Re: [Marxism] May Day Immigrant Boycott Song

[Walter Lippmann <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Short, succinct essay from Cuba discussing the solidarity which the
apostle of the island's independence struggle expressed with late
nineteenth century immigrant workers demanding an eight-hour day.
The idea of an awakened giant also evokes that concept from the 
nineteen-sixties which said "this great humanity has said ENOUGH
and has begun to move forward." These aren't merely struggle for
just demands. History is indeed being made in the United States at
this time and through and by this struggle.

In the United States today we are witness to an uprising of some of
the most oppressed sections of the working class, the undocumented
immigrants. Fear of immigrants has a long and shameful history in the
"land of the free". Generated by the employers and aided by ignorance
among the more privileged workers, the immigrants have brought life,
consciousness and self-organizataion among the workers to a new and
higher level. This short reminder from Cuba demonstrates that the more
things have changed, the more they remain the same. It further shows
that solidarity from Cuba with the oppressed in the United States was
being expressed long before the Cuban Revolution, and, indeed, long
before Fidel Castro was even born. 

Activists and Marxists in the United States today need to learn how to
find those figures in the history of this country who've stood up for
justice in the past, in an effort to root our struggles in our very own
history. Figures from Mark Twain to Albert Einstein, from Tom Paine
to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X are ones we should look
to and learn from, in addition to our international teachers.
============================================

Martí and the Chicago Martyrs
By: Georgina Suárez Hernández

<http://cubaguide.cubasi.cu/DesktopDefault.aspx?SPK=160&CLK=117188&LK=2&CK=61053&SPKA=37>

Lucy Parsons's visit to New York helped to modify the early vision
Martí had about the events of May 4th, 1886 in Haymarket square of
Chicago.

Parsons traveled throughout the whole country spreading the truth of
her partner's participation and the rest of those involved in the
faked and extensive trial against them. The Haymarket events which
ended up on an open battle were transformed into a conspiracy against
workers whose only crime was to have organized a protest act against
police violence unleashed during the act of May 1st that year.

The main suspects were presented from that point on as vicious
beasts. Of hundreds of arrested workers, eight were taken to trial
and seven convicted to be hanged. Four of them were ultimately
executed. The verdict was passed on August 20th, 1886.

In the first three chronicles in this respect, Martí had offered an
assessment of Chicago events influenced by the distorted image spread
around by the press, the presentation of false witnesses and the
selection of a cooperative jury.

The conspiracy against those men was so big that spread confusion in
people of deep thinking and independent as Martí. He himself defined
it later as: "Ah, the press, the rich classes, the fear to this
frightening rising of our justice has forged the truth in that
ridiculous and immoral process!â??

The reasons heard from Lucy Parsons's lips should have moved Martí.
But itâ??s also truth that before his eyes were unveiled at the same
time the great machination which presented those men as members of a
conspiracy advocating terror and blood thirst.

Although in the first moments Martí said that those accused "...
urged the slaughter and sowed it with their hand"..., when they were
hung on November 11th, 1887 a change of attitude had already dawned
in him and he didn't thought of them as guilty. For this reason he
condemned the true causers who "... they judge the social crimes
without to know and to think the historical causes that they were
born judge social crimes without knowing and thinking of the
historical causes from which they were born neither the impulses of
generosity that produce them"...

A big shock was originated not only in North American territory, but
in the entire world. The worthy Cuban respected the firmness and
courage in those processed during the montage of the justice
caricature staged in the American court of law. Probably Martíâ??s
chronicles presented in North American Scenes contributed to some
extent to denounce the truth about the facts.

When Martí spoke of "those aggressive leagues of industrials,
privileged by the favoritism of law" he qualified in just a few words
the North American political system. This system exerts its authority
through institutions capable to work as instrument to stage
provocations and later exercise pressure on juries so they judge to
its will.

These events contributed to ripe Martíâ??s conception on classes
struggle. ... â??those strikes which are already open battles of
thinking rather than wage demands...â?? he expressed in overt support
to the leaders of the confused Chicago.

And in a sharp position he expressed referring the application of the
justice in the United States that... "This republic, due to the
immeasurable cult of wealth, has fallen, with none of the obstacles
of tradition, in the inequality, injustice, and violence of monarchic
countries."

Cubasi Translation Staff

===========================================
FERNANDO TORRES observed
here's a song of the May Day Boycott, appropriately
called "Gigante Despierto (Awakened Giant). You simply
have to attend one of those rallies, see the faces,
exchange a few words, feel the power of the people to
realize that we're living historic days: the rising of
the wretched of the earth, in an unprecedented show of
courage, dignity and determination. 

http://calacapress.com/gigantedespierto/mp3/PrimeroDeMayo.mp3




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