impactcomodo

Workersandoppressedpeoplesoftheworldunite!
workers.
orgVol.
57,No.
15April23,2015$1CumbredelospueblosFARC-EPdeColombia12AtOAS&People'sSummits—BroadsupportforCubaSUBSCRIBETOWORKERSWORLDn4weekstrial$4n1yearsubscription$30SignmeupfortheWWPSupporterProgramworkers.
org/articles/donate/supporters_/NameEmailPhone_StreetCity/State/ZipWorkersWorld212-627-2994147W.
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orgByCherylLaBashU.
S.
PresidentBarackObamatriedtousetheSeventhSummitoftheAmericasinPanamaonApril10-11asaplatformtorehabilitateU.
S.
relationsinthehemisphere.
ObamaattemptedtodistancehimselfpersonallyfromU.
S.
imperialism'shistoryofoppression,exploitationandmilitarydictatorshipsimposedontheregion.
IncontrasttoObama'sdiplomacy,leadersofmanyofthecountriesatthesummitcriticizedWashington'spoliciesandexposedU.
S.
isolationinthehemisphere.
CorporatemediaheadlinesfocusedontheformaldiplomaticexchangesbetweenObamaandSecretaryofStateJohnKerry,ontheonehand,andtheirCubancounterparts,PresidentRaulCastroandForeignMinis-terBrunoRodriguez,ontheother.
Abilateral,hour-long,sit-downmeetingbetweenObamaandRaulCastrowasawelcomesymbolofchangeinsistedonbyotherLatinAmericanandCarib-beancountries.
Inaddition,ObamaspokewithVenezu-elanPresidentNicolásMaduroandadmittedthatVene-zuelawasnothreattotheU.
S.
AMarch9U.
S.
ExecutiveOrderhadnamedtheBo-livarianRepublicofVenezuelaasan"extraordinarythreat"toU.
S.
security.
Thisorderisstillinplace.
Ar-gentinePresidentCristinaFernandezdeKirchner,Bo-livianPresidentEvoMoralesandEcuadorPresidentRafaelCorreaallcriticizedU.
S.
hostilitytowardVene-zuelaandsupportedMaduro.
BoththeEcuadoranandArgentinepresidentscalledtheorder"ridiculous,"withFernandezsaying,"NotonlyVenezuelabutnocountryinthecontinentcanbeconsideredathreattothebig-gestpower,theUnitedStates,amilitary,economic,fi-nancial,scientificpowerwithadefensebudgetof$640billion.
"(Telesur,April12)MillionsofsignaturesandtweetsfromaroundtheworldcalledonObamatoretracttheExecutiveOrder,callingitapreludetoinvasion.
RaulCastro:'Headsuphighanddignityunblemished'TheU.
S.
hadbannedCubafrommeetingsoftheOrganizationofAmericanStatessince1962—anditssummitssincetheybeganin1994—aspartofimperial-ism'sisolationandblockadestrategytodefeatthe1959CubanRevolution.
Inthedecadesthatfollowed,Cuba'scommitmenttohumandevelopmentandinternationalsolidarityresultedinsteadintheisolationofU.
S.
impe-rialism.
CountriesinLatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanmovedforwardtobuildtheirownregionalorganizationstoaidtheirdevelopment.
TheBolivarianAllianceforthePeopleofOurAmerica(ALBA),PetroCaribe,andtheCommunityofLatinAmericanandCaribbeanStatesContinuedonpage11ActionsacrosscountrydemandmedicalattentionforimprisonedAfrican-Americanjournalist.
Here,Mumia'sbrother,KeithCook,joinsprotestinDurham,N.
C.
Seecenterfold.
ConcernforMumia'slifesparksApril10protestsWADIYAJAMAL'HelpfreeMumia!
'10DETROITLAWSUITCityclampsdownonprotests3CLIMATECHANGEGameoverforcapitalism4OBAMA'SFOREIGNPOLICYConcessionstorightwing5GarnervideographerRAMSEYORTAFREEWherewasdeBlasio7Editorial:WalterScott&policeattacksonmovement10UKRAINE,FRANCE8COLOMBIAFARCStatement11YEMENU.
S.
&Saudibombing9Orta(left)withfamily,supporters,Sept.
5,StatenIsland,N.
Y.
WWPHOTO:JOHNNIESTEVENSPage2April23,2015workers.
orgWorkersWorld147W.
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workers.
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57,No.
13April2,2015Closingdate:March24,2015Editor:DeirdreGriswoldManagingEditors:JohnCatalinotto,LeiLaniDowell,KrisHamel,MonicaMoorehead;WebEditorGaryWilsonProduction&DesignEditors:CoordinatorLalRoohk;AndyKatz,CherylLaBashCopyeditingandProofreading:SueDavis,KeithFine,BobMcCubbinContributingEditors:AbayomiAzikiwe,GregButterfield,G.
Dunkel,K.
Durkin,FredGoldstein,MarthaGrevatt,TeresaGutierrez,LarryHales,BertaJoubert-Ceci,TerriKay,CherylLaBash,MiltNeidenberg,JohnParker,BryanG.
Pfeifer,BetseyPiette,MinnieBrucePratt,GloriaRubacMundoObero:RedactoraBertaJoubert-Ceci;RamiroFúnez,TeresaGutierrez,DonnaLazarus,CarlosVargasSupporterProgram:CoordinatorSueDavisCopyright2014WorkersWorld.
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IntheU.
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AtPanamasummits,broadsupportforCuba1Brooklyntenantstaketostreets2Detroitlawsuitdemandsrighttoprotestforeclosure3Bostonhomelessfightbackaftershelterclosing3Warmingplanetmeans:Gameoverforcapitalism4Philadelphia:MarchersprotestAyotzinapaoutrage4OnCuba,Iran,Ukraine:Obamayieldstorightwing5NewYork:SolidaritywithPeople'sSummit5NationalDayofActionsupportsMumiaAbu-Jamal6RamseyOrta,MayordeBlasioandthecops7Protestersdemandvideotapesofpolicekilling7LupeOchoa,yetanotherpolicevictim7WadiyaJamaldescribesvisitwithMumia10AroundtheworldUkraine:Juntabanscommunism,honorsfascists8France:300,000workersmarchvs.
austerity8WashingtonescalatesroleinSaudiattackonYemen9'Betweenequals':FARCstatementonthepeacetalks.
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11EditorialAfterWalterScott'smurder,policetrytodividethemovement10NoticiasenEspaolMensajealaCumbredelosPueblos12FARC-EPdeColombia/Entrepartesiguales12NationalOffice147W.
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20037dc@workers.
orgContactaWorkersWorldPartybranchnearyou:workers.
org/wwpWhoweare&whatwe'refightingforHatecapitalismWorkersWorldPartyfightsforasocialistsociety—wherethewealthissociallyownedandproductionisplannedtosatisfyhumanneed.
Thisoutmodedcapitalistsystemisdraggingdownworkers'livingstandardswhilethrowingmillionsoutoftheirjobs.
Ifyou'reyoung,youknowthey'restealingyourfuture.
Andcapitalismisthreateningtheentireplanetwithitsunplanned,profit-drivenstrangleholdoverthemeansofproduction.
Workersbuiltitall—itbelongstosociety,nottoahandfulofbillionaires!
Butweneedarevolutiontomakethatchange.
That'swhyfor56yearsWWPhasbeenbuildingarevolutionarypartyoftheworkingclassinsidethebellyofthebeast.
Wefighteverykindofoppression.
Racism,sexism,degradingpeoplebecauseoftheirnationality,sexu-alorgenderidentityordisabilities—allaretoolstherulingclassusestokeepusapart.
Theyruthlesslysuper-exploitsomeinordertobetterexploitusall.
WWPbuildsunityamongallworkerswhilesupport-ingtherightofself-determination.
Fightingoppres-sionisaworking-classissue,whichisconfirmedbythemanylaborstrugglesledtodaybypeopleofcolor,immigrantsandwomen.
WWPhasalonghistoryofmilitantoppositiontoim-perialistwars.
Thebillionairerulersarebentonturningbacktheclocktothebadolddaysbeforesocialistrevo-lutionsandnationalliberationstrugglesliberatedterri-toryfromtheirgrip.
We'vebeeninthestreetstoopposeeveryoneofimperialism'swarsandaggressions.
Page2workers.
orgLuxuryequalsdisplacementBrooklyntenantstaketostreetsBrooklyntenantsandhomeownersralliedonApril9acrossthestreetfromahigh-riseluxuryapartmentbuildingownedbytherealestatedevelopmentcompanyHudsonManagement.
Inthephoto,anti-gentrifi-cationorganizerAliciaBoyd,oftheMovementtoProtectthePeople,urgedthecom-munitytostopmoreluxurydevelopmentsothisafford-ablecommunitycanbepre-served.
"Donotcompromisewithpoliticianswhoallowtaxcutsforthesedevelopers,"shesaid.
SomemonthsagoBoydandotherswerearrest-edforblockingcementtrucksmakingadeliveryhere.
Thenewbuildingisdesignedtoprovide254luxuryapartmentsinwhatisnowaworking-classcommunityofmostlypeopleofcolor.
Inordertoobtainvaluabletaxbreaksfromthecity,Hudsonmustsetaside51apart-mentsthataresupposedtobe"affordable"forworkingpeople.
Thismeansitisallowedtocallitssmallstudioapartmentsbuiltforonepersonaffordable,eventhoughtheminimumrentwillbe$1,850amonth.
Thatnumberisbasedontheastronomicallyhigh"marketrate"inNewYorkCity.
Somedemonstratorssaylocalelectedpoliticiansareinthepocketofthedevelopers,whilethedevelopersclaimtheyarehelpingprovideaffordablehousing.
Theyreceivetaxbreakswithoutdoinganythingtoaddressthegrowinghousingcrisisfortheworkingclass,whichinvolvesincreasinghomelessness,evictionsandracialdiscrimination.
Theprotestwascalledbyanumberoftenant,civilrightsandimmigrantorganizationstoaddressthetaxbreakgivendevelopers,calledthe421ataxabatementprogram.
Thistaxbreakisabonustorichdevelopers,asitmeansafreezeonrealestatetaxes.
Thisfour-decadestateprogramisupforrenewalinJune.
TheCrownHeightsTenantUnionexplainsthatthistaxbreakcoststhecity$1billionannually,withoutadd-inganyrealaffordablehousing.
The$1billioncouldannuallyfund100,000rent-subsidyvouchersworth$10,000,whichwouldhelpBrooklyn'slargeworkingclass.
Thedemonstratorsshownhereshouted"421ahasgottogo!
"astheymovedfromthesidewalktooccupyFlatbushAvenue.
Forcedbypolicebacktothesidewalk,theygrewevenmoreunitedanddetermined,chanting,"Housingisaright—fight,fight,fight!
"—ReportandphotobyAnnePrudenJointheWWSupporterProgramthatwassetup38yearsagotohelpuspublishanti-war,anti-racist,work-ing-classtruthandbuildthemanycampaignsneededtocrushcapitalismandusherinsocialism.
Weinviteyoutosignuptoday!
WritecheckstoWorkersWorldandmailthem,withyournameandaddress,to147W.
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Ordonateonlineatworkers.
org/donate/.
AndthanksforhelpingtogrowtherevolutionarypressintheU.
S.
workers.
orgApril23,2015Page3DetroitlawsuitdemandsrighttopublicprotestSavinghomesfromforeclosureisatstakeByAbayomiAzikiweDetroitAlawsuitlargelyinitiatedbytheMich-iganAmericanCivilLibertiesUniononbehalfoftheMoratoriumNOW!
Coali-tiontoStopForeclosures,EvictionsandUtilityShutoffsandWomeninBlack-De-troitdemandstherighttodemonstrateindowntownDetroit.
IthaspromptedthecityofDetroitCorporationCounseltodraftanagreementpurportedlyaimedatprotectingfreespeechandtherighttoassemble.
Thesuitstemmedfromtheroleofse-curityfirmsownedbybillionaireDanGilbert,whohasbeengivendozensofforeclosedbuildingsdowntown.
Gilbert,whoheadstheDetroitBlightRemovalTaskForce,ischampionedbythecorpo-ratemediaforhiseffortstofurtherdriveoutAfrican-Americanandworking-classresidentsfromthefinancialdistrictandthroughoutthecity.
Fundhousingrenovations,notdemolitions!
FederalHardestHitFundsgiventoMichiganfiveyearsago,purportedlytoprovideassistancetopeoplefacingfore-closure,havenotbeenadequatelyallo-catedtothoseinneed.
Morethan$100millionhasbeengiventoprivatecon-tractorstodemolishso-called"blightedhomes,"manyofwhichcouldhavebeenrehabilitated.
MoratoriumNOW!
Coalitioneffortstodeclarea"stateofemergency"andahalttoforeclosures,evictionsandutilityshut-offshavebeenvigorouslyfoughtbythebanksandtheirsurrogatesinMichigan'slocal,countyandstategovernments.
Thebanks'rolehascausedDetroittolosemorethan250,000residentssince2000.
TheMoratoriumNOW!
Coalitionledrallies,demonstrationsandleafletdistri-butionsthroughoutthefinancialdistrictfrom2012to2014designedtoexposeandopposetheimpositionofemergen-cymanagementandbankruptcyintheU.
S.
'slargestmajorityAfrican-Ameri-cancity.
WhiletargetingthebanksandotherfinancialinstitutionsforaidinginDetroit'sdestruction,theMoratoriumNOW!
Coalitionadvancedtheslogan"Cancelthedebt:Makethebankspay!
"PrivatizedpolicetrytoquashprotestsGilbert'sfirmhiredprivatepoliceandsecurityguardswhomonitorthepolit-icalactivitiesofMoratoriumNOWandotherorganizations.
Thesepoliceagentstraveledinvehicles,onbikesandonfoottellingactivistsin2014thatCampusMartiusandotherdowntownareaswereprivatelymanagedandthatallleafletingandprotestswereprohibited.
AlthoughthecityofDetroitwasnotnamedasadefendantintheMichiganACLU'ssuit,ithasavestedinterestinsettingguidelinesfortheuseofpublicparksandspacethere.
Ifallowedtocon-tinue,theprivatesecurityfirm'sandcitypolice'saggressiveactionswillonlyesca-latetensions—andconsequentlysparkmoredemonstrationsandconflictswithauthorities.
AMichiganACLUpressreleaseoncityguidelinesreads:"Thesenewrulesrepre-sentavictoryforthefreespeechrightsofDetroiters.
…[We]filedthefederalsuitinJanuaryagainsttheprivatelyownedDe-troit300ConservancynonprofitwhichmanagesCampusMartiusandthepri-vatelyownedGuardsmarksecurityfirmthatpatrolsthedowntownpark.
