La huelga Persecución contra más grande 12 Manning, Assange 12

Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 4 Jan. 23, 2020 $1 Movement brings Delbert Africa home Unjustly framed, out after 41 years

By Ted Kelly Black revolutionary groups. The chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Delbert Orr Africa has survived more Party, Fred Hampton, was assassinated on attempts on his life than arguably any Dec. 4, 1969, in a sordid plot that involved other living revolutionary. For over 50 the FBI, the Chicago Police Department years, the United States government has and turncoat informants who had been tried to kill him, beat him, break him down placed close to Hampton’s family. and silence him. And now at the dawn of a After this murder-execution, the rest of new decade, he has bested the empire once the Chicago members—​Delbert among again—Delbert​ Africa is free. them—​had false warrants put out on After being granted parole on Dec. 20, them. He managed to elude the state’s he was finally released from SCI Dallas on agents sent to capture him and went into Jan. 18. He is the sixth MOVE 9 member exile in Canada. to be released in the last year. A few years later, back on the U.S. side As a member of the Chicago chapter of of the border, he was nearly killed in a car the Black Panthers in the 1960s, Delbert accident that left his cousin and another faced dire threats from the state’s war on friend dead, but he managed to once again evade the FBI who came to ques- tion him in the hospital. Despite assurances that he could return to Chicago where the phony warrants had been dropped, Delbert did not trust the word of the criminal justice system. He Delbert Africa welcomed by MOVE members and allies. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE set out for Philadelphia and found a place to live in Powelton Village. Black communities. Under the command kicks, punches and blows from metal It was in that neighborhood where he of arch-fascist Mayor Frank Rizzo, the combat helmets and rifle butts. They shat- first encountered MOVE, where he once militarized police gang attacked MOVE’s tered his jaw and fractured his eye socket. again saw Black radicals putting revolu- home on Powelton Avenue. In the midst of this attack, Delbert called tionary theory into practice. Before long, In their reckless and violent fervor—​ out to Phil Africa, whom cops had begun Delbert earned his place as one of the the police fired tens of thousands of to arrest as well, with these words: “It’s most important strategists of that organi- rounds of ammunition into a residential gonna be alright! We’re gonna be alright!” zation alongside Coordinator John Africa. neighborhood—​the cops shot and killed Just as a cop was putting his boot on one of their own, James Ramp. Phil’s neck, he shouted back: “That’s Military, police terror attack on MOVE What followed is one of the most cruel right! Ona MOVE! Long Live John Following a 56-day police blockade on cases of police brutality ever caught on Africa!” (tinyurl.com/rgl7slm) the MOVE house, the police rioted on film. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Aug. 8, 1978—​one in a long Philadelphia Cops dragged Delbert out by his dread- Joseph F. O’Neil was present at the scene. Delbert Africa today. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE tradition of racist white mobs terrorizing locks and mercilessly assaulted him with Continued on page 3

Gov’t hands off UAW! 4 Women march for rights 6-7 On the Picket Line 4

Contract gains for Tribute to Chuck Turner 5 WNBA players 7 King Day: Moms for Housing 7 Students protest war 8 PHOTO: A. REA Pensacola, Fla., women’s march, Jan. 18.

Editorials

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Expanding Empire The global war drive of big business this week and the forces that will stop it ◆ In the U.S. Where every previous imperialism in history had to in its own interest. This simple, but of course extremely Movement brings Delbert Africa home ...... 1 “expand or die,” each in conformity to its own specific difficult transformation, when it is accomplished in all People’s campaign frees Coffey from solitary . . . 3 economic and social laws, the modern, export-of-capital countries, will make war superfluous, and as ridiculous in type of imperialism is far more dynamic, far more ruth- fact as it now is in theory. The ideal that has been sought Government hands off the UAW! ...... 4 less, and far more compelled to take its murderous—and for centuries and even millennia will be realized through On the picket line ...... 4 suicidal—path than the rest. the logical means of eliminating the material cause of war. Life and legacy of Chuck Turner ...... 5 By the same token, since modern imperialism employs For every war in history—even the dynastic wars and Shelter solidarity struggle wins concession . . . . 6 so many more millions of people in its “peaceful” exploita- the so-called “religious wars” and the wars over national tion, as well as in its interminable wars; since it calls into prestige or monarchical vanity, including such semi-myth- Contract reached for women basketball players . . 7 being the literate, the skilled and semi-skilled, the intellec- ical events as the seizure of Helen of Troy—every war was Moms 4 Housing brutally evicted, vow to return . . 7 tual and artistic legions that are indispensable for its sway, over material, economic interests. And except for the occa- Students resist imperialist speaker at MLK Week . 8 it must also employ deceit on a hitherto unknown scale to sional armed collisions between barbaric tribes desperate Stop denying disaster relief to Puerto Rico! . . . .8 keep these legions in line. for hunting and living space—which are also economic It must cover up. It must even find funny names for its causes—all these thousands of wars were in the interest S.F. Labor Council anti-war, pro-peace resolutions 8 most murderous weapons. It must make hypocrisy and of one or another exploiting class. Around the world cynicism fashionable and even admirable. Where the old Even the revolutions, before the Russian Revolution, ◆ capitalism made honor, love and friendship into saleable were the overthrow of one exploiting class by another—the The global war drive of big business ...... 2 commodities, the new imperialism must turn them into feudal monarchy by the bourgeoisie; before that, the over- ‘Women’s rights are human rights!’ ...... 6 apologetic jokes. throw of the more purely feudal power by the semi-bour- France: Strike over pensions enters sixth week . . 9 Modern youth has already begun to fight against all this. geois monarchy; the overthrow of the ancient Roman But the fight, including especially the fight against the war, monarchy by a new coalition of landlords and tradesmen Imperialism in Africa ...... 9 must become a struggle against the imperialist-capitalist to found the Republic and so on. Jan. 25–Global Day of Protest–No war on Iran! .9 system itself. It cannot be restricted merely to the excesses Up to very recently, the working masses of society never Lebanon protests storm banks, demand new gov’t 10 of the system. had the material possibility of removing their exploiters How People’s China cleaned up Beijing’s air . . . 11 Imperialism is not a question of a policy that can be cho- and finishing with them for good. But modern machin- sen at will by one group of corporations and dropped by ery and modern technology have now provided such a ◆ Editorials another. And this applies with exactly the same force to the possibility. political instrument of those corporations: the government. They have made it possible for the Oscars still so white, so male ...... 10 Imperialism is a system. It has a built-in tendency to masses to dispense with an owning French and African workers, unite! ...... 10 expand—and expand abroad—because it is based on the and exploiting class altogether, and to private ownership of the now social means of production. produce a full and abundant life for ◆ Noticias en Español Since it produces for private profit instead of for the themselves in the bargain. La huelga más grande ...... 12 general good, it cannot employ all its own people, nor even Poniendo la verdad tras las rejas ...... 12 feed them, nor can it rise beyond a certain level of produc- From the book “Expanding tion without attempting to conquer other countries. Empire,” written in 1969 by Vincent Imperialism must be replaced with a different sys- Copeland, a founding member of tem—a system in which society not only operates the pro- Workers World Party. The full text ductive forces, as it does now, but owns and manages them can be read at workers.org. Workers World 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. New York, NY 10011 Join us in the fight Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] for socialism! Web: www.workers.org Vol. 62, No. 4 • Jan. 23, 2020 Workers World Party is a revolutionary Marxist-Leninist people are gunned down by cops and bigots on a regular Closing date: Jan 22. 2020 party inside the belly of the imperialist beast. We are a basis. multinational, multigenerational and multigendered orga- The ruthless ruling class today seeks to wipe out Editor: Deirdre Griswold nization that not only aims to abolish capitalism, but to decades of gains and benefits won by hard-fought strug- Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, Martha Grevatt, build a socialist society because it’s the only way forward! gles by people’s movements. The super-rich and their Monica Moorehead, Minnie Bruce Pratt Capitalism and imperialism threaten the peoples of the political representatives have intensified their attacks on Web Editors: ABear, Harvey Markowitz, Janet Mayes world and the planet itself in the neverending quest for the multinational, multigender and multigenerational ever-greater profits. working class. It is time to point the blame at—and chal- Production & Design Editors: Gery Armsby, Sasha Capitalism means war and austerity, racism and lenge—the capitalist system. Mazumder, Scott Williams repression, attacks on im/migrants, misogyny, LGBTQ2+ WWP fights for socialism because the working class Copyediting and Proofreading: Paddy Colligan, oppression and mistreatment of people with disabilities. produces all wealth in society, and this wealth should Sue Davis, S. Hedgecoke It means joblessness, increasing homelessness and impov- remain in their hands, not be stolen in the form of capi- Contributing Editors: LeiLani Dowell, G. Dunkel, erishment and lack of hope for the future. No social prob- talist profits. The wealth workers create should be socially K. Durkin, Teresa Gutierrez, Betsey Piette, Gloria lems can be solved under capitalism. owned and its distribution planned to satisfy and guaran- Rubac The U.S. is the richest country in the world, yet no one tee basic human needs. has a guaranteed right to shelter, food, water, health care, Since 1959, Workers World Party has been out in the Mundo Obero: Alberto García, Teresa Gutierrez, education or anything else—unless they can pay for it. streets defending the workers and oppressed here and Carlos Vargas Wages are lower than ever, and youth are saddled with worldwide. 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Subscription information is at workers.org. 284 Amory St. 216.738.0320 [email protected] [email protected] Boston, MA 02130 [email protected] Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y. Pensacola, Fla. Washington, D.C. 617.522.6626 Dallas [email protected] [email protected] POSTMASTER: Send address changes to [email protected] [email protected] Workers World, 147 W. 24th St. 2nd Fl. Portland, Ore. West Virginia New York, N.Y. 10011. [email protected] [email protected] workers.org Jan. 23, 2020 Page 3 Movement brings Delbert Africa home Continued from page 1 Delbert Africa spent six years in “the been gunning for Delbert since the 1960s. Brown, Indigenous people in huge dis- hole,” or solitary confinement, a prac- His release is a victory against this white proportionate numbers. Prisons do not Delbert recalls hearing him call off the tice regarded as torture under the United supremacist, capitalist system. “correct” or “rehabilitate,” nor is that attack on Phil, saying, “Don’t do that here Nations Charter. It is estimated that as But the struggle is far from over. Chuck their intended purpose. because the cameras can see us.” The entire many as 100,000 people may be currently Africa, the last remaining member of the Prisons are concentration camps for episode was broadcast on television. held in solitary confinement across the U.S. MOVE 9 still behind bars, had his hearing the poor. They enable the capitalist ruling Though the undeniable fact and video As the years wore on, the toxic condi- and is now awaiting a decision from the class to keep millions of workers in captiv- evidence of Delbert’s beating did lead tions and white supremacist guards took parole board. Mumia Abu-Jamal, another ity, a labor force on retainer who get paid to an investigation into police brutality, their toll on MOVE 9 members. Both Phil former Panther and world-renowned pennies per hour—​if at all. And the bosses no cops were ever held responsible. This and Merle Africa were killed by the prison author and journalist, is still fighting for have managed to turn this modern-day unanswered crime is one of many racist system. A shock went through the com- exoneration in the courts and against slavery into a billion dollar industry—​ police attacks captured on video that have munity earlier this year when Delbert serious health issues after 38 years in through contracts with finance capital, followed it, from the beating of Rodney went missing in a situation that closely notoriously toxic coal-country prisons. tech firms, arms manufacturers and other King to the murder of Eric Garner. resembled the events that culminated in Indeed, the fight will not be over until corporate profiteers. No person, no matter After nearly half a century, no amount both Phil’s and Merle’s deaths. the shackles are taken off of every pris- what their alleged crimes or past history, of cell phone videos, surveillance cam- Friends and family, even his lawyers, oner in the U.S. The system of mass incar- should be forced to languish in hell for the era footage or police bodycameras have were unable to contact him and prison ceration uses criminality only as a pretext crude profits of the 1%. changed the fact that police can publicly staff refused to state whether Delbert was to round up and lock up oppressed work- This is why when we say “Free Chuck! torture and kill Black and Brown people alive or dead. Supporters learned that he ing-class people, overwhelmingly Black, Free Mumia!” we say, “FREE ‘EM ALL!” ☐ without facing any consequences. had been transferred to the hospital after As police rioted throughout West a medical emergency and was being held Philadelphia in 1978, attacking and there without the ability to communicate arresting anyone they could get their with the outside world. hands on, Rizzo held a frenzied press The movement responded by demon- conference at City Hall. He demanded strating at the hospital and flooding the reinstatement of the death penalty so phone lines with calls demanding Delbert’s he could round up all remaining MOVE release. After two tense days, Delbert was members and “throw the switch” himself. finally able to leave the hospital and put out Rizzo threatened reporters with retali- a statement thanking everyone for the suc- ation for negative coverage and said that cessful effort to save his life. he hoped to get revenge on them during In the last few years, an unprecedented his tenure. Three years later, President number of former Black Panthers and of the Philadephia Association of Black other radicals have been released. Debbie, Journalists Mumia Abu-Jamal, who had Michael, Janet, Janine and Eddie Africa been most critical of Rizzo, would be shot have all been released on parole since by police and falsely framed for murder. 2018, after 40 years of imprisonment. By Rizzo’s side was District Attorney Ed Rendell, stridently defending the city’s Global campaign brings Delbert home decision to bulldoze the MOVE house on As Delbert Africa’s parole hearing ‘Delbert’s home—Free them all!’ Powelton Avenue, destroying exculpa- approached in September 2019, activists tory evidence and completely erasing the around the world participated in a social Philadelphia—­­ Very early in the Workers World Party, Food Not Bombs crime scene within hours of the police media campaign where they posted photos morning of Jan. 18, three carloads of Solidarity, Mobilization4Mumia, REAL attack. Rendell would go on to become of themselves holding signs that read: “I supporters made the two-hour trip from Justice and others. One more MOVE 9 mayor, then Pennsylvania governor Support Parole for Delbert Africa.” Among Philadelphia to SCI Dallas, near Wilkes member still remains in prison: Chuck and then chairperson of the Democratic those who shared solidarity selfies was Barre, Pa., to bring MOVE 9 mem- Africa. National Committee. 98-year-old Rosemary Neidenberg, one of ber Delbert Africa home from prison. When the afternoon gathering came Workers World Party’s founding members. They waited from 8:15 until 9:30, when to a close, participants chanted: “Free The MOVE 9 Delbert has long been regarded as Delbert was finally released—​after 41 Chuck Africa! Free Mumia Abu-Jamal! Rendell’s office framed nine MOVE one of the most important figures in years in prison for a crime that none of Free Imam Jamil Al-Amin! Free ’em all!” members for Ramp’s death, including the MOVE Organization, both because the MOVE 9 had committed. All are political prisoners still in jail. Phil and Delbert. Presiding Judge Edward he served as the group’s Minister of On his arrival in West Philadelphia, he A press conference is scheduled for Malmed, who admitted he hadn’t “the Confrontation and Security and because was warmly welcomed by other MOVE 9 Jan. 21, at Philadelphia’s Kingsessing faintest idea” who shot Ramp, gave each of his former membership in the Black members, MOVE organizers and com- Library, 1201 South 51st St. at 2 p.m. munity activists, including members of of them 30- to 100-year prison sentences. Panthers. That is to say, the system has — Report and photo by Joe Piette ‘I have a right to write’ People’s campaign frees Coffey from solitary confinement

