaragua is not necessary, that the imperialists Following a picket there, a march will be held press the demand: Hands off Nicaragua. will provide the necessary aid, and that there is no to a nearby bank or to one of Somoza's business real imperialist threat. At the same time they try to operations in Miami. The action is sponsored by the Committee for create this impression, the imperialists keep the The action will be in support of efforts by Non-Intervention in Nicaragua. Various groups economic squeeze on the Nicaraguan people. Nicaragua's revolutionary leadership to recover and individuals are participating in the activities The second function is to seek to divide the national assets plundered by the ex-dictator. of the coalition. Among these are the American solidarity movement. By smearing Trotskyism, they Legal action has been initiated by the new Civil Liberties Union of Miami; the Antonio hope to make it more difficult for Trotskyists Nicaraguan government to freeze and then re Maceo Brigade, a group of young Cubans in the around the world to help organize the solidarity cover Somoza's significant business interests U.S.; the Socialist Workers Party; Nicaraguan campaign which the Fourth International has here. residents; and Haitian groups. called for. Forums on Nicaragua Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information COLORADO ILLINOIS call (212) 533-2902. DENVER CHICAGO NICARAGUA: HOW. YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT THE REVO THE UNFOLDING NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION: ITS MEAN OHIO LUTION. Speaker: Sylvia Zapata, Socialist Workers Party, United ING FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. Speaker: Malik Miah, Socialist TOLEDO Transportation Union member. Fri., August 24, 8 p.m. 126 W. 12th Workers Party National Committee. Sat., August 25, 7:30 p.m. THE UNFOLDING NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION: ITS MEAN Ave. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information Donation $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information on ING FOR AMERICAN WORKERS. Speaker: Peter Archer, call (303) 534-8954. location call (312) 939-0737. member United Auto Workers Local 14. Sun., August 26, 7 p.m. 2120 Dorr St. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant forum. For more NEW MEXICO information call (419) 536-0383. FLORIDA ALBUQUERQUE MIAMI DEFEND THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION. Speaker: Eileen TEXAS NIGHT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE NICARAGUAN PEOPLE: Berlow, Socialist Workers candidate for city council. Fri., August DALLAS DEMAND UNCONDITIONAL AND IMMEDIATE AID TONICA 31, 7:30 p.m. 1417 Central NE. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant DEFEND THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION! U.S. HANDS RAGUA! FREEZE SOMOZA'S HOLDINGS AND RETURN THEM Forum. For more information call (505) 842-0954. OFF! Speaker: representative of the Socialist Workers Party. Sat., TO NICARAGUAN PEOPLE! EXTRADITE SOMOZAI Speakers: August 25, 8:00 p.m. 5442 East Grand. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Franklin Chavez, Nicaraguan Consul in Miami; Prof. Mark Rosen Militant Forum. For more information call (214) 826-4711. berg, Dir. of Caribbean and Latin American Studies Council, Florida International Univ.; and representative of the Haiti Kobit NEW YORK HOUSTON Libete. Also film: "Patria Libre o Morir". Sat., August 25, 7 p.m., NEW YORK THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION. Speakers: Romeo Lopez, reception; 9 p.m., film. Center for Dialogue, 2675 NW 22nd Ave. THE REVOLUTION IN NICARAGUA. Speaker: Olga Rodriguez, Nicaraguan consul in Houston; Jose Alvarado, Socialist Workers Donation: $2. Ausp: Miami Committee for Non-Intervention in Socialist Workers Party National Committee. Also, a film on Party. Fri., Sept. 7, 8 p.m. 806 Elgin St. #1. Donation: $1. Ausp: Nicaragua. For more information call (305) 635-4085. Nicaragua. Sun., Sept. 9, 3 p.m. P.S. 41, 116 W. 11th St. at 6th Militant Forum. For more information call (713) 524-8761.
4 Struggles sparked throughout Central America By Fernando Torres in the port city of Limon. Hundreds of ing thousands of persons-confronted The effects of the Sandinista victory people, including women and children, the regime. in Nicaragua are already being felt were injured August 19, flooding the One of the groups at the forefront of elsewhere in Central America. Inspired local hospital emergency room. these struggles is the Revolutionary by the Nicaraguan revolution, fresh The strike resulted in a cutoff of oil People's Bloc (BPR), which has the popular mobilizations are shaking the and gas supplies. President Carazo support of trade unions and peasant region's military dictatorships, espe Odio declared the strike was "incited" and student organizations. cially in Guatemala and El Salvador. by foreign governments and expelled The BPR, along with many other News of church occupations in El three Soviet diplomats from the coun organizations, has hailed the Sandi Salvador at the beginning of August, try. nista victory. In a press statement a together with a student strike in Gua In El Salvador, Barricada reported, BPR representative condemned the temala, confirm the fears of many members of the July 28 People's complicity of General Romero's gov bourgeois observers that the fall of League were maintaining their occupa ernment with the Somozaist refugees, Somoza will have important repercus tion of two churches in the capital as above all with the 3,000 Nicaraguan sions in neighboring countries. of August 4. The sit-ins are demanding National Guard soldiers that are now On August 3, more than 50,000 stu freedom for political prisoners and the based in El Salvador. dents in Guatemala City began a dismissal of the military officers that strike against the government to de have carried out the repression. The nations of Central America mand democratic rights, according to a The Associated Press reported Au suffer the brutality of dictatorships report in the August 4 Barricada, offi gust 20 that in response to a fast by that have close ties to the U.S. govern cial organ of the Sandinista National about 150 priests and nuns and strikes ment and to U.S. companies. As a Liberation Front. Student leaders said in several factories, Gen. Carlos refuge for the remaining elements of the strike was the beginning of a broad Romero promised that all political the Somozaist National Guard, they protest movement against the military exiles would be permitted to return. He pres€!lt a real danger to the Nicara regime of Gen. Romeo Lucas Garcia. also promised that the Red Cross guan revolution. At the same time, the Since the end of last year, Guatema would be permitted to check if any resurgence of popular struggles raises lan students, peasants, Indians, and political prisoners were being held and the possibility of new victories. The workers have mobilized against repres step up repression with the aim of that free congressional elections would downfall of these dictatorships would sion, the high cost of living, and to totally smashing these popular strug be held in March. be an invaluable aid in the defense of demand democratic rights. gles. It is estimated that since the The priests and nuns held their fast all that the Nicaraguan masses have There have been strikes among tele beginning of this year at least fifteen in a second church so that nineteen obtained through their enormous sacri phone, post office, and public service persons a day have died at the hands striking metal workers could continue fices. workers, as well as in various indus of the police or ultraright paramilitary their hunger strike in the metropolitan An essential component of the inter tries. Important victories have been groups linked to the government. cathedral. national campaign in defense of the registered against the government in Meanwhile in Costa Rica, govern In May of this year similar revolution in Nicaragua is solidarity these struggles. ment troops engaged in pitched battles occupations-taking place in the midst with the struggles of the masses of The regime's response has been to with some 5,000 striking dock workers of strikes and demonstrations involv- Central America.
Militant sales spread truth about Nicaragua By Peter Seidman "We just told people that Nicaragua to organizations that defend the strug- ilar plans. They hope to use these The gun-slinging, union-busting gov- shows what working people can do gle in Nicaragua. Militant visits as an opportunity to ernment in Washington is maneuver- when we throw out the bankers and talk over what kind of work needs to be ing to push back the revolution in landlords," Horner said. One of these was the Nicaragua done to help build further solidarity for Nicaragua as surely as if it were tak- George Kontanis was part of a team Center, where the paper was warmly Nicaragua-and get ready to oppose ing place in Los Angeles or Detroit. of six socialists that sold sixty-two received. any U.S. government moves against New York City socialists have sim- A virtually complete media blackout Militants in a few hours last Saturday. the revolution. surrounds this deepening social revolu The team went door-to-door in a steel- tion _in Nicaragua-as well as Wash workers neighborhood in Newport ington's reactionary moves against it. News, Virginia. Kontanis explained that his team Members of the Socialist Workers was selling two issues of the Militant Speciai'PM' issue Party and the Young Socialist as a package. One with a feature Alliance-along with their cothinkers article on the struggle by Local 8888 of By Harvey McArthur all around the world-are on a cam Pers~tiro the UQited Steelworkers for union re For Spanish-language readers in paign to break through this curtain of cognition. The other, the special issue the United States, Perspectiva Mun Mundial silence and get out the truth about dial will be virtually the only source on Nicaragua. Nicaragua. "Most people were just as interested of news and socialist analysis of the The SWP launched this campaign by in Nicaragua as they were in the revolution unfolding in Nicaragua. NICARAGUA PM has published 10,000 copies of t·n:•· o·HOJP THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 5 orking people should run the country' Rally launches 1980 Socialist Workers campaign By Janice Lynn OBERLIN, Ohio-Thunderous ap plause greeted the Black Chicago steel worker as he strode to the podium. u.s Chants of "Pul-ley, Pul-ley" shook the balcony. It was the August 10 rally launching the 1980 Socialist Workers Party cam 114 paign of Andrew Pulley for president and Matilde Zimmermann for vice ~··o president. The candidates were nominated ear lier that day by the Thirtieth National Convention of the Socialist Workers Party. The convention, held here Au gust 5-11, drew more than 1,500 social ists from across the country. The high point of the rally was the greetings delivered by a young fighter from the Sandinista National Libera tion Front in Nicaragua. Amidst cheers and raised fists, he was repeat edly interrupted with applause as he described the historic victory of the Nicaraguan workers and peasants and appealed to American working people to defend their revolution. The socialist candidates and their supporters pledged to use their full Militant/Lou Howort resources to build solidarity with Nica- ANDREW PULLEY and MATILDE ZIMMERMANN, Socialist Workers Party candidates for president and vice-president ragua. Steelworker for president program of socially useful public party's continuing support to the make here if workers ran the govern Pulley, a production worker at U.S. works. 15,500 shipyard workers who are en ment. Steel's Gary Works and member of Pulley described the changing mood gaged in a battle for union recognition Matilde Zimmermann recently re United Steelworkers Local1066, knows of American workers and their grow against the giant Tenneco corporation. turned from a two-week visit to Cuba. firsthand the deepening problems ing readiness to fight back. He told Cubans she met were excited, she said, working people face. He knows the how his co-workers at U.S. Steel see Cuban example to learn that a candidate for vice pressures of speedup and the long more and more clearly how the Demo The SWP candidates will be pointing president of the United States would be hours of overtime. He feels the squeeze crats and Republicans alike are joining to the Cuban revolution as an example campaigning for an end to the ceo- of providing his livelihood and that of with the oil companies to rip off consu of the gains working people could Continued on page 19 his family on a shrinking paycheck. mers. But Pulley and Zimmermann will be Labor party campaigning for a way out of the crisis "It is the epitome of futility for our working people face. labor leaders to continue supporting Standing in front of a giant cam Democratic and Republican politi Working class can overcome' paign banner, Pulley pointed to its cians," Pulley said, "who are the ones The following message was sent to ing people's struggle. But my own slogan-"Working People Make the actually carrying out the attacks on the Socialist Workers Party presi battle wasn't enough. The Militant Country Run; Working People Should our standard of living. dential campaign rally by Debbie gives me a greater knowledge of a Run the Country." "Working people should use our Whitaker, a shop steward and volun battle that is never ending-the With Carter appearing on television unions, our union headquarters, and teer organizer for United Steel struggle of the working class people. to admit that the American people union finances to fight for our own workers Local 8888 in the Newport The Militant has shown me that if have lost confidence in his administra interests in politics-to rally workers News, Virginia, shipyard. united, working class people can tion, in government institutions, and behind independent labor candidates. overcome in victory, for our freedom, in the ability of the current social "With a labor party based on the human rights and a better way of system to provide a better life, the unions, workers would be in a much My views of the Militant come life. socialist candidates are confident they stronger position to take on our em from a person that at one time didn't From a striking steelworker from will find greater interest than ever in ployers, the owners of the Democratic fully realize how important it is to Newport News Shipbuilding, to all socialist proposals to put human needs and Republican politicians," Pulley de take a stand on things that any working class people here at home before capitalist profits. Proposals clared. individual believes in. and abroad-! hope you have this such as nationalization of the energy How to strengthen the labor move I was involved with the strike at view along with me. industry; a shorter workweek with no ment is a central theme of the SWP Newport News Shipbuilding for The Militant is the greatest expres cut in pay; taxing the rich, not campaign. One of Pulley's first cam union representation. I thought I sion of the working class people ever workers; and using the bloated mil paign stops will be Newport News, understood the importance of work- published. itary budget to launch an emergency Virginia. There he will pledge his '$80,000 for 1980'campaign gets big boost Steelworkers, auto workers, machi manager, explained. "There are Virginia, to the auto plants of De Name ------ nists, aerospace workers, teachers, more and more people who want to troit and New Jersey, and to the Address ------railroad workers, electrical workers, see the socialist ideas of Pulley and high school and college campuses. City State high school and college students, Zimmermann reach wide audiences They will talk before community Zip Phone and others at the August 10 rally of working people. Their contribu groups, women's organizations, Union/School!Org. shouted out their pledges to the tions will help the campaign print unions, anti-nuclear rallies, and civil Make checks payable to: socialist presidential campaign of more posters, stickers, T-shirts, and rights groups," Seigle explained. Socialist Workers Presidential Cam Andrew Pulley and Matilde Zimmer buttons; more brochures and pam All this takes a lot of money. To paign Committee mann. phlets. make a contribution or pledge, pay 14 Charles I ane, New York, NY When it was all counted, more "We especially need funds," Seigle able before December 31, send in this 10014 than $65,000 had been contributed continued, "for the tours of the can coupon. and pledged-the largest collection didates. Pulley and Zimmermann Chairpersons: Catherine SedV~ 6 ~cuba and Nicaragua, united we will win' Following are the greetings ing of a socialist state. to Somoza or one of his supporters, today are the heritage left by impe delivered to the August 10 So We will defend the gains made by but to a bourgeois oppositionist. rialism and its servant Anastasio cialist Workers Party campaign our revolution. We will defend them, All acts of organized expropriation Somoza. For this reason the question rally from a representative of guns in hand, to the final consequen can count on our support, the sup of aid is of vital importance to the the Sandinist National Libera ces, no matter what the cost in blood port of the FSLN. Nicaraguan revolution. Because the tion Front (FSLN). to our people. The Pentagon and the Faced with the revolutionary ad more you can aid the revolution, the CIA had better believe it, we will vance of the Sandinista people, the less we will have to depend on impe Good evening comrades, brothers fight just as we fought the Somoza imperialist press and reactionaries rialism and its pseudodemocratic al and sisters. regime, that puppet of U.S. imperial around the world have started dis lies. The victory of the revolution in Ism. torting the facts to suit their own You can aid us in two ways. We Nicaragua is an historic occasion for Today the slogan is: "Organiza purposes. We must say no to the need political aid, which means de the workers and oppressed masses of tion, Organization, and More Orga bourgeois media, we must say they manding no imperialist intervention the world. nization!" The organization of the are liars! in any form-whether by Yankee The revolution in Nicaragua is a masses is being carried out on every The nationalization of the banks Marines, the OAS or the Andean step forward for all the dispossessed block, in every neighborhood, in is one more step to safeguard the Pact countries, or through using classes of the world, for all those every town, in the cities and in the interests of the people and of the food as blackmail. And we also need who must subsist by selling their countryside. This includes organiz revolution. Today it is the organized material aid: medicines, food, mo labor power to the vampire capitalist ing the people in armed bodies, such workers who are saying what will be ney, clothing-and even human aid class. as the people's militias, the Sandi nationalized and why. such as doctors or construction The victory in Nicaragua is the nista defense committees, neighbor We are deeply grateful to Cuba workers. result of fifty years of struggle by hood committees, district commit the free territory of the Americas. Sandinistas, dating back to when tees, all the way up to the central (Actually now there are two: Cuba I'll close by saying, as our fighters Yankee interventionists bit the dust committee. and Nicaragua.) Cuba has given do: "By these dead, who are our under the blows of guerrilla forces Organized peasants are taking the proof of its unlimited solidarity with dead, we swear we will win!" led by our national hero Augusto land, and will administer it collec our revolution. We remember that Long live international solidarity! Cesar Sandino, general of free men. tively. In just these few days since ever since the days when we were Cuba and Nicaragua, united will The complete destruction of the the revolution more than 80,000 hec just a small group of guerrilla fight win! bourgeois repressive apparatus-the tares of land have already passed ers, Cuba has supported us, Cuba Long live the oppressed peoples of National Guard-and the creation of into the hands of 12,000 peasant has supported the dispossessed of Latin America and the world! a real people's army-the Sandinista families. At the same time, orga Nicaragua. Long live the workers of the Uni army-have laid the basis for a nized workers in the cities are taking Today the revolution has begun. ted States! revolutionary process that can lead control of the factories. These in The revolution has set us free. But Revolutionary greetings! "A Free to the workers and peasants taking clude the largest sugar mill in Nica we are still very poor. The terrible Country or Death!" power-in other words, to the build- ragua, even though it belonged not destruction and the poverty we face Thank you. Meet the candidates: Pulley and Zimmermann Cuban revolution and listened to tapes of speeches ····•'..... ·.·... ANDREW PULLEY by Malcolm X. ·L.·,.· . ' Socialist Workers candidate for Pulley helped form a group called Gls United ,, " president Against the War. Mter one of their meetings, Pulley ~·•.. .··.·.. , .