· AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · ICELAND KR100 · NEW ZEALAND $1.50 · SWEDEN KR10 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE: SWP CONVENTION ‘Mass actions for immigrant rights strengthen workers movement’ — PAGES 6–7 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 70/NO. 25 JULY 10, 2006 Bipartisan support UMWA Israeli tanks holds rally invade Gaza grows for Iraq war in W. Virginia BY PAUL PEDERSON Israeli troops and tanks poured into the Gaza Strip through its southeastern Senate unanimously approves $100 billion to unionize border with Israel just before midnight for occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan June 27, in the largest Israeli military Peabody mine operation there since Tel Aviv withdrew BY SAM MANUEL its settlements in 2005. The invasion was accompanied by air strikes that destroyed WHARTON, West Virginia, June three main bridges connecting northern 27—Some 1,500 members of the United and southern Gaza and knocked out an Mine Workers of America (UMWA) electrical plant that provides power to and their supporters rallied here June much of the densely populated region. 22 to press for unionization of a mine According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, being opened in the area by Peabody the targets of the Israeli forces include Energy, according to Phil Smith, the the city of Khan Yunis, where an Israeli UMWA’s communications director. soldier may be held hostage. The soldier, Gilad Shalit, 19, was Kentucky miners’ families: captured in a June 25 raid inside Israel ‘No miner has to die’ – p. 4 in which two Israeli soldiers and three Palestinians were killed. Three groups— Reuters/Bob Strong Peabody is opening the Black Stallion the Popular Resistance Committees; the U.S. and Iraqi troops carry out joint “knock and search” mission near Tikrit, Iraq. Large majorities in U.S. Senate rejected proposals to “redeploy” some of the U.S. troops. mine nonunion near another Peabody Army of Islam; and the military wing mine represented by the UMWA here of Hamas, the governing party in the BY PAUL PEDERSON Instead the votes reflected broad agree- in Boone County—an area of southern Palestinian National Authority (PNA)— West Virginia’s coalfields where the claimed responsibility for the raid. On June 22 the U.S. Senate unani- ment in both parties on Washington’s union has a strong presence. Shalit’s captors say he will be re- mously approved a military spending course in Iraq and the broader imperialist The rally, which drew miners and leased if some 400 Palestinian women bill of $509 billion, which includes more others from across the region, was and youths under 18 jailed in Israel are than $100 billion to finance the U.S.-led addressed by UMWA president Cecil freed. There are currently 9,000 Pales- occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan U.S. troops out now! Roberts; Joe Carter, the union’s tinians imprisoned by Tel Aviv. through the end of 2007. — editorial, p. 9 international vice president in “We won’t hesitate to carry out extreme The same day, the Senate also re- West Virginia; state AFL-CIO action to bring Gilad back to his family,” jected by clear bipartisan majorities two military offensive being prosecuted in the Continued on page 4 Continued on page 9 amendments suggesting a timetable for name of fighting the “war on terror.” beginning “redeployment” of some of the The amendment presented by Mas- 130,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. sachusetts senator John Kerry called for FBI carries out Los Angeles Widespread media reports on the de- redeployment of some U.S. forces from bate falsely presented it as a split between Iraq by July 1, 2007—“leaving only the ‘antiterror’ raid the Democratic and Republican parties. Continued on page 3 conference: in Miami, bases ‘Legalize all Socialist Workers launch case on informer BY MARGARET TROWE immigrants!’ MIAMI—On June 22, FBI agents BY NAOMI CRAINE election campaign in N.Y. arrested seven workers that U.S. Jus- AND ARLENE RUBINSTEIN tice Department officials claim were BY MARTÍN KOPPEL Senate and Maura DeLuca for gover- LOS ANGELES—Some 300 people NEW YORK, June 25—Support- nor. Calero, 37, was the party’s presi- involved in a “terrorist” plot. They were indicted on various conspiracy active in the fight to legalize all immi- ers of the Socialist Workers Party dential candidate in 2004. DeLuca, 27, grants took part in a statewide regional candidates here hit the streets of this a garment worker, is also a member of charges, including alleged plots to bomb the Sears Tower in Chicago conference here June 17 at the United city today to campaign for the work- the Young Socialists, a group actively Teachers of Los Angeles hall. The ing-class alternative to the Democrats, campaigning for the SWP ticket. and the FBI offices in Miami, based on the statements and actions of an meeting was convened by the March Republicans, and other capitalist parties The socialist ticket also in 25 Coalition, which organized two mas- in the 2006 elections. cludes: for lieutenant governor, Ben FBI informer posing as a representa- tive of al-Qaeda. sive mobilizations for immigrants rights The SWP just announced a statewide O’Shaughnessy, 20, a student at the State earlier this year. ticket headed by Róger Calero for U.S. Continued on page 4 FBI agents and a SWAT unit swarmed into the Black community “The most important thing accom- of Liberty City, cordoned off several plished at the conference was a con- Continued on page 9 sensus of an absolute repudiation of the Senate immigration bill S2611, along Thousands in Continued on page 8 London protest Also Inside: ‘antiterror’ raid Backers of a woman’s right BY PAUL DAVIES to choose abortion defend clinic in Florida 2 LONDON—Thousands of dem- onstrators converged on Forest Gate, Cops kill Navajo youth East London, June 18 to protest a police in Farmington, New Mexico 3 “anti-terror” raid. Organizers demanded an apology from the police and govern- ment for a shooting during the raid that At UAW convention, injured a postal worker. officials push concessions 3 Militant/Marshall Lambie Some 250 officers had raided a house Maura DeLuca (left), SWP candidate for governor of New York, and Martín Koppel in Lansdown Road, Forest Gate, on Canada Natives fight for land 5 (center), the party’s candidate for state attorney general, campaign in Manhattan June 25. Continued on page 9

Harvard exhibit helps promote new Abortion rights supporters edition of ‘The Case of Leon Trotsky’ defend clinic in Miami BY TED LEONARD Trotsky had contacted Harvard about and against the Stalinist politi- CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts—A safeguarding his archives, and the uni- cal counterrevolution—offers reception and program at the opening of versity had agreed. invaluable political lessons for the exhibit, “Brushes with History: Leon Christie McDonald, chairperson of the workers and farmers engaged Trotsky and the Dewey Commission of Harvard University Romance Language in class battles today, he said. Inquiry,” was held June 13 in the Hough- Department, organized the exhibition. In The exhibition includes a ton Library at Harvard University here. her remarks she explained how her par- portrait of Trotsky by Eisner; The republication by Pathfi nder Press of ents, the artist Dorothy Eisner and John her sketches, pictures, and the long out of print book The Case of McDonald, traveled from New York correspondence with Trotsky Leon Trotsky was one of the features of to Mexico in 1937 to assist the Dewey from the trip; and Christie the event (see ad below). Commission in its inquiry of the charges McDonald’s article, “Brushes Leslie Morris, curator of Modern made against Leon Trotsky in the Mos- with History,” which is pub- Books and Manuscripts at the Hough- cow Trials organized by the regime of lished this year in issue 30 of ton Library, welcomed people and ex- Joseph Stalin. Harvard Review. It recounts her plained that Harvard University houses parent’s experiences that led Pathfi nder’s new edition of The Case Militant/Nancy Cole Leon Trotsky’s papers. In the late 1930s of Leon Trotsky, the verbatim transcript them to Mexico in the 1930s. KENDALL, Florida, June 10—Defenders of of the hearings, is enhanced with a new About 50 people attended a woman’s right to choose abortion rallied Back in print! cover using Eisner’s vibrant painting of the event, including students today outside “A Choice for Women” clinic the Dewey Commission sessions. The and faculty from Harvard, in this suburb of Miami to counter anti-abor- The Case of Leon Trotsky new edition, with larger type and text volunteers who had worked on tion demonstrators who were trying to harass design, is displayed next to the 1937 preparing the new Pathfi nder women entering the facility. Every Saturday In testimony in fi rst edition. The book also includes the edition, and others from the over the last month, opponents of a woman’s Mexico before the artist’s preliminary sketch of the work. right to choose abortion have held such ac- 1937 Commission Boston area. tions at this clinic. The regular presence of of Inquiry into the Christie McDonald had brought the The exhibit is open until Moscow Trials, painting to the attention of Pathfi nder. July 31. pro-choice forces has made it possible for Bolshevik leader Mike Taber spoke about the republica- women to keep their appointments with Leon Trotsky tion of the book by Pathfi nder. He said Dave Prince contributed to minimal harassment. explains how the the publisher will soon bring back into this article. —RUTH ROBINETT Soviet regime print the book’s sister volume, Not Guilty. of Joseph Stalin The latter outlines the Dewey Commis- was the product of a political sion fi ndings that Trotsky was not guilty U.S. infant mortality rate is 2nd highest counterrevolution by a privileged of the charges against him and that the social caste, not the continuation Moscow Trials were a frame-up. among industrialized countries of the October 1917 Russian Revolution led by V.I. Lenin. $30. “The commission’s work, and the BY ARRIN HAWKINS This health indicator is signifi cantly Special price with Pathfi nder campaign by the workers’ movement to The United States has the second higher among oppressed nationalities Readers Club membership: $23 widely publicize its conclusions at the highest infant mortality rate among 33 in the United States. According to Save (offer good until July 31) time, exposed the Moscow Trials be- industrialized countries, a recent study the Children, the infant mortality rate Join Pathfi nder Read ers Club fore world opinion. This was a historic shows. Infants born in the United States among African-Americans is 9.3 deaths for $10 and re ceive achievement,” Taber said. are nearly three times as likely to die dis counts all year long per 1,000 live births, nearly twice the na- The reissuing of this book, and the per- in their fi rst month than a newborn in tional average. The report also indicates spective Trotsky defends in it—the con- ORDER ONLINE