TH£ Reagan met by protests in Canada o o o o o o 3 Behind Ethiopian famine 0 0 5

Lessons of copper strike o 11

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 49/NO. 12 MARCH 29, 1985 75 CENTS U.S.-Honduran war games April 20 antiwar a threat to.Nicaragua actions BY HARRY RING With little fanfare, the Pentagon is now conducting major military maneuvers in build steam Honduras. Staged jointly with Honduran forces, "Big Pine III" is the fourth big exer­ BY JOHN STUDER cise there in two years. WASHINGTON, D.C.- As Washing­ For the first time, tanks are being sent to ton carries out massive military maneuvers Honduras for use in the maneuvers. to practice for an invasion of Nicaragua, The officially stated purpose of Big Pine national and local efforts to build the April is to discourage Nicaragua from invading 19-22 Actions for Peace, Jobs and Justice Honduras. are picking up steam. This is, of course, a patently absurd lie. This was clear from the deliberations of The Nicaraguan workers and peasants are the March 9 steering committee meeting of straining every ounce of energy to beat the national coalition, which included rep­ back the U.S. -organized mercenary assault resentatives from national organizations and to hold off a direct invasion by U.S. and local coalitions. forces. They're hardly looking to invade The committee heard a series of reports other countries. by staff members and other coalition lead­ But Big Pine makes clear that the danger ers refl ec ting the significant progress made of a U.S. invasion of Nicaragua is no fan­ in preparing for the April 20 mass demon­ tasy. stration and the other activilies. This prog­ These maneuvers, conducted on an un­ ress has been accomplished since a Feb­ precedented scale, are far more than a bul­ ru ary 28 emergency steering committee lying show of force. They are a dress re­ meeting. hearsal for an invasion of Nicaragua when The demands of the actions are: stop and if a political opening is provided. U.S. military intervention in Central The aim of the U.S. -organized war is to America; oppose U.S. government and overthrow the workers' and peasants' corporate support for South African apart­ power in Nicaragua. The immediate goal heid and overcome racism at home; freeze of the counterrevolutionaries, known as and reverse the arms race; create jobs, cut contras in Spanish, is to seize a piece of the military budget. Nicaraguan territory and establish an alter­ Massive U.S.-Honduran military maneuvers, "Big Pine Ill," are dress rehearsal for Gwen McKinney from the National Al­ native government. Washington would for­ future U.S. invasion of Nicaragua. Above, 258th Army Corps of Engineers arrives in liance of Third World Journalists and the mally recognize and openly aid the puppet Palmerola; Honduras, to clear airstrips for military exercises. staff member responsible for media work, government, thus opening the door to di­ reported on plans to publicize the April Ac­ rect U.S. military intervention to defend tions, including an ambitious series of the contra regime from attacks by the gon brass are concerned, there are crucial dians . But, even from their standpoint, press conferences. armed Nicaraguan workers and peasants. lessons to be learned from that invasion. there wasn't that much to boast about. Staff member Susan McCarn reported That's why serious military preparations . While the media was barred from cover­ The Grenadian working people, and on plans for involving artistic and cultural are so important. The aim of the Big Pine is ing the assault on Grenada, facts have their armed forces, were in total di sarray as activists in the events, especially during the to ensure that such an invasion will be ex­ emerged confirming that the U.S. forces a result of the counterrevolution that top­ April 20 march and rally. Four large ecuted with maximum clout, efficiency, suffered near-disastrous difficulties. pled the workers and farmers government sculptures are being built to reflect the cen­ and success - and cost the least political These stemmed primarily from hasty, led by Maurice Bi shop, principal leader of tral demands of the action. price. last-minute plan_ning, lack of coordination the 1979 Grenada revolution. Deputy Susan Bailey outlined the current status between the various military branches, Prime Minister Bernard Coard had Bishop of efforts to secure the necessary legal per­ Lessons of Grenada lack of necessary experience among the and other central leaders of the revolution­ mits and marshaling forces to assure an or-· An important purpose of Big Pine is to participating officers and troops, and old­ ary government murdered, thus politically derly and smooth march. benefit from the experience of the 1983 fashioned military bungling. disarming the workers and farmers and Staff member Josl) Bornstein, who U.S: invasion of Grenada - "Lessons Capitalist politicians and the big busi­ handing imperialism the revolution on a works as liaison with local coalitions Learned," as ~heir secret reports on that in­ ness media have boasted proudly of the fa­ silver platter. around the country, reported on an impres­ vasion are called. mous victory of the U.S. military jugger­ If the invaders had faced a ready, united sive packet of materials that was distri­ And, as far as the ruling class and Penta- naut in overwhelming 120,000 Grena- Continued on Page 6 buted to aid local coalitions. Local groups have been organized in 32 cities to build the actions in Washington and those planned simultaneously for San Francisco, Grain traders pit farmer against farmer Los Angeles, Seattle, and other cities. In the packets were a series of sample -letters designed to aid local coalitions to BY DOUG JENNESS tially offsetting a large trade deficit in the port of grain· that could not be profitably reach out to involve Blacks, veterans, . In February President Reagan's adminis­ nonagricultural sector. In 1981 crops from sold in the United States and was piling up Latinos, women's rights groups, and stu­ tration unveiled a new farm program that about two out of five acres harvested on in storage depots. They were aided in this dents . aims to make U.S. farm products more U.S. farms were exported. More than one­ effort by Pres. Richard Nixon's devalua­ A letter signed by three veterans' leaders competitive on the world market. half of the rice, wheat, soybeans, and cot­ tion of the dollar in 1971 , which made explained that in Central America, "the By drastically reducing the price level at ton were exported, as well as more than U.S. products relatively less expensive on issue is not national security, so much as which the government will offer support one-fourth of the corn. the world market. The government also of­ hungry, oppressed people trying to exer­ loans and subsidies to farmers, the admin­ fered tax breaks and other forms of subsidy A major expansion of U.S. food exports cise their right of self-determination: once istration hopes to lower the prevailing mar­ to promote food exports. began in the early 1970s when the big grain again the United States plays the role it has ket price of U.S. farm exports. Currently merchants, with government backing, The big source of new markets was in for the last century in Central America - the prices of many U.S.-grown foods are launched a drive to greatly increase the ex- Continued on Page 9 Continued on Page 4 well above those in most other countries. The proposed measures, Agriculture De­ partment officials concede, will mean less income for farmers per unit of each crop sold, thus forcing thousands of farmers off Police attack Missouri fartners' protest the land. But, they argue, the plan will spur sales abroad and bring better times for "ef­ BY JOHN STAGGS those arrested. City UA W locals , attended the rally. Rail­ ficient" and "well-managed" farms in the PLATTSBURG, Mo. - Over 1,000 The rally was called two weeks ago at road workers from the United Transporta­ United States. farmers, unionists, high-school students, the American Agriculture Movement's tion Union (UTU) and the Brotherhood of Reagan's scheme also calls for the gov­ and townspeople participated in a March (AAM) Agriculture Crisis Conference in Maintenance of Way participated, as well ernment "to promote open access in world 15 rally and demonstration in front of the Jefferson City, Missouri. The initiating or­ as members of the International Brother­ markets for U.S. agricultural exports" by courthouse here to protest the foreclosure ganizations included the AAM, the Na­ hood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local pressing other governments to lower trade sale of 73-year-old Perry Wilson, Sr.'s, tional Farm Organization, and the North 53 and the International Association of barriers on agricultural imports into their 700 acres. American Farm Alliance. The groups Machinists (lAM) Local 1650. countries. If these efforts are unsuccessful , After the rally, protesters shouting "No adopted the name Missouri Groundswell. Support statements were read from the retaliatory measures against ·imports into sale! No sale!" crowded before the court­ Labor support for the rally was impres­ Kansas City chapter of the Coalition of the United States will be considered. house to block the sale. The cops, failing to sive. Matt Snell, president of Kansas City Labor Union Women (CLUW); Claude Export of agricultural commodities push back the crowd, grabbed eight protes­ United Auto Workers (UA W) Community Thornton, president of UA W Local 93; plays a gigantic role in the U.S. economy. ters and beat and arrested them. Organizers Action Program, participated in the plan­ Larry Foreman, president of UA W Local Agriculture contributed $20 billion to the immediately reconvened the rally to protest ning meetings. Some 200 UA W meinbers, 249; and Bob McCoy of UA W Local 710. U.S. balance of payments in 1983, par- the cop attack and guarantee the safety of including the presidents of three Kansas Continued on Page 8 -· SELLING OUR PRESS AT THE PLANT GATE------BY MICHAEL BAUMANN to Framingham, Massachusetts, to last six years- more regularly re­ NORTH TARRYTOWN, N.Y. keep their jobs during the last big cently. -This town, about an hour north layoff. When full production re­ Our team began last fall by sell­ of Manhattan on the Hudson sumed at Tarrytown, they had to ing on the street outside the plant, River, comes alive around 5 a.m. move back. at a traffic light just before the each morning as 2,000 auto work­ Now the first shift, the one we parking lot entrance. As the team ers pour into the giant General sell to , is back up to full strength. got to be a regular part of the Motors assembly plant. And a second shift of 2,000 has scene, "once or twice people had On hand to greet them most been added to keep up with the de­ their money ready as they pulled Mondays is a team of from three to mand for production. The change up to the stoplight," says Mary, five Militant salespeople. in the composition of the work­ one of the team members. "They For the team members, it 's usu­ force has been dramatic. Now it's knew they wanted this particular ally a rewarding experience. This common to see women , younger newspaper." morning --:- in 20 degree weather workers, more Blacks, and to hear After we became more familiar - three of us sold three Militants Spanish in the parking lot. with the plant, we began selling in and one Perspectiva Mundial. the big parking lot itself. This Two weeks ago we sold seven or · * * * proved far more productive. Those eight papers, and on occasion we "Is this a communist newspa­ Mil who wanted to buy the paper have sold as many as ten or ele­ per?'' a white worker in his 30s Early morning plant-gate sale at General Motors in Tarrytown, didn't have to back up traffic for ven. asked as he rolled down his win­ New York. dow. "That's right," I said, not half a block by stopping to fish for * * * quite knowing what to expect a bill . And we got a chance to talk "Does this paper have anything next. a little, hand out leaflets for up­ make this sale every week. But would even open their car window to do with how to keep this plant "How much?" he replied, as he coming forums, for the socialist when we do have a car available, in this weather to see what we had open?" a woman worker asked a dug into his pocket for change. bookstore, and for the New York we try to make it - no matter to sell. But we decided to try it member of the sales team. There is a tradition of political City socialist mayoral campaign what. anyway. "When I said 'Yes,' " th'e team activity at this plant. From 1979 (some of the workers here live in One hard decision the team had We sold only one paper, but we member said, "before I could say until the big layoff in 1982, half a the northern part of New York to make was what to do the coldest were glad we had gone. We were anything else she almost tore the dozen members of the Socialist City). morning of the year, back in Janu­ sure that people who may not have paper out of my hand. People in Workers Party worked on the as­ ary , when it was predicted that the stopped that day would buy the this plant have had a lifetime of sembly line. Sales of the Militant * * * temperature, with the wind chill, paper later. They had seen how experience in being laid off." and Perspectiva Mundial have Because of transportation and would be 40 to 60 degrees below serious these communists were Some workers here had to move been conducted on and off for the work schedule problems, we don't zero. We debated whether anyone about getting out their press. Militant-Perspectiva sales drive gets under way

BY TOM LEONARD Some Philadelphia sales campaigners in­ Toledo, 850; Dallas, 500; Baltimore, 800; the Bay Area a week before the drive The week after the March 15 issue of the troduce themselves to perspective readers Atlanta, 700; Charleston, 290; Milwaukee, began. They expanded plant gate sales at 7 Militant reported plans for a 10-week by asking them if they've heard about the 350; and Salt Lake City, 600. Most areas work sites and sold 15 Militants . They also single-sales and subscription drive to win antiwar march on Washington. Others are still working out the important sub­ gave out hundreds of leaflets building a new readers to the Militant and its Spanish­ have gotten a good response by saying, scription goals, which will be reported "Labor Speak Out" in San Francisco to language sister publication, Perspectiva ''I'm campaigning against the war in Cen­ later. build April 20. This was the first opportu­ Mundial, there was a sharp increase in the tral America." They then show copies of An example of how plant-gate sales help nity a lot of rank-and-file union members number of papers ordered by Socialist leaflets announcing antiwar activities, dis­ complement building the April 20 antiwar had to hear about labor's growing partici­ Workers Party and Young Socialist Al­ cuss the war, and usually wind up selling a actions was demonstrated by sales teams in pation in the antiwar movement. liance branches and chapters around the Militant or Perspectiva Mundial. Philadel­ country. phia socialists have set a single-sales quota Even before most local goals for the na­ of I ,000, including 850 Militants and 150 tional sales drive target of 30,000 single Perspectiva Mundials . They have also set a Miss. cOurt ruling forces copies and 2, 150 subscriptions could be tentative goal of 40 Militant and 15 Per­ discussed and decided, bundle orders for spectiva Mundial subscriptions during the the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial in­ sales drive . creased by a combined total of I ,210 pa­ The Newark SWP has taken a quota of teachers to call offstrike pers in the first week alone . The drive ends I ,800 single copies of the Militant and Per­ BY BILL ANDERSON term, Harden said continuing the strike on May 18 . spectiva Mundial and is planning to sell NEW ORLEANS- The 13,000-mem­ would result in "severe, punitive actions" Equally impressive was the decision in 175 subsriptions to the two socialist publi­ ber Mississippi Association of Educators against the teachers . She hailed the strike, some areas of the country to start increased cations. (MAE) ended its month-long strike on which received widespread support sales of the Militant and Perspectiva Mun­ The first Saturday of the sales drive Monday , March 18. The union's decision throughout the state as having "altered the dial and decide the goals later. socialist campaigners in Newark were pet­ came after Judge Paul Alexander found it course of Mississippi legislation and poli­ Dallas sales teams sold 71 Militants, 16 itioning to put Socialist Workers Party can­ in criminal contempt of court for having tics forever ," Perspectiva Mundials, and six Young didate for governor of New Jersey, Mark defied an earlier order that banned the · Two hours after the union was forced to Socialists the first Saturday of the drive . Satinoff, on the ballot. They were still able strike. call off the strike, Mississippi Gov. Bill The YS is a monthly newspaper circulated to sell 65 Militants, 20 Perspectiva Mun­ Earlier that morning, Judge Alexander Allain vetoed a bill passed March 17 by the by the YSA. dials , and I 0 Young Socialists, while av­ had ordered two-day suspended sentences state legislature that gave the teachers - Seattle sold 81 Militants and one Per­ eraging 40 signatures an hour at the same for 18 MEA officials. the lowest paid in the country -a $4,400 spectivia Mundial. San Diego sold 32 Mil­ time . At the press conference calling off the raise over three years. itants, 16 Perspectiva Mundials , and six Houston took a tentative single-sales strike, MAE president Alice Harden told Young Socialists, also on the first day of quota of I ,000 Militants and Perspectiva reporters that "it is the position of the MAE The next day the legislature overrode the the drive. - Mundials. They are planning a sales team Board of Directors that continuing the job veto, approving the pay package. Harden Philadelphia socialists sold 50 Militants to the Rio Grande valley to sell and discuss action at this time will only hurt those dedi­ said afterwards, "Mississippi's commit­ on Saturday with only half of their sales with working farmers and farm workers in cated teachers participating and recom­ ment to its teachers is still not met, but I teams able to participate. The rest were tied that area. mends that all teachers be in their class­ think that over the last three or four weeks up putting in job applications at industrial An early list of single-sales targets from room on Tuesday morning." we have served notice that we are coming plants that do their hiring on Saturdays. around the country is : New York, I ,800; Since criminal contempt carries a jail out of the woodwork."

The Militant tells the truth- Subscribe today! ·The Militant news, participating in the struggle. To subscribe That way you'll get facts about Washington's Closing news date: March 20, 1985 war against working people at home and abroad : today, fill out the attached coupon. Editor: MALIK MIAH from El Salvador and Nicaragua, to embattled Enclosed is: n $3 for 12 weeks [J $15 for 6 months Managing editor: workers and farmers in the United States. Read [] $24 for 1 year [ ] A contribution MARGARET JA YKO · our proposals on how to stop the bipartisan U.S. Business Manager: war in Central America and the Caribbean and the Name ------LEE MARTINDALE employer offensive here. Read our ideas on what Address ------~------Editorial Staff: Andrea Gonzalez, Pat Grogan , Arthur it will take to replace this system of exploitation, City!State!Zip ______Hughes, Cindy Jaquith, Tom Leonard, Karen Newton, racism, and sexism with a system that's in the in­ Mohammed Oliver, Harry Ring. terest of working people. Telephone ------~----·---- Published weekly except two weeks in August, the last Union/Organization ______week of December, and the first week ofJanuary by the At the plant gates, picket lines, and unemploy­ Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 14 Charles Lane , New ment lines, the Militant is there, reporting the Send to Militant, 14 Charles Lane, N ew York; NY 10014 York , N.Y. 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Mili­ tant Business Office, -14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. POST­ MASTER : Send address changes to The Militant, 14 Charles Lane , New York , N.Y. 10014. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, outside U.S. $30.00. By first-class mail : U.S. , Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air­ mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily rep­ resent the Militant's views . These are expressed in edito­ rials.

