I N T E R N E T ' S M A O I S T BI-M O N T H L Y = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = XX XX XXX XX XX X X XXX XXX XXX XXX X X X X X X X XX X X X X X X X V X X X V X X X X X X X XX XXX X X X X X X XX X X X X X X X XXX X X X V XXX X XXX XXX = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = THE MAOIST INTERNATIONALIST MOVEMENT MIM Notes 133 MARCH 1, 1997 MIM Notes speaks to and from the viewpoint of the world's oppressed majority, and against the imperialist-patriarchy. Pick it up and wield it in the service of the people. support it, struggle with it and write for it. IN THIS ISSUE: 1. PIG OCCUPYING FORCE GUILTY OF MURDER 2. IMPERIALISTS PLOT TO DIVIDE ALGERIA 3. LETTERS 4. U$ AID TO HAITI STARVES THE PEOPLE 5. HEY, THERE'S BLOOD IN YOUR ICE CREAM! 6. IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED... DOUBLE JEOPARDY EXISTS IN AMERIKKKAN JUSTICE 7. SMALL LOANS SMOKESCREEN IMPERIALISM 8. IMPERIALISM MAKES THE SEASONS OBSOLETE IN AMERIKA 9. PERSIAN GULF WAR CONTINUES 10. MARXISM-LENINISM-MAOISM ONLINE 11. "JUSTICE" DEPARTMENT RAPE REPORT IGNORES PATRIARCHAL REALITY 12. MORE TWISTED LOGIC ON "CRIME" 13. AMERIKA SMASHES LATINO NATIONS INTO THE BOTTOM 14. PATRIARCHAL VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN AMERIKA 15. REVOLUTION AND KULTURE 16. ECUADORIAN PEOPLE PROTEST IMPERIALISM: ONLY GET CHANGE IN IMPERIALIST LACKEYS 17. FIGHTING THE IMPERIALIST SPONSORED ELECTIONS: HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY STRUGGLE CONTINUES 18. FIRST NATIONS BLOCKADE ROAD TO DEFEND AGAINST NUCLEAR WASTE 19. FRENCH ANTI-IMMIGRANT PARTY WINS ANOTHER TOWN 20. UNDER LOCK AND KEY: NEWS FROM PRISONERS AND PRISONS * * * WHAT IS MIM? The Maoist Internationalist Movement (MIM) is a revolutionary communist party that upholds Marxism- Leninism-Maoism, comprising the collection of existing or emerging Maoist internationalist parties in the English-speaking imperialist countries and their English-speaking internal semi- colonies, as well as the existing or emerging Spanish-speaking Maoist internationalist parties of Aztlan, Puerto Rico and other territories of the U.S. Empire. MIM Notes is the newspaper of MIM. Notas Rojas is the newspaper of the Spanish- speaking parties or emerging parties of MIM. MIM is an internationalist organization that works from the vantage point of the Third World proletariat; thus, its members are not Amerikans, but world citizens. MIM struggles to end the oppression of all groups over other groups: classes, genders, nations. MIM knows this is only possible by building public opinion to seize power through armed struggle. Revolution is a reality for North America as the military becomes over-extended in the government's attempts to maintain world hegemony. MIM differs from other communist parties on three main questions: (1) MIM holds that after the proletariat seizes power in socialist revolution, the potential exists for capitalist restoration under the leadership of a new bourgeoisie within the communist party itself. In the case of the USSR, the bourgeoisie seized power after the death of Stalin in 1953; in China, it was after Mao's death and the overthrow of the "Gang of Four" in 1976. (2) MIM upholds the Chinese Cultural Revolution as the farthest advance of communism in human history. (3) MIM believes the North American white-working-class is primarily a non- revolutionary worker-elite at this time; thus, it is not the principal vehicle to advance Maoism in this country. MIM accepts people as members who agree on these basic principles and accept democratic centralism, the system of majority rule, on other questions of party line. "The theory of Marx, Engels, Lenin and Stalin is universally applicable. We should regard it not as dogma, but as a guide to action. Studying it is not merely a matter of learning terms and phrases, but of learning Marxism-Leninism as the science of revolution." -- Mao Zedong, Selected Works, Vol. II, p. 208 * * * PIG OCCUPYING FORCE GUILTY OF MURDER by Otis In Fort Pierce, Florida, "a black man who swallowed cocaine when he was arrested died after jailers ignored his pleas for help and taunted him in a three-hour ordeal captured by a jail surveillance camera."(1) This man, Anderson Tate, was arrested in December for "not having a license plate and driving without a valid license."(2) In Florida, this is apparently punishable by death. This is yet another affirmation that the white capitalists have no compassion for the oppressed. Ironically, the state's own system of repression revealed their racist and murderous nature to the world. Clearly, the man was in severe need of medical attention: "Anderson Tate moaned, thrashed and chanted prayers for more than three hours while bound to a chair December 3rd at the St. Lucie County Jail. Jail employees and deputies walked past him, one of them making fun of him."(1) For their complicity, the pigs will receive slaps on the hand: "Two sheriff's deputies were fired and five others were disciplined."(1) Why such leniency for a criminal act that allowed another man to die? Because the state supports the ignorant actions of their employees. The guards were 'just doing their job' -- supporting imperialist interests and inflicting pain, and/or death on the oppressed peoples. Within amerika's war on drugs, the death of a black drug user is going to mean nothing to the public. Here we see the absurdity of amerikan indoctrination: The CIA deals drugs to the poor Black and Latino communities, then lets them die for their 'crime'. Amerikan injustice is commonplace, it is not a coincidence; capitalism thrives off of inequity and exploitation. Thus our only hope for justice is the destruction of the amerikan empire. NOTES:1. Associated Press in Los Angeles Times, 8 February 1997, p. A1,32. Washington Post, 8 February 1997. * * * IMPERIALISTS PLOT TO DIVIDE ALGERIA by RC68 The Algerian military regime, the United Snakes, and the empires of France, Spain, and Italy are all in collusion to exploit Algeria and divide the wealth amongst themselves. Recently in New York, a high level Algerian trade delegation addressed a crowd of bankers, diplomats, oil executives, and industrialists eager to learn how to get their piece of the pie.(1) Since then the United Snakes, France, Spain, and Italy have been interested in finding a quick and peaceful resolution to the five year old Algerian civil war between Islamic led national liberation forces and the French backed military government of President Liamine Zeroual. A peaceful solution right now would mean a continuous flow of Algerian oil and natural gas to the United Snakes and the European Union. It would also mean there would not be any radical shift in the balance of power thereby protecting all previous trade deals. Already 95% of Algerian foreign trade is with the North Amerikan and European imperialists. Only 5% is with neighboring North African and Middle Eastern nations.(2) With continuing "market reform", World Bank loans, and foreign investment, all of the wealth produced in Algeria will belong to the imperialists. Italian foreign minister Lamberto Dini will meet with his French and Spanish colleagues later this month to discuss a "peace initiative" for Algeria.(3) This is alarming. The empires of Italy, France, and Spain have the same economic goals and recently, along with the Portuguese empire, formed a new rapid deployment terrorist invasion force specifically designed for invasions of North Africa and the Middle East.(4) On the surface France appears to be pushing for a democratic solution to the problem. While France wants to see parliamentary elections in Algeria, the French prime minister Alain Juppe would like to see them happen without the Islamic Liberation Front (FIS). According to Mr. Juppe" as long as one uses bombs, booby-trapped cars and knives, one is not a party which adheres to democratic values."(5) It was the French backed military regime which canceled the 1992 elections when it became obvious the FIS was about to win.(6) According to Mr. Juppe's own standards, his party in France does not adhere to democratic principles. The recent French intervention in the Central African Republic was not peaceful or democratic. It was bloody and repressive colonialism.(7) The real reason France opposes the FIS is because the FIS is opposed to the corruption and economic mismanagement that make imperialist plunder so easy in Algeria. RAIL would like to see the progressive Algerian national liberation forces become more organized and united so that they can defeat the imperialists. As a genuine anti-imperialist force the FIS is just in its armed resistance to imperialism and the struggle for national liberation. But it will take an organized Maoist struggle in order to build socialism in Algeria and it is only through socialism that we will begin to build a society where no nations, classes or genders have power over others. NOTES: 1. The Middle East. February 1997. 2. Ibid. 3. Reuters. 4 February 1997 4. MIM Notes #128 5. Agence France Presse. 3 February 1997 6. The Financial Times. 3 February 1997 7. MIM Notes #132 * * * LETTERS EBONICS = INTEGRATION? Your article "School board declared 'Black English' a language" was good at exposing the chauvinism of the Amerikan nation and the treachery of Jesse Jackson. Where the article came up short however, was in failing to recognize that the Oakland School board is still following an integrationist strategy. Your first paragraph gave this context, but then failed to hit this important point home. Instead of being a nationalist program to teach Ebonics to Black nation youth, the Ebonics as being used as a more effective way to teach the white man's English. I agree with your point regarding the importance of multi-lingual education. But that's not what the Oakland School Board is doing. They aren't saying Black youth need to know both Ebonics and white English. Instead they ask a more integrationist question -- albeit with a more radical conclusion than that preferred by Jesse Jackson: What is the most effective way to get Black kids to sound white? The recognition of Ebonics as a language means that different techniques will be used to teach white English. The goal of the Oakland School Board is not to defend Ebonics as a legitimate language, rather the Board wants to seize this opportunity to further white man's English. This fact isn't changed by the anti-nationalist uproar of the settlers. --A comrade 25 January 1997 MIM REPLIES: The letter writer is correct that the Oakland school board is integrationist. But our article wasn't wrong. It is worth pointing out that it was in the firestorm over the school board's decision to recognize that Ebonics was a language distinct from standard amerikan english that they backed down from a somewhate progressive position. When earlier they had suggested that teachers teach Ebonics, in the light of sensationalist protest they said they had merely wanted teachers to be able to understand it. The main point of the article was to agree with the Oakland school board for recognizing Ebonics as a distinct language. This recognition is a step forward to recognizing the Black nation as separate from the white nation and to supporting the strategy of struggling for Black national liberation. This is progress in spite of the fact that the Oakland school will not be implementing a radical nationalist agenda for education. Independent schools are going to be essential for Amerikans to truly recognize the legitimacy of oppressed nations' languages and to address oppressed nation students more effectively. Of course, then we will not only be saying the same thing in more familiar language, we will be telling all sorts of truths about Amerikan history and society that the Oakland school board would never say. Up with Maoist education! AUSTRALIAN VOICES UNITY WITH MIM Dear MIM members, I am an unemployed person who has some sympathy with the People's War in Peru. In Australia, people are totally anti-Maoist. Conservatives are so many. Trotskyists, anarchists, environmentalists and all sort of reactionaries have many followers here. They don't like to debate. They are "rednecks" or reactionaries. Please, if you can, send me some information on your organization. Warm greetings, --a comrade in Australia, 8 January 1997 MIM REPLIES: Thanks for writing. It is MIM's position that MIM is currently the vanguard in Australia. In the imperialist countries, it is especially necessary to regard as vanguard those organizations that put forward the most advanced thoughts in a society. Any other formulation of the question has proved to be objectively liquidationist. MIM has written extensively, if not sufficiently, on Australia's role as an imperialist nation. While many activists who focus on East Timor, Indonesia, and other oppressed nations of the Pacific rim do so in a way that suggests the terrible governments there exist in isolation, MIM is