By Joe Piette World published an article called, “Act constitutes punitive actions taken against Philadelphia Now: Prison activist-writer placed in soli- a collective: a violation of the Geneva tary,” and shared it widely on social media. Convention.” (tinyurl.com/sx7aa21/) If prisoners can’t report about the con- Callers were asked to demand Coffey be Prison officials admitted the lockdown ditions they are forced to endure, prison released from solitary and then be allowed stemmed from an incident unrelated to officials can get away with murder. to call his sister to confirm he was all right. Coffey’s circumstances. However, their That’s why, when prison staff punished Jeanne Coffey told Workers World she protocols prohibited all prisoners from incarcerated activist Jerome Coffey with got “many, many calls” from people about making any phone calls. On Jan. 14, SCI solitary confinement for writing an article their calls to the prison. One prison official Albion prison Superintendent Michael critical of the Pennsylvania Department told Coffey they got thousands of calls. By Clark personally called Coffey’s sister and of Corrections (DOC), it was important late afternoon on Jan. 13 callers were told told her the prison lockdown would soon that family, friends, prison reformers and he was being taken out of solitary. be over. Finally, on the morning of Jan. 15, abolitionists conduct a phone campaign Coffey called her to say he was fine. to get him out. Lockdown: collective punishment Tired of all the phone calls, a security Other prisoners, Coffey’s twin sister The struggle wasn’t over yet. Coffey captain told Coffey, “Call off the dogs.” Jeanne Coffey and his attorney Martha still wasn’t allowed to call his family. No Conley complained that he was taken out of calls were being permitted because of a ‘I have a right to write!’ his cell on Jan. 5 and placed in solitary con- lockdown under the much-criticized “vio- Coffey called WW soon after: “I feel finement. The reason? He had written an lence reduction policy.” In practice, that good. My health’s all right. What I just Jerome Coffey article for Workers World titled “30 years means staff can immediately shut down experienced for eight days in the hole is after the Camp Hill Uprising: Repression entire cell blocks of the prison and con- unbelievable. Whatever you all was doing, talks about, all the so-called reforms, I in Pennylvania’s prison system.” fine hundreds of prisoners to their cells calling up here, you caught them, and don’t see none of that. You got young In response, on Jan. 11 members of for 36 hours. SCI Frackville prisoner they let me out to general population. I white guards out there spraying people. Food Not Bombs Solidarity and Industrial Bryant Arroyo describes that discrimina- didn’t get a misconduct or nothing! I have It’s all messed up, man. They broke my foot Workers of the World Philadelphia cre- tory and repressive policy: “We’re being a right to write. I have the protection of locker, they broke my remote control, they ated a “Phone Blitz” poster on Facebook forced to pay the piper for the infrac- the First Amendment. I’m not going to let stole my sweatpants, they broke my lamp. asking people to call State Correctional tions of others. Not only is this a viola- them get away with anything. The only thing—​they didn’t mess my type- Institution (SCI) Albion officials. Workers tion of our 14th Amendment rights, this “All this stuff [Pa. DOC Secretary] Wetzel writer up. So I still got my typewriter.” ☐ Page 4 Jan. 23, 2020 workers.org

For rank-and-file control Government hands off the UAW! By Martha Grevatt the capitalists. Nevertheless, the UAW constitution has provisions An ominous federal takeover of the United Auto under which the membership can take action to restore Workers union is now a real possibility. According to democratic control and ethical practices. With enough U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider, “All options are on support, members can force the union to hold a “Special the table. And [a takeover] is one of the options.” (Detroit Convention.” Free Press, Jan. 10) A new rank-and-file group, Unite All Workers for In other words, the capitalist state—​overtly hostile Democracy—UAW​ D—has​ begun the uphill battle to get to organized labor, especially under the Trump admin- a Special Convention called for the purpose of setting up istration—​could take advantage of documented cor- a new mechanism to elect the International Executive rupt practices to sue the union under the Racketeer Board. Currently, the IEB is elected by delegates at the Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). This quadrennial Constitutional Convention. What UAWD could lead to federal oversight. seeks is quite simple: direct election—​“one member, WW PHOTO: MARTHA GREVATT Nothing could be worse for the UAW and the labor one vote.” Striking GM workers picket GM World Headquarters on movement as a whole. Oct. 9, 2019. Rank-and-file workers organized this protest “Our whole effort is to avoid a federal takeover,” These threats follow a federal investigation into corrupt independently of the International UAW leadership. according to Scott Houldieson, a founder of UAWD and a practices by top UAW leaders and staff. First to be charged member of UAW Local 551 at the Chicago Ford Assembly were individuals in the union’s Fiat Chrysler Automobiles attacked the UAW—​in the way they have gone after plant. “The best reform is to empower the membership (FCA) Department, who were accused of taking bribes union corruption, which is small potatoes compared to of our union to hold our officers accountable for weak from the company in exchange for agreeing to inferior corporate corruption. contracts and corrupt practices.” contract terms and pushing them to the membership for After all, UAW corruption did not cause fatal acci- Houldieson and three other UAW activists addressed approval. FCA executives were also charged; leaders on dents with a faulty ignition switch that General Motors a Jan. 17 webinar, which a number of interested union both sides have been sentenced to prison or probation. installed to save money. It’s not the union that kills and members attended. For a special convention to be called, Further federal investigation uncovered multimil- maims autoworkers, here and in other countries, because the union constitution requires that resolutions of sup- lion-dollar scandals involving vendor kickbacks and corporations won’t spend the extra money to make the port be passed by locals representing at least 20 percent expropriation of union funds. The people implicated workplace safer. Chrysler (now FCA) once fought the of the total UAW membership—​about 80,000 mem- include retired UAW President Dennis Williams and for- federal government over airbag requirements, although bers. Right now UAWD is nearing the halfway point. mer President Gary Jones, along with Region Five Director they knew airbags save lives. The UAWD platform, still a work in progress, Vance Pearson. Jones and Pearson resigned in November. “I just think that there’s definitely a double set of addresses multiple issues including the need for global Members are justifiably outraged at the self-serving standards,” said Mike Herron, Local 1853 Shop Chair at worker solidarity and the fight for a shorter work week. behavior of highly paid leaders whom they trusted to GM’s Spring Hill, Tenn., plant. The special convention could be a forum for autoworkers fight in their best interests. to comment on a wide range of issues and map out a real That doesn’t mean they want anti-union govern- Rank and file take the initiative strategy for the rank and file to take back their union. ment agents to come in and clean house for them. And The UAW’s Administrative Caucus, in existence since It would be a step toward breaking up the treacherous some members rightly question the motives behind the the late 1940s, has created over time a dysfunctional, partnership with the capitalist owners of industry. more recent federal pursuit of President Rory Gamble, top-down, corporate-model structure riddled with nep- Breaking up labor-management cooperation is neces- who took over when Jones resigned. Gamble is the first otism and cronyism. The leadership fully embraced sary if organized labor is to remain relevant to the new African-American International president in the union’s class collaborationism and rejected class struggle. They layers of workers exploited in the gig economy. 85 years of existence. epitomize what the leader of the Russian Revolution, There is clearly a double standard on the part of the Vladimir Lenin, coined the “labor aristocracy”—a​ strata Martha Grevatt is Trustee of UAW Local 869. She government—​as well as the capitalist media that have within the working class that has been “bought off” by retired from Fiat Chrysler after 31 years in the plants.

