MARCH 2013, VOLUME 40, NO. 3 DONATION $1
Occupy Detroit members and supporters prepare for a march and rally in downtown Detroit to protest the economy, unemployment and dictatorial Emergency Manager laws in the state of Michigan. Photo/daymonjhartley.com INSIDE: Stop violence against women 2 Economic disaster coming: Time for oversight of drones 4 Green Party campaigns 6-7 Time to bail out Healthcare: Why are we denied this basic right? 8 the people Robots, jobs, and Read story on page 3 the new economy 9 An economic system that doesn’t feed, clothe and house its people must be and will be overturned and replaced with a system that meets the needs of the people. To that end, this paper is a tribune of those struggling to create such a new economic system. It is a vehicle to bring the movement to- gether, to create a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it.
Labor-replacing electronic technol- ogy is permanently eliminating jobs and destroying the founda- tion of the capitalist system. The people’s needs can only be met by building a cooperative soci- ety where the socially necessary means of production are owned by society, not by the corporations. We welcome articles and artwork from those who are engaged in the struggle to build a new society that is of, by and for the people. We rely on readers and contributors to fund and distribute this paper. The People’s Tribune, formerly published by the League of Revolu- tionaries for a New America, is now an independent newspaper with an editorial board based in Chicago. Valentines Day ONE BILLION RISING Dance Party Rally in Washington DC. Photo/Elvert Barnes Protest Photography PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE EDITORIAL POLICY: Articles that are unsigned, such as the cover story and editorials, WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: STOP THE RISING reflect the views of the editorial board. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors, and may or may not reflect the views of the TIDE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN editorial board. they’re fighting against the kill- about women—that upholds and This is a perfect seed-bed in Deadlines for articles and art: The EDITORIAL ings of young girls and women. perpetuates a society in which which fascism can flourish. Hu- deadline for articles, photographs In the Middle East they led ral- women are not allowed to be man life no longer has the value it and other art is the first of each lies and marches during the Arab equal to men. There is a long once had. This has its roots in an month for the issue that comes out at the beginning of the following We need to address the epi- Spring. There are countless more history of violence used to con- economy which no longer needs month. For example, the deadline demic of violence that is un- examples. trol women. In the U.S. today, very many workers, now that ro- for the June issue is May 1. Articles leashed against women around The ruling class aims to dis- there is a reported rape every bots and computers are replac- should be as short as possible, the world, and the urgent need to arm women leaders and make 6.2 minutes. A woman is beaten ing them by the millions. We are and no longer than 500 words. We take action to stop it. Because of them examples to hold back every nine seconds in this coun- calling on our readers to begin to reserve the right to edit articles to their position in society, women these struggles. This new trend try. It’s the number-one cause develop a culture to oppose this conform to space limitations. are leaders of many of the move- of governmental violence against of injury to American women. deadly fascist culture that is kill- People’s Tribune Editor: Bob Lee ments for economic and social women is part of their strategy Two million women are injured ing our people. When we are con- justice that are appearing ev- to disrupt movements for social annually, with more than half a fronted with attacks on women Editorial Staff: Bob Brown, Brett Jelinek, Sarah Menefee, Shamako erywhere. Women are poorer change. These perpetrators of million requiring medical atten- we all must speak up—and step Noble, Chuck Parker, Nelson than men in all racial and ethnic State violence manhandle, beat, tion. Last year over 1000 women up—to stop them. We must all Peery, Sandra Reid groups. The attacks on women’s and even rape and kill women were murdered by their spouses make sure that we are not holding Photo Editor: Daymon Hartley standard of living as a result of protestors in demonstrations, ral- and ex-spouses. Many of these on to ideas or attitudes that wom- cutbacks in federal and state aid lies and marches. It is part of the crimes go unreported because en are inferior to men, because People’s Tribune, P.O. Box 3524 programs is leaving millions developing culture of fascism, women are afraid that their at- this will prevent our movement Chicago, Illinois, 60654 homeless and in abject poverty. and like the other forms of that tackers will hurt them worse if from forming the unbreakable e-mail: [email protected] Phone: 773-486-3551 Women led the teachers’ strike culture, it rises from historical they do, and because they know bond of unity that we need. We Toll Free: 800-691-6888 in Chicago, and are leading wa- roots. that courts are often prejudiced must fight for women’s equality Fax: 773-486-3552 ter struggles in Detroit, and the The attack on women is jus- against them. Therefore, many now, so we can win a society that Web: www.peoplestribune.org fight against foreclosures in the tified by male supremacy—a violent crimes against women go provides for all, where that equal- U.S. In Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, centuries-old cluster of ideas unpunished. ity can be won and secured. Publisher: People’s Tribune ISSN# 1081-4787 Reach us at: Chicago 773-486-3551 Why the Movement Needs a Press Ann Arbor, MI From the Editors [email protected] We are sometimes asked “Why does the movement to build a new America need a press?” The answer has to do with this moment Atlanta, GA [email protected] in history. People are struggling just to get the basic necessities of life. Historical forces beyond anyone’s control have set the stage Carbondale,IL for a new society to be built, but from this point on, how things turn out depends on what people think. This means that those of us [email protected] who are seeking fundamental change are engaged in a battle of ideas, a struggle to win the hearts and minds of the people. If we Detroit, MI 313-438-6115 don’t raise the consciousness of the people and unite them around a vision of a better world and a strategy to achieve it, then we’ll Houston, TX fail in our effort to build a just and free society. To win the battle of ideas, we need a press. P O Box 231281, Houston, TX 77223-1281 Los Angeles, CA 310-548-6491 Visit us on the web at www.PeoplesTribune.org Oakland, CA [email protected] 2 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org Economic disaster coming–Time to bail out the people COVER STORY
The corporate media and pol- iticians claim the US economy is in a “slow but steady recovery,” but the average person knows better. And the people are rightly asking, “Where’s our bailout?” Wages and benefits contin- ue to fall, the price of gasoline, health care and everything else continues to rise, and jobs are scarce. By one estimate, the actual unemployment rate is about 23 percent, meaning some 35 mil- lion people are unemployed or underemployed. Only about 180,000 new jobs are being cre- ated each month, far below what is needed. Millions who are working can’t make enough to live on. We are well in to a 40-year process of computers and robots replacing labor in the workplace. The combination of job-elimi- nating technology and globaliza- tion of production is permanent- ly wiping out jobs and driving down wages for those still em- ployed. The result is fewer and fewer customers for business— the market is being wiped out. In addition, the US is heav- Yet austerity isn’t just a choice much more profitable than the must be rejected. cartoon/andy willis ily tied to Europe economically, that the capitalists are making; slaughter of cattle. There is no future for the and as Europe’s economy falls, profits are falling as the markets Right now, the people’s de- people under capitalism. Labor- it will drag the US down further. dry up, and from the capitalists’ mand is that the government replacing technology is not com- Contribute to the Far from being in a “slow recov- view, they need austerity to guar- bail out the people, not the cor- patible with capitalism—the People’s Tribune: ery,” we are on the road to eco- antee their profits. The money porations and the wealthy. This elimination of jobs only fuels nomic disaster. The current stock that is saved by cutting public is the only way to stabilize the poverty, war and fascism. In the 100% volunteer run market bubble in the US is only spending will be funneled into economy in the short run. We end, the people are fighting for 100% donation funded more evidence of the catastrophe the pockets of the wealthy and must maintain public spending a new society, where the people that is coming when the bubble the corporations. to provide for people’s needs and own society’s tools for produc- The People’s Tribune bursts. The people will fight, and spend public money to directly ing the necessities of life, so brings clarity to the The capitalist politicians say fascism will be used to contain create jobs. The money can be that we can guarantee peace and growing movement. It we need “austerity”—cuts in them. The drive toward a major found by taxing the rich and cut- prosperity for all of us. unites the movement government programs that feed, war will accelerate as countries ting military spending. Austerity around a vision of a better house and provide health care clash over potential markets in world and a strategy to and other services to people— Asia and Africa. And of course, achieve it. It has no paid in order to get out of the cri- war itself provides a market, staff and gets no corporate sis. But this will just pull more through destroying things and Send Us Your Story! grants. The paper is money out of people’s pockets creating demand for weapons All editorials and cover stories are written by the People’s financed solely by our and make the economy worse. and other goods. War is the most Tribune Editorial Board. The rest of the paper is written by our readers. We need your Austerity will guarantee that the profitable industry there is—the readers about the struggles they are involved in. support to continue telling economy slides into depression. slaughter of human beings is Send us your story. the truth.
