By DANIEL XAVIER For many youth in the U.S. today the “American dream” is very far out of reach. High unemployment rates, massive burdens of student loan debt, and rising costs of living all shape the outlook of young people. Currently, only 54.3 percent of youth (ages 18-24) have a job, the lowest level of … Continue reading Youth bear brunt of economic crisis
Month: October 2012
S. Africa: Latest attack on miners condemned
By DEMOCRATIC LEFT FRONT (South Africa) Oct. 29—The Democratic Left Front condemns the police for shooting workers in Rustenburg on October 27. Two workers who work at Amplats were hit by live ammunition, and one, hit in the chest, is in a critical condition in hospital. Eleven other mineworkers were injured by rubber bullets. The … Continue reading S. Africa: Latest attack on miners condemned
VOTE SOCIALIST!
By ADAM RITSCHER With the U.S. presidential elections coming up again, a lot of workers and activists are eagerly discussing the campaigns, watching the debates, and even hitting the pavement to campaign for their candidates. We in Socialist Action commend people who take politics seriously and who are committed to fighting for what they believe … Continue reading VOTE SOCIALIST!
Occupy’s “Strike Debt” Campaign
By ANDREW POLLACK From its beginning Occupy Wall Street has had a focus on debt—student, homeowner, health care, etc.—and has encouraged debt refusal and resistance. Part of the logic behind that focus is the tens of millions affected by debt, and their common interest in rejecting the misery imposed on them by the huge financial … Continue reading Occupy’s “Strike Debt” Campaign
Shorter workweek with no loss of pay!
BY ANDREW POLLACK Sept. 17 marked one year of the Occupy movement, initiated by and drawing the bulk of its activists from what they themselves describe as a “precariat.” That is, a part of the workforce without jobs or in unstable, low-paid jobs with few or no benefits or protection. In this the Occupiers … Continue reading Shorter workweek with no loss of pay!
Court imposes punitive fee on socialists
By CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS In late July 2012 San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis E.A. Karnow imposed $243,279.50 in punitive attorney fees against Socialist Action National Secretary Jeff Mackler and five other plaintiffs, who, two years earlier, had filed a law suit against the state of California challenging important provisions of Proposition 14, the new and … Continue reading Court imposes punitive fee on socialists
Obama demands detention without trial
By DANIEL ADAM Four years ago, Barack Obama ran for president on the promise of closing the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, within one year of taking office. Today, the prison remains open—the pledge all but forgotten. Instead of dismantling Guantanamo and with it the government’s power to detain without a trial, Obama wants … Continue reading Obama demands detention without trial
European workers mobilize against austerity
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Last month saw huge street mobilizations in several European countries in which the working class has been besieged by austerity demands by their governments and the European Union. Demonstrations and general strikes took place in Portugal, Spain, and Greece. On Sept. 26, over 100,000 people marched in Athens as workplaces closed down … Continue reading European workers mobilize against austerity
Taliban shoots young feminist, socialist
By DANIEL XAVIER (Updated Oct. 15) Tens of thousands of people rallied in Karachi, Pakistan, on Oct. 14 to show support for Malala Yousufzai, a young feminist and socialist activist who was shot by the Taliban. The following day, Malala arrived at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, England, where she was airlifted for further treatment. … Continue reading Taliban shoots young feminist, socialist
Washington threatens new military strikes
By DANIEL XAVIER As the presidential election rapidly approaches, it is predictably clear that the imperialist foreign policy agenda of the U.S. government will continue to advance unabated regardless of whether Barack Obama or Mitt Romney occupies the White House come January. Obama, the Nobel Peace Prize winner (!), has continued and expanded U.S. military … Continue reading Washington threatens new military strikes
Pakistan factory fires claim 300 lives
By USMAN KHAN YUSUFZAI On the evening of Sept. 11, a massive fire engulfed the Ali Enterprises garment factory in Karachi, killing at least 258 workers in the worst industrial accident in Pakistan’s history. All but one exit to the factory and all the windows were locked, trapping many workers inside. Several hours earlier, in … Continue reading Pakistan factory fires claim 300 lives
Court denies re-hearing for Lynne Stewart
BY JEFF MACKLER On Sept. 24, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected Lynne Stewart’s appeal for a re-hearing before the entire court. Her original conviction was upheld in 2009 by a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit. The court’s opinion was not unexpected. This was the same court that earlier pressed Federal … Continue reading Court denies re-hearing for Lynne Stewart
Chicago teachers defeat plan to gut schools
By DAVID BERNT CHICAGO—After a nine-day strike that electrified this city and won broad support from working people, the 26,000 members of the Chicago Teachers Union returned, heads held high, to the classroom Sept. 19 after successfully pushing back against an all-out attack against their union. The teachers’ strike ended the day before by a vote … Continue reading Chicago teachers defeat plan to gut schools
Presidential Debate: Where are the women?
By ALICE RICHARD On Oct. 3, President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney squared off in the first presidential debate, in which independent parties were prohibited from participating. The debate was focused on domestic policy, and the candidates primarily sparred on taxes, Social Security, and the federal deficit. Despite the White House’s assurances that … Continue reading Presidential Debate: Where are the women?
Video Flap Distracts from Arab Revolution
By ANDREW POLLACK On Sept. 11, demonstrations broke out in several predominantly Muslim countries as news spread of a viciously anti-Islamic video produced in the United States. Crowds gathered in front of U.S. embassies and consulates, in some cases storming them. In Benghazi, Libya, a U.S. diplomatic building was attacked and four U.S. officials, including … Continue reading Video Flap Distracts from Arab Revolution
S. African miners continue strikes
By DANIEL XAVIER (Updated, Oct. 7) Miners at South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), who are on strike for higher wages, have vowed to resist new measures to repress their struggle. In early October, two leaders of their branch of the National Union of Mineworkers were killed. One of them was shot when police attacked … Continue reading S. African miners continue strikes
Join fall protests against war & repression!
By CHRISTINE MARIE Antiwar groups around the United States have designated the weekend of Oct. 5-7, the 11th anniversary of the launch of the U.S. war on Afghanistan, as a time for public demonstrations and major educational events. The United National Antiwar Coalition hosted an Aug. 29 national phone organizing meeting attended by 49 representatives … Continue reading Join fall protests against war & repression!
New wave of anti-Muslim repression
By ANDREW POLLACK The United States in late summer 2012 was awash with anti-Muslim, anti-Sikh violence and rhetoric, perpetrated by racists both in and out of office. In an Aug. 17 statement, the National Lawyers Guild’s Muslim Defense Project (MDP) noted: “Today, merely gathering as a Muslim has become an act of courage in the … Continue reading New wave of anti-Muslim repression
MEXICO: Court disdains evidence of electoral fraud
By JAIME GONZALEZ MEXICO CITY—In a solemn session held on Thursday, Aug. 30, one by one of the seven magistrates of Mexico’s Supreme Federal Electoral Court (TRIFE) read out their pronouncements on the most critical evidence they had received as part of a formal request to invalidate last July’s presidential election process. One by one, … Continue reading MEXICO: Court disdains evidence of electoral fraud