proposal to drastically change retirement benefits for the Florida teachers march on working class, and on Jan. 9 the Teamsters held picket lines at and delivered letters to the French Embassy in Tallahassee capitol Washington, D.C., and the Consulate General in Los Thousands of teachers, parents and supporters, Angeles. The letter began: “The 1.4 million members On the of the Teamsters Union stand in solidarity with work- including leaders of national educational unions, rallied and marched to the Florida Capitol Jan. 13 to demand ers in France during their struggle to maintain a pen- more funding for public schools. Organized by the sion that allows them to retire with dignity and respect Florida Education Association, downtown Tallahassee after years of hard work.” The letter also demanded the picket line came to a standstill as teachers in red T-shirts, some car- French-owned, U.S.-based company Airgas respect the By Alex Bolchi and Sue Davis rying signs reading, “I shouldn’t have to marry a sugar workers’ right to organize, free from harassment and daddy to teach,” protested the attack on public educa- intimidation, and sign a contract with adequate retire- tion, which began in the late 1990s. ment benefits. (teamster.org, Jan. 9) ‘Amazonians United “There are 36 high schools with 1,000 students or more that fail to offer physics classes because they can’t Sacramento’ walk out find certified teachers. And one out of eight English DOL attacks franchise classes in this state are taught by uncertified teachers,” Christmas Eve said Fedrick Ingram, FEA president. workers Lack of consistent pay increases has produced over The Department of Labor issued a rule Jan. 12 to Night shift workers at Amazon’s DSM1 warehouse in 3,500 vacant teaching positions across the state. Florida make it harder to prove that corporations are responsi- Sacramento, Calif., celebrated Christmas with a walkout. ranks in the bottom 10 states in educational funding, ble when franchise owners or contractors violate wage It was the latest action in their campaign for paid time with spending below pre-recession levels. The state is laws. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said the Trumpian off (PTO). After delivering a petition with 4,015 signa- 26th in starting pay, according to the National Education rule, first proposed last April and slated to go into effect tures to management during their break on Dec. 23, the Association. on March 13, was to limit “joint employers” and “pro- workers read their demands for a meeting with manage- Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed spend- mote entrepreneurs.” ment and PTO out loud. Then 36 of 100 workers clocked ing $603 million to raise the state’s starting teacher pay The DOL ruling chopped Obama administration out mid-shift. and another $300 million in bonuses for highly effec- wording, expanding the definition of joint employers: “A lot of people were scared, but it was encouraging to tive teachers. Though legislative leaders are skeptical, corporations that set policies about hiring, firing and see how many people came through,” said one of those teachers call DeSantis’ proposal a “good start.” They supervising workers and set pay and maintain employ- who walked (organizers have agreed not to identify them). are seeking a 10 percent across-the-board pay raise for ment records that franchises must follow. McDonald’s “[I]t was good to show people we can stick together.” all classroom teachers and school staff. According to workers have taken advantage of that wording. However, Like other Amazon workers, those at DSM1 are Tallahassee.com, Florida teachers are emboldened by last October a San Francisco federal appeals court ruled harassed by ever-increasing productivity goals. One gains made by teachers from Arizona to West Virginia. that McDonald’s was not responsible for such wage law job is sorting and scanning packages. The rate of scans (Jan. 13) violations by franchise owners. per hour was recently increased from 180 to 300, while Rebecca Dixon, executive director of the National workers were gradually cut. Complaining about the Employment Law Project, stated the new DOL rule stress, a worker noted: “[E]very part of the labor process Teamsters show solidarity “makes it easier for corporations to cheat their work- [is] to get the same amount of volume done with fewer ers and look the other way when workplace violations people”—classic​ capitalist maneuver! with French strikers occur.” She added that DOL’s reversal exposes “millions Some DSM1 workers, called Amazonians United of workers to wage theft.” (The Hill, Jan. 13) No wonder Sacramento, went public about organizing last Even though the U.S. corporate press hasn’t paid Fight for $15 has posted a petition calling for support at September. Around 100 workers are wearing buttons much attention to the massive strike beginning Dec. 5 fight4fifteen.com. reading, “Amazonians United for PTO.” (Labor Notes, in France, the Teamsters union has. On Dec. 18, it issued ☐ Jan. 3) Stay tuned. a solidarity statement protesting the government’s workers.org Jan. 23, 2020 Page 5 Massive turnout honors life and legacy of Chuck Turner By Stevan Kirschbaum Student Movement newspaper. The NSM was begun by Boston northern students providing support for the movement in the South. It later shifted to Black community organiz- A capacity crowd of 600-plus people—plus​ an addi- ing in New York, Hartford and Boston, a trajectory that tional 250 overflow—​packed Roxbury Community led Chuck back to Boston in 1966. College Jan. 9 to celebrate the life of Charles Henry In those three years, he joined a rent strike in Harlem “Chuck” Turner II. and then became NSM director in Hartford, where he The “People’s City Councilor” passed away Dec. 25 fol- organized a campaign to confront police brutality. This lowing a long battle with cancer. He was 79. As a free- led to confrontations between the police and the com- dom fighter, organizer, strategist and internationalist, he munity, resulting in Chuck’s arrest and charges of sedi- struggled for justice for over 53 years. tion—charges​ that had not been used since the days of The crowd represented the many struggles to which Sacco and Vanzetti. After Chuck was given probation, he Chuck dedicated his life. Leaders from the Black and moved to Roxbury, Mass. Brown communities, from the fight for jobs, housing, Other program speakers included Kazi Toure of education, prison rights, equality, women’s and LGBTQ2+ the Jericho Movement and Suzanne Lee, a longtime rights—​against racism, poverty and war—​joined his Chinatown activist. spouse Terri Turner and family in a moving tribute. President Andre François of the Boston School Bus Team Solidarity of the United Steelworkers Local 8751, Union, brought the crowd to its feet with a proposal that Boston School Bus Union, organized buses that brought the mayor—​who was in the audience—​name a street over 60 rank-and-file members from the bus yards. in honor of Chuck. He was the strongest supporter, ally The three-and-a-half-hour program was led by Darrin and advisor to Local 8751 since its founding in the 1970s. Howell, family spokesperson and former District 7 Chuck was born in Cincinnati in 1940. He said he was Constituent Service Director who, like many in atten- “blessed to have been born into a family that had two dance, had been mentored by Chuck. It was emceed by predominant passions—​a thirst for knowledge and a Calvin Feliciano and Angela Yarde of Chuck’s council staff. desire to serve.” His mother was a school teacher, while Chuck Turner, ¡presente! WW PHOTO: STEVAN KIRSCHBAUM A rainbow of movement leaders bore witness to his his father later ran one of the first Black-owned pharma- life’s work. New generations of community leaders cies in Chicago. His brother became a college professor whom Chuck had mentored joined longtime veterans. and dean, while his grandfather, Charles Henry Turner, justice, in Massachusetts and around the globe. Turner’s Paige Academy Drummers opened the program, which for whom Chuck was named, was a renowned zoologist prosecution in 2008 was part of a politically motivated also included song, poetry and an electrifying musical and entomologist. pattern of prosecutions of elected officials of color by performance by Foundation Movement, Boston’s pre- Bush administration U.S. Attorneys. It is a political mier hip-hop band and Chuck’s beloved loyal comrades. Fighting racism, poverty and war frame-up. The voters of his district showed their view of Mel King, 91 years old, set the tone for the day, reciting In 1958, Chuck attended Harvard University on a full it in the 2009 election by returning him to office.” a poem he had composed entitled the “Power of Love.” scholarship. After college, he headed for Washington, D.C. Chuck was innocent! Yet he served 2 ½ years in fed- King had worked with Chuck on countless campaigns, He later recalled “ironically arriving on August 23, 1963. eral prison in West Virginia. He handled this fight with including the historic I-95 Federal Highway struggle Thus, I had the opportunity to stand with hundreds of the same principles, dignity and grace that characterized of 1969. This project threatened to decimate Boston’s thousands and hear Dr. King and others give the call to his life’s struggles. He organized within the walls and Black and Brown communities. Their coalition, called action.” Chuck spent the rest of his life answering the call returned to Boston stronger than ever. Operation Stop, took on the federal government and to fight the “triple evils” of racism, poverty and war. won, providing invaluable lessons for struggles ahead to In 1999, Chuck ran for and won a Boston City Council For jobs and international solidarity protect the integrity of the community. seat, in an “attempt to use elective office as an organizing Chuck’s decades of effective, impassioned organizing Charles Yancey met Chuck as a teenage college activist. tool.” For a decade, he did just that. He and his spouse in the struggle for jobs—​from the Third World Jobs He bears the honorable distinction of being the sole City paid for a “serve the people” organizing hub district office Clearing House to the Boston Jobs Coalition, against rac- Councilor to “Stand with Chuck,” when the Council took in Dudley (now Nubian Square), serving his constituents ism and discrimination in hiring in the building trades an illegal, racist vote to remove Chuck after his 2008 fed- and anyone who walked through the door seeking help. based on criminal records and against police brutality—​ eral frameup. Yancey stated, “We are Chuck Turner.” The People’s City Councilor was loved by the people provide a road map for future organizing. but hated by the forces of oppression and injustice. In An internationalist to the core, Chuck fought for Speakers tell of his early struggles 2008, Chuck was the victim of a federally coordinated, workers and the oppressed worldwide: from Palestine Also on the program was Bill Strickland, Chuck’s politically motivated, racist frameup. to Puerto Rico, Haiti to India, Iraq to Afghanistan. He Harvard classmate, who after meeting him at a Student At the time, former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey consistently supported Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Nonviolent Coordinating Committee convention in 1963, Clark, who traveled to Boston to support Chuck, wrote: Peltier and all political prisoners. joined him in New York City as editor of the Northern “Chuck has been in the forefront of every battle for social Chuck’s May Day 2011 message from behind the walls said it all: “While the clouds of darkness are thickening over this country, we must remember that the sun never stops shining, no matter how dark it appears. We also must remember that it is the workers of the world who are the yeast in the bread of the planet. We can see the system of exploitation crumbling of the weight of its own evil. Let us prepare ourselves to remake the world in the image of Brotherly and Sisterly Love.” Chuck Turner, ¡presente!” ☐

Marxism, Reparations and the Black Freedom Struggle An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited by Monica Moorehead. Racism, National Oppression & Self- Determination • Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery • Black Youth: Repression & Resistance • The Struggle for Socialism Is Key • Domestic Workers United Demand Passage of a Bill of Rights • Black & Brown Unity • Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior • Racism & Poverty in the Delta • Haiti Needs Reparations, Not Sanctions • Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation • Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion Chuck Turner was a firm supporter of Boston’s militant school bus drivers’ union, pictured above. PHOTO: USW LOCAL 8751 Download it from workers.org/books. Page 6 Jan. 23, 2020 workers.org Women’s March Global: ‘Women’s rights are human rights!’