·· Andrew Pulley's life parallels those of hundreds and seven other Gis were thrown into the stockade of thousands of young Blacks who grew up poor in on charges of "incitement to riot." The case of the 1 the South. Fort Jackson Eight became nationally known. "I was born on May 5, 1951 in Sidon, Mississippi. It was under an army guard in the stockade that I went to a segregated, inferior Black school that Pulley first met Matilde Zimmermann, his running housed several grades," Pulley recalls. mate today on the SWP presidential ticket. Zimmer- He worked in cotton fields from the age of eight at mann was the national secretary of the GI Civil dirt cheap wages to boost the family earnings, Liberties Defense Committee, which was intrumen- which had to provide for twelve people. tal in forcing the army to drop the charges. "The fact that society was divided into classes As soon as he was discharged from the army in and that Black people were especially oppressed 1969, Pulley joined the Young Socialist Alliance and was obvious to me, although I certainly didn't use the Socialist Workers Party. those words then," Pulley says. "From what I had lived through and learned "The fact that we did all the labor and got only through my reading in the stockade and in discus- the crumbs, while the owners of the plantation did sions of socialist ideas, I had become convinced that nothing and got everything, made the class differ- this was where I belonged," Pulley says. ences painfully obvious." Pulley was Socialist Workers candidate for vice Matllde Zimmermann was a leader In abortion rights When his family moved north to Cleveland they president of the United States in 1972 and for movement of early '70s. were forced to live on welfare. mayor of Chicago last spring. The murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968 Pulley has lived in Chicago for the past five. outraged him. Masses of Black people rebelled years. He is a production worker at U.S. Steel Gary At the University of Wisconsin in Madison, across the country. Pulley and a group of Black Works and has been an active member of Local Zimmermann became active in the anti-Vietnam students gathered in the high school hallway, 1066 of the United Steelworkers of America. war protests of the 1960s. In 1967 she joined the protesting the killing. A physical confrontation An article published in the March 20 Chicago Sun Young Socialist Alliance. developed and Pulley was charged with assault. Times on Pulley's mayoral campaign said, "With When she moved to New York City a year later to The courts gave him the choice of going to prison or the birth three weeks ago of his first child, a teach Mrican and Afro-American history she joined into the army. Pulley enlisted in the army. daughter, he is even angrier; fearful she will grow the Socialist Workers Party. At Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Pulley's life up in a world dominated by capitalists who will Zimmermann served as national secretary of the changed. There he met two members of the Young continue to exploit workers, pollute the air, build GI Civil Liberties Defense Committee. While living Socialist Alliance. They talked together about the nuclear weapons, and hold back minorities ... in Anchorage in 1970 she organized the first demon superexploitation of Blacks, about the war in Viet- "He looks to the creation of a workers party, stration against the Vietnam war ever held in nam, and about socialism. They discussed the initiated by unions, to run against the Democrats Alaska. In 1971 she was an organizer of the historic. and Republicans and put power in the hands of the antiwar march of one million in Washington, D.C. working people." The women's liberation movement was then becoming a major force in American politics. Zim mermann was elected a national coordinator of the Women's National Abortion Action Coalition, MATILDE ZIMMERMANN which mounted several demonstrations leading up Socialist Workers candidate for vice to the Supreme Court's legalization of abortion in president 1973. Matilde Zimmermann is a national leader of the As an active member of the National Organiza Socialist Workers Party. She helped organize the tion for Women, Zimmermann attended the last two massive actions of the last decade that forced the national conventions of NOW. She also recently withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. And she is participated in the Richmond, Virginia, labor con a recognized leader in the women's liberation move ference for the Equal Rights Amendment. While on ment. the campaign trail she plans to urge the largest In recent years Zimmermann has served as a possible participation in the January 20 pro-ERA staff writer for the Militant and Intercontinental march and rally called by that conference. Press/ lnprecor. She wrote news stories and analyt "Women have been fighting for equal rights on ical features on topics ranging from the women's the job, for affirmative action, for the right to movement and labor struggles in the United States pregnancy leaves, and for passage of the ERA," to such big world events as the revolution in Iran Zimmermann says. "The new opportunities for and the military conflicts in Indochina. women to draw the power of their unions into such Zimmermann was born thirty-six years ago in battles is the most significant development for Andrew Pulley (left) during Fort Jackson trial for Washington, D.C. She spent most of her childhood women's rights since the second wave of feminism organizing Gls against Vietnam War. years in the Philippines. began in the late 1960s." THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 7 New stage in revolution Major crackdown launched by Iranian By Gerry Foley Confronted with rapidly mounting struggles by the Iranian masses to defend and extend the gains of their Trotskyists face secret trial revolution, the Khomeini-Bazargan As we go to press, The been leveled against the the Socialist Workers Party government has launched a major crackdown aimed at smashing all op- Iranian Socialist Workers pnsoners, who were ar (HKS) in Iran. These pri position. · Party (HKS) has reported rested in late May and soners are antishah figh The crackdown occurs in the context that ten of its members June. ters who are innocent of of a sharpening of class battles and a Telegrams protesting the any crime. We demand the polarization on all fronts in the face immediate trial and country-from national and peasant possible execution in the secret trials and demand immediate release of all struggles, to protests in factories and city of Ahwaz. An emer ing the immediate release fourteen HKS members as the armed forces, to deepening opposi gency international cam of all the HKS members well as other revolutionary tion to press censorship and curtail ment of deniocratic rights. paign of telegrams has should be sent to: fighters imprisoned by Unable after six months to establish begun to save their lives. Ayatollah Ruhollah Kho your government, and the either a stable capitalist government On August 20, 10 of the melnl lifting of the ban on politi or an army willing to crush these 14 HKS members impri Qom, Iran cal parties and their news struggles, the Iranian ruling class, through the Ayatollah Khomeini, is soned in Ahwaz were In the United States, sup papers.'' now attempting to ruthlessly beat moved to cells in the Spe porters of the imprisoned Petitions should be sent down the working masses and their cial Court building. This revolutionaries are also cir to Ayatollah Khomeini in revolutionary aspirations. means they could be tried culating petitions among Qom and to the Iranian This opens a new stage in the Iran at any moment. The Spe coworkers. The petition embassy in the United ian revolution, creating the conditions cial Prosecutor has denied reads: States, 3005 Massachusetts for an explosive confrontation between the working masses and the capitalist them the right to lawyers .. "We strongly protest the Avenue, NW Washington, class. No official charges have secret trial of memhers of D.C. 20008. On August 18, Khomeini announced his intention to tum Iran into a one- Cartoon from now banned satirical weekly 'Ahangar' shows SAVAK agent in judge's robes taunting five prisoners: an oil worker, Trotskyist, Mujahedeen, Fedayeen, and Arab. Attacks stepped up on Iranian socialists Paralleling the deepening crisis of two of them only are known-Hamid door, had arrived at the prison and shouted for help, about 500 people from the Khomeini-Bazargan government, Shahrabi and Hormoz Fallahi. told the Trotskyists, "Your case is in the neighborhood gathered and this the regime and the rightist gangs that Fourteen HKS members are cur my hands." A strike by all the prison held the attackers back. serve as its auxiliary police have rently in Karoun Prison. After the ers in the jail, however, forced authori Although the attack was imme started to lash out in. a more and more prosecutor in the area told HKS law ties to move the HKS members back to diately reported to the local Imam's violent way against members of the yers that there was no evidence on regular cells. Committee, it was two hours before oppressed nationalities and workers which to try the jailed party members, The August 1 issue of the HKS paper guards arrived. They dispersed the organizations. the governor of the province, Admiral Kargar, which reported the above in crowd, and after a short time left the In this situation the lives of the Medani, announced that he would take formation, also noted that it had re area. political prisoners being held for de over personally as prosecutor in their ceived news from Karoun prison that The rightists then reneweq their fending the rights of the workers and case. Under Medani's jurisdiction in nine oil workers arrested while selling attack, and this time succeeded in oppressed nationalities are in serious the last two months dozens of Arabs the Fedayan paper Kar had been taken breaking in. They destroyed 10,000 danger. International protests in their have been condemned to death by to the quarantine cells. issues of Kargar and 3,000 books. behalf take on a special urgency. drumhead courts. On July 19, Siamak Abdali, a When the HKS tried to file a com In early August, four Socialist On July 19, five HKS members, member of the HKS branch in Isfahan, plaint, it got the runaround between Workers Party (HKS) members held in including Shahrabi and Hormoz Fal was kidnapped while selling Kargar the police and the Imam's Committee. Karoun prison in Khuzestan province lahi, were transferred to quarantine and systematically tortured. The next Then it appealed to higher authorities, were tortured. They were left without cells used as torture chambers under day, a group of thirty or forty rightists protesting that these attacks were pre protection for hours in the desert sun the old regime. A few days before this, arrived at the HKS headquarters in the venting it from carrying out its elec and then badly beaten. The names of a well known torturer, Houshang Qol- city. When the besieged Trotskyists tion campaign. -G.F. 8 Young resignation s~urs shift rulers SCLC tops back Palestinian rights party state with a ruling party "like By August Nimtz the Rastakhiz," the single party estab The reaction in the Black community lished by the shah. to the resignation of Andrew Young as This attempt to liquidate the demo U.S. ambassador to the United cratic rights won by the February Nations-purportedly because of an revolution was accompanied by a furi unauthorized meeting with a Palestine ous campaign to whip up chauvinism Liberation Organization official-has against the Kurdish struggle for na brought to light the growing sense of tional rights. Khomeini called for a solidarity Blacks feel with the per national ''holy war" against them. secuted Palestinian masses. The Iranian authorities ordered the At a news conference on August 16, closing of twenty-six newspapers and Young, the highest ranking Black in periodicals. This included some bour the Carter administration, warned that geois papers, left newspapers, and at the flap over his resignation would least one publication in the previously cause a pro-Palestinian "backlash" proscribed Azerbaijani Turkish lan among Blacks in this country. guage. In the days that followed, a number Public meetings and demonstrations of prominent Black leaders, most of have been banned. whom formerly echoed Washington's A warrant has been issued for the pro-Zionist stance, t<: ok their distance arrest of Matin Daftari, leader of the from Washington and Tel Aviv. Democratic National Front. On August Following an August 20 meeting 20 government forces raided the offices with representatives of the PLO, the of the Tudeh Party, the Iranian Com Rev. Joseph Lowery, head of the munist Party. Southern Christian Leadership Confer At the same time, Khomeini ap ence, said that SCLC unconditionally to serve as a powerful military weapon ing this mass struggle. But the Iranian pealed to his supporters to help hunt "supports the human rights of all against the Arab revolution-the revolution severely weakened the U.S. down members of the now outlawed Palestinians, including the right of self struggle by the working people of the rulers' position in the Middle East and Kurdish Democratic Party. determination in regard to their own Middle East to take control of the gave new inspiraiton to the Palestini- The ayatollah called specifically for homeland." resources in their countries and use ans. the arrest of Abdul Rahman Qassem Rev. Wyatt Walker of the Canaan them to meet basic human needs. The Carter administration is now lou, leader of the DPK and an elected Baptist Church in Harlem added: Zionist Israel has been established trying to buy some time by trying to member of the Assembly of Experts "There will be no peace in the Middle and armed to the teeth to terrorize the persuade Palestinians that the U.S. chosen to rule on the draft constitution East until justice comes to the Palesti Arab masses, keep them weak and government favors concessions to of the Islamic Republic. nians. All you have to do is visit a disorganized, and strike them down them if only they are "reasonable." According to reports from leaders of refugee camp one time and you will when they inevitably arise against That's where Andrew Young came the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party know that the Palestinians are the their oppression. in. Young had previous experience in (HKS), no newpapers of the left are niggers of the Middle East. The Pales The Israeli state is founded on the helping engineer deals in Africa that currently publishing. The centrallead tinians deserve justice in the Middle seizure of land belonging to the Pales served U.S. imperialist interests rather erships of left groups have all gone East." tinian Arabs and on the massive ex than those of the African masses or of into hiding. Such statements are an important pulsion of more than a million Palesti American working people. break in the monolithic pro-Israel nians from their homeland. Like others in the Carter administra Campaign against Kurds stance that has been fostered by pro More than a million Palestinians tion, Young began making probes to To create a justification for this Democratic Party Black leaders. Their live today under Israeli military occu see if the PLO could be drawn into crackdown, Khomeini has tried to con action will give new legitimacy to the pation, and hundreds of thousands of recognizing Israel and giving up its vince the masses that the nation faces pro-Palestinian sentiments that thou others are subjected to systematic ra struggle in exchange for paper prom a mortal threat from the Kurds. sands of Blacks have long held. And it cist discrimination by the Zionist re ises from U.S. diplomats. His overtures Khomeini declared that Kurdish reb will make it harder for the U.S. rulers gime. to the PLO represented no real conces els were besieging Sanandaj, the capi to line up support in the Black com The continued existence of Israel sion to Palestinian rights. To the con tal of Kurdistan province, and were munity for war moves in the Middle means oppression for the Palestinians, trary, Young stands committed to the about to seize large amounts of wea East. just as the maintenance of the South U.S. policy of supporting Israel. pons. Despite the positive change in his African state means continued racist Despite Young's resignation, there is This claim was immediately denied position, Lowery has not given up his oppression of the Black masses. That's no basic disagreement between him by the provincial governor himself, earlier stance of supporting the exist why Lowery is absolutely wrong to and the Carter administration about Mohammad Rashid Shakiba, who told ence of the Zionist state. The SCLC press the Palestinians to accept the foreign policy. That is why Young foreign correspondents in Tehran by president urged the PLO to give "con existence of the Israeli state. could announce at the time of his telephone: sideration to the recognition of the Peace for Arabs and Jews in the resignation that he plans to campaign "I don't know who told Ayatollah natio:rl.hood of Israel." Middle East can come about only for Carter in 1980. He even offered, Khomeini this. It is a total lie. There is For many, Young's resignation has through the dismantling of the Zionist according to the August 19 New York no unrest here. Both the town and the raised the question of why the U.S. Israeli state and the establishment in Times, ''to take on special missions for barracks are peaceful and the local government is so committed to backing its place of a democratic, secular Pales the State Department in future commander has not asked for any re the Israeli rulers against the Palestini tine, guaranteeing equality to all irres months, including a trade mission to inforcements." ans. The answer is that U.S. foreign pective of religion and nationality. Africa." policy in the Middle East, as else The government then spread the The Carter administration had As United Nations ambassador, An where, aims to protect the interests of hoped to use the Camp David accords drew Young served the Carter adminis story that Kurds had beheaded U.S. capitalism. In the Middle East members of the Imam's Committee between the Egyptian and Israeli re tration and helped to cover up its racist that means the big oil companies. gimes, which sold out the rights of the record at home and abroad. His resig guards in their province. A funeral for The basic role of the state of Israel is the alleged victims was held in Tehe Palestinians, as a step toward crush- nation is no loss for Black people. ran to incite Persian workers and recruit them to the Imam's Committee forces fighting in Kurdistan. Why Castillo is bowing out at INS According to the August 21 New York Times, Iranian state radio broad By Harry Ring In light of Castillo's experience, this cast ehouts of a crowd at the funeral Leonel Castillo will resign as com is understandable. who demanded the execution of Qas missioner of the U.S. Immigration and When his slated resignation was semlou and Kurdish leader Sheikh Naturalization Service (INS) by Oc first leaked, an associate told the July Ezzedin Hosseini. tober 1. He was the highest ranking 18 Los Angeles Times: "It's a depress In reality, what has be going on in Mexican-American in the Carter ad ing kind of job, kind of like being a Kurdistan for the past two months is ministration. cop." not a military uprising but an exten Castillo indicated August 11 that he Castillo's problem was not that his sion of the revolution that overthrew may run for political office in Houston. job was "kind of like" being a cop. It the shah. At the time Carter tapped him for the was being a cop. The masses of peasants and toilers job with la migra, Castillo was the That's bad enough for an aspiring who mobilized to destroy the old re elected controller of Houston. pressive power began in the last two Castillo first leaked his decision to politician who wants an image of months to assert their right to the leave the INS in mid-July. He indi representing his people. It's even worse land, to take it, and to organize their cated then that if the administration when you've obviously been chosen for own democratic councils. wanted him, he could be persuaded to the job because they want someone In fact, these land seizures have not stay on. with a brown face to front for a pro been confined to Kurdistan. They His offer was responded to not by jected racist crackdown on undocu started earlier in Turkmenistan. And Carter but by an assistant to the mented Mexican immigrants. they spread to the province of Pars attorney general, who said: "We would itself, the historic center of the domi like him to stay.... But we won't In February 1977, a month after he nant Persian nationality. stand in his way if he wishes to pursue took office, Carter disclosed he would Continued on page 17 some pretty good personal opportuni press for passage of legislation di ties." rected against the undocumented. Castillo reportedly asked several The Carter plan was intended to other Latino politicians if they would more effectively control the flow of like the job. They responded: "Forget undocumented immigrants into the it." Continued on page 15 THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 9 Massive layoffs hit auto industry employment of 131,000 workers. Sales at GM and Ford hit the skids, too. By Bill Arth uled to go broke in October, even care about the 130,000 UAW members guarantee whatsoever that Dodge DETROIT-With expiration of the though the layoffs are just beginning. who work for Chrysler, and their fami Main will be kept open, that Chrysler Big Three auto contracts less than a Funds are dangerously low at Ameri lies." will not close other plants, or that a month away, an ominous line-up has can Motors as well. And thousands of I think that sentiment is a good one; single laid-off worker will be recalled. fallen into place to challenge the right recently hired workers-especially in fact, it should be the starting point We are liable to still be left out in the of auto workers to make a living: women, Blacks, and Latinos-don't of the UAW's discussions on resolving cold, while the company keeps coming • Massive layoffs have thrown have the seniority to qualify for SUB the crisis we face. We are not out to back asking for more and more conces nearly 24,000 Chrysler workers, and benefits at all. save Chrysler but to defend our jobs, sions. 