Tag: Arab Spring

Egyptians mark anniversary of uprising with new protests

In early February, a number of protesters were killed and over 1500 injured, as Egyptian police attacked demonstrations that had been called to express the mounting public anger over the deaths of at least 74 people at a soccer match in Port Said.The mainstream media at first blamed the Feb. 1 soccer stadium fight on … Continue reading Egyptians mark anniversary of uprising with new protests →

UNAC conference, March 23-25: ‘Challenge the wars of the 1%’

A Conference to Challenge the Wars of the 1% Against the 99% at Home and Abroad—this banner heads the call for the United National Antiwar Coalition Conference, which will be held in Stamford, CT, on March 23-25.  Addressing this theme will be international guest speakers that include Xiomara Castro de Zelaya, the wife of the former … Continue reading UNAC conference, March 23-25: ‘Challenge the wars of the 1%’ →

Occupy, longshore workers challenge anti-union bosses

Time Magazine designated its “Person of the Year 2011” as “The Protestor.” To make clear that its reference was to what the editors considered the most important development of the year, Time added to its cover-page headline: “From the Arab Spring to Athens, from Occupy Wall Street to Moscow.” Its feature story began, “No one … Continue reading Occupy, longshore workers challenge anti-union bosses →

After ‘withdrawal’ from Iraq, U.S. seeks new battlegrounds

On Jan. 5, President Obama made a major speech about a coming shift in U.S. military strategy, a strategy that has been described as more “lean” and more “mean.” The fact that the speech coincided with the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq led mainstream commentators to characterize the change primarily as a move … Continue reading After ‘withdrawal’ from Iraq, U.S. seeks new battlegrounds →

Egyptian masses say military regime must go

The masses of Egypt in their millions have returned to the streets, determined to finish the revolution they began in January by ousting from power the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). Every day since a police attack in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Saturday, Nov. 19, thousands of youths have braved murderous police sallies … Continue reading Egyptian masses say military regime must go →

Occupy Oakland shuts down port and calls for blockade

OAKLAND, Calif.—The Occupy Oakland movement reached a new height on Nov. 2 when a “General Strike” drew more than 10,000 working people, students, and trade unionists—the 99%—to downtown. The mobilization grew to upwards of 20,000 as a diverse sea of people marched to the port of Oakland, where the ILWU workers honored their picket line, … Continue reading Occupy Oakland shuts down port and calls for blockade →

Occupy movement goals: Socialist revolution or capitalist reforms?

At last count 900 U.S. cities have joined the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. Five hundred other cities and towns on every continent have joined the mushrooming mobilizations in solidarity. With each repressive blow, the movement comes back stronger—more inclusive, more confident, and more clearly focused.  “The Americans are fighting back at last,” cried one … Continue reading Occupy movement goals: Socialist revolution or capitalist reforms? →

After Iraq departure, U.S. sends new forces to Africa, Middle East

On Oct. 30, The New York Times announced that in anticipation of the departure of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the Pentagon is preparing to deploy more than the equivalent number of troops to Kuwait and to dramatically boost the U.S. naval presence in the Gulf region. According to The Times, new basing and military … Continue reading After Iraq departure, U.S. sends new forces to Africa, Middle East →

Building the NATO /G8 protests

The Oct. 15 demonstrations and forums called by the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC) to mark the 10th anniversary of the occupation of Afghanistan wonderfully coincided with an internationally called Global Day of Action against austerity and were able, in many cities, to link up with the Occupy Movement. In New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, … Continue reading Building the NATO /G8 protests →

Support the Occupy Wall Street Movement!

Socialist Action welcomes the growing Occupy movement as a hopeful sign that the decades-overdue classwide fightback against the economic crisis may finally be taking off. We salute the bravery and persistence of the occupations in the face of police repression, media lies and politician slanders and/or attempts at cooptation.Beginning, as was the case with similar … Continue reading Support the Occupy Wall Street Movement! →

UNAC plans antiwar rallies and conference

This month marks the 10th year of the Afghanistan War. Despite token troop drawdowns, U.S. troops and mercenary “contractors” seem poised to continue their occupation of the country for some time. The 10-year war has brought only death and carnage to the Afghan people, while over 2670 soldiers from the United States, Canada, and other … Continue reading UNAC plans antiwar rallies and conference →

MASSIVE OCCUPATION TARGETS WALL STREET

<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]-->Worldwide economic misery, inequality, and war have sparked an explosion of protests against Wall Street’s super crooks. The Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, which began in New York City, has spread like a wildfire across the United States. Protesters, led mainly by young people, have built encampments in numerous cities, with accompanying marches and … Continue reading MASSIVE OCCUPATION TARGETS WALL STREET →

Palestine: ‘Statehood’ or liberation struggle?

