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Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 59, No. 14 April 6, 2017 $1 In New York City BLACK LIVES MATTER! By Taryn Fivek and Nathaniel Peters New York City

Hundreds of activists skillfully moved past police barricades to scale the stairs to Manhattan’s High Line Park and drop two banners April 1. One read, “Stop Trump and de Blasio’s War on Black Peo- ple!” and the other read, “F-ck the Police.” Tourists and residents alike took photos and ­anti-racist literature as activists suc- cessfully evaded police while chanting, “Black lives, they matter here! Refugees, they matter here!” and “How do you spell ­racist? N-Y-P-D!” The protest initiated by the People’s Power Assembly, and supported by NYC Shut it Down, Why Accountability, Work- ers World Party, Hoods 4 Justice and oth- er activists, sought to bring the battle for Black lives to the forefront of New York- ers’ minds through their militant action, which also took over Macy’s at Herald Square, Chelsea Market and the Whitney Museum. One person was arrested and was later released.

Many consider Mayor Bill de Blasio a po- WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN litical ally against Trump’s white suprema- April 1, New York City cy, especially since he so often claims that New York is a “sanctuary city” for migrants and people of color. However, Broken Windows Policing, which he supports, is liberal politicians at the local level.” while Caughman was a “career criminal” ‘cause he was late and we were waiting the height of hypocrisy, as it targets peo- Clare Fogerty, an organizer with Peo- living in a halfway house. While the me- for him to capitalize on the death of a ple of color primarily with unwarranted ple’s Power Assembly and NYC Shut It dia carried on their racist ways, New York Black man. He turned it into a press con- summonses and can flag undocumented Down, had earlier attended Timothy City Mayor Bill de Blasio saw Caughman’s ference, a goddamn charade.” migrants for deportation for minor infrac- Caughman’s funeral. Caughman had funeral as a great media opportunity. The April 1 action sent a powerful mes- tions like subway fare evasion. been stabbed to death March 20 by a “De Blasio stood up at Timothy Caugh- sage across New York — that racist state Despite record numbers of activists depraved racist who had traveled from man’s funeral and claimed to care about violence will be challenged wherever and turning out to march against Trump Baltimore to New York with the stated the lives of Black people,” Fogerty told whenever possible. The non-permit pro- since the November election, corporate intention of murdering Black men. Lo- WW. “If that was truly the case, he would test action traversed midtown to make a media have been too busy diverting at- cal media ran stories that mentioned the hold the NYPD accountable for it’s con- strong statement against white suprema- tention toward Russia and north Korea murderer’s “sharp outfit” and history of tinued savage treatment of Black people. cy, proving once again that the real path to focus on continued grass-roots resis- fighting in the murderous U.S. military, He held the funeral up by 10 minutes to liberation is in the streets. tance against white supremacy. “This march showed that there is still a militant movement on the ground in NYC Hands off Planned Parenthood! 7 dedicated to the abolition of racist polic- ing,” said Mike Bento of NYC Shut It Down. “Through the speeches and the chants, Hep C treatment for Mumia 3 the march showed how all the recent at- tacks on oppressed people by the Trump administration are related to the oppres- Housing is a right! Bay Area, New York, Detroit 4 sion of Black people up to and including the de Blasio administration’s continued support of broken windows policing. From People with disabilities fight back 6 stop-and-frisk to project raids, Trump’s social-cleansing platform is facilitated by the continued support of racist policing by Hypocrites and missing girls Editorial 10

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CREDIT: L’OBS Street______City / State / Zip______Workers World 212.627.2994 Yemen 9 Mosul 9 Puerto Rico 11 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl, NY, NY 10011 workers.org Page 2 April 6, 2017 workers.org PART 2 RAMONA AFRICA discusses MUMIA ABU-JAMAL, U.S. prisons & Trump  In the U.S. By Lamont Lilly Former U.S. political prisoner Ramona Africa In New York City – Black Lives Matter! ...... 1 is the Minister of Communication for the MOVE Orga- Ramona Africa on Mumia, U.S. prisons & Trump ...... 2 nization and a Philadelphia-based organizer with the DOC promises hep C drugs for Mumia Abu-Jamal . . . . 3 International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. She is also the only living survivor of the 1985 Mumia: The illusion of correctional ‘medicine’ ...... 3 MOVE bombing, when the FBI and Philadelphia police Detroit: Protest demands release of funds ...... 4 dropped two C-4 bombs on her organization’s home, kill- Brooklyn housing activists: ‘Kill the bill!’ ...... 4 ing 11 people. Read along as we discuss the case of Mumia Bay Area acts to halt home evictions ...... 4 Abu-Jamal, the conditions of U.S. prisons and Donald On the picket line ...... 4 Trump. Read the entire interview on workers.org. A veteran activist on: ‘Labor rights equal Civil Rights’ . . .5 Trump kicks environmental destruction up a notch . . . 5 Lamont Lilly: Mumia has been in prison for over three him gets a lot of attention. What the institution is say- decades now, working on four, most of his time being in ing is that if they give the treatment to Mumia, then they People with disabilities battle Trump ...... 6 solitary confinement and on death row. They’ve tried to will have to give it to the other 6,000 to 7,000 inmates in JDL attacks AIPAC protesters ...... 6 break him, but he continues to find strength and keep the state of Pennsylvania who also have hepatitis C. And No defunding of Planned Parenthood! ...... 7 writing and teaching, even while incarcerated. Right now, yes, yes, you should! You took custody of these people! WWP Midwest conference mixes theory and action . . . 8 Mumia is sick with hepatitis C. There has been a national You took responsibility for them! So yes, if they’re sick, of Letter to the editor: Young worker on socialist education . 9 movement to get Mumia the medicine that would cure it, course you’re supposed to treat them! I mean, come on. Women defend Standing Rock but the state of Pennsylvania is not allowing that. What LL: I heard that the prison where Mumia Abu-Jamal is and Indigenous Sovereignty ...... 10 the hell is going on? being detained doesn’t have clean drinking water. Is that Ramona Africa: Well, there are two attorneys fighting true? You also have family members in that prison. What  Around the world hard on this, Robert Boyle and Bret Grote, who have been have you heard about this? History of U.S./Saudi role in Yemen ...... 8 fighting to get Mumia treated. (tinyurl.com/lmy4z49) RA: Let me tell you. I know people have heard about U.S. military to increase aggression in Yemen ...... 9 There is a cure for hepatitis C — and that’s what they are Flint, Mich., but contaminated water is not just in Flint. pushing for. It’s a drug called Harvoni. The thing is, it’s (tinyurl.com/ludzcd4)The prison that our brother, Eddie Mosul, Iraq: U.S. guilty of war crimes ...... 9 a two-prong fight. Harvoni in India and Africa costs like Africa, and Mumia are in is called Mahanoy Correctional Right wing rebuffed in Ecuador ...... 11 $4 a pill, $7 a pill. In the United States, it’s like $1,000 Institution. The water there is so, so bad! It is so bad that Student strike vs. Fiscal Junta in Puerto Rico ...... 11 for one pill. The cure is a 90-day treatment. You have to they started giving the inmates three little Dixie cups of General strike rocks French Guiana ...... 11 water with each meal. This is ridiculous! That’s nine little take it every day for 90 days. It is a proven cure, not just a  Editorial “treatment.” This is the cure for hepatitis C. Dixie cups of water per day because the regular water is Black, Brown, Indigenous girls’ lives matter ...... 10 One prong of this fight is the pharmaceutical com- not drinkable. This is what they’re giving them, nine little panies. How can you dare charge people $1,000 a pill Dixie cups of water per day? It’s unreal! Most people have  Noticias en Español ($90,000 basically for the cure)? Yet, in other countries, no idea this is going on. Manifestación masiva mata ley anti salud ...... 12 much poorer countries, they’re charging people $4 and Where my brother Mike Africa is being incarcerated Banco de Santander debe reparaciones $7 for this pill. I’m not saying that they should raise the — at Graterford Prison here in Pennsylvania — the water al pueblo puertorriqueño ...... 12 price of their pills. I’m saying that these pharmaceutical is really bad there, too. He convinced the “Lifers Associ- companies here in the U.S. should not be charging $1,000 ation” to sell bottled water. It’s one of their fundraisers. for it over here. But he pays close to $20 for a case of water. That’s ridicu- LL: You mentioned a “two-prong” fight. What is the sec- lous. He’s spending $60 a month for water. Workers World ond problem that you all are fighting? They were telling the guards straight up: Don’t drink 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Fl. RA: The other prong is what you just spoke on — the the water. Bring your own. My brother Mike works in the New York, NY 10011 institution. Mumia is so well-known. The situation with Continued on page 3 Phone: 212.627.2994 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.workers.org Vol. 59, No. 14 • April 6, 2017 Closing date: April 4, 2017 Editor: Deirdre Griswold Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell, Kris Balderas-Hamel, Monica Moorehead, Who we are & what we’re fighting for Minnie Bruce Pratt; Web Editor Gary Wilson Hate capitalism? Workers World Party fights for a ­degrading people because of their nationality, sexual or Production & Design Editors: Coordinator Lal Roohk; ­socialist society — where the wealth is socially owned gender identity or disabilities — all are tools the ruling Andy Katz, Cheryl LaBash class uses to keep us apart. They ruthlessly super-ex- and production is planned to satisfy human need. This Copyediting and Proofreading: Sue Davis, outmoded capitalist system is dragging down workers’ ploit some in order to better exploit us all. WWP builds Bob McCubbin living standards while throwing millions out of their unity among all workers while supporting the right jobs. If you’re young, you know they’re stealing your of self-determination. Fighting oppression is a work- Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe, Greg Butterfield, G. Dunkel, K. Durkin, future. And capitalism is threatening the entire planet ing-class issue, which is confirmed by the many labor Fred Goldstein, Martha Grevatt, Teresa Gutierrez, struggles led today by people of color, immigrants and with its unplanned, profit-driven stranglehold over the Berta Joubert-Ceci, Terri Kay, Cheryl LaBash, means of production. women. Milt Neidenberg, John Parker, Bryan G. Pfeifer, Workers built it all — it belongs to society, not to a WWP has a long history of militant opposition to im- Betsey Piette, Gloria Rubac handful of billionaires! But we need a revolution to perialist wars. The billionaire rulers are bent on turning Mundo Obero: Redactora Berta Joubert-Ceci; make that change. That’s why for 59 years WWP has back the clock to the bad old days before socialist revolu- Andrea Bañuelos, Ramiro Fúnez, Teresa Gutierrez, tions and national liberation struggles liberated territory been building a revolutionary party of the working Carlos Vargas class inside the belly of the beast. from their grip. We’ve been in the streets to oppose every We fight every kind of oppression. Racism, sexism, one of imperialism’s wars and aggressions. Supporter Program: Coordinator Sue Davis Copyright © 2017 Workers World. Verbatim copying Contact a Workers World Party branch near you: workers.org/wwp and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium without royalty provided this notice is preserved. National Office Boston Denver Lexington, Ky. Rochester, N.Y. 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By Betsey Piette July indicated there was a 60 percent mal’s favor, federal Judge Robert Mar- chance he already had cirrhosis. His hep iani called these state protocols an un- Political prisoner and revolutionary C infection was first diagnosed during a constitutional form of “cruel and unusual activist Mumia Abu-Jamal was notified routine blood test in 2012. He began to punishment.” Mariani further noted that March 31 by the Pennsylvania Depart- show signs the infection was worsen- the cost of providing antiviral drugs to 2012 ment of Corrections that he would start ing in March 2015. Suffering from a se- all the Pennsylvania prisoners needing receiving Harvoni to treat his hepatitis C vere skin rash and unexplained weight them should not be used as a basis for infection on or before April 6. loss, Abu-Jamal suddenly collapsed in a withholding medication. At the same time, Abu-Jamal was in- ­diabetic near coma. Around 700,000 prisoners in the U.S., formed that medical tests given earlier Abu-Jamal and his supporters are re- including 6,000 in Pennsylvania, suffer in the week confirmed he has cirrhosis lieved that he will finally get the treat- from active hep C. To date the Pennsyl- The illusion of of the liver, putting him at greater risk ment he needs, But there is also a rising vania DOC has provided treatment for of other health complications, including tide of anger over the DOC’s refusal to roughly 1 percent of prisoners with the deadly liver cancer. comply with previous court requests. disease. The state argues that providing correctional This bittersweet victory follows a near- Abu-Jamal’s attorney, Robert Boyle, not- treatment is cost prohibitive, at around ly two-year struggle on the streets and in ed that, while it is a victory that the $50,000 per prisoner if drugs are pur- the courts to win access to life-saving hep DOC has been ordered to get the chased at a bulk rate. This argument ‘medicine’ C medications for Abu-Jamal and thou- drugs to Mumia, “It is a scandal ignores the reality that failure to treat sands of other prisoners in Pennsylvania. that his condition had to get this the curable disease means spending By Mumia Abu-Jamal When Abu-Jamal first filed for legal bad first. It is a scandal also that hundreds of thousands of dollars Taken from a March 31 audio action against the Pennsylvania DOC in the DOC has dragged its feet.” per prisoner to treat related dis- ­recording on prisonradio.org September 2015, medical tests taken in Abu-Jamal told Prison Ra- eases including diabetes, heart dio: “My first reaction was re- disease and cancer. In the netherworld of American pris- ally shock, anger, disbelief. If ons one must jettison any medical as- I had been treated in 2015, if I Enough is enough sumption one brings in from the so-called RAMONA AFRICA had been treated in 2012 when Speaking to a group of free world. We’ve been conditioned to see they say they first diagnosed it, I Abu-Jamal supporters, attor- nurses as sweet sources of solace and Continued from page 2 wouldn’t be this far advanced. I ney Boyle noted that the DOC doctors as people dedicated to healing the sick and easing our pain. kitchen there, and he was telling me that wouldn’t have F4 [a stage when complied only at the very last In prison, new rules govern medicine in the guards’ dining room they have fil- the disease advances from liv- minute with Judge Mariani’s and care. Here, money is master. The ill ters on the water spigots, but not for the er fibrosis to cirrhosis].” order to treat Mumia. He de- are all but ignored. This may seem harsh, inmates, of course. That is the state of In a March 31 public an- 2015 nounced what he called the but I must assure you reality is even what’s happening in this country, not just nouncement, DOC spokes- DOC’s outrageously cavalier harsher. with Mumia, but in prisons all over this woman Amy Worden claimed the only actions: “This exposes the DOC’s bru- Recently, I wrote of jailhouse lawyer country. (tinyurl.com/mlmapdu) reason for Abu-Jamal’s treatment was tality. They wait until people go into a Dennis Solo McKeithan and his battle to I don’t know what it’s going to take the progression of his disease diagnosed serious phase of a disease and then say, get examined and treated for the painful for people to really — and I mean really! by tests taken earlier in the week. But practically, ‘If it’s too late, it’s too late.’” nerve disorder known as shingles. — get the message that this system and hep C experts say treatment with anti-vi- On the day the DOC informed Abu-Ja- As I read this trial transcript I found those running it are not operating in our ral medications should be routine at any mal that he would be receiving the hep C the remarkable comments and questions interests, in the interests of the people. stage of the disease. treatment, its state attorneys filed a mo- by the judge instructive. He asked es- Their only interest is money and keep- And what Worden failed to mention tion with Judge Mariani to have the case sentially if a company hired by the DOC ing this system going. I don’t know when was that the DOC has fought treatment “declared moot.” After trying to evade [Department of Corrections] to provide people are really going to get that, but we for Abu-Jamal at every step of the way, compliance with the previous court or- health care had a conflict because, as a can’t look to this system for anything. including most recently refusing to com- der, the DOC now wants to avoid paying private company, its interests were to LL: Speaking of “the system” and ply with a Jan. 3 federal order to test and compensation for damages Abu-Jamal make money by refusing to provide med- those who are running it, what are your treat him within 21 days. has suffered because of their negligence. ications needed by prisoners. The wit- thoughts on the election of Donald The state also clearly wants to avoid a PA protocol ruled “unconstitutional” ness denied his suggestion, but the judge Trump? higher court ruling that could go against had hit a nerve. RA: I’m not a Hillary Clinton fan at all, Despite Abu-Jamal’s grievances within them, opening the door to a mandate to From 2015 to today, my lawyers and I but the bottom line is they told people the prison system and subsequent court treat all prisoners. have been demanding real treatment for to their faces: “Your vote doesn’t count.” appeals, the DOC did little throughout Supporters of Abu-Jamal have orga- my hepatitis C infection. You don’t elect the president. They say this process to test for the progression nized countless demonstrations and pe- The DOC initially filed a false affidavit that Hillary had over 2 million more of the disease. It repeatedly stalled, gave tition drives to pressure Pennsylvania which justified a U.S. magistrate’s dis- votes than Donald Trump. (tinyurl.com/ false information to the courts and re- Gov. Tom Wolf and DOC Commissioner missal of my own suit. The DOC argued zkayrtu) fused to provide adequate treatment. John Wetzel. Activists are asking for vig- that my hepatitis was fine; that it could go So, why he is now the president? Be- During a Dec. 15, 2016, federal court ilance and continued protests and calls years without treatment. cause this mystical electoral college se- hearing, the state’s malfeasance came to insure that the DOC delivers the full A federal judge disagreed and held a hear- lects the president. That’s why. It has to light. The DOC had filed a false affi- drug treatment to Abu-Jamal. There is ing which showed the affidavit was false and nothing to do with who “the people” davit subsequently used by a U.S. court concern that many supporters are under months later declared the so-called DOC pro- elected. They tell you that to your face, to dismiss an earlier suit by Abu-Jamal. the false impression that Abu-Jamal was tocol unconstitutional. The DOC fought back, and you’re still going to believe in this During the same hearing, the DOC’s at- already receiving the drugs under Mari- arguing that my hep C was at a low level. The system? You’re still going to hallucinate torney inadvertently revealed evidence of ani’s January ruling. judge again disagreed, declared the protocol that you can get something out of this? a recently developed state “protocol” for Pam Africa, with the International unconstitutional a second time and ordered I don’t know what it’s going to take for hep C treatment. Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia me treated. people to realize that we don’t need this The DOC protocol stated that new an- Abu-Jamal, stated: “There would be no The DOC essentially ignored the court system. We can’t use or get anything ti-viral medicines were to be provided concession from the DOC to treat Mumia order for close to two months and earlier from this system. It’s the system that only when a prisoner’s disease had got- without the international protests and this week subjected me to more testing. needs us, that relies on the people, not ten to the stage where it was imminent- legal actions. Moreover, the fight for Well the results just came back. the other way around. We have to let this ly life-threatening, as evidenced by ad- Mumia is a fight for all prisoners, and all Not only do I have advanced hepatitis system go and make up our minds to do vanced cirrhosis and other symptoms. In of us — hep C treatment for Mumia and C, I have cirrhosis of the liver — called F4, for ourselves, because we sure aren’t get- other words, the state would wait to treat all prisoners and those outside the prison because the DOC didn’t want to spend ting anything from this system. Nothing! until the prisoner was near death. walls as well! To the DOC, we say enough money to treat my infection. The DOC LL: We wish you and Brother Mumia In a January 2017 ruling in Abu-Ja- is enough!” said it would cost them $600 million. It Abu-Jamal much strength and continued may only cost me my life. resistance. We honor your many sacri- fices for the people. Thank you for your time, Ramona! MARXISM, REPARATIONS RA: Thank you, Lamont. Long live the & the Black Freedom Struggle Harriet Tubman, Woman Warrior revolution! Free Mumia! On a move! Mumia Abu-Jamal An anthology of writings from Workers World newspaper. Edited by Racism & Poverty in the Delta Larry Hales Lamont Lilly was the 2016 Workers Monica Moorehead. World Party U.S. vice presidential can- Racism, National Oppression & Self-Determination Larry Holmes Haiti Needs Reparations Pat Chin didate. In 2015, he was a U.S. delegate Black Labor from Chattel Slavery to Wage Slavery Sam Marcy Alabama’s Black Belt: Legacy of Slavery, Sharecropping & Segregation Consuela Lee at the International Forum for Justice Black Youth: Repression & Resistance LeiLani Dowell Are Conditions Ripe Again Today? in Palestine in Beirut, Lebanon. He is The Struggle for Socialism Is Key Monica Moorehead 1965 Watts Rebellion John Parker also an activist and organizer in the Domestic Workers United Demand a Bill of Rights Imani Henry Black Lives Matter movement. Black & Brown Unity: A Pillar of Struggle Saladin Muhammad Available at Amazon and other bookstores. Page 4 April 6, 2017 workers.org

