By PHIL HEARSE Things are getting serious. At least 31 dead [84 dead on Nov. 24 — eds.] and maybe 200 missing. Thousands of homes and businesses burned down. And three raging fires, one in the north of the state and two in the south, are still not under control [written on Nov. 12]. There … Continue reading What’s the real cause of California’s wildfire disaster?
By ROBBIE MAHOOD For the past 45 years, governmental power in Quebec has alternated between the federalist Parti Liberal du Québec (PLQ) and the sovereigntist Parti Quebec (PQ). That political era has ended. Both these parties were punished by the electorate. The Liberals fell to less than 25% of the vote, the lowest in its … Continue reading Quebec: CAQ takes power, QS is on the rise
By ANN MONTAGUE Two ballot measures, on immigration and on abortion rights, were rejected by large margins in Oregon on Nov. 6. The attack on immigrants would have repealed Oregon 31-year-old sanctuary law, which protected immigrants from discrimination and federal immigration law enforcement. It was the first such law in the nation. The local organization … Continue reading Oregonians reject reactionary ballot measures
By MARTY GOODMAN “We will kill you. That’s the Proud Boys in a nutshell.” — Gavin McInnes, Proud Boy founder “The German resurrection is a male event.” — Engelbert Huber, Nazi author, 1933 Shortly after an Oct. 12 presentation by fascist “Proud Boy” founder Gavin McInnes at the Manhattan Republican Club, three anti-fascist protesters were assaulted by … Continue reading ‘Proud Boys’ assault NYC protesters
By JOHN LESLIE The Proud Boys and “3 Percenter” militia are mobilizing to join in a “We the people” rally of far-right forces in Philadelphia on Nov. 17. These reactionary forces are organizing under the banner of free speech and support for Trump, but are threatening to engage in violence against opponents. These proto-fascist and … Continue reading Combat the far right with united mass action!
By ERNIE GOTTA Union hotel workers across the country are fighting and striking against an all-out offensive of hotel owners to crush the standard of living won through decades of struggle. In Chicago nearly all hotels in the city went out on strike. After three weeks, hotel bosses were ready to come to the table … Continue reading Conference presenters stand with Stamford hotel workers in contract fight
By LISA LUINENBURG Over the last few weeks, eyes across the world have been following the human drama of the caravan of migrants making its way through Mexico toward the U.S. border. The caravan is made up of mostly young people from Central America, the majority from Honduras, who are trying to escape the grinding … Continue reading Solidarity with the migrant caravan!
By STEVE XAVIER The aftermath of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting has focused renewed attention on anti-Semitism. Claims that a shadowy group of sinister figures are behind world events—which appear in conspiracy theories about financier George Soros, the 9/11 tragedy, and elsewhere—have dangerous implications. These conspiracy theories have deep roots on the far right, … Continue reading Does criticism of Israel equal anti-Semitism?
By MICHAEL SCHREIBER “This is the most important midterm election in the modern history of this country,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, and many politicians and pundits agreed. President Trump spoke similarly during his week-long campaign tour, aimed mainly at shoring up Republican candidates in so-called Red States. “Everything we have achieved is at stake,” Trump … Continue reading Midterm elections: Democrats’ ‘blue wave’ falls short
By ROZWELL SIMMONS — NEW HAVEN, CONN. — In a leaked memo published by The New York Times on Oct. 21, the Trump administration called for federal agencies to “define sex as male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with.” Alarmed by this persecuting and transphobic policy, members … Continue reading ‘We won’t be erased,’ say Connecticut protesters for trans rights
Philadelphia-based novelist Susan Abulhawa, a long-time activist for the rights of the Palestinian people, was detained at the Tel Aviv airport on Nov. 1. At the time, she was traveling to the Kalimat Palestinian Literature Festival, where she had been invited to speak. In the United States, close to 3000 people signed an emergency petition … Continue reading Novelist detained in Israel: ‘Statement to Kalimat Palestinian Literature Festival’
By ELENA ZELEDON — SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The 8000 poor people marching together through the states of Central America towards the United States are another sign that the pillars of imperialist domination, already weakened by the blows of the global recession in 2008, are now shaken by the exploding social contradictions of this … Continue reading The caravan that defies borders
This statement was adopted by the Executive Bureau of the Fourth International on 28 October 2018. The Sandinista Popular Revolution The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) was born as a "vanguard organization" with an anti-imperialist and revolutionary orientation, as established in its Historic Programme (1969), “capable of taking political power (…) establishing a social … Continue reading Faced with Nicaragua’s social and political crisis: Solidarity with popular demands and against Ortegista repression!
