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Iraqis Unite To Demand End of U.S. Occupation

Baghdad, Jan. 24: Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets to demand the U.S. military leave.

By Jennifer Lin

The Iraqi people are demanding an end to over 16 years of U.S. occupation. On January 24, over 1 million Iraqis flooded the streets, chanting anti-U.S. slogans and demanding that U.S. troops leave the country immediately. This is part of an ongoing series of protests that began last October. The Iraqi people are demanding that the U.S. respect their right to self-determination, free from imperialist domination. The protests transcend religious, ethnic, and political divides.

Like the British colonizers a century before, the U.S. has pursued a “divide and rule” strategy in Iraq, inflaming religious and ethnic tensions in Iraq in order to plunder the country’s oil wealth. The latest wave of protests follows the assassination of revered Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a U.S. drone attack in Baghdad on January 3. Both were leaders in the fight against ISIS in the region. Although the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel all U.S. forces following the assassination, troops remain.

The Iraqi people have created a united front demanding an end to the repressive policies of a government that is beholden to U.S. economic and political interests. They recognize that they have more in common with one another than any ruling elite. They recognize that U.S. imperialism and democracy cannot coexist.

U.S. imperialism is a threat to national sovereignty and democracy everywhere. We have more in common with the workers of the world than the rich capitalists who will stop at nothing to steal everything that belongs to us: our land, our wealth, our freedom. We must stand in solidarity with the Iraqi people and demand “U.S. out of Iraq!”

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Wet’suwet’en Nation Resists Attacks by Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Energy Companies

Wet’suwet’en people are defending their lands from TransCanada/TC Energy and the Canadian Police (RCMP).

By Meg Maloney

The government of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Coastal TransCanada/TC Energy are openly violating Wet’suwet’en, Canadian, and international law by forcibly entering Wet’suwet’en Territory. TransCanada is proposing a 670-kilometer fracked gas pipeline that would carry gas from Dawson Creek to the coastal town of Kitimat, British Columbia. All five Clans within the Wet’suwet’en Nation have opposed all pipeline proposals and have not provided consent to TransCanada. Land protectors had set up two encampments where they had been physically blocking entry to TransCanada. The RCMP responded by organizing a violent militarized campaign which included police carrying assault and sniper rifles.

Solidarity rallies, sit-ins, and railroad blockades have been organized from coast to coast, as well as internationally, demanding the RCMP leave Wet’suwet’en Territory. Protesters have successfully blocked major ports in the cities of Vancouver and Delta, BC. Service was suspended along the popular Toronto-Montreal rail road line as a result of a blockade in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory in Ontario. Protesters in the city of Vaughan blocked trains en route to London (ON), Hamilton, New York, and Michigan. Indigenous people and their supporters also blocked access into the provincial legislature in Victoria.

Canadian National Railroad (CN) invested over $95 million into Louisiana rail in 2019. CN’s infrastructure connects the Port of New Orleans to markets across the continent and links some of the states most important businesses in Baton Rouge and River Parishes to their suppliers. Across this continent and around the world, we are more connected than we may think. The South and Louisiana particularly have been a hub for land grabbing, resource extraction, and exploitation. So many capitalists come here to take advantage of the lack of labor rights and immense tax breaks politicians advertise to them.

We’re in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Nation. In solidarity, our collective strength is found.

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Stop the Torture! Free Mississippi Prisoners!

By LaVonna Varnado Brown

The conditions faced by inmates in facilities like Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm (a maximum-security prison farm located in Sunflower County), are horrific. These conditions include torture and the deliberate setting up of rivalries by sadistic guards. These are methods approved by Mississippi prison authorities to repress and divide inmates.

Despite the horrific conditions at Parchman (which used to be a plantation and is still run like one) many prisoners have united to organize inside, and their families and supporters have held many demonstrations asking for people to support their demands for release or for more livable conditions.
Among the independently documented conditions were 100 violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act in January alone. There were three dead inmates in three days. Family members report that there is absolutely no care being shown in operations (which is echoed by recent reports out of Louisiana prisons). Prison gangs are in control of other inmate’s food and sleeping rations.

