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WHY WOMEN'S HERSTORY?
By: Diane Scott

Why “her” in place of “his”? Why indeed. Where are women in the English language? Do you remember being told that the words “mankind” and “man” include us too? “Woman”, traced back to its old English roots, is “wif”+ “man” and means, guess what? The wife of a man. “Mr.”, of course, refers to any adult male, married or single, but two words were needed to differentiate women’s marital status: “Miss” and “Mrs.” Recently, we've added “Ms.” to mean any adult female, correcting an age-old injustice. That's women's herstory.

We've been left out of “his” history books too. Did you know that a young black woman, Phyllis Wheatley, was the first American woman to publish a book in North America? She wasn't in my schoolbooks nor was Anne Bradstreet who wrote a century earlier. Are you familiar with this quote from Abigail Adams writing to her husband, John, our second president, in March, 1776: “...I desire that you would remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.” Her husband laughed at her. It took another 144 years for us to have a say in government.

But women kept working for the rights of everyone. They took active roles in the abolitionist movement. In July 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and several friends put an ad in the Seneca Falls, New York newspaper inviting women to attend “A Convention to discuss the social, civil, and religious condition and rights of women”. Some three hundred people attended. A Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions was drawn up by Stanton, using as a model the Declaration of Independence. It listed rights for women as well as men, concluding that: “because women feel themselves aggrieved, oppressed, and fraudulently deprived of their most sacred rights, we insist that they have immediate admission to all the rights and privileges which belong to them as citizens of the United States.”

The Declaration of Sentiments also claimed that “It is the duty of the women of this country to secure to themselves their sacred right to the elective franchise.” Susan B. Anthony organized a massive women's voter registration in the election of 1872 in which she and many other women voted. Several of these women, including Anthony, were arrested, tried, and fined. Ms. Anthony refused to pay the fine, was put in jail, and was released only after friends paid the fine for her.

These women, knowing that political and legal rights were vital, devoted their whole lives to the cause for equal rights. The day before her death on October 26, 1902, Stanton wrote a letter to Theodore Roosevelt in which she said, “Abraham Lincoln immortalized himself by the emancipation of four million Southern slaves... We now desire that you, Mr. President, immortalize yourself by bringing about the complete emancipation of thirty-six million women.” Susan B. Anthony continued writing, giving speeches, and working for women’s suffrage until her own death on March 13, 1906. Some of her last words were “The fight must not cease; you must see that it does not stop.”

Today, we are still working for the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment for “the complete emancipation of women.” It lost by three states in 1982. Until such a time as this and other important rights are gained and secured, we must continue to emphasize Women’s Herstory. Not only can we learn and rejoice in the magnificent works of those who came before us, but we must also resolve to carry on all the work that remains undone.

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On April 9th, U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts, Barney Frank, will be speaking in Fresno, as the guest of Central California Alliance, a community service organization. Congressman Frank will be speaking about his political observations of the Congress and the new administration. He is an openly gay member of Congress.

Barney Frank has represented the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts since he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980.

Congressman Frank graduated in 1962 from Harvard College. Subsequent to graduation he taught undergraduates at Harvard while studying for a Ph.D. In 1968, before completing his Ph.D. degree, Congressman Frank left graduate school to become the Chief Assistant to Mayor Kevin White of Boston, a position he held for three years.

In 1971 Congressman Frank spent six months as a fellow at the Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School. He then served for one year as Administrative Assistant to U.S. Congressman Michael J. Harrington.

In 1972 Congressman Frank was elected to the Massachusetts Legislature, where he served for eight years. During that time, he entered Harvard Law School and graduated in 1977. In 1979 he became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. While in state and local government, Congressman Frank taught part-time at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard and Boston University.

He has published numerous articles on politics and public affairs, and in 1992, he published "Speaking Frankly," an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990's.

Tickets for the dinner and speech are $30 to CCA members and $40 to non-members. Speech Only tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members. For more information call 265-7117.

Individuals attending the event will be given an opportunity to make a contribution to the CCA "Put Books in the Library" drive. This is a fund that purchases books for young adult readers with gay/lesbian themes that help build self-esteem among youth struggling with orientation issues, living in the closet or coming out while enlightening their straight peers.

During the 1999 book drive, CCA and its members donated a total of 760 books to public libraries. The books were donated, in a ceremony, directly to the Fresno County Librarian, John K. Kallenberg.

These books are selected to expand the gay and lesbian collection of books on the shelves. The list was created with the help of high school librarians, educators, and the Fresno County librarians. The books have been carefully screened to be of interest to young adult readers and to be of high literary merit. Each book selected has received several awards and positive reviews.

The CCA Board has set aside $750 to purchase books in 2001. In addition to those funds, individuals are encouraged to make donations. A set of five paper-back books can be purchased for $20. This discount price is made possible through the support and generous discount provided by the publishers.

Central California Alliance is a community service organization that provides quality social events and educational activities for the gay/lesbian community and their supporters while promoting a positive image and presence in the community at large.

Congressman Frank will speak on Monday, April 9, 2001 at Pardini's Restaurant located at 2257 W. Shaw. Social Hour at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m., and speech at 8 p.m.

