First Published: The Call, Vol. 7, No. 6, February 13, 1978.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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Jimmy Carter, who only a few days ago was droning on about the “great state of the union,” is in for a big surprise. Workers across the country are getting ready to pay him a visit next week – and they won’t be there to say thanks.
From coast to coast people are rallying to come to the White House Feb. 18 to make it clear, “We aren’t buying your cutbacks for the people and welfare for the rich. We aren’t buying your lies. We want jobs or income and we want it now!”
A look at the list of close to 200 organizations and individuals who have endorsed the JOIN march tells a lot about the significance of this action and why it deserves the full support of every person who is tired of paying the price of the capitalist crisis.
Fightback activists and groups from cities across the country will be in Washington fresh from the fight for jobs in their own cities. There will be tenants groups and welfare mothers who have been battling landlords and government bureaucracies for decent living conditions for their families.
Workers from different industries will march in unity with their unemployed sisters and brothers under the demands, “Stop the layoffs! Short work week with no cut in pay!” and others.
Another contingent will demonstrate under the banner, “Stop deportations!” repudiating the bosses’ lies that immigrant workers are to blame for unemployment.
Older people, rejecting the system’s propaganda that calls them “useless,” will take their place alongside young people who are fighting for jobs and a brighter future.
Activists from the growing campaign to smash the racist Bakke decision and from other fronts of the fight against national oppression will march with prisoners’ rights organizations, women’s groups, church groups, as well as veterans, students and revolutionaries.
Whatever the particular aspect of the fightback which has involved these people at home, they have taken up the fight for jobs as their rallying cry against all the effects of the capitalist crisis. “Jobs or income now!” is the demand which is forging these local struggles into one powerful nationwide movement, an essential step not only in winning great victories now, but also in building the people’s strength to get rid of capitalist oppression forever.
Feb. 18 will not be the end of our struggle, but it is an important beginning. Marching shoulder to shoulder, men and women, employed and unemployed, people of every age and nationality for the first time in decades will bring their demands to the capitalists right in their headquarters.
We’ll be in Washington Feb. 18. JOIN US!