However, there are deep illusions in the two party system (plus illusions about types like John McCain). They think the defection is a good sign because they think that Democrats and Independents pose an alternative to Bush, Cheney, and Co.

Articles on the political situation, such as the one by Trowe, provide good talking points for discussions.

The campaign for mayor of Los Angeles is another one that provides an area for discussion, as one of the Democrats is heavily backed by labor and the Latino population.

Another area is the recent attempt by Bush (successful it seems) to bring some of the labor misleaders into the slash, drill, and burn energy policy. Although a lot of working people I talk to are very concerned about the environment and pollution, there is always that "jobs vs. environment" issue that the capitalists and their labor friends roll out when necessary to confuse people as to where their real interests lie.

It is especially helpful to show how the Democratic Party has consistently failed to provide real alternative leadership in the fight against the attacks on working people.

S.H.
Deep River, Connecticut
 
 
School blocks Mumia video
The graduating class of Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, recently voted to play a videotaped speech by Mumia Abu-Jamal at their upcoming graduating ceremony.

Following criticism by school administrators, Castlemont’s principal decided to override their selection--in spite of the fact that the students organized two separate votes in favor of Abu-Jamal. The principal, according to the Oakland Tribune, "selected a respected preacher...instead of a convicted cop-killer." The school board president stated that the preacher represented "what a commencement speaker should stand for."

Many students argued that the Oakland-born Abu-Jamal, who speaks about racial injustice and police brutality, can give them a more meaningful send-off than a pastor exhorting the virtues of religion. "I worked hard to get here, and now they are taking something away from me," said student Donnie Penelton. "It’s our graduation."

Most of the students first learned about Abu-Jamal’s fight to prevent his execution on frame-up charges at a district-wide teach-in. At that time, school district officials and the Oakland police department attempted to block the event, citing the killing of a cop four days before the event.

Shirley Peña
Albany, California  
 
 
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