Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
MEANS
Die Casting in Moline, Ill., are now being told that their storm. But Wells Fargo, despite its long-term financial
plant will close on July 12 if Wells Fargo does not ex- relationship with QCDC that includes managing the
tend the company’s loan. These workers are members of workers’ pension, pulled the plug. This has left workers
United Electrical Workers Local 1174.
Wells Fargo has received more than $25 billion in fed-
eral bailout money through the Troubled Assets Relief
wondering what the purpose of the TARP bailout was in
the first place.” FIGHT BACK!
Workers rally in Chicago CENTERFOLD
Program. As mass anger grows against the banks, which
have now received more than $10 trillion from the gov- Fried reports that on June 11, hundreds of workers requires the owners to bring back these workers as their
ernment, workers are still being thrown out of their jobs from several local unions and community supporters ral- sales increase. Several workers have already returned to
and homes. lied outside of a Wells Fargo office building in Chicago to work and more are to return soon.
put pressure on the company. UE Local 1110 Vice President Melvin Macklin told
Union calls day of action June 23 Debbie Johann, who has worked for 31 years at Quad Workers World that, “Just like we called on Bank of Amer-
UE is calling for a national day of action on Tuesday, City Die Casting, and is a member of UE Local 1174, ica to be responsible, the Quad City Die Casting workers
June 23 to bring pressure on Wells Fargo and Wacho- spoke to the crowd. She said, “We just want Wells Fargo are calling on Wells Fargo. This is the same fight.”
via—which Wells Fargo recently acquired—to extend the to help us out and extend credit and keep the plant open. Macklin continued: “Wells Fargo has been behind a
loan to keep the Quad City Die Casting plant open. ... It is a hundred jobs. People are going to lose their lot of stuff lately, even the Hartmarx suit company clos-
The union plans actions in front of Wells Fargo and homes, lose their cars. What do they want us to do, live ing in Chicago. Another company wanted to purchase
Wachovia offices in cities across the country includ- in a cardboard box?” the Hartmarx facility to keep them in business but Wells
ing Atlanta; Baltimore; Boston; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; UE members are demanding that Wells Fargo extend Fargo decided to liquidate that company and go with a
Charleston, W. Va.; Chicago; Denver; La Crosse, Wis.; loans to QCDC until another financer or a new buyer can lower bidder.
New Haven, Conn.; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Erie, intervene. Their UE sisters and brothers in Chicago who “This does not make sense especially since they re-
Pa. Also, protests are planned for Portland, Ore.; Raleigh, occupied the Republic Windows and Doors factory last ceived bailout money. They are choosing not to help.
N.C.; Washington, D.C.; Salt Lake City and in Southern December have inspired them. This is hundreds of jobs, representing hundreds of fami-
California. For more information about these demon- Before the Republic struggle erupted, Bank of Amer- lies that could be saved.”
strations, see www.ueillinois.org. ica had refused to extend loans to keep the plant open. Wells Fargo is also being held responsible for rac-
At the same Web site, UE organizer Leah Fried writes: Once the UE Local 1110 members at Republic took bold ist lending policies in Baltimore, where many African
“Quad City Die Casting has been in business for 60 years, action to occupy the plant for six days and galvanized Americans were targeted for high-interest subprime
making precision metal parts farm and recreation equip- international support behind their struggle, the bankers mortgage loans. The city of Baltimore is suing Wells
ment. Its customers include Kawasaki Motors and Case were forced to negotiate a settlement with the workers. Fargo for targeting African-American and poor home
New Holland. Like many businesses, QCDC has seen a The former Republic plant has reopened with a new owners with their predatory loans, which caused a very
drop in orders recently, but it has not lost any customers. owner: Serious Materials. The company has recognized high rate of foreclosures and vacant properties in Black
“The company was profitable before the worst of the UE Local 1110 and has negotiated its first contract, which communities. n
Name Phone
Email
FIST delegation in Detroit.
LeiLani Dowell,.
Address City/State/Zip second from left.