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In a response to an American asking for words for America, in 1901, Tolstoy thanked us for progressives such as Garrison, Parker, Emerson, Ballou and Thoreau. Then he asked why we didn't pay more attention to those voices, "hardly to be replaced by those of financial and industrial millionaires, or successful generals and admirals" and continue the good work in which they made such hopeful progress.

Things haven't changed a lot in the last hundred years. What Tolstoy has to say about governments, the military and organized religion is as true today as it was then. He told us how to use civil disobedience and non-violence to fight for what is right. He gave us background on why things are the way they are today and what we can do to change them.

Tolstoy gave us a lot of information on why young men should be conscientious objectors and why we need to fight the military complex. He talked of prison, tax, political, and social reforms. He spoke of things we progressives can use today in our fight for social justice.

This book helped me decide that the anti-military, anti-war cause is the cause for me. May reading it help you decide to participate more in the causes for social justice for all. I am sorry to say, it is no longer in print. But, you can pick it up at the Fresno Main Library.

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BIG BROTHER’S VERSION OF FREE SPEECH
by Bob Fischer

On February 3^rd, like every other first Saturday of the month, more than forty people demonstrated on the sidewalk along Shaw Avenue, at the edge of the parking lot on the north side of Fashion Fair Shopping Mall. The demonstrators held signs that protested against the Gap Inc.’s use of sweatshops. They called out to drivers, who honked their horns to show their support. At the same time, inside the mall, three of us had a table provided by the management. The table had our signs attached to its edges.

Our table was on the very spot where only six week previously Santa Claus, himself, had been sitting on his throne, receiving the adoration and shopping lists of small children, and snapping their pictures for a profit. A security surveillance camera peered down on us from inside a white glass globe mounted on one of the pillars that hold up the shopping mall’s ceiling. Elfie (that’s George Ballis, the Central Valley’s great Movement photographer, as if you didn’t know already) walked with me over to Security’s central console, where I spoke to the head of security by telephone, and then to the mall’s manager who exercised her right to decline to be on camera.

Close to the table, there were two pedestal-mounted signs, each nearly as tall as the people walking past them. The signs said that the owners of Fashion Fair Shopping Mall are required by law to allow these protestors to exercise the right to free speech, that management disagrees with the message being expressed here, and that it regrets any inconvenience to shoppers. Fashion Fair’s signs were bigger than our signs. In the center of the table was another sign, also nicely framed and bearing a similar message from the management, so anyone who stopped at the table would be reminded that the owner of the mall disapproves.

If anyone should miss the three signs, they would still get the message. Uniformed security officers and plainclothes security officers were never any farther from us than we were from our assigned table. They stood around the whole time and watched everything we did.

Two days before, the head of security told Joan Poss, Mike Rhodes and me, not to wander away from the table. If we did, then we couldn’t come back next time. On Saturday, it was different. We had to remain seated at the table. If people wanted to come to the table, then we could talk to them, but if we got up and wandered around, we would be breaking the rules. If we broke the rules, we wouldn’t be allowed to come back, ever.

We tried to reach a reasonable compromise: We would stay out of the traffic pattern and confine our selves to the area that had been Santa’s little throne room. Too big, management said. So, then I said we would stay in the small area between two big signs disclaiming us. The mall manager agreed to that, and then ordered the security officers to move the signs to within a few feet of the table.

We did not wander far from the table, nor did we need to. In fact, we stayed close by it, and talked to hundreds of people about the Gap Inc.’s complicity in the exploitation of involuntary labor. Many people were very interested and expressed their support. We handed out hundreds of flyers. The flyer we distributed had been previously approved by Fashion Fair. The head of security told us that our flyer had been approved only because it did not say “Boycott Gap” or “Don’t Shop at Gap.” Fashion Fair would not have allowed that.

The manager objected to our signs. She told us to remove two of our three signs, because they were hand-lettered, and only professionally printed signs are allowed. We pointed out that the lettering on our signs was excellent -- and we were told that if we didn’t obey the rules this time, we wouldn’t be allowed to come back. We refused to take our signs down, and Security left them alone in deference to Elfie’s ready camera.

Fashion Fair’s surveillance center sits in the middle of the main entrance to the mall. It’s open to public view, and Elfie taped the rows of video monitors. A security officer sat at the console, working the joystick that controls the camera in the white globe. There on the larger master monitor was a top-down view of Mike in front of the table, the camera following his every step and movement. Big Brother’s version of free speech!

We expect that our next application will be denied because we “broke the rules the last time,” in spite of the well-documented fact that we approached and spoke to people in the mall in a courteous and respectful manner. We did not impede foot traffic or interfere with commerce. We did not create a disturbance or a hazard. We did not intimidate merchants and shoppers. But, we expect that the Macerich Company will deny our application anyway.

We are going to find out. We have submitted another application, and we are waiting to hear from Big Brother.

Community Alliance newsletter editor Mike Rhodes hands out anti-sweatshop fliers to customers at Fashion Fair. Photo by: George Ballis

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Coop America has a No More Sweatshops Campaign to involve its more than one million annual website visitors in stopping sweatshops. The website http://www.sweatshops.org tells how to make purchasing decisions that will help end sweatshops. It also has a Campaign Action Center where one can raise concerns with retailers such as The Gap and WalMart that carry products made in sweatshops.

