Contesta los ataques contra Cuba con más solidaridad — CUBA SALVA VIDAS

Struggle-La-Lucha.org
Vol. 3, No. 9 · May 11, 2020
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MAY DAY
Workers fight for their lives
By John Parker The twenty-three vehicles that joined the car-
avan were covered with posters and slogans like
May Day’s historical significance this year is “Safe work is a right, PPE and protection now,”
compounded by a worldwide capitalist crisis that “Paid sick leave for all” and “Public health over
lays bare, for all to see, capitalism’s downright profit.”
murderous neglect and contempt for humanity. The union representing health care workers,
In the U.S., COVID-19 infections and deaths con- 1199SEIU, helped lead the caravan in the union’s
tinue to climb. In the socialist countries of China, van along with the Peoples Power Assembly. Bal-
Cuba and Vietnam (Vietnam has no deaths from timore Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, the Pris-
COVID-19 as of this writing), the virus has been oners Solidarity Committee, the Sunrise Move-
contained. The socialist countries have shown ment, Communist Party Baltimore, Struggle-La
how to prioritize the means of production to save Lucha/Socialist Unity Party and the International
lives. Yet, the U.S. continues to rely on the failed League of Peoples’ Struggle were among the other
“free market” and therefore cannot provide test- organizations represented.

JUSTICE for
ing for all or even the basic medical equipment The caravan drove by the Charles Village Safe-
necessary to safeguard health care workers. way, Mercy Hospital, City Hall, the central Post
Cuba and China have led the way in assisting Office, Douglas Homes (the site of food distribu-
the world with doctors and equipment. Cuba also tions), Johns Hopkins Hospital, North East Mar-
provides Interferon alfa-2b, a drug that has been

AHMAUD
ket and concluded the caravan at the entrance of
effective against the coronavirus. the Amazon warehouses. Following strict social
The U.S. has sabotaged world efforts with lies distancing protocols, Sharon Black of the Peoples
and sanctions against countries in Latin America, Power Assembly gave an amplified speech to the

ARBERY
the Middle East, Africa and Asia. encircled caravan.
“I used to work at that [Amazon] building right
What does all of this have to do with May Day?
over there at Broening Highway, and I have friends
The day was established as one of action to em-
who are in that death warehouse right now,” Black
power working people towards ending exploita-
said. “Bezos marked May 1, International Work- End white supremacy & racist murder
tion, beginning with the demand for an 8-hour
ers’ Day, by telling everybody who is on voluntary Statement from Socialist Unity Party/
work day, ending the “sunrise to sunset” working
sick leave that they have to come back, or they lose Partido de Socialismo Unido
hours that could range from 12 to 18 hours per day.
their jobs.”

S
May Day’s establishment as an international cel-
“And on May 15, people are going to lose their imilarities between the cases of Trayvon
ebration of working-class actions was motivated
hazard pay,” she continued. “Or so-called hazard Martin, murdered Feb. 26, 2012, and Ahmaud
and organized primarily by socialists, commu-
pay — it is nothing. It is pennies. Don’t believe the Arbery, murdered Feb. 23, 2020, are peculiar.
nists and anarchists with a goal of defeating cap-
PR about it.” Both of these Black youth were unarmed, both
italism as a system and replacing it with some
“We have to keep our fight up because capital- were stalked and killed in February, and no
form of socialist society.
ism is a brutal system that must go.” charges were made at the time, because in both
This is why — in spite of the challenges to ac-
As the Baltimore action shows, many other incidents the killers claimed self-defense. Both
tivism presented by the virus with folks shut in
issues, including demands for rent control and would have turned 26 this year, Trayvon Martin
— workers organizations and especially socialist
fighting homelessness, were part of the day’s fo- in February and Ahmaud Arbery on May 8.
and communist organizations worldwide were
cus in Baltimore and nationally as well. What is alarmingly different about Ahmaud’s
determined to mark the day in creative ways that
case is that the video footage was in police hands
continued the tradition of workers’ fightback. Millions safely celebrate in Cuba from day one. The video was released public-
From California to Virginia, workers and activ- And, the international actions of May Day were ly on May 5, two-and-a-half months after the
ists came out protesting at Amazon warehouses. also creative. killing. The video ignited a firestorm of outrage
In Los Angeles, for example, organizations in- In Cuba, for example, the millions who normal- throughout the nation. What is astonishing, but
cluding Unión del Barrio, BAYAN-USA and the ly come out for May Day waved their Cuban flags also typical, are the different interpretations of
Human Rights Alliance came out to Inglewood and celebrated on their balconies. The Cuban gov- the video — one being of a coldblooded mur-
supporting Amazon workers on May Day. Anoth- ernment canceled the annual May Day parade to der and the other, by elected District Attorney
er demonstration by Amazon workers occurred at keep the population safe. George E. Barnhill, as a justified killing of a
another warehouse in Richmond, Calif. The Xinhua news service quoted María Rome- Black jogger, shot and killed by two white men.
A coalition of essential workers from Amazon, ro, 52, a nurse at a polyclinic in Havana, Cuba, As Ahmaud Arbery’s mother, Wonda Cooper’s
Instacart, Whole Foods, Walmart, Target and who said: “The best way to celebrate May Day is view encompassed what most people seeing the
FedEx called out sick or walked out during their through helping combat the coronavirus,” adding video said: “My son was killed in the streets as
lunch break demanding hazard pay and essential that she will “hang a Cuban flag from the balcony he was run down and chased by two vehicles
health and safety equipment. as a symbol of national unity.” and nobody went to jail. They got to go home
The day of May 1 was inspired by the events that
International Workers Day Caravan in Baltimore and my baby was placed in a body bag.”
occurred in 1886 on May 3 and May 4 in Chicago, The disturbing video that emerged May 5
And one of the organizations that has been
where strikers demanding an 8-hour day at Hay- shows Ahmaud Arbery jogging down a narrow
holding almost weekly creative and safe demon-
market Square were killed by police, followed by road in Brunswick, Ga., in broad daylight, when
strations in Baltimore is the Peoples Power As-
the frame-up and execution of the strike leaders. he is confronted by the two armed men. As Ar-
sembly, which issued a call for an International
The wife of one of the framed-up labor leaders was bery jogs, Travis McMichael can be seen wait-
Workers Day Caravan on May 1.
a labor leader herself. African, Native, Mexican- ing for him in the road with a shotgun, while his
The caravan also showed support for the de-
American Lucy Parsons has been described as a father stands in the back of a pickup truck with
mands of frontline workers nationwide who have
socialist, communist and anarcho-syndicalist. a revolver. After a brief confrontation, Arbery is
called for personal protective equipment (PPE),
Her actions after the Haymarket Square incident shot at 3 times.
hazard pay, paid sick leave, safe work conditions
were instrumental in the creation of May Day. She The video was filmed by a third white man,
and rent cancellation.
Continued on page 7 William Bryan, an accomplice to the murder
who, as of May 9, still has not been charged
or arrested. The Brunswick police admit hav-
 LA nurses fight for PPE  Meatpackers’ lives  Free Mumia
Continued on page 8
 Hands off Post Office  China did it?  Turkey hunger strike
 ¡ Ken Roh presente !  Lenin, thinker and fighter I run with Ahmaud p. 3
Page 2 May 11, 2020 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA

Nurses suspended for demanding PPE

Union fights back and wins
By John Parker

Los Angeles – In mid-April, 10

nurses employed at Providence Saint
John’s Hospital in Santa Monica,
Calif., were suspended for demand-
ing the necessary personal protective
equipment (PPE) to keep them from
infection and possible death due to
exposure to the deadly COVID-19
virus while working on infected
patients.
The hospital administration
claimed that the nurses already had
the necessary equipment to remain Nurses who refused to care for coronavirus patients without N95 masks are
safe and that N95 masks were not Loud-honking car caravan protest on April 21. suspended, union fights back and wins
needed. However, one nurse at the
hospital told the Los Angeles Times should not enter without the proper says on its web site. The nurses’ demands included
that she knew personally that this is mask. However, he was suspended Add to that the solidarity of the greater hospital transparency re-
not true. Angela Gatdula said she was and, like the other nurses, threat- progressive movement and activ- garding PPE, the lifting of ordered
exposed to COVID-19 while treating ened by the hospital administration, ists who came out consistently for leave for nurses without masks who
patients with the virus. She tested saying they may pursue having his the nurses. A well-attended and refuse to treat patients, and the
positive for the virus on April 9. nursing license removed. loud-honking car caravan protest on availability of hotel rooms where
Gatdula said she should have been However, that’s not where the April 21 was organized by the union, they can quarantine.
given the available N95 masks since story ends. which invited the community of And …
she was treating COVID-19 patients. The hospital administration un- folks in solidarity with the nurses to On that very same day, the hospi-
One of the suspended nurses, Jack derestimated the militancy of the come out and demand the nurses be tal reinstated the nurses and will now
Cline, who is especially vulnerable to nurses and their belonging to the reinstated and given the necessary supply nurses with N95 masks for
the virus because he is also diabetic, largest nurses’ union in the U.S., with protections to do their jobs and re- those working with infected patients.
told the L.A. Times that he refused more than 150,000 members nation- main safe. In spite of the challenges to con-
to go into a room with an infected wide. The National Nurses United is For over an hour, honking horns tinuing activism that exist during
patient without the proper protec- the largest union and professional were heard from cars adorned with this COVID-19 crisis, with unity, cre-
tion. Even doctors in that room, who association of registered nurses in signs in support of the nurses and ativity and especially solidarity, we
did have N95 masks on, told him he U.S. history, the labor organization circling the perimeter of the hospital. can still make gains! ₪

Workers’ lives before meatpacker profits

By Stephen Millies fear catching the coronavirus would
be considered a “voluntary quit”
Donald Trump celebrated Work- — and denied benefits.
ers’ Memorial Day on April 28 by Reynolds went ahead with loosen-
ordering dangerously unsafe meat- ing social-distancing restrictions in
packing and poultry plants to re- the Hawkeye State even though seven
main open. epidemiology and biostatistics pro-
Twenty workers in the industry fessors from the University of Iowa
have already died and nearly 5,000 advised the governor not to do so.
have tested positive for the coro- The entire labor and peoples’
navirus, according to the Center for movements have to organize against
Disease Control. The 115 infected fa- workers being forced to go back to
cilities with 130,000 workers were in unsafe companies. No worker should
19 states. have to choose between losing ben-
Even 100 U.S. Department of Agri- efits or getting sick and possibly dy-
culture inspectors have caught the ing on the job.
virus. During World War II, a largely
Working in these slaughterhous- Black force of sailors loaded muni-
es was always risky. Between 2015 Workers at Tyson’s Camilla, Georgia, poultry processing plant. tions at Port Chicago, Calif., 48 miles
and 2017, an average of two work- from San Francisco. Unsafe condi-
ers a week had one of their limbs gerous equipment,” work on “slip- 100,000 chickens per shift. tions led to a July 17, 1944, explosion
amputated. pery floors,” and suffer from “high Big-hearted John Tyson is now in which 320 sailors were killed.
Workers having their hands or fin- noise levels” and “musculoskeletal offering workers a $500 bonus in Their families were original-
gers cut off didn’t bother the bleach disorders,” according to the Occu- May and again in July if they have ly supposed to get a $5,000 bene-
promoter in the White House. Trump pational Safety and Health Admin- “good” attendance. The blood mon- fit. This was reduced to $3,000 af-
invoked the Defense Production Act istration. Workers aren’t too “gung- ey shouldn’t take too much out of ter Mississippi Congressman John
in order to shield monopolies like ho” about being exposed to animal Tyson’s $2 billion fortune. Rankin realized most of the victims
Tyson Foods, with annual sales of blood and feces, either. were African American.
$42 billion, from lawsuits. Work or starve When many surviving Black sail-
“We’re going to sign an executive Sacrificing workers for profit No one should have to work in dan- ors refused to go back to work un-
order today, I believe, and that’ll solve Trump’s executive order came two gerous conditions. If the entire U.S. der the same conditions, they were
any liability problems,” said Trump. days after John H. Tyson, chairman workforce were exposed to COVID-19 labeled “cowards” by the corpo-
Green Bay, Wis., Mayor Eric of the board of Tyson Foods, placed at the same rate as meatpacking and rate newspapers. Fifty sailors were
Genrich said Trump’s order gave a newspaper ads claiming “the food poultry workers are, over 5 million charged with mutiny, a death penal-
legal blank check to “meat pack- supply chain is vulnerable.” would have tested positive. ty offense.
ing conglomerates.” Five hundred Who’s really vulnerable are work- Because of the meat monopolies’ Future Supreme Court Justice
workers in the nearby JBS meat- ers like Tara Williams, who’s em- drive for profits, employees are often Thurgood Marshall led the defense
packing plant contracted COVID-19. ployed at the Tyson poultry plant in placed close together on a produc- campaign that won the sailors’ re-
Meatpacking executives were Camilla, Ga. Her friend and co-work- tion line. This virtually guarantees a lease in 1946.
“thrilled,” according to the presi- er, Eloise Willis, died of COVID-19 high infection rate. Trump and the capitalist class are
dent, after he called them. “They’re on April 1. It took management two Despite the pandemic, Iowa Gov. trying to force workers back to dan-
so happy. They’re all gung-ho, and weeks to put up a picture of Willis Kim Reynolds is telling workers to go gerous conditions just like the Navy
we solved their problems” and tell workers she had died. back to work or lose unemployment brass ordered Black sailors back to
There’s no mention of Trump Eloise Willis worked a 10-hour benefits. Iowa Workforce Develop- loading explosives at Port Chicago.
talking to any elected union officials shift at Tyson for 35 years. She and ment said that any worker refus- But human life is more important
representing workers that use “dan- her fellow union members handled ing to go back to work because they than meat profits. ₪
 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA May 11, 2020 Page 3

Mobilizing for Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 66th birthday

