State Against People

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T the overwhelming powers of government, one which waxes and here is, at the heart of American society, a profound disquiet about That’s partly because, while we say the government was formed to support freedom, we know that this wasn’t true. We know that the government was an instrument of despotic and tyrannical power—especially when it comes to Black people. This government began in slavery, not in freedom—unless one argues it was begun to protect freedom of Thomas Jefferson, in his “Notes On the State of Virginia,” describing slavery, called it a system of “unremitting despotism.” That he was, at once, an alleged freedom fighter and, an owner of several hundred slaves gives us some sense of the contradiction at the core of the United Government then, and now, supports the efforts of the wealthy, at the expense of the many. It is an instrument of wealth and corporate power—period. Those who saw the quicksilver response to Wall Street’s problems, and the half-hearted responses to the unemployed, the foreclosed, the hungry and the homeless should take that lesson to heart. How else could any government support efforts like NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement), which destabilized millions of middle class workers (not to mention poor folks in Mexico), and please finanFormer President Bill Clinton sold NAFTA like a carnival barker, and promised good jobs for all. It didn’t exactly work out that way, did it? The neo liberal project of globalization was never intended to provide good jobs—for anybody, but elites. It was designed to maximize corpoThe bubbling light crude poisoning the waters of the Gulf of Mexico— right now—is the direct result of neoliberal deregulation—which frees business to profit—but also to create multinational disasters. It’s govAnd while the media hypes about environmental damage to Louisiana, Texas or even Florida, have you noticed no one has even mentioned Globalization is here—and it ain’t pretty. Only great and sustained 55. Provide unemployment and retirement payments at the level of union wages and 6) To combat inflation: A sliding scale of wages and pensions that matches the rises in comsumer prices. To combat high medical costs: A free, universal, public health-care 7) Immediate citizenship for all undocumented workers. No job discrimination; equal pay for equal work — regardless of gender, sexual orientation, skin color, or national 8) Nationalize manufacturing, big agribusiness, energy, and transportation corporations and place them under the control of elected committees of workers.

9) To mobilize support for the demands it adopts, the EMERGENCY CONGRESS should organize ACTION COMMITTEES in every workplace and neighborhood threatened by the crisis. These committees can draw up more concrete demands than the 10) To put all these measures into effect, we need a LABOR PARTY — based on a fighting union movement and all people who are oppressed and exploited. For a WHERE TO FIND SOCIALIST ACTION warming. Name City Phone Socialist Action received the following letter from the parents of Lori Berenson, who has been in prison in Peru for 15 years, under arduous conditions, on charges of having aided a guerrilla group. Our newspaper and organization is proud to have played a part in the solidarity movement to obtain Lori’s freedom.

Dear Friends and Supporters of Lori, On May 25, 2010 a Peruvian judge, after carefully studying Lori’s application for what in Peru is termed “conditional liberty” (parole), determined that Lori has earned her freedom. Lori and her son Salvador will be leaving prison in a few days and moving to an apartment in Lima.

Parole requires individuals to live within the city in which they were incarcerated (Lima, in Lori’s case)—we do not know A WORKERS’ ACTION PROGRAM TO FIGHT THE CRISIS implement the following demands — Lima courtroom, May 25.

if there are exceptions for foreigners or whether Lori will be permitted to travel to the US while on parole. Parole in Peru is based on good behavior, work and study. In September 2009 Lori officially filed her application under a Peruvian law which established eligibility after serving 75% of her 20-sentence, less time off for work and study.

Lori appeared before the judge in court on Monday, May 17th, for a hearing, defended by her husband, Anibal Apari Sanchez, a Lima lawyer and candidate for Mayor of Villa El Salvador, a suburb of Lima with over a half million inhabitants. Lori will be a single mom—Anibal and Lori are legally separated but remain friends and both share concerns for Salvador’s proper upbringing.

Salvador, now an active one-year old boy, will certainly enjoy the opportunity to run around outside the confines of the prison. He is learning both English and Spanish but babbles continuously in “unknown tongue.” He is a very happy child and loves to be with people.

We want to express our gratitude to all of you for your expressions of love and support all these years. You have truly sustained us through some very dark hours and the dawn of a new sunny day has arrived.

With appreciation, always.

Rhoda and Mark B.

benefits.

system.

origin.

SOCIALIST ACTION. Closing news date: June 2, 2010 Address State Zip E-mail wanes according to the felt needs of the time.

some to enslave others.

States. cial speculators and investors on Wall St.?

rate profits, unhindered by any government restraints.

ernment in hock to capital, and capitalism run wild.

Mexico’s east coast, or Cuba’s west coast?

struggle and resistance can change that tune. ones outlined above.

workers’ government!

• Ashland, Ore.: damonjure@ earthlink.net • Ashland, Wis.: northlandiguana@ gmail.com • Boston: bostonsocialistaction@ gmail.com (781) 630-0250 • Carrboro, N.C.: (919) 967-2866, [email protected] • Chicago: P.O. Box 578428 Chicago, IL 60657, [email protected] • Connecticut: (860)478-5300 • Duluth, Minn.: P.O. Box 16853 Duluth, MN 55816, [email protected], www.the-red-raven.blogspot.com • Florida: socialistaction_tampa@ hotmail.com • Kansas City: [email protected] (816) 221-3638 • Minneapolis/St. Paul: (612) 8021482, [email protected] • New York City: [email protected] © COPYRIGHT 2010 MUMIA ABU-JAMAL For info about Socialist Action and how to join: Socialist Action National Office, P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, CA 94610, [email protected], (510) 268-9429 Socialist Action newspaper editorial offices: [email protected] Website: www.socialistaction.org • Philadelphia: [email protected] • Portland, Ore.: (503) 233-1629 [email protected] • Providence: P.O. Box 40573, Providence, RI 02940, adgagne@ yahoo.com, (401) 419-1706 • San Francisco Bay Area:

P.O. Box 10328, Oakland, Ca 94510 (415) 255-1080, sfsocialistaction@ gmail.com • Superior. Wis.: wainosunrise@ yahoo.com • WASHINGTON, DC: [email protected] (202) 286-5493 National Office 526 Roxton Road, Toronto, Ont. M6G 3R4, (416) 535-8779 www.socialistaction-canada. blogspot.com

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