AT Japan, Czech Republic, Finland, Ice- that while 17 percent of all births in the tinuation of the revolutionary course of WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM land, and Norway, says the State of the United States are to African-Americans, OFFER GOOD UNTIL JULY 30 the Bolsheviks under Lenin’s leadership, World’s Mothers 2006 Report issued by 33 percent of all low birth-weight infants Save the Children. Japan has the lowest are Black, which make them more sus- infant mortality rate, with 1.8 deaths per ceptible to illnesses and death.The infant 1,000 live births. mortality rate among Latinos is 1.5 times Five infants born in the United States the nationwide average. die in their fi rst month out of 1,000 live A similar study conducted by the births, according to the report. This fi g- United Health Foundation in 2005 ure ties the United States with Hungary, showed the mortality rate of babies Defend women’s right to choose abortion Malta, Poland, and Slovakia for the sec- born in rural areas is also higher than ond highest infant mortality rate among the national figure. Mississippi and Supporters of a woman’s industrialized countries. Only Latvia, a Louisiana are tied as having the high- right to choose abortion are former Soviet republic, has a higher rate est infant mortality rate in the country defending abortion clinics at six deaths of the newborn for every at 9.6. The infant mortality rate for Afri- from rightist attacks. One is in 1,000 live births. can-Americans in Mississippi is 14.7. Jackson, Mississippi, the only such clinic open in the state, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: Send $65 The Militant drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. where the anti-abortion group VOL. 70/NO. 25 Canada: Send Canadian $45 for one-year Operation Save America Closing news date: June 28, 2006 sub scrip tion to the Militant, 2238 Dundas St. Editor and circulation director: West, Suite 201, Toronto, ON. Postal Code: (formerly Operation Rescue) is planning protests July 15–22. Argiris Malapanis M6R 3A9. The ‘Militant’ will cover this fi ght. Don’t miss a single issue! Washington correspondent: Sam Manuel United Kingdom: £25 for one year by check or Editorial volunteers: Arrin Hawkins, in ter na tion al mon ey order made out to CL Lon- Martín Koppel, Paul Pederson, and Brian don, First Floor, 120 Bethnal Green (Entrance in Williams. Brick Lane), Lon don, E2 6DG, En gland. Republic of Ireland and Continental Eu- SUBSCRIBE TO DAY! 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2 The Militant July 10, 2006 Cop kills Navajo youth in Canada’s prime minister apologizes Farmington, New Mexico for Ottawa’s head tax on Chinese immigrants BY ALYSON KENNEDY rived and the officers reportedly did Clint John, a 21-year-old Navajo youth nothing to help him. The eyewitness from Kirtland, New Mexico, was brutally said he looked down at John and no- killed June 10 by police officer Shawn ticed the police baton on his stomach. Scott in a parking lot of a Wal-Mart store “The thing that I stand on is, Clint didn’t in Farmington, New Mexico, reported the have a weapon on him when he was Navajo Times. According to eyewitness shot and it looked like the baton was accounts, John was shot four times, the placed on his stomach by the officer.” last shot fired directly into his head. Speaking at a special session of Johnny Descheny, a former Navajo Na- the Navajo Nation Council on June tion Council delegate, told Farmington 23, Della John, Clint John’s mother, television station KOAT-TV that he had said, “I ask for your help today. It’s just parked his car when he saw Scott and tragic that my son had to lose his life John fighting and that the officer was hit- for something to be done…. The only ting John with his baton. “Every time the comfort is in doing something about guy got shot, his body just jerked—just [racial violence],” reported the Gal- Militant/John Steele TORONTO—Supporters of the campaign for redress for Chinese head tax jerked three times. And he just stood lup Independent. payers gathered June 19 in Union Station here to greet participants in the Navajos are 17 percent of Farm- there. That’s when the officer went up, “Redress Express” train, which traveled across Canada to hear Canadian ington’s population, yet they account aimed at the guy’s head and shot him in prime minister Stephen Harper apologize for the head tax imposed on the head,” Descheny said. for 69 percent of assault arrests and Chinese immigrants entering the country from 1885 to 1923. Among those Police chief Mike Burridge absolved 62 percent of arrests for driving making the journey are some of the 20 surviving head tax payers, about Scott. “Our agency conducted a profes- under the influence of alcohol, said 200 spouses, and descendants. Some 81,000 Chinese immigrants paid a sional and thorough internal and admin- Shiprock Chapter president Duane total of $23 million to enter Canada over these years, until Ottawa passed istrative investigation, which has found “Chili” Yazzie, who attended the the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1923 barring entry of all Chinese immigrants. that Officer Scott acted appropriately and special session. “The violent victim- The act was repealed in 1947. within the scope of departmental policy,” ization of Native Americans is twice —KATY LE ROUGETEL he said at a June 22 press conference. Scott the U.S. national rate.” was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing after District Attorney Lyndy Bennett said the killing was “justifiable homicide.” Bipartisan support firm for Iraq war According to the June 23 Farmington Times, “Scott attempted to place John in Continued from front page necessary fuel for nuclear power and a ous day led with, “The Republican-led a control hold but failed…. John then minimal number of forces that are criti- component in nuclear weapons. Senate on Thursday rejected Demo- swung at the officer and tried to take cal to completing the mission of stand- “For three-and-a half years we sat on cratic plans to start a withdrawal of him to the ground.” The police claim ing up Iraqi security forces, conducting the sidelines and allowed Iran to become U.S. forces from Iraq.” that John grabbed Scott’s baton and the targeted and specialized counterterror- more of a problem,” Kerry said. “Is that Neither article reported the unanimous cop fired in “self defense.” ism operations, and protecting United winning the war on terror?” The former vote on the defense spending bill. The An eyewitness who used the name Rick, States facilities and personnel.” Democratic presidential nominee said, Washington Post article did note that 31 of because he said he fears police reprisals, The Kerry amendment failed by a “Iran loves the fact that we are bogged the Senate’s 44 Democrats voted against gave a different account in the June 22 vote of 86 to 13, with all Republicans down in Iraq.” the Kerry amendment, while the Reuters Navajo Times. The article, “Eyewitness: and 31 of the Senate’s 44 Democrats The major big business dailies—from dispatch did not mention that fact. Man was unarmed when shot,” quotes Rick voting no. the New York Times to the Washington In the same debate, Senate Demo- saying that he “did not see John throw any The second proposed amendment, of- Post—avoided quoting the text of the crats also led an effort to block an offer punches, but instead was trying to protect fered by Wisconsin senator Carl Levin, amendments that failed, presenting to anti-government forces in Iraq, being himself from Scott’s blows.” He said John was more vague. Levin offered a non- them inaccurately as being for with- discussed in Baghdad, for amnesty in was hit at least eight times with the baton binding “sense of the Congress” propos- drawal from Iraq. exchange for laying down their arms. and then he saw the cop get a gun out of the al saying Washington should “expedite “The Republican-controlled Senate, The deal has the support of the White police car and shoot John four times. the transition of United States forces in embracing President Bush’s handling House. “I saw Clint’s body jerk three times Iraq to a limited presence” without set- of the unpopular war in Iraq, rejected “The idea that they should even con- and even though he was shot, he was just ting a deadline. It failed by a vote of 60 two Democratic efforts yesterday to sider talking about amnesty for people standing there,” Rick said. “The officer to 39, with six Democrats siding with begin a withdrawal of U.S. troops who have killed people who liberated paused for a second, raised his gun and most Republicans to defeat it. from the three-year-old conflict,” the their country is unconscionable,” Sena- shot him in the head.” He said Scott was Neither amendment specified the Washington Post said June 23. tor Levin said in a June 25 interview on like a “madman, crazy with anger.” size of the “limited presence” of troops A Reuters dispatch from the previ- Fox News Sunday. John was still alive as more police ar- that would remain, but both stressed that it had to be large enough to fight the “war on terror” and “stand up Iraqi UAW tops promote concessions MILITANT security forces” while defending U.S. BY MICHAEL ITALIE March had covered only about half that installations and personnel. In response to the announcement by number, along with 113,000 unionists at LABOR Speaking against the Kerry amend- the bosses at General Motors and Ford GM. Delphi, a GM spinoff and the largest ment, New York senator Hillary that they will slash 60,000 jobs over the auto parts manufacturer in the country, FORUMS Clinton said she does not “believe it next six years, officials of the United filed for bankruptcy last October, calling is a solution or a strategy to set a date Auto Workers (UAW) told delegates at for the voiding of its union contracts and CALIFORNIA certain for withdrawal.” the union’s June 12–15 convention in has demanded 40 percent wage cuts. In Los Angeles Sen. Russell Feingold, a co-sponsor Las Vegas, Nevada, that auto workers mid-June the judge in the case postponed U.S. Hands Off Iran! Unfolding Politics in of the Kerry amendment, noted that Iran. Speaker: Ma’mud Shirvani, Farsi language must prepare for even deeper conces- a decision until August. editor for Pathfinder Press. Sat., July 8, 7:00 p.m. the measure was not proposed based sions to help the companies overcome On June 23 the Wall Street Journal 4229 S. Central Ave. Tel.: (323) 233-9372. on a principled opposition to use of their profitcrisis . reported in an article titled, “Buyouts U.S. military might abroad. “Like it or not, these challenges aren’t Promise a Big Boon for GM,” that so NEW YORK “All of us in this Chamber… sup- the kind that can be ridden out,” said far 37,000 workers—28,000 at GM and Manhattan ported the appropriate action to invade UAW president Ron Gettelfinger, refer- 9,000 at Delphi—have accepted leaving Independence for Puerto Rico! Free Puerto Afghanistan,” Feingold said. “I voted Rican Political Prisoners! Speakers: Frank ring to plans by these