Aug 13, 2005

ATLANTA — The torch of the civil rights movement was passed to the next generation Aug. 6 as a march of over 20,000 filled the streets here on the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.

As grief-stricken families gathered in Ohio to mourn their Iraq war dead, mothers who lost sons in the war stood vigil on the road to George W. Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, to demand that he bring the troops home now.

After considering their case for over a year, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Aug. 9 overturned the 2001 convictions of the “Cuban Five” on charges of serving as unregistered agents of a foreign government. The court said the five men did not receive a fair trial in Miami because of pervasive prejudice there against the government led by President Fidel Castro, and ordered a new trial in a different jurisdiction.

CARACAS, Venezuela — The 16th World Festival of Youth and Students opened here Aug. 8 with an impressive procession of more than 15,000 delegates from over 100 countries. A colorful fireworks display, cultural performances and an indigenous purification ceremony accompanied the opening event.

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Among literally thousands of commemorations marking the 60th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6-9, four events at key U.S. nuclear weapons facilities highlighted developments in the struggle to abolish all such weapons.

Standing beside a banner reading “End the occupation, bring the troops home now” at the Communist Party USA convention in Chicago last month, Iraqi Communist Party representative Salam Ali told the participants, “Your victory is our victory.” The American people’s struggle to bring the troops home, he said, helps the Iraqi people in their struggle for sovereignty.

Unable to win Senate confirmation of John R. Bolton as the next U.S. ambassador to the UN, President Bush sidestepped lawmakers and appointed Bolton to the post during a congressional recess Aug. 1.

National Clips

At least one northern California labor council has already started its special election campaign activity. On July 30, precinct walkers gathered at the South Bay Labor Council’s San Jose headquarters before fanning out to talk with union families about what’s at stake in the Nov. 8 special election called by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Precinct walking continues on weekends, and phone banking started Aug. 1.

Workers, community leaders, clergy and some textile and sugar industry executives angrily confronted members of Congress who voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) last month.