By Kathy Durkin The reactionaries in the administration Tribe, welcomed demonstrators to her and the right-wing politicians who align tribe’s territory. Then a group of Indigenous The theme of the fourth annual Women’s with them are scheming to slash supple- women sang and chanted to honor Missing March Global 2020 was “Women’s Rights mental food programs and are trying to and Murdered Indigenous Women and Are Human Rights.” On Jan. 18, hundreds undermine federal health care programs Girls before they led the march to encircle of thousands of women and people of all and disability benefits. Reproductive rights the White House. genders marched and rallied in at least 23 are being whittled away in many states, Las Tesis, a Chilean women’s perfor- countries with various demands. while the majority right-wing Supreme mance collective, led a powerful mantra In Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin Court is ready to rule against legal abor- denouncing gender violence, “Un Violador America, Canada and the U.S., demonstra- tion. Tens of thousands of migrants are en tu Camino” (“A Rapist in Your Path”), tors called for their rights. Countries where being turned away at the Southern border near the misogynist president’s mansion. coordinated protests took place included with Mexico or are detained, separated Thousands of marchers sang with them Brazil, Kenya, Micronesia, New Zealand, from their families, their children caged there and then again outside the Trump WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN District Council 9 of the International Union Nigeria, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe and and abused. International Hotel. This song, performed of Painters and Allied Trades in New York City. 10 European countries. The tens of thousands of demonstrators by women during recent protests in Chile England’s march in London was linked to in Washington raised three main demands: against the repressive, patriarchal regime, New York City global protests that day, including in Chile rights for im/migrants, reproductive justice has become a global women’s anthem. Some 2,000 people gathered at a rally and Ecuador, which denounced increasing and solving the climate crisis. Additionally, Here are reports by Workers World activ- in Foley Square. The Campaign Against economic inequality—just​ days before world there were calls for equal pay, LGBTQ2+ ists about a few local protests. Sanctions and Economic War had a visi- leaders converge at the World Economic rights and an end to sexual abuse. Health ble contingent with signs raising the hor- Forum in Davos, Switzerland. care workers’ placards called for Medicare Buffalo, N.Y. rific impact of U.S.-imposed sanctions on There were 250 events across the U.S. for All. Signs demanded: “Trans rights The Women’s March 2020 was held women in 39 countries in one-third of the in small towns and big cities—​from now!” in front of Buffalo’s City Hall in freezing world. They distributed hundreds of leaf- Massachusetts to Florida to California. A diverse grouping of march organiz- wind and snow. The event was organized lets explaining how sanctions are weapons Some 10,000 came out in Chicago and ers emphasized building a “community of by the Western New York Peace Center of economic war, resulting in chronic short- 3,500 in Austin, Texas. People traveled activists” and grassroots mobilizing, rather and co-sponsored by dozens of groups. ages of basic necessities, famine, disease from around the country to the main than showcasing celebrity speakers. Even The Buffalo Anti-War Coalition contingent and poverty. demonstration in Washington, D.C. though getting out the vote for Democratic had a speaker, held three banners and dis- Many unions were there in large num- For three years, the Trump administra- presidential candidates was raised, the goal tributed flyers for the Jan. 25 “No War on bers, including District Council 9 of tion has relentlessly attacked the rights of of building an inclusive and international Iran!/U.S. Out of the Middle East!” protest, the Painters union (IUPAT); District women, immigrants, people of color, low-in- movement was stressed. with the “Sanctions Kill Women” flyer on Council 37 of the American Federation of come communities, workers, LGBTQ2+ peo- The energetic participants said they were the reverse side. There was also a contin- State, County and Municipal Employees; ple, individuals with disabilities and seniors. empowered by the annual demonstrations gent from the Ain’t I A Woman?! Campaign, and Service Employees Local 32BJ. Despite Racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, misog- since Trump was inaugurated. which is fighting to abolish the 24-hour the 20-plus-degree weather, there was a yny, homophobia and transphobia have ema- To start off the march, Hope Butler, workday for home care workers. The Queen warm feeling of community and solidarity nated from the White House. member of Maryland’s Piscataway Conoy City Feminist group led the chanting of the as participants called for the end of vio- Chilean women’s song protesting gender lence against women and for reproductive violence. justice, the rights of workers, im/migrants, — Contributed by Ellie Dorritie people of color, LGBTQ2+ people and

PHOTO: INDIAN COUNTRY TODAY Indigenous women led the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., to call attention to Missing Buffalo, N.Y. WW PHOTO: ELLIE DORRITIE and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Shelter solidarity struggle wins concession

By J.M. Straughn harassment is continuing: The statement continues: “They may people. The cops have spent all winter Salt Lake City` “Salt Lake City announced tonight have shut us down, but we know that stealing people’s survival belongings, and that it will open a temporary shelter in they could hear us. Today, Mendenhall no new shelter can ever make that okay. Activists—​unsheltered and shel- Sugarhouse. Just two days before [Mayor] announced the opening of a temporary “With every shelter falling outside the tered—​finally saw a response to their Erin Mendenhall was inaugurated, a shelter in Sugarhouse. Still, none of our free fare zone, our demand for free public demands on Friday, Jan. 17, when the camping occupation in Washington five demands has been met. transit fare for all people staying in shel- mayor’s office announced a plan to open Square Park—Operation​ Take Shelter—​ “This new shelter is far outside the ters remains critical. a city-owned building for use as a tem- was forcibly and destructively shut down downtown area where services are “This crisis is the result of corruption, porary winter shelter. This was the first by the police. That occupation was formed nearby. With the announcement that the mismanagement, and systemic negli- concession to demands issued by the by the Take Shelter Coalition to serve our Weigand Center warming station will gence by the city and state. Each one of Take Shelter Coalition at a City Council unsheltered neighbors and to draw atten- now be closing overnight, that means our demands is essential, and we also meeting protest last November. tion to our five demands for city and state that there will no longer be a warm place know that we need real change, not reluc- This followed the closure of the larg- officials.” for anyone downtown to stay. So, if a per- tantly given crumbs. They shouldn’t only est and most centrally located shelter The five demands are: son misses the evening shuttling from the be addressing emergency shelter, they for unhoused members of the working 1. Open a new downtown shelter. Weigand Center, they are stranded with should also be mitigating the risk we all class. A solidarity encampment begun in nowhere to go for warmth. face because of their housing policies. 2. Have, at a minimum, the equiva- January to continue demands has been “Before the Road Home closed, it could They could do so by implementing the rec- lent number of beds lost in the clo- violently dispersed by police. sleep 1,100 people every night. The new ommendations that the Kem C. Gardner sure of the downtown Road Home The new shelter is slated to provide 145 centers only hold 700. That means that Policy Institute presented at their fact-find- shelter made readily available and beds and has been scheduled to remain even with this additional 145 beds, we ing session, and also by implementing the accessible. open until sometime in April. The 145 are still 255 beds short. With this kind of recommendations presented by the ACLU 3. No arrests, tickets or harassment beds still fall far short of the number of deficit, there will continue to be people left regarding their use of police. These are out- for campers. beds eliminated by the shelter closing. outside in the cold. Our city needs an equiv- side the scope of our demands, but exactly Beside replacement beds, more demands 4. Change the existing legislation to alent number of beds to ensure that people within the scope of their responsibilities. need to be met. allow for the new centers to have have access to a warm place to sleep. “This is not good enough. We will not A statement issued by the Take Shelter more beds. “It is essential that the police depart- be silenced by police repression or by state Coalition made clear that the struggle for 5. Free public transit fare for all peo- ment immediately end the ticketing, compromise. We will continue to fight for housing and against police brutality and ple who stay in shelters. harassment, and arrests of unsheltered shelter and dignity for all people.” ☐ workers.org Jan. 23, 2020 Page 7 Women’s March Global: ‘Women’s rights are human rights!’

Rise and Resist’s banner read “Close the Camps!” Members of Las Tesis drummed, danced and led the group in chanting their powerful anthem against gender violence. — Contributed by Brenda Ryan