Detroit Protest demands release of funds By Jerry Goldberg already subjected to tax foreclosures properly. While the purpose of these Detroit since 2002, as well as the approximate- funds is supposed to be to keep families

ly 100,000 mortgage foreclosures which in their homes, $381 million has been ear- WW PHOTO: ABAYOMI AZIKIWE A demonstration at the Wayne County have occurred in Detroit since 2006 as a marked by MSHDA (the Michigan State Former Detroit City Councilwoman Joann Treasurer’s office in Detroit on March 31 result of the racist, predatory, subprime Housing and Development Authority), the Watson speaking. called for an immediate moratorium on lending schemes perpetrated by the big state administrator of the Helping Hard- tax foreclosures and water shutoffs. banks. est Hit program, for blight removal (blight 2016. (Detroit News, Oct. 13) According to Loveland Technologies, The state of Michigan has received caused by the banks and corporations). The demonstration, on the last day for which surveys tax foreclosures, 43,624 $761 million dollars in Helping Hardest Only $216 million is being used to avoid residents to make payments before their homes were noticed for tax foreclosure Hit Funds from the federal government foreclosures by paying homeowners’ de- homes are slated to be auctioned off, was this year; of this number, 35,601 of these since 2010. These funds are a pittance of linquent mortgage and property tax bills. addressed by TV broadcaster and for- homes are in Detroit, and 31,586 sur- the $700 billion bank bailout. mer City Councilwoman Joann Watson; veyed as occupied. (makeloveland.com) The funds available to avoid these tax Funds frozen for Detroit’s ‘hardest hit’ mayoral candidate Coleman Young II; This is on top of the over 150,000 homes foreclosures are not being used or used Over $200 million of blight funds re- William Davis of the Detroit Active and mained unspent as of January, according Retired Employees Association; Abayomi to the most recent federal treasury report Azikiwe and Jerry Goldberg of the Mora- on the Hardest Hit program. This is be- torium Now! Coalition; and Mariah Uru- cause they are continually being frozen eta, Michigan organizer at Food & Water due to the corruption and fraud of the De- Watch. Every speaker called for an im- Brooklyn housing activists: troit Land Bank and Blight Removal Task mediate moratorium on foreclosures and Force, as documented in federal, state water shutoffs, and use of the Hardest Hit and city audits. Despite this corruption, Funds to keep families in their homes with ‘Kill the bill!’ MSHDA is refusing to reallocate these running water, not to tear them down. funds to keep families in their homes as A lawsuit by the American Civil Liber- Outside the home of New York City May- they were intended. ties Union is also moving forward, chal- or Bill de Blasio, an upscale Manhattan Tens of thousands of Detroiters also lenging the inflated and illegal property residence called Gracie Mansion, a protest face water shutoffs, which are nothing tax assessments in the city of Detroit, as for affordable housing on April 1 demand- but evictions in another form. These are well as the failure to offer tax abatements ed that the mayor “Kill the bill.” It was in addition to the 70,000 water shutoffs to thousands of poor Detroiters who are led by Brooklyn’s Crown Heights Tenants that occurred between 2014 and October entitled to them under the law. Union and drew mostly Black women. The developer BFC Partners is trying to get the city to rezone the Bedford-Union Armory in Crown Heights, a castle-like, Built to house the Army’s 23rd Nation- block-long structure of red brick. Its plan is al Guard regiment, the armory has been to turn the armory into 330 luxury apart- dormant for decades. In this community ments using nonunion labor. BFC will re- of mostly Black and Afro-Caribbean ten- ceive $25.1 million worth of tax write-offs ants, there is no housing for the homeless for the new Brooklyn housing plan. and plans for a nearby shelter for 1,000 By Alex Bolchi, Only 20 percent of the new housing more homeless. Why not have the ar- Mattie Starrdust would be for tenants earning less than mory provide housing, not shelters, for and Sue Davis $46,000 a year. In 2014, the average in- the homeless? come of a family of four in Crown Heights Mayor de Blasio and Brooklyn Coun- was $41,870. cilmember Laurie Cumbo have the pow- Tom Cat Bakery workers fight for jobs Explaining that rents are so high that er to vote down the rezoning. Protests Thirty-one immigrant workers at Tom Cat Bakery, an industrial baked goods supplier city workers are forced to live in shelters, and more will continue until the working in Long Island City, N.Y., received letters from the payroll department demanding they speakers denounced luxury development class has real affordable housing instead prove legal immigration status by March 15. “Unless you present us with valid identifi- in their borough, like the plans for the ar- of a system serving only the wealthy. cation,” the letter reads, “... you are considered by the Homeland Security Investigations mory. — Story and photo by Anne Pruden to be unauthorized to work in the United States.” (villagevoice.com, March 22) The workers, who are organized with the nonprofit advocacy group Brandworkers, immediately sprang into action with a rally March 22 calling for community support and demanding the company defend the workers from the DHS attack. According to Tom Cat worker Librada Antigua: “The Trump administration may want us to disap- Bay Area acts to halt home pear, but we’re not leaving our children for anything. Our unity is our strength, and our commitment is to victory.” In response to the show of united resistance, the com- pany has agreed to delay layoffs until April 21. evictions Henry Rivera, an 11-year Tom Cat worker who immigrated in 2005 from Honduras, encouraged workers to participate in May 1 general strike actions to fight back against By Tristen Schmidt the increasing anti-immigrant attacks, “We are organizing not just for Tom Cat work- Oakland, Calif. ers, but for workers in New York and the whole nation to encourage them to fight for justice.” (licpost.com, March 29) Over 60 community members and activists gathered March 29 NYC women of color fight for equal pay in front of the former Oakland A protest called at City Hall for April 4, Equal Pay Day, is part of the fight for back family home of 76-year-old matri- pay by more than 1,500 women of color who hold administrative managerial jobs in arch Dorthy DeBose to demand its PHOTO: ALLIANCE OF CALIFORNIANS FOR COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT/ ACCE Dorthy DeBose fighting home eviction. New York City agencies. Signifying the wage gap, the date symbolizes how far into the return to her. year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. The home had been owned by her fam- Home occupation squads were sched- When Communication Workers Local 1180 discovered two years ago that these ily for over 50 years until a predatory loan uled to begin that evening to prevent women workers were being grossly underpaid — by upwards of $65,000 a year — was offered and payment missed. Then Marr from coming to remove Ms. De- CWA filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Michael Marr of Community Fund LLC, Bose’s possessions until a meeting could which quickly found in their favor. When the city failed to respond to EEOC’s request one of Oakland’s largest private owners take place between Marr and the family, to pay up, Local 1180 filed a notice of claim last December demanding retroactive pay of rental properties, placed an unlawful in search of a resolution to move the fam- amounting to $243 million. The union called the demonstration to spotlight that the claim on the house. A crew from the Al- ily back in. city is still negligent. (cwa1180.org) ameda County Sheriff gave Ms. DeBose Further demands were for a commu- ten minutes to leave her home before they nity fund, and for other predatory land- changed the locks in mid-March. Marr is lords to reduce artificially inflated rents Congress sides with bosses in two cases currently facing criminal indictment from and give back some of their holdings to Yet again, Congress sides with bosses instead of working folks. In early March, Rep. the Department of Justice for rigging fore- a community land trust in order to keep Jody Hice introduced HR 1364, the Official Time Reform Act of 2017. It would cut the closure auctions to keep house prices arti- elders, children and other vulnerable, clock on that part of the workday that union shop stewards can spend on “official time.” ficially low for his financial benefit. valuable, community members in their That’s time spent at work representing the union, resolving members’ concerns and prob- Over 12,000 families, the majority homes. lems. It’s a request guaranteed under civil service law passed 40 years ago, and a method Black and Brown, have been evicted from The action took place on the same day already exists for curtailing it — management and supervisors can deny the request. Oakland homes since 2006, many under as a nearby San Francisco vigil honoring Since this control exists, rendering HR 1364 redundant, what are its true intentions? questionable circumstances. Action at- 100-year-old Iris Canada who was evict- Congress wants a chilling effect on workers who need representation, but also wants tendees called Marr’s office to request a ed from her longtime home for landlord to ice those workers who want to serve as stewards. If enacted, this bill would take re- meeting and were told he was on his way, profit in February and died weeks later in tirement time from stewards as a penalty. It’s literally asking a steward to choose be- but he was a no-show. the hospital from related stress. Continued on page 5 workers.org April 6, 2017 Page 5

