> > WW News Service Digest #33 > > 1) Door-to-door campaign for Mumia in Philadelphia > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2) Detroit: In the spirit of Dr. King, free Mumia! > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 3) Justice for Diallo > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 4) Workers vs. capitalists on the Internet > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >This digest is sent to you because you are subscribed to ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. >To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To switch to the non-digest, standard mode, E-mail to ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >Message-ID: <00f601bf69f7$8f0d10e0$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Door-to-door campaign for Mumia in Philadelphia >Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 20:24:16 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Feb. 3, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >FREE MUMIA ABU-JAMAL! > >PAM AFRICA URGES "DOOR-DOOR" CAMPAIGN >IN PHILADELPHIA > >By Greg Butterfield > >Pam Africa is urging Mumia Abu-Jamal's supporters and >death-penalty opponents to converge on Philadelphia and go >"door to door" to counter a new tide of >police/government/media attacks. > >Workers World spoke with Africa, the coordinator of >International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, >on Jan. 23. She explained: "We need people to come to >Philadelphia to help--for a day, a weekend, whatever they >can do. > >"We need them to bring a ream of paper or a stack of >leaflets and help get the truth out," Africa said. > >Abu-Jamal's federal appeal has entered a crucial phase. > >On Jan. 14--two days after a high-profile international >delegation met with three deputy attorneys general in >Washington--Federal District Judge William Yohn accepted a >new "Finding of Fact" from defense attorney Leonard >Weinglass. > >The 100-page document offers details of the many >constitutional violations Judge Albert Sabo committed during >Abu-Jamal's 1981 murder trial. Abu-Jamal and his supporters >contend that he is the victim of a police frame-up. > >The entire document can be found on the Internet at >www.mumia2000.org/alerts/brief120.html. > >Yohn's surprise acceptance of the document means he will >be reviewing the entire trial record. This could provide an >opening to present new evidence in Abu-Jamal's defense--if >the movement in the streets stays militant and continues to >grow and put pressure on the court. But progressive people >should not interpret Yohn's action as "fairness" and let >down their guard. > >Yohn's decision on whether to accept the existing trial >record or hear new evidence is now expected in April, not in >March as previously announced. > >A national emergency meeting of Abu-Jamal's supporters is >scheduled for Feb. 19 at New York's Cathedral of St. John >the Divine. Activists will plan a series of spring actions >to keep up the political pressure for a new trial. > >`GOV'T TERRORISM' SPREADS FEAR > >"There is this attack on the economic basis of Mumia's >defense," Africa explained, "and at the same time they are >spreading these lies. All the media in Philadelphia are part >of it, except for one radio station [Black-owned WHAT-AM] >where we can get out truthful information." > >She cited a recent National Public Radio "panel >discussion" about the band Rage Against the Machine. The >panel was made up entirely of Abu-Jamal's opponents, >including Fraternal Order of Police head Rich Costello, who >called Rage a "hate group" for supporting the former Black >Panther. > >Last year the Fraternal Order of Police announced a >national boycott of individuals, groups and businesses that >support Abu-Jamal's right to a new trial. > >The boycott, it seems, now extends to anyone who does >business with Abu-Jamal's supporters. > >These scare tactics are having an effect in Philadelphia, >Pam Africa explained. She gave this example: > >"There's a crew we would rent a sound system from" for >demonstrations, she said. "They won't rent to us anymore. >They are afraid to have their logo seen by the police at our >events. > >"It's not that they think we're doing anything wrong. >They're afraid they will be run out of business." > >Africa stressed: "This governmental terrorism must be >focused on. > >"It's not just them sending the IRS after us. Think of the >MOVE 11," she said, referring to the women, men and children >killed when Philadelphia police bombed their home on May 13, >1985. > >"They dropped a bomb on us, in part because of our support >for Mumia. These people are guilty of murder." > >NEW ADDRESS FOR DONATIONS > >An all-out war on the defense fund began in April and May >of 1999. It came on the heels of the successful Millions for >Mumia march that drew 30,000 supporters to Philadelphia >April 24. > >The Philadelphia