Workers World 55 W. 17 St., 5 Fl., NY, NY 10011 212-627-2994
WW PHOTO: ALAN POLLOCK
VIVA PALESTINA U.S. caravan to Gaza 9 IRAN Behind the turmoil 10 SOWETO Uprising tribute 11
Page 2 July 2, 2009 www.workers.org
nocent men, women and children who’ve done nothing equal opportunity, liberation, true democracy as well as 'Viva Palestina U.S.' caravan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
to harm anybody.” He condemned Al-Qaeda for choosing political, economic and social justice. The U.S. has yet Protesters crash apartheid ‘beach party’ . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
to “ruthlessly murder them” and who “state their deter to meet the stated “ideals at the center of its founding.” Behind the turmoil in Iran. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
mination to kill on a massive scale.” And that “when Obama seemed to overlook the fact that while peace- U.N. attacks Jean-Juste's funeral in Haiti. . . . . . . . . . . . 10
innocents are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collec- fully protesting and resisting, Blacks were constantly U.S.-backed Somali gov’t. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
tive conscience.” Why haven’t the massive being terrorized, be they lynched, bombed, Remember the Soweto Rebellion! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
killing of innocent Indigenous Americans
and enslaved Africans also been considered
COMMENTARY. imprisoned, beaten or murdered. Martin
Luther King Jr., himself, who preached
H Editorials
Who killed Neda Agha-Soltan?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ruthless and a stain on our collective conscience? non-violence, was assassinated in the midst of peaceful
Obama acknowledged the displacement of the Pales- resistance. The safety of Blacks in the U.S. is still not en- H Noticias En Español
tinians, yet the U.S. has never spoken to the displace- sured, as hateful racist attitudes and actions still persist. Perú: lucha indígenas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
ment of Native peoples or of Hurricane Katrina survivors There is still no equal protection under the law, still ra- Manifestación apoya indígenas de Perú. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
and their right to return. And when the U.S. bombs, in- cial discrimination and still no fully integrated society.
vades, occupies and kills innocent people in other coun- “So long as our relationship is defined by our differ-
tries, isn’t it acting without conscience? Aren’t Palestin- ences, we will empower those who sow hatred rather Workers World
ian civilians also innocent victims who’ve done nothing than peace, and who promote conflict rather than the 55 West 17 Street
to harm anybody? So why hasn’t the U.S. condemned cooperation that can help all of our people achieve jus- New York, N.Y. 10011
Israeli extremists, violence and terrorism? The U.S. con- tice and prosperity,” Obama said. “Any world order that Phone: (212) 627-2994
tinuing to militarily arm Israel and aid that economy as elevates one nation or group of people over another will Fax: (212) 675-7869
the Israeli military kill innocent Palestinians and ruth- inevitably fail,” he said. Well, this should apply not only E-mail: ww@workers.org
lessly murder them on a massive scale should also be to the Middle East but to dominant white supremacist Web: www.workers.org
viewed as a stain. ideology in the U.S. Vol. 51, No. 26 • July 2, 2009
“America’s strong bonds with Israel are unbreakable,” Obama stated he intends to personally pursue what’s Closing date: June 23, 2009
said Obama. They’re “based upon cultural and historical in Israeli and Palestinian interests “with all the patience
Editor: Deirdre Griswold
ties and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish that the task requires.” Hopefully, this “patience” is not
homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be de- synonymous with the enforcement of the 1954 U.S. Su- Technical Editor: Lal Roohk
nied.” Aren’t these ties of white European supremacists’ preme Court Brown v. Board of Education ruling de- Managing Editors: John Catalinotto, LeiLani Dowell,
control and domination of non-whites rooted in privi- claring “separate but equal” as unconstitutional and or- Leslie Feinberg, Monica Moorehead, Gary Wilson
lege, entitlement, and the right to occupy, colonize and dering school desegregation “with all deliberate speed,” West Coast Editor: John Parker
enslave? which in reality proceeded at a snail’s pace.
Contributing Editors: Abayomi Azikiwe,
In stating that “Palestinians must abandon violence” Did the U.S. and Israel expect that Palestinians
Greg Butterfield, Jaimeson Champion, G. Dunkel,
and that “resistance through violence and killing is would just quietly agree to be victimized, and not object
Fred Goldstein, Teresa Gutierrez, Larry Hales,
wrong and does not succeed,” Obama made reference or rebel against constant aggression, encroachment
Kris Hamel, David Hoskins, Berta Joubert-Ceci,
to the Black experience in the U.S. including slavery and and occupation? Palestinians, like Blacks, will continue
Cheryl LaBash, Milt Neidenberg, Bryan G. Pfeifer,
segregation. He said “it was not violence that won full to resist injustice and oppression; will speak truth to
Betsey Piette, Minnie Bruce Pratt, Gloria Rubac
and equal rights. It was peaceful and determined insis- power; will continue to fight back for their dignity and
tence upon the ideals at the center of its [U.S.] founding.” human rights. Palestinians will continue to fight for the Technical Staff: Sue Davis, Shelley Ettinger,
Whether everyone agrees with this premise or not, to right to return home; for their land and for their right Bob McCubbin, Maggie Vascassenno
this day, Black folks have not won “full and equal rights.” to exist. The true victims of the conflict are the Palestin- Mundo Obrero: Carl Glenn, Teresa Gutierrez,
They’re still struggling to obtain their civil and human ians, not the Israelis. Berta Joubert-Ceci, Donna Lazarus, Michael Martínez,
rights. Blacks are still being oppressed and fighting for Continued on page 3 Carlos Vargas
Supporter Program: Sue Davis, coordinator
JOIN US. National Office Buffalo, N.Y. Durham, N.C. Rochester, N.Y. Copyright © 2009 Workers World. Verbatim copying
55 W. 17 St., 367 Delaware Ave., durham@workers.org 585-436-6458 and distribution of articles is permitted in any medium
Workers World Party Buffalo, NY 14202 rochester@workers.org
New York, NY 10011 Houston without royalty provided this notice is preserved.
