> WW News Service Digest #193 > > 1) Organizers gear up for counter-inauguration march > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2) Clemency for Leonard Peltier > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 3) What's next after election? WWP conference to plan 2001 actions > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 4) In Pacifica interview: Slick Clinton tops Bush-Gore lies > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 5) Prisons are capitalism's new sweatshops > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 6) Havana: 4,000 world delegates salute Cuban Revolution > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 7) South Africa: Strikes planned vs. privatization > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Nov. 23, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >ORGANIZERS GEAR UP FOR COUNTER-INAUGURATION MARCH > >By Greg Butterfield >New York > >"Who's the next president? How will the election mess affect >the march against the inauguration?" asked International >Action Center/Millions for Mumia leader Larry Holmes. > >For a number of weeks, he said, the IAC and other >organizations have been making plans for a massive march >against the inauguration of the next president, which will >take place in Washington on Jan. 20. > >Workers World spoke with Holmes, a key march organizer, >about the effort. > >"The principal purpose of the march is to demand an end to >the racist death penalty, freedom for Mumia Abu-Jamal and an >end to the death machine of corpo rate globalization," >Holmes reported. > >This is a critical moment in Abu-Jamal's case. A pending >appearance before a federal judge could determine whether or >not the revolutionary Black journalist gets a new trial or >remains on Pennsylvania's death row. Supporters maintain >that Abu-Jamal was framed for the 1981 killing of a >Philadelphia cop. > >Holmes said, "When we started planning the march against the >inauguration, no one could have known that the election >would turn into a big mess demonstrating just how corrupt >and undemocratic the corporate-controlled elections really >are." > >BOTH CANDIDATES BACK LEGAL LYNCHINGS > >Both George W. Bush and Al Gore support the death penalty. >Both have refused to speak out against what anti-racists >call the unjust conviction of Abu-Jamal. > >The Nov. 7 presidential election is now locked in a >stalemate with charges that thousands of Southern Florida >voters--including many African Americans and Haitians--were >cheated of their votes. > >Besides turning up the heat on behalf of Abu-Jamal, Holmes >said, the election fiasco gives the march another dimension. > >"No matter who the next president is, the Jan. 20 national >march against the inauguration holds the potential of >becoming the people's mass response to the whole racist, >anti-worker system," he told WW. > >Already the Jan. 20 march sports an impressive list of >initiators and endorsers, including: IAC/Millions for Mumia; >International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal; >the MOVE Organization; the New York Free Mumia Coalition; Al- >Awda, the Palestinian Right of Return Coalition; the Texas >Death Penalty Abolition Movement; Refuse & Resist; Rainbow >Flags for Mumia; and the Hunter College Student Liberation >Action Movement. > >Also: Queers for Racial and Economic Justice; Citizens >United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty; Jahahara >Alkebulan-Ma'at, the National Coalition of Blacks for >Reparations in America; the League of Indigenous Sovereign >Nations; Homeless Action for Necessary Development; Writers >for Mumia; Vieques Support Campaign; Haiti Support Network; >California Prison Focus; and many more. > >SPREADING THE WORD > >Organizers are spreading the word at every opportunity. >Holmes was invited to make a presentation about the march to >a packed meeting organized by the MOVE Organization in New >York Nov. 11. The audience also heard talks about the >Philadelphia police war against MOVE and about new >developments in Abu-Jamal's case, said IAC activist Sara >Catalinotto. > >Another important opportunity to reach out will be a Dec. 9 >demonstration marking the 19th anniversary of the incident >that led to Abu-Jamal's conviction. At 12 noon supporters >will march from 96th St. and Broadway on Manhattan's Upper >West Side to 137th St. in Harlem. A rally will follow at 3 >p.m. at Mother AME Zion Church. > >Imani Henry, a national coordinator of the >lesbian/gay/bi/trans solidarity movement Rainbow Flags for >Mumia, told WW that work is already being done to establish >focuses to organize for the counter-inauguration in a >variety of communities. > >"We want to build a massive, multinational demonstration >that includes communities of color, women's organizations, >the lesbian, gay, bi and trans movement, foes of the death >penalty, disabled activists, youths and students, and the >labor movement," Henry said. > >A New York regional planning meeting for the counter- >inauguration march is set for Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. It will be >held at the IAC's office at 