¡Acusamos de genocidio! 12 Crecientes amenazas 12 Workers and oppressed peoples of the world unite! workers.org Vol. 62, No. 49 Dec. 3, 2020 $1 India’s working class unites 250 million strike! By Martha Grevatt postal workers] observed a 100 percent strike.” (tinyurl.com/y4wsthaw) For the second time this year, a class- wide mobilization in an “All-India strike” A working-class united front brought out 250 million workers. With Strikers held sit-ins and mass rallies, one in four working-age people in India and blocked traffic and train tracks. They participating, this 24-hour work stoppage burned an effigy of right-wing President can again claim the status of “world’s big- Narendra Modi. There was massive par- gest strike.” The first record-breaking ticipation by the unemployed, unorga- general strike had taken place on Jan. 8. nized, self-employed and informal sector Ten of India’s labor federations took workers, as well as students. Women part, uniting under the “joint platform.” played a prominent role. Five states—Kerala, Puducherry, Odisha, The labor federations’ joint plat- Assam and Telangana— were completely form put forth demands for a minimum shut down, while daily activity was cur- income, food for poor families, a guaran- tailed in many others. teed number of workdays, higher wages, News Click, a progressive Indian news pensions for everyone, and the end of source, reported on Nov. 26: “The strike Women were a major force in the All-India strike, Nov. 26. forced early retirements. It called for the saw stoppage of work in banks, financial government to stop privatizations and services, various government services, services and scores of other government schemes have also gone on strike.” also withdraw all “anti-farmer laws and transport, steel units, port and docks, tele- offices are also likely to be affected as Quoting from the joint union state- anti-worker labor codes.” communication services, plantations, power employees will hold solidarity demon- ment, it states: “Reports of successful Additional demands emerged around generating units, coal and other mines, oil strations. Several [hundred thousand] strikes in coal and copper mines, includ- a range of issues, from ending the out- and natural gas production units, and mil- women working as Anganwadi [rural ing other mineral resource mines, have sourcing of work to reimposition of the lions of other miscellaneous industries.” childcare center] workers/helpers, health been received. The employees of postal, 12-hour day. The provision of safety mea- The report continues: “Government care workers, mid-day meal cooks and telecom and steel sectors were also in sures to stop the spread of COVID was a offices, railways, post and telegraph those employed in other government-run action and gramin dak sevaks [rural key issue, as India has the second-highest coronavirus infection rate in the world. (Worldometers, Nov. 29) While 250 million workers struck, farm- ‘Thanksgiving’ myth busted on ers from all over the country attempted to march on Delhi, the country’s capital. They are protesting a new, pro-corporate 51st National Day of Mourning agribusiness “farm bill,” but the farmers are also in full solidarity with the workers. By Steve Gillis Over 3,000 people participated in per- Plymouth’s 350th founding anniversary Government forces blocked the farmers’ Plymouth, Mass. son or remotely. Attendees braved driving at the state’s request. paths with barricades and barbed wire, and rain to proclaim: “Land Back, Now!” at the fired tear gas and water cannons in the bit- November 26 marked the 51st National spot where the pilgrims’ “puritanical” mili- Truth about ‘Thanks-taking’ ter cold. But, anticipating government-im- Day of Mourning. The first was in 1970 tia posted Wampanoag leader Metacomet’s James read Wamsutta’s speech while posed obstacles, farmers packed a variety when Aquinnah Wampanoag elder head on a pike in 1676 and left it there for demonstrators occupied Plymouth Rock of supplies, from food and water to cell- Wamsutta Frank James called Indigenous 25 years to terrorize the population. for the 51st time. (tinyurl.com/y2lcn- phone chargers. These determined farmers peoples and their supporters to “America’s Kisha James, Wamsutta’s granddaugh- rcn) She said it told the true story of the refused to move, breaking through block- Hometown.” The crowd joined the United ter, opened the commemoration with a first “Thanks-taking,” refuting U.S. his- ades until they were allowed to proceed to American Indians of New England on history of UAINE’s militant response to tory books’ false mythology. These books Parliament and present their demands. Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, Mass., to expose Massachusetts Gov. Francis Sargent’s rac- replace the truth about the enslavement the truth about the 400-year history of ist attempt to suppress her grandfather’s of African peoples, mass killings of the Workers World newspaper will cover settler colonialism in this region. 