AnarchoBolshevik

Currently more than one Martinican in four (29.3%) lives under the poverty line. The rate in France is 11%. (statista.com) There are 34,500 Martinique households, out of about 140,000, who qualify for welfare payments. (tinyurl.com/3uk2hwzb)

Besides big demonstrations of thousands in Martinique, there were street barricades of burned cars and buses, checkpoints, blockades and supermarkets surrounded by pickets or burned out, according to online pictures. Four demonstrators were reportedly killed. The militant actions continued even after the central French government sent in detachments of its special anti-riot cops.

Protesters raised the issue of the monopolistic control the three major béké families have over the Martinique economy. The béké are the descendants of white plantation owners who made their initial wealth from using enslaved labor to produce sugar in the 17th and 18th centuries.

When France abolished enslavement in 1842, it fully compensated the plantation owners, the béké, for the loss of their enslaved labor. The békés used this capital to gain a commanding control of the Martinique economy. The people who produced all the wealth received freedom from enslavement but no reparations.

Most of the people living in Martinique and Guadeloupe are the descendants of the people enslaved by the békés.

On October 16, a number of civic groups that had been protesting and the government of Martinique signed an agreement reducing the price of 6,000 items that are used for food by 20%.

The Association for the Protection of African-Caribbean Peoples and Resources didn’t sign the agreement, because it thought it did not go far enough. The RPPRAC was a major force in the protests, holding a major demonstration on Oct. 21 and intends to continue the struggle.

The major force protesting in Guadeloupe has been the electrical workers union. Members marched into the power grid’s control room on Oct. 26, shutting it down to demand that their contract be honored and prices be lowered.

Houston PYM and allies demonstrated on Oct. 25 outside the downtown Shell Soccer Stadium. Chants of “No Vote for Genocide!” greeted those attending the rally.

According to Caleb Granger, one of the protesters, “We received a mixed reaction from those going into the stadium. Most were indifferent, but we did get some support, but there was also some hostility.”

The other popular chant was “Kamala, Kamala, You Can’t Hide! We Charge You with Genocide!” The Houston Chronicle reported that 1.5 million people signed up to attend the rally, and the stadium was totally filled with 30,000 people. A few small groups of Pro-Palestine activists got inside the stadium and tried to disrupt the rally but were immediately escorted out.

The demonstration was supported by Al-Awda, Jewish Voice for Peace, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Rice University Students for Justice in Palestine, and others.

SBWU explained in an email to supporters that, “Our amazing epic union baristas are organizing en masse, and this is our biggest Red for Bread action ever.”

On Oct. 1 SBWU announced that they had just unionized the 500th Starbucks store, in Bellingham, Washington. More union victories have been announced since then, from Chicago to Columbus, Ohio, to Epping, New Hampshire.

Studies have shown that where arenas are built, wages for Black workers fall, because retail, service and hospitality workers make less money. Aramark workers at Philadelphia’s football, basketball and baseball stadiums represented by UNITE HERE! Local 274 recently went on strike for four days in an effort to win higher wages and benefits. There is still no agreement on a new contract. (workers.org/2024/10/80990/)

The city’s community impact study predicted 50% of Chinatown businesses will be negatively impacted. Part of the current Fashion District Mall will be removed, meaning hundreds of jobs for Asian, Black, Indigenous and other people of color will be eliminated.

76Place won’t pay local property taxes, and developers want state and federal subsidies. The 76ers arena could cost the city and state $1 billion in lost tax revenue — translating to less money for schools and neighborhoods.

Instead of supporting an arena project that might provide jobs to their members for a short term but would harm the surrounding communities for decades, the construction trades would do better by demanding projects that are sorely needed in the poorest big city in the U.S. — such as new schools, libraries, day-care centers, mass transit, parks and improved infrastructure.

Many workers support the “No Arena in the Heart of our City” movement. Members of the Philly Black Workers Project and National Domestic Workers Association were present and active in the protests at City Hall on Oct 24. Educators, nurses and doctors have also been opposed to the arena and have joined many rallies in solidarity with the struggle to save Chinatown.