77,500 auto workers nationwide, out on With the club of unemployment wages, and working conditions. We are the street. And we are only at the hanging over our heads, Chrysler is out to strengthen our union for a fight Deadly trap beginning of the new recession. demanding that we accept a two-year against the companies, not to bail out Besides, once we accept the notion • Chrysler Corporation says it may wage freeze and no improvement in the companies at the expense of our that working people have to pay some go bankrupt if it doesn't get $1 billion working conditions. General Motors selves or other working people. how for the auto companies' financial from the federal government and big and Ford won't be long in calling for That's why, in my opinion, it is a problems, it's only logical that they sacrifices from its employees. similar concessions. losing strategy for the UAW to line up will demand sacrifices from us in con • With prices rising at more than 13 behind Chrysler's pleas for tax givea tract terms-as Chrysler is already percent a year, the Carter administra Mobilize the ranks ways, exemption from pollution con doing. This is a deadly trap. tion says our wages must still be held What can we do? A good first step trols, and so on. Settling for a substandard Chrysler to 7 percent. would be to hold emergency meetings You don't have to be an economist to contract would strike a blow at the These add up to a serious attempt to of all UAW locals. This would give know that if Chrysler gets a $1 billion conditions of every single UAW divide and weaken our union, ram a members an organized way to discuss handout, somebody else has to pick up member. If we become second-class bad contract settlement down our together the meaning of the new at the tab, and that somebody is working union members, who Will be next? throats, and open the way for the tacks and democratically decide how to class taxpayers. If the UAW endorses AMC workers are still struggling to companies to make unlimited profits at respond. After all, it is the union ranks such a ripoff, it will just isolate us from catch up with the Big Three. our expense. who will have to live under the con those we need as allies. Isn't it obvious that Ford and GM What happens to us will affect thou tract for the next three years and who By the same token, we all have to would rush to use whatever cut-rate sands of other workers as well, espe will suffer from the production cut breathe this dirty, poisonous air, and terms are forced upon Chrysler cially those in aerospace, steel, and backs. we should not go along with Chrysler's workers as a means to blackmail their other industries with contracts coming If such emergency meetings were claim that a delay in emissions stan own employees into submission? up this year and next. The attack on called and widely publicized, it is cer dards is the price we must pay for our Chrysler's bid for contract concessions the UAW is a threat to the entire labor tain that thousands of UAW members jobs. is the old "divide and rule" strategy movement. who never before bothered to attend Remember, even if Chrysler gets with a vengeance. And it was probably local meetings would be there. This in everything it is asking for, there is no cooked up in close collaboration with Emergency response itself would put the companies on I think we all realize that a more notice that the union is rallying its than "business as usual" response is forces, that we do not intend to bow called for. meekly to their dictates. In my local and many others, the Out of such discussions can come layoffs and the contract have been big proposals for action. The Auto Crisis: topics of discussion for weeks. Larger Another step toward fighting back than usual numbers of members have would be the formation of unemployed How to Fight Unemployment turned out for local meetings to talk committees in all UAW locals affected about what the union should do. by layoffs. The establishment of such a Thousands of UAW members and committee by Ford Local 1250 in Speakers: our families have joined demonstra Cleveland-at a meeting of 700 laid-off Andrew Pulley, Socialist Workers Party 1980 presidential candi tions in Detroit against Chrysler's workers-is an example we should fol date. Production worker, U.S. Steel, Gary Works. threat to close Dodge Main, a move low. Alyson Kennedy, UAW Local 1250, Brookpark Ford, Cleveland. that would deprive 6,000 workers of Such committees could help unem Leader of unemployed committee. their livelihoods. • ployed members get any and all benef Of course, layoffs are nothing new its they are entitled to. They could Jeff Stephenson, UAW Local 1058, Toledo. Co-chairperson for auto workers. The auto industry is serve as centers for discussing solu unemployed committee. especially sensitive to the ups and tions to the crisis, which could then be Bill Arth, UAW Local 140, Detroit. On indefinite layoff from downs of the economy. The UAW brought before the whole local for Dodge Truck. fought for and won a program to decision and action. They could also provide us some cushion from the serve to keep the entire membership effects of episodic short-term layoffs united and active in the union. Detroit Militant Forum, Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB). Save jobs, not Chrysler Sunday, Sept. 9, But everyone can feel that what's Speaking to Community Action Pro 7 p.m. happening today is something new gram (CAP) council delegates in Cleve and different-and worse. Right from land August 15, UAW President Dou the start we are being told that thou glas Fraser reportedly said: "I confess 6404 Woodward Ave. For further information call (313) 875-5322. sands of these layoffs are permanent. to you, I really don't care about The SUB fund at Chrysler is sched- Chrysler as a corporate entity. But I do 10 officials at Ford and GM. The only realistic way to protect ourselves is through union solidarity, through fighting together to protect the jobs, wages, and conditions of all. What would this mean in practice? It would mean we don't abandon our Nationalize Chrysler! brothers and sisters to the ups and The following statement was that the only solution is to restore This would place us in the best downs of SUB funds that are based on released August 20 by Andrew Chrysler to "health" as a profitable position to fight to safeguard our length of time worked and on company Pulley, Socialist Workers Party capitalist enterprise. interests. earnings. Our next contract should candidate for president. Other politicians, citing the sanc include guaranteed SUB pay for all tity of the "free enterprise" system, Workers control laid-off workers. If the companies de Chrysler Corporation is holding say Chrysler should be allowed to go The best guarantee that Chrysler fault, we should demand that the gov its 131,000 U.S. employees, their under. will be run in the public interest is to ernment pay unemployment compen families, and their communities hos Either way, the Democrats and entrust control over its day-to-day sation at full union scale for the full tage to its drive for profits. Republicans put the profit system operations to the auto workers them duration of joblessness. If the government does not provide first and the needs of workers last. selves. It's a safe bet that UAW (Maybe the UAW alone couldn't win hundreds of millions of dollars in members have the experience and this, but what if we took the lead in tax credits, if Chrysler is not granted expertise to run production better drawing together steelworkers, rubber exemption from fuel economy and Put workers' needs first than the current bosses. workers, electrical workers, machi pollution standards, and if the Uni The Socialist Workers Party be Today, understaffed jobs and bru nists, and other unionists in a common ted Auto Workers union does not lieves it is time for working people to tal speedup of assembly lines both fight for adequate government-paid ultimately agree to some kind of put our needs first-our jobs, our endanger auto workers and contrib unemployment benefits?) wage freeze and other givebacks wages, our health, our environment, ute to shoddy quality. Solidarity means that we cannot the company threatens to shut down our future. UAW committees in the plants allow the companies to use discrimina its operations for good. We believe that labor's program should have the power to slow down tory layoffs to reduce the proportion of In Canada too, Chrysler is de should be: no wage cuts, no layoffs, the line and make adequate job women, Blacks, and Latinos in the manding financial favors from the and no public handouts to the assignments to see that the highest work force-thereby undermining the government in exchange for keeping Chrysler company for its own pri standards of quality and safety are unity of our union. its 14,000 workers there employed. vate gain. met. Seniority may need to be modified to To show it means business, the One of our biggest problems is Instead of the current madness of make sure that these victims of past company has already laid off nearly that all the facts we need to make fifty to sixty hour workweeks for and present discrimination do not bear 24,000 workers and announced plans informed decisions about Chrysler's some while others go jobless, the the brunt of the cutbacks. A strong demands are hidden under the claim union should have the power to union stand for equality and defense of of "business secrecy." Chrysler's reduce the workweek for all, with no affirmative action will help strengthen secrecy is a conspiracy against auto cut from the current average weekly the union in the fight for jobs for all. workers and the public. We need to pay, including overtime pay. know: The UAW should have full author Shorter workweek How much has the company al ity over hiring, firing, and job disci Ever since this union was founded, ready bilked from the public in tax pline. This is the way to get rid of its program has included the realistic breaks and bonuses? the favoritism, racism, and sexist answer to unemployment: a shorter What kind of bonanza has discrimination that management workweek with no reduction in pay. Chrysler been making as a top war now uses to keep workers divided. It A few more Paid Personal Holidays contractor and the biggest tank pro would allow the UAW to implement per year will not make a dent in the ducer in the world? affirmative-action programs to as current layoffs or help to create new Are its real profits being concealed sure equality in hiring, promotion, jobs. We need a drastic reduction in the or siphoned off? and training for skilled jobs. workweek-to thirty hours, for The workers themselves should example-for the same weekly take What is the actual cost of meeting make all decisions regarding job home pay we now average (including emissions and safety standards? safety. UAW representatives should current overtime premiums). Once nationalized, Chrysler have the unconditional right to shut It is also long overdue for the UAW should not be handed over to a gang down unsafe jobs. to prohibit all forced overtime, espe of government bureaucrats, who in The union should be the judge of cially while any union member is laid ANDREW PULLEY variably come from private industry production standards, with the right off. Slowing down the line speed to a and are tied in a hundred ways to to inspect both incoming materials less inhuman pace could also mean to close down one of its oldest plants, big business. Instead, we advocate and finished products to make sure creation of more jobs. Dodge Main in Hamtramck, Michi that it be managed by an elected that no corners are cut at the pub We shouldn't let the looming danger gan, by next summer. public board. lic's expense. of unemployment make us forget about This is blackmail. By insisting that all the meetings Workers have no reason to want to our persistent problems with inflation. There is only one answer that can of such a board be open to the public, "save Chrysler." But we have every We need an immediate, substantial protect the interests of Chrysler that its books and records be availa reason to fight to save jobs, to pro across-the-board wage increase and an workers, taxpayers, and other work ble for public inspection, and that its tect the environment, and to see that improved formula for the cost-of-living ing people: decisions be fully aired and ac transportation needs are met. adjustment (COLA) so that we get full Nationalize Chrysler. counted for, working people could Public owl)ership and workers con compensation for every rise in prices. The government should take the keep a close eye on its operations. trol are the way to meet these goals. Pensions should also be raised and company out of the hands of the be fully protected by COLA. private owners whose only concern We can appeal to the entire labor is higher profits for themselves. movement for active support in this Chrysler should be placed under battle against Carter's 7 percent wage public ownership so that its produc limit and against the layoffs that are tive facilities can be used to promote already spreading to other industries. the social good: • To provide jobs at decent wages; Use union power • To produce efficient, safe, inex The auto companies, needless to say, pensive cars that don't pollute the will claim all this is totally environment; unreasonable-that we have to be con • To build socially necessary pub tent with less, not demanding more. lic transit vehicles and agricultural They will insist they can't afford to machinery. meet such proposals. This is nonsense. GM and Ford, two Profit system of the biggest corporations in the capi Like all capitalists, the millio talist world, are enjoying record naires who now own and run breaking high profits. Chrysler are not in business to pro As for Chrysler, we can't afford to let vide jobs. They are not really even in it get away with paying substandard business to make cars. They are in wages and benefits. If Chrysler can't business to make money-and to or won't stay in business while paying hell with anything that gets in their a living wage and meeting union way. terms, we shouldn't hesitate to demand What does it matter to Chrysler's that it be nationalized and placed owners that a shutdown could spell under public ownershi13. catastrophe for up to 500,000 The truth is that our union can get workers whose jobs are tied to what it is big enough to take. But it Chrysler? has been so long since the full power of Or that an especially high propor the UAW was brought into action that tion of women, Black, Latino, and we don't even know what we're strong Arab Chrysler employees would be enough to win. thrown out of work? Mass meetings, rallies, demonstra Or that whole neighborhoods in tions, pickets-these are ways to begin Detroit, St. Louis, and other auto flexing our muscles. And there should centers could be devastated? be a serious discussion at every level of Some Democratic and Republican politicians claim to be concerned the union about junking the old "one t \ at a time" strike strategy, which with these social consequences of a MilitanVEiizabeth Ziers merely dissipates our strength, and Chrysler bankruptcy. But they insist Detroit auto workers demonstrate against closing of Dodge Main, Hamtramck getting ready to strike all three top auto companies if that's what it takes. THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 11 By Suzanne Haig More than 100 met in a workshop on RICHMOND, Va.-"The people in the ERA and the Black community. this room are the hub around which In addition to Suzanne Kelly, confer the movement for ratification in Virgi ence participants heard greetings from nia and in the other two states needed the Virginia AFlrCIO, United Auto will begin." Workers, Teamsters, United Mine These are the greetings that Suzanne Workers, Coalition of Labor Union ore~ Kelly, president of the Virginia Educa Women, Virginia NOW, Virginia tional Association made to more the NAACP, ERAmerica, Richmond Ur 500 trade unionists at a broadly spon ban League, and the Tidewater Region sored "Labor Conference for the Equal Central Labor Council. Rights Amendment" here on August Wayne Crosby, president of USWA 12. Local 8888 in Newport News also gave The conference unanimously passed greetings. (see box). a proposal for a campaign of education Keynote speeches were given by and action-including a January 20, Marsha Zakowski, Civil Rights De 1980 march and rally in Richmond partment United Steelworkers of by labor and its allies to win ratifica America; Charles Hayes, International tion of the Equal Rights Amendment Vice President, United Food and Com in Virginia. mercial Workers Union and executive The spirit of the conference, its par vice president of the Coalition of Black ticipants, and its decisions reflected Trade Unionists; and NOW National the beginning of a new stage in the President Eleanor Smeal. fight for the ERA. The 548 conference registrants were 'Join with allies' predominantly trade unionists but also Smeal's address to the conference included members of the National Or pointed toward the kind of powerful ganization for Women (NOW}, civil coalition that can be built to win the rights groups, and others. ERA. The unionists saw the ERA cam "I think it will be a new day when paign as a way to forge unity in the the Black and civil rights movement, ranks oflabor, bring needed benefits to labor and women's movement join almost one-half of the work force, and . hands," she said. "The fight for ERA build the coalition that labor needs to has made the women's movement un fight for all its rights. derstand politics and be willing to fight. We want to join hands with our Broad representation allies because we're fighting the same This could be seen from the broad opponents: J.P. Stevens and Winn representation of labor at the confer Dixie, Right to Work, and those ence. Black and white, male and fe against Civil Rights." male, young and old unionists came "We are an unratified nation," she from fifteen states in addition to Virgi said, "and the issue has widespread nia. implications for women, labor, and the More than twenty-three. unions were entire country. Inequality plagues the represented. There were members of nation. We're fighting runaway infla the United Steelworkers from Pits tion. It seems like the conservatives burgh, Baltimore, Gary, Chicago, and are taking over, but when you read the Newport News, Virginia. There were polls you know better." retail clerks, meat cutters, and factory Smeal explained how extension of workers from the newly merged Food the deadline for ERA ratification was and Commercial Workers from Wash won in 1978. She described the grass ington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. roots support, the millions of letters and telegrams to Congress. When she Autoworkers came from New Jersey More than 500 unionists and women's rights activists from around the country met In and elsewhere. Teachers from Virginia mentioned the NOW-initiated ERA were there. Other unions represented march of 100,000 in July 1978, the included International Brotherhood of conference broke into cheers and ap Electrical Workers, International Asso plause. Suzanne Kelly and Jerry Gordon, as Lentz and Marianne Fowler of Virgi ciation of Machinists, American Feder This sentiment for action in the sistant director, District 2 of the Food nia ERA Political Action Committee, ation of State, County, and Municipal streets, coupled with suspicion of politi and Commercial Workers Union. It favored pressuring the central labor Employees, Brotherhood of Railway cians and their promises was best called for public actions for the ERA councils in Virginia to get candidates and Airline Clerks, Teamsters, and reflected in the discussion around stra on a local or regional scale during the endorsed by the Virginia AFlrCIO to United Mine Workers. tegy and action. week of December 2-9, 1979, and a support the ERA. Twenty-three anti Representatives of the national Vir The unionists gathered here had massive statewide march and rally in ERA legislators had been endorsed by ginia, and North Carolina AFlrCIO drawn some bitter lessons from the Richmond on January 20, 1980, to the AFlrCIO for the state legislature were present. battles for union recognition and civil demand that the Virginia General at a conference of the Committee on There were rank and file union rights and from the defeats in the fight Assembly pass the ERA. Political Education in Roanoke August members, staff representatives, local for ERA ratification in Virginia. Two other resolutions put forward a 11. presidents, and members of women's The exchange of views and debate strategy leading away fFom building a The third resolution was submitted and civil rights committees. which occurred in workshops and in massive movement of labor and its by Dorothy Early of Communications More than half the conference partic the plenary centered around three reso allies, and toward relying on getting Workers of America Local 2201 on ipants were women. Especially signifi lutions. "pro-ERA" candidates elected in the behalf of five CW A locals. It included cant was the participation of Black The first resolution was submitted Virginia legislature. calling on the conference to go on trade unionists, both male and female. by two of the conference coordinators: One proposal, submitted by Jean record against endorsing "anyone male or female who we cannot depend on to vote yes on ERA." During the discussion on the resolu tions speakers pointed out why a move ment of labor, women's organizations, and others was needed to win the ERA. "Companies have money to put paid lobbyists in the capitol, but labor can put more people in the streets," one speaker said. Barbara Bowman, chair of the Women's Advisory Committee of USWA Local 2609 at U.S. Steel Spar rows Point in Baltimore summed up the sentiment of the conference: Using union power "Our unions are under attack like we haven't seen since the 1930's. If you take the union power that is in this room and use it to tell people to vote for A, B, or C, you are shortchanging them. "The union movement has got to show the road forward, give confi dence, inspiration, and a willingness to sacrifice. "That's all we have. We don't have the hoarded gold. "The demonstrations and educa tional proposals outlined in the 12 • renee r1ve men AYs· VIRGINIAN • IF WE UNITE AND ' MOBILIZE OUR MEMBERS WE CRN N. . 