‘We demand: End US colonial rule over people of Puerto Rico’

Vol. 83/No. 24 - July 8, 2019
May 1 union protest in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Front placard says, “No more Promesa” — the U.S.-imposed law demanding Puerto Rico pay its foreign debt — and “No more lies.”

The following is the statement by Seth Galinsky given for the Socialist Workers Party to the U.N. Special Committee on Decolonization at its June 24 hearing on the colonial status of Puerto Rico. Distinguished Madam Chairperson and committee members: My…


Massive protests in Hong Kong push back hated extradition bill

Vol. 83/No. 24 - July 8, 2019
June 16 demonstration in Hong Kong drew some 2 million people, largest mobilization in history of former British colony. Beijing fears its impact on working people inside China.

In a victory for democratic and political rights, the biggest mobilizations in Hong Kong’s history forced the city’s chief executive, Carrie Lam — after a meeting with top Chinese officials — to suspend moves to pass a hated bill authorizing…


Vote to erase Calif. mural is blow to art, political rights

Vol. 83/No. 24 - July 8, 2019
Scene from Victor Arnautoff’s mural “Life of Washington” depicting George Washington as slave owner. In a blow to artistic, political rights, San Francisco School Board voted June 25 to destroy the mural, which has been in George Washington High School lobby for eight decades.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — In a blow to artistic and political rights in the name of “political correctness,” the San Francisco School Board voted to destroy the “Life of Washington” mural at George Washington High School here June 25. The…


Former ‘wives,’ children of IS fighters held in Mideast camps

Vol. 83/No. 24 - July 8, 2019
Thousands of women formerly “married” to Islamic State fighters and their children are being held in appalling conditions in al-Hol, above, and other detention camps in Syria and Iraq.

Thousands of displaced former “wives” of Islamic State fighters, together with tens of thousands of children, many of them orphans, are being held in squalid, disease-infested camps in Iraq and Syria. Their reintegration into society is an important challenge in…


Over the top! ‘Militant’ goes over goals in paper, book, fund drives

Vol. 83/No. 23 - June 10, 2019
Socialist Workers Party campaigner Sergio Zambrana, right, talks with aerospace worker Kyle Miller at Miller’s doorstep in Peru, New York, April 27, about party’s program and activities.

Welcome to those of you who subscribed to the Militant  during the just-concluded drive to expand the readership of the paper, bought books by Socialist Workers Party leaders and other working-class fighters, and helped raise $115,000 for the Militant Fighting…


‘Cuba’s revolution taught us we could do the same thing here’

Vol. 83/No. 23 - June 10, 2019
Cuban militia celebrates April 1961 victory over U.S.-backed counterrevolutionary forces at Bay of Pigs, first defeat for U.S. imperialism in the Americas. This helped inspire youth in U.S.

The French edition of   Cuba and the Coming American Revolution by Jack Barnes, national secretary of the Socialist Workers Party, is one of Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for June. The excerpt is from the first chapter, “1961: Year of…


Socialist Workers Party 2019 campaign program

Vol. 83/No. 23 - June 10, 2019

The Socialist Workers Party’s fighting program to confront the economic, social and moral crisis caused by capitalism:   UNIONS/FOR A LABOR PARTY Support workers’ struggles to organize to defend themselves, to use union power on behalf of ourselves and all…


US capitalist rulers ban Huawei in trade squeeze on Beijing

Vol. 83/No. 23 - June 10, 2019
Container ship loaded with goods from China berths at Port of Los Angeles in 2011. U.S. rulers are using Huawei ban and tariffs on greater volume of imports from China as leverage against Beijing in trade talks. Competing rulers seek deal that best defends their capitalist interests.

On May 15 Washington escalated its attack on Chinese telecom giant Huawei, taking steps to cut the company off from suppliers and ban it from doing business in the U.S.  President Donald Trump that day signed an executive order enabling…


Australia election ‘shocker’ reflects working-class anger

Vol. 83/No. 23 - June 10, 2019

SYDNEY — The conservative Liberal-National coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, widely predicted by liberal pundits to lose the election, defied the polls and won May 18. Most had expected a comfortable win for the opposition Labor Party led…