Inquirer, Mayor Ed Rendell, and state tax >officials went after the Black United Fund of Pennsylvania, >a group that raises money for dozens of community service >groups. For a fee, BUF also allowed Concerned Family & >Friends to use its non-profit tax status. > >After the witch-hunt, BUF was expelled from the city >employees' Combined Campaign, one of its major revenue >sources. > >"We were forced to come out of the local BUF," Africa >explained. "We went under the national Black United Fund >while we filed for incorporation as a charity with non- >profit tax status." > >After long delays, Concerned Family & Friends became >incorporated Jan. 15. "Now we have to hire an accountant, a >bookkeeper and a corporate lawyer," she reported, "and pay >$2,000 a year for an audit. > >"Mumia's gonna write a letter to let people know the >situation. We need donations right away. It's already cost >several thousand dollars to keep the defense work going >through this." > >The attacks and delays were aimed "to confuse and slow >down the economic aspect of Mumia's defense," Africa said. >"Mumia's books, all the fliers, all the newspapers, >whatever--all have been published with the information for >BUF. > >"That's not where to send donations any more. From now on >checks should be made out to International Concerned Family >& Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Inc.," Africa said. Donations >should be mailed to P.O. Box 19709, Philadelphia, PA 19143. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <00fc01bf69f7$a37a40c0$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Detroit: In the spirit of Dr. King, free Mumia! >Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 20:24:50 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Feb. 3, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >DETROIT: IN THE SPIRIT OF DR. KING--FREE MUMIA! > >Special to Workers World >Detroit > >Two hundred fifty people came together Jan. 17 at New >Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit for a Martin Luther King >Day rally to demand a new trial and no execution of >political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. > >Speakers from unions, religious groups and community >organizations spoke out about the fight to free Abu-Jamal. >Many denounced the prison-industrial complex and the death >penalty. > >The crowd also gave its unanimous approval after a message >was read expressing solidarity with the Texas prisoner >hunger strike. > >Among the speakers were Abayoumi Azikwe, president of >Africa 2000; Minister Malik Shabazz of the New Marcus Garvey >Movement; Margaret Gutshall of the Labor Party; Todd Mireles >of the Xicano Development Center; community leader and radio >host Joann Watson representing Rep. John Conyers; and Dan >McCarthy, president of UAW Local 417. > >Garry Herring announced that at its January meeting the >Detroit Federation of Teachers had passed a resolution in >support of a new trial for Abu-Jamal. > >Representatives of UAW Locals 600 and 2334, the Gray >Panthers, Active Transformation, the National Lawyers Guild, >South Asians for Mumia, Students Organizing for Labor & >Equality at the University of Michigan, and Workers World >Party also spoke. The Rev. Robert Smith welcomed the >protesters to his church, saying that New Bethel church, >"built by C. L. Franklin, has always provide a haven for >those struggling for a better world." > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <010201bf69f7$b79cac00$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Justice for Diallo >Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 20:25:24 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Feb. 3, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >JUSTICE FOR DIALLO: ALL OUT FOR ALBANY JAN. 31 & FEB 4 > >The trial of the New York police officers who shot Amadou >Diallo--an unarmed West African man--in the Bronx on Feb. 4, >1999, has been moved to Albany, N.Y. > >"This change of venue is a racist move to avoid a mainly >Black and Latino jury pool and a Black woman judge," >stresses the Capital Region Justice for Diallo Committee. > >The committee has called for protests in Albany on both >Jan. 31, the first day of jury selection, and Feb. 4, the >anniversary of Diallo's shooting death. Demonstrate at >Academy Park at Eagle & Elk Streets, across from the County >Courthouse from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. > >For bus information, readers can call (800) 583-3388. > --LF > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <010801bf69f7$cadbbc20$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Workers vs. capitalists on the Internet >Date: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 20:25:56 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Feb. 3, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >WORKERS VS. CAPITALISTS ON THE INTERNET > >[The following is