Philadelphia The Women’s March brought thou- sands to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway despite cold, wet weather. Under the Nneka Ogwumike, president of WNBPA. theme “The Year of the Woman,” partici- New York City WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN pants of all ages gathered at Logan Circle individuals with disabilities, and for halting for a short march up the parkway to the Historic contract reached for the climate crisis. Philadelphia Museum of Art. The International Action Center held Although rally organizers and speakers, a popular sign reading, “Solidarity with especially politicians, tried to limit the focus women basketball players Palestinian Women Is Not anti-Semitism.” to women’s participation in upcoming cap- italist elections, marchers’ signs addressed Workers World Party distributed newspa- By Monica Moorehead for women and sports moving forward.” a wide range of issues: abortion rights, the pers with an editorial titled “Together in sol- (Jan. 14) #MeToo campaign against workplace sexual idarity—​and toward socialism.” One WW A tentative collective bargaining The treatment of professional women misconduct, equal rights for the LGBTQ2+ placard read “Reproductive Justice Now agreement (CBA) was reached between and gender-nonbinary athletes, in the community, racial equality, equal pay for for Women and Gender Oppressed People.” the Women’s National Basketball Players struggle for pay equity and equality, is women and environmental concerns. Gabriela New York handed out International Association and the Women’s National not isolated from the rest of this capital- — Contributed by Betsey Piette ☐ Working Women’s Day Coalition fliers. Basketball Association on Jan.14. It’s ist, patriarchal society. pending an election among the players Across the board, this contract does not from the current 12 WNBA teams and begin to compare to the CBA of the play- approval of the WNBA’s board of gover- ers’ male counterparts in the 30 teams Moms 4 Housing brutally nors. It is noteworthy that some of these in the National Basketball Association. players showed political solidarity with This is due to the overwhelming popu- Black Lives Matter in the aftermath of larity of the NBA, founded in 1946, com- evicted, vow to return police shootings of Black people several pared to the WNBA founded in 1996. years ago. Over 68 percent of the WNBA The total revenue for the NBA in 2018 By Judy Greenspan players are African American. was $7.4 billion, but only $60 million for Oakland, Calif. Upon its assumed acceptance by the the WNBA. The highest paid annual sal- estimated 144 players, the eight-year ary for an NBA player (Stephen Curry) In the early hours of Tuesday, Jan. 14, CBA, which would run this year through in 2018 was $40 million, compared to heavily armed Alameda County sher- 2027, would guarantee a 53 percent $113,500 for a WNBA player (Brittney iffs carrying AK-47 rifles battered down increase in total cash compensation for Griner). (wsn.com, July 18, 2019) the door of what had once been a vacant each player, including base salaries and Despite these huge remaining gaps, house. Inside were a small group of moth- payment for extra performances, compe- WNBA players and others in the sports ers with small children who had been titions, and team and league marketing world view this new CBA as a progres- “repossessing”—​living in—​the building deals. Each player, regardless of whether sive, historic step forward. Yet there are since mid-November. they are rookies or veterans, will be guar- fewer WNBA teams now than there once After first sending in a “robot,” the WW PHOTO: JUDY GREENSPAN anteed a six-figure salary. Top players were. The WNBA began with eight teams sheriffs arrested Misty Cross and Tolani, Moms and supporters celebrate release will receive a compensation package of in its initial season, reached 16 teams in two of the mothers, plus two of their sup- from jail. at least a half-million dollars. the 2000 season and is currently down porters. All were taken to Santa Rita Jail. The mere fact that WNBA players will to 12 teams. Why the reduced number? This eviction followed a local judge’s demonstrators had gone to the house to not face the threat of injury and fatigue Because the profits aren’t big enough ruling against the claim of possession by show support for the Moms and to stop when forced to find supplemental work as women’s sports don’t draw the big the Moms, who are part of a group called the eviction. Nothing happened that night. overseas to support themselves and their crowds, the high ticket prices, or lucra- Moms 4 Housing. Dominique Walker, one of the founders families—during​ the eight-month hiatus tive TV and livestreaming contracts, Since the brutal eviction, the Oakland of the Moms group, was not at the house from the WNBA—​is a huge weight off especially in small city markets, com- activist community has been seething when the eviction happened. She was in the their shoulders. pared to the NBA. with disbelief and anger. “What is this middle of an interview with “Democracy Besides additional cash compensation The average regular season attendance police force? What is this military force Now!” when she found out about it. and better travel accommodations, other of an NBA game in 2018 was 18,000 for?” asked Carol Fife, director of ACCE She raced back to the house while the improvements in this agreement cover compared to close to 6,800 for a WNBA Action (Alliance of Californians for Moms were being arrested. “If you are free agency, postcareer job preparation, game. (wsn.com, Aug. 29, 2019) This is Community Empowerment). not angry, you should get angry. Our tax and mental health, domestic violence/ because of sexism. ACCE is one of the local organizations dollars went to this extreme force to evict partner abuse, nutrition and women’s Whitney Medford from SB (Sports that have been actively supporting the mothers and children at 5 o’clock in the health programs. Most importantly, Blog) Nation stated on her Twitter feed: Moms’ struggle for housing. Fife noted morning. We are saying no, we are stand- players who become mothers finally “Things I’m shocked that WNBA players that the crowd, both the night before and ing with Misty and Tolani,” Walker said. have paid maternity leave, a child care didn’t have before—​proper legroom on on Tuesday morning, had been calm and The Moms were released on bail shortly stipend, two-bedroom apartments for flights, their own hotel rooms on trips, disciplined. after being arrested. They are facing mis- players with children, workplace accom- paid maternity leave. That’s bonkers and A banner still hanging from the now demeanor charges of resisting arrest and modations for nursing mothers, and so basic. But proud of the women who boarded-up home states that there are four obstructing the eviction. The Moms and family planning benefits. made these things happen in the new vacant homes for every unhoused person their supporters have vowed to continue CBA.” A progressive and historic step forward in Oakland. Homelessness has increased their campaign to house all the unshel- According to a report, “The Union by over 47 percent in the last 2 years. tered, unhoused people in Oakland. WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike, Advantage for Women,” released by the Nearly 80 percent of all unhoused people In an interview with the San Jose a star forward for the Los Angeles Sparks, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, are Black, despite the fact that the Black Mercury News the day of the arrests, Misty stated on “Good Morning America,” “We statistics show that women workers, population has shrunk to 24 percent. Cross stated unequivocally: “This is only a wanted to leave a legacy. I think we came notably women of color, benefit much Shortly after the eviction, TurHa Ak, a piece of it. We’re going to be out in a min- in understanding that it wasn’t just about more from having a union including leader of Community Ready Corps (CRC), ute. We’ll be back. We’ll be right back.” the top player. It wasn’t just about the higher wages and health care coverage, which had been providing security for the Fife of ACCE Action summed up the sit- rookies. It was about every player across compared to those not unionized. (Feb. Moms and demonstrators, addressed the uation succinctly: “We know that the para- the board and we were really happy to 22, 2018) crowd. “They took out our mothers and military police forces are not to protect the be able to come together with the WNBA And even though the WNBA contract babies with battering rams. They have people; they are to protect property. The with actually a lot of innovative ideas. terms are still glaringly unequal com- no humanity,” he said. Then Ak led the people need to continue to rise up because “Interestingly enough, as much as we pared to the NBA, the fact that there is a crowd of over 200 people with the chant, we are going to break the back of capital- fight for what we feel we deserve, we contract with defined, guaranteed terms “Shame, shame.” ism,” she stated. “We will not be scared; we know that we deserve—​we have wom- will inspire workers of all nationalities, The sheriffs responded to his outspo- will continue to support the Moms.” en’s soccer, we have women’s hockey genders and abilities, from low-wage kenness by donning riot gear and pulling For more information and to support that are looking up to what we are look- workers to professional athletes, to fight out their batons. the group, check out their website at ing to do. We are really hoping that it can for a union. ☐ The night before, several hundred moms4housing.org. ☐ set the tone and really create that legacy Page 8 Jan. 23, 2020 workers.org Students resist imperialist speaker for MLK Week

By Arielle Robinson achievements as a Black engineer who went to an HBCU, Kennesaw, Ga. which represents Black success in an historically oppres- sive society. However, his standing as a keynote speaker Outraged progressive students at Kennesaw State at an MLK Legacy luncheon also represents KSU’s direct University protested on Jan. 16 because a vice president of support of war, which opposes Dr. King’s message of non- military-industrial giant Lockheed Martin was the invited violence. King recognized the three major evils of society keynote speaker at KSU’s Dr. King Legacy Luncheon. as racism, poverty and war. King stated: ‘The bombs in Students held a die-in, followed by an educational Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and pos- event, “Honoring MLK’s Legacy of Peace,” to highlight sibilities for a decent America.’ MLK was an anti-racist, Dr. King’s true legacy of anti-militarism. KSUnited, Young anti-capitalist and anti-war revolutionary, and to pick and Democratic Socialists of America-KSU and Students for choose aspects of his philosophies is a common tactic used Justice in Palestine were organizers of the events. by elitists to water down Dr. King’s legacy.” The students were protesting the university’s invi- WW PHOTO: ARIELLE ROBINSON Previously, Martin Luther King Week at KSU had Kennesaw State students affirm Dr. M.L. King’s anti-war tation to Roderick McLean, vice president and general been an event open to the metro Atlanta public on week- legacy on Jan. 16. manager for Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime ends, which brought revolutionary speakers like Angela Missions organization in Marietta, Ga. McLean previ- Davis and Marc Lamont Hill to campus. KSU’s African- ously served as Lockheed’s vice president and general casualties,” which represents the number of civilians killed American Student Alliance controlled who spoke. After manager for its Integrated Fighter Group organization. in Yemen by U.S. weapons made by Lockheed Martin. Davis delivered the keynote address in 2015, pressure University officials on the way to the Legacy Luncheon At the educational event, Dr. King’s “Beyond Vietnam” from local Republican Party forces was followed by the at the Convocation Center were forced to step through speech was read aloud. Flyers were distributed about the KSU administration seizing control of MLK Week in 2016. the bodies of students holding signs exposing the dam- crimes committed by Lockheed Martin and on MLK’s The week is now a private event with RSVP invita- age to human life caused by Lockheed Martin and the anti-war philosophy. KSUnited handed out its demand tions, held during class and work hours on a weekday so U.S. military. that the administration return the organizing of MLK that many students and outsiders cannot attend. Such Students taped signs to their chests with factual infor- Week to Black students. privatization has led to people like military-industrialist mation: “3% of U.S. military spending could end world Prior to the protest, the sponsoring groups released a McLean being invited to speak on MLK’s legacy. hunger,” “Lockheed Martin is the largest weapons con- statement signed by various organizations, including the KSU students took a stand Jan. 16, forcing adminis- tractor on Earth,” “Lockheed Martin supplied weapons International Action Center, which read in part: trators and corporate outsiders to witness Martin Luther for the conflicts in Yemen and Syria” and “16,706 civilian “It may seem honorable for KSU to recognize McLean’s King’s true legacy. ☐