12 to map education and aciion campaign for ERA. Gordon-Kelly resolution are the kind of that she hoped people would "go to Wayne Crosby, president of Local Virginia and other states. program we need." your states and start labor ERA con 8888 in Newport News, Virginia, told State coordinators for LERN were Under the discussion of the Gordon ferences to make things better for the Militant that he intends "to form elected unanimously-Jerry Gordon Kelly resolution an amendment was every person in this country." Holding an ERA Committee in my local. I don't and Suzanne Kelly. proposed and adopted that unions set similar labor conferences in other think there is enough education on The conference ended with the sing aside from one day to one week after parts of the country was discussed ~RA and its advantages in Virginia. ing of "Solidarity Forever," including the January 20 march for their throughout the conference. I'd like to suggest that all local meet a new verse on the ERA: members to lobby in Richmond. Ideas were raised on what individual ings once a month have someone from "When men and women stand· as The action resolution as amended unions could do. Marsha Zakowski told NOW or other organizations be at the equals, we will start a brand new day; passed unanimously. the Militant that the USW A would meeting to speak and educate the But all tradition's ties that bind us After the vote, Marianne Fowler want to write about this conference in members. There's a lot of locals across must first be swept away; withdrew her resolution calling on the Steel Labor and "coalesce in other the state of Virginia." · It will take the might of labor to AFlrCIO to solicit support for the ERA states with NOW, CLUW, and ERA A national LERN newsletter will be ratify the ERA; from the candidates they endorsed. merica." reporting on ERA developments in And the Union makes us strong!" "Since people think if this resolution came to a vote it would divide the conference, I'll withdraw it," she ex plained. The other pro-lobbying resolution was amended to delete the section that ERA & 'right to work' dealt with support to political candi In her keynote address, Marsha dates. "Our union has 14,000 members. A number of other resolutions passed Thirty percent are women. In Janu Zakowski from the Civil Rights De without dissent. These included sup ary 1978 the United Steelworkers of partment of the USWA, referred to port for J.P. Stevens and Winn-Dixie America (USW A) won the right to the connection between these two boycotts; feature articles on the ERA represent the workers in the New struggles. in union newsletters; and support of port News shipyards. Without the "Fifteen states have not ratified ·national childcare for working women. women in there we would not have the ERA. Twelve of those states are The Virginia regional workshops made it. 'right-to-work' for less states. Of discussed holding future local building "Now with the women and the those twelve, nine are concentrated meetings to plan for the December and work force of this state behind you, I in the South. So you can see our January actions. They discussed hav know we can pass ERA in Virginia." work is cut out for us. ing report-back meetings to union lo When Wayne Crosby, president of USWA Local 8888 in Newport News "If we can win ERA in the 'right cals and women's organizations. They to-work' state of Virginia, we can elected two representatives each to be delivered these greetings to the labor conference for the ERA, the audience win in other "right-to-work' states. on a Labor For Equal Rights Now And if we can win union representa (LERN) state coordinating committee. jumped to their feet cheering, clap ping and chanting, "Eighty-eight, tion in the 'right-to-work' state of A solidarity workshop of unionists Virginia-and we have-we will from states other than Virginia pro Close the Gate!" In doing so, over 500 unionists courageously win union representa posed a number of activities: inviting tion in other 'right-to-work' states. NOW, CLUW, and other women's were putting the Virginia legisla groups to speak at union meetings and ture, the U.S. government, and "I am happy that my union inviting unionists to speak before bosses like Tenneco in Newport brother Wayne Crosby and other women's organizations; distributing News on notice: they were going to members of that union are here. You the conference action proposal; re fight for both the ERA and union too have had an uphill battle in the M Newport steelworkers were hailed by questing union distribution of the pam recognition in Virginia and around face of strong company opposition." phlet, "Labor's Case for the ERA." the country. S.H. conference participants. In her address, Eleanor Smeal stated 13 Cops riot against Ohio nuclear workers strike By Lynda Joyce •· · . police attacked with riot gear, clubs, CLEVELAND-In a vicious union- ( •.. • tear gas, mustard gas. They really busting assault, 100 police attacked a · di~n't ca.re who they hurt-resident~, peaceful demonstration of 300 strikers children, grandmothers. You couldn t and their supporters at Bailey Controls ?rea_the. _A three-year-old boy w~s play- in suburban Wickliffe August 13. Us- mg m h1s yard, got overcome With gas ing riot gear, tear gas, and clubs, the and h,~d to be taken to the emergency cops injured four people and arrested room. twenty-five. ~e twenty-five people. arrested, in- Bailey Controls, which makes so- cl~dmg Local 174~ prestd~nt Earsell phisticated parts for nuclear power Wilso~ and UA~ _mternatwnal repre- plants, is a subsidiary of Babcock & sentative . Dommie Case~sa, were Wilcox, the company that built the charged With aggravated not. All but Three Mile Island nuclear reactor. one were released on $2,500 bond. Controls for TMI were made by Bailey. In an outrageous attack on their Th 850 b f U •t d A to constitutional rights, Municipal Judge e mem ers o m .e u Elaine Crane banned the twenty-five Worker~ Local1741 struck Batley June not only from the picket line but from 1_, seekmg an end to mandatory over- union headquarters! Crane relented time, a wage boost, and other ~enefits. only to permit Wilson and Casessa '!he ,?ompany responde? With an access to the union offices. offer of forced overtime and a Since the attack Wickliffe has be- meager pa~ i~crease within Carter's 7 come a virtual p~lice state at shift percen~ gutdehnes. changes. More than 100 cops line the The company has refused to nego- streets to protect the scabs and com- tiate, and a local judge friendly to pany photographers poise on the roof. ~ailey issued an injunction limiting In what capitalist press called a 'labor riot,' cops drag off woman picket. Many of the strikers are angry about plCke_ts to thr~e at each gate. the role of the police. "Never again will Batley contmues to ~hurn out nu- they get my backing," one striker clear. plant controls With scabs a~d power or no nuclear power," a com- The August 16 demonstration was explained. "I will get on a soapbox and salaned personnel. All the quahty mitteeperson told the Militant. "The an effort to force the company back to knock down any tax the police depart- control inspectors are on strike. Parts politicians and the judges and the law the bargaining table. Among the dem- ment wants from here on out." made by untrained workers, strikers enforcement agencies are letting them onstrators were fifteen anti-nuclear The strikers remain determined. "I'm ~oint out? greatly increase the risks build uninspected controls. You don't activists, two of whom were arrested. not going to break," one striker told mvolved m nuclear power. know what's going on in there. It could A union committeeperson described the Militant. "We'll just stick together, "There are protests over safe nuclear kill millions of people." the cop attack to the Militant: "The we'll be all right," said another. Unionists versus utilities in nuclear debate By Curt Steinmetz tion Program councils, District 11 of Olszanski added that coal, which, he the two unionists were friendly. But INDIANOPOLIS-Nearly 200 peo the United Mine Workers, the campus explained, could be burned cleanly, one person indignantly demanded ple and a host of radio, television, and Black Student Union, and other could serve as a fuel to replace nuclear whether either of them had degrees in newspaper reporters crowded a room at groups. power while solar and other non physics. Olszanski replied that his job Indiana University/Purdue University The pronuclear side was taken by polluting technologies are developed as a technician in a steel plant re at Indianapolis for a debate on nuclear John Rutkowski, an employee of Pub more fully. quired him to make things work that power July 28. lic Service Indiana and Frank Clike Hauser expanded on the advantages had been designed by engineers with Speaking against nuclear power man, a professor of nuclear engineer of burning coal. He explained that coal degrees-an experience which led him were Mike Olszanski, chairperson of ing at Purdue University. PSI is production had been systematically to have little faith in the safety sys the environmental committee of Uni currently building a nuclear power curtailed in favor of nuclear power, tems of nuclear power plants. ted Steelworkers Local 1010 in north plant at Marble Hill, Indiana. and that working people had paid a The debate was a big success for the ern Indiana, and Terry Hauser, state Olszanski explained that nuclear high price in health, safety, and jobs. anti-nuclear power movement here. wide director of United Mine Workers power wasn't necessary to supply the Hauser noted that there was enough The movement succeeded in widening of America Coal Miners Political Ac nation's energy needs. He pointed to coal in the ground right now to last its base of support among working tion Committee. the wasteful practices of industry as a hundreds of years. Mining more coal, people and their unions, and it also The debate was endorsed by three prime example of how huge amounts of Hauser said, would mean more jobs. exposed the nuclear industry's lie that United Auto Workers Community Ac- energy could be saved. Almost all the questions directed at workers all support nuclear power. International actions on Hiroshima Day By Glen Boatman Price-Anderson Act." This law limits Other speakers included represen- other cities. In Australia thousands TOLEDO-About 1,000 protesters liability in nuclear accidents to a tatives of the Farm Labor Organiz- of people turned out for protests converged on Crane Creek Park, small fraction of what is possible in ing. Committee and the American against uranium mining. Thousands twenty-five miles east of here, Au- a mel~down. Gofman called for a Indtan Movement. also turned out in Hiroshima to gust 5 to demand the closing of the campaign to educa~e and convince Hiroshima Da~ memorial acti?ns mark the anniversary of the first use Davis-Besse nuclear power plant. the masses of ~encan people that were also held m New York Ctty, of the atom bomb against human The Davis-Besse plant, designed by nuclear power 1s not safe. New Jersey, Boston, Detroit, and targets. Babcock & Wilcox, was closed a week after the Three Mile Island disaster and was only reopened in late July. Buses brought demonstrators from around Ohio and Michigan. The action was one of many antinuclear protests around the country com memorating the anniversary of Hiro shima Day. The protest here was initiated by the Toledo Coalition for Safe Energy and was endorsed by the Birgham Unit of United Auto Workers Local 12 here, the Lima Troy UAW Community Action Pro gram Council, and by a dozen anti nuclear power groups assembled in the August 5 Coalition. The protest began with a march past the plant. Following the march, more than 400 people braved a downpour to hear speakers including Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich, who called for the immediate closing of the plant. Dr. John Gofman, a former profes sor of medical physics at the Univer sity of California, said that "the proof that nuclear power isn't safe is that Congress refuses to repeal the 14 Safety inspectors to tour Haitians in Miami Newport News shipyard protest sea murder By Jon Hillson yard it will be like a breath of fresh NEWPORT NEWS, Va.-Faced with air," Hower told the Militant. By Stuart Rogers Haitian people is desperate. But so is a potential contempt of court citation Hower said the potential victory of MIAMI-Six Haitian refugees were the political oppression that accom and heavy fines, the giant corporation getting OSHA inside the yard con murdered at sea sixty miles north of panies it. Those who raise their voice Tenneco conceded on August 20 to let cretely shows "the workers what the here August 13. in protest face torture and death at the inspectors from the Occupational, Steelworkers can do for them." After paying fifteen hundred dollars hands of Duvalier's murderous police, Safety and Health Administration Tenneco's hardnosed attitude to to smugglers, they were brought to Tonton Macoutes. (OSHA) investigate the Newport News wards OSHA is matched by its un within a half mile of the Florida coast, At an August 15 press conference shipyard. checked assault on Steelworkers inside when a police patrol car flashed its here, Rulx Jean-Bart of the Haitian Two weeks earlier, shipyard brass the yard. Firings continue, not only in searchlight on the approaching boat. American Community Association of denied twenty-one OSHA inspectors, the key X-18 welding department, but The two crew members panicked and Dade County, declared: armed with federal warrants, entry throughout the yard. ordered all the refugees into the water. "The Haitians are fleeing one of the into the yard. OSHA then took Ten An estimated two hundred and fifty When some of them refused, the world's most repressive regimes.... neco to court. welders-about 14 percent of the de crewmen threw the young children We join the Congressional Black Cau The OSHA inspection comes as a partment that was the backbone of overboard. The remammg adults cus and others who demand that the result of a long health and safety Local 8888's eighty-two day recogni jumped in to try and save them. U.S. government hear their cries, just campaign waged by United Steel tion strike last spring-have been fired Ten made it. to shore, six drowned. as it has heard cries of the Indochinese workers Local 8888 and the interna in the last four weeks. The six were all from the Lorfils fam and Cubans. We demand equal treat tional office of the union. While shipyard brass claim there is a ily. There were five pre-teen children ment!" A thorough investigation of the wide lack of work, there has been a steady and their mother. Bill Swartz, a Washington, D.C., ranging charges brought in thirty stream of new hirees filling these The two crew members were arrested attorney who represents Haitians, said eight separate complaints by Local slots-most of them, Steelworkers say, and charged with murder. the government routinely grants politi 8888 would pry the lid off what of high school age. In Miami's Haitian and Black com cal asylum to refugees from "commu workers call "the hellhole," a shipyard "Tenneco's getting ready for a munities the response to the grisly nist" countries, but demands that where and death and injury stalk strike," one Steelworker told me. murders has been one of deep outrage, those from other nations prove their Tenneco's employees daily. "Those kids look just like the scabs blaming both the U.S. and Haitian claim to political asylum. Charges against Tenneco include: they hired during the strike." government for what happened. excessive lead levels in the shipyard's Recently a pattern has begun to The following day, people picketed Community leaders ripped Washing the U.S. Immigration offices in down foundry; inadequate ventilation on all emerge of the bosses attempting to rob ton's hypocritical stand of refusing to welding job sites; general inadequacy fired Steelworkers of their unemploy town Miami. recognize those who flee the Duvalier On August 18, throngs turned out to of safety devices on machinery, from ment compensation, challenging their dictatorship in Haiti as political refu cranes to drill presses; excessive expo claims to the State Unemployment participate in a funeral for the dead gees entitled to asylum here. mother and children. sure to asbestos; poor sanitary condi Commission. As a result of this policy, those who tions and poor lighting. One young worker was fired for do make it here are compelled to live Outside the church, one mourner While Federal District judge Walter "picket-line misconduct" after return the life of undocumented workers, sub carried a sign declaring, "The victims Hoffman said he would continue to ing to work. His arrest charge was ject to every kind of racist victimiza of twenty five years of oppression." "hold the hammer" of a contempt dismissed by the courts. He wasn't tion and forced to work for starvation Frequent outbursts of grief and citation over Tenneco's head, he has rehired, despite three years in the yard. wages. anger were heard as the caskets were not yet stated when the OSHA inspec After receiving two weeks of unem Yet people continue to make the moved into the church. tion will begin, leaving that to negotia ployment, he was informed in writing desperate sea journey to escape the Meanwhile, Washington continues tions between OSHA and Tenneco. of Tenneco's challenge and told that he misery and oppression of Haiti. its support to the Duvalier regime Significantly, however, Hoffman would have to repay the state if the oil The U.S. insists these people are responsible for the barbaric conditions ruled that any employee could accom rich company won the claim. merely "economic" refugees. True, the that drive Haitians to flee their coun pany the inspectors on their tour, Local 8888's fight for union recogni economic situation of the mass of the try by any means possible. overruling Tenneco's objections. This tion continues. Tenneco has publicly means that members and officers of stated it will abide by a U.S. appellate Local 8888 can alert the inspectors to court ruling on the outcome of the safety violations Tenneco's manage January 31, 1978 shipyard election ment is bent on covering up. which saw the USWA beat the Penin Hoffman also barred Tenneco from sula Shipbuilders Association, the taking depositions from the individual company union. Steelworkers who filed the OSHA com Steelworker and National Labor Re plaints, upholding their right to pri lations Board counter-arguments to vacy. These workers would have been Tenneco's charge of "vote fraud", fired had the ruling allowed Tenneco to which have been twice rejected by the get their names. NLRB, will be filed September 4. Ten USWA District 35 Sub-Director Jack neco and the PSA reply on September Hower said Hoffman's rulings were 10. "very favorable for the Steelworkers. The court will hear the case on "If the Steelworkers get to go on the September 12 in Baltimore with its inspection with OSHA inside the ship- verdict expected in three to six weeks. ... Castillo Continued from page 9 ment on the issue. From then on the country. It would have assured sweat plan foundered in Congress. shop employers and ranchers a contin In November 1978, it was an uing supply of super-cheap labor while nounced, quietly, that the plan was making undocumented workers even being shelved. Instead, a congressional more vulnerable to victimization. committee was appointed to study the The plank in the Carter program immigration issue, with instructions that drew the sharpest fire was a not to report back until after the 1980 proposal for a South African-type in elections. The anti-immigrant drive, ternal passport system under which all however, continues unabated. aliens would have been required to Castillo, who had the sorry task of Mourners at funeral for Haitian family murdered at sea carry "counterfeit-proof' ID cards. promoting Carter's racist immigration In March 1977, shortly after the plan plan, has met increasing hostility in was announced, Carter nominated his job. Castillo for the INS post. It was a His attempts to give the INS a scarcely concealed move to blunt the "liberal" image infuriated the stone anticipated opposition to the plan racists who staff the agency. INS double-crosses Haitians among the Chicano people. More important, when he spoke in In one more display of its duplic An attorney for the plaintiffs It didn't work. the Chicano community, invariably ity, the U.S. Immigration and Natu charged the INS acted "in