(WWP) fights on all 212-627-2994; 716-883-2534
issues that face the P.O. Box 595 San Diego, Calif. Workers World (ISSN-1070-4205) is published weekly
Fax (212) 675-7869 buffalo@workers.org
Houston, P.O. Box 33447 except the first week of January by WW Publishers,
working class and wwp@workers.org Chicago TX 77001-0595 San Diego, 55 W. 17 St., N.Y., N.Y. 10011. Phone: (212) 627-2994.
oppressed peoples— Atlanta
27 N. Wacker Dr. #138 713-503-2633 CA 92163 Subscriptions: One year: $25; institutions: $35. Letters
Black and white, P.O. Box 424, Chicago, IL 60606 houston@workers.org 619-692-0355 to the editor may be condensed and edited. Articles can
Latin@, Asian, Arab Atlanta, GA 30301 773-381-5839
and Native peoples, Los Angeles San Francisco be freely reprinted, with credit to Workers World, 55 W.
404-627-0185 chicago@workers.org
5274 W. Pico Blvd. 2940 16th St., #207 17 St., New York, NY 10011. Back issues and individual
women and men, atlanta@workers.org
Cleveland Suite # 207 San Francisco, articles are available on microfilm and/or photocopy
young and old, lesbian, Baltimore
P.O. Box 5963, Los Angeles, CA 90019 CA 94103 from University Microfilms International, 300 Zeeb
gay, bi, straight, trans, c/o Solidarity Center Cleveland, OH 44101 la@workers.org
disabled, working, 2011 N. Charles St., Bsm. 415-738-4739 Road, Ann Arbor, Mich. 48106. A searchable archive is
216-531-4004 323-306-6240 sf@workers.org
unemployed and Baltimore, MD 21218 cleveland@workers.org available on the Web at www.workers.org.
443-909-8964 Milwaukee
students. Tucson, Ariz. A headline digest is available via e-mail subscription.
baltimore@workers.org Denver milwaukee@workers.org
tucson@workers.org Subscription information is at www.workers.org/email.
If you would like to denver@workers.org
Boston Philadelphia php.
know more about Detroit P.O. Box 23843, Washington, D.C.
284 Amory St., Periodicals postage paid at New York, N.Y.
WWP, or to join us Boston, MA 02130 5920 Second Ave., Philadelphia, P.O. Box 57300,
in these struggles, con- 617-983-3835 Detroit, MI 48202 PA 19143 Washington, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
tact the branch nearest Fax (617) 983-3836 313-831-0750 610-931-2615 DC 20037 Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., 5th Floor,
you. boston@workers.org detroit@workers.org phila@workers.org dc@workers.org New York, N.Y. 10011.
www.workers.org July 2, 2009 Page 3
For now
Katrina survivors won’t be evicted
By Monica Moorehead ened with mass evictions from trailers physema and other respiratory ailments. Martha Kegel, director of Unity of
provided by the Federal Emergency Man- Right before the June 1 deadline, Greater New Orleans, a homeless service
The nightmare that has haunted thou- agement Agency. FEMA told families that FEMA reversed its decision on the trailer agency, told the June 3 New York Times,
sands of Katrina survivors since storms they would have to vacate within 30 days. evictions, thanks to a national campaign “It’s been such a long history of FEMA
and decrepit levees destroyed a signifi- In Mississippi alone, nearly 40,000 of angry protest against this inhumane making announcements in the media and
cant portion of the Gulf Coast during the families live in either trailers or mobile policy. FEMA then announced that the nothing much in the way of assistance has
late summer of 2005 continues in large homes. government would sell trailers for $5 or ever trickled down to the elderly and dis-
part today. Since hurricanes Katrina and These inadequate trailers have become less. abled people trying to repair their homes.”