"(April8)'Parksbelongtothepeople!
'Thereleasecontinues,"Publicparksbelongtothepeople,irrespectiveofwhomanagesorsecuresthem.
We'reverypleasedthattheCityofDetroithasac-knowledgedthefundamentalrightofpeopletogatherandexpressthemselvesinpublicspacesandthatitisworkingwithusproactivelytoensurethattherightisrespectedthroughoutthecity.
"Thisreleasestresses,"In2014,Mor-atoriumNowmemberswenttoCampusMartiustopassoutfliersandgatherpe-titionsopposingDetroit'sbankruptcy.
Butmomentsaftertheyarrivedandbe-gansolicitingsignaturesanddistribut-ingfliersnearthesouthernendofCam-pusMartiusbytheSoldiersandSailorsMonument,theywereapproachedbyaGuardsmarksecurityofficerwhoorderedthemtoleavetheparkorriskarrest.
Hetoldthemthatpetitioningandleafletingwerenotallowedinthepark.
"TheACLUnotes,"Thesuithasnotyetbeendismissed,however.
.
.
.
[The]ACLUwillcontinuetomonitortheimplementa-tionofthenewrulesandstandsreadytolitigatethecaseif,forsomereason,theDetroitCityCouncildoesnotmaketheinterimrulespermanentbyincorporat-ingthemintoanordinance.
"UpholdtherighttodissentTheprincipalissueinthisstruggleiswhetherdissentwillbetoleratedthatop-posesplanstoremakethecityintherul-ingclass'simageandfurtherfacilitatetheunderdevelopmentandforcedremovalofthemajoritypopulation.
MoratoriumNOWmembershavewelcomedthelaw-suit'sprogression,andwilltestthecityofDetroit'swillingnesstoupholdtherighttofreedomofspeechandassociation.
Theorganizationismountingacam-paigntowinanindefinitemoratoriumon62,000propertytaxforeclosures.
TheWayneCountyTreasurergrantedasix-weeksuspensionofforeclosuresonMarch31.
AnApril16demonstrationatDetroit'sMichiganStateofficebuildingwillde-mandthereleaseoftheremaining$251millioninHardestHitFundstopayoffdelinquentpropertytaxesandkeeppeo-pleintheirhomes.
Acoalitionoforgani-zationshasparticipatedinthecampaign.
Ithostedanemergencytownhallmeet-inginMarchandorganizedaseriesofleafletdistributionsandmassdemon-strationsoutsidethedowntownofficeoftheWayneCountyTreasurer.
FortheDetroitagreementandoth-erdocumentsrelatedtothecase,visitACLUmich.
org.
ByGerryScoppettuoloBostonPeoplewithlittleornomoneyareusu-allymischaracterizedbytheliberalcor-poratemediaasapitifullot,"downontheirluck,"requiringthecharityofthemorefortunate.
Thesefalseandself-servingnotionswereoverturnedonApril8whenacon-tingentofhomelesspeopleandtheirsup-portersheldasit-inattheofficeofBostonMayorMartinWalsh.
Itwasthesix-monthanniversaryofthewhatisknownasthe"BostonShelterDisaster,"when750homelesspeopleandthoseinrecoveryfromaddictionwereforcedoutofthecity'sbiggestshelter,theLongIslandshelterinBostonHar-bor.
Withbutfourhourstoprepare,peo-plewerebusedofftheislandafteritwasdeterminedthattheonebridgeleadingtherewasunsafe.
Althoughforyearsthebridgehadbeenknowntobeadisasterwaitingtohap-pen,theentireoperationwasconductedwithnoplanningorafter-careprovi-sions.
Some60recoveringaddictswereremoved—inthemiddleofdetox—fromthestate'slargestsuchfacility.
Some450homelesspeoplewereforcedintoalreadyovercrowdedsheltersorontothestreet.
SafeHarbors,theonlyshelterdedi-catedtopeoplewithHIV,hasbeenshut-tered.
Itsfewremainingresidentsaresegregatedinageneralpopulationshelter—inaseparateroomwithoutconfidenti-ality.
Atleasteightoutof19HIV-positivepeoplehavesubsequentlyrelapsed,andareonthestreet,accordingtoBostonHealthcarefortheHomeless.
TheBostonHomelessSolidarityCom-mittee,initiatedbyACT-UPBoston,tookupavigorousorganizingdriveafterthedisaster.
Itreachedouttopeopleinshel-tersandrecoveryprogramsandrecruit-edthemintotheleadershipofthefight-backstruggle.
"It'sbeenimportantforustobeoutheredemonstrating,"CheraiMills,wholivesatthePineStreetInnshelter,toldWorkersWorld.
"I'vebeenhomelessforsixmonths,butIknowpeoplewhohavebeenhomelessforyears.
"AttheopeningpressconferenceonApril8,LizaGreen,representingtheWomen'sFightbackNetwork,issuedacalltoorganizeaPeople'sTribunaltoputthecityandthesheltersystemontrial.
WhentheBHSCgroupsatinWalsh'soffice,herefusedtomeetwiththem,eventhoughhewasinanadjacentroomatthatverymomentconferringwithstaffandCityCouncilmembers.
Ratherthanbeconfrontedbythehomelesssolidari-tygroup,theentireassemblagelefttheirmeetingthroughabackdoor.
Fastest-growinghomelesspopulationMassachusetts,despiteitsliberalna-tionalimage,hasthefastest-growinghomelesspopulationofanystate.
(Bos-tonGlobe,Aug.
30,2014)Theofficiales-timatecounts26,000homelesspeople,manythousandsofwhomaresinglepar-entsandtheirchildrenlivingindozensofmotelsforthehomelessscatteredacrossthestate.
Theseshabbymotelsandunsanitarysheltersarepartofaminimum-securityincarcerationsystem.
Homelesspeoplemustbideverydayat2p.
m.
tosecureabedfortheevening,andtheyhaveonlysmalllockersinwhichtokeeptheirfewbelongings.
Thatmakesiteffectivelyim-possibleforthemtowork.
Theirundiag-nosedanduntreatedmedicalconditionsaretheproductofintentionalneglectandoppressionbythecapitalistsystem.
Shelterstaffareineffectprisonguards.
Accordingtomanyresidents,anyonewhochallengesauthoritycanberemovedwithoutdueprocessandputonthestreet.
KarlMarx,inChapter5ofhisground-breakinganalysis,"Capital,"describedsuchworkersasthe"reservearmyoftheunemployed"—thesectionofthework-ingclasswhoarekeptpermanentlyun-employedundercapitalism,potentiallytobeusedtobreakstrikes.
Thesemasses,inBostonandevery-where,aresooppressedtheyarenotevenavailableforwageexploitation—notevenatlow-wagejobs.
Sincetheycannotcreateprofitorsurplusvalueforemploy-ers,theyareviewedashavingnovaluewhatsoeverbythecapitalistsystem.
ButthehomelessinBostonareorga-nizingtofightbackandsurvive.
Theircontributiontotheclassstruggleisin-valuable.
ThecorporaterulersofBostonareun-derattack.
TheBostonHomelessSolidar-ityCommitteewillholdaprotestmarchandrallyonApril23,originatingattheWoods-MullenShelterandtheemer-gencyBarbaraMcGuinessHouse,wheremanyofthe45womenthereareforcedtosleepondirtymatsinthecafeteria.
Formoreinformation,contactmassbhsc@gmail.
com,617-721-5347.
HomelessfightbackaftershelterclosingBostonhomelessandtheirsupportersatCityHall.
WWPHOTO:LIZGREENPage4April23,2015workers.
orgByScottWilliamsUntilhisvetooftheKeystoneXLpipe-lineonFeb.
24,PresidentBarackObamahadkepttheentireworldunsureofhisposition.
TheissueoftheKXLpipeline—the1,700-mile-longprojecttobeownedbyenergymonopolyTransCanada—hadbeenseenashischancetotakeaprinci-pledstandagainstclimatechange.
Yet,whatistherealreasonforObama'svetoWhatdoessuchapipelinemeanforthefutureofourplanetAnd,whatisthepotentialforthestruggleagainstclimatechangeWhywasKeystoneXLimportantThepitfallsoftheKXLpipelineandthecapitalists'"Drill,baby,drill"drivewillgodowninhistoryasthreateningalllifeonearthforaquickbuck.
Energy,theworld'smostvaluablecommodityandthecauseofendlessU.
S.
wars,iscreatingapolitical,economicandenvironmentalcrisismuchdeeperthanonepipeline.
TheprimaryreasonenvironmentalistsandprogressiveshavearguedagainsttheKXLpipelineisthatitwoulddailycarryanextra800,000gallonsoftheworld'sdirtiestoilfromtarsandsinAlberta,Canada,toTexas.
TheU.
S.
StateDepart-mentadmitsthattheproductionofthistypeofoilcreatesover19percentmoregreenhousegasesthanregularoil.
Thisdifferencewasexpectedtoequaltheamountofpollutionthatwouldbeemittedif51millionnewcarswereputontheroad.
Thedirtiertarsandsoilwouldthenberefinedandcreatetoxicfumes,causingmoreasthma,birthdefectsandcancerinplaceslikeHouston,wherethepipelinewouldend.
(350.
org)TheclaimedsellingpointfortheKXLwasthatitwouldsupposedlycreatehun-Somesixmonthssince43studentsdisappearedinsouthernMexico,theirparentsaretravelingacrosstheUnitedStatescallingforjustice.
OnSept.
26lastyear,thestudentsfromtheRaúlIsidroBurgosRuralTeachers'CollegeofAyotzinapawereforciblydisappearedafterapoliceattack,sparkingaseriesofnationwideprotests.
Theviolentrepres-sionoftheseprotestsmadeinternationalheadlines.
FromApril8to11,theAtlanticRegion"Caravana43"delegationspentfourdaysinthePhiladelphiaareavisitingTempleUniversity,HaverfordCollege,theUni-versityofPennsylvaniaandothercom-munityvenues.
TheirgoalwastoraiseawarenesshereofthedirectinvolvementoftheU.
S.
,throughitsforeignandeco-nomicpolicies,intheviolenceandre-pressionexperiencedinMexico.
OnApril10inLovePark,aftertradi-tionallydressedperformershaddanceddredsofthousandsofjobs.
Yet,inthedraftSupplementalEnvironmentalIm-pactStatementfortheKeystoneXLProj-ectreleasedinMarch2013,theU.
S.
StateDepartmentestimateditwouldcreatejust35permanentjobs.
Thesamestudyfoundthatitwouldcreate3,900constructionjobsfortheyearitwouldtaketobuildthepipeline.
Meanwhile,thousandsofagriculturalworkers,alongwithmanyothers,wouldrisklosingtheirjobstoalikelyoilspillorleak.
Thus,inthefinalcalculation,thispipelinewouldlikelydestroyjobs,whilefurtheringtheclimatechangecrisis.
Butthenightmaredoesn'tstopthere.
ThepipelinecouldalsoshipmillionsofgallonsofnaturalgasfromNorthDa-kota'sBakkenshalefields.
Naturalgasproducedbyhydraulicfracturing,"frack-ing,"hasboomedsince2000.
Despitetheliethatitisa"bridge"tomorecleanenergysources,theprocessofdrilling,piping,compressingandburningnatu-ralgasasawholeisjustasdirtyanddi-sastrousascoal,whichiswidelyseenasthedirtiestenergy.
("ABigFrackingLie,"politico.
com,Jan.
21,2014)Apocalypse2050Dr.
JamesHansen,formerlyofNA-SA'sGoddardInstituteforSpaceStud-ies,hasbecomeoneofthepre-eminentclimatologists-turned-activistsleadingthefightagainstKXL.
Heworkswith350.
org,whichhasorganizedworldwidedemonstrationsagainstit.
Hansenhascalledthepipeline,"Gameoverfortheclimate,"basedoninten-siveresearchonthelevelofcarbonintheatmosphere.
Hestates,"Ifhumani-tywishestopreserveaplanetsimilartothatonwhichcivilizationdevelopedandtowhichlifeonEarthisadapted,paleo-climateevidenceandongoingclimatechangesuggestthatcarbondioxidewillneedtobereducedfrom[currentlevels]toatmost350partspermillion(ppm).
"("TheScience,"350.
org)Ouratmospherenowcontainsabout400partspermillionofcarbondioxide,whichisthehighestlevelinmillionsofyears.
Inthe1700s,whenindustrialcapi-talismwasbeginning,thelevelwasabout275ppmofcarbondioxide.
In2011,theCarbonTrackerInitiativeestimatedthecombinedknowndepos-itsofoil,gasandcoalintheworldtobe2,795gigatonsofcarbon.
Yet,accordingtoNaomiKlein'sbook,"ThisChangesEv-erything:Capitalismvs.
theClimate,"nomorethan565gigatonsofthesereservescanbeburnedbetween2011and2049ifcarbondioxideistobebroughtbelow350ppmofcarbonintheatmosphereby2050.
Thisleavestheother80percentofoil,gasandcoalunused.
Tothecapitalists,thismeansupwardsof$27trillioninlostrevenue.
PresidentObama,likeallpoliticiansinthetwobigcapitalistparties,isbeholdentothebillionaireswhoownenergycom-panies.
SowhydidhevetotheKXLpipe-lineHisenergypolicyhashardlybeenenvironmentallyfriendly.
Partoftheanswermaycomefromtheglutintheglobalproductionofenergy;thishascausedpricestodrop.
Anotheraspectwhichthepresidentandthebigpollutersareawareofistheglobalmovementagainstclimatechange.
Overthepastfouryears,farmers,ranch-ers,Indigenousnationsandmanyotheractivistshaveengagedinmilitantresis-tancetotheKXLpipeline.
Directactionshavehadamajorimpact,includingin2011,whenmorethan1,200peoplewerearrestedattheWhiteHousedemandingPresidentObamaexercisetheveto.
Indeed,theclimatemovementismas-siveandglobal.
InSeptember2014,closetohalfamillionpeoplemarchedinNewYorkCityinthePeople'sClimateMarch.
Thenextday,thousandsofactivists"floodedWallStreet,"demandingthebankspayfortheclimatecrisistheyhavecaused.
Thedemand,"Systemchange,notclimatechange,"hasbeengainingtraction,fromNewYorkCitytoLaPaz,Bolivia.
Needsocialistrevolutionforhumanity'sfutureThecrisisofclimatechangepresentsathreattohumanity'sveryexistence.
ClimatechangeisimpactingoppressedcountriesintheglobalSouthmuchmorethanintheimperialistcenters.
ThemovementcannotstopwiththesmallvictoryontheKXLpipeline.
Thepotentialofhumanbeingsasstewards—andnotdestroyers—oftheearthmustbeharnessed.
