6 September 2018

In Senate hearing, Facebook pledges to replace “bad speech” with “alternative facts”

By Andre Damon in Washington, 6 September 2018

Wednesday’s hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee made one thing clear: there is not an inch of daylight between Facebook and the spy agencies in the drive to censor the internet.

As social opposition mounts, Silicon Valley and Washington step up internet censorship

Palace coup or class struggle: The political crisis in Washington and the strategy of the working class

New York Times op-ed by anonymous Trump official gives implicit support for palace coup

By Eric London, 6 September 2018

The official wrote that “we will do what we can to steer the administration in the right direction until—one way or another—it’s over.”

Mounting turmoil in emerging markets

By Nick Beams, 6 September 2018

The plunge in emerging market currencies is a product of the strengthening of the dollar and the increase in US interest rates, which is sucking capital back into American markets.

Argentine government announces “emergency” measures to face deepening recession and growing unrest

Tacoma teachers strike as walkouts spread across Washington

By Alec Andersen, 6 September 2018

School officials in three districts threatened disciplinary action against striking teachers while educators in Tacoma joined walkouts in 10 other districts Thursday.

Tacoma teachers vote to strike Thursday
Walkouts by Washington state educators spread

Seattle Education Association orders teachers to work without contract vote

For a statewide strike in Washington to defend public education!
Build rank-and-file committees to unify educators, parents and students

Arizona Supreme Court strikes down “Invest in Ed” ballot initiative

By David Moore, 6 September 2018

The court’s removal of the school funding initiative from the November ballot underscores the fact that America’s billionaires and millionaires will not tolerate the slightest encroachment on their personal fortunes.

Retreat by Corbynites on anti-Semitism definition emboldens UK right wing

By Robert Stevens and Chris Marsden, 6 September 2018

Once again, Corbyn and his immediate coterie have capitulated in the hope of appeasing their critics and maintaining party unity.

Ayanna Pressley upsets 10-term Massachusetts congressman in Democratic primary

By Kate Randall, 6 September 2018

Sending the African-American councilwoman to Washington will result in no meaningful shift in the pro-business policies of the Democratic Party or improvement in the conditions of workers in her constituency.

Only three percent of students have received Governor Cuomo’s “free tuition” scholarship for New York public universities

By Josh Varlin, 6 September 2018

Despite the fact that the SUNY and CUNY systems are the second and third largest public higher education systems in the United States, with about 700,000 students in all, fewer than 21,000 Excelsior Scholarships were awarded last academic year.

United Steelworkers union extends contract at ArcelorMittal and US Steel

BMW auto worker describes conditions at Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing plant

By Keisha Gibbs, 6 September 2018

A young worker at the giant BMW sport utility vehicle plant described oppressive conditions, including the widespread use of contract workers and the general neglect of safety.

Alcoa workers in Canada and Australia confront the same employer offensive

By Laurent Lafrance, 6 September 2018

Alcoa has forced 1,500 workers at five facilities in Western Australia out on strike, even as it issues fresh threats against workers at its Bécancour, Quebec, aluminum smelter who have been locked out since January.

China denies establishing military base in Afghanistan

By Peter Symonds, 6 September 2018

Afghanistan is another key strategic arena for intensifying geo-political rivalry between the major powers.

India: Police charge pro-Dalit activists under anti-terrorism laws

By Kranti Kumara, 6 September 2018

With the aim of muzzling opposition to the BJP government and its noxious Hindu supremacist ideology, police arrested five left-wing activists after conducting warrantless searches of their homes.

Family speaks to World Socialist Web Site
Unanswered questions surround the suicide of Australian paramedic Tony Jenkins

By Cheryl Crisp and John Mackay, 6 September 2018

On April 9, the 28-year veteran paramedic took his own life within two hours of being called into a meeting with New South Wales Ambulance senior managers.

Australian unions exploit childcare strike to promote Labor

By Oscar Grenfell, 6 September 2018

The Sydney protest was effectively an election rally for the Labor Party, which has spearheaded the privatisation of childcare.