San Francisco Labor Council Resolutions ‘Support the rising anti-war and pro-peace movement’ The following resolutions were passed labor organizations founded in January the coup regime has issued a decree giv- of economic and political control of these by unanimous vote of the San Francisco of 2003 to oppose President George ing police and military impunity when countries; Labor Council on Jan. 13. Bush’s then threatened war on Iraq, was they kill protesters, and Therefore Be It Resolved that the San instrumental in passing the historic 2005 Whereas AFL-CIO President Richard Francisco Labor Council vigorously con- Global Day of Protest: No war on Iran! resolution at the national AFL-CIO con- Trumka has said, “The AFL-CIO joins demns the recent coup in Bolivia and sup- Whereas, President Trump has placed vention; and the @ituc @CSA_TUCA [International ports Evo Morales, the illegally deposed the whole world on alert and brought the Whereas, thousands of people in over Trade Union Confederation/Trade Union President of Bolivia, who is committed to United States closer to war due to the 90 cities in the United States took to the Confederation of Workers in the Americas] a peace agreement and new elections, and irresponsible assassination of Iranian streets on January 4, 2020, demanding in condemning military interference in Be It Further Resolved that the San General Qasem Soleimani; and “No war with Iran,” and creating the stir- Bolivia’s election process. Morales reduced Francisco Labor Council joins interna- Whereas, President Trump has threat- rings of a new anti-war movement; and widespread poverty and fought for the tional labor and human rights organi- ened Iranian cultural sites with attack, Therefore, be it resolved that the San inclusion of the Indigenous majority. zations in demanding that the people of a threat which, if carried out, is a war Francisco Labor Council restates the Bolivians must be able to vote peacefully Bolivia be able to vote in free and fair crime; and AFL-CIO’s Resolution 50 passed during and freely in new elections,” and elections without intervention or further Whereas, the Trump administration its 2017 National Convention, promot- Whereas Brazilian nurses’ union oppression by the police or military, and recently approved a defense budget that, at ing and advocating for a foreign policy President Shirley Diaz Morales con- Be It Finally Resolved that the San $738 billion dollars, is higher than [mili- based on the international solidarity of demned the coup: “We in Latin America Francisco Labor Council will send this tary spending of] all the [other] countries of all workers, mutual respect of all nations cannot tolerate that every time any leader statement to Representatives Nancy the world combined, despite the continued and national sovereignty, and calls upon stands up against social injustice, they Pelosi and Jackie Speier, Senators struggle of workers for health care, hous- the president and Congress to make war face a coup,” and Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, ing, and good-paying jobs; and truly the last resort in our country’s for- Whereas the United States govern- President Donald Trump, the AFL- Whereas, according to the Wall Street eign relations, and that we seek peace and ment has a long history of undermining CIO, the California Federation of Labor Journal, the United States, governed by reconciliation wherever possible; and the sovereignty of Latin American coun- and the Alameda and San Mateo Labor both Democratic and Republican adminis- Be it finally resolved, that the San tries, including Bolivia, to take advantage Councils. ☐ trations, has spent more than $5.6 trillion Francisco Labor Council endorses the call in involvement in post-9/11 conflicts; and for Global Day of Protest—​No War on Whereas, incalculable harm has been Iran!—​on Saturday, January 25, 2020, Stop denying disaster relief done to the region through the loss of and will send notification to its delegates hundreds of thousands of lives, the vast inviting them to the actions. majority of them innocent Iraqi citizens; to Puerto Rico! and Opposing the coup in Bolivia Demonstrators gathered in Philadelphia Whereas, unions, the voice of the orga- Whereas Evo Morales, running for on Jan. 15 in front of the U.S. Department nized working class, continue to fight for his fourth term of office as President of of Housing and Urban Development, a more just and dignified economy, civil Bolivia, had the highest vote count in the Mid-Atlantic Region, with signs and rights, social justice, racial equity and a unofficial and official vote results, leading Puerto Rican flags. Speaker after speaker genuine democracy here at home; and by over 10% his nearest rival and receiv- criticized the Trump administration for Whereas, the AFL-CIO has twice ing over 47% of the vote in the October 20 refusing to allow $18 billion in post-hur- passed anti-war resolutions at its national national election in Bolivia, and ricane aid to be sent to the U.S. island col- conventions and made the connection Whereas there has not been any demon- ony. Without citing a valid reason to deny between the cost of war and the need to strable evidence of election fraud in this the Congress-approved aid, Trump has fund the needs of working people; and election, despite claims of the OAS, and delayed upgrades that would repair the Whereas, US Labor Against the War, a Whereas under Evo Morales’s tenure island’s infrastructure, which was severely national organization of unions and other since 2006, Bolivia has made outstand- damaged by hurricanes Maria and Irma in ing economic and social gains on behalf of 2017. Bolivia’s poorest and mostly Indigenous After recent earthquakes reaching citizens, such as reducing extreme pov- 6.4 in magnitude in Puerto Rico, Trump erty from 38% to 18% and implement- finally lifted the hold on $8.2 billion in ing measures to respect the dignity and aid on Jan 14. Protesters were not sat- equality of the Indigenous majority, and isfied and demanded that the whole $18 Whereas even though Evo Morales billion be released so the electrical grid, had agreed to hold new elections and to bridges, homes and businesses can be a peace agreement, the military deposed repaired and rebuilt. WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN him and began brutally attacking his sup- New York City protest against U.S. war on porters, killing more than 20 people, and — Report and photo by Joe Piette Iran, Jan. 4. workers.org Jan. 23, 2020 Page 9 France Strike over pensions enters sixth week By G. Dunkel a free, public performance Jan. 17 in front of the opera hall, which drew around 15,000 people. The political strike against the French government’s The Yellow Vest protest movement held its 52nd pro- regressive pension plan to raise the retirement age test in Paris Jan. 18, which drew thousands of protesters. entered its sixth week on Jan. 16. While a significant It was so dispersed and broken up by tear gas and baton number of striking railroad and Paris subway workers charges from the cops that the number of protesters was have been forced back to work by financial pressures, not available. Dozens of people were arrested in scuffles strikes have now closed most of the major French ports that went on from early afternoon to well after nightfall. and many of France’s most popular tourist sites. Some videos of police brutality against the Yellow Vests The SNCF, the government-owned railroad company, were spread widely on social media. estimated it has lost over 1 billion euros (around $1.1 Videos on the French television chain France 2 show billion). The Paris Opera, a major tourist draw, has lost striking dockers welding shut the gates to the loading over 80 million euros. Thousands of freight cars are areas on the docks and then welding braces to the gates piled up in railroad yards because freight couldn’t move Workers all over France continue to resist. to make it even more difficult to force them open. during the SNCF strike. Lawyers throughout France, who have a special retire- Le Havre, one of the ports being struck, handles 100 people gathered and attempted to get into the the- ment system funded by contributions from active law- around 5,000 truckloads a day. All of them were being ater, but were pushed out by cops who rushed to protect yers, which has a hefty surplus, have been protesting a blocked. the president. Macron waited until the play was finished government takeover of their funds. They are throwing The Louvre in Paris is the world’s largest art museum, to leave—​to boos and catcalls. their robes into piles and not participating in normal which received 9.6 million visitors in 2019. On Jan. 17, The journalist Taha Bouhafs, who had been a par- activities. strikers blocked all five entrances to the museum for the liamentary candidate for France Unbowed (France Doctors in the underfunded public hospital system first time. Thousands of tourists, both French and for- insoumise), was arrested for organizing this disturbance, have been fully providing care to their patients, but not eign, some with timed tickets for the Leonardo da Vinci but was released after being held overnight. signing off on bills going to insurance companies. exhibit, were kept out. Strikers, carrying flags of the militant union feder- Hotels and restaurants, which draw a significant ations CGT and SUD, occupied the main office of the Upcoming events amount of business during the year-end holidays, reformist union CFDT on Jan. 17. They came, according While the number of workers participating in the reported a dismal lack of customers. to spokesperson Anasse Kazib for the online site revolu- strike and the national protests has been declining, the The French government does not appear to have tionpermanente.fr, to protest the lack of support by the spirit and resolve of those still active have increased. released its estimate of how much this strike has cost CFDT central leadership for CFDT railroad workers and Even when UNSA, the union representing most Parisian the French economy. Instead, Prime Minister Édouard the fact that the CFDT has not used its 126-million-euro subway workers, announced that service to most of the Philippe has emphasized his government’s determina- strike fund. They wanted to make clear that the CFDT subway would be restored on Jan. 20, it stressed that it tion to implement its pension plan. central leadership was not speaking for its members. was not abandoning the struggle and would fully partic- The leaders of the CGT and SUD emphasized that they ipate in the next national day of action called for Jan. 24. Workers’ anger growing did not support their occupation, although they strongly The French government is betting that it can outlast President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse went to disagree with the strategy of the CFDT. the workers and force them back. But it is meeting stub- the theater on Jan. 17. Macron’s presence was recognized The orchestra of the Paris Opera, which has been born resistance. ☐ by a journalist, who tweeted out a call to protest. About striking along with the ballet dancers since Dec. 5, held

Imperialism in Africa France steps up as U.S. threatens to withdraw

By G. Dunkel calls “jihadist.” In 2012—after​ Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had The Hill, a newspaper that chronicles the role of been deposed and murdered a year earlier through the Congress in backing U.S. imperialism, reported Jan. 20 intervention of NATO countries, including France—vast​ that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has likely decided stockpiles of modern arms, along with trained soldiers, to withdraw U.S. troops from former French colonies became available throughout the Sahel. A loose coali- in Africa. The withdrawals “could include abandoning tion of “jihadist” groups and forces from an ethnic group a recently built $110 million drone base in Niger and in northern Mali, the Tuareg, used these arms to begin ending assistance to French forces fighting militants in taking over cities and towns in Mali. The French Army Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.” The U.S. currently has intervened and reestablished a regime that was under about 800 soldiers in West Africa. Protest against the French military presence in Bamako, Mali. their control. This past summer, the U.S. imposed financial France currently has 4,500 troops in the Sahel. This sanctions on some political leaders in Mali. While postponed after 71 Niger troops were killed in an attack military presence has been the target of large demon- Washington claims it is only targeting individuals, any by so-called “militants” on Dec. 10. Last week, another strations in Bamako, Mali’s capital; people in Niger have entity having economic relations with these individuals attack left 89 more of Niger’s soldiers dead. also protested. The French government did not get the can also be sanctioned, which leads to a chain reaction. France is an imperialist country and the former colo- political support it was hoping for at the meeting held In response to the possible U.S. realignment, France nial overlord in the Western Sahel, which includes Mali, in Pau. It then announced it was sending an additional called a meeting Jan. 13 in Pau, a small French city 30 Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Chad and Mauritania. force of 220 soldiers to the Sahel. miles from the Spanish border. It invited Mali’s Ibrahim The Sahel is a vast, arid area, south of the Sahara Desert, Without the U.S. providing very significant support, Boubacar Keita, Burkina Faso’s Roch Marc Christian stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to parts of Sudan. and with popular opposition to its presence, France is Kaboré, Niger’s Mahamadou Issoufou, Mauritania’s The region where the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina going to have problems maintaining the troops it needs Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and Chad’s Idriss Deby. Faso meet, however, is fairly well-populated and fertile, to impose its control on the Western Sahel. ☐ This meeting was originally set for December but was and has active insurgent groups that the French army Jan. 25—​Global Day of Protest—​No war on Iran! When President Trump ordered the assassination of encouraging all those opposed to war to turn up and Action Center, Answer Coalition, CODEPINK, Popular Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in early January, tens speak out. Actions are already scheduled in over 70 U.S. Resistance, Black Alliance for Peace, National Iranian- of thousands of people protested in over 80 cities across cities and in a dozen other countries. A list of scheduled American Council, Veterans for Peace, U.S. Labor Against 38 U.S. states. While Trump has since stepped back from mobilizations can be found at tinyurl.com/we555kt/. the War, Women’s International League for Peace and pushing all-out war in Iraq and Iran, he has issued exec- Initiators for this call include the International Freedom, United National Anti-War Coalition, Pastors utive orders increasing deadly sanctions against the peo- for Peace/Interreligious Foundation for Community ple of Iran. The Pentagon is also refusing to comply with Organization, International Workers Solidarity Network, the decision of the Iraqi Parliament for the withdrawal FIRE (Fight for Im/migrants and Refugees Everywhere), of U.S. troops. Alliance for Global Justice, December 12th Movement, The danger of war is far from over and the need for World Beyond War, People’s Opposition to War, a much larger anti-war movement is clear. U.S. aggres- Imperialism, and Racism, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker, sion against Iran and continued occupation of Iraq still Dominican Sisters/ICAN, Nonviolence International, threaten another disastrous, bloody war. No War on Venezuela, Food Not Bombs and many other On Jan. 25, actions will take place around the world anti-war and peace organizations. to oppose a new war in the Middle East. Organizers are For more information, go to tinyurl.com/yx7f7gxx/. ☐ Page 10 Jan. 23, 2020 workers.org

