James Jackson: Fighter for equality, democracy, peace, socialism
NEW YORK – James E. Jackson Jr., a leader of the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) for many years, celebrated his 87th birthday Nov. 29.
WTO anniversary celebrated in Seattle
SEATTLE – On Nov. 30, around 400 people gathered at Seattle Central Community College to mark the anniversary of the day when 70,000 activists shut down the WTO in 1999.
Protests mark 20 years of Mumia in jail
Mumia Abu-Jamal has been the victim of a frame-up for 20 years. A weekend of demonstrations is planned with coordinated student-led walkouts on college campuses throughout the U.S. Dec. 7. A demonstration will be held at Philadelphia City Hall Dec. 8.
Illinois labor leaders address jobs forum
CHICAGO – A public forum was held at the UNITE here Nov. 26 to discuss “Alternatives to the Terror Economy,” the economy being promoted by the Bush administration. The forum was organized by the Committee for New Priorities of Chicago Jobs with Justice.
Latin America and U.S. free trade
Several times in the past year, we heard of Mexican refugees dying of dehydration in the Arizona desert. Who were they?
Cleveland unites in fight with LTV
CLEVELAND – United as never before, the people here are holding rallies, marches and vigils to block LTV Steel’s plans to close its mills here along with other plants in East Chicago, Ind., Hennepin, Ill. and Warren, Ohio.
COSATU prepares for World Social Forum
LAS VEGAS – Joseph Nkiso, first vice president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), attended a workshop on global justice after Sept. 11 at the AFL-CIO convention here Dec. 3.
Hoffa: Take back the ports for labor
LAS VEGAS – To a roar of cheers and applause, Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), told the 24th AFL-CIO Convention Dec. 4, “We are going to take back the ports of North America for labor. We’re telling the steamship lines and the owners that we’re going to organize the ports wall-to-wall union.”
Protesters delay Philly schools takeover
PHILADELPHIA – Hours before the midnight deadline Nov. 30, Philadelphia Mayor John Street and Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker emerged from closed-door talks to announce that the threatened state takeover of Philadelphia’s public school system would be postponed for three weeks.
Community support for public workers
JEFFERSON, Ohio – A community rally of 300 people was held here Dec. 1 to support public workers on strike in Ashtabula County. Jefferson is the county seat and a main center of strike activity by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 14 and Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Local 419.
