http://www.bhbanco.org/

@FreeRevPinkney, @Justice4Pinkney

By Polly Hughes

November 26, 2016 

“Therefore, if you can, along with any card or letter, please include 3-4 sheets of lined paper that he can use for his writings.”

Recently, Reverend Edward Pinkney was abruptly transferred out of West Shoreline Corrections Facility in Muskegon Heights to Brooks/Fremont Correctional Facility in Muskegon Heights. He was driven around in a van for about 30 minutes before ending up at Brooks/Fremont, which is basically across the street from West Shoreline! Both facilities are at 2500 S. Sheridan! 

What is behind this latest move? We only can surmise that it is a typical tactic used by departments of corrections to cause confusion, isolate prisoners, keep families and friends from inmates; in other words, it’s a “show them who’s boss” mentality that costs taxpayers unnecessarily and puts stress and hardships on not just the inmates, but on their loved ones. 

Rev. Pinkney reports that Brooks/Fremont is worse than the Marquette facility—a fact that is difficult to comprehend. We all know the conditions at Marquette: walls covered with black mold, unsanitary conditions, rotten and inedible food, hostile prison officials, a warden with an iron fist, poor medical treatment, and much more. 

When Dorothy Pinkney and I visited the Reverend on Saturday, November 19, he was in good spirits, talkative, joyful to have visitors, and he was hungry. At West Shoreline, visitors can bring in quarters to purchase a variety of vending machine foods for the inmate. Microwaves are provided to heat up sandwiches. He ate plentifully and talked about how much he had learned while being incarcerated for the past two years. The Reverend is always just as interested in the lives of his visitors, in their opinions and activities as he is in talking about the deplorable conditions he has endured over the past two years. He is genuinely appreciative of others, and every time I speak with him, it is a lesson in self-sacrifice, devotion to others, and compassion.

Rev. Pinkney was looking forward to the next weekend’s visit on Friday, November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. The plan was for a visit from Dorothy along with their daughter and grandson. On the 21^st he was moved, and the fear was that his visits and his phone calls would be interrupted, perhaps suspended for a time. However, he did receive the family visit on the 21^st and his phone calls resumed. He is so grateful for family members, friends, and supporters. 

Rev. Pinkney has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for all the birthday cards he received—about 250 from around the world! He is looking forward to receiving your holiday cards in celebration of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, etc. He told us that the cards and letters he receives give him great joy, hope, and a real connection with others, and the communication lets him know so many individuals are aware of the injustice so many are suffering. 

Now that he is at Brooks/Fremont, his wife will have to order more pre-packaged food for him (through the prison system) that is edible (rather than eating the rotten, worm-infested food that is served daily). There are vending machines available at Brooks/Fremont, but they contain only snack foods; no sandwiches or any healthy fare is offered, and there are no microwaves for inmates’ use. 

He is determined to give the prison system as little funds as possible, but he must continue to speak out, and one means is by writing blogs and articles. Therefore, if you can, along with any card or letter, please include 3-4 sheets of lined paper that he can use for his writings. If we all write to him and send paper to him every month, he would be kept busy with his reading, research and writings until his 2.5 years are up in June 2017—a day we are all looking forward to celebrating with him. His freedom, his life, his family have been sacrificed for far too long. #FreeRevPinkney http://www.bhbanco.org/

Call for a National Day of Protest for Immigrant Rights on Inauguration Day, Friday, January 20, 2017.
By Legalization for All (L4A) network

On Friday, January 20, 2017 Donald Trump will be inaugurated as President of the United States.  Trump ran a racist campaign, calling Mexicans “rapists, criminals, and drug dealers…”  His plans for his first 100 days includes ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), deporting millions of undocumented, building a wall on the border with Mexico, further criminalizing the undocumented, cutting off Federal funds to sanctuary cities, and more attacks on immigrants.  70% of the undocumented are from Mexico and Central America, and these are the people that Trump is primarily targeting.

