Category: International

Europe: News from the frontlines

By STAN MILLER Europe has been experiencing major recession since 2008. All figures point out that we’re in it for the long haul. In the United States, strong attacks against the working class combined with a policy of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve and the ability of the U.S. to borrow money almost indefinitely … Continue reading Europe: News from the frontlines →

Mumia Abu-Jamal: Making torture legal

By MUMIA ABU-JAMAL In the week of the Senate Intelligence Select Committee’s report on CIA torture of terror suspects, we’re reminded how little Americans know about how the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency rolls in the real world. Predictably, the 500-page summary of a 6700-page report erupted into a political and media firestorm. Networks and cable … Continue reading Mumia Abu-Jamal: Making torture legal →

Cuba expands women’s reproductive rights

By ANN MONTAGUE Abortion has been legal in Cuba since the victory of the Cuban revolution in 1959 and was codified into law as a women’s “sovereign right” in 1968. Vilma Espin, a feminist and revolutionary fighter, was made the head of the new Federation of Cuban Women and later created the National Center For … Continue reading Cuba expands women’s reproductive rights →

Mexico protests: Bring them home alive!

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER On Nov. 20, rallies took place in Mexico and around the world protesting the disappearance of 43 students after a police attack in the state of Guerrero, and demanding that the Mexican government account for their fate. From Mexico City to Buenos Aires to London to New York City, chants rang out … Continue reading Mexico protests: Bring them home alive! →

Rasmea Odeh found guilty

Rasmea Defense Committee statement —  In a travesty of justice, Rasmea Odeh today was found guilty of one count of Unlawful Procurement of Naturalization. For over a year, Rasmea, her supporters, and her legal team have been battling this unjust government prosecution, saying from the start that the immigration charge was nothing but a pretext … Continue reading Rasmea Odeh found guilty →

Europe hit by economic slowdown

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Below are portions of the World Political Situation Report, delivered by Michael Schreiber to the Socialist Action National Convention on Oct. 18. Capitalism’s offensive against the world’s working class—which gathered momentum as a consequence of the major economic recession that began in late 2007—continues unabated. Even in the major industrial nations, the … Continue reading Europe hit by economic slowdown →

Justice for Rasmea Odeh!

UPDATED REPORTS FROM THE TRIAL: Socialist Action has received the following on-the-scene reports from the Rasmea Defense Committee. We express our solidarity with Rasmea Odeh, who was arrested in October 2013 for allegedly falsifying papers she had filled out for immigration to the United States. Previously, she had been imprisoned by Israel, who accused her … Continue reading Justice for Rasmea Odeh! →

Spain: Women have won!

By JUSTA MONTERO MADRID—On Sept. 23, the prime minister of the Spanish State, Mariano Rajoy, announced that he was withdrawing the proposal to amend the abortion law. The law’s main architect, Minister of Justice Alberto Ruíz Gallardón, immediately resigned. Gallardón never tired of repeating that the preliminary draft for “protection of the life of the … Continue reading Spain: Women have won! →

‘Vietnam’: Riveting but flawed documentary

By GAETANA CALDWELL-SMITH “The Last Days of Vietnam,” a documentary film produced and directed by Rory Kennedy. Director Rory Kennedy, daughter of environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, has created a riveting and heartwarming, yet heartbreaking, full-length documentary film, “The Last Days of Vietnam,” which takes place in South Vietnam from 1973 to 1975, the last … Continue reading ‘Vietnam’: Riveting but flawed documentary →

U.S. imperialism bombs Syria & Iraq

By JEFF MACKLER A new coalition of the not-too-willing nations is in preparation as U.S. imperialism prepares for yet another war in the Middle East, its sixth or seventh in the past half decade. These include wars of conquest, resource exploitation, and covert bombings in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Pakistan, and Egypt—where the U.S., … Continue reading U.S. imperialism bombs Syria & Iraq →

Hong Kong protests demand democracy

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Hong Kong is witnessing the most massive street protests in its history. Many thousands of people have stood up to police repression while maintaining an Occupy-style presence in the streets. The protests have become known as the “Umbrella Revolution” for the umbrellas that demonstrators have employed to help shield their faces from … Continue reading Hong Kong protests demand democracy →

World condemns Israeli slaughter in Gaza

By JEFF MACKLER  Five hundred and sixteen children are among the over 2200 Gaza Palestinians murdered by the racist, Zionist, apartheid settler state of Israel. An estimated 75-80 percent of the Palestinians slaughtered were civilians. Some 1.8 million Palestinians “live” in perhaps the world’s largest prison, Gaza, virtually unable to enter or leave, starved and … Continue reading World condemns Israeli slaughter in Gaza →