Rita took place, hundreds of thousands of long-term housing out of necessity for The Department of Housing and Urban Katrina survivors may have won a tem-
people, mainly Black and poor, have been those who have been either permanently Development has promised $50 million porary reprieve on the issue of the trailers,
forced to relocate to other cities due to the displaced or are waiting for their homes worth of permanent housing vouchers but the fight for justice is far from over.
racist negligence of the U.S. government. to be rebuilt. Many of these trailers, con- for about 7,000 families, mainly indigent, The larger struggle involves the complete
This past April and May, many survi- demned as death traps, were discovered disabled and elderly. However, some are right to return, which means the right to
vors in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, to have toxic levels of formaldehyde, doubtful that the government will carry housing, education, health care, jobs and
especially New Orleans, had been threat- causing high incidences of asthma, em- through with this commitment. other forms of overdue reparations. n
Letter to the editor . age to Resist, wrote about their story for told Stevens there was a warrant for his
online news journal Truthout (June 16). arrest and whisked him off to military
Stevens has been held for five months custody. “This whole time, I’d been living
Fallacy of ‘late-term abortion’ without charges. He says that others have my life: working, paying taxes, had a car
been held for up to a year in overcrowded and apartment,” he says. Since Jan. 15 he
and filthy conditions. has been in limbo, biding his time while
The article on the assassination of Dr. ingly. It has no medical meaning, but like “We should just shoot you all,” one he awaits charges that might be months
Tiller (June 11) was excellent. “partial-birth abortion” was concocted by commander yelled at them. Stevens com- away. The months of detention will not
I appreciate that the writer avoided the anti-choice forces to conjure up a horrible mented that “people around me are liter- count toward his sentence.
phrase “late-term abortion.” This term image of a 9-month-old baby being killed. ally going crazy. I hear people threaten Stevens says people being held with
has been adopted by the media and un- Don’t let the anti-abortion zealots cre- suicide on a daily basis.” him went absent without leave for vari-
fortunately even many people who are ate and manipulate the language used to Stevens reported that the command ous reasons—some because they were op-
for reproductive choice repeat it unthink- frame this issue. Words are powerful. As offered a free pass to any of them who posed to the war, some because the Army
advocates for women let us use words that agreed to deploy to Afghanistan. About 10 wouldn’t let them leave to tend to family
people took up the offer. problems, and some because of medical
Obama’s speech have scientific meaning, not terms that
are meant to vilify and confuse. James Branum, Stevens’ civilian law- problems.
yer, said: “People are in this unit for Carl Davison, an Iraq war resister and
It is also important to know why wom-
Continued from page 2 en must resort to therapeutic, medically months and months. They take forever to member of Iraq Veterans Against the War,
Obama made several references to God do anything. You’re going to be there six commented that “AWOL troops being held
necessary abortion in the second or third
in his speech. Yet morality and ethics are months if you’re lucky, 12 if you’re not.” in a replacement unit is totally absurd and
trimester. The main reason is that severe
the last considerations of any imperialist. Kathy Gilberd, of the National Lawyers unusual. It is an example of how the com-
fetal anomalies, often incompatible with
Whether there will be a true shift in the Guild’s Military Law Task Force, com- mand has plenty of ways to punish people
life, have been discovered by sonograms
U.S.’s longstanding policy toward the Mid- mented that “a lot of times these units are and enforce discipline, bypassing the for-
performed at 20 weeks or later. Women
dle East is doubtful. The U.S.’s plan seems run by senior enlisted personnel who are mal justice system. Smoking people, giv-
with wanted pregnancies are faced with a
to be to further colonize the Middle East, obnoxious and give people a hard time.” ing them unofficial duties, mistreatment,
tragic situation.
with Israel being important to this plan, as She added that “most people who are on and in this case, making an example out of
Also causing delay in obtaining abor-
are the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. restriction don’t even know whose au- people and segregating them—are all in-
tion are lack of money and/or lack of local
In the end, we must remember that as thority places them on it and don’t know formal mechanisms of punishment com-
abortion providers. Very young women or
president of the U.S., Obama, in reality, that senior enlisted personnel don’t have monly used in the military.”
girls may be unaware of their pregnancy
took an oath to, first and foremost, up- the authority they often claim to have.” Davison added that “people who follow
or in denial. Pregnant women may also
hold, protect and advance capitalist and In May 2002, after five months in the their consciences deserve our support,
develop life-threatening illnesses. These
imperialist interests, not necessarily to Army, Stevens declared that he wanted to and there needs to be a highly vocal com-
are all heart-wrenching scenarios to
promote peace, justice or real change for quit. He had joined the army to escape a munity out there to let them know they
which Dr. Tiller responded with compas-
Black or any other oppressed peoples. broken home, thinking he had few other are not alone.”
sion and great bravery.