2 The Militant March 29, 1985 Antiwar protests greet Reagan in Quebec BY PAUL KOURI The demonstration· was organized by the QUEBEC CITY, Canada - Chanting Coalition for Peace , Justice and Freedom; a "Yankee go home," and "Reagan, Mur­ broad coalition of unions; youth and derer," some 5,000 protesters from across women's groups; Central America solidar­ Quebec converged here March 17 to dem­ ity committees; and peace, ecology, and onstrate their opposition to the "Shamrock left groups . Summit" between Canadian Prime Minis­ The coalition's platform explains that ter Brian Mulroney and U.S. Pres. Ronald "The American government is the principal Reagan . leader of the antiunion and antisocial offen­ Opposition to the deepening U.S. war in sive of the bosses and their governments Central America was the central theme of throughout the world . . . we solidarize the overwhelmingly youthful demonstra­ with the American workers, women, tion . Banners and placards demanding youth, and national minorities who are "British troops out of Northern Ireland," struggling against Reaganism and its ef­ "End to apartheid in South Africa," "U.S. fects ... we also solidarize with the youth out of the Philippines," and "Reagan out of of Nicaragua who are struggling to defend Quebec," were also visible. their country, their social and· democratic Opposition to the U.S. and Canadian nu­ revolution against U.S. aggression." clear-arms build-up- cruise missile tests, The summit marked a further increase in "Star Wars," and the new radar warning the close. collaboration between the Cana- . network to be built in Northern Canada - dian and U.S. governments in the war was another popular theme. Highlighting drive: the failure of the summit to take steps to • An increase in Canadian troops as­ Ronald Reagan with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney at Quebec airport. deal with acid rain, Greenpeace launched a signed to North Atlantic Treaty Organiza­ Reagan was met by protests against U.S. war in Central America and U.S.-Canadian 30-foot balloon asking Reagan, "Where's tion (NATO) forces in Europe. nuclear arms build-up. the fish?" • Canadian participation in and support for the U.S. space research program, "Star Wars." • A U.S. -Canada treaty to upgrade the radar network called the North Warning Socialist Publications Fund drive: System. • Mulroney's reaffirmation that Canada is not neutral, but a close ally of U.S. im­ St. Louis auto workers lead way perialism. Canada's conservative government con­ BY PAT GROGAN Militant and Perspectiva Mundial by sell­ Miami. One striker commented, "It's real­ sciously chose Quebec City to host the Just a few days after launching our fund ing 30,000 copies and 2,500 introductory ly something that the only newspaper that highly publicized summit. External Affairs drive, the Socialist Publications Fund got subscriptions between now and May 18 . supports the strike is a socialist paper. But Minister Clark explained that this would the following letter from a socialist auto We hope that all of our readers will partici- it's telling the truth, and that's what help assure big business that Quebec is worker in St. Louis: pate in both efforts. · ·counts." now a stable and reliable place tq invest, "Recently, the Chrysler Corp. an­ The majority of SWP and YSA members These are just two of many such exam­ and that the danger of the oppressed Que­ nounced it would. give its employees a are industrial workers and belong to nine ples of firsthand coverage of the labor bec nation separating from Canada is now a 'bonus' of $500. Those of us who work major unions: the Amalgamated Clothing movement. thing of the past. there had a discussion on what we could do and Textile Workers Union; International From the pages of the Militant and Per­ In fact, the struggle for Quebec's na­ with part of the money to help build the Association of Machinists; International spectiva Mundial, wo(kers in the industrial tional rights has suffered a series of blows socialist movement. Ladies' Garment Workers' Union; Interna­ unions are able to read about and draw the at the hands of the Canadian government. "We had a good discussion on how tional Union of Electronic Workers; Oil , lessons from key battles such as the British By unilaterally amending Canada's con­ Chrysler was using this money to try to in­ Chemical and Atomic Workers; United miners' strike, Arizona copper strike, or stitution in 1982, it deprived the Quebec fluence a layer of newer workers before a Auto Workers; United Mine Workers of the AP Parts battle in Toledo. government of its veto power over future major contract fight. The union leadership America; United Steelworke(s of America; The Militant and Perspectiva Mundial constitutional changes and undermined its put out a special handbill a few days after and the United Transportation Union . explain the need to transform the unions ability to protect and promote French as a the bonus was announced. It denounced It is the socialist workers in these indus­ into fighting instruments for Black rights, language of public education. Bowing to Lee laccoca and Chrysler management for trial unions who are spearheading the fund­ women's equality, for the rights of immi­ imperialist pressure, the Parti Quebecois the size of the boims, which is just a pit­ raising effort and the drive to expand sales grant workers and Spanish-speaking work­ (PQ) leadership recently decided to shelve tance compared to the money we lost in of the press. Socialists in each industrial ers, and for democratic rights. The publica­ the independence demand. The PQ heads concessions since the 1979 contract. The union are holding discussions and will set tions help explain the struggles of the the Quebec government. union said it should be more like $5,000 goals and organize to contribute to the working farmers. Canadian authorities and the media did and that would only be a start, and a lot of fund, win new readers to the Militant and The Militant and PM put the struggles of all in their power to create the impression our coworkers had the same attitude. Perspectiva Mundial , and encourage co­ workers in this country in an international that the Quebecois welcomed and were "We thought the best way to use part of workers and other working people to do the context and report on the battles of working honored by Reagan's visit. Quebecois art­ this money - in the spirit of fightback - same. people and the oppressed throughout the ists, PQ government ministers, and union would be to send directly to the Socialist The Militant and Perspectiva Mundial world. Most important, our bureau in Ma­ leaders such as Louis Laberge of the Publications Fund $200 each out of the play a central role in the discussions going nagua, Nicaragua, gives weekly, firsthand 400,000-member Quebec Federation of $350 we got from the bonus after taxes . on among workers in the industrial unions reports from Nicaragua, and tells the truth Labor were invited to the ceremonies. Enclosed with this letter are checks from about the capitalist economic crisis and the about the U.S. -organized war against the Massive security arrangements were put in the eight of l!S who work at Chrysler or drive deeper into war in Central America. workers and farmers of that country. place. who were laid off, but qualified for the More and more articles in our press are Leading up to the April 20 national In spite of all these efforts to discourage bonus." written by union members and reflect the marches for peace, jobs, and justice in any form of protest, the turnout for the struggles and discussion on the shop floor Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and demonstration was double what the or­ * * * and picket line. other cities, the Militant and Perspectiva ganizers predicted. Questions and opposi­ Last week the Socialist Publications When the Wilberg mine disaster in Utah Mundial will feature regular coverage of tion raised in the House of Commons by Fund was launched. Our goal is to raise hit last December, the Militant and Per­ new support, plans, and developments in the New Democratic Party (Canada's $75,000 by June 15 . spectiva Mundial were able to carry building the actions, especially in the trade-union based Labor Party)- and to a A major purpose of the fund is to help fi­ firsthand accounts by members of the unions and in the Black and Latino com­ lesser extent the Liberals - over closer nance the publication of the Militant and United Mine Workers who participated in munities. Through the pages of the Militant U.S.-Canada military ties, especially our Spanish-language sister publication the relief effort and one of whom worked in and Perspectiva Mundial, antiwar fighters around nuclear weapons, reflect the broad Perspectiva Mundial , as well as Interconti­ the Wilberg mine. will be able to help get out the word, and unease throughout Canada with the conver­ nental Press, the New International, and Louis Long reports that copies of the share discussions on why the unions should gent war policies of both governments. socialist books like the forthcoming Nica­ front page article of the March 15 Militant, get involved in the fight against U.S. inter­ ragua: the Sandinista People's Revolution. "Pan Am workers strike to defend union," vention in Central America. The fundraising effort goes hand in hand were photocopied and posted around the As we begin this fund dr~ve, we know Gonzalez joins N.Y. with plans to increase the circulation of the Transport Workers Union Local500 hall in that the "spirit of fightback" shown by the St. Louis auto workers is shared by the St. Patrick's parade $75,000 In the March 22 issue of the Militant, we other workers, fighters for Black and launched the Socialist Publications Fund with the women's rights, opponents of the racist NEW YORK - The Socialist Workers goal of raising $75,000 by June 15. South Africa regime, activists in the fight Party candidate for mayor of New York, against the war in Central America, and the Andrea Gonzalez, joined George Harrison, A major purpose of the fund is to help finance many others who will make this drive a a long-time activist in the Irish freedom publication of the Militant and our Spanish-lan­ success. struggle, at the St. Patrick's Day parade guage sister publication Perspectiva Mundial and Socialist Workers Party branches and here March 16 . other socialist publication projects. Young Socialist Alliance chapters are plan­ Gonzalez extended her solidarity to the ning a range of activities to raise funds and activists in the H-Block/Armagh Commit­ Checks sltould be made out to: Socialist Publica­ expand the press. tee, a defense committee for political pris­ tions Fund, 14 Charles Lane, New York, NY 10014. In many cities rallies will be organized · oners in the north of Ireland. The commit­ in May to boost the socialist publications. tee had prepared a special leaflet to build Enclosed is my contribution to the Socialist Publi­ Coming after the April antiwar actions, the April 20 national antiwar demonstra­ cations Fund of $ they will be an excellent opportunity to tion in Washington, D.C., for the parade. draw together supporters and many of the Gonzalez, along with her supporters, Name ------new readers of the Militant and Perspectiva joined these activists in building the action. Address ------­ Collected: Mundial. Participants will have a chance to Gonzalez explained to a group of partic­ $2,205 have political discussions and contribute to ipants who stopped to get campaign litera­ City State __ Zip the Socialist Publications Fund. ture the parallel between the British occu­ Each week, we will be reporting on the pation of Northern Ireland and the U.S. Phone ------­ goals and progress of the Fund. war in Nicaragua. Several parade partici­ Organization/Union ------Every contribution, large and small, is pants were interested in going to Washing­ needed and will be greatly appreciated. ton for Api-il 20.

March 29, 1985 The Militant 3 -BUILDING APRIL 19-22 ANTIWAR AUIONS------A broad coalition of peace and nouncing the meeting and the fact national Longshoremen's and St. Louis: aid for civil rights organizations and that Lynch would be speaking at Warehousemen's Union Local 6, several trade unions have called it. told the meeting that labor had Nicaragua; reach out for protests in Washington, Joe Lindenmuth, president of learned from its experience during to auto workers union D.C., April 19-22, highlighted USWA Local 2265 at LTV Steel the Vietnam War. Some important by a mass march and rally on - the largest Steelworkers local sections of the union movement, BY MAREA HIME.LGRIN April 20. Actions will also be in the area - had a full -page arti­ he said , are beginning to come for­ ST. LOUIS- A spirited rall y held in San Francisco, Los cle on the back page of the local's ward to play a leading role in the was held here on February 22 to Angeles, and other cities. newsletter about the April 20 dem­ developing opposition to the U.S. build April 20. It was highlighted The demands of the protests onstration and the town meeting. government's war m Central by the presentation of a check for are: stop U.S. military interven­ The article reported that the America. $5,250 from the St. Louis Latin tion in Central America; oppose local had voted on February 12 to Members of United Transporta­ America Solidarity Committee to U.S. government and corporate allocate funds tci send members to tion Onion (UTU) locals 31 and Ricardo Espinoza, a counselor support for South African the April 20 action. I 00, which represent engineers from the Nicaraguan embassy. apartheid and overcome racism Several steelworkers attended and fi remen on the Southern The money was raised to build a at home; freeze and reverse the the meeting. Pacific Railroad, are organizing a school in northern Nicaragua after arms race; create jobs, cut the Lynch said it was important for UTU contingent in the San Fran­ members of the committee went on military budget. the Steelworkers union to see the Steelabor cisco march. a two-week tour of Nicaragua last To contact the national coali­ link between what happens in Steelworkers vice-president Local 100 vice president, Emily May, where they saw the devasta­ tion, write or call: April Actions Central America and South Africa Leon Lynch pledged USWA's Friend, and Mike Flanigon, the tion caused by Washington's war. for Peace, Jobs and Justice, Box and what's happening to working support for April 20 action. local's secretary, have both en­ Al so speaking at the rally were 2598, Washington, D.C. 20013- people in the United States. Call­ dorsed the dem·onstration. Dave David Rathke of the National 2598; (202) 667-9485. ing the racist apartheid system in The combined donations from Disalvo, chairman of Local 3 1, Labor Committee in Support of South Africa an "abomination," the evening meeting and a recep­ heads up the coalition's logistics Democracy and Human Rights in Lynch reported on the recent sue- tion earlier in the dav netted committee. And two Bay Area El Salvador, and Hilary Shelton, USWA Vice President , cess in forcing the South African PACNO close to $2,000 :_half of locals of the UTU that organi ze the Midwest regional coordinator Leon Lynch government to close down its con­ which was sent to the national bus drivers have also endorsed. of The National Organization of sulate in Pittsburgh. April Actions office. Six farm workers from the Black University and College Stu­ pledges union support Lynch repeatedly pledged hi s To contact PACNO, write or Salinas Valley attended the Feb­ dents. support and that of the USWA to call : P.O . Box 21101 , Cleveland, ruary 24 meeting, which was held The next day, the local chapter BY SUSAN LOMAN the effort to build April 20. He Ohio 44121; (216) 861-7999 or at Casa del Pueblo , the hall of of the Labor Committee hosted a CLEVELAND - United Steel­ contributed $200 to the fund-rais­ (2 16) 566-0498. United Food and Commercial breakfast meeting with Espinoza workers of America (USW A) In­ ing effort. Workers Local 428. The local's for unioni sts. The counselor in­ ternational Vice Pres. Leon Lynch Other featured speakers were president , George Soares, is the vited them to visit Nicaragua and a pledged his support and that of his Roberto Vargas, minister counsel­ UTU workers coal ilion's treasurer. Amalga­ tour is in the works. union for the April 20 demonstra­ lor of labor and cultural affairs, mated Transit Uni on Local 265 is St. Louis April Mobilization tion at a town meeting of 250 Nicaraguan Embassy; Sister will march hosting the outreach committee. Coalition representatives have ad­ people here at Cleveland State Cindy Drennan, coordinator of the in San Francisco The NAACP, Mexican Ameri­ dressed United Auto Workers University on March 3. Inter-Religious Task Force on El can Political Association, (UA W) Local 282, the UA W St. The meeting was sponsored by Salvador and Central America; BY HARRY MESERVE MECHA (a Chicano student or­ Louis City Community Action the Peace Action Coalition of Helen Seidman, field coordinator SAN JOSE, Cali f. - More ganization) , and the National Or­ Program CounciL and the UA W Northeast Ohio (PACNO) and the for Ohio Freeze; and Jerry Gor­ than 125 trade unionists, peace ac­ ganization for Women also helped Metro St. Louis Retirees Chapter. Students, Faculty and Staff for So­ don, international representative tivists, and representatives of pull together the coalition. The All voted to endorse April 20 . cial Responsibility. of the United Food and Commer­ community organi zations met here meeting voted overwhelmingly to Local 282 and the CAP Council The chair introduced Lynch by cial Workers Union and coordi­ on February 24 to kick off the organize a special train - to be voted to send two people each. A reporting that he ha~ recently nator of the Emergency National building for the San Francisco called the "Harriet Tubman" after member of the CAP Council spent two days in jail as part of the Conference Against U.S. Military April 20 demonstration in San the Black antislavery fighter - to who' s also a member of the Coali­ ongoing anti-South Africa pro- Intervention in Central America/ Jose and the southern Bay Area. bring marchers from San Jose to tion of Black Trade Unionists has tests in Washington, D.C. · the Caribbean. The meeting was called by the San Francisco. been participating in coalition The Steelworkers helped build The meeting voted unanimcmsly executive board of the Santa Clara The coalition can be contacted meetings. the March 3 meeting. Frank Val­ to support the call for a local dem­ County Central Labor Council and at the Spring Mobilization for To contact the coalition, call or enta, district director of District 28 onstration in downtown Cleveland was chaired by its business agent·, Peace, Jobs and Justice, 2102 Al­ write: 438 North Skinker, St. of the USW A, sent out a mailing at noon on March 30 to help build Peter Cervantes-Gautschi. maden Road, San Jose, Calif. Louis, Mo. 63130; (3 14) 862- to the locals in his district an- April 20. AI Lannon,. president of Inter- 95125; (408) 266-3790. 5770 or 725 ~ 2393 . April antiwar actions steering committee meets

Continued from front page tiona! League for Peace and Freedom. terventionist policies. been raised in the first week of the march defending the status quo, the privileged , Damu Smith, national coordinator for Two reports were given which reflected toward the coalition's projected budget of and the military dictatorships in the name the April Actions, reported on efforts to efforts by coalition leaders to follow up on more than $ 100,000. of democracy." mobilize a big turnout in the "host" cities key problems discussed by the February A report was also given on plans for the A dozen supporters of women's rights for the D.C. actions - Washington and emergency steering committee meeting. activities on April 19, 2 1 , and 22, includ­ signed the appeal to women to get involved Baltimore. Leslie Cagan gave a report from the co­ ing: civil disobedience, a multi-faith religi­ in the April Actions. "For women, Smith also discussed national outreach alition's Administrative Committee recom­ ous service, a lobby day, and a projected Reagan's failure to act decisively against moves to broaden leadership participation mending steps to strengthen the coalition's South Africa protest event. . abortion-clinic bombings has given us one in the coalition and to construct an ongoing ability to meet the organizational and fi ­ Representatives from local coalitions of many clear signals that attacks on movement to fi ght for peace and justice. nancial challenges in the weeks remaining gave encouraging reports on progress in women's rights will continue to be a He said that, while no one can guess how before the actions. mobilizing people for the demonstrations. hallmark of his administration," they ex­ many people will finally end up marching Gene Carroll, labor-outreach coordi­ The next national steering committee plain. Massive military spending and cuts through the streets of Washington on April nator for the National Nuclear Freeze and meeting will be on Saturday, March 30. in social programs "have a particularly 20, he was confident that tens of thousands for the April Actions Coalitions, and staff For more information about the meeting, or harsh impact on poor and Third World would mobilize in this significant political member Kay Shaw, gave a progress report to get involved in building the demonstra­ women." protest against Washington's racist and in- on fundraising . Thousands of dollars had tions, call the coalition at (202) 667-9485. Signers of the letter to women include: Winona LaDuke, Women's Indigenous Network; Bella Abzug; Angela Davis; Holly Near; Leslie Cagan, Mobilization for N.C. suit against Klan-gov't goes to court Survival; Byllye Avery, Director of the National Black Women's Health Project; BY ROSE HENRY In the current trial, as before, the gov­ shirt, emblazoned with the words "Eat leaders of the Nicaragua solidarity group WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Tria]pro­ ernment has tried to tum the victims into lead, you lousy red ." He was accompanied MADRE; and national leaders of Women ceedings began last week in the U.S. Mid­ the criminals. It charges that the only con­ by a young white man in camouflage dress, Strike for Peace and Women's Interna- dle District Court here in a $48 million spiracy involved was a conspiracy by the wearing combat boots and sporting a Con­ lawsuit against federal government offi­ demonstrators to use Blacks and labor federate flag. cials; the city of Greensboro, North unionists in confrontations with groups Judge Mehrige questioned the prospec­ Carolina; a number of police agents; and such as the Klan, The Communist Workers tive jurors about their attitudes towards members of the Ku Klux Klan and Ameri­ Party did this in order to "push their communists, Blacks, and political activ­ can Nazi Party. The suit was fil ed by rela­ cause," according to the government. ism, giving the appearance that the court tives of the victims of the Ku Klux Klan U.S. District Judge Robert Mehrige, would not qualify any juror who displayed and Nazi shootings of Nov. 3, 1979. On presiding in the current trial, has bolstered prejudice in these areas. Yet two of three that day demonstrators at an anti-Klan rall y this claim by ruling, during the jury-selec­ jurors accepted in the first round of inter­ in Greensboro were gunned down. The at­ tion process, that the Klansmen and Nazis viewing were openly anticommunist and tack left five members of the Communist can fi le countersuits. These countersuits racist. One declared his belief that all com­ Workers Party dead . claim it was the civil rights of the munists should "go back to Russia." In the words of Dr. George Simkins, Klansmen and Nazis that were violated . president of the Greensboro NAACP, Jury selection for the trial began under Another expressed his disapproval of in­ "This trial is of extreme importance. It is tight security, with only a limited number terracial marriage and explained that the last opportunity to see that some sort of of spectators and supporters of the suit able "Blacks should stay with the Blacks and justice prevails in the killings of five inno­ to enter the courtroom. Also present were whites with whites." cent persons." Two previous trials resulted attorneys for the City of Greensboro, gov­ One line of questioning indicated the in acquittal of the Klansmen and Nazis on ernment officials, and the members of the significance of this case for the labor charges of first degree murder, rioting, and Klan and Nazi Party named in the suit. movement and the fight to organize work­ Rev. Ben Chavis was one of signers of an conspiring to violate the civil rights of Speaking on his own behalf was Roland ers in the "right-to-work" South. The judge April Actions letter appealing for Black demonstrators. Both trials were heard be­ Wayne Wood, a member of the American asked prospective jurors if they thought participation in demonstrations. fore all-white juries. Nazi Party, dressed in an olive-drab T- Continued on Page 12