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• Demonstrate against sweatshops at THE GAP on the first Saturday of each month (see calendar for details)
• Contribute to THE GAP 20 legal defense fund (C/O The Community Alliance, P.O. Box 5077, Fresno CA 93755)
• Come to THE GAP 20 hearings/trial at the Fresno Courthouse
• Buy, distribute, and show THE GAP 20 video (call George Ballis at 855-3710 for details)

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For more information about the GAP anti-sweatshop campaign in Fresno visit our web site at:

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International Workers Day (May 1) started in the United States and is a celebration of the right workers have to organize and form a union. The benefits of organizing, forming a union, and collectively bargaining with the bosses have included:

• The 8 hour day

• Health care benefits

• The Weekend, etc

This year Fresno will celebrate May Day with a series of events (see below). There will be guest speakers, music, theater, and more. Groups organizing this series of events include: Community Alliance, the Amnesty Coalition of the San Joaquin Valley, Critical Mass, Frente Indigena Oaxaqueno Binacional, Fresno Metro Ministry, Sun Mountain, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, St. Benedict Catholic Workers, Students for Freedom (CSUF) and we expect many other groups to join as the events get closer. Mark your calendar:

THE ANNUAL CESAR CHAVEZ MARCH
SATURDAY APRIL 28
Join the march in honor of United Farm Workers of America (UFW) president Cesar Chavez. The march will be held in downtown Fresno.

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS DAY
TUESDAY, MAY 1
6 PM
MARIPOSA & THE FULTON MALL
(SITE OF THE 1910-11 I.W.W. FREE SPEECH FIGHT)
Celebrate International Workers Day by joining with immigrant rights groups, unions, and community organizations. Stand in solidarity with workers worldwide defending workers rights and free speech.

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE GAP 20 ARRESTS
SUNDAY, MAY 6
12 NOON
FASHION FAIR MALL, FRESNO
Stop sweatshops and defend free speech. Protest The Gap’s use of sweatshop labor and Fashion Fair’s attack on our First Amendment right to free speech.

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For more information see:

http://www.fresnoalliance.com/home/May%20Day.htm

or call (559) 978-4502

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MARCH IS WOMEN'S HERSTORY MONTH

A POEM FOR MY MOST INTELLIGENT 10:30AM CLASS/FALL 1985

by Sonia Sanchez, 1985 American Book Award winner; WILPF member

it was autumn. the day insistent
as rust. the city standing
at the edge of confessionals.
i had come to this room from other
rooms. footsteps walking from
under my feet. and I saw
your faces eavesdropping on shadows
rinsing the assassins from your eyes.
and our legs genuflected
beyond pain. incest. rage. and
we turned corners where the scare
crow smiles of priapus would never
dominate. and we braided our
tongues with sequins gathered
up our mothers' veins in
skirts of incense. what we
know now is that the coming spring
will not satisfy this thirst.

MARCH WILPF EVENTS CALENDER

Sat 3 • International Women¹s Day with Angela Davis, Fresno City College, 7p.m. Forum Hall 101. Call Catherine Campbell for more information at 221-1409.

Wed 7 • WILPF Board Meeting 7-9 p.m. at Carol Bequette’s home, 3747 Circle Drive West. Call 229-9661 for more information.

Sat 10 • Blanche Nosworthy’s birthday bash. All WILPF members are invited. See article below.

Wed 28 • "Stir It Up" WILPF-style. Tune in to KFCF 88.1 FM from 3:30 to 4 p.m with hosts Lauralee Crain Carbone and Zay Guffy-Bill.

 

DAYTIME CURFEW IGNITES COMMUNITY OPPOSITION
by Lauralee Crain Carbone

On January 30th, the Fresno City Council, with the advice of the Fresno Police, directed the city attorney to draft a daytime curfew ordinance restricting people younger than 18 years old from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on school days.

As a home-schooling mother of two, I was vehemently opposed to the curfew, even though the draft included an exclusion for home-schooled students with identification. I had heard stories from other communities with daytime curfews where guns were pulled on kids as they reached for their IDs. Some officials even suggested that kids wear neon neckbands to identify themselves as legally out of school!

Community members from all walks of life rallied to oppose this curfew ordinance. They wrote letters to the Mayor, the City Council Members, the Editor of the Fresno Bee and the Police Chief calling a community meeting and inviting them all (the Mayor did not attend and only 4 of 7 council members were represented). The concerned community packed City Hall on February 6th. They were ready with arguments that the curfew would violate a long list of Constitutional rights and civil liberties, that it is an illegal preemption of the state education code and its due process protections, that it criminalizes youth and that it would worsen the already serious problem of racial profiling. It was inspiring to see the diversity of races, ages, and special interests come together to protect our children's rights.

The Council voted to delay the vote on the curfew until March 27th and directed the education subcommittee to study the truancy problem and come up with some positive solutions in partnership with school districts and interested community groups and members.

WILPF has a long history of empowering people without a strong voice. Our youth fall into this category. This was a victory due to organization, action and commitment to freedom and justice: all the things WILPF represents.

RACE RAVE ROCKS
by Gerry Bill

Seven Fresnans had the good fortune to participate in the Western US Race Rave held at UC Santa Cruz on February 2-3. The conference was cosponsored by WILPF’s UFORJE campaign and by the Center for Justice, Tolerance and Community at UC Santa Cruz.