bad faith" In November 1977, a Chicano!La there would be pickets outside and ralization Service signed an agree by having thousands of people come tino conference was held in San Anto members of the audience to challenge ment in 1978 to issue work permits forward for the work authorizations nio to rally opposition to the measure. him. His image wore thin. for Haitian refugees seeking political and then revoking them after get The gathering was attended by 1,500 To add to Castillo's grief, there were asylum here, used the permits to get ting the names and addresses. people representing an unusually the wide protests against the INS the identities of the refugees, and Gerald Jean-Juste, director of the broad array of forces. It included the decision, now being appealed, to deport then revoked them. Haitian Refugee Center said, "Mal League of United Latin American Citi socialist Hector Marroquin to Mexico. This was charged in a class action nutrition, psychological problems zens, the GI Forum, the Mexican At the time Castillo took the job with suit filed in July against Leonel and illness are widespread" as a American Legal and Education De la migra, he told Los Angeles Times Castillo and other INS officials. result of denying these refugees the right to work. fense Fund, the Raza Unida Party, the reporter Frank Del Olmo that friends The INS agreement to issue the Socialist Workers Party, and many had warned him it would be "political The legal action demands that the permits had been signed with the permits be returned to some 2,000 more. suicide." National Council of Churches and Despite a diversity of political views, "They might be right," Castillo said. people involved so they can work the Haitian Refugee Center in Mi pending decision on their applica the gathering was unanimous in its "I do know that it's a high risk job. But ami. opposition to the Carter plan. with high risks come high gains." tions for asylum. That crystallized community senti- He was only half right. THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 15 'They call me Fidel' How the Cuban revolution helped put a Puerto Rican worker on socialist path By Jose G. Perez Victor has also had a long history of work like everyone else. But coming in the Democratic Party he was also "In the factory they call me Fidel, trade-union activity, serving for six here I faced discrimination, something active in the Communist Party. even though I shaved off my beard years as a shop steward in his plant. very different for me, something I had "I joined the CP because I was several months ago," explains Victor In January, Victor joined the Social never known before. I was very involved in the antiwar movement and Caban, a machine operator in the ist Workers Party. Recently I spent shocked." I realized that the problem was much giant General Electric plant in Sche several hours talking with him to find Victor continued: "Three years later, greater than the war, that basic and nectady, New York. out what the experiences were that had in 1951, I was drafted to go to Korea." radical changes were necessary, that "I thought that maybe without the brought him to the SWP. There he could see other signs of is, that a revolution like the one Fidel beard they would drop the name, but it Yankee racism against Puerto Ricans. and his people made in Cuba was seems that for my co-workers, politics * * * "I was in a unit called the 65th needed here. I thought that since it are more important." Infantry, which was Puerto Rican and called itself the Communist Party it Victor is forty-eight years old. Of the therefore more familiar. must be a revolutionary party. thirty years he has been in the United End of an illusion "Fortunately, I wasn't at the front "When I joined the CP, I was plan States, he has spent thirteen at Gen The year was 1948, the country, the lines, just near them, since I was in a ning to leave the Democratic Party. eral Electric. Like almost all Puerto United States, supposedly the most supply unit. We were in Korea for a But then the comrades of the party Ricans, he hopes to return to Puerto powerful, democratic, and fairminded year, until they disbanded the 65th the Communist Party-told me no. Rico some day, although he hasn't yet country in the world. A young Puerto because it couldn't hold out any longer. They said you had to belong to and been able to "because the economic Rican decides to emigrate, because-as "Whenever the American army faced work in the Democratic Party. I had situation there is very grim." always-the economic situation in much resistance or many enemy already become disillusioned and fed For many years he has been in Puerto Rico was gloomy. troops, they sent for the 65th. The most up with the Democratic Party and said volved with one or another political "I came largely because of an illu difficult assignments were given to so to my club chairman. I said that issue. In the late 1950s he supported sion," Victor says. "People said in the this regiment. Because of that it suf since I was a communist, I was leav the Cuban revolution then in the mak United States you could earn a lot of fered many casualties, and finally had ing. But he insisted that I not leave ing. During the Vietnam War he bread, that life was easier here." to be disbanded. ... because there were lin~s of com helped organize antiwar demonstra "I was seventeen years old. I had "They used Puerto Ricans as cannon munication ... to maintain contact tions. After that he became active in finished eight years of school, but I fodder." with the masses ... things like that." the movement in solidarity with the didn't know much about life. I was Victor explained to me that he was Chilean people and in support of the able to delude myself with that image supposed to try to influence people, get United Farm Workers union. of the United States, the country where Cuba and Vietnam them to adopt more progressive posi He worked in the Democratic Party, even a humble worker could live like a Back from Korea, Victor couldn't tions, and eventually win them to the and for several years he was a member rich person. But that wasn't the case." find a job for two years, a situation Communist Party. In fact, Victor went of the Communist Party, until his First impressions: "This country was that confronted many other veterans so far as to run in the Democratic experiences in it convinced him that it something different. The cold climate of that war. He finished high school by primary as a candidate for the U.S. was not the way to build a revolution and the coldness of the people. studying nights and finally got a job Congress. Throughout all this, the ary workers party. "In Puerto Rico, you go to school and at an· electrical cable factory in Brook CP's policy was to not indentify its lyn, New York. There he got to know members as such, supposedly because Cuban workers who were raising funds of a fear of repression, implying that it for the July 26 Movement during the would be more difficult to attract new struggle against the Batista dictator people to the party. ship. Victor always contributed. "My greatest contact was with the "I remember well that New Year's Reform Democrats, young people who Day, 1959, when Batista fled," Victor had participated in the McCarthy and says, "and how much they talked McGovern campaigns. The problem about the victory and the changes that was that these young people, even if Fidel's 'bearded ones' would make in they began as reformers, ended up in Cuba. But no one thought that there the regular Democratic Party. The would be such a deep revolution. I Democratic Party ate them up. They couldn't imagine such a thing." were swallowed up. Such people join In 1966, Victor moved to Schenec the Democratic Party to change it, but tady. It was there that he came across it isn't the party that changes, it is groups opposing the war in Vietnam. they who are changed by the party. He helped organize demonstrations But they could never bring me to that against the war, but during the first point. They couldn't control me or years many of tht! workers at the sidetrack me." General Electric plant reacted nega Victor formally remained in the CP tively. "At first I was branded as 'anti until the end of 1978, when he came in American,' as a 'communist.' And contact with the SWP, but the CP club since I didn't consider myself a revolu in Albany had stopped functioning tionary at that time and didn't belong long ago. to a revolutionary party, I couldn't explain myself very well and answer Union Activist the attacks." Victor has also been active for many But, Victor said, the attitude of the years in his union, Local 301 of the workers began to change. International Union of Electrical "Little by little, the arguments of the Workers (the main electrical workers antiwar movement-and the war itself, union). which seemed like it would go on He told me how General Electric without end-had an impact. Then, by makes use of bureaucratic procedures 1970 or 1971, when a group of Vietnam for settling grievances-complaints veterans organized to go to Washing about safety, contract violations, etc. ton to return their medals, people be to weaken the union, practically para gan to think differently.'' lyzing it on many occasions. "We have the right to strike if we Democrats and win a grievance and the company 'Communists' doesn't settle," Victor explained, "but what's happening is that that right is Indirectly, Victor's opposition to the being used less and less, and so the war in Vietnam got him sucked into company is slower to respond each the Democratic Party. time." "In 1972, during the presidential It was through his union activity campaign, I supported McGovern be that Victor came in contact with the cause he was called an antiwar candi SWP. date. There was a group in Schenec When he did, Victor noticed a tady that supported McGovern and I marked difference between it and the worked with it. Communist Party. "I wanted to belong "Then I participated in the Demo to an active party, a serious party, and cratic Party, with the Reform Demo when I came in contact with the SWP crats (the 'leftwing' Democrats in New I saw the seriousness. ' Militant/Howard Petrick York state). I was a committeeman "For example, in the Communist New York street scene. Caban came here from Puerto Rico at seventeen believing from 1972 until last year." !?arty the paper generally wasn't sold, that in the U.S. 'a humble worker could live like a rich person.' For most of the time that Victor was 1t was given away. This didn't seem 16 work. In late July, the oil workers began to protest that the government ... Iran was secretly selling oil to the racist Continued from page 9 regimes of South Africa and Israel. The Imam's Committees in Kurdis The government had promised after tan acted to defend the property of the the revolution to cut all oil supplies to big landlords against the peasants. In the two countries. battle after battle over the last two The response of the workers to the months, these reactionary gangs have government crackdown will be deci been defeated, and the central govern sive. Already the banning of newspa ment has had to send out army and pers and parties has produced giant police to help them. This has led to a political discussions in the factories. widening conflict in which the Kurds Unable to obtain newspapers, workers have had to take over more and more have begun bringing transistor radios of the police and military bases in the to work to follow the latest develop region. ments. The latest clash has centered around the town of Paveh near the Iraqi The Iranian ruling class has made a border. It was here that the central giant gamble by its decision to crack . government won a "victory" in its down completely. It is relying heavily "holy war." The locality was reoccu on Khomeini, the one figure in the pied August 18 by government troops. government with authority. But by Eleven Kurds were executed for "wag using his authority against the work ing war against God and his represen- ing masses, Khomeini is using his tatives.'' authority up-rapidly. On August 7, when he confiscated Democratic elections the daily Ayendegan, 200,000 people However, according to most reports, marched in the streets of Tehran to all the Kurds had been doing in Paveh protest. Organized gangs supporting was asserting their right to run their Khomeini were sent to break up the town, organizing elections for a local demonstration. The marchers fought council, one similar to those already back. elected in villages throughout Kurdis The next day, rightists gangs were A rare 1959 photo of In Sierra Maestra with Camllo Cienfuegos, tan. sent on a rampage through Tehran, early leader of the July 26 Movement who was killed shortly after revolution came to The Khomeini-Bazargan govern attacking the offices of the opposition power. VIctor Caban was among U.S. workers who contributed to support of the July ment apparently decided to make a parties, ransacking leftist bookstores, 26 fighters. stand in some places in an attempt to and beating up unveiled women. The prevent the process of democratic or HKS headquarters in south Tehran like a good idea to me, because when cause Cuba is different, partly because ganization from spreading to the was wrecked, along with that of the someone pays for the paper, it's be it is closer to home. They also see the towns. Fedayeen. cause he or she wants it, is going to injustice done to Cuba, like when the In mid-July, the government had However, the rightist mobilizations read it, isn't going to throw it away." CIA tried to topple Fidel with the Bay already sent army and militia forces in remained relatively small. According to Victor, his CP club got of Pigs incident, and all those things. to the town of Marivan to try to stop The weaker the government has about 200 papers a week, but they "They also see that Fidel has his the Kurds from electing a council become, the more Khomeini has escal weren't distributed. "Fifty were distrib line, that he doesn't change it, that he there. ated his repressive moves, his demago uted, something like that. doesn't sell out. If someone doesn't As the conflict spread, the role of the gy, and his threats. Some sections of "The majority of comrades didn't agree with something, they do have a central government in Kurdistan be the bourgeois forces have felt pressure distribute them openly, either, but only lot of respect for him, even admiration. come more and more clearly exposed. to verbally dissociate themselves from passed it on to one friend or another." "People realize that there is a differ When the Kurds occupied the head his antidemocratic moves. In mid-July, Victor was forbidden to distribute the ence between the question of Russia quarters of the Imam's Committee in Ayatollah Shariat Madari, the central paper in his plant, for fear that he and what goes on in Russia and what Marivan, the August 1 issue of the bourgeois figure in Azerbaijan, let it be would be identified as a Communist. the Russian leaders do, and the ques Trotskyist paper Kargar reported, they known that he thought Khomeini tion of Cuba and Fidel." found documents showing close collab could last no more than a few months. "The strangest thing is that in the Victor also pointed out that in the oration between the Imam's Commit In the following weeks, the capitalist plant they had already nicknamed me last few years, the change in attitude tee guards, the army and police, and press voiced fears that Khomeini's 'Fidel,' because every time there was a among workers toward Cuba has been the big landlords. moves were creating an explosive situ discussion, I always took the side of fairly obvious. "When all's said and ation. Cuba and socialism. The only thing done, Castro has won a lot of respect. Drive against workers In its August 18 issue, one of the best that this policy of not identifying On this question of releasing prisoners, Utilizing the banning of all political informed British business magazines, yourself as a member of a party did of establishing contact with the Cu activity, Iran's industrialists have the Economist, wrote: "The question was to prevent more people from being bans here, he has been reliable, he has begun to move against the most mili may no longer be whether the Kho recruited to the party." kept his word. And on the question of tant sections of the working class. meini regime will endure as successor In reply to a question about why he aid, of sharing his grain in Mrica, Since the repressive measures were to the Shah's. It is which force is decided to leave the CP and join the Angola and other countries, he has instituted, the capitalists have begun likelier to replace ayatollahdom.'' SWP, Victor explained: "Well, the ques also been consistent. firing strike leaders and worker mili The real fear of imperialist circles tion of seriousness, which is very im "When Carter came out with this tants throughout the country. and the Iranian ruling class is that if portant to me, and the question of human rights business, Fidel picked up Previously, the ruling class had the new crackdown fails, it will lead to democracy. Also, the SWP defends a on it and began releasing political sought to pacify the workers in some a political break by the Iranian work purer kind of socialism, it defends prisoners. And now Carter doesn't cases with concessions. The powerful ing masses with the capitalist govern international struggles, like that of know what to say about Cuba. People oil workers, for example, were given ment and open the road to big advan Angola and Vietnam. know that. A little has been published, large wage increases: This did not ces for the class struggle. "I don't mean that the CP did noth and I also tell it to them. I tell it to ing around international q_uestions, them and they know I am not telling a but I didn't agree with what they were lie." doing. I remember during the war in I pressed the question of whether it Vietnam I questioned why the Soviet bothers him that they call him Fidel. Outcome of Iran elections Union allowed this to go on. Vietnam He said to me, "what they mean by was getting weapons, yes, but the aid In the elections for the Assembly of official vote for the HKS in the other that is a good socialist. I'd be more wasn't as complete, as open as the line Experts held in I ran on August 3, the cities has not yet been reported. worried if they took the nickname Fidel was putting forward, that Viet Socialist Workers Party (HKS) ran away from me because they thought I The elections were grossly rigged nam had to be defended to our last three of its fourteen members impri didn't deserve it any longer." and even these results clumsily falsi drop of blood." soned in Khuzestan Province-Hamid From Perspectiva Mundial fied. In fact, this created a national Shahrabi, Mahsa Hashemi, and Mus scandal and helped to deepen the Impact of Cuban revolution tafa Gorgzadeh. The fourth HKS can political crisis of the Khomeini From many of Victor's comments didate in the largely Arab oil produc Bazargan government. over several hours of the interview, it PUERTO RICO: ing region was Ali Mazra'e, a worker The imprisoned HKS candidates can be seen that one of the most U.S. COLONY IN at a steel-pipe factory in Ahwaz. The HKS also ran candidates in were prevented from giving interviews important political influences on him THE CARIBBEAN to the press, and even from issuing Isfahan, Shahr Kord, Tehran, Tabriz, has been the Cuban revolution. statements. In Isfahan, the party was and in two cities in the Caspian However, it can also be seen from subjected to constant rightist attacks BY JOSE G. PEREZ coastal province of Gilan-Bandar Victor's remarks that many other and its headquarters sacked. In Tabriz 'Nothing could be more ironic for Enzeli and Rasht. A large percentage workers have been and are being influ there was a systematic campaign by Puerto Ricans than the celebration of the candidates were women and enced by that revolutio}\. rightists to drive HKS paper sellers of 200 years of American independ youth. I asked him whether, when they from the streets. called him Fidel, they said it as an ence. . . . To understand the eco In Isfahan, the candidates were insult, harassment or whatever. And nomic crisis and political ferment on Shohreh Amin, one of the party's The HKS used its campaign to he answered quite seriously: "No, it's the island, the recurring debates most prominent woman leaders; Nurik explain the undemocratic character of not a matter of insult, maybe harass over Puerto Rico in the United Aghazaryan, a soldier; and Nurallah the elections and of the Assembly of ment at most, but also a bit of praise. Nations, and the maneuvers in the Farzan, a textile worker. Experts. It called for dissolution of Because even though some workers U.S. Congress, it is necessary to In Tehran, the HKS ran seven can this body and for the election of a criticize socialism and communism, begin from one simple fact: Puerto didates, including Babak Zahraie, edi genuine constituent assembly. At the they have a different idea about Fidel Rico is a colony of the United tor of the party's weekly paper Kargar. same time, it took advantage of the and the Cuban revolution. Even States.' Zahraie was credited with more elections to publicize its program for though they reject communism, or the 24 pp., 35 cents than 16,000 votes, and two women a workers and peasants government to solve the economic and political image they have of communism, at the Order today from Pathfinder Press, candidates in the capital were credi crisis facing the country. same time they accept, or are less 410 West Street, New York, N.Y. ted with roughly 2,000 each. The negative, toward Cuba. 