[Clarence Thomas is a rank-and-file leader of ILWU Local 10 and author of “Mobilizing In Our Own Name.” Following are major excerpts from his statement to the National Conference of Labor and Community for an Independent Party (LCIP). The full statement, in audio and video, is posted to the LCIP website: www.lcipcommittee.org. The interview was conducted for LCIP by Connie White.]

Clarence Thomas

LCIP: Clarence, how can we best take action to form labor-community coalitions that run candidates on a local level in 2024, starting from the bottom up, to place building blocks for a genuine independent workers’ party? How do we move this discussion into local unions, the Black liberation movement, and among youth – particularly Black and Latino youth.

Clarence Thomas: The best way that I can answer that question is by giving an example of an action that we took here in the Bay Area, where I am a longshore worker. We had a situation where a billionaire wanted to build an exclusive development at the third busiest port on the West Coast: the Port of Oakland. We put together a coalition involving labor – specifically, maritime workers and teachers – along with the community people, and it was built around the issue of stopping the privatization of public land.

When you talk about how to build the foundation and building blocks for an independent working-class political party, you first have to establish an agenda for working people, specifically involving the Black community, the Latino community, youth, workers. You have to do that first. There are no shortcuts.

In 2004, we organized a Million Worker March, which called for the labor movement’s break from the Democratic Party. We received a lot of pushback from organized labor and the Democratic Party. Before you can build a party, you must first build what I would consider an agenda, which is reason why I’ve been involved with the Labor and Community for an Independent Party (LCIP), because I think that they serve as the foundation for moving forward.

But having said that, you have to be able to do things on the ground. To go back to the situation with Howard Terminal. This development was going to be built by a man by the name of John Fisher, who owns the Oakland A’s. We stopped Fisher. We beat back this $12 billion project at the third busiest port on the West Coast.

We stopped Fisher because we organized this alliance. He was not only trying to take over the port of Oakland, he is also a major privatizer of public schools. I think this is an example for workers, youth, the community and labor — all mobilizing and organizing in their own name.

It was a revolutionary concept to have teachers and longshore workers working in coalition together. Longshore workers made the connection with the Oakland Education Association (OEA), which was – and remains – engaged in a major fight against privatization. That happened on April 29, 2020.

These kinds of alliances and coalitions are what will serve as the basis for organizing a political party.

As far as running candidates, that’s more of a challenge. We have to get people to represent us who are committed, who understand the necessity for speaking truth to power and who understand the class and race analysis in this country.

We are being misled by the Democratic Party. These are misleaders. They are not committed to the working class. They are committed to their funders, which are the same as the Republican Party. We have to understand that we’re anti-imperialist, we’re anti-capitalist, we’re anti-racist, we’re pro-environment, we’re against mass incarceration, we’re against all forms of discrimination.

Whether it be trans people or LGBTQ, we need to be very clear: If you’re anti-LGBTQ, you’re anti-Black, you’re anti-Latino, you’re anti-woman. We need to be opposed to all forms of discrimination.

We also have to understand another thing. When we talk about the candidates that we want to see representing us, we must be clear that these candidates need to be committed to making the break from the Democratic Party and the machine. Our candidates have to be pro-education. They have to oppose the dismantling of public education. They have to call to protect Social Security. They have to call for a national living wage and an end to corporate greed.

We need to be very clear about these things. I want to thank you very much for allowing me to be a part of this national conference.

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The Occupation of UC Berkeley’s Anthropology Library Was Successful!

By Fernando David Márquez Duarte 

 After 85 days of occupation of UC Berkeley’s Anthropology library by undergraduate and graduate students from different departments of UC Berkeley, the University admins finally agreed to the students’ demands:  

-The library will not be closed, 

-The library will issue free library cards and will be open to the community, and 

-The library will continue to be funded by UC Berkeley.

 The occupation began as a response to the University admin’s decision to close the University’s Anthropology library, one of the only three public specialized libraries in anthropology in the U.S. This would have been yet another step in the privatization of public education in this country, with the constant budget cuts the closure of entire programs.  