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www.peoplestribune.org MARCH 2013 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 3 Time for Oversight of Drones By Dave Patterson kills someone about every four these “select” officials and what days. The Predator is flying over are they doing with video taken RAMONA, CA — Every Thurs- Waziristan 24 hours a day now, over our private land, taken in day one can see a demonstration terrorizing the people there be- secret and controlled by no judi- at the General Atomics plant in cause they can hear the engines ciary oversight? Poway CA, home of the Preda- in the sky and don’t know if they This is what Veterans For tor drone. The demonstrators are might be killed at any moment. Peace is demonstrating for: from the San Diego Veterans For Our nation in this case is the • Judicial oversight on the use Peace and their supporters. Their terrorist, and everyone is look- of drones to surveil private prop- goal is to enlighten the public on ing the other way. I doubt that erty here in the US. the desperate need for oversight our founding fathers could have • Time limits on how long regarding drone technology. imagined that 250 years after the the government can keep this The Predator drone is flying formation of out great nation, the information. over 16 countries now, loosing President would have the power • Judicial oversight on the ap- weapons over Yemen, Somalia, to kill people without authoriza- plication and use of weaponized Pakistan and perhaps others. The tion from Congress, or oversight drones in other places. kill statistics would be unaccept- of any kind. This fact should We can all participate in able in any conflict but are some- deeply worry all Americans. making this happen by calling how overlooked because we are On our borders, Homeland our representatives in Congress at war with “terrorism”. Of the security is flying 20 of the Preda- and demanding legislation that 311 drone strikes in 2011: those tor drones, and if local law en- protects American liberties and Veterans For Peace protest at General Atomics plant in Poway killed are known civilians 500+, forcement wants them to sur- the lives of so many innocents California, where Predator drones are manufactured. known children 65+, known high veil someone’s private property, overseas. Join the movement by Photo/Dave Patterson level terrorists 25. The President Homeland Security is happy to coming to San Diego April 4-7, has authorized the CIA to kill help out. Big pipe technology is where we kick off the No Drone people with the Predator if the advertised where high-resolution Month of April, a now interna- Dave Patterson of Ramona is at http://prcsd.org and http:// operators only suspect that they video or sensor data can be col- tional effort to curtail and control a past President of the San Diego nodronesnetwork.blogspot.com. are involved in terrorist activity, lected and shared with “select” the use of drone technology. Veterans For Peace. Contact him clearly in violation of interna- law enforcement and government at [email protected] or tional law. But still the Predator officials. We are asking, who are go to www.sdvfp.org. More info Demonstrators demand justice for unarmed man slain by deputies By Dan Bluemel spouse, Rosanna de la Trinidad, “You tell me,” she said, further attention after the Los An- The sheriff’s department and his two daughters, ages three “what’s so routine about two geles Times interviewed a witness originally denied having inter- LOS ANGELES, CA — Over and six. sheriffs instructing an unarmed to the shooting who countered the viewed any witnesses, but later 100 demonstrators marched Fahmi took issue with what man to ‘stop, turn around, put sheriff’s department’s official ac- acknowledged they had after through Compton on Jan. 26 to has been described as a “rou- your hands on your head,’ so count. The witness reported that being questioned by the Times. protest the killing of Jose de la tine traffic stop” and demanded sheriffs can then proceed to shoot de la Trinidad was complying Officials blamed the discrep- Trinidad by sheriff’s deputies. the deputies responsible for de him execution style, riddling his with the deputies’ orders to turn ancy on poor inter-departmental Converging on the Los An- la Trinidad’s death face criminal body with seven bullets?” around and raise his hands before communication. geles County Sheriff’s Depart- charges. De la Trinidad’s death drew being shot to death. Deputies blocked the en- ment’s Compton station, protest- trance of their station with only ers demanded justice, not only for a few feet between them and the the Trinidad family, but for other demonstrators. This intimacy led victims of police shootings. many protesters to directly ad- De la Trinidad, 36, was killed dress the watchful deputies. by deputies on Nov. 10, 2012, af- Damian Ramirez delivered ter attending his niece’s quincea- a personal message to the sher- ñera. Deputies attempted to pull iffs. He was a close friend of over the car that was carrying dela Michael Nida II, who was killed Trinidad for speeding. However, by Downey police in October of his brother, 39-year-old Francisco 2011. Like de la Trinidad, Nida de la Trinidad, did not stop and at- was unarmed and gunned down tempted to evade the sheriffs. in the back. Francisco de la Trinidad, who “No more murders of in- was later taken into custody, only nocent men because you don’t stopped briefly to drop his broth- know how to do your job, be- er off, who exited the car to com- cause you are afraid of the com- ply with the sheriffs. munity you serve,” said Ramirez According to the sheriff’s de- to the sheriffs. “The time has partment, deputies assumed de come to change the way you la Trinidad was armed, and see- do business, the way you are ing his hands pass his waistband, trained to police these communi- further assumed he was drawing ties. These are human beings that a weapon. you are stealing from their fami- De la Trinidad was shot seven lies, human beings who deserve times in the back and died at the to live the rest of their lives in scene. He was unarmed. peace and freedom.” Speaking to demonstrators, The sheriff’s department is Gigi Fahmi, a friend of de la Gigi Fahmi shouts at L.A. County Deputy Sheriffs outside the Compton sheriff’s station during a investigating de la Trinidad’s Trinidad and his wife, described demonstration over the fatal, deputy-involved shooting of Jose de la Trinidad. He was unarmed death. Their findings are expect- the victim as devoted to his and one witness says he was complying with the deputies’ orders. Photo/Dan Buemel ed to be released soon.