New in French

Soixante-dix mille personnes assistent à «Rock contre la droite» à Chemnitz, en Allemagne

nos reporters, 6 septembre 2018

Le concert tenu à Chemnitz sous le mot d’ordre « nous sommes plus nombreux » a démontré l’opposition massive à l’extrême droite et au fascisme de la part des travailleurs et des jeunes

Alors que l'opposition sociale monte, la Silicon Valley et Washington intensifient la censure de l'Internet

Andre Damon, 6 septembre 2018

Au moment où les managers de Facebook et Twitter s’apprêtent à témoigner au Congrès, les monopoles des médias sociaux se bousculent pour démontrer jusqu'où ils sont allés pour mettre en œuvre la censure.

Le Parti de l’égalité socialiste et le coup d’État anti-Corbyn : une réponse à un lecteur

Chris Marsden, 6 septembre 2018

Le SEP ne cède pas la direction à Corbyn et ne se tient pas non plus à l’écart d’une lutte politique qui oppose des dizaines de milliers de travailleurs et de jeunes à une cabale droitière de criminels pro-austérité et pro-guerre.

New in Norwegian

Silicon Valley og Washington stepper opp internettsensur mens sosial opposisjon vokser

Andre Damon, 6 september 2018

Mens Facebook- og Twitter-sjefer forbereder seg på vitnesbyrd for Capitol Hill kaver sosialmediemonopolene for å demonstrere hvor langt de allerede har gått for å implementere sensur.

70.000 deltar på «Rock mot høyre» i Chemnitz, Tyskland

Våre reportere, 6 september 2018

Motto for konserten var «Vi er flere» og viste den massive motstanden mot høyreekstremisme og fascisme blant arbeidere og ungdom.

Putin stiller seg bak bredt foraktet pensjonsreform

Clara Weiss, 6 september 2018

Pensjonsreformen, med eller uten Putins foreslåtte endringer, er oligarkiets aggressive trekk i klassekrigen mot russiske arbeidere.

Argentinas regjering annonserer «nødstiltak» konfrontert med utdypende resesjon og voksende uro

Andrea Lobo, 6 september 2018

I sin tale på mandag erklærte president Macri at markedet hadde støttet Argentina i to år og advarte om at «fattigdommen vil øke».

New in Spanish

Ante el aumento de la oposición social, Silicon Valley y Washington expanden la censura en línea

Por Andre Damon, 6 septiembre 2018

Mientras los ejecutivos de Facebook y Twitter se preparan para dar testimonios ante el Congreso, los monopolios de las redes sociales están apurándose para demostrar cuán lejos han ido en implementar medidas de censura.

La denunciante estadounidense Chelsea Manning desafía la prohibición de hablar en Australia

Por Linda Tenenbaum, 6 septiembre 2018

"Una vez que estás inmerso en una zona de guerra, te das cuenta de que ya no son estadísticas. Estas fueron vidas humanas con defectos y todas las vulnerabilidades que las personas tienen”.

La vida bajo el capitalismo para una joven estadounidense
Trabajadora lesionada en un Wal-Mart de Texas describe cómo y por qué se hizo socialista

Por Eric London, 6 septiembre 2018

Ashley representa una nueva ola de trabajadores que no están contentos con su opresión y están sacando conclusiones políticas más amplias.

El Gobierno argentino anuncia medidas de “emergencia” frente a recesión y descontento

Por Andrea Lobo, 6 septiembre 2018

En su discurso el lunes, el presidente Macri lamentó que el “mercado” ha dejado de apoyar a Argentina y advirtió que “la pobreza va a aumentar”.

La pesadilla en Amazon: abuela lesionada en trabajo pierde hogar y sufre neumonía

Por Eric London y Zac Corrigan, 6 septiembre 2018

La historia de Carol expone el suplicio y la explotación brutal que han impulsado el crecimiento de vendedores en línea como Amazon.

