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1987 1987-06Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 4 →
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SOCIALIST ACTION JUNE 1987 Shanker's paid ad recited the litany of false accusations, half-truths, and lies, which, in the past, sufficed to undermine the credibility of those who struggled against the war policies of the U.S. government.
In past decades-and until recently-the virulent anti-communism and red-baiting of bureaucrats like Shanker had been effective in separating the ranks of labor from many issues worthy of their support.
"Infuriating clichés"
Recalling his mother's advice to "Watch out who you hang out with; they could get you in trouble," Shanker did not wince at associating the labor and church-initiated April 25 action with his most cherished hate words. These included "Marxist-Leninist, guerrilla forces, the USSR, the P.L.O., communists" as well as a number af newer enemies, like the Sandinista government of Nicaragua.
These words, according to Stanley Hill, were "The same infuriating clichés and innuendos we heard in the days before Dr. Martin Luther King's legendary March on Washington in 1963."
Jeff Mackler was a member of the steering committee of the April 25 Western States Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice. TANLE I.NI Socialist Action/Tina Beacock
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as mandating affiliates to toe the AFL-CIO line. [See May 1987 Socialist Action, "Labor defies threats by AFL-CIO's Kirkland.] Kirkland's letter was issued after a number of local affiliates in several states had endorsed the April 25 actions. While a few of these—such as the labor councils in Portland, Ore., and Baltimore, Md.reluctantly rescinded their endorsement, the great bulk refused to buckle under Kirkland's pressure.
All eight Northern California central labor councils refused to rescind. A number wrote Kirkland bitter letters stating their disagreement with his action. Kirkland, it should be noted, sent out his letter in his individual capacity-and not with the authority of the AFL-CIO's Executive Council, which had discussed the April 25 action at its February meeting and declined to take action.
A few of the Northern California labor councils chose to avoid a head-on collision with Kirkland in the face of the possible ZOUTN S NO IN Oun US CITIES AID TO APARTHEID