Theonlywaytodothisistoabolishtheprofitmotive,toputtheenergysector,theworld'smostcriticalcommodity,intothehandsofthepeople.
Theremustbeworkers'controlofthebanks,industriesandeverymajoraspectofsocietytofightagainsttheloomingcli-matedisaster—andtoprovideeconomicandsocialjusticetothevictimsofcapi-talistclimatechange.
Arevolutionaryresponsewouldbetotransformenergyuseawayfromoil,coal,naturalgasandunsafenuclearpowerasquicklyaspossible.
Noneoftheseformsofenergyhasmuchofafutureonthisplanetifhumanityistosurvive.
Yet,cananyoneimaginewaitingforthemarket,controlledbymonopolies,totransformawayfromoilNotwhentheyhave$27trilliontogain.
Thisiswhyrevolutionismandatory.
Thepeoplemusthavecontrolinordertoexploreouroptionsasrapidlyaspos-sible,especiallywithrenewableformsofenergy.
Arevolutionaryperspectiveonclimatechangealsoraisestheneedforglobalreparationsforoppressedcoun-trieswhoseeconomieshavebeendeci-matedbyimperialistdevelopmentanditsby-product,globalclimatechange.
todrumsandguitars,speakersexplainedthattheAyotzinapaincidenthasbecomerepresentativeofamuchlargersurgeinviolence.
Over100,000peoplehavediedand25,000havedisappearedoverthelasteightyearsinMexicoasaresultofgovernmentcorruption,organizedcrimeandafailedwarondrugs.
Thecaravanistasdisplayeda25-footlongwhitebannerproclaiming"Fergu-son=Ayotzinapa.
"CarmenGuerrerohadspokenearlierintheweektoaTownHallmeetingofactivistsfromtheCoalitionforREALJusticefightingpoliceviolence.
SomeofthoseyouthjoinedtheAyotzin-apaevent.
MarchinginthestreetsfromLoveParktotheMexicanConsulate,dem-onstratorscarriedbrightbannersandwhitecrossesbearingthenamesofthe43disappearedstudents.
TheychantedinSpanishandEnglish,interruptedev-eryfewblocksbyspeakerswhourgedcrowdsonthesidewalkstogettheirpo-liticalofficialstoopposePlanMexico.
"StopsendingweaponstoMexico.
Theyareusedtomurderinnocentpeople,"Guerreroandotherleaderssaidoverthesoundsystem.
AnendrallyinfrontoftheMexicanConsulatefeaturedAnayeliGuerrerodelaCruz,sisterofdisappearedOshivaniGuerrerodelaCruz,andFelipedelaCruzSandoval,teacherandfatherofn-gelNery,whosurvivedthepoliceattacks.
—ReportandphotobyJoePietteWhyawarmingplanetmeansGameoverforcapitalismPhiladelphiaMarchersprotestAyotzinapaoutrageClimatechangemarch,NewYorkCity,Sept.
2014.
WWPHOTO:BRENDARYANworkers.
orgApril23,2015Page5ByFredGoldsteinThetwistsandturnsofPresidentBarackObama'sforeignpolicy,fromCubatoIrantoUkraine,showtheabil-ityoftherightwingtounderminethepoliciesofcentristforceswithintherul-ing-classpoliticalestablishment.
Thisisanexpressionoftheexpansionist,mili-taristforcesthathavedeeprootswithinU.
S.
capitalism.
TheObamainitiativetoopenuprela-tionswithCubaisaclassicexample.
U.
S.
bigbusinesshasgrownincreas-inglyfrustratedwithitsisolationinLat-inAmerica.
TheObamaadministrationwantstoimplementtheTrans-PacificPartnership,theLatinAmericanFreeTradeInitiativeandothertradeagree-ments.
U.
S.
isolationislargelyduetothepop-ularityoftheCubanRevolutionthrough-outLatinAmerica.
Cubahasheldoutagainsttheeconomicblockade,invasion,subversionandCIAattemptsatassas-sinationsince1959.
Washingtonhasfi-nallyhadtoaskfortalksondiplomaticrelations.
ButObama,inordertoprovetotheright-wing,rabidlyanti-CubanforcesinU.
S.
politicsthatheisnotgoing"soft,"announcedshortlyaftertheopeningtoCubathatVenezuelawasa"nationalse-curitythreat"totheU.
S.
andimposedsanctionsaimedatofficialsintheMadu-rogovernment.
ThisoutrageousclaimcreatedafirestorminLatinAmericajustbeforeObamawasscheduledtoattendtheSum-mitoftheAmericasmeetinginPanamaonApril10-11.
ItwasacrudeattempttodivideCubaandVenezuela.
Butitback-firedandthreatenedtounderminefur-thertheU.
S.
positioninLatinAmericaandtheadministration'sattempttoopenuprelationswithCuba,whichwasgoingtoattendthemeetingforthefirsttime.
Infact,Obamahadtowithdrawthisthreatening,right-wingcharacterizationofVenezuelainordertoavoidacollapseofhisentireattempttoimproveU.
S.
rela-tionswithLatinAmericaatthePanamameeting.
PresidentRaulCastroofCubagaveascathinghistoricalindictmentofWash-ingtoninhisspeechtothesummit.
Inithestated:"Venezuelaisnot,anditcan-notbe,athreattothenationalsecurityofasuperpowerliketheUnitedStates.
WeconsideritapositivedevelopmentthattheU.
S.
Presidenthasadmittedit.
"Ishouldreaffirmourfull,determinedandloyalsupporttothesisterBolivarianRepublicofVenezuela,tothelegitimategovernmentandcivilian-militaryalli-anceheadedbyPresidentNicolásMad-uro,andtotheBolivarianandChavistapeopleofthatcountrystrugglingtopur-suetheirownpath.
"ThisisaclearcaseofthecentristObamaadministrationlisteningtotherightwingandcompletelyunderestimat-ingtheanti-imperialist,pro-Venezuela,pro-Chavezandanti-YankeesentimentoftheLatinAmericanmasses.
IranianleaderpushesbackagainstKerryInthecaseofIran,theObamaadmin-istration,whileholdingnuclearnegoti-ations,istryingtoexecuteadiplomaticmaneuverthatithopeswillpullIranto-wardtheWestandgetittoabandonitssupportforanti-imperialistforcesintheMiddleEast.
Thismaneuverisprobablyacompletepipedream,derivedfromwishfulthink-ingonthepartoftheObamaadministra-tion.
Anditseverelyunderestimatesthepowerfulanti-imperialist,anti-U.
S.
sen-timentsthatprevailinIran.
Aftermonthsofnegotiations,thetwosideshadagreeduponaframeworkforfuturenegotiations—calledtheFrame-workAgreement.
ButitisendangeredbythedesireoftheObamaadministrationtoplacatetherightwing.
IntheaftermathoftheannouncementoftheFrameworkAgreement,SecretaryofStateJohnKerrypreparedaso-called"factsheet"designedtoshowtherightwinghowtoughtheU.
S.
hadbeeninthetalks.
ThisfactsheetwasnotagreedtobytheIraniansideandmoreorlessrepre-sentedWashington'swishlist.
Amongotherthings,thefactsheetsaidthatsanctionswouldbeliftedfromIranonlyafterithadverifiablycompliedwithalltermsoftheagreement—mean-ingU.
S.
-relatedsanctionswouldlastformostofthedurationoftheagreement.
Italsosaidthattherecouldbeinspec-tionsofany"suspicioussites"outsidetheknownnuclearsupplychain—meaningthatanyclaimofsuspicioncouldbein-vestigated,presumablyincludingmili-tarysites.
ThesearejustafewofWashington'sclaimsthattheIranianshavedenouncedas"spin.
"TheentirestrategyreceivedaheavyrebuffwhenIranianSupremeLeaderAliKhameneiflatlystatedthat"unlessalleconomicsanctionsaretotallyliftedonthefirstdayoftheimplementationofanydeal,"therewouldbenoagreement.
HefurtherstatedthattherewouldbenoinspectionsofIran'smilitarysites.
(NewYorkTimes,April9)KhameneialsocalledU.
S.
publicstate-mentsaboutthedeal"flawed,incorrectandincontradictiontothefacts.
"AndheexpressedstrongcontemptfortheU.
S.
,describingitas"stubborn,deceitful,in-decentandgiventobackstabbing.
"KhameneirepresentsthelegacyoftheIranianRevolutionof1979,whichwasavastsocialupheaval.
TherevolutionoustedthemurderousbutcherShahofIran,whohadbeenputinofficein1953throughaCIAcoupd'etat.
Inthecoup,theU.
S.
seizedIranianoilandsetupmil-itarybasestoguardtheoilinterestsofWallStreet.
TheIranianpeopleenduredaquartercenturyofrepressionandtortureundertheU.
S.
-trainedSAVAK,theShah'ssecretpolice.
Theywagedtwoyearsofcontinu-ousstruggleandsufferedhugecasualtiesbeforetheShahfledthethronein1979.
Theoilwasthennationalized,U.
S.
basesweredismantledandthereligiousleaderssetuptheIslamicRepublic,inde-pendentofandinoppositiontoU.
S.
andBritishimperialism,thetwocolonizersofIran.
Washingtonhasonceagainunder-estimatedtheanti-imperialistfervorofalargesectionoftheIranianmasses,whichisstillaliveandpersistsafterde-cadesofsanctions,militarythreat,sabo-tageanddirtytricks.
Now,inordertoshowtoughness,theObamaadministrationhasjustan-nouncedthetestingofanew"bunkerbuster"bomb,presumablycapableofpenetratingdeepsitesinIran.
Inaddi-tion,ithasannouncedthatitwillkeepIranfrom"armingtheHouthis"inYe-menbyhelpingSaudiArabiabombandinvadethecountry.
TheU.
S.
imperialistshaveinvadedIraqandAfghanistan;theyledtheover-throwoftheLibyangovernment;theyaretryingtooverthrowtheSyriangov-ernment;theyhavesupportedtheSaudisininvadingBahrainandYemen;theybackedIsrael,whichhasinvadedEgypt,Syria,theWestBankandGaza;theybackedIraqwhenitinvadedIran.
Meanwhile,theIraniangovernmenthasnotsenttroopstoinvadeanycountry.
U.
S.
hypocrisyknowsnolimits.
U.
S.
holdsupdiscreditedregimeinKievInUkraine,WashingtonandtheEuro-peanUnionfosteredaright-wingmove-mentonthestreetsofKievandothercitiesfromNovember2013toFebruary2014.
ThegoalwastopushUkraineinananti-RussiandirectionandlinkittotheEuropeanEconomicCommunity.
InMaidanSquareinKiev,thecapitalofUkraine,dozensofU.
S.
andEuropeannongovernmentalorganizationsfosteredamovementthatgotPrimeMinisterVik-torYanukovychtonegotiateacompro-misewiththeEU.
YanukovychagreedtoholdelectionsinDecember2014.
Theminutethenegotiationswereover,theU.
S.
StateDepartment,underthein-fluenceofneoconAssistantSecretaryofStateVictoriaNuland,organizedfascistgoonsquadstoinvadetheparliament,oustYanukovychandsetupaU.
S.
pup-petregime.
TheU.
S.
evenhandpickedthenewprimeminister,ArseniyYatsenyuk.
Thisfascistcoupprovokedahugere-TheInternationalActionCenterheldapressconferenceinNewYorkonApril10insolidaritywiththePeople'sSummit,whichwasbeingheldinPanamaCityatthesametimeastheofficialSummitoftheAmericas.
ThePeople'sSummithasadopteddec-larationsagainstU.
S.
sanctionsonVene-zuelaandthecontinuingU.
S.
blockadeofCuba,"amongothertopicsaffectingtheunderdevelopedAmerica,likepovertyandtherisingpoweroftheprogressiveforces.
"PresentersatthepressconferencecalledonPresidentBarackObamatore-scindhisdecreeimposingsanctionsonVenezuela,atthesametimeheispropos-ingliftingthemonCuba.
SpeakersraisedthedifficultiestheU.
S.
governmentfacestalkingabouthu-manrightsabroadwhenthereisahugeprobleminthiscountryofpoliceviolenceagainstBlackpeople,primarilyunarmedOnCuba,Iran,UkraineObama,acentrist,yieldstorightwingNewYorkSolidaritywithPeople'sSummityoungmenandwomen.
Theofficialsinthiscountrysodiscountthisproblemthatthereisn'tevenanationalregisterofpo-liceshootings.
ThecaseofMumiaAbu-Jamal,whowaswoundedbutsurvivedwhenpoliceshothimduringatrafficstopin1981,wasraisedasanexampleofpoliceviolence.
Hewasconvictedofmurderin1982,spentthenext30yearsondeathrowandwasfinal-lymovedoffdeathrowduetounrelentingmasspressure.
Stillinprison,Abu-Jamalisnowdangerouslyillandrisksdeathduetomedicalneglect.
Thepressconferencesuccessfullytiedtogetherthestruggleagainstracisminthiscountry,exemplifiedbytheBlackLivesMattermovement,withliftingtheblockadestheU.
S.
governmentimposesonpoorcountriesthatdon'tgoalongwithitsimperialdemands.
TeresaGutierrezoftheIACchairedthewell-attendedpressconference,heldattheSolidarityCenter.
Amongthepre-senterswereSaraFlounders,representingtheUnitedNationalAntiwarCoalition;SuzanneRoss,speakingforInterna-tionalConcernedFamiliesandFriendsofMumiaAbu-Jamal;RicardoPradoofColombiansintheDiaspora,whospokeinSpanish;andtheRev.
LuisBarriosofIFCO-PastorsforPeace,whoexplainedhowthecurrentcapitalistsystemintheU.
S.
contributedtotheproblemsthiscon-ferencewasaddressing.
Aftertheformalpartoftheconference,someofthepresenterswereinterviewedindividuallybyreportersfromtheSpan-ish-languagemedia.
—ReportandphotobyG.
DunkelContinuedonpage9Page6April23,2015workers.
orgNationalDayofActionsupportsMumiaAbu-JamalByKathyDurkinApril10wasaNationalDayofActionforMumiaAbu-Jamal.
Protestswereheldaroundthecountrytosupportthisin-ternationallyknownAfrican-Americanjournalistandpoliticalprisonerwhoselifeisbeingendangeredbymedicalne-glectandabusivetreatmentbyPennsyl-vaniaprisonauthorities.
Protestershaveloudlyinsisted,"NoexecutionbymedicalneglectforMumiaAbu-Jamal!
"eversincehislife-threateninghealthcrisiscametolightonMarch30.
Mumiahasbeenimprisonedformorethan33years,30oftheminsolitarycon-finementonPennsylvania'sdeathrow.
