ROL, USA NEWSLETTER NUMBERS 107 AND 108 MAR/APR-MAY/JUNE

Revolutionary Organization of Labor, USA

March/April #107-May/June #108

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A MAY DAY 2018 Greeting and Salute
to the High School Youth Protesting Violence in Public Schools and Communities Across the USA
   
— from RAY LIGHT and CINDY SHEEHAN —

We are encouraged that tens of thousands of high school youth left their schools and took to the streets to protest the fact that, even in school, our youth, holding the future of our country in their hands, are not safe from an epidemic of violence that is sweeping across the USA. The youth are finally beginning to get the message, the wisdom, that  Martin Luther King, Jr.  had come to realize and courageously shared in the year before his assassination fifty years ago: “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world  today [is] my own government.” (MLK Speech at Riverside Church, April 4, 1967)

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Billy Graham: In Memoriam

by CASEY COLE

Reverend Billy Graham passed away on February 21, 2018 and was immediately deified and lauded as a “hero” by the U.S. corporate media.  Let us be clear on Graham’s legacy: the only gospel Graham followed was that of war, hate, and unfettered capitalism. It is absolutely undeniable that Graham played this role for the irredeemably corrupt and bloodthirsty machine of U.S. imperialism. And he played it for well over half a century. 

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The Current State of U.S. Society
and of the U.S. Empire’s Government

by RAY LIGHT

The first quarter of 2018 has brought much political turbulence and disruption both to the rulers and the ruled in the USA. Because U.S. imperialism is still the main bulwark of world capitalism, what has been going on in the USA these days has real significance for the international proletariat and the oppressed peoples of the world, as well.  

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 The U.S. Labor Movement:
The 2017 AFL-CIO Convention and Beyond

(Part Two of Two Part Series)

by MIKE S.

Attended by approximately 600 delegates representing fifty-six national unions as well as a number of State AFL-CIO Federations and Local Central labor bodies, the 2017 Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO convened in St Louis, MO from October 22-26. The AFL-CIO is the largest U.S. federation of trade unions, claiming to represent some 12 million “organized” workers. The convention is held every four years and sets the direction of the Federation for the coming years and elects the top three positions of leadership of the organization.

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BY THE REVOLUTIONARY ORGANIZATION OF LABOR, USA

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"Reclaim Armistice Day?" Whatever for? by Cindy Sheehan

"Reclaim Armistice Day?"

Whatever for?*

 Cindy Sheehan

There has been a movement among veterans and other activists to do something called "Reclaim Armistice Day."

As this year will be the 100th anniversary of the so-called end of fighting in one of the most ridiculous wars the US has been involved in (in a tragically long line of ridiculous wars), the {not very} R.A.D. movement is once again planning festivities, or whatever they want to call them on Veteran's Day, this year. (Yes, I called it "Veteran's Day," get over it.)

I do understand that some veterans who have also fought in other ridiculous and deadly US wars are still upset that in 1954 the US Congress changed the name of "Armistice Day" to "Veteran's Day" and the implication of the cult of veteran worship, but, really, it doesn't matter if Veteran's Day is called Armistice Day, or Unicorn Farts and Rainbows Day---nothing will change the fact that on November 11th, 1918 at 11 am, The Armistice of Compiègne, was signed for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I (but didn't even end the war--that didn't happen until the Treaty of Versailles in 1920).

Of course, air, ground and sea efforts ceased for the allied powers, but the further wreckage of Germany with the punishing terms imposed on them, unquestionably gave rise to the demagogue Adolf Hitler and "WWI, Part II," which was even more deadly. 

France and Great Britain demanded that Germany pay 33 billions (US dollars) in reparations and accept complete responsibility for the war, which was hard for Germany to swallow at the Treaty of Versailles, but the allies threatened to recommence hostilities if Germany didn't sign. 

Even the website for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum states:

In the aftermath of World War I, Germans struggled to understand their country’s uncertain future. Citizens faced poor economic conditions, skyrocketing unemployment, political instability, and profound social change. While downplaying more extreme goals, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party offered simple solutions to Germany’s problems, exploiting people’s fears, frustrations, and hopes to win broad support.

