Anti-Racists Rock NEA Convention

WASHINGTON DC, July 5 — Teachers and students from the East Coast attended the largest teachers union convention in the U.S., the National Education Association (NEA). We had two demonstrations inside the convention hall and with help from delegates inside the different committee/caucus meetings presented resolutions calling on teachers to stand with their students against the re-segregation of the public schools and the racist budget cuts that primarily hurt students.

We received a warm reception from many with comments like, “Keep up your good job! Excellent work! I’m so glad you guys are here!” 

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AFT: Unity with Students and Parents Only Way to Fight Bosses’ Racist Attacks

School systems across the globe serve two related purposes: an economic goal of churning out the next generation of workers to exploit, and the political purpose of building loyalty to the capitalist system. The teacher unions worldwide accept this two-fold mission and the attacks on students it requires. These unions are part of the problem, not the solution!

Capitalist school systems are giant sorting mechanisms that absorb, train, rank and spit out millions of young people each year. From the supposedly great school systems of Finland or Shanghai to the pits of racist neglect in Detroit, this relentless labeling and ranking of our youth — each one of whom is brimming with potential — maintains a “tight” labor market at every skill level, from fast food to PhDs. As a result of this forced competition, fear becomes the rule on the job. Fight-back all but vanishes.

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International AIDS Conference: ‘Turn the Tide with Communist Revolution!’

Over 30,000 people from around the world have gathered in Washington, DC, for the 19th International AIDS Conference, “Turning the Tide Together.” 

To really turn the tide, PLP’ers in the AIDS movement declare that an anti-racist, communist workers’ revolution is required that includes and unites all parts of the global working class. The capitalist system continually reinforces and reproduces the conditions that cause AIDS and must be destroyed to secure a final victory against AIDS.

HIV And Racism

HIV disproportionately affects poor working class people around the globe, hitting hardest those oppressed by racism, sexism, poverty, and stigma because of sexual orientation and gender identities. In Washington, DC, 12 percent of African-American women live with HIV, and nearly half of young black gay men have HIV.

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Paraguay: Landowners’ Coup Seizes Power

NEW YORK CITY, July 6 — PLP rallied today in front of the Paraguayan embassy, in solidarity with the thousands of workers and farmers marching in the capital city of Asuncion. We condemned the parliamentary coup by the big landowners of Paraguay and their U.S. imperialist backers. PLP noted that Fernando Lugo, the ousted president, had never been a friend of the working class despite his progressive rhetoric. It will take communist revolution to change the grinding racist exploitative system in Paraguay, not liberal reform or a version of Hugo Chavez’s “21st century socialism.”

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France: Bosses Cheer Socialists’ Austerity Against Workers

PARIS, July 11 — France’s new Socialist government has lost no time changing from Dr. Jekyll into Mr. Hyde. New austerity measures will come hard and fast in dealing with capitalism’s crisis which essentially will be to tax the workers — suffering a 17.3 percent unemployment rate — to help the rich. A combination of tax hikes mainly on the working class, wage freezes, pension cuts and reducing employer contributions to the social security system all will help the bosses maintain profits and competitiveness. And the union leaders will play a leading role in selling this to the working class.

Taxes, Cuts Hit Workers

One of newly elected President François Hollande’s main advisors said, “We can’t wait any longer…. We have to strike hard right from this summer, when the law rectifying the 2012 budget is voted; and this autumn, when the 2013 budget is voted….to drive home the nail by increasing taxes and really cutting expenditures.” 

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Obama’s Executive Order: Trap for Workers

Once again, U.S. President Obama has made an empty promise to undocumented workers and their families. It can prove to be a dangerous, vicious trap. As CHALLENGE reported, Obama took an “executive action,” declaring that certain undocumented immigrants will be given “deferred action” status for two years. In order to qualify, the person has to be 30 years old or younger; have been brought here before age 16 by an undocumented parent; have lived in the U.S. for more than 5 years; and graduated from high school or gotten a GED or been in the military.  Also, qualification depends on not having any conviction greater than an “insignificant” misdemeanor.  All applicants will be fingerprinted and subject to FBI checks.

If approved, a driver’s license and work will be permitted, but that’s all. Obama made it clear that this program will not lead to anyone getting a green card or citizen status. At the end of two years, one will have to reapply.  There will be no process for appeal if the local immigration officer denies the application.

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Con Ed Workers Take the Power Back!

NEW YORK CITY, NY, July 18 — “While profits soar, Con Ed takes the food out of our children’s mouths!“ read the sign of one UWUA (Utility Workers’ Union of America) Local 1-2 worker, locked out by the Consolidated Edison utility company. The bosses will continue to steal food from our families until workers bring forth a communist society, where we all get what we need. 

Con Ed locked out their 8,500 workers and is using 5,000 managers as scabs.Con Ed had engineers teach contractors how to do the work two months before the lockout. 

Workers Must Fight Back Against Scabs, Cops, Bosses

At the Rye, NY location, workers have physically stopped scab trucks from entering. Con Ed filed an injunction to prevent no more than four workers picketing at any single location and at a certain distance from the location.

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Arab Spring Dry Season for Workers in Egypt

When Egypt’s working class joined the Arab Spring rebellion last year, it shook up the country’s ruling class. Workers in transportation, textiles, and the cement industry, along with those operating the Suez Canal, struck for a living wage and jobs for youth. It was only then that the rulers were forced to pay attention to the rebellion, which helped lead to dictator Hosni Mubarak’s ouster. But there was no revolution, because capitalism remained. Political power remained in the hands of the same bosses, in this case the group of generals who also held enormous economic power.

Unfortunately, the uprising lacked communist working-class politics. Consequently, as CHALLENGE said at the time, workers in Egypt would face continued oppression from either Mubarak’s pro-U.S. military or the al Qaeda-linked Muslim Brotherhood. That is exactly what happened. Today, after an indecisive Egyptian election, we see the generals and Islamists struggling for power. Neither side represents workers. Just as in Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney, electoral politics is proving a lethal distraction for our class.

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Wanted for Murder

JOHNSTOWN, PA. July 2 — Last week, two white Johnstown KKKops opened fire on a group of unarmed black men, killing one, Rasheed Simms, and seriously wounding another, Lontell King. Though these mad dog cops had no real reason for murdering and wounding these black men, they were placed on paid leave until a so-called investigation could determine if they acted with excessive force — as though killing a guy could be labeled anything else.

The people did not take this lying down. While the local media is attempting to sweep this murder under the rug, on June 30 there was a militant anti-racist, multi-racial protest against the actions of these Killer Kops, calling for justice for the two victims. The wounded man was at the protest and showed his wound to the local news station. One young black man stated that the whole incident was caused by racism and most agreed with him.

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Wanted for Ramarley's Murder

BRONX, NY — The family of Ramarley Graham and the working-class community here continue to fight the racist NYPD over the execution of this young man on February 2nd, 2012. The KKKop, Richard Haste, has been indicted on a ridiculous 2nd degree manslaughter charge. The trial is set to begin on September 13th. The last of the weekly vigils for Ramarley will take place on July 19th and all workers and students are encouraged to attend. (The vigils take place at 6:00 PM on East 229th street between White Plains and Barnes, in the Bronx.)

One of the chants that rings out during our weekly vigils and marches is “No Justice, No Peace, No Racist Police!” This chant reflects the incredible anger and vigilance in the community over this racist murder. At the same time, it reflects the optimism that many have that “justice” will be served. As we have rooted ourselves deep in the struggle here, PLP members have probed the notion of “justice” that the community yearns for.  

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