Hewasconvictedandsentencedtodeathforkillingapoliceofficerin1982,andhasnev-erwaveredinproclaiminghisinnocence.
Overtheyearsmassmobilizationswithstronginternationalsupportkeptthestatefromexecutinghim.
Finally,theSupremeCourtvacatedhisdeathsentencein2011.
ByJan.
27thefollowingyear,Mumiawastransferredtothegeneralprisonpopula-tionatSCIMahanoyprisoninFrackville,Pa.
,whereheremainsimprisonedtoday.
Aftermonthsofmedicalneglect,MumiawashospitalizedfordiabeticshockonMarch30.
Hisbloodsugarwasdangerouslyhigh,andhehadlost80pounds.
AsofApril1,hewasbackintheMahanoyinfirmary—thesamemedicalfacilitywheredoctorshadadministeredthreebloodtestspriortohishospitaliza-tionbutnevertoldMumiahehaddiabe-tes.
Hisconditionfluctuatesnow.
Withoutinternationalandnationalpressure,includingprotests,petitions,phonecallsandemails,Mumiawouldnothavegottenmedicaltreatment.
Mumia'snumeroussupportershavedemandedthathisfamilyandalliesbeal-lowedtovisithim.
Despitebeingsoillandconfinedtoawheelchair,hemustsubmittooutrageousprocedures—beingstrip-searchedbeforeandaftervisits—whenseeingrelativesandsupportersoutsidetheinfirmary.
Visitsareprohibitedinsidethemedicalunit.
SuzanneRoss,oftheInternation-alConcernedFamilyandFriendsofMumiaAbu-Jamal,visitedwithMumiaonApril13andreportsthathelookedverythinandisweak,inpainandwheel-chair-bound.
Hesayshefeelslikehehaspost-traumaticstressdisorderashedealswiththerealityofprisonofficials'delib-erateneglectandmistreatmentofhisdiremedicalcondition,endangeringhislife.
Mumiaisreceivinginsulinandhisdietseemstobeimproving.
Theprisonfoodhadbeenextremelyunhealthy,especiallyforsomeonewithdiabetes.
Heinsiststhatabetterdietmustbeprovidedforallpris-oners,particularlythosewithdiabetes.
Mumiaisdocumentingwhathappenedtohimintheinfirmary,establishingapa-pertrailtogetindependentmedicalcareandfilinggrievanceswithintheprisonsystem.
Hislawyershavefiledagrievancewiththestatetoenablehimtoconsultandobtainatreatmentplanbydiabeticandotherhealthspecialists.
Theyob-tainedhisprisonmedicalrecordsbutarestillwaitingforthosefromthehospital,andwillbemeetingwiththeDepartmentofCorrectionsonApril14.
Keepthepressureon!
Mumiasayshefeelstheloveandsol-idarityexpressedbythemovementandisgratefulforinternationalsupport,in-cludingthatofBishopDesmondTutuofSouthAfrica,whowrotetotheheadofthePennsylvaniaDOC.
ItiscrucialthatactivistskeepthepressureonPennsylva-niaprisonandgovernmentofficials,asMumiaisstillgravelyill.
SupportmustbeextendedtoMarylinZuniga,ateacherinOrange,N.
J.
,whosejobisatstakebecauseherthird-gradeclasssentget-wellcardstoMumia.
Shewasputonpaidleavependingan"inves-tigation.
"Acampaignhasbeenmountedtostopdisciplinaryactionagainstthiscourageouseducator.
AlettertotheOrangeTownshipPub-licSchoolsopposingZuniga'ssuspensionrecognizesthattheNewJerseyBoardofEducationisunderpressurefromtheFraternalOrderofPolice"andthebully-ingtacticsitdisseminatesviabiasednewsmedia.
However,supportforMs.
Zunigaiscomingin[from]suchdistinguishedauthorsandscholarsasRobinD.
G.
Kelley(UCLA),AngelaY.
Davis,BarbaraRans-by(UniversityofIllinois/Chicago),JoeR.
Featin(TexasA&M),VijayPrashad(Trin-ityCollege),JamesH.
ConeandCornelWest(bothofUnionTheologicalSemi-nary).
"(tinyurl.
com/qyvhyv3)HereisaroundupofnewsaboutsomeofthedemonstrationsforMumiaheldinrecentdays.
PhiladelphiaFiftypeoplegatheredatLoveParkinCenterCityonApril10ataspiritedspeakouttodemandthatthePennsylva-niaDOCstopitseffortstoexecuteMumiabymedicalneglect.
Gov.
TomWolfhaddeclaredamora-toriumonthestate'sdeathpenaltybackinFebruary.
TheprotestersmarchedtoWolf'sPhiladelphiaofficeatS.
BroadandWalnutstreets.
Afterarrivingoutsidethebuilding,theyremainedinthestreetformorethananhour,takingoveralllanesandeffectivelyshuttingdownrush-hourtraffic.
SpeakerscalledonWolftostopprisonofficialsfromexecutingMumiabydenyinghimadequatemedicaltreatment.
Demon-stratorsincludedmembersoftheMOVEorganization,InternationalConcernedFriendsandFamilyofMumiaAbu-Ja-mal,theInternationalActionCenter,andseveralyoungactivistsfromtheCoalitionforRacial,Eco-nomicandLe-galJustice.
NewYorkCitySome120activistsral-liedoutsidetheAdamClaytonPowellJr.
StateOfficeBuildinginHarlemduringtheeveningrushhouronApril10.
SpeakersincludedJuanitaYoung,motherofMalcolmFerguson,aBlackyouthslainbypolice.
BettyDavis,long-timecommunityorganizer,stressedtheneedforimprovedmedicalcareforMumiaandHarlemresidents.
SuzanneRossinvitedprotesterstoanorganizingmeetingafterwards.
LucyPagoada,ofHondurasResistanceUSA,connectedstaterepressionagainstMumiatoU.
S.
militarismabroad,includ-ingsendingtroopstoHonduras.
John-nieStevens,ofIAC,OrrieLumumba,ofMOVE,andTsehaiHiwot,fromthePeo-ple'sPowerAssembly,co-chaired.
Theprotestwascalledbyacoalitionof#MumiaMustLive,IAC,CampaigntoBringMumiaHome,NewYorkJerichoMovement,NewYorkFreeMumiaCoa-litionandMOVE.
Passersbyenthusiasti-callytookcopiesofWorkersWorldnews-paper,headlined"NomedicalexecutionofMumiaAbu-Jamal.
"Demonstratorsmarchedacross125thStreettoSt.
Mary'sChurch,wheretheyplannedfutureactivitiesbackingMumia.
Co-chairswereJohannaFernandez,oftheCampaigntoBringMumiaHome,andSuzanneRoss.
DelbertAfrica,aMOVEpoliticalprisoner,calledinfromprison.
Durham,N.
C.
SupportersofMumiatooktothecor-nersofBrightleafSquareduringrush-hourtrafficonApril10todemandanendtothemedicalneglectandtortureofMumia.
Chanting"Brickbybrick,wallbywall,we'regonnafreeMumiaAbu-Ja-mal,"theydistributedliteratureanden-gagedinconversationswithpassersby,askingthemtocontactPennsylvaniaGov.
TomWolfandprisonofficials.
KeithCook,Mumia'sbrother,joinedtheaction,whichwassponsoredbytheWorkersWorldPar-tyDurhambranch.
DetroitSupportersofMumiaAbu-JamalmarchedinfrontofCityHallattheCole-manA.
YoungMunicipalCenteronApril10.
Theyheldplacardsanddistributedmorethan50WorkersWorldnewspa-perswiththephotographofMumiaonthecover.
MilwaukeeAdiversearrayofMumiasup-portersheldapro-testinthepouringrainonApril10attheFederalCourt-house.
Chairedbylong-timecom-munityandanti-police-brutalityactivistBrianVerdin,therallydemandedfreedomforMumia,aswellasfamilyvisits,releaseofhismedicalrecordsandindependenthealthcare.
Theactivistsalsodemandedimprovedhealthcareforallprisoners.
SpeakersincludedBabetteGrunow,oftheLatinAmericanSolidarityCommittee;prisoner-rightsattor-neyGaryGrass;andMinisterSeanMu-hammadofMilwau-keeMosqueNo.
3oftheNationofIslam.
MariaHamilton,moth-erofaBlackyouthfatallyshotbypolice,alsoparticipated.
Theprotestwasspon-soredbytheWisconsinBailOutthePeopleMovement.
MembersoftheCoalitionforJustice,CommitteetoStopFBIRepression,Fightfor$15,IAC,ProgressiveStudentsofMilwaukee,UniversityofWisconsinMil-waukeeResistsCuts,WisconsinJobsNow,WWPandYouthEmpoweredintheStrug-gleattended.
Theactionwassupportedbyotherla-bor-communityorganizationssuchasAfri-cansontheMove;#BlackLivesMatter;Fer-gusonResponseNetwork;RockfordFightImperialism,StandTogether(FIST);Oc-cupytheHoodMKE;andtheYoung,GiftedandBlackCoalitioninMadison,Wis.
HoustonSupportersgatheredoutsidetheMick-eyLelandFederalBuildingdemandingMumia'srighttobetreatedbyhisownspecialistsandcallingforhisfreedom.
TheTexasDeathPenaltyAbolitionMove-ment,whichhasalwayssupportedMumia,calledtheprotestonApril13.
SisterKrystalMuhammadtoldthecrowd,"AmericaisatwarwithAfricanAmericans.
Thelynchings,theattacksbycopsfromcoasttocoast—theracismnev-erendedforus.
ABlackman,OtisJamesByrd,wasjustlynchedinruralMississippi.
TheU.
S.
hasaracisthistoryoflynchings,butwewillnotletthemlynchMumia.
"NationofIslamMinisterRobertMu-hammadstressed,"HehasgivenhislifeforthestruggleandwemustnowstepupandgetjusticeforMumia.
"Recentcollegegrad-uateKamilKahn,speakingforyouth,stat-ed,"Mumiaisourheroandwemustprotecthimfromexecutionbymedicalneglect.
"EveryonetherethenphonedtheheadsofSCIMahanoyprisonandthePennsylva-niaprisonsystem.
KofiTaharka,NationalBlackUnitedFrontpresident,said,"Theywon'tanswer,buttheyknowwearede-mandingthatnothinghappentoMumia.
TheworldiswatchingandwearetakingcareofMumia.
"JoanneGavin,aTDPAMfounder,said,"WearegoingtohavetokickthingsupanotchtomakesurethatMumiaisnotlynchedandisgettingthetreatmentheneedsfromdoctorshetrusts.
"LosAngelesPeoplefromvariousorganizationsgath-eredintheafternoonofApril10attheDowntownFederalBuildingtodemandimmediatemedicalcareforMumiaandhisfreedom.
JeffersonAzevedo,oftheIACandLAWorkersAssembly,chairedandtiedthestate'swaragainstMumiawithU.
S.
warsabroadagainstworkingandpoorpeople.
Henotedtheimportanceofnationaldemonstra-tionsagainstthissys-temofwarandrepres-sionthattargetsleaderslikeMumia.
Griff,ayoungBlackman,spon-taneouslyjoinedtheprotest,thankingitsor-PHILADELPHIANEWYORKLOSANGELESHOUSTONMILWAUKEEDETROITworkers.
orgApril23,2015Page7AlessoninliberalismRamseyOrta,MayordeBlasioandthecopsProtestersdemandvideotapesofpolicekillingLupeOchoa,yetanotherpolicevictimYuvetteHenderson'sbrotherJamesonspeaksatvigil.
ganizers.
HetalkedabouthisinvolvementinanAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionstudyaboutpolicekillings.
MuffySunday,co-founderofthefor-merLACoalitiontoStoptheExecutionofMumiaAbu-Jamal,alongwiththeIAC,cit-edtheimportanceofcontinuingthefighttosaveMumia'slifeandexposedcapitalism'santi-humannature.
DanteStrobino,repre-sentingWWP,explainedtherootcauseofpoliceviolencewrittenaboutextensivelybyMumia.
Strobinowasoneof400activistsarrestedduringLAprotestsfollowingMi-chaelBrown'skillinginFerguson,Mo.
Endorsingand/orparticipatinggroupswereUnióndelBarrio,STOPLAPDSpy-ingCoalition,BAYAN-USA,BlackLivesMatter,UnionofProgressiveIranians,UPWARD,NationalLawyersGuild,Free-domSocialistParty,RevolutionaryCom-munistParty,WWP,IACandLAWorkersAssembly.
Oakland,Calif.
Demanding"Noexecutionbymedicalneglect,"some75protestersralliedattheFederalBuildingonApril10.
Speakersin-cludedJabariShaw,alocalBlackactivistrecentlytargetedbyanOaklandPoliceDepartment/FederalMarshal/FBItaskforce;andHannibalAbdul-Shakur,for-merlyoftheTrayvon2,andanorganiz-erofAfrikaTownattheQilomborecre-ationcenter.
AlsospeakingwereJeremyMiller,oftheIdrissShelleyFoundation;JeffMackler,oftheMobilizationtoFreeMumiaAbu-Jamal;DavidWelsh,retiredpostalworkerandlaboractivist;andJudyGreenspan,ofWWP.
Thefollowingday,anotherrallyatthesamelocationagaindrewalargecrowdofprotesters.
ContributorstothisroundupincludeAbayomiAzikiwe,TerriKay,JohnPark-er,BetseyPiette,GloriaRubac,JohnnieStevensandWorkersWorldbureausinDurhamandMilwaukee.
Photos:Milwaukee,BenHerrenbruck.
WWphotos:Detroit,AbayomiAzikiwe;Houston,GloriaRubac;LosAngeles,DanteStrobino;NewYork,AnnePrud-en;Oakland,TerriKay;Philadelphia,JoePiette.
ByFredGoldsteinNewYorkRamseyOrta,whosecellphonevideoofkillercopDanielPantaleochokingtodeathunarmedEricGarnersparkedamovementagainstracistpolicemurders,wasfinallyreleasedonbailonApril10aftersittinginacellonRikersIslandforovertwomonths.
OnJuly17lastyear,Ortaputhissafe-tyandfutureonthelinetoexposethisbrutalkillingbyPantaleo,backedupbyawolfpackofsixothercops.
Pantaleoandhisaccompliceswentscot-free,leav-ingOrtatheonlyoneassociatedwiththeGarnerkillingtobejailed.
NevermindthataTimeMagazinein-terviewwithOrtaabouttheGarnerkill-ingwontheWorldPressPhotojournalismaward,thetopawardintheindustryforshortvideos.
Thecopsarecompletelybrazenandrespectnothing.