A veteran activist on: ‘Labor Rights Equal Civil Rights’

By Martha Grevatt heard about other struggles relative to reflected in rally attendance. multinational corporations moving to WW: Does Nissan treat Southern “Labor Rights Equal Civil Rights” was the South, and states are pretty much Black workers unfairly? the theme of a historic “March on Missis- bidding on these multinationals to come CT: Danny has been involved in dele- sippi” held March 4 on the Nissan plant to their state. They’re taking money from gations of Nissan workers that have vis- in Canton. Over 4,000 people from la- economic development in the community ited union plants in Brazil, South Africa bor and the community turned out to and making it available to corporations and France. So it appears as if Nissan demand an end to “voter suppression” — (tax breaks, etc.). allows union representation in 42 plants, i.e., the right to vote in a union represen- WW: Tell us your impressions of the but the three [including two in Tennes- tation election, free of intimidation. Over march see] where they don’t is in the so-called 80 percent of the plant’s workforce is CT: This was a positive and uplifting “land of the free and home of the brave,” PHOTO: DELORES LEMON THOMAS African-American. Of Nissan’s 45 plants weekend despite the reasons for being which I think is quite a contradiction. Paulo Cayres, CNM-CUT of Brazil, Clarence worldwide, this is one of only three with- there, of not being able to get a [union rep- But if you look at the trends of moving Thomas, Ginny Coughlin, SEIU organizer at out union representation; the two others resentation] vote in 14 years. It was orga- to the southern region of the U.S., and March 4 march in Mississippi. are in Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn. nized as a March on Mississippi and one knowing the historical situation with re- WW talked to Clarence Thomas, re- of the themes was “end voter suppression” spect to the lack of union representation able to put forward their agenda and con- tired executive board member of Inter- — help us fight for the rights of Nissan in the South, we can plainly see that mul- cerns, which should also be environmen- national Longshore Workers Union Lo- workers and all workers in Mississippi to tinational corporations, specifically auto, tal, health care, education, etc. Unions cal 10, who flew from San Francisco to vote without interference by the employ- are coming to the South specifically to need to be a part of a coalition of con- Canton to attend the march. er. “Workers’ rights equal civil rights” was find a place where unionization will not cerns that are not just related to the vote WW: What brought you to the March on the T-shirts that they issued. only not be an encumbrance, but efforts but to the class and to the community. on Mississippi from California? I thought it was 5,000 in attendance. to vote will be suppressed through intim- That’s what we’ve done in Oakland. Clarence Thomas: I was made It was a multiethnic, multigenerational idation. So the whole story of harassment When they wanted to expand the port aware of it by Danny Glover. Danny and crowd. That was unusual for people to and intimidation is part of the tradition we started the Coalition for an Account- I go back to the mid 60s. In terms of our see in the South outside of a sporting or in the South toward Black people and able Port. What it did was to make sure class, we’re two of the most prominent cultural event, which I thought was inter- how it relates to the campaign to organize that with the facility they were building, people who came out of [San Francis- esting, because this was a political event. workers at Nissan. it would be done by organized labor. Also co] State College and the Black struggle WW: Why did Glover talk to college WW: Do you have any ideas on mov- the community had to be involved in the there. Glover is in the tradition of Robe- students? ing this critical fight forward? building and apprentice training and get son, Belafonte and others who have used CT: Nissan markets the Altima to- CT: This issue is not just limited to prevailing wages. I also mean things like: their celebrity status to further the cause wards the urban market and likes to pride Canton. Union density, when it comes to What do we do to preserve the marine hab- of the oppressed and the working class. itself in being a socially responsible car the private sector, [is] around six or sev- itat? What do we do with the dredge? We Danny told me some of the things he’d company. Altima is the top seller in the en percent. There’s movement of multi- have a wonderful habitat with exotic birds been doing with Nissan workers, so when African-American community. Because nationals to the South. This is a looming and where the community can picnic. I found out it was taking place in Canton Nissan markets the Altima towards the question for labor. We organized a coalition so they could — my wife has family there — I felt that urban market, students buy that car. I What would be an advantage is that not divide the community or labor or the now that I’m retired I needed to be there. was with Danny while he was with stu- the labor movement understands that environment by making concessions to I also was interested because I had dents at Tupelo College. We met scores [the fight] cannot be limited to just the one and not the other. When you [go it heard something about the struggle, of students at various schools. That was question of the vote. Workers need to be alone] you don’t connect the dots. Trump kicks environmental destruction up a notch

By G. Dunkel questioned the economic justification for throughout the oil-rich region of North China is already the world’s leading pro- this pipeline. Africa and the Middle East. ducer of solar and wind power technolo- March 25 - President Donald Trump But the Trump administration, in- This endless warfare instigated by gy. Its economic plans are built around a signed an executive order March 24 creasingly under attack, needed to nail U.S. and NATO regime-change agendas steady move away from fossil fuels. clearing the way for building the Key- down its support from Big Oil and corpo- has already displaced millions. Their stone XL Pipeline. The State Department rate profiteers. This decision goes along situation is made even worse by climate Arctic ice cover changes impact planet promptly issued the necessary permits. with its encouragement of coal mining, change, which has superheated the re- According to the National Snow and This pipeline, which was resisted by en- even though the market for coal is being gion, threatening the water supply and Ice Data Center, which has used satellites vironmental activists and Native nations, sharply undercut by competition from agriculture in already arid lands. for 38 years to map sea ice, the extent will make it cheaper to transport Cana- other energy sources like natural gas and All this runs counter to any efforts to of the Arctic ice cover is now the lowest dian crude oil mined from tar sands in wind and solar alternatives. rein in global warming. It would be diffi- on record. The ice is also much thinner, Alberta to Gulf-state refineries in the It lines up with the administration’s cult for Trump to formally renounce the meaning it is more likely to melt over the southern United States. easing of requirements that would im- guidelines put in place by the 2015 Paris summer. Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exx- prove mileage for automobiles and Agreement on climate, but he is making Thin ice makes the traditional har- on/Mobil and currently secretary of state, trucks. That supports the oil and automo- an end run around them in his quest to vesting of whales and seals by the Inuit deflected criticism by recusing himself bile profiteers, as does removing emis- make the U.S. even more profitable for people of the Arctic more difficult. These from the decision, but an under secretary sion standards. big business. sea animals make up a major portion of had no problem issuing the permit. Giv- Along with his giveaways to the energy their sustenance. en the current low price of crude oil and corporations, Trump has moved to un- China leads in curbing fossil fuels With less ice covering, the Arctic how expensive it is to extract oil from tar leash the Pentagon by giving the generals China has long had a major problem Ocean heats up more, driving up tem- sands, some articles in the business press even more leeway to launch air attacks with smog and industrial pollution from peratures throughout the Arctic — and steel plants and coal-fired power plants. worldwide. This winter there were long Now, due to global warming, changing spells of above-average temperatures Continued from page 4 wind patterns have weakened the winds over the Arctic Ocean, promoting the tween your future and your member’s. It’s muffling whistleblowers in northern China that would blow this melting of shore-line glaciers in Alaska but also union calls to serve as stewards. Under capitalism, officials smog and particulate pollution away. and Greenland and raising ocean levels reckon only with capital’s forces and never the working people who New research points to the melting of worldwide. the Arctic Ocean’s ice cover, combined shape labor and our unions. (afge.org, March 13) Floods in Peru harm poorest people Anti-worker President Trump signed a joint resolution March 27 to nullify the Fair with a resulting increased snowfall in Si- Pay and Safe Workplaces rule issued by the Obama administration in 2014. Its pur- beria, as the main factors leading to stag- While it is hard to definitively pin par- pose was to safeguard workers by making sure federal contracts do not go to compa- nant air over northern China. ticular weather events on global warm- nies that habitually violate labor laws by failing to pay overtime and minimum wages, However, as the March 25 New York ing, the fact that water temperatures off deny lunch breaks or force employees to work off the clock. “By repealing these pro- Times pointed out, “As the Trump ad- the northern coast of Peru have risen 5 tections … contractors with even the worst track records [are] off the hook — a punch ministration hints that it might move to 6 degrees Fahrenheit has produced a in the gut to workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding businesses,” said Christine Owens, away from international efforts to cut local El Niño, with flooding throughout executive director the National Employment Law Project. emissions, environmentalists are looking Peru. By March 20, according to the Na- A congressional report released in March assessing federal contractors’ compli- to China, the world’s largest emitter of tional Institute of Civil Defense, 643,216 ance with labor laws found “significant” abuses. Dozens of worker deaths occurred at greenhouse gases, to play a leading role people had been affected by it, with companies that took shortcuts with health and safety standards. More than 300,000 in curbing the use of fossil fuels.” more than 100,000 injured, 78 dead and workers employed by federal contractors in the past decade have experienced wage With four times the population of the 141,149 houses affected. theft. Nearly one-quarter of the U.S. workforce is employed by a federal contractor or U.S., China’s per capita CO2 emissions San Miguel in Piura province has re- subcontractor. (Rewire, March 28) are much lower than here. However, Continued on page 7 Page 6 April 6, 2017 workers.org People with disabilities battle Trump