4 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org Coachella Valley, CA – Vigil offers a vision of peace By Gabrielle Jackson, Rosie Coachella Valley’s (OCV) vision action against gun violence fol- Terry, and Lorraine Salas for peace and justice. She spoke lowing the shootings of twen- of OCV’s actions to protect the ty seven children and adults in COACHELLA VALLEY, CA environment against the corpo- Connecticut. She was instru- — On January 21, 2013 the vi- rations trying to make a profit mental in coordinating resourc- sions of Dr. Martin Luther King by opening a new fossil fuel es, and bringing Richard Finn, Jr., Robert Kennedy, and Ma- powered energy plant here. She a local musician and member of hatma Gandhi were remembered spoke about our support of local Veteran’s for Peace to play at the and their words were spoken to people whose homes have been vigil. Her vision was to hear the a new audience and brought to foreclosed upon, and about our words of the great leaders who life again. While their powerful ongoing struggle to be heard by should have been alive to guide words still hold the cause origi- our local politicians concerning us through these difficult times, nally intended, they are more degradation of the environment, if they hadn’t been shot first. urgent and pertain to our local materialism and militarism. She chose quotes from Dr. King struggle more than ever. She spoke about a man who and Robert Kennedy to illumi- The original purpose of our changed her life, a teacher, Mi- nate and rekindle their ideals of peace vigil was to act on our be- chael Rosenfeld, who introduced peace, justice and equality. School children ring a bell for each name they read of those lief that gun violence must be her to the works of Gandhi, and The highlight of the vigil killed at Newtown, CT and in the Coachella Valley in 2012. halted, and that the way we can so helped her find her voice. He was when two students read the Photo/Darel Propst help to bring about a more peace- helped her to see she could make names of the victims of New- ful community is to speak out change in the world by speak- town and the local people who er. Led by local singer Teesta ten or be fruitless in its desire for and call attention to the tragedies ing out. With this vision, Lor- were killed in gun violence. The Chakraborty, everyone sang the people to live together as a com- which, while horrific in the sen- raine could see the issue of gun students, a fourth grader and a anthem of hope, John Lennon’s munity of people with a common sational mass shootings like the violence not as a far off issue seventh grader, volunteered to “Imagine” and then “Last Night I vision of peace. Newtown disaster, occur with in another state, but a local is- read the names and strike a bell had the Strangest Dream,” by Ed To view a video of this vigil equally shocking frequency in sue in the Coachella Valley. She to symbolize the remembrance McCurdy. go to www.kmir6.com/news/to- our own community which is the discovered that more than thirty of all victims of violence all over Gabrielle Jackson spoke about protator/187838991.html Coachella Valley. local people in the area died by the world. the hope of everyone that this Lorraine Salas opened the gunshots in the last year. Finally, with candles aglow, small gesture of community to- program by introducing Occupy Rosie Terry felt the need for all the people sang togeth- getherness would not be forgot- Foul water and fracked politics, Part II Part 1 of this article appeared in try, proprietary secrets, and the dumped used oil and diesel fuels don’t abide by property lines. dustrial process have the poten- the February, 2013 edition of the poison injected below Illinois into the nearby creek which feeds Radioactive dust won’t discrim- tial to devastate and debilitate People’s Tribune. farmland by fracking. into Cypress wildlife refuge, inate between rich children or our small communities. How- Yet the gas and oil compa- I’d be looking at federal prison. welfare recipients. Frack rash, ever fanatical, it only seems just By Tabitha Tripp nies cry foul at attempts for real However, we are turning our neurotoxins and endocrine can- and democratic to ban hydraulic regulations and the moratorium. heads, looking the other way with cer don’t look to see what po- fracturing for shale gas until a CROSSVILLE, IL — It is full They label us as environmen- fracking companies and calling it litical lines you stood in or what full state-sponsored study of its speed ahead for corporate ex- tal “tree hugging extremists” as “patriotic duty” and “sacrifice.” church you attended. impact is complete. ploitation of Southern Illinois anti-American, terrorists and Is it un-American to ask for If contamination could be “The public policy of the State if the hydro-fracking industry “gasp” liberals. a vote on that which not only completely contained to one and the duty of each person are to bill passes. Fracking is the pro- Is it liberal to think that 20 or threatens the duty of each per- property, then I suppose a person provide and maintain a healthful cess of extracting natural gas via 30 years down the road I would son to provide and maintain a could make the argument that it is environment for the benefit of this high pressure, water, chemical expect my children to come healthful environment now, but an individual choice of the land- and future generations. Each per- and sand deep into the earth. The home and drink out of the tap also for future generations? Or owner whether he or she wishes son has the right to a healthful en- proposed bill does not grant lo- without having any fear of what at the very least grant the author- to sacrifice the land or water in vironment. Each person may en- cal control at the county level. It might be in our water? Is it ide- ity to counties and municipalities this way. The notion of a state or force this right against any party, does not classify reclaimed wa- alistic to think that air should be who resolve to ban the process of for-profit-company assuming the governmental or private,…” (Il- ter as a radioactive hazard or ad- breathable without non-methane fracking and uphold Article XI right to sacrifice someone else’s linois Constitution, Article XI.) dress the air emissions and pol- hydrocarbons produced as a bi- of our State constitution. land, water, and air is simply I suggest exercising our rights lutions standards. And the threat product of fracking? It is inconceivable to believe non-democratic. Rather, quite before we lose them. remains that federal industry ex- If I had poisoned my neigh- that pollution would contain it- fascistic, don’t you think? Contact Tabitha Tripp at saveo- emptions will protect the indus- bors well with pesticides or self. Water and air pollution The ramifications of this in- [email protected] New fracking moratorium bill The Illinois Coalition for a Moratorium on Fracking, includ- ing SAFE (Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing our Environ- ment) announced the introduction of Bill 1418 into the Illinois General Assembly. The bill promotes a 2-year moratorium on the controversial drilling process of high-volume fracturing in Illinois. The moratorium will allow time for a science-based investigative taskforce to look at current and ongoing studies on fracking. Critical studies regarding health effects from prox- imity to high-volume fracturing will be one key area of study. Contact [email protected] or call 217-273-1000 for There are claims that there have been more than 1,000 cases of groundwater contamination in the US more information. because of fracking. Photo/Southern Illinoisans against fracturing our environment www.peoplestribune.org MARCH 2013 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 5 Interview with LeAlan M. Jones, Illinois Green Party candidate for U.S. House of Representatives For the People’s Tribune, Al- banks and credit unions to begin the Republicans have and it can len Harris interviewed LeAlan establishing a real presence in also bolster the progressive agen- M. Jones of