DuringthisentireordealforOrta,therehasbeennotonewordofsympathy,sup-portoroutragefromNewYork'smayor,theliberalDemocratBilldeBlasio.
Thereisalessoninthis,notjustforNewYork-ersbutfortheentiremovement,aboutthetendencyofcapitalistliberalpoliticianstoretreatinthefaceofright-wingpressure.
FramedonagunchargeFollowingthereleaseofthevideo,Ortawasframeduponagunchargebythecops.
Hisspousewasarrestedaswell.
Hisbrother,hismotherandhewerethenchargedbypolicewithninecountsofsell-ingdrugstoundercovercops.
Orta'sfriendsandsupportersfromalloverthecountrycrowd-fundedandfinal-lyraisedthe$16,250neededtobailhimout.
Buttheprosecutorhelduphisre-lease,sayingthatallthedonorshadtobeinvestigatedtobesurethatthedonationswerenotfrom"illegalsources.
"AttheRikersIslandjail,19prisonersonOrta'scellblockweresickenedbyratpoisonthatturnedupintheirfood.
Fear-ingforhislife,Ortarefusedtoeatprisonfoodandlivedonvendingmachinecandy.
WhatisimportantaboutthepoliticalcircumstancesoftheillegalandblatantpersecutionofOrtaisthatithappenedundertheregimeofaliberalmayor,BilldeBlasio.
DeBlasiowassweptintoofficeonacampaignagainstgentrification,char-terschoolsandaboveallthe"stop-and-frisk"policyofformerMayorMichaelBloombergandhispolicecommission-er,RayKelly.
ThedeBlasiovictorywaslargelybasedonhispromisestoendpo-liceharassmentoftheBlackandLatino/acommunities.
EvolutionofdeBlasio'sretreatItisimportanttounderstandtheevo-lutionoftherelationsbetweendeBlasioandthecops.
Underpolicepressureandpressurefromtherulingclass,deBlasiohasdonewhatliberalsalwaysdointhefaceoftherightwing--retreat.
ThehighpointofdeBlasio'sliberalismwasafterthekillingofGarner,whenhetookthepodiumatapressconference,atatimewhentheBlackLivesMattermovementwasputtingtensofthousandsofpeopleinthestreets.
DeBlasiotalkedofhisfearsforhisownson,whoisBlack.
Hespokeofteachinghimtobecautiouswhenapproachedbypolice.
Shortlyafterthisspeech,twoNewYorkCitypolicewerekilledinarandomshoot-ing.
ThecopsandtherulingclassseizeduponthekillingstotrytopushbacktheBlackLivesMattermovement.
Theyor-ganizedavirtualstatefuneralforoneofthecops,attendedbyVicePresidentJoeBiden,NewYorkGov.
AndrewCuomo,deBlasio,ahostofotherofficials,and20,000copsfromalloverthecountry.
Atthefuneral,hundredsofcopsturnedtheirbackswhendeBlasiospoke.
Allthehighgovernmentofficialsvoicedthehighestpraise,notjustforthedeadcopbutforthepoliceingeneral.
DemocraticPartyliberaldeBlasiogotthemessagefromthecops,fromthepo-liticalestablishmentinhisownpartyandfromtherulingclassthroughitsmedia.
Themessagewas:Backofffromanycrit-icismofthepolice.
Andhedid.
Hecontinuestojustifythe"brokenwindows"policyofmassharass-mentandarrestforminoroffensesand"suspiciousbehavior.
"Hesayshewillvetoanylegislationthatwouldoutlawpoliceuseofthechokehold.
HesteppeduphiscriticismofBlackLivesMatterand,ingen-eral,beatanobsequiousretreatinthefaceofpoliceattackandrulingclasscriticism.
DoesthismeanthatdeBlasioisnotacapitalistliberalNo,heisone.
Buttheemphasisshouldbeputon"capitalist"firstandliberalonlywhenitispermittedbythebosses.
Meanwhile,RamseyOrta,whosevideoexposedthetruthaboutthepolicekillingofEricGarner,hadtospendmonthsinjailforhiscourage.
AlargecrowdgatheredinOakland,Ca-lif.
,onApril12atthesitewhereYuvetteHendersonwaskilled.
TheywerecalledherebyHenderson'sfamilyandtheAntiPolice-TerrorProject.
HendersonwasshotonFeb.
3byEm-eryvillepolice,whofiredmilitaryAR-15sandotherweaponsatherasshetriedtorunfromaHomeDepotstoreinEmeryvillewhereasecurityguardhadaccusedherofshoplifting.
FamilyandsupportersheldavigilinfrontoftheExtraSpaceStoragefacilityinOaklandwhereshedied.
Henderson'sbrotherandsisterbothspokeatthevigil,aswellasDionneSmith,motherof16-year-oldJamesRiveraJr.
,whowaskilledbypoliceinStockton,Calif.
,in2010.
Aletterde-mandingthereleaseofthevideotapesofHenderson'skillingwasleftatthestoragebuilding'sdoor,asthefacilityhadlockedupinanticipationofthevigil.
Protestersincarsandonbikesthencar-avannedtotheHomeDepot,afewblocksaway,todemandthereleaseofvideotapesthere.
Whenthecar-avanofabout30carsandasmanybikespulledupinfrontofthestore,theman-agerlockeddowntheentranceswithsteeldoors,keepingbothcustomersandem-ployeesinside.
Protestersralliedthereforashorttime,pushingtheletterwiththeirdemandsthroughaspaceinthedoor.
Theypostedablown-upversionoftheletteronaHomeDepotsignoutsidetheentrance.
ThecaravanthenheadedtotheOak-landPoliceDepartmentheadquarters.
TheOPDisresponsibleforinvestigatingtheshooting.
TheactivistshadanotherletterfortheOPD,demandingthatthetapesbereleasedandthepolicereport.
Whenthecaravanwasoneblockfromtheheadquarters,alineofpoliceblockedBroadway.
Demonstratorsgotoutoftheircarsandofftheirbikesandralliedinfrontofthepoliceline.
Thedemandletterwashandedtooneofthecommandingofficers.
JeralynnBlueford,motherof18-year-oldAlanBluefordwhowaskilledbyOak-landpolicein2012,addressedthecrowd.
CatBrooksandMollieCostelloalsospokefromtheAntiPolice-TerrorProject.
TheAPTPisplanningacampaignagainsttheuseofmilitaryweaponsbylo-calpolicedepartments,startingwiththeEmeryvillepolice.
—ReportandphotobyTerriKayAcrowdoffamily,friendsandsupport-ersgatheredatthecornerof98thandBancroftstreetsinEastOakland,Calif.
,ontheeveningofApril11tocelebratethelifeofGuadalupeManzoOchoa.
TheyoungLatinahadbeenkilledbySanLe-andropoliceastheychasedherintoOak-landonDec.
7,2014.
Thekillingoccurredinthewakeofna-tionwidedemonstrationsandshutdownsinangeroverthegrandjurynon-indict-mentsofthepolicekillersofMichaelBrownandEricGarner.
LupeOchoa,asherfamilycallsher,wasthemotheroffourchildren,ages11to3.
Thethree-year-oldstillasksforhermoth-er,notunderstandingshewillneverreturn.
Thefamilyisde-mandingthereleaseofthepoliceandcor-oner'sreports.
Oneofhersisters,whodressedOchoa'sbodyforthefuneral,saysthewoundsfromthethreebulletsthaten-teredherheadwereallontheside—notatthefrontwhereonewouldexpectthemtobeif,asthepoliceclaim,shehadbeendrivingtowardthem.
—ReportandphotobyTerriKayOAKLAND,CALIF.
OAKLAND,CALIF.
Page8April23,2015workers.
orgUKRAINEJuntabanscommunism,honorsfascists300,000workersmarchvs.
austerityByGregButterfieldJustdaysbeforethePentagonwassettobegintrainingtroopsfromUkraine'sNationalGuard,includingthenotoriousAzovBattalion,Kiev'sparliamentvoted254-0onApril10toban"communistpropaganda,"communistsymbolsandanythingdeemedas"glorification"ofSo-viethistory.
Thesameday,theparliament,knownattheVerkhovnaRada,officiallyap-provedtheultra-rightUkrainianInsur-gentArmy(UPA)anditssuccessor,theOrganizationofUkrainianNational-ists(OUN).
TheRadadeclaredthetwogroups"freedomfighters"entitledtore-ceivebenefitsunderthenewlaw.
TheUPA/OUNanditsleader,notori-ousNazicollaboratorStepanBandera,workedhandinhandwithHitlerGer-manyduringitsWorldWarIIoccupationofSovietUkraine.
Later,duringtheColdWar,theUPA/OUNworkedwiththeCIAtocarryoutterroristactionsagainsttheUSSR.
Some270oftheRada's450deputiesvotedinfavorofthebill.
Noonedaredvoteagainstit.
Thenightfollowingthevote,right-wing-ersrampagedthroughtheeasterncityofKharkov,tearingdownthreeSoviet-eramonuments.
(AgenceFrancePresse,April11)AccordingtoanApril9reportintheindependentKievnewspaper,Vesti,theSecurityServiceofUkraine"blockedmorethan10,000websites"and"seizedtheservers"ofwebhosts.
(GlobalRe-search,April10)Butthereisresistance,too.
April10istheanniversaryofOdessa'slibera-tionfromNazioccupation.
TherepeopleprotestedavisitbyUkrainianPresidentPetroPoroshenko.
Confrontingneo-Naziregimesupporters,theychanted"Mur-derers!
"and"Fascismwillnotpass!
"(Timer-Odessa.
net)InastatementreleasedonitsFacebookpage,therevolutionaryMarxistorga-nizationUnionBortoba(Struggle)said:"Today'sdecisionbytheRadatobancommunistideologyisthesamelogicalandinevitableresultofthevictoryofEu-romaidanasarethecivilwar,Draconianutilityrateincreasesandeliminationofsocialbenefits,alongwiththeremnantsoffreeeducationandhealthcare.
"Despitetheban,Borotbavowsto"pro-motecommunistideologyinUkrainewithavengeance.
"ManyofBorotba'sactivistshavebeenforcedintoexile,im-prisonedand/orviolentlyattacked.
Erasinganti-fascisthistoryThenewlawswereadoptedinanticipa-tionoftheupcoming70thanniversaryofSovietVictoryDayoverNaziGermanyonMay9.
UkrainianveteransoftheconflictwhodisplaytheirRedArmyuniformsandmedals,oranti-fascistswhocar-ryreplicasoftheflagplantedbySoviettroopsatoptheReichstag(parliament)inBerlinwhentheyliberatedthecityfromNazirulein1945,couldfaceaprisonsen-tenceof5to10years.
ThosewhocollaboratedwithHitler'sgenocidalregimeandtheirsuccessorswillbecelebratedasheroes.
Thisallianceofcapitalistoligarchs,neoliberalpoliticiansandneo-Naziscametopowerinanillegalcoup,fundedandsupportedbyWashington,inFebru-ary2014.
Oneyearago,onApril13,2014,Ki-ev'snewrulerslaunchedawarofterroragainsttheprimarilyRussian-speak-ingpopulationofsoutheasternUkraine,knownastheDonbass,aswellasagainstanti-fasciststhroughoutthecountry.
Ukrainianrightistforcesviolatedthelatestceasefireagreement,negotiatedbyRussia,GermanyandFranceinFebru-ary,atleast200timesbythefirstweekofApril.
Russia'sforeignministryde-nouncedtheRada'scommunistban.
AlexanderSmekalin,adeputyoftheDonetskPeople'sRepublicSupremeSo-vietandco-founderoftheUnionofLeftForcesofDonbass,announcedonsocialmediaApril13:"InlightofrecenteventsintheterritoriesoccupiedbytheKievjunta,liberatedDonbasswillwelcomerefugeesanddisplacedpersonsfromtheformerUkraine.
Wewillprovidepoliticalasylumforinternationalistsandanti-fas-cists.
"'BanonMarxism,leftistideology'AcourtcasebroughtbythejuntatobantheCommunistPartyofUkraine(KPU)hasnotyetbeendecided.
How-ever,thenewbanoncommunist"pro-paganda"andsymbolssetsthestageforsucharuling.
DaysbeforetheRadavote,onApril1,theSecurityServiceofUkraine—thecountry'sequivalenttotheFBI—initiatedacriminalcaseagainstKPUleaderPeterSimonenko,charginghimwithrespon-sibilityfor"terroristactivities"bypartymembers,illegallyobtainingRussiancit-izenshipandcollaborationwiththeCom-munistPartyoftheRussianFederation.
(KPUstatement,SolidNet.
org,April1)Severalotherwell-knownMarxistleadershaverecentlybeenputontri-al,includingA.
A.
Majewski,editorof"Workers'andPeasants'Truth"andsec-retaryoftheAllUnionCommunistParty(Bolsheviks),andformerRadaDeputyAlexanderBondarchuk,editorof"Work-ingClass"andchairoftheAll-UkrainianUnionofWorkers.
AndriyManchuk,editor-in-chiefoftheUkrainianMarxistwebsiteLiva("TheLeft"),explained:"Forthosewhodonotunderstand,thebillisgoingtobanMarx-ism,amongotherthingsassociatedwiththecommunists,andleftistideologyingeneral.
"ManchukwasamongthoseforcedtoseekrefugelastyearinCrimea,whereres-identsvotedinapopularreferendumtorejoinRussiafollowingthecoupinKiev.
FascistscentraltoU.
S.
plansforUkraineTheanti-communistlawadoptedbytheRadacynicallyequatestheSovietUnionwithNaziGermanyandclaimstobanthesymbolsandideologyofboth.
Butthisismerelyalieforinternationalcon-sumption—aflimsyattempttomakethelatestwaveofrepressionmorepalatabletoWashington'sEuropeanjuniorpart-ners.
Infact,withWashington'ssupport,fas-cistelementsarebecomingmoredeeplyintegratedintotheKievgovernmentandUkrainianmilitary,andNazisymbolismisever-present.
SoldiersfromtheU.
S.
Army172nd"SkySoldiers"AirborneBrigadearescheduledtobegintrainingmembersofAzovandotherNationalGuardunitsonApril20.
(AssociatedPress,March31)InlateMarch,astandoffbetweenPres-identPetroPoroshenko'sgovernmentandarivaloligarch,theultra-rightistIgorKolomoisky,endedwhenWashing-tonreportedlycamedowninfavorofthecurrentregime.
However,thisisnomovetothe"left,"asthejuntaisintegratingfascistelementsintocentralrolesinthestateatanever-quickeningpace.
WhyWorking-classdrafteeshavede-sertedorfledUkraineindrovessincethewaragainsttheDonbassrepublicsbegan.
Meanwhile,theneo-Nazishaveproventobetheonlymotivatedforceinthiswar.
