Subscription and fund drive campaigns extended

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City Goal New Renew. Total Pct. Milwaukee 10 19 1 20 200% Baltimore 60 66 12 78 130% Detroit 10 4 12 120% New Brunswick 5 6 0 6 120% Los Angeles 25 13 13 26 104% San Francisco 250 218 32 250 100% Boston 75 64 10 74 99% Kansas City 5 2 2 4 80% Portland 15 11 12 80% New York 55 6 42 76% New Haven 5 1 60% Chicago 50 26 29 58% Twin Cities 25 5 44% Philadelphia 20 3 25% Cleveland 15 20% Bath, Me. 5 0 0% Cincinnati 0 0% Other 25 15 18 33 132% Total As of Dec. 27 650 473 135 608 94% We have decided to extend our subscription drive and our fund drive another month. Both drives will now end on Jan. 15, 1992.

We have received 608 subscriptions out of a goal of 650. Since we are so close to our goal, we decided to take another month and go for it!

Supporters in the San Francisco Bay Area ran an ambitious election campaign for Joni Jacobs for mayor, as well as doing the job of moving Socialist Action into its new headquarters. They feel they can use the extra time to go out and hit some of the campuses they were unable to get to during the drive.

The one-month extension will enable those areas who are close to making their goals to do so, as well as to make the national goal. Every area can contribute by getting just a few more.

On the fund drive, we were hoping originally to raise $24,000. But the pledges to the drive have come to just over $20,000. It is unrealistic to think we could now make up the difference. Collections of the pledges are also behind. Consequently, we have set our goal during the next month to collect the outstanding pledges.

Many of our supporters have been hit hard by the recession. Some have been laid off. Money is tight for workers right now. But these times of looming crises-and great confusion-are precisely the time to dig a little deeper and help us get out the truth about capitalism and socialism.

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Can a Black person be a consclentlous objector? determining the applicant's sincerity of charge, they are confronted with a review officers in all branches of the military are I am from a Muslim family; there are process influenced by a society in which white men of middle-and upper-class back- few Muslim chaplains. Fortunately, I was violence is institutionalized and, in the grounds. An African American enlisted assigned an African American chaplain case of Black applicants, has a racist atu- person seeking a C.O. discharge is trying who, although of a different faith, was tude. One discovers that the military have to express beliefs to an individual who able to relate to my experience. He stated a narrow idea of what constitutes a Con- does not share his class or race perspecscientious Objector. There is a biased tive. In the case of women C.Os, they do Black people and what pacifism can mean perception that a C.O. is white and well- not share a female perspective. The appli- for a Black person. When living in a socito-do, educated and intellectual, a complete cant is a subordinate to the investigating ety in which aggression is treated as the pacifist with a strong background in a reli- officer assigned to study the application so best way to solve problems and money is grous group or particular body of moral he or she must try to express beliefs with- more important than human life, the thought, and is gentle, sensitive and out offending this superior officer. naive. 1 was assigned Captain Swanson, a African American has a problem. A low The key to winning C.O. status is in white man, as my investigating officer. value is put on the Black person's life, how well an individual can express him or He asked typical questions, customized for making him or her a target for violence herself. People whose education was an African American, like: Would you So how can we find the pacifist ways to impaired by budget cuts and high college fight in the Civil War to free the slaves? resolve differences? tuitions may find their lack of writing or What kinds of conflicts would you fight What is more, white Americans do not enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps when I getting a C.O discharge. The burden of Swanson's report was based on racial white Americans during the Persian Gulf I am an African American man who speaking skilis an impassable obstacle to in, if they occurred in Africa? was 17. Last year 1 filed for a Conscien- proof that one is sincere and that one's stereotypes, attacking people and organiza- War. People of color made up 40 percent tious Objector discharge from the views are deeply beld is on the applicant. tions with which I have worked. He stated of the frontline troops. Yet, 55 percent of military. I want to draw the clearest possi- When I discovered that I would have to that 1 am "a Marine of marginal intelli- the white Americans surveyed believed ble picture of the reasons why I took that write an essay explaining my beliefs gence. * There is an inherent stereotype that African Americans and Hispanics are action and what it has been like for me. I about war, 1 was afraid, I knew my writ- that Black people are not intelligent more violent, not as brave, less patriotic especially want to reach young African ing skills were not up to the challenge of enough to be C.Os. In his summary of and less intelligent than white Americans. Americans who might be thinking about writing an essay about my views oppos- my investigative hearing, Swanson wrote, This obviously has a big impact on the Wing war. Friends came to my aid with the "After observing Cpl. Jones throughout persons of color seeking a C.O. discharge.