U.S. auto giants their jobs as part of the plan. “GM in Velgara, ProLibertad Freedom Campaign; against the Iraq war because it ap- to close or downsize two dozen plants the past had said it hoped to cut 30,000 Martín Koppel, Socialist Workers Party candi- peared obvious to me that was not the in order to reverse their drop in market hourly jobs by 2008,” the big-business date for New York State Attorney General; and wise next strategic move in the fight others. Fri., July 7. Dinner, 7:00 p.m.; program, share and credit ratings downgraded daily gloated, “but the buyout program 8:00 p.m. Donation: $5 dinner; $5 program. against al-Qaeda,” he said, adding to “junk status.” The officials offered has put it near that goal after less than 307 W. 36th St. 10th floor (near 8th Avenue, use that Somalia and Indonesia are more a perspective of accepting buyouts in a year.” north elevators). Tel.: (212) 629-6649. appropriate targets. exchange for lost jobs, seeking to pre- Over the past three decades the UAW TEXAS Kerry also said the ongoing occupa- serve current members’ pensions, and membership has dropped from 1.5 mil- tion of Iraq weakens Washington’s abil- Houston promote protectionist measures. lion to 600,000 today. Only about 35 From New Orleans to the Border: No to Na- ity to threaten Iran. Washington, along A few days before the convention, percent of auto workers are currently tional Guard Troop Deployments. Speaker: with its imperialist allies in Europe, UAW officials signed a pact with GM union members. Companies such as Steve Warshell, Socialist Workers Party. Fri., has been threatening military strikes July 7. Dinner, 6:30 p.m.; program 7:30 p.m. and Delphi to offer buyouts and early DaimlerChrysler and Toyota have Donation: $5 dinner; $5 program. 4800 W. 34th against Tehran if it does not give up its retirement incentives to the 24,000 UAW opened nonunion factories in Alabama, St. Suite C-51A. Tel.: (713) 869-6550. right to produce enriched uranium—a members at Delphi. An agreement in Continued on page 9 The Militant July 10, 2006 3 Kentucky miners’ relatives: ‘No miner has to die’ BY SAM MANUEL has so far been voluntary. Johnson and Oppegard were added to HARLAN, Kentucky—“We are Miners and other working people the federal investigative panel when sev- fighting so no other families have to across Harlan County have been ex- eral of the miners who had been called as go through what we are going through,” pressing outrage at the deaths and the witnesses designated them as their repre- said Rosa Brock, the sister of Roy apparent foot-dragging by government sentatives. State officials denied a request Middleton, who was killed on the job agencies. by the families of the dead miners that along with three other miners and a mine Amon Brock, 51, who press reports Johnson and Oppegard represent them at superintendent at the Kentucky Darby describe as a mine superintendent, and the state hearings. The two said they have Mine No. 1 in Harlan County near here miner Jimmy Lee, 33, were killed by renewed the families’ request. after a May 20 blast. “They can make the the blast in the early morning explosion “They don’t tell us anything,” said Rosa mines safe. No miner should have to die in nearby Holmes Mill. Miners Roy Brock. “It’s like they have something to and no family should have to lose a loved Middleton, 35, George Petras, 49, and hide. All we want is answers so that we Paris Thomas Jr., 53, survived the blast can have some kind of closure.” one in order to make a living,” she told Relatives of Kentucky miners killed May the Militant in a June 23 interview. but suffocated from carbon monoxide. “How can they find the truth if they 20 in an explosion at Darby Mine No. 1 Meanwhile, the Kentucky mine According to press reports United can’t subpoena people to testify,” said hold picket outside MSHA hearings. health and safety agency has ordered Mine Workers of America safety offi- Dan Middleton, Roy’s father, referring three foremen and a worker at the Darby cial Kenny Johnson and attorney Tony to the refusal of the foreman to appear order to meet production quotas. This No. 1 mine to appear for questioning. Oppegard requested that two of the fore- at the federal hearing. includes broken lights on machinery and According to an attorney represent- men be recalled for questions because “The companies got rid of the union on miners’ helmets, he said, radios that ing the families of the four miners the of conflicting statements made about and now they can do whatever they want don’t work, allowing miners to smoke questions will focus on conflicting tes- whether or not there were metal roof to,” said Ray Harris, a retired union underground, and running power lines timony given at a previous hearing and straps that intersected the mine’s seals. miner. “And the miners are paying for it to machinery that are patched together the possibility that records regarding Seals are used to isolate dangerous with their lives.” None of the coal mines and have exposed wires. He described checks on methane levels at the mine gases in abandoned sections of a mine. in Harlan County are unionized today. Darby Mine No. 1 as very gassy. were falsified. Oppegard said he believes the explosion Judith Corbin, a store clerk, said she This worker also confirmed state- Two of the three foremen subpoe- was ignited by a torch that was being fears for her husband’s life each day he ments by miners at the hearings that naed by the state agency failed to ap- used to cut the roof straps at the seal goes to work. “I don’t want him to go they had received little or no training pear at a separate federal investigation where methane gas was leaking, reported but what choice do we have?” she asked. in constructing seals. He said workers on June 22 for a second round of ques- the Lexington Herald-Leader. “The government’s not doing anything. would often be instructed to use wood tioning by the federal Mine Health “The company is required once They are still talking about the men killed or paper to patch up gaps in the seals. and Safety Administration (MSHA). a week to do an examination of the at Sago. But what are they doing?” On May 26, less than a week after Participation at the MSHA hearings seals,” Oppegard told the Harlan Daily “All the mines around here are unsafe,” the explosion, MSHA issued a “signifi- Enterprise, “and you have to check the said a miner who worked in Darby Mine cant” citation against Darby Mine No. methane level at those seals. We wanted No. 1 and asked that his name not be used 1 because at least six seals in a differ- UMWA holds rally to ask two of these foremen about fal- for fear of reprisal by the company. He ent section of the mine from where sifications of records regarding those said management at this mine is notori- the May 20 explosion occurred were Continued from front page methane checks at the seals.” ous for turning a blind eye to safety in improperly built. president Kenny Perdue; and Jim Bowen, retired president of the state labor federation. Socialist Workers Party launches N.Y. campaign “Peabody made the decision for these nonunion workers. They did not Continued from front page which are needed for basic economic the socialist platform and respond to give them the option when they hired University of New York in Albany; for and social advances.” developments in the class struggle. them,” Roberts told the rally, accord- state attorney general, Martín Koppel, Calero said the New York campaign Those interested in volunteering for ing WOWK TV Channel 13 News in 49, a reporter for the Militant; and for is organizing a major effort July 11–23 the New York Socialist Workers peti- Charleston, West Virginia. state comptroller, Willie Cotton, 28, a to collect 30,000 signatures—twice tioning effort can contact the campaign In 2004 the union launched a campaign sewing machine operator and member the state requirement—to win ballot at (212) 736-2540 or visit the Manhat- called “Justice at Peabody” aimed at or- of UNITE Local 63. In addition, the status for the Socialist Workers ticket. tan campaign headquarters at 306 W. ganizing Peabody’s nonunion mines in SWP is running Nancy Boyasko for “We’re appealing to workers, students, 37th Street, 10th floor. West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, Indi- U.S. Congress in District 11, which in- farmers, and others who want to hear  ana, and Wyoming. With the opening of cludes the largely Black communities in a working-class voice in the elections On June 6, socialist campaigners Black Stallion, the number of nonunion Brooklyn’s Crown Heights and Browns- to volunteer to help in this petitioning in New Jersey filed more than double operations in the United States run by ville. Boyasko, 49, is a meat packer and drive,” he said. “We’ll be collecting the signatures required to put the SWP the coal giant, the world’s largest private member of United Food and Commercial signatures in working-class commu- ticket on the ballot there. The candidates coal producer, now stands at 20. Workers Local 342. nities throughout New York City and are Angela Lariscy, 41, a sewing-ma- “We’re very encouraged by the prog- “In our discussions,” Calero said across the state. Volunteers will also chine operator, for U.S. Senate; and ress of the campaign so far,” Smith in an interview, “we explain that the be signing up co-workers, classmates, Brian Williams, 54, a reporter for the told the Militant in a June 27 phone recent mass working-class movement neighbors, friends, and many others.” Militant, for U.S. Congress in the 13th interview. “We’ve seen strong support for the legalization of all immigrants The socialist campaigners are reach- District. They have been officially certi- among Peabody miners and others, has strengthened working people as a ing out to workers on picket lines, to fied for ballot status. Socialist Workers particularly in the Midwest.” whole. Socialist workers have joined demonstrators for the legalization of Party candidates are also running in One of the key aspects of the cam- and helped build these protests. We immigrants, and to protesters against Houston, Miami, and Seattle, with more paign has been the union’s demand are using our campaign to push for police brutality, Calero said. They are to be announced (see list below). that the company agree to recognize legislation that would grant immedi- helping build local events in defense the union if a majority of workers sign ate and unconditional residency to all of the Cuban Revolution and for the Nancy Rosenstock in Newark, New union cards. This counters long delays the undocumented. release of Puerto Rican political pris- Jersey, contributed to this article. companies are able to impose before “This movement has put working oners. And they will representation elections sponsored by people in a better position to fight join with hundreds of Initial list of Socialist Workers Party candidates in 2006 the National Labor Relations Board to organize trade unions and to use others at the July 21–23 (NLRB) take place, Smith said. union power to defend labor’s interests National Organization Texas José Aravena, Governor “This is very important. The fact is against the bosses’ assaults on wages, for Women conference Amanda Ulman, U.S. Senate Anthony Dutrow, U.S. Congr. 