always careful to point to the specific imperialist interventions that prop up those governments. Australia is Amerika's comrade in that regard. We would encourage you to contribute to MIM notes more news and analysis on Australia's imperialist role. Specifically, we are interested in investigating the basis for Asian-descended nationalism in Australia in light of the anti-immigrant fervor that so parallels the U$ situation. In Australia, the Committee for a Revolutionary Communist Party has thus far failed to study Australia's own conditions, though it wrote a fairly lengthy magazine on Peru. Like some comrades in Quebec and Europe, the CRCPA is mired in internationalist social-democracy. It has failed to take up MIM's position that the majority of imperialist-country workers are part of the non- exploited, property-holding labor aristocracy, not the propertyless, exploited proletariat, a cardinal question for activists in the imperialist countries. When confronted with statistics about the classes of Australia, CRCPA had nothing to say to MIM, but has proved quite willing to nitpick MIM about Peru; even though MIM proceeds by choosing Peruvian leaders to follow, not by trying to form a guiding thought for Peru from Australia or Michigan. We agree with your observation about Australia's settler majority. Because the majorities in the imperialist countries are non-exploited property- holders, these majorities tend to have a reactionary political outlook, typified by anti- communism and by racism. This problem is particularly pronounced in settler-empires such as the U.S. empire, the Canadian empire and the Australian empire. We agree with you that Trotskyism and anarchism are reactionary ideologies. MIM Theory #6 defends Stalin's legacy as 70% correct. MIM Theory #8 reviews the best efforts of anarchist practice and theory. Each is available to international readers for $10 U.S. While we agree that the majority of those calling themselves "environmentalist" have a reactionary ideology, we believe these reactionaries are in fact pseudo-environmentalists. Most people claiming the label of environmentalist are first worlders, and are serving their interests alone. Revolutionary communists are the real environmentalists. Only by overthrowing capitalism can the people protect the planet's inhabitants and natural resources. MIM Theory #12, which is forthcoming, will focus on this question. It will be available to international readers for $10 U.S. * * * U$ AID TO HAITI STARVES THE PEOPLE Grassroots International, an independent organization that sends aid to the people in Third World countries, released a report entitled "Feeding Dependency, Starving Democracy: USAID Policies in Haiti" in mid-February that concluded that Amerikan aid to Haiti is increasing hunger, interfering with the country's food production and creating "an unsustainable dependence on U.S. food imports."(1) Tim Wise, the director of Grassroots International, summarized the findings saying "The principal finding outlined in the report is that food aid is undermining prices for basic grains and shifting consumption patterns in Haiti away from locally produced food in favor of imported goods."(2) The U$ sends $28 million in food assistance and programs to Haiti each year, this adds up to 100 million metric tons of food aid each year.(2) In his response to this report, the USAID "acting assistant administrator for humanitarian response" said "Food aid programs have made more food available in Haiti at a lower price than otherwise would be the case and, as a result, have led to significant improvements in food security.'' He also claimed that free market policies are helping Haitians. The Grassroots International report points out that the U$ programs force Haiti's agrarian economy to shift to production for export and export-based assembly work. Haitian markets are being flooded with cheap foreign food, a strategy used by imperialist countries around the world to undercut locally grown products and force a change in the agricultural economy away from self-sufficiency under the guise of "aid". Imports of rice have risen from 7,000 metric tons in 1983 to 140,000 in 1993. In 30 years, with "aid" from the U$ Haiti went from near self-sufficiency in food production to depending on imports for half of its needs.(2) The United Snakes, along with the USAID and the World Bank, is also attempting to force Haiti to lower tariffs on U$ food imports to help the imperialist "aid" get in cheaper.(1) Already Haiti's president, Rene Preval, agreed to cut tariffs in return for foreign aid: tariffs on rice imports alone have shrunk from 50% in 1991 to about 5% in 1997.(2) What Grassroots International misses in its report is the fact that Amerikan imperialism has been working to undermine democracy in Haiti all along. Wise said "Three years after the U.S. sent troops to Haiti with the stated intention of restoring democracy, its current aid policies are chipping away at the community structures and initiatives that are the cornerstones of national sovereignty."(1) But in fact the U.$. sent troops to Haiti to maintain control over the country, not to restore democracy. With recent reports of the abuses of U$ trained military police in Haiti, the story of this country's dependence on Amerikan imperialism and suffering as a result of this dependence is all too similar to those of many other Third World nations. Amerikan imperialism has a long history of taking interest in counties for their potential to provide cheap labor and raw materials or as strategic military bases, but never to help the people of a country live a better life. What is unusual about this Grassroots International report is its recognition that not only is Amerikan aid hurting Haiti but non-government organizations like CARE are also hurting small-scale Haitian farmers by excluding them from their programs. In fact, many of these NGOs (as they are called) in Third World countries end up working hand in hand with imperialism, even while some intend to help the people. The reason for this is that these NGOs work within the assumption that helping capitalism is the best thing they can do for the people. And this makes the NGOs useful pawns of imperialism, helping to preserve a system that exploits and oppresses the people. The Grassroots International report correctly stated: "It is U.S. foreign policy, not lack of human or natural resources, that is blocking Haiti's capacity to feed itself."(1) It is clear that the only solution to the suffering of the Haitian people is national liberation from Amerikan imperialism. We call on all people to support the Haitian peoples right to self-determination and oppose Amerikan imperialism. NOTES: 1. AP, Wednesday, 12 February 1997. 2. Boston Globe, 13 February 1997. P. A12. * * * HEY, THERE'S BLOOD IN YOUR ICE CREAM! WORKERS OF MAGNOLIA-NESTLE PHILS ON STRIKE WE NEED YOUR URGENT SUPPORT! 22 January 1997, in the searing heat of the sun, the striking workers of Magnolia-Nestle stood pat on their grounds, vowing to protect their own ranks. Around 100 combined forces of the Special Weapons and Tactics(SWAT), the Central Police District(CPD), and Anti-bomb squad and security guards hired by Magnolia-Nestle from the Matrix Corporate Security and Gen. Services, Inc. surrounded the vicinity of the company, ready to implement the temporary restraining order issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). At around 2:30 in the afternoon, workers did a die-in to prevent company vans, carrying goods and scabs, in entering the compound. Police responded by hitting the workers either with their clubs or their fists. At least two workers were injured and five were arrested but released few hours later pending management's case against them. Police tore down the barricades and secured the gates, ensuring free ingress and egress for the company." Workers of the MN Philippines Inc. -- Ice Cream and Chilled Products Division (NPI-ICCPD) have been on strike since 13 January 1997. Led by the militant 220-strong Ilaw at Buklod ng Manggagawa -- Kilusang Mayo Uno (IBM-KMU) -- NPI-ICCD Chapter, the strike totally paralyzed the company's production since it started its protest action. The strikers demands the reinstatement of 10 illegally dismissed workers, eight of whom are union officers, and the lifting of the suspension of 200 others. The management said the workers have violated the good manufacturing procedure stipulated in their Code of Conduct when they had an armband wearing last 18-23 November last year. The armband wearing was meant to pressure the management to act on the demands of the workers, which have accumulated to 23 due to management's inaction. Their demand includes discrepancies in economic benefits, work transfer, work schedule and flexible labor policy, with workers having no definite job assignment and thus can be given any work deemed necessary by the management. Armando "Ding" Meneses, union president of the IBM- KMU (NPI-ICCPD Chapter), said the management violated the memorandum of agreement which both parties signed a day after the said protest was done. The MOA stipulates that the management will form an administrative body to study the demands of the workers, many of which were promised by the Nestle management itself when it took over the company in February of last year. "We will not be cowed by the management. What happened in the picketline all the more strengthens our resolve to continue our struggle until all our demands are met," said Ding Meneses. Earlier, the management has resorted to house hopping, talking to the wives of union members and prodding them to convince their husbands not to join the strike. NPI-ICCPD is a joint venture of the San Miguel Corporation and the Nestle Philippines Inc., with the latter holding a 60% controlling share. The company has a total workforce of 370, with regular workers numbering 220. KMU calls on fellow unions and workers organizations to support the striking workers of Magnolia-Nestle, especially its call to boycott all Nestle products. Letters of solidarity can be addressed to: Armando MenesesPresident, IBM-KMU (NPI-ICCPD Chapter) c/o KMU-International DepartmentRm. 301 Phil. Herald Bldg.60-61 Muralla St.Intramuros, Manila, Philippines fax: (632) 928-4036 e-mail: kmuid@mnl.cyberspace.com.ph WE ALSO URGE TO SEND URGENT LETTERS OF PROTEST TO: Mr. J.B. Santos President Nestle Philippines, Inc. Ice Cream and Chilled Products Division 710 Aurora Blvd.1100 Quezon City, Metro Manila * * * IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED... DOUBLE JEOPARDY EXISTS IN AMERIKKKAN JUSTICE by MC234 On 10 February, a Federal Court in New York City found two Black men guilty of violating the civil rights of Hasidic Jew Yankel Rosenbaum by fatally stabbing him in 1991. Five years ago, one of the defendants, Lemrick Nelson was found not guilty on NY state murder charges. Now in 1997, Nelson is being sent to prison by the Federal courts. Compared to most defendants, the government has infinite resources to allocate in order to ensure a conviction. This is why the prohibition against double jeopardy - trying a defendant twice for the same crime - is so important to the oppressed. MIM doesn't care about the konstitution, except when the oppressed can use it to expose Amerika's hypocrisy and defend themselves against unfair repression. Just as an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of typewriters and an infinite amount of time could eventually type the complete works of Mao, the government could eventually win any legal battle if given enough chances. The people need to stand up and make the pigs follow their own rules towards the treatment of the accused. When prisoners uncover new evidence which could overturn their convictions, it is difficult for them to get new trials. If your lawyer simply made mistakes or was incompetent, it's a little easier but still quite hard to get a new trial. But here we have the government giving itself one extra chance. MIM is interested in this case as another example of the fact that there are no rights, only power struggles. Ultimately the masses will wage a revolutionary war against the capitalist government to install proletarian power and justice. In 1991, a Hasidic motorist struck and killed a Black child. Later that day, Rosenbaum was stabbed and died the next day. Nelson was charged with the murder of Rosenbaum. The jury found him not guilty because of doubts raised during the trial pertaining to the police investigation. In addition, the jury doubted the charges against Nelson because Rosenbaum's death could have been from hospital negligence. Rosenbaum bled to death from an undetected wound in the emergency room. Since the 1920s, the Supreme Court has held that state and federal prosecutions are not cases of "double jeopardy" because the state and federal governments are distinct entities. This standard made it possible to try