4 The Militant March 29, 1985 How U.S. gov't uses food as weapon against Ethiopia

BY LEE MARTINDALE development are not wi ped out overnight. Hundreds of thousands of Africans have Ethiopia is still a very poor country, with starved and millions more are threatened very little industry, roads, railways, andre­ by a famine triggered by drought. sources for economic development. Food and other agricultural products are In a recent year, imported goods, includ­ still being exported from the countries af­ ing fertilizers and supplementary food, fected by the drought: crops like cotton, cost more than double the amount that peanuts, coffee, and meat and vegetables Ethiopia's exports brought in. for the European market. In addition, the Ethiopian government is African peasants and workers don' t waging a war against national liberatio'n make enough to buy food to eat. The prof­ fighters in Eritrea province and battling its go to big landowners and to the owners rebel guerrillas in Tigre who are bucking of multinational corporations that control central government authority over that the world trade in food. province. This warfare is a further drain on African nations find their imports cost Ethiopia's already underdeveloped econ­ far more than they can get for their exports. omy. Borrowing to import ·food, fuel, and So, when the rains were insufficient for machinery, they wind up in debt to the im­ several years in a row, Ethiopia faced perialist banks. famine in spite of the progress it had begun This poverty and dependence makes the to make. economies of these countries vulnerable, so that a failure of the rains can lead to a Washington withholds food tragedy of terrible proportions. The radical reforms of the Ethiopian rev­ In 1974 a popular uprising overthrew Ethiopia's feudal emperor, Haile Selassie. There is no way out of this vulnerable olution, along with the regime's anti-im­ New government abolished monarchy, instituted a radical land reform, and carried positon without major social changes that perialist stance, have made it a target of at­ out an educational campaign that taught majority of Ethiopians, like schoolchildren challenge the right of rich owners of im­ tack from the imperialists. Several years above, how to read for the first time. Washington's food policies are designed to dis­ perialist corporations to exploit the major­ after the revolution the U.S. government credit and destabilize present Ethiopian government. ity of working people of these countries. cut off all aid, using as a pretext the confis­ cation of a spice factory without what the "The weapon, as described by officials There's no profit to be made in growing The Ethiopian revolution· U.S. owners considered "adequate" com­ Ethiopia is one country where such in Rome, Washington, London, and a food for people too po~r to buy it. pensation. But there is profit in using the land and major social changes have been made. number of African capitals: calibrating and In 1977- 78 the U.S. government backed labor force of Africa to produce crops for Until 1974 Ethiopia was ruled by the measuring out Western food and financial an invasion of Ethiopia by the neighbori ng export that multinational corporations can feudal monarchy of Emperor Haile Selas­ aid on condition that governments make country of Somalia. buy cheap and sell dear to consumers in sie. Eighty-five percent of the population changes that donors want to see." And in the current famine, Washing­ other countries. were serfs of the ruling family , the Ethio­ The "reforms" that must be implemented ton's desire to discredit and destabilize And as long as "market principles" pian Orthodox Church, or other large land­ are: lifting price controls on food , ending Ethiopia has clearly taken precedence over reign, that's what African nations are owners. The landlords demanded 50 to 80 food subsidies in urban areas, and turning any "humanitarian" concern. forced to do in order to import fuel and percent of the peasants' crop as rent. The the distribution of food back over to private Ethiopia has a standing famine-relief manufactured goods, get loans from inter­ majority of the arable land in these large hands. commission, set up in 1974, which moni­ national banks, and "qualify" for aid to estates was unused, despite the severe In the midst of a famine, where people tors food supplies, distributes food aid, and help the starving. famines that the country experienced. are desperate for food to survive, these "re­ tries to prevent famine. So the next time the television flashes Selassie also encouraged multinational forms" amount to legalizing speculation In 1982 after several years of scanty rain pictures of children with shriveled limbs agribusiness corporations to invest in and profiteering on food. This is a recipe in key food-producing areas, the govern­ and blank stares, remember that this is a Ethiopia. In 1973, in the same area of the for a few people to get very rich very ment put out a warning on famine and ap­ famine caused by imperialism, not country where thousands of people, having quickly off of the hunger of the majority. pealed to international relief organizations In the long run, these "reforms" are de­ drought. It's a famine for profit. been pushed off the land, were starving to and foreign governments to help avert it. death, an Italian company named signed to keep an open field for the im­ The U.S. government ignored these re­ perialist corporations, and prevent the gov­ MAESCO was expanding. It augmented its quests until mid-1983, and then they were Militant Forum in alfalfa-growing operations, which sold ernments of African countries from going denied. Ethiopia was the only African na­ into the profitable export and import busi­ livestock feed to Japan, to include the pro­ tion whose entire U.S. food-aid allotment Cincinnati discusses duction of sheep and cattle for ex13ort. ness themselves. was eliminated by the Reagan administra­ The U.S. government, the World Bank, For six months in 1973- 74, while Ethio­ tion in its fiscal 1984 budget proposals. legacy of Malcolm X pians starved to death, Selassie denied and other "food-aid donors" have the gov­ At a World Bank meeting in September ernments of these African countries over a BY PATRICIA HAMER there was a famine and refused to appeal 1983, France proposed a program of CINCINNATI :...._ A standing-room only for international aid. barrel. Willis explained that "In French­ famine relief that was blocked by the speaking Mali - [which is] fighting ero­ crowd of 72 attended the Militant Labor United States. Forum on Sunday, February 24, to hear Uprising and social change sion, the encroaching Sahara, and drought As one U.S. senator explained the pol­ - donors have in effect ganged up on the James Meredith reflect on what Malcolm X In 1974 he was overthrown by a popular icy: "The hungry kids are seen by some meant to him. uprising. The peasants took back their government since 1980 to demand price downtown as 'little commies,' so the grain and market changes." Meredith, a visiting professor at the Uni­ land, the nobility was overthrown, and the just sits there." versity of Cincinnati, recently sparked monarchy abolished. In plainer terms, this is blackmail, using The U.S. government has tried to defend food as the weapon, with the goal of allow­ much controversy when he criticized the The new government of Mengistu Haile its refusal to give aid and to discredit the ing the imperialists to run the economies of university's attitude toward Black athletes Mariam initiated a series of deep-going re­ Ethiopians by charging that food gets di­ these nations. and condemned the quality of education forms, including one of the most radical verted to the armed forces . But investiga­ Blacks are receiving in the public schools. land reforms. ever undertaken on the Afri­ tions by representatives of the European U.S. farmers Some twenty years ago Meredith made can continent. These reforms were de­ Economic Community, and by members of U.S. farmers face the government 's history by enrolling at the University of signed to provide for the needs of the popu­ the U.S. Congress, have uncovered no evi­ domestic version of "food for progress" Mississippi ("Ole Miss"), which was then lation and to lay a basis for real agricultural dence supporting this charge. right here. The same commitment to "mar­ all-white. Public officials defied a court development. Finally forced by public pressure to ket principles" is invoked as the basis for order admitting Meredith, and anti-Black The land of the giant landlords and the begin sending aid , tbe Reagan administra­ the Reagan administration's proposed new riots resulted in two deaths before he was church was divided among the peasants. tion and Congress are posing as the saviors farm bill. allowed on campus. Even then, National The new government nationalized the of Africa. Guard troops had to escort him to his class­ few imperiali st economic holdings there But the aid that Washington has pledged What this farm bill would do is effec­ es. were in Ethiopia, and closed down U.S. is only a quarter of the 3.3 million tons of tively eliminate price-support loans for In his remarks Meredith said, "If Mal­ military facilities. It established ties with food needed. And last year the U.S. gov­ many crops. The price-support system colm were alive today in Cincinnati , he the Soviet Union, Cuba, and other workers ernment had 100 times that amount of grain would onl y be triggered if farmers had to would be still be fighting for the same jus­ states. in storage. sell their crops below the market price. If tice he fought for twenty years ago. Noth~ Illiteracy has been reduced from 97 to 37 l'hese surplus stocks of food are used, the market price fa lls below what it cost the ing has changed." percent. Mass organi zations of workers, not as a resource for hungry people, but as farmers to produce the crop, that's tough. Sharing the platform with Meredith were peasants, women, and young people were a weapon to keep them dependent and ex­ This farm bill will make it even harder· Marvin Berlowitz, Kibwe Diarra, and formed. Laws have been passed against ploited. for those thousands of fami ly farmers who Charles Graves. Berlowitz, a professor o{ some of the backward customs that oppress face the Joss of their land because their in­ education at the University of Cincinnati, Ethiopian women, such as the practice of The food weapon come won't cover the costs of production defended Meredith from his academic de­ marrying off girl s between the ages of In January Reagan announced a new and interest payments demanded by the tractors. Diarra, a member of the Socialist food-aid pol icy called "Food for Progress," seven and nine. banks. Workers Party, explained that, "The Apri l The government has begun the construc­ which he said will "emphasize use of 20th Call for Action rally in Washington, tion of badly needed roads. Much of America's agricultural abundance to sup­ One of the advantages of this program, D.C. , would definitely be attended by Mal­ Ethiopia is mountainous, and three-quar­ port countries which have made commit­ according to Reagan's secretary of agricul­ colm if he were ali ve today." ters of the country's farmers live more than ments to agricultural policy reform during ture, John Block, is that it wi ll eliminate Graves, a member of the National Black a half-day's walk from an all-weather road. a period of economic hardship." These re­ the "costl y surpluses" of food that the U.S. Independent Political Party, was moderator The new government has intervened in forms are to be based on ''market princi­ government currentl y stores. for the panel. He stated that "by binding to­ the wholesale market for food to fight ples" and "private sector involvement. '' Simple justice and common sense would gether in an organization such as NBIPP, speculation and ensure adequate food for This approach is already being im­ dictate taking the surplus grain grown by we can carry on the teachings of Malcolm workers living in the towns. plemented in some African countries. A U.S. farmers and using it to help feed the X and continue in the struggle for justice.'' Of course, these steps have not im­ November feature in the Christian Science hungry . mediately solved Ethiopia's agricultural Monitor by David Willis describes how it But the profit motive is neither just nor Hamer is a member of NBIPP in Cincin­ problems . Centuries of poverty and under- works: does it have the common good in mind. nati.

March 29, 1985 The Militant 5 Nicaraguan ranchers meet U.S. farmers BY GEOFF MIRELOWITZ meaning counterrevolutionaries) financed ST. PAUL, Minn. - "The workers, by your government." farmers, farm workers, and ranchers of The Matagalpa ranch was invaded by Nicaragua feel tremendous solidarity with contras and burned , Tijerino explained. the people of your country," Nicaraguan One of the farm workers was shot in the rancher Juan Tijerino told audiences of neck and left to hang from a tree. farmers and other rural Minnesotans. "We The Tijerinos explained that cattle ran­ count on your solidarity as we continue to chers and dairy farmers have mobilized to reconstruct our country." help the coffee growers pick the crop. This Tijerino and his wife, Piedad Tijerino, is necessary because, "the arms that picked spent March 7-10 in Minnesota on one leg the coffee are today defending the country" of a tour that began in California and will against the U.S. war. Despite these ex­ take them to Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas. traordinary steps Nicaragua will only bring Speaking on behalf of Nicaragua's Na­ in 60 percent of this year's coffee harvest, tional Union of Farmers and Ranchers the Tijerinos reported. "Sadly, we who M (ONAG), the Tijerinos came to the United love peace," said the Tijerinos, "have to Nicaraguan ranchers Piedad and Juan Tijerino (right) talking with Minnesota farm­ States to appeal to embattled farmers here Continued on Page 10 ers during recent Midwest speaking tour. to oppose the U.S. government's war against Nicaragua. The Midwest portion of - . their tour was hosted by the North Ameri­ can Farm Alliance . The two Nicaraguans spoke to 35 people U.S. war games threaten Nicaragua in Worthington; 40 in Granite Falls; and 60 at a meeting hosted by United Auto Work­ Continued from front page would have landed on the strip, had to be But Big Pine is not some generalized ers (UA W) Local 879 president, Tom people- as they will in Nicaragua- even parachuted in. learning experience. The nature and scope Laney, at the UA W hall in St. Paul. tiny Grenada could have provided stiff re­ This was disclosed in a Boston Globe ar­ of the operation confirms that both the In western Minnesota the Tijerinos were sistance and raised the political price U.S. ticle last October by two former army intel­ U.S. and Honduran troops involved are on warmly welcomed by farmers who are ac­ imperialism paid for trampling on the lives ligence officers. a wartime footing. tive in the fight against farm foreclosures and rights of the small, once-independent A recently disclosed U.S. General Ac­ and the ruinous policies the U.S. govern­ nation. ' Inaccurate' intelligence counting Office report notes that the Penta­ ment is carrying out against family farm­ Their account of big foul-ups in the inva­ gon "emphasizes that the training of Hon­ ers. These included leaders of the Min­ New book reveals problems sion is confirmed by "Lessons Learned" re­ duran troops contributes to the readiness of nesota chapter of the American Agriculture In the March I 0 New York Times , a book ports filed by two navy officers who com­ U.S. forces . . . by permitting U.S. troops Movement and Groundswell (the leading on the U.S. military is reviewed by Wil­ manded air squadrons. They complained to improve their professional skills in [a] force in the February demonstration of liam Hauser. He's described as a former that the operation was impeded by dis­ bilingual environment, and by exposing more than 10,000 farmers and their sup­ military career officer and writer on "na­ jointed planning and poor coordination be­ U.S. forces to indigenous cultures." porters at the state capitol here). These tional security affairs. " tween the various branches of the military. Brig. Gen. Walter Lopez Reyes adds farm leaders and other farmers opened their Hauser writes that if the Grenadians and that the maneuvers will provide "excellent farms to the Tijerinos, offering them meals They agreed that advance intelligence Cuban construction workers who resisted training for Honduran troops and give both and housing while in the Granite Falls and had been "inaccurate and inadequate." the invaders had been "slightly better armies the opportunity to work together." Worthington areas. The Tijerinos were They added that Ranger officers had not armed and trained, the United States vic­ The Pentagon says the current maneu­ given tours of several farms including a met in advance with navy pilots and, "as a tory would have been protracted to the vers will last some three months. beef feeding operation, a hog finishing result, we went into combat the first day point of national humiliation." (Emphasis farm, an Arabian horse breeding farm , a with absolutely no prior knowledge of, or Before Big Pine, such maneuvers rarely added.) dairy operation, and a grain farm that also coordination with , the Ranger operation." lasted more than three weeks . converts com into ethanol for sale. Larry Hauser adds that the book under review A third "Lessons Learned" report, by the At peak points of the training, some Olson, operator of the horse breeding farm , -The Pentagon and the Art of War, by admiral who headed up the navy end of the 4,500 U.S. troops will be involved. These traveled to Nicaragua in February and Edward Luttwak - recounts "landings in operation, also said the invasion had been include I ,500 now permanently stationed showed slides from his trip at the Granite Grenada uncoordinated between the Army planned so hastily that there were serious in Honduras. Falls meeting. and Marine Corps, pitiable failures of intel­ coordination and communications prob­ (With but a few scattered murmurs of In the course of public meetings and the ligence, and confused transmission of or­ lems. protest, Congress has looked the other way many informal discussions with U.S. farm ders." And, he added, they were confronted while the Pentagon has used the series of activists, the Tijerinos painted a vivid pic­ Participating command officers ac­ with such unexpected difficulties as medi­ Big Pine maneuvers as the cover for creat­ ture of the brutatlity of the U.S. -backed knowledge that advance intelligence re­ cal evacuations being conducted by army ing a new military base in Honduras. Le­ war against Nicaragua and the urgency of ports underestimated the number of Cuban helicopter pilots who had not been trained gally, such bases require congressional mounting opposition to it. construction workers involved in bujlding to land on offshore ships. sanction.) Grenada's new airport. The U.S. com­ Another headache, the admiral added, is Honduran forces include infantry Ranch destroyed by contras mand planned to use the uncompleted run­ that the invaders were working with three brigades, armored cavalry, and naval and The Tijerinos are cattle and grain pro­ way there as a key landing point for its different maps , with different gridline air force units. ducers. Married for 20 years with seven ground forces. markings on them. Up to 20 U.S. tanks will be airlifted in children , !iS Piedad Tijerino told the Gra­ But as a result ot the faulty intelligence, This, he observed, caused "considera­ for the exercise. And armored personnel nite Falls meeting, they started their first a special 35-member force that dropped in ble" confusion . carriers will be delivered to the Honduran military. farm two we~ks after they were married. to grab control of the airfield was pinned "Our ranch cost us a lot of sweat," she down and isolated, with 22 of them repor­ To improve readiness of U.S. troops Also projected are joint naval exercises explained. "Two months ago it was de­ tedly killed or wounded. Big Pine aims at assuring that such mis­ by U.S. , Honduran , and Salvadoran naval stroyed by contras (the Spanish name The result was that Army Rangers , who takes won't be repeated in Nicaragua. forces. These include landings on small is­ lands in the Gulf of Fonseca. The gulf is shared by Honduras, El Salvador, and Nic­ aragua. There is also substantial , continuing mil­ Rojas letter on. Grenada featured in 'IP' itary construction. Earlier Big Pine operations built "tem­ The sixth anniversary of the Gre­ the revolution's collapse." porary" air strips, a half-dozen airfields, nada revolution of March 13, 1979, Rojas also describes the dispute and 10 bunkers for storing bombs, rockets, is a good occasion to review the les­ over "joint leadership" in the NJM, and other warplane ammunition. sons of that revolution and the explaining how the proposals of Several radar facilities have been in­ counterrevolution led by Bernard the Coard faction would have un­ INTERCONTINENTAL stalled in Honduras, as well as two on is­ Coard that overthrew it in October dermined the real collective leader­ PRESS lands in the Gulf of Fonseca. Operated and 1983. ship practiced by Bishop. ··· - · ·~·: :~· inprecor secured by U.S . personnel , these keep the Don Rojas, former press secre­ This issue of IP also includes two entire region under surveillance. tary to the slain Grenadian revolu­ articles from Australia on the his­ You don't have to be a specialist in mil­ tionary leader Maurice Bishop, tory of the imperialist ANZUS al­ itary affairs to know that all this adds up to does this in an open letter to pro­ liance and the movement against it. a lot more than "a show of force ." gressive publications around the Intercontinental Press is a biweekly The series of Big Pine operations was world. It is printed in the current, that carries more articles, docu­ discussed in the February 28 issue of Bar­ April 1, issue of Intercontinental ments, and special features on world ricada International, an English-language Press. politics- from Europe to Oceania weekly published in Nicaragua. Rojas answers the argument and from the Middle East to Central The paper reported: made by some political currents America - than we have room for "As a result of the virtual nonstop ma­ that the supporters of Bishop and in the Militant. Subscribe now. neuvers, stated Defense Minister [Hum­ those of Coard were equally to ANZUSPact berto] Ortega, the U.S. Marines now have blame for the revolution's defeat. Enclosed is 0 $7.50 for 3 months. a greater familiarity with the zone's terrain, He describes the Coard group as 0 $15 for 6 months. 0 $30 for 1 Imperialists Collaborate topographical conditions, climate and, in "ultraleftists" who "hijacked" the year. to Police Asia and Pacific general, with the theater of operations from New jewel Movement (NJM) and Name ______which a· war against Nicaragua would be "offered up the revolution to Aopof1 F..., Qt.­ Fldol Cootro In-... launched. Washington on a platter." Address ______MaN OrplizlltlooiS Hit 'To Be a Revolutionary Imperialist Pressures Ia • GrMt Privilege' "With the joint participation of Hondu­ Those who blame both sides, City __ State ___ Zip __ ran troops, he added, they have the capac­ says Rojas, "deliberately distort the ity to mount a rapid intervention opera­ facts, with the real motive of re­ Clip and mail to Intercontinental tion ." habilitating the discredited Coar­ Press, 410 West St., New York, NY Clearly, when the Nicaraguans warn of dites, who are the true architects of 10014. the threat of a U.S. invasion , they ' re not crying wolf.