Inmates are being celled with publicly known rivals, and people are being murdered. Seven homicides and five suicides have been reported at other facilities. An inmate named Bobby Lewis Vance died on February 15, making him at least the 17th inmate in the state’s troubled prison system to have died in less than two months.

Gov. Phil Bryant says the state has the issue “under control as best we can.” Mississippi’s prisons are run by abusive guards who facilitate corruption, and drug and drug paraphernalia sales inside the prisons. Parchman reports a 50% vacancy rate for job positions. All the guards need to be fired for their racism, sexism and for torture. Most prisoners could be released and for those who cannot, new personnel should be hired and vetted for their humanity and attitudes.

America is the world’s most incarcerated country. In southern states like Mississippi and Louisiana, incarcerated people outnumber the total sum of inmates in many countries. The labor of southern workers is being exploited in the same way that the inmates’ labor is. We are fattening the pockets of those that imprison and oppress us. We demand the abolition of mass incarceration, while we work to improve current conditions for inmates. It is time to unite and fight for the rights of all people.

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Debtors Prisons Punish the Poor In Mississippi

The state of Mississippi has revived an old method of punishing the poor and extracting cheap labor out of workers, often with no end in sight for the victims of their scam.

In Mississippi, workers can be sentenced to prison indefinitely if they don’t pay debts. The state has four “restitution centers,” or debtor’s prisons, where people are forced to live when they are not working their state-mandated minimum wage jobs. The money they earn from their jobs is then taken by the prisons. Most of the money they earn is not paid to those they owe debts to but to the prison itself for “room and board,” transportation to their jobs, and healthcare. For many, this means their sentences just get longer the longer they are there.

All of these workers are forced to work for private companies like fast food chains, slaughterhouses, or processing plants, or for rich people hiring landscapers or repair services. They are under severe restrictions while at work to keep them from contacting their families. People who cannot work end up in prison indefinitely, racking up debt while unable to pay any of it down. Meanwhile, at the debtors’ prison, they are forced to perform unpaid labor in the form of “chores.”

The state provides intentionally confusing records to the inmates so that it is unclear how much they owe or how long they will be in prison.
Sometimes these debts are connected to a crime, though for many, their crimes were not paying court fees or other punishments by the state for being poor. Most are for probation violations. In the majority of cases, the actual prison sentence associated with the crimes would be shorter than the debtors’ prison sentences. Many people are in debt because of plea bargains they were coerced to agree to.

Mississippi is the only state to continue this practice. Three judges in the state are responsible for a third of these sentences. Like with most incarceration programs, Black people are disproportionately targeted for these debtors’ prisons (nearly half of the workers are Black); it affects the poor far more than the rich, who can rely on their wealthy families, friends, or connections to get them out of any trouble.

This is not a tool for rehabilitation or a method of paying off the victims of crimes—most of the “crimes” had no victims—the debts were imposed by the courts, knowingly targeting those who cannot pay. Meanwhile, the rich continue to rack up their own debts and escape through bankruptcy or bailouts. Meanwhile, the rich are destroying peoples’ lives by raising the costs of housing, healthcare, and other necessities. Debt is a trap designed to control the poor.

The Workers Group calls for all court and criminal fees to be waived in Mississippi and for the closing of these four debtors’ prisons. This racist, predatory practice must come to an end.

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City Praises Corrupt S&WB Bosses, Workers Pay the Price

In a display of contempt for the workers of New Orleans who have been hit with flooding, explosions, boil water advisories, clogged drainage canals, and bills in the thousands from the Sewerage and Water Board, the city gave a rating of “exceeds expectations” to S&WB executive director Ghassan Korban.

Korban, whose history of outright incompetence and corruption set very low expectations to begin with, got a raise of $30,000 a year, bringing his salary to $295,000. The average New Orleans hospitality worker makes less than $20,000 a year and will get fired for showing up to work late because they couldn’t shower during a boil water advisory. At a recent public meeting, Korban showed no interest in investigating the explosions or other problems that have caused workers so much suffering.

For gross incompetence, preying on the working class, and criminal negligence, the Workers Group gives Korban and the city a rating of “complete failure” and demands that instead of a raise, Korban and the other bosses at the S&WB are jailed for their crimes.