Friday evening at the conference featured some intriguing demonstrations of the use of the Theatre of the Oppressed. Most of the conference happened on Saturday, with a provocative keynote address by Haunani-Kay Trask, a Hawaiian nationalist activist. She dealt with issues pertaining to return of land to its rightful owners, the indigenous peoples of Hawaii and of North and South America. She noted that UC Santa Cruz was built on Native American land, and should only exist by permission of the rightful owners of the land, who should be receiving rental fees and should have rights to set conditions of use.

By dispersing, the Fresno contingent was able to send people to a big variety of workshops. The ones receiving the highest praise were: Reparations for Descendants of African Slaves; Environmental Racism; Racism and Education, Racism and Feminism, and Criminalization of Youth.

WILPF members in Santa Cruz graciously provided housing to many conference participants, including Fresno’s Jean Kennedy-Douglas, who reported that she was quite well treated. WILPF co-coordinators Carl Bequette and Zay Guffy-Bill also attended the Rave.

SOLAR SANITY
by Joan Poss

Sun Mountain Environmental Center in Tollhouse, home of George and Maia Ballis, has had solar energy for years. Erin Kennedy, in her story on them in The Fresno Bee, says it very clearly: "Equipping buildings with solar generators--which puts excess power back into the state grid--is more reliable, more efficient, and faster than building huge, new power plants. It makes so much sense." In fact, it makes so much sense that Sun Mountain's PG&E bill last month was $25 for running their computers and water pump. Why doesn't everyone go solar? Check out Real Goods’ website WWW.solarliving.org for inspiration and "real good" ideas.

BLANCHE NOSWORTHY’S BIRTHDAY BASH

Our dear Blanche turns 88 soon. All WILPF members are invited to celebrate with her at her lovely home and school on March 10th, starting at 1:00 o’clock. Bring a delicious something for potluck and plan to schmooze and enjoy.

HOUSE BUILT BY WOMEN 2001

Habitat for Humanity Fresno is planning a women-built house for 2001. All women are invited to join the effort. Opportunities to participate are not limited to hammering nails. We need leaders and members of the following committees: fundraising, public relations, volunteer organizing, special events, and construction.

Habitat is a Christian organization, but many non-Christians are Habitat partners in both building and homeownership. All women are invited to participate. If you cannot participate in the build, we also welcome your donations. Please tell all women and women's groups with whom you are in contact. This is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor, so to speak. If you want any more information, call the Habitat Office at (559) 237-4102 or WILPF member, Susan Arpad at 228-1867, or email her at susanar@csufresno.edu.

OOPS! DID YOU REMEMBER TO PAY YOUR MEMBERSHIP DUES?

With our busy schedules it’s easy to understand how we can forget to pay our WILPF membership dues. These were due in October. Those who haven’t sent theirs in please get them in the mail ASAP. Send them to the national office: WILPF, 1213 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19107-1691. Thanks.

WATCH FOR TRI-ANNUAL CATALYST IN APRIL

We’ll be putting together three big Catalysts during the year and the first will be coming to you in April. This will be a separate entity from the fabulous Community Alliance newsletter you hold in your hands now. April’s Catalyst will have news, feature stories, member biographies, WILPF National and International campaigns, in all, a more leisurely sit-down-and-drink-a-cup-of-tea-while-you-read feel to it.

If you’re a WILPF member, we encourage you to submit any information you have and want to share with other members including anecdotes (especially about Blanche Nosworthy) and poems (especially dealing with women’s issues.). Call or email Zay at 227-2133/zaygb@earthlink.net or Desi 224-2976/dc025@csufresno.edu.

And thanks to this month¹s contributors for the wonderful info they provided .

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OPEN EXCHANGE: The Center has received a grant from the Whitney Foundation for presenting violence-reduction programs for teens. Three programs are available in any combination: a 2-hour introduction to nonviolence, the 6-session Cross-Cultural curriculum developed by Fresno Metro Ministry, and a multi-session curriculum--OPEN EXCHANGE-- teaching constructive "self-presentation". Classes have already been held at Unity House, the Day Reporting Center, and the West Fresno Teen Connection Project. For information call Richard Stone at 266-2559.

MEDIA NEWS: The Center is the major sponsor of an Alternative Media Conference to be held on March 17 at the Sierra Vista United Methodist Church (4609 E. Illinois, near Maple & Cedar). How can progressive alternative media folk work together to get the good word out? Let's find out. (See details in separate article, or call 273-3223 to receive registration info.)

Meanwhile, The Central California Institute, the progressive think tank being developed by Vincent Lavery, is back on track with the help of Valley new-comer Diane Marx. Stay tuned for details. Vince's projected TV show is scheduled for its trial run on Saturdays April 7 & 14, at 10:30 p.m. on cable Ch. 14. The Center has underwritten the first two demonstration shows; but to continue, it will need to find backers. Check it out; see if you find it worth your support.

COMMUNITY RESOURCE: In its role of providing support to allied community groups, the Center has assumed the temporary role of fiscal agent for LAMP, a Merced-based AIDS program while they establish independent non-profit status. Also, a gay-oriented contemplative group for prayer, reflection and action will begin meeting at the Center two Mondays each month. For information, contact Enver Rahmonov at 268-2045.