Nelson twice. Civil rights trials have looser standards for prosecution. The prosecution merely had to show that "Nelson intended to kill Mr. Rosenbaum because he was Jewish." The prosecution used a "Federal civil rights statute that was drafted in the Reconstruction era to pursue crimes that Congress believed that states would ignore." The federal prosecutor used the law, which makes it a crime to interfere with the civil rights of a person who is engaged in a federally protected activity -- Mr. Rosenbaum was crossing the street - to prosecute Nelson the second time. In the 1960s, the selective use of this law allowed the Federal government to prosecute white supremacists--acquitted in state court--for the murder of civil rights workers. Such prosecutions stop overt national oppression but do nothing to change the state's overall approach to crime: prosecute oppressed nationals and lock them up. In this case, we see that a law established to satisfy civil rights winds up putting another black man in prison. This is what happens when the bourgeoisie pretends to protect the oppressed. In Nelson's second trial, the federal government was able to use the experience of the first trial to get its conviction. In particular, the Feds avoided calling a transit cop whose testimony conflicted with that of the arresting cop to the stand. More significantly, the Federal prosecutors had the advantage of a 1993 report that included interviews with jurors "about what they say as the problems in the trial." As the New York Times summarized, this was the "ultimate focus group." Rather than use a mock jury to predict the outcome of a second prosecution, the feds were able to build their case in response to comments by jurors who had sat through the first trial. Both the states and the federal government have the same interest in preserving bourgeois class rule. There really isn't a difference between how the federal governments wants to oppress the people and how the states want to do it. MIM opposes all measures which increase the power of the state because of cases like this one. NOTE: New York Times 11 February 1997, p. A1, B5. * * * SMALL LOANS SMOKESCREEN IMPERIALISM by MC53 The Klinton administration and the United Nations want to launch "a global campaign to help poor people." This so-called global campaign against poverty consists of a plan to send $21.6 billion to 100 million poor people over the next eight years to "encourage them to start small businesses."(1) Uneven development between nations from the massive accumulation of wealth and concentration of production in the imperialist nations is inevitable under the capitalist system. Amerika and other imperialist nations have long benefited from this uneven development. Are the imperialists now making amends for causing poverty and death across the Third World? The plan to export capital through small loans is a furtherance of the imperialists' general strategy to export capital to perpetuate inequities between nations and to increase the imperialists' ability to extract super-profits from the Third World. As Lenin pointed out "... Both uneven development and semi-starvation level of existence of the masses are fundamental and inevitable conditions and premises of [capitalism]. ... As long as capitalism remains what it is, surplus capital will be utilized not for the purpose of raising the standard of living of the masses in a given country, for this would mean a decline in profits for the capitalists, but for the purpose of increasing profits by exporting capital abroad to the backward countries."(2) "In these backward countries profits are usually high, for capital is scarce, the price of land is relatively low, wages are low, raw materials are cheap."(2) Through loans to Third World countries, imperialists have been able to ensure imperialist country corporations the benefit of cheap land, labor and resources. "The countries which export capital are nearly always able to obtain certain 'advantages,' the character of which throw light on the peculiarity of the epoch of finance capital and monopoly."(2) These super-profits provide the wealth of the bourgeoisie and are also the basis for the imperialist nation masses maintaining a high standard of living. Large scale loans have also made it possible for imperialist nations to seek out and develop comprador classes helping to ensure the flow of super-profits to the imperialist nations. Small loans are part of the liberal rhetoric which says that equality can happen under an imperialist system by lending charity to the poor. For the imperialists, this is a smokescreen to cover the fact that new and larger markets are being created for the continued export of commodities to new areas. "The export of capital abroad thus becomes a means for encouraging the export of commodities."(2) It also covers the fact that these small businesses created can then serve as contracting businesses for large multi-national corporations. "The export of capital affects and greatly accelerates the development of capitalism in those countries to which it is exported."(2) Imperialist nation corporations would rather see local businesses contract the piece work and home work from Third World labor and then sell the products to the multi-national corporation at cheap rates, rather than having to set up a small factory in the rural areas of underdeveloped nations. Having conquered the nations of the Third World through military, political and economic domination with the help of the Third World comprador bourgeoisie, the imperialists need to continue capital export to deepen imperialist penetration. The plan to send small loans to jump start small scale farming and businesses will not eradicate the abject poverty of 2.5 billion humans. This plan is merely a continuation of capital export which daily causes the death of Third World people. The eradication of poverty will only happen through Third World nations achieving national liberation and developing national industrialization. The imperialist suggestion that small loans will alleviate poverty contradicts the fact that the export of capital in the first place is a major cause of Third World poverty. NOTES: 1. The New York Times. 26 January 1997 p. A5. 2. Lenin, V.I. Imperialism, The Highest Stage of Capitalism. Chapter Four. * * * IMPERIALISM MAKES THE SEASONS OBSOLETE IN AMERIKA by MC234 In the Third World, peasants are lucky to have food at all year-round. It will be a different food each season, but if it lasts until the next harvest, that's good. In Amerika, thanks to an economy subsidized by imperialism, the seasons have become irrelevant to the actual choices of food. A new study by the Boston Globe has shown the extent of this transformation in Amerikan consumerism. In the last 20 years, Amerikan's per capita consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has grown from 110 pounds to 147 pounds. According to the Globe, this change can be attributed to the technological advances that make more produce available. Culturally, Amerikans have come to expect and demand that fruits be shipped in from around the world regardless of seasons, and are spending their share of imperialist super-profits in order to support this habit. While technology has increased the quality of food storage methods, the greatest gain has been in the air freight industry. It costs about 35 cents a pound "to ship tomatoes or peppers from Holland to Boston in the cargo hold of a passenger plane -- barely a tenth of the ultimate retail price." In Boston, a half-pint of raspberries costs $2.99. According to bourgeois accountants, 50 cents of this represents the cost of air freight from Chile to Miami and 18 cents for trucking costs to Boston. Ships with climate controlled storage areas to control ripening are the transportation method of choice for bananas, peaches pineapples, and grapes. Producing crops for export weakens Third World economies by weakening the country's ability to feed itself while increasing dependence on foreign companies and markets for cash income with which to buy expensive imported food. Additionally, the multinational food companies find it more profitable to grow the goods themselves on plantations and hire only a small number of workers who get paid very low wages. These agro-businesses set up comprador governments to force the peasants off of their land and give control or outright ownership of the land to the agro-business. This food is then shipped around the world to feed, and often be wasted by, First World peoples. Transportation, with its heavy use of fossil fuels, is a subsidized industry that passes this subsidy along to its final products. Gasoline and oil products are cheap, especially in the United Snakes, because of government policies (including military intervention) that keep the price of oil down. If the price of commodities, especially food, in the First World represented their true value in terms of labor required for production, a trip to the supermarket when the food was in season would be a bank-breaking experience. And in the off seasons, especially in the northern half of North America, the shelves would likely be bare, since almost no one could afford to buy food at its true cost and then pay to have it jetted around the world. NOTE: Boston Globe 10 February 1997, pp. A1, A5. * * * PERSIAN GULF WAR CONTINUES Amerika continues its war against all Persian Gulf countries who won't fall into line and behave exactly as their imperialist master would like. The Pentagon recently sent 30 warplanes to Quatar (in the Persian Gulf) to enforce the "no-fly" zone over southern Iraq. The Pentagon did not say how long the planes will stay but did say this move will bolster US forces in the region and permit training with "friendly" military forces in the area. Last summer similar airforces were sent to Quatar and to Jordan in 1996 and to Bahrain in 1995. This war is being carried out by the imperialist UN as well which is restricting air travel by Libya and Iraq and which is expected to decide to implement a resolution passed in August banning foreign air travel by Sudanese aircraft. NOTE: Los Angeles Times, 7 February 1997, p. A4&5 * * * MLM ONLINE WORLD WIDE WEB REVIEWS Chicano Press Association http://burn.ucsd.edu/~cpa Despite the uncritical inclusion of a speech by the revisionist ex-Soviet puppet Fidel Castro, the Chicano Press Association Web site is a good collection of news and culture articles and contact information for various anti-imperialist organizations, and an important information resource about the struggles for Chicano self- determination. The main thrust of the Association is to create an independent Raza media, recognizing the importance of independent organizing tools in the face of the white oppressor nation and its corporate-government press. EarthWins http://www.geocities.com/~earthwins "When Earth Wins, Everybody Wins!" is the slogan of this reformist environmentalist web site. Representing the best and worst of the pseudo- environmentalist movement, EarthWINS is an organizing tool for people who believe environmental destruction is the principal contradiction. The best part of the site is that it is international in focus and puts upfront the struggles of First Nations peoples -- and the worst part is that EarthWINS is rooted in the liberal ideology of citizens rights and pro-capitalism. Their homepage reads: "EarthWINS is dedicated to supporting activism for the environment, peace, justice, human rights, Native Americans, and Indigenous peoples with a special emphasis on unsafe mining and reform of corporate law and business practices." EarthWINS hopes to provide "an effective tool to help people reclaim their lives, homes, communities, environment and freedom through restoration of citizen control over multinational corporations." But Maoists know that the majority of the world cannot "reclaim their communities" until they seize control of the means of production, until the needs of the people rather than the profits of huge corporations and imperialist nations dictate production. Through prayer, citizens action groups, a newsletter and petitions, advocating less consumption and the use of "green products," EarthWINS attempts to get imperialist multinational corporations to recycle more, to mine less (or not at all) and to generally be more responsive to the environmentalist agenda. To suggest that environmentalist destruction can end with imperialism intact, and that "everybody wins" with anything less than the destruction of imperialism, is pure First World chauvinism. We expect the imperialists to lose and we will fight alongside the oppressed of the world to make sure this happens. At the same time, MIM recognizes that a socialist economy alone won't automatically stop environmental destruction. The latest MIM Theory (No. 12), "Environment, Society, Revolution," makes the case for revolutionary environmentalism. Order yours today for $6 postpaid. MIM'S E-MAIL BAG ***On MIM's homepage, and in several places on our site, it is written "send questions, comments or challenges to ." We print the following letters as examples of those challenges, and to make a point about political struggle in general. The first letter is a challenge to Marxism itself, its only argument with us is that we're communists at all. The second raises a point within Marxism-Leninism-Maoism that we're happy to take up.