En medio de amenazas de la OTAN, Rusia realiza ejercicios militares más grandes desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial

Por Alex Lantier, 6 septiembre 2018

Los ejercicios se producen en medio de una escalada de conflictos y tensiones por toda Eurasia que presentan un peligro inminente de un enfrentamiento entre las principales potencias nucleares.

New in German

Aus Furcht vor sozialem Widerstand: Silikon Valley und Washington verschärfen Internetzensur

Andre Damon, 6. September 2018

Im Vorfeld der Anhörung von Facebook- und Twitter-Managern setzten die Social-Media-Konzerne alles daran, um zu beweisen, wie weitgehend sie Internetzensur betreiben.

Wagenknechts Sammelbewegung: Eine rechte, nationalistische Offensive

Ulrich Rippert, 6. September 2018

Sahra Wagenknecht stellte am Dienstagvormittag auf einer Pressekonferenz ihre Sammelbewegung „Aufstehen“ vor.

Washington reagiert mit neuen Drohungen auf Russlands Luftangriffe in Syrien

Bill Van Auken, 6. September 2018

Die angeblichen „humanitären“ Bedenken und Warnungen Washingtons vor dem Einsatz von Chemiewaffen zeigen die wachsende Gefahr einer US-Intervention zur Verteidigung der „Rebellen“.

Italiens Banken im Sog der türkischen Lira-Krise

Allison Smith, 6. September 2018

Die großen italienischen Banken halten Türkei-Kredite über fast 20 Milliarden Euro, und ein beträchtlicher Teil davon ist zurzeit gefährdet.

Other Languages

Perspective

Kavanaugh hearings highlight corporate control of US Supreme Court

6 September 2018

The Senate hearings on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court have shed light on the domination not only of the courts, but of every branch of government by the corporate oligarchy.

Earlier Perspectives »

History of the Fourth International

On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Fourth International

By David North, 3 September 2018

The founding of the Fourth International on September 3, 1938, was an event of great historical significance and contemporary relevance.

Historic discovery of Left Opposition manuscripts from the early 1930s

Commentary

Report by Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media undermines claims of chemical attack in Douma

By Paul Bond, 6 September 2018

In the face of the orchestrated attack on the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media as “Apologists for Assad,” the careful work by Paul McKeigue, Jake Mason, David Miller and Piers Robinson is all the more noteworthy.

Chemnitz and the call for a stronger state

By Peter Schwarz, 6 September 2018

After the recent right-wing extremist marches in Chemnitz, representatives of all Bundestag (parliamentary) parties are calling for the state to intervene.

The fight against fascism in Germany requires a socialist perspective

German government places Socialist Equality Party on subversive watch list

More on the growth of the extreme right in Europe »

The Socialist Equality Party and the anti-Corbyn coup plot: A reply to a reader

By Chris Marsden, 5 September 2018

Reject the anti-Semitism slurs against Jeremy Corbyn! Drive out the Labour Party right wing!

US whistleblower Chelsea Manning defies ban to speak in Australia

By Linda Tenenbaum, 5 September 2018

The burning down of Brazil’s national museum: A capitalist crime against the heritage of humanity

By Bill Van Auken, 4 September 2018

Labor Day 2018: The growth of the class struggle and the case for rank-and-file committees

The US media declares war, once again, on comic Louis C.K.

Line-up of reaction and militarism at McCain memorial

Workers Struggles

Teamsters announces October 5 vote deadline
Vote “no” on the UPS-Teamsters sellout contract! Form rank-and-file committees to organize opposition!

By the WSWS UPS Workers Newsletter, 6 September 2018

On Tuesday, the Teamsters union announced that the contract vote will be counted on October 5, more than two months after the expiration of the current agreement.

Teamsters head to UPS workers: Don’t complain, creating new tiers is “what we’ve always done”

Break the UPS-Teamsters conspiracy! Mobilize opposition to the sellout contract!

More on the struggle at UPS »

Public meetings in Australia

Nick Beams to lecture at Australian universities on the contemporary significance of Karl Marx

6 September 2018

The lectures will make clear that Marx’s theoretical breakthroughs were inextricably linked to his political work as a revolutionary determined to arm the emerging working class with a program that advanced its independent interests.