10014. Write for a free catalog. They see the difference, partly be- THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 17 Piedra tells of Mexican gov't criJDes, backs Marroquin The following are excerpts from the testim ony of Rosario Ibarra de Piedra at the depor tation hearing of Hector Marroquin. The hear ing took place April 3-5 in Houston, Texas, before immigration Judge James Smith. Marroquin-who is seeking political asylum in this country-is a trade unionist and a member of the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. He was forced to flee Mexico in 1974 to avoid being victimized for his political beliefs. At the deportation hearing, Marroquin testi fied and offered documentary proof and ex pert witnesses on behalf of his claim for asy lum. Six days after the hearing, Judge Smith, ignoring the evidence, denied asylum and ordered Marroquin deported from the U.S. Smith's decision is now under appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Washington, D.C. In the excerpts below, Margaret Winter is Marroquin's attorney. Winter. Mrs. Piedra, where do you live? Piedra. I live in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Militant photos by Barry Fatland al'ld Ri~hard kel Winter. Are you a member of any organization? Rosario Ibarra de Piedra (inset) helped organize October 2, 1978, march In Mexico City to demand amnesty for political prisoners and presentation of 'disappeared.' Piedra. Yes, the Committee to Defend Political Prisoners, the Politically Persecuted, Disappeared1 back to my house. My car was found with four that this is not true. I am disappointed in the laws and Exiled. bullet holes. And the police went to my house of my country. I would like to change all these kind Winter. Would you please explain how the com without any order and they took books and pictures of things. mittee began? and they took clothes and many things. And they And doing this, during all these one and a half Piedra. In April 1975 my son, Jesus Piedra were asking me for the 500 M-ls. These are machine years, I could see many, many women: mothers, Ibarra, was kidnapped by the police in the streets of guns. Well, we didn't have anything. wives, and sisters; relatives of many other disap Winter. Is this the first that you knew that your peared persons in Mexico. And when the govem son was in trouble? ment of Echeverria was finished, I went to my Political Piedra. Yes. I didn't know anything. They took house and I was, how can I say, dejected. I was my husband and me to the police station. They told crying, but I started to fight again. I went to see the asylum us my son had a car accident and they took us off to relatives of political prisoners, and disappeared the police station. There they were shouting to us persons and exiles and we founded the Committee ~, for and telling us that my son was a guerrilla and he to Defend Political Prisoners, the Politically Per 1 had killed a policeman . . . many things. secuted, Disappeared, and Exiled. Winter. When did you first hear from your son This was in March 1977. A month later we had ;, ..tr .. Hector after that? our first official act. We went to the Ministry of the Marroquin Piedra. Four months later. I didn't know where Interior in Monterrey, demanding presentation of my son was from that night. And four months later my son Jesus on the second anniversary of his my husband, he's a doctor, was in his office with kidnapping. Then later, in August, we called all the his patients. And the police went into the office similar groups in all the states of Mexico and we Monterrey. They accused him of being a guerrilla. without a warrant. My husband had in his pocket had a rally. There were people from Guerrero, He was studying the third year in medical school in . .. I don't know the word in English, an amparo. J alisco, Sinaloa, and many other states where Monterrey. Winter. Do you want to describe what an amparo many Mexican citizens were disappeared. In the He was walking in the street and there came six is? state of Guerrero we have a list of 380 disappeared men. One of them threw his hands on my son's Piedra. An amparo is an order from a judge to persons. And in Sinaloa there are 42 and in other mouth. With machine guns and pistols they beat protect a man from the action of justice itself, no? states 5, 10, etc. We have at this moment 451 him and they took him in a car. There are witnesses When he considered that he is going to be taken disappeared Mexican citizens. but they are frightened to come and testify. unfairly he got an amparo. There were three men Winter. What was the purpose of forming this Winter. How many witnesses? and they said they were federal agents. My hus committee? Piedra. Three. band showed them the amparo and they threw it Piedra. Well we saw that all these citizens were Winter. When was the last time you heard from away and they said, "This is no good for us. You disappeared and imprisoned, not for things they you son? come with us to the police station." And they took had done, but for their beliefs. And we called them Piedra. Well, I heard from my son on the 18th of him. "political prisoners." We tried to make the govem April, 1975. He called me by telephone and well ... Winter. What is your husband's name? ment give us a law of amnesty to release them. he called me often. And he was going to call me Piedra. Jesus Piedra Rosales. In August 1978 we had a hunger strike in the again in eight more days. He didn't call me any Winter. How old is he? cathedral of Mexico City. Eighty-seven women with more and the 30th of April it appeared in the Piedra. He is sixty-six years old and in 1974 he black dresses asked the president for our children. newspaper of Monterrey, El Norte, that my son W.as was sixty-two. He was taken to this police station There was going to be a State of the Union address captured, kidnapped by the police, and taken to the and they asked him where my son was. He didn't and we wanted the president to say something Military Camp #1 in very bad condition. He was know. And they tortured him. They broke his spine. about our children. tortured and they feared my son would die. He couldn't walk for five months and he was in the The Minister of the Interior called up and said, Winter. How did your son's problems with the hospital in Monterrey. "You go home, please go home. You are going to authorities begin? Winter. What date was it you heard [your son] know soon about the whereabouts of your children." Piedra. His problems were in 1973 because of an was arrested? And we took the word of the Minister of the Interior action in Monterrey where someone was kidnapped. Piedra. The 30th of April, 1975. I read it in the because he told us the president was offering that to The police wanted to find the guilty. They started to newspapers. He was tortured. us. So we went home and we were waiting there. persecute all the students that they thought could Winter. How do you know he was tortured? We were full of hope. But nothing happened. And do this thing. And they began to arrest many, many Piedra. I went to speak with the newspaper then we had another hunger strike. This time we young men and women. All of them were active editor. He told me he had a way to prove it, but that were two weeks in a hunger strike in a church called students in their school, in political activity. They he was not going to tell me because he was afraid. Plaza de la Santa Cruz. went to demonstrations, to meetings. They asked And that was a very good newspaperman. He was Winter. Whe~ was that? the govemment for a better education and better forty years a newspaper man and he was going to Piedra. It was in November 1978. But nothing ways to leam in school. And I think some of them say always the truth. That's what he told me. happened. We had a hunger strike in Mexico City, were also workers from the university or from the I went to Mexico City and I spoke with the in Monterrey, in Acapulco, and other places. And factories in Monterrey. Monterrey is a city where Attomey General and to President Echeverria. I the police and army came to threaten us. And we there are many factories and there are many spoke with him thirty-nine times. I was after him in went home again. Now we are trying to bring this workers. And all those who ask for better ways of every meeting, in every ceremony, and I said: to the attention of all the world and all the people of life, are hunted by the police. "Please, Mr. President, I want justice. I want to see Mexico. We want to make all the workers and Winter. And how old was your son at the time? my son. If he deserves to be in jail, do it like that, peasants and students ask the Mexican govemment Piedra. When he was kidnapped he was twenty but don't disappear him, don't torture him." I did for the disappeared. We are trying to make them one years old. this for one and a half years. ask this because the list of disappeared we have are Winter. Now you were starting to say that there I thought, in my country, our Constitution was full of the names of peasants and workers and was some trouble. very good. I thought our laws were good, too, and I students. The mothers of these persons are working Piedra. Yes. [My son] left in my car. He went to thought everyone who got to a judge or to an now with us and we are trying to find them this buy cheese and a bottle of oil and he never came authority was going to have justice. But now I know way. 18 union, their attempt to drive women from the mines-and put it on union ... violence activists fighting for safety and equal Continued from back page rights." 'attack because they are good union That same day, in a thinly veiled members," Johnston said. threat against union activists, Jim Walter officials told the media they Company claim could not "guarantee their safety" The following day in a statement to away from the job. TV Channel 6, John Coleman, general foreman at the mine, indicated the Theft problem stemmed from the fact that , It was at the close of this same day miners were upset that the Militant that Johnston and Bobroff discovered had been distributed at the mine. the theft of their personal possessions. In response to this charge, Ellen As they were leaving the mine to go to Bobroff later called it, "A poor attempt their lockers that afternoon something to shift blame from the company to the out of the ordinary happened. The union. The miners were below in the "mantrip" that transports miners from mine when the violence occurred. In the mine to the surface was held up fact, the relatively few miners we got several minutes by management. to show the Militant to-Jim Walter Johnston and Bobroff believe this won't let us distribute it at work unusual delay, which prevented them seemed to like what it had to say about from getting to the bathhouse at the what's going on at the mine. normal time, was engineered by com "The company's whole aim is to take pany officials to expedite the theft. the heat off their outrageous safety As the women miners left work, in violations, their blatant attacks on the contrast to the day before, they found nobody waiting at the gates. Down the road a tiny group of less than ten, including the rightwinger who had led the redbaiting as they left the mine the B'ham forum previous day, were gathered across the Matilde Zimmermann, Socialist street from a bar. As the women drove Workers Party candidate for vice past, one of the rightwingers heaved a president, will be the featured beer bottle, which grazed the wind speaker at the Birmingham Militant shield of a car. Forum on: The Revolution in After being turned away from the Nicaragua-It's Meaning for Ameri mine because of stolen work gear Au can Workers. gust 20, the following day Johnston The forum will be held Friday, and Bobroff reported to work as usual. August 31, 8:00 p.m., Pathfinder Also returning to work the same day Bookstore, 1609 5th Avenue N., Bir were the five woman miners who had mingham, Alabama. For more infor been fired off the track crew. The uniori ''lloh'\:· mation call, 328-9403. had scored a victory in a grievance, What the Alabama struggle is about. The Ignition of leaking gas In mines can cause forcing Jim Walter to rehire them. disasters like this one In Farmington, West VIrginia, In 1968. ... Ohio rally launches 1980 campaign Continued on page 6 Hosting the rally was Sue Skinner, Helping to launch the 1980 cam nomic blockade against Cuba. SWP candidate for mayor of Toledo. paign were the 1976 Socialist Workers As the mother of a nine-year-old son, Skinner, an active member of United candidates for president and vice presi Zimmermann said she was impressed Auto Workers Local12, is also a leader dent, Pedro Camejo, who had just with the high priority put on the needs of the Young Socialist Alliance. returned from Nicaragua, and Willie of children in Cuba. She described the "We are going to take this presiden Mae Reid, now an oil refinery worker opening of a huge new Pioneer Palace tial campaign to every mine, mill, and in New Jersey. for elementary and junior high school factory we and our supporters can get Reid announced that the Pulley students. to in fourteen months," Skinner told Zimmermann campaign would be seek "The children have their own radio the rally. ing ballot status in at least twenty-five and television stations, a small car states. Undemocratic election laws "We are also going to the high assembly operation, a fully equipped force smaller parties to collect machine shop, art studios, museums, schools, fields of migrant workers, campuses, NOW meetings, NAACP hundreds of thousands of petition sig three real airplanes (one of them de natures in order to gain ballot status. signed to be taken apart and put back meetings, anti-nuclear activities, any together), a full-sized railroad train, body and everybody's candidates night This massive effort begins in Oc concert rooms, three giant swimming or talk show, and fight our way into tober in Ohio, where campaign sup pools, auditoriums, laboratories-and radio and TV studios. To rallies, truck porters will be collecting over ten thou sand signatures. the list goes on," she said. stops, supermarkets, and unemploy "Why is this possible in a poor ment lines." Being on the ballot will aid Pulley country like Cuba and impossible in A special campaign team will be and Zimmermann in getting more of the rich United States?" Zimmermann traveling in the South. These four the equal time on radio and television asked. "Because the Cuban workers enthusiastic young campaign support they are entitled to, and will help government has exactly the opposite ers are prepared to spend six weeks pressure their Democratic and Republi approach toward young people, toward talking socialism and selling socialist can opponents to debate the socialists. the next generation of workers. literature in the coal districts of south Along with Pulley and Zimmermann "Just think of the wonderful schools ern West Virginia and Kentucky and three other socialist leaders will be we could build here if working people the textile mills of North and South touring the country to rally support for ran the government." Carolina. their campaign. Join the Socialist Workers Party campaign! Please send me: dent buttons. (photo button) Enclosed is $ ___ __ copies of How I Became a 50¢ each, 35¢ each for ten or __ Please send more i nforma- Socialist. (pamphlet by An more tion. drew Pulley) 50¢ each, 35¢ __ "Human Needs Before Prof Clip and mail to: each for ten or more its" buttons. 50¢ each, 25¢ Socialist Workers Presidential Campaign Committee, 14 Charles __ copies of Bill of Rights for each for ten or more Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Working People. (English or __ "Vote Socialist Workers" Name Spanish) 3¢ each, 2%¢ each buttons. 50¢ each, 25¢ each for 1,000 or more for ten or more Address __ copies of "Why Can't Every City _____ State ____ -- Pulley for President posters. body Have a Job?" (four 10¢ each, 8¢ each for ten or Zip _____ Phone ____ page flyer) 3¢ each, 2%¢ more each for 1,000 or more U nion/Schooi/Organizati on __ Zimmermann for Vice Presi __ Pulley for President buttons. dent posters. 10¢ each, 8¢ Paid for by the Socialist Workers Presidential (photo button) 50¢ each, 35¢ each for ten or more Campaign Committee. each for ten or more A copy of our report is filed with the Federal __ Volunteer cards. Free, 50¢ Election Commission and is available for pur chase from the Federal Election Commission, __ Zimmermann for Vice Presi- for 100 or more Washington, D.C. THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 19 In Brief GAYS WIN ported that 783 rail accidents IMMIGRATION RULING forced nearly 20,000 people to The U.S. Immigration and 2,000 miners strike to protest firing flee their homes. More than 230 Naturalization Service issued a By Brian Williams compensation. "We thought it of a new "era of peace" in the rail cars dumped toxic chemi cals in the accidents. temporary directive August 14 MORGANTOWN, W. Va.-A was time something had to be coalfields, miners are still as ordering its agents to stop bar strike involving more than done,"said Mrs. Hunt. On July willing as ever to defend their The accident rate has sky ring foreign visitors from the 2,000 coal miners at thirteen 30, the five Hunts began picket rights and stand in solidarity rocketed even though the United States on the grounds mines spread across the north ing Keister operations. with other miners. amount of hazardous materials that they are homosexuals. central West Viriginia coal Eleven miners immediately shipped has remained con Until the directive was fields during the first week in stant, Black said. issued, the INS could detain joined them, and the next day August. The miners walked out 1,000 Barbour County miners The figures point up the rail anyone it "suspected" of being in solidarity with David Hunt, roads' primary concern: profit. gay and tum the "suspect" walked out in sympathy. The a miner who had been fired for Rather than spend the money over to the Public Health Ser strike quickly spread to two of his efforts at union organizing. the largest mines in the state, needed to maintain and up vice for examination. If the Hunt worked at a nonunion grade their roads, and prevent Public Health Service ruled Consolidation Coal's Williams strip mine owned by Keister and Robinson Run mines. such accidents, the companies that the person was a homosex Coal. Last May the United put the interests of their stock ual, he or she could be de Mine Workers won a 14-11 vote The Keister strikers charged holders first. ported. for union representation, but the company with inadequate In an August 2 memoran the National Labor Relations safety measures on the job and dum, the U.S. Surgeon General, Board has challenged three with harassing pro-union EVERYTHING'S FINE head of the Public Health Ser votes and has yet to settle the workers. At the Public Service Electric vice, declared that homosexual matter. Keister hopes to tie the Strikers began gradually re Company's Salem One nuclear ity would "no longer be con case up for years in NLRB red turning to work after a week plant in New Jersey seven of sidered a 'mental disease or tape. when the companies got court the rods used to control the defect.'" After he was fired, Hunt and orders against picketers. fission of nuclear fuel were However, homosexual "sus his wife and three children The strike showed that des found to be broken. pects" will not be freely admit tried to live on twenty-eight pite proclamations by West Said a company spokesper ted, but will be given "parole" dollars a week unemployment Virginia Gov. Jay Rockefeller Militant/Nancy Cole son: "There is no danger to the until they can be examined. public.'' SILKWOOD AWARD UPHELD On August 20 federal judge care, according to a presiden PHYSICIAN, plant's operator, the Metropoli NOW Frank Theis turned down a tial advisory council. HEAL THYSELF tan Edison Company. Med Ed request by the Kerr-McGee Cor Dr. Ian Gale, a South Carol was supposed to test the water AVAILABLE poration to overturn a $10.5 That's right-119 percent. ina psychiatrist, was arrested first, but, as a Nuclear Regula million award to the estate of More than their income. Poor in July and charged with eight tory Commission spokesperson A new index for the 'Militant' Karen Silkwood. families are forced into debt counts of housebreaking and noted, the company "didn't do covering July-December Silkwood worked for Kerr simply to purchase basic neces grand larceny. His motive? it on this batch." 