in the midst of COVID-19
By Gloria Verdieu lease happen. Socialist Unity Party, the Peace and
and Mary Lou Finley As explained in a recorded mes- Freedom Party, the African People’s
sage by Ivan Kilgore, an inmate in Socialist Party, Saigon Penn Cop
All of us, every one of us, when we the California Department of Cor- Watch, All of Us or None, Unión del
rections, on Prison Radio: Barrio, Black Lives Matter, the Black
fight, we win. So let us fight together.
“All it takes is for one person to Alliance, De-incarcerate Pennsylva-
Never forget the love for each and nia, the American Indian Movement
walk into this environment and you
every one of you for the remarkable have a crisis on your hands. It is not so (AIM,), the International Leonard
work you have done and we have much getting it from prisoners, it is Peltier Defense Committee (ILP-
done together, so let’s get together. getting it from the correctional staff.” DC), the Abolitionist Law Collective,
When asked, “If you start feeling Amistad, Release Aging People in
Let’s make it happen.
COVID symptoms, how long would it Prison (RAPP) and the Prison Sol-
Message to my supporters from Mumia take for you to see a doctor?” Kilgore idarity Committee are some of the
Abu-Jamal – April 24, 2020 Recorded by many organizations that are in-
responded, “The problem with that
Noelle Hanrahan from Prison Radio
amongst prisoners is they would be volved in the movement.
In March and April, there were afraid to report that because it would
several conference calls about the automatically result in them being April 15 Twitter storm On the morning of April 16, Pris-
next steps that need to be taken in On April 15, there was a social me- on Radio released a recorded phone
isolated in the hole.”
the campaign to free Mumia Abu-Ja- dia Twitter storm, emails and phone conversation of Mumia with Pam
Inmates have very few personal
mal and all political prisoners in the zaps to Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylva- Africa and other members of the
hygiene products or other means of
midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. nia, all day, to get the word out. Friends and Family of Mumia
sanitizing, they don’t have adequate
There is great concern among all This movement alarmed the Penn- Abu-Jamal, where he thanked every-
medical care, and most importantly,
the members of the movement about sylvania Department of Correction one for checking on him and caring
they are not able to practice social
inmates in all the jails, prisons, de- officials. One of the supporters par- about him and assured everyone that
distancing — which makes jails,
tention centers and other correc- ticipating in the “phone zap” was he is okay. Mumia said, “What I need
prisons and detention centers death
tional institutions like juvenile halls. falsely told that Mumia was hospital- is freedom.”
traps for prisoners, staff, the sur-
All correctional institutions are ized with COVID-19 symptoms. This The coalition put out an emer-
rounding community and connected
overcrowded with little or no per- scared many supporters, as the mes- gency press release and organized
communities.
sonal hygiene or sanitizing products, sage spread around the world, be- a news conference on April 16 con-
The International Concerned Friends
and they lack adequate medical care. cause Mumia’s health makes him at demning Pennsylvania DOC’s cruel
and Family of Mumia Abu-Jamal,
It’s imperative to obtain the re- high risk from dying from the virus. hoax claiming Mumia was hospital-
Mobilization4Mumia, the San Diego
lease of all prisoners now. The grow- This was a cruel thing to do. Many ized with COVID-19 symptoms.
Coalition to Free Mumia and All Po-
ing movement has to put maximum supporters called the DOC demand- Committees met to plan and orga-
litical Prisoners, Bring Mumia Home,
pressure on officials to make this re- On a Move, Workers World Party, the ing to hear from Mumia himself. Continued on page 4

By Rebecka Jackson They were then celebrated and

exalted for their murder. Why were
We need to start by understand- they not held as terrorists? Charged
ing the nature of slavery. Slavery is with committing a horrendous hate
a condition in which one must work crime? Because they fulfill the white
for a master, follow his rules, ex- supremacist corporatocracy agenda.
ist within the narrow confines of Just as Dylan Roof was congrat-
expression he allows, remain doc- ulated with a delicate arrest and a
ile and obedient, be grateful for his Burger King treat, Ahmaud’s murder-
meager handouts, never organize, ers were applauded by the police and
never rebel, be kept from education, the corrupt district attorney. These
not share in the fruits of one’s labor, forces have historically condoned the
worship his god, speak his language, lynchings of Black people. It is only
bend oneself to his comfort. because of the circulation of the vid-
Black people are a slave class in eo that there was any accountability.
America. We enjoy none of the same Imagine how many other Black jog-
freedoms, rights or safeties afford- gers, walkers, skippers, breathers,
ed to white citizens. Though slavery swimmers, drivers, bus riders, bik-
has morphed in name — chattel, Jim ers and sunset watchers have been
Crowism, forced labor camps, wage gunned down in cold blood.
slavery, prison-industrial complex This one was on video. It is the only
Protesters at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., where Ahmaud
— it has not morphed in practice. We reason there was an arrest. What
Arbery was shot and killed, May 9.
eat scraps, bathe in poisoned wa- must his family have gone through?
ter, are barred from home and land passed me, slowed down, stopped in her there was nothing they could do. These months, having to fight for
ownership, denied the right to vote. my path and turned off their lights. I cannot stop replaying the justice as well as his legacy. Labeled
Ahmaud Arbery likely felt as close In less than moments, I had to make thoughts inside Ahmaud’s head. I a thief. And what if he was a thief?
to freedom as he could on the ear- vital decisions. In front of me, home know what he was living through Someone’s possessions are worth a
ly afternoon of Feb. 23. On an open and the van. I would have to pass in that moment the truck cut him life? A slave’s life? Of course. We are
road, running, seemingly alone, them, hope they were just trying to off: To turn and be chased into property to them, nothing more.
hopefully unbothered. Though we scare me or be ready to outrun them some strange and unfamiliar place, We must look plainly at Ahmaud’s
live under the constant threat of if they weren’t. If I turned around to to hope these monsters were just execution, and we must look plain-
white violence, we try to move for- run the other way, it was into noth- trying to scare him and would ly at our existence. Capitalism was
ward as normally as possible, build ingness, even further from help. I back away after they got out their built on slavery and cannot ex-
our lives, shape our futures. knew the possibility of guns. No one “n******” and “boys,” or to try to ist without a slave class. Ahmaud
I have been in Ahmaud’s position would even hear me scream. run on, to just get home, to hope that was murdered because this system
too many times. As a competitive I kept running forward, feeling there was help on the other side. needed him dead or in servitude. His
runner since age five, I was often propelled to try to make it home. As I Ahmaud didn’t have a choice. freedom, his run, did not serve the
out on country roads alone. Cars of- closed the meters toward the van, an- Gregory McMichael and Travis Mc- capitalist system and so like any re-
ten wouldn’t come by for hours and other car drove by in a rare stroke of Michael had made up their minds. bellious slave, he was lynched.
I would generally feel free, unbur- luck and the van took off. I never ran in They were out for blood. Ahmaud Without unity, without mobiliza-
dened — broken only on days an oc- the evening again. Later, my younger was their prey. In their minds, he tion, without the complete eradica-
casional “N*****!” was screeched sister was almost abducted by white had stepped outside the bounds of tion of capitalism, we will never be
out of a car window. supremacists in a truck in broad day- their prescribed slavery, had violat- free. We will continue to slave un-
It wasn’t until an evening run light. When my grandmother tried to ed them with his very existence, and der new masters and exist under the
in my late teens when a cargo van reach the police and the FBI, they told they were intent on his execution. conditions they prescribe to us. ₪
Page 4 May 11, 2020 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA

Hands off the post office!

By Stephen Millies envelopes for the union newsletter.”