In December, 2005 the Republican House of Representatives passed HR4437, known as the Sensenbrenner bill.  This bill was also an attack on the undocumented, calling for many of the same actions as Trump:  criminalizing the undocumented, expanding the wall on the border with Mexico, and penalizing sanctuary cities.

In response massive protests, centered in the Chicano, Mexicano, and Latino communities brought more than a million people into the streets in 2006.  Students walked out of class, workers left their jobs, and community members of all ages rallied in protest, calling for legalization of the undocumented.  This mass resistance was able to stop the Sensenbrenner bill.

The Legalization for All (L4A) network feels that a similar mass movement is needed to stop Trump’s attacks on the undocumented.  We are calling on students, workers, and community people, especially from the Chicano, Mexicano, and Latino communities, to organize a national day of protest on inauguration day, Friday, January 20, 2017.

Trump has his 100 day plan, we in the immigrant rights movement need to respond with our own 100 day plan to also build for even bigger protests May 1!

Defend DACA!
Legalization not Deportation!
Stop the Wall on the border with Mexico!

What you can do to build a national day of protest on January 20, 2017:

1.  Organize a protest for immigrant rights in your school, workplace, and community.  Let Legalization for All know about your plans!

2.  Join with other anti-Trump protests in your city or in Washington DC and bring your signs and banners for immigrant rights.  Organize a contingent as part of these protests.

3.  Take photos and videos of your protest and share them with Legalization for All!

4.  Join the Legalization for All network!

Contact us on Facebook at Legalization For All Facebook;
Visit our website at Legalization For All Website

Workers World Party message to Cuban Communist Party

To Comrade Raúl Castro
Central Committee
Communist Party of Cuba
Havana, Cuba

Dear Comrades:

Our hearts go out to the Cuban people and all those who loved Fidel Castro. He changed history in a thousand different ways, all to benefit the many millions who have suffered starvation and abuse under colonialism and imperialism.

His enormous confidence in the struggling masses and their ultimate victory — expressed in his heroic speech to Batista’s court, “History Will Absolve Me” — inflamed young fighters for justice in Cuba and all over the world, from Latin America and the Caribbean to Africa, Asia and the U.S. itself.

He armed the Cuban people with internationalism, solidarity, unity and an iron will to defend their independence and sovereignty. So when Africa called, Cuba answered and helped defeat the scourge of apartheid.

Fidel stormed the fortresses of the brutal servants of the empire at a time in history when U.S. imperialism was riding high. The plutocrats were outraged when he offered new hope for a socialist future just as they were gloating over the anticipated victory of capitalism in the vicious Cold War.

Who can forget Fidel’s defiance at the Bay of Pigs, his great energy concentrated on winning both the military and political battles? It was on April 16, 1961, while U.S. mercenaries were invading Cuba and Fidel was leading the counterattack, that he said for the first time, “The Yankee imperialists cannot forgive us for having made a socialist revolution under their very noses.” The die was cast. Cuba would never go back to capitalist slavery.

Who can forget his ringing speeches to the Cuban people? He meticulously went over the concrete lessons of each new revolutionary initiative and demolished the lies of the parasites, those who had treated the island as nothing but a source of cheap labor and entertainment for the rich. He always spoke truth to power.

And he had such rapport with his audiences! So many shouted-out replies to his questions, so much honest laughter at his well-aimed jokes. He spoke for and listened to the people to a degree few leaders ever achieve.

Fidel had a long and glorious life. We knew his body could not survive forever. But he truly lives on in the hearts and brains of hundreds of millions of people. We mourn his loss today, but we will invoke his name tomorrow and for future generations as we continue to fight for a socialist system to undo the terrible damage capitalism has inflicted on the workers and oppressed and on our entire planet.