Hundreds of workers have signed the “Pro-Union, Pro-Chinatown Workers say NO ARENA IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY!” petition.

Which side are you on? All workers should be on the people’s side and oppose the construction of an arena that would displace the last community of color in Center City. And every council member should be too.

To sign the petition go to: tinyurl.com/3nkvkaax

The [neo]imperialist ruling class is trying to mobilize the population to consider People’s China their enemy. The speakers eloquently combatted these lies, which are delivered incessantly with the ruling class’s massive propaganda machine.

With their exposure of what they call “Western Marxism,” the speakers also refuted those academic Marxists who might have strong critiques of capitalist society but who never side with existing socialist countries, and they also undervalue the role of national liberation struggles.

They discussed how theory must be applied dialectically, taking into account the challenges of building socialism or even building a national economy in a world still dominated by imperialism. As Martinez put it, “Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels didn’t have the opportunity to view a socialist country over a long period of time.”

Flounders took up the same question, saying it is our responsibility to combat the ideas of the “housebroken, tamed Marxists in the predatory, capitalist centers, those who strip Marxism of its revolutionary character, the academic Marxists who find ways to support their own imperialist governments against the rising anti-colonial and revolutionary struggles of the Global South.”

In the presentations and in a lively Q&A, the panelists had an opportunity to develop their ideas and introduce their works. To view the video of this meeting, go to: https://redirect.invidious.io/watch?v=DZ0AZ3dk7_k

Striking members of the International Association of Machinists at Boeing won’t take any cheap deals. They once again defeated the company’s latest contract offer by a resounding 64%. The Oct. 23 vote was cheered by workers at the Seattle union hall, who showed they are ready to fight on for justice. The 33,000 IAM members have been on strike for over 45 days.

The tentative agreement still denied the workers full pensions, which is part and parcel of what this strike is about. The nixed deal offered the workers a 35% pay increase over four years; their demand is for 40%. There are other issues as well.

This strike has been a long time coming, and IAM members have been saving money and preparing for it for eight years.

During the winter of 2013–14, members of IAM District Local 751 had their pensions stolen from them in a high-pressure, well-orchestrated concessionary contract. In November 2013, Boeing executives demanded an eight-year contract from the Machinists, whose lead negotiator was International President Thomas Buffenbarger. It was a take it or leave it deal, demanding across the board concessions on everything the workers had fought for over many years, from pay rates to pensions and other important issues.

Boeing officials said then the company it would take production of the new 777X elsewhere in the country if the workers didn’t accept this latest deal. Workers would lose jobs. State and local politicians and the anti-labor corporate media chimed in with Boeing in demanding the workers vote on the contract offer — which meant vote for it.

Boeing had already moved much of the production of the 787 plane out of the Seattle and Portland, Oregon, areas — where Most of the Machinists’ jobs are — to South Carolina, an anti-union, right-to-work state. This was a union-busting move.

Under a lot of pressure, but still very angry, the workers voted that takeaway contract down by 67%. However, that wasn’t the end of it. Boeing collaborated with President Buffenbarger to demand a revote on Jan. 3, 2014. In his fear, Buffenbarger had jumped across the class barricade!

Most of the workers were on vacation since Boeing Machinists get a year-end paid vacation around Jan. 1. By a slim margin of 51%, the Machinists, under more pressure because Buffenbarger favored it, voted for a contract which retained local production of the 777X plane but got rid of their valued pensions, along with other takeaways.

This was a lot of Boeing bluffing, because very few of the 777X planes were ever produced. What was left was a greatly eroded contract. Now union members are angry and ready to fight like hell.

This year the IAM is demanding that the next generation commercial airplane be produced by union workers in the Northwest — very important for preserving their jobs. But the company so far has only committed to preserving jobs for four years or the life of the contract.

Boeing has stated in no uncertain terms that it won’t allow the workers to have their full defined benefit pensions back. But the struggle of the Machinists might make the bosses eat their words.

