SWP defaults on referendum

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Why, then, call for a "voting stance of abstention"? Does the SWP believe that over 260,000 peoBOSTON-Despite the election of Ronald ple should not have been allowed to vote against Reagan, the antiwar movement here won an impor- U.S. aggression until they first came to recognize the tant victory when voters decisively rejected Reagan's class nature of the capitalist parties? war policy in Central America. The support for Ref- The Militant does not explain why it is a "divererendum no.1, reported in last month's Socialist sion" to work with hundreds of activists who effecAction, clearly showed that Boston-area voters have tively reached out to thousands of others on the little interest in funding the contras against the government of Nicaragua or aiding the military in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Unfortunately the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) failed to support the referendum campaign. They did not attend its meetings. Their newspaper, The Militant, did not report its events. Anyone relying solely on The Militant for information would not even know the referendum had won.

The SWP has, however, attempted to explain its position. In its Oct. 26 issue, The Militant printed an article by Jon Hillson entitled, "Boston 'peace' rally This article, which correctly criticizes the proMondale tone of a demonstration held the previous month, attacks the referendum on four points.

Hillson says the SWP "adopted a voting stance of abstention" because: 1) the referendum is "endorsed by numerous Democratic politicians"; 2) "the referendum and literature backing it omit any reference to Democratic support for U.S. war policy"; 3) "the referendum's main function is to give antiwar cover and win votes for the Democrats"; and 4) it "is clearly a diversion from organizing against the war."

The SWP's abstention was wrong and its criticism's were unwarranted. The referendum deserved support from everyone opposed to U.S. interference The Militant neglects to mention an important fact: The Central America Referendum Campaign did not at any time endorse anyone for any office.

Since the campaign was a broad coalition, the different organizations and individuals within it held conflicting views on the presidential election.

Certainly some referendum activists voted for Walter Mondale, some abstained, others supported socialist tickets. Members of Socialist Action working in referendum committees voted for Mel Mason, presidential candidate of the SWP. But the referendum was not built around any candidate or party. It was built by activists united against U.S. intervenIt is true that the referendum did not blame the Democrats for U.S. policy. Neither did it blame the Republicans. Or Ronald Reagan. Nor was there any mention of capitalism and imperialism. In short, no one was required to accept a specific analysis in order to vote for peace in Central America. The referendum simply gave Massachusetts citizens a chance to make their voices heard and to show tha the majority of people do not want war. speakers support Democrats."

A broad principled coalition in Central America. tion in Central America. the Reagan administration." viously denied.

Union Carbide also

PEACE for A break with the past national average? Michigan Socialist Action P.O. Box 4523 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Minneapolis Socialist Action P.O. Box 14087 Dinkytown Station Minneapolis, MN 55414 New York Socialist Action P.O. Box 20209, Ca. Finance 693 Columbus Ave New York, NY 10025 ocratic Party group."

other radicals." made.

them all the time and does. "

died."

Phoenix socialist ACuOT P.O. Box 5161 Phoenix, AZ 85010 (602) 894-0055 Pittsburgh Socialist Action P.O. Box 10769 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 rugel sound socialist Acdon P.O. Box 2903 Olympia, WA 98507 Reverse this course Errata: within profit constraints." unbridgeable gulf.

San Francisco Socialist Action 3435 Army Street, Rm. 308 San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 821-0458 Washington Socialist Action P.O. Box 3467 Washington, D.C. 20010 (202) 232-1481 West Virginia Socialist Actic P.O. Box 701 Fairmont, WV 26555-0701

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troops from Vietnam." ment-as it did in the past.