By Edward Yudelovich In his original research for the Ruder- basic worker rights at the Department of threat and the so-called American Health man Family Foundation, Perry notes that Veterans Affairs. Care Act repeal of ACA was withdrawn in Ari Ne’eman, president of the Autistic this was Garner’s statement to a govern- “Make no mistake — this legislation is Congress on March 24. The resistance in- Self Advocacy Network, warned about ment employee (the cop) that he needed not about improving accountability at the cluded community and immigrant rights Donald Trump’s election as U.S. presi- reasonable accommodation, which is le- VA, and it certainly won’t improve vet- groups, workers in and outside unions, dent: “It’s a disaster. ... Assuming we can gally required to be provided under the erans’ access to quality care and earned students and people with disabilities for take him at his word on his stated poli- Americans with Disabilities Act. (tinyurl. benefits. This is part of an orchestrated whom repeal of ACA would have been a cy positions, there is a tremendous risk com/jk8y5f3) attack on the rights of federal workers and national death sentence. for people with disabilities.” (Huffington Under Trump’s Department of Justice, employee unions.” (tinyurl.com/lsax5ql) Such positive results from resistance Post, Nov. 10, 2016) headed by bigot Jeff Sessions, police ac- Rene Imperato, a Vietnam war veter- are far from without precedent in the dis- According to the Jan. 20 Washington countability could be even more reduced, an with several disabilities, told Workers ability rights movement. Post, moments after Trump took the oath to the detriment of people with disabilities. World: “My disabled veteran friends at On March 12, 1990, disability rights ac- of office, the White House website page “Trump is the most ableist president the VA in Manhattan and I are all aware tivists descended on the U.S. Capitol de- with information about federal policy on in modern history,” Perry comments. of this threat from the Trump administra- manding the passage of the Americans with opportunities for people with disabilities “He takes any kind of physical or mental tion to our services, and we are on high Disabilities Act, which expanded rights to was removed. difference that he perceives or imagines alert in the event that Trump implements people with disabilities. Over 1,000 pro- In 2005, attorney James Schottel Jr., as a weakness and uses it as a tool for these cutbacks to veterans benefits.” testers came from 30 states to protest for a person with a quadriplegia disability, dominance.” The bigoted Trump could ADA. After the rally and speeches, over 60 sued producers of Trump’s “reality” show, certainly also compete strongly with his Disability rights activists resist activists abandoned their wheelchairs and “The Apprentice,” for discrimination, for 44 predecessors as one of the most sexist, Donald Trump and his extensive real mobility devices and began crawling the 83 specifying “excellent physical” health as misogynist and racist of U.S. presidents. estate holdings have been sued a number stone steps up to the U.S. Capitol building a requirement for appearing on the show. In a 2015 Al Jazeera America article, of times for violations of the Americans entrance, as people loudly chanted “What (usatoday.com) Perry also exposed Trump’s Democratic with Disabilities Act (ADA), including do we want?” “ADA!” “When do we want In 2011, also on “The Apprentice,” opponents for slighting people with dis- by James Conlon, a person with para- it?” “Now!” Other activists remained at the Trump repeatedly called Oscar-winning abilities: “Hillary Clinton has just a brief plegia. In 2003, Conlon complained that bottom holding signs and giving encour- actor Marlee Matlin “re***d”, an offensive overview of disability rights issues on the buses to Trump’s Atlantic City casino agement to the crawlers. term used to ridicule someone’s intellec- her website … and in the first Democratic were virtually impossible to access in a “I want my civil rights,” Paulette Patter- tual or developmental abilities. He direct- presidential debate, the only mention of wheelchair and was told that there were son of Chicago stated as she was inching ed demeaning sexual comments toward disability occurred when Bernie Sand- no buses available for wheelchair users. her way to the top. “I want to be treated like her and mocked the sound of Matlin’s ers responded to a question about recent Conlon ultimately forced a settlement out a human being.” Eight-year-old Jennifer voice. Matlin is deaf and uses American mass shootings by talking about mental of Trump. (tinyurl.com/k7q5nm8) Keelan was famously taped while laboring Sign Language to communicate. (tinyurl. health. Because people with psychiatric A U.S. Department of Justice investiga- up the stairs. “I’ll take all night if I have com/jnte7eh) disabilities are vastly more likely to be tion into these cases found that Trump’s to,” she firmly stated. The second-grader During a 2015 rally, candidate Trump victims of violence than perpetrators of Taj Mahal was nearly inaccessible for all from Denver had a cerebral palsy disabil- mocked and imitated the limited arm it, many disability rights experts find the people with disabilities. DOJ findings ity and decided to partake in the crawl af- movements of New York Times journalist conflation of disability with gun violence included no signs indicating parking for ter joining ADAPT (Americans Disabled Serge Kovaleski, who has the disability of dangerous.” (tinyurl.com/m4gtqzs) people with disabilities in the self-park for Accessible Public Transit). She was arthrogryposis, a condition restricting the garage, bathrooms without proper Braille inspired by her friend Kenny Perkins, who way he moves his limbs. (Washington Post) Disabled veterans at risk for visually impaired people, failure to passed away in January 1990. As Jennifer In response to criticism from conser- Trump’s 2016 election campaign web- insulate bathroom pipes to prevent harm reached the top she stated, “I’m doing it for vative columnist and wheelchair user site only discussed disability in relation to when contacted, and counter surfaces in Kenny.” (Los Angeles Times) Charles Krauthammer, paralyzed from veterans. One of Trump’s “Big Lies” is that the buffet not at a proper height for indi- Michael Winters, a leader in the Inde- the waist down, Trump mocked Krau- he is a great champion of veterans’ rights. viduals in wheelchairs. pendent Living Movement, later wrote thammer, saying in July 2015: “I went On March 17, with the Trump adminis- Trump continued his attack on people in ADAPT Narratives about the event out, I made a fortune, a big fortune, a tre- tration’s support, the U.S. House of Rep- with disabilities in pursuing his cam- and the reaction people had to the crawl: mendous fortune. … Then I get called by resentatives passed the Veterans Admin- paign promise to repeal the ACA — the “Some people may have thought that it a guy that can’t buy a pair of pants.” (ti- istration Accountability First Act of 2017. Patient Protection and Affordable Care was undignified for people in wheelchairs nyurl.com/kafqcaz) This bill would allow VA workers to be Act — passed in 2010. to crawl in that manner, but I felt that it fired arbitrarily, without any due process. Section 1557 of the ACA prohibits dis- was necessary to show the country what Half of people killed by cops It would eliminate the union grievance crimination on the basis of disability in kinds of things people with disabilities have a disability process as a means to appeal negative certain health programs, plans, activities have to face on a day-to-day basis. We had According to disability rights journalist, personnel actions. or insurance marketplaces. The ACA pro- to be willing to fight for what we believed David M.Perry, whose son has Down syn- David Cox, national president of the tections against discrimination in health in.” (tinyurl.com/l226bv6) drome, as many as half of all people killed American Federation of Government care — including race, color, national or- The “Capitol Crawl” of 1990 is seen by by police have a disability. This includes Employees union, representing about igin, sex and age — were not adequately many present-day U.S. disability activists African-American Eric Garner, who suf- three-quarters of VA workers, said: “The guaranteed by previous federal civil right as being the single action most responsi- fered from asthma and heart disease. He House has passed a venomous piece of laws and, therefore, had to be enhanced ble for encouraging the ADA into law. was killed by a New York City cop’s illegal legislation that would undermine the gov- by the ACA. Yudelovich is a World World Party ac- chokehold after uttering his heartbreak- ernment’s sacred obligation to serve our Fortunately, massive resistance tan- tivist with emotional and one-sided hear- ing last words: “I can’t breathe.” veterans by gutting frontline employees’ tamount to a rebellion stopped Trump’s ing loss disabilities. JDL attacks AIPAC protesters By Joe Catron ized at least two demonstrators: Ben Doer- Resurgent extremism nberg, an IfNotNow member from Boston, Lubranicki, an Isra- Hundreds of Palestinians and support- and Kamal Nayfeh, a Palestinian-Ameri- el-born U.S. citizen, previ- ers rallied outside the White House be- can instructor at North Carolina’s Central ously founded both the an- fore marching to the Walter E. Washing- Piedmont Community College. ti-Muslim website “Islam ton Convention Center on March 26. “I feel hits from everywhere, and I fell Exposed” and the group The demonstration, organized by down and I can feel the kicks everywhere “American Bikers United the Cleveland and Midwest chapters of on my body,” Nayfeh recounted to Char- against Jihad.” Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return lotte’s WSOC television station. The latter attempted to PHOTO: JOE CATRON Coalition and the Answer Coalition, pro- “The only thing I told them was I am terrorize Muslims in Islamberg, N.Y., last tested United States aid to Israel, sched- a Palestinian,” the 55-year-old father of May by staging a “Ride for National Se- that even former Secretary of State John uled to exceed $38 billion over the next four added. “They didn’t know anything curity” through the rural area. But their Kerry called “the most right-wing in Is- decade, and the opening of an annual about me.” (wsoctv.com) plans fizzled when exactly five bikers en- raeli history with an agenda driven by the policy conference by the American Israel The attack on Nayfeh resulted in crim- countered a mobilization of 400 support- most extreme elements.” (time.gov) Public Affairs Committee. inal charges against two JDL members: ers from the surrounding community. But with Israel continuing its drive to Other rallies by the Jewish campaign Yosef Steynovitz, a 32-year-old from Steynovitz is one of a small but vocal the right, and Zionism losing whatever ap- IfNotNow and the women’s organization Thornhill, Ontario, Canada, for assault number of JDL militants, centered around peal it once held for many Jews, as well as Code Pink had already begun outside the with significant bodily injury, and Rami Toronto, who frequently deploy across the much of the U.S. public at large, the JDL’s convention center. Lubranicki, a 59-year-old from Howell, border for counter protests in the U.S. unapologetic racism and thirst for vio- Before the march from the White N.J., for assault with a dangerous weapon. The largely dormant JDL, whose lence may represent a growing tendency House arrived, members of the far-right Some media say the two also face bombs once sparked fear across the con- within the world Zionist movement. Jewish Defense League attacked partici- charges of a “suspected hate crime” due tinent, has re-emerged, if only for limited Catron is an organizer with Sami- pants in the growing protests. to “anti-Arab” bias, a claim that other re- skirmishes, since the March 2015 election doun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Their assaults with flagpoles hospital- ports have disputed. in Israel of a far-right governing coalition Network. workers.org April 6, 2017 Page 7 No defunding of Planned Parenthood!