We, in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), condemn in the strongest terms the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which targeted military sites in several governorates.

We consider it a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation targeting the security of the region and the safety of its people, which holds the occupation fully responsible for the repercussions of this aggression supported by the United States.

This fascist aggression confirms once again the nature of the criminal occupation entity, which continues to shed the blood of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and other Arab and Islamic peoples, relying on criminal military and political cover from the U.S. administration and some Western capitals.

We commend the readiness of the Islamic Republic, its air defenses and its response to the Zionist attack, which succeeded in nullifying its effectiveness and strengthened the position of our free peoples, their valiant resistance and their struggle against Zionist and U.S. hegemony.

We affirm our solidarity and support for Iran in the face of the arrogance and chaos of the Zionist entity, and we appreciate the courageous positions shown by the Iranian people and their leadership in supporting our Palestinian people and their just cause.

While the sheer numbers are impressive, what stood out in particular was the passage of the Kazan Declaration on Oct. 23 by the BRICS countries. It included provisions denouncing Israel and calling for an immediate ceasefire of the “unprecedented escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as a result of the Israeli military offensive, which led to mass killings and injury of civilians, forced displacement and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure.

“We stress the urgent need for an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and detainees from both sides who are being illegally held captive and the unhindered, sustainable and at scale supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and cessation of all aggressive actions. We denounce the Israeli attacks against humanitarian operations, facilities, personnel and distribution points.”

With a political statement, the Kazan Declaration also addressed Israel’s escalation of the conflict into a regional war, with the “loss of civilian lives and the immense damage to civilian infrastructure resulting from attacks by Israel in residential areas in Lebanon and call for immediate cessation of military acts.”

The Declaration also called for comprehensive reform of the United Nations, including the Security Council, to more adequately respond to global challenges while supporting the aspirations of emerging and developing countries. It called for BRICS countries to play a greater rôle in international affairs, in particular in the U.N.

Beyond the Declaration, what will be the significance of the Kazan Summit?

BRICS is a contradictory formation. Prior to the summit, BRICS+ issued a historic report proposing the creation of new infrastructures to trade and transfer money using national currencies other than the U.S. dollar, further prompting the global call for de-dollarization.

On one hand, it is challenging the oligarchs of the West and will lead to their further isolation. On its own, BRICS will not change the class relations in these countries. Yet anything that further isolates the global [neo]imperialist camp, led by Washington, and undermines its use of the dollar as a weapon targeting countries the U.S. opposes, aids the struggle of nations oppressed by [neo]imperialism.

During her speech, WWP member Madison Johnson quoted from WWP General Secretary Larry Holmes, saying:

“Anti-imperialism is a pillar of proletarian or working-class internationalism. Internationalism is the solidarity in theory and in practice of the workers and oppressed peoples of the world. Fascism is based on reactionary imperialist nationalism. Its purpose is to have the workers fighting each other instead of capitalism.

“Internationalism on the other hand is the exact opposite of fascism and the enemy of fascism. U.S. imperialism may be diminished but it remains the leader of the capitalist world, and this reality requires that the working-class movement in the U.S. has the strongest internationalist orientation, especially in practice. A new workers’ movement in the U.S. that is not strong on internationalism would remain chained to imperialism.”

It is only through action that we can break the chains and let Cuba live. Now, more than ever, we must mobilize to defend the Cuban Revolution from the forces of international capital.

The rally was one of many pro-Cuba events held around the country as the United Nations General Assembly is set to vote Oct. 30 on its annual resolution to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba.

This year will be the 32nd time the UNGA has voted on the resolution, which has consistently been supported by all but two countries, the U.S. and Israel. Last year representatives from 187 countries voted in favor and Ukraine abstained, and once again, the U.S. and Israel opposed it.

The organizing for this yearly action was initiated by the New York/New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition which includes many other organizations and individuals.