Jeffrey Mackie-Mason, the former head of UC Berkeley’s library system, made the closure decision. After the first month of occupation, he dismissed the students’ demands and preferred to resign than to solve the issue. Afterwards Chancellor Carol Christ also resigned instead of answering to the students’ demands to keep the library funded and open.  

The previous “offer” of UC admins to the occupants was to issue a one-time only amount of around US$45,000, but that would only have allowed the library to stay open nine months with less than half the books of the current inventory. This unacceptable offer was rejected by the occupants. They kept pushing for a real free and public library … until they achieved it.  

Dozens of students committed with public education and against privatization of public education resisted over two months occupying the library, organizing events to foster community support and invite students and community members to know how to use the library.  

The privatization of education in the U.S. and around the world is inherent element to the current stage of capitalism. In order to ensure real public and free education for all, we need to fight against capitalism and towards socialism.  

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Canada Is Burning … But the Priority Is Money for the War

Our correspondents report: “2,293 fires have already consumed some 3.8 million hectares, 13 times the average for the last 10 years. More than 120,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, and poor-quality air masses are exposing the population to the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular ailments.”

Toxic smoke from the fires has expanded to dozens of states across the United States.

These phenomena are partly linked to climate change, but they are also due to deforestation and oil and gas extraction ­– in other words, to the activities of multinationals.

What’s more, “of the more than 5,000 firefighters in the province of New Brunswick, some 95% are volunteers, according to the Association of Fire Chiefs … . Although they work in dangerous situations, most receive only a few hundred dollars in mileage allowances. … Canada has lost 30,000 firefighters in the past six years, according to a national survey,” reports CBC News (June 6).

There’s not enough money for public services, but there is plenty when it comes to war, report our correspondents: “Canada, a founding member of NATO, is playing a role in the imperialist military operation in Ukraine, with the presence of troops, military instructors and heavy and light weapons worth more than $8 billion since February 2022. These resources – which should be directed to meeting the needs of the working masses and youth – are being diverted for war.”

The Canada government, like the other NATO governments, are the very same ones shedding crocodile tears over the “destruction of the environment”!

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FRANCE: No to Division, Macron Must Be Driven from Power!

By Daniel Gluckstein

[Note: Following is the editorial of La Tribune des Travailleurs (Workers’ Tribune) Issue No. 398, published on July 12, 2023.]

In his six years as President, Macron has provoked the “yellow vests” movement, six months of strikes and workers’ demonstrations by millions of people against the pensions reform, and the outbreak of revolt following the murder of Nahel (1). On the surface, there is nothing in common between these three social explosions … except that they were fuelled by the same conviction, that of growing social injustice.

The fact is that the policies pursued by Macron and his ministers are burdening the poor and fattening up the rich. The pro-capitalist magazine Challenges has revealed that in 10 years, the 500 biggest fortunes in France have seen their cumulative value multiply by 3.5. They now stand at what Challenges describes as “inordinate, outrageous, monumental” figures: a total of 1.17 trillion euros!

This veritable Ali Baba’s cave contains more wealth than is needed to meet the needs of the people. So the recruitment of a million teachers and a million healthcare workers would represent barely one-tenth of this treasure trove accumulated through the exploitation of labour-power, the plundering of peoples and speculation!

At the door of this modern-day Ali Baba’s cave, Macron stands guard to protect the interests of the 500 ultra-rich who have replaced the 40 thieves. That is why the workers and youth need to drive him from power and get back what has been stolen from them.

Instead, the leading circles of the “left” are choosing to unleash division while sparing Macron!

Let our readers be the judge… On July 4, an appeal was launched by a wide range of political and trade union organisations grouped around France Unbowed. Entitled “Our country is in mourning and angry”, it concluded with a single concrete demand, calling on the government to “assume its responsibilities” by making minor reforms to the police. Macron’s name is absent from this appeal.

