Having a Future Depends on Public Transit
Our systems of transportation impact our lives in many ways. In most of the U.S. today, it is necessary for almost every adult to own a car. The individual automobile is the main method of personal transportation to and from work and home – everybody in their own car. But this method of transportation causes […]
Film Review: Fruitvale Station
The film Fruitvale Station, written and directed by 26 year-old, Oakland resident, Ryan Coogler, tells the story of the murder of Oscar Grant. In 85 minutes we are taken through a depiction of the last 24 hours of Oscar Grant’s life. We get to know him, get to see him as the 22 year old […]
Privatizing Public Hospitals
As budget cuts dry up state funding for public hospitals, emergency rooms and entire hospitals are shutting down. Over the past ten years over thirty public hospitals in California have closed. Public hospitals are the health care safety nets that serve mostly uninsured, low income and poor communities. As more close and layoff workers, the […]
Wellness Programs Are Bad For Our Health
Workplaces everywhere have been starting what are called Wellness Programs. Under these programs, companies are able to punish workers for not meeting certain health requirements that the companies choose. Companies are setting limits on body weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cigarette smoking, minimum exercise requirements and more. And if the guidelines aren’t met, health care […]
A Society That Makes Us Sick
We’re supposed to believe that our health is our own choice, that anytime we’re overweight or unhealthy, it’s our own fault. But the truth is, we live in a society that makes us sick and we are getting sicker every day. More and more of us join the ranks of the overweight and obese, with […]
Obamacare or Corporate-care: The Writing of the Affordable Care Act
The Obama administration presented the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a victory for health care over the corporations and their profits. In fact, not only does the ACA maintain the profits of the big insurance and drug companies, but it was written for the Obama administration with the help of these very same companies. If […]
The Affordable Care Act: A Gold Mine for Corporations – A Disaster for the Rest of Us
We are beginning to see the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – what has been called Obamacare – and it is a disaster. We have a health care system designed for making profit and all this bill does is increase the money to be made within the health care industry, charging us more […]
Motherhood – The Hardest Job in the World
On Mother’s Day, more people go out to eat than usually do at any other time of the year. It’s a way to give our moms a break from having to make another meal. Being a mom can be the hardest job in the world. Most of the work a mother does is unpaid and […]
International Workers Day: The Holiday the Bosses Are Afraid Of
One of the most important working class holidays, May Day, originated in the U.S. in the 1880s, with the struggle for the 8-hour-day. The working class was engaged in a constant struggle for a reduced work week – a struggle against the constant attempt by the bosses to extend the working day. Many workers suffered […]
August Spies
The Famous Speeches of the Chicago Anarchists in Court August Spies (1855-1887) August Spies was born in Landeck, Germany in 1855. Spies emigrated to the United States in 1872 and settled in Chicago where he became an upholsterer. He became involved in trade union activities and joined the revolutionary movement in 1877. Three years later he […]
Lucy Parsons
The Famous Speeches of the Chicago Anarchists in Court Lucy Parsons (1853-1942) Lucy Parsons was the wife of Haymarket Martyr, Albert Parsons. She was also a revolutionary activist and anarchist from the 1880s till her death in 1942. In 1907 she delivered this speech at a memorial service for the Haymarket Martyrs. As these years […]
Michael Schwab
The Famous Speeches of the Chicago Anarchists in Court Michael Schwab (1853- 1887) Michael Schwab was born in Mannheim, Germany, on 9th August, 1853. He worked as a bookbinder before emigrating to the United States in 1879. He settled in Chicago where he joined the Socialist Labor Party and became active in trade union activities. It […]
Fightback Section (April 2013)
Hong Kong, March 28 – PRESENT – More than 400 Hong Kong port workers have been on strike against their employer HIT, a shipping company owned by Asia’s richest man, Li Cheung Kong. The workers have been on strike since March 28 demanding a 20 percent pay rise. Even though the subcontracted workers represent only […]
The Toys of the Rich
In the sports world it seems like fans are losing their teams. The Golden State Warriors are moving to San Francisco, the 49ers to Santa Clara, and the Sacramento Kings may be moving to Seattle. And of course the Oakland A’s are always threatening to move to San Jose. If you’re starting to feel like […]
The Other Civil War: The Railroad Strike Of 1877
In 1877, a strike erupted across the U.S. which newspapers called an “insurrection” and even a “revolution.” Just twelve years after the civil war ended, railroad workers led the first nationwide strike in U.S. history. It was the first time that entire working class communities across the U.S. stood together in a battle against their […]
Iraq After Ten Years of War and Occupation
Ten years ago, in March 2003, the U.S. government launched an invasion and occupation of Iraq. The last ten years have meant the devastation of Iraq and its population. The infrastructure from water to sanitation to health care has been destroyed. The population is now divided along religious and ethnic lines and ruled over by […]
Global Climate Change: The Fight of Our Lifetimes
For decades scientists have pointed out the dangers of climate change. But the response from governments, the energy industry, banks and corporations has been to accelerate environmental destruction. We can’t leave the fate of the planet in the hands of those who have created this environmental crisis. They will continue to pollute the earth as […]
Fightback Section (March 2013)
Warren, Michigan – February 28th Workers at a stamping plant in Warren, Michigan went on strike. Chrysler’s sale of cars and trucks has more than doubled in the last few years. To meet the demands of production, Chrysler has moved to a three-shift schedule, working four, ten-hour days a week. India – February 20-21 Workers […]
Playing Like a Girl
Hey Sports Fans… Q: Which rookie pitcher struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig back to back, at 17 years old? Q: Who swam the English Channel nearly two whole hours faster than the world record? Q: Who is the only person to ever run 300 miles without sleeping? A: They are all women. Jackie […]
