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   Vol. 70/No. 9           March 6, 2006  
 
 
25, 50 and 75 years ago
 
March 6, 1981
The South African regime is carrying out a secret war against Angola and its people.

Ever since the end of the Angolan war of 1975-76—during which a South African invasion was beaten back by Angolan and Cuban troops—South African forces have repeatedly struck across the border. They admit doing so, but claim that their only targets are guerrilla camps of the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), which is fighting for Namibia’s independence from South African rule.  
 
March 5, 1956
Reflecting the anger of millions in America at the mass arrests of leaders of the Montgomery anti-Jim Crow bus boycott movement, a drive has been initiated by top Negro religious leaders for a March 28 “National Deliverance Day” of prayer and protest.

Negro officials of the clothing, laundry and sleeping car porters unions met Saturday with [Adam Clayton] Powell to discuss plans for the “Deliverance Day” demonstration. However, still lacking is the one ingredient essential for the full success of the demonstration—the full weight of support of the national AFL-CIO.

The failure thus far of the leaders of the union movement to extend this support imposes sharp limitations on the movement.

The problem was posed this way by a Negro worker in a large New Jersey auto plant. “The Negroes in my department have been talking about the stoppage for several days now. They want to support it but they all raise the problem that if the union doesn’t back them how can they risk knocking off the job?”  
 
March 1, 1931
In Lawrence, Mass. a total of 10,000 textile workers have struck the American Woolen Co.’s mills against an increased speed up system and a wage cut. These strikers immediately began militant mass picketing. It has thus become one of the early small beginnings of a rising labor movement.

On Feb. 16th, 1931, the strike began with only 33 workers coming out of the Washington Mills combing dept. against the instituted new schedules. By Feb. 21st it increased to 8,000. Despite the fact that only fragmentary union organization exists the strike continued to grow to embrace 10,000 workers.

The workers demanded time and a half for overtime, double time for holidays, withdrawal of efficiency experts, no discrimination and recognition of the Mill committees to settle special grievances.  
 
 
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