*** Dear MIM: ...you say you accept all challenges. Well, I challenge you to provide a logically sound argument for communism. All arguments for communism, including Marx, Engels and Mao, are chock full of logical fallacies. I challenge you to supersede them and provide a complete, logically incontrovertible argument for communism. This means avoiding rants on capitalism, imperialism, police brutality. As advocates of communism, it is your place to prove the feasibility of communism, not the inconsistency of capitalism. (Logically, proving capitalism to be false does not prove communism true.) If you accept my challenge under these terms (and using common dictionary definitions for every word, no Marxian idea of value will fly), then I will join MIM. If you see my terms as problematic and choose to criticize them instead of accept them, I will continue to label your movement as fringe and basically resting on a theory that knows nothing except how to criticize others. --an Internet Reader, January 1997 MIM RESPONDS: We will not waste the peoples time rewriting the Marxist-Leninist-Maoist classics, which, from the Communist Manifesto though the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, constitute a scientific explanation for historical processes and political economy and a "logical, incontrovertible argument for communism." What the reader is saying, without realizing it, is that Maoism has a different world view than capitalism. S/he also does not understand that Marxism is a science. Like all sciences, it has a specialized vocabulary which sometimes contradicts everyday usage. Botanists, for example, recognize the tomato as a fruit, whereas it is commonly considered a vegetable. Marxists often need to speak in plain, proletarian language, but we also need our specialized terminology, e.g., "exploit" as used by Marxists to explain the way that the capitalist profits at the expense of the worker, as opposed to the common usage. But the reader errs in assuming that "common dictionary useages" are apolitical or value-free. This reader also sees communists as nihilists with no coherent vision for a better society. In fact, communists are not just critical of capitalism, we also have a historical practice to uphold and improve upon. In China, we look toward the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution as the most advanced era of human equality. We see that in less than 40 years, socialist China (1949-1976) doubled the life expectancy of its people and broke centuries-old traditions of gender oppression. Our vision is production for human need, not profit, and the end of oppression of groups over groups. Dear MIM: ... in the kritiks of the american system of imperialism you constantly refer to lesser developed countries as "third world" implying that america is the first world that all other countries should aspire to, isn't this a performative contradiction? i am not trying to be a semantic asshole i was just curious because in most of the marxist/maoist texts i read the use of "third world" is denounced because it has culturally arrogant connotations. --Internet Reader, February 1997 MIM RESPONDS: Thanks for writing to MIM. As Maoists, we are very concerned that our language reflect our politics -- MIM has gone to at times unpopular lengths to create or uphold different definitions for revolutionary vocabulary -- including our definitions of "pseudo- feminist;" "labor aristocracy;" "Black nation," e.g. So we have no problem with you challenging our use of language. However, MIM has never said that "lesser developed countries" (itself an incredible euphemism for superexploited nations, wouldn't you agree?) should aspire to be culturally like Amerika. Although, of course, they should and do aspire to greater economic development -- through socialism. But in the process of defeating imperialism there will be no United Snakes to aspire to -- there will instead be a dictatorship of the proletariat over the majority of Amerika, and national liberation for Amerika's internal colonies. It is not, in other words, a linear march toward greater economic development for the oppressed nations of the world while Amerika stays the same. So the terms imply a relationship, not a simple comparison. MIM also uses the more scientific language of "imperialist countries" and "neocolonies." But the terms First and Third World are popular discourse and widely understood to mean the above. We are more willing at this time to explain our use of this language * * * "JUSTICE" DEPARTMENT RAPE REPORT IGNORES PATRIARCHAL REALITY by MC44 There were fewer rapes reported to the police in 1995 than any other year since 1989, said a new report issued by the "Justice" Department, and 1995 had the lowest rate of reported rapes in a decade. Heading off the criticism that the rate of reported crimes does not necessarily reflect the rate of actual crimes committed, the New York Times also reported data from a survey "designed to include people who did not report" that the number of rape victims older than 12 fell 44% between 1993 and 1995. The Justice Department report promotes the lie that the rate of actual rape or rape reporting is due to increased awareness, and tougher attitudes toward sex crimes resulting in longer prison time for sex offenders. It is true, as the report says, that people imprisoned for rape are staying longer, as length of time served increased by 39% in the last 10 years, even while sentences remained the same. Longer sentences are the result of new "truth-in- sentencing" laws in many states -- under which prisoners must server a longer portion of their sentences. But if that accounted for the rate of rape dropping, then there should have been very little rape in the 20 years that prisons expanded and the prison population skyrocketed in the United Snakes. We are not fooled. Amerika is a patriarchal, capitalist society rife with rape and violence against wimmin. MIM has been saying for years that no sex can be consensual under conditions of violent inequality and gender oppression, and so when we define rape as non- consensual sex, all sex under patriarchy is rape. That the numbers of reported sex "crimes" fluctuate at times reflects nothing about these fundamental conditions. Actual drops in reported rape can be the result of a wide variety of factors affecting the likelihood that wimmin will report non- consensual sex as rape, and this report, like many others sponsored by the "Justice" Department, serves the pro-incarceration agenda more than it serves the interests of wimmin. So we disagree with the narrow, bourgeois legal definition of rape in the first place, and we also disagree with the strategy of reporting to the police, which only strengthens the patriarchal imperialist state. And the Justice Department's numbers are also skewed. One critic of these studies pointed out that although some types of rape are decreasing (those in the 16-24 age bracket) that doesn't reflect a genuine decrease in rape, because the number of people in that age group is decreasing with baby-boomers getting older. "That doesn't mean rape is happening less, just that there are fewer people for it to happen to," the critic said. The report apparently has no explanation for the continued rape of wimmin under 12. The report found that for rapes of children under 12, which account for 15% of total rapes, 90% knew their rapists, 43% of whom were family members. Overall, according to the report, rape victims are disproportionately young wimmin and children. Data from a study in North Dakota, Alabama and South Carolina, indicated that half of all rape victims are under 18, and that 29% of rape victims were between 12 and 17. But we can't take these numbers at face value either. The only reason the bourgeoisie recognizes rape of young wimmin and children is that it is so obviously unequal and nonconsensual. The myth of equality and equal control over sexuality that men and wimmin are supposed to have is impossible to apply while at the same time claiming patriarchal ownership of children. Also within the young rape victims, we are skeptical that only 43% of rapes of wimmin under 15 occurred within the patriarchal family. This is a sphere protected by the right to "privacy" and less likely to be investigated than other situations. But this is where the prison-building craze meets the contradiction of the sanctity of the bourgeois family. Neither institution so revered by the bourgeoisie will protect wimmin from rape -- only by seizing power in an anti-imperialist, anti- patriarchal revolution will wimmin see rape (coerced sex) genuinely decrease. NOTE: "1995 Data Show Sharp Drop in Nation's Reported Rape" New York Times, 3 February 1997, p. A1 and A14. * * * MORE TWISTED LOGIC ON "CRIME" by MC12 Lately there has been more news than usual about crimes committed by people who have already been in prison. Incredibly, these events are always used to argue that Amerika needs even more incarceration. In contrast, MIM has two arguments: First and most important, remember that the worst direct violent crimes are committed by the state and its military and police. That plus the violence of poverty and death that the imperialist system brings upon hundreds of millions of people. Second, if people get out of Amerikan prisons and then do terrible things - which we do not deny does happen sometimes -- then MIM's first suspect is the dehumanization and brutality of the prison system itself, followed by the poverty, unemployment and stigmatization that comes before and after prison sentences. So the conclusion to both of these arguments is: Who is the real criminal? The reactionary organization Crime-Free America, which publishes a "Crime Watch" on the Internet, offers some good examples. In the article "Five Murdered by Pair Out on Early Release," they describe some murders allegedly committed by two people who were on early release for cocaine dealing and robbery charges. If we are to believe that they committed these crimes before prison, and then five murders when they got out, it appears that prison made them more violent and destructive, not less. In another article, they repeat the popular news story about a man out of prison on a murder charge, who was on parole and supposedly not complying with the parole, when he was accused of murdering a white womyn lawyer at a bank money machine in Washington D.C. According to the articles, he was failing to show up for mandatory drug tests but they decided not to revoke his parole. So the media was outraged that he was not in jail when the murder happened. MIM doesn't give the specifics here because we don't know if the individuals involved committed the acts for which they are charged (the first ones or the later ones). But the fact that some people who get out of prison do terrible things, demonstrates this point: Imperialism is a violent, dehumanizing and brutalizing society, especially for the members of the nations it oppresses. One reaction to this oppression is violent and destructive in a negative way: that is, violence directed not for legitimate political purposes. When the injustice system gets its hands on people, its actions increase rather than decrease the likelihood of this reaction predominating: if people hated the state and economic system before they went in, they will hate it more when they get out. If they did not feel a productive connection to their communities before they went in, why would they when they get out? In prison they see all around them the unfairness of the system, which is compounded by the difficulty of getting job, etc., with a prison record. Many prisoners turn their hatred of the system into revolutionary political theory and action while in prison. Others do not. Nowhere in this pattern of events is there justification for an increase in incarceration. Under socialism, communists believe that crimes against the people should be dealt with through criticism and self-criticism, through struggling with people to reform themselves and allowing them to have a meaningful and productive role in society and relationship to the state and public. The punitive, alienating and dehumanizing approach to "crime" has proven itself a failure at reducing the behaviors it claims to want to reduce. But it is successful in other ways with the help of the bourgeois media: it increases the justification for more and more prisons, and it diverts attention from the real