Children trapped at the border

By LISA LUINENBURG Since October 2013, about 57,000 unaccompanied children from Central America have been apprehended crossing the border into the United States. This number jumped 159% between 2011 and 2013, and the total number of children caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border this year is expected to reach 74,000. Most of these children come from … Continue reading Children trapped at the border →

Movies: U.S. spy agency is the villain

By GAETANA CALDWELL-SMITH “A Most Wanted Man,” a film directed by Anton Corbijn, based on the novel by John le Carré. Director Corbijn set “A Most Wanted Man” in the port city of Hamburg, site of Mohammad Atta’s planning for the al-Queda jet-plane attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Only now, it’s … Continue reading Movies: U.S. spy agency is the villain →

U.S. aids brutal attack on eastern Ukraine

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER Civilian casualties are quickly mounting as U.S.-supported Ukrainian troops redouble their offensive to capture the country’s rebellious eastern provinces. United Nations officials put the death toll in the region since mid-June at over 1500 civilians and combatants, with 3500 wounded. More than 285,000 people have been displaced from their homes in the … Continue reading U.S. aids brutal attack on eastern Ukraine →

‘Boycott Coca Cola,” say Spanish workers

By BARRY WEISLEDER Hundreds of Coca Cola workers sporting red T-shirts shouted, sang, and marched into Madrid's historic central square on July 18 to demand the return of their jobs.I was among dozens of Canadian, American, and Australian tourists who encountered this instance of class struggle following our tour farewell dinner in the square. I … Continue reading ‘Boycott Coca Cola,” say Spanish workers →

Stop the Israeli invasion of Gaza!

By JEFF MACKLER  — UPDATED AUG. 3, 2014 — End U.S. aid to apartheid Israel! Stop the Zionist bombing of Gaza!  The U.S.-backed racist, colonialist, apartheid Zionist entity known as Israel is once again saturation bombing the Palestinian people and destroying the infrastructure of the world’s largest open air prison—the Gaza Strip—a slip of land roughly … Continue reading Stop the Israeli invasion of Gaza! →

Gaza protesters overcome French ban

INTERVIEW by CHRIS HUTCHINSON Over 600 people are dead in Gaza, and millions of workers around the world are speaking out against Israel's brutal assault on the Gaza Strip. Workers everywhere are standing against genocide and apartheid as well as demanding justice for Palestinians living under military occupation. In London one march reported 100,000 participants. … Continue reading Gaza protesters overcome French ban →

Israel out of Gaza! Justice for Palestine!

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER As we go to press on July 17, Israel has undertaken a ground invasion of the beleaguered Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Naval gunships, drones, helicopters, and F-16 fighters have kept up a constant bombardment of the territory to accompany the assault by infantry and tanks. Israel has called up at least 50,000 … Continue reading Israel out of Gaza! Justice for Palestine! →

Obama to deport immigrant children

By LISA LUINENBURG  President Obama responded to reports of a recent influx into the U.S. of over 52,000 undocumented children from Central America by asking Congress for an additional $2 billion to speed up their deportation proceedings. While a law enacted under President George W. Bush classifies these children as refugees, and requires that they … Continue reading Obama to deport immigrant children →

NY award gala mocks Haitian misery

By MARTY GOODMAN On June 19, a quickly called protest was organized against a glitzy award gala in Manhattan that featured a “Leadership in Education” award for the corrupt and repressive Haitian president, Michel “Sweet Mickey” Martelly. On the same program, a “Lifetime Achievement Award” went to Martelly’s political patron, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, … Continue reading NY award gala mocks Haitian misery →

Court releases Dr. Sami Al-Arian

Political prisoner Dr. Sami Al-Arian is free! Al-Arian, a computer-engineering professor at the University of South Florida and nationally known as an activist in the struggle for civil liberties for the Muslim and Palestinian American community, has been jailed for over 11 years on spurious charges related to his support for the struggle for Palestinian … Continue reading Court releases Dr. Sami Al-Arian →

Iraq uprising detonates new civil war

By MICHAEL SCHREIBER — UPDATED JULY 4 — The current conflict in Iraq gathered momentum with seemingly amazing speed as an armed coalition of secular and religious Sunni groups, spearheaded by the Islamic State (IS, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, an al-Qaeda splinter grouping), wrested about a third … Continue reading Iraq uprising detonates new civil war →

Bergdahl’s release has right wing fuming

By BARRY SHEPPARD  Since the Obama administration arranged for the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the last U.S. prisoner of war held by the Afghanistan Taliban, there has been a firestorm of outrage from the right wing of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Bergdahl has been pilloried as a traitor. His father has been … Continue reading Bergdahl’s release has right wing fuming →