Out of the Kitchens and on to the Picketlines! The Women’s Emergency Brigade and the GM Sit-Down Strike
The Flint Sit-Down Strike at General Motors in 1936-37 was the biggest strike in the U.S. during the Great Depression. It not only set an example for the entire American working class but also showed that women could play a decisive role. General Motors was the heart of U.S. industry and was the biggest company […]
The Fight Against Layoffs in France
The strike at Citroën Aulnay In France, just like in the U.S., the big auto companies are using the economic crisis to attack workers. Here we’ve already seen that the big auto companies such as GM and Ford have laid off thousands of workers. GM has used its supposed bankruptcy to destroy workers jobs and […]
The Epidemic of Violence Against Women
Despite many victories for women over the last century – the right to vote, the right to have reproductive control over their bodies, the right to public education, the right to divorce, the right to child care – this struggle is far from over and in some cases it has gone backwards. Women still live […]
Super Bowl Sunday: Who’s Playing Who?
Super Bowl Sunday is a time we get to spend with family and friends whether we like football or not. For some, the Super Bowl is the only football game they’ll watch all year. At work the game is even more exciting when we place bets with our coworkers. And nothing’s better than when we […]
The Fightback Section
Athens, Greece – January 25 Starting January 16th, Greek metro workers went on strike against major cuts to their wages and benefits. The Greek government ordered an end to the strike, using police to break up pickets and demonstrations, and forcing workers back to work. But afterwards, other transportation workers including train drivers, bus drivers, […]
The Negro Leagues: The Untold Story of Baseball
Everyone has heard of Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roy Campanella. But how many people have heard of Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell or Mule Suttles? For half of baseball’s history in the U.S., black people were excluded from the major leagues. The Negro Leagues were formed with teams of skilled […]
The Civil Rights Movement: a Legacy of Struggle and Courage
One of the most profound struggles in the history of the U.S. was the struggle of the black population during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s. This explosive revolt totally shook every corner of American society. It had an enormous international impact, inspiring struggles across the globe. But most of all, the […]
Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood Against the Revolution
Egyptians are out in the streets! The regime of President Mohammad Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood has ordered a curfew in three major Egyptian cities, but thousands of Egyptians are defying the government orders. Once again Egypt is in the midst of a social upheaval and ordinary people are making their power felt, this time […]
Black History Month: The Struggle Hasn’t Ended
February is Black History Month. This month will be celebrated with the media and politicians selecting famous names to highlight the contributions of black people in history. Usually they choose those who made it into the ranks of the wealthy. But they also pay lip service to some black leaders who spent their lives organizing […]
Chevron: Robbing and Poisoning For Profit!
Last week, a major fire and explosion at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, CA sent toxic, black fumes all over the city. Richmond residents were ordered to stay indoors with the windows and doors shut and avoid breathing any outside toxic air. But only some residents were able to receive the messages because the […]
The Olympics – Saluting Flags and Raking in Gold
The Olympics should be a celebration of human potential. Seeing some of the best athletes from all over the world come together as equals to compete in nearly every sport should be something to celebrate and enjoy. But the reality of the Olympics is very far from what it should be. Athletes from various countries […]
Elections in the U.S. – No Choice for the Working Class
In the U.S., the contest for President has begun again, once again coming down to a choice between two candidates who both represent the interests of the bourgeoisie – Barack Obama, from the Democratic party, and Mitt Romney, from the Republican party. So far, this election is playing out like most other elections. Both candidates […]
Obamacare on Trial – A Piece of Political Theater
In March, the Supreme Court of the United States began holding hearings on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as “Obamacare”, one of the key pieces of legislation under the Obama administration. The Supreme Court has convened to decide if the act, which requires individuals to purchase health care, violates the U.S. […]
Wide World of Thieves: The Business of Sports
The Super Bowl has come and gone. Yesterday, millions watched the New York Giants beat the New England Patriots in a close game. Even for those who don’t really like football, the Super Bowl is a fun and exciting event. It gives many of us a chance to relax, eat good food, and enjoy ourselves […]
Field of Green
The Business of Sports In the past decade the business of sports has grown into a gigantic global industry, which includes everything from sports magazines to running shoes, ticket sales, TV commercials, player & coach salaries, team budgets, and even naming rights and concession prices. More and more marketing and advertising are creeping into every […]
Occupy Wall Street: The 99% Begin to Fight Back
In the last few weeks we have seen a wave of popular demonstrations around the country. The biggest were in New York City, aimed at the financial giants of Wall Street, and in Washington D.C. aimed at the US government’s war machine. But there have been hundreds of smaller demonstrations around the country as well. […]
Ten Years of Death, Destruction, and War
October 7th marks ten years of war on the people of Afghanistan. In 2001, the US government used the attacks of September 11th to wage war on Afghanistan, with practically unanimous support from Democratic and Republican politicians. The politicians told us that the people of the US were in danger from terrorists, and that war […]
Some of the Costs of Ten Years of War
These so-called wars for democracy are in reality wars of terror on the people of Afghanistan and Iraq. Both countries are in ruin. Many areas are without access to electricity, water, education and medical care. This war has only killed millions and destroyed the lives of countless others. In addition to the destruction, these wars […]
Class Warfare?