6 The Militant March 29, 1985 Kidnapped Nicaraguan peasants tell of horrifying life with U.S.-backed 'contras'

BY JOSE G. PEREZ that the mercenaries "surprised me on a ESTELL Nicaragua - "They can kill road. They let the rest go, because they us, but they won't take us away anymore. were older, but me they took . ' We're all We are now armed men, and we will not Nicaraguans and we have to fight,' they permit this," said Jose Pobeda Vasquez. said." Pobeda is now a member of an armed He said he was in a training camp in agricultural cooperative in Nicaragua. He Honduras for almost a month . Considered was speaking after a ceremony here Feb­ unreliable by the contras, he wasn't given a ruary 15 where he and 142 other peasants rifle, only a heavy load of hundreds of were formally released by the Nicaraguan mortar projectiles to carry. government under an amnesty for Nicara­ On Dec. 2< 1984, bis task force crossed guans involved in counterrevolutionary ac­ into Nicaragua in an area near his home. tivity. The 143 peasants, from the war-tom "That night I snuck away." Several others northern region of Las Segovias, had been deserted at the same time because the con­ kidnapped by CIA-sponsored counterrevo­ tra commanders were celebrating Christ­ lutionary bands (contras) , which tried to mas and not watching too closely. force them to fight against the Nicaraguan "Now I feel tranquil. The Sandinista revolution . Front is helping us, we' re going to work Some of those kidnapped were able to the land and we've decided not to let the escape within a few hours or a couple of contras keep on taking us." Mi tant photos by Jose G. Perez days of being kidnapped. Others- includ­ Contras maintain their ranks and terrorize the population of northern Nicaragua by ing Pobeda- spent weeks or months with I ,500 deserters kidnappings. At left, Rene Chevarrfa Blandon was seized on coffee farm and the contras before deserting. In all, said Commander P.ichardo, more dragooned into contras and later escaped after being wounded. Flores Lopez, 14, was "This revolution will welcome everyone than I ,500 people have deserted from the taken from her village and raped. who has been kidnapped or who voluntar­ counterrevolutionary bands in Las ily wants to tum themselves in under the Segovias alone since the Nicaraguan gov­ said. "They separated us in Honduras." The amnesty law , Lara explained, is amnesty decree," said Commander Chris­ ernment's amnesty program went into ef­ Agustin Lara, political secretary of the going to take away one of the mercenaries' tian Pichardo, head of the Ministry of the fect more than a year a ago. This is almost FSLN in the region, said that the U.S. gov­ instruments of blackmail against the peas­ Interior in the region. He presided over the equivalent to the total number of counter­ ernment, which directs the contra forces, ants. "They kidnap them, put them in a ceremony. revolutionary troops in the region . cur­ uses "methods which are exactly the same counterrevolutionary column. and then the Other dignitaries present included Com­ rently estimated at about I ,800. as those used by the Somozaist guard be­ contras try to convince them they have to mander Manuel Salvatierra, head of the "This is a war zone where the working fore the July 19 , 1979, victory . fight because if they were to return to Nic­ army in the region; Agustin Lara, political people are fighting against the enemy, "What the compafieras said about the aragua they would be killed by the army. secretary of the regional Sandinista Na­ some defending the revolution, others pro­ rapes, that was something common, 'This weapon has been losing credibil­ tional Liberation Front (FSLN); and Lt. ducing for the revolution," Pichardo said. routine , before. The kidnapping and disap­ ity . The peasants are increasingly clear that Commander Roger Mayorga. head of State "The enemy does everything in his pearances of peasants were also common the forces of the revolution at no time con­ Security in Las Segovias. power to prevent this from developing nor­ and routine. " fuse the counterrevolutionary mercenary mally . They come into isolated peasant Lara said more than 2,000 " m~n. women with the peasants who have been kid­ How peasants are kidnapped hamlets, come into the homes, kidnapping, and even children" have been kidnapped in napped, pressured, and blackmailed into A dozen peasants were interviewed at killing, and raping. this region. The contras "have broken up fighting in the ranks of the counterrevolu­ random by the Militant after the ceremony. "And since the enemy has received harsh entire communities, creating terror. tion ." "They are evil-doers, honestly," says blows from the armed forces, he is forced "And now that the U.S . Senate is going Lara reported that the number of people Amado Duarte Mercado, referring to the to replace those forces by kidnapping peas­ to discuss the approval of $14 million" for who tum themselves in "grows day by day, chiefs of the U .S.-organized mercenary ants." its war against Nicaragua, Lara continued, as a result of the growing credibility of our forces . "The day they took me from my Although not required under terms of the "it is good that it be known where and how positions." house, threatening to kill me, a few took law, Pichardo reported the revolutionary those millions of dollars are used. Here is In response to a question, Commander me away and the rest stayed behind and government is also granting amnesty, on a the proof of precisely who are the victims Pichardo said the 143 peasants being for­ killed a nephew of mine who was staying case-by-case basis, to some contras of that war of aggression ." with me. wounded or captured in battle. mally released had, in fact, already been "He had been a member of the militia Rene Chevarria Blandon, one such pris­ 'Made in USA' returned to their communities, and were only part of the larger group of people who before, and we were working in a coopera­ oner, explained he had been a member of To one side of the table where Lara was had turned themselves in in recent weeks. tive. That doesn't sit well with them ." the Five Pines task force of mercenaries. sitting there was a large display of rifles, "Anyone who lays down their weapon is Jose Lino Guerrero, who spent four The task force is part of the Jose Dolores ammunition, uniforms, bombs, and hand­ immediately handed over to their commu­ months with the counterrevolutionaries, Estrada Regional Command. books. The bullets had NATO markings. nity." described the c<;>mposition of the CIA He said he was kidnapped while tending The uniforms said "Made in USA." The bands. "It's the old National Guard" of coffee groves in June 1984 and taken to claymore mines had instructions embossed He also reported that these people were overthrown dictator Anastasio Somoza, he Honduras. He was sent back to Nicaragua in English: "this side toward enemy ." Even taking a substantial risk by coming here to said, "and some peasants- some of them two months later. His unit was told that its the "Freedom Fighter's Manual" bore the the ceremony. He said in 1984 there were confused, but mostly kidnapped." objectives were to attack the town of La indelible stamp of its U.S. authors: in illus­ several cases of peasants murdered by con­ He said the commander of his contra unit Trinidad and the city of Estell, deep in Nic­ trating how to make a time-bomb fuse with tra bands after having returned to their consciously· avoided combat with the San­ araguan territory. a cigarette and matches, the cartoon communities. "That is why , if someone dinista army, in part to prevent desertions. But his column of about I 00 men was showed a U.S. -style book of matches. who has turned themselves in wants a rifle "It's the easiest moment to escape," he ambushed by the Sandinista People's These are totally unknown in Nicaragua, to defend themselves, we will give it to said, "because the rest of the time they al­ Army and virtually wiped out. "I think where matches come in a little box . them." ways keep a very close watch. Anyone only I escaped, and I escaped wounded." found trying to desert is killed on the spot." He wandered for 10 days, gravely ill, his His younger brother, Anelio Guerrero, wounds festering with maggots. When he was also kidnapped, shortly after Jose Lino was finally captured, "I was more dead Who are the contras? had managed to escape. Anelio explained than alive." Sandinista troops fed him, gave him medical attention, and sent him BY STEVE MARSH~LL from Washington. to a hospital . The U.S. -organized forces attacking In Nicaragua, among the workers and "Now I feel calm. I am grateful to the Nicaragua today are commonly called con­ farmers who are their target, the contras are NICARAGUA Sandinista Front, which has given me back tras, or counterrevolutionaries. They're 'known simply as las bestias·- the beasts. The Sandinista my life. I am truly grateful." known by other names as well . Nicaraguans have a long experience The CIA, in its instruction booklet for with the contras, who ran the country for Abuse of peasant women People's the contras, calls them "persuasive and decades. U.S. military officers set up the Commander Pichardo also presented highly motivated guerrillas." National Guard in 1927 to protect the Revolution three peasant women kidnapped by coun­ One group of contras, the Nicaraguan Somoza family dictatorship. The Guard terrevolutionaries. Marfa Dominguez Democratic Force (FDN), styles itself was notorious for its rape, torture, and · Speeches by Lopez Miranda and Esmeralda del Carmen "commandos in a holy war." Secretary of slaughter of civilians. Sandinista Flores Lopez were kidnapped January 15 at State George Shultz calls them "brave men It murdered 50,000 Nicaraguans before leaders the hamlet of Santo Domingo, near the and women," and President Reagan says July 19, 1979, when the Sandinista Na­ town of Telpaneca. Both were raped . they're "freedom fighters" who deserve tional Liberation Front (FSLN) led the This new collection contains Flores Lopez- who is 14-explained, millions of dollars of additional financing Continued on Page 10 more than 40 speeches by lead­ "They came to my house, pretending to be ers of the Nicaraguan revolution Sandino's cubs," as the draftees of Nicara­ given between March 1982 and gua's Patriotic Military Service are called. December 1984. Included are "They told my mother she could go get us speeches and interviews by lead­ the next day at Telpaneca, but they took us ers of the Sandinista National to the mountain and that night, they put an Liberation Front and the Nicara­ armed guard over each civilian. The one guan government, such as Pres . who abused my person was called El Piojo. Daniel Ortega, Vice-pres. Sergio He said if I didn't let him, he would cut my Ramfrez, Tomas Borge, Jaime throat." Wheelock, and Victor Tirado; Late that night the two women were able and important documents, such to escape. as the FSLN 's 1984 " Plan of Strug­ Reyna Isabel Ruiz B. Vanegas was kid­ gle." 400 pages, $7.95. Available napped with her husband at the end of De­ May 1985 from Pathfinder Press, cember 1984, taken to Honduras, then sent 410 West Street, New York, NY back with one of the regional contra com­ Militant/Jose G. Perez 10014. mands. She escaped after one month. "I Mercenary poster reads "The Pope is with us." Another of their slogans is "With God don't know where my husband is," she and patriotism, we will destroy communism!"

March 29, 1985 The Militant 7 Farm protests held across country Police attack farm protest

Continued from front page beaten unconscious by the police . Cecil The crowd also included a group of Vaughan, chairman of the Libby unit of high-school students wearing the purple UAW Local 710, was also badly beaten by jackets of the Future Farmers of America. the cops. Marvin Porter, an AAM activist and the After the attack, Roger Allison , an coordinator of the action, reported that sup­ AAM activist, reconvened the rally to pro­ port and participation from local farmers test the arrest. and the community was more than he had Matt Snell, noting that the rally had seen at other farm-sale actions. opened with the saluting of the flag, told The rally was opened by Perry Wilson, the crowd, "We will have to fight to make who thanked everyone for coming out to sure that the 'liberty and justice for all part support his fight against the foreclosure of that pledge comes true, because there is sale. no justice here today. " Before the rally, Wilson had told the Militant, "A farmer is a fighter. I've been The eight arrested were: Fred Arens­ fighting nature and for prices to make a liv­ berg, farmer; Bradley Gilbert, farmer; Car­ ing for 52 years, now we're fighting the los Welty, farmer; Harley Sentell, farmer; government." William Henry, auto worker; Cecil Vau­ Jerry ·Tucker, assistant director of Re­ ghan, auto worker; Hilde Edler, coal gion 5 of the U A W, expressed the union's miner; and Marvin Porter, farmer. They commitment to farmers in their struggle. were released· and no charges have been Militant/John Staggs He told the crowd that the same corpora­ filed at this time. Although the sales trustee could not even One of the 200 UA W members from several Kansas City locals who participated in tions attacking farmers are attacking work­ the foreclosure protest in Plattsburg. ers. "We in the UA W have a common fight announce the sale, Clinton County Sheriff . and a common cause with family farmers." Bo Defreece claimed that there was a legal Reverend Nelson "Fuzzy" Thompson, sale of the Wilsons' land to the Federal ment that will kill farmers in El Salvador Agriculture Movement, Inc., and con­ president of the Southern Christian Leader­ Land Bank. would certainly kill farmers here." gressmen from farm states. ship Conference in Kansas City, expressed Perry Wilson , Jr., told the Militant after­ Speakers at the rally at the Jefferson Following the rally, the protesters the chapter's "full support" for the Wilson wards, "If they try and call this a legal sale Memorial included Wayne Cryts; Corky marched to the Department of Agriculture family's struggle. we will take them back to court, but in the Jones, national president of the American and then to the White House. After the rally, when the sale was sched­ meantime we are going to organize more uled to begin, 25 highway patrol cops, rallies like this one." shoving and prodding with billy clubs, Cecil Vaughan, one of the UAW mem­ tried to force the crowd back. Failing, they bers arrested, agreed . "The law definitely Ohio: 200 join tractorcade grabbed 8 farmers and unionists from the used excessive force on a peaceful assem­ crowd and dragged them inside the court­ bly. I'll back the Wilsons up, there was no BY ANGY FOLKES This sentiment was echoed by FFM house, where they were roughed up and ar­ sale." AND MARK FRIEDMAN leader Dick Bailey. "Why not supply food rested. Summing up the general mood after the CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio- Two hundred to the rest of the world and not bullets and One of those arrested; Brad Gilbert, the action, Perry Wilson, Sr., said, "This fight farmers and their supporters held a tractor­ bombs." 19-year-old son of a King City farmer, was is just getting started. I'm not quitting." cade here on February 21 to protest farm He explained that FFM's goal is to or­ foreclosures and the uncertainty of farm ganize family farmers into directly sup­ loans for spring planting. During the ac­ porting each other to stay on the land and to tion, organized by the Ohio Family Farm halt the chain reaction of foreclosures. Michigan: 300 rally at capitol Movement (FFM), farmers protested at "Wayne Cryts helped show us the way," local banks, the Farmers Home Adminis­ Bailey said. Cryts, a Missouri farmer, led a BY JUANA OCHOA gan Farm Unity Coalition, explained that tration (FmHA) and the Production Credit protest· of thousands of farmers ·in 1981 . LANSING, Mich . -On February 28, "there is a grave crisis facing American ag­ Association offices. · This action held off the police and the FBI 300 farmers and their supporters gathered riculture and we formed [our coalition] to Ohio farmers, like farmers around the as the farmei:s peaq:fully too,k back Cryts.' at the state capitol here for a rally to protest deal with it." country, are under the gun. Larry1 Coe of soybeans which creditors of a bankrupt the plight of the family farmer. After explaining the economic problems Mount Vernon points out that the combina­ grain elevator company were trying to lay The rally was called by the Michigan facing farmers, Ferrell blasted federal tion of high interest rates, low crop prices, their hands on. "Farmers must stand up," Farm Unity Coalition. The coalition in­ Budget Director Stockman, Agricultural and mounting debt is squeezing farmers Bailey said. "We have made a difference volves the North American Farm Alliance Secretary Block, and President Reagan. like himself out of agriculture. Coe who with all the demonstrations." (NAFA) and the American Agriculture Ferrell said that farmers have had problems once farmed 1,000 acres is now down to Among the protesters were workers Movement (AAM), as well as civic andre­ under both Democratic and Republican ad­ 200. ''I'm trying to hold on to one parcel from the area. They came out to lend their ligious groups. Farm leaders present in­ ministrations. that has been in the family for 100 years." support to the farmers. One such worker, cluded Roger Miller of the Ohio Farm Co­ A representative of the Farmworkers The Ohio director of agriculture admits Louis McFarland, told the Militant that ev­ alition and Bruce Miller, vice president of Ministry expressed solidarity with the rally that 25 to 30 percent of the state's farmers eryone is affected by the farm crisis. "Farm the Michigan AAM. and explained that there could be unity be­ will go under this year. Pat Hammel, an building and land improvement has been Many of the farmers at the rally are fac­ tween farm workers and family farmers . FFM organizer, explained that the federal reduced here. Farmers put money back into ing imminent foreclosures of their farms Farm activists distributed copies of the government has turned a deaf ear to the the land, big business takes it away from and came to the rally to protest and seek an­ North American Farmer, the publication of plight of farmers while they spend billions the area. Farmers need and deserve a fair swers on how to fight back. NAFA, and a news release that explained of dollars on missiles and nuclear weapons. price for their grain." A wide variety of views on how to solve the goals of the Michigan Farm Unity Coa­ the problems of low farm prices, foreclo­ lition. sures, and credit was discussed by the rally Socialist auto workers from Detroit also speakers. participated in the rally and sold several Missouri: 'Parity not charity' Ron Ferrell, spokeperson for the Michi- copies of the Militant . BY JOHN GAIGE riculture ... selling the American farmer JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -"Parity not down the drain ." charity," chanted 300 farmers and their "Duke" Me Yay, president of the Mis­ D.C. march: 'Farms not arms!' supporters gathered at the state capitol here souri AFL-CIO, pledged support to Mis­ as Carlos Welty, national spokesperson for souri's hard-pressed farmers. Attacking BY KAY BARTLETT farmers and their supporters. Robert Elam, American Agriculture Movement (AAM), Reagan's deep gutting of farm programs, WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than a member of International Brotherhood of closed his. speech. McVay said, "Survival of the fittest is not 1,000 farmers and their supporters Electrical Workers Local 814, wore his Welty said, "Only you can do it ... you in the interests of workers and farmers." marched and rallied here on March 4. The union jacket as he marched. His coworkers will have to do it . . . we want a Matt Snell, Kansas City director of United actions were part of a series of protests at the telephone company in Sedalia, Mis­ moratorium, we want price." Welty was Auto Workers Community Action Pro­ over the past few weeks organized to souri, had taken up a collection to sponsor referring to the idea of a "people's gram, also spoke, solidarizing with the dramatize the crisis facing family farmers . his trip. moratorium" on farm foreclosures , and farmers. higher prices for farmers so they can make Merle Hansen, president of the North The March 4 "Farmers Parity March" "Our union is just getting started trying a living. American Farm Alliance (NAFA), said, was organized by the American Agricul­ to help the farmers," he told the Militant. Earlier, Welty read from a resolution "our country is so dominant in agriculture ture Movement, Inc., to demand im­ "We depend on the farmers- if they can't passed by the sponsoring farm groups for that ... it sets the world price, and our mediate government assistance to family get a good price and survive, it will cut the protest demanding that John.Ashcroft, price policies are destroying family-type farmers in the form of emergency loans and · down on our work. Other unions in Mis­ governor of Missouri, declare "Farm Crisis agriculture not only in this country, but an end to forced foreclosures. souri are getting involved, including the Action Week . . .. This week should be one throughout the world . .. and adding to the Signs, banners, and flags highlighted coal workers." to legislate an indefinite emergency world hunger problem." farmers' demands: "No profit, don't moratorium on all farm foreclosures in the Hansen said it is the giant grain trade and plant"; "We want farms, not arms"; "Fam­ A friend of Elam - a Missouri farmer state of Missouri and a week of public and processing companies that benefit from ag­ ily farms, not nuclear arms"; "Ronnie and - explained how the telephone workers private refinancing for Missouri farmers so ricultural policies that promote cheap raw Johnny: family farmers didn't like PIK"; became involved in the farmers' struggle. they can plant this spring." material production and fewer farmers. and "Does your job depend on farmers?­ "A couple of years ago," he said, "the Family farmers planted white crosses on Mark Holden, president of the National mine does." phone company tried to break the workers' the lawn, symbolizing the loss of family Farme~ Organization of Missouri, pledged union . Farmers helped workers there fight farms through forced foreclosures. It is es­ to work for a moratorium until victory. Those who didn't have picket signs car­ to keep their union . They're fighting to timated that as many as 258 farmers a day "It's the responsibility of everyone to ried white crosses with the name of a state save our farms now." are driven out of farming because of the help resist foreclosure and slow down the and a farmer printed on it. The crosses farm crisis. process for all," said Roger Allison, state symbolized farmers who had lost their Many protesters voiced support for the Signs and placards at the rally exposed spokesperson for Missouri AAM and board farms. April 20 march on Washington, D.C. Washington's antifarmer policies: "Sold member of NAFA. He urged farmers to "Look at what the government is doing," out by Block, Stock, and Bureau", and keep fighting. "Don't give up your farms The protesters from Missouri included another Missouri farmer said. "A govern- "John Block: the Benedict Arnold of ag- . .. don't mourn, organize."

8 The Militant March 29, 1985 Grain merchants pit farmer against farmer worldwide Continued from front page ise. They point out that the amount of ex­ semicolonial countries, many of which had port subsidies being paid out has sharply been virtually self-sufficient in food . dropped. Because world grain prices are Under pressure from the giant grain traders set in dollars, their equivalent in European they became dependent on U.S. exports. currencies is now only a shade below the The export drive was given further impetus EEC's own internal price levels. .•il!l1 Lif t!l in 1972 when the Soviet Union purchased In this context, pressure on the EEC large quantities of U.S. -grown wheat. countries to eliminate export subsidies is However, since 1981 the volume of likely to have little effect. Instead the nu U.S. agricultural exports has been falling . Reagan administration is aiming its main Several factors are responsible for this. fire on price supports and subsidies to U.S. farmers . Reagan also proposes eliminating One is that the worldwide recession that direct government loans to farmers that began in 1981 reduced overall global trade. have generally been granted at lower inter­ Many countries have not yet recovered est than commercial bank loans. from that downturn, and the pile-up of debts, particularly in semicolonial coun­ Faced with these harsh measures, tens of tries, has undermined the abililty to pay for thousands of angry working farmers are or­ exports. ganizing protest actions throughout the country. They are demanding a Another reason is that grain grown in moratorium on all farm foreclosures, low­ countries such as France, Argentina, and interest loans, and a farm price support Australia has become more competitive on Farmers protest at the Chicago Board program that will guarantee their costs of the world market. The European Economic Trade (above) and in St. Paul, Minnesota production and a living income for their Community (Common Market), led by (right). Reagan administration's proposed families . France, has, since 1978; become a net ex­ measures will force thousands more farmers porter of grain. off land. Some farm-protest leaders mis­ Are trade restrictions the answer? takenly support protectionist measures, As in the United States, more grain is Some farm protest leaders mistakenly which offer no solution to problems of work­ grown in Western Europe and Argentina believe this can be achieved by pressing ing farmers. As protest movement grows, than can be profitably sold there. Rather Washington to restrict farm imports from clarity on imports question will be crucial. Militant/Michael Maggi than continuing to build up large surpluses, other countries or getting it to twist the merchants trading in European grain have arms of other governments to lower their attempted to cash· in on the markets in the trade barriers. They have their own communications net­ traders care mainly about volume. Since semicolonial countries and the Soviet At a recent demonstration in Washing­ works and armies of espionage agents. they buy cheap and sell dear, they get their Union. ton, for example, farmers carried placards Their monopoly over speedy information margin on every bushel regardless of price. They got a windfall in this regard in urging, "Export Block! Deport Stockman! about the constantly fluctuating market and They can make money from price declines early 1980 when President James · Carter Import Nothing!" (John Block is the U.S. their secrecy are key to their vast power. as long as inside information enables them imposed an embargo on U.S. grain ship­ secretary of agriculture and David The influence of the major grain traders to accurately predict how the market will merits to the USSR. Stockman is director of the budget.) Many is amplified by their expansion into a wide behave. More significant, however, is that the union bureaucrats are also attempting to range of economic activities. Cargill, for Workers also have nothing in common strength of the U.S. dollar against other link up with farm organizations on the example, is the number two flour producer with the big food merchants and proces­ currencies has given grain grown in basis of campaigning for protection from in the United States and the number two sors. As consumers they do not benefit France, Argentina, and other countries a imports. producer of animal feeds in the world. Car­ from the low prices the farmers are paid for competitive advantage. Overseas buyers Underlying this notion is acceptance of gill the processor is Cargill the trader's best their produce. While farmers are being are forced to pay out more francs, pounds, customer. · ' · squeezed .between high production costs pesos, or yen to buy U .S.-grown grain. the big-business and government notion that the problem is competition between Through their monopoly leverage in the and low pricesfrom the food trusts, work- Consequently, grain exports from other grain market, the big grain merchants are . ers pay higher prices to the food trusts countries are less expensive than those U.S. farmers and farmers in other coun­ tries. able to keep market prices paid to farmers when they go to the supermarket. Both from the United States. far below the value of the labor they have farmers and workers are victims of this Washington also charges that another But this is false . Farmers, whether they work land in France or the United States, put into producing their products. They are monopoly-rigged steup. reason why the EEC countries are able to price makers and keep working farmers in Protectionist measures also merely sell their grain overseas cheaper is because are producers, not international traders. They do not sell their commodities to con­ the role of price takers . This exploitation strengthen the economic position of the they pay big export subsidies to European of working farmers by the handful of capitalists who are driving exploited farm­ farmers. These subsidies make up the dif­ sumers in other countries. They sell their wheat, soybeans, or whatever through a families that own these few commercial ers off the land. They offer no solution to ference between the relatively high grain giants takes place worldwide, against the cost-income squeeze facing the big prices inside Europe and the lower world grain elevator in their local area. The crop, then, is no longer theirs. It either directly French, U.S., Canadian, and Argentine majority of working farmers in every coun­ market prices, thus enabling the grain to be farmers alike. try. They only pit farmers of different sold competitively internationally. or soon, through further exchanges, be­ comes the property of one of the giant The grain merchants, not working farm­ countries agairrst each other. In 1982-83, the Reagan administration monopolies that dominate the grain trade. ers, compete with each other for a greater Moreover, they tend to make agricul­ went on an especially concerted drive to slice of the world market: Cargill, for ex­ tural products grown in other countries pressure the EEC to reduce these subsidies, Eighty-five percent of the international ample, is the largest exporter of grain more expensive in the importing countries. arguing that they are a form of protec­ grain trade is conducted by six mammoth grown by U.S. farmers. Consequently, it is This pits farmers against workers who want tionism. It claimed European farmers were merchants -Cargill (U .S-based), Conti­ especially eager to find markets for this cheap food prices. living high on the hog at the expense of nental (U.S-based), Louis Dreyfus grain. That's why Cargill chairman Whit­ The fact is that the main relationship be­ U.S. farmers . While Washington was un­ (French-based); Mitsui/Cook (Japanese­ ney MacMillan is vigorously promoting tween working farmers in different coun­ successful in getting a reduction in these based); AndnYGamac (Swiss-based); the farm bill introduced by the Reagan ad­ tries is not competition, but their common subsidies, the EEC informally agreed to Bunge and Born (Argentine-based). ministration. In fact, it would be more ac­ exploitation. They have a common enemy limit its grain exports to about 14 percent These international traders maintain vir­ curate to refer to the proposed legislation as in the handful of families that profit off of world trade. tual grain pipelines through their control or the "Cargill Bill," as this billionaire grain their labor. Now, EEC officials are warning that ownership of grain elevators, ships, trader will be the single biggest beneficiary In addition to the other demands farmers they will no longer be bound by this prom- barges, railroad cars, and port terminals. if it is adopted. are raising to alleviate the unbearable con­ But the big grain traders do not care ditions they face, a fight could be waged to where they buy their grain if they can tum nationalize these giant food monopolies. a tidy profit by reselling it. They all buy By doing this their operations could be Reagan's Africa aid scam and sell throughout the world. In some opened up and run in the public interest. years, for example, Cargill has been tile An uncompromising struggle for this ob­ leading exporter of wheat from France as jective can help lead increasing numbers of · President Reagan's administration has sing costs plus the cost of transportation to well as the United States: working people to one and · the same con­ been tooting its hom about the large the importing company. They are supposed clusion -that workers and farmers need to amounts of food aid it claims to have to export the commodities only to the Exploiters vs. exploited forge an alliance to overturn capitalist po­ shipped to African countries to help al­ specified famine-stricken country where The interests of exploited farmers and litical rule, establish their own govern­ leviate the famine there. they are to be resold. But given the tre­ exploiting grain merchants are diametri­ ments, and expropriate the ruling families From the way government officials talk, mendous curtain of secrecy under which cally opposed. and all theirholdings. one would get the impression that this is the merchants of grain operate, this would food taken from government warehouses be hard to police. While farmers want timely, accurate and shipped at government expense to the Cargill, et al., who are not in business market information on which to base pro­ countries in need, where it is offered free for charity, make sure they meet their costs duction decisions, the big capitalist traders thrive on secrecy. Marxism of charge. and get a comfortable profit to boot. This isn't how it works. Moreover, the purchasing country must Fanners need stable prices, but the big and the Working Farmer Since last June the government has is­ agree that purchases under this program grain merchants profit from market insta­ sued three invitations for private grain mer­ will be in addition to other commercial bility. Grain companies make millions of An Education for Socialists bulletin. dollars by betting on price differences be­ chants, such as Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, trade agreements and existing food aid con­ 62 pp. , $3.50 and Pillsbury (the country's largest flour tracts. most of which are with the handful tween countries and price changes over producer), to purchase commodities stored of big grain merchants. time. Commodity price fluctuations are the Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's A final patriotic touch is that half the very lifeblood of the grain trade. West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Commodity Credit Corporation. quantity of commodities purchased by the Farmers want a high enough price from Please include $. 75 postage and The lowest bidders get millions of dol­ grain merchants must be shipped on U.S . the grain merchants for their commodities handling. lars worth of com, wheat, and rice for a flag vessels "if available at fair and reason­ in order to meet their production costs and song. They are required to pay all proces- able prices." -D.J. have enough to live on, whereas the grain