18th CD the NLRB process doesn’t work. It’s dignity, and job conditions, especially in Albany, New York, broken down,” Smith said. “Their in- safety. The need to support workers’ to discuss the fight Florida Omari Musa, Governor tent is helping companies keep unions struggles to unionize in order to fight for women’s equality, Bernie Senter, U.S. Senate effectively is at the heart of the SWP including a woman’s Margaret Trowe, U.S. Congr. 18th CD out and they’re pursuing that with a th vengeance.” campaign platform.” right to choose abor- Eric Simpson, U.S. Congr., 17 CD Ruth Robinett, Fl. State Rep. D. 109 According to Channel 13 News, Pea- DeLuca told the Militant that the tion. body said the company is not in charge socialist campaign calls “for the Over the coming New Jersey Angela Lariscy, U.S. Senate th of hiring, since the facility is operated immediate withdrawal of U.S. and months, DeLuca noted, Brian Williams, U.S. Congr. 13 CD by an independent contractor. all other occupation troops from Young Socialists and New York Róger Calero, U.S. Senate “That may be true but it’s Peabody’s Iraq and Afghanistan. We say no to other campaigners Maura DeLuca, Governor coal,” UMWA Local 1503 president Washington’s cold war against Cuba will also continue to Ben O’Shaughnessy, Lt. Governor Carl Egnor told Channel 13. “It should and demand U.S. hands off Venezuela. take part in a socialist Martín Koppel, Attorney General be UMWA members mining that coal We oppose imperialist economic sanc- summer school, study- Willie Cotton, State Comptroller Nancy Boyasko, U.S. Congr. 11th CD and we’re gonna make every effort to tions and military threats against Iran, ing some of the basics make it a UMWA mine.” and defend the right of Iran and other of Marxism. Special Washington David Rosenfeld, U.S. Senate semicolonial nations to develop nu- classes and forums Connie Allen, U.S. Congr. 7th CD Paul Pederson contributed to this article. clear power and other energy sources, will take up aspects of 4 The Militant July 10, 2006 ON THE PICKET LINE Chicago: UFCW rally backs organizing Miner in north Sweden “The mine needs to be inspected Smithfield Packing plant in North Carolina killed in roof fall more often,” a miner who works with STOCKHOLM, Sweden—Miner ore lift maintenance at the mine told Teemu Saarensilta, 27, died in a roof fall the Militant. “The workers where May 2 in the Kirunavaara iron ore mine Teemu worked had been telling their in Kiruna, north Sweden. He was report- bosses repeatedly about rock falls, but edly working 907 meters (more than half nothing happened. Now there is a safety a mile) underground preparing a blast investigation going on.” while standing on the elevated basket of Two days later two workers were a charge truck. Suddenly about a cubic taken to the hospital after a blast threw meter of rock fell on the truck’s elevated them against the safety rails of a truck arm, which then sprung up with such platform. The mine is run by state- force that Saarensilta was killed from hit- owned LKAB, which employs some ting his head on the roof of the basket. 3,500 workers in several mines, pro- cessing plants, and ore docks in north Sweden and Norway. Militant/Dennis Richter Cops harass garment worker —Björn Tirsén CHICAGO—Some 150 workers rallied in Chicago June 20 to back the drive BY JOSUE EDUARDO by the United Food and Commercial Workers union to organize the Smithfield REVOLORIO, JR. Transit workers in Toronto Packing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. The factory is the world’s largest pork conduct one-day strike processing plant, slaughtering about 32,000 hogs a day and employing about LOS ANGELES—The Militant 5,500 workers. At the podium is Quincy Harvey, a kill-floor worker at Smithfield, recently ran an article on the in- TORONTO—Some 8,500 members of Amalgamated Transit Workers Union who was fired in 2005 after being injured on the job and out on medical leave. crease in raids by immigration po- Similar support rallies were organized June 19–22 in Atlanta; Boston; New York; (ATU) Local 113 conducted a one-day lice. I want to tell what happened to Washington; Richmond, Virginia; and Raleigh, North Carolina. strike here May 29 in the face of Mayor me. I was on my way to work June —DENNIS RICHTER 3 at 5:00 a.m. on the Blue Line and David Miller’s charge that the walkout this guy stopped me and asked for was “illegal from the start.” The union- my I.D. I wasn’t the only one being ists set up picket lines on the day the Board, the transit workers maintained percent with a 21 percent hourly wage cut stopped at the Metro station. Toronto Transit Commission reassigned their picket lines throughout the day. and higher employee medical care costs. “Do you have papers?” When I 53 of 87 janitors and 53 of 91 subway —Beverly Bernardo Three days later Northwest baggage han- track workers to night shift in violation dlers and ramp workers approved by 62 said I was born here he said, “Yeah, Northwest Airlines flight right.” I left my wallet at home, so of their seniority rights. The ATU has percent a concessions package reducing this guy wearing a green uniform also been negotiating with the Toronto attendants reject wage cuts their wages by 11.5 percent and a layoff with a hat—a cowboy hat—took Transit Commission to resolve issues The Professional Flight Attendants As- of some 700 workers. The five-year me to El Monte police station. I around driver safety and compensation sociation (PFAA) on June 6 voted by an 80 contract allows Northwest to outsource was held for five hours and then for time lost due to injuries on the job, percent margin to reject a wage conces- ground operations at a number of airports, released when my story was con- payment of health premiums, and job sions package demanded by Northwest as well as food catering, and to utilize firmed. “Sorry,” he said. evaluations. Despite a “cease and desist” Airlines. The proposal, according PFAA, more part-time workers. order from the Ontario Labor Relations would have reduced attendants’ pay by 40 —Brian Williams Canada: Natives fighting for land push back rightist attacks BY JOE YOUNG In response, a group of rightists, who had station. The following day, the Native ing an end to the occupation. AND JOHN STEELE erected their own barricade, began block- occupiers once again lifted their bar- The construction site is part of a large CALEDONIA, Ontario—Since Feb- ing Natives from entering the town. ricade and Highway 6 is now open. parcel of land that was granted to the ruary 28, members of the Six Nations Physical attacks by the right-wing- Anti-Native forces carried out another Six Nations Confederacy by the British Confederacy have been occupying a ers were met firmly by Native defenders, provocation June 8 following incidents rulers in 1784. The Six Nations Con- housing construction site here on land who then threw up a new barricade on that resulted in arrest warrants for six Na- federacy chiefs have been demanding a that they consider theirs. Despite attacks the highway, using part of a massive tive people. On June 13, in another good- moratorium on construction at the site; by Ontario’s provincial government and hydro tower, and dug a trench in the will gesture, the Six Nations removed a the dropping of charges against those rightist forces, the Natives have stood thoroughfare with a backhoe. About number of other barricades. arrested April 20; and negotiations with their ground. Six Nations includes Na- 200 provincial police were called to The Natives first erected the barricade the federal government to settle their tives belonging to the Mohawk, Cayuga, the scene. At the same time electricity on the highway April 20, in response to historic land claims. The Six Nations Tuscarora, Oneida, Onondaga, and to the town was cut off, reportedly as a a failed pre-dawn attack by the Ontario reserve now occupies only 5 percent of Seneca nations in Ontario. On June result of fire damage to a hydroelectric Police to enforce a court injunction order- the original 950,000-acre grant. 23, Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty for the first time called for ending the occupation. It “is just not helpful, and it really constitutes the remaining po- 25, 50, AND 75 YEARS AGO tential for danger,” he said. On June 16 the Ontario government signed a framework deal to buy the land for Can$12.3 million (US$11 million) from Henco Industries Ltd. The govern- July 10, 1981 July 23, 1956 July 11, 1931 ment intends to hold the land in trust NEW YORK—A $37 million civil JULY 19—The “resignation” of The day draws near when eight in- while negotiations to end the occupation suit has been filed on behalf of those Matyas Rakosi, the “Stalin” of Hun- nocent Negro boys will be taken one continue. On the same day, more than murdered and injured by Ku Klux Klan gary, from his post as First Secretary by one to the electric chair to have their 1,000 people attended an all day solidar- and Nazi gunmen in Greensboro, North of the Hungarian Workers Party was an- lives burned out by the fatal current. ity concert in support of the Six Nations Carolina, on November 3, 1979. nounced today. As in the case of Stalin The sadistic bourgeoisie of the South, occupation site, now referred to as Jim Waller, Sandra Smith, Bill in the Soviet Union, Rakosi’s repudia- thirsting for blood, is determined to “Kanenhstaton—the protected place.” Sampson, Cesar Cauce and Michael tion by fellow bureaucrats comes as a add the Scottsboro victims wholesale On May 22, in a goodwill gesture, Six Nathan—all members of the Commu- result of the tremendous pressure of the to the list of those who have fallen to Nations lifted the barricade they had nist Workers Party—were shot to death workers on the regime. the greater glory of Lynch law and erected across Highway 6 in Caledonia. while they participated in an antiracist There have been a number of reports capitalist justice. rally. Nine other participants were seri- during the past several weeks showing The day of the execution which was set ously wounded. mounting opposition to the regime in for July 10 has been postponed pending Despite the fact that the attack was Hungary. At a meeting on June 29 of an appeal to a higher court by the defense. filmed by television crews, the six 2,000 leading members of the Stalin- But this is only the most temporary and Klan and Nazi members charged with ist party, more than a dozen speakers deceptive of delays. It was in this manner the murders were later acquitted by a charged the party had degenerated. that the murderers of Massachusetts kept jury. A few nights later an even stormier Sacco and Vanzetti in nerve-wracking Edward Dawson, a police agent and and larger meeting took place in Buda- suspense, while the movement for them former FBI informer who helped lead pest called by the Petofi Youth League. was partly deluded and taken off its the Klan attack, was never called to There, Tiber Deri, well-known Hungar- guard. Only the revolutionists pointed testify at the trial. Neither was Ber- out then as they are pointing out today: Militant/John Steele ian writer, declared “It is high time to Six Nations spokesperson Jacqueline nard Butkovich, a Bureau of Alcohol, end this present regime of gendarmes What will save these victims from the House speaking at June 2 Militant Labor Tobacco and Firearms agent who urged and bureaucrats.” A few days later Deri savages who plan their death is an iron- Forum in Toronto, Ontario. the Nazis to bring guns. was expelled from the party. willed mass movement of the workers. The Militant July 10, 2006 5 Socialist Workers Party 44th convention marked by ‘irreversible strengthening of working-class movement’ Scope and speed of mass working-class actions for immigrant rights caught U.S. rulers by surprise