Liketheultra-rightLatinAmericanstrainedatthe"SchooloftheAmericas"atFt.
Benning,Ga.
,theseelementsarethebackboneofU.
S.
planstodominatetheDonbassregionandbringNATObasestoRussia'swesternborder.
Caseinpoint:DmitryYarosh,headofthefascistRightSectorandaKolomoiskyclient,wasappointedasatopadvisortoCol.
Gen.
ViktorMuzhenko,chiefofgeneralstaffoftheUkrainianmilitary.
Yarosh"willactasalinkbetweenthevol-unteerbattalionsandtheGeneralStaff,"militaryspokespersonOleksiyMazepasaid.
(AFP,April7)TheRightSector's10,000-strongUkrainianVolunteerCorpswillbeinte-gratedintothechainofcommandandreceivefundingfromtheMinistryofDefense.
ByG.
DunkelOnThursday,April9,300,000work-ersmarchedin80citiesthroughoutFranceatthecalloffourmajorunions:theGeneralConfederationofWorkers(CGT),Workers'Force(FO),themajoreducationunion(FSU)andSolidaires,whichisconcentratedinmasstransitandthepostalsystem.
TheParismarchalonewas120,000.
Thestrikesreflectedbythisturnoutclosedafewtouristspots,liketheEif-felTower,butmainlyaffectedschools,where25percentoftheteacherswentout,andthepostalservice,wheremorethan6percentoftheworkersstruck.
TheFrenchDemocraticFederationofLabor(CFDT),whichiscloselytiedtotheSocialistParty,whichcurrentlyrunstheFrenchgovernment,didnotparticipate,sayingnegotiationsweremoreeffectivethanstreetmarches.
Itsleader,LaurentBerger,proclaimed,"Austeritydoesn'texistinFrance.
"(LeFigaro,April9)Thepartyissocialistinnameonlyandsup-portsFrenchcapitalism.
ManyoftheCGTcontingentssaidthatthiswasjustthefirstprotest.
Therewillbeothers.
AsinmanylargeFrenchprotests,therewereflashesofpoliticallysharphumor.
Bakeryworkers,forinstance,marchedwavinghalf-eatenbaguettes.
Theirspokesper-sonsaidthatpricesweregoingupasjobsaregoingdown,sothathalfabaguetteisallthatpeopleareabletoafford.
Thereactionsinthemajorbusiness-ownedmediaweresignificant.
Frenchtelevision,ofcourse,couldn'tignore300,000peo-pleinthestreetsagainstausterity,buttheytriedtominimizetheturnoutandtheeffectsofthestrike.
ThedailypaperLeFigarodidn'tevenmentionthenum-berinitscoverage.
Ifyoulookedhard,itwaspossibletofindsomecoverageintheEnglish-speak-ingpress,butgenerallythemediainbothlanguagesweremuchmoreinterestedinanalyzingthesplitinFrance'sfascistpar-ty,theNationalFront(FN),whichwonabout25percentofthevoteinlocalelec-tionsheldnationwideafewweeksago.
MarineLePen,thecurrentFNlead-er,wasupsetbytheopenlyanti-semitic,pro-Vichy,xenophobicandracistremarksmaderecentlybyherfather,Jean-MarieLePen,founderoftheFN.
Thepro-NaziVichyranFranceunderGermanoccupa-tionduringWorldWarII.
Thedifferencesbetweenthemaren'treallypolitical.
ItismoreaboutasofterimageonMarine'sparttothehard-noseapproachofherfather,whoafterallstart-edhiscareerasan"intelligenceofficer"—torturer—inFrance'swaragainstAl-gerianindependence.
Buttheirdisputehashadamajorim-pactontherightwardcourseofEuropeanpolitics.
BoththeEnglish-languagepress,liketheNewYorkTimes,andtheFrenchpresshavedevotedalotofattentiontoit.
Theworkersinthestreetdon'tsupporttheFNandmadenoreferencetothissparringamongtheirenemies.
FRANCEWorkersdemandnoclosingofNexcissolarpanelplantinRousset,France.
workers.
orgApril23,2015Page9bellionintheindustrialheartlandofeasternUkraine.
Separatist,anti-fascistmovementsdeveloped.
ThepeopleofCrimeavotedtorejoinRussia.
Andanan-ti-fascistresistancewarbegan.
TheU.
S.
governmentisnowbackingareactionaryoligarchicregimeinKiev.
Thisregimeismostlydependentonfas-cistforcesforthelittlesocialandmilitarysupportithas.
TheUkrainianarmyisto-tallyunreliable.
TheKievforceshavebeendrivenoutofmuchofeasternUkraine.
TheKievgovernmentistotallybank-ruptandhashadtorelyonanemergen-cyloanfromtheInternationalMonetaryFundof$18.
5billion—withnorealwaytopayitbackexceptbytakingmoneyoutofthehidesoftheUkranianmasses.
TheU.
S.
governmenthassharpenedtensionswithRussia,andisnowinthepositionofhavingtoshoreuptheUkraineregimemilitarily.
Europeanimperialistsaretryingtoguidesomekindofsettle-menttoendthefightingandrestoresta-bility.
Butatthesametime,thePentagonissendinginforcestotrainthefascistdregsintheUkrainianarmy.
Also,thePentagonandNATOhavemovedforcesintotheBalticandEastEuropeanclientstates.
TheObamaadministration,byallow-ingtherightwingtotakeoverUkrainepolicyandcarryoutacoup,haswoundupwithanotherongoinggeostrategic,mili-tarycrisisonitshands.
Ithaspossessionofabankrupt,discreditedregime,depen-dentonright-wingandfascistforces.
AllitsplanstopenetrateUkrainegradually,bysubversion,havegoneupinsmoke.
Thisisanothercaseoftotallyunderes-timatingtheanti-fascist,anti-imperialistsentimentoftheUkrainianmasses.
Itwasatotalmiscalculationbasedonplacatingtheright-wing,militaristcampintheU.
S.
ruling-classpoliticalestablishment.
ThebroadpictureisthattherulingclassasawholehasregardedtheerasincethecollapseoftheUSSRandEasternEu-ropeintheearly1990sasoneofrecon-questofallthatwaslosttoimperialismduringthe20thcentury.
TherightwingintheU.
S.
—theJohnMcCains,LindsayGrahams,HenryKissingersandtheirilk—representthemostaggressiveandexpansionistsectionoftherulingclass,whichisstrivingtoat-taintotalglobaldominance.
CentristslikeObama,whoevenslight-lydeviatefromthisagenda,arecastigat-edandputunderpressureandattack.
ItisnotthattheObamaadministrationistryingtoinaugurateaneweraofpeace.
Notatall.
ButObamarecognizessomeoftheweaknessesofU.
S.
imperialisminLatinAmerica,theMiddleEast,NorthAfrica,etc.
,andistryingtoshoreupitspositioninplaceswhereitisweak,inordertoregaintheinitiativeforU.
S.
bigbusinessandthePentagon.
Centrismalwayswindsupdeferringtotherightwinginacrisis—eventhoughtherightwingistotallyoutoftouchwiththerealitythatthesentimentheldbythema-jorityofhumanityisanti-imperialist.
Continuedfrompage5Obama,acentrist,yieldstorightwingByAbayomiAzikiweEditor,Pan-AfricanNewsWirePakistan'sparliamentonApril10vot-edtorefrainfromjoiningtheSaudiAra-bianandGulfCooperationCouncil—acoalitionoftheSaudirulerswiththeoth-erGulf-areamonarchies—nowbombingYemen.
ThebombingisthelatestinaseriesofpoliticalandmilitarystrugglesoverwhowillcontroltheimpoverishedbutstrategicallysignificantYemenistate,whichishometo25millionpeople.
Beforeahigh-levelmeetingwithmil-itaryofficials,PakistaniPrimeMinisterNawazSharifsaidtheparliamentaryresolutionwasinaccordwithgovern-mentpolicy,butthreatenedtointerveneiftherewereathreattothestabilityandsovereigntyofSaudiArabia,whichhecalledacornerstoneofPakistan'sforeignpolicy.
Pakistan'shesitancyshowedthedan-gerforU.
S.
imperialismofinitiatinganewmilitaryadventure,evenwhenitisoperatingthroughproxieslikeSau-diArabiaandEgypt,afterU.
S.
militaryunitsweredrivenoutofYemenearlierthisyear.
SimilarhesitancycanbeseeninEgypt.
TheU.
S.
isprovidingimportantintel-ligenceandlogisticalcoordinationtotheSaudi-GCCbombingcampaign,involv-ingtherefuelingofbombers.
AlthoughPresidentBarackObama'sadministra-tionannouncedthatithadwithdrawnitsSpecialForcesfromthecountryseveralweeksago,thePentagon'sre-entryisde-signedtosupporttheSaudi-GCCeffortsaimedathaltingtheAnsurallahmove-ment(Houthis)andre-imposingtheregimeofexiledPresidentAbedRabboMansourHadi.
U.
S.
officialpraisesSaudiaggressionDeputySecretaryofStateAnthonyJ.
BlinkenannouncedtotheinternationalpressonApril7thatWashingtonhades-tablisheda"jointcoordinationplanningcell"withtheSaudiregime.
ThisfollowsreportsthatthePentagonisincreasingitssupplyofweaponstoRiyadhineffortstobolsterthewaragainsttheHouthimovementinYemen.
(NewYorkTimes,April7)BlinkenpraisedtheSaudisforcarryingoutthebombingoperationsandblockadeofYemen.
Withoutevenablush,hesaidthattheactionstakenbythemonarchyanditsalliesare"sendingastrongmes-sagetotheHouthisandtheiralliesthattheycannotoverrunYemenbyforce.
"(Reuters,April7)EgyptianPresidentAbdelFattahel-SisihasproposedthatEgyptdeployagroundforceinsupportofSaudiobjec-tivesinYemen,butthisproposalfacesgrowingcriticismintheNorthAfricanstate.
Egyptiansrememberthefive-yearmilitarycampaignduring1962-67underformerPresidentGamalAbdelNasserwhointervened—inthatcasewithapro-gressivegoal—againsttheSaudimonar-chy.
ThousandsofEgyptiantroopsdied.
AsmalldemonstrationwasheldonApril9outsidetheSaudiEmbassyinCai-ro.
Althoughanti-governmentprotestsareillegalinEgypt,thesecurityforcesallowedtheaction.
TheApril9Al-Ahramnewspaperre-ported,"MohamedHassaneinHeikal,aprominentintellectualandformercon-fidanteofPresidentGamalAbdelNasserandanEl-Sisisupporter,toldaTVshowthisweekthatEgypt'neverlearned'fromthe1960s'warinYemen.
'Weshouldn'tjumptowar.
…WeneedtoknowifSau-diArabiaisreadyforthecosts.
YemenisasleepingvolcanosouthoftheArabianPeninsula.
Ifiterupts,itwillsweeptheentireregion.
'"Nonetheless,thissamearticlestressedthatEgyptisbeholdentoSaudiArabiaandtheGCCbecauseoftheirfinancialsupportforthemilitarycoupthatoust-edPresidentMohamedMorsionJuly3,2013.
Egyptwillreceivebondsandothersupporttopping$6billionfromthestatestakingpartintheYemencampaign.
MilitaryattacksonYemenescalateMeanwhile,Saudiwarshipshaveim-posedablockadeofthesouthernportcityofAden,whereahumanitariancrisisisescalatingeveryday.
Themilitaryactioncurtailstradeinoilandnaturalgasfromthecountry.
ThenavalblockadeisplacingfurtherpressureontheresidentsofAdenandotherareasofthecountry,whilebomb-ingoperationsledbySaudiArabiausingU.
S.
-suppliedF-15andF-16fighterjetshavebeenresponsibleforthedeathsofhundredsofcivilians.
Telecommunicationsandotherinfra-structuraltargetshavealsobeenamajorfocusofairstrikes.
AttackscarriedoutonApril13hitsubstationsandpowerlines,knockingoutelectricitysuppliesandin-ternetconnectivity.
Largesectionsofthecountryhavebeenleftinthedarkwithoutcommunicationswiththeoutsideworld.
Thisisworseningthealreadyaggravatedhumanitariancri-sis,asfoodsuppliesdwindleduetotheblockade.
OnApril13,Yemen'sstateenergyfirmrevealeditcouldnotgeneratepowerduetoinadequatefuelsupplies.
OnthesamedaytelecommunicationstowersinSanaawerebombedbytheSaudi-ledaerialcam-paign.
DuringthepreviousweekaYemenstatetelevisionstationhadbeenbombed.
U.
S.
rolecentralPentagonmilitaryofficialCol.
StevenWarrenadmittedthat"ahandfulof[U.
S.
]personnelareworkingin'ajointsortoffusioncenter'runbytheGulfCoopera-tionCouncil,whichisledbySaudiArabiaandincludestheUnitedArabEmirates,Kuwait,Oman,QatarandBahrain.
"(Mc-ClatchyWashingtonBureau,April6)TheWallStreetJournalreportedonApril12that"theU.
S.
Navy,backingaSaudinavalblockadeofYemen'sports,hasintensifiedasearchforweaponsontheseasnearYemen'scoast.
Iranistry-ingtosupplytheHouthiswithsurface-to-airmissiles,aseniorU.
S.
defenseof-WashingtonescalatesroleinSaudiattackonYemenficialsaid.
"ThesameWallStreetJournalarticlenotesthatforthefirsttimeU.
S.
sailorsonadestroyerintheRedSeahaltedaPan-amanian-flaggedfreighterandsearchedthevessel,butfoundnoIranianorotherweapons.
DespitereportsfromIran'senemiesthatIraniannavalvesselshavebeende-ployed,therehavebeennoattacksonciviliansbymilitaryforcesfromTehran.
However,theStateDepartmenthasissuedawarningtoIransayingthatWashingtonwillnotsitidlybyandwatchYemenbe"overrun.
"WhatgivestheU.
S.
therighttolectureotherswhenitisdeep-lyinvolvedinthiswarAsusual,nooneinCongresshasevenquestionedtheau-thorityoftheWhiteHouseandthePen-tagontofacilitateyetanothermilitaryinterventionwithouteventhefigleafoftheWarPowersAct.
Page10April23,2015workers.
orgAsthewholeworldknows,WalterScott,a50-year-oldAfricanAmerican,wasfatallyshotinthebackmultipletimesbyawhitepoliceofficer,MichaelT.
Slager,onApril4.
ThemurderoccurredinNorthCharleston,S.
C.
,acitythatis47percentBlackbutwherefouroutofeveryfivepo-liceofficersarewhite.
AsScott'sfamilysoeloquentlystated,thepoliceusedhimastargetpractice.
