We Won't Go Back! A Call to Mass Struggle Resolution of the Communist Party USA January 7, 2001 WHEREAS This is a defining moment in the history of our country. At stake is all that has been won for freedom and democracy by people's struggle since our nation's founding. Those who would seize control for private profit and power are being met with growing mass action and resistance by ordinary working class people organizing on their own behalf; and, WHEREAS The far-right wing has denied the majority will of our country's voters and betrayed the Constitution 1) by disenfranchising over 100,000 Florida voters, largely African American, Haitian, Jewish, Puerto Rican and Latino through harassment, confusion and thuggery and 2) by utilizing the US Supreme Court to install an illegitimate president; and, WHEREAS The 2000 elections gave birth to a new level of labor and people's coalition against the extreme right wing in our country, resulting in historic get-out-the-vote efforts and record voter turnouts by organizations of labor, the African American and Latino communities, women, and the environmental movement; and, WHEREAS The health and well-being of the majority of working class families are at risk from proposals to dismantle and destroy social security, public education, the right of workers to organize, affirmative action, the Civil Rights Act, women's right to choice, immigrant workers' rights, environmental protections, and anti-nuclear weapons treaties; and, WHEREAS Several of George W. Bush's cabinet nominations expose the intent of this administration and must be denied: John Ashcroft (Attorney General), who upholds racist ultra-right views; Linda Chavez (Labor Secretary), who represents an extreme anti-union position; Tommy Thomson (Health and Human Services), who destroyed the safety net as Governor of Wisconsin;. Christy Todd Whitman (Environment), who condoned widespread racial profiling while Governor of New Jersey; Gale Norton (Secretary of the Interior), who favors privatization of public lands; Donald Rumsfeld (Secretary of Defense), who supports violating the ABM Treaty with a missile defense system and would dramatically increase the military budget; and, WHEREAS The extraordinary act of courage led by the Congressional Black Caucus, objecting to the acceptance of Florida's electoral votes during the joint session of Congress raises the struggle for democracy to a new level. The presence of elected officials in Congress, especially the Congressional Black Caucus and the Progressive Caucus, who have pledged to stand their ground on behalf of a working families agenda, makes possible new victories by a broad and united labor and people's offensive; and, WHEREAS Racial profiling and violations of the Voting Rights Act in Florida and elsewhere during the 2000 election, and conflict-of-interest by Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, must be speedily investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED That the Communist Party USA determines to fully mobilize at the grass roots and join with labor and community allies in support of demonstrations, education, legislation and litigation on behalf of voters rights and a pro-working families agenda. Most immediately, we will participate in the outpouring of protests from Martin Luther King birthday through inauguration day. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED That the Communist Party USA endorses a Voters Bill of Rights to ensure equality in voting and to democratize the electoral process including strict enforcement of the Voting Rights Act; abolition of the Electoral College; enactment of proportional representation; instant runoff voting and public financing of elections. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED That to meet the challenge of the Bush administration, the times call for united actions on a large scale of labor, civil rights, people of all nationalities, peace and solidarity activists, women, environmentalists, lesbian and gay, youth and students, seniors and all supporters of democratic rights such as a Solidarity Day or Million Working Families March for Justice to converge in Washington, DC. _______________________________________________ Crashlist website: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base