39 W. 14 St., Suite 206, in >Manhattan. "This will be a great place to find out what >other activists are planning and doing," said Henry. > >"We need money to get to Washington," Henry added. "We >desperately need funds to pay for posters, flyers, mailings >and transportation so that young people, students and poor >people can get to Washington on Jan. 20." > >Readers can send donations to the International Action >Center-Jan. 20. Tax-deductible donations over $50 can be >made to People's Rights Fund/Anti-Death Penalty Project. >Send donations to 39 W. 14 St., Suite 206, New York, NY >10011 or make a credit card donation on-line at >www.peoplesrightsfund.org. > >To endorse the Jan. 20 march or to set up an organizing >center in your city or on your campus, write to the IAC, >call (212) 633-6646 or send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Updates can be found on the Web at www.mumia2000.org. > >- 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: <009501c050f6$24938b40$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Clemency for Leonard Peltier >Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 19:26:06 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Nov. 23, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >CLEMENCY FOR LEONARD PELTIER? >CALLS, PROTESTS URGED TO FREE NATIVE PRISONER > > >By Greg Butterfield > >Supporters of Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier are >gearing up for a new round of actions before year's end. The >stakes couldn't be higher. > >Peltier, who's been held in federal prison for 24 years, >continues to suffer declining health. This year his case >gained a wide new audience with the release of his book, "My >Life is a Sun Dance." A recent cable TV special has many >asking why an innocent man is still behind bars. > >The American Indian Movement warrior was charged with >killing two FBI agents during an April 1975 shoot-out at >South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation. The government agents >were there to terrorize the Lakota people and try to repress >their moves toward self-determination. > >The prosecutor in Peltier's case long ago admitted, "We >don't know who shot those agents." Some independent studies >contend the two agents were likely downed by "friendly fire" >from other FBI goons. > >In 1995 Peltier's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney General >Ramsey Clark, and other supporters petitioned President Bill >Clinton for clemency, asking him to do the right thing and >let Peltier go. Clinton ignored the petition. > >But, according to a Nov. 12 bulletin from the Leonard >Peltier Defense Committee, that could change--if the >progressive movement intervenes forcefully. > >The LPDC says Clinton has publicly confirmed that Peltier's >clemency petition has reached his desk. A decision one way >or the other is likely before he leaves office in January-- >perhaps even before the so-called "Thanksgiving" holiday >Nov. 23. > >FLOOD WHITE HOUSE WITH CALLS > >"Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard the last >many years for Leonard. You have brought this case right up >to Clinton's desk," says the LPDC alert. "But now we must >work harder than ever for the next few weeks. We are down to >the wire and this is literally a matter of life and death. > >"It is now or never for telling the White House how we feel >about the case. We are asking people to call every single >day, starting now and up through Dec. 1. > >"While it is possible that a positive decision might take >longer, we must make very sure that Leonard's case is not >dropped from the list in the early stages." > >According to the LPDC, the FBI is mounting its own anti- >Peltier phone campaign demanding that no clemency be issued. >"We must drown them out," says LPDC. "Leonard's support >across the country is huge, but we must make ourselves heard >more than ever." > >To register your demand for Peltier's freedom, call the >White House Comments Line at (202) 456-1111. > >DAY OF MOURNING DEDICATED TO PELTIER > >Peltier supporters are also taking their demand for clemency >to the streets. > >The United American Indians of New England have dedicated >their National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Mass., to Pel >tier's freedom struggle. The annual event is held on >"Thanksgiving" and continues the Native people's fightback >against centuries of genocide and oppression since the >European invasion of North America. > >"Join us as we dedicate the 31st National Day of Mourning to >our brother, Native political prisoner Leonard Peltier," >says a UAINE announcement circulated on the Internet. "Add >your voice to the millions worldwide who demand his freedom. > >"Help us in our struggle to create a true awareness of >Native people and demonstrate Native unity. Help shatter the >untrue glass image of the Pilgrims and the unjust system >based on racism, sexism and homophobia." > >The Day of Mourning activity begins at 12 noon on Nov. 23 at >Cole's Hill, above Plymouth Rock. For more information, call >UAINE at (781) 331-3690 or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] For >transportation information from New York, call the >International Action Center at (212) 633-6646. > >WALK FOR TRUTH DEC. 10 > >A national Walk for Truth to the United Nations on behalf of >Peltier is planned for Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. "This will >be a time for us to send a positive and united message of >support for Leonard Peltier's freedom, as a gesture of truth >and reconciliation for all Indigenous peoples," says the New >York LPDC chapter. > >Peltier supporters will gather at 12 noon at New York's >Union Square Park and march to the UN's Dag Hammarskjold >Plaza. There will be a candlelight vigil, speakers and >traditional music from 2-4 p.m. Members of the Pine Ridge >Lakota Nation and Peltier's family will lead the march. > >"Come show your solidarity by representing your Native >nation, church, organization, union, or just yourself," says >LPDC. To get involved, call (785) 842-5774 or e-mail >[EMAIL PROTECTED] Updates are available from the New York >hotline at (212) 539-6027 or on the Web at >www.freepeltier.org. > >- 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: <009f01c050f6$3c8993c0$0a00a8c0@linux> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] What's next after election? WWP conference to plan 2001 actions >Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 19:26:46 -0500 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="Windows-1252" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the Nov. 23, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >WHAT'S NEXT AFTER ELECTION? >WWP CONFERENCE TO PLAN 2001 ACTIONS > > >By Brian Becker > >Political activists, workers and revolutionary youths from >all over the United States will be meeting at the annual >Workers World Party conference in New York on the weekend of >December 2-3. > >The annual conference of WWP is an opportunity to discuss, >assess and analyze the most important issues and political >developments of the past year. > >"One year ago our conference met on the eve of the Seattle >mass protests. The political situation has changed radically >since then with the emergence of a militant anti-capitalist >protest movement that rocked the streets of Washington in >April, Phila delphia and Los Angeles in August, and then >moved on to Prague and Boston," notes Larry Holmes, a WWP >leader. > >"This year's conference will provide a much-needed >opportunity for evaluation and analysis of this new movement >and its overall political direction," Holmes said. "We will >also evaluate the impressive movement that built up around >Ralph Nader's presidential campaign, which is an extension >of the new progressive movement that burst forth in >Seattle." > >"Key to the survival of any progressive movement is its >ability to reach the hearts and minds of those who suffer >racism and national oppression. We will not only evaluate >the past year but also propose strategies and specific >initiatives to help this movement grow," Holmes reported. > >An important highlight: Monica Moorehead and Gloria La Riva, >the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of WWP, >are scheduled to be prominent speakers at the conference. > >The conference will discuss the political implications and >lessons of the now-deadlocked bourgeois presidential >election. > >Conference participants will also have the unique >opportunity to hear the first-hand report of a delegation >that just returned from the front lines of the Palestinian >revolution. The status of the Colombian revolution and the >fight against U.S. intervention in Colombia will also be >among the featured presentations. > >FIGHTING FOR MUMIA > >A central feature of the current work of WWP is the fight to >save the life of death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu- >Jamal. There will be workshops and strategy sessions for >organizers and activists to help build for the Jan. 20 >counter-inaugural protest in Washington. The demonstration >will take place around the theme: Stop the Death Machine. > >The Jan. 20 protest will feature the demand for a new trial >for Abu-Jamal and an end to the racist death penalty. The >demonstration literature connects the rise of the U.S. >prison-industrial complex with the International Monetary >Fund's economic war against the poor in Africa, Latin >America, the Middle East and Asia. > >Another highlight of the WWP conference will be a discussion >on how to rebuild the movement for socialism and specific >measures to help build a vanguard working-class party based >on revolutionary Marxism. > >"This will be the most exciting political meeting of the >year," stated Marsha Goldberg, a WWP organizer in New York. >"This is a unique opportunity for revolutionary activists >from all over the country to meet, discuss and strategize >together." > >To get more information or to register for the conference, >contact WWP at 55 W. 17 St., New York, NY 10011; phone (212) >255-0352; or send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >- 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: > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