Chicago, who is the the depressed housing markets in da that needs to be re-engaged Green Party candidate for the the South Suburbs and Chicago. within the Democratic side. So, U.S. House of Representatives in Providing local financing for in- right now, I believe that I’m a the 2nd District of Illinois. He is vestments in housing and small- candidate that America needs in seeking the seat vacated by Jesse businesses will set a foundation the United States Congress. Jackson Jr. In 2010, Jones was for sustainable economic growth. the Green Party candidate for the That’s consistent with the Green On the source of gun violence in U.S. Senate from Illinois. What Party’s message. This campaign Chicago: follows are excerpts from that is for small-business cultivation LMJ: You have a family struc- interview. and nurturing their capacity to ture that is more strained [by become institutions in the local the] lack of two-parent homes. On how the Green Party program community and have access to You have a gang structure that meets the economic and environ- global markets. was broken down in the mid- mental needs of the people of the 1990s, which means that you had 2nd District: On a third party and why it is young men able to develop their LeAlan M. Jones: The Green time for a change: own identity within gang culture, Party is the perfect party to rep- LMJ: Congress is an impedi- but not having the management LeAlan Jones, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, resent the 2nd District because ment to the economic growth that of a mature gang structure. This delivers an impassioned speech in Chicago. of the many different constituen- it wants. It cannot have an eco- has created younger, bolder of- Photo/Jeremy Karpen cies within it. You have almost nomic agenda and have a stale- fenders who are desensitized to a rural culture [in] Will County, mate over the fundamentals of violence. We have a culture in Kankakee County and southern what government should be pri- terms of Hollywood and enter- schools: the private schools work… or portions of Cook County. You oritizing and what government is tainment which has become more LMJ: I don’t necessarily know that we need to discontinue with have an urban landscape that can funding. It’s time for a third party grotesque in its advertisement of right now if I can say that I’m the traditional public school edu- be reformatted under a Green because Congress cannot help it- violence. And with Rev. Jackson against private or charter schools. cation. Until we take the politi- agenda with wind technology, self right now. As a Green Party asking for Homeland Security to What I can say is that there needs cal power that controls the edu- solar technology and sustain- candidate, I can work on both come in, it is a total failure for a to be an independent central cational process, I don’t think we able energy. When we look at sides of the aisle. If we had an in- civil rights pioneer to think that school board to be able to ask can ask that question before we the fact that we have homeless- dependent caucus of Greens and an authoritarian system can foster these questions and get those an- get a determination that politi- ness, foreclosures and enormous other independents, [if] we were a civil situation for what’s going swers. As long as City Hall has cians shouldn’t be running edu- environmental stress, the Green able to get maybe 13 or 14 or 15 on in Chicago. control over the public school cation in this city. party has real answers. We are of those House seats, [then] that system, we won’t ever have a willing to work with community would break up the power that On charter schools and public clear understanding of whether HOMELESS KIDS SPEAK OUT IN FILM she realized that school person- Pat LaMarche is Diane’s co- worse—something you cannot nel didn’t understand the issues hort on the tour, having made afford to have treated. And you affecting homeless kids in their two previous journeys through, sure as heck aren’t supposed to communities and consequently in her words, the backstreets, be living that way while the CEO these kids were being denied wooded camps, and home- of your power retail store or fast entry. less shelters of America’s poor. food employer makes 380 times So she decided to make a Pat also was the Green Party’s what you do.” film. After a grant fell through, VP candidate alongside Da- Pat ends her article with the she was so committed to the is- vid Cobb in the 2004 electoral following: “One thing is certain. sues and to getting the film made race. As Pat remarks in her Jan. When anyone—even the presi- to raise awareness that she sold 22, 2013 Huffington Post article dent—speaks to “you” about be- her townhouse and started a “…there’s even more need for ing poor, at least 1 in 6 of “you” non-profit homeless children’s this latest EPIC Journey than in this wealthy nation already advocacy group, Hear Us, Inc., there was when I first went out know what he’s talking about, purchased a motorhome and hit in 2004…” She goes on to say because “you” are the poor. And the road, traveling 20,000 miles if President Obama had been if we are the nation our ances- around the country to film the more “brutally honest” in his In- tors fought a civil war to ensure, stories of homeless children. augural Address, he might have then “you” is “we” and we are She returned to northern Il- stated: “Hey, I don’t know if you the poor.” A homeless child in a preschool program. photo/Diane Nilan linois where Professor Laura noticed this or not, but you aren’t Follow the dynamic duo Vasquez, Northern Illinois Uni- supposed to be slaves anymore. on their Facebook page EPIC By Cathy Talbott the same route John Steinbeck’s versity, worked with her to cre- Not you poor white folk any Journey, check out their blogs at Okies traveled in his novel “The ate “My Own Four Walls.” Since more than you poor Black folk. www.alternet.org and Huffington CARBONDALE, IL — The Grapes of Wrath.” then they have made other films, Not you mommas and not you Post, or contact www.hearus. “Babes of Wrath” tour of the Documenting as they go, one of which, “On the Edge: babies. Not you veterans and not us or 928-774-1103 to set up a southwestern states, a 5,000 they’ll also be screening Diane’s Homelessness in America,” was you elderly. You aren’t supposed showing in your community. mile journey to raise commu- film “My Own Four Walls” in screened and won here at South- to be making a substandard min- View trailers for the films and nity awareness of homelessness, which homeless youth speak ern Illinois University’s Big imum wage, feeding yourselves travel itinerary at www.hearus. especially its effects on children about homelessness. In 2005 Muddy Film Festival in Feb., with food stamps and praying us. and families, is taking Diane while Diane was working with 2012. That is how I first heard of the sore on the bottom of your Nilan and Pat LaMarche along 305 schools in the Chicago area, Diane and her quest. foot isn’t a sign of something
