Vol. 75/No. 11      March 21, 2011

Militant/Deborah Liatos

Selling Militant at protest against budget cuts in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, March 8, one of more than 30 actions in Florida coinciding with Gov. Richard Scott’s “state of the state” address.

The showdown in Wisconsin is the most significant response by the working class and unions to the assault on our rights and job conditions that accelerated with the deepening capitalist crisis beginning three years ago. This is why the Militant is getting such a good response. Supporters of the paper are taking it to actions in their hometowns, in neighboring states, and halfway across the country.

Supporters of the Militant are stepping up their use of the Workers Power book along with sales of the paper to help explain the economic crisis and the road forward for working people. A special offer of $15 for a copy of the book together with an introductory subscription to the Militant is now being offered to help get these valuable tools into the hands of as many working-class fighters as possible.

At a demonstration of several thousand in Nashville, Tennessee, socialist workers from Atlanta sold 40 papers, one subscription, and a copy of Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power by Jack Barnes to teachers and other workers protesting antiunion proposals before the state legislature.

Socialist workers from Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and New York joined tens of thousands at the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin, March 5. Twenty-six people bought subscriptions to the paper and 111 got single copies. “Workers wanted to discuss what it will take to build a fighting labor movement,” said David Rosenfeld, a steelworker and member of the Socialist Workers Party from Des Moines, Iowa.

A retired member of the Coast Guard bought two subscriptions—one for himself, one for his daughter. “Everybody calls me a socialist and I want to know what that is,” he said.

Harry D’Agostino, a student at the State University of New York in New Paltz took a bus to Manhattan to join two socialist workers for the 15-hour drive to Madison. When he told the bus driver where he was headed, the driver let him on with no fare.

When he returned to campus, D’Agostino and other students began organizing to get a larger crew to Wisconsin for protests called for March 12. Ten people came to a March 7 meeting to make plans and begin raising funds. The next day several joined a walk-out from classes to protest state university budget cuts. D’Agostino spoke to the rally and helped raise an additional $70. “Several students bought copies of the Militant and others are pulling together the five dollars to get a sub,” he said.

A team of Militant supporters from Iowa and Indiana brought the paper to a protest of 2,000 teachers and others at the state capitol in Indianapolis. Six people bought subscriptions and 18 got single copies. When the team went to a pizza place to warm up, a number of teachers were doing likewise. Three of them subscribed.

On March 8, more than 30 actions took place across Florida to protest budget cuts. The demonstrations coincided with Gov. Rick Scott’s “state of the state” address to the Florida Legislature. Some 750 participated in the Ft. Lauderdale action and 300 attended the event in Tallahassee.

Three bought subscriptions and 47 got single copies in Tallahassee. A slightly larger rally organized by the tea party took place across the street. Many at that rally talked with Militant supporters, and one bought a paper.

Sales of the Militant have picked up in Los Angeles over the past two weeks, reports Norton Sandler. “We have 19 new subscribers, and sold 120 single copies. Socialist workers also sold a couple new subscriptions to coworkers during this stretch and introduced the paper to other new readers on the job.”

“At a regular sale in front of Perrigo Pharmaceuticals in the Bronx, March 8, we sold six papers—five to workers at the plant and one to a student passing by,” Steve Clark reported. “This was one of our best sales ever.”

The headline on joining the fight of the Wisconsin workers caught the attention of a number of workers. One said he already had the issue and added, “I get it from my friends Dan and Francisco inside. They’re going out there this weekend, they told me. I guess I’ll hear what happened on Monday.” Dan Fein, who works in the plant, joined the team for a while and helped in two of the sales.
 
 
Related articles:
Union actions spread, labor solidarity grows
Wisconsin workers, farmers lead way
All out for rallies in Wisconsin, other states!
Rallies across the U.S. defend rights of unions
Trade unions: their past, present, and future
3,000 protest antiunion legislation in Ohio
On the Picket Line
UK action protests government austerity  
 
 
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