crimes of imperialism. * * * AMERIKA SMASHES LATINO NATIONS INTO THE BOTTOM by MC17 In 1995, the median household income rose for every group in the United Snakes except the 27 million "hispanics". For these "hispanics," which MIM takes as an approximation of the Latino population (unfortunately defined based on language spoken rather than nationality), median household income dropped 5.1%. For Latinos the poverty rate is also higher than any other group: Latinos make up 24% of the "country's poor", an increase of 8% since 1985 while overall income for "hispanic" households dropped 14% since 1989. Part of this increase in poverty among Latinos is likely due to low wages earned by immigrants, but because these statistics only include legal residents, the actual poverty of Latinos within US borders is underreported. Illegal immigrants are much poorer than legal immigrants, commonly working jobs that pay less than minimum wage. But it is not just the illegal status of immigrants that forces them to take the really low paying jobs. Legal immigrants are also likely to earn very low wages because of language barriers, and discrimination as well as their lack of knowledge of the way to get better jobs in this country. But language barriers and discrimination against recent immigrants don't explain everything because even among u.s. born Latinos poverty is increasing, according to these statistics. This helps demonstrate MIM's point that there is more than one nation of people within US borders. In fact, we believe that there is more than one Latino nation, but for the purposes of this article we will talk about Latinos as a group and demonstrate the fact that Latinos clearly are not a part of the white nation and that the white nation has drastically different material interests that the oppressed nations. According to the New York Times "Of all Hispanic residents, 30% were considered poor in 1995, meaning they earned less than $15,569 for a family of four. That is almost three times the percentage of non-Hispanic white people in poverty." If we look at the poorest people in this kountry, arbitrarily defined as those who earn $7500 or less, 24% of this group were "hispanic". These differences in income have their root in larger differences in our society. Young Latinos face difficulties in school that contribute to vast inequalities in opportunity. In 1994 9% of Latinos over 24 held college degrees compared with 24% of "non-hispanics." In 1994 12.7% whites didn't finish high school compared with 34.7% of Latinos. Recently, MIM reported on a study of Texas youth which showed that Latino youth were receiving far less help and support in school compared with whites. Similarly, in Los Angeles, shortfalls in funding for education led to program cuts in predominantly Latino schools so that there is now an average of one counselor for 500 students. These differences in academic achievement are not the result of lack of intelligence, they are part of systematic national oppression. Looking at the geographic concentration of Latinos, recent figures report 90% of Latinos are concentrated in urban areas, where the rest of the population within US borders has only 75% living in urban areas. The increase in poverty among Latinos within US borders that is not being counted results from illegal immigration of poor people from Latin America who are fleeing the imperialist sponsored poverty and oppression, in search of a better life. In spite of the outcry against immigrants among Amerikans, corporations are all too happy to employ these people illegally, paying less than minimum wage. Companies have been busted recruiting illegal immigrants, getting them to pay huge sums of money for illegal transport into Amerika only to then hold them as virtual slaves. (movie was source for this...234 knows the name). Both legal and illegal immigrants and their descendants make up the Latino nations who have distinct languages, cultures, geography and history. And it is because of the dominance of the white nation within US borders and the dominance of Amerikan imperialism world-wide that Latinos within US borders face national oppression as a group. It is this national oppression that explains the differences in poverty, education, and job opportunities. Professor Cornelius wrote, in summarizing a UCLA study, "Clearly, the traditional ethnic saga of hard labor followed by rewards does not apply to Latino immigrants." MIM would argue that traditionally we have had national oppression in this country and around the world in the era of imperialism. And it is important to distinguish between the system of national oppression, the power of one group over another group, and racism, the attitude that one group is inferior to another. If racism was the only problem that Latinos faced, we could simply hold a bunch of awareness raising educational events to explain to people why Latinos are not inferior and racism then would go away. But if we are facing the systematic oppression of a nation of people by another nation of people, the only way to eradicate this, and to rid ourselves of the attitudes of racism that come along with it, is to overthrow the system. MIM fights for the national liberation of oppressed nations around the world and within US borders. We don't buy the bullshit that this is all one happy nation beset by a few attitude problems of racism which divide us from our true unity as one people. Instead we see that one nation clearly has hegemony in this country: the white nation. And as a result of that hegemony, the interests of the white nation have been bought onto the side of imperialism and the white nation has a material interest in perpetuating the national oppression of peoples around the world and right here within US borders. Join the struggle against imperialism on the side of national liberation struggles for self- determination for all people! NOTE: The New York Times, 30 January 1997. p. A1 &A12 * * * PATRIARCHAL VIOLENCE CONTINUES IN AMERIKA by an RC Once again, the patriarchal big brother rears its head, this time bombing three abortion clinics in the one week. Two bombs rocked the Sandy Springs, Georgia Planned Parenthood clinic on January 16th, a Tulsa, Oklahoma Reproductive services building was fire bombed, and a grenade exploded outside of an abortion clinic in Washington, D.C. Each event magnifies the patriarchal repression in Amerika. And to top it off, a Federal District court in Manhattan ruled in favor of two men who repeatedly obstructed entry into the Women's Medical Pavilion. In each of the explosions, no one was killed, although many were injured. The Sandy Springs Planned Parenthood building is located just outside of Atlanta. The first bombed exploded, apparently inside the building. One hour later, another bomb exploded where the police had set up their temporary headquarters. Both bombs were made out of dynamite which is unusual for homemade bombs in Amerika.(1) Only four days later, the Tulsa Reproductive Services building was fire-bombed, receiving far less media coverage. On New Years day, the building had been attacked by two Malotov cocktails. The reactionary pro-"lifers" seemed to get what they wanted this time, as the police claimed it would step up protection of the clinic; obviously this didn't happen. Had the workers of the clinic been given the right to protect themselves, instead of having to rely on the police for this protection, this second fire-bombing would probably not have taken place. In Washington, a man "found" a grenade on the ground, while walking to work. He pulled out the pin "and... wow, boom."(2) What is more explanatory than this apparent "unintentional explosion" is that all the witnesses claim they say a "Hispanic man" fleeing the scene. In their rush to judgment, they saw a Hispanic man and condemned him; typical Amerikan justice. Abortion clinic violence has been on the decline, recently, but that decline in events has been offset by an escalation in violence. "The first shooting of a doctor was just of the doctor. Then they said if you are assisting the doctor, then you area problem, too. The next time, they shot the doctor and his escort. Then they started talking about a war zone. Anybody in the war zone could be shot and anybody protecting the war zone."(3) These events reaffirm MIM's position as stated over a year ago. "Even under capitalism, the pro-life ideology is out-of-date and in its obvious death throes."(4) With the newly rejuvenated violence by the reactionary "pro-life" movement, the movement itself is in the midst of a crisis. The violence has showed the splits within the "pro-life" movement. After the bombing, activist Michael Bray who has signed the petition endorsing "justifiable homicide," said he was "relieved" by the bombings: "There's been somewhat of a lull out there; this is a sign of a revival. People are not just rolling over."(5) And yet, Patrick Mahoney, the director of the Christian Defense Coalition said "The pro-life movement is the only movement that is guilty first and has to prove itself innocent later." When asked what the Washington Bomb was, before evidence was found, Mahoney said "It could have been a prank."(6) The "pro-life" reactionaries do not care about life at all, instead they are more interested in keeping women in a secondary and subservient role in society. These pro-life hypocrites do not care about the life of a child. If they had, they would work against the companies and countries the withhold food and necessities from the poor -- most young children. What is, perhaps, more disturbing is the court case in Manhattan by Judge John E. Sprizzo. Two men, one a Bishop, were arrested over 20 times for blocking the entrance to an abortion clinic. Under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act of 1994, the two men were arrested again for sitting in the driveway of the clinic and shouting insults and threats at the workers. Judge Sprizzo then issued a restraining order against the two. When they were arrested again, for the same crime and brought to the same judge, they were exonerated because they had acted out of "religious conviction." Judge Sprizzo wrote that he "has the prerogative to acquit the men, even if they are guilty."(7) Once again, proving the point that there are no rights in Amerika; only the select few have them afforded to them. As is increasingly obvious, the (in)justice system is not on the side of women in Amerika. The courts, the police, all merely try to keep women submissive to the patriarchal system that they benefit from. Fighting these pro-"lifers" through this system of repression goes nowhere, and in the end benefits the repressor more. Wimmin of Amerika need to fight for their place in society as a whole; need to assert their equality outside the boundaries of the system that is there to repress them. Wimmin need to tear away from their repressors and fight against this patriarchal tyranny, as MIM has asserted since its inception, and need to overthrow the chains that bind them. NOTES: 1. The New York Times, January 23, 1997 page A14. 2. The Washington Post, January 23, 1997 page A1 3. The New York Times, January 18, 1997. P. A7. 4. MIM Notes #97, Feb 1995. 5. Abortion Report, January 17, 1997 6. The Washington Post, January 23, 1997 page A1. 