So what was so special about Armistice Day, 100 years ago anyway?

Things inarguably improved in the US and the "Roaring 20s" roared in until the stock market crashed in 1929 and it would take "WWI, Part II" to lift the US out of those harsh economic times. Once again, with this R.A.D. effort the US "antiwar" movement exhibits its gross devotion to national chauvinism.

As one of the main organizers of the Women's March on the Pentagon (WMOP) (Oct-20 to 21) which is a non-partisan march on the bi-partisan war machine, I can categorically state that we ARE a movement that is free from patriarchy, Democrat Party control, and the hypocritical energy of Dem loyalists. We are not afraid of holding a major protest a few weeks before the mid-term elections. We are not only anti-Trump; we are anti-Imperialism. Some activists have actually said to me, "Cindy, you can't have an antiwar march so close to the mid-term elections, you'll 'harm' the chances of the Democrats!" My response always is, "What does that say about YOUR party that you're afraid an antiwar march will 'harm' them--you need a new party!"

WMOP is also a movement that is organizing around the energy of being internationalist and advocates for ALL women and their families around the world (not just Pink Pussy Hat Democrats or activists with some antiquated idea of R.A.D.) which is emancipated from the constant propaganda of war and war terms--we don't have to "fight" the powers that be, we just ARE the powers that be. We don't want a seat at the table, we are BUILDING AND OWNING THE WHOLE DAMN TABLE.  

Besides, even if the name of one day to commemorate the end of one of the US Empire's long list of ridiculous wars is "reclaimed," does that change the fact that the US is currently bombing at least seven countries? Does it bring one person back, or end the slavish liberal devotion to the Democrat Party? 

Change the name of November 11th to Unicorn Farts and Rainbows Day--it makes no difference to me or anything, truthfully, but only a principled, internationalist, anti-Imperialist movement, like WMOP will ever come close to smashing US Imperialism. 

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*This article is in response to some forces who think that the "girl shit" or "Swarm of Cranks," of the Women's March on the Pentagon (which announced weeks before the R.A.D. event), should cancel our march and be subsumed, and thereby, consumed, by the event on 11/11/18.  We still find it strangely odd that anyone would organize an event in DC so close to another  (already planned) event anyway: There certainly is enough war to go around, but resources and people power are limited.

We call on the R.A.D. forces to respect our action and our time-frame, not just because we were "first-come" but because of our months of hard work and organizing for the WMOP movement. 

You are more than welcome to join us!

Thank you. 

Military Claims of Retaliation for Sexual Offense Complaints on the Rise

Military Claims of Retaliation for Sexual Offense Complaints on the Rise

Says former JAG attorney Sean Timmons

May 3, 2018 – Houston, T.X. – According to an annual Pentagon report more U.S. service members claim they faced retribution for filing sexual assault or harassment complaints last year than in 2016. According to the Pentagon Report, there were 146 reports of retaliation last year compared to 84 reports of retaliation in 2016. Overall, the Defense Department saw a growing number of sexual misconduct cases. The total number of sexual harassment complaints increased by 16 percent.

According to the report, it was mainly women who reported the retaliation cases after they had filed sexual assault complaints. Less than 20 percent of the retaliation cases were service members who filed sexual harassment complaints.

Some who filed cases, according to the report, stated that they felt ostracized and faced cruelty or mistreatment.

The report says 31 out of 85 retaliation cases filed were substantiated. Of those 31, the department took action against 9 offenders. The report says disciplinary actions against 14 others are still in the process.

In a press-advisory send to Cindy Sheehan's Soapbox, former JAG officer and managing partner at Tully and Rinckey said of this report: “Military reports and surveys on sexual offenses indicate a growing need for change. The sole purpose of someone coming forward with an allegation of sexual misconduct including assault, is to make sure the claim is properly vetted and investigated so justice can be served if the claim is substantiated. Unfortunately statistics would indicate instead, our service members who report sexual assault are more likely to suffer retaliation for reporting it than seeing their alleged offender convicted for the offense."

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CINDY SHEEHAN'S SOAPBOX