Vol. 72/No. 10      March 10, 2008

The Latino Student Association at Temple University sponsored a meeting for him on campus. A garment worker in Norristown and a meat packer in Allentown, who was involved in efforts to win a union at his plant, hosted meetings in their homes for Calero, as well.

In Norristown, the discussion centered on the question of how immigrant workers can win legal status. “In Norristown, when an immigration raid happens, people call to warn each other and you don’t see any Mexicans on the streets for about three days,” said Francisco, a mechanic who attended the house meeting. Calero said this was “an example of workers figuring out a way to respond collectively to attacks by the authorities.”

“Many Hispanics join the army hoping to get residency,” said Eddie, a construction worker in Norristown. “Then they die, and they don’t get anything.”

Eddie’s comments weren’t the only ones about the war. Questions were asked at all three meetings about the war in Iraq, including if Calero would pull the troops out.

Calero said that as commander in chief of the armed forces he would immediately withdraw all troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe, Korea, and anywhere else they are stationed.

Another worker asked if ending the war would fix the recession. Calero explained how the unfolding financial crisis increases the competition among rival imperialist powers, resulting in more wars.

Speaking at a February 17 Militant Labor Forum, Calero said that when Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama spoke at the General Motors plant in Janesville, Wisconsin, he had blamed the capitalist economic crisis on “a failure of leadership and imagination in Washington” and said that it was “not an inevitable part of the business cycle.”

Calero said, “But it is an inevitable part of the business cycle and the normal workings of the class-divided capitalist system. The rulers are in denial about the depth of the economic crisis. There is a failure of leadership under capitalism whether it is Bush, Clinton, McCain, or Obama.”

“When I first registered to vote, I didn’t choose any political party, but someone checked ‘Republican’ on the form,” said Nidia Manzueta, a school worker, at the Allentown meeting. “When they called me to help campaign, I went. But then I found out that the Republican Party was the party of the rich. What do you do when you have a choice between two candidates, but neither one of them really represents what you want?”

Calero talked about the need for a labor party that can fight in the interests of workers and farmers. He invited Manzueta to participate in winning support for the Socialist Workers campaign, including efforts to get SWP candidates on the ballot.

“With pleasure,” Manzueta responded.

While in Philadelphia, Calero was interviewed by the Philadelphia Daily News, Al Día, and MTV. The Temple News covered the event at Temple University.
 
 
Related articles:
‘We want citizenship so we can vote for you!’
Workers at Houston meat plant welcome Róger Calero, Socialist Workers presidential candidate
U.S. socialist candidate solidarizes with Canada antideportation struggle  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home