SEP Australia public meeting in Sydney: The key political issues behind the coup against Turnbull

6 September 2018

As international relations and parliamentary forms of rule break down, the ruling elite is terrified of the growing left-wing sentiment among workers and young people.

International Amazon Workers Voice

“Amazon thinks I’m a piece of trash on the ground and they’ll walk all over me”
Amazon Nightmare: Grandmother injured on the job goes homeless, suffers pneumonia

By Eric London and Zac Corrigan, 3 September 2018

Life under capitalism for an American youth
Injured Texas Wal-Mart worker describes how and why she switched to socialism

By Eric London, 5 September 2018

Amazon unleashes army of Twitter trolls to improve its image

Following IAWV exposure at Texas warehouse
More Amazon workers speak out against atrocious working conditions

More on Amazon »

Arts Review

Leave No Trace: An Iraq War veteran looks to leave the world behind

By Kevin Martinez, 6 September 2018

From director Debra Granik (Winter’s Bone, 2010) comes the story of an Iraq War veteran with PTSD living in the woods near Portland, Oregon with his teenage daughter.

100 years since the birth of American filmmaker Robert Aldrich
Including an interview with film historian Tony Williams

By David Walsh, 31 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 2

By Fred Mazelis, 25 August 2018

One of the greatest musical figures of the 20th century
The centenary of Leonard Bernstein—Part 1

Young Euro Classic 2018—a display of boundless musical virtuosity and symphonic poetry

SEP 2018 Election Campaign

Socialist Equality Party candidate Niles Niemuth on ballot for Michigan’s 12th Congressional District

By our reporter, 5 September 2018

Elissa Slotkin: A CIA Democrat runs for Congress in Michigan

By Niles Niemuth, 1 September 2018

Abolish student debt! Public education is a social right!

By Niles Niemuth, 31 August 2018

Notes from the campaign trail
SEP candidate speaks with incoming students at Wayne State University in Detroit

By Niles Niemuth, 29 August 2018

Socialist Equality Party campaign for Michigan’s 12th congressional district launches website

16 August 2018

Visit our new website to find out how you can get involved in Niles Niemuth’s campaign against war, inequality and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

Socialist Equality Party to run Niles Niemuth for Michigan’s 12th Congressional district

This week in history: September 3-9

25 years ago: US helicopter gunships murder hundreds in Somalia

On September 9, 1993, two US Cobra helicopter gunships swooped down on a large crowd of Somali civilians protesting at a checkpoint in Mogadishu.

More »

50 years ago: US casualties escalate in Vietnam

The Pentagon announced on September 5, 1968 that US casualties in Vietnam totaled 408 for the last week in August, the highest weekly figure in three months.

More »

75 years ago: Allied forces invade Italy

On September 3, 1943, the Allied powers began a full-scale invasion and occupation of Italy with large detachments of British and Canadian troops.

More »

 

100 years ago: Red Army launches attack on Kazan

On September 7, 1918, the Red Army began shelling Kazan, the most important city held by the counterrevolutionary forces opposed to the Bolshevik regime.

More »

Book Review

Olen Steinhauer’s The Middleman: An American uprising, darkly imagined

By James Brookfield, 5 September 2018

At the outset of The Middleman a group of approximately 400 Americans scattered throughout the country suddenly disappear from their day-to-day lives without telling friends and family.

Seymour Hersh’s Reporter: A life exposing government lies and crimes

By Andre Damon, 3 September 2018

History

Fifty years since the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia: Part one
Establishment of a deformed workers’ state in Czechoslovakia

By Clara Weiss, 28 August 2018

On August 20-21, 1968, tens of thousands of troops of the Warsaw Pact states invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the “Prague Spring” and stifle a nascent movement of the working class. This is the first part of a four-part series.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Obituary

Arsène Tchakarian (1916-2018): the Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 2: Who betrayed the Manouchian Group?

By Francis Dubois and Alex Lantier, 31 August 2018

There is no doubt that the Stalinists’ decision to sacrifice the Manouchian Group was bound up with their genocidal onslaught against Trotskyism and the Left Opposition.

