April 30 actions point way for antiwar mov't

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MURDERED BY U.$. Policy-CONTRAS On Thursday, April 28, the Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice organized a rally at the S.F. Federal Bldg. to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of By AMANDA CHAPMAN There has been a decided shift in the antiwar movement away from mass demonstrations and toward electoral activities inside the Democratic Party.

Many leaders of the movement are promoting the idea that if Jesse Jackson wins the presidency he will somehow manage to significantly alter U.S. foreign policy. They forget that when Jackson failed to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984, he came out in support of Walter Mondale who had called for a quarantine of Nicaragua.

Another reason for the general demobilization of the movement is the widespread belief that the war in Nicaragua is over. Even many long-time activists believe that the contras are prepared to end their war on the Nicaraguan people without having reversed the gains of the Nicaraguan Revolution.

In fact, the demands for "democratization" that contra leaders insist the negotiations hinge on would constitute such a reversal for the Nicaraguan people.

Contra leaders have hailed the Sapoá agreement as a chance for "a two-month rest with supplies while we test the Sandinistas' willingness to comply with their promises." While the negotiations are going on, the contras have begun to receive "humanitarian" aid through the U.S.-funded Agency for International Development.

What the Nicaraguan people need most right now is continued pressure on the U.S. government to immediately stop all forms of intervention in their political and economic life—-no matter which representatives of the ruling class win the November Independent mass action The only way to apply that kind of pressure is through independent mass demonstrations like those planned for April 30 in Kansas City and San Francisco.

The Kansas City march and rally will focus on two demands: U.S. Out of Central America and No Contra Aid. It is sponsored by the Coalition for Non-Intervention in Central America.

The San Francisco march and rally is The following are portions of a program broadcast on radio station KPFA in Berkeley, Calif., on March 23, 1988. Interviewed were Carl Finamore (staff director of the Mobilization for Peace, Jobs, and Justice) and Seymour Kramer (a member of the Mobilization's steering committee).

KPFA: What do you think is going to be focal in this year's mobilization on April 30?

Carl Finamore: Well, ever since we started [the Mobilization] in 1985, the war in Central America has dominated. But the other three issues of the Mobilization are also important-freeze and reverse the nuclear arms race, end U.S. support to South African apartheid, and trying to take those foreign-policy issues and relate them to the erosion of jobs and the standard of living of working people in this country.

They're all important, but the U.S. government's attempts to overthrow the Sandinista regime and to reinforce the New York 'Women at Work: Toa ay's Struggle for Liberati on' Speakers: Sandy Rosen, former memb Local 34 (Yale), and Margaret Kelley. former USWA member (Cinti).

Friday, May 13, 6 p.m.

Student Ctr., NYU, La Gual sponsored by a broad local coalition, the Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice.

The four demands of the San Francisco Mobilization are becoming more urgent, not less. The first demand, No U.S. Intervention in Central America and the Caribbean, has become more important as the Nicaraguan Revolution faces its most difficult trial yet.

Meanwhile, the revolutionary movement has been gaining popular support in Bl Salvador. But the victory of the ARENA Ben Linder. party in the country's recent bogus elections signals the return of right-wing death squads to political activity. Antiwar and civil-liberties activists here should respond by continuing pressure on the U.S. government to end all aid to the death-squad regime.

The increased repression of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa underlines the continuing importance of the demand for an end to U.S. support for South African apartheid. We should connect Joseph Ryan/Socialist Action INFO 526-3497 this issue with the increase in racist attacks in this country.

Recent negotiations between the U.S and the Soviet governments reflected the level of popular opposition to the nuclear build-up. But the talks were a sham. The United States agreed to miniscule reductions in its nuclear stockpile in return for broad concessions from the Soviet Union-including a reduction of the Soviets' aid to Nicaragua.

For this reason, the demand to freeze and reverse the nuclear arms race has the potential to mobilize masses of people.

The fourth demand of the San Francisco Mobilization is for jobs and justice, not war. This demand makes the very important connection between our government's foreign policy and its domestic policy.

The demand points out the links between a massive defense budget and cuts in health, education, and welfare services; between the $3 trillion Strategic Defense Initiative and the relative lack of funding for AIDS research and to help the homeless; and between U.S. support for counterrevolutionary movements abroad and for union-busting at home.

June 11 protests The Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice is also sponsoring a demonstration in San Francisco on June 11 to mark the United Nations Third Special Session on Disarmament. On the same day, a demonstration will be held in New York City.

San Franciso protesters will march from United Nations Plaza, through the downtown area, to Justin Herman Plaza, where there will be a rally with speakers and entertainment. The demands of the demonstration will be the four demands of the Mobilization, with an emphasis on the demand to freeze and reverse the nucleararms race and the demand for jobs and justice, not war.

The New York City demonstration will focus on the call for the total abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2000 and for the shift of military funds toward satisfying human needs. A Central America contingent is being organized to participate in the march.

For more information, in New York, contact: SSDIII National Coalition (212) 608-8155. In San Francisco, contact: Mobilization for Peace, Jobs and Justice (415) 626-8053. And in Kansas City, contact: Coalition for Non-Intervention in Central America (816) 523-2151 or 3611101.