PEACE CHALLENGE UPDATE: The Peace Challenge for Youth has attracted 6 projects, ranging from an anti-sweat-shop rally to a theater piece about prison conditions to a movie/discussion series. Over $800 in grants have been awarded. A conference for participants has been scheduled for April 7th, with an awards ceremony to be held in May.

RACE RAVE: In early February, 6 members of the ongoing Black/White group initiated by the Center over 3 years ago, traveled to Santa Cruz for the WILPF-sponsored "Race Rave". Several high-intensity presentations were made, including a call for the return of indigenous people's lands by a native Hawaiian (who joined fierce legal rigor with passion for her people's sovereignty), a forum on reparations for African Americans, a searing theater piece on the exploitation of third-world women, and a sobering invocation of the things people of color never again want to hear from whites. The impossibility of resolving hundreds of years of pain and misunderstanding in 2 days made the weekend deeply unsettling. Still it provided an occasion for us who are beneficiaries of white privilege to sharpen our resolve to be true allies to people of color and to focus on specific ways to enact this resolve.

ANNUAL YARD SALE: The Center's spring fund-raiser needs YOU--DONATE GOODS, HELP WITH THE WORK, COME SHOP!! Sorting party Friday March 23, sale all day Saturday. Call Angela at 435-6383 if you can help in any way.

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THE WELCH REPORT

Feb. 12, 2001
Jack H. Welch, M.D.

CREATE A BETTER WORLD, NOT A BETTER MILITARY

Polls register overwhelming public support for abolishing nuclear weapons, for halting arms sales to human rights-abusing dictators, for funding education instead of weapons systems the Pentagon does not want, and for helping the world's children live a healthy life.

California Peace Action would have the new president do the following to make our world a safer and more secure place in which to live:

1) Ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. No country can develop new nuclear weapons without testing them; the Senate therefore could move toward preventing other countries from developing nuclear weapons by ratifying this treaty.

2) Cancel the Star Wars anti-missile system. The system undermines arms control and the ABM Treaty. At present it doesn't work, and if it did work it would be useless against bombs hidden in trucks, planes or boats. It already has cost $70b. Why should billions more be spent so that the Pentagon can pursue the goal of militarization of space?

3) De-alert nuclear weapons. Both the US and Russia have thousands of nuclear weapons on hair-trigger alert. Separating the warheads from their delivery missiles would greatly decrease the chance of an accidental launch.

4) End the economic sanctions on Iraq and stop bombing that country. The UN estimates that 5,000 children each month are dying as a result of the US-led sanctions and ongoing US bombing. The sanctions are killing people for living under a leader whom the US doesn't like (and not without cause).

5) Sign the Ottawa Landmines Treaty. Every 22 seconds someone in the world is injured by a landmine, yet the US refuses to sign the Treaty.

6) Stop selling weapons and stop providing military aid to other countries. The US exports more than half of the world's international arms deliveries. President Bush could decide to stop selling weapons to nations in conflict, undemocratic regimes, and human rights abusers.

7) The above includes Colombia. Under the pretense of stopping the flow of drugs to the US, Congress voted to give several billion dollars worth of military equipment and support to a country in the midst of a civil war. A true war on drug addiction would fund treatment centers and preventive programs, a much less costly alternative than military aid.

8) Withhold aid to Israel until UN Resolutions are implemented. For peace to have a chance, Israel must withdraw from the occupied territories, allow Palestinian sovereignty and recognize the Palestinian right to return.

9) Cut the Pentagon budget and invest more in domestic needs. We already have the best military in the world, so let's create the best society in the world.

The truth is George W. Bush will not do these things. If we want them done, we the people will have to push our leaders to do them. (Source: Because People Matter January/February 2001)

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California Prison Focus presents - Women in Prison Series Keynote Speakers: Maria Telesco: President, Fresno Death Penalty Focus; Barbara Owen: Sociologist, CSUF, author: In the Mix; Angela Davis: Activist teacher at UC Santa Cruz; Ida McCray: Executive Director, Families with a Future; Dixie Salazar: Poet, novelist, teacher activist and ; --- with activists Catherine Campbell and Judy Greenspan as MC's. Topics include: "The effects of the drug war on women in prison" "Women on Death Row" Video: Security Housing Unit at Valley State Prison For Women Co-Sponsored by: Fresno Chapter Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, NAACP Saturday, March 3, 2001, 7:00 PM; Fresno City College, Forum Hall, 101 $10.00 Donation (no one will be turned away) For more information, call: (559) 221-0755 or (415) 252-9211

THE IWW & ITS ROLE IN US LABOR HISTORY

(1^st of a 3 part series)
By: Paul Jackson
Fresno Food Not Bombs

In the 1890's, the U.S. socialist movement suffered internal strife with De Leon's Socialist Labor Party becoming splintered and rival Debs organizing the Socialist Party. The Western Federation of Miners (WFM), begun in 1893 as a class-conscious union, was strong enough to take part in 10 major strikes; but in 1901, the year in which U.S. Steel was formed, WFM and other socialists witnessed its offspring, the American Labor Union (ALU), fail in a strike attempted by steel workers. The system of "trusts" or corporations, which was then (as now) accumulating huge sums of wealth, seemed almost invincible to the "wage slaves" whose working conditions were absolutely deplorable.

