Survivors of Hiroshima to join no-nuke rally
NEW YORK—Sixty years after U.S. atomic bombs destroyed two Japanese cities, incinerating hundreds of thousands of civilians, mayors from around the world — led by the mayors of Nagasaki and Hiroshima — as well as survivors of the 1945 atomic destruction will join a massive rally in New York City’s Central Park to demand the worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons.
Devastating school closings hit Detroit
DETROIT — After the Board of Education announced that 34 public schools would close here by next fall parents, teachers and the community voiced their grave concern over the future of public education.
Labor & community rally for Social Security: Signing the pledge in California
Calling Social Security “the most profound and effective program in our history,” Congresswoman Diane Watson (D-Calif.) told an April 2 town hall meeting sponsored by the California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA) that “with Social Security we weave together a safety net that guarantees our independence and economic security.” Watson pointed out that the investment firms pre-selected to participate in President Bush’s privatization scheme were his largest campaign contributors. “These Wall Street sharks will charge anywhere from 15 to 20 percent to ‘manage’ private accounts,” she warned, resulting in benefit cuts and loss of disability and survivors’ benefits.
Bush IOU stunt cynical and irresponsible
WASHINGTON — President George W. Bush’s Social Security road show ran off the road last week and he can’t seem to get it back on track. The uproar was unleashed April 5, when he cast doubts on the creditworthiness of the federal government.
Celebrating women in peace, freedom struggles
PHILADELPHIA — In honor of Women’s History Month, the Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware District of the Communist Party USA hosted “Celebrating the Contribution of Women in the Struggle for Peace, Freedom, Justice and Equality” forum here.
Newsmaker winners announced
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The People’s Weekly World Connecticut bureau announced this week the recipients of its annual Newsmaker Awards. Connecticut Working Families Party and Community Organized for Responsible Development (CORD) have been selected to receive this year’s awards for building the coalition against the Bush agenda with grassroots organizing to win democratic rights for working people.
SOARs George Edwards: Sparkplug for rank & file activism
George Edwards points out he’s the only unpaid worker at the Steelworkers’ Gateway Center headquarters in Pittsburgh. The 87-year-old veteran of the Lorain, Ohio, US Steel mill now wields a phone and a keyboard instead of a pair of calipers, but he’s working just as hard on the class struggle as he did throughout his 39 years in mill. He is putting his energy into building what he calls “probably the most activist organization in the Steelworkers” — the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.
National Clips
BASILE, La.: Women inmates petition for reform; SPRINGFIELD, Ill.: Gov. orders pharmacists to provide birth control; INDIANAPOLIS: Demand full funding for schools; BURLINGTON, Vt.: Health care for every resident; MADISON, Wis.: Voting rights under attack
Cesar Chavez 78th birthday celebrated
Across the nation, gatherings honored the 78th anniversary of the birth of labor and civil rights leader Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers of America and a leader in struggles for political and economic rights and peace.
NYC considers law for day labor
On a typical New York morning, thousands of workers can be seen congregating on sidewalks throughout the city, waiting to be taken to worksites. Called day laborers, these workers are among the most exploited in the nation.