On the same day, the Communist Party – which did not sign this appeal – published its “plan for national reconciliation through republican equality”, calling for a “Grenelle for equality” (2). It too ignored Macron’s name.

Meanwhile, the Socialist Party has shamelessly voted alongside Macronist members of the National Assembly in favour of the Military Planning Law (LPM) and other government legislation.

While relying in this way on the government to exit the crisis, the components of the NUPES (3) are in a loud slinging match against each other and are sowing division, to the great satisfaction of Macron, who is taking advantage of the situation to line up his plans and unleash repression against the workers and youth.

The division being orchestrated by a “left” that is extending its hand to Macron only serves the latter. We need to unite against Macron and his policies, not unite with him and sow division.

The means already exist to meet the urgent needs of hospitals, schools, public services, social housing and youth employment: requisition the 1,17 trillion accumulated by the 500 capitalist thieves and the 413 billion allocated to the LPM! Unite to drive Macron out, now!

Endnotes

(1) Translator’s note: On June 27, 2023, Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old French high-school student of Moroccan and Algerian descent, was shot and killed by traffic police in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris.

(2) Translator’s note: A “Grenelle” is a roundtable conference organised at the invitation of the French government involving bosses, trade unions and NGOs. The word refers to the Grenelle Agreements (named after the Labour Ministry building) which were concluded – but not signed – on May 27, 1968, at the height of the general strike, after two days of negotiation between representatives of the French government, the trade union leaderships and the employers’ association. The Agreements were rejected by the grassroots trade union members, and the strike action continued.

(3) Translator’s note: The New Popular, Ecological and Social Union (NUPES) was an electoral coalition in the June 2022 legislative elections. It included France Unbowed, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and Europe Ecology-The Greens (EELV), and was headed by Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of France Unbowed. Since June 2022, this coalition has operated loosely as a parliamentary group in the National Assembly, without a centralised programme.

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India’s Farmer Upsurge Marks Turning Point in Political Situation

[Note: Following is an interview with Nambiath Vasudevan, leader of the International Workers Committee Against War and Exploitation for a Workers’ International (IWC). Vasudevan hosted in Mumbai the IWC World Conference in 2016. The interview was conducted by François de Massot.]

Question: India is heading for a general election in about a year’s time. What perspectives for the working class? India is heading for a general election in 2024. It is likely to take place in the next 10 months. BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party – Indian Peoples Party), which is in power since 2014, confidently claims that Narendra Modi will return to power.

Vasudevan: There is no single party in India that is in a position to replace BJP. (According to the Election Commission of India, there are six national parties, 50 regional parties and 2,950 unregistered parties in India). For the 2024 election, the main national and regional opposition parties, including Congress, are in talks with a view to explore the possibility of putting up a common candidate against BJP in 500 out of 540 parliamentary constituencies.

In 2019 the BJP-led alliance managed to secure 340 seats with 37 % of votes polled. In 2014 BJP vote share was 31 %. The multiplicity of candidates from the opposition side in 2014 and 2019 caused division of votes, and BJP managed to get through. In a population of 1.4 billion people India has 14 % Muslims. There are Muslims in every state. For BJP, 80 % Hindu votes alone matter.

In BJP-ruled states Muslims are treated as second class citizens, they face inhumane treatment from Hindu fanatic groups owing allegiance to BJP’s parent organization, RSS, a Hindu revivalist organization. Muslim places of worship are destroyed. Other minorities, too, face Hindu onslaught. RSS has a long-cherished objective of establishing a Hindu India.

India is a union of 29 states. BJP is an insignificant force in many states, the entire five southern Indian states have non-BJP governments. At least in one state, southernmost Kerala, where presently there is a CPM-led left party government, BJP never succeeded in getting even one member elected to the state assembly.

But the fact remains that when it comes to elections, the working class does not have any base regionally. It would be difficult to identify any constituency in India where workers and trade unions constitute a significant voter base in election.  The working class will have to devise new means to put forward its own interests.