7. The New York Times, January 22, 1997 page A20. * * * REVOLUTION AND KULTURE SET IT OFF This ghetto life, fast paced, bank robing, cop chasing, with a little sex thrown in, movie is not your run of the mill action adventure flick. For starters, it's about wimmin, four Black wimmin. Stony (Jada Pinkett), Cleo (Queen Latifah), Frankie (Vivica Fox), and Tisean (Kmberly Elise) are doing all they can to survive and better their material conditions when they finally realize that they can't make it within a system where the deck is stacked against poor Black wimmin like themselves. These wimmin are fucked by patriarchy, and robbed by capitalists. Their relatives are murdered by imperialist occupying pigs, and their children are kidnapped by lackeys. So they decide to stop playing by the imperialists rules and rob a bank. The message in this movie about the situation of oppressed nation wimmin within US borders is right on. And the message that wimmin can do things on their own without men is a real life attack on the patriarchy without becoming preachy. The fact that the wimmin didn't get away with it all and have a happy ending was much more realistic than the typical action adventure movie where the good guys (and they are pretty much always guys) win in the end. Under imperialism there are no easy solutions to oppression and robbing a bank is not going to solve poverty, in fact the robbers are more likely to get caught or killed. In addition there isn't a Hollywood fabricated happy romantic ending either. No wimmin are rescued by men in shining armor. In fact the opposite is true when Stormy, Jada Pinkett, protects her love interest played by Blair Underwood from the robbery at his bank. For the most part the wimmin protect and rescue each other as best they can. In the end, one womyn survives alone and she gave up the opportunity for romance with a wealthy man in order to attempt to fight with her friends for a better life for all of them. Since most wimmin from oppressed nations do not have the opportunity hook up with wealthy men as a way out, the lack of an "and they lived happily ever after" ending here is refreshingly realistic. Another aspect of this movie that made it different was the inclusion of a lesbian as the main character in an action film: Cleo, played by Queen Latifa. This womyn was accepted as a close friend of the other three straight wimmin even though they would turn away when she kissed her girlfriend. This aversion was also voiced by some in the audience during the scenes of lesbian intimacy. The girlfriend (who really never even got a name) was a quiet, obedient femme who was mostly there to look pretty. Queen Latifa played the butch and there was little development of this part of the characters. It was unclear if this was meant to represent the "typical" lesbian relationship. It certainly represents a relatively common lesbian relationship, but not one that MIM would uphold as any more progressive than other relationships The take home message of this movie was that Black wimmin from the inner cities don't have opportunities to make it in Amerika. Unfortunately the second half of this message was that trying to find a way out will get you killed. It is true that going against the system can get you killed, locked up, harassed and/or legally executed. Members of the oppressed nations within Amerikan borders are considered a threat by imperialists and are disproportionately killed and jailed in Amerikkka. So going against the system is serious business and should be gone about following a careful and Maoist line and strategy. What this movie really lacked was a Maoist analysis that says we won't get rich over night, but we will build a movement that will overthrow imperialism and create a society where everyone is equal. And this means we can address every day problems like these women faced in a revolutionary context. Helping a woman deal with problems concerning child care, work, money, and/or police brutality is a part of the larger struggle for revolution. MIM uses the Black Panther Party to demonstrate this. They educated themselves and organized their power to serve the problems of their community. The BPP started a breakfast program for kids and fought against police brutality. Their Maoist analysis was better than the analysis of the wimmin in Set it Off and still many BPP members were killed and jailed. We have the history of the BPP to learn from and so we should not make focoist mistakes because we see what COINTELPRO and the FBI does to imprison Black nationalist revolutionaries and would certainly do to any revolutionary Black groups seeking power. Revolution is not quick or easy, but it is the only solution for the oppression that the majority of the world's people face daily. The picture of day to day survival in countries like the Philippines where the poorest people are waging a revolution should be inspiration for our struggles here. MIM AND RAIL SHOW "FBI'S WAR ON BLACK AMERICA" Santa Barbara, CA--Approximately 40 people recently attended a presentation of the film "The FBI's War on Black America" organized by the Maoist Internationalist Movement (MIM) and Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist League (RAIL) on the University of California at Santa Barbara campus. This film is one of several MIM regularly shows documenting the fascist repression of the Black Panther Party and other Black nationalists, such as Malcolm X. Many of those in attendance were unaware of the FBI's COINTELPRO (counter-intelligence program) against the Black Panther Party and were eager to learn more. COINTELPRO used infiltrators, intimidation, and assassination tactics to wreck the party. A MIM supporter took the opportunity to explain that the state continues to use these tactics against revolutionaries, and pointed to the former Panthers Mumia Abu Jamal and Geronimo Pratt as examples of this. Both are sitting in Amerikan prisons on trumped-up charges and have consistently been denied retrials. Mumia is on death row and faces the threat of legal assassination. The MIM supporter also explained why the state resorts to violence against the masses by paraphrasing Black Panther Party leader Huey Newton. During the early years of the Party, Huey said, "The police cannot be here to protect [the Black community's] property for the simple fact that we have no property. They are not here to ensure due process of law because they are the very ones denying us due process of law. So we see that the police are not here to protect us, but rather the business owners and the oppressive status quo." Ultimately, MIM believes it will take armed struggle to overthrow the capitalist oppressors, who are the first to resort to violence in order to defend their loot. At this point in time, MIM and RAIL focus their energies on building public opinion against imperialism. Films like "The FBI's War on Black America" are ways to concretely explain imperialism's crimes and inner workings. For more information on events in your area or to get involved, contact your local distributor or one of the addresses on page two. NOTES: For detailed information on the COINTELPRO against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement (AIM), check out Ward Churchill and Jim Vander Wall's book, Agents of Repression: The FBI's Secret Wars Against the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement. This book is available from MIM for $16. FILM REVIEW: ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Directed by Lee-Lew Lee Director and former Black Panther Lee-Lew Lee screened and discussed his Academy Award nominated documentary "All Power to the People!" as part of the Pan-African Film Festival held at the Magic Johnson Theaters in Los Angeles. This film is another example of the kind of good work progressives and revolutionaries can do with independent media. "All Power to the People!" tells the story of the FBI's bloody COINTELPRO campaign against the Black Panther Party and other Black nationalist organizations. The film consists almost entirely of contemporary footage and interviews with former Black Panther Party members, such as Bobby Seale and Kathleen Cleaver. Much of the old footage used is extremely rare. Mr. Lee has done a great service preserving it in this film. One of the film's strong points is its ability to recognize political degeneration when it sees it. In one interview Huey Newton spouts some backwards trash like, "Well, the masses aren't down with socialism right now so we aren't talking about socialism with them--when they pick up socialism we will too." This contradicts the correct stance of the early Panthers, who openly espoused socialism and patiently educated the people on what that meant. Lee-Lew Lee uses this interview to show that reactionaries do not necessarily have to physically blow the head off the movement. They can also intimidate or co-opt its leaders. Despite the fact that "All Power to the People!" has been nominated for an Academy Award, no major Hollywood distributor has picked it up. There have only been a few screenings of the film so far -- all of them using the director's own copy of the film. Lee-Lew Lee said that the film had effectively been banned in the United States. Of course, revolutionaries and progressives can't count on the imperialist bourgeoisie to fund media which exposes their crimes. At a discussion following the film, Lee-Lew Lee urged audience members to learn to use new inexpensive multi-media tools like cam-corders to make their own documentaries. For its part, MIM builds its own independent media for the oppressed with MIM Notes and MIM Theory. MIM also sponsors showings of "banned" films, such as "The FBI's War on Black America." For more information on local events or how to start a film revolutionary series in your area, contact your local MIM Notes distributor or one of the addresses on page two. * * * ECUADORIAN PEOPLE PROTEST IMPERIALISM: ONLY GET CHANGE IN IMPERIALIST LACKEYS by MC17 In early February, the people of Ecuador held a 48 hour general strike to protest the presidency of Abdala' Bucaram whose work as a lackey of imperialism has led to economic austerity programs, nepotism and corruption at the expense of the people. In June, Bucaram won a landslide election victory in a "democratic" election. But now in the face of widespread economic and social suffering, even those who supported his election are in the streets protesting.(1) The president of the Organization of American States (OAS), an imperialist mouthpiece, flew to Ecuador to show his support for Bucaram as they both called on people to preserve the so-called democracy of Ecuador.(1) The stability of this country which provides a source of cheap labor and raw materials is important to the imperialists. Bucaram was elected on a populist platform but once elected he quickly gave up any pretense of serving the people and instead turned to the strict austerity measures encouraged by imperialist agencies like the World Bank so that these countries can focus on paying off foreign debt. It is this same debt that has led to the impoverishment of the countries as they serve their imperialist masters rather than developing self- sufficient economies. And any claims that this debt is the result of generous giving on the part of the imperialists whose only interest is in helping poor countries better themselves are quickly dispelled with an examination of the economic structure of these poor countries and their relationship to imperialist countries. The imperialists always get more out of Third World countries like Ecuador than they put in. Many people called on the congress to impeach Bucaram and in response to these calls, Bucaram announced plans to replace 60% of his cabinet and his administration accused the president of the congress of planning a coup. All this maneuvering at the high levels of government will not accomplish anything but a new face on the same old imperialist rule. The congressional leader Fabian Alarcon and the vice president Rosalia Arteaga both initially claimed the right to seize power and Alarcon led thousands of supporters in an attempt to storm the presidential palace on February 7th.(2) But on February 9th the Ecuadorian congress named Vice President Arteaga as the legitimate successor to Bucaram.(3) On February 8th, the army withdrew its support for Bucaram and agreed to the vice president taking over. Many of his cabinet members resigned in the first week of February, clearly anticipating the failure of Bucaram's rule. On February 6th the congress voted to depose him on grounds of mental incompetence and on February 9th it appeared that he was ready to step down.(2) The United States is the main imperialist power exploiting Ecuador. 42% of it's exports go to the US and 28% of its imports come from the US. While the people's protest against Bucaram, a lackey of imperialism, was justified, the change in faces in the government will not produce any real improvements for the people. The system of imperialism still remains in place and until countries like Ecuador develop self-sufficient economies that are not devoted to enriching a few imperialists and their national and corporate lackeys, the people will continue to be exploited and oppressed. Bucaram was right when he suggested that anyone taking his place will not be able to satisfy the demands of the people: ``Unfortunately, I couldn't finish my term, but let's see if the next government will be able to fulfill the promises I made to increase the salaries of workers and the military by 25 percent.''(3) Only a national liberation struggle will end the imperialist stranglehold on Ecuador. And only a liberation struggle led by Maoism will be able to build socialism and develop a system where the people of Ecuador are not being exploited by capitalists and where equality between people is not an ideal but a reality. NOTES: 1. New York Times, 6 February 1997. p. A10. 