Activists in attendance represented the Venceremos Brigade, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, December 12th Movement, Workers World Party, NYC Communist Party, Democratic Socialists of America, United National Anti-War Coalition, Bronx Anti-War Coalition, Struggle La Lucha, Party For Socialism and Liberation, and Partido Libre D19.

While many who attended the Oct. 25 meeting were heartened to hear Biden’s apology, others said that the apology wasn’t nearly enough to reverse the long-lasting physical and psychological harm done to those forced to attend the schools and to the generations that followed.

Rosalie Whirlwind Soldier, a 79-year-old member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, who suffered severe mistreatment at a school in South Dakota that left her with a lifelong, painful limp, said, “Sorry is not enough. Nothing is enough when you damage a human being. A whole generation of people and our future was destroyed for us.” She and others are asking what comes next after the apology. (Associated Press, Oct. 25)

Indigenous activists and allies protest in Boston.

United American Indians of New England (UAINE), the main organizer of the annual National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts, stated on its Facebook page in anticipation of the president’s Oct. 25 announcement: “Biden to issue apology, without reparations, for U.S. Indian boarding schools. Nothing pledged to help Native children and families now dealing with intergenerational trauma, disproportionate number of children in care and all the other effects of genocidal U.S. anti-family policies.”

UAINE continued: “No increased support for Indigenous language revitalization. Not to mention the necessity of landback. Nor the fact that this is being done for votes by an administration actively committing genocide. And free Leonard Peltier!”

Any formal apology by a U.S. president to an oppressed people, such as one President Bill Clinton made in 1997 to African Americans regarding slavery and Biden made recently to Indigenous peoples, is certainly a concession. But these apologies for state-sanctioned atrocities are [ineffective], because their white supremacist legacies remain intact.

Workers World is in total solidarity with UAINE and other Indigenous peoples in demanding that reparations be put in place to make any kind of apology real for those who are still fighting for their right to basic human rights, sovereignty and self-determination.

Otherwise, these apologies amount to nothing but grandstanding.

cross-posted from: https://lemmygrad.ml/post/2579139

November 3 is the anniversary of The Greensboro Massacre in 197[9] North Carolina. On this day, peaceful protesters were murdered by neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan.

When The Communist Worker's Party (CWP) planned the parade, their parade license was only granted on the condition that they not bring weapons. Despite the questionable legality of the request, they agreed to the condition in order to push the paperwork through. They then posted flyers and advertisements for the parade calling for the expulsion of the Klan. Meanwhile, the Nazis and the KKK prepared for action with the aid of police informants.

On the day of the parade, the police were told to arrive at the rally point at 11:30. The [neo]fascists arrived shortly before, and immediately started shooting at the assembling protest. A few CWP members had sneaked handguns with them, and returned fire. The gunfight lasted less than 2 minutes, but it left 5 anti-fascists dead, and another 9 wounded. 2 reporters were wounded, and only 1 [neo]fascist was wounded.

The police arrived shortly after. Of the 10 cars in the [neo]fascist convoy, they stopped only one, which was carrying a dozen men. Then of course, they started arresting CWP members.

Of course, this story ends like most. The [neo]fascists were charged, then acquitted by all white juries. The police were found to be colluding with the [neo]fascists on the day of the incident, as well as before.

In 2004, they had a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission" re-evaluate the event. They decided that "both sides" contributed to the violence, the CWP by saying things like "Death to the Klan", and they "Should be physically beaten and chased out of town", and the [neo]fascists by being forced to shoot at them in return. They noted that the police knew about it, and were notably absent.

In 2009, the city issued a "statement of regret".

In 2015, they installed a marker acknowledging the massacre happened. Two council members opposed it.

In 2020, 41 years later they finally apologised. Two council members still opposed it.

Somebody recorded the violence on video, which you can find online.

See also: Morningside: The 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the Struggle for an American City's Soul

Interview with two survivors of the assault, Reverend Nelson Johnson and Joyce Hobson Johnson.

Interview with Dr. Marty Nathan, the widow of Dr. Mike Nathan, whom a neofascist murdered in the assault.