The post office is needed now Rainbow coalition needed

more than ever. Postal workers are Trump wants to privatize the
delivering prescription medicines Postal Service and the Veterans’
and plenty of other mail and pack- hospitals. We won’t let him! Post-
ages to people’s homes during this al unions mobilized to stop Staples
health crisis. from selling stamps, which would
They’re doing so at the risk of have served as an excuse to fire post
their own lives. At least 44 post- office employees.
al workers have died of COVID-19 Trillions of dollars have been
and over 1,200 have tested positive handed out to bail out the banksters
for the virus, says Cathy Hanson, and big corporations. So why can’t
a retired postal worker and edi- Congress find a few billion to save
tor for the Minneapolis Area Local, the post office?
American Postal Workers Union, at People get ripped off by ATM fees.
usmailnotforsale.org. Why can’t the post office offer sav-
Even capitalists need the post of- ings accounts, as it did until 1967?
fice. So why do Trump and his fel- If Trump gets his way, many post-
low billionaires want to destroy the Postal workers rally outside the Thompson Center in Chicago, 2011. al workers in the big cities will lose
oldest department of the U.S. gov- jobs and benefits. But rural areas,
ernment that dates back to 1775? ordered thousands of GIs to break email, first class mail like letters has including Indigenous peoples living
Because the Postal Service is the the strike. fallen from 104 billion pieces in 2001 on reservations, will suffer too.
largest employer of union workers United Mine Workers president, to 55 billion last year. Trump points Cell phone monopolies refuse to
in the United States. John L. Lewis, declared during an to this decline as an excuse for more offer service to millions of people
After decades of deindustrializa- earlier case of presidential strike- attacks. living in remote areas, from Alaska
tion, with dozens of factory towns breaking by Franklin Roosevelt that Yet 55 billion pieces is still a lot of to the Everglades. But postal workers
like Detroit and Milwaukee impov- “you can’t dig coal with bayonets.” mail — an average of 167 letters per deliver mail everywhere.
erished, the post office is like an oa- You can’t sort or deliver mail with person annually. The Post Office is Dozens of car caravans have been
sis of unionism. This is particular- bayonets either. also handling more packages than organized recently. They’ve de-
ly true in the Deep South and some Many of the soldiers had parents ever, including 40 percent of Ama- manded freedom for prisoners en-
Western states. who were union members and didn’t zon’s shipments. dangered by COVID-19 and/or a
The wealthy and powerful never want to cross picket lines. Members Another reason all the Trumps moratorium on rents and mortgage
forgave postal employees for their of the American Servicemens’ Union hate the postal service is that it’s the payments.
1970 rebellion. The 200,000 workers — an anti-war and anti-racist union largest employer of Black workers We need to organize long-distance
who went on a wildcat strike won of GIs — urged soldiers to support earning more than $50,000 a year. caravans to tell people that local
a victory for all poor and working the strikers. Close to 40 percent of postal work- post offices are in danger of shutting
people. ers are Asian, Black, Latinx or Indig- down. These caravans would strive
Fifty years ago, the starting sala- Beat back the Trump attack enous. Two-fifths of the workforce to unite multinational metropolitan
ry of postal workers was less than $3 The working class — employed, are women. areas like Atlanta, Chicago, Los An-
per hour. On March 12, 1970, mem- unemployed and incarcerated — The noted actor and human rights geles and New York City with largely
bers of Congress voted themselves a has been under attack for over 40 activist Danny Glover wrote about white rural areas.
41 percent pay hike. But they offered years. Reagan’s breaking of the what the post office meant to him This rainbow coalition on wheels
post office employees a mere 5.4 PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike growing up: would run over Trump’s bigotry.
percent raise, which was less than in 1981 was also revenge for the 1970 “For my parents, both longtime One more thing. Benjamin Frank-
the inflation rate. postal rebellion. postal employees and union officers, lin, the first U.S. postmaster general,
Letter carrier and future union There’ve been cutbacks and give- that was their community. Back was a racist and a slave owner His
leader Vincent Sombrotto urged backs at the post office. Employment then, it was mine, too. ... For Black face should be taken off the $100 bill
workers to fight back. The response has fallen from almost 800,000 families like mine, the Postal Ser- and could be replaced with that of
of workers, starting in New York workers in 1999 to slightly less than vice has long been one of the few re- Frazier B. Baker.
City, was to go on strike on March a half-million in 2019. liable paths to the middle class. Baker was the Black postmaster
18, 1970. It was the 99th anniversary The starting pay of part-time ru- “My parents were so proud in 1957, of Lake City, S.C., who was fatally
of the Paris Commune, the world’s ral letter carriers was cut by about $6 when they had saved enough money shot in 1898 by a white mob who also
first working-class government. per hour in the 2010 labor contract, to buy a house. They sometimes held killed his baby daughter. The local
President Richard “Watergate” although it rose from around $15 to union meetings in our living room post office is now named after Baker.
Nixon declared a state of emergency $17 per hour in the 2015 contract. and had me put my seventh-grade Long live the memory of Frazier B.
and wanted to fire the workers. He Because of the increased use of typing skills to good use addressing Baker! Hands off the post office! ₪

Mobilizing for Mumia Abu-Jamal’s 66th birthday

Continued from page 3 ington, Janine Africa and New York the Move 9. The teach-in was a suc- tics, May Day and other issues.
State Assembly member Charles cess with over five hundred people Mumia is an amazing journalist.
nize the weekend of events. All of the Barron were among the speakers at listening in. His commentaries, along with his
events were going to be held on line, the news conference and teach-in. On April 25, there was a virtual books, should be required supple-
using social media, Zoom, Facebook The news conference was a success dance party with DJs and music. mental reading for high school and
and YouTube as the media. This type with hundreds of people signing on The finale on April 26, “Poetry in college students.
of international mobilization has and participating. Motion,” started at noon, a 24-hour Thank you Mumia for your 39-
never been done before. The tech- On April 24, a teach-in featured celebration of Mumia. It included plus years of journalism. Thank you,
nology team would be key to all of over 20 speakers from across the U.S. Mumia’s audio commentaries and Noelle Hanrahan and Prison Radio
the events. and around the world, including po- slideshows, music and live videos, for recording and posting Mumia’s
The five days of events began April litical prisoners and former politi- and birthday messages from individ- commentaries. Thank you to all the
23 and centered on Mumia Abu-Ja- cal prisoners. The speakers included uals who shared experiences meet- organizers and those who contribut-
mal’s 66th birthday, April 24. Marc Lamont Hill, Fred Hampton Jr., ing and learning from Mumia. Orga- ed to this amazing five-day celebra-
The first event was an April 23 Sekou Odinga, Janet Africa, Rasheed nizations sent messages of solidarity tion of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Speaking
news conference. Included were two Johnson, Susie Abulhawa and Angela from all over the world. Also shown truth is power!
of the leading organizers, Pam Afri- Davis. The Zoom hosts were Johan- was the story of the Move 9 and the Revolutionary birthday
ca and Santiago Alvarez, a graduate na Fernandez, Betsey Piette, Sophia Move Organization. Mumia’s com- greetings, Mumia!
student at University of California- Williams, Santiago Alvarez and Mi- mentaries covered prisons, sports, Release Mumia and all political
Santa Cruz. Professor Linn Wash- chael Africa Jr., son of Mike Africa of the environment, art, history, poli- prisoners now! ₪

Paperback or Kindle? https://tinyurl.com/vwarcv7 A NEW BOOK https://tinyurl.com/vn3qvn5

The Social Evolution of Humanity BLACK AUGUST 1619-2019 commemorates 400 years
Marx and Engels were right! by Bob McCubbin of Black freedom struggle in North America. This book examines the
construction of a racial capitalist venture – slavery — where the histories
This study of the evolution of humanity focuses on social/sexual relations of African, Native and working people overlapped.
and, in particular, the changing social status of women. It offers a selection Black August celebrates legacy and accomplishments of Black women.
of scientific evidence that updates and augments the viewpoint expressed  The book is dedicated to Black, Brown, oppressed, and poor people who
in Frederick Engels’ ,’Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State.’ have been imprisoned and killed by the U.S. criminal justice system.
 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA May 11, 2020 Page 5

