The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.59/No.28           August 7, 1995 
 
 
25 And 50 Years Ago  

July 31, 1970

HEIDELBERG, Germany, July 9 - Afro-American GIs stationed in Germany are waging an open struggle against racism, brutality and bad conditions, and for immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Indochina. They organized a public "Call for Justice" meeting July 4 in Heidelberg attended by about 1,000 Black GIs.

The UBS [Unsatisfied Black Soldiers] was formed in Heidelberg in April. Another organization, the Black Defense Group, existed in Karlsruhe, and in May its president initiated the idea for the "Call for Justice" meeting.

The UBS demands at the July 4 rally were immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Indochina; establishment of enlisted men's review boards to rule on pretrial confinement of Black soldiers; creation of a civilian inspector general in Army units to fill the posts now held by officers; an end to discrimination in assignments and duties; and employment of more Blacks in overseas civilian jobs connected with the Army.

July 28, 1945
LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 20 - More than 14,000 persons answered the call of the anti-fascist united front organized during the past week to demonstrate against Gerald L.K. Smith and his fascist movement by attending a mass meeting at the Olympic auditorium tonight.

Meanwhile, at the Shrine auditorium a mile away, Smith ranted to an audience of less than 5,000 against "the Jews and Communists" at the Olympic. Demagogically appealing to the aged members of the Ham and Eggs movement and the fanatically religious sects who provide the only base he has been able to secure here thus far, Smith screamed: "There's ham and eggs for Russia, and ham and eggs for Britain, and now we're going to get ham and eggs for America!"

W.J. Bassett, representing the AFL Central Labor Council, and Philip Connelly, secretary of the CIO Industrial Council, made the most significant speeches at the anti-fascist mass meeting.

Bassett exposed Smith's demagogic references to his membership in the AFL by explaining that years ago this fascist demagogue had "confused some AFL unions in Louisiana into giving him life memberships" and has been exploiting them ever since.

Bassett was the first speaker to emphasize the special interest of labor in stopping Smith, who is "attempting to divide all working people and do away with organized labor."

Connelly's speech, as full of double talk as the Stalinist line which he follows, explained Smith's presence in Los Angeles as an attempt "to disrupt the war effort in the Pacific."

Then touching a basic truth for once, he said: "This is the reactionary big business method of solving postwar problems."

 
 
 
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