BY PAUL PEDERSON The three-day event drew 425 AND SAM MANUEL people—about 30 more than last year’s OBERLIN, Ohio—The massive convention. Nearly 40 were attending proletarian actions for the legalization their first national SWP convention or of immigrants in the last three months conference—up from 25 last year. “represent an irreversible strengthening Trade union work of the working-class movement,” Jack Barnes, national secretary of the Socialist In a report titled “Defeating the Bosses’ Workers Party, told delegates and guests Counterassault at C.W. Mining,” Alyson June 17 in his summary at the close of the Kennedy, who was a leader of the union- party’s 44th Constitutional Convention. organizing fight at the Co-Op coal mine The speed and power of these protests near Huntington, Utah, summarized the caught the U.S. rulers by surprise. It was accomplishments of coal miners in a the most important of a number of defin- three-year battle to organize a local of ing moments in a year in which devel- the United Mine Workers of America opments in the working class changed (UMWA) at the mine and then against a broader politics, Barnes said. retaliatory lawsuit filed by the company The social disaster in New Orleans (see coverage in last three issues). in the wake of Hurricane Katrina was Militant/Dave Wulp Jacob Perasso, organizer of the SWP national secretary Jack Barnes (at podium) welcomes delegates and guests to party’s Trade Union Committee, pre- among them. In face of the utter indif- party’s convention at June 15 opening of event, held at Oberlin College in Oberlin, ference by the wealthy rulers and their sented a report to the convention on the Ohio. Others on stage, from left: session chairperson Norton Sandler (seated); and socialists’ work in the labor movement. government, it was the initiatives and members of the welcoming and recruitment committee that delegates elected: Manuel organization of working people in New Sánchez, Martín Koppel, Bob Appleton, Carlos Sánchez, Ellie García, Marshall Lambie, Perasso noted the close relationship be- Orleans that became decisive in prevent- Ben O’Shaughnessy, Chauncey Robinson, Argiris Malapanis, and Gabriela Moreano. tween the successful efforts to expand ing more deaths from occurring. the readership of the Militant among Then with the New Year, the wave of tions and other mass work. In the process, conditions, and workers’ resistance to it, workers and the strengthening of the deaths in the coal mines began posing socialists made advances in discipline has been the sharpest. They transformed party’s trade union work. He pointed sharply the life-and-death question that and programmatic clarity needed to build the Militant even more into a paper seen out that 432 people signed up for sub- unionization is for the working class. a revolutionary workers party. by a growing number of militants as the scriptions to the Militant in the spring The convention was stamped by the Over the past year socialist workers voice of the working-class vanguard. circulation campaign in the region of involvement of members of the SWP and took steps that strengthened their politi- And they made progress in winning Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska—many the Young Socialists, together with their cal work in factories, mines, and mills young people to the communist move- of them packinghouse workers. co-workers, in these working-class ac- where the bosses’ offensive on wages and ment and training them politically. “The party has a qualitatively different relationship to the union and this region of meat packers because of this subscrip- Huge working-class actions affect recruitment tion base,” Perasso said. “It’s not uncom- mon for us to go with the Militant to, say, BY ARRIN HAWKINS and dropped out of activity. I decided to year and joined the YS last fall after the Worthington, Minnesota, or Storm Lake, OBERLIN, Ohio—Among the nearly rejoin because of the impact of the im- World Youth Festival in Venezuela.” Iowa, and find out from workers about a 40 workers, students, and others who at- migrant rights protests. It’s not enough Others did not become members of the job action that has taken place in one of tended a Socialist Workers Party conven- to go to marches, I had to be part of a party but strengthened their commitment the large slaughterhouses there.” tion for the first time here June 15–17, a movement. Now I will attend classes in to help build the communist movement. The Socialist Workers Party will con- quarter joined the party or the Young So- Los Angeles as part of a summer school Howard Allen, a retired seaman and tinue to concentrate its trade union work cialists. A number said the mass working- on Marxism and collaborate with the member of the Seafarers International “in the industries where the employers’ class actions for immigrant rights and the party and Young Socialists there.” Union, was among them. Allen found offensive is the sharpest,” Perasso said, party’s response to them had an impact “I had been thinking of joining the out about the party last September when explaining why the party organizes on making this decision. Socialist Workers Party for a while,” Militant supporters came to New Orleans units of its members—industrial union Jabari Ashe, 23, is an auto technician at said Christian Castro, a 27-year-old to learn the truth about how working peo- fractions—to carry out trade union work a car dealership in the San Francisco Bay technician and YS member in Chicago ple responded to the social catastrophe in coal mines, meatpacking plants, and Area. He said he joined the Young Social- who joined the SWP here. “This was a they faced following Hurricane Katrina. garment and textile factories. ists here because “I want to learn how to good opportunity. I was attracted to the He bought a subscription to the socialist Today, he noted, the big majority of be a better organizer and Marxist and join Cuban Revolution and didn’t see any newsweekly at the time and later helped socialists in these industries are work- others who think the way I do.” other party organizing to emulate its distribute the paper among neighbors. ing together in fractions of two or more Ashe said he first met the SWP and example in the U.S. That was the start- “I had a great time,” Allen said of the members in a given workplace. A year Young Socialists at a Martin Luther King ing point for me. Attending Militant La- convention. Its deliberations “answered a ago, most were working alone in differ- Day event in Houston in 2004. More bor Forums helped.” Along with other lot of my questions about socialism, and ent plants and mines. recently he ran into socialists again at YS and party members from around straightened out all the lies they tell in The party’s fractions in the United the May 1 immigrant rights march in the country, Castro joined the May the press.” He said he especially enjoyed Food and Commercial Workers San Francisco. Ashe said he went to the 20 march in Washington demanding a class he attended on “The Jewish Ques- (UFCW) and UNITE unions held rally with some trepidation on how the “Hands Off Venezuela and Cuba.” tion: The Danger for the Workers Move- meetings here on June 14, the day before largely foreign-born workers would treat Sam Cole, attending his first conven- ment of the ‘Israel Lobby’ Conspiracy the convention began, where socialists an African-American. But he was elated tion, also joined the party. “I had been Theory.” Allen said he plans to go to drew a balance sheet of their work and by the enthusiasm with which the pro- looking for a socialist organization for a New York in July to help campaign for elected steering committees to guide testers embraced him. After the action, while when I found the SWP,” he said. A the SWP ticket (see front-page article). the implementation of their decisions. some of his co-workers asked why he 31-year-old nursing student at Lawson He’ll be campaigning along with attended the march since he is Black, he State Community College in Birming- Matilda Hernández-Miyares, a 17-year- ‘Workers took ownership of struggle’ said, giving him a chance to explain why ham, Alabama, Cole said he had read old high school student in New York, Perasso pointed to a statement made the fight to legalize all immigrants is in the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx who was attending her first convention by Bernie Hesse, the legislative director the interests of all working people. Ashe and Frederick Engels and other socialist and joined the Young Socialists here. “I of UFCW Local 789 at a May 27 public said he wants to get the Militant around literature since high school. In March he had thought socialism was a good idea meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota, to cel- more at work and sell subscriptions to began looking for communist organiza- but it couldn’t work,” she said. “So when ebrate the Co-Op miners’ victory against his fellow members of the International tions. “Once I went to the Militant Labor I found out more about the Cuban Revo- the bosses’ retaliatory suit. Hesse said Association of Machinists. Forum, it all came together,” he said. lution, especially through reading Our that in the battle at Co-Op and an earlier David Arguello, a 29-year-old worker Gabriela Moreano, 26, organizer of History Is Still Being Written by three one at Dakota Premium Foods, a beef at a guitar factory in San Diego, also the Young Socialists in St. Paul, Min- Chinese-Cuban generals, it changed my slaughterhouse in St. Paul where workers joined the YS here. “I was in the YS eight nesota, joined the party too. “I first met mind. It’s the biggest example of where led a successful union-organizing cam- years ago when I was a college student the SWP at a Cinco de Mayo event in St. things have changed.” paign, the struggles were defined by the at the University of California in Santa Paul and subscribed to the Militant,” she fact that from the beginning “the workers Cruz,” he said. “Then I went to Mexico said. “I came to the party convention last Michael Italie contributed to this article. took ownership of their struggle.”