Coronavirus lab story originated

in the White House
By Scott Scheffer has failed to hold China account- is that China un-
able and that he would be even derreported cases
The campaign of slander against tougher on China, were he to win and deaths in Janu-
China to deflect criticism of Presi- the election. ary, and didn’t dis-
dent Trump over the COVID-19 pan- According to the April 30 New close that there was
demic has ratcheted up in recent York Times, so-called “China hu ma n-to-hu ma n
days. hawks” in the administration transmission. This,
It isn’t only a defensive move by pushed so hard for U.S. spy agen- the line goes, was
the Trump administration itself. cies to say there was evidence to so that other coun-
A leaked memo by GOP strategists support the lab theory, that there tries wouldn’t grasp
urged Republican senatorial candi- was disgruntlement, with a for- the potential spread
dates to attack China instead of at- mer CIA official even accusing of the disease, and
tempting to defend Trump during the administration of “conclu- then China could
their election campaigns. sion shopping.” That resistance stealthily stockpile
Trump himself is pushing the may have been a reflection of how dicator that the new coronavirus and hoard medical equipment and
phony lab story — that the virus much is at stake in China for U.S. evolved naturally, are flaws in the supplies through regular trade. The
originated in a laboratory in Wuhan. companies that make billions doing protein it uses to bind to human cells accusation is sickening, given the
Until recently, he was even raising business there. A subsequent report — deficiencies that someone trying level of cooperation and aid to oth-
the possibility that the virus was by the Office of the Director of Na- to engineer a killer virus would have er countries that China has exhibit-
created purposely as a bioweapon. tional Intelligence indicated that al- almost certainly avoided.” ed, even after gaining control in the
On May 1, he seemed to back off the though they see no evidence to sup- Vox reported that Peter Daszak, a battle against the virus at home.
bioweapon claim but is clinging to port the bioweapon theory, they will U.S. scientist who has studied coro- Chinese doctors first reported the
the story that the virus “escaped” continue “investigating” the possi- naviruses and bats (the animal outbreak to the WHO on Jan. 1. All
the Wuhan lab in an accident. bility that the virus “escaped” the host) with colleagues in China, and they knew at the time was that there
Trump is also hammering away on Wuhan lab by accident. at times in the lab in question, says was a cluster of cases of pneumonia.
the notion that China delayed reports that there was never a sample of The WHO issued an online guid-
of casualties from the virus, thereby Scientists are tired of explaining the novel coronavirus at the Wuhan ance on Jan. 10 that said, “Based on
setting up the rest of the world for a The lab theory has been refuted by laboratory, only samples of similar experience with SARS and MERS …
pandemic. For his part, Secretary of scientists, including the Federation coronaviruses. The genetic differ- recommending droplet and contact
State Mike Pompeo has also pushed of American Scientists and the World ences between those samples and precautions when caring for pa-
the lab claim, and has even leveled Health Organization (WHO). Both the COVID-19 virus are significant. tients, and airborne precautions for
charges that China downplayed the disagree that the virus could have Even though they are in the same aerosol generating procedures con-
severity of the disease in January in originated from a laboratory — not family of viruses, it would take de- ducted by health workers.”
order to hoard medical supplies and by design, nor by accident. An April cades of mutations for any of those For scientists, medical profes-
equipment. 20th sciencealert.com article called samples to match the virus that has sionals and government officials,
The U.S. states of Missouri and “Scientists Are Tired of Explaining caused COVID-19. Daszak said, “No that is a clear warning about con-
Mississippi are suing China. Right- Why The COVID-19 Virus Was Not one had SARS-CoV-2 in culture. All of tagion. The WHO, along with the
wingers like former Trump aide Steve Made in a Lab” quotes Kristian An- the hypotheses [of lab release] depend most prestigious medical journals,
Bannon, Sens. Marco Rubio, Tom dersen, a professor in the Depart- on them having it in culture or having the Journal of the American Med-
Cotton, Ted Cruz and others are all ment of Immunology and Microbi- bats in a lab. No one’s got bats in a lab, ical Association, the New England
trafficking in China bashing. ology at Scripps Research Institute: it’s absolutely unnecessary and very Journal of Medicine and Lancet have
It would be easy to dismiss all of “By comparing the available genome difficult to do.” The funding from all published about COVID-19 and
this as more absurd bluster by Trump sequence data for known coronavi- the National Institute of Health that closely watched the casualty statis-
and his right-wing sycophants, but rus strains, we can firmly determine enabled Daszak’s collaborative work tics. None have reported any suspi-
presumed Democratic nominee for that SARS-CoV-2 originated through with China was cut off on April 23. cion that China was underreporting
president Joe Biden says that Trump natural processes. One strong in- The claim being pushed by Pompeo at any time. ₪

Soviet victory in Berlin ended Nazi terror

By Bill Dores In one of the war’s most iconic images, Red Army soldiers raise Soviet flag photographer Yevgeny Khaldei. On
over the ruins of the Reichstag, Berlin, on May 2, 1945. May 9, the German high command
May 9, 2020, is the 75th anniver- surrendered. The war raged for three
sary of the defeat of Nazi Germany more months in Asia until the sur-
and the end of World War II in Eu- render of Imperial Japan on Aug. 15.
rope. At least 80 million people died Four hundred and twenty thou-
in the Second World War, 3 percent sand U.S. soldiers and sailors died
of the world’s population. Among in the war, but for the U.S. capital-
them were millions of Jewish, Roma, ist ruling class, many of whom had
disabled, LGBTQ2S and other people supported Hitler before the war,
gassed, shot or starved to death be- World War II was the best thing that
cause the Nazis deemed them “unfit ever happened. The global devasta-
to live.” tion put U.S. banks and corporations
World War II and the rise of fas- at the center of the world capitalist
cism that preceded it were the prod- economy and gave birth to the U.S.
ucts of monopoly capitalist rivalry military-industrial complex and the
and a capitalist economic crisis not permanent war economy that is still
unlike the one we see today. The So- with us today.
viet Union, the world’s first social- The bodies of the dead were not
ist state, played the decisive role in buried, and ruined cities still smol-
ending it. PHOTO: YEVGENY KHALDEI dered when the U.S., Britain and West
Operation Barbarossa, the Nazi In the hero city of Leningrad alone, On the night of April 30, 1945, So- European capitalist powers turned
invasion of the USSR, was the big- 1.5 million people died from hunger, viet soldiers first raised the red So- on their World War II allies — the So-
gest military operation in history. artillery and bombs during an 837- viet flag atop the Reichstag, high viet Union and anti-fascist partisan
The Nazis controlled all the resourc- day siege. over Berlin. A few hours earlier, be- movements in Europe and Asia. They
es of occupied Europe. Italy, Finland, But in brutal battles in Moscow, low the streets of the German capi- launched the nuclear arms race and
Hungary, Romania and Spain joined Leningrad, Stalingrad and Kursk, tal, Adolf Hitler shot himself in his the “Cold War,” which was in reality
Germany in the invasion. the multinational Soviet Red Army underground bunker. a bloody onslaught against the rising
Twenty-seven million Soviet sol- broke the back of the Nazi war ma- Fighting continued for two more forces of socialism and national lib-
diers and civilians lost their lives. chine, fought its way west to Ger- days. On May 2, German forces in eration all over the world.
Seventy thousand Soviet cities, many and ended the Nazi dream of Berlin surrendered and this famous These events will be the topic of an
towns and villages were destroyed. a “Thousand-Year Reich.” picture was taken by Soviet war upcoming series in Struggle-La Lucha.
Page 6 May 11, 2020 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA

Venezuela smashes mercenary coup attempt

By Scott Scheffer On May 6, President Maduro an- to and a handful of other traitors to we had been involved, it would have
nounced the capture of four more the Bolivarian revolution. Togeth- turned out differently.”
In the early morning hours of mercenaries. One of them was cap- er, they trained a group of defectors But Guaidó’s chief strategist, Juan
May 3, sixty trained mercenaries in tured by the people of the town who had fled to Colombia after being José Rendón, inadvertently revealed
speedboats left Colombia and mo- of Cepe in Aragua state. Maduro defeated in an earlier coup attempt U.S. involvement in a CNN interview.
tored toward the northern coast of thanked the FANB and offered a spe- a year ago. The firefight was over When he was questioned about the
Venezuela, north of Caracas. cial thanks to the Bolivarian people quickly and Goudreau’s mercenaries nature of the contract — being one of
Their plan was to inspire a counter- of Cepe, Puerto Maya and Chuao, in were crushed. the signers — he described the doc-
revolutionary mutiny among Vene- the state of Aragua and Carayaca in ument as “an exploration to see the
zuelan soldiers and kidnap President La Guaira state for their assistance Contract signed by Guaidó possibility of capture and delivery
Nicolás Maduro to take him to the in the subsequent arrests of the Now that the attempted putsch of justice for members of the regime
U.S. But there was no mutiny. mercenaries. was defeated, the Guaidó forces deny who have an arrest warrant.” The
The Bolivarian National Armed any connection with the raid at all. contract was signed in October 2019,
Forces (FANB) were waiting for them. Coup planned for a year But Goudreau, who stayed at home but the bogus arrest warrants issued
Six mercenaries were killed in the It was a coup plan that was a year in in Miami during the raid, has since by the U.S. against President Mad-
encounter, and so far 23 have been the making. The training took place produced a contract, dated in Octo- uro and others didn’t happen until
arrested, including two U.S. Green in camps in Colombia, and there was ber 2019 and signed by Guaidó and mid-March 2020. In other words, the
Berets who spent months in Colom- an agreement that the forces aligned two of his cronies. plan was hatched knowing the arrest
bia training the right-wing assassins. with Juan Guaidó would pay more The contract details the payment warrants would be issued by the U.S.
A statement issued by FANB on than $200 million for the operation. of $213 million. Guaidó apparently five months before they were issued.
Sunday indicated that they had in- One of the leading figures was a attracted investors to finance the op- Once again, would-be coup plot-
filtrated the plot and, as the speed- former U.S. Special Forces soldier eration by paying 55 percent interest ters greatly underestimated the
boats attempted their amphibious named Jordan Goudreau, who, ac- on loans and preferential treatment commitment of the people to the
landing, FANB forces attacked and cording to a lengthy Associated Press regarding contracts in the energy Bolivarian political process. They
vanquished them. Interior Minister article that came out two days before industry in his intended new gov- thought they could inspire an up-
Nestor Reverol and Defense Minister the raid, was charged with stealing ernment. Since the raid was defeated, rising amongst soldiers who have
Vladimir Padrino López said that de- $62,000 in housing stipends from members of Primero Justicia, one of shown again and again that they
fensive operations were continuing. the military before he retired. Gou- the main political parties in Guaidó’s are with the revolution. But we can’t
National Constituent Assembly dreau later founded a private mer- G-4 coalition, condemned “Opera- take this victory by the Venezuelan
leader Diosdado Cabello said that cenary outfit called Silvercorp and tion Gedeón” as the raid is called, and people for granted. The fact that an-
weapons had also been seized at a has provided bodyguard services called on Guaidó to denounce it. other attempt happened, shows that
safehouse that had been set up in- for Trump. The Silvercorp website The White House also denies any U.S. imperialism is always a threat,
side the country, and that much of boasts being active in 50 countries. connection. “Whatever it is, we’ll let and that the threat is even greater
the weaponry matched what was Goudreau initially collaborated you know, but it has nothing to do due to the crisis the billionaires find
stolen in a failed coup attempt in with a former Venezuelan general, with our government,” said Trump. themselves in.
April 2019. It included three vehicles Cliver Alcalá, who has since surren- Defense Secretary Mark Esper The people’s movement has to be
fitted with machine guns, AR-15/ dered to the U.S. after having been denying Pentagon involvement, and ready to respond against the pos-
M16-type rifles, Glock pistols, am- indicted on drug trafficking charges. the CIA said that they tried to talk sibility of a direct U.S. intervention
munition belts, night vision goggles, Goudreau continued organizing the the coup plotters out of it. In another and to strengthen the fight against
handheld radios, tablet computers plot along with former Venezuelan denial that was also a threat, Secre- the deadly sanctions.
and body armor. National Guard Capt. Javier Nie- tary of State Mike Pompeo said, “If U.S. hands off Venezuela! ₪

TURKEY Political prisoners continue fight

as Grup Yorum member perishes
By Greg Butterfield It is urgent for leftist and work-
ers’ movements in the U.S. to join
May 7 — Today, musician and po- the international campaign to save
litical prisoner Ibrahim Gökçek died Turkey’s hunger strikers and sup-
in Istanbul, Turkey, after a near- port their demands. These include:
ly yearlong hunger strike against • Lift the ban on Grup Yorum
the repressive NATO government concerts.
of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. • Release imprisoned members of
Two days earlier, Gökçek had called Grup Yorum. Five Grup Yorum
a temporary pause to his fast, but it musicians are still in detention.
was too late. All are charged with being
“We weren’t palace clowns. We members of a “terrorist organi-
didn’t kill people. We sang songs. zation” — the communist Rev-
Damn this system,” said Gökçek olutionary People’s Liberation
shortly before his death. Party/Front (DHKP-C). A sign
Bass player Gökçek was the second Ibrahim Gökçek at funeral of Helin Bölek in April 2020.
PHOTO: FREE GRUP YORUM of goodwill by the government
member of socialist music group Grup would be the release of Sultan
Yorum to die in just over a month. His how do I leave the resistance when many other attorneys who represent Gökcek and Ali Araci, who have
bandmate and fellow hunger-striker the resistance has come to this stage, political movements, including Grup their trial on May 20.
Helin Bölek died on April 3. Anoth- when there is no concrete gain? Yorum, have themselves become po- • Stop raiding the Idil Cultural
er political prisoner who joined their “Now, with all our strength, we litical prisoners in Turkey. Centre.
“hunger strike to the death,” Mustafa must put pressure on the powers to Ünsal and his colleague Ebru Tim-
• A fair trial for all political prisoners.
Koçak, died in prison on April 24. meet our demands. Intellectuals and tik are now on a hunger strike to
Both Gökçek and Bölek were re- our musician friends should now the death, following the example • Reversal of unjust judgments
leased from prison earlier this year meet with the relevant ministry and of Ibrahim Gökçek and Helin Bölek. against hundreds of political
on medical grounds, as a result of a the presidency by establishing dele- Aytac is on day 96 of his death fast. prisoners, especially against the
massive international pressure cam- gations among themselves without Ebru is on day 127 of hers. people’s lawyers for up to 18 years
paign. But Erdoğan’s regime still re- delay, and ensure that our demands The blood of the Group Yorum mu- in prison as a result of statements
fused to meet their demands, which are met. I greet you all with the sicians is on the hands of Erdoğan. It by “secret witnesses” and
include the unbanning of Grup Yo- warmth of Helin and Mustafa and is also on the hands of U.S. President statements by police informant
rum concerts and the release of other the enthusiasm of our resistance.” Donald Trump and the leaders of the Cavit Yilmaz.
band members, and so the two con- NATO imperialist powers who allow • A fair trial for all accused!
tinued their hunger strike. In March, Support hunger strikers’ demands the fascist regime in Turkey to run Free the people’s lawyers, Grup
the government briefly kidnapped Four years ago, at a May 2016 anti- rampant against the working class Yorum members and all political
them from their beds and attempted fascist conference in Krasnodon, Lu- and peasants, leftist and Kurdish prisoners! Tell Trump and Erdogan
to force feed them, but failed. gansk People’s Republic, Ukrainian movements at home, while carrying to meet their demands now!
In a May Day appeal to fellow mu- activist Alexey Albu introduced me out genocidal wars on NATO’s behalf For updates, follow Free Grup Yorum
sicians and artists, Gökçek wrote: “I to Aytaç Ünsal from the People’s Law against neighboring Syria and in on Twitter and People’s Law Office on
want to live, of course. So, friends, Office in Turkey. Today, Ünsal and faraway Libya. Facebook.
 S TRUGGLE H LA LUCHA May 11, 2020 Page 7

STATEMENT FROM THE SOCIALIST UNITY PARTY

PARTIDO DE SOCIALISMO UNIDO

Dr. Roh Kil Nam

advocate for peace and
the reunification of Korea
On April 25, the world lost a great ist-maintained division between the
person dedicated to the Korean peo- North and South. He knew that the
ple, international solidarity, with an building of solidarity would require
unflinching determination to expose exposing those lies and profession-
the truth — all motivated by his love ally manufactured misinformation
for humanity. Dr. Roh Kil Nam, also in the belly of the beast — the U.S.
known as Ken Roh, was the found- Dr. Roh was instrumental in pro-
er of “Minjok Tongshin,” an online moting organizations dedicated of all oppressed peoples. He was also
news publication started in 1999 in to that purpose and his work was dedicated to the building of unity
the U.S. dedicated to reporting hon- recognized enough to have a meet- between progressive organizations
est news about the Democratic Peo- ing with a famous guerilla fighter in the U.S.