By AUTUMN RAIN and ERWIN FREED The New York Times reported on Oct. 21 that the Trump administration is “considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a government effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights … Continue reading Trump administration attacks trans rights
By JOHN LESLIE Homemade pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats and Trump critics sparked nationwide fear and an FBI manhunt. The 14 bombs were sent to billionaire George Soros, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Barack Obama, Former Vice President Joe Biden, actor Robert DeNiro, and others. One of the devices was delivered … Continue reading The rise of right-wing violence in Trump’s America
By ANN MONTAGUE The AIDS Holocaust took place from 1985-1995, and it saw the loss of many gay men who had spearheaded Stonewall and launched the gay liberation movement. But many continued with a new fight. Remembering that history will remind us of a time when gay men, together with lesbians and straight supporters, organized … Continue reading ACT UP’s struggle against power
By LISA LUINENBURG In a stunning victory for women, Ireland officially removed its nearly total ban on abortions in late September. The change was a result of a referendum on May 25 of this year, in which 66.4% of voters (to 33.6% against) overwhelmingly voted for a repeal of the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, … Continue reading Ireland will offer free abortions
By MARISELA TREVIN After a day of nationwide protests on Monday [Sept. 24], Argentine workers participated in mass work stoppages on Tuesday. Many of the country’s streets and avenues were practically deserted as public transportation workers and private-sector employees stayed home. It was perhaps the most forceful of the four national strikes that have been … Continue reading Argentine workers stage nationwide strike against austerity measures
By BARRY SHEPPARD Two big hurricanes hit southeastern United States in September-October. The first was named Florence, which devastated North and South Carolina with torrential rains, up to 40 inches in some locations over a few days, causing massive flooding as rivers overflowed for weeks. The second was Michael, which hit Florida with very high … Continue reading Hurricanes, global warming, and dire projections for the near future
Michael Moore plugs ‘Farenheight 9/11’ (Paul Morigi / Getty Images) By LISA LUINENBURG Michael Moore’s new documentary film, “Farenheight 11/9” debuted in theaters across the country on Sept. 21. The title of the film is a reference to the date on which Trump was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election in 2016. And … Continue reading Michael Moore flays Trump in ‘Farenheight 11/9’
By RUWAN MUNASINGHE — HARTFORD, Conn. — On Dec. 14, 2017, Hartford lost one of its greatest legends when 20-year-old Zoe Dowdell—also known as Gangstalicious—was shot and killed by New Britain police. Caleb Tisdol and Noah Young (also known as “Skinny), the others in the car, were convicted on various charges and are currently incarcerated. … Continue reading Justice for Connecticut police victims!
By ANN MONTAGUE Outrage continues to spread throughout the United States over President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh, currently on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, has been roundly criticized for his reactionary rulings against labor and protections for the environment, and scorned for his opinions … Continue reading Nationwide protests demand: Stop Kavanaugh!
By JOHN LESLIE Hurricane Florence hit the Carolina coast on Sept. 14 with major flooding, leaving hundreds stranded, more than 500,000 without power, and at least 45 dead. Many residents of the region had not anticipated the extent of the flooding from the slow-moving storm, and hundreds required emergency evacuation. Florence had risen to the … Continue reading The environmental consequences of Hurricane Florence in North Carolina
By ROBBIE MAHOOD Oct. 1 is election day in Quebec, the first under a new law that requires a new mandate every FOUR years. As the population wearies of cutbacks in health care, education, and social services, the Liberal Party government of Philippe Couillard is facing defeat. But this will not be at the hands of … Continue reading Quebecois go to the polls
By JEFF MACKLER Part II. (Part I appeared in August 2018.) In today’s epoch of worldwide imperialist intervention and war, real revolutions are hard to make, even harder to maintain, and sometimes difficult to define in their evolution or degeneration. Today’s antiwar movement debate on the still-unfolding dynamics operating in Nicaragua is a case in … Continue reading Debate on Nicaragua: Capitalist reform or socialist revolution?