6 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org A PEOPLE’S PARTY BASED ON PEOPLE’S NEEDS man rights abuses in tion. The Dream Act is Interview with Tara Colon our communities, and not enough. We have develop resolutions children in our commu- For the People’s Tribune, Sandy and anti-foreclosure campaigns of action. Although it nity who are five or ten Perry interviewed Tara Colon. we were already involved in is a broad, non-parti- years old. They need She is a mother of five and served here. Jill Stein and Cheri Honk- san social movement legalization now. They as the Spanish Language Out- ala were just found not guilty for event, many Green can’t wait until they get reach Organizer for the Green the sit-in they participated in at Party members will be to college age. Party during the 2012 Jill Stein- Fannie Mae last summer. They participating. The most important Cheri Honkala campaign. were trying to save the homes of Another key ini- thing today is for ev- Rhonda Lancaster and Ms. Fran. tiative is our Green eryone to get involved People’s Tribune: What is the As a result of this sit-in, Rhonda Party Youth Commit- on some level. The Green Party doing on the ground Lancaster is still in her home to- tee, where my daugh- Green Party helps peo- now in Philadelphia? day, and Ms. Fran, although she ter Luisa is active. Al- ple do that. The whole Tara Colon: Right now we are was evicted, has been able to find though they have to be concept of a people’s organizing a Green Party voter other housing to keep a roof over accompanied by adults, party based on peo- registration drive, especially in her head. the youth bring extra ple’s needs is an idea the Kensington area where I live. The Poor People’s Economic energy and enthusiasm whose time has come. Kensington is the poorest area in Human Rights Campaign (which to our voter registra- Tara Colon is a longtime anti-poverty leader in The Green Party can Pennsylvania. We are trying to is separate from the Green Party) tion and petition cam- Philadelphia. Photo/Abel Francisco become that party. But build a Green Party presence in is working to bring the World paigns. The youth are only if you speak out. the neighborhoods the Republi- Courts of Women to Philadel- also important because Let us know what you cans and Democrats have aban- phia this October. This gathering the main way austerity is hitting My daughter’s high school was are doing. Make a cell phone doned. We are trying to expand will bring together international Philadelphia is school closures. in chaos this year because it got video and we will put it on You the Green Party base. human rights activists with lo- We lost 65 schools this year and combined with two others that Tube. We need more testimony, At the same time, we try to in- cal anti-poverty, cultural, labor, now you have to get on a wait- closed. more ideas, more art, and more tegrate Green Party politics into and youth leaders. It will col- ing list to get your kid into kin- The youth have also been mo- poetry. Break your silence! some of the ongoing anti-poverty lect testimony, document the hu- dergarten. The kids are suffering. bilizing for kids to get legaliza- California’s Prop. 37: Lies Buy an Election With $45 million of false advertising, giant food corporations defeated California’s Proposition 37
By Abraham Entin that currently require GMO-food labeling. Sonoma County, CA — A They also lied about the cre- month before last fall’s elections, dentials of their spokespeople California Proposition 37 (requir- and claimed newspapers support- ing genetically modified food to ed them that did not. They lied be labeled as such) enjoyed a lead about “trial lawyers” being be- of more than 20 percentage points. hind the proposition, when in fact Yet on election day it was defeated the law was written to discourage 53%-47%. How did this occur? lawsuits. During the last month of the They even sent out a mailer campaign, almost $45 million implying the federal Food and in advertising was dumped on Drug Administration (FDA) the people of California to con- urged a no vote on 37, using the vince them they are better off not FDA logo beside a statement the Protest in California for GMO labeling legislation. The giant food industry defeated the legislation. knowing what is in their food. FDA denied making—not only a Photo/Hoang-Lien Pham It was spent by Monsanto, by lie but a serious violation of fed- Dow Chemical and Kellogg’s, eral election laws. Supreme Court has slowly trans- given corporations, and the inev- the corporations that have taken by Pepisco and Nestles and many Hundreds of thousands of ferred the rights of human beings itable outcome is corporate rule over the world. This is what the other companies that profit from Californians worked to get Prop. to corporate entities and given on a global scale, the destruction moment demands. Now is not the genetically engineered food. 37 on the ballot and inform their them the power to control our po- of the planetary environment, time for half measures and com- The campaign waged by the fellow citizens about it. But these litical system in ways that make a and an increase in the concentra- promises. It is time for us to take “No on 37” committee was full of huge transnational corporations mockery of the notion that we are tion of wealth that makes misery our stand and stand together as lies. They said if Prop. 37 passed trampled all over the work they a democracy. inevitable for the vast majority of human beings. If we do this, the the cost of food for the consumer had done, engulfing California in The Court has ruled, in effect, the population of the earth. future can be ours. would increase by almost $500 a blizzard of lies. that “money is speech,” allowing But today we have an histor- per year. This came from a study They were able to do this be- corporations and the wealthy to ic opportunity to say “enough” Abraham Entin is the founder funded by the committee itself, cause, in a number of rulings cul- buy our elections. and strike at the root of the evil of Move to Amend Sonoma County and it contradicts the experience minating in the 2010 decision Combine the “rights” of hu- facing us. We can take back our (Calif.) and is a frequent spokes- of the more than 60 countries known as “Citizens United,” the man beings with the privileges country—and our planet—from person for the organization.
www.peoplestribune.org MARCH 2013 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 7 HEALTH CARE – WHY ARE WE STILL DENIED THIS BASIC RIGHT? By Dr. David Apsey lot of money in all countries. Un- der capitalism, the money to pay DETROIT, MI — Health care is for it depends on workers paying a basic necessity of life and sur- taxes to cover the bill. vival. In the USA, 100 million Capitalism, based on buying people suffer from a chronic lack and selling labor power and trad- of access to health care. 50 Mil- ing the wages for commodities lion are uninsured and 50 million has hit its limit in most parts of more are underinsured, lacking the world. The government and medical insurance in part of the private companies are not creat- year. Both groups don’t see the ing enough jobs. doctor and are equally as sick. Why can’t the USA economy Their poor health is why the create jobs? Robot “factories” USA is ranked 37th in the world, increasingly make the goods we in measures like infant mortality, use and this process is eliminat- maternal mortality, life expec- ing workers permanently. We tancy and untreated illness. need these tools! Workers should The new health law; the Pa- not have to do hard, dirty jobs tient Protection and Affordable and they cannot physically as- Care Act (PPACA) which will be semble precision items such as fully in effect by 2014 is not like- cell phones; so for society to ly to meet its goals of improving keep advancing, we need and access to care. The promised love these tools. Medicaid expansion was the The cause of the disease greatest hope to improve access is that under capitalism, these for poor people. Approximately tools are in private hands, used half of states are planning to ex- to make items that are the most pand their programs but without profitable with little consider- additional state funding. To save ation for people’s needs. As long money, the states with “better” as the factories, banks, hospitals, Medicaid programs plan to elim- schools, buses and trains are in inate people from their rolls by private hands with fewer of us the time their reform is complete. working, we will not be able to The insurance pools for individ- afford health care. We will con- uals will increase insurance com- tinue to be faced with austerity pany profits while raising overall budgets at home, poverty and health care costs. war as various forces fight for Why are we still talking about control of the remaining profit- health care as a human right? If able enterprises. we were to implement a single We need a new world where payer national health care sys- public control of productive re- tem, with a guaranteed right to sources can allow us to plan for health care, we would save mon- our needs