By Sue Davis 48 Democrats were Planned Parenthood — David Daleiden joined by two Repub- and Sandra Merritt of the bogus Center The U.S. Senate voted 51-50 on lican women in a 50- for Medical Progress — were indicted March 30 to overturn an Obama 50 tie. One senator March 28 by the state of California on administrative rule not allowing noted ironically that 15 felony counts. They are charged with states to defund Planned Par- Pence had not gotten “violating the privacy of health-care pro- enthood payments for Title X the message after at- viders by recording confidential infor- patients. The House passed the tending a “women’s mation without their consent” by using same resolution in February, so empowerment” forum false identities in the state to conduct “in- it now goes to the Misogynist in prior to the vote. terviews” about donating fetal tissue for Chief to be signed into law. But the real irony medical research. Collateral damage in this to- about “women’s em- Their 2015 smear video was instru- tally biased vote is 4 million poor powerment” was noted mental in initiating the national witch women who rely on Title X of the by British columnist hunt against Planned Parenthood, which Public Health Service Act for comprehen- Title X funding, teen pregnancy would Sarah Ditum in her comment on Trump’s bolstered the demand for defunding by sive family planning — which covers con- have been 30 percent higher; unintended speech at the forum: “I don’t know what charging the organization with “selling traceptives but not abortion — and related pregnancies would been 33 percent higher. that expression [women’s empowerment] baby parts.” Although several states ini- preventive health services. Government A March 2016 Guttmacher report at- means [since it] apparently no longer en- tially investigated the organization on payment for abortions for low-income tributed the decline in abortions between tails giving women any power, including such charges, no evidence was found to women has been outlawed since 1976 by 2008 and 2011 to limiting unintended the power to decide whether they want to substantiate the claims. In a clear repudi- the Hyde Amendment. pregnancy through more contraceptive use be pregnant or not.” (independent.co.uk, ation of the video, the lawsuit calls CMP Title X was passed by the Nixon ad- rather than state restrictions on abortion. March 30) “a complex criminal enterprise conceived ministration in 1970, when politicians It concludes: “Supporting and expanding In an act of desperation in early March, and executed by anti-abortion extremists.” recognized the basic health care rights women’s access to contraceptive services Trump offered Planned Parenthood a Validated by two recent global march- of low-income families or uninsured peo- leads to lower incidence of abortion.” deal: Stop performing abortions and keep es involving millions of women and their ple, including those not eligible for Med- But today’s predominantly male law- receiving $550 million in federal funding. supporters demanding women’s rights, icaid. They were aware of the connection makers consciously ignore the basic The answer was a resounding “No deal!” the struggle for quality, comprehensive between sex and science. They saw the connection between contraception and health care for all women continues in Indictments for anti-Planned need to make family planning accessible unintended pregnancies. Added to their the U.S. As Nancy Northrup, president Parenthood video to poor families as part of their agenda to overriding hatred of legal, safe, accessible and CEO of the Center for Reproduc- cut welfare payments for children. abortion is their contempt for and lack of Meanwhile, two days before the Senate tive Rights, noted after the Title X vote, Passing this resolution means that if compassion for all women, let alone the vote, the people who deliberately creat- “[Women’s] health and rights should nev- states choose to defund Planned Parent- extra-heavy burden that poor women car- ed a maliciously deceptive video about er be up for debate.” (March 30) hood as a service provider for Title X pa- ry as they struggle to care for their fami- tients — 11 states already have such laws lies. By depriving poor women of easy ac- — that poor women, mostly young wom- cess to contraception, this ill-advised bill en of color (59 percent) and immigrants, will only drive desperate women to seek often in rural areas of the Midwest and abortions. ALL OUT FOR MAY DAY South, will have to search for new provid- Though the Republican Party lost a ers or go without vital health care. major opportunity to defund Planned Planned Parenthood serves a third of Parenthood directly when the reactionary Build Workers World! Title X patients, using $70 million a year American Health Care Act self-destruct- in family planning grants to provide birth ed at the end of March, the April 2 New May Day (May 1) is when we: control and sexually transmitted infec- York Times reported that it has two more tion and cancer screenings. The organi- chances: attaching a defunding provision  Honor workers and the oppressed all over the globe zation is singled out because it provides to a bill financing government operations abortions for 3 percent of its millions of for the rest of the year or adding one to a  Invite all workers to come out of the shadows patients through more than 650 clinics tax reform bill.  Take our rightful place as the creators of all things nationwide. Vice President Mike Pence has played Statistics from 2014 (the last year the a significant role in the crusade to de-  Stand in solidarity against all forms of repression and exploitation Guttmacher Institute issued them) show fund Planned Parenthood going back to that Title X averted nearly a million un- his days in Congress when he was the  Say that capitalist greed, austerity, misery & war be banished forever intended pregnancies, 326,000 abortions first to introduce such a bill in 2007. He and 166,000 teen pregnancies. Without cast the deciding vote on March 30, when  Affirm the need for a revolutionary socialist future We want what our name stands for — a workers’ world where all people are entitled to share in the abundance that this Earth is capable of in peace and plenty. Environmental destruction If this is your vision, your hope, your publication or book from World View Some local officials say they are digging dream, then join Workers World news- Forum. For $300 (only $25 a month) or Continued from page 5 mass graves because they fear large num- paper in creating that future. Join us more, you get your pick of five books. ceived 10 inches of rain since Jan. 1; its bers of people will die quickly. in continuing to build a strong, inde- Write checks to Workers World average annual rainfall is usually 2 inch- It is easy to see the direct U.S. role in pendent, thriving voice that speaks and mail them, with your name and es. Further inland, Morropón generally the conflict in Somalia. Since 2001, the loud and clear for the workers and address, to 147 W. 24th St., 2nd Floor, gets 4 inches of rain by early March; this U.S. has carried out extensive covert year it has received 43 inches. operations involving reconnaissance oppressed around the world. We need New York, NY 10011. Or donate online Damages have come not only from missions, bombings and capturing Al- your financial support to grow the at workers.org/donate/; it’s easy to set flooding but also from mudslides. Peru Shabaab militants, the jihadist group vy- paper from a modest 12-page weekly up monthly deductions. We are grate- had suffered from a drought until the ing for power in Somalia. printed edition, with daily Web up- ful for your help in building Workers rains started. Poor people who built their Kenya and Ethiopia, two U.S. allies, dates, into a more robust ­paper with World — for today and for the future! houses on river banks and low-lying spots have also invaded Somalia. color photos, national distribution and lived with occasional floods. But the mud Oil-rich South Sudan became a new slides, which carry much debris as well as country in 2011 after decades of a war greater online capability. mud, along with the extraordinarily heavy for separation from Sudan supported by Join the Workers World ­Supporter rains, have washed these houses away. the U.S., which had imposed sanctions on Program and help grow the With water supplies heavily damaged, the Sudanese government. Once separa- ­paper. We established the most water systems in Peru are having tion was achieved, most of Sudan’s oil re- WWSP some 40 years ago so trouble functioning. Cholera is spread- sources passed to the new country, which readers could invest in the ing. Standing water facilitates the spread was then wracked with civil war. Now its of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, agriculture has collapsed and a famine paper and promote work- malaria, the zika virus and chikungunya. has been declared. ing-class truth needed to It is easy to blame the weather for the make revolutionary change. Deadly famine in East Africa famines, deaths, injuries and loss of infra- Members receive a year’s East Africa has suffered from a severe structure and economic production that subscription to WW, a month- drought for several years. Food produc- come with flooding and other catastro- ly letter about timely issues tion has been sharply cut. War, drought phes. However, in reality they are caused and a collapsed economy have brought by imperialist wars and capitalism’s vora- and five free subscriptions to Somalia to the edge of famine, with young cious appetite for profit, that overrides all give to friends for a donation of children and the elderly dying of hunger. human considerations. $75 a year. For $100 you also get a new Page 8 April 6, 2017 workers.org WWP Midwest conference mixes theory and action

By Kris Balderas-Hamel bers of WWP and allies capitalism can unleash upon the world, and Dorothy Brown participated in a demon- centralized in the locality of the most dis- Detroit stration demanding gen- inherited and disempowered, and an im- der-neutral bathrooms mensely prescient reminder of the work Workers World Party’s Detroit Branch, on the WSU campus. The we have at hand and ahead of us. along with the Wayne State Universi- youth, students and allies “From the myriad of speakers (I filled ty chapter of Students for a Democratic marched throughout the a book with notes) to leading a crowd of Society, hosted a Midwest conference campus and militantly comrades and friends in sing-a-long ver- March 24-26 on resisting capitalism and defied Detroit and WSU sions of ‘Solidarity Forever,’ ‘The Ballad all its oppressions and fighting for social- cops who were menacing of Ho Chi Minh,’ ‘Go on Home, British ism. This important gathering took place and harassing them. Soldiers’ and ‘Which Side Are You On?’ during the 100th anniversary year of the A cultural event took among other anthems of struggle, I felt Russian Revolution, which was discussed place at the WWP head- welcomed and at home. The principled at the conference, along with the need for quarters following the elders of the party were there to offer socialist revolution in the United States WW PHOTO protest. It was emceed wisdom, and the impassioned youths Kris Balderas-Hamel speaks about Workers World ne­ wspaper. here and now. by WWP member and constantly breathed life into a movement Conferencegoers came from many Michigan Peoples De- whose flame is immortal.” states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, In- banks and the largest municipal bank- fense Network activist Mond Jones and Joe Mshahwar, a youth leader in the diana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, ruptcy in U.S. history were discussed. included youth and students Detroit WWP Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Much more from the front lines of the doing a range of cultural pre- branch and a key New Jersey, and were predominantly people’s struggle was analyzed from a sentations. Cambria York, a conference orga- youthful. More came from Detroit and Marxist viewpoint and within the con- WWP member from Indi- nizer, gave Workers other Michigan cities and towns. For text of overthrowing capitalism and ana, led a spirited sing-along World his assess- many it was their first WWP conference. fighting for socialism. of militant and revolutionary ment of the revo- The weekend kicked off the evening songs. The event lasted until lutionary weekend: of March 24 with a “Red, Black and Proletarian internationalism the early morning hours. “The conference Queer” slideshow presentation by long- The thoroughly internationalist con- Leaders of the Boston was a tremendous time union and LGBTQ organizer Gerry ference included speakers Lorena Buni, School Bus Drivers, Unit- success. Youth cad- Scoppettuolo of Boston before a packed chairwoman of Anakbayan Chicago; the ed Steelworkers Local 8751 re, with the sup- house at the Detroit WWP headquarters. National Solidarity Officer of Anakbayan kicked off the last day of the port and hard work “Red, Black and Queer” refers to the Ma- USA; Claude “Toutou” St. Germain, Hai- conference, March 26, with of older comrades, rine Cooks and Stewards Union in the tian leader of Boston Fanmi Lavalas; rousing talks on their union were able to pull off Congress of Industrial Organizations and Jesús Rodríguez-Espinoza, Consul victories and the role of soli- a thoroughly Bol- which achieved unity of Black, white and General of the Bolivarian Republic of shevik conference darity and WWP in forming WW PHOTO gay union members. The slideshow ref- Venezuela in Chicago, who gave a special and maintaining a fighting, Mond Jones addresses plenary. in the midst of a erenced decades of people’s resistance in presentation on the political struggle in militant union. A variety of multifaceted ruling the struggle for LGBTQ liberation. Venezuela. active and retired union members par- class offensive on local, state, national During the conference, a wide range WWP First Secretary Larry Holmes ticipated throughout the weekend, as and international levels. Comrades and of topics affecting working-class and op- and Teresa Gutierrez, a WWP national did many unorganized, unemployed and allies brought powerful analysis root- pressed peoples in the Midwest and be- committee member from New York City, underemployed workers. An open mic ed in struggle, spanning our fight on yond was discussed at plenaries and in spoke about struggling in the Trump era brought many young revolutionaries up the streets of Detroit to the fight on the break-out groups. These included fight- and making May Day a general strike for to speak, stoked by the conference and the streets of Caracas. ing ruling-class Jim Crow attacks on pub- immigrant rights, respectively. Other talks spirited yet disciplined militancy they ex- “On Saturday, after a full day of plena- lic education, unions, women, LGBTQ included steadfast defenses of Africa, Ye- perienced the day before. ries, conference participants joined SDS people and more. Others highlighted men and Syria from attacks by U.S. and At the conclusion of the conference a in facing down pigs to demand all-gender the Fight for $15 movement, the pris- NATO imperialists and special tributes to tour of Detroit on “Labor History, Black bathrooms at WSU. The night ended with on-industrial complex, the fight to free the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution and Fidel Liberation and Capitalist Devastation” an open-mic cultural program featuring Michigan political prisoner Rev. Edward Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution. was led by Abayomi Azikiwe and Martha dozens of spoken word and musical art- Pinkney, May Day strikes and immigrant Each plenary ended with an open-mic Grevatt. ists and a resistance sing-along. It was an rights, and the struggle for women’s and session where conference participants experience I won’t forget, a testament to LGBTQ+ liberation. For many young ac- could comment, ask questions, raise po- Revolutionary youth sum it up the powerful work of communists in the tivists it was their first time speaking at a litical concerns and provide information Cambria York, an agender (without ravaged rust belt.” socialist conference. about struggles in their area. a gender) organizer from Indianapolis, Conference sessions can be viewed The battle waged in Detroit against After the conclusion of the first day, told WW: “I found Detroit to be a mi- on the Workers World Party - Michigan the devastation wrought by the capitalist members of the SDS chapter, youth mem- crocosmic representation of the horrors Facebook page.

History of U.S./Saudi role in Yemen

Based on a talk by WWP mem- The hills of Yemen had long ­preventable illnesses like cholera. government prior to the start of the war ber Randi Nord at the March 25 been a place of recruitment and Not only are Yemenis subject to air today. Washington and its imperialist al- WWP/SDS Midwest Socialism planning for al-Qaida long before strikes from both Saudi Arabia and the lies are directly to blame. Conference. their branch in the Arabian Pen- United States, but Saudi-backed fighters The new Trump administration has ac- I’d like to discuss the truth be- insula was officially announced have been terrorizing civilians on the tually increased the U.S. military presence hind the al-Qaida threat in Ye- in 2006. ground. They even threaten doctors and and air strikes in Yemen, including a raid men and what the struggle in Ye- In the 1980s, U.S. imperial- patients inside hospitals, forcing doctors so horrendous that even the corporate men means for U.S. imperialism ism was busy arming reactionary to work at gunpoint. media condemned its causing the death of and the Middle East. Randi Nord sectarian forces in Afghanistan Aid agencies have left Yemen due to the dozens of Yemeni civilians — including an Western involvement in Yemen dates to fight the communist government in Saudi regime’s relentless bombing cam- 8-year-old girl — and one Navy Seal. back many decades. Shortly after British Kabul and its Soviet allies. Rural tribal paign that targets civilian infrastructure While the U.S. claims to be fighting occupation ended in 1967, South Yemen areas in Yemen were ideal for recruiting including hospitals, funerals, homes, al-Qaida in Yemen, the U.S.-backed Sau- identified as a socialist state with strong fighters to take on what locals saw as So- airports and agricultural areas, killing di coalition and al-Qaida share a com- ties to the Soviet Union, China, Cuba and viet invaders and godless communists. thousands and displacing millions. mon enemy in the new Popular Resis- revolutionary Palestinians. Fighters from parts of Africa and Saudi Unemployment is rampant. The illiter- tance Coalition. The Houthis, portions of North and South Yemen unified in Arabia moved through Yemen. acy rate is climbing. Already the poorest the Yemeni military and their allies have 1990, shortly before the Soviet Union of- But U.S. imperialism is also directly country in the region, Yemen lives under formed a broad coalition to fight back ficially dissolved. U.S. imperialism’s in- responsible for the devastating situation an air blockade, which obstructs aid from against both Saudi aggression and U.S. tervention in the region exacerbated the in Yemen we see today. entering the country and prevents civil- imperialism. conflict within unified Yemen. Yemen was a poor country prior to ians from fleeing. Washington aims at propping up a Western corporate media credit the the current conflict, and now Yemen is The U.S. has come under fire from sev- Saudi-friendly and anti-Iranian govern- rise of al-Qaida in Yemen to conflict starving, its population hard pressed to eral human rights groups for supplying ment in Yemen. This is carried out by caused by Houthi rebels in 2011, with the find food, clean drinking water or med- arms to Saudi Arabia. selling billions of dollars of weapons and al-Qaida forces allegedly using the chaos ical care, on the brink of famine. Many Documents released via Wikileaks supplies to the Saudis and their allies, in- from the uprising to gain footing in the people — especially children — are show that the Obama administration cluding Qatar, Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan, country’s tribal areas. This is false. dying every day from malnutrition or started arming and training the Yemeni Continued on page 9 workers.org April 6, 2017 Page 9 U.S. military to increase aggression in Yemen

