JULY 7, 1978 50 CENTS VOLUME 42/NUMBER 26 A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY /PUBLISHED .IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE The U.S. Supreme Court ruling do nothing whatsoever to end We must sound the alarm nation-· upholding the Bakke decision race and sex discrimination and wide on the sweeping implica­ has dealt the most staggering ensure true equality. tions of this ruling for all work­ blow in many years to the long­ The New York Amsterdam ing people. denied hopes and aspirations of News, the country's largest · The justices' callous decision is Black weekly, summed up the a major new thrust in the drive meaning of the ruling in its engineered by the ruling rich and An editorial banner headline: "Bakke: We executed by the Carter adminis­ lose!!" tration to take back every gain oppressed nationalities and Trade unions, civil rights or­ won through decades of hard­ women. ganizations, women's rights sup­ fought battles. The court's message is clear: porters, and student groups need In this sense, Attorney General the U.S. government intends to to organize emergency protests. Continued on page. 2 By Diane Wang on eighteen FBI informers. NEW YORK-An his­ The socialists are suing for toric confrontation took a halt to FBI spying and place in a federal court­ harassment. room here June 27, as the Bell has stonewalled on Socialist Workers Party the files, even though the argued that Attorney Gen­ Supreme Court has upheld eral Griffin Bell should be Griesa's order. Bell's ref­ jailed for contempt of court. usal to comply prompted That battle is far from the contempt motion. over. At the June 27 hear­ As the New York Times ing, the Justice Depart­ reported the day after the ment continued its flagrant hearing, "Judge Griesa defiance of federal Judge said that he was not indi­ Thomas Griesa's order to cating what decision he MilitanVDiane Wang turn over to attorneys for might reach, but his com- Supporters of Socialist Workers Party picket outside fed­ the SWP uncensored files Continued on page 7 eral court building June 27 20.000 demand: 'No nukesl' -PAGE 4 In Our Opinion VOLUME 42/NUMBER 26 JULY 7, 1978 CLOSING NEWS DATE-JUNE 28 That is the real intent of the court's ruling­ of women's rights across the country are a calculated escalation of the attacks on equal­ mobilizing for the July 9 ERA march called by Say no to Bakke! ity for oppressed nationalities and women. the National Organization for Women. Continued from front page And as such, it is a calculated assault on the The call to action comes at a time when an Griffin Bell was right when he said that the entire working class. outpouring of protest against the Supreme ruling "confirms our position and what we've The move to gut affirmative action is part of Court's Bakke decision-a body blow to the been doing." the broader offensive against women's right to fight against inequality-is urgently needed. By ordering the University of California to abortion and to the Equal Rights Amendment, The same forces out to crush affirmative­ admit Allan Bakke-the white plaintiff in the against school desegregation, against the action gains for oppressed nationalities and suit-to its Davis medical school, the court right to social services, and against the wages, women are determined to kill the ERA. They explicitly gave legal credence to the false, working conditions, and livelihoods of all know that a victory for the ERA would be a racist notion of "reverse discrimination." In working people. victory for affirmative action and all civil doing so, the court condemned Blacks,...-Chica­ The frontal attack on affirmative action is rights. nos, Asian Americans, Puerto Ricans, Native aimed at weakening the organized labor move­ All ERA supporters-from women's groups Americans, and women to continued real ment, for which steps toward equality for to the labor movement to those fighting the discrimination on the job and in education. Blacks and women have been a big victory. Bakke decision-need to redouble their efforts It is this real, persistent discrimination that As long as discrimination against any work­ to make July 9 a powerful, united show of accounts for a Black unemployment rate dou­ ing person exists, the union movement is support for equal rights. ble that for whites-and even higher for Black weakened. The job of the employers in divid­ The majority in this country supports the youth. ing labor's strength-through pitting white ERA. It is this real discrimination that locks against Black, and male against female-is And we can make our power felt July 9 if women workers into low paying jobs. made easier. Their ability to drag down the thousands of women, Blacks, trade unionists, It is this real discrimination that accounts wages and working conditions of all workers is and others come to Washington and raise our for the scandalously low number of female and given a boost. voices loud and clear: minority doctors, dentists, professors, and Thus the Bakke decision is a direct threat to Ratify the ERA! other professionals. the labor movement, a threat that must be met Extend the ERA deadline! It is this discrimination that must be re­ head on. Equal rights now! versed. Already, demonstrations and other protests The only way to end this inequality is against this ruling have been called by the through preferential hiring, promotions, and National Committee to Overturn the Bakke NATIONAL school admissions. And bitter experience has Decision and other organizations. The Social­ proven that the only way to enforce such ist Workers Party and Young Socialist Al­ preferential treatment is quotas. liance have joined in urging such emergency But the court now says quotas are unconsti­ actions. ERA tutional. These protests can be a stepping stone to MARCH Conscious of the outrage their ruling could organizing the kind of massive response­ FOR EXTENSION AND RATIFICATION provoke, the justices gave lip service to the from the union movement, the Black move­ WASHINGTON,nC. idea of affirmative action. ment, the women's movement, students, and But their pious declarations simply camou­ other equal rights supporters-that will let SUNDAY flage their true loyalties to another quota Carter and the Supreme Court know we are JULY9 system-one that has existed for centuries and bent on reversing their drive against equality. still exists today. It is the quota system­ On July 9 thousands will march in Washing­ 1978' ton, D.C., in support of the Equal Rights .ASSEMBLE 11am AT THE 14th STREET END written and unwritten- that excludes the vast OF THE MALL, WASHINGTON majority of oppressed nationalities and Amendment. This action is an important women. starting point for answering this new blow to .MARCH EAST ON CONSTITUTION AVENUE equal rights. TO THE U.S. CAPITOL With the authority of the Supreme Court .RALLY AT THE CAPITOL FOLLOWING MARCH behind them, big business and its twin politi­ PARTICIPANTS ARE URGED TO DRESS IN WHITE cal parties will be emboldened to step up their attacks. Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo, [MWU .. ORMATION: commenting on the decision, said what many of them think, but few admit. He promised to All out July 9! (202) 737-2295 get rid of the city's affirmative-action pro­ With the Equal Rights Amendment three Coordinated by the N<~tionai Organization for Women grams "as fast as you can say Yankee-doodle­ states short of ratification, and the 1979 ratifi­ Suite 548,425 13th St., N.W, Washmgton, DC. 20004, {202) 737 2295 dandy." cation deadline fast approaching, supporters The Militant Militant Highlights This Week Editor: MARY-ALICE WATERS Managing Ed1tor: STEVE CLARK Business Manager: ANDREA BARON 6 Battle over FBI Informers Southwest Bureau: HARRY RING 8 Racism It Proposition 13 Editorial Staff: Peter Archer, Nancy Cole, David 9 Teachers fight against cutbacks U.S. threats to Africa & Cuba Frankel, John Hawkins, Cmdy Jaquith, Shelley Kramer, Ivan Licho, Omari Musa, Jose G. Perez, 10 Anti-Nazi march planned Washington's bellicose stance reflects a Dick Roberts, Andy Rose. Pnscilla Schenk, Peter 12 Steelworkers prepare for conference determination to protect U.S. superprofits against Seidman, Diane Wang, Arnold Weissberg 13 Teamsters map contract fight mounting liberation struggles backed by Cuba. Published weekly by the Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone Editorial Office 14 California steelworker fired Page 15. (212) 243-6392: Business Office (212) 929-3486. 22 Marroquin tours Arizona Southwest Bureau: 1250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 404, 26 Will low profile win gay rights? Los Angeles, California 90017. 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