adapted from a talk on what every worker >should know about the AOL-Time Warner merger by Gary Wilson, >a managing editor of Workers World newspaper, at a Workers >World Forum in New York on Jan. 21.] > > > >Workers World newspaper had a headline a couple years ago >that declared "Merger Mayhem." That was a great headline. > >It described exactly what was happening and captured in >two simple words the impact that these giant mergers were >having on the working class. > >The trouble is, you could probably run that headline every >week. > >Every day there are new mergers announced, with layoffs >and cuts in the new merged corporation. This is followed by >breakups and spinoffs, which are then followed by new >mergers. The reason for this mayhem is that capital >generally goes to wherever the rate of profit is highest. >But eventually the rate of profit starts to decline and then >capital flees to the newest source of high profits. > >So the first question we ask when a big merger like the >AOL-Time Warner merger is announced is: What about the >workers? > >Workers World carried an excellent account in the Jan. 27 >issue on what the AOL-Time Warner merger will mean for the >workers at these companies. The bosses will use this merger >first to cut jobs, and, if they can, break the back of the >union. > >For us, that is one of the most important aspects of this >or any other merger. And we want to support the workers and >their union in their struggles to protect their jobs. There >is absolutely no reason that the workers should lose their >jobs just because the bosses have decided that their profits >have to be higher. > >THE INTERNET AND THE MERGER > >Of course, there are other aspects to this merger. Its >impact will be wider than what happens to the workers at AOL >and Time Warner. > >AOL is the biggest Internet service provider in the >country and probably the world. Time Warner is one of the >biggest media conglomerates on earth. > >The merged company will be called AOL-Time Warner. Putting >AOL at the beginning of the new company's name is a tip-off >that the Internet is the focus of the new company. > >The Internet is the new technology that has profoundly >changed business and the economy. What does it mean? And why >is media giant Time Warner merging with a much smaller >Internet company and giving the Internet company top >billing? After all, an earlier Time Warner merger with Ted >Turner's CNN didn't involve any kind of name change. > >The Internet is a fascinating subject. It is a new >technology that was not built by the so-called free >enterprise system. No, in fact, free enterprise had nothing >to do with it. It was funded entirely by big government, >first by the Pentagon--which is the biggest of all big >government--and then by other agencies of the U.S. >government. > >INTERNET IS SOCIALIST IN FORM > >By design, the Internet is a thoroughly socialized >technology. By this I mean that it is completely socialist >in form and remains so to this day. It can exist only >through the collective efforts of computer workers in every >country of the world, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. >This is true even though the Internet is now being >privatized. > >In this respect, the Internet can be seen as socialist. >Except for one glaring contradiction. The capitalists have >control of it. > >This is not really anything new. Lenin, in his primer on >imperialism, describes the growth of monopoly capitalism. He >shows how the monopoly corporations really create the >foundation for socialism. They completely socialize the >labor process and make it ready for a socialist takeover. >The only obstacle is the private ownership by the >capitalists. > >Anyway, never before has there been such a totally global, >completely collective, socialist technology as the Internet. >It is hard to describe this fully. But the Internet is truly >global. And the centers of its development are now equally >outside of the United States--from South Africa to Mexico, >from Pakistan and India to China as well as Europe. > >Only a week or two ago IBM announced it was opening up a >whole new division. It will be headquartered in India. The >Internet makes it possible to do this. And the reason is not >simply explained by the lower pay that workers in India will >receive or the ability to have instant worldwide >communications through the Internet. The fact is, some of >the most important development of the Internet technologies >have come out of India. > >The Internet is big. We know that the "experts" on TV all >say the Internet is big. So we all agree that it is big even >if we don't know what that really means. > >AOL'S AND TIME WARNER'S TROUBLES > >So where does the AOL-Time Warner merger fit into all >this? > >AOL is the number-one company for providing personal >Internet services for home use. And AOL is in trouble. You >may not know that. And