AUSTRALIA $1.50 · CANADA $1.50 · FRANCE 1.00 EURO · NEW ZEALAND $1.50 · UK £.50 · U.S. $1.00 INSIDE Sign the petition to free Oscar López! —PAGE 6 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE Vol. 80/no. 46 DeceMber 12, 2016 Washington’s Millions turn Cubans mobilize to back China ‘pivot’ out in Cuba their socialist revolution falters as Asia for Freedom Remarks by Raúl Castro at massive tribute trade pact dies Caravan to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro BY MARK THOMpsoN BY MAGGIE TRowe President-elect Donald Trump an- Millions of working people and nounced Nov. 21 that on his first day youth across Cuba, organized by the in office he will issue notice of Wash- leadership of their government and ington’s withdrawal from the Trans- Communist Party, are mobilizing to Pacific Partnership. The trade and support and defend the socialist revo- regulatory agreement, negotiated with 11 other Pacific governments over the LETTER FROM JACK BARNES, past decade, was touted by outgoing SWP NATIONAL SECRETARY, President Barack Obama as a signal TO RAÚL CASTRO, achievement of his presidency and a core part of the “pivot” to Asia, which FIRST SECRETARY OF THE was a hallmark of Washington’s for- COMMUNIST PARTY OF CUBA eign policy for the past five years. — page 7 The “pivot,” later renamed a “re- balance,” was a political and military lution there. Massive outpourings are course intended to counter the ascend- saluting the life and decisive political ing economic and military weight of contributions of the Cuban revolu- China. But Beijing has continued to tionary movement’s founding leader, expand trade and political ties across Fidel Castro, who died Nov. 25. Reuters/Edgard Garrido Asia and the Pacific, further eroding “Fidel dedicated his life to solidar- Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fill Plaza of the Revolution in Havana Nov. 29 to hear the domination of the region that was ity. He led a socialist revolution ‘of Raúl Castro’s tribute to Fidel Castro and to support and defend their socialist revolution. one of U.S. imperialism’s main prizes the humble, by the humble, for the Remarks by Army Gen. Raúl Castro ent the final speech Dec. 3, when we from the slaughter of World War II. humble’ — a revolution that became Ruz, First Secretary of the Commu- gather in Antonio Maceo Plaza of the Trump made opposition to the TPP, a symbol of the anti-colonial, anti- nist Party of Cuba Central Commit- Revolution in Santiago de Cuba. But accompanied by nationalist dema- apartheid and anti-imperialist strug- tee, and President of the Councils of I wish to express now, in the name Continued on page 4 Continued on page 7 State and Ministers, at the mass rally of our people, party and govern- in tribute to Commander in Chief Fi- ment, as well as our family, our sin- del Castro Ruz, in Havana’s Plaza of cere gratitude for your presence here SWP takes LA campaign for the Revolution, Nov. 29. Translation (Applause), for the moving words is by the Militant. you have expressed, and also for the countless extraordinary, demonstra- mayor to workers’ doorsteps Esteemed heads of state and gov- tions of solidarity, affection and re- ernment; Gentlemen, leaders of dele- spect received from around the world gations; Outstanding figures; Friends in this hour of pain and commitment. all; Dear people of Cuba: Fidel dedicated his life to solidar- It will be my responsibility to pres- Continued on page 6 Attica officials claim ‘Militant’ appeal ‘incites disobedience’ BY seTH GalINSKY Krinsky & Lieberman, was preparing Karl Marx wrote that many things the appeal, charging that the ban on appear twice in history, “the first time the issue violated both freedom of the as tragedy, the second time as farce.” press and the right of workers behind Proving Marx’s point, the Attica Cor- Continued on page 9 rectional Facility Media Review Com- mittee impounded the Militant Nov. 16 for the second time in a month. The pretext? That the article “‘Mili- Inside Militant/Becca Williamson tant’ challenges Attica prison censor- Excerpt from new book: Dennis Richter, Socialist Workers Party candidate for Los Angeles mayor, shows Are They Rich ship” in the Oct. 31 issue, which re- Because They’re Smart? to Christine Dixon on her doorstep in Van Nuys, California, Nov. 27. US rulers’ attack on abortion 8 ports on the Militant’s decision to ap- BY LAURA GARZA Workers Party candidate for mayor of peal prison authorities’ impoundment Native Americans face the LOS ANGELES — “Cuban work- Los Angeles, told Mary Jones on her of the Oct. 3 issue reporting on the highest rate of cop killings 2 ers and farmers participate at all lev- doorstep Nov. 29. 