This Monday at One Heart Cafe (06.09)

Socialist Alternative's regular meeting will be held at a new location:

Monday, May 17th @ 6:30 PM
One Heart Cafe'
604 Fawcett Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98402

Our meeting this week will be on Zimbabwe where massive fraud by President Mugabe is threatening to steal the election run-off.

We will have an introduction to the issue followed by a period of discussion.

We will also give feedback on second draft of anti-WASL pamphlet and start discussing how we go forward with the campaign.

The following article is included as background reading on the subject of Zimbabwe:


Mugabe plans to steal election
Mass unemployment, hyper-inflation and poverty
Dave Carr, from The Socialist, weekly paper of the Socialist Party England and Wales.

Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party has called for a recount of the votes from the 29 March presidential election – even though the electoral commission has still, after more than one week, to release the figures!

This suggests that president Robert Mugabe was defeated in the election. However, the octogenarian dictator, after 28 years in power, has it seems no intention of conceding defeat to his challenger, Morgan Tsvangarai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Earlier, the MDC had claimed victory (having secured a majority in the parliamentary elections) saying that the tally of results posted outside the polling stations gave Morgan Tsvangarai 50.3% of the vote. However, some foreign media say that sources close to the electoral commission report that the MDC candidate has fallen short of an absolute majority and that an election run-off is likely.

Despite evidence in the first round of Zanu-PF inflating the electoral roll, employing voter intimidation and using food aid as a political tool, a run-off will undoubtedly see an upsurge in political violence directed against the MDC and its supporters. Already the notorious "war veterans" (Mugabe's paid militia) have paraded through the streets of the capital, Harare, issuing threats to the opposition.

Workers' struggles
Since independence in 1980, which ended white minority rule, Mugabe has presided over a catastrophic economic collapse of the country, deploying ever more desperate measures to stay in power.

Mugabe has repeatedly stated that the country's malaise is the result of imperialist intrigues by the former colonial power, Britain. However, it was Mugabe who embraced neo-liberal measures in the 1990s, attacking the living standards of the black majority.

In 1996 a general strike took place by public servants opposed to an effective wage cut and 25,000 job losses carried out by the government at the behest of the International Monetary Fund. The following year landless and impoverished veterans of the guerrilla war confronted Mugabe demanding compensation and pensions.

A shaken Mugabe resorted to the printing presses to pacify protest, fuelling inflation. He also imposed a massive hike in general sales tax. This further inflamed the protests culminating in 'Red Tuesday' on 9 December 1997 when over one million joined an anti-government stay-away general strike.

During this period of struggle an increasingly militant working class had forced the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) to break with Zanu-PF. With this link broken a political vacuum opened up, leading to the formation of a political party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The MDC mobilised opposition to defeat Mugabe's constitutional change referendum in February 2000. However, the MDC leadership executed a rapid turn to the right with Zimbabwean capitalists and white farmers joining and a right-wing US 'think-tank' - the Freedom Foundation - donating $1 million. Consequently, the MDC adopted the same neo-liberal policies as Mugabe.
Faced with defeat in the June 2000 general election, Mugabe, after 20 years of faithful service to capitalism and imperialism, suddenly became a champion of the dispossessed. He mobilised war veterans of the liberation struggle to forcibly seize land from white farmers and invoked the Law and Order Maintenance Act, inherited from Ian Smith's racist Rhodesia regime, to curb the opposition MDC.

The issue of land ownership is of course a real issue. However, the land invasions weren't part of
a peasant uprising or a comprehensive land reform programme, which would entail the nationalisation not only of the big commercial farms but also the commanding heights of the economy.

Some of the best farms seized were handed over to Mugabe's cronies in the ruling Zanu-PF. The subsistence farmers given land weren't provided with tools or cheap loans for fertilisers and seeds by the government. Later, the war veterans, along with landless squatters, were evicted by police.

Repression
Mugabe and his cronies in Zanu-PF and the state security forces will use a run-off presidential election to politically neuter the MDC opposition and ensure a continuation of their ruinous rule.
However, if the MDC does win the presidency it's debatable whether Mugabe and Zanu-PF will accept such a defeat. They may decide to wage a brutal one-sided civil war, like Mugabe did in Matabeleland in the 1980s against his Zapu opponents. Such a prospect will force more refugees to flee Zimbabwe to South Africa and further abroad.

With 80% unemployment, hyper-inflation of over 100,000%, widespread poverty, food and fuel shortages, and collapsing services, Zimbabwe's working-class is being pulverised. However, there is no alternative but to fight back.