MAY DAY
ple’s Republic of Korea and coun- against Japanese occupation who Dr. Roh was a tireless advocate for
tering misinformation from the U.S. was also the DPRK’s first president, peace and reunification of the Korean
media about North Korea. Kim Il Sung. Later in life, Dr. Roh Peninsula. He traveled 75 times to the
Workers fight for their lives Dr. Roh was born in 1944 in Gang- would also be awarded the presti- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
neung, Gangwon-do, Korea, while gious Kim Il Sung award by the DPRK and each time brought back the truth
Continued from page 1
under Japanese colonial rule. Roh be- government in 2014 for exemplary of North Korea, her people and their
was born into slavery gan his political struggle for the de- service towards building the ideals efforts to defend their sovereignty.
in 1851 in Virginia, her mocratization of South Korea during of the North Korean people. Our heart goes out to his family,
mother being a slave. the dictatorship of U.S.-sponsored Upon arriving in the U.S. in 1973, and to all those who worked with Dr.
When we think about President Park Chung-hee. Dr. Roh quickly recognized that the Roh to end the imperialist division
May Day, we have to Being born into the brutal Japanese claims of freedom and democra- of beautiful Korea. Long live Dr. Roh
Lucy Parsons
reflect on its origins colonial rule and enduring dictator- cy in the U.S. were a myth that was Kil Nam! Korea is one!
and what it is meant to fight for, ship in South Korea helped forge the exposed by the civil rights move- For the Los Angeles Branch,
especially when we are struggling steel of an activist and journalist. Dr. ment and historical racism faced by Socialist Unity Party / Partido de
against racism and exploitation. Roh lived his life determined to pro- Black and Chinese people. His ideal Socialismo Unido:
Another institution that was fun- vide the movement for democracy of building solidarity and unity ex-
Maggie Vascassenno
damental in the establishment of in South Korea and the struggle for tended internationally. In Los An-
May Day was the First International, Rebecka Jackson
unification with the North with the geles County, where Dr. Roh lived,
an international grouping of leaders necessary tools to counter imperial- he was always happy to participate Scott Scheffer
of labor, communist, socialist and ism’s powerful weapon of lies help- and use his media to cover protests Jefferson Azevedo
anarchist organizations. ing to continue the U.S. imperial- supporting the liberation struggles John Parker ₪

Karl Marx on May Day

Webinar celebrates Lenin’s

One of its founders was Karl Marx.
Marx makes the links to Lucy Par-
sons and the need for May Day clear.

contributions to socialist struggle

In “Capital,” written in 1867, Marx
says:
“In the United States of America,
any sort of independent labor move-
ment was paralyzed so long as slavery As part of a series of Marxism John Parker, a leader of the Harriet it’s important to understand what
disfigured a part of the republic. La- classes sponsored by the Socialist Tubman Center for Social Justice in imperialism is. Lenin, building on
bor with a white skin cannot eman- Unity Party/Partido de Socialismo Los Angeles and national spokes- Marx, developed the theory that ex-
cipate itself where labor with a black Unido and Struggle-La Lucha news- person for the Socialist Unity Party, plained imperialism,” she said.
skin is branded. But out of the death paper, a special webinar was held talked about the importance of Le- From New York, Struggle-La Lu-
of slavery a new vigorous life sprang. April 26 to mark the 150th birthday nin’s historic contribution to under- cha co-editor Greg Butterfield spoke
The first fruit of the Civil War was of V.I. Lenin, founder of the Bolshevik standing the struggle of oppressed of what Lenin’s example can teach
an agitation for the 8-hour day — a (communist) Party and leader of the nationalities and people with special communists about responding to
movement which ran with express 1917 Russian Revolution. oppressions. moments of sharp change in capi-
speed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Presentations and discussion fo- talist society to further the fight for
from New England to California.” cused on Lenin’s contributions to How to build unity? revolutionary socialism.
And, to further the point of May revolutionary Marxism as a tool for “The question for the leaders of After the Russian Revolution, Lenin
Day’s relevance to socialism let’s the emancipation of workers and the Bolshevik Revolution was, how wrote the book “Left-Wing Commu-
bring it home with an article writ- oppressed peoples, including what were they going to build unity? How nism” to explain the history of the
ten for May Day in 1913 by the revo- we can learn from his example at could they unify the fighting army Bolshevik party and how it altered
lutionary socialist Rosa Luxemburg: this moment of global political, so- that was needed to take state power? its tactics to meet the challenges of
“The brilliant chief idea of the May cial and economic crisis. How could they convince oppressed a variety of situations, from times of
Day celebration is the independent The webinar kicked off with a di- non-Russian workers and peasants, reaction and repression to workers’
action of the proletarian masses, is verse group of activists reading pas- who historically didn’t trust the ma- upsurge. These experiences, Butter-
the political mass action of the mil- sages from Vince Copeland’s pamphlet, jority Russian population, to even field said, made it possible for Lenin
lions of workers … combined with “Lenin: Thinker, Fighter.” Copeland desire a socialist state? and the Bolsheviks to take the right
the direct international mass mani- described Lenin as “The ‘beginner’ “The solution came through try- course of action when a revolutionary
festation, the laying down of tools, is … part of the inevitable and uncon- ing to build trust through political situation arose during World War I.
a demonstration and fighting tactic scious force of history, [who began] a and economic solidarity, using the “Lenin couldn’t predict the exact
for the 8-hour day, world peace and whole chain of revolutions and a new right of self-determination.” date of the revolution even shortly
Socialism … the more the May Day phase in the world socialist revolu- Miranda Etel, an activist with before it happened, just like we can’t
idea, the idea of resolute mass action tion first conceived by Karl Marx.” Youth Against War and Racism and predict what will happen in two
as demonstrations of international Lenin recognized that the cause the Peoples Power Assembly in Bal- months or two years. But like Lenin,
solidarity and as a fighting tactic for of world socialism “requires a re- timore, recalled Lenin’s Marxist we can strive to be prepared, to be
peace and for Socialism … the great- lentless struggle against the rul- analysis of imperialism, the high- flexible and take advantage of those
er guarantee we shall have that from ing-class enemy, which resists the est stage of capitalism, and urged opportunities when they do come.”
the world war, which will inevitably coming into being of the socialist participants to review Lenin’s five- The webinar was recorded and is
take place sooner or later, there will age with all its might,” wrote Co- point definition of imperialism. available to view on the Struggle-La
result an ultimately victorious set- peland. “This struggle, in turn, re- “Why does the U.S. spend billions Lucha YouTube channel. You can
tlement of the struggle between the quires a different kind of person to on the Pentagon and almost nothing also read more at Struggle-La Lu-
world of labor and that of capital.” engage in it. It also requires a plan, on public health, education and jobs? cha’s page devoted to #Lenin150.
On behalf of Karl, Lucy and Rosa, a strategy, a theory and a leadership. Why is the U.S. government intent on Online Marxism classes are held
thank you to all the workers and “Lenin provided all those, but in inflicting pain and suffering around on the second and fourth Sundays
oppressed peoples of the world order to do that effectively he had the world through sanctions? Why of every month. Visit and “like” the
and their organizations that kept to conduct himself and even shape can’t we get life-saving medicine Struggle-La Lucha Facebook page
May Day and its mission alive, even himself in a certain way,” Copeland from Cuba during this pandemic? for updates and to register for up-
during this pandemic. ₪ explained. “To understand these questions, coming classes. ₪
Contesta los ataques contra Cuba con más solidaridad —
Cuba salva vidas Un ejército de batas
blancas integrado
por más de 593
Por Cheryl LaBash misiones médicas internacionales profesionales de la
humanitarias de Cuba. salud, de ellos 338
En las primeras horas del 30 de Detrás de escena, el giro diplo- mujeres, organiza-
abril, balas fueron disparadas hacia mático de los Estados Unidos no ha dos en 15 brigadas
la embajada Cubana en Washington, podido bloquear las solicitudes de del Contingente
asistencia médica Cubana. Frus- Henry Reeve, ya
D.C. El Ministro de Asuntos Exteri-
prestan sus ser-
ores Cubano Bruno Rodríguez Paril- trado, Pompeo destacó a Qatar y a
vicios en Europa,
la reportó por un tweet esta mañana Sudáfrica dio la bienvenida a su se-
América Latina y el
que “.el personal de la misión no re- gunda brigada. Caribe.
sultó herido y está a salvo. La inves- Hay más de veinte países con médi-
tigación está en proceso.” Rodríguez cos profesionales Cubanos ayudando
Parilla enfatizo, “Es la responsabil- a combatir contra el COVID-19, y más El 3 de Abril, On April 3, el Associ- podemos elegir los socios con los que
idad de los Estados de proteger a sus y más países solicitando el Interferón ated Press citó a la ministra de Rela- vamos a cooperar”.
diplomáticos acreditados a ellos y en Afa-2b recombinante de Cuba. Una ciones Exteriores de Andorra, María TheHill.com reportó que un indi-
sus instalaciones.” campaña, #SavingLives, también está Ubach, acerca de dar la bienvenida a viduo que fue arrestado en el lugar
Este ataque fue el mismo día creciendo en los Estados Unidos, abo- los internacionalistas médicos cu- enfrenta “cargos de posesión de un
después que U.S. Secretario de Es- gando por la colaboración entre Esta- banos al pequeño país en la frontera arma de fuego y municiones no reg-
tado Mike Pompeo y otros oficiales dos Unidos, Cuba y Canadá en la lucha de Francia y España: “Soy consci- istradas, asalto con la intención de
de la administración hizo declara- contra COVID-19, incluidos los ensayos ente de la posición de Estados Uni- matar y posesión de un dispositivo de
ciones públicas vilipendiando? las clínicos para el interferón Cubano. dos, pero somos un país soberano y alimentación de alta capacidad”. ₪

