Vol. 71/No. 6      February 12, 2007

Can they use informers to spy on and disrupt unions and political organizations? In sworn answers, the cops admit that this too, is OKed by the agreement, as long as their informer operations are “consistent with the law.” In plain English, this means that the cops can carry out informer and disruption operations whenever they please.

The deal between the cops and the NYCLU is the proposed out-of-court settlement of a ten-year-long lawsuit against the cops’ notorious Red Squad. The suit was brought on behalf of everyone who has ever been, is, or may become the victim of police spying, harassment, and disruption operations.  
 
February 11, 1957
A South African bus boycott begun Jan. 7, in protest against an increase in fares is spreading. The movement now involves over 60,000 Negroes who are walking the ten miles to work from segregated compounds outside Johannesburg and Pretoria. Negroes were forced from their homes inside Johannesburg at gun point in 1955 in a city drive to make residence mainly white. Meetings protesting this action were broken up as “subversive” as are all South African meetings which oppose segregation. Police have been unable to break the boycott movement, however, and it has spread to other areas. A subtle industrial slowdown is taking place as workers arrive late and tired after the long walk. The main Negro refreshment hall in Johannesburg, run by the city, has been boycotted since Jan. 28. It used to serve 35,000 Negroes daily. Now it serves none.

February 13, 1932
In the New York dressmakers strike, now on, the crucial issue is that of working class unity. But it will be attained only with a policy based upon that objective. And so far the exact opposite is the case.

The condition of two unions existing within the needle trades is not one originating today and cannot be changed at will. To that extent the workers are naturally and of necessity divided. But it is precisely because of this condition that the problem of working class unity has become the crucial issue. For this reason the only policy of the revolutionary party which can stand the test in this situation is the one which is founded upon the united front of all workers involved in the conflict. This policy, which, in other words, is a fundamental duty of the revolutionary party, the Stalinist leadership has constantly evaded.  
 
 
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