Throughout the last decade, Zimbabwe's workers and peasants have been hamstrung in the struggle to defeat Mugabe's police state by the absence of a mass workers party with a socialist and internationalist programme. The building of such a force is the key task facing Zimbabwe socialists.

For more information, contact Mary Smith @ 253-564-1488

Solidarity Request for Local Antiwar Activist Mike Ladd

On March 18, 2007 at the Seattle 4th anniversary of the war protest, antiwar protester Mike Ladd was brutally beaten and arrested by the Seattle Police Department for splashing a bottle of water above his head in response to an antagonistic pro-war demonstrator.

Immediately after this non-threatening display by Mike, a bicycle policeman rammed his bike into Mike's body as five police officers violently slammed Mike into the pavement. Once on the ground, the officers smothered Mike completely, crushing his neck between the curb and his body between the ground and the officers.

Despite Mike's cries of non-resistance, the police continued to brutalize him by putting so much pressure on him that he couldn't breathe while pulling his long hair. Despite the officers' commands, Mike was never given a chance to comply with police orders to stop resisting arrest due to the immense pain and physical force applied to him.



This video depicts the actions by the Seattle Police Department as described above. It is also important to point out that the police stepped in front of the camera in order to conceal their barbarous tactics.

Also, if Mike was supposedly resisting arrest as the police charged him with, why was Mike helped up so easily after such a prolonged scuffle? If Mike were really resisting, why didn't the "resistance" continue as they lifted him up?

Once Mike was brought to his feet, he was placed standing on the sidewalk. Numerous media took pictures of him and his photo appeared the next day on the front page of the Seattle Times. A few minutes later, Mike was taken one block away from Second Avenue, placed in a cramped, unventilated, claustrophobic police van and taken to a still unknown processing station.

During his arrest, the crowd of demonstrators stood in solidarity with Mike chanting "Let him go!" "Police state -- Tear it down!" and "The cops are a tool of the rich man's rule." It was obvious to all those present that Mike's arrest was an unlawful, unnecessary demonstration of unaccountable police power seeking to intimidate the antiwar movement by making an example out of someone.

At the processing station Mike was heckled by police for protesting the war while the police photographed him and processed his arrest. Mike complained of neck and shoulder pain, but the officers ignored his complaints since they claimed there were no physical marks on the outside of his skin. (He was unable to check for himself, but symptoms of pain on the inside of the body are usually signs of damaged muscles and/or severe sprain). Mike was later taken from the processing station and brought to the King County Jail.

After Mike's arrest, his friends, fellow comrades and loved ones diligently tried to find out where he had been taken, if he was actually being booked and jailed, and attempted to post bail. Mike's loved ones and comrades were met with misinformation and outright lies by the Seattle Police Department. His supporters were sent head-on into the police bureaucracy, as they were told to go from one building to another, between the jail and a precinct located at 8th and Virginia then back to the jail (3 times), sending them on a wild goose chase throughout downtown. The police refused to make a radio call to find out where he was being held, and the jail claimed that he was not at their location. Nearly three hours later, Mike's information surfaced at the downtown jail, and Mike was bailed out and released at around six o'clock that night.

The following day, Mike went to the hospital because he was in so much pain to get diagnosed and treated for his injuries. The doctor determined that Mike had a badly sprained shoulder and neck. Mike was taken off work without pay for a week to allow his injuries to heal.

Mike was initially charged with two gross misdemeanors: 1) Assault (Yes! You heard right; assault with water!), and 2) Resisting Arrest. At his first court hearing, the City of Seattle dropped the charges because of the city's inability to provide witnesses. Shortly afterward, Mike filed a complaint against the City of Seattle with the intent of suing the city for his injuries, an unlawful arrest, and overall mistreatment by the Seattle Police Department.

In retaliation, a month and a half later, on the advice of the police department, Mike was re-charged with two gross misdemeanors. Except this time it was: 1) Resisting Arrest and 2) Obstructing A Police Officer. These two charges are oftentimes called "catch-alls" by the police as they are both very ambiguous and flexible charges that can be applied to anyone for just about anything, and they often go hand in hand.