2. Boston Globe, 9 February 1997. p.A2 3. AP, 9 February 1997. * * * FIGHTING THE IMPERIALIST SPONSORED ELECTIONS: HAWAIIAN SOVEREIGNTY STRUGGLE CONTINUES The Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council (HSEC), a state-formed organization that ran the recent "sovereignty vote" in Hawai'i, held a conference on December 14th to present the results of this state- sponsored pseudo-independence vote. As MIM Notes reported in the past, a state-sponsored vote which only gives the Hawaiian people the choice of one form of imperialist imposed government or another is not an opportunity to vote for sovereignty. A majority (over 60%) of the Hawaiian people boycotted this vote, led by activists who are fighting for genuine self-determination for the indigenous people of Hawai'i. At the December 14th conference 800 participants attended but little substantive discussion took place and time ran out before many people who were signed up could speak. Opponents of the HSEC process, Ka Lahui members, attended and held up bright cards protesting state control of Native Hawaiians while a representative of their organization spoke, calling on Hawaiians to reject the HSEC proposal, which she said does not apply principles of self-determination as defined under international law. In spite of the widespread boycott of the vote, HSEC considers the 73% majority for "yes" in response to the question "Shall the Hawaiian people elect delegates to propose a Native Hawaiian government" to be the valid vote results. HSEC's final report is due out any day and this will lay out the time line for the election of delegates and convention. They are expecting a November 1997 election of 200 delegates and a four-part convention in 1998 of delegates. It is important to note that this process is being controlled by HSEC, an organization set up by the imperialist government to carry out this bogus pseudo- plebiscite process. All HSEC members are appointees of the ex-State Governor. As one Hawaiian quoted in the MIM Notes 119 (August 1, 1996) front page article about this vote pointed out "This vote will bind us to a State-controlled process and the U.S. government can use it to block us from pursuing our own process of self- determination." This state-sponsored pseudo- plebiscite is no vote for sovereignty. MIM supports the continuing struggle for self-determination of the Native Hawaiian people and all other indigenous nations fighting imperialist rule. NOTE: Ka Wai Ola o OHA, Volume 14, number 1, Jan 1997, p.2. * * * FIRST NATIONS BLOCKADE ROAD TO DEFEND AGAINST NUCLEAR WASTE by MCB52 On January 29, First Nations from the Fort Mojave, Chemehuevi, Quechan, Cocopah and Colorado River tribes, which comprise the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance, blockaded a road to secure their land and defend it from nuclear waste. Though the settler government of California does not recognize the proposed site in Ward Valley as First Nation land, it is culturally important to First Nations and is located dangerously near an aquifer they rely on. Essentially declaring the area off limits to the settler state, the First Nation activists blocked a Department of Energy tour of the Ward Valley. The First Nations were joined by supporters from Greenpeace, environmental justice activists, the United Farm Workers, the Arizona American Indian Movement. Steve Lopez, Fort Mojave Ward Valley director, said: "We object to the radioactive waste dump proposed for our traditional territory. Fort Mojave will never allow a nuclear dump so close to our people and our river. The tribes are united to fight against this dump no matter what it takes." "I hope Mr. Clinton helps us. He talks a lot, but I'm ready for some action," said Nathan Levi Esquerra, chairman of the Chemehuevi Tribe. Clinton does not only talk a lot, he takes action - against environmental concerns and the needs of First Nations. But the First Nation activists do not seem to be fooled. They are clear that this is an issue of sovereignty and self-defense. In reference to meeting a government commission on toxic waste after the blockade, Esquerra said "The main issue for the meeting is that we want them to recognize and respect us as a government. They have to stop ignoring us." This proposed nuclear waste dump is part of a long tradition of settlers using the resources of First Nation land and then trying to dump oppressed nations with the consequences. The blockade is part of a long tradition of resistance. Though saving this spot of land will not topple imperialist domination of First Nation land and resources, it is a progressive struggle. NOTE: Indian Country Today February 10-17, 1997 * * * FRENCH ANTI-IMMIGRANT PARTY WINS ANOTHER TOWN by MC234 On 9 February in France, the anti-immigration National Party led by Jean-Marie Le Pen won control of the municipal government in the city of Vitrolles. This is the fourth southern city where Le Pen's party has taken control of local government. According to the Boston Globe, French youth rioted against the victory of the National Party.(1) Le Pen's rise to popularity has been fueled by immigrant bashing. Like in Amerika, there is a considerable current within the bought-off working classes that sees foreigners as a threat. In France, the rise in nationalist opposition to immigration is not a result in the increase in non- French people living in France. This has stayed constant for 10 years at 6%. But 25 years ago, 75% of the foreigners in France were European. Now Arabs and Africans make up almost half.(2) The nationalist bourgeoisie in France has a difficult task for itself. It needs enough foreigners to clean its toilets for low wages, but it doesn't want there to be so many that long term stability of the French system is threatened. It is encouraging that in France like elsewhere, it is the youth of the imperialist countries who are willing to struggle against chauvinist polices. We encourage the youth of France to build a Maoist party to defeat French imperialism right in its home. NOTES: 1. Boston Globe 10 February 1997, p. A5. 2. The Economist 12 June 1993. UNDER LOCK AND KEY: NEWS FROM PRISONERS AND PRISONS VICTORY AGAINST CENSORSHIP Dear Comrade, I'm pleased to share with you that Pelican Bay State Prison has allowed MIM Notes into the prison. But Pelican Bay did not give us anything. If we can consider this situation a victory, it was because we struggled. Malcolm X said that never in history have you ever heard of the oppressor laying down the whip. It was always the oppressed who stopped their oppression. That is a fact, we must prepare ourselves now, because we must face the inevitable. The only question is, will we face inevitable on our knees as a coward and die, spiritually and physically; or will we stand as women and men and fight for our Liberation? Yesterday, Pelican Bay gave me the MIM Notes #121 and #122. Which were issued in September [1996]. In MIM Notes #122 on page 11, I read my letter which you titled "Prisoner Not Discouraged by Censorship". I enjoy MIM Notes, and I want you to please start back to sending me MIM Notes again now that MIM has been cleared.... --A California Prisoner, 31 December 1996 WASHINGTON STATE CONTINUES TO CENSOR MIM NOTES MIM has received several mail rejection notices from the State of Washington Department of Corrections, and most recently from Clallam Bay Correctional Center. Each notice claims that the issues of MIM Notes were rejected because they are a "threat to legitimate penological objectives." Letters of protest can be sent to directly to Sergeant J. McGimpsey, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, 1830 Eagle Crest Way, Clallam Bay, WA 98326-9723, or to the Director, Division of Prisons or Community Corrections, P.O. Box 41100, Olympia, WA 98504-1100. PENNSYLVANIA PRISONER FIGHTS CENSORSHIP ...I am writing concerning the prison officials' decision to censor your publication in absence of any legitimate security concerns. As you know, prison officials can not censor a publication merely because they disagree with its political content or the philosophy of the group that publishes it. They also may not censor a publication because it contains views which are unfavorable to the prison system. They are authorized to ban publications that impede institutional security. Based on this criteria, I believe that we have grounds to sue officials here at the institution. In order to do this, I am going to need your full support and cooperation. First, it would be helpful if you would promptly send a letter of complaint to officials at this institution as well as the DOC's headquarters.... I have appealed the prison's decision to censor MIM through the grievance procedure. As can be expected, the warden affirmed the decision of his subordinates... You may send letters of complaint to: Mr. Harry E Wilson, Superintendent, State Correctional Institution at Retreat, R.P.#3, Box 500, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621-9580 Mr. Martin F. Horn, Commissioner, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, P.O. Box 598, Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598. --A Pennsylvania Prisoner, 19 November 1996 IS REVOLUTION JUST A PRISONER PASTIME? ...I read about the struggles behind the walls in Under Lock and Key, but I have not read about these struggles being continued once prisoners are freed and their state of struggle. Maybe only those of us with a lot of time on our hands write. Once the knowledge is acquired, the will to create change and to free the chains of the oppressor is ignited. It must be more than something to use to pass time (prison time). It should and must be a life-long commitment to overthrow these fascist oppressors. Many prisoners gain political consciousness under these conditions, that may never have been acquired under other circumstances. Once this happens, the prisoner has a duty to continue his struggle against the oppressor (imperialism), and stand by those under lock and key, expose the oppression and work to overthrow the present system. It would be encouraging to read of prisoners who continue in this struggle, as a prisoner and a prisoner of war (war on drugs is a war on the Amerikan people). For many years I have been awakened to the realities of the current fascist- imperialist government. I am trying to educate myself and others. I don't want to just be a "cell soldier", but I want to be an effective Revolutionary and help effectuate a change from within and eventually without, when my chains are released... If you have or receive news of any comrades that have been freed that have continued in the struggle, I would be glad to see stories written about their struggle... --A Colorado Prisoner, 3 December 1996 A NEW YORK PRISONER STRUGGLES FOR EDUCATION To the people, Back during slavery times, Black people were forbidden to pick up a book and read. Education for Black folks was a crime. One of the policies of colonialism is that the victor seeks to keep the vanquished stooped in ignorance and superstition. In these days and times the New York State prison colony carries out such a policy, although it be in a different form. According to the education law of the U.S. it is supposed to be a violation of our "rights" to deny a person the pursuit of an education based on such a person's race, religion, national origin, social position or creed. This is supposed to be applicable to all "Americans". But despite the fact that "my people" have been in this country just as long as white people, that "my people" have fought and died in all of Amerika's wars and still foolishly do so, despite the fact that the first martyr in the Amerikan revolution was a Black man (Crispus Attucks), despite the fact that a Black man laid down the blueprint for the nation's capital (Benjiman Banneker), I'm still not an Amerikan because I'm Black. In NY State, prisoners are denied access to pursue a college education. We're only allowed to obtain a GED. After that, you're done, especially if you do not have family and/or friends on the outside that can pay for a college correspondence course or supply you with textbooks and/or workbooks on a regular basis. But then again, according to the 13th Amendment, prisoners are slaves so I guess that's why I'm denied an education on top of me being Black. MIM has an excellent book for prisoners program and I'm greatly indebted to them and those of you who helped out and donated money and books. However, along with my revolutionary education I'm trying to pursue an academic education for I plan on going to college when I get out of prison. I already have 3 strikes against me: I'm 1) Black, 2) Poor and 3) an ex-convict. I don't need a fourth, lacking an advanced academic education. With the help of you and MIM I'm most sure that I could overcome this obstacle. I sent a book list to MIM of books that I could use to advance myself.... It matters not if they're beat up, photocopied or brand new as long as all the pages are there and it's legible.... Whatever books you could send (workbook, textbooks, etc.) pertaining to the natural/physical sciences, life sciences, language arts and/or mathematics will also be greatly appreciated.... Thank you for your time, assistance and concern. Revolution! --A New York Prisoner PS. Even science magazines (no matter how dated) will be appreciated. MIM ADDS: Our books for prisoners program prioritizes political texts, but we recognize the utility in other education and wish to expand our work and unleash the potential of the masses to fill this