The conference was entitled "Capitalism's World Disorder: Working-Class Politics at the Millennium," after the most recent publication from Pathfinder Press. The classes and discussions captured several key political questions that the book explains in depth — the "cultural war" being waged by ultrarightist Patrick Buchanan, the fight for women's liberation, and living examples today of the sea change in working-class politics as demonstrated by three Teamster strikers from Basic Vegetable who came to share their experiences.

The first class was titled the "Stakes for Workers and Farmers in Resisting Patrick Buchanan's Cultural War," presented by Norton Sandler, a member of the Socialist Workers Party in San Francisco. He explained Buchanan's cultural war and how it scapegoats immigrants, women, homosexuals, and the "corrupt elite" as the causes for the social and economic crises in the United States.

Sandler described how while Buchanan has one foot in bourgeois politics to gain a hearing through the Reform Party, he has the other in the streets. As Capitalism's World Disorder states on page 232, the fascist movement that Buchanan is assembling the initial cadres of "will use whatever force and violence is necessary to deny enough democratic rights to the majority of working people, eventually, to preserve the privileges of the upper middle class and maintain capitalist rule."

Sandler also discussed Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura as a Bonapartist figure in bourgeois politics today. Ventura is pretending to rise above class conflicts and promises to cut through the "red tape" by being a "spokesman" for the people.

Samantha Kern, the national organizer of the Young Socialists and California State YS organizer, gave a class on "The Origins of Women's Oppression and the Working-class Road to Women's Liberation Today." She referred to The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State by Frederick Engels, which explains that the vast majority of human existence was in stages known as savagery and barbarism where men and women lived as equals, the means of production were owned collectively, and there were no institutions such as the family, private property, or the state.

Kern explained that the oppression of women came with the rise of class society. She gave an overview of the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and early '70s and the gains it conquered, especially the right to choose abortion, which gave women increasing confidence.

This movement had its roots in the increasing involvement of women in the workforce, and was reinforced as more women entered industry, breaking into jobs that were previously limited to men, such as the coal mines and other basic industries. In conclusion, she explained that as men and women fight alongside each other, it strengthens the working-class as a whole.

For several youth at the meeting, this was their first socialist educational conference. After the Saturday sessions Claudia, a student at the University of Santa Cruz, said she found the conference "very interesting. I wanted to be exposed to new ideas and listen to a different perspective. It makes sense to me, and I would like more information."

On Sunday morning, Santa Cruz Young Socialists and invited guests discussed perspectives for the YS in the next few months. The main reports included how the YS is participating in the national campaign to sell and place Capitalism's World Disorder in bookstores and libraries.

There was also discussion on how the YS was going to meet its goal in this last week of the National Young Socialists fund drive. Further discussion was centered on the importance of participation in the Guadalajara Book Fair. YS members will help staff the Pathfinder booth there and strengthen the international character of the Young Socialists.

That afternoon, Irlinda Villasensor, Humberto Capiz, and Eustolia Valdez, three Teamsters who are on strike at Basic Vegetable, addressed the conference. They came especially to build the solidarity rally taking place in King City November 14 (see article on page 11), and invited all those present to come and give their support.

Some 750 workers have been on strike at the large onion and garlic dehydration plant since last July. They are fighting two-tier wages, permanent replacements, and attacks by the company on health insurance and pensions. Capiz, a forklift driver and mechanic, said that the company "would like to take away our health benefits that we have fought for.…If we lose this strike, you all will lose as well."

The company has been downsizing despite an increase in production. Valdez, a crew leader, explained how working twice as fast under pressure from the company jeopardizes the safety of all workers.

The strikers described in detail the company's counter-campaign and the role of the police, who side with the company. "The police treat all of us like we have criminal records," stated Capiz. They said that when the replacement workers or company make complaints of alleged misconduct by the strikers, the police are immediately on the scene. But when strikers are victims of thuggery and other attacks, the police respond slowly or not at all.

By the close of the conference, most participants were making plans to get to the strike rally in King City. These fighting workers made an impression on fighting youth who were attending this conference. Degan, a student from Yugoslavia, said the meeting "gave me an inside and personal look at workers' struggles in the United States today.…The Teamsters workers' struggle made me feel the energy and the incredible effort that these workers are putting into this fight. That's really worth our admiration, respect, and most of all, unconditional support."  
 

N.Y. students protest racism by university trustee

On that occasion Badillo, who was the first Puerto Rican congressman in the United States, said, "If you go to El Barrio in East Harlem… this is supposed to be a Puerto Rican area, it's all Mexicans. The problem is that in Mexico and Central America, there has never been a history of education.… They're pure Indians, Incas and Mayans, who are about, you know, five feet tall, with straight hair.…We have to have a sense of urgency about this continuing migration of Mexicans and Dominicans because I assure you it's not going to stop"

Luz Schreiber of Hunter College addressed the rally: "What Badillo said was a manifestation of his racist policies of dismantling open admissions and remediation."

Mariana Zubok of Queens College told participants, "If we look farther than Badillo's speech of September 22, we will see his record of betraying all people, CUNY students and the working class. Since becoming chairman, he has fought to end open admissions and remediation programs at CUNY. Even back when he was a congressman, he supported instituting a tuition at CUNY, which used to be free!"

Signs included 'We refuse to let a bigot be the chairman of our university,' and popular chants were: "Education is a right. Keep up the fight!" and "Badillo, get out!" in both English and Spanish. Dominican and Puerto Rican flags were proudly displayed by participants.

Julian Rosado, Student Council president of Bronx Community College, addressed the crowd. "Badillo does not deserve to represent my Puerto Rican flag anymore. He is trying to manipulate us into thinking that because he's Latino we should support him."

Sultana Ocasio, a student at Baruch College and a member of the Muslim Students Association told the Militant, "I'm here to represent CUNY students to show Badillo that his behavior is unacceptable."

The group that planned the action, the CUNY Action Network, is a coalition of students representing many of the 12 CUNY campuses that was formed in response to Badillo's comments and has as its aim the removal of Badillo from the Board. Non-student groups were represented at the protest as well, including the Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, Dominican 2000, and the Mexican-American Workers Association. One speaker who received sustained applause was Iris Báez, an activist against police brutality whose son, Anthony Báez, was killed by New York police.

Many passers-by stopped to see what the protest was about and to show support. One such person, a postal worker whose son goes to John Jay College of CUNY, told the Militant that he was glad to see people out protesting Badillo. "We've protested our management out here before and it helped us to win a better contract."

Two days after making his racist comments, Badillo issued an apology, in response to an outpouring of anger and calls to resign. But for many students, faculty, and community groups, an apology isn't enough.

The protest of October 28 was just one action in a series of anti-Badillo activities. Planning meetings of the CUNY Action Network are ongoing, with the aim of continuing until the chairman resigns or is removed.

Since Badillo made the comments, he has been followed by a group of students to virtually all of his public engagements who loudly call on him to either resign or be removed during his presentations. According to the Hunter Envoy, a student newspaper at Hunter College of CUNY, a program at the New School that featured Badillo on September 29 turned into an anti-Badillo rally, with 150 demonstrators.

Elena Tate is a student at Hunter College.  
 
 
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