45th anniversary of the historic Attica els in making decisions — including “It’s his example and that of the inmate uprising in 1971, “could incite Protests hit anti-Muslim in local, regional and national elec- Cuban Revolution that the U.S. is so disobedience” to prison personnel. attack on Washington mosque 4 tions — and the Cuban government is afraid of,” he said. “They do not want So if the Militant follows prison their government. They defend their working people to do the same here.” guidelines to appeal censorship and –On the picket line, p. 5– own interests, not those of a capital- Richter and SWP supporters are reports on it, the paper “incites dis- ist class, but you never hear about campaigning door to door in work- obedience!” Rail workers in Turkey’s Izmir that. Why do you think the U.S. rul- ing-class neighborhoods, introducing The second article reported that the province strike for higher wages ing class and the newspapers and TV the party, discussing how workers can Militant’s lawyer, David Goldstein, Locked-out Ind. UAW members stations they own denounce Fidel organize against the attacks of the from the prominent civil liberties law reject Honeywell demands Castro?” Dennis Richter, Socialist Continued on page 3 firm of Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard, Native Americans face the Minn. rally backs Standing Rock Sioux fight highest rate of cop killings BY brian williams eras that might have recorded the attack. Killings of Native Americans by po- Salyers’ relatives and friends have lice are on the rise with little coverage reached out to fighters against cop bru- by the capitalist media. In 2016, accord- tality and in defense of workers’ rights. ing to the Guardian, Native Americans Nearly 300 tribal members and others have been killed by cops 3.25 times rallied at Tacoma’s federal courthouse more frequently than Caucasians in pro- March 16. Family members have orga- portion to their percentage of the popu- nized regular gatherings, inviting peo- lation, surpassing the rate for Blacks ple throughout the area to participate. who are killed 2.5 times more often. The county prosecutor and police re- So far this year 18 Native Americans view board cleared officer Scott Camp- have been killed by the police compared bell, who fired the shots that killed with 13 in all of 2015, the paper reports. Salyers. The board said Aug. 16 that This increase stands out even more in his “use of deadly force was reasonable light of the slight overall decline in cop and within department policy,” based on killings over the last year. an officer’s testimony that Salyers had Jeff Schad Imagery threatened his life with the car. Especially on the reservations and ST. PAUL, Minn. — Hundreds rallied at the Army Corps of Engineers offices in nearby towns, Native Americans Cops kill those in mental crisis here Nov. 15 to demand recognition of treaty rights and protection of water confront high unemployment and inad- sources at Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. equate housing and health care. But as A quarter of all those killed by cops “I am here to bring awareness and to protect the water,” Verlin Wells, a they assert their dignity and defend their in the first half of 2016 were experienc- Native American from Welch, told the Militant. Many thousands have visited sovereign rights — from the Standing ing mental health crises, according to Standing Rock to express solidarity with its fight against routing the Dakota Rock Sioux fighting against construc- data collected by the Washington Post. Access Pipeline near the reservation. Wells has made three trips and said it is tion of an oil pipeline in North Dakota For Native Americans the figure is even very powerful to have “every one there for the same reason, standing together.” to actions against cop killings led by higher. While funds for mental health The Corps has called for more study and tribal input before issuing permits groups like Native Lives Matter — care have plummeted, calls for medical to Energy Transfer Partners to complete the pipeline. The company has asked they’re winning solidarity. assistance are instead often met by cops U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to declare it has the right to continue the Puyallup tribe members near Taco- ready to shoot. construction. “There’s not another way. We’re crossing at this location,” CEO ma, Washington, are a good example. In Sandpoint, Idaho, in July 2014, Kelcy Warren told Associated Press Nov. 18. In January police approached a parked Suquamish tribe descendant Jeanetta — HELEN MEYERS car and shot and killed 32-year-old tribe Riley was threatening suicide. The member Jacqueline Salyers, who was in 34-year-old mother of four was home- the driver’s seat. Her boyfriend, Ken- less, pregnant and had a history of men- depression, texted a friend Oct.