March 11, 1977
The Carter administration is planning a massive crackdown on Mexicans who have entered the United States without immigration permits, according to Secretary of Labor F. Ray Marshall.

The plan calls for barring undocumented workers--the so-called illegal aliens--from employment. To enforce this, Marshall said, the administration intends to introduce a system of "counterfeitproof" identification cards for all working people.

Traditionally associated with police states, such compulsory identification--or internal passports--would constitute a heavy blow to civil liberties.

Marshall told the Los Angeles Times that Carter had created a cabinet-level committee to deal with the issue. The committee includes Marshall, Attorney General Griffin Bell, and Secretary of State Cyrus Vance.

The administration intends to "get everything together and be sure we are ready and then we can move in a hurry."

Why is the government planning such drastic moves at this particular time?

Along with the racist victimization of undocumented mexicanos, it is aimed squarely at the rights, wages, and living conditions of all U.S. workers.

Until now, the government has been content to let undocumented workers slip across the border when unemployment is low and step up deportations when a supply of domestic cheap labor is available.
 
March 10, 1952
DETROIT--After a witch hunting orgy that raged for a week to the accompaniment of screaming newspaper headlines and blaring radio broadcasts the House Un-American Activities Committee recessed its Detroit hearings after threatening a return engagement here next Monday.

The main target of the witch hunt, according to advance notice, was to be UAW-CIO Ford Local 600, largest local union in the world. Because of its opposition to the red-baiting Reuther administration and its vigorous advocacy of a militant union program Local 600 appears as the symbol of "communism" to the labor-hating gang who descended on Detroit.

When the smoke cleared the witch-hunters could claim a few victims--but none in the ranks of Local 600.

One of the most ominous aspects of the committee inquisition was the attempt to terrorize the Negro community by concentrating a murderous fire against a number of prominent Negro leaders in the fight against Jim Crow. Coleman Young, secretary of the recently formed National Negro Labor Council was grilled for over an hour by the committee.

At another point in the questioning committee counsel Tavenner, admitting there was no "evidence" of Communist Party membership, asked Young what he knew about the CP. "You have me mixed up with a stool pigeon, sir," Young replied  
 
 
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