Join the Socialist Party of Michigan at the May Day parade on Saturday May 1st starting at the Diag in Ann Arbor at 12:00PM. To get to the Diag, go through the archway at the corner of East University Ave. and South University Ave and walk straight about two blocks Click here for a map and driving directions
On May 1st walkouts at schools and workplaces across the US will take place in solidarity with immigrant communities under attack by Congressional legislation. These walkouts invoke the powerful tradition of May Day – the socialist celebration of international working class solidarity. Once again US immigrants are taking a leadership role in the struggle for social and economic justice, just as they did at the birth of May Day in Chicago a hundred and twenty years ago. The Socialist Party USA joins in the celebration of May Day and condemns the Democratic and Republican Parties for militarizing our borders and failing to protect the rights of all workers. Callous and ineffectual immigration policies are exacerbating racism in the US and creating an underclass of super-exploited workers, all in the service of corporate profits. The Socialist Party furthermore rejects assimilationist policies and attitudes which marginalize and criminalize the diverse heritages of immigrants and people of color.
Experience teaches us that only militant industry-wide labor action can challenge corporate power and win better wages, hours and working conditions. Nevertheless, the global inequalities that compel migrants to seek risky, back-breaking, low wage labor in the US cannot be resolved within the constraints of modern capitalism. In the tradition of May Day we call for the abolition of capitalist systems of ownership and trade, and the creation of a truly democratic society where production fulfills human need, not profit. In a world riddled with war and underdevelopment, we also add racism, militarism and imperialism to the list of global cancers which must be uprooted as prerequisites to peace and justice.
Join the Socialist Party at May Day actions across the country.
América: Ningún ser Humano es Ilegal * America: No Human being is Illegal
Standing With Our Companer@s
by Raul Cano Co-Chair, Socialist Party USA
Deep in South Texas, in the lower Rio Grande Valley, the “border” is nothing more than a river that once roared with fury but now only manages a whimpering flow. For those of us who live in this nether land known as the Frontera, it’s a speed bump in the constant traffic of people, culture and goods. Realistically the geographical “border”no longer really defines where one country begins and another ends. In a wider scope, the same can be said of the concept of nations. Politicians know this, but are not beyond using the issue for their own benefit.
Throughout the history of the United States, the immigrant issue has been a convenient political ploy. Fueled by overt and covert racism, fear mongering and scapegoating, immigrants once again come to the forefront as a wedge issue to distract the American people from the real problems. HR 4437 proposes to criminalize those that are undocumented, to build a fence along the border and to impose heavy fines for employers who hire undocumented workers. In the typical “good cop bad cop” game meant to reflect a democratic process, this act panders to the extreme right. The senate plays the voice of reason and returns with the more sensible guest worker program and the further militarization of the border. The Democrats will grumble, as usual, and then will accept the guest worker program and a cumbersome legalization process as the “best we could do” option. The ruling class will get points for compassion and continue to have a reserve pool of exploitable labor. The working class will get a sub class of workers at the mercy of both state and capitalist.
It would have been business as usual, if it wasn’t for millions of workers finally rising from the shadows of exploitation and taking to the streets to protest the proposed legislation. The secret army that has for decades propped up the illusion of a prosperous capitalist economy can no longer be ignored. Posturing and pseudo solutions will no longer work and the “immigrant problem” is there for all to see.
As a political Party, the SP USA has been active in this issue, with many of our locals and at large membership working with and leading the immigrant rights struggle. We fight for an amnesty program for all who are currently in this country. We stand against a guest worker program and instead propose an immigration policy that is reflective
of a mobile work force. All who work in this country should have full protection under our laws and are entitled to the full benefits of citizenship.
We understand that that the unity of workers throughout the world is essential in fighting transnational capitalism. While we fight for grassroots roots democracy at the national level, we also understand that the fight against capitalism requires a struggle without borders. As such the immigrant issue here in the United States is the national expression of a worldwide rebellion by a mobile working class. The objective of the Party should be to stand with our companer@s as workers, as an oppressed minority with a right to self determination and as participants in a worldwide anti-capitalist movement.
Todo El Poder al Pueblo!
The Socialist Party Platform Calls for:
• The rights of all immigrants to education, health care, and full civil and legal rights and call for an unconditional amnesty program for all undocumented people. We further call for full citizenship rights upon demonstrating residency for six months.
• An end to the militarization of the United States/Mexican border, and an increase in the service budget instead of the “military” budget of the INS.
• An end to police raids in areas where immigrants congregate.
• An end to the use of “secret evidence” in deportation hearings, a ban on all immigration detentions and military tribunals, and full due process and habeas corpus rights in U.S. courts for all non-citizens on U.S. territory or in U.S. custody