By Ava Lipatti conflict. More than half of the 26 million men. In late January, the U.S. military has also approved a $5 billion sale of 19 Yemenis are currently experiencing food carried out a raid that resulted in an esti- F-16 fighter jets to Bahrain, a part of the For over two years, Saudi Arabia and its shortages, mostly due to Saudi block- mated 30 civilian deaths, continuing the Saudi-led offensive. (The Hill, April 1) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) allies, in ades of key Yemeni ports. Plagued with Pentagon’s policy of never protecting ci- Due to the Shiite ideology of Houthi coordination with the United States, have widespread famine, destroyed hospitals vilian lives in countries it invades. forces, Saudi and U.S. corporate media waged a vicious war on Yemen. and infrastructure, and perpetual Saudi In late March, the Trump administra- have accused them of being a proxy of The attacks began in early 2015, when bombings, Yemen is facing a major hu- tion proposed increased U.S. involve- Iran. There is no evidence, however, that the Ansarullah (also known as “Houthi”) manitarian crisis. Western corporate me- ment in Yemen on behalf of Saudi Arabia the Houthis are operating as Iranian al- movement ousted the Saudi-backed ad- dia have remained virtually silent. and the UAE, after granting the Pentagon lies. The assault on Yemen is no doubt ministration of Abd Rabbuh Mansur As the U.S. deploys more troops to more authority to conduct airstrikes in part of a wider campaign for the U.S./ Hadi. Ansarullah is allied with former Syria and Iraq, Pentagon involvement is Somalia. The Trump administration is NATO/Saudi-GCC/Israel alliance to se- Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, set to increase in the war on Yemen as reportedly considering aiding a Saudi/ cure their political, economic and mil- who himself was ousted in the 2011 “Arab well. The Barack Obama administration UAE offensive against Hodeida, another itary dominance in the region. Like the Spring.” In an attempt to reinstate its cli- sold billions of dollars of weapons to the key Houthi-held Red Sea port. The U.S. U.S./NATO war on Syria, the war on Ye- ent, the Saudi Arabian regime launched Saudi government, and provided intelli- generals are also considering more arms men functions as an attempt to subvert an aggressive military campaign known gence, logistical support and drone strike sales to Saudi Arabia. the Iranian government. as “Operation Decisive Storm.” campaigns. The Yemeni population had Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has re- The Trump administration’s granting The Saudi monarchy had the backing to face U.S. airstrikes, Saudi bombs and portedly signed off on a precision-guided of more authority to the Pentagon and the of the U.S. and the help of the United malnutrition, all without food or health munitions sale, while Defense Secretary continuing U.S./Saudi war against Yemen Arab Emirates, Morocco and other re- care resources, while it also faced as- James Mattis has requested White House will only increase the suffering in the re- gional allies. saults from al-Qaida. approval for U.S. surveillance, intelligence gion. Only the Yemeni people should de- According to the United Nations, over During his short time in office, Trump and operational planning in the UAE-led cide how to run their country. U.S. and 10,000 Yemeni civilians have died in the has already escalated U.S. attacks on Ye- offensive on Hodeida. The administration Saudi Arabia, hands off Yemen! Mosul, Iraq: U.S. guilty of war crimes

By John Catalinotto forces both assured us that it will be an easy battle, that’s why people didn’t leave Using the standards that the corporate their houses. They felt safe.” media applied to the Syrian/Russian re- These bombings that kill civilians taking of Aleppo last December, the U.S. can only increase now that the Donald and its coalition are guilty of war crimes Trump administration has turned over for their actions during the ongoing as- combat decisions to the military leaders sault on Mosul in Iraq that began last Oc- in the field. tober. Only this time the media reports It is also likely that there will be more are quieter. casualties among U.S. troops. “The Pen- The Pentagon boasts that its bomb- tagon said that officially there are 5,262 ings avoid civilian casualties. On March U.S. troops in Iraq even as officials pri- 17, however, the New York Times admits vately acknowledge at least a couple that air strikes hit a building “in which thousand more there.” (AP, April 1) scores if not hundreds of civilians were When the Syrian army retook Alep- killed, according to Iraqi witnesses.” po last December, the city’s inhabitants (April 1) greeted the soldiers as liberators from According to the same article, the Islamic State group and the oth- “Airwars, a nongovernmental organiza- er sectarian militias, such as the U.S.- London protest, April 1. tion that monitors reports of civilian ca- backed Free Syrian Army. sualties in international airstrikes, has The population of Mosul, which IS bombing and killing of civilians in Mo- country’s infrastructure, a 12-year-long asserted that at least 2,831 civilians are has repressed, also has been persecuted sul city, according to a report by Iraqi blockade and sanctions policy, and the likely to have been killed as of March 28 by the Baghdad government. Ever since author Haifa Zangana. 2003 invasion that lasted until 2011 and by the coalition’s air attacks since August the U.S. purposely exacerbated sectarian The ongoing U.S.-led coalition’s war now has been extended by the return of 2014.” The Pentagon put this figure at rivalry between Shiite and Sunni com- crimes against Mosul are an extension U.S. troops. This aggression has killed 229, not counting this just past March. munities in Iraq — as a tool to “divide of the imperialist war against Iraq that more than 2 million Iraqis and displaced An Associated Press article on April and conquer” the Iraqi resistance to U.S. began with the 1991 bombing of the many millions more. 1 quotes Bashar Abdullah, a resident of occupation — the mostly Sunni city has the neighborhood known as New Mosul, been targeted by sectarian militias. who lost more than a dozen family mem- In London on April 1, a group of ex- bers in the March 17 attack: “How could iled Iraqi women held a vigil opposite Letter to the editor they have used this much artillery on 10 Downing Street, the residence of the civilian locations? Iraqi and American British prime minister, to protest the Young worker on The Yemeni people echo the same at- History of U.S./Saudi titude as that of Syrians: if only foreign ­socialist education powers could stay out of our country, we role in Yemen Yemeni people could work this out on our I am a community college student and fervently fight for socialist education for own. They want foreign fighters out and Continued from page 8 worker in northern Lower Michigan and all individuals. they want the Saudi-led aggression to I’m writing in response to the Workers One of the greatest changes we will see Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. stop. They also know the West — specifi- World Party Midwest Fightback Con- by switching to a tuition-free, socialist However, despite his recognition from cally the U.S. — is directly to blame. ference which I attended on Saturday, system of higher education is increased the imperialists, the Yemeni people re- As revolutionary socialists inside the March 25, in Detroit. There were many enrollment rates. A socialist society, ject ex-President Hadi and consider him U.S., we must fight for the U.S. to end ter- inspiring and effective speakers and where the public is welcomed into these a puppet for Saudi Arabian and imperi- ror alliances with Saudi Arabia and simi- workers there, all of them congregated to institutions, instead of being charged alist interests. lar states. We must fight for Yemen’s right express the urgency of theory and action money by them, is so unlike this society. Saudi-backed forces include many to self-determination. to develop a socialist society which will Under capitalism, individuals who live in foreign fighters from the UAE and parts benefit the people. poverty, work full-time jobs and live with of Africa. The conference was cosponsored by pre-existing debt fear the economic con- Yemen includes many important port WAR Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) sequences of further education. cities, including Aden and Mocha. Resis- at Wayne State University, but I noticed I encourage us all to demand that local tance control of these ports could dras- WITHOUT VICTORY that the topic of socialist education wasn’t and federal policymakers treat univer- tically alter global trade routes and the by Sara Flounders really explored. sities as public institutions rather than flow of capital. “By revealing the underbelly of The current model for higher educa- corporations whose intentions are only But perhaps most importantly, the the empire, Flounders sheds insight on how to stand up to the imperialist war machine and, tion excludes the majority of the popula- to profit off education. Instead, we must U.S. and its allies oppose an anti-imperi- in so doing, save ourselves and humanity.” tion from the many opportunities attend- fight for the right to free, quality educa- alist resistance government in Yemen, as – Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann ing a college or university presents. As a tion for all. this could threaten the stability of other Available at all major online booksellers. full-time student, I believe it’s our duty to Emory P.C. Whaley Western-allied countries. PentagonAchillesHeel.com Charlevoix, Mich. Page 10 April 6, 2017 workers.org Black, Brown, Indigenous girls’ lives matter

The hashtag #MissingDCGirls, out of But according to the Black and Miss- record of “protecting” white women and is used frequently these days. Washington, D.C., went viral on social ing Foundation, Black children are 36.5 girls to promote white supremacy, while Capitalist fortunes and corporations media the week of March 27, dramatiz- percent of all missing U.S. children. The covering up the untold number of crimes have been built on the bodies and labor of ing the special vulnerability of Black and National Center for Missing and Exploit- against the humanity of women and girls girls and women of color — from the chil- Brown girls to violence and sexual ex- ed Children confirms this figure and also of color, from enslavement and peonage, dren they have birthed, from their labor ploitation. notes that missing Latinx children are 17 rape and sexual abuse, to low-wage labor in the fields and factories and fast-food Racist bias about which girls’ lives percent. Black people are only 12.5 per- and daily disrespect. restaurants to forced sex work on U.S. matter shows up clearly in mainstream cent of the U.S. population. Predictably, there are calls for “more military bases. The racist, anti-woman media. The photo of a missing blonde That girls of color are half or more of police” to solve the problem of missing U.S. state will not stop this exploitation, and blue-eyed girl, like JonBenét Ram- the missing children is certain. That the children, including girls. But from the founded as it was on that very exploita- sey, gets prime-time news coverage missing include large numbers of trans slave patrols of the 19th century to this tion. for months in 1997. But viewers never and gender-nonconforming girls and day, the police exist to occupy, criminal- In 1977, the Combahee River Collec- hear CNN mention the death of Aiyana children is surely also true. ize, control and terrorize Black, Brown tive, a group of Black, lesbian, social- Stanley-Jones, a seven-year-old Afri- The Times tried to minimize the crisis and Indigenous communities in the U.S. ist feminists, wrote of the struggle for can-American girl killed when Detroit by admitting the lives of Black and Lat- And an epidemic of violence against the lives of Black women and girls: “We police invaded her home in 2010. inx children are “often ignored by public women and girls of color rages across might use our position at the bottom ... to Where are the “Amber Alerts” sent officials.” the occupied and colonized Americas. make a clear leap into revolutionary ac- out when Black girls go missing? As one But the fact is that children of color, In Canada, according to government fig- tion. If Black women were free, it would Twitter post exclaimed: “Can someone including girls, are actively targeted by ures, over 1,000 Indigenous women and mean that everyone else would have to be explain to me how [so many Black girls] the racist policies of “public officials” — girls have been murdered or gone miss- free, since our freedom would necessitate go missing in 24 hours in D.C. and it’s not from policing the schools to pipelines to ing in the last 20 years, many of them the destruction of all the systems of op- a goddamn news story?!?” for-profit prisons, to collusion of cops teenagers. At the maquiladoras on the pression.” The New York Times tried to play with sex trafficking, to slashing cuts in Mexican-U.S. border at Juarez, hundreds Let us take up their challenge to “leap down the righteous furor that surfaced public housing, social services, educa- of Latinx young women and girls have into revolutionary action” to defend the due to the hashtag, saying there was no tion. been disappeared. So many are assumed lives of girls and women of color every- “epidemic” of missing girls. (March 31) There is a centuries-long, racist U.S. dead that the term femicidio or femicide where! Women defend Standing Rock and Indigenous Sovereignty