March 29, 1985 The Militant 9 Nicaragua's contras: U.S.-backed mercenaries

Continued from Page 7 revolution and the FSLN that leads it. Washington, the contras have been unable Another young woman witnessed the workers and peasants in a victorious revo­ In their Spanish-language publication, to take and hold even ,a single village in contras hacking her husband to pieces with . lution that drove Anastasio Somoza and the Comandos, the contras of the FDN claim Nicaragua. Without public support for their bayonets; then they beheaded her 11- National Guard from power. wide support in Nicaragua. Articles like their reactionary aims, they must rely more month-old baby. "She was found later that Six thousand of these killers escaped and "Women in the struggle," "Human -rights and more on desperate, destructive ter­ afternoon," said the nun. "She is now in­ fled the country. They have been rearmed violations in Marxist Sandinista Nicara­ rorism - including their old specialty of sane." · and reorganized by the CIA, and now make gua," and "Life among the commandos" barbaric attacks on civilians. The nun told the story of a 60-year-old up the core of the FDN- Reagan's "free­ attempt to depict a grassroots contra move­ A report in the British weekly, New woman's discovery of the body of a young dom fighters." Their aim is to overthrow ment capable of mobilizing significant Statesman, last August provided a picture militia member. 'They cut off his fingers the revolutionary government, install a forces to overthrow the Nicaraguan gov­ of the tactics Shultz's "brave men" employ and then they skinned him. They spread his proimperialist regime, and reopen the ernment. in their war. In it a nun described a contra skin on a rock next to his body. . . . Al­ country to plunder by U.S. employers. "The pope is with us," the contras exult. attack on the town of Waslala in which 37 ways, always, the bodies of their victims That goal is popular in Washington, but "With God and patriotism, we will destroy civilians were killed. bear the marks of torture ." finds little support in Nicaragua. Only a communism!" A young woman found the body of her The article reports another incident in tiny handful of rich bankers and The publication is intended for distribu­ 23-year-old husband. "He had been beaten the contras' "holy war": the kidnapping, businessmen stand to profit by selling their tion in imperialist capitals. all over," she said. "He had been stabbed rape, and torture of health-care workers country to Wall Street. The vast majority In the three years of their war, however, and a cross was carved in his back. His from northeastern Nicaragua, carried out to of Nicaraguans support and defend their and despite massive aid and support from eyes had been pulled out." a background of religious music. These are not isolated incidents, but the stock-in-trade of the beasts that Reagan wants to return to power in Managua. In the course of their war, the contras Nicaraguan ranchers on tour in Minn. have killed 7,500 Nicaraguans. They have left 3,000 children orphaned. They have Continued from Page 6 "For the first time in our history it is work­ araguan farmers to the U A W hall. Laney inflicted millions of dollars in damage to fight to defend peace." ers, farmers, and farm workers who discuss also introduced Bert Rubash, a UA W the country's economy, accentuating the The Nicaraguan ranchers explained the and decide on our laws. Land is being given member in the audience, who traveled to poverty and disease that Nicaragua inher­ big gains of the revolution for Nicaraguan to people who previously had no land . The Nicaragua recently to help harvest the cof­ ited from decades of robbery by the United working people, which leads them to fight unity forged among workers, farmers , and fee crop. Rubash is writing a series of arti­ Fruit Company, Texaco, and other Wall so hard to defend it. farm workers before the revolution continues cles in the Local 879 newsletter describing Street firms. "Nicaragua is a small country that has today," he said. his experiences. The contras' main targets are the gains suffered for many years," said Juan "The U.S. government is determined to Also speaking at the St. Paul meeting of the revolution: health-care centers, Tijerino. Some 53 percent of the popula­ wreck our revolution and is financing a war was Charlie Smith. a young Minnesota child-care facilities, cooperative farms, tion lives by farming and ranching, he against it. The contras could not operate in fanner and activist in NAFA who recently and schools. They're not trying to win the explained. But before the revolution in July my country without U.S. government sup­ went to Nicaragua on a tour of farmers and political support of Nicaraguan workers 1979, the rural population - like the port." farm workers sponsored by NAFA and and farmers - they're trying to murder workers in the cities - was terribly ex­ Oxfam America. This tour led to the them , intimidate them, and above all, take ploited by the country's U.S. -backed dic­ U.S. farm crisis Tijerinos' visit to the Midwest. from them the government power they tator, Anastasio Somoza. The Tijerinos explained that they had Smith coordinated NAFA's work to or­ have conquered. "Under Somoza the wealth was in the been deeply struck by what they had learned ganize the Tijerinos' tour in Minnesota. He The contras owe their continued exis­ hands of a few ," Tijerino said. "He kept about the plight of family farmers in the told the Militant that he was extremely en­ tence to one thing: support from the U.S. farmers and ranchers disunited . Banks United States. The farmers on all but one couraged by the results of their visit. "Nic­ government. Their guns and bayonets, gave credit only to the large landholders. of the Minnesota farms they toured told araguan and U.S. farmers have a common their boots and uniforms, their food and Eighty-six percent of the population in the them that their income does not meet the enemy in Washington," he said . "There is their terrorist instruction manuals come countryside couldn't read. Forty out of costs of production. a great deal that can be done to organize from Washington, airlifted in from U.S. every I 00 children died before they "Through this tour we realize that you solidarity with the Nicaraguan revolution military bases in Honduras and Costa Rica. reached the age of 12." are the victims of a social and economic and opposition to the U.S. war among They are assisted by U.S. military per­ The farmers and ranchers decided, said crisis here. We are anguished that hunger farmers in this country. And there is a lot sonnel who pilot planes, provide informa­ Tijerino, "that it was necessary for us to in the world will increase if producers like that U.S. farmers can learn from the exam­ tion, and train them for their gruesome unite and fight with all the people against yourselves are not encouraged," he told the ple of what the Nicaraguan revolution is Somoza. This battle cost us 50,000 lives." Granite Falls meeting. accomplishing in agriculture and other tasks. "On July 19, 1979," the day of the vic­ At the St. Paul meeting Tijerino re­ areas." . . . . One of the most popular posters dis­ tory against Somoza, "we became for the peated, "Our solidarity is with you. We ask During their visit the Tijerillos were played in Nicaragua a year ago, when I vis­ first time a truly free people," Tijerino said you to ask your government not to send the accompanied by Lisa Rosenthal, a U.S. ited the country, was a picture of snarling, proudly. $14 million (the proposed U.S. aid cur­ citizen who is working in Nicaragua as the crouching National Guardsmen firing their "After the revolution we organized rently being debated in Congress) to the international relations director for UNAG. rifles along a city street. "No volveran" UNAG, which now has 80,000 members." contras." That money, asserted Tijerino, Rosenthal told the farmers and workers at was the poster's simple slogan: "They will Tijerino pointed out that farmers and r-an­ would be better used if it was given to the Minnesota meetings that they are in­ not return." chers have the largest number of represen­ farmers here who are facing economic vited to come to Nicaragua, and that When my tour group ran into a big class tatives in Nicaragua's newly elected Na­ crisis. UNAG will help tour such delegations. of Nicaraguan schoolchildren at a national tional Assembly. "We believe that laws on Speaking to the workers at the UA W "We intend to take UNAG up on that park near Masaya, they launched into their agriculture and ranching should be written hall, Piedad Tijerino said, "You need to offer," Smith told the Militant. "We hope favorite cheer, which was about the con­ by those who know about it," he explained support the farmers. The problems they're to see more U.S. farmers and workers tras: "They're dogs," they shouted, "and to murmurs of approval from the U.S. facing are economic and political." going to Nicaragua and more Nicaraguans they always will be dogs! And across our farmers in the audience. In opening the St. Paul meeting, Laney, coming here to speak to us." borders- they will not pass!" Tijerino himself is a delegate to the Na­ president of the large UA W local at the tional Assembly. He was elected as a can­ Ford plant here, also echoed this theme. didate of the Sandinista National Libera­ His local, he said, has been active in work­ tion Front (FSLN), although he himself is ing with area farmers who are fighting not a member. From the beginning of the against U.S. government agricultural poli­ Minn. NBIPP forum on Malcolm X revolution, he explained, under the leader­ cies. BY AGIRIS HARAS Prof. Tivoni Paterson, head of the Black ship of the FSLN, the new government "We' ve learned how hard farmers work MINNEAPOLIS, Minn . - On Feb­ studies department at Luther College, also "began to pass laws to protect the most ex­ for a living," said Laney. It was appropri­ ruary 22, the Twin Cities chapter of the spoke. Paterson talked about the increasing ploited and oppressed. ate, he continued, to welcome the two Nic- National Black Independent Political Party racist attacks on the Black community, (NBIPP) sponsored a forum to discuss the such as the gunning down of four Black revolutionary legacy of Malcolm X. The youths in New York by racist vigilante forum, held at the Sabathani Community Bernhard Goetz and the cold-blooded mur­ Miners battle union-busting in W.Va. Center in South Minneapolis, was attended der of 66-year-old Eleanor Bumpurs by by about 50 people, overwhelmingly New York cops. nonunion miner racing past pickets. Continued from back page Black. "The atmosphere in New York and other ment our union brothers on their resolve to Miners' wives and other supporters have Janice P. Dorliae, co-coordinator of the communities is becoming more and more combat union-busting techniques and dedi­ donated home-cooked food and refresh­ NBIPP chapter in the Twin Cities, opened like Johannesburg," Paterson said. She cation of both the union members and the ments for picketers, setting up a union din­ the forum . "Tonight," she said, "we are proceeded to talk about South Africa's ra­ community in showing a solid front against ing room at the nearby Sylvester Commu­ here to commemorate one of our great cist apartheid system and the struggle in the enemy." nity Center. Women have also organized a heroes, Malcolm X, who fell victim to this her school around divestment in South Af­ successful "Ladies' Day" on the picket On March 10, the UMW initiated pro­ government 20 years ago yesterday. rica. tests at the Elk Run mine, a big nonunion line. Fifty women participated. "But we also want to commemorate Massey operation, long a target of union An effort has been made to distribute the another one of our heroes, another victim The film on Malcolm X's life, Struggle outrage. UMW's poster exposing A.T. Massey's of the same U.S. government: Augusto for Freedom, was shown and August Elk Run is the only nonunion mine in links with the racist South African regime. Cesar Sandino, the great hero of the Nica­ Nimtz, co-coordinator of the NBIPP chap­ Boone County, West Virginia. It is a sore The poster's headline reads, "Lincoln freed raguan revolution, was also assassinated ter closed the program. "Malcolm," spot located· in the heart of District 17, the the slaves . .. Massey Coal Co. hasn't on February 2 f - in 1934 - fighting for explained Nimtz, "identified with the UMW's largest district. heard." The poster explains the need to op­ his people's liberation. Cuban revolution, and if he was alive Locals in District 17 have organized pose the South African apartheid regime. "We want to discuss tonight what Black today, he would . identify with the San­ around-the-clock informational and protest An important solidarity march and rally America should do toward liberation, what dinista revolution in Nicaragua." Nimtz pickets outside the heavily fortified Elk was held March 16 near the Elk Run mine. we should be doing to help our brothers explained why Blacks should support the Run mine. Many working miners have at­ Cecil Roberts, UMW international · vice and sisters in Africa, especially in South Nicaraguan revolution and oppose the tended the protest before and after work . president, and John Banovic, international Africa and what we can do to help our U.S. -sponsored war against that country. One local president required hospitaliza­ secretary-treasurer, both spoke, as well as brothers and sisters in Central America." His presentation on Nicaragua was accom­ tion after he was struck by the car of a Howard Green, vice president of UMW Dorliae then introduced Maurice Louis, panied by a slideshow from his recent two­ District 17 . Roberts explained the commit­ who read two of his poems. Gail Plummer, month visit to Nicaragua. Subscribe to Perspectiua Mundial, biweekly, ment of the international union to win a a Black professor at the University of Min­ The forum ended after a lively discus­ Spanish-language sister publication of the contract for all its members. nesota spoke on Malcolm's inter­ sion on perspectives for building an inde­ Militant. $2.50 for 6 issues, $8 for 6 months, Over $1 ,000 was contributed to help nationalism, focusing on his trips to Africa pendent Black political organization, the or $16 for one year. Write to 408 West St., Sprouse Creek strikers. Plans were made and the Middle East, and his views on Pan­ struggle against apartheid, and solidarity New York, New York 10014. for weekly food contributions to be sent. Africanism. with the Nicaraguan revolution.

10 The Militant March 29, 1985 Lessons of Ariz. copper miners strike National union officials refuse to organize active solidarity

