Faubus endorses Jesse Jackson

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Former Arkansas Governor Orval E. Faubus, a symbol of Jim Crow segregation, endorsed Democratic candidate Jesse Jackson for president. Faubus is best remembered for ordering the Arkansas National Guard to encircle Central High School in Little Rock in 1957 to prevent the court-ordered enrollment of nine black children.

This, of course, is not necessarily Jackson's problem: He can't be held responsible for who supports him. It's who and what he supports that counts. But such endorsements of Jackson are not unique. Other prominent figures, whose "support" for Blacks' rights and workers' rights can only be considered a grotesque joke, have also given Jackson their support. Democratic Party House Majority Leader Jim Wright of Texas said he could support a presidential ticket of San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein and Jesse Jackson. Jackson's attitude toward such endorsements can be measured by his ritual posing for press photographers with Alabama's George Wallace-no less a symbol of American racism than Faubus.

Jackson has received extensive coverage in the mass media and has been genSocialist Action April 1984 erally given favorable treatment usually reserved for "major" (approved) candidates. The media's overall friendly treatment of the Jackson candidacy can only be partially explained by the mass Black support Jackson enjoys. The fuller explanation for the boost given Jackson's campaign by the big-business media is their acute concern over the growing boycott of the electoral process by the most oppressed of the nation's eligible voters. Forty-seven percent of them— disproportionately Black, young, poor, and unemployed-abstained from voting in 1980.

Almost all sides of the body politic, for their own reasons, are interested in bringing the abstainers into the electoral process. The Democrats expect to be the main recipients of the votes of those brought into the electoral process by the Jackson campaign. The heads of the labor, Black, and women's organizations hope that greater participation of "their" constituencies at the polls will strengthen their ability to solicit concessions from capitalist politicians.

Even the Republicans, who don't bother to disguise their anti-working class politics, have a stake in getting out the vote of the disaffected and disenfranchised sector of the electorate. They fear that behind the mass abstention lurks a steady accumulation of explosive discontent. As long as the ruling class can keep the choices limited to the "major" candidates, getting this large disinherited mass of people involved in elections is a safety valve for letting off some of the built-up dissatisfaction.

Jackson's base in the Democratic party machine makes him a prisoner of the capitalist money-bags who bankroll the party. The compromises Jackson is compelled to make to earn the support of the capitalist class prevent him from serving the interests of Blacks and all working people. He must support the war budget and its imperialist purposes, albeit with the usual liberal-sounding phrases calling for piddling reductions in military spending. He must support the principle of capitalist profit-making.

Jesse Jackson, shackled by his dependence on one of the main political institutions upholding racism in capitalist America, may help bring some of the large number of disenchanted sectors back into the electoral shell-game, but it will lead to disappointment and demoralization for these new voters. The only way to bring millions of people who have turned their backs on the electoral farce into political activity that can inspire, mobilize, and produce results is through a decisive break with capitalist political parties.

The idea of a "Rainbow Coalition" has great merit. The exploited and oppressed of all colors need to unite in a political movement to win their freedom from exploitation and oppression. But a ROSARIO IBARRA DE PIEDRA - Spokesperson, National Front Against Repression (FNCR) - First Woman Presidential Candidate In Mexican History (1982) "Rainbow Coalition" tied to the capitalists and their parties will never win freedom. It can only serve as an objective support for the capitalist system. The only way a coalition against capitalist profiteering, racism, and war can carry out a genuine struggle is through electing independent working class candidates against the parties of the bosses. A genuine "Rainbow Coalition," a labor party based on the unions, would be a giant step toward a real struggle in the interests of the disinherited masses, including those who have turned their backs on electoral politics.

While a labor party may not be in the cards for this year's presidential election, we can cast a vote for the principle of class independence by supporting Mel Mason and Andrea Gonzalez, the Socialist Workers Party presidential ticket. -N.W.

Hear: Rosario Ibarra LOS ANGELES: April 14-18 MAIN RALLY: April 14, 7 p.m.

International Institute, 435 S. Boyle SANTA ANA: April 15, 7 p.

City Hall Annex, Santa f SAN FRANCISCO: April 18-20 MAIN RALLY: April 19, 8 p.m.

Women's Bldg.,3543 18th St.

MINNEAPOLIS: April 20-21 MAIN RALLY: April 20, 7:30 p.m.

Law Bldg., West Bank 229 19th Ave. S., U. of M.

CHICAGO: April 21-23 MAIN RALLY: April 21, 7:30 p.m.

UE Hall, 37 S. Ashland Ave.

NEW YORK: April 23-25 MAIN RALLY: April 24, 8 p.m.

Riverside Church HOUSTON: April 25-27 MAIN RALLY: To be announced Contact David Rossi (713) 643-2030

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