Larry Holmes, First Secretary
National Committee
Workers World Party, USA, http://www.workers.org/

https://www.facebook.com/workersworldpartywisconsin/

Riverwestradio.com

Join us on The Grass is Greener this evening at 8pm CST on 104.1FM , when our guest will be Mr. Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire, http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/. The program will focus on the life and times of Cuban revolutionary leader Comandante President Fidel Castro Ruz (1926-2016).We hope to include information on Cuba’s historic role in Africa. You can also listen on Riverwestradio.com this evening and if you miss it you can look it up because we are recording it.

Mr. Abayomi Azikiwe of the Pan African Newswire and the Michigan Emergency Committee Against War and Injustice (mecawi.org).

WHEREAS, the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has sparked fear and anger in our community, especially among those most marginalized, including immigrants, Muslims, people of color, women, the disabled, and LGBTQ populations.

WHEREAS, the President Elect has publicly supported and endorsed anti-union policies including federal Right to Work laws and is considering appointing to his cabinet people with a track record of promoting such policies

WHEREAS, newly appointed Supreme Court Justices will swing the court to be more consistently anti-union

WHEREAS, the privatization of Social Security and Medicare is likely to be pushed early in the Trump administration

WHEREAS, the diverse membership of the working class and of our unions includes populations that candidate Trump threatened with bigoted policies and hateful rhetoric

WHEREAS, that hateful rhetoric has already been seen in the form of an increase of hate crimes and violence against marginalized communities which overlap with our membership

WHEREAS, it is the obligation of organized labor to defend our members from attacks and promote an elevated and equal quality of life for all workers

Whereas, spontaneous demonstrations have erupted across the country immediately following the election of Donald Trump.  Many organizations of students, labor, women, and various communities are continuing to plan massive protests including on Martin Luther King, Jr Day and culminating in action on the day of the inauguration of Donald Trump, January 20, 2017

WHEREAS, the day on which we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr who fought against racism and bigotry and championed the issues of the working class is just four days before the inauguration of Donald Trump.

WHEREAS, the power of organized labor is not reliant upon the occupant of any government office up to and including the office of President of the United States

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the [Enter Labor Council, Labor Fed or union here] endorses and encourages all members to participate in the nationwide call for protest and actions beginning with those honoring and continuing the struggle of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on his day, Monday, January 16 and culminating in a national day of action and protest and a reassertion of the power of organized labor on Friday January, 20, the day of the Inauguration of President Donald Trump

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the [Enter Labor Council, Labor Fed or union here] encourages each of its affiliates to use the day of action on Friday, January 20 to display our power, unity and solidarity by planning an action around an existing labor dispute and inviting all of its members to participate.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that we urge all affiliates to pass similar resolutions.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/panafricanjournal/2016/11/26/pan-african-journal-special-worldwide-radio-broadcast

Listen to the Sat. Nov. 26, 2016 special edition of the Pan-African Journal: Worldwide Radio Broadcast hosted by Abayomi Azikiwe, editor of the Pan-African News Wire. The program will focus on the life and times of Cuban revolutionary leader Comandante President Fidel Castro Ruz (1926-2016). The episode airs initially from 1:00-4:00pm EST and afterwards on podcast. This audio news magazine will feature rare archival files capturing the political contributions of Fidel during the first hour. The second and third hours review the role of the Republic of Cuba and the Communist Party of Cuba in the African Revolution from Congo and Algeria in the early and mid-1960s to the liberation of Angola, Namibia and South Africa from 1970s to the 1990s.

http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/

On the occasion of the demise of the Commander in Chief of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba declares nine days of National Mourning, as from the 06:00 hrs. of November 26^th, until the 12:00 hrs. of December 4^th, 2016.

For as long as the National Mourning is in place, public activities and shows shall not be held, the national flag shall be flown at half-staff in public buildings and military facilities. The radio and television shall broadcast informative, patriotic and historic programs.

Council of State of the Republic of Cuba

Press release by the Organizing Commission

The Organizing Commission of the Central Committee of the Party, the State and the Government for the funeral honors of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, informs the population that as from November 28^th, from 09:00 until the 22:00 hrs., in the José Martí Memorial, the population of the capital city will be able to pay a befitting tribute to their leader, which will extend until November 29^th, from 09:00 until 12:00 hrs.