Question: From that point of view, what lessons do you draw from the farmers’ struggle in 2022?

Vasudevan: All over the world, people were impressed that the government had to retreat. The farmers’ upsurge was a turning point in recent Indian politics.

Farmers in big numbers, mainly from North Indian states, took part in the protracted struggle against the BJP government’s three anti-farmer laws. The Modi government employed brutal repression to crush farmers and their struggle. Farmers were called anti-nationals.

Despite their ideological differences, a combination of more than 45 farmers’ organizations stuck together till the end. They were able to sustain the movement for over a year because of the financial muscle of the farming community. Modi was forced to apologize and repeal the laws. Farmers achieved an historic victory.

The unity of the farmers’ and political organizations produced results. Many of the assurances given by the government are yet to be implemented. In the 2024 elections progressive farmers’ organizations will be in the forefront in opposing BJP.

Question: What is the role of youth?

Vasudevan: In the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJP had the advantage of a sizeable section of youth rallying behind Modi, believing that his tall promises of clean government and development for all would provide a better life for the youth. Experience has taught the youth that there are no opportunities open for then, and only a select few could benefit from the Modi regime, while the multitudes are dumped into deeper mess.

The youth struggling for employment no longer find any attraction to BJP. Even army recruitment has been denied to those aspiring for a secure job with pension benefits. Because of large scale privatizations enacted by the Modi government, jobs in railways, defense, banks, insurance, etc., have disappeared.

Youth are pushed to take up precarious jobs. Barring RSS elements, youth are disheartened. Educated unemployed youth are more vocal, more disillusioned. They will play an important role in the 2024 election.

Question: What about the trade union movement?

Vasudevan: The BJP government has scrapped 44 labor laws that existed in the country for decades covering various conditions such as wages, service conditions, trade union rights, health and safety, death benefits, bonuses, pensions and so on. They are replaced by four labor codes passed by the parliament. No debate in Parliament took place.

The entire objective has been to help business and industry create wealth, facilitate “hire and fire” of workers, eliminating the concept of secure employment. All protections that existed for these workers are done away with under the present laws. Having said that, many non-BJP state governments have not adopted these rules.

Trade unions at all levels, nationally and state-wise, have been canvassing for the repeal of these labor codes. This will be their main demand in 2024 election.

Question: What are India’s relations with China?

Vasudevan: From 2020 to 2022 more than 50,000 Indian soldiers were standing face to face with the Chinese army after a serious border clash in the Himalayan range. The government of India refused to take a stand as to whether any territory had been lost to China. But the feverish pitch for acquiring arms and new war technology became evident.

India’s traditional supplier of arms happened to be Russia. In the Ukraine-Russia war, while G-20 countries condemned Russia and provided all support to Ukraine, India did not join those who condemned Russia. In the UN, too, India remained absent from voting against Russia.

Despite India’s friendly ties and trade with Russia, the U.S. and NATO maintained cordial relations with India. Efforts continued to be in full swing to project India as the emerging Asian power to counter China. The strategy is to create a power bloc comprising Australia, Japan and India in the Indo-Pacific region to contain China.

Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the U.S. on June 21, 2023, has paved the way for an historic change in India’s relations with the West. India as strategic partner of U.S. has been assured of arms, trade and transfer of technology. Undoubtedly this change opens up the possibility of a new cold war situation in Asia. India- U.S. strategic partnership is likely to alter geopolitical situation in Indo-Pacific region.

All those developments, domestic as well as international, underline the importance in India of the international campaign against war and exploitation launched by the International Workers Committee (IWC). It also underlines its links with the struggle of the Indian working class, the farmers, and the youth against the reactionary policies of Modi.

It is important for the IWC to oppose the wars taking place in different parts of the world. For India, it is more relevant today. War enriches weapon suppliers; ordinary people are the direct victims, whether it is Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti or any other country in the world. War is necessary as a profitable business for imperialism. The IWC has to play its traditional role against war and exploitation.