Cox is an International Action Center options. Since day one he had panic and To support Dustin Che Stevens, go to
—Ellen Catalinotto, midwife
volunteer in New York City. anxiety attacks, and was morally opposed www.couragetoresist.org. n
Page 4 July 2, 2009 www.workers.org
in the works if the contacts are not settled negotiations is like holding a gun to the hundreds of rank-and-file workers spon- previous contract fights.
by June 30. union leaders’ heads. taneously took over the streets, stopping A city bus blocked the street, and the
The Pennsylvania Retirement Commis- On stage, Pete Matthews, president of traffic and filling the air with such chants driver wailed on the horn in solidarity.
sion is expected to declare Philadelphia’s DC Local 33, reflected the sentiment of the as “No contract, no peace” and “Shut it The strength of the crowd was like an
underfunded pension plan “severely dis- crowd when he said, “There is a fiscal cri- down!” Rush-hour traffic was blocked at electric current that passed through every
tressed.” The state rules for distressed sis in the country, but we didn’t cause it.” all major intersections surrounding City person there and a harbinger that if the
pensions declare that a municipality can Someone from the throng hollered, “And Hall, opening up only long enough to let Nutter administration pushes the give-
create a new pension plan first and nego- we’re not going to take the fall for it.” an emergency vehicle pass through. Many back demands, the workers are ready to
tiate with bargaining units afterward. After a 40-minute, rain-soaked rally, workers carried “on strike” signs from fight back! n
DETROIT.
People’s Summit and Tent City
spurs fightback
By Kris Hamel the workers, not the banks and corpora-
Detroit tions!” Hundreds of workers took part in
each protest.
The People’s Summit and Tent City was The People’s Summit and Tent City
convened June 14-17 by a broad coalition were thoroughly anti-capitalist in nature.
of activists, many of whom were organiz- Speeches and discussions lambasted the
ing under the banner of the Moratorium capitalist system of private ownership and
NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures and exploitation, and demanded that people’s
Evictions. needs must come first.
When coalition organizers in Detroit About 400 people registered and many
got wind that the National Business Sum- more took part in the events held over the WW PHOTO: KRIS HAMEL
mit, sponsored by the Detroit Economic course of several days. are being organized for Sept. 24-25 in by activist volunteers to several hundred
Club, would be taking place in their city, Some of the many activities included Pittsburgh. people, a spirited and militant rally took
they formed an alliance with a number of a “CEO Devastation Tour” of Detroit and Each evening, after a delicious and nu- place, along with music concerts and cul-
progressive labor, clergy and community a protest at the 36th District Court, com- tritious meal was prepared and served tural entertainment. n
members and organizations to create the plete with handing out “know your rights”
at People’s Summit
to discuss how to lay off more workers and plant closings, layoffs and utility shutoffs
get more concessions from the unions, was a major focus of the four-day event.
working-class and oppressed people of Differently-abled Detroiters led a pro-
all ages and nationalities came together test demanding improved access to public
to put forward a fight-back program and facilities and increased general aware-
demand jobs at living wages or income ness of disability rights. Disabled activ-
for all, as well as the right to health care, ists spoke out at a Detroit City Council
housing, education and all human needs. meeting where they received a promise
People’s Summiteers were galled that that the Council would try to rectify their
the big-business summit took place in a grievances.
city devastated by the economic crisis, at Special sessions and discussion groups
the headquarters of General Motors no focused on immigrant rights, organizing
less—GM, which just announced it was a labor and union fight-back, youth and
closing seven auto plants in Michigan student struggles, the way forward for
alone. auto worker retirees, winning a morato-
The People’s Summit, anchored by a rium on foreclosures and evictions, the
Tent City at Grand Circus Park, twice crisis in public education, police brutal-
marched on the GM Renaissance Center ity and prisoner rights. There was a strat-
in militant actions to demand, “Bailout egizing session for the G20 protests that
Andrea Egypt, a leader of the By Christopher Rykiel backgrounds expressed their opinions and
Michigan Emergency Committee Detroit issues without the fear of reprisal.