Arsène Tchakarian (1916–2018): The Manouchian Group’s resistance struggle
Part 1: The political origins and military record of the resistance fighters

IYSSE

Join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality and take up the fight for socialism!

By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US), 31 August 2018

Join the IYSSE, the only organization fighting against war, authoritarianism and dictatorship, and for the socialist transformation of society.

International Committee of the Fourth International

Resolution of the SEP (US) Fifth National Congress
The Resurgence of Class Struggle and the Tasks of the Socialist Equality Party

8 August 2018

This resolution was unanimously adopted by the Socialist Equality Party Congress, held from July 22–27, 2018.

Opening report to the Fifth National Congress of the Socialist Equality Party (US)

By David North, 4 August 2018

Security and the Fourth International

An “Exemplary Comrade”: The Socialist Workers Party’s 40-year-long cover-up of Stalinist spy Sylvia Callen: Part one

By Eric London, 14 August 2018

This is the first part in a four-part series examining the cover-up by the Socialist Workers Party beginning in 1947 of information exposing the role of Sylvia Callen, the personal secretary of long-time party leader James P. Cannon, as a Stalinist agent.

Part two | Part three | Part four

Seventy-eight years since the assassination of Leon Trotsky

By Eric London and David North, 21 August 2018

On August 21, 1940, Leon Trotsky, the founder of the Fourth International and the co-leader of the Russian Revolution, died from wounds inflicted the day before by an assassin, the Stalinist GPU agent Ramon Mercader.

New in Arabic

Arabic translation of preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend

We are publishing here the Arabic translation of the new preface written by David North for the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International.

Autoworkers Issues

Late Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne lied to federal investigators about gift to UAW official

By Marcus Day, 17 August 2018

UAW bribery predated 2009, lawyer for former Fiat Chrysler executive tells court

More on autoworkers issues »

Mehring Books

Two new pamphlets from Mehring Books

15 August 2018

Mehring Books is pleased to announce that two new pamphlets—The World Socialist Web Site and the Defense of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks and The 2018 Teacher Rebellion—are available for online purchase.

Defend Julian Assange!

London: Ecuador embassy vigil marks six years since Julian Assange granted asylum

By Paul Mitchell, 18 August 2018

Christine Assange, mother of WikiLeaks editor: “I’ve not been able to speak to my son for four months”

By Richard Phillips, 24 July 2018

Mueller investigation seeks to implicate WikiLeaks and Julian Assange in “Russian interference”

Protest in London against Ecuadorian President Moreno’s persecution of Julian Assange

By our reporters, 25 July 2018

The Turnbull government must act to repatriate Australian citizen Julian Assange to Australia

By James Cogan, 19 June 2018

Bringing Julian Assange Home

By John Pilger, 19 June 2018

More on the campaign to free Julian Assange »

Featured Video

Coby Day: Hundreds memorialize fallen Detroit autoworker Jacoby Hennings

Friends and family of Jacoby Hennings (1995 - 2017) want answers about the circumstances surrounding the young autoworker's death at Ford's Woodhaven stamping plant.

International Committee of the Fourth International

Preface to the thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend

By David North, 21 June 2018

We are posting the new preface written by David North for the soon to be released thirtieth anniversary edition of The Heritage We Defend: A Contribution to the History of the Fourth International.

Support the Socialist Equality group in Turkey!
Statement of the SE group, in sympathy with the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), on the snap elections in Turkey

WSWS 20th Anniversary

Twenty years of the World Socialist Web Site: 1998–2018

By David North and Joseph Kishore, 14 February 2018

As the WSWS marks its 20th anniversary of daily posting, it is taking the lead in exposing the conspiracy by governments and corporations to censor the Internet as the ruling class prepares for war and domestic repression.

Lenin, Trotsky and the Marxism of the October Revolution

By David North, 19 March 2018

David North, chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site and of the Socialist Equality Party (US), delivered this lecture at the University of Leipzig on March 16.