Answer attacks on Cuban Embassy with more solidarity

Cuba saves lives Cuba releases
photos of bullet-
riddled D.C. embassy.
By Cheryl LaBash arm twisting has failed to block re- See the bullet hole
quests for Cuban medical assistance. in statue of
Shots were fired at the Cuban In frustration, Pompeo singled out José Martí.
Embassy in Washington, D.C., in Qatar, and South Africa welcoming PHOTO: CANCILLERÍA
the early hours of April 30. Cuban its second brigade. DE CUBA / CUBAMINREX

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez There are now more than 20 coun-
Parilla reported by tweet this morn- tries with Cuban medical profes-
ing that “mission staff was not in- sionals helping to fight COVID-19,
jured and is safe. Investigation is in plus even more countries requesting
progress.” Rodríguez Parilla em- Cuba’s Interferon Afa-2b Recombi-
phasized, “It is the responsibility of nant. A #SavingLives campaign is an unregistered
States to protect diplomats accred- growing in the U.S., too, advocating firearm and un-
ited to them and their facilities.” U.S.-Cuba-Canada collaboration in and Spain: “I am aware of the po- registered ammunition, assault with
This attack comes just the morn- Fighting COVID-19, including clini- sition of the United States, but we the intent to kill, and possession of a
ing after U.S. Secretary of State Mike cal trials for Cuban interferon. are a sovereign country and we can high-capacity feed device.”
Pompeo and other administration On April 3, the Associated Press choose the partners with which we For those who want to oppose the
officials made public statements vil- quoted Andorran Foreign Minister are going to have cooperation.” latest attack on socialist Cuba in
ifying Cuba’s humanitarian interna- María Ubach about welcoming Cu- TheHill.com reported that an indi- words and deeds, please go to Sav-
tional medical missions. ban medical internationalists to the vidual arrested at the scene is facing ingLives.US-CubaNormalization.org
Behind the scenes, U.S. diplomatic tiny country on the border of France “charges of being in possession of for more information.

JUSTICE for AHMAUD ARBERY End white supremacy & racist murder
Continued from page 1 keep us divided in order to facili- nore racist homicides, must also be initially given a pass, sent home to
ing had a copy of the shocking vid- tate the super exploitation of Black charged as criminals. a good night’s rest and a pat on the
eo since February. Before May 7, and Brown peoples — is discarded, We know that these demands can- shoulder for a job well done.
no charges of any kind had been these lynchings will, unfortunately, not be met by the system unless they If our progressive movement, its
filed against the McMichaels, who continue. are forced upon it by a powerful and organizations and activists fighting
claimed they chased Arbery because Part of that fight to change society militant movement. for social and economic justice come
he “looked like a burglary suspect.” includes fighting for our demands. In 2013, sparked by the killing together in unity and solidarity with
The 2020 Ahmaud Arbery murder We should demand from this rac- of Trayvon Martin, the Malcolm X people of color fighting for libera-
is not only reminiscent of the 2012 ist system that any communities of Grassroots Movement released a tion and self-determination, we can
Trayvon Martin murder, it echos color, which have been victimized by 2012 annual report titled, “The Ex- move mountains.
the 1955 murder of Emmitt Till. The police murder, should have the right, trajudicial Killings of 313 Black Peo- It’s going to take millions of people
three lynchings are examle of what and be given the resources, to replace ple Killed by Police, Security Guards taking action against this problem of
political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal the existing police force in their com- and Vigilantes in the United States,” police terror, not only when these in-
explains in his 2017 book, “Have munities with one of their own mak- finding that a Black person is killed cidents happen. We have to be ready
Black Lives Ever Mattered.” ing, hiring trusted members from every 28 hours. This report inspired at all times. In this time of COVID-19,
In the chapter titled “To Protect their communities — a police force further research that found from we need to look for other ways to en-
and Serve Whom? Reforms? Or Rev- controlled and created by them. the years 2013 to 2018, an average of gage our communities in the fight to
olutionary Change,” Mumia writes In addition, to protect all people of 1,000 people are killed yearly by the tear down this existing criminal jus-
about the proposed solutions offered color no matter where they live, laws police. Black men and Native Amer- tice system and replace it with a sys-
by Dr. Huey P. Newton, Minister of protecting victims of racist terror icans held the highest percentage. tem that truly “protects and serves,”
Defense of the Black Panther Party. and murder cannot go unenforced Has this number changed? not the racists nor the system that
Newton wrote several articles pro- and must fall under a stricter set Again, out of anger and rage we enables them, but the people.
posing how we might totally trans- of guidelines with regard to crimi- mobilize for justice for another Gloria Verdieu,
form “American Policing.” In the nal justice. There should be imme- Black man brutally killed by a retired Rebecka Jackson,
tail end of the fiery 1960s and chill- diate arrests when people of color police thug and his son, who were
John Parker
ing 1970s, Newton’s articles followed are murdered by racists or police
years of on-the-ground organizing, or Immigration and Customs En-
demanding not “community polic- forcement or any other state or local
ing,” but “community control over criminal justice agency.
the police.” And those complicit in those
Until this capitalist system — crimes, including criminal justice
which needs tools like racism to officials from cops to judges who ig- Vol. 3, No. 9 May 11, 2020 Vol. 3, Núm. 9 11 de mayo de 2020