1970 speech. He wrote it to deliver at Continued on page 5 more on the class struggle in India in its next issue, to be published on Dec. 10. Remembering Stop deportations! 2 Leslie Feinberg 3 World AIDS Day 3 Class struggle surges 4-5 Diego Maradona International Day of ¡presente! 11 Persons with Disabilities 8 Addiction & harm reduction 8 Work stoppage in Alabama Pandemic working conditions Biden’s hawks 9 Opioid crisis COVID in nursing homes 9 Mumia: Lessons on abolition Editorial Philly: Free them all! 6-7 Companies lie, workers push back 10 Iran: U.S. role in assassination 10 Greek mass strike 11 Page 2 Dec. 3, 2020 workers.org Stop ICE’s rush to illegally deport families! this week ◆ In the U.S. By Marta Guttenberg Philadelphia 51st National Day of Mourning ................1 Stop ICE’s rush to illegally deport families! ......2 Around 50 people, including immigrant commu- Remembering Leslie Feinberg .................3 nity members, Shut Down Berks Coalition activists, and Attacks continue on LGBTQ2S+ youth ..........3 elected Pennsylvania State Reps. Chris Rabb and Joseph Philly nurses strike! ..........................4 Hohenstein, took part in an emergency rally outside Black Friday protests hit Amazon ..............4 Philadelphia’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office on Nov. 25. Iowa workers win against wage theft............4 Twenty-three Black and Brown families, including 28 Fed up with racism, COVID and exploitation.....5 children, had come to the U.S. seeking asylum and fam- ‘Economic blackout’ on Alabama prison system ..6 ily reunification. Instead, they were imprisoned by ICE. Oregon prison laundry workers at greatest risk...6 Some are being held at the Berks Family Detention Center How prisons contribute to opioid crisis .........6 in Leesport, in nearby Bucks County. WW PHOTO: JOE PIETTE Mumia: Lessons from the abolition movement ...7 Having survived terrible events in their countries of Demonstrators tell ICE, “Don’t deport the 28,” Nov. 25. origin, they are now experiencing incarceration, medical Protesters call: release incarcerated workers .....7 neglect and abuse, and violations of their human rights already, we spent our birthdays here and it’s very hard. International Day of Persons with Disabilities... 8 here in the U.S. ICE’s response during the COVID-19 pan- We don’t want to spend Christmas locked up here in this Harm reduction, not jails!.................... 8 demic has been not to release families from detention, as center. We can’t play freely or run because the guards yell Biden aims to restore pre-2016 Washington .....9 recommended by public health officers. Instead, it is rush- at us not to. … Please, I don’t want them to separate us. My Capitalist crimes against nursing home seniors...9 ing deportations of families back into danger, despite open sisters and I can’t go back to Ecuador either.” asylum cases and nearby sponsors. Katherin, 14, stated: “Our lives are also in danger ◆ Around the world On Nov. 24, just two days before the Thanksgiving because of so many people who are infected with COVID- India’s working class unites: 250 million strike! ..1 holiday, ICE had hastily deported several more Haitian 19. It hurts me to see that many kids like me are locked up families. It had already deported 1,300 families to Haiti even more because of COVID-19. They spend more time World AIDS Day.............................3 in October, on what immigration advocates called “death locked up in their rooms. Please, I implore you, I beg you, Maher al-Akhras released after hunger strike ....7 flights.” help us leave this place as soon as possible.” U.S. role in assassination of Iranian scientist....10 Statements from some of the children inside the facility Berks Family Detention Center is a state-chartered insti- Diego Maradona ¡Presente! ..................11 were read to the crowd. Eleven-year-old Juan David wrote: tution. ICE leases the facility from the county for uses that Greek workers respond to government attacks ..11 “I am detained with my mom. The 27th of this month we violate the charter. However, the governor has not revoked will complete 15 months of detention. They asked me why the charter. County officials claim they cannot do without ◆ Editorial I am afraid to return to my country. I am afraid that the the income. Companies lie, workers strike back ............10 gangsters will hurt me, that they will kill me and my mom. Speakers demanded that the families be released That's why I ask God to soften the hearts of the asylum together from illegal detention and pandemic risk to rela- ◆ Noticias en Español officers and that I can go live with my aunt and uncle in tives or sponsors. New York. … Here I always have a headache and anxiety.” Want to help? Contact Simona Flores, director of ICE's ¡Acusamos de genocidio!.....................12 Jhoselyn, also 11, and his sisters Zoe, 8, and Emily, enforcement and removal operations in the Philadelphia Crecientes amenazas .