Last winter 1 spoke at high schools, grammar, but only I could express my the investigation, I believe that be is inca- The average C.O. faces a misguided and churches, universities and rallies in the feeling toward war and why I cannot kill pable of articulating any discerning sometimes hostile public. He or she also San Francisco Bay Area about my moral another human being. My C.O. statement thoughts or perceptions concering such opposition to war. I found that most peo- reflected rage toward our government and subjective matters as conscientious objec- part of a monolithic organization that has ple do not know the correct meaning of the sociery in which I live. conscientious cbjection. A Conscientious Political beliefs can also be an obstacle Capt. Swanson was very prejudiced rights whenever it believes that will help Objector (C.O.) is a person who rejects The Uniform Code of Military Justice against people and organizations that get the job done. war as a means of solving differences states that political discontent can be in a helped me during the C.O. process. He The C.O. of color faces, in addition, a between nations. This can be based on claim, as long as it is not the only reason referred to Vietnam veterans as "disgrun- narrow and biased definition of who is sinreligious, moral, ethical, political, or any for objecting to war. Yet, a C.O. applica- tled vets," and the American Friends cerely a C.O. Confronted with racism, other beliefs that would prevent a person tion can be denied on the grounds that the Service Committee, a Quaker-based paci- sexism and cultural ignorance, the obstafrom killing another. The individual may applicant is motivated by "political fist organization, as an "off-center" group cles before on African American applicant adopt these beliefs years after signing the beliefs" or opposition to certain wars. Another step in the C.O. process is an for C.O. is a jagged ravine with bungry Enlistment Agreement when entering the called selective objection. interview with the "morale officer," a mil- sharks waiting at the bottom. service. The hierarchy in the military affects the itary chaplain who upholds military Reprinted from The California When people apply for a C.O. dis- decisions. The overwhelming majority of values. The chaplain plays a large role in Voice, Nov. 5, 1991.

18 SOCIALIST ACTION JANUARY 1992 One the the nation's most outspoken antiwar fighters, Marine Reservist Corporal Tahan Jones, faces frameup charges of "desertion with intent to avoid hazardous duty and shirk important service." According to Jones's attorney, John Murcko, "If Jones is convicted of this charge and the associated charge of 'missing a troop movement,' he could serve a maximum prison term of seven years."

Murcko, a military specialist who achieved national prominence for his defense of GIs during the Vietnam War, is preparing the legal defense for Jones's court martial trial, which is expected to take place in mid-January.

Jones was one of 24 antiwar Marine reservists stationed in military bases across the country who, in violation of military law and the Constitution, were herded to Camp LeJeune, N.C., because of their opposition to the genocidal U.S. war against the Iraqi people.

Jones will argue that the Marine Corps hierarchy, in violation of his rights, established "a firm policy wherein all reservists with pending conscientious objector applications suspected of unauthorized absence would be summarily referred to a General Court Martial on charges of desertion and missing troop movement."

The purpose of this "illegal command influence" was "to isolate, intimidate, and incarcerate," all opposition within the military. The effect of this policy was also to deny conscientious objectors the right to have their cases and actions reviewed and judged at the local level, where they could have direct access to and help from local witnesses, legal counsel, family, friends, and organized defense committees.