without interference. ey, cover everyone and we would To get there, we will need politi- all be healthier as a result. cal power to make and enforce These problems are part of the the laws and determine our own Healthcare protest in Michigan. Photo/daymonjhartley.com same disease. Health care costs a bright future. CHICAGO, IL – Cabrini Green Evictions By Joseph Peery ing exist in buildings under the floor while CHA occupants had ever building construction, man- in his courtroom said that most same roof in dwellings right next to walk outside the building even agement by private corporations, people come to testify, but the “Whenever I hear anyone ar- door to each other, and yet are in the cold of winter to buzz into and maintenance, all receive fed- officers come to test a lie. guing for slavery, I feel a strong treated quite differently. Until the facility. Residents embar- eral funds. Then shouldn’t every- Due process, innocence until impulse to see it tried on him very recently, only people liv- rassed the CHA in front of news one benefitting from those funds proven guilty, and equal protec- personally.” ing in condos could use stor- reporters and cameras, and these be drug tested as well? tion under the law, are all thrown — Abraham Lincoln age space in the buildings, even abuses were removed. Various “Acts To Amend” the out the window. The saying, “to- though every apartment had its Further, people in condos can original “National Housing Act” day it’s us but tomorrow it could CHICAGO, IL — Today, fun- own storage cage with the apart- own pets, people in CHA cannot. passed by both houses of Con- be you,” has real meaning here. damental rights taken for grant- ment number labeled over it. The former can belong to a con- gress have put public housing The unskilled industrial manu- ed by most Americans are rou- Condo dwellers simply put their do association, the latter cannot. families in a position of real legal facturing jobs once worked by tinely denied to public housing extra belongings in CHA storage CHA tenants cannot even orga- second-class citizenship. By law CHA residents for more than residents. Nowhere is this more units. This went on at a time when nize into unions to defend them- any arrest of anyone, even false half a century are all gone. And evident than with the Chicago some public housing tenants selves. All those over the age of arrest, is enough to evict these with them, our right to keep a Housing Authority (CHA) resi- were being harassed for having 18 in CHA units must submit to a families, no matter how remote roof over our heads seems to dents living in the so-called ‘clutter’ in their apartments that mandatory drug test yearly, while or minor the offense. In a town have gone too. Buying a condo mixed income areas that used to could have been stored. Around those in condo units do not. The as corrupt as Chicago, this can is a thirty-year process. Will your be Cabrini Green. the same time, condo owners had rationale is because CHA is a be a dangerous thing. A judge de- job last that long? Here condos and public hous- keys to enter the gym on the first federally funded program. How- scribing the conduct of officers 8 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org Robots, jobs, and the new economy By Brett Jelinek these developments will have on society as advanced robots and In recent months, the main- computers are able to perform an stream press has been extensive- increasing number of jobs cheap- ly covering the impact of robotics er, more accurately and efficient- on unemployment and the jobless ly than humans. recovery. Technology is replac- Herein lies a fundamental ing human labor in a big way, of- problem. People are going to tentimes permanently replacing continue to be pushed out of the jobs. Robots have been replacing workforce in larger and larger manufacturing jobs for decades numbers. The speed at which as the automated machines work jobs are replaced by technology much more efficiently than hu- far outpaces the number of new man labor. In a recent 60 Minutes jobs created by this emerging in- report on the topic, an American dustry, causing unemployment manufacturer said that his robots and poverty to skyrocket. With cost him just over three dollars fewer people earning wages, per hour to operate, a cost com- fewer people will be able to buy parable to sweatshop labor. goods and services. To maintain Robotics and automation profit growth, corporations look aren’t limited to the manufactur- to further reduce costs, introduc- ing sector. New technology has ing even more productive tech- replaced and reduced jobs from nology with new layoffs. This is nearly every sector of work in- a cycle that is going to repeat and cluding the service sector, mili- intensify as corporations com- tary, and agriculture; even “white pete to maximize profits with collar” law, media, and financial fewer and fewer consumers to sector jobs are threatened by new spend money. technologies. This is the real economic We should not fear, hate, or crisis we face today, a crisis of try to stop highly productive capitalism itself. Capitalism, a technological developments, as system based on competition, Hand-held devices enhance learning in Michigan classrooms. Photo/Daymonjhartley.com these tools are creating an abun- can only exist in a world of scar- dance never before seen in hu- city. Capitalism is incompat- destroying the foundations of dance provided by automation. row’s technology for the benefit man history. ible with a world of abundance capitalism is creating not only The economy and our political of all humanity rather than the Technology is constantly be- where there is already more than the possibility, but the necessi- institutions need to be reshaped profits of the few. Before us is coming more advanced, sophis- enough homes to house every- ty for a new economy based on to reflect the reality we face now, the unprecedented opportunity to ticated, and efficient, doubling body, food to feed everybody, prioritizing human needs—an not try to “go back” to the way it usher in a new age that can truly in power and speed every year. and money to eradicate poverty economy based on cooperation. operated 50 years ago. We must deliver on the promise of peace We are just beginning to see the four times over. The struggle we face today is organize to unleash the produc- and prosperity for every person, widespread implications that The same technology that is to embrace the reality of abun- tive forces of today and tomor- everywhere. SPEAKERS FOR A NEW AMERICA Obama’s Inaugural II Our speakers are in the forefront of the struggle for a better There were politicians, poets, puffery, promises, the public, world. Our speakers bring a message of hope and the possibility The holy, rich and powerful were there. School kids, scarred of creating a new society whose wealth benefits all. Veterans of last week’s, current and far away years’ Social, political and martial wars. Choirs, cheers, bands, Speakers are available on: The press, ruffles and flourishes of rhetoric. • Women and poverty • Public education • Healthcare Star spangled quavers in a voice hitting • Homelessness & anti-foreclosure battles • Third parties and elections High notes firmly and smoothly. • Immigration • Assault on democracy in the Rust Belt • And more Lincoln’s and Martin Luther King’s Bibles were present. The nation’s heart (800) 691-6888 – [email protected] Pounded and staggered on. And the President www.speakersforanewamerica.com Didn’t even get shot!!!
Gridlock will be padlocked by the next working day; Plans made for ideologues to have their way. A guitarist strummed about “sea to shining sea,” People’s Tribune reading Groups! Hinting at the problems simmering in between. The People’s Tribune encourages our readers to form groups to study It’s all games and plays we’ve seen before. We just hoping for a different ending— and discuss, especially our cover stories and editorials. Call or email us And a better score. to find out if there is a People’s Tribune reading group in your area.