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Industrial Tax Exemptions Steal From Poor to Give to Rich

By Adam Pedesclaux

Disgustingly, many large corporations in Louisiana pay less in taxes than many working people thanks to the Industrial Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), which robs residents of millions of dollars of tax revenue every year. Worse, we workers bear the costs of the damages to our environment that many of these companies are responsible for.

ITEP has existed since 1936, and yet since 1995 alone, companies have been exempted from over $20 billion in taxes—all while virtually every service for the welfare of people has been slashed.

Responding to public outrage over this policy, in 2016 Gov. Edwards announced changes to ITEP through an executive order that allowed local governing bodies (like school boards) to weigh in on the decision to allow multi-million and multi-billion dollar companies to skip out on taxes or not.

Previously, these decisions were made solely by the undemocratically appointed members of the Board of Commerce and Industry. Members of this board include politicians as well the heads of banking, real estate, and oil and gas corporations.

Edwards’ 2016 reform should have been step one in stopping parasitic companies from stealing much needed resources from the people of Louisiana. Instead the corporate bosses have convinced their puppet Edwards to take a step back.

On February 24, the Board of Commerce and Industry adopted changes proposed by Edwards that would allow companies to appeal the denial of a tax exemption by a body such as a school board. This will enable the company to essentially override the input of the public. This comes after teachers’ unions and the community in East Baton Rouge organized to get ExxonMobil to withdraw a request for their annual $6.5 million tax break last year. The bosses do not want to repeat this.

We cannot afford to allow petrochemical and oil and gas companies to make Louisiana their dumping ground while they suck billions in profits out of the state every year! Louisiana companies should pay their taxes and stop stealing money from the hard working people of this state because our roads need fixing, schools need to be in the power of the public (not corporate/business entities), and residents need to be made whole for the damages that these companies have done their communities. We can start with the residents of Gordon Plaza who are demanding a fully funded relocation from the industrial dump site on which their homes are built!

We must fight against these thieving criminals that bribe the Louisiana government to cheat us out of a decent living. The government ought to be run in the interest of the majority of the people—in other words, workers. We, the workers who make all industry run, have to fight for our due.

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New Orleans Workers Must Stand with Firefighters’ Union

10 Reasons to Support  New Orleans Firefighters

  1. Mayor Cantrell threatens firefighters lives and our safety by refusing to hire more firefighters. Cantrell’s attacks on the firefighters are a disgrace.
  2. An attack on the firefighters is an attack on all parish workers.
  3. Mayor Cantrell gives away millions in tax exemptions to corporations and real estate developers but denies funds to firefighters, youth, and other essential services. Every year the city gives $180 million in stolen tourism tax dollars to big corporations for their private profit.
  4. The union is calling for more firefighters: in the last ten years, staffing has decreased by 25% while the number of calls they have to answer has gone up 150%. NOFD cannot attract or retain firefighters with wages starting at $11/hr and meager retirement benefits.
  5. Firefighters are being forced into brutal overtime at a moment’s notice. Many firefighters are working 96 hours a week.
  6. Because of low pay, many firefighters have to work two jobs to support their families.
  7. Firefighters’ families are suffering from forced overtime. They cannot plan childcare or appointments at schools and doctors.
  8. Our neighborhoods are not safe when firefighters are overworked and understaffed.
  9. The union is fighting for our neighborhoods to be protected.
  10. The union is calling for an immediate end to unsafe, less effective two person crews on firetrucks. Two person crews pose a lethal hazard to firefighters.
Feb. 17: New Orleans Workers Group joins firefighters union at a Press Conference at City Park.

By refusing to reform brutal overtime rules, raise wages, or hire more firefighters, Mayor Cantrell is jeopardizing the safety of the firefighters and the residents of our city. But New Orleans firefighters are fighting back.

Because the firefighters union (IAFF Local 632) is making their grievances known, the mayor and the fire chief have attacked them for being “bullies.” The mayor has got it twisted; she’s the one putting the firefighters and residents’ lives at risk by working firefighters to the bone.

Residents should stand on the side of the firefighters because this is a fight for our safety too!

Take action:

The New Orleans Workers Group will be distributing flyers and talking with residents to rally support for the firefighters’ struggle. To get involved, contact us at  nolaworkersgroup@gmail.com or by phone at 504-900-6748.