Undemocratic regulations

Jones, whose unit is in Hayward, Calif., is also challenging a new Marine Corps regulation that prohibits defendants from calling witnesses from a distance of more than 100 miles from Camp LeJeune.

By TAHAN JONES joining the military.

During the Gulf War, Jones was among the most frequently heard antiwar reservists. His speech at the Jan. 26, 1991, San Francisco demonstration to "Bring the Troops Home Now," which drew over 200,000 protesters, vividly described the plight of Black youth in the "economic draft." These youth, he pointed out, hoped that promised training programs and future educational benefits would allow them to avoid the bleak prospects of millions of African Americans in racist America.

Jones provided inspiration for Black, Latino, and Asian youth to form their own antiwar organizations to address the special issues faced by oppressed nationalities in the United States.

His widely publicized appearance at a public hearing of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors earned Jones the admiration of progressive activists across the country. At that meeting, Jones testified in a successful effort to prevent pro-war elements from ending San Francisco's adopted position as a "sanctuary city" for conscientious objectors.

USMC violates its own laws The case against Jones is fraught with gross violations of the Marines' own regulations. Jones, for example, was activated for duty while his CO application was still pending.

In another instance, on Feb. 8, 1991, the Commandant of the Marine Corps specified that the number of reservists to be activated for duty to the Fresno, Calif.-based battalion in which Jones had previously served was to be 413. However, more than 650 reservists were activated by the local Marine Corps affiliate. Jones's unit was never activated by the Commandant-as is required by law.

The Marines counted on the governmentorchestrated patriotic hysteria to cover their violations of elementary democratic rights. The persistence of Tahan Jones's defense efforts, however-which have been coupled with those of his Marine Corps friend Erik Larsen-have forced the Marines to back 1-5 id applied for sta-ian Gulf us obienied chisemMissile both ained in concluReport ung • to us 32 and " shipped North re presling court tion to war ?

(L-R): Muhammad Mosque #11 assistant Eric Larsen and Tahan Jones.

khan, elaborating on number 10 of what the Muslims believe.

Tahan Jones told: har with off from some of their most gross excesses, like threatening Jones and Larsen with the death penalty.

The Marine Corps tried to induce Jones to testify against Larsen. A reduced sentence was implied. Jones refused, preferring to abide by the truth, his bond of friendship, and commonly held political and moral views.

Solidarity and support Jones's case has won widespread support in the Black community. The Final Call, the newspaper published by the Nation of Islam (circulation: 400,000), prominently featured an article on Jones and Larsen in its Dec. 2, 1991, issue. The article gave a vivid description of a defense rally for Jones and Larsen on Oct. 19 in Boston. Assistant Minister Rodney X of the Nation of Islam was one of the speakers.

German TV station ZDF, the largest beliet.

training, stating that the so purpose of the Ur military was to k:

Larsen and Jones during Boston non-commercial TV station in Berlin has indicated they want to cover Jones's courtmartial as part of their on-going coverage about the aftermath of the Gulf War. Germany was a center of anti-Gulf War demonstrations and GI resistance.

Regardless of the outcome of Jones's case, his contribution to exposing the truth about U.S. war policy and the racist military establishment—as well as his refusal to buckle to military pressure for an easy plea bargain—will not be forgotten.

Friends and supporters can write to Tahan Jones as follows: Cpl. Tahan Jones, 564-43-9553, HQ, 2nd MEB, Subunit 1, Bldg. 435, Rm. 311, MCB, Camp LeJeune, N.C., 28542-5090.

Contributions should be sent to: Tahan Jones/Erik Larsen Defense Committee, 1678 Shattuck Ave., Box 225, Berkeley, CA 94709. Telephone: (510)

655-1201. my beliefs are sincerely held.

There is so much misunderstanding of understand us. The NAACP surveyed confronts a hostile chain-of-command historically violated buman and civil