The Militant (logo)  

Vol. 77/No. 20      May 27, 2013

 
New contributors donate
to Militant Fighting Fund

BY LEA SHERMAN 
“Capitalism can be very ugly and this is capitalism at its ugliest,” Gray Woods, a 52-year-old miner who works for Patriot Coal in southern West Virginia, told Militant supporter Janet Post as he gave her $10 for the Militant Fighting Fund and bought a single copy of the paper. Like thousands of other miners, Woods worked for Peabody Energy before it spun off most of its union mines to create Patriot, which filed for bankruptcy in 2012 as part of a scheme to gut union contracts and get out from under pension and health care obligations.

“Use this donation for the fund in whatever way you think best,” said Woods, who was taking off his mine boots when Militant supporters came to his door as they were selling the socialist newsweekly in mining communities of West Virginia.

Unlike the big-business press, the Militant covers labor struggles, world developments and big political questions from the point of view of the interests of the working class. Readers of the Militant around the world have pledged to raise more than $115,000 to help keep the paper coming out and to expand its circulation.

The team also sold the paper at a portal of Hobet Mining, a Patriot-owned mine. A couple that lives close to the mine drove by and stopped when they saw the team’s sign “The Militant supports miners at Patriot.” They bought a paper and added an extra $4 when told about the fund.

Each area is working to win new contributors to the fund as they organize to meet their local quotas. “Ten dollars came from nurse Felecia Buckhanan, when she renewed her subscription for six months during a home visit,” reported Lisa Potash from Atlanta. “She has also given an issue to a coworker she plans to talk with about signing up for a subscription.”

An autoworker and a teacher, while not ready to subscribe, each donated several dollars during discussions with Militant campaigners who knocked on their doors in Atlanta. “Their response was ‘I like what you’re doing. Good luck!’” said Potash. While selling the paper outside a Kraft Foods plant, a team netted a $4 contribution from a worker who picked up a copy of the paper.

To contribute, contact distributors listed on page 10, or send a check or money order made out to the Militant to 306 W. 37th St., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018.  

 
 
Related articles:
Militant Fighting Fund May 4 – June 25 $115,000 (chart)
 
 
 
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