By the turn of the century, large numbers of U.S. workers began recognizing the helplessness of their place in the economic system. Though they'd felt indifferent toward "anarchism," "socialism," and other ideas tossed around by foreign-born workers since the 1870's—they overcame their indifference in favor of such collective action. Responding to their outcries, representatives of WFM, ALU, and others met in Chicago in 1905 and wrote a constitution for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), both envisioning a new society and addressing craft unionism that was indirectly responsible for the failed 1901 strike, since that form of unionism kept workers divided into smaller (and weaker) unions.

The IWW was dedicated to organizing workers everywhere into industrial unions, all of which would in turn be part of "one big union" composed of the human race. To achieve this lofty goal, the IWW set out to support workers in their daily struggles against exploitation by employers; and eventually to liberate humankind from capitalism that, by definition it would seem, necessitates such exploitation.

Although Debs and De Leon took part in the IWW's founding, both went on to careers in the political arena, in which the IWW has not set foot since 1908. "Our program is to create a new society by organizing the workers in industrial unions, by means of which they can take over production and distribution, thus abolishing private ownership. We have dropped everything else and centered our activity on this point." (One Big Union, July 1919)

Intensely focused on organizing, the IWW quickly became the leading radical union in the country and remained so until 1930, when the Communist Party USA became more popular. The IWW's decline, from which it has yet to fully recover, is largely due to the open persecution the union suffered during the post-WWI "Red Scare." In 1919, for example, California businessmen caused 164 IWW members to be imprisoned under the state's "criminal syndicalism" laws merely for belonging to the union.

Though the IWW once had as many as 500,000 members, the general strike that "Big Bill" Haywood hoped for in 1914 is of course a long ways off. Yet, over its 95-year history, the union has organized over 150 successful strikes, an astounding record, given the huge setbacks it has suffered. Stories about the IWW's history are told by one of its member, Utah Phillips, whose program airs 5—6 p.m. Sundays on KFCF-FM, 88.1 MHz. Other well-known IWW members include Mother Jones, a cofounder after whom the progressive magazine was named; and MIT professor Noam Chomsky, arch-critic of U.S. foreign policy.

Regardless of ideology, the union's spirit of hope, daring, persistence, and courage is an inspiration to anyone concerned about labor rights.

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PROTEST!PROTEST!PROTEST! WHAT: Burger King Protest DATE: SAT. March 10 TIME: 12:00 noon Address: Burger King, 3482 W Shaw Ave, Fresno CA 93711 Contact Lauren Ferber, Joe Aguayo 226-4304 laurenliberty@mediaone.net *located on Shaw and Fresno Street right before the Fashion Fair Mall Burger King is one of the largest meat based fast food restaurants in the United States, and is currently being targeted by the national animal liberation movement. Their products come from the torture of millions of voiceless and innocent animals every year, in factory farms. The factory farming system of modern agriculture strives to produce the most meat, milk, and eggs as quickly and cheaply as possible, using the smallest amount of space possible. Cows, calves, pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, and other animals are kept in small cages or stalls, often unable to turn around. They are deprived of exercise so that all of their bodies' energy goes toward producing flesh, eggs, or milk for human consumption. They are fed growth hormones to fatten them faster and are genetically altered to grow larger or to produce more milk or eggs than nature originally intended. Factory farming is an extremely cruel method of raising animals, but its profitability makes it popular. One way to stop the abuses of factory farming is to support legislation that abolishes battery cages, veal crates, and intensive-confinement systems. The best way to save animals from the misery of factory farming is to stop buying and eating meat, milk, and eggs. Vegetarianism and veganism means eating for life: yours and theirs. Back to top

Home care workers begin struggle for living wage, medical benefits, respect

Twice in last month a large group of home care workers have packed Fresno County Board of Supervisors demanding dignity in the form of living wage and medical benefits. They got a 3% raise to $6.44/hour with no benefits. This is the just the beginning as over 1,000 of them have joined the Service Employees International Union. They have a long road ahead. Supervisors OKed the raise but not without a lot of hemming and hawing about budget restraints, while many of the high level county bureaucrats make a living wage multiplied by 10 or 20. And most of the $$ for the home care workers comes from the state. Then Supervisor Waterston thought aloud it would be a good idea if all home care workers were fingerprinted at their own expense. Perhaps that was what their big 3% raise is to be used for. These workers save the county a bundle of $$ by caring for invalid persons in the persons homes. Instead of putting them in hospitals. Also they work many more hours than they are paid for. Now they are invisible no more.

Health Care Workers fill out Union Cards
Photo by: George Ballis

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PRISON CONFERENCE HELD IN FRESNO
By: Catherine Campbell

Ex-convict and long-time prison activist Dorsey Nunn welcomed more than 300 Bay Area and Central Valley activists to an all-day conference on prison building Saturday, February 10^th, at California State University, Fresno. “I’m a brother, and I don’t like rats, but let me tell you people that I am very grateful today for one rat, and that’s the kangaroo rat who is going to keep a prison out of Delano!”

In a unique collaboration of civil rights workers and environmentalists, the conference focused on the profoundly negative consequences of prison construction in small farm communities.

The purpose of the conference was to gather momentum for an all-out legal and political battle over the construction of a second prison at Delano. A trial on the legal challenge, Critical Resistance vs. the Department of Corrections, begins on April 6, 2001, and one of the conference objectives was to encourage attendance and support of that ground-breaking event. Luis Talamantez, another former prisoner, said it for us all when he said, “It is a sin to build prisons in the cradle of the farm worker’s movement! It spits in the face of Cesar Chavez and all he stood for, and we cannot let it happen!”