—Horace Colman, poet and Vietnam veteran (800) 691-6888 [email protected]
www.peoplestribune.org MARCH 2013 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 9 100 Thousand Poets: Poetry demonstrates its power The movement 100 Thousand Poets for Change stays vibrantly alive By Susan C. Lamont Bush canceled a White House po- own neighborhoods can get sup- etry reading, fearing that it could port from around the world. SANTA ROSA, CA — The glob- turn embarrassing. “It would be Last October for instance, po- al movement of cultural activists inappropriate to turn a literary etry, film, and music fundraisers calling themselves 100 Thou- event into a political forum,” her were held in a number of coun- sand Poets for Change is not spokeswoman explained. tries to call attention to the plight waiting for its annual weekend Tell that to the thousands of the people of the Niger Delta, of events in September. Instead, of poets, dancers, musicians, where flooding caused massive it is vibrantly alive from Califor- mimes, photographers, and other suffering -- and international re- nia to India. artists who have taken part in the lief was almost nonexistent. Does poetry have power? Can two big annual 100 Thousand More recently, 100 TPC has it be a voice for justice? A threat Poets for Change events held in linked up with rootsaction.org to the powers that be? more than 100 countries, includ- and its 200,000 members in a pe- Women in Afghanistan can- ing Mexico and other parts of tition campaign demanding the not openly take part in 100 Thou- Latin America. release of Mohamed Ibn Al Aja- sand Poets for Change; read- What Laura Bush was afraid mi, the Qatari poet imprisoned ing and writing poetry can get of is just what Terri Carrion and for a poem extolling the popular a woman killed there. In Qatar, Michael Rothenberg, the two po- uprisings in Tunisia. (Google: 100 Thousand Poets for Change poster. Image/Jim Spitzer a poet has recently been given a ets from a tiny California town rootsaction al ajami to sign the life sentence for writing a rebel- who sparked the movement, petition.) reading on January 11 titled enough. Sometimes screaming is lious line of poetry. hoped would happen: that poets In support of Al Ajami, the “Voices Against Violence.” necessary. And if you think that’s ex- would not be silent in the face of Revolutionary Poets Brigade And for the second year, 100 In Sonoma Co., Calif., 100 treme, under the National De- war, environmental degradation, held a reading on February 6 in TPC will be working with the TPC is dedicating an April 5-7 fense Authorization Act recently inequality, and exploitation. Los Angeles titled “Poetry Is Not Dominican Republic-based Fun- festival to inspiring a sustainable signed by President Obama, a Because 100 Thousand Poets a Crime.” dadora Mujeres Poetas Interna- and collaborative way of life. It is poem can be declared treasonous for Change is organized on a lo- In India, as people rise up cional (Women Poets Interna- bringing together various styles, in the United States, too. cal level, yet has online connec- against their country’s rape cul- tional) on their Woman’ Scream cultures, and generations through Indeed, in the days leading tions to a global community, po- ture, the poets of Mumbai held a readings in March and April. the energy of artist activists. up to the invasion of Iraq, Laura ets responding to issues in their 100 Thousand Poets for Change Speaking against violence is not
ONCE MORE, AYIBOBO! LIFE SUICIDED, By Jack Hirschman iba and I. Other poems featured of Revolutionaries for a New Agneta Falk, Yolanda Catzalco, America has been writing about LIFE SENTENCED SAN FRANCISCO, CA — On Karen Melander Magoon and for years, it is the Haitian popu- the eve of the 3rd anniversary Barbara Paschke, who read her lation, whose people have been I expect you recently read of one of the most horrific earth- French translation of a poem by more exploited by western capi- that more American soldiers quakes in modern times, in which Georges Castera, the noted Hai- talist systems than any country —men and women both— more that 220,000 Haitians lost tian poet. George Long provided on earth. killed themselves their lives, the Revolutionary the music on his ever receptive What Max Blanchet brought in Afghanistan last year Poets Brigade of San Francisco saxophone. to the evening was a clarity and than were killed in physical held a fundraising event of po- But it was speaker Max Blan- understanding that many had not combat in the war there. etry and music and featuring the chet who put into clear perspec- encountered before. Decrying Haitian speaker Max Blanchet, tive the situation in Haiti. We the corruption before and after Though Mohammad at the Art Internationale, the Bri- know from reports recently pub- the quake, Blanchet bid his au- al-Ajami will never kill gade’s center, on January 11. lished that Haiti has been the vic- dience begin to understand that himself for writing words Entitled “Once More, Ayibo- tim of another catastrophe after the earthquake, with its myriad in Qatar that’ve landed him bo!” (Ayibobo means “Amen” the quake. Billions of dollars in deaths, represents but one of a a life sentence in prison in Haitian, but can be used as a donations from people and gov- series of disasters that have vis- for publicly attacking form of emphatic determination ernments all over the world have ited Haiti since the people rose the regime in a poem, and even exhilaration). Batay been either lost, misspent or sto- up at the beginning of the 19th Ouvriye (Workers Struggle), an len. Three years after the disaster, century and effected the only we, his comrade poets, important group in Haiti which more than 300,000—some say as successful slave rebellion in the aren’t taking any chances. fights for wage-justice for fac- many as 500,000—Haitians live history of the earth, against no We know the murderers tory workers, teachers and the in hundreds of camps around less than the army of Napoleon of every atom of humanity general new class, was the ben- the country. A well-known ob- himself! and the truths of life have eficiary of the event. server of Haiti, Amy Wilentz, in Blanchet, a member of the a hundred ways of making Another feature of the event her latest book on the current af- Lambi Fund, a Haitian group a man or woman want was the publication, by CC. termath, describes the camps as that raises money for irrigation Marimbo Books, of Denizens similar to the Occupy camps in projects in the Haitian coun- to end it, jump out of it, of Hope, by Haitian poet Den- the U.S. tryside, left the audience with slit the wrist of it, fire a ize Lotu (Denize Lauture), part There’s an element of truth in a sense of the post-quake new bullet into it. So we’re of whose powerful poem on that image since Haitians are the class Haitian as a resilient force going to liberate the earthquake was read by two poorest, most exploited people working—no matter what re- Mohammad al-Ajami of the three translators (Den- in the Americas. If ever there gime is in power—for the better from the nauseating ize himself translated some of was an objective example of tomorrow. injustice as soon as possible. Ayibobo! the poems), Haitian poet Boad- the New Class that the League — Jack Hirschman 10 PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE | MARCH 2013 www.peoplestribune.org Triangle Fire Memorial design competition opens for entries By Andi Sosin & Joel Sosinsky ten. The historical struggles of ion designers, students, and The Remember the Triangle the past, now revisited here and members of the public to sub- Fire Coalition abroad, should inspire us all to mit design proposals for what stand up and make our voices is hoped will be a “destination” As America approaches the heard above the anti-worker, an- piece of public art that can in- 102nd anniversary of the Triangle ti-labor union thunder that comes spire visitors to contemplate a Shirtwaist Factory fire of March from the obscenely well-funded future when America will again 25, 1911, the “fire that changed forces of the political extreme become a more equitable society. America,” it is worth noting that right. Over 100 years ago, it was The Coalition is seeking entries the same disregard for worker collective activism and the rise that abstractly or representation- safety that made that preventable of American labor unions that ally honor workers, labor union- fire such a tragedy, the capital- forced the politicians of this na- ists, health and safety advocates, ist doctrine of profits over peo- tion to embrace the stringent and immigrants and women, remind- ple, continues today all over the effective safety rules and regu- ing viewers that activism moves third world and in the erosion of lations in the workplace that we society forward, and that people OSHA worker safety protections take for granted today. The Re- are more important than profits. in the USA. One hundred and member the Triangle Fire Co- New York University, owner of twelve deaths in the Tazreen fac- alition, a truly grassroots group the Brown (Asch) Building, has tory fire in Bangladesh on No- composed of victims’ family agreed to install the selected de- vember 24, 2012, and even more members and sympathetic social, sign on the exterior of the actual recent industrial tragedies in the academic and artistic