editorials Oscars still so white, so male

In 2015, a former Black woman law- on Jan. 13, only one person of color was film nominations mainly focus on white Nyong’o can win for her performance in ‘12 yer, April Reign, created the hashtag nominated for acting: Cynthia Erivo male characters. When “Little Women” Years a Slave,’ playing an enslaved woman, #OscarsSoWhite on Twitter to bring spe- for her stirring portrayal of abolitionist was nominated for best picture, but not but is completely shut out when she’s play- cial attention to the extreme lack of diver- Harriet Tubman in the film “Harriet.” Gerwig for her direction, the question ing not just one, but two fully realized char- sity in the Academy Award nominations, Some of the most noteworthy actors of was raised sarcastically whether “Little acters in ‘Us’? Those are the questions we especially for actors of color, female and color were overlooked for their criti- Women” had directed itself. need to be asking.” male, in lead and supporting role catego- cally acclaimed performances, including This is because the heads of major ries. In that year, all of the nominees were Lupita Nyong’o in “Us,” Jennifer Lopez in Movies reinforce racism, sexism studios, who control multimillion-dol- white. “Hustlers,” Awkwafina in “The Farewell,” In repeatedly calling for structural lar budgets for films, have been majority Once #OscarsSoWhite went viral, it Alfre Woodard in “Clemency” and others. changes in broadening the Academy rich, white males. There are only a small brought to light that of the approximately Besides the lack of nominations for membership, April Reign stated in a handful of filmmakers of color, along 6,000 members belonging to 17 branches actors of color, not one woman was nom- Variety op-ed that “#OscarsSoWhite has with women, who have the clout to write, in the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts inated in the best director category. The always encompassed all traditionally direct and produce their own films, like and Sciences, 92 percent were white and lack of a nomination for the screenplay underrepresented communities, not just Gerwig, Spike Lee and Michael B. Jordan. 75 percent male. Promises were made writer and director of “Little Women,” race and ethnicity: It’s also gender iden- And even then, they are still at the mercy by the Academy hierarchy to put more Greta Gerwig—​who is white—​was viewed tity, sexual orientation, disability, First of the banks for the necessary funding to serious effort into adding more people of as the most egregious oversight in this cat- Nations status and age.” (Jan. 15) make their films. It remains to be seen color and women members in front of and egory. But women of color directors were Not surprisingly, Hollywood reflects if any kind of symbolic protest will take behind the camera. also overlooked for their work, like Kasi the rest of U.S. class society with its sor- place for the blatant snubs at the Feb. 9 Fast forward to five years later. Very Lemmons for “Harriet,” Chinonye Chukwu did history of funding racist, sexist and Academy Awards, viewed by an estimated little progress has been made. This same for “Clemency” and Lulu Wang for “The homophobic films for mass consumption 1 billion people worldwide. Academy is 84 percent white and 68 per- Farewell,” to name just a few. This year’s since the late 1800s. In the same op-ed, On the other hand, the Independent cent male. (variety.com, Jan. 15) protest should include #OscarsSoMale. Reign remarked, “[O]f the black actresses Spirit Awards—​known as the “Indies,” Actors of color have been nomi- Over the 91-year history of the Academy who have been nominated for best actress held the evening before the Academy nated and even won Oscars for acting Awards, only five women directors have or best supporting actress, the vast major- Awards broadcast—​recognize films after 2015, like Lupita Nyong’o, Regina been nominated, with only one win. That ity play women dealing with trauma: with much smaller budgets that portray King, Rami Malek and Mahershala Ali. was Kathryn Bigelow for the all-male, pro- women in abject poverty, women who were in a more positive light people of color, However, when the Oscar nominees for war film “The Hurt Locker” in 2010. enslaved, or women who were subservient women and LGBTQ2S+ people who speak films released in 2019 were announced The vast majority of the nine best to others. What does it mean when Lupita different languages on a global scale. ☐ French and African workers, unite! The working class of France has a from the Yellow Vest movement to the are more frequent and involve larger It is in the interest of striking workers proud history of struggle. The Paris strike now in its second month, brings numbers of workers. in France to come out unequivocally for Commune, established in March 1871 and to mind this moving call to action—​ What is still needed is for the global the removal of French troops from Mali, brutally crushed by the capitalist state “Debout, les damnés de la terre!” (“Arise, proletariat to strike with coordination Burkina Faso and Niger. Protests by the two months later, was the first example ye wretched of the earth!”) and in unison. Workers in the imperialist people in these former colonized coun- of the working class in power. In 1968, This general strike has made its impact oppressor countries need to be in solidar- tries are demanding just that. another French Revolution came close to felt. French President Emmanuel Macron ity with workers of their home country’s For the French working class to declare bringing down the government. dropped a proposed law to raise the mini- former colonies and today’s neocolonies. its solidarity with these protests would be Since then, the labor movement has mum retirement age. But the workers are At this time the role of French imperi- a step toward building transnational class engaged in many powerful strikes. still off the job and in the streets. alism in suppressing the masses of its for- unity. It would demonstrate understand- The words to the famous prole- The working class of France is part of a mer African colonies is increasing. France ing of another very old union slogan: “An tarian revolutionary anthem, “The growing strike and protest wave around has just sent more troops to augment its injury to one is an injury to all!” Internationale,” were written in 1871 by the world, including in Chile, Colombia, force of 4,500 who have been exerting Victory to the French strike! a leader of the Communards, Eugène Ecuador, Haiti, Puerto Rico and most imperialist control over the vast region Imperialism out of Africa! ☐ Pottier. The recent upsurge in France, recently India. Even in the U.S., strikes known as the Sahel.

Lebanon Demonstrators storm banks, demand new gov’t

By Karin Leukefeld close to Hezbollah. In order to preserve the Beirut, Lebanon religious proportion between Christians, Sunnis and Shiites, and to preserve peace Published in the German daily news- within Lebanon, the Sunni Muslim Saad paper Junge Welt, Jan. 16. Translation: Hariri was again elected prime minister at John Catalinotto. that time, although he lost a lot of votes. When the protests began, Hariri resigned, For some people in Lebanon a “Week and in the interim he has been an active of Wrath” has begun; for others it was the supporter of the protest movement. “Tuesday of Wrath.” In the Hamra com- The population accuses the political mercial district of Beirut, demonstrators leadership—​which mostly agrees with attacked numerous bank branches during the country’s financial elite—​of having clashes with police on Tuesday evening, enriched itself with the people’s money. Jan. 14. The protesters’ primary target was On orders from the central bank, banks Lebanon’s central bank, which had been have blocked private accounts with for- hermetically sealed by security forces. Demonstrators block highway in Jal-el-Dib, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on Jan. 14. eign currency—​U.S. dollars and euros—​ During hours of street fighting, the and account holders are only allowed demonstrators destroyed windows, doors security forces in the northern Lebanese hours, they said, the actions will expand. to withdraw a small amount in foreign and ATMs, using stones and iron bars. city of Tripoli and in the southern Lebanese Currently, university professor Hassan currency per week. Transfers to foreign They also plastered walls of the banks port city of Saida. They blocked important Diab is in charge of forming the new countries are prohibited, and transac- with slogans such as “The people want to main roads with sit-in blockades, using government. He plans a government of tions from abroad to Lebanon are also overthrow the banks.” dumped garbage containers or burned technocrats, a strategy supported by the subject to the withdrawal ban. Communist youth groups, anar- tires. From a tire fire in the Beirut district overwhelming majority of the population. The Lebanese pound, which was previ- chists and other left-wing organizations of Achrafieh, a black pillar of smoke rose It is questionable how the political power ously pegged at 1,500 pounds to the U.S. claimed responsibility for the bank storm. high into the sky above Beirut. blocs in Lebanon—​which have been dollar, has fallen to 2,400 pounds to the Numerous non-governmental organiza- An economic and financial crisis in divided according to religious affiliation U.S. dollar. tions criticized the violence. The police October had provoked a wave of protests, since the 1975-1990 civil war—will​ react. On the morning of Jan. 15, Hamra reacted with truncheons and tear gas, which then decreased during the Christmas An alliance built around Hezbollah was calm. Business opened as usual. The arresting 59 people. According to the and New Year holidays. Now the protesters [the anti-imperialist Shiite-based orga- shattered windows at the banks were Lebanese Red Cross, 65 people were are back in full force, an unnamed demon- nization] had won the last parliamentary removed, new surveillance cameras were injured, most of them not seriously. strator told journalists. If the government elections in May 2018. In the previous installed, damage was recorded. New pro- Demonstrators also clashed with is not replaced with a new one within 48 government there were four ministers tests were expected in the evening. ☐ workers.org Jan. 23, 2020 Page 11 How People’s China cleaned up Beijing’s air

By Joshua Hanks the existence of subsidies for converting coal boilers to electric. They also engage The United Nations Environment in recycling programs to “turn waste into Programme recently released a report treasure.” called “UN Environment 2019: A Review of The women conduct inspections, and if 20 Years’ Air Pollution Control in Beijing.” they find facilities or behaviors that dam- It sheds new light on the astounding age or pollute the environment, they work cleanup of air pollution in China’s bustling to persuade and educate people to correct capital city of 22 million people. their mistakes. The results of the wom- The report summarizes a treasure trove en’s environmental volunteer team have of data that has consistently shown sharp been overwhelmingly positive, helping to improvements in Beijing’s air quality over engage the public more fully and actively the past several years. These improve- in environmental efforts, says the report. ments accelerated after the central gov- ernment declared a “war on pollution” in Listen to the people 2014. (tinyurl.com/r2q5o4m/) Beijing’s extensive and successful envi- The Western corporate media, which ronmental efforts began as a response to a decade ago showed endless images of public pressure. Many people listed air Beijing’s smoggy skies and devoted plenty pollution as one of their top concerns, and of coverage to what was dubbed the “airpo- despite widespread approval of the gov- calypse,” are conspicuously silent now that ernment overall, they expressed dissatis- Spending on air pollution control in Beijing. IMAGE: UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME blue skies are the norm in that huge city. faction with the state of the environment. Yet the data speak for themselves. The In response, the government, from the steps China took provide a model for as a leading “green” capitalist country, Many varied policies, local level all the way up to the national, other cities, especially in the developing emissions from the transport sector are programs and subsidies rapidly put in place necessary measures world, which are currently grappling with 25 percent higher than in 1995. The policies and programs put in place to reduce pollution. This reality contrasts air pollution. China presents an environ- with what the Western media report Mass public transportation to achieve these remarkable results are mental success story at a time when so numerous and varied. They include sub- about China—​the false characterization much environmental news is negative. From 2009 to 2015, China built 87 sidies to promote electric cars, subsidies of the country as an “authoritarian dic- Beijing’s efforts actually go back to 1998, mass transit rail lines in 25 cities, totaling for early retirement of older vehicles, tatorship” that couldn’t care less about when the municipal government launched 1,926 miles. In 2016 the government low- and more stringent emissions standards the needs and wishes of its people, where several measures aimed at combating pol- ered the population threshold for cities for new vehicles. The local Beijing gov- people exist only to serve the state. lution. Since then, the annual average con- to start planning metro systems—​from ernment also provides subsidies for solar But the case of Beijing’s air pollution centrations of sulfur dioxide have declined 3 million to 1.5 million people—​opening panels and solar water heaters, as well control success shows the opposite is by 93.3 percent, nitrous dioxide fell 37.8 up many more cities for construction of as subsidies for residents to replace coal true: The state exists to serve the people. percent, and PM2.5 (particle matter with subway systems and other forms of effi- boilers with electric ones. The Chinese revolution in 1949 suc- aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 microns or cient passenger rail transit. As older, polluting industries have been ceeded in establishing a state based on the less) decreased 35.6 percent, with most China also has the largest high-speed phased out and subsidies provided for masses of workers and peasants and dedi- decreases happening since 2013. rail network in the world, with over workers to find new jobs, the creation of cated to building socialism—a​ huge task in Pollution from vehicles has also 18,600 miles of track. This comes to more new, green industries has been heavily pro- a country impoverished by landlords, cap- decreased significantly, even though than the rest of the world combined! moted. An environmental police team was italists and foreign imperialist exploiters. the city has three times as many cars as Spending on the control of air pollu- formed to crack down on industries that Over the past 70 years the leaders of it did 20 years ago. Since 1998, carbon tion in Beijing increased from under 2 violate environmental laws. At the end of the Communist Party have tried vari- monoxide emissions from vehicle traffic billion yuan in 2009 to 18 billion yuan 2017, some 135 cases of administrative ous approaches to serve the people and are down 89 percent, total hydrocarbon in 2017. (The exchange rate is 1 yuan = detention and 44 cases of suspected envi- build up the economy while maintaining emissions fell 64 percent, nitrous oxide 0.15 dollar.) The increase was especially ronmental crimes were investigated by the their socialist goals. By the end of this emissions decreased 55 percent, and rapid after 2013. environmental police team. year China will have totally eliminated PM2.5 fell 81 percent. The city also invested in more numer- An environmental petition and com- extreme poverty, uplifting over 850 mil- Beijing, like the rest of China, has also ous and more sophisticated air quality plaint system was created, which includes lion people in the process. And now it is invested heavily in extensive public tran- monitoring stations. Beijing now has 35 a hotline and an online mailbox, plus successfully cleaning up the environment. sit systems, which greatly reduce air pol- such stations, which can track six major incentives of up to 50,000 yuan per case, Meanwhile, in the U.S., the supposed lution and provide an equally accessible pollutants, as well as over 1,000 sensors to encourage the public to actively report land of freedom and democracy, there are form of transportation. spread throughout all parts of the city environmental violations. actually more poor people than in China, Meanwhile in Germany, often touted that monitor concentrations of PM2.5. The city formed the Beijing Public according to the 2015 Credit Suisse Environmental Ambassadors, a group of Global Wealth Report—​despite China well-known media personalities and celeb- having over four times the population and rities (such as former National Basketball a less developed economy. Association player Stephon Marbury, who Cities like Los Angeles and Salt Lake now lives permanently in China) who pro- City are disappearing under smoggy mote environmental awareness to the pub- skies as the Trump administration rolls lic. As a result, the proportion of Beijing back environmental regulations, such as residents who believe they have a responsi- vehicle emission standards. Trump pulled bility to play an active role in environmen- the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords, tal protection grew from 65 percent in 2013 all to benefit Big Business. Meanwhile, to over 80 percent in 2017. And satisfaction drinking water in many rural areas and in with Beijing’s environmental quality of life cities, particularly places like Flint, Mich., increased from 42 percent in 2015 to 64 which have large numbers of Black resi- percent in 2017. dents and communities of color, is unsafe In Shunyi district, a women’s volunteer for humans due to pollution. team with 8,000 members encourages As China shows, life in the U.S. doesn’t women to participate in environmen- have to be like this. Rapid and significant tal efforts and supports their work. The reductions in pollution can be achieved if team educates the public, for example, on the political will exists to fight the hold of Chinese cities now get much of their energy from solar panels, like these outside Chongqing. Big Business over our lives. ☐