Against War and Injustice, was enter- The second most stressed theme
tainment co-coordinator for the People’s Grand Circus Park is a small park in was starting a people’s movement. Kim
Summit and Tent City in Detroit June downtown Detroit bisected by Woodward Greene, an African-American Detroit col-
14-17. Below are excerpts from a letter Avenue. For four days and three nights, lege student struggling with unemploy-
she sent to Workers World. people stayed in that park for the People’s ment, emphasized that the People’s Sum-
The camaraderie and solidarity that Summit and Tent City. mit is about “addressing and culminating
was felt throughout the People’s Summit A wide variety of people attended. Dif- of the issues and a fight-back strategy.”
was an example of what is possible and ferences in national origin and ethnicity, Many people said that mobilizing the
necessary to fuel the type of resistance age, economic status, sexual orientation, public starts from the youth. Scott Wil-
needed to effectuate a much-needed sys- gender, location and other differences liams, a member of FIST from Chapel Hill,
temic change by those who have been left served to unite people. They came from N.C., who balances being a student and
out of the so-called economic recovery. all around the country, including Ohio, worker, reasoned “as a youth organizer”
Kudos to those who camped out in tents Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Maryland, that “youth in Detroit are hit the hardest
to represent the homeless and to bring to Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Massa- by unemployment, a dysfunctional educa-
consciousness the magnitude and impact chusetts, New York and New Jersey. tion system, and police brutality.”
of homelessness across the country, and When asked why they participated, Rosendo Delgado, a Mexican-American
the neglect to bail out those who have there were common themes and reasons. Detroit local who was laid off by Chrysler,
been swindled out of their homes, jobs Many people were dealing with unem- said, “All workers need to understand
and health care, which should be rights ployment and being unable to find work, that immigrant workers are oppressed by
WW PHOTO: CHERYL LABASH
for all. or working with slashed hours, wages and the same multinational corporations and
Kudos to the Latina/o participants, ample of confrontation with the capitalist benefits, or lack of housing and foreclo- banks that oppress workers born in the
who educated about the struggle for im- bosses who exploit their labor for profit. sures, or other ills of capitalist society. U.S.” He explained how our enemy is not
migrants’ rights as they made clear who Kudos to the cooks and many members Robert Thomas, an African-American fellow workers of other countries, but the
the enemy and aliens truly are and set of various organizations who did the labor Detroit local, volunteered and stayed at bosses who exploit us for their extrava-
straight the many questions surrounding in erecting the Tent City, doing cleanup, the Tent City. He’s struggling to find con- gant profits.
their oppression. Their struggle is truly and other logistics that were so impor- sistent employment and get his GED. Teresa Gutierrez, a Latina lesbian and
our struggle and we must remain bonded tant. Their work was a most necessary Mike Martinez, a Latino member of activist for the Workers World Party, re-
to their cause of common liberty and jus- component and very much appreciated FIST from Miami, volunteered too, even marked that the People’s Summit made
tice for all. from the beginning to the end. though he’s now a part-time worker be- her feel “tremendously optimistic for the
Kudos to the labor unionists who brave- Kudos to our performers of poets, Hip cause his hours were cut. future.”
ly and militantly showed that they still Hop artists, rock bands and folk singers Marguerite Maddox, an African-Amer- Rykiel is a college student and
have fight in them, and who engaged in who didn’t think twice but showed up to ican Detroit local, came to voice the con- unemployed worker from Baltimore
a spirited demonstration throughout the use their talents for a worthy cause volun- cerns of people with disabilities; she her- who volunteered with the People’s
People’s Summit. They will continue to tarily as the people loved what they saw self is laid off. Summit. He is a FIST activist and
be soldiers of solidarity for working-class and heard. The People’s Summit was a place of ref- organizer against foreclosures,
people all over the world and be an ex- Let us continue the fight! n uge and safety where workers from diverse evictions and utility shutoffs.
www.workers.org July 2, 2009 Page 9
Agha-Soltan?
ing politicians that has brought large Under other circumstances, the West
crowds into the streets of Tehran is not has and might again vilify both these poli-
taking place in isolation. It is happening ticians; now it praises them.
in a country still facing U.S. sanctions and The Mousavi-Rafsanjani group first
Consider this scenario: tary forces. She was away from the main warships, hostility from every imperialist raised the question of alleged fraud even
A CIA-trained sharpshooter takes demonstration. Why, when there were no capital and venom from the West’s corpo- before the voting was over. According to
position on a rooftop in Tehran. His significant gunfights and no big fighting rate media. the first official announcement, Ahma-
contact on the street below, waiting with in the area, would any state official, po- This confrontation follows 30 years of dinejad won the election with 63 per-
a camera, calls. “She just got out of the lice or army, shoot an unarmed woman a concerted effort by the U.S. and other cent while Mousavi got 34 percent of the
car. A perfect target.” who wasn’t even at the protest and who imperialists to turn back the enormously 40-million-plus votes.