BY TOM LEONARD National and international workers' sol­ idarity has been one of the most important weapons missing in recent strikes against corporate greed and union-busting . This is especially true of the year-and-a-half-long copper miners strike against Phelps Dodge Corp. in Texas and Arizona. National AFL-CIO officials refused to mobilize labor and its alli~s in an all-out fight against the well-organized, union-busting campaign by the giant copper company. This lack of solidarity allowed the cop­ per bosses to deal a severe defeat to the striking copper miners and smelter workers who waged a militant struggle to defend their unions. Decertification The latest blow came in January, when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that the 12 AFL-CIO-af­ filiated unions and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters had lost a decer­ State ~ops sent by Arizona Governor B~uc~ Babbitt to br~ak copper strike in August 1983 (right). Supporters of copper miners at tification election at four company facili­ Phoen~x support. rail~ (left). Fr~m b~gm~mg, copper mmers waged determin.ed battle to win strike. More than one year later, ties in Arizona. This included the Morenci followmg decertification of umons m mmes, AFL-CIO launched corporate strategy campaign in support of strike against mine, where the unions were the strongest. Phelps Dodge Corp. But such corporate campaigns do not look toward actively mobilizing the membership of trade unions The unions had earlier lost another election and their allies in today's labor battles. at a Phelps Dodge refinery in El Paso, Texas. The 13 decertified unions include the ficiently, operated with scab labor. formed shortly after the strike began. Labor's future, he said, was tied to electing United Steelworkers of America (USWA), Phelps Dodge also had other dirty tricks Chicano organizations also came to the Mondale and more "friends of labor" · the largest union on strike, Machinists, in its strikebreaking strategy. It went on a support of the strikers. An example is the capitalist politicians. He never raised the Electrical Workers, Boilermakers, Operat­ campaign to evict strikers from homes Council for Hispanic Affairs of the Tucson idea of educating and mobilizing the mem­ ing Engineers, Chemical Workers, United owned by the company. It got local school Diocese. It participated in a campaign with bership against the employers' union-bust­ Transportation Union, Plumbers and boards to threaten strikers' children with 20 community groups to raise cash, food , ing to defend labor's own interests. Politi­ Pipefitters, Carpenters, Railway Carmen, expulsion from school if they talked to and clothing for the strike.. cal action independent of the bosses and Painters, Teamsters, and the Moren<;i-Clif­ schoolmates about the strike. The Arizona Farm Workers union, most their two parties was openly rejected; sol­ ton Metal Trades Council. The striking It cut off credit at company-owned stores of whose members are - like the copper idarity was limited to verbal support. unions have a combined membership of and fired strikers it considered too militant. workers- Latinos, supported the strike. The refusal to mobilize support for the 2,500. It got further help from state agencies that Area supporters of the National Organi­ copper strikers by the AFL-CIO tops was This setback came in the 19th month of a denied food stamps to strikers and refused zation for Women (NOW) recognized that also true of the national leaders of the bitter strike forced on the workers by the them unemployment benefits. women's rights and affirmative action Steelworkers. company on July I, 1983. At that time Union members were arrested and were also threatened by Phelps Dodge's at­ other copper companies had already gotten framed up on fake strike-related violence tack on the unions. Some of these women 'New' corporate strategy contracts in which the unions agreed to charges, and they faced constant harras­ organized a strike support campaign at the It wasn't until the September 1984 con­ concessions in the face of a serious reces­ ment and physical attacks by the DPS cops. August 1983 national NOW convention, stitutional convention of the USW A that sion in the copper industry . These included One result of these political, legal , and where some 300· NOW members signed Lynn Williams, USW A president, an­ a 3-year wage freeze, work rule changes al­ economic attacks was that many union statements of solidarity and support for the nounced he had a strategy to win the strike. lowing the companies to combine jobs, and members were forced to leave town to find copper workers . He outlined it as a new corporate strategy retirement benefit reductions . jobs and survive. Early in the strike, the copper workers to deal with companies like Phelps Dodge These concessions were not enough for These. attacks also significantly weak­ began to get broader union support as well . that use "strike replacements, hired gun-to­ Phelps Dodge, which demanded much ened the unions ' strength and laid the On August 17 , the state AFL-CIO conven­ ting guards, police interference, and other deeper cuts. These included an end to the ground for Phelps Dodge's campaign to tion in Utah, a large copper-producing strike-breaking measures." cost-of-living allowance (COLA), a wage legally decertify the unions. This it began state, passed a resolution calling on unions The "new" strategy is called the Corpo­ freeze, a lO percent wage cut for new em­ in July 1984, when the strike was a year to support the strikers in any way they rate Campaign Task Force Against Phelps ployees, reduced medical and vacation old . could. Dodge and was actually put together by the · benefits, and cuts in retirement benefits. When the voting for decertification was Despite the growing potential for mass AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department It was the rejection by the unions of held in October, the NLRB supported solidarity for the strikers from trade under Lane Kirkland's direction in August these arrogant demands by Phelps Dodge, Phelps Dodge's union-busting by ruling unions, women's rights organizations, and 1984. after other copper companies had agreed to that only working strikebreakers could par­ oppressed nationalities early in the strike, In announcing the strategy, Williams smaller takebacks, that precipitated the ticipate because strikers had not worked for the national AFL-CIO officialdom never explained how Phelps Dodge's union-bust­ strike. the company for a year. led a mobilization of labor and its allies in ing campaign had cut into company profits, a mass national solidarity campaign to beat making Phelps Dodge dependent on multi­ Union-busting always the aim Strength of strikers back Phelps Dodge's union-busting. No million dollar loans if was to survive. It was clear from the beginning that It would be hard to fault the solidarity muscle was put behind the resolutions and He told union members "we have learned Phelps Dodge intended to use the strike not and courage of the striking union members verbal support, thus leaving the miners iso­ that the Wall Street creditors are the com­ only to drive down wages and working and their allies among the oppressed and lated. pany's only hope for survival. Consequently conditions, but to try to break the unions as exploited in their long fight against Phelps we have decided to take our case to Wall well . They were backed up in this effort by Dodge. They were armed with many dec­ AFL-CIO's class-collaborationist policy Street." This meant going to bankers and capitalist politicians like the Democratic ades of exerience, first in organizing their For over a year the top officialdom basi­ stockholders who have investments in, or governor of Arizona, Bruce Babbitt, the unions, and then in a continuing struggle to cally stood on the sidelines of the strike loans to, Phelps Dodge and urging them to courts, and federal government agencies defend them against hostile employers. It taking credit for the militancy of the strik­ put pressure on the company to treat the like the National Labor Relations Board was this common experience in struggle ers, while responding in weak-kneed fash­ unions' demands more seriously and settle (NLRB). that laid the foundation for the solidarity ion to each new legal and political attack the strike. The courts cooperated by passing an in­ between the members of the 13 craft and against the strike. According to the "corporate strategy," if junction early in the strike limiting the size industrial unions. On Aug. 9, 1983, after Ari.zona gover­ the bankers don't cooperate, the unions of picket lines. This allowed the company In addition to union solidarity, the strik­ nor Babbitt had been using cops against the will respond by withdrawing union-pen­ to operate its facilities with strikebreakers ers had other strengths as well. The major­ strikers for a month, the AFL-CIO national sion and other funds and depositing these and supervisors. ity were members of oppressed executive council met in Boston. They in more cooperative banks. The injunction was backed up by Gover­ nationalities, including Chicanos and In­ passed a resolution supporting the strikers' One example is the refusal of the Chase nor Babbitt, who sent in armed state police dians, as well as Mexicans. Many had par­ right "to achieve a fair and decent contract" Manhattan bank, which has large loans to of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) ticipated in earlier union-supported strug­ but they never backed up these words with Phelps Dodge, to go along with the unions' to enforce this strike-breaking move. gles against Phelps Dodge's racist hiring deeds . campaign. The Steelworkers responded by These attacks failed to break the solidar­ practices and on-the-job segregation. This Six weeks after the National Guard was withdrawing $10.8 million in strike-fund ity of the strikers. Early in August 1983, included separate toilets and locker rooms mobilized to force the reopening of Phelps investments from the bank. l ,000 union members held a mass picket marked "Mexicans." Dodge facilities in Morenci , the 22nd con­ Last November, Williams and Kirkland line at the Morenci mine that forced the Over the years the unions also supported stitutional convention of the AFL-CIO explained the new strategy to a solidarity company to shut down. Babbitt came to the affirmative-action fights for women work­ convened in Hollywood, Florida. Despite rally for strikers in Tucson, Arizona. Kirk­ aid of the company by arranging a l 0-day · ers. In 1968-69, for example, women and the escalation of political repression land told the rally that the strikers' fight "truce" between Phelps Dodge and the the unions fought and won a lawsuit that against the copper strikers, solidarity for was against "corporate greed . . . which unions, during which time the company forced Phelps Dodge to hire women in the their struggle was never formally raised on seems to have earned the government's agreed it would keep the mine closed. mines and smelters. Since that time the the convention floor. seal of approval." He told them that, union has also defended women from sex­ Instead, AFL-CIO Pres . Lane Kirkland "We're all here to assure you of the com­ PD's dirty campaign ual harassment by foremen and forced the used the gathering of union officials to or­ plete solidarity of all the millions of mem­ company to provide separate and improved ganize union support for Walter Mondale, bers of the AFL-CIO." During those 10 days, however, Babbitt toilet and locker facilities for women. 1984 presidential candidate of the Demo­ These high-sounding words of support mobilized the National Guard. On the lOth These union-supported struggles against cratic Party - the same party whose came as the unions were being decertified. day, seven units of armed guardsmen company racism and sexism were impor­ Arizona leaders were helping to break the The campaign to expose Phelps Dodge showed up at the Morenci mine to escort tant reasons behind the community support strike. · · could have been useful early in the strike if strikebreakers through union picket lines. the strikers received. It helps explain why a Kirkland explained the officialdom's it had been used as part of a broader strate­ From that day on, the mine, however inef- women's strike support committee was class-collaborationist policy quite clearly. Continued on Page 12

March 29, 1985 The Militant 11 -CALENDAR------~------ARIZONA Early Years 1848-1917 ." Sat., March 30, 12 the Grenada Revolution. Showing of film VIRGINIA noon. 2. "Birth of the Communist Movement, Maurice . Speaker: Lenox Hines, professor at Phoenix 1918-22." Sat. , March 30, 3 p.m. 3. "Lenin's Rutgers School of Criminal Justice. Wed ., Newport News The Movement for a Free United Ireland. Struggle for a Revolutionary International. " March 27 , 7 p.m. Robeson Center, Rutge rs British Miners' Strike: Lessons for U.S. Speakers: Eamonn Boyle , chairman, Phoeni x Sun ., March 31 , 3 p.m. Speaker: Dick Newark campus. Ausp: Black Organi zation of Workers. Speaker: Kipp Dawson , Socialist Irish Northern Aid; Scott Egan , Tucson Irish McBride, Socialist Workers Party National Students. For more information call (20 1) 648- Workers Party, member United Mine Workers Northern Aid; Elen Lauper, Socialist Workers Committee member. Translation to Spanish and 5976. Local 1197 . Sat. , March 30, 7 p.m. 5412 Jef­ Party . Translation to Spani sh. Sat., March 23 , 7 Creole. 137 NE 54th St. Donation: $2. Ausp: ferson Ave. , Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant p.m. 3750 W McDowell # 3. Donati on: $2. For Militant Labor Forum and Socialist Workers NEW YORK Forum. For more information call (804) 380- more information call (602) 272-4062. 0133. Party. For more information call (305) 756- Manhattan 1020. The 'Contras' ; The U.S. Attack on Nicara­ CALIFORNIA gua. A panel di scussion. Speakers: Reid Brody, WASHINGTON, D.C. Oakland GEORGIA former assistant attorney general of New York , Leonard Peltier and the Fight for Native The Farm Crisis: What Future for U.S. Atlanta recently publi shed report on the contras; Bill American Rights. Speaker: Nudrat Sedigh , Farmers? A panel discussion . Translation to Means, International Indian Treaty Council; leader, Leonard Peltier Support Group and Farmers in Nicaragua: An Eyewitness Re­ member Young Sociali st Alliance . Translation Spanish. Sat., March 30,7:30 p.m. 3808 E 14th port. Speaker: Julious Anderson, Federation of Ellen Ray , Co vert Action Information Bulletin ; St. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. and Nicaraguan speaker. Showing of film, Nic­ to Spanish. Sat., March 30, 8 p.m. 3106 Mt . Southern Cooperatives. Sat. , March 23, 7:30 Pleasant NW. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant For more information call (415) 261-3014. p.m. 504 Flat Shoals Ave . SE. Donation : $2. aragua: Report From the Front . Translation to Spanish. Thurs., March 28, 7 p.m. New York Labor Forum. For more information call (202) Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ 797-7699. mation call (404) 577 ~ 4065 . University Main Building, room 708, 100 Washington Sq. E. Ausp: Nicaragua Support COLORADO Freedom Struggle Benefit. Featuring jazz Project. For more information call (212) 475- Denver singers, entertainers, and poets. The Ojeda WASHINGTON 7159. Israeli War in Lebanon; New Stage in the Penn Experience, Alice Lovelace , Woodie Neal Seattle Palestinian Struggle. Speaker: Yasir Allis, Parsons, and Lee Heuermann. Sat., April 13 , 7 Representative of African National Congress member of the Committee for a Democratic Pal­ P·IJl · Atl anta Junior College Auditorium, 1360 OHIO of South Africa Speaks Out. Neo Mnumzana, estine; David Martin, Socialist Workers Party . Stewart Ave. Tickets: $4 ·in advance, $5 at the Cleveland ANC representative to the United Nations. Sat., Sat., March 23, 7:30p.m. 25 W 3rd Ave. Do­ door. Children free . Ausp: National Black Inde­ Family Farmers Under Attack: Why Work­ March 23, 7:30p.m. Pigott Auditorium (12th nation: $2 . For more information call (303) pendent Political Party. For more information ing People Should Support Their Fight. and Columbia), Seattle University. Ausp: Seat­ 698-2550. call (404) 622-4120 or 624-4331 . Speakers: John Burkett, State Board member, tle Coalition Against Apartheid. No More Vietnams in Central America and Ohio Family Farm Movement; Keith Stone , Socialist Educational Weekend. Forum: FLORIDA Caribbean! Down With Apartheid in South Socialist Workers Party . Sat., March 30, 7:30 "U.S. Politics Today: Labor's Stake in the Fight Miami Africa! Join NBIPP on April 20 in going to p.m. 15105 St. Clair Ave. Donation: $3 . Ausp: Against War." Sat. , March 23 , 3 p.m. Classes: Washington, D.C. , for the march against war "The Founding of the Socialist Workers Party ." Socialist Educational Weekend. Militant Labor Forum. For more information and oppression . For more information call (404) Sun., March 24 , 10:30 a.m. and I p.m. Forum: "What U.S. Workers Can Learn call (216) 451-6150. 622-4120 or 624-4331 . The True·Story of the Vietnamese Revolu­ Speaker: Andrea Morell, Socialist Workers From British Coal Miners and Irish Freedom Party National Committee member. 5517 Fighters." Fri., March 29, 8 p.m. tion. Speaker: Fred Feldman, Socialist Workers Party National Committee member. Sat., April Rainier Ave. S. Donation: $2 per session ($6 Classes on revolutionary continuity: I. KENTUCKY total). Ausp: SWP and Young Socialist Al­ "Marxist Leadership in the United States; the 13, 7:30p.m. 15105 St. Clair Ave. Donation: Louisville $3. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For more in­ liance . For more information call: (206) 723- Report Back From Solidarity Trip to Free formation call (216) 451-6150. 5330. Nicaragua. Speakers: Craig Honts and Gail Lessons of Arizona Shangold, just returned from coffee brigade and OREGON WEST VIRGINIA tour of Nicaragua. Sat. , March 23, 8 p.m. 512 Portland Morgantown W Ormsby St. Donation: $1. Ausp: Young copper miners battle What Strategy to Fight Union-busting, War, The Crisis Facing Working Farmers. Film Socialist Alliance. For more information call showing of Dairy Queens. Discussion to fol­ (502) 587-8418. and Racism? A Socialist Perspective. Continued from Page 11 Speaker: Andrea Morell , Socialist Workers low . Sat. , March 23 , 7 p.m. 221 Pleasant St. Union Maids. Film documentary about women gy centered on organizing the active par­ Party National Committee member. Sat., Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For and the labor movement in the 1930s. Discus­ ticipation of union members and their allies March 30, 7:30p.m. 2732 N Union. Donation; more information call (304) 296-0055. in solidarity against Phelps Dodge; the sion to follow led by Jeanette Tracy, member $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For more in­ Socialist Workers Party and Amalgamated courts, and capitalist politicians who formation call (503) 287-7416. Clothing and Textile Workers Union Loca1496. WISCONSIN helped break the unions. Sun. , March 31 , 7 p.m. 809 E Broadway . Do­ Milwaukee Instead, it came far too late and is actu­ nation: $2 . Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For PENNSYLVANIA U.S. Agriculture in Crisis: What Can Be ally being used as a strategy to win " sol­ more information call (502) 587-8418. Philadelphia Done? Speakers: Charles Smith, Minnesota idarity" with the strikers from Wall Street Puerto Rico: Struggle Against U.S. Colonial­ farmer recently returned from farmers' tour of bankers and stockholders! MARYLAND ism. Speaker: Andrea Gonzalez, Socialist Nicaragua, member of Young Socialist Al­ The union officials' defense of profits Workers Party candidate for mayor of New liance; representative of Wisconsin Farm Unity will certainly please Wall Street investors Baltimore York and Militant staff writer. Sat. , April 13 , Alliance . Translation to Spanish. Sat. , March Nicaragua: What's Behirid Reagan's Lies? 7:30 p.m. 2744 Germantown Ave. Donation: 23, ·7:30 p.m. 4707 W Lisbon. Donation: $2 . and banks. But they are not going to join in Speaker: John Holloway, recently returned solidarity with the labor movement in op­ $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ Ausp: Militant Labor Forum . For more infor­ from international coffee brigade. Sat., March formation call (215) 225-0213. mation call (414) 445-2076. posing union-busting. They are, after all, 30, 7:30 p.m. 2913 Greenmount Ave. Dona­ the capitalist institutions that are reaping tion: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more infor­ the profits from union-busting and wage mation call (30 I) 235-0013 . cutbacks that millions of workers have Suit against Klan goes to court· been forced to swallow. MASSACHUSETTS Nor has the corporate strategy had much Boston Continued from Page 4 took place in the heart of one of the poorest effect on the "friendly" copper companies Cuba: A Force in the Caribbean for Peace. people had the right to come from "outside Black neighborhoods in Greensboro. Part that forced a giveback contract on the Panel to be announced. Sun., March 31, 7:30 the South" to press for social change? Did of the intent was clearly to intimidate unions in 1983. Currently six of these com­ p.m. 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th floor (Ken­ individuals have the right to encourage Blacks from fighting for their rights. more " T'). Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor panies, spearheaded by Kennecott, are workers to join unions? Were the prospec­ The judge also questioned jurors about threatening to close down their copper-pro­ Forum. For more information call (617) 262- 4621 . tive · jurors members of any union them­ their attitudes toward the government's use ducing facilities in New Mexico and Utah selves? Did they think that labor organizers of undercover agents and informers. An if the unions refuse to accept cutbacks were communist? Were they or anyone agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco worse than those that Phelps Dodge tried to MICHIGAN they knew associated with Cone mills, one and Firearms rode in the Klan-Nazi cara­ force on union members in Arizona and Detroit of the largest textile companies in the van that opened fire on the demonstrators Texas. The Farm Crisis: What Future for U.S. Greensboro area? in 1979. Evidence has since come to light One central lesson of the copper miners ' Farmers? A panel di scussion. Sun. , March 24, The 1979 shooting coincided with a that agencies of the government were in­ battle is that without effective solidarity, 7 p.m. 7146 W McNichols . Donation: $2. wave of union organizing drives in North formed of the Klan' s intentions prior to the no matter how determined the strikers, the Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more infor­ Carolina. The murderous attack was not demonstration. The suit charges that the mation call (313) 862-7755. bosses' attacks cannot be held off or just aimed at the Communist Workers police agents and agencies conspired with pushed back. Party and anti-Klan activists but against or- the Klan and Nazis against the rally. The class-collaborationist policies of the NEW JERSEY ganized labor as well. · The Greensboro Civil Rights Fund is top labor officials are a trap and must be re­ Newark Black workers were the backbone of representing the victims of the shootings in jected by serious union militants. A Commemoration of the 6th Anniversary of these organizing drives and the shootings this suit. -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA , 504 Flat NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA , 141 Dallas: SWP, YS A, 132 N. Beckley Road, Zip: Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books Shoals Ave. SE. Zip: 30316. Tel : (404) 577- Hal sey. Zip: 07102. Tel : (201) 643-3341. 75208. Tel: (214) 943-5195. Houston: SWP, and pamphlets 4065. .NEW YORK: Capital District (Albany): YSA, 4806 Almeda. Zip: 77004. Tel: (713) ILLINOIS: Chicago: SWP, YSA, 3455 S SWP, YSA, 352 Central Ave . 2nd floor. Zip: 522-8054. ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA , Michigan Ave . Zip: 60616. Tel: (312) 326-5853 12206. Tel: (518) 434-3247. New York: SWP, UTAH: Price: SWP, YSA , 23 S. Carbon 205 18th St. S. Zip: 35233. Tel : (205) 323- or 326~5453 . YSA , 79 Leonard St. Zip: 10013. Tel: (212) Ave., Suite 19 , P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: 3079. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA , 809 219-3679 or 925-1668. (801) 637-6294. Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA , ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 3750 E. Broadway. Zip: 40204. Tel : (502) 587-8418. NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, 767 S. State, 3rd floor. Zip: 84111. Tel : (801) West McDowell Road #3. Zip: 85009. Tel : LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA , YSA, 301 S. Elm St. , Suite 522. Greensboro. 355-1124. (602) 272-4026. 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 70118. Tel : (504) 486- Zip: 27401. Tel: (919) 272-5996. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: SWP, YSA , 8048. OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA , 4945 Pad­ News): SWP, YSA . 5412 Jefferson Ave., Zip 2546 W. Pico Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel : (213) 380- MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 dock Rd. Zip: 45237. Tel: (513) 242-71 6 1. 23605. Tel: (804) 380-01 33. 9460. Oakland: SWP, YSA , 3808 E 14th St. Greenmount Ave . Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235- Cleveland: SWP, YSA, 15105 St. Clair Ave . WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA , 3106 Zip: 94601 . Tel: (415) 261-3014. San Diego: 0013. Zip: 44110. Tel: (216) 451-6150. Columbus: Mt. Pleasant St. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: 92101. Tel : MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: SWP, YSA , YSA , P.O. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Toledo: 797-7699. (619) 234-4630. San Francisco: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth Ave., 4th Floor. Zip: SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel: WASHINGTON: Seattle: SWP, YSA , 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255 . 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621. (419) 536-0383. 5517 Rainier Ave. South. Zip: 9811 8. Tel : San Jose: SWP, YSA , 46 1h Race St. Zip: MICHIGAN: Detroit: SWP, YSA , 7146 W. OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA , 27 32 NE (206) 723-5330. 95126. Tel: (408) 998-4007. McNichols . Zip: 48221. Tel: (313) 862-7755. Union. Zip: 97212. Tel: (503) 287-7416. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP. COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA , 25 W MINNESOTA: Twin Cities: SWP, YSA , PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: SWP, YSA , 422 Shrewsberry St. Zip: 25301. Tel: 3rd Ave. Zip: 80223. Tel: (303) 698-2550. 508 N. Snelling Ave. , St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: YSA , 2744 Germantown Ave . Zip: 19133 . Tel: (304) 345-3040 . Morgantown: SWP, YSA , FLORIDA: Miami: SWP, YSA , 137 NE (612) 644-6325. (215) 225-0213. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 141 221 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505 . Tel : (304) 296- 54th St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 381073 . MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA , S. Highland Ave . Zip: 15206. Tel : (412) 362- 0055 . Zip: 33138. Tel : (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: 4715A Troost. Zip: 64110. Tel : (816) 753- 6767. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP. YSA. YSA , P.O. Box 20715 . Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 0404. St. Louis: SWP, YSA, 3109 S. Grand . TEXAS: Austin: YSA , c/o Mike Rose, 7409 4707 W. Lisbon Ave . Zip: 53208. Tel: (414) · 222-1018. #22. Zip: 63118 . Tel: (314) 772-4410. Berkman Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512)452-3923. 445-2076.