Theentireincident,fromthetimeSlagerstoppedScottfora"routinetrafficstop"towhenthecopshotScottashewasfleeinginfearofhislife,wascaughtoncellphonevideo.
SlagerclaimedthatScotttookhisTas-erawayfromhim,butthevideoclear-lyshowedthatScottwasunarmedandthatSlagerplantedanobjectsimilartoaTasernexttoScott'sbody.
SlagerwasshownhandcuffingScottashelayonthegrounddying.
Otherpoliceofficerseven-tuallyarrivedonthescene,butitisstillaquestionwhetheranyofthemattemptedtoreviveScott.
Afterthepoliceviewedthehorrifyingvideo,Slagerwasfired,arrestedandthenchargedwithfirst-degreemurder.
Ifcon-victed,hecouldfacethedeathpenaltyorlifeinprison.
ThisisaveryraresituationintheU.
S.
WhyBecauseapoliceofficer'swordistakenas"gospel"99.
9percentofthetimewhenanykindofpolicebrutalityiscar-riedout—especiallywhenthatofficeriswhiteandthevictimisapersonofcolor,youngorjustaworker.
However,theBlackLivesMattermove-ment,whichwasignitedbythepolicemurderof18-year-oldMichaelBrownlastAugustinFerguson,Mo.
,hasraisedanunprecedentedlevelofconsciousnessaboutthenaked,racistwarofpoliceter-roronBlackandBrownpeople,especiallyyouth.
Butthiswarisnotrelegatedonlytoyouthofcolor,asshownbythevideotapedchokeholdpolicemurderof43-year-oldEricGarnerinStatenIsland,N.
Y.
,andnowthemurderofScott.
Evenhigh-profileathletes,suchasThaboSefolosha,aforwardwiththeNa-tionalBasketballAssociation'sAtlantaHawksteam,havebeentargetedbythepolice.
SefoloshasufferedafracturedrightfibulaandligamentdamagewhenfivemembersoftheNewYorkPoliceDepartmentattackedhimwiththeirba-tonsintheearlymorningofApril8.
Thispoliceattack,whichwascondemnedbySefoloshaApril14,wasalsocapturedonvideo.
Noneoftheofficershasbeenchargedorevenputondeskdutyasofthiswriting.
TheNBAiscarryingoutitsowninvestigation.
Sefoloshaisanath-leteofcolorwhosefatherisaBlackSouthAfterWalterScott'smurder,policetrytodividethemovementAfrican.
Professionalandcollegiateath-letesinmanysportshaveexpressedsoli-daritywiththeBLMmovement.
AttempttodivideandconquerAstheApril15nationaldemonstra-tionsdemanding"$15anhourandaunion"approach,low-wageworkers'lives,particularlyiftheyarewomen,youthandoppressed,areexpendableundercapitalisminthemidstoftheon-goingeconomiccrisiscausedbyputtingprofitsbeforehumanneeds.
Thissocialreality—theabsenceofgood-payingjobswithbenefits—hasintensified,creatinganopenseasonofpoliceterrorandmassincarceration.
TheheroicrebellioninFergusonlastAugust,followedbyBLM-led,shut-it-downcoordinatedactions,hasclearlyputthepoliceonthedefensive,andingeneraltarnishedtheirphonyimageofbeingthe"protectors"ofthepeople.
Thisiswhyallactivistsshouldexposetheat-temptbythepolicethemselvesandthecapitalistmediatodividethismovement.
TheymayadmitthatthekillingofScottwasmurder,buttheycallthekillingsofothers,suchasBrownandGarner,just"tragedies,"implyingnoculpabilityonthepartofthepolice.
Thepoliceunderstand,alongwiththe1%—therulingclasswhoseintereststhepoliceprotect—thatthereisarighteous,deepeningmistrustoftheirroleinsoci-etyasabrutal,occupyingforce.
InanApril10WashingtonPostopin-ionpiece,"ThinkWalterScott'sdeathis'anotherFerguson'Copsdon't,"writtenbyaformerBaltimorecop,theauthorsaysthatpolicefromaroundthecountrymayviewlethalforceasmurderwhenapersonisfleeing,butpolicehaving"alter-cations"withciviliansresultingindeathsorinjuriesare"tragedies,"not"criminal.
"Thisisaridiculousargument—thatthepolicehavetherighttousedeadlyforcewhenalltheyhavetosayistheybelievedtheywereinavulnerablesit-uation.
Explainthisdisgustingnotiontothefamilyof12-year-oldTamirRice,whowasruthlesslyshotdownbypo-liceinClevelandlastfallwhileholdingatoyBBgunandthenallowedtobleedtodeath.
Ortothefamilyof22-year-oldJohnCrawfordIII,whowasfatallyshotbypoliceinanOhioWalmartforholdingatoyBBgun,justafewdaysbeforeMi-chaelBrown'smurder.
Sointheeyesofthepolice,Scott'skill-ingwasunjustified,whilethemajorityofotherkillingsbypolicearejustified.
Thisisabold-facedlie—tocoverthefactthatevery28hoursinthiscountryayouthofcolorismurderedbythepoliceorrac-istvigilantism.
Thisreasoningshouldbeviewedasaninsidiousanddanger-ousploytodivideandweakentheBLMmovement.
ThepolicewanttoprojectSlager'sac-tionsasanisolatedincident:thatSlagermuddiedthereputationofallpolice,unlikethosecopswhojustmake"badmistakes"whenconfrontedbyvictimslikeBrownandGarnerwhoarecarryingout"pettycrimes.
"Thoseso-called"mis-takes"justsohappentosnuffoutpeople'slives.
ThisraisestheobviousquestionthatifthemurderofScotthadnotbeenvideo-taped,wouldSlagereverhavebeenfiredandchargedwithmurderCertainly,suchathinghasneverhappenedbefore.
OrganizingtodisarmpoliceThestatisticsspeakforthemselves.
AnotherWashingtonPostarticle,"Thou-sandsdead,fewprosecuted"publishedApril12,reportsthatBowlingGreenStateUniversityresearchershavefoundthat,since2005,outofthethousandsofcasesofmostlyunarmedpeoplekilledbythepolice,only54havebeenprosecuted.
Thearticlestates,"Whenprosecutorspressedcharges,thePostanalysisfound,thereweretypicallyotherfactorsthatmadethecaseexceptional,including:avictimshotintheback,avideorecordingoftheincident,incriminatingtestimo-nyfromotherofficersorallegationsofacoverup.
Forty-threecasesinvolvedatleastoneofthesefourfactors.
Nineteencasesinvolvedatleasttwo.
"Thesestatisticsareacondemnationoftheentireinjusticesystemofnotonlythepoliceandprosecutorsbutalsojudges,juries,media—allpartoftherepressivestateapparatusthatisguidedbywhitesu-premacistandanti-workerviews.
Thechorusofcallsfordisarmingandevenabolishingthepoliceisgrowing,es-peciallyfromcommunityorganizationslikethePeople'sPowerAssemblies,whicharemobilizingforamajorPeople'sTribu-nalAgainstPoliceTerrorandStructuralRacism.
Therewillbemorethanenoughevidencefromgraphicvideosexposingpolicekillingsandbeatingsaswellaslivetestimonyfromsurvivingvictimsandfamilymemberstoshowthatthesedemandsarejustified.
Alongwiththatmustcomesolutionsofhowcommuni-tiescanbeempoweredtoprotectthem-selvesfromracistoccupationandstaterepression.
AlongwithdefendingandhelpingtheBlackLivesMatterupsurgetogrow,thistribunalcanalsoassistinbringingsomejusticeforALLtheWalterScottsinthisracistsociety.
'Helpmyhusbandgetfree'WadiyaJamaldescribesvisitwithMumiaOnApril9,WadiyaJamalvisitedherspouse,MumiaAbu-Jamal,atSCIMaha-noy.
Hereareexcerptsfromheraccountofthatvisit.
IhadseenMumiaintheICUatthehospi-tal,wherehewassittingupright,handcuffedtoachair.
IsawthephotostakenofMumiaduringthevisitonMonday,April6,withmysisterPamAfrica,IAbdulJonandJohannaFernandez.
IcriedwhenIsawthosephotos.
ButIstillwasn'tpreparedforhowMumialookedseeinghimintheprisonvisitingroom.
Hewasworse.
Ifeltmyhusbandisabouttodie.
Lateron,afterthethree-hourvisitwithMumia,wewereguestsonNMEMINDZRadiowithProfessorGriffandco-hostZaZaAli.
ToyouallwholoveandsupportMumia,herearesomeeditedexcerptsandanupdateonMumia'smedicalcondition.
Mumiahadtobringhimselfdowntothevisitingroomfromtheprisoninfirmaryinanoldwheelchair,notmotorized,hadtousehisarmsthatwereweakandinpain;hisbreathingwaslabored.
Iwasinshockathowhelooked.
Weem-bracedandkissed.
WhenIsawhimreadinglegalpapershishandswereshakinghard.
Iputmyhandsonhishandsandtriedtosteadyhimsohecouldreadtheinformation.
Hewasshiveringsohard,myhandswereshakingaswell.
Iputmyarmsaroundhimandmyheadtohischesttohearhisheartandtobringsomewarmthtohisbodybe-causehesaidhewasfreezing.
Andthentheguardcomesandtellsus,"Nohugging.
"Iwasjusttryingtokeephimwarm.
Myhusbandisinnocent.
Hekillednoone.
I'vesaiditbeforeandI'llsayitagain,hisonlycrimeishesurvivedaseveregunshottothechestandaseriousass-whippingby"Philly'sfinest"andthentheyattemptedtokillhiminhishospitalbedbysteppingonhisurinebagandflushingthepoisonbackonhim.
Andnowtheyaretryingtodoitagain.
Thewaymyhusbandlookstoday,itlooksliketheyaregoingtosucceed,unlesswegetsomerealdoctorsuptheretotakecareofhim.
Mumia'slifeisatrisk.
Itisexecutionbymedicalneglectandmistreatment.
TheonlywayIseethatMumiaisgoingtosurvivethisisifheisfree,becauseIcan'ttrustanyofthem.
Mumiadidn'thaveahistoryofdiabetes.
DidyouseethepictureofMumia,beforehisillness,howstrongheis,howbigheisYouseethedifferenceinhimnow!
!
I'veneverseenhimsoweaklikethisinmylife.
YouhavetounderstandthatIamangry.
I'mhurting.
Icouldfeelhisshoulderblades—that'showthinheis.
IwasrubbinghisthighsandIcouldfeelthescabsunderneaththejumpsuit.
Whateverthisstuffis,itiskillingMumia—andit'sonpurpose.
Please,please,please,Ibegofeverybodytohelpmyhusbandgetfree,becauseheisdyinginthere.
Hejustneedstobehome.
Heshouldneverhavebeeninprisontostartoff.
Notaday.
TodemandadequatehealthcareforMumia,gotoiacenter.
org/prisoners/mumia/maj2-040615/.
AlsocheckMumiaAbu-JamalonFacebookformoreinforma-tion.
workers.
orgApril23,2015Page11(CELAC)arenewcooperativestructuresthathavesurpassedtheOAS.
Tomakeupforbeingexcludedfromsixsummits,RaulCastrorequestedthattheOASeight-minutetimelimitbeex-tended—andwoundupspeaking46minutes.
Hesaidthefinancial,economicandcommercialblockadeofCubauni-laterallyimposedbytheU.
S.
isstillverymuchinforceandeffect.
HereviewedthehistoryofU.
S.
attemptstoannexanddominateCubathatledtothe1898U.
S.
occupationofGuantanamoBay.
RaulCastrospecificallydefendedAr-gentina'sstruggletoreclaimtheMalvi-nasIslandsanditscurrentdefenseofitsfinancialsovereigntyagainstU.
S.
courtsandvulturecapitalists.
Hesup-portedPuertoRico'sself-determinationandindependenceandEcuador'sbattleagainsttransnationalcorporationsandtheenvironmentaldamagetheyhavecaused.
Hecalledfor"reparationsfordamagesbroughton[Haiti]byslaveryandcolonialism.
"TheCubanpresidentalsocriticizedtheworldfinancialsystemandthedom-inationby"lessthanadozennewscon-glomerates,mainlyfromtheU.
S.
"that"determinewhatisread,seenorheardacrosstheplanet.
"(Granma,April11)U.
S.
listof'statesponsorsofterrorism'AU.
S.
StateDepartmentreviewandrecommendationneededtoformallyremoveCubafromtheU.
S.
-createdlistof"countriessponsoringterrorism"wascompletedApril9.
TheWhiteHouseisnowreviewingitpriortopresiden-tialapprovalandformalsubmissiontoCongress.
ObamainitiatedthereviewonDec.
17.
Thusalotoftimehasalreadypassedinwhichtoremovethisinsultingandbaselessdesignation.
MostofthefourmaincategoriesofsanctionsimposedoncountriesonthisarbitraryU.
S.
listdonotapplytoCuba.
Forexample,CubaseeksnoU.
S.
foreignassistance,defenseexportsandsales,oruncontrolledex-portsofdual-useitems.
TheCubanAdjustmentAct,common-lyknownas"wet-foot-dry-foot,"givesspecialstatustoCubanimmigrants,andwasnotoriginallyintendedtoapplybeyondtheearlywaveofCubansleav-ingtherevolution.
TheU.
S.
alsoenticesCubandoctorstoabandontheirinterna-tionalassignmentsandcometotheU.
S.
IfCubaisremovedfromthe"terroristlist,"thismayallowObamatoexercisehispresidentialpowersandcarryoutad-AtOAS&People'sSummits—BroadsupportforCubaditionalactions.
Suchactionswerepro-jectedbyCubandiplomatJosefinaVidalinaninterviewwiththenewspaperGranma,"TheBlockadeHasNotEnd-ed.
"(Feb.
12)InitVidalpointsoutthatitispossibleforObamatoauthorizedirectbilateraltrade,butthattradethroughthirdcountriesandallowingU.
S.
tour-iststovisitCubamustbeauthorizedbyCongress.
Removalfromtheterroristlistisalsoconsideredkeytorestoringnormalbankingrights,whichhavebeendeniedtotheCubanInterestsSectionandCu-ba'sUnitedNationsmission.
WhilePresidentObamaclaimstheUnitedStatesisstandingupforuniver-salprinciplesandhumanrightsaroundtheworld,U.
S.
policiescannotbesepa-ratedfromthecoupsinHondurasandParaguaythathavetakenplaceduringhisadministration.
Washingtonalsointervenesinthedomesticaffairsofothercountries,forexample,viatheU.
S.
AgencyforInter-nationalDevelopment.
USAIDhadcon-tractedthenow-forgottenAlanGrosstoinstallsecret,military-gradecommuni-cationsystemsinCuba.