He takes aim. Shoots. He disappears. had no political history? popular revolution that took place in 1979. The landslide victory, though the op-
On the street, the contact takes the How was it that the photographer That revolution stopped short of moving position treats it as too large to be cred-
video of the young woman, her face vis- had contact with the media most closely Iran toward socialism. ible, is consistent with
ible and unscarred, helped by people on
the street around her, bleeding to death.
connected with the intelligence forces of
the two major former colonial powers in
But it broke the grip of
the imperialist overseers
WW COMMENTARY. earlier polls and with
the 2005 election. U.S.
Within an hour, the video arrives to Iran—Britain and the U.S.? and their puppet shah over a country that pollsters Ken Ballen and Patrick Doherty
an Iranian contact in the Netherlands, Coincidences happen. But here a lot now has 71 million people in an area three write that their sample of a thousand Ira-
to the BBC, to the Voice of America. It happened at once. Was someone behind times the size of France. nians across all 30 provinces indicated a
becomes part of a much bigger story. it? The imperialists have nothing good to two-to-one win for Ahmadinejad. (Wash-
Is that what happened to Neda Agha- What we can be sure of is that the say about this revolution’s advances in ington Post, June 15) This gap was also
Soltan? We admit it. We don’t know. corporate media based in the imperialist education, health care and science. They true among Azeris, Iran’s second-largest
But you don’t know either. And the story countries are powerful weapons that in abhor its support for revolutionary move- ethnic group, even though Mousavi is Az-
outlined above is—if anything—more times of crisis sow confusion among the ments in Palestine and Lebanon. Wash- eri. The two pollsters’ conclusion was that
reasonable and more believable than the masses and mobilize public opinion in ington has sought out every weakness or Ahmadinejad probably won.
story spread and repeated ad infinitum support of the rulers and to demonize the internal conflict in Iran in an attempt to As of June 23, Iran’s Guardian Coun-
by the powerful Western media propa- oppressed and exploited. split the leadership and reverse the revo- cil has approved the election. The council
ganda machine. In these times of the Internet, we have lution. had reported “irregularities” in 50 cities
The young woman, whoever she sym- to remember that disinformation spreads Even President Barack Obama’s appar- that might involve as many as 3 million
pathized with, was in no confrontation with the same lightning speed as infor- ently conciliatory speech in Cairo, where votes. These discrepancies could simply
with the authorities. Nor with paramili- mation. n he admitted the U.S. intervention in 1953 involve people who voted outside their
that overthrew Iran’s democratic govern- home district, which is allowed in Irani-
ment and replaced it with the shah, was an elections. In any case, they would not
aimed at strengthening those in Iran’s change the outcome.
funeral in Haiti
speech are U.S. warships armed with Western media’s massive coverage be-
jet bombers and missiles that regularly gan to emphasize alleged state repression
cruise the Gulf around Iran, threatening of the demonstrations in Tehran. These
to annihilate Iran’s nuclear power pro- protests had reached mass proportions
gram. Israel adds to the threats, which are in the week of June 15-20 and spread
By G. Dunkel for the return of Aristide. At Mirogoâne, a seen by the many Iranians with satellite outside the elite neighborhoods that are
rally heard speakers from Fanmi Lavalas, dishes who watch CNN or get news cover- the stronghold of the anti-Ahmadinejad
The Haitian people are beginning Aristide’s party, and Veye Yo, the relief age from California-based Farsi-language forces. The size of the protests has since
to shake loose the chains around their organization Jean-Juste founded. stations. diminished.
struggle. They are putting up a deter- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton be- What about the demonstrations in
mined resistance to MINUSTAH—the gan his new job as U.N. special envoy to Presidential election: what forces? Western cities—most recently in Lon-
U.N.’s occupation force in Haiti—as well Haiti on June 15. According to a report on By Iran’s law, all four presidential can- don against a G20 summit—where po-
as the U.S. and the Haitian ruling class the Haiti Action Web site, some mourners didates had to be religious men nomi- lice tactics were brutal and led to fatali-
and its government. shouted, “Thank you, Bill Clinton, your nated by the judiciary and approved by ties? Peru’s government recently carried
When mourners gathered June 18 in U.N. assassins have murdered another Parliament. Thus they were all acceptable out a massive slaughter of Indigenous
Port-au-Prince’s cathedral to celebrate member of Lavalas!” to the Islamic Republic’s power structure demonstrators. U.S. police routinely kill
the life and leadership of Father Gérard While Clinton certainly supports the and capitalist ruling class. African-American and Latina/o youth.