On November 28^th and 29^th, from 09:00 until 22:00 hrs., in the locations that will be timely informed in each locality, including the capital city, all Cubans will have the possibility to pay tribute and sign a solemn oath to fulfill the concept of Revolution, expressed by our historic leader on May 1^st, 2000, as an expression of the resolve to continue his ideas and our socialism.

On November 29^th, at 19:00 hrs., a mass rally will take place at José Martí Revolution Square in the capital city.

On the next day, his ashes will be carried following the same itinerary that remembers the Caravan of Freedom of January 1959, until the province of Santiago de Cuba, ending on December 3^rd.

On this same day, at the 19:00 hrs., a mass rally will take place in Antonio Maceo square.

The inhumation ceremony will take place at the 07:00 hrs. on December 4^th, at Santa Ifigenia Cemetery.

Likewise, our people is advised that the Military Review and march of the combatant people for the 60^th Anniversary of the landing of the members of the Granma Yacht expedition, the day of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, is postponed and will be held on January 2^nd, 2017.

Organizing Commission

Communities and Postal Workers United – cpwunited.com

Community-Labor United for Postal Jobs and Services – clupjs.wordpress.com

All Out for Massive Labor-Community Protests – Inauguration Weekend Jan. 20-22

Call to Action – Let’s build a nationwide United Front against Trump

by Communities and Postal Workers United & Community-Labor United for Postal Jobs and Services

The election of Donald Trump is dangerous for all working people, including and especially immigrants, people of color, women, LGBTQ people and the disabled.  Postal workers and customers can expect stepped-up assaults on our public postal service.  

A president Trump, coupled with Republican control of the House and Senate, raises the very real possibility of his appointment of a reactionary Postal Board of Governors seeking to further dismantle and privatize the USPS; an employer-friendly National Labor Relations Board which could reverse the gains of past years; a conservative Supreme Court hostile to public sector unions; and an anti-union, anti-worker Department of Labor.  National “Right-to-Work” legislation, which would be a major blow to the labor movement, is a top priority of the new administration. This would hurt the growing national movement for $15 and a union.

A Trump presidency threatens the deportation of millions of undocumented workers; the exclusion, surveillance, profiling and incarceration of our Muslim sisters and brothers; major restrictions on women’s reproductive rights; the return of anti-LGBTQ laws; and increased harassment, brutalizing, and incarceration of Black and Brown people by local police departments. It threatens to support environmentally dangerous projects like the Dakota pipeline, and repression of the Indigenous Nations who are fighting it.

Tax cuts for the rich and even more funds to the military (making another war more likely) will be used to justify austerity, with deep cuts to Medicaid, Social Security, food stamps, education, housing and other programs that working people need to survive. The Trump victory has emboldened racist, sexist, homophobic and xenophobic predators who are intimidating and assaulting our most vulnerable residents.

Spontaneous “Not My President” demonstrations have erupted across the country immediately following the Trump election.  Many student, labor, community and women’s groups are planning for massive protests on the weekend of Trump’s Inauguration, January 20-22, in Washington, D.C. and other cities.

To save our public postal service and living-wage, union postal jobs, we will need to help build a national United Front of all those threatened by the Trump presidency, in the spirit of An Injury to One is an Injury to All. 

We will need to mobilize our networks, in collaboration with other labor, school, faith, community and women’s groups, to encourage and participate in organizing large and small actions leading up to and including Inauguration Weekend, as part of a nationwide united movement against Trump and all he represents.

 All out for Inauguration Weekend, January 20-22, 2017!

 Communities and Postal Workers United – cpwunited.com

Community-Labor United for Postal Jobs and Services – clupjs.wordpress.com

Postal workers and allies rally in NYC March 17, 2012.

Postal workers and allies rally in NYC March 17, 2012.

Postal workers marching, Detroit, August 2010

Postal workers, Detroit August 2010

Postal workers and allies march in Detroit August 2010.