The Palestinian grassroots, including people in exile, continues the independent organizing that earlier this year led to the historic May and June Nakba and Naksa border-crossing “Marches for Return.” In August the focus turned to an intervention into the controversy over Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas’ plan to call for a vote on “statehood” at … Continue reading Palestine: ‘Statehood’ or liberation struggle? →

Do Israeli protests signal a shift toward class-struggle politics?

July and August have seen an unprecedented number of mass demonstrations in Israel. These mobilizations are similar, in many ways, to protests in the Arab world and in Europe. The demonstrations have raised demands against high prices and against privatization, and for increased minimum wages, but the main thrust has been high rents and a shortage … Continue reading Do Israeli protests signal a shift toward class-struggle politics? →

Documents reveal Gadhafi ties with U.S. government

Documents show that the Bush and Obama administrations were intent on developing firm “military to military” ties with the Libyan regime of Col. Muammar Gadhafi. This was revealed in transcripts of diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks on Aug. 24. In addition, Human Rights Watch has released copies of papers found in Libya’s office of External … Continue reading Documents reveal Gadhafi ties with U.S. government →

Syria uprising is critical to continuing Arab revolt

With the NATO victory in Libya, the regional Arab revolt faces a turning point. In our last issue we explained that Egypt was the key to the fate of that revolt, because of the weight of its working class, that class’s militancy and state of mobilization, and new political projects in its ranks.Now NATO has … Continue reading Syria uprising is critical to continuing Arab revolt →

Imperialist Victory Is No Gain For Libyan People

Tragically, Libya’s short-lived February 2011 “Arab Spring” was rapidly transformed into a six-month imperialist-led onslaught that wrought death and destruction on the Libyan people. The U.S. and other NATO countries are seeking to establish a beachhead in Libya that can be used to derail the mass revolts that have taken place throughout the region and … Continue reading Imperialist Victory Is No Gain For Libyan People →

Victory to the Syrian People’s Uprising! US/NATO, Hands Off!

<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]--> Below is a speech delivered on August 20th by Socialist Action Political Committee member Andrew Pollack to a rally of 300 in New York City in defense of the Syrian uprising against Bashar al-Assad:Sisters and Brothers,It is an honor to speak today, and if I stumble over my words it is out … Continue reading Victory to the Syrian People’s Uprising! US/NATO, Hands Off! →

Sept. 15 march for Palestine at the UN

<!--[if !mso]> <![endif]-->A broad coalition of groups supporting Palestinian rights is sponsoring a Sept. 15 march on the United Nations. The demands of the New York City march are: Sovereignty Now! Enforce the Right of Return! Full Equality for All! End All U.S. Aid to Israel! End the Occupation! Support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions!The date … Continue reading Sept. 15 march for Palestine at the UN →

Workers in Egypt: Key to Saving the Arab Spring

Throughout the Middle East and North Africa, the U.S. is using every weapon in its arsenal—military, diplomatic, financial, etc.—to try to turn the Arab Spring into a Washington Winter, an endless night of continued poverty enforced by dictatorships.But Egypt’s workers, who initiated the process leading to the mass Arab revolt with their strikes five years … Continue reading Workers in Egypt: Key to Saving the Arab Spring →

Obama prepares re-election bid by posing as antiwar candidate

“Ladies and gentleman, the horses are arriving at the starting gate,” says the announcer at the Kentucky Derby, the first of three famous races that rivet the attention of racing fans around the country in the spring of every year. The “Sport of Kings,” which Congress funds with $128 million yearly in tax breaks, is … Continue reading Obama prepares re-election bid by posing as antiwar candidate →

UNAC plans protest at NATO summit

The illusions of many Americans that Obama would turn out to be an “antiwar president” were definitively shattered early last year when he sent 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Since that time, the Obama administration’s attempts to convince the public that the war would soon wind down have proven hollow. Instead, Washington is expanding its … Continue reading UNAC plans protest at NATO summit →