by Carl SackMADISON, Wis.—Tens of thousands of workers, students, and their allies from around Wisconsin and beyond have been protesting in Capitol Square every day since Sunday, Feb. 20 to save their benefits and collective bargaining rights.Schools have closed due to teacher absences and student walkouts, firefighters and prison guards have taken off work despite … Continue reading Massive Wisconsin labor uprising fights all-out assault on unions
Month: February 2011
Egypt, Tunisia in revolt!
by Clay WadenaAs Socialist Action goes to press the revolt of the Egyptian people seems poised to topple the almost 30-year-old regime of dictator Hosni Mubarak. Events are proceeding at breakneck speed, and nothing is guaranteed, but the determination and unity of the Egyptian masses indicates that there will be no end of unrest without … Continue reading Egypt, Tunisia in revolt!
Support grows for April 9 & 10 antiwar mobilizations
by Christine Marie“No More Support to the Mubarak Dictatorship! Hands Off Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen!” So began a statement from the United National Antiwar Committee (UNAC), the coalition calling and building major bicoastal antiwar demonstrations to be held on April 9 in New York City and April 10 in San Francisco.As the world watched dramatic video … Continue reading Support grows for April 9 & 10 antiwar mobilizations
Obama maps out plans to rescue U.S. capitalism
by Andrew PollackIn his State of the Union address on Jan. 25, President Barack Obama laid out his goals for the second phase of his efforts to rescue U.S. capitalism. His first term was devoted to preventing a total system breakdown, with efforts that consisted of bailouts for banks and corporations, paid for by workers. … Continue reading Obama maps out plans to rescue U.S. capitalism
Stop the FBI witch hunt!
by David Bernt CHICAGO—On Jan. 25, about 350 activists rallied outside the federal building here against a McCarthy-style federal grand jury and witch hunt. Nine antiwar activists were subpoenaed to testify that day about their international solidarity work. The rally featured Maureen Murphy and Sarah Smith, two of the nine activists subpoenaed. Murphy read a … Continue reading Stop the FBI witch hunt!
Citizens’ Hearing decries U.S. government’s war on Muslims
by Christopher Towne WASHINGTON—A climate of fear grips the Muslim community in the U.S. Countless people are behind bars, victims of sting operations and disgusting distortions of the law. Rep. Peter King of New York will soon hold hearings on Capitol Hill, where Muslim clerics will be forced to appear and testify to their efforts … Continue reading Citizens’ Hearing decries U.S. government’s war on Muslims
U.S. readies machinery for military intervention throughout Middle East
by Gerry FoleyA question that arises immediately in the wake of the political earthquakes shaking whole series of neocolonial regimes in the Middle East is how and how much the U.S. will escalate its military intervention in the area. The U.S. has already been heavily involved in major wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. … Continue reading U.S. readies machinery for military intervention throughout Middle East
Gunfire in Tucson
by George ShriverTUCSON, Ariz. —This state has become a symbol of hatred, intolerance, bigotry, and violence—especially after the signing of the Arizona Senate Bill SB 1070 last April, which in effect authorized racial profiling. That law is now going through a lengthy process of court challenges and appeals. And harsh new laws are being prepared … Continue reading Gunfire in Tucson
Bob Woodward avoids asking hard questions about ‘Obama’s Wars’
by Barry Weisleder“‘Is there anybody who thinks we ought to leave Afghanistan?’ the president asked. Everyone in the room was quiet. They looked at him. No one said anything. ‘Okay,’ he said, ‘now that we’ve dispensed with that, let’s get on.’”One hundred and eighty-six into its 441 pages, the political framework of “Obama’s Wars” by … Continue reading Bob Woodward avoids asking hard questions about ‘Obama’s Wars’
Toronto sets April 9 antiwar protest
by Julius Arscott The call for mass anti-war actions on April 9, issued by the U.S.-based United National Anti-war Committee (UNAC), has been heard and answered in Canada. A Jan. 14 membership meeting of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War responded with a Yes. It is proceeding to organize an outdoor rally, and numbers … Continue reading Toronto sets April 9 antiwar protest
Canada: Universities just for the rich?
by Tyler MacKinnonThe first-year university student is typically bright and energetic, ready to embrace a whole new world of ideas that allegedly can be grasped only by the cream of the intellectual crop. The student worked for months, pulling up high school grades, working on countless essays and tests, still recovering from a lack of … Continue reading Canada: Universities just for the rich?
How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
by Jim GrilliIn light of the FBI’s recent attack on the civil liberties of antiwar activists in the Midwest, it would be useful to look back to a moment in history in which state-sponsored oppression served as a tool for silencing dissent.During the 1930s and ’40s, working people in the United States made tremendous gains … Continue reading How socialists fought government repression in 1940s
For the decolonialization of Indian Country!
by Jeff Armstrong U.S. imperialism originated and continues unabated in Indian Country, indigenous territories demarcated under international treaties brazenly flouted by the United States since its inception. Indigenous peoples in the Americas languish under layers of oppression at the hands of federal, state, and, more often than not, tribal authorities. Under President Obama, the U.S. … Continue reading For the decolonialization of Indian Country!
Films: The Company Men
by Gaetana Caldwell-SmithThe Company Men, written and directed by John Wells, starring Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones.Emmy-winning TV series director John Wells (“ER”, “The West Wing”) brings us a slickly produced film about high-paid “white-collar” workers in “The Company Men,” featuring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper. The film illustrates what happens … Continue reading Films: The Company Men
When Puppets Fall
by Mumia Abu-JamalIt may prove too early to predict the fall of Egypt’s president for life Hosni Mubarak, but events do not look hopeful for [his] long-term success. Mubarak’s regime has been the cornerstone of U.S. Middle East strategy, for, as an Arab state, it boasts the biggest population—and as Egypt goes, so goes the … Continue reading When Puppets Fall