High Tech, Low Pay Low-Wage Capitalism A Marxist Analysis of the Describes in sweeping detail the ­drastic Changing Character effect on the working class in the United States of new technology and Capitalism of the Working Class the restructuring of global capitalism in at a Dead End the post-Soviet era. It uses Karl Marx’s Job destruction, overproduction By Sam Marcy with an updated law of wages and other findings to and crisis in the high-tech era introduction by Fred Goldstein, show that these developments are not author of Low Wage Capitalism. only continuing to drive down wages For more information on these books and other but are creating the material basis for writings by the author, Fred Goldstein, go to future social upheaval. Books are available at major online booksellers. LowWageCapitalism.com Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected]

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 62 Núm. 4 23 de enero 2020 $1

Libertad para Julien Assange y Chelsea Manning. 250 millones en India hacen la huelga más grande Por Martha Grevatt tácticas colonialistas, sino que también es inconstitucional”. (wftucentral.org) India es el segundo país más poblado Otras declaraciones vinieron de las fede- del mundo, con aproximadamente 1.374 raciones mundiales de trabajadores de la mil millones de personas. Más de 928 construcción y la educación y la Unión millones están en “edad laboral” (15 a 64 Nacional de Trabajadores de Ferrocarriles, años; estadísticas de worldometers.info) Marítimos y Transporte en Gran Bretaña. El 8 de enero, una de cada cuatro perso- nas en este grupo de edad, 250 millones, Los capitalistas se alinean con Modi se quedó sin trabajo en la huelga más La pobreza de las masas indias está grande hasta la fecha en historia mundial. directamente relacionada con los enor- La huelga de 24 horas cerró la banca, mes beneficios que obtienen las empresas el transporte, el comercio minorista, los estadounidenses que invierten en la India. servicios públicos, la construcción y la Incluyen General Motors, Ford, General industria en muchas partes del país. Los Electric, Microsoft, Amazon, Pfizer, Coca- trabajadores bloquearon carreteras y Cola y muchos otros que pagan salarios vías férreas, con sus cuerpos, barricadas de esclavos. La inversión extranjera y neumáticos en llamas. Coches de policía directa de EE.UU. el año pasado superó y edificios gubernamentales fueron ataca- Mujeres huelguistas en Mumbai, India, el 8 de enero. los $3 mil millones, y este país es el dos en algunos lugares. cuarto socio comercial más grande de la La huelga tardó tres meses en hacerse. del partido comunista de Delhi, “cuando educación de estudiantes boicoteando cla- India. (business.mapsofindia.com) “Hemos estado haciendo campaña desde se convocó originalmente esta huelga, fue ses y pidiendo educación asequible coin- El multimillonario presidente de los septiembre”, dijo Amarjeet Kaur, Secretario para registrar la ira contra las leyes anti- cidió con el bandh del 8 de enero. Una Estados Unidos, Trump, compartió General del Congreso de Sindicatos de laborales y la venta de los activos del país”. declaración de solidaridad con estudian- el escenario en un evento de “Howdy, Todos los Indios, dos días antes de la Pero ahora es más amplio porque no hay tes fue firmada por 21 grupos, incluyendo Modi” en Houston el 22 de septiembre. huelga: “La ira de la nación culminará el 8 trabajos. Modi está destruyendo el futuro United Students Against Sweatshops y una Modi elogió la “preocupación de Trump de enero”. AITUC es una de las 10 federa- de los jóvenes.” (The Guardian, 8 de enero) docena de sindicatos de estudiantes de pos- por cada estadounidense, una creencia en ciones laborales indias que conjuntamente Las banderas rojas de hoz y martillo eran grado de EE.UU. Los estudiantes indios en el futuro de Estados Unidos y una fuerte se llama “bandh” (cierre). Kaur predijo un prominentes en muchas fotos de la huelga. los EE.UU. planean manifestarse en cinco determinación de hacer que Estados “bandh completo” en 10 a 15 ciudades y Los huelguistas también mostraron, en ciudades el 26 de enero. Unidos vuelva a ser grandioso”. una participación masiva en toda la India. signos y cánticos, una oposición generali- Trump utilizó el podio para hacer (NewsClick, 6 de enero) zada a la Ley de Enmienda de Ciudadanía Trabajadores indios en huelga comentarios anti-musulmanes y felicitar La huelga se convocó inicialmente en del Primer Ministro Modi para negar la en las calles, 8 de enero a Modi por hacer “un trabajo verdadera- torno a un programa de 12 puntos que ciudadanía a los musulmanes. Las declaraciones de solidaridad sin- mente excepcional” (Washington Post, 22 protestaba contra la legislación anti-tra- Kaur informó que en algunos sectores dical estuvieron en línea incluso antes de septiembre) bajadora del primer ministro Narendra económicos la participación en huelga fue del 8 de enero. “La Federación Sindical Una cosa debería estar clara para los Modi y los planes masivos de privatiza- del 90-100 por ciento. “La clase trabajadora Mundial, que representa a más de 97 trabajadores y las personas oprimidas ción, que afecta a activos nacionales como está en las calles hoy”, dijo. La huelga invo- millones de trabajadores de 130 países aquí en el vientre de la bestia: en India, aerolíneas, ferrocarriles y refinerías de lucró a toda la población, incluidos un gran en los 5 continentes, se mantiene firme y como aquí, hay una batalla entre dos fuer- petróleo. Otros puntos abordaron el alto número de trabajadores del sector informal militante del lado de la clase trabajadora zas de clase antagónicas. Nuestra lucha es desempleo y la inflación en la tercera eco- y agricultores. Las dificultades económicas india y expresa su solidaridad interna- junto a los mil millones de trabajadores, nomía más grande del mundo y pidieron han llevado a los suicidios publicitados de cionalista con [la] huelga general de toda campesinos y estudiantes que cerraron su aumentar el salario mínimo y las pensio- varios agricultores. India el 8 de enero de 2020”, publicó la país el 8 de enero. ☐ nes. Dos tercios de la población viven con FSM el 7 de enero. Condenamos la estra- menos de $2 por día; casi la mitad de ellos Solidaridad mundial tegia nacionalista del gobierno de dividir Para leer las entrevistas de Martha son “extremadamente pobres” y subsisten Las organizaciones estudiantiles en la y fragmentar a la clase trabajadora sobre Grevatt del 2016 en inglés con Amarjeet con $1.25 por día o menos. India y en el extranjero estaban firmemente una base étnica y religiosa que no solo es Kaur, visite tinyurl.com/qozf64h/ y Como explicó Subhashini Ali, un líder detrás de la huelga. Una huelga nacional de reaccionaria , inaceptable y vuelve a las tinyurl.com/sc22bz5/. Poniendo la verdad tras las rejas sistemático en Estados Unidos. Incluyó usar “medidas severas de coerción” Los documentos publicados por un video que muestra un ataque aéreo sobre Manning que equivalen a tortura. Manning y Assange no eran “noticias fal- estadounidense en Afganistán que mató (Guardian, 31 de diciembre de 2019) sas”. Incluso el actual gobierno derechista a decenas de civiles. Julian Assange, un australiano que de los Estados Unidos no ha podido acu- editorial Todo esto perforaba el mito desinfec- fundó WikiLeaks en 2006, también ha sarlos de eso. Su valiente liberación tado que los militares y el gobierno de los sido perseguido y amenazado con arres- brindó al público noticias reales sobre ¿Sabía que uno de los derechos más Estados Unidos habían creado para justi- tarlo desde 2010, cuando hizo público lo que estaba sucediendo en el mundo, protegidos en este país es el derecho del ficar sus crímenes de guerra imperialistas los materiales en línea liberados por saliendo directamente de la boca del gobierno a mentirle a la gente? en el Medio Oriente. Manning y otros que mostraban el ver- caballo en documentos gubernamenta- Esa es la esencia de la persecución que Por abrir estos documentos dañinos al dadero carácter de la brutal guerra de les que habían sido marcados como “Solo se está llevando a cabo en este momento escrutinio público, el Ejército encarceló a Estados Unidos en Irak. Durante seis ojos” o “Sin distribución”. contra Chelsea Manning y Julian Assange. Manning el 27 de mayo de 2010. Fue sen- años tuvo que refugiarse en la embajada Estos documentos refutan la versión Manning era una analista de inteli- tenciada a 35 años de prisión y permaneció ecuatoriana en Londres. desinfectada de las guerras pasadas y gencia del Ejército de EE.UU. con sede tras las rejas durante casi siete años, donde Pero desde entonces el gobierno ecua- actuales, que se prefieren tanto en decla- en Irak cuando, en febrero de 2010, fue retenida en una prisión de hombres y toriano se ha movido hacia la derecha. En raciones gubernamentales como en infor- envió por primera vez documentos inter- sometida a abuso transgénero—hasta que abril pasado, bajo la presión de Estados mes de noticias de medios corporativos. nos incriminatorios sobre la guerra a el presidente Obama la perdono. Unidos, Assange se vio obligado a aban- El “crimen” de Manning y Assange fue WikiLeaks, encabezada por Assange. Los halcones de guerra estaban furio- donar la embajada. Fue arrestado de revelar la naturaleza brutal y depreda- Anteriormente se había puesto en con- sos por su liberación, y el 16 de mayo del inmediato y desde entonces se encuentra dora de la clase multimillonaria estadou- tacto con el Washington Post y el New año pasado, con un grupo más reacciona- recluido en régimen de aislamiento en nidense. Los súper ricos harán que sus York Times, pero no estaban interesados. rio ahora en la Casa Blanca, fue arrestada Belmarsh, una prisión de máxima seguri- políticos y generales cometan cualquier La información incluía 750.000 nuevamente por negarse a testificar con- dad en Londres. Ahora en grave deterioro crimen contra la humanidad si eso ayuda documentos militares y diplomáticos tra Assange ante un gran jurado. de la salud, Assange está luchando contra a aumentar sus súper ganancias. confidenciales sobre las guerras estadou- El relator especial de la ONU sobre la extradición a los EE.UU., donde podría ¡Liberar a Chelsea Manning y a Julian nidenses en Irak y Afganistán. Incluía la tortura, Nils Melzer, ha acusado al ser sentenciado a 175 años de prisión o Assange ! ¡Defiende el derecho del pueblo fotos gráficas y videos de tortura y abuso gobierno de los Estados Unidos de incluso recibir la pena de muerte. a saber la verdad! ☐