Juana Gutierrez, a leader in the organization Mothers of East Los Angeles, told her story. She and several other women organized to oppose the construction of a prison in East Los Angeles, and after many years of battle, they were successful. Of course, her battle is now our battle, since the Department of Corrections has historically been unsuccessful in locating prisons in large urban areas, and increasingly looks to small, poor towns where people are desperate for jobs and industry.

A speaker from Orange Cove movingly recounted how Department of Corrections people, looking slick and talking slicker, came to their town after the freeze of 1999 and promised that prison construction would solve their problems of poverty, hunger and homelessness. It apparently was an unlucky strategy, for the people of Orange Cove said, “We need schools, and we need libraries, and we could even use a park, but we don’t need a prison in our town.”

Several speakers talked facts about prison construction. It does not bring jobs. The people who work there come from other prisons, and they live in the nearest big town. There is a contribution to the tax base that comes from prison construction, but it does not compensate for the social disruption of community and family life that prisons inevitably bring in their wake. I remember a woman in Crescent City telling me in 1990, one year after they built Pelican Bay State Prison, “The only thing we got out of the prison was a Walmart. But now, when I take my child to the emergency room, I sit next to a tattooed convict in shackles and four armed guards while my child waits for the doctor. A Walmart was not worth it.”

Ruthie Gilmore, who teaches Geography at Berkeley, and is a long-time anti-prison activist and writer, talked about the economic realities of prison construction, and alternative programs for community and economic development in small towns. After her talk, people broke into small groups to develop strategies focusing on keeping a second prison out of Delano.

The conference was the beginning of a collaboration between Bay Area prison activists and local community organizers. People who have struggled with these issues for years now recognize this is the front line, and to be effective they must mobilize and collaborate here. A second step in the same direction will occur on March 3, when California Prison Focus brings Angela Davis to Fresno.

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RACE RELATIONS FILM SERIES

The Race Relations Film Series at Fresno City College ( room SO-221) is open to anyone; the one unit of degree-applicable, non-transfer credit is optional. The series runs February 23 through May 11. On Friday, May 4 there will be no film because a field trip is scheduled for that day. The scheduled time for the class is 3:00 p.m. on Fridays. The ending time will vary somewhat because films are of different length; in no case will the class go beyond 5:50 p.m.

2/23 ONE MAN’S HERO: This is the story of the San Patricios (St. Patrick’s Brigade) during the Mexican War. Recent Irish immigrants inducted into the US military discover that they have a lot more in common with the people they are fighting against (the Mexicans) than with the US imperialist forces seeking to take the Southwest from Mexico by force. Some switch sides, and the San Patricios are created. Based on the actual events of 1846-1848. Facilitators: Gerry Bill, Richard Valencia

3/2 INCIDENT AT OGLALA: This is the story of Leonard Peltier, who has been in prison for over twenty years now following a shooting incident on an Indian reservation in which two FBI agents were killed. There were many irregularities in the arrest, the charges, extradition from Canada, and trial of Peltier. There have been many calls for a new trial for Peltier, or perhaps a pardon. The issue came before President Clinton during his final days, but he declined to act. Facilitator: Wendy Rose

3/9 THE KING OF MASKS: Set in China in the1930¹s, this film reveals much about traditional Chinese culture. A major focus is the proper roles of men and women, which includes issues of inheritance. Traditions bump into the harsh realities of more modern times, and much of the story hinges on the question of whether to alter traditional ways to fit current realities. Facilitator: John Cho

3/16 THE MISSION: This film deals with the spread of European culture into South America during the period of colonization, and with the resistance of the indigenous peoples there. Some missionaries try to convert the "heathen" Indians to Christianity, but have a great deal of trouble trying to bridge the cultural gap between the two worlds. Facilitator: Richard Valencia

3/23 SANKOFA: This is an incredibly intense film that deals with issues of slavery, the slave trade, and the effect of all of that on contemporary African Americans. The film follows a young, African American woman of the present day on a trip to Africa, where she begins to have visions of what her ancestors went through during slave days. Her visions tell the story of the slave trade and of the barbaric practices of slavery itself; the visions end up changing her as a person. Facilitator: Kehinde Solwazi

3/30 MI FAMILIA: Set in the present day, this film depicts some of the harsh realities of growing up and coming of age in a neighborhood dominated by gangs. The story is told from the perspective of the young women of the neighborhood, dealing with the forces pushing them into gang membership, and the consequences of that in their lives. Facilitator: Richard Valencia

4/6 AMERICAN HISTORY X: The film deals with a white hate group and its recruitment of teenagers. It focuses on one of the leaders who ends up in prison for a while. It deals with the social forces that get these young white men to join the hate group, including family background, friends and peers, and manipulation by an older white supremacist. The film also explores what is involved in trying to change that white-supremacist mindset. Facilitator: Becky Slaton

4/20 THE LAST DAYS: This powerful film was named best documentary of the year at the 2000 Academy Awards. It deals with the final days of the Nazi concentration camps. There are interviews with survivors of the camps and also with some surviving captors at the camps. Facilitator: Michael Schuller