By Stephanie Tromblay values. Youth were even deputized as The hundreds of arrested included WW PHOTO: BRENDA RYAN akicita, warriors who protect the people. many elders and many, many wom- Stephanie Tromblay speaks at International Women’s Day This article is excerpted from a talk en. One of the last arrested was Regina roundtable discussion, March 11. given March 18 at the Workers World Women and youth will fight and win Brave, who is 80 and a veteran of the Party forum in New York City in honor of In Oceti Sakowin society, the women Wounded Knee takeover in 1973. International Working Women’s Month. are responsible for protecting the wa- Many people took grievous wounds Read the entire talk at workers.org. ter and leading the people, and the men as a result of the military repression at The heroic struggles against the pipe- stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them. Standing Rock. A young Dine mother of lines on the Great Plains raging right now The Standing Rock youth embraced the four, Vanessa Dundon, lost sight in an eye were begun and are led by Native women old traditions of runners to carry news. after being shot in the face with a tear gas and youth. They ran to Omaha and then to Washing- canister. Sophia Wilansky, a young white The Standing Rock youth movement ton, D.C. to deliver petitions to the Army environmentalist ally from the Bronx, began with a young Lakota woman and Corp of Engineers opposing this threat to N.Y., had her arm blown up when goons her cousins who were demanding a safe the waters of their reservation. threw a concussion grenade at her. She is Washington, D.C., many Native nations space at Pine Ridge Reservation in South The call from Standing Rock women still recuperating. joined them. Dakota for youth, who face oppression and youth to all the Native Nations was The Trump administration greenlight- USA Today ran online coverage with from the colonial-settler state forcing heeded. Indigenous people dropped their ed the DAPL, and oil may run through it the headline “Women of Standing Rock Native peoples onto reservations. daily lives and came to the camps from very soon. But the struggle has spread. aren’t backing down.” Native women be- These youth activists went to the an- great distances — from the Dine in the Many of the water protectors have joined ing in leadership is not a new thing. In ti-Keystone XL camp, met Indigenous Southwest Four Corners, many Okla- other pipeline struggles around the traditional Indigenous societies, commu- Environmental Network activists, with homa-based nations, Pacific coastal na- country, from the Trans-Pecos in Texas nities were almost all matrilineal. Native women in leadership, trained in tions, even Native peoples from the Land to the Sabal Trail in Florida. People are The original white feminists in Seneca direct action, and the camp became their of the Condor, South America. fighting the Pilgrim pipeline in New York, Falls were inspired by the Haudenosaunee safe space. Knowing that any show of military re- which is planned to run close to the Indi- women — the Mohawk, Seneca, Tuscaro- After the KXL was halted due to the sistance could be met by extermination an Point nuclear plant. ra, Oneida, Onondaga and Cayuga nations widespread struggle against it, the youth and massacre, as happened uncounted We should support the hundreds of — the so-called Iroquois people. focused on Standing Rock. There, they times in the unceasing Indian wars of people arrested at Standing Rock, espe- The fight is to defend the sovereignty of — along with Ladonna Brave Bull Allard this colonial-settler state, all was done cially those facing extreme charges such Indigenous Nations and the enforcement and other traditional Lakota and Dakota peacefully and in prayer. Women and as Red Fawn Fallis from Denver. She of treaty rights for those nations that women — established the Sacred Stone youth stood up to company goons to pro- was assisting the medics and protecting have treaties — and many do not. The camp in the pathway of the Dakota Ac- tect sacred sites and ancestral graves people who had been injured when she fight is to protect the water, the earth and cess Pipeline. and were attacked with G4S dogs, tear was targeted for arrest. Cops and goons life itself, the biosphere. Traditionals from the reservation then gas, mace, rubber bullets, concussion planted a gun on her, and now she faces Workers World Party salutes ALL the joined and set up a Council Lodge. They grenades, LRADs that can permanently felony charges. Water Protectors and the Land Defenders. began to work with the youth to embrace damage hearing, even water cannons in When the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Free Red Fawn Fallis! Mni wiconi! Wa- elements of their original culture and freezing wintry conditions. called a four-day demonstration in ter is life!

Manifestación masiva mata ley anti salud care y Medicaid, ha tenido recortado Continúa de página 12 consumidores. Además, las subvenciones luchar y es posible bajo el capitalismo. ambos programas. Detesta la ACA y se ­comunidades oprimidas. La gente de todo federales se ven amenazadas por una de- La lucha por el cuidado de la salud de- opone vehementemente a muchos benefi- el país dijo un rotundo “No!” al recorte de manda pendiente de los reaccionarios. muestra que el sistema capitalista necesi- cios de seguro, incluyendo el acceso a an- Planned Parenthood, a los recortes de im- ta ser descartado. ¡El cuidado de la salud ticonceptivos gratuitos para las mujeres puestos para multimillonarios, mientras “Medicare para todas/os” es un derecho humano! Se debe propor- a través de Medicaid y todos los planes 24 millones perderían seguro de salud. El lema “Medicare para todas/os” cionar para todas/os, no en la capacidad privados. Tanto Gorsuch como Price de- La ACA sigue siendo un programa cap- está siendo planteado nuevamente por de pago y para maximizar ganancias. ben ser objetados. italista por el cual millones de personas el movimiento progresista que presiona Cuba socialista asegura que la atención Esta administración quiere revertir están obligadas a comprar un seguro de para un programa de seguro de salud con médica, incluyendo los medicamentos, nuestros derechos. La reforma fiscal y el salud en el mercado, aunque muchas/os un solo pagador. Esto sería mucho más sean accesibles a todo su pueblo. A nadie presupuesto inhumano de Trump en fa- trabajadores de bajos ingresos reciben fácil y realmente menos costoso de ad- se le niega por falta de fondos. vor de los negocios están en el horizon- subsidios federales para hacerlo. ministrar y potencialmente podría cubrir La lucha no ha terminado, pero la te. Todas/os debemos permanecer vig- Sin embargo, el 9,1 por ciento de la a todo el mundo en EUA. El programa gente está envalentonada por esta victo- ilantes y listas/os para protestar contra población todavía no tiene seguro. (NY necesitaría algunos ajustes y adiciones, ria. Neil Gorsuch, un aliado de grandes cualquier ataque a programas esenciales Times, 15 de septiembre) Algunas ase- pero sería una mejora sobre el sistema empresas, es el nominado de Trump al del gobierno. Cada golpe de la clase dom- guradoras cobran primas y deducibles de la salud con fines de lucro y produc- Tribunal Supremo. El jefe de HHS Tom inante debe ser contrarrestado por una que son demasiado altos para muchas/os tos farmacéuticos. Por esto vale la pena Price, que tiene jurisdicción sobre Medi- lucha unida. workers.org April 6, 2017 Page 11

Student strike answers as Fiscal ‘Junta’ attacks Puerto Rico By Berta Joubert-Ceci pared to be able to lead the country’s de- no budget cuts, no tuition increases and U.S. Agency for International Develop- velopment for the benefit of its people. make reforms for UPR. ment. “Regarding the management Jare- On March 31, the Financial Control In fact, the UPR is ranked as one of sko (joined by her then spouse) made of Board known as the “Junta” — the col- the most prestigious institutions of the Obscene hiring by the Junta funds [of USAID] there were allegations lection agency — met for the sixth time Caribbean, and hence has drawn par- The Junta — read the U.S. Empire — of corruption because she allocated mil- since its inception, this time in Puerto ticipation from major U.S. education- has decided to destroy its colony, Puerto lions of dollars as a ‘bonus’ much higher Rico. The U.S. Congress imposed the al institutions and from NASA, among Rico, and turn it into a backyard for fun than her base salary.” Junta on the Puerto Rican people under many others. Since it is subsidized by and investment for its billionaires, who While the Junta is reducing the pen- the Promesa Law (Puerto Rico Oversight, the government, the UPR offers stu- receive a huge Puerto Rican tax exemp- sions of Puerto Ricans, raising taxes and Management and Economic Stability Act dents from poorer families better career tion. That’s even more than before. all kinds of fees, cutting people’s benefits of 2016), and its role is basically to collect ­possibilities. While ordering deep education cuts for and access to health services, it is giving the illegitimate debt produced by the sale Puerto Rican students and other auster- Jaresko a salary of no less than $650,000 of municipal bonds. Student strike! ity measures such as wholesale tax in- a year plus travel expenses to Kiev, a The purpose of this meeting, according That last day of March was already the creases, closing 300 public schools, and chauffeur, housing, etc. — all paid by the to its website, was to passively “receive fourth day of the strike, which was called a long list of cuts and “adjustments” that impoverished people of Puerto Rico! proposals and presentations on the sub- by the students on March 21. In a gener- further impoverish the population, the Add to this the hiring of an “ethics of- ject of economic development by various al assembly, students of the Río Piedras Junta obscenely squanders the Puerto ficer” for the Junta. “To the salary of the representatives of government, private campus had approved, by 1,312 votes in Rican people’s money with impunity on new executive director of the Fiscal Con- and third sector entities.” (juntasupervi- favor and 253 against, a stoppage of aca- million dollar contracts. trol Board (Jaresko), add a compensation sion.pr.gov) demic work from March 28 to April 5. On With crocodile tears, José Carrión, of $750 an hour for the work of Ethics As part of its debt repayment plan, the the fifth day, students of the 11 campuses president of the FCB, said, “Because of Officer Andrea Bonime Blanc.” (NotiCel, FCB will impose a $450 million cut to the of the UPR will meet in a National As- the crisis in the country, I am ashamed of April 1) University of Puerto Rico, leading to the sembly with students from the Conser- every check I sign,” in a message sent to closure and or “consolidations” of some vatory of Music of Puerto Rico and the the Puerto Rican chapter of the U.S. As- The people have the last word of the 11 campuses of the university. This School of Plastic Arts of Puerto Rico. sociation of General Contractors. (elnue- As the empire, with its criminal Jun- gigantic cut is a serious blow to higher ed- Then, on April 6, the Río Piedras cam- vodia.com, March 30) ta, is attempting to decide the future of ucation that will cause the institution to pus will go on indefinite strike. This de- This statement was a response to mas- Puerto Rico, the students together with lose its accreditation. cision for an indefinite strike was made sive criticism after the board appointed other sectors, including labor, environ- Hundreds of students and solidari- on March 21 and is not subject to the re- as its executive director Natalie Jaresko, mental and social, and including Puerto ty organizations protested outside the sults of the National Assembly called for a Ukrainian-American woman born in Ricans in exile — the so-called diaspora building where the Junta was meeting, April 5. Chicago. The U.S. State Department had — are preparing to intensify the struggle. trying to expose the Junta’s criminal- The first demand of the striking stu- sent Jaresko to Ukraine to serve as minis- It is a crucial time for Puerto Ricans, and ity and insisting it comply with their dents is to audit the debt. This has not ter of finance, where she exercised a pre- the people are feeling it in their hearts. ­demands. yet been done and current Gov. Ricardo dominant role in the efforts of the U.S. to And they are getting ready. Starting early in the morning, they Roselló, whose New Progressive Party control the Ukrainian government. From the United States, we should marched from the well-known Muñoz Ri- advocates statehood and who, therefore, According to an article in Claridad on unite our voices and actions to protest vera Park to the Convention Center where has a subordinate relationship to the March 29 titled “Jaresko: Why did she the dictatorial Junta in defense of and in the Junta was meeting. They even walked Junta, even eliminated the independent come to the Caribbean?” Jaresko was solidarity with the Puerto Rican people. inside the large fountain at the entrance auditing board. The other demands are closely associated with the infamous ¡Viva Puerto Rico Libre! of the Center, which was heavily guarded by hundreds of police and firefighters. The protesters were mostly students at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR), who exposed what in this moment is the true General strike rocks French Guiana mission of the FCB — to destroy Puer- By G. Dunkel historic numbers, given that Guiana’s to university or technical school. There is to Rico as a country. The UPR, the only population is at most 250,000 people. a serious shortage of middle schools and public institution of higher education in The last two weeks of March saw the The main chant was “Nou bon ké sa” high schools. Puerto Rico, embodies the very future of people of French Guiana stand up in a (“We are fed up”). Some 40 percent of the youth are un- the archipelago. There, the future teach- massive struggle for justice, health care, A people’s militia called 500 Broth- employed, while unemployment overall ers, scientists and professionals are pre- education and jobs, in addition to water ers Against Delinquency led the demon- is 22.3 percent and wages are so low that and electric service. stration and kept it on track. Video clips many more Guianese get government All 37 trade unions in the Union of show the 500 Brothers — large Black help in order to bring their incomes up Guianese Workers began an unlimited men, dressed in black with face-covering to minimum standards than do people in Right wing general strike on March 27, which shut hoods — encouraging merchants to re- metropolitan France. Guiana’s economy down completely and main closed. Food and housing are much more ex- was still in full force on April 2. Before the The demonstrations, while predom- pensive in Guiana than in metropolitan rebuffed general strike was called, protests mainly inantly Black, were very diverse, with France. Food is 45 percent more expen- shut schools and set up roadblocks, espe- many whites and descendants of inden- sive because it either comes 4,500 miles cially where main roads cross. tured servants brought from India who from Europe or is imported from nearby in Ecuador In France, three of the most progres- mainly live in the interior of Guiana, an Latin American countries, which means sive unions, the CGT, the FSU and Solid- area not linked by roads to the rest of the it is subject to significant import duties. Lenín Moreno, candidate for the Alian- aire held a press conference March 27 to country. Whole families came, along with Housing is more expensive, since all con- za País, won the runoff election on April support the unlimited general strike. It nurses and doctors, truck drivers, farm- struction materials have to come from 2 by more than 2 percent of the vote over has been an issue in France’s presidential ers and teachers. Europe and the French state owns all the the rightist candidate Guillermo Lasso, campaign. The situation of the majority of people land in this former colony. a banker and pro-imperialist candidate When May 1, International Workers in French Guiana is better than many The leaders of the unions on strike and who had the support of the Ecuadorean Day, comes up at the end of this month, other places in Latin America. It has Pou Lagwiyann dékolé refused to meet oligarchy and U.S. imperialism. Progres- the struggle in Guiana should have a drawn a large number of migrants, both with a delegation sent from Paris, includ- sive governments and left parties all over prominent place in the placards, banners those with documents and those without, ing a group of high-level bureaucrats. Latin America and the Caribbean, in- and speeches. so that today more than 35 percent of the But after the massive demonstration on cluding revolutionary Cuba, supported a French Guiana is a virtual colony of people there are foreign born. But condi- March 28, the Holland government got Moreno victory, which is a continuation France with the formal status of a French tions in Guiana are far worse than those its act together and the very next day sent of the existing government. The same department. Located in the northeast in metropolitan France. Matthias Fekl, minister of the interior, party, Alianza País, is the leading par- corner of Latin America, it was used as Take the basics: electricity, water and and Ericka Bareigts, minister of overseas ty in the National Assembly by an even France’s penal colony for 100 years or roads. Antoine Karma, Guiana’s repre- territories. greater margin. so. The Guiana Space Center is the main sentative in the French Senate, told Radio In their first meeting with the minis- The left in the region see Moreno’s win facility for launching European rockets. France on March 24 that “30 percent of ters, the Guiana leadership presented as a positive step blocking rightist gains About 60 percent of the world’s commer- the people in Guiana don’t have access to a list of 420 demands. On April 1, the following the election of a right-winger in cial launches are done at the GSC, as its potable water or electricity.” Seven out of government made an offer of 1.09 bil- Argentina and rightist victories through location near the equator gives rockets a the 22 communes in the territory are not lion euros in immediate aid, followed by virtual coups in Brazil and Paraguay. So 19 percent boost from the Earth’s rotation. connected by road. Some women have to a medium-term grant of 4 billion euros far Lasso refuses to recognize this clear March 28 saw a massive demonstra- travel around 250 miles for maternity care, this year. electoral victory, crying fraud, although tion of 20,000 people in Cayenne, the according to a 2014 government study. The Guianans rejected this offer be- international observers, including the Or- capital of French Guiana, called by the Youth have serious problems with edu- cause it didn’t have the changes they ganization of American States, said there collective Pou Lagwiyann dékolé. Some cation. Less than half the youth between want in their relationship with France. were no irregularities in the election. 4,000 people people came out in Moroni, 15 and 24 are in school and only 12 per- On Sunday, April 2, they added a demand — Report by John Catalinotto Guiana’s second-largest city. These were cent pass the “bac,” the test for going on for 2.5 billion euros. Correspondencia sobre artículos en Workers World/Mundo Obrero Filadelfia: pueden ser enviadas a: [email protected] Protesta el 16 de marzo contra el papel del Banco de Santander en la crisis fiscal de Puerto Rico. WW/MO FOTO: JOE PIETTE