Jean-Juste, a hero in the Haitian people’s tactic of keeping Lavalas from winning Imperialist politicians and the corpo- Haitians continue to be shot down in
struggle in both the United States and elections by keeping it off the ballot, his rate media have demonized incumbent Port-au-Prince for demanding the return
Haiti, the mood was clearly anti-occupa- new job really has a different focus. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He of their democratically elected president,
tion. He wants to keep Haiti a rock-bottom, is known for supporting Palestine, for who was forcibly flown into exile by U.S.
Most of the crowd came from the poor low-cost garment producer generating his outspoken defense of Iran’s nuclear agents.
and working-class neighborhoods of So- the greatest possible profits. His claim power program, and for giving subsidies Yet the corporate media never turn
lino, Martissant, Bel Air and Cite Soleil— of a special relationship with Haiti came to the poorest sectors of Iranian society. their hostile spotlight on these countries
areas of the capital where support for the when he was president. His administra- Regarding ideology and the class the way they are doing against the Iran
return of former President Jean-Bertrand tion forced Haiti to open its markets and struggle, revolutionary socialists or com- regime.
Aristide from exile in South Africa is the delayed President Aristide’s return after a munists sharply differentiate themselves The demonstrations indicate anger that
strongest. According to eyewitnesses, U.S.-backed coup. from Ahmadinejad on many points. In goes beyond the election results. Mousavi
that sentiment was strongly expressed by A key part of the U.S./U.N. strategy the current conflict, however, his side is clearly is more popular with better-off
the crowd. that Clinton and the departing U.S. am- more anti-imperialist. Iranians. However, some of the anger
As mourners were leaving the cathe- bassador are pushing is making Haiti “at- The major opposition candidate is Mir in the streets may reflect legitimate de-
dral to get on buses to go to Jean-Juste’s tractive for international investment”— Hossein Mousavi, who was prime minis- mands to improve workers’ and women’s
burial in southern Haiti, a scuffle broke that is, keeping wages extremely low. ter from 1981 to 1989. Mousavi presided rights. Of Iran’s 3.5 million university
out. MINUSTAH used this as an ex- In response to this, students at the Uni- over the Iran-Iraq War and the execution students—a six-fold growth since the
cuse to move in. The troops arrested a versity of Haiti in Port-au-Prince are wag- of thousands of political dissidents, many pro-Western shah’s rule—more than 60
mourner with dreads wearing a T-shirt ing a sharp struggle over the minimum of them leftist revolutionaries. Despite percent are now women. (Spiegel Online,
with a picture of Jean-Juste and shot a wage. It is currently 70 gourdes for an this history, Mousavi presents himself as June 10) This is a huge gain for women,
mourner who died, identified only by his eight-hour day—the equivalent of $1.65 a a reformer, especially on social questions. yet at the same time they are far less likely
first name, Junior. This obvious attempt day. The Haitian parliament passed a law Midway through the campaign, howev- than men to find jobs.
to disrupt the event did not succeed. in May raising the minimum wage to 200 er, Mousavi aligned himself with former Even the presence of some legitimate
The commanders of the U.N. force de- gourdes a day (a little more than $5), but President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, grievances doesn’t mean a struggle is
nied they were responsible, but the inci- President René Préval has refused to pub- named one of Iran’s richest people by leading in a progressive direction. Capi-
dent was filmed by Radio Tele Ginen and lish the law, keeping it from taking effect. Forbes magazine in 2003. Rafsanjani still talist politicians know how to appeal to
witnessed by Kim Ives, a journalist with University students in Haiti are privi- holds the position of chairperson of the mass dissatisfaction in order to pursue
the New York based Haiti-Liberté, who leged in a country where 55 to 60 percent Assembly of Experts, which chooses the their own agenda. The danger here is that
gave an eyewitness account on the WBAI of adults are illiterate, and only 20 per- supreme leader of Iran. U.S. imperialism, a hugely powerful en-
radio show “Haiti: the Struggle Contin- cent of the youth even start high school. Rafsanjani’s name is associated with emy of the Iranian revolution, which can
ues” that same evening. In 2004, they were one of the groups that wealth, corruption and worse—economic harm Iran both economically and militar-
All along the route taken by the cor- supported the coup against Aristide. But privatization. He promotes accommoda- ily, is doing all it can to foment and capi-
tège, there were signs and banners wish- now, faced with no prospect of getting a tion between Iran and the U.S. For such talize on this struggle—in the name of de-
ing Jean-Juste “bon voyage” and calling accommodation, Washington would cer- mocracy, of course. n
Continued on page 11
www.workers.org July 2, 2009 Page 11
U.N. attacks Jazeera, “Ethiopia has got a big stake in under the code name “Operation Restore the sovereignty of their country. n