AndthereistheNationalEndowmentforDemocracy,whichspendsU.
S.
taxdollarsforRadioandTVMartitobroadcastpropagandatoCuba—moneythatshouldbespentonhumanneedshere.
Attheofficialsummit,U.
S.
creden-tialswereissuedtonotoriouscharac-terslikeFelixRodriguez,aCIAagentinvolvedinkillingCheGuevara,whoalsohastiestotheperpetratorsofter-rorattackslaunchedagainstCubafromtheU.
S.
TheCubanAmericanNationalFoundationandformerU.
S.
InterestsSectionstafforganizedandorientedthepresenceofU.
S.
-fundedCuban"dis-sidents.
"Inaddition,itwasverydifficultforpopularorganizationstogetcreden-tialstoparticipateinpaneldiscussions.
RequestsbyorganizationsliketheNa-tionalFrontforEconomicandSocialRights—whichismadeupof53Pana-manianorganizations—wererejected.
TheConstructionWorkers'UnionofPanama,oneofthelargestlaborunionsinCentralAmerica,wasrejected.
Sev-eralteachersandstudentleadersweredeniedparticipation.
TheCubanlaborconfederationwasdeniedcredentials.
ThisledtopopularorganizationscallingaPeople'sSummittogivevoicetothethousandsofsocialmovements,fromenvironmentalgroupstounions,thathadbeenexcluded.
(See"VoicesfromthePeople'sSummit,"Telesur)Continuedfrompage1'Betweenequals'FARCstatementonthepeacetalksThefollowingisastatementbyMarcoLeónCalarcá,aspokespersonfortheRevolutionaryArmedForcesofColom-bia(FARC),madeonApril3andtrans-latedfromtheSpanishbytheMundoObrerostaff.
Feelingsandpoliticalpositionsaside,itistimetobuildpeace.
Thatisinessence,theresponsibilityoftheConversationTa-bleandthereforemeritsfullsolidarity.
Torecognizethisreality,51yearsofarmedconfrontation,inthislateststage,theguerrilla'sbeliefisthatwarcannotbeColombia'sdestiny,astheunforgettablecommanderJacoboArenasproclaimedandasitiswritteninthepronouncementembodiedinthefirstofficialdocumentoftheFARC-EP,theAgrarianProgramoftheGuerrillas,whichclearlyshowstherevolutionarygoaltakingtheroadavail-able,beitthearmedconflictimposedbytheattackatMarquetaliaorthroughthepeacefuloneiftheconditionsexist.
[Ed-itor'snote:Marquetaliawasaruralau-tonomousareaattackedinMay1964bytheColombianmilitary.
ThedefendersofMarquetalialaterformedtheFARC.
]Theestablishmentandespeciallytheimperialisttransnationalsneedpeace,nottowardsnobleendsorthinkingaboutpeople'ssocialwell-being,buttheyre-quirepeacefortheexploitationofmin-ingandenergyresourceslocatedinareaswherethereisastrongguerrillapresence,andtotakethelandtheyneedforthede-velopmentofagro-industrialmega-proj-ectsintendedtoproduceagro-fuels.
TheGeneralAgreementendingtheconflictandbuildingastableandlastingpeace,signedonAug.
26,2012,allowedthepublicstartofpeacetalksinHavanaandisbasedonbilateralagreements,ob-ligationsanddutiesofthesignatories:thenationalgovernmentandtheFARC-EP.
Intheabsenceofwinnersorlosers,weareinadialoguebetweenequalpartners,markedbythepursuitofagreementsindifferentpointsandaspects.
Therefore,everyattemptofunilateralimpositionshouldbeconsideredanattackontheConversationTable.
Thatis,nomoreornoless,amongothers,theLegalFrameworkforPeace,thereferencepointtowhichtheleadershipoftransitionandthepromotedtransitionaljusticedonotfindspace.
Fromsectorsoftherightandtheex-tremeright,vociferousattacksaremadeontheConversationTableandtheSan-tosgovernmentisaccusedofhandingthecountryovertotheguerrillas,toterror-ism;theyonlyseeaprocessofsubjugation.
Atthesametime,self-declaredleftistgroupsaccusetheinsurgencyofgivingupitsprinciplesandbetrayingthepeo-plebyengaginginthisdialogue.
Inthemiddleexiststhemajoritythatworksforpeace.
Thediscussionisnotaboutlegalityorlegitimacy,sinceinthisareatherewillneverbeanagreementbecauseofthepo-liticalideologythatseparatesus.
Wehear,readandseetherantingofthesurveysthatrejectanyagreementthatwouldbeonanequalfootingbe-cause"theColombianpeopledonotac-ceptthattheguerrillasdevelopedapo-liticalstruggle,theyarebandits.
"Whatisneversaidoutrightandisknownbythepooroftheearth,thatimmensenationalmajority,isthatthesestatementscomefromthedesireoftheminorityenrichedattheexpenseofthepeople.
Andtheynevermentionorreflectontherealityofmillionsandmillionsofin-habitantsofColombia,menandwomendissatisfiedwiththeeconomic,political,social,culturalandenvironmentaldevel-opmentofthecountry,peoplewhoval-iantlyresistandstrugglefortheiridealsanddiversedemandsthatbringchangeinordertoenjoyaworthylifeofwork,ed-ucationandhealth,decenthousingandnationalprideinsovereigntyandinde-pendence,withoutgivinguporforgettingtherevolutionaryobjectives.
Itisimperativetochanneltheso-cialforcesandunitethemintoasinglestreamtowardsthenecessarystructuralchangesthatwillmakepeaceandsocialjusticepossible,weavingthem,linkingthem,connectingthemwithallthepop-ulareffortsthatleadustodemocratic,peacefulandsovereignobjectives.
Thevariousmodesofexpression,creativityandtransformativepowermakeitpos-sible.
Theeffortstomaketheminvisi-blewillcontinue,butthatispartofthestruggle.
MarcoLeónCalarcá,aspokespersonfortheRevolutionaryArmedForcesofColombia(FARC)Proletariosyoprimidosdetodoslospaisesunios!
workers.
orgVol.
57Núm.
1623deabril,2015`$1CorrespondenciasobreartículosenWorkersWorld/MundoObreropuedenserenviadasa:WW-MundoObrero@workers.
orgMensajealaCumbredelosPueblosAnuestroshermanosyhermanasenlaCum-bredelosPueblos:ElmovimientoprogresistayrevolucionarioenlosEE.
UU.
sesolidarizaconlaCumbredelosPuebloscele-brándoseenPanamádel9-11deabril.
Nossolidariza-mosconlaRevoluciónCubana,laRevoluciónBolivar-ianadeVenezuelaycontodoslosqueluchanencontradelimperialismoenlasAméricasyatravésdelmundo.
RechazamoslacampaapersistentedehostilidadporpartedeWashingtonencontradelasoberaníadeVenezuelayexigimoslarevocacióninmediatadelde-cretodelPresidenteObamael9demarzoquedeclaraaesanaciónun"peligro"paralaseguridadnacionaldelosEE.
UU.
Enunpaísenquelasvidasdenegrossonar-rebatadasviolentamentecada28horasporfuerzasdelestadoorepresivasdemaneracompletamenteimpune,losEE.
UU.
tieneabsolutamenteningunaautoridadmoralparaemitirdichadeclaración.
EsenlosEE.
UU.
enqueexisteunacrisispermanentedelosderechoshu-manosdebidoalasesinatodetantaspersonasjóvenesydecolor.
Porlostanto,desenmascaramoslacompletahipo-cresíadelosEE.
UU.
quedicequelosderechoshumanossonvioladosenVenezuela.
EnVenezuela,LeopoldoLópez,quienesrespons-abledelaviolenciasuscitadaenelatentadodegolpeencontradelPresidenteMaduroquedejóunsaldode43personasmuertas,estárecibiendountratomuybuenomientrasesencarceladoporloscrímenesquecometió,ytieneaccesoaungimnasio,computadora,visitas,etc.
Encontraste,enlosEE.
UU.
alpresopolíticoMumiaAbu-Jamal,aquienselehafabricadouncasoalserinjustamenteacusadodelasesinatodeunpolicíayhaestadoenprisióndesdeel1982porlucharencontradelracismoylabrutalidadpolicial,seleestánegandounderechobásico:cuidodesaludadecuadoenunintentoporelestadoparaasesinarlo.
ComoprisionerodelImperio,fuecondenadoalamuerteyfuesolamentelaluchadelpuebloqueobligóalestadoacancelarlasentenciademuerteytrasladar-loconlapoblacióngeneraldelaprisión.
Sinembargo,ahoraelestadodePensilvaniainsisteenejecutarloalnegarlelosserviciosmédicosquerequiere.
El30demarzo,MumiaAbu-Jamalsufrióunaemer-genciamédicayfuellevadoalaUnidaddeCuidoIn-tensivodeunCentroMédicoenPottsville,PA.
Cuandosufamiliayamigosdescubrenquesusaludestádeteri-orandoseriamentedebidoalanegligenciamédica,in-mediatamenteviajaronalhospitalparaconocermejorsobresucondición.
Alprincipio,losmiembrosdesufa-miliafueronnegadoselderechodevisitarloysolopormediodeunacampaanacionalexigiendovisitarlofuequeselogróestederecho.
SalvelavidadeMumia!
DeseamospedirsurespaldoparasalvarlavidadeMumia.
Fuesoloelre-spaldodelpuebloloquelogrórescataraMumiadelaconde-naamuerte.
Yahoranecesitamossure-spaldoparaasegurarqueelestadodePen-silvanianoloasesineatravésdelanegli-genciamédica.
SolicitamosquelaCumbredelosPueb-losapruebeunares-oluciónenapoyoaMumiaAbu-Jamal,exigiendoquerecibademanerainmedia-talaatenciónmédi-caadecuadayqueMumianoseaeje-cutadopormediodelusodelanegligenciamédica.
Soloelpueb-loylosmovimien-tosunidospodrándetenerlamanodeWashington.
Quevivalasolidaridadinternacional!
QuevivanlospueblosdelasAméricas!
FinalbloqueoencontradeCuba!
Obama:RevoquelaOrdenEjecutivaencontradeVenezuelaysaquenlasmanosdeVenezuela!
LibertadparaMumiaAbu-Jamal,OscarLópezRi-verayparatodoslospresospolíticosenlosEEUU!
DeclaraciónemitidaporelCentroInternacionaldeAcción:iac.
org.
FARC-EPdeColombiaEntrepartesigualesPorMarcoLeónCalarcáAbril3de2015Sentimientosyposicionespolíticasaparte,eshoradeconstruirlaPaz.
Esaesnimásnimenos,laresponsabil-idaddeLaMesadeConversacionesyporesoesmerece-doradetodalasolidaridad.
Reconoceresarealidad,los51aosdeconfrontaciónarmada,enestaúltimaetapa,elconvencimientoguer-rilleroquelaguerranopuedesereldestinodeColombiacomoloproclamabaelinolvidablecomandanteJacoboArenasyladecisiónplasmadaenelprimerdocumentooficialdelasFARC-EP,elProgramaAgrariodelosGuer-rilleros,quemuestraconclaridadelobjetivorevolucio-nariosiguiendoelcaminoposible,elarmadoqueimpu-sieronconelataqueaMarquetaliaoelpacíficosiexistenlascondiciones.
Elestablecimientoysobretodolastransnaciona-lesimperialesnecesitanlapaz,noconfinesnoblesnipensandoenelbienestarsocial,requierengarantizarlaexplotacióndelosrecursosminerosyenergéticosubicadosenáreasdefuertepresenciaguerrilleraalig-ualquelastierrasnecesariasparaeldesarrollodelosmegaproyectosagroindustrialesdirigidosaproduciragro-combustibles.
ElAcuerdoGeneralparalaterminacióndelconflictoylaconstruccióndeunapazestableyduradera,firmadoel26deagostode2012permitióeliniciopúblicodelosdiálogosdepazenLaHabanaysebasaenlabilaterali-dad,esdecirobligacionesydeberesdelaspartesfirman-tes,elGobiernonacionalylasFARC-EP.
Alnohaber,vencedoresnivencidos,nosencontra-mosenundiálogoentrepartesiguales,signadoporlabúsquedadeacuerdosenlosdiferentespuntosyaspec-tos.
Portantotodoslosintentosdeimposición,deuni-lateralidad,debenconsiderarseataquesaLaMesadeConversaciones.
Estosson,nimásnimenos,entreotros,elMarcoJurídicoparalaPaz,elreferendoalcualnoleacabandeencontraracomodo,elcomandodetransiciónylapromovidajusticiatransicional.
DesdesectoresdeladerechaysuextremasevociferacontraLaMesadeConversaciones,sesindicaalgobier-nosantistadeentregarelpaísalaguerrilla,alterroris-mo,solovenposibleunprocesodesometimiento.
Igual,fraccionesqueseautoproclamandeizquierdaacusanalainsurgenciadeentregarprincipiosytraicionaralpuebloporcomprometerseconlosdiálogos.
Enmediolamayoríaquetrabajaporlapaz.
Ladiscusiónnoesporlegalidadylegitimidad,enesecamponuncahabráacuerdo,puesnosseparalaconcep-ciónideopolítica.
Oímos,leemos,vemoslaperoratadelasencuestasquerechazancualquieracuerdoenpiedeigualdad,porque"elpueblocolombianonoaceptaquelaguerrilladesar-rollóunaluchaconpolítica,sonbandidos",loquenuncaseaclarayesconocidoporlospobresdelatierra,esainmensamayoríanacional,esquedichasafirmacionesprocedendeldeseodelasminoríasenriquecidasacos-tillasdelpueblo.
Tampoconuncadicennireflejanlarealidaddemil-lonesymillonesdehabitantesdeColombia,hombresymujeresinconformesconlasituacióneconómica,políti-ca,social,culturalymedioambientaldelpaís,gentequeresistevalerosamenteyluchaporsusidealesydiversasreivindicacionesqueacerquenauncambioparadisfru-tardevidadignaproductodeltrabajo,educaciónysalud,viviendadecenteyorgullopatrioporsoberaníaeinde-pendencia,sinabandonar,niolvidarlosobjetivosrevo-lucionarios.
Correspondeencauzarlasfuerzassocialesyunirlasenunsolotorrentehacialosnecesarioscambiosestruc-turalesqueposibilitenlapazconjusticiasocial,tejer,enlazar,puenteartodoslosesfuerzospopularesnoscon-ducealosobjetivosdemocráticos,pacificadoresysober-anos.
Lasdiversasmanerasdeexpresión,lacreatividadyelpodertransformadorlohacenposible.
Losesfuerzosporinvisibilizarlascontinuaran,espartedelalucha.
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