it may not have been mentioned in the >TV newscasts about the merger. > >But the fact is, AOL is certain to die in a couple of >years unless it can completely change itself somehow. > >AOL sells dial-up service to the Internet. And the day is >not too far away when dial-up connections will be completely >replaced by different kinds of connections. > >There are three basic new kinds of connections that are >coming. These are called broadband connections. One is DSL, >which uses the phone lines but is not a dialup connection. >The second is a cable connection, using your cable TV >connection. The third is satellite connections using small >satellite dishes. > >What you may not know is that right now you can't get AOL >in the usual way through any of these new high-speed >connections. In fact, AOL has a big lawsuit going against >the cable industry over this very issue. So there have been >many predictions that within the next five years AOL would >just disappear altogether if it can't find a way to be the >primary service provider for broadband connections. > >Time Warner is a different kind of failure. Time Warner >has been trying for years to sell its publications on the >Internet. > >Time Warner publications like Time magazine and Sports >Illustrated were charging for access to their pages. They >couldn't do it. Now all of those publications are available >for free on the Internet. > >CNN, also part of Time Warner, has never charged for >access. It has become the second most popular news site on >the Internet. > >But the bosses at Time Warner still want to charge money >for accessing their "content" on the Internet. What Time >Warner hopes to do is to take AOL's success at selling >Internet services and use it through its cable connections. >The Time Warner execs hope to then be able to collect money >from everyone who reads their publications, listens to their >music or watches their movie clips on the Web. > >But there are some problems with this. Even if AOL takes >control of all of Time Warner's cable connections around the >country, that's only a fraction of the home users on the >Internet. Most of the Internet would not be tied into AOL's >exclusive system. > >AOL-Time Warner seems to be determined to control access >for home users of the Internet, and charge a premium for it. >But there is no reason to think it will succeed in doing >this. > >Since this is the age of monopoly capitalism, we know that >unless there is a workers' revolution that overturns the >system, monopoly capitalism will constantly seek out ways to >control the Internet. > >But it would be a mistake to say that AOL-Time Warner is >in a position to take over the Internet. > >THE INTERNET AND BIG BUSINESS > >In relation to the Internet, AOL-Time Warner is only one >player. It may be the biggest among home users, but the >Internet is much bigger than home users. > >In fact, as much as 90 percent of the use of the Internet >is for commerce by big business. This is the dominant force >on the Internet. > >Businesses are using the Internet for everything from >tying together company work sites to worker training to >production. Company-to-company business is now dominated by >the Internet. Email is now the primary form of business >communication. Banking and the stock market are all >completely tied into the Internet. > >The Fortune 500 and Wall Street banks aren't interested in >letting AOL-Time Warner control access to the Internet. They >require that the Internet and access to it remain open, just >as the roads and waterways must be open and accessible to >all businesses. > >If they are selling on the Internet, they don't want to >pay an AOL-Time Warner tax for every transaction. They will >require open and free access to their company Web sites and >the free flow of email. > >In fact, the government's lawsuit against Microsoft is >probably motivated most by a drive by a significant section >of the ruling class who were alarmed by Microsoft's move to >take control of the Internet and access to it through its >Windows operating system. Microsoft's Windows is used on >almost 95 percent of the computer desktops. > >THE ROLE OF THE WORKERS > >What shouldn't be forgotten about the Internet is that it >is completely dependent on computer workers around the >world. These workers have a power much greater than they >know. > >There are many kinds of Internet workers doing many, many >different tasks. It is truly a collective effort. > >So when Seattle happened, when the WTO demonstrations were >taking place, computer workers around the world figured out >a way to bring down the World Trade Organization web site >during the days of the demonstrations. > >I say, to paraphrase Karl Marx, workers of the world >unite, we have nothing to lose but some oppressive Web >sites. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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