6 The Militant July 10, 2006 Socialist Workers Party 44th convention marked by ‘irreversible strengthening of working-class movement’ Scope and speed of mass working-class actions for immigrant rights caught U.S. rulers by surprise

That’s a useful political observation, Perasso said. In both of these fights work- ers launched the organizing battle first and then went to local union officials for help. “Taking ownership of their struggle” is what gave these organizing fights their strength and made them stand out from many other strikes or unionization efforts in recent years. That’s why communists have their eyes on the ranks of the work- Militant/Arthur Hughes (left); Eddie Beck (right) ing class, organized or unorganized. Above: Delegates approve resolutions before the convention at its closing on June 17. Right: Julian Santana, a member of the SWP In his political report and summary and Young Socialists in St. Paul, Minnesota, presents class on “Trade Unions: Their Past, Present, and Future.” to the convention, Jack Barnes said that there are no signs of a coming sta- reflected at the UAW convention (see said. These were working-class political bled and more than 3,000 new readers bilization of capitalist politics, which is article on page 3) and recent statements actions to make demands on the govern- signed up for introductory subscriptions. marked both by the employers’ offensive by UNITE president Bruce Raynor that ment, actions in which all who took part, A similar demand for the paper was seen at home to shore up declining profits and the union is not targeting manufacturing not just immigrants, were welcome. in the winter subscription renewal effort by imperialist wars like those in Iraq for organizing, where jobs are supposedly A number of delegates pointed to large and spring circulation campaign. and Afghanistan. This capitalist world “outsourced” abroad, but service workers. numbers of workers being involved in Political work in the labor movement is disorder will continue to underlie fights “Our goal is to move service-sector work- meetings to organize the protests for an integral part of the irreplaceable work like the two Hesse singled out, he said. ers into the middle class,” Raynor said. immigrant rights. Frank Forrestal, a of building the communist movement, The course workers at Dakota and Co- This weakening of the labor move- meat packer and delegate from Des Barnes said. He noted the significance Op followed stands in sharp contrast to ment, while motion toward rank-and-file Moines, Iowa, said some 200 people, of the modest increase in recruitment of that of the top labor officialdom, who in action continues, is one of labor’s central largely workers, took part in such a co- workers to the party in the past year and face of the bosses’ offensive have focused contradictions today, Barnes said, and alition meeting in that Midwestern city the development of leadership among the on collaboration with the employers, not will only be resolved through a course leading up to an April 9 action. More than youngest recruits to the movement. on organizing workers to resist these like that Hesse put his finger on. 50 workers participated in another such At the opening of the convention, attacks, said Barnes. He pointed to the The huge protests demanding legaliza- meeting prior to the May Day events. Barnes introduced the members of the capitulation to demands by the auto tion of all immigrants strengthen might- Welcome and Recruitment Committee. barons for wage and benefit cuts by the ily the prospects for the workers move- Character of ‘Militant’ changes In addition to working with those attend- leadership of the United Auto Workers ment to move in that direction, Barnes The character of the Militant has ing their first convention, the committee changed more in the past 12 months was charged with “going out and winning than in any 12 months of its history, as many Young Socialists and candidates Barnes said in his opening remarks. The for membership in the party as possible,” Message to Communist Party of Cuba socialist weekly has become “more and he said. By the end of the convention, Below is a message to Dagoberto workers engaged in what was in fact more the voice of militant workers.” as participants were laying out plans to Rodríguez Barrera, chief of the Cu- a multicity political general strike for Barnes, as well as a number of del- launch socialist election campaign efforts ban Interests Section in Washington, the first time in our history. egates who spoke during the discussion, and teams to introduce the Militant to D.C., sent June 21 by SWP national This was the context in which the pointed to the special issue the Militant workers, 10 people had joined the Young secretary Jack Barnes on behalf of convention discussion and decisions published in February with the banner Socialists or the Socialist Workers Party the delegates to the party’s conven- helped clarify and strengthen the So- headline “Unionize the mines! Build (see article on page 6). tion. Rodríguez sent greetings to the cialist Workers Party’s course as we the UMWA! No miner has to die.” convention on behalf of the Commu- respond to the deepening crisis of The campaign to sell that issue greatly Leverage of propaganda work nist Party of Cuba. the world imperialist order. Among increased the paper’s base of subscrib- “I know of no other book we have the questions to which the delegates ers in the West Virginia and Kentucky published that has gotten such a broad Dear Compañero Rodríguez, gave special attention were not only coalfields, said Ryan Scott, a coal miner response, and has led us to so many new The 425 participants at the So- Washington’s expanding war in Iraq and a delegate from Pittsburgh. More forces as has this book,” said Mary-Alice cialist Workers Party’s 44th Con- and Afghanistan and the fight for the workers say they need the Militant Waters about Our History Is Still Being stitutional Convention—delegates, immediate withdrawal of all U.S. because they identify it with a certain Written: The Story of Three Chinese-Cu- party members, Young Socialists, troops from those countries, but the course of action for labor, he said. ban Generals in the Cuban Revolution, as well as supporters, contacts, and intensifying imperialist pressures “When you begin to concentrate published by Pathfinder Press this year. friends from across North America, and threats directed at Iran, Ven- readers in an industry, a region, a plant, Waters, a member of the party’s National Europe, and the Pacific—received ezuela, Cuba, and the Democratic you’re also putting enormous responsi- Committee, gave a report titled “Africa, with enthusiasm your warm greet- People’s Republic of Korea. bility in your hands,” Barnes said. “It is Cuba, China, the U.S.: The Leverage of ings. We would have much preferred The delegates also expressed their a pledge to those workers that you will Communist Propaganda Work.” to welcome you in person and share determination to continue to do ev- cover their struggles in the paper.” She said a public launching of the with you our deliberations, but the erything possible to broaden the cam- Last year the party had projected a book will be held at the Chinese Histori- message enabled your presence to be paign for freedom of our five Cuban modest fall subscription campaign. By cal Society in San Francisco September felt despite the unceasing efforts of brothers, framed, given draconian the midpoint of that effort, the response 9. Speakers at it will include Waters and the U.S. government to prevent the sentences, and railroaded to prison to the paper among working people was Ling Chi-Wang, a prominent professor of people of Cuba from extending their for their courage and commitment to such that the subscription goal was dou- Continued on page 8 solidarity to those who are part of defend the people of Cuba from the the popular struggles today unfold- actions of Cuban counterrevolutionary ing across the United States. forces that Washington’s bipartisan Socialist Workers Party National Committee The deliberations of the conven- government allow to operate with tion’s delegates were marked above impunity within the united States. Elected at 44th Constitutional Convention all by involvement of party members The convention marked a step together with our co-workers in the forward for us in winning new work- Regular massive proletarian movement for the ers and youth to our ranks, widely Jack Barnes James Harris Sam Manuel Jacob Perasso legalization of immigrant workers that expanding the readership of the Róger Calero Alyson Kennedy Doug Nelson Norton Sandler in the last three months has strength- Militant/El Militante, and advancing ened mightily the workers movement the programmatic clarity and disci- Steve Clark Martín Koppel Olympia Newton Brian Taylor as well as changed broader politics pline needed to effectively join the Bill Estrada Argiris Malapanis Paul Pederson Mary-Alice Waters in the United States. The speed and class battles ahead of us at home and power of these actions caught the abroad. Along that course, we uncon- Alternate U.S. rulers by surprise. By downing ditionally extend our hand to socialist tools and taking to the streets across Cuba in internationalist solidarity. 1. Paul Mailhot 4. Diana Newberry 7. Willie Cotton the country in numbers never before Fraternally, 2. Ved Dookhun 5. Karl Butts 8. Becca Williamson seen in the United States, millions of Jack Barnes 3. Arrin Hawkins 6. Ellie García 9. Carlos Sánchez