¡Proletarios y oprimidos de todos los paises unios! workers.org Vol. 59 Núm. 14 6 de abril 2017 $1 Manifestación masiva mata ley anti salud

Por Kathy Durkin propuesto proyecto de ley. Las organi- terrible Ley Americana de Salud (AHCA) Este proyecto de ley era tan impopu- zaciones de defensa de la mujere y en pro aprobada antes de que sus costos y efec- lar que una encuesta de la Universidad Lo hicimos. La resistencia sirve. La de opciones reproductivas, como Planned tos fueran analizados por la Oficina de de Quinnipiac del 23 de marzo dijo que gente en todo el país luchó contra un Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice Ameri- Presupuesto del Congreso (CBO). Pero no tenía sólo un 17 por ciento de aprobación, proyecto de ley de salud draconiana y ca y UltraViolet se movilizaron. Las/os fueron lo suficientemente rápidos. y que uno de cada siete residentes es- detuvo su paso. A través de reuniones consumidores, incluyendo personas de la La CBO dijo que la ley ofrecería miles tadounidenses dijo que les haría perder de ayuntamientos, protestas callejeras tercera edad, organizaciones comunitar- de millones de dólares en recortes de la cobertura. creativas, medios de comunicación so- ias y de libertades civiles, médicos, hos- impuestos a las aseguradoras de salud, Matar el proyecto cial, anuncios en vallas publicitarias, pe- pitales y muchas más fuerzas tomaron compañías farmacéuticas, inversores ticiones, campañas por teléfono, correo medidas. y otros, alcanzando casi $1 billón en 10 El representante Ryan retiró el proyec- electrónico y cartas, y otras más, la gente años. El proyecto de ley habría elimina- to de ley el 24 de marzo, justo antes de rechazó el intento del ala derecha de so- Bonanza para los ricos, do los impuestos que pagan por los sub- que la Cámara de Representantes votara, cavar el seguro médico para millones. desastre para millones sidios para las/os trabajadores de bajos ya que no había suficientes votos para su Hubo una rebelión en todo el país El ala derecha ha tratado de revocar ingresos. (New York Times, 15 de marzo) paso. Trump había querido el voto ese contra el proyecto de ley “cuidado de la la Ley del Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Pre- La propuesta de Trump / Ryan / Price día. Al intentar ganar, la Casa Blanca inc- salud” “tomar de los pobres y dar a los ri- cio (ACA por sus siglas en ingles) desde era realmente un proyecto de ley contra luso prometió al ultraderechista “Caucus cos” de Trump / Ryan / Price. el día que fue firmado el 23 de marzo de la salud. Con ello, dijo la CBO, 14 mil- de la Libertad” de la Cámara (antes Tea Un estado de ánimo de lucha recorrió 2010. Los políticos y los medios derechis- lones de personas perderían el seguro en Party) desechar el mandato esencial de el país. Frente a la Casa Blanca, 24 perso- tas han golpeado el “Obamacare” cada el primer año, y un total de 24 millones los beneficios de salud del ACA, incluy- nas fueron arrestadas por desobediencia día desde entonces. El presidente Donald perderían la cobertura en 2026. Med- endo cobertura para el cuidado de la ma- civil el 23 de marzo, representando a los Trump declaró la guerra a la ley y juró icaid perdería $880 mil millones en 10 ternidad y mamografías. ¡Una sala llena 24 millones que perderían el seguro bajo durante toda su campaña electoral “revo- años. de oficiales masculinos estaba lista para la ley del gobierno. Marchas y manifesta- carla y reemplazarla”. La AHCA fue una declaración de guer- sacrificar el cuidado de la salud de las ciones tuvieron lugar en Washington ese Debido al ACA, más de 20 millones de ra contra trabajadoras/es, personas de mujeres! Incluso con eso, los ultracon- día como parte de una jornada nacional personas ahora tienen seguro de salud, bajos ingresos y oprimidas/os, mujeres y servadores no se apaciguaron. de acción de organizaciones de base y muchas/os por la expansión de Medicaid adultas/os mayores. El Caucus de la Libertad se opuso al varios sindicatos. en 31 estados y Washington, D.C., y de Las/os adultos mayores habrían sido proyecto porque no iba lo suficientemente Grupos comunitarios y de derechos de los subsidios federales para las/os traba- penalizados ya que la AHCA permitiría lejos para destruir todos los aspectos del inmigrantes enviaron a personas de vari- jadores de bajos ingresos para comprar a las compañías de seguros cobrar hasta ACA. Muchos miembros de la Cámara os estados. Estudiantes, trabajadoras/es un seguro. cinco veces más por las primas que a las/ Republicana y todos los Demócratas no de la salud y personas con discapacidades Funcionarios de 19 estados liderados os jóvenes. AARP dijo que una persona votarían por ello porque vieron la movili- se manifestaron. Las protestas continua- por republicanos todavía rehúsan ex- de 64 años que gana $15.000 al año po- zación de masas y sintieron la presión de ron en otras 40 ciudades, muchas fuera pandir Medicaid. El ACA también ordenó dría pagar primas anuales de $8.400. El las/os manifestantes exigiendo “maten la de las oficinas de los miembros derechis- que los aseguradores privados cubri- proyecto de ley habría debilitado Medi- ley”. Algunos políticos anticiparon con- tas de la Cámara. Dos días antes, 300 eran los beneficios esenciales de salud. care y cambiado los costos de Medicaid secuencias duraderas si votaban a favor; personas se manifestaron acostándose Cada plan debe incluir ciertos servicios, a los estados, poniendo así en peligro a sus constituyentes nunca lo olvidarían. en el suelo aparentando estar muertas incluyendo cuidado de maternidad y re- cada destinataria/o. (NY Times, 10 de Aquellos cuyos estados habían expandi- frente a la oficina del multimillonario cién nacidos, servicios de emergencia, marzo) do Medicaid estaban presionados para representante Darrell Issa, en la ciudad tratamiento de abuso de sustancias y ma- Esta ley contra la mujer habría retirado votar por ella. de Vista, California. mografías. el financiamiento a Planned Parenthood, El resultado es una victoria para mu- La AARP (Asociación de Personas Entonces el presidente de la Cámara, que recibe $500 millones al año en fon- jeres, trabajadoras/es, adultos/as may- Jubiladas) también tuvo acciones en Paul Ryan, en 2017 con Trump y Tom dos federales para proporcionar servicios ores, personas de bajos ingresos y las Washington. El Sindicato Nacional de Price, secretario de Salud y Servicios esenciales de prevención, detección y an- comunidades negra, latina y todas las Enfermeras Unidas organizó contra el Humanos, se apresuraron a obtener la ticonceptivos a millones de mujeres. Continúa a página 10 Banco de Santander debe reparaciones al pueblo puertorriqueño

Por Berta Joubert-Ceci Hay una deuda “pública” de más de $ 73 Dept. Agricultura) líder, lo que coincide con el crecimiento de mil millones que el gobierno no puede Para “arreglar” la falta de pago por par- la deuda pública de Puerto Rico. El Banco de Santander español está pagar debido a una economía estancada. te del gobierno de PR, el Congreso de los Esta empresa generó un ingreso signif- profundamente implicado en la actual La mayor parte de esta deuda ilegítima Estados Unidos promulgó la ley PROME- icativo para el banco en concepto de hon- crisis económica puertorriqueña. El 16 ha sido causada por bonos municipales SA para imponer una Junta de Control orarios….”el BGF se hizo cada vez más de marzo, varias/os activistas del Comi- que ambiciosos tenedores de bonos - em- Fiscal que actuaría como una agencia de dependiente de técnicas de ingeniería té Boricua Filadelfia-Camden hicieron presas de fondos de cobertura de Wall cobro para pagar a los tenedores de bo- financiera riesgosas. Santander ayudó al piquetes en la sucursal de la calle Erie, Street - compraron porque las enormes nos. Esta Junta se reunió el 13 de marzo Estado Libre Asociado a emitir acuerdos en Filadelfia, para responsabilizar al ganancias resultantes a veces incluso para discutir un Plan Fiscal para la PR. de deuda riesgosos que se basaban en Santander. Las/os manifestantes entre- más de 700 por ciento de su valor, esta- El Plan de Austeridad resultante será la características controversiales… Estos garon volantes con los siguientes puntos ban exentas de triples impuestos. Ahora destrucción de PR y su pueblo. Entre las bonos generaban más ingresos por hon- clave: ¿”Por qué el Banco de Santander estos buitres quieren obtener sus ganan- medidas se encuentran: la reducción del orarios para el negocio de suscripción de debe reparaciones al pueblo puertor- cias prometidas oprimiendo a la clase 20 por ciento de la jornada laboral, la re- Santander”. (tinyurl.com/lx7kq9s) riqueño”? (Algunos puntos abajo de la trabajadora de PR. ducción del 10 por ciento en las pensiones, La economía de PR se ha desarrollado hoja informativa editados ligeramente). Cincuenta y ocho por ciento de los el recorte del presupuesto de la Universi- para satisfacer los intereses de las corpo- ¿Por qué Puerto Rico no puede niños menores de 18 años viven en la po- dad pública de PR, recortes a la atención raciones estadounidenses. El único esta- solucionar el problema? breza y uno de cada puertorriqueño pa- de la salud, cierre de las escuelas, etc. tus que puede ayudar a PR a convertirse Como “territorio” de EUA, Puerto Rico dece hambre. en soberano y construir su futuro en ben- Complicidad de bancos como Santander es en realidad una colonia que no tiene Un promedio de 3.000 personas -en eficio de su pueblo es como una república ninguna soberanía en ningún aspecto - su mayoría jóvenes- emigran cada mes a Dos de los miembros de la JCF no sólo independiente. político, social, económico o comercial. Estados Unidos debido a la falta de em- eran ejecutivos del Banco Santander, sino Es por eso que Estados Unidos siempre Por lo tanto, ¡no puede reestructurar pleo. La población puertorriqueña en también presidentes del Banco Guberna- ha perseguido y reprimido a la gente que su deuda! Todo lo que dicta el gobierno la isla está disminuyendo mientras que mental de Fomento de PR, la entidad que defiende la independencia de Puerto Rico; puertorriqueño puede ser rechazado por multimillonarios de EU se mudan allá administra el presupuesto del gobierno y hace creer a la gente que sólo puede so- el Congreso de los Estados Unidos. para aprovecharse de las exenciones de y los bonos. Estos dos hombres, Carlos brevivir con la “protección” de los EU. Pero impuestos. Puerto Rico se está convir- M. García y José Ramón González, “con- los hechos están a la vista: después de un Situación actual en PR tiendo en un paraíso para los ricos de EU struyeron Valores Santander, el negocio de siglo de intervención y ocupación de Es- Puerto Rico está inmerso en la peor y la población nativa se convertirá en sus bonos municipales del banco, que se hizo tados Unidos, Puerto Rico está peor que crisis económica y social de la historia. sirvientes. (U.S. Census Bureau 2009-10, reconocer como un subscriptor de bonos nunca y su pueblo en profunda pobreza.