Nov. 11, 2006

WASHINGTON — Fired by anger and disgust with George W. Bush, the Iraq war, corporate greed, corruption and human needs cutbacks, voters went to the polls Nov. 7 and terminated 12 years of Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives. A switch to Democratic control of the Senate hinged on the undecided Virginia race, with the Democrat leading at press time.

Labor’s challenge in this election was to provide the organizing to transform the workers’ frustration and anger into political power, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said at a post-election press conference Nov. 8. It was not only labor’s message but its messengers who achieved that goal.

OAKLAND, Calif. — “United We Fight Back!” will be the theme as Northern California supporters of the People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo gather here on Sunday, Dec. 3, to honor area organizations and leaders working to defeat the far-right Republican agenda and win peace, democracy, equality, immigrant rights and opportunities for young people.

Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Pennsylvania were big players in the national tidal wave for change Nov. 7. Here are quick highlights from some of our volunteer correspondents on the ground in those and other states. Look for more analysis next week

CHICAGO — Citgo Petroleum Corp., the U.S.-based subsidiary of Venezuela’s publicly owned oil company, announced Nov. 2 it was giving $400,000 to help kick-start a new health clinic at Little Village Lawndale High School on the city’s southwest side

OAKLAND, Calif. — In an action with far-reaching implications for improving air quality, curbing global warming, growing the “green economy” and developing well-paying jobs for urban workers, Oakland’s City Council voted Oct. 17 to develop a plan to make the city oil independent by 2020. It is the first such measure by a U.S. city.

SPRINGFIELD, Va.: Military newspapers say Rumsfeld must go ... and then he does
ATLANTA: Suit seeks to protect Latinos’ civil rights
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.: Anti-gay religious leader resigns in scandal
HARRISBURG, Pa.: Seniors pay more, insurance companies get richer

DALLAS — Activists here honored one of the nation’s most distinguished civil rights figures Nov. 4. On legislation originated by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D), who represents East Dallas, the Lakeland Hills Post Office was rededicated to the memory of Francisco “Pancho” Medrano.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Four local peace activists were sentenced to eight hours of community service Nov. 2 for their part in a nonviolent antiwar protest at the Raytheon Missile Systems Plant south of here March 20, the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

In the aftermath of the official banning of the communist youth league in the Czech Republic, and in defiance of that ban, 15 European communist youth groups met in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, Oct. 27-29.