The Militant July 10, 2006 7 Socialist Workers Party holds 44th convention Continued from page 7 the Fight to Continue Lenin’s Communist Closing rally Federation (FUPI) in Puerto Rico; and Asian-American studies at the University Course Against Stalin’s Counterrevolu- The international gathering concluded the Workers Party of Korea. of California in Berkeley. tion,” by Bernie Senter and Dave Prince; with an evening rally on June 17. A panel Panelists presented plans for a summer Waters stressed the importance of this and “The Black Struggle and the March of speakers outlined plans to build on the subscription renewal effort to increase the type of mass work for building a proletar- to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat in the successes registered at the gathering. Militant’s long-term readership, strength- ian party. The response to the new book Americas,” by Steve Clark, James Harris, “Campaigners for the SWP ticket in ening the work of the Printing Project, and has provided opportunities to broaden and Gabriela Moreano. New York State are going out of this deepening the party’s trade union work. knowledge about the Cuban Revolution Other classes were presented on “The convention to offer a working-class Delegates and guests signed up to join a among Asian-Americans and others, and Jewish Question: The Danger for the alternative to the Democrats, Republi- team to introduce the Militant to miners to extend the reach and attraction to the Workers Movement of the ‘Israel Lobby’ cans, and other capitalist parties,” Róger and others in Harlan County, Kentucky, communist movement in such circles, Conspiracy Theory,” by Sam Manuel; Calero, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate where the socialist paper has received a opening doors previously closed to it. “Communism and the Internationaliza- from New York, told the enthusiastic good response because of its truthful re- Waters also reviewed three other tion of the Working Class, from Marx, audience (see front-page article). porting on the killing of five coal miners experiences that register the increas- Engels, and Lenin to Today,” by Martín Ross Hogan, a member of the Young on the job in May and the response by ingly effective use of books and other Koppel and Ross Hogan; “Women’s Socialists in New York, described the working people to the disaster. A team revolutionary literature in building the Liberation and the Line of March of the successful launching of the Socialist of four volunteers sold 16 subscriptions communist movement. Working Class to Power,” by Betsy Farley Summer School in that city as well as in and 150 copies of the Militant in Harlan Young Socialists participated along and Chauncey Robinson; “Trade Unions: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and St. Paul, Min- Country June 22–24, bringing the total with 15,000 other youth from 144 coun- Their Past, Present, and Future,” by Paul nesota. He noted the advances the Young there to 31 subscriptions and 500 copies tries in the World Festival of Youth and Mailhot and Julian Santana; and “Cuba’s Socialists have made in recruiting to the over the last month. Students last August in Caracas, Venezu- Internationalist Foreign Policy,” by Sara organization and consolidating a cadre. Dave Prince, organizer of the party’s ela. The political activity and conduct of Donaldson and Ben O’Shaughnessy. Greetings were read to the convention capital fund committee, announced that the Young Socialists leading up to and at Party supporters participating in the from Dagoberto Rodríguez, chief of the $163,500 was raised in capital contribu- that gathering, which drew many differ- Printing Project held workshops the day Cuban Interests Section in Washington, tions from nearly 30 contributors during ent political forces, was a “master class” after the conference concluded. A meet- D.C., who sent the message on behalf the three-day gathering. Those present in mass work, Waters said. A majority ing of Young Socialists and other youth of the Communist Party of Cuba; the responded to an appeal to help build the of the Young Socialists today were not was also held the same day. Pro-Independence University Students SWP, contributing nearly $29,000. members of the YS then, and many were recruited through this campaign. Another such experience was regis- Conferences organized for legalization of immigrants tered last October, when an international Continued from front page workers currently in the United States to Tribunal will serve as a speakout for those team of volunteers staffed Pathfinder’s with the earlier House bill, and the cre- gain legal status, after paying heavy fines who have lost relatives crossing the desert booth and participated in the first book ation of a statewide steering committee and meeting other restrictions. along the U.S.-Mexico border, had their fair ever held in Equatorial Guinea. The between the coalitions that organized the A bill passed by the House of Repre- families separated, and faced deportation. former Spanish-ruled colony in Central May Day mobilizations,” Nativo López, sentatives last December would make Conference participants also decided to Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, is in U.S. president of the Mexican American Po- it a felony to be in the United States organize teach-ins for July 15, to educate imperialism’s sights today largely be- litical Association, said in an interview. without proper documents and does not the public about the nature of the Senate cause of its oil reserves, Waters said. “This network will move the agenda de- allow legalization for any of the undocu- bill and win support for legalization. As a result of cumulative work over manding full and immediate legalization mented. House leaders announced June Meanwhile, according to information decades and the changes in politics for all immigrants.” 20 they would hold public hearings on posted on www.immigrantsolidarity.org, worldwide, a noticeable change was reg- The Senate bill includes numerous the Senate bill in July and August, mak- the National Immigrant Solidarity Net- istered in the response to titles promoted anti–working-class provisions, such as ing it unlikely that Congress will reach work has called a “National Grassroots by Pathfinder at the last book fair in Ha- building hundreds of miles of fencing agreement on any immigration law soon. Immigrant Strategy Conference” July 28– vana, Waters said. “This was especially along the U.S.-Mexico border, more The first of these hearings will take place 30 at American University in Washington, registered in the response to the presen- than doubling the Border Patrol cops, in San Diego July 5. The same day, an D.C., to oppose the Senate and House bills tation around issues 6 and 7 of Nueva and making it easier for la migra to Immigrant Rights Tribunal will be held, and support amnesty for undocumented Internacional,” Waters said, referring to deport immigrants without any review. López reported, one of the activities immigrants and legalization. For more the Spanish version of the most recently It would also allow some undocumented agreed to at the June 17 conference. The information call 1-800-598-6379. published editions of that magazine of Marxist politics and theory. Waters pointed to the place of the work IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP of some 200 party supporters in format- ting, printing, and helping to promote the Where to find distributors of the Mili- MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 113 Bernard CANADA tant New International books published by the communist move- , , and a full display St. E, West St. Paul. Zip: 55118. Tel: (651) ONTARIO 2238 Dundas of Pathfinder books. : Toronto: ment and to a reorientation of that effort. 644-6325. E-mail: [email protected] St. W., #201, Postal code M6R Steps have been taken, Waters reported, UNITED STATES NEW JERSEY: Newark: 168 3A9. Tel: (416) 535-9140. E-mail: to train all who volunteer and expand the ALABAMA: Birmingham: 3029A Bloomfield Ave., 2nd Floor. Zip: [email protected] 07104. Tel: (973) 481-0077. E-mail: number of supporters active in the work Bessemer Rd. Zip: 35208. Tel: (205) 780-0021. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] FRANCE of the Printing Project, as it is called. Paris: P.O. 175, 23 rue Lecourbe. Postal Convention delegates, elected by party CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4229 NEW YORK: Albany: Tel: code: 75015. Tel: (01) 40-10-28-37. S. Central Ave. Zip: 90011. Tel: (323) (518) 929-4786. E-mail:Young E-mail: [email protected] branches in 16 cities, voted to approve the 233-9372. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Manhattan: reports by Barnes, Perasso, and Waters San Francisco: 3926 Mission St. Zip: 306 W. 37th St., 10th Floor. Zip: ICELAND along with two documents that had been 94112. Tel: (415) 584-2135. E-mail: swpsf 10018. Tel: (212) 629-6649.E-mail: Reykjavík: Skolavordustig 6B. discussed by party members before the @sbcglobal.net [email protected] Mailing address: P. Box 0233, IS 121 convention, “The World Crisis of Impe- FLORIDA: Miami: 8365 NE 2nd PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: Reykjavík. Tel: 552 1202. E-mail: kb- rialism: The Contradictory Dynamics of Ave. #206. Mailing address: P.O. Box 188 W. Wyoming Ave. Zip: 19140. [email protected] the Labor Vanguard” and “Consolidating 380846. Zip: 33138. Tel: (305) 756-4436. Tel: (215) 455-2682. E-mail: NEW ZEALAND Our Political Progress and Recruiting to E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Pittsburgh: 5907 Auckland: Suite 3, 7 Mason Ave., the Communist Movement.” GEORGIA: Atlanta: 2791 Penn Ave., Suite 225. Zip: 15206. Tel: Otahuhu. Postal address: P.O. Box (412) 365-1090. E-mail: PittsburghSWP Convention delegates elected a new Lakewood Ave. Zip: 30315. 3025. Tel: (9) 276-8885. E-mail: Mailing address: P.O. Box 162515, @verizon.net [email protected] National Committee, the body charged TEXAS: Houston: 4800 W. 34th with carrying out convention decisions Zip: 30321. Tel: (404) 768-1709. Christchurch: 287 Selwyn St., E-mail: [email protected] St., Suite C-51A. Zip: 77092. Tel: Spreydon. Postal address: P.O. Box and leading the work of the party be- (713) 869-6550. E-mail: swphouston@ 7103. Tel: (3) 930-3373. E-mail: tween conventions (see page 7). ILLINOIS: Chicago: 3557 S. Archer sbcglobal.net Ave. Zip: 60609. Tel: (773) 890-1190. E- [email protected] mail: [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C.: 3717 B Educational conference Georgia Ave. NW, Ground Floor. Zip: SWEDEN Alongside the convention sessions, IOWA: Des Moines: 3707 Douglas 20010. Tel: (202) 536-5080. E-mail: Stockholm: Bildhuggarvägen 17, Ave. Zip: 50310. Tel: (515) 255-1707. an educational conference was orga- [email protected] 12144 Johanneshov. Tel: (08) 31 69 33. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] nized for all participants. Eight classes MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 were offered on themes often taken up 307 Brooks, 160 Infirmary Way. Zip: Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 98118- UNITED KINGDOM by delegates and in the documents be- 01003. Tel: (914) 466-6772. E-mail: 2439. Tel: (206) 323-1755. E-mail: ENGLAND: London: First Floor, 120 fore them. The classes included, “The [email protected] Boston: 13 [email protected] Bethnal Green (Entrance in Brick Lane). Struggle for a Proletarian Party and Bennington St., 2nd Floor, East Boston. AUSTRALIA Postal code: E2 6DG. Tel: 020-7613- the Organizational Character of the Zip: 02128. Tel: (617) 569-9169. E-mail: Sydney: 1st Flr, 3/281-287 Beamish 3855. E-mail: [email protected] SWP,” by Olympia Newton; “The Case [email protected] St., Campsie, NSW 2194. Mailing SCOTLAND: Edinburgh: Second of Leon Trotsky: The Answer to the MICHIGAN: Detroit: 695 Gullen address: P.O. Box 164, Campsie, NSW Floor, 15 Hanover St. Postal code: 1936–37 Moscow Frame-up Trials and Mall Apt. 408. Zip: 48360. Tel: (248) 860- 2194. Tel: (02) 9718 9698. E-mail: EH2 1DJ. Tel: 0131-226-2756. E-mail: 9341. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] cl.edinburgh@ btinternet.com