organiza- building in which the fire oc- US and around the world are con- tions and individuals throughout curred. A jury of distinguished tinuing testimony for the need to the US, have joined in solidar- professionals will review all sub- protest against morally corrupt ity to create a permanent public missions in a two-phase process. multinational corporations such art memorial to the victims of The winning artistic rendering as WalMart, which considers the the fire and to the workers and will memorialize the event and literal blood of innocent workers activists (many of whom were its victims, and educate as well on the garments they sell no dis- women at a time when they still as speak to what citizens can ac- incentive for the American work- did not possess the right to vote complish when they band togeth- ing class to flock to their stores in in this country), who ought be er in common cause. See www. Triangle fire of 1911. One hundred forty-six mostly young search of bargain prices. remembered. rememberthetrianglefire.org for immigrant women workers perished in the New York fire. There are lessons from the To that end, the Remember more information about the Tri- Photo/Kheel Center, Cornell University horrific deaths of 146 immigrant the Triangle Fire Coalition is angle fire and the memorial de- workers in the Triangle fire that proud to release a Call for En- sign open competition. cannot and must not be forgot- tries for artists, architects, fash- Americans of African Descent: From the cotton fields to corporate offices
By Raymond L. Smith other is to acknowledge, under- work ethics. An impressive num- stand and correct the negative. ber of these individuals were Editor’s Note: The following is To do nothing about the wrongs skilled craftsmen. Part 1 of a 4-part article. of the past, to pretend that they At that time blacks and never happened, leads to a sore whites co-existed without major Lonoke County, AR — that festers and prevents a heal- conflicts. It was not unusual for Time is a term that has several ing process. In the Christian re- the children, black and white, different meanings. It is a term ligion, believers are taught that to openly play together. Unlike that life itself is dependent on. forgiveness and healing are not other areas of the state and coun- We have good times. We have only possible, but required. try, whites in this area did not bad times. We don’t have enough Most of us who are sixty conspire to forcefully run blacks time, or in other cases we have years old or older can remember away from their homes. After all, too much time. Occasionally, a time when our communities this was cotton country and all we regret the time. Whether in- consisted of a close-knit group of hands were needed. tentionally or not, we forget the people who cared for each other. However, it was an era of seg- time. In particular situations it is It was a time when there was less regation and the laws of the land better to get past the time. Yet, strife and a greater degree of to- imposed unfair and unjust sanc- we should always remember the getherness. There were commu- tions against African Americans. time: to honor and cherish the nities throughout the land, espe- A significant number of blacks time, or to be sure we don’t re- cially in the South, where people farmed their own land while peat the time. in urban and rural communities other blacks were sharecroppers It is believed by many in the exercised togetherness through- on land owned by whites. Some mental health field that our bod- out the day. African Americans who owned ies are equipped with a selective Over fifty years ago there farms of one hundred sixty acres memory mechanism. This al- existed in rural Lonoke County or more were Will “Doc Gooden” lows us to discard or store away a thriving and viable commu- Lindsey, Charlie Parker, David the negative or distasteful ex- nity made up largely of African “Coot” Brown and Julius Buck- periences that we encounter in Americans. These descendants ley. Perhaps the most prodigious our lives. Perhaps that explains of slaves possessed virtues and African-American farmer of the why many of us remember “the high standards that were passed time was Isaac “Coot” Sabb. The good old days.” When we walk down through generations. This last names of some of the well- down memory lane, we should highly populated area was known known white landowners are come away with two valuable as the Union Valley community. Haney, Martineau, Ball, Eagle, keepsakes. One is to admire and The population mainly consisted Kelly and Tate. (To be continued Part of a Black tenant family on a farm in the South, May 1941. to improve on the positives. The of responsible people with good next month.) Photo/Jack Delano www.peoplestribune.org MARCH 2013 | PEOPLE’S TRIBUNE 11 Good riddance to Emergency Manager Joseph Harris By Rev. Edward Pinkney that the state or a corporation has targeted for takeover four choic- B E N T O N es: They can take over by using H A R B O R , Chapter 9 bankruptcy, receiv- MI — Af- ership, a consent agreement or ter several mediation. tumultuous The new law is the same as years, Joseph the old law with stronger teeth. Harris, the Like the old law, it undermines Emergency Financial Manager democracy. It gives emergency in Benton Harbor, Michigan, is managers the authority to break finally gone. He was a total fail- union contracts and strip elected ure. Joseph Harris made sev- officials of their power. eral false statements and made The majority of African- several federal and state viola- American cities in Michigan are tions. He also increased the bud- under the new Emergency Man- get deficits and defaulted in his ager law: Flint, Pontiac, Ecorse, duties. The whole experience Allen Park, and Benton Har- shows why the people should be bor, as are three school districts self-governed. in Detroit, Highland Park, and Welcome to Benton Har- Muskegon Heights. bor, Michigan! The citizens of We are seeing the merging of Benton Harbor, and the State of government and corporations. Michigan voted to disband the Tony Saunders has taken over controversial state Emergency the city of Benton Harbor Emer- Manager takeover law, Public gency Manager duties. The me- Act 4 in the Nov. 6, 2012 general dia claims Saunders served as election. However, less than two an advisor for the Detroit sub- months after the election, Gover- urb, Highland Park. On Feb. 11, nor Rick Snyder and the Repub- 2013, Tony Saunders sang to lican controlled state legislature the Benton Harbor residents. He began crafting a new law—an- sang and some Benton Harbor other version of the same bill— residents danced. It was Déjà Vu which passed during the lame all over again. It was the same (Above) A protest against duck session. old story of corporate takeover. Emergency Manager Joe The new emergency law, We the citizens of Benton Harris in Benton Harbor, MI. Public Act 436, replaced Public Harbor, Michigan have had Photo/Brett Jelinek Act 72, which had been in ef- enough of government imposed fect once the emergency man- grossly incompetent dictators. ager law was shot down in the The reason Tony Saunders is (Right) Benton Harbor’s new general election. The new law, here is for the continued con- Emergency Manager, Tony Public Act 436, is also called the trol by the Whirlpool Corpora- Saunders II. Photo/Rev. Edward Pinkney Local Financial government Sta- tion over the residents of Benton bility and Control Act. The new Harbor. We the people must fight law gives a troubled government back for control of our city.
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Steal paintbrushes from children’s fists. The People’s Tribune is your paper. Please become Tell them schools can’t afford art, a consistent, regular donor. As an independent press, Free Then wonder why they scribble on tests we rely exclusively on donations. This is the only way Mental health clinics And who painted all those train cars? the People’s Tribune can carry out its mission. Only then closed. Forced to fight our demons will it be what it needs to be—a press of the movement, in the streets. Again. The red and gold swirls of ten foot names used by the movement to carry out the essential task of On your school’s faded fence and brick wall connecting the scattered many who are fighting to con- Belong in chapbooks and gallery frames. Read graffiti as a grievance letter, Mr. Principal. struct a just and equitable society. We need to raise at least $15,000 this year. Your Angry Eyes All students question until forced to quote. regular donations, large and small are the only so- My angry eyes brim Let them invent, compose and sing hard. lution. For instance, 26 sustainers at only $25 per With women searching dumpsters Let history show who died for their vote month, plus 60 sustainers at only $10 per month For capital’s crumbs. And science grow runner beans in their backyard. equals $15,000. I respect all true teachers and learners in class. Become a monthly sustainer now. Donate via pay pal The students test us daily and I hope we pass. at www.peoplestribune.org or send your check to PO — Lew Rosenbaum Box 3524, Chicago, Il 60654-3524. Thanks in advance. — Jill Charles Jill is a Chicago writer in the Neighborhood —The People’s Tribune Writing Alliance workshop at Bezazian Library.
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