12 The Militant March 29, 1985 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------

Turn your blood blue - The eral tax court judge ruled that crab meat, onion, garlic, and sea­ of Liberty. The government fellow sturdy, light-weight containers re­ Prince of Wales broke royal prece­ Watergater G. Gordon Liddy did soning, wrapped in thin rice in charge of the statue assures that sembling King Tut's tomb. dent and donated a pint of blood. not have to pay taxes on some paper, that I first tasted 20 years no item will be approved that lacks $10,000 a pound. On a budget? A blood bank official said the $150,000 of income which he ago in Paris. It made such an im­ good taste. For instance, he said, Send up the cremated ashes which used to pay for various illegal ac­ pression that a few years later I nothing like the 1976 Bicentennial usually run about four pounds. tivity to help reelect Tricky Dick travelled to Saigon to taste it at the red, white, and blue toilet seat. Choose the I, 900-mile polar orbit, Nixon . The ruling should give source. The trip was more than the 22 ,300-mile orbit or the "de added substance to calling expense worth the effort.'' - Food writer luxe trajectory into deep space." Prominent American per­ account records "swindle sheets." Craig Claiborne. In the polar orbit, Ross estimates a sonalities - According to the As­ body will be good for 63 million Harry sociated Press, Ashley Whippet, Reading and writing still · The company they keep - years. the dog who three times won the okay? - Right-winger Phyllis Federal cockroach researchers set Ring world championship for canine Schlafly and cohorts are demand­ out to find the toughest available frisbee catching, died in Califor­ ing teachers get permission from strain of the little critters. By coin­ Thought for the week - "We nia. The New York Times head­ parents before teaching about cidence, these turned out to dwell are now in a time of luxury . The prince's contribution would not be lined it, "Famous Dog Dies on abortion, premarital sex, death, in the halls of Congress. funeral industry should stop wor­ specially labelled and would go Coast." anonymously to any patient in nuclear war, evolution, and 29 rying about charging too much for need. Good thinking. It would be other "sensitive" subjects. The selling of Lady Liberty - funerals and offer something out­ embarrassing if someone said, Gold Leaf Corp. is putting up $12 Far out - Since the Reagan rageously expensive that we can "No, thanks." No dilettante he - "There is a million for the right to create administration approved burials in all make money on!"-Spaceper­ Vietnamese specialty called cha souvenirs from the debris resulting space, Rafael Ross of New York son Rafael Ross at a meeting of Perfectly reasonable - A fed- gio, spring rolls of ground pork, from the renovation of the Statue has been ready to launch bodies in funeral directors. Danly strike: labor tops failed to mobilize solidarity

BY MALIK MIAH contract] certainly isn ' t one of the best contracts ever Like in the copper strike in Arizona and Texas, the top Workers who struck the Danly Machine Corp. for nine written." But, he added, "the agreement gives us some union leadership failed the strikers. (See story on copper months are being slowly called back to work . This comes breathing room to be able to go back and work to main­ strike on page II.) The pressures finally forced the work­ after a takeback contract was approved by the union tain and strengthen our union in the plant." ers to accept the takeback contract. They feared if they membership in January. Although the new pact is a setback for the union, the stayed out indefinitely, the threat of a decertification Danly is a machine-tool manufacturer in Cicero, Il­ owners of Danly had to back down in their attempt to election would become real. Reactionary antilabor laws linois, a mainly white working class suburb of Chicago. break the union entirely. For example, workers who deny strikers a right to vote in such elections after one don't join the union still have to pay the equivalent of year. And that 's what happened in the copper strike. union dues. It is noteworthy that the Romano-Sadlowski leadership In addition, several workers dismissed for strike-re­ had no alternative perspective to that offered by their past AS I SEE IT lated activities have been given lesser penalities. opponents within the international officialdom. They There is a significance to the strike and settlement came to support the USWA and AFL-ClO officialdom's It is owned by the Ogden Corp., a large conglomerate worth taking special note of. While the company only new "corporate strategy" as the answer to the company's that owns the giant, nonunion, Avondale shipyard in employed a modest work force - I ,600 with I ,300 in union-busting. The USW A tops led by Lynn Williams, New Orleans. the union three years ago - the union membership and the international president, supported a drive to convince Danly provoked the strike in an attempt to housebreak, leadership has a history of standing up to the boss. The Ogden's owners to order Danly management to settle the if not destroy, the union. The union, United Steelworkers owners of Danly needed to teach them a lesson. strike. of America (USW A) Local 15271, has long been a mili­ Romano, for example, led many shop-floor fights be­ The union leadership organized a Citizens Committee tant stronghold of the Steelworkers union in the Chicago fore being elected union president. As president, he was to Aid the Danly Strikers. The committee waged a public area. an active supporter of union reform . He backed Edward campaign to bring pressure on Ogden's New York head­ The Danly workers ended their strike January 22 after Sadlowski's bid to become international president of the quarters. Steelworkers union in the late 1970s. Sadlowski, a sub­ approving a three-year pact by a 229-82 vote of the union This corporate strategy put the workers ' hopes on the membership. This came after rejecting two similar con­ district USW A director, was assigned by the union to help aid the strike. goodwill of the owners, not the workers' natural allies­ tract offers. other ·unionists, Blacks, Latinos, women, and working The union local had backed municipal strikes in the re­ The new pact includes a two-year wage freeze, with a farmers . 2.6 percent wage increase in the third year of the con­ cent past- including a 1983 Chicago teachers' strike~ tract. and held a collection for striking British miners even Sadlowski himself expressed the resignation of.the of­ Scabs who crossed the picket line will keep their jobs. while on the picket line . ' ficialdom when he said after the strike ended, "I can blow This means fewer than I 20 union members are now back In conducting the strike the local leaders actively bugles, but if I don't have an army, all I'm going to be is at work out of 700 employees. Another I 75 strikers are to sought to involve the rank and file. Pickets were or­ a bugle blower." be called back by May. ganized 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The leader­ There is an army of workers and their allies. But they New work rules were also agreed to. This means more ship refused to buckle to a court order limiting the picket can only be organized when the strategy of the labor job combinations and speed up. size. Membership meetings were frequently held. movement is to mobilize them in effective solidarity for A two-tier wage system was imposed. New employees What set back the strikers was the lack of active sol­ workers in battle. No other strategy or policy, no matter will make about $2.75 an hour less than older workers. It idarity by the labor movement. A lot of verbal support how determined and militant the workers involved, can will now take two to four years to reach wage parity . was given; some financial aid, but not the type of support defend the union and advance the interests of working Joe Romano, president of the local, explained, "It [the that could turn the tide. people today. Kansas City auto worker~ vote to support Marroquin

BY JEFF POWERS Carrillo continued, "The rally drew 100 made a motion to support Hector and big UA W locals in our area - Local 93 KANSAS CITY, Kan.- On January 19 people and it must have had a big Impact on moved $100 be sent to his defense fund." and Local 219. United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 31 Bob Reed. Following it he invited Marro­ Carrillo continued, "We are going to "We are planning to arrange presenta­ voted at its regular membership meeting to quin to speak before the next meeting of keep on doing work. There are two other tions before both of them," Carrillo said. endorse the case of Hector Marroquin. The the labor council ." local also voted to send $50 to Marroquin's Marroquin spoke and was interviewed defense committee to help cover expenses. by the Labor Beacon, the paper of the labor Hector Marroquin, Socialist Workers council . Martinez defense supports Marroquin . Party member who has been fighting at­ "The labor council members were im­ tempts by the U.S. government to deport pressed by what Hector said," Carrillo Francisco "Kiko" Martinez, a well­ Compafiero Hector Marroquin: him to Mexico for his antiwar and other po­ explained. 'They voted to endorse Marro­ known Chicano activist, has been fighting Because of your fearless defense of the litical views, has recently won important quin's case." a more-than-a-decade-long attempt by the rights of the undocumented worker in the new support for his cause in Kansas City. Marroquin came back to Kansas City in U.S. government to silence him. Last fall USA and your advocacy of the politics of The vote followed closely a similar deci­ October 1984 and met with Harry Spring, he was cleared of the last three frame-up your party, the repressive forces have con­ sion taken by the Greater Kansas City CAP the present head of the labor council. charges stemming from the 1973 case tinued to try and silence you through de­ Council held December 13. At that time, Spring became a Marroquin endorser and against him. Martinez was framed on the portation. On past occasions, and again KC CAP- the political-action wing of the arranged for another interview with the charge of mailing letter bombs to oppo­ today, we reaffirm our support for you and UAW - voted to endorse Marroquin's Labor Beacon. nents of the Chicano movement. your cause . case and send $100 to his defense commit­ "Matt Snell meant to attend the meeting But the government has not relented. In Because of our experiences, which are tee. with Harry Spring, but at the last minute he January of this year, an Arizona grand jury somewhat similar to yours , we feel a spe­ Matt Snell, chairman of KC CAP, spoke couldn't make it," Carrillo said. indicted Martinez for "giving a false name cial kinship to your struggle. It is these ex­ at the December meeting to encourage "We didn't let the matter drop. Dick to federal officers" four years ago. After periences that permit us to join forces on UA W locals in the area to discuss support­ Geyer, who is another member of Local fleeing to Mexico in 1974 , Martinez had more than a single issue. Your letter of ing Marroquin. 31 , and Hector Marroquin went to Snell's assumed another name. support and solidarity points out specific­ UA W Local 3 I member, Alvino Car­ office," Carrillo continued. "They brought ally the unstable situation that exists in rillo, told the Militant, "To understand how him literature, including the first Labor Hector Marroquin, an undocumented Central America. It is the foreign policy of we were able to get KC CAP and our local Beacon article. worker from Mexico and leader of the the North American government that is the to endorse Marroquin's case, it is neces­ "The meeting with Snell was very Socialist Workers Party and Young provoking force of the carnage that nation sary to go back to the fall of 1983. The Po­ friendly, and he thought it was best that we Socialist Alliance, has waged a seven-year is witnessing. To complement that foreign litical Rights Defense Fund built a big rally come befqre the December 13 CAP meet­ fight against deportation. policy the ruling class has to silence for Hector in Kansas City at that time." ing and explain Marroquin's case," Car­ Marroquin sent a statement of support to domestic opposition. In these times it is a Speakers at the event included represen­ rillo said. Martinez, protesting the government's special duty on we the Latino people living tatives of unions: Rene Garcia, a commit­ "Dick Geyer made the .presentation be­ most recent attempts to frame him. Re­ in the USA to express ourselves clearly on teeman from UA W Local 3 I, and Judy fore CAP, and Sndl took the floor right printed below is a letter Marroquin re­ this issue. Taylor, president of the Shawnee Mission after he spoke. Snell said that Marroquin ceived from the Francisco E. Martinez De­ We will not let them silence Kiko nor U.S. National Education Association. was a socialist, and that that made some fense Committee. The letter, dated March will we permit them to silence you! "In the audience was Bob Reed, then people nervous. But Marroquin shouldn't 9, 1985, was signed by R. Lopez for the Sincere greetings of support and solidar­ head of the Greater KC Labor Council." be deported because of his ideas. He then committee. ity.

March 29, 1985 The Militant 13 -EDITORIALS------Jantes P. Cannon on early years Behind Egypt-Jordan diplomacy of the 'Militant' Lately, there's been a flurry of diplomatic activity and fray the cost of its occupation of Lebanon . The following is excerpted from a November 10, a big-business media barrage about efforts to reach a 1978, Militant article by staff writer Harry Ring. En­ The U.S. and Israeli imperialists share the same goals titled, "Our founding editor: 'Without a paper, how Mideast "peace" accord. These developments reflect new in the Mideast, but Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres conditions in that region today . are you going to build a movement?'" it is based on has enthusiastically endorsed Mubarak's call for direct conversations Ring had with James P. Cannon, the Egyptian Pres . Hosni Mubarak and King Hussein of talks between his regime and a joint Jordanian-Palestin­ Jordan, who have both sought deals with U.S. and Israeli first editor of the Militant. The article was written to ian delegation. Under no illusion that Mubarak's propos­ mark the 50th anniversary of the Militant. imperialism, have stepped up their campaign for negoti­ al would get off the ground, Peres' objective is to secure ations between Arab regimes and the Israeli and U.S. recognition of Israel from other reactionary Arab re­ governments. They argue that now- when the Palestine James P. Cannon, the founding leader of the American gimes, as the Eygptian government did in signing the so­ Trotskyist movement, was also the founding editor of the Liberation Organization (PLO) is weakened and divided , called Camp David accords in September 1978. and can therefore be more easily excluded- is the time Militant. for the Israeli, U.S., Jordanian , and Eygptian govern­ Moreover, Peres agrees with Mubarak that such direct In the fall of 1973, less than a year before he died, I in­ ments to reach an accord . talks could be used to try to isolate the PLO. terviewed Cannon about the early years of the Militant. Mubarak and Hussein are concerned that with each The Hussein-Arafat agreement, however, clearly As Cannon filled in details and added recollections passing day imperialism's situation in the Mideast is de­ stands on the right of self-determination for the Palestin­ about the initial years of the Militant , one thing became teriorating. Despite the Israeli invasion in 1982 and later ian people. It opens by stating that the accord emanates intervention by thousands of other imperialist troops . "from the spirit of the Fez summit resolutions." The sum­ from the United States, France, Britain, and Italy, no mit meeting of the Arab League held at Fez, Morocco, in stable proimperialist regime was established in Lebanon . September 1982 called for the establishment of an inde­ OUR Nor were the Israeli and U.S. rulers successful in de­ pendent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its ~apital. stroying the PLO - the other central objective of the In addition, the Hussein-Arafat accord explicitly states REVOLUTIONARY 1982 invasion of Lebanon. The PLO suffered a major de­ that the proposed negotiations will "include the Palestine feat, including losing a base of operations adjacent to Is­ Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representa­ HERITAGE rael. But it survived and maintains overwhelming popu­ tive of the Palestine people . ... " lar support among Palestinian and other Arab peoples. While U.S. officials rejected Mubarak' s proposal for the Reagan administration to meet with a Jordanian-Pal­ Meanwhile, the political, social , and economic costs clear. The founders of American Trotskyism had fully estinian delegation, they were encouraged by his efforts of maintaining the imperialist occupation of Lebanon be­ absorbed Lenin's concept of the role of a newspaper in to isolate the PLO. U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz came too high. Lebanese workers and peasants heroically building a revolutionary party. announced on March 15 that he was sending assistant battled the imperialist troops, and, despite terror bomb­ Lenin saw the development of an effective newspaper secretary Richard Murphy to several countries in the re­ ing by the U.S. and Israeli forces, finally forced U.S., as key to the building of a party . The press, he em­ gion "to maintain the momentum . . . . "Shultz said on an French, British, and Italian troops to withdraw in 1984. phasized, is the collective organizer of the party. ABC-TV news program March 17 that Murphy's assign­ Continued resistance from Lebanese workers and peas­ When the Trotskyists were expelled from the Com­ ment will be to "see if it isn't possible" to put together a ants, combined with growing opposition at home, forced munist Party fifty years ago, the first thing they did was Palestinian delegation for future negotiations that ex­ the Israeli regime to reluctantly begin a withdrawal of its publish a paper. cludes the PLO. own troops this past January. It wasn't easy. The U.S. and Israeli rulers reject the PLO and its fight In this context, Arafat took a major initiative on the "We didn't have any money to start with," Cannon for Palestinian national liberation. Palestinian self-deter­ diplomatic level by signing an accord with Hussein on explained. "We didn't even have a mimeograph mination and the Israeli state can't coexist. Israel came February II . Hussein - and later Mubarak - tried to machine." into being through a brutal war of terror against the Pal-. falsely interpret the agreement to mean the PLO had re­ "Everything we had was concentrated around the Mil­ estinian people that drove them off their land. nounced its struggle against the colonial-settler state of itant. Just the physical process of getting out the Militant Israel, recognizing as "legitimate" the occupiers' govern­ There can be no peace in the Mideast until the Palestin­ and finding the money somewhere to pay for it - that ment. ian people can return to their homeland and a democratic, was the biweekly achievement. Mubarak flew to Washington and met with President secular Palestine replaces the current Israeli state. "The paper is the voice of the movement. Without a Reagan, trying to convince U.S . officials that the Hus­ The mounting imperialist pressure against the PLO and paper, how are you going to build a movement?" sein-Arafat accord was a basis for preventing the PLO the Palestinian people must be countered. Working How did the Militant get its name? from playing any role in determining Palestine's future. people should mobilize in solidarity with this oppressed It was Cannon's idea and the idea stemmed from his U.S. officials, however, didn't buy it. Imperialism people fighting for self-determination. relationship with Bartolomeo Vanzetti. seeks the total destruction of the PLO and opposes any An important opportunity to do this will be the upcom­ Cannon had been the national secretary of Interna­ negotiations that imply recognition of it. The U.S. rulers' ing April 20 antiwar march in Washington, D. C. , and tional Labor Defense, a nonpartisan committee initiated real intentions were shown recently when the Reagan ad­ other cities. Although the demonstration includes no de­ by the Communist Party in the mid-1920s to defend polit­ ministration announced plans to boost U.S. military aid mands against U.S. intervention in the Mideast, mobiliz­ ical prispners. to Israel by $400 million next year. This year Washing­ ing the broadest participation in this protest can only aid Defen\;e of Sacco and Vanzetti, the victimized anar­ ton gave the Israeli regime $2.6 billion in aid to help de- anti-imperialist fighters in that part of the world. chists, was a major activity of the ILD. Cannon visited Sacco and Vanzetti in prison sev~ral times. He recalled a visit with Vanzetti that stayed particu­ larly in his memory. "We had a long talk," he said. "Vanzetti was talking about a third member of their group who had jumped, or Illegal FBI -Customs harassment was pushed, out of a ten-story building when the govern­ ment agents had him prisoner and were examining him. A suit has been filed against the FBI and Customs Ser­ jected to similar victimization on returning from Nicara­ "I remember Vanzetti saying, 'He wouldn't have vice for their illegal harassment of a Kansas City resident gua. Targeted with him was Sam Manuel, who was jumped. He was a good militant.' returning from a visit to Nicaragua. Mason's San Francisco campaign coordinator. Manuel's "In the old radical movement," Cannon explained, Edward Haase, a radio engineer and free-lance jour­ literature was also confiscated. A receipt given Manuel "that was an ordinary expression. That's what you say nalist, was coming home January 16 from a two-month described the confiscated literature as "possibly sediti­ about a person who's active and giving all they've got to stay in Nicaragua. At the Miami airport, a Customs agent ous." the movement. detained Haase and called in an FBI agent. Weeks later, the literature, which included Nicaraguan "I proposed this name to designate what we were, and Haase was held for four hours and subjected to exten­ books and pamphlets Manuel bought for the San Fran­ it was accepted." sive grilling. cisco socialistbookstore, was returned. This victory was Cannon took particular pride in the fact that the Mili­ won after a Miami group opposed to U.S. intervention in tant was internationalist from the outset and that it played His personal address book and a diary of his visit were Central America publicly rapped the Customs Service for taken, and later he saw the FBI agent making a photo­ an important role in building the world Trotskyist move­ seizing literature from two additional solidarity activists ment. copy of his address book, diary, and other of his personal who had just returned from a tour in Nicaragua. possessions. And despite the difficulties and pressures, members of The material taken included manuscripts oftwo arti­ The FBI and Customs have persisted in such activity the movement persisted in their stubborn efforts to get the cles he had written on Nicaragua, and a mailing list of even though both cop agencies know full well that what paper out. They sold it to each individual they could groups associated with the National Network in Solidar­ they're doing is illegal. reach and, whenever they obtained names, mailed copies ity with the Nicaraguan People. abroad. This was testified to when the government made a It was an extraordinarily difficult process, but it Haase told a reporter that the · FBI agent asked him 1982 out-of-court settlement with journalist William brought results. "whether I had been contacted by the government in Nic­ Worthy and two associates. On their return from a news aragua, who I worked for there, why I was interested in visit to Iran, Customs and FBI cops confiscated copies of An early but not easily attained goal was to establish Nicaragua, where I was born and went to school, and CIA documents published by Iranian students. The stu­ the Militant as a weekly. whether I had been arrested." dents had reproduced CIA material they found during the At the founding convention of the new organization, occupation of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. held in Chicago in May 1929, a special fund was In a move to put an end to such harassment, the Center launched for this purpose. The tiny organization set out for Constitutional rights has initiated court action on When Worthy and his associates filed suit, the govern­ to raise $1,000. Haase's behalf. ment returned the material and made an out-of-court cash They acquired a battered old linotype machine and an This came after Michael Ratner, an attorney for the settlement in order to avoid having the issue come to even older press. In November I 929- a few weeks after Center, contacted the FBI and asked that all copies of trial. the stock market crash- they began weekly publication. Haase's material be returned . The FBI refused, asserting As Cannon recalled that experience, you could see him It is reported that several people whose names were in its "right" to the material, and declaring that copies relive it. Haase's address book that the FBI copied are also consid­ would be given to the State Department and the Immigra­ "We started out with high hopes with this thousand­ ering court action, either in association with Haase or on tion and Naturalization Service. dollar fund," he said. "But we never made it. It was just their own. too much money for the comrades . .. . We overreached In mid-February, a federal judge issued a temporary Such challenges are necessary and important. The ourselves." restraining order forbidding the FBI from disseminating Customs-FBI harassment is designed to intimidate visi­ In July of 1930, they retreated back to a semi-monthly. the material and requiring it to retrieve any it may have tors to Nicaragua and all those opposed to Washington's but they persisted and finally, in July 1931, established already passed out. drive to crush the Nicaraguan revolution . It is a part of the weekly Militant. Haase has not been the only one illegally harassed on the broader ruling-class drive against democratic rights, "The paper became quite professional," Cannon said. returning from Nicaragua. Last August, Mel Mason, the as we.ll as a weapon in Washington's escalating Central "Gradually - and sometimes by leaps - it became a Socialist Workers 1984 presidential nominee, was sub- American war. recognized journal in the radical movement.