For once the news media and the politicians are telling the truth – or at least part of it. They have been talking about class warfare in the US. The Republicans say the Obama administration and the Democrats are attacking the rich and powerful because they have talked about raising taxes on the richest one […]
Obama’s Job Plan – More of the Same Attacks
On September 13, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report showing the situation of American workers. Unemployment is at a record high. In the midst of this crisis, what do we see from the Obama administration? More of the same policies as before, repackaged as a so-called American Jobs Act. And behind the scenes, while […]
Their Economy and Ours
The U.S. Census bureau released a set of statistics last week showing the level of poverty in the United States. The year 2011 has been the worst for decades, with some of the highest unemployment and poverty levels in 30 years. But this isn’t the story for a few in America – the wealthy elite […]
September 11th and its Consequences Ten Years Later
For the past few weeks we have been constantly reminded about the attacks on September 11, 2001. We were shown the planes crashing into buildings and told how our lifestyle was attacked on that day. This has been followed by interviews with family members who lost loved ones either in the attacks or in the […]
Hurricane Irene: A Man-Made Natural Disaster
The aftermath of Hurricane Irene on the East Coast has been a disaster. So far there have been at least 43 deaths. At its peak, over 6.5 million people went without power. And still over 580,000 residences are without power from North Carolina to Maine. Whole cities remain flooded, roads completely wrecked, bridges down, water […]
Education Should Be A Right – Not A Privilege
Many schools are starting this week. Children, college students, teachers and workers are returning to their schools and what will they find when they return? It is a system in crisis. From kindergarten to graduate school our public educational system has been cut to the bone. California now ranks 50th of the fifty states in […]
Violence in Oakland – Two Responses
The epidemic of violence that has plagued Oakland gained more attention when three-year-old Carlos Nava was shot and killed by a stray bullet in a mid-day drive-by shooting in East Oakland two weeks ago. That tragic event brought forward different responses from the community. Most people responded with sadness and a sense of outrage that […]
Verizon Strike – Drawing a Line Against Concessions
Starting on August 8th, 45,000 workers at the Verizon telephone company went on strike. The company wants major concessions from a section of the Verizon workforce which has union rights and benefits. Verizon is attempting to break the unions that represent these workers, and strip away their benefits. The Verizon workers are absolutely right to […]
Community Responds To Oakland Violence
Last Monday, Carlos Fernandez Nava, a three-year old child, was gunned down in the middle of the day. Carlitos, as he was known to family and friends, was with his mother on the way to a store on International Boulevard in Oakland. Drive-by shootings are nothing new in Oakland, but this murder of innocent child […]
Using the Debt Crisis to Attack Our Lives
For weeks now Obama and the Congress have been arguing over what to do about raising the US government debt ceiling. The US debt is now more than $14 trillion – meaning this is how much more the US government has spent than it has taken in. There is a real crisis of the economy. […]
Prisoner’s Strike Against Mass Torture
On July 1, prisoners in Pelican Bay Prison in Northern California began a hunger strike to protest abuse and brutal living conditions. These prisoners describe their treatment in Pelican Bay’s Secure Housing Unit (SHU) as torture. In the SHU prisoners are confined for years in windowless cement cells. These prisoners spend 23 hours a day […]
THE BIG STRIKE – When Workers Shut Down San Francisco
In 1934, San Francisco workers waged a city-wide strike demanding better wages and working conditions. Today, our circumstances are similar to the 1930s. Many are laid off, and the employed endure cuts to their benefits and pay. Like the 1930s, we hear there is no money. Unlike the workers of the 1930’s, however, we have […]
The Summertime Blues: Working More For Less
The summertime is advertised as the perfect months to spend more time with family and friends. Many workers save their vacation every year knowing that their children are out of school and have more free time. Others wait all year to travel back to the places where their families live, some perhaps only seeing their […]