Go to the firefighters’ union website and follow links to their social media accounts, such as Facebook, and like the page for updates. Show up for press conferences and other actions called by the union.

Call or email Cantrell’s office and tell her to accept the union’s demands (ph. 504-658-4900, mayor@nola.gov).

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Cancel All U.S. Sanctions!

The U.S. imposes sanctions on more than 39 countries, restricting access to healthcare for 1/3 of the world’s population. The coronavirus makes it clear: these inhumane sanctions endanger the whole world.

U.S. sanctions have significantly hampered Iran’s efforts to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, limiting access to medical supplies, test kits and information about the virus.

In Venezuela and People’s Korea, sanctions have killed thousands of people, primarily from lack of access to basic medicines.

Cancel all U.S. sanctions NOW!

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New Orleans Workers Group Makes Demands for Coronavirus Fight

Protect Workers, Not Profits!

As the case of China has shown, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak requires extraordinary measures to contain its spread and its potentially lethal effects. Quarantines and potentially widespread closures of schools and businesses may be necessary. Infected people will need to be able to self-isolate without fear of going hungry, missing rent, or losing their jobs. Extra precautions will need to be taken to protect healthcare workers. The production and universal distribution of medical gear and personal protective equipment (PPE) will need to be ramped up and hoarding and price gouging strictly prohibited. In other words, to stop the spread of an epidemic requires economic planning and cooperation that protects the health of the whole social body, not just the rich. The New Orleans Workers Group makes the following demands:

  • All costs for COVID-19 treatment and containment should be born by the government including reimbursement for lost wages. No worker should risk spreading the virus for lack of income.
  • Childcare should be universally available to parents in the event of school closures.
  • Tests should be free for all residents and administered at conveniently located test centers throughout the country.
  • Price controls should be put into effect to shield workers from the disruptive effects that the virus has had on the global economy.
  • Workers’ 401(k)s should be protected from devaluation in stock prices. A moratorium should go into effect immediately.
  • Manufacturing of medical gear and PPE should be ordered to meet need without regard to private profits.
  • A system for free food distribution to quarantined areas and self-isolated households should be put into effect
  • Every resident is entitled to these protections to income, health, etc. regardless of citizenship status.
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Coronavirus Fight Requires International Solidarity

By Ashlee Pintos

The current conditions for workers in the United States leave us extremely vulnerable to sickness and disease. With the lack of comprehensive, if any, healthcare, no guarantee of paid sick days, and demanding daily responsibilities on top of low wages, it is no wonder the majority of us are terrified of contracting an illness as unknown as the new coronavirus. While we have real, valid reasons to be concerned about the spread of any life-threatening virus, we should not allow our vulnerability to be weaponized into racism or paranoia.

The truth is that the United States government will use anything that they can to divide us. The latest coronavirus (COVID-19) is no exception. COVID-19 starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, dry cough and in more extreme cases, shortness of breath. COVID-19 is a mutation of one of many existing coronaviruses. The majority of the population has already experienced a different strain of coronavirus which usually produces symptoms similar to the common cold.

Since the virus first appeared in China, it has spread to over 60 countries and killed over 3,000 people. While this number is seemingly high, context matters. Just this season alone, the flu has killed 10,000 people in the United States. While the capitalist owned media run to fan the flames of anti-Chinese sentiment, they have done very little to provide U.S. residents with scientific information and tools to prevent the common flu, which has killed as many as 60,000 people in recent seasons.

While China built a hospital in 10 days to address the threat that the coronavirus poses to its residents, Trump initially claimed that the outbreak was a “hoax.” Meanwhile Trump is pushing for massive cuts to Medicaid which will leave millions more without health insurance. Because the Chinese government has undertaken extraordinary steps to contain the spread of the virus within their country, the number of new cases outside of China now exceeds the number of new cases within, which are on the decline, according to the World Health Organization. This means that it is now the duty of other governments to cooperate in order to prevent a large-scale global outbreak. Socialist Cuba shows the way forward: while the U.S. did not offer China assistance, Cuban medical teams traveled to China. Cuba has produced antivirals that were used to treat people infected with the coronavirus and they are actively working to develop a vaccine.