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time by a simple majority vote. In short, unions could take over all abandoned this was a state that was a servant to the shops. As a result 10 factories were soon people, not their master as all previous occupied and run by the workers. Fines levied against workers and the firing of One of the first decrees of the Coun- workers were prohibited. All empty cil was the abolition of the standing houses were requisitioned for refugees. army and in its place the establishment Widows and children of fallen soldiers of universal conscription to the National Guard. Here lay another revolutionary departure from previous pracThe workers organize themselves tice, for all preceding states required an army standing apart from the people to With the establishment of this revoenforce unpopular decrees. Without this lutionary freedom, a sense of jubilation coercive force such legislation becomes swept through the city. Many who previMously found life listless and dull were In the days to follow, the Council carried away by a tide of enthusiastic decreed the continuation of the morato- creativity. For the most part, for examrium on rents. Judges were to be ple, the National Guard ran itself. elected, the separation of church and Churches were commandeered as meetstate was proclaimed, church schools ing places, and several town halls were were closed, and education was to be taken over—in one the mayor was even free. Women were encouraged to go to All out/April 20 action in Washington, D.C., however, have been late in getting off the ground.

The delay in building the Washington action is a reflection of more than just overthrow Nicaragua's Sandinista govThe April Actions for Peace, Jobs, and Justice coalition in the nation's capital has not focused on building April In this issue of Socialist Action we 20. Instead, it has tended to emphasize present reports on the important strides the smaller civil-disobedience and lobforward that have been made in build- bying actions scheduled during April 19ing local coalitions in numerous cities across the country-particularly on the An energetic organizing drive is needed in the final weeks leading up to The San Francisco coalition [see article on page 6] is perhaps the clearest example of what is possible today.

Undaunted by Reagan's large electoral victory, this coalition appealed to the wide range of groups and individuals targeted for cutbacks or concerned about the war threats and the racist support to the South African government. • The San Francisco coalition also made every effort to make it easier for the trade unions to get involved. Keeping the anti-intervention focus on Central America and the Caribbean was essential in retaining the support of the unions, who, for example, are not yet ready to agree to slogans calling for an end to U.S. intervention in the Middle Keeping the mass-action character of the April 20 demonstration separate from the civil-disobedience nature of the activities scheduled for other days was also critical in maintaining the participation of unions in the San FranTremendous progress has been made in building local coalitions for April 20.

Preparations for building the April 20 controlled. the war was conducted. verge of starvation.

states had been.

were adopted by the Commune. impossible.

ury mansions in the country.

ousted. school. In one section The legislated pality itself took (continued from page 1: “All out for April 20!”) an organizational weakness. tee to fill the vacuum.

ernment.

The example of San Francisco 22.

West Coast.

and a moratorium on rents.

cation. lution in its infancy. blood." of the city the municicharge of feeding and mune!" and independence of the artist. marches!-THE EDITORS