Here is a recent Seattle Post-Intelligencer article detailing this tactic:

Again, this is a blatant act of retaliation on the part of the City of Seattle and the Seattle Police Department as a means of silencing legitimate criticisms and complaints from the public. It is clear that by reinstating charges that the City of Seattle and its police knew that they would lose in a civil suit, they are in fact displaying guilt on their part. Let us repeat this again: THE CITY OF SEATTLE RETALIATED AGAINST MIKE BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEIR OFFICERS HAD OVERREACTED, ASSAULTED AN INNOCENT PERSON, AND WERE FACED WITH PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

Since these new charges were imposed, Mike has had numerous court dates over the last year causing him to take time off work and requiring him to travel from Tacoma to Seattle. However, this impending court date of May 8th is of crucial importance since the police who victimized Mike will be present for the deposition hearing and thoroughly questioned by Mike's legal counsel, Larry Hildes. Depending on the course of this hearing and the pressure and presence we can put on the Seattle legal system, Mike could be acquitted of all charges and thus end the possibility of the case going to trial.

The Mike Ladd Defense Committee is asking supporters, fellow comrades, the anti-war movement, and people against police brutality to support Mike by attending his court hearing in May. Whether or not you are able to attend the court hearing, please call the Seattle Prosecutor's Office (Public Safety Division) to tell the city and the police that these charges against Mike are outrageous and that they should be dropped immediately.



BE THERE!

Thursday, May 8th, 1:30pm
Seattle Municipal Court, room 902
600 5th Ave. (at James St.

OR CALL!

Mike's case number is: 505605
Seattle Municipal Tower - Public Community Safety Division
Phone: 206-684-7757
Fax: 206-684-4648

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR PHONE CALL
1. When you call: Ask to be transferred to the prosecutor that is handling Mike Ladd's case (case #505605) and say the following:

2. Your name and whatever notable jobs, positions, affiliations you might have (student, teacher, union member, organizations you are a part of, tax payer, voter, etc). However, if you are uncomfortable telling them your name, it is fine to call as an upset taxpayer or voter as well.

3. You heard about, read about, or saw the video of Mike Ladd's arrest, and that you are outraged (disgusted, appalled, disappointed, etc.) about the way he was brutalized by the Seattle Police department.

4. You are aware that Mike Ladd was blatantly retaliated against by the city of Seattle after he filed a complaint against the city for his treatment and arrest. Again, describe your thoughts about the city of Seattle's unaccountable actions (disgusted appalled, etc.

5. All the charges are trumped up and completely false, and should be dropped immediately. In addition, Mike Ladd should be fully compensated by the city of Seattle for his injuries and overall mistreatment by the Seattle Police Department.

If you have time, other things worth mentioning are:

-How brutal the police were in the videos and the Seattle-P-I photographs
-How the supposed "victim" was not effected at all by the water bottle splash, and how he contradicted himself in the media by saying Mike tried to punch him, which is a complete lie!!!
- Why did the police feel it was necessary to stand in front of the camera while Mike was being arrested? Why did the Seattle Police feel it was necessary to pull Mike Ladd's hair in order to arrest him?

NOTE: It is possible that you will not be able to reach the prosecutor's office. If so, be sure to state all of this to whatever person you end up speaking too, be it the operator, or the prosecutor's secretary. Also, keep in mind that people you speak to might try to talk over you or cut you off. Be sure to keep talking despite this, and make your points strongly.

SUPPORTERS FROM SOUTH SOUND:

Mike will be taking the bus to Seattle on his court date. If you wish to take the bus with him, be at the Tacoma Dome station in Tacoma around 11:45 am. Since the courthouse can be rather confusing and intimidating, people may gather outside the Seattle Municipal Court around 1:00 pm and enter as a group. Mike will be there in order to greet people as they arrive.

This Monday at the Mandolin Cafe (04.14)

Come to Socialist Alternative Meeting on MONDAY at 6.30pm,
Mandolin Cafe, Tacoma
3923 S 12th St.
(Socialist Alternative meeting is held at table at back of the Cafe)

This week we will examine the announcement of the ILWU that they will strike
on May 1 against the war, and the developing debate in the ILWU about this proposal.

A member of the union will give an introduction on the ILWU, the importance of May 1 for workers, and the proposed action for May 1.

Last week we discussed the WASL and are proposing to do a campaign on this during the coming months. More information about the WASL campaign will be available as it develops.

We will also review the last week's activities, upcoming events, and discuss any other items of interest.

Workers’ Assembly on Immigration

Tacoma Socialist Alternative endorses the following event:

Workers’ Assembly on Immigration

Fri & Sat, April 11th and 12th, 2008
(4:30 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm Saturday)
The Evergreen State College Tacoma Campus
1210 Sixth Avenue Tacoma, Washington

The Assembly is for workers to talk to one another about immigration, how it affects working families in all of our communities, and what we can do to stop exploitation on the job and in the streets.

