USA
Geronimo Pratt "Free
The former Black Panther was released bars for a crime he didn't commit.
In 1970 Geronimo Pratt was framed for the murder of a schoolteacher, and (two years later) sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. He was "railroaded" for the killing as FBI and police sought to undermine the Black Panther movement in California.
The conviction was overturned when a judge ruled that prosecutors had failed to tell the defence that their key witness, who claimed Pratt confessed, was an paid infiltrator and informant for the FBI and police.
Stuart Hanlon, one of Pratt's attorneys, said his client's release still doesn't justify the American legal system. "The which have dominated the opposition in Ecuador and elsewhere.
As so often before in the country's history, most of the opposition is unable to resist the offer of a government job, or a few seconds on television. This kind of outlook has enabled the regime to refresh the makeup on the face of the state. The situation is now more favourable than before for the introduction of neo-liberal policies. And the ruling classes have successfully drawn the wind from the sales of the popular movement of February.
But this government victory does not guarantee them a solution to the crisis facing the country. As before, Ecuador waits with its unsatisfied social demands, while the political class reforms itself.
The struggle for a democratic rupture with this political system continues. Though the conditions for the popular cause are worsening. The immediate struggle is for a National Constituent Assembly, and against privatisation. In this struggle, we must strive for popular unity and independence of the major parties, so as to be ready when the next elections come.
Those in the movement who had forgotten that we were living in a context of class struggle should wake up. The bourgeoisie in Ecuador never forgot this basic political truth. * Note 1. Fourth International supporter Rosendo Rojas of Democracia Socialista, and two deputies from the Movimiento Popular Democratica. * Based on an article by Fernando López in Revuelta #2, June 1997 (published by Democracia Socialista, Ecuadorian section of the Fourth International) at last" on bail on June 10, after 27 years behind justice system that kept him in jail for 25 years can't be justified by one judge's ruling. It's been a long struggle," he said.
Eldridge Cleaver, the 61-year-old former minister of information for the Black Panthers, said Pratt's release and reversal of his conviction would help to solidify the party's reputation in history. "We will be judged as having a made a positive contribution," he said. "We "We stood up for freedom and justice." Of Pratt, Cleaver said: "His legacy is one of endurance, of always saying no to the attempts to subvert him." * Source: Associated Press, 10 June 1997
4th Congres of the Fourth Internationa Transformation and regroupment The collapse of Stalinism and the continuing capitalist crisis has contradictory effects. Myths and illusions connected to the restoration of capitalism in the postStalinist societies have dissipated, faced with the actually existing market economy. But reactions to the socio-economic crisis all too often take the form of reactionary tendencies of an ethnic, nationalist, racial or religious character. Hence the urgent need to rebuild a world-wide movement of anti-capitalist struggle, taking account of the recomposition of the workers' movement which is underway as a result of the double failure of social democracy and Stalinism. Regroupments of forces determined to learn the lessons of the historical abomination that was Stalinism and to continue, against the winds and the tides, to fight against capitalism are being realised in a number of countries. In all the countries where such possibilities exist, the organisations of the Fourth International are ready to be part of the re-groupment process. We consider this as an important step towards the recomposition of the anti-capitalist left on a world scale. At the international level, the Fourth International is an active participant in re-groupment, bringing with it the advantages of a long tradition of combat against capitalism and Stalinism. Price: £5/S10/60FF plus 10% postage charge or orders of 1-4 copies. Order from your loca agent, or directlv from Internationa Viewpoint, BP 85, 75522 Paris cedex 11, France
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