8 The Militant July 10, 2006 EDITORIAL Miami raid Continued from front page blocks around a warehouse in a residential area, U.S. troops out of Iraq now! and arrested two of the men. Not one penny for the ongoing wars and occupations This is not a debate. It’s a charade. It is aimed at Federal cops arrested three others, construc- of Iraq and Afghanistan! U.S. and all other “coalition” fooling working people to get behind one or another of tion laborers, as they worked at an apartment troops out of these countries now! the capitalist ruling parties for the best way to “defend building in the Buena Vista East neighborhood This is what working people need to demand as America.” But the United States is divided into classes, of Miami. bipartisan support for the “war on terror,” including with conflicting and irreconcilable interests. It’s in the The men, all between the ages of 22 and 32, the U.S.-led war in Iraq, has firmed up. This is doubly interest of the wealthy families that rule America to back used the warehouse for Bible study and martial important in face of demagogy by liberal politicians and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the broader “war arts training, according to family and neighbors. “reporting” in much of the media that falsely presented on terror,” to beat back their competitors, shift the rela- They are members of a religious group called last week’s discussion in the U.S. Senate as a largely tionship of forces in those areas more to the favor of the Seas of David and worked for a small construc- partisan split on withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. imperialistic system of class exploitation and national tion company run by the group’s leader, Narseal Never mind the unanimous vote in the Senate for all oppression, and get more control of resources like oil. Batiste. Two of the men are Haitian-born and four the funds the White House requested to continue the These are the same capitalist families responsible are of Haitian descent. military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. for maiming and killing coal miners and other workers A four-count federal grand jury indictment Never mind that 70 percent of Democrats in the Sen- on the job to increase their profits. These are the same charges all seven with conspiracy to provide ma- ate joined their Republican colleagues to vote down an employers cutting wages and workers’ pensions to terial support to a “foreign terrorist organization, amendment that asked for ”redeployment” a year from fatten their wallets. Their so-called war on terrorism that is, al-Qaeda,” and conspiracy to use explo- now of some troops not needed for “standing up Iraqi at home and abroad ultimately targets workers and ex- sives and to “levy war against the Government security forces” and for “counterterrorism operations ploited farmers, their organizations, and the very rights of the United States.” If convicted they would and protecting United States facilities and personnel.” working people need to defend their livelihoods against face maximum prison sentences of 15–20 years Never mind that the statements backing this proposal the bosses’ antilabor attacks. The recent “antiterrorist” on each charge. by its sponsor, Sen. John Kerry, aided Washington’s ef- raid in Miami, based on the “evidence” cooked up by According to the indictment, the police infiltra- forts to further demonize Iran and prepare the ground one FBI snitch, and a similar one in London in which tor provided the men with money, boots, uniforms, for a possible military assault on that semicolonial nation cops shot a postal worker, whom they arrested and then and a camera, and discussed with them a plot to for the crime of trying to develop nuclear power. released without charges, prove the point. destroy the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Miami Never mind that the second amendment that failed That’s why it’s in the interest of working people to FBI office, and other Miami federal buildings. on troop redeployment, with a minority of Democrats oppose the “war on terror,” uncompromisingly, and to He supposedly got them to “pledge an oath to and most Republicans voting it down, merely called demand immediate and unconditional withdrawal of al-Qaeda.” for expediting, with no timetable, the transition of U.S. U.S. and all other occupation troops from the Middle The arrests were preceded by several months forces in Iraq to a “limited presence.” East and Central Asia. of FBI spying, wiretaps, and secret videotaping. The FBI acknowledges the group had no weapons or explosives and no ties to al-Qaeda. “This group was more aspirational than opera- London: 1,000s protest ‘antiterror’ raid tional,” said FBI deputy director John Pistole. Continued from front page I cannot move.’ He just kicked me in my face, and he Relatives of those accused spoke out against June 2 and arrested Mohammed Abdul Kahar and his kept on saying: ‘Shut the f--k up. Stay here.’” the arrests. “I believe my husband is innocent of brother Abul Koyair. Kahar, a postal worker, was shot Kahar said he was dragged from the house onto the all the accusations against him,” said Minerva in the shoulder by the cops. The men were held for a street where eventually a cop applied pressure to the Batiste, 34, about Narseal Batiste, according to week at a high security prison under the Terrorism Act wound. During the raid a 100-metre (328 feet) cordon the Chicago Tribune. 2000, and then released without charges. was drawn around the house and the skies above were “They prayed. They exercised. They were try- After getting out of prison, Kahar told the media that decreed a no-fly zone, as 50 officers broke down the ing to get their minds right,” Marlene Phanor, after he was shot he said to the police, “‘Please, please, door and burst inside. The cops alleged the building sister of Stanley Phanor, one of those arrested, was used to hide chemical weapons. None were found. told the Miami Herald. “These claims are com- The brothers’ lawyer said the cops dug up plants in the pletely false.” UAW convention garden and drilled holes in the shower. Betty McKinzy, 57, a county animal services Continued from page 3 Speaking to demonstrators June 18, Koyair, a super- worker who lives near the warehouse, told the Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. market worker said, “[We] don’t want this to happen Militant, “I don’t think it was right. These people About one-third of U.S. auto production is now in to other people…Muslim [or] non-Muslim.” never bothered anybody. The FBI didn’t find any the South. Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was guns or drugs—no nothing.” The UAW convention promoted a strong protectionist shot dead by cops at the Stockwell underground sta- Another neighbor, a Honduran-born construc- theme, with many convention delegates wearing T-shirts tion in July 2005 on the false grounds that he was a tion worker who asked that his name not be used, that said, “American jobs are worth fighting for.” At the suspected “terrorist,” attended the rally. After a police said, “I don’t think they were terrorists. There convention Gettelfinger argued that steps were needed review in March of that killing, de Menezes’s cousin, were no guns or grenades. They’re religious. I to prevent “American” jobs from being “exported to Alex Pereira, told the press: “I won’t accept Blair’s used to see them doing exercises when I walked Mexico, China, Thailand, Vietnam, India, and other apology because he’s killing people—he apologized my dog in the morning. There is no evidence, but low-wage nations.” but at the same time they will still carry on with their the police do what they want.” UAW convention delegates approved a proposal to shoot-to-kill policy.” Tony Jeanthenor, a leader of Veye Yo, a Haitian take $60 million out of a nearly $925 million strike Prime Minister Anthony Blair said he backed the community organization, said, “It is very very fund. Robert Betts, president of Local 2151 near Grand Forest Gate operation “101 percent,” indicating that suspicious. No proof whatsoever. And the federal Rapids, Michigan, told the Free Press that the funds such raids will continue. London mayor Kenneth government is good at creating proof when they would instead be used to lobby Congress for anti-import Livingstone also backed the raid. need it. These workers decide to pray their own laws—including trade measures against China—and “Is he 101 percent behind the bullet which went into way. What is the problem?” to try to organize the U.S. plants of Toyota, Honda, and my chest?” asked Kahar in response. Both brothers David Markus, president of the Miami chapter other Asian-based manufacturers. said they’ll sue the police. of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, told the Herald, “We used to have agents and confidential informants creating drug Israeli tanks, troops invade Gaza Strip deals in Liberty City. Now it looks like they are Continued from front page perialist power in the region. creating homegrown cells.” Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said of the attack. The Israeli government is willing to negotiate with Sarah Ruth Robinett, Socialist Workers Party At the same time, he added, “We do not intend to reoc- Palestinian leaders who “act against terrorism and rec- candidate for the Florida House of Representa- cupy Gaza.” ognize Israel’s right to exist,” Olmert said June 26. If tives in District 109, which includes most of Lib- PNA president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the cap- the Palestinian leadership does not comply, “the State of erty City, condemned the FBI raid and arrests. turing of Shalit and called the Israeli assault “collective Israel will seek other ways to change the reality, separate “The U.S. government, its cops, secret police punishment and crimes against humanity.” ourselves from the Palestinians and shape the borders of and media want to convince us that they are out Shalit was captured after the Israeli military for the Israel, in order for there to always be a stable and perma- to protect our rights and that we should get used past month has stepped up its campaign of targeted nent Jewish majority in the State of Israel,” he stated. to the stepped-up use of government armed forces assassinations of Palestinians accused of carrying As the Gaza invasion was unfolding, the media said in our neighborhoods. Nothing could be further out armed attacks against Israelis. According to the that Tel Aviv and Washington had made progress in from the truth,” she said. United Nations, Israeli attacks have killed 43 Palestin- pressuring Hamas to recognize Israel. A draft accord These “antiterrorist” moves, Robinett said, are ians and injured more than 100 in Gaza in June. More has reportedly been reached between the leadership of in fact “attacks on our basic rights. The real target than one-third of them have been bystanders killed as Hamas and Abbas, a leader of Fatah that ran the PNA is working people—our fighting capacity and our “collateral damage” during missile attacks by the Israeli until last year. It calls for the creation of a Palestinian unions. The rights of the accused must be de- Air Force. state on the territories Tel Aviv occupied after 1967. fended, including the presumption of innocence, The assault in Gaza is part of the Israeli regime’s Hamas has so far refused to recognize, even implicitly, private meetings with their lawyers, and complete effort to secure the borders of Israel as a junior im- Israel’s claim to the rest of historic Palestine. access to all evidence against them.” The Militant July 10, 2006 9