4/27 COLOR OF FEAR: This film, which can be very intense at times, deals with the issues of race and racism in contemporary US society. It takes place in Ukiah, California, at an interracial men¹s weekend retreat. It deals with the issues of white/minority group relations and with the fears and prejudices between different minority groups. Facilitators: Ken Hallstone, Richard Valencia, Gerry Bill

5/11 AMISTAD: This is a true story of resistance to slavery‹resistance carried out both by black people and by white people. The story starts with a rebellion of captive Africans aboard the slave ship Amistad. The Africans are imprisoned in New England, where an active abolition movement takes up their cause. An extended court battle ends up in the Supreme Court where the advocate for the Africans is John Quincy Adams, the former US President. Facilitator: Kehinde Solwazi

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SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTING
By: Richard Stone and Ellen Bush

Is it possible to play the investment game and not become part of the corporate problem? Lisa Leff of Trillium Asset Management was in Fresno last month, and addressed this question from two perspectives, the two motivations that distinguish socially responsible investors from their traditional counterparts. One is the desire to avoid compromising their principles in their investments; the other is the desire to use their investments as a means to change society for the better.

As the Trillium Social Report states, the desire to avoid compromising principles can be satisfied by avoiding investment in companies whose behavior, on balance, is socially damaging. Obvious examples are companies dealing with weapons, nuclear power, tobacco, sweatshop labor, trade with Burma, and the like. The desire to produce social benefit--rather than just avoid harm--requires a more proactive approach, however. One avenue is to engage with corporate America through share ownership. Owning even a few shares of a particular stock can allow dialogue with management and the possibility of putting forth shareholder resolutions. This approach is a specialty of Trillium, which networks private and institutional shareholders to create meaningful voting blocs.

Another more financially vulnerable approach is to take shares in companies that are developing socially attractive responses to areas of concern, such as alternative forms of producing and distributing energy.

A third strategy for social investing is that of investment in community development projects and financial institutions (CDFI's) . There are efforts afoot in Fresno to create a local CDFI, and Ms. Leff discussed at length various possibilities, including community banks, credit unions and loan funds. (If interested in this work, contact John or Rico at 445-4166.)

Ms. Leff also advised her listeners of the possibility to invest in the Advocacy Fund, Trillium's new socially responsible Mutual Fund, which requires a minimum of only $2000 to buy into. The web site is www.trilliuminvest.com.

So, in short, Ms. Leff's answer to the basic question was: depending on your willingness to "become political" and to take a degree of financial risk, investment can be a powerful tool for change. But in any event, it is possible to invest--as it is to make any social transaction--with attention to the social impact and potential negative consequences of our actions.

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EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES OF INTEREST IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY
By: Nona W. Harris

African American who live in West Fresno have organized two committees for the betterment of all people who reside in the area. One is the West Fresno Neighborhood Watch Committee which meets the third Thursday of each month, and the Carver/King Neighborhood Leadership Council. Both groups meet from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Carver/King Neighborhood Resource Center, 2463 S. Martin L. King, Jr. Blvd., on the Carver Academy School grounds. Membership to both groups is welcome to all citizens regardless of ethnic background.

This past Thursday, during the Leadership meeting, we discussed problems in the area and who to contact in City government to get them resolved. We also prioritized some of the problems in order of importance. Some of the issues discussed were home improvement, upkeep, and property values, drugs, school safety, violent crimes and job availability, and children and adult education. Future problems to be discussed include area blight, empty/abandon homes, graffiti, affordable health care for children and adults, as well as positive youth activities.

The members are in the process of forming a committee to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed 'daytime curfew'. So far we see only cons. The committee will be ready to address the issue during the March 27th City Council meeting.

March is "Women's Awareness Month," and the Women's Studies Dept. of Fresno City College has invited noted educator and speaker. Ms. Angela Davis. Ms. Davis will speak for one hour on March 3rd, beginning at 7 p.m., in the Forum Hall, 100, which has limited seating. Donation is $10 at the door. Ebony Verses, a talented group of African American young ladies, will present poetry, music and dance on March 12th also at Forum Hall, 100, at Fresno City College. This event is sponsored by the Humanities Dept. of FCC, for more information contact Michael Roberts, or Kehinde Solwazi. The Pan African Student Union will have a display of noted African American women and their contributions to America, during Club Rush Day. Contact Student Services at FCC of the date and time.

The African American Historical and Cultural Museum, 1857 Fulton St. (at Divisadero) will continue its display of the Herieta Marie Slave Ship exhibit 'til March 25th. This exhibit shows artifacts such as shackles (you may have a chance to see how they fit). You can also see a diagram of the living and sleeping quarters for the slaves. On March 2, the Museum will also host 'First Friday', an after work business and professional networking mixer, designed to support businesses and professionals. This is a monthly event so mark your calendar. March 7th is Kids Day at the Museum, all children are admitted free.

As for my opinion on the daytime curfew. I feel that it is just another ploy to criminalize more students of color by the police department now that the District Attorney has the power to judge a juvenile as an adult. They must be in dire need of more people to fill the new prisons in California. If they want children to attend school they should make it relevant to every day life, and hold the teachers who have the most truancies accountable for their actions, not the students. One must remember, no one wants to remain where they know they are not wanted.

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