“How are children in immigrant communities dealing with the ongoing terrorizing of their families by some municipal law enforcement and ICE. How can community allies help?”

“How can workers, immigrant communities and their supporters respond to ICE raids?”

“How can we overcome stereotypes and myths about each others’ communities to create a stronger power base and solidarity?”

*Childcare and Transportation will be available -please call for more information

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT e-mail bocanegj@evergreen.edu

Assembly Organizers: Labor Center at The Evergreen State College and El Comité Pro Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social

Sponsors: American Friends Service Committee, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Laborer’s Northwest Regional Organizing Coalition, Service Employees Int'l Union Local 6, Washington State Labor Council, Teamsters 117, UW Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies, MEChA SU, NO! SIR, IUPAT District Council 5, CASA Latina, Orgullo Pu’repecha, MEChA TESC, UFCW 21, LCLAA, UNITE-HERE Local 8, WPEA UFCW Local 365, OPEIU Local 8, Martin Luther King Jr. County Labor Council, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, Which Way Forward Committee and Other Community-Based Workers' Organizations.

"The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds." - Abraham Lincoln

National Speaking Tour: Revolucion en Latin America

2 Dates in Seattle!

National Speaking Tour:
Revolución en Latinoamérica
Eyewitness to the struggle

SPEAKER:

Adam Ziemkowski

· Member of the Committee for a Workers' International, Bolivia

· Editor and contributor to La Chispa newspaper (Bolivia)

Thursday, March 27th
7 PM
"Meeting Room"
White Center Library
11220 16th S.W., Seattle, 98146
Directions: http://www.kcls.org/whitecenter/directions.cfm

Wednesday, April 2

7 PM

Seattle University

Bannan Building, Room 402

12^th Ave. and E. Columbia St.

http://www.seattleu.edu/home/campus_community/visit_campus/campus_maps/main_campus_map/su_map_campus.pdf

In the worldwide struggle against poverty and oppression, Latin America is clearly at the forefront. From Venezuela to Chile, the people of the region have shown enormous courage and sacrifice to fight to challenge imperialism and the corporations that dominate their lives.

Bolivia is no exception. With mass strikes, protests, and the election of a left-wing president, Evo Morales, the country has become an inspiration to others. Today the revolution is at a crossroads, with workers and peasants searching for a way to take the struggle forward and defend themselves against growing the counter-revolution. Come hear an eyewitness account of the struggles on the ground in Bolivia and the prospects of a revolutionary movement with significant international implications.

Recognizing the international significance of the rising tide of struggles of poor and indigenous people sweeping Latin America, Adam gave up the comforts of life in the U.S., left his family and friends, and moved to Cochabamba, Bolivia where the struggle is most advanced. As the impoverished Bolivian people know only too well, building mass movements against the poverty and oppression caused by capitalism and Western imperialism is a daunting task, but one that Adam has nonetheless dedicated his life to. Not even deportation and physical threats from reactionaries and semi-fascist groups have deterred Adam from supporting the struggle of Bolivia's poor and working class.

**items directly from the Bolivian struggle will be available for a donation. Donations will go to help the work of the Committee for a Workers' International**

Fort Lewis G.I. Rights Rally

Tacoma Socialist Alternative endorses the following event:

Soldier, You’re Not Alone
GI Rights Rally
Saturday, March 22nd
Noon-4 PM

Harry Todd Park
8720 N. Thorne Lane SW, Lakewood
Directions: Take I-5 Exit 123
Go East on N. Thorne Ln. to park

Family fun—kids’ concert, crafts,
face-painting, puppet show
GI Resource Tables
Personal Testimonies
Music & Speakers
March & Vigil

Speakers include:
Chanan Suarez Diaz, IVAW
Seth Manzel, GI Voice
Maggie Pondolfino, MFSO
Steve Kofahl, AFGE

GIvoice.org for more info

Event sponsors: Iraq Veterans Against the War—Seattle chapter, GI Voice, Veterans For Peace—Tacoma chapter, Oregon Military Families Speak Out, Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace, Peace Action Coalition Tacoma, Tacoma Fellowship of Reconciliations, Tacoma Students for a Democratic Society, United For Peace of Pierce County

Endorsements: Industrial Workers of the World, International Socialist Organization, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Freedom Party, Pax Christi, Movement Against War & Occupation (Vancouver, B.C.)