1975 and all of 1976. In one McGee, which manufactured sities of life. Gale thinks the country is al Meanwhile, 1,000 gallons of volume. $5. Indices for the fuel rods for nuclear reactors in ready in the hands of Commu highly toxic nitrobenzol spilled 'Militant' are also available its Cimarron, Oklahoma, plant. Inflation and unemployment are "battering" the poor, the nists and was stockpiling arms into the Potomac when a truck from 1971 through January In November 1974, on her way overturned near Cumberland, council said. and valuables. June 1975. Two volumes per to meet with a reporter to ex Cops found a stash of guns, Maryland. The city of Hager year. $3 per volume. pose lax safety in the plant, In its annual report to the ammunition, hand grenades, stown, fifty-five miles down she died in a mysterious auto president and Congress, the gunpowder, jewelry, and gold stream, draws its drinking wa crash. National Advisory Council on valued at $500,000 in two ter from the Potomac. In a trial earlier this year, Economic Opportunity ex locked rooms at Gale's house. Authorities assured the popu The Kerr-McGee was found guilty plained that the unemployed The local prosecutor des lace that the poison would be of negligence in contaminating often have incomes well below cribed Gale's political views as very diluted by the time it Militant Silkwood with deadly pluto the poverty line, despite unem "to the conservative side of the reached them. nium. The landmark verdict ployment insurance and other John Birch Society." INDEX the first involving off-site social programs that are sup Gale was ordered to undergo HAZARDOUS CARGO RAIL contamination-and the size of posed to cushion the impact of psychiatric observation. the damages awarded were a losing a job. With the economy WRECKS SOAR serious setback to the nuclear heading into a downturn, mil The number of rail cars re industry. lions of working families will CLEAN WATER DEP'T leasing hazardous substances join those already suffering Four thousand gallons of in accidents soared 33 percent Order from: ECONOMY 'BATTERING' from unemployment. water potentially more radioac in the first nine months of 1978 Militant Circulation Office POOREST FAMILIES tive than federal limits permit over the comparable period for 14 Charles Lane The poorest 10 percent of The report also cited evi was dumped into the Susque the previous year, according to New York, New York 10014 U.S. households spend 119 per dence linking poverty with hanna River at the crippled the Federal Railway Adminis A valuable addition to cent of their income on food, crime, poor health, child abuse, Three Mile Island nuclear tration. your library... housing, energy, and medical and high infant mortality. power plant in late July by the FRA official Bill Black re- Cuba: twenty years of revolution Books and pamphlets from Pathfinder Press Selected Speeches of Fidel Castro study of the origin and course of the A new Education for Socialists bul Cuban revolution. 385 pages, $5.45. letin featuring Castro on topics such as the road to revolution in Latin Upsurge in Africa, by David Fran America. freedom of expression and kel. Cuba, American imperialism, and thought, the invasion of Czechoslova the new rise of the class struggle in kia, and the role of Cuban troops in Africa. 31 pages, $.75. Africa. 136 pages, $4.00. The Ethiopian Revolution, by Ern The Second Declaration of Ha est Harsch. The Ethiopian revolution, vana, by Fidel Castro. New from its roots and development, and the Pathfinder Press. Castro's stirring role played by Cuba. 38 pages, $.85. speech to a million Cubans following the U.S.-inspired decision to exclude Avaliable from Pathfinder Press, 410 Cuba from the Organization of Ameri West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014. can States. 31 pages, $. 75. Please add $.50 for postage. History Will Absolve Me, by Fidel Education for Socialists Tapes on Castro. Castro's speech at his Oc Cuba (Offered at a special discount tober 16, 1953, trial by the Batista price) dictatorship for the attack against the Policies of the Cuban Leadership, by Moncada Barracks-the opening act Joseph Hansen, 1967. $5. of the Cuban revolution (Lyle Stuart Twenty Years of the Cuban Revolu publication). 79 pages, $2.00. tion, by Jack Barnes, 1978. $5. The Theory of Permanent Revolution Dynamics of the Cuban Revolu (on Cuba) by Joseph Hansen, 1961. tion. by Joseph Hansen. A Marxist Two talks, $9. 20 The Great Society Compiled by Arnold Weissberg Harry Ring. Farmworkers win contract The United Farm Workers also included a cost-of-living union reported August 20 it allowance, some protection Not to worry-If you're on an Ameri those delinquent on sewer fees to pay up had signed a tentative con against mechanization can Airline DC-10 and it suddenly speeds or have their sewers plugged. tract agreement with a sec layoffs, and a union hiring up its departure, it's only because the ond Salinas, California, to hall. airline is now allowing pilots to hit the Took the purse-Minnesota bumper mato grower. According to The contracts came in the accelerator when one of the engines fails sticker: "The gas war is over. They won!" the August 21 New York wake of a march of 6,000 on takeoff. Times, the three-year pact farm workers and their sup Municipal watchdog-After stalling will give 250 harvesters a porters, demanding con 'Normals' only-FBI director Webster for two years, New York City controller five dollar an hour wage, up tracts with Salinas-area said the gumshoe outfit would continue to [treasurer] Harrison Goldin reportedly 35 percent for the first year. growers. Five thousand weed out homosexual applicants, plus reimbursed the city $3,655 for political Piece rates would go to forty workers have been on strike those engaging in "advocacy of deviant and personal calls he made on his city one cents a bushel from against a dozen lettuce and conduct." Like listening in on people's phone. thirty-five cents. vegetable growers since the phones, peeking at their mail and rum The first pact reportedly beginning of the year. maging through their dresser drawers? Sounds plausible-"Gas supplies rise but prices may also increase" -Headline Probably OPEC-Major food industry in the Los Angeles Times. representatives took offense when it was noted that in the past three months farm Film protested as antigay prices dropped 17 percent while the spread Postscript-Recently we reported a Several hundred people lums who had gone to New between farm and retail prices increased federal mediator upheld a Macon poultry demonstrated in New York York's Central Park to beat 29 percent. The spread on meat prices was company on limiting the number of times City August 20 as part of up homosexuals were con- continuing protests against victed of assault and conspi- up 109 percent. workers could go to the toilet. The item a film being made here. racy. They had beaten six said the arbitrator did up the quota from They charged Cruising is men with baseball bats. Our bowl runneth over-Officials in sixteen to twenty. That, it should have viciously antigay and will All six victims were se- Washington Park, near St. Louis, warned been reported, is per month, not per day. contribute to violence verely injured, two perman- against gay people. ently. Ginny Vida of the Na- The lawyer for one defend- tiona! Gay Task Force said ant told the court his client the film "represents a gross had drunk beer, smoked rna- distortion of the lives of gay rijuana, and inhaled paint men by portraying them as fumes before the assault, Union Talk violent and sex-obsessed." adding, "Now I wouldn't She declared that Cruising suggest for a second that would "encourage prejudice, beating up fags is a legiti- discrimination and violence mate summer sport. . . . " against us." The defendents face maxi- The protests started ear- mum jail terms of fifteen Rail unions and nukes lier this month when filming years. They were convicted This week's column is by Paul Eids economic system in this coutry-how the began. July 27 and will be sent- vik, a member of International Asso energy trusts operate, how they even own Meanwhile, three hood- enced September 14. ciation of Machinists Lodge 1408 at a majority of the coal industry, how it was Amtrak. going to take a fight to beat them down. Other workers asked about the costs of NEW YORK-Railroad workers have a coal-how much would it cost compared to special interest in the issue of nuclear nuclear energy, what would the conver Seek pardon for Joe Hill power. Not only are virtually all nuclear sion be like, would there be blackouts and A campaign is underway to materials and wastes shipped by rail brownouts if we shut down all the nuclear seek a pardon for Joe Hill, the usually in unmarked cars-but so also is plants tomorrow, how many new facilities labor organizer and songwriter most coal. A conversion from nuclear would be needed in the long run, what framed up and executed in power to coal would mean a vast expan about pollution and carbon dioxide. Utah in 1915. The nationwide sion of rail jobs. One New Jersey worker pointed out how effort, which has won the back Rail workers who are also members of his utility bills went up every time they ing of the AFL-CIO Executive the New Jersey SEA Alliance and New built a nuclear power plant and every time Council, is spearheaded by Les York's SHAD Alliance have been bring they shut one down he had to pay again. lie Orear, head of the Illinois ing antinuclear speakers to a number of He would just as soon they built the coal Labor Historical Society and a rail locals. plants so he would only have to pay once. former staff worker for the Membership meetings of BRAC (Broth The secretary of Lodge 435 said, "We meatcutters union. erhood of Railway and Airline Clerks) have a stake in stopping nuclear power to Orear has already collected local lodges 435 and 1402, both in the New build a safe world for our future genera thousands of signatures on York-New Jersey area, heard speakers tions. Our grandparents worked to build a petitions to Utah Gov. Scott from the SEA and SHAD alliances in place for ·our parents, our parents worked Matheson. Plans are underway June. · to build a place for us, and we have to for a meeting in Chicago Oc The presentations concentrated on three build a safe world for our children." tober 7, the hundredth anniver main points: that nuclear power is in sary of Hill's birth. One person asked about the number of Hill was a Swedish immi herently unsafe and can never be made people who would be put out of work if the grant and organizer for the safe, that viable alternatives exist nuclear plants were shut down. Another Industrial Workers of the particularly coal, which exists now in replied that there were lots of coal miners World, a revolutionary move sufficient quantity and can be mined to mine the coal, lots of railroad workers ment for industrial unionism in safely and burned cleanly-and that labor to haul it, and lots of construction workers the early 1900s. not only has a stake in the struggle to build the new plants that would be His final message to his against nuclear power but that it has needed, and how we all needed the work. IWW comrades-"Don't waste tremendous power that can be brought to A number of questions and comments any time mourning bear in that struggle. focused on the antinuclear movement. organize!" -has become a The union members were particularly One worker pointed out that it was all watchword of the labor move impressed when I passed around the room over the place-he had gotten leaflets in ment. (See "Our Revolutionary several copies of the May issue of the Canada. There was an exchange about Heritage," page 22.) JOE HILL United Mine Workers Journal, which fo the Soviet Union-didn't they have nu cused on nuclear power and the mine clear plants, was it going to do any good workers' answer to it-coal. The discus to shut them down here if they still had sion that followed the presentations them there, why weren't we campaigning centered on the coal alternative. It was to shut them down there too. "That's not clear that most workers were already the point. It doesn't mean we shouldn't LIBROS.EN ESPANOL against nuclear power, but had felt that shut them down in the U.S.," was a reply. l.Que Hacer'? by V.I. Lenin $1.50 there was no alternative to it. Solar and Another worker pointed out how the geothermal power were too far in the antinuclear movement is international, Democracia y Revoluci6n by George Novack 3.50 future to be of much use now, they how we wanted them shut down every lntroducci6n a Ia L6gica Dialectica by George Novack 1. 75 thought, and the only alternative to nu where. One guy wanted to know what clear power was a return to the dark ages. group he could become involved in and Reforma o Revoluci6n by Rosa Luxemburg 1.50 One woman spoke about how her family where he could read up to arm himself En Defensa del Marxismo by Leon Trotsky 2. 75 was from the Pennsylvania coal country with the best arguments. and how that area had been economically The discussions were friendly, frank, Sobre Ia Liberaci6n Nacional by Leon Trotsky 2.60 depressed for twenty years, and how coal down-to-earth and practical. Some of the energy could solve that. One of the local La Dialectica Actual de Ia Revoluci6n Mundial, workers were so well-read on the subject officers spoke about how one of his close edited by Will Reissner 3.45 that they could have been making the relatives had lived near Three Mile Island presentations themselves. Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, New and had to evacuate because she had a It was such a favorable experience that York 10014 small child. plans are already under way to appear He then gave a little speech about our before more rail union locals in the fall. THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 21 Our Revolutionary Heritage Letters Songs of Joe Hill October 7 will mark the hundreth And the starvation army they play, year since the birth of Joe Hill, the And they sing and they clap and they pray. famed martyr of the Industrial Till they get all your coin on the drum, Workers of the World who was exe Then they'll tell you when you're on the bum: cuted by the state of Utah on No (Chorus) vember 19, 1915. A campaign is now underway to win a pardon for Hill Holy rollers and Jumpers come out, (see page 20). And they holler, they jump and they shout. "Give your money to Jesus," they say Hill was celebrated for his songs "He will cure all diseases today." which became the battle hymns of the IWW. Many became part of labor tra (Chorus) dition. If you fight hard for children and wife We print here a September 30, 1915 Try to get something good in this life farewell letter he wrote to the read You're a sinner and bad man, they tell, ers of 'Solidarity,' the paper of the When you die you will sure go to hell, IWW, as well as two of his best known songs. (Chorus) * * * Workingmen of all countries unite, Side by side we for freedom will fight! When the world and its wealth we have gained, "John Law" has given me his last and To the grafters we'll sing this refrain: final order to get off the earth and stay off. He has told me this lots of times FINAL CHORUS: before, but this time it seems as if he is You will eat, bye and bye, meaning business. When you've learned how to cook and to fry. Mike Peters/Dayton Daily News I have said time and again that I am Chop some wood, 'twill do you good, going to get a new trial or die trying. I and you'll eat in the sweet bye and bye. have told it to all my friends. It has been Minn. grain strike these right-to-work states," one Casey Jones-The Union Scab pointed out. printed in the newspapers, and I don't see (To the tune of "Casey Jones") The giant grain elevators in why I should "eat my own crow" just the port of Duluth, Minnesota, Rich Stuart because I happen to be up against a firing The workers on the S.P. Line, and Superior, Wisconsin, are Virginia, Minnesota squad. I have stated my position plainly To strike sent out a call; shut down by a strike. The 600 to everybody, and I won't budge an inch, But Casey Jones, the engineer, workers in Local 118 of the He wouldn't strike at all. because I am in the right. Grain Millers Union, AFlrCIO, Hiroshima Day His boiler it was leaking, are picketing the elevators In commemoration of the Tomorrow I expect to take a trip to the And its drivers on the bum, planet Mars, and if so, will immediately owned by General Mills, atom-bombing of Hiroshima, And his engine and its bearings, Japan, 34 years ago, 1,500 commence to organize the Mars canal They were all out of plumb. Cargill, and other multi million-dollar companies that people participated in a vigil workers into the IWW, and we will sing Casey Jones, kept his Junk-pile running, outside the main gate of Seal the good old songs so loud that the monopolize trade in grain. Casey Jones, was working double time. The companies are trying to Beach Naval Weapons Station, learned star gazers on earth will once and Casey Jones, got a wooden medal, take back premium pay for a storage site of conventional for all get positive proofs that the planet For being good and faithful on the and nuclear weapons located in S.P. Line. night work. They also Mars really is inhabited. adamantly refuse to establish a the densely populated suburbs In the meantime, I hope you'll keep the The workers said to Casey: cost-of-living escalator for of Los Angeles. The vigil was ball a-rolling here. You are on the right "Won't you help us win this strike?" wages, which the strikers are cosponsored by Seal Beach track and are bound to get there. But Casey said: "Let me alone, demanding to protect Nuclear Action Group (SNAG), I have nothing to say about myself, You'd better take a hike." themselves from inflation. the Alliance for Survival, and only that I have always tried to do what Then Casey's wheezy engine Minnesota Gov. Al Quie American Friends Service little I could to make this earth a little Ran right off the worn out track, Committee. After the vigil, a And Casey hit the river urged President Carter to better for the great producing class, and I With an awful crack. invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to rally was held across the street pass off into the great unknown with the force the millers back to work. from the weapons station, pleasure of knowing that I have never in Casey Jones, hit the river bottom, But so far Carter has not featuring radiation expert Dr. my life; double-crossed a man, woman or Casey Jones broke his bolloming spine, complied. The militant attitude Rosalie Bertell and other Casey Jones became an angelano, of strikers we talked to speakers. child. He took a trip to heaven on the S.P. Line. With a last fond farewell to all true indicates why. Barry Schier rebels and a hearty thanks for the noble When Casey Jones got up to heaven At the big General Mills Los Angeles, California support you have given me in this un To the Pearly Gate, elevators, one striker told us he equal fight, I remain, He said: "I'm Casey Jones, is a member of the Minnesota The guy that pulled the S.P. freight." Yours for International Solidarity, National Guard. When the For Nicaragua You're just the man," said Peter, governor announced he might Joe Hill "Our musicians are on strike; I think the Nicaragua P.S. I have written down for publication, call out the guard to break the revolution has got to be one of "You can get a job a-scabbing strike, as he had done against the facts of the case AS I KNOW THEM, I Anytime you like." the best-if not the best the independent truckers, this events of this decade. I'm very want you to get the truth. Casey Jones got a job in heaven; striker went to his guard Joe Casey Jones was doing mighty fine; happy for the people of commander and informed him Nicaragua. This is their Casey Jones went scabbin on the angels, he. had no intention of crossing Just like he did to workers on the S.P. Line." victory. It kills me that I can't The Preacher and the Slave his own picket line. give them any money but I am (To the tune of "In the Sweet Bye and The angels got together, Politicians and the news unemployed. I fully support the Bye) And they said it wasn't fair, media have tried to portray the Nicaraguan revolution and For Casey Jones to go around grain elevator workers as wish these heroic people the Long-haired preachers come out ev'ry night, A-scabbing everywhere. The Angels Union antifarmer. But the workers we Try to tell you what's wrong and what's right! No. 23, best for their revolution's talked to were sympathetic to future. But when asked, how 'bout something to eat, They sure were there, the hardships of the farmers. They will answer with voices so sweet: Patricia Hefner And they promptly fired Casey "The farmers work hard just Down the Golden Stair. Birmingham, Alabama CHORUS: like we do," one said. "It is the You will eat Casey Jones went to Hell a-flying. company that's hurting the Bye and bye "Casey Jones," the Devil said, "Oh fine; farmers, not us." In the glorious land above the sky "Casey Jones, get busy shoveling sulphur Garfield Avenue, which runs UAW history Work and pray "That's what you get for scabbing on through the industrial port It is often said that one Live on hay the S.P. Line." picture is worth a thousand You'll get pie in the sky when you die area of Duluth, had at least three sets of pickets in early words. Militant readers might August when we went there. be interested in a photo history The first picket line was by of the United Auto Workers: United Steelworkers Local1425 The UA W in Pictures by lpget against Zalk-Joseph, a Warner W. Pflug, Wayne State manufacturing company. University Press, 1971. The steelworkers said the The book documents the it around company is cutting back growth of the auto industry Socialist Workers Party candidates have operations in favor of cheap and the rise of the UAW. It proposed an "Emergency Bill to Provide nonunion fabricating shops in includes pictures of the auto Jobs tor All." You can help distribute Oklahoma. When we showed plants prior to the invention of this bill and the accompanying article, them the issue of the Militant the moving assembly line; the which explains the causes and solutions with the cover about the early assembly lines in action; to unemployment, by ordering copies United Auto Workers leaflets and billboards used during union organizing (2% cents each, 2 cents each for 1,000 organizing victory at General or more) from the Socialist Workers Motors in Oklahoma City they drives; the sit-down strikes and National Campaign Committee, 14 were very excited. battles which established the Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. "That's what we need. union; women working during Unions have to get going in WW II when auto plants were 22 Learning About Socialism converted to produce tanks and planes; and strikes since WW II. When I showed the