14 The Militant March 29, 1985 Sharpeville Massacre shows bloody face of apartheid

March 21 of this year marks the 25th anniversary of the tions, and demand that they all be arrested. community groups, church organizations, women's Sharpeville Massacre. Hundreds of U.S. supporters of On the morning of March 21, 1960, the demonstrators groups, students, and others in carrying out the largest the national liberation movements in southern Africa will began to gather. Tens of thousands of Africans around political general strike in South Africa's history last be commemorating this date. the country responded to the PAC call . The most massive November. The bloody murder of Africans in Sharpeville and turnouts were in Cape Town and in several towns south This strike against apartheid, which mobilized some I other towns on March 21, 1960, by the South African of Johannesburg. million Black workers in Transvaal province, came on cops sparked widespread protest around the world. It also In one of these towns, Sharpeville, demonstrators the heels of a successful Black boycott of phony elections formed a procession three-quarters of a mile long and organized under a "reform" constitution. marched to the municipal offices. Cops attacked and dis­ The South African regime's response was again brutal persed the protesters. repression . Hundreds of political and trade union activ­ But a little later 10 ,000 African men, women, and ists have been arrested, including the central leaders of BY ANY MEANS children surrounded the police station. They demanded the United Democratic Front. The UDF is a broad coali­ that they be arrested for not carrying their passes, and tion of anti-apartheid groups whose combined member­ NECESSARY were told that that was impossible because the jail ships total some 2 million people. couldn't hold all of them. · The massive upsurge in anti-apartheid activity within Mohammed Oliver Later, without warning, the cops opened fire. The South Africa, and especially the involvement of Black South African government said 67 demonstrators died in trade unions in this fight, has inspired working people all Sharpeville that day . More than 180 were injured. The over the world. Here in the United States, anti-apartheid revealed to broad layers of workers and farmers the brutal overwhelming majority were shot in the back. activities have stepped up. nature of the racist apartheid regime. Black rage at the killings fueled a massive outpouring Many supporters of Black majority rule in South Af­ During the first months of 1960, waves of protest against .the apartheid regime. Demonstrations broke out rica are also helping to build the April 20 antiwar march against the pass laws swept South Africa. This hated leg­ in Cape Town and other cities. Strikes involving in Washington, D .C., and other cities. The protest islation requires every African over the age of 16 to carry thousands of workers erupted. against the U.S. war in Central America includes a de­ a pass book with them at all times. The document con­ The South African regime responded with a brutal re­ mand against U.S. support to the racist South African re­ tains the person's photograph, identity card, registration pression. By May 6 the government admitted that more gime. number, ethnic background description, tax receipts, than 18 ,000 Blacks had been arrested. In addition, 1,700 Moreover, the aims of the U.S. rulers are the same in work record, current address of employment, and em­ political activists were jailed under emergency regula­ both regions: to smash rising national liberation move­ ployer's signature. tions. Among those jailed were leaders of the ANC, ments and maintain imperialist domination over the Any cop can demand to see it- day or night. Failure PAC, and other groups. workers and peasants. The two liberation struggles are, to produce an up-to-date pass on the spot is punishable by The brutal crackdown broke the mass movement that therefore, connected, and solidarity with one helps the fine or imprisonment. Hundreds of Africans are arrested was developing in the early 1960s. But, to the dismay of other. each day for violations of the pass laws. the South African regime, the relative quiescence that Such solidarity is needed to aid anti-apartheid fighters Both the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) and the Afri­ followed the 1960 protests gave way to a new Black po­ in South Africa, who are preparing for the new battles to can National Congress (ANC), the two liberation organi­ litical upheaval in the 1970s and 1980s. come. And that fact is something the South African rulers zations, called anti-pass law demonstrations for March But the current upsurge in anti-apartheid protest in can't understand. No matter how many times they try to 1960. Robert Sobukwe, a leader of the PAC, called on South Africa is markedly different. Black workers are crush underfoot the Black organizations and leaders of Africans to "leave their passes at home" on March 21 . better organized, with hundreds of thousands of them be­ African workers and peasants, new struggles will arise The PAC urged the protesters to converge on police sta- longing to Black trade unions. These unions joined with until Black majority rule is achieved. -LETTERS------Ethiopian famine bution program and the literacy At this point, some 18 states are The famine in Ethiopia is campaign that reduced the illiter­ vying for the 20,000 jobs the plant caused mainly by the underde­ acy rate from 60 percent to 12 per­ will supposedly provide. Even this velopment forced upon Africa by cent in just five years. figure is a fraud: industry obser­ 400 years of imperialism. This He explained the advances in vers are predicting that, due to fact was well presented in Lee introducing autonomous regional Saturn technology, up to 90,000 Martindale's article on the subject. governments for the peoples of the jobs in the auto-parts industry will However, some major related Atlantic Coast who suffered na­ be lost. In Ohio alone there are 80 questions were left unaddressed tional oppression under the cities or regions that are compel­ and might be taken up by a future Somoza regime. . ing with each other to get the Militant article. For example, the Hooker answered questions Saturn plant. In town after town, imperialist press has tried to tar the about Nicaragua's draft army and local officials try to outbid each "Marxist Ethiopian regime" for conscription policy. He explained other in tax giveaways to GM, contributing to the famine by re­ that the army would not be able to while labor leaders extol the vir­ fusing to allow relief convoys function if there were not tremend­ tues ofthe local work force . ·bearing food into Eritrean and ous support for the revolution In Youngstown, union leaders other rebel areas, and by not mov­ among the whole population. teamed up with local politicians to ing the affected populations earlier · Throughout the tour, Hooker host a "Rally for Saturn." Not to to less arid zones. Is there any was able to answer the many ques­ be outdone, local TV, radio, and truth at all to these charges? And tions and confusions that many newspapers in Cleveland are en­ might the failure of agriculture in people had as a result of the State couraging people to write "Wel­ unrelenting in his determination to frame-up, the district attorney has~ Ethiopia be more aptly attributed Department and big-business come· Saturn" postcards to Detroit. destroy the Nicaraguan revolu­ refused to say he will not retry to its not being a nationalized sec­ media campaign to discredit the One radio station here tion . Although a political failure , Grace. Harassment against Grace tor of the economy? Thus, the fail­ Nicaraguan revolution. We need editorialized, "What can you do? the violent military intervention by continues because he never gave ure would be one of capitalist or to make the most of opportunities Write to local officials, telling the CIA's contras goes on daily up the convictions he held that led subsistence agriculture. to let working people in the U.S. them they must lower the burden­ and at a bloody cost. Ten thousand to the police frame-up. While in Answers to these questions know the truth about Nicaragua. some tax levels corporations must Nicaraguans have already been prison he fought for the rights of might bring the issues into yet Cathleen Gutekanst · pay." killed, and medical aid remains prisoners as well as for his own re­ sharper focus. [See story on page Chicago, Illinois Unfortunately, a lot of workers crucial. lease. 5.] fall for the trap of thinking you can Our appeal, first made in De-· At a rally of 200 people to cele­ Albert Cassorla win jobs by competing with other cember, has produced an en­ brate his release on January 29, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Saturn Project sections of the working class to couraging response. We may be Grace said, "You can jail a revolu­ I enjoyed the article in the see who can be more "produc­ on the way toward purchasing a tionary, but you can't jail a revolu­ March 15 issue of the Militant on tive." But in reality, the on.ly way fourth or fifth ambulance. Will tion." PUSH hears Ray Hooker GM's much-heralded Saturn Pro­ to secure the right of everyone to a your readers make this possible? Hopefully, Grace's liberation I recently heard Ray Hooker, a ject. decent job is to stand up and fight Checks should be sent to Ambu­ will inspire and give hope to the Black Nicaraguan leader, address GM plans to make Saturn a the bosses, to join in solidarity lance Fund, Veterans of the Ab­ other victims of the police and an enthusiastic crowd that packed "state of the art" auto company - with all workers, here and abroad; raham Lincoln Brigade, Room government's terror campaign the Operation PUSH headquarters the latest in advanced robotics, and eventually to eliminate 227, 799 Broadway, New York, against Black activists who remain on Chicago's South Side. Hooker computerized engineering, and capitalism altogether. N.Y. 10003. in prison. was in Chicago for a tour or­ futuristrc design. But the Bill Kalman Saul Wellman Russell Davis ganized by Operation PUSH and capitalists use new technology as Cleveland, Ohio Seabrook, Maryland Lynn, Massachussetts the Chicago Committee in Support they use anything else: as a of the Nicaraguan People. weapon against our standard of Black activist freed The Militant special prisoner Hooker appeared at the regular living. In fact, the new technology Ambulance for Nicaragua On January 28, Frank (Parky) fund makes it possible to send Saturday morning meeting of Op­ of Saturn means new levels of ex­ The Veterans of the Abraham Grace, Jr., was released from reduced-rate subscriptions to eration PUSH with the Rev. Jesse ploiting the work force. Lincoln Brigade are seeking funds prison after II years behind bars. prisoners who can't pay for Jackson.- He invited Jackson to GM has launched a major pub­ to send ambulances to Nicaragua. Grace is a former leader of the them. Where possible the fund visit Nicaragua to see for himself lic relations blitz to sell Saturn. As That campaign was kicked off Black Panther Party in New Bed­ also tries to fill prisoners' re­ the suffering caused by the U.S.­ the article points out, Democratic with ads that appeared in the New ford who was framed up on a mur­ quests for other literature. To organized war against the Nicara­ and Republican politicians, in York Times and The Nation. der charge and sent to prison in help this important cause, send guan people. conjunction with the big-business As a combatant in the Spanish 1974. your contribution to: Militant Hooker told the crowd he had media, have since jumped in, Civil War, I recall the enormous Prisoner Subscription Fund, 14 no doubt that the U.S. administra­ doing their part to promote GM's boost in morale every expression Grace was freed on appeal after Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. tion would send troops against plans. A major part of this scam is of support represented. For me, new evidence came out that police 10014. had fabricated the case against Nicaragua and pointed to the inva­ the competition for the ~aturn field hospitals, medical personnel , Grace for murder. A key govern­ sion of Grenada as an example. plantsite. Some of GM's require­ and ambulances had special mean­ The letters column is an open ment witness recanted his tes­ "But," Hooker said, "we shall ments for any prospective site in­ ing. After being wounded at the forum for all viewpoints on sub­ never accept to be slaves again - clude nearness to population and Ebro River in August 1938, I was timony , and another man confes­ jects of general interest to our never." transportation centers. But every­ evacuated in an ambulance with sed to the shooting Grace had been readers. Please keep your letters Throughout the tour, Hooker one knows the principal require­ the words "From the West Vir­ convicted of. That shooting took brief. Where necessary they will place while Grace was on the other emphasized the tremendous gains ments: sizeable . tax breaks and gJma Friends of Republican be abridged. Please indicate if side of town . made by the Nicaraguan revolu­ union officials who are prepared to Spain" painted on its side. you prefer that your initials be tion. He explained the land distri- make major concessions. The president of our country is Despite the collapse of the used rather than your· full name.

March 29, 1985 The Militant 15 TH£MILITANT Miners union fights union-busting, wins solidarity in W.Va. strike

BY ERIC SIMPSON and announced he was quitting. Unionists CHARLESTON, W.Va.- The owners drove him back to his home in Kentucky. of A.T. Massey Coal Co. have escalated their union-busting war against the United Railroaders' solidarity Mine Workers (UMW). At the same time, another victory was The union struck Massey subsidiaries in scored as a union "escort" and sit-in pre­ West Virginia and other states on Oct. I, vented Norfolk and Western Railroad 1984. Massey refused to sign the national police and supervisory personnel from contract that the union negotiated with the bringing locomotives into the Sprouse Bituminous Coal Operators Association Creek plant to pull out loaded railroad hop­ (BCOA) that was signed in the fall of last per cars. It is widely reported in the coal­ year. Seventy-three union members here in fields that union railroaders employed by Mingo County in southern West Virginia Norfolk and Western and the Chessie sys­ are still on strike. tem have refused to cross UMW picket Massey is stepping up its violence lines. against the strikers and UMW supporters. The next day, however, the same con­ On March 15, a 16-truck convoy ofloaded voy of coal trucks ran a union blockade, coal haulers rammed a small car off a West wantonly endangering demonstrators. The Virginia mountain road, crushing the car trucks damaged 10 vehicles involved in the and hospitalizing the four miners who were picket and injured at least one demonstra­ riding in it. tor. State police arrested 10 miners on The strike supporters were heading for charges of throwing rocks, but allowed the lunch at a union-organized center in truckers to proceed to the Sprouse Creek Miners' protest slowed down trucks hauling scab coal. The 10-minute trip to struck Lobata, West Virginia, where UMW mem­ plant without stopping. processing plant took three and a half hours. bers are on strike at Massey's Sprouse It was the same parade of trucks and Creek Coal Processing complex. thugs that ran over the union car the fol­ According to published reports, the first lowing day. New labor support has come for the Local 14398 in Southern Williamson, Ken­ two trucks passed the car and then began There has been a massive mobilization UMW local at Sprouse Creek. Lowell E. tucky, took out a one-third page ad in a slowing down in an attempt to sandwich of state police in the Williamson, West Johnson, president of the West Virginia local paper expressing their continued sol­ the car between them and the third truck in Virginia, area. Their role has been to pro­ Education Association (WVEA), wrote, idarity with their brothers and sisters in the the convoy. The third truck rammed the car tect the interest of the company. Hundreds "The nonminer members of labor in West UMW. from behind, pushing it off the highway. of union supporters have been arrested as Virginia have always looked to the mem­ Joseph W. Powell, president of the West The trucks did not stop, but continued their state troopers clear the way for Massey bers of the UMW A as models of leader­ Virginia Labor Federation, has also ex­ trip to the fenced-in confines of the bosses to ·run scab coal. ship, bravery and stamina. I hope this letter tended solidarity. "Your fight to maintain Sprouse Creek plant. The supposedly neutral National Labor will help remind your membership of how the union," he wrote to the Sprouse Creek Relations Board asked for and received on important your fight is and how dedicated UMW local, "is crucial to all the labor Public enemy number 1 March 16 a federal injunction against mass the remainder of labor is to assisting you." movement in West Virginia. We compli- Massey is widely perceived as public union protests at the Sprouse Creek site. On March 16 , 300 members of USW A Continued on Page 10 enemy number one in southern West Vir­ ginia. Massey mines 6.5 million tons of coal a year in West Virginia, 70 percent of it nonunion. Massey is the state's third­ Talks reopen in Pan American strike largest coal producer. Massey is also the country's fifth-largest BY LOUIS LONG strike by the TWU. Cables were sent to the cwssing TWU picket lines after honoring producer and second-leading exporter of MlAMI, March 18- After two and a International Transport Workers Federa­ them for the first week of the strike. Not coal. The company is the product of a part­ half weeks on strike, negotiations resumed tion and to the Japan Federation of Civil only have they accepted their own take back ·nership between the owners of Royal between representatives of the Transport Aviation Workers. But there is no news of contract, but some of the pi lots are working Dutch Shell, an oil company with assets of Workers Union (TWU) and Pan American job actions in other countries to support the as flight attendants since Pan Am is not fly­ $75 billion, and the Fluor Corp., the na­ Airlines. strike. ing enough ptanes to put all the pilots in ti~:m' s largest construction company. Mas­ Pan Am claims it is running about half of While the negotiations have resumed, cockpits. sey owns dozens of subsidiaries in four its regular flights in spite of the strike. But the owners of Pan Am have not let up their The striking TWU members, and the states, but maintains the fiction that each is visiting an airport with a Pan Am mainte­ pressure on the striking workers. In addi­ Teamsters and Flight Attendants who are an independent company, selling coal to nance base shows this is not true. At Miami tion to using supervisors and scab flight at­ supporting them, need the active support of Massey as a broker. On this basis the com­ and Kennedy airports, dozens of Pan Am · tendants, management is taking advantage the labor movement and other working pany has insisted that the union negotiate planes- from 727s to the giant 747s­ of the strike-breaking pilots. Members of people to push back Pan Am's antiunion separately with each of its subsidiaries. are parked, not flying anywhere. And for the Air Line Pilots Association continue assault. The UMW is demanding that Massey the planes that are flying, striking TWU negotiate a master agreement and extend mechanics are raising serious questions seniority and recall rights (panel rights) about their safety. throughout its system of mines. All TWU mechanics are on strike. The UMW has marshaled impressive N.Y. meetings mark 6th anniversary Maintenance work on Pan Am planes that forces into battle over the last month with are flying is being handled by supervisors. mass pickets, demonstrations, and protest of the Grenada revolution But very few supervisors are qualified to rallies. The union is calling on union mem­ work on the planes. NEW YORK - Two meetings took the Militant; and a representative of bers from as far aw.ay as Canada and Utah Strikers point out that supervisors are place here to mark the sixth anniversary of Dominican Socialist Bloc supporters in for solidarity. working only with the complicity of Fed­ the March 13, 1979, Grenada revolution . New York City. On March 13, hundreds of miners were eral Aviation Administration (FAA) in­ On March 17 , some I 00 people gathered at The speakers discussed the achieve­ deployed by the union as A.T. Massey spectors. The whole operation is dangerous Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn to com­ ments of the four and a half years of. the made its second attempt in five and a half and illegal. The FAA is approving the memorate the Grenada revolution, which . Grenada revolution and the lessons to be months to run stockpiled coal from its supervisors in direct violation of federal was overthrown in October 1983 . learned from its overthrow. Mark visited struck Big Bottom mine in Kentucky to the aviation regulations, such as FAR 65.81. Thousands of U.S. troops invaded the Grenada last December to help campaign Sprouse Creek plant. A IS-truck convoy As one striking mechanic put it, "Would Caribbean country following the overturn for the Maurice Bi shop Patriotic Move­ traveled with heavy protection from gun­ you fly on a plane where the engine was re­ of the revolutionary government. ment. He reported that the MBPM held the carrying thugs, state police, and a company placed by a supervisor who hasn't picked The Brooklyn rally was sponsored by the largest and most spirited campaign rallies, helicopter. up a wrench in 20 years?" Grenada Foundation, Grenada Center, and enjoying significant support from the Gre­ Union pickets stopped the convoy at the When FAA officials were questioned Center for Women's Development at Med­ nadian masses. As a result of the U.S. re-­ West Virginia-Kentucky border. Support­ about this by a reporter from the Miami gar Evers. Cosponsors of the event in­ pression, however, the many MBPM sup­ ers parked their vehicles in both lanes of News, the FAA said that the supervis.ors cluded the Jamaica Democratic Associa­ porters stayed away from the polls on De­ the two-lane highway, forming a serpen­ are more qualified than the striking tion-U.S.A., Committee for a Free Gre­ cember 3, said Mark. tine road block. This allowed normal-sized mechanics and that the supervisors had nada. the Queens chapter of the National The March 17 Brooklyn meeting heard vehicles to pass, but stopped the huge coal trained the mechanics in the first place. Black Independent Political Party, and Jay Carrington Chunn II, president of Med­ trucks. It took state police an hour to clear This brought laughs from the strikers. They other Black and Caribbean organizations. gar Evers; Joachim Mark; Wilton De a path for the trucks, issuing citations and say it is the mechanics who constantly ex­ On March 15 , some 70 people attended a Coteau; and Archie Singham, a professor removing the union vehicles. plain maintenance procedures to the super­ Militant Labor Forum entitled "The Le­ at Brooklyn College. The commemoration At that point, union demonstrators visors. gacy of the Grenada Revolution ." Speakers was chaired by Dessima Williams, former gathered in front of the lead truck and "es­ In other strike developments, the com­ at the meeting were Joachim Mark, a noted Grenadian ambassador to the Organization corted" the caravan at a walking pace to the pany retreated on its threats to end paying Grenadian historian; Letisha Wadsworth of American States. Williams also gave processing complex. What would have insurance premiums on March 15 . Also, from the Metropolitan Black United Front; concluding remarks to the gathering. The been a 10-minute drive took three and a workers who service Pan Am planes in Wilton DeCoteau of the Grenada Founda­ meeting closed with a showing of the half hours. One driver stopped his truck other countries have been informed of the tion; Mohammed Oliver, a staff writer for Cuban film Maurice .

16 The Militant March 29, 1985