United States
New York City educators call for action to stop in-person schooling and save lives
New