need. In particular, we are quite aware of that each year college students across the United Snakes spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks that at the end of the semester they no longer need or want and cannot sell for a good price or at all. We encourage these students and others to send us their old books along with enough postage to send them to a prisoner. Educational materials of all grade levels will be forwarded to prisoners. Please make sure postage is included with the books. ONE YEAR LATER, STILL IN TEXAS To Whom it May Concern, I am a Massachusetts prisoner! One of two hundred and ninety-nine sent here to Texas because of overcrowding.... Talk about control units, Sensory Deprivation like a mother fucker. No Due process, Stripped of Liberty interest. Food's fucked, cops are illiterates. I'm locked down 24-7. Only 3 hours of recreation a week. Wearing somebody else's boxers, socks. Rats and snitches wall to wall - Unit? What's the hell is that? I hate this government system. It wasn't made to work for us. If you want to know more about the 299 guys sent here by Massachusetts, who claim overcrowding to get more money for prisons, you let me know. I got a lot of news for you. --A Massachusetts Prisoner in Texas, 14 December 1996 P.S. We are in seg. for one year now. Massachusetts just renewed the contract for 2 more years. Guess where me and X will be. Right here in Seg. No ticket. NADA! Because we are nonconformists. AMERIKAN PRISON BRIEFS READING MATERIALS LIMITED ...I lost your address and a few of the newsletters you sent me, due to shakedowns this past month by these Colonialist and Neo Colonial Pigs. We were locked down from Halloween to November 20th on the DS (Disciplinary Segregation) unit here. Because my bed frame had a big piece of metal missing from it. So of course these cowards locked down the whole unit. They have also devised a way of limiting and taking away our reading material by only allowing any prisoner 10 pieces of reading material at any one time. If we receive a book, or magazine, etc. in the mail, we must turn it in, so it can be: 1. Sent home (at your expense), 2. Destroyed, 3. Gate released, or 4. Given to charity. They do not consider MIM Notes and most times, political books, educational. So now if we can't get them to be recognized they will be sent home or destroyed. I am thinking of starting a "class action" grievance by all the New Afrikan and conscious brothers to try to get this done.... --An Illinois Prisoner, 24 November 1996 NEW DRUG TEST ...Well something new, the Michigan snakes have invented. It is a thing for drug testing, it's brand new. They came up with this about a year ago. It looks like a small dime. It is a little plastic circle. The nurse puts this new invention in our arms for 24 hours to see if we are smoking drugs. And then take this shit to the laboratory. The point is the Michigan snakes always want to test something in inmates. I don't trust the Michigan Department of KKKoruptions with my life.... --A Michigan Prisoner, 2 December 1996 EXPOSE PIG SEXUAL HARASSMENT On 23 November 1996, I was set up and beaten by 4 officers. Burkhalter C/O #R, Haverd C/O K., Lourie C/O A., Dueose C/O III M. These are the officers who beat me in the hallway. These are the ranking officers who plotted this cruel attack upon me. Sergeant Bly, Lieutenant James Nixon, Lieutenant Lee, Captain Baker, and Warden McNight. Now I am being sexually harassed by Sergeant Ludwig, Sargent Williams, Officer Sorrels. Everyday these people pull me out of my cell, [They] know I don't have a thing in here, every hour on the hour. I can't get any sleep. I am on container restriction, food loaf, paper gown. They know I don't have nothing in this cell, this is just to harass me. Sargent Ludwig always tells me, "Open your ass cheeks.", Then [he] puts me on the run with nothing on so the other inmates can look at my butt. Please help stop this sexual harassment. --A Texas Prisoner, 4 January 1997 UNSANITARY CONDITIONS CONTINUED ...I like your topic in Under Lock and Key, Nov. 15th issue #126, page 8 about unsanitary living conditions in Illinois. I, myself am an Illinois prisoner in the Menard Correctional Center. Right now I'm in the North Segregation Unit and it's just like you put it in the paper. The birds still fly through the cell house, the mice and roaches still come into our cells. And the administration in Menard do not try to do anything to get rid of the mice or birds in the cell house. Everything that you put about this topic is 100% true. I hope that somebody out there notified the Health Department about the conditions in the Menard Correctional Center, North Segregation Unit. Most of the officers are KKK members and they do not like Blacks and Latinos. They play with people's food. The other day an inmate here in the North Segregation Unit found a mouse in his food. Sincere in the Struggle, -- An Illinois Prisoner, 15 December 1996 MISSOURI PRISONER SERVES AS JAILHOUSE LAWYER TO FIGHT OPPRESSION Dear Movement, ...I would like to inform you that I have been in solitary confinement since May 13, 1996, for refusing to submit to statutorily-required DNA testing. At present, I am challenging this state law in court. Even though the law supports my position, I understand the political and public ramifications of my resistance and struggle against big government. If I win in court, I will pass this information on to your organization in hopes it will assist similarly-situated comrades or prisoners. I have been incarcerated for 16 years... During my confinement I obtained a paralegal diploma and have been a jailhouse lawyer. I have been such a thorn to the attorney general's office, that they lied to a federal judge who issued an order enjoining me from filing lawsuits and prohibiting me from assisting other prisoners or be subject to disciplinary punishments and sanctions. I've been confined a couple of times already in the hole. I can not permit myself to bow to my oppressors, otherwise I would be living without dignity and pride. I understand that the consequence of my non- violent civil disobedience and rebellion is continued imprisonment despite parole release eligibility. Self-preservation ignores me because I would rather live as a principled man than as a spineless inmate. My integrity means the world to me even if freedom continues to escape me. --A Missouri Prisoner, 18 December 1996 SOUTH CAROLINA PRISONER COLLECTS EVIDENCE ON INJUSTICE SYSTEM ...A friend recently forwarded to me a copy of MIM Notes from September 15, 1996. With great correlation, I read the letters, Under Lock and Key, from prisoners in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. These letters made me ponder whether or not there might be prisoners out there who could assist me in gathering inculpative evidence, to be used against Michael Moore, (Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC)). I am currently incarcerated at McCormick Correctional Institution. For the past two years I have been involved in a mass assault to shutdown Michael Moore's unconstitutional "policies and customs". I have assisted some 85 inmates at this institution also, to file actions totaling over one hundred, thirty million dollars.... Because our documents and attitudes are polite, resolved and amicable, my law partner and I have had a 100% success rate. However, we have been continually harassed, threatened and retaliated against for our giving "inmate to inmate assistance." We filed an action on the reprisal for the constitutionally protected right, and the state agreed to compromise. Additionally, we moved for arrest warrants pursuant to Title 18 U.S.C. 241 and 242; against Director Michael Moore and the Attorney General of South Carolina, Charles Condon, because they had acted in concert to deprive inmates of a Constitutional Right, by going public and declaring that they were going to "pack inmates in prison like sardines." When the smoke had cleared, following this massive attack, my roommate was removed from my cell. We were not asked whether or not we consented to such a room change. A new inmate was moved into my cell. At first, I thought it might just be more retaliation. A few days later my reality changed, when this inmate informed me that Michael Moore, (Director of SCDC), had approached him at Kirkland Correctional Institution and requested that he be transferred to McCormick Correctional Institution; placed in the cell with me; to kill me in exchange for $25,000 dollars and parole. The inmate informed me and several other witnesses that Michael Moore and Attorney General, Charles Condon, "wanted me killed because of all the Legal cases I was filing against him and the Attorney General." The following day, after securing affidavits from this inmate and the witnesses, all of our cells were searched. The affidavits were seized and we were placed in administrative segregation, without a charge, on Oct 28, 1996. We have all been placed on "No Communications". Which means: we cannot call our attorneys, family; we cannot go out for exercise; we cannot go to the law library and we are refused any type of assistance; and we cannot send or receive mail. Following these events,... the host of a weekly patriotic radio show ..., and numerous concerned citizens of South Carolina started investigating Michael Moore and his activities. The radio host went on world wide radio, as well as a local radio show in ... South Carolina. Looking for information, the radio host contacted ex-inmates and former officers of the Texas Department of Corrections. He also spoke with a doctor in California who had a great deal of information concerning Michael Moore's previous activities while employed in Texas. ....The radio host learned that while in Texas, Michael Moore had maintained "hit groups" in at least three separate institutions. These "hit groups" were inmates that had been solicited by Moore to threaten, intimidate and in some cases even kill inmates who helped other inmates file civil actions... The inculpative evidence this writer is attempting to gather from readers in or out of prison, is simply this: If you have ever been a part of, or been asked to be a part of any Michael Moore "hit groups" and have first hand knowledge of the same, I would appreciate a summary or affidavit concerning those instances. If you have ever been threatened by Michael Moore, or one of his "hit groups" for you legal activities, I would appreciate a letter, summary, or affidavit concerning those facts. If you are employed or were employed at one time, by the Texas Department of Corrections and you have first hand knowledge of Michael Moore's "polices and customs" to threaten intimidate or kill inmates for their legal activities, this information would be of great use to us. If you wish to keep your name and information Confidential, Please state to that effect in your correspondence. Additionally, keep in mind that any affidavits sent from out of state, must also be stamped when being notarized. If you are unable to send an affidavit because of a privacy issue or for lack of access to a notary, please write informing us of your information. In connection, if you would be willing to testify, under oath, at the trial, against Mr. Moore concerning any or all of the first hand information you send us, please specify this fact. Send all correspondence to: The Anti- Federalist Research Group, 1004 Welcome Rd., Greenville, SC 29611. ...Fighting tyrants in South Carolina. --A South Carolina Prisoner, 19 November 1996 ***WHAT NON-PRISONERS CAN DO TO SUPPORT PRISONERS*** *1. Struggle with, work with, finance and join MIM. The best way to support prisoners is to overthrow the system under which capitalists profit from the exploitation of prisoners. History shows that the best way to do this is to build a Marxist-Leninist- Maoist party. The oppressors will not give up their power without a fight. *2. Finance MIM's prison work. Our biggest bill each month is postage. Most of the prison comrades who read MIM Notes have no way of paying for it. So if you have money, send what you can afford. Every cent helps, and stamps are as good as cash to us. *3. Distribute MIM Notes and Notas Rojas. Bring the voices of prisoners and their supporters to as large and wide an audience of people as possible. Contact MIM for bulk rates and distribution tips. *4. Start or join a prison support group. MIM can provide advice and resources to help you build public opinion for prisoners and their struggles. *5. Fight censorship, beatings, torture and other fascist outrages. Under Lock and Key often features the addresses of prisoners' friends and enemies. Work with the friends and let the enemies know you're watching. (Don't expect to win the fascists to the side of humanity, however. See #1 in this list). *6. Stay in touch. Keep us informed of pro-prisoner work you do. Our readers might find it educational or inspirational.