book to co-workers at the auto plant Origins of women's oppression where I work, people were very What is the origin of women's oppression? How did whole to an identifiable individual or small group of excited to see pictures which the family system arise and what role does it play in individuals. It was the primary socioeconomic institution brought to life the stories they maintaining discrimination against women? for perpetuating from one generation to the next the class had heard about the sit-down The Marxist answer to these and many other ques divisions of society-divisions between those who possessed strikes of the 1930s. After tions is contained in the newsly published Women's property and lived off the wealth produced by the labor of looking through that section of Liberation and Socialist Revolution, a resolution that others, and those who, owning no property, had to work for the book, one young worker will be before the upcoming World Congress of the others to live. The destruction of the egalitarian and commented, "That's what we Fourth International, the world Trotskyist organiza communal traditions and structures of primative commu should do this fall when the tion. nism was essential for the rise of an exploiting class and its contract expires!" Below we reprint the opening part of the resolu accelerated private accumulation of wealth. Mimi Pichey tion's section on the rise of the family system. The As the exploitation of human beings became profitable for St. Paul, Minnesota resolution is available as a book for $1.95 from a privileged few, women as a sex became valuable property. Pathfinder Press, 410 West Street, New York, New Like slaves and cattle, they were a source of wealth. They York 10014. Send seventy-five cents for postage. alone could produce new human beings whose labor power 1. The oppression of women is not determined by their could be exploited. Thus the purchase of women by men, On literary freedom biology, as many contend. Its origins are economic and along with all rights to their future offspring, arose as one social in character. Throughout the evolution of pre-class of the economic and social institutions of the new order The expansion of the and class society, women's childbearing function has al publishing industry and the based on private property. Women's primary social role was rich literary life in Cuba since ways been the same. But the social status has not always increasingly defined as domestic servant and child-bearer. the revolution which Ernest been that of a degraded domestic servant, subject to man's control and command. This was the origin of the patriarchal family. In fact, the Harsch mentions [see Militant, word family itself, which is still used in the Latin-based 2. Before the development of class society, during the August 3] stand in sharp languages today, comes from the original Latin famulus, historical period that Marxists have traditionally referred to contrast to the conditions which means household slave, and familia that totality of as primitive communism (subsistence societies), social pro which faced many of the now slaves belonging to one man. duction was organized communally and its product shared famous writers of Latin Women ceased to have an independent place in social equally. There was therefore no exploitation or oppression American origin who production. Their productive role was determined by the emigrated during the 1960s. of one group or sex by another because no material basis for family to which they belonged, by the man to whom they Jose Donoso, a Chilean such social relations existed. Both sexes participated in were subordinate. This economic dependence determined the novelist, wrote the following social production, helping to assure the sustenance and second-class social status of women, on which the cohesive about the situation young survival of all. The social status of both women and men ness and continuity of the patriarchal family has always writers faced in this period. "In reflected the indispensable roles that each of them played in depended. If women could simply take their children and each country, no one knew this productive process. leave, without suffering any economic or social hardship, what was being written in 3. The origin of women's oppression is intertwined with the patriarchal family would not have survived through the other Latin American the transition from pre-class to class society. The exact millennia. countries, especially because it process by which this complex transition took place is a was so difficult to publish a continuing subject of research and discussion even among The patriarchal family and the subjugation of women first novel or a first collection those who subscribe to a materialist historical view. How thus came into existence along with the other institutions of of short stories or to get them ever, the fundamental lines along which women's oppres emerging class society in order to buttress nascent class recognized. All the publishing sion emerged are clear. The change in women's status divisions and perpetuate the private accumulation of houses were more or less poor developed along with the growing productivity of human wealth. The state, with its police and armies, laws and and, in the larger countries, labor, craftmanship, an'd commerce; the private appropria prejudiced in favor of foreign courts, enforced this relationship. Ruling-class ideology, literature, so to overcome the tion of an increasing social surplus; and the development of including religion, arose on this basis and played a vital closed circle of the elite in order the possibility for some humans to prosper from the exploi role in justifying the degradation of the female sex. to get any publisher to take a tation of the labor of others. Women, it was said, were physically and mentally inferior risk in publishing an unknown Along with the private accumulation of wealth, the to men and therefore were "naturally" or biologically the name and then, if they patriarchal family developed as the institution by which second sex. While the subjugation of distinct classes, all managed to do that, to have responsibility for the unproductive members of society women regardless of class were and are oppressed as part of them print more than a couple especially the young-was transferred from society as a the female sex. of thousand copies destined to accumulate dust in the publisher's cellars without ever leaving the country was impossible." One of the major Latin American novels of that period, Mario Vargas Uosa's The If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up Time of the Hero, did get Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books and pamphlets recognition of a sort from the government of Peru. When a ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, Pathfinder Books, Desk, Indiana University. Zip: 47401. Indianapolis: YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd floor. Zip: 10003. Tel: paperback edition was 1609 5th Ave. N. Zip: 35205. Tel. (205) 328- SWP, YSA, 4163 College Ave. Zip: 46205. Tel: (212) 533-2902. . 9403. (317) 925-2616. Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont SWP, YSA, P.O. published an official military ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowell. Zip: 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Box 733, Greensboro. Zip: 27401. ceremony was held at the Zip: 85006. Tel: (602) 255-0450. Tucson: YSA, KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA, 1505 W. Broad OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 970 E. McMillan. Zip: Leoncio Prado, a military SUPO 20965. Zip: 85720. Tel: (602) 795-2053. way, P.O. Box 3593. Zip: 40201. Tel: (502) 587- 45206. Tel: (513) 751-2636. Cleveland: SWP, YSA, academy which Vargas Uosa CALIFORNIA: Berkeley: SWP, YSA, 3264 Adeline 8418. 13002 Kinsman Rd. Zip: 44120. Tel: (216) 991- St. Zip: 94703. Tel: (415) 653-7156. Los Angeles, LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3319 S. 5030. Toledo: SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: had attended, where a Eastside: SWP, YSA, 2554 Saturn Ave., Hunting Carrollton Ave. Zip: 70118. Tel: (504) 486-8048. 43607. Tel: (419) 536-0383. thousand copies of the book ton Park, Zip: 90255. Tel: (213) 582-1975. Los MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 Green OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW Everett. were burned. Two Peruvian Angeles, Westside: SWP, YSA, 2167 W. Washing mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. Zip: 97209. Tel: (503) 222-7225. ton Blvd. Tel: (213) 732-8196. Zip: 90018. Los MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, c/o M. Casey, PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA, Edinboro State generals also ventured into Angeles, City-wide: SWP, ¥SA, 1250 Wilshire 42 McClellan. Zip: 01002. Tel: (413) 537-6537. College. Zip: 16412. Philadelphia: SWP, YSA, literary criticism declaring the Blvd.,. Room 404. Zip: 90017. Tel: (213) 482-1820. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 19141. Tel: (215) 927-4747 novel was the nauseating Oakland: SWP, YSA, 1467 Fruitvale Ave. Zip: Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 1210 E. product of a sick mind. 94601. Tel: (415) 261-1210. San Diego: SWP, YSA, MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA, Room 4120, Michigan Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. State 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel: (714) 234-4630. San Union, U. of M. Zip: 48109. Detroit: SWP, YSA, College: YSA, c/o Jack Craypo, 132 KellerSt. Zip: It is also interesting to note Francisco: SWP, YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 875- 16801. that when One Hundred Years Tel: (415) 824-1992. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 942 E. 5322. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman Santa Clara St. Zip: 95112. Tel: (408) 295-8342. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, P.O. Dr. Zip: 78752. Dallas: SWP, YSA, 5442 E. Grand. of Solitude was published in Box 1287, Virginia, Minn. Zip: 55792. Tel: (218) Zip: 75223. Tel: (214) 826-4711. Houston: SWP, the Soviet Union, it was COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 12th Ave. 749-6327. Minneapolis: SWP, YSA, 23 E. Lake St. YSA, 806 Elgin St. #1. Zip: 77006. Tel: (713) 524- censored over the protest of its Zip: 80204. Tel: (303) 534-8954. Zip: 55408. Tel: (612) 825-6663. St. Paul: SWP, 8761. San Antonio: SWP, YSA, 112 Fredericks CONNECTICUT: Hartford: YSA, c/o Joe Carmack, author to eliminate several 373 University Ave. Zip: 55103. Tel: (612) 222- burg Rd. Zip: 78201. Tel: (512) 735-3141. Univ. of Harford, 11 Sherman St. Zip: 06105. Tel: 8929. UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. 7th East, erotic passages. (203) 233-6465. MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. 2nd Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: (801) 355-1124. George Dolph DELAWARE: Newark: YSA, c/o Stephen Krevisky, Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. St. Louis: SWP, VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport News): SWP, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania 638 Lehigh Rd. M4. Zip: 19711. Tel: (302) 368- YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 63130. Tel: (314) YSA, P.O. Box 782. Zip: 23607 1394. 725-1570. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Mt. Pleasant FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA, 8171 NE 2nd Ave. Zip: NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11-A Central St. NW. ZIP: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699. 33138. Tel: (305) 756-8358. Ave. Zip: 07102. Tel: (201) 643-,3341. WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, c/o Deann Rathbun, The letters column is an GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, 108 Morning Rt. 1, Box 504, Sheton, Wa. 98584. Seattle: SWP, NE. Zip: 30308. Tel: (404) 872-7229. open forum for all view side Dr. NE. Zip: 87108. Tel: (505) 255-6869. YSA, 4868 Rainier Ave., South Seattle. Zip: 98118. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, c/o Andy Eng NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): SWP, YSA, Tel: (206) 723-5330. Tacoma: SWP, YSA, 1306 S. points on subjects of gen lish, 1111 S. Third St. #304. Zip: 61820. Chicago: 103 Central Ave. Zip: 12206. Tel: (518) 463-0072. K St. Zip: 98405. Tel: (206) 627-0432. eral interest to our readers. City:wide SWP, YSA, 407 S. Dearborn #1145. Zip: New York, Brooklyn: SWP, 841 Classon Ave. Zip: WEST VIRGINIA: Morgantown: SWP, YSA, 957 S. Please keep your letters 60605. Tel: SWP-(312) 939-0737. Chicago, South 11238. Tel: (212) 783-2135. New York, Lower University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296-0055. Side: SWP, YSA, 2251 E. 71st St. Zip: 60649. Tel: Manhattan: SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. WISCONSIN: Madison: YSA, P.O. Box 1442. Zip: brief. Where necessary they (312) 643-5520. Chicago, West Side: SWP, 3942 Zip: 10003. Tel:(212) 260-6400. New York, Upper 53701. Tel: (608) 255-4733. Milwaukee: SWP, will be abridged. Please .in W. Chicago. Zip: 60651. Tel: (312) 384-0606. West Side: SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 1299. Zip: 10025. YSA, 3901 N. 27th St. Zip: 53216. Tel: (414) 445- dicate if you prefer that INDIANA: Bloomington: YSA, c/o Student Activities Tel (212) 663-3000. New York: City-wide SWP, 2076. your initials be used rather than your full name. THE MILITANT/AUGUST 31, 1979 23 THE MILITANT Company violence hits miners' safety struggle Union women target of Alabama fire bombing By Nelson Blackstock The situation was made even more · ~~~f~;tJ?.;l~ ~~i~~~1~:~:~~: I I . A The attacks on union members at question for miners. It was a major Jim Walter's mirie Number Four in issue in the 110-day coal strike last nearby Tuscaloosa County comes in year. the wake of UMW A charges of fla grant safety violations at the mine. The company was stunned by the • On August 15 UMWA member union's actions. It responded by circu Sara Jean Johnston's car, parked in lating rumors threatening pay cuts Jim Walter's parking lot, was and closing of the mine for six months. destroyed-its body bashed in, tires Jim Walter was further incensed slashed, all windows broken, and Nazi when the union filed and won a sex swastikas painted on it. discrimination grievance against the • The following day the car, which company on behalf of all the newly remained in the parking lot, was to employed women, who are 10 percent tally demolished by fire, along with a of the recent hires. The women had not second car belonging to UMW A been allowed the same right as men to member Geraldine Lattimore. No effort work during a two-week vacation was made to put out the blaze. break. • The next day, August 17, John The newly hired women-some with ston and Ellen Bobroff found their large families-were eager to work lockers broken into and all their cloth during the two weeks, but they were ing, money, and other personal posses not offered the opportunity. Since they sions stolen. had been working only a brief time, VIctims of Jim Walter terror campaign hold August 17 press conference. From left, • On Monday, August 20, Johnston they received no pay at all during the Geraldine Lattimore, Sara Jean Johnston, Ellen Bobroff. and Bobroff reported to work and vacation period. discovered that their mining helmets, The grievance victory remedied this, belts, and safety equipment had been forcing the company to pay them for This solidarity in response to the security guards were on duty, manage stolen. The company penalized the two the two weeks. company offensive was a renewed ment said, they "happened" to be be sending them home without pay for Jim Walter retaliated harshly. The source of irritation to management. away when the fires were set. the day, claiming the items could not company put six women on the track After work that day a group of more be replaced in time for them to work crew. Management assigns miners to Reprimand than seventy-five miners gathered out that day. this back-breaking work as a form of On the morning of August 15, com side the gate to the mine property. • Furthermore, the company has punishment. pany officials called miners Sara Jean About twenty of them, led by one made veiled public threats against the The company brought in a foreman Johnston and Ellen Bobroff to report vociferous rightwinger, attempted to unionists in statements to news media, from another mine, who drove the to their office. The bosses reprimanded block two cars carrying Johnston, saying they could not "guarantee their women especially hard. Things came the two for writing an article in the Lattimore, Bobroff, and a fourth safety" away from the job. At the same to a head when an older white miner Militant reporting on safety violations woman off the premises. time, a tenant in the apartment build on the crew collapsed, and five women at the mine. They complained this was Johnston got out of the car she was ing where Johnston lives approached miners, four Black and one white, not "in the interests of Jim Walter" in and began arguing with the ring her to say that a Birmingham cop, a refused the foreman's command not to and "warned" them they could be fired leader and a few rightwingers around friend of his, had warned him to get go to his aid. They were immediately if they "repeated" distributing the him. Other miners looked on, most out of the building since it "was not fired. They were charged with "threat paper on company property. having stopped out of curiosity at the safe." (See box.) ening a supervisor" because they had The two socialists responded that urging of the ringleader. Some left in insisted on calling a safety committee- they were well aware of the company's disgust at the ringleader's behavior. Union charges man. undemocraticrules and had been care Johnston responded to the right This series of incidents are the latest Word of the firing swept the mine. ful to circulate all papers after work wingers' anticommunist slanders and in a chain of events that began last Already upset by the way the company and off company property. threats, explaining they were placing month when the union filed charges was openly trying to break the women, The bosses proceeded to assign John the unionin danger, since the cops and against three Jim Walter officials. A many miners were now furious. ston to the track crew as punishment. company-who were observing the union safety committee had discovered The union called an emergency meet Later that day Johnston was again scene-would try to use this attack on an improperly placed charge of dyna ing that night at the Holiday Inn. summoned out of the mine and into the the women as proof the union rather mite that threatened to go off at any Seventy miners gathered there to show company office on the surface. There than the company was responsible for moment. It would have caused a mas support for the women. They vowed to some six company men were gathered the violence. sive explosion in the mine, one of the win a grievance to win back the jobs of to inform her that her car had been After leaving, Johnston, Lattimore, deepest and gassiest in North America. the fired miners. destroyed. Although the car was and Bobroff rushed to a Birmingham parked in close proximity to the press conference hastily called by sup office-and with very few exceptions porters who had been informed of the only management personnel were as arson attack. signed to work in the area-they had The news conference received wide Seek City Hall protection no idea who was responsible for the attention. It was featured that evening BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, August was under constant surveillance by vandalism. on two television shows. 22-Sara Jean Johnston, Geraldine both the police department and the The next morning Johnston reported Johnston placed blame for the terror Lattimore and Ellen Bobroff today Ku Klux Klan. The cop also alluded to work as usual. Shortly before noon ist attacks squarely on Jim Walter announced they are seeking a meet to the incidents at Jim Walter's mine she and Geraldine Lattimore were Resources, linking it to the company ing with Birmingham Mayor David and named Johnston and another called to report to the management response to the union's fight for safety. Vann and Police Chief William tenant in the building as members of office. Lattimore, a newly hired Black "Jim Walter is out to break the mine Myer, as well as U.S. Justice Depart the Socialist Workers Party. woman, was among those who fought workers union. The company is also ment officials, to demand protection This incident occurred the day and won the union's sex discrimina out to drive women miners from the from threats against their lives. after Johnston's and Lattimore's tion grievance. That morning Latti mines," Johnston said. "They never August 17 a tenant in Johnston's cars were burned at the Walter mine. more and Johnston had driven to work wanted to hire women anyway, and apartme:tt building said that a That same day the company had together. when the union moved aggressively on friend in the police department had made veiled threats against union Lattimore and Johnston were in their behalf to demand equal rights, warned him that it was "not safe" to activists, saying it was unable to formed that during the morning both the company stepped up its offensive stay in the building. The cop said it "guarantee their safety" off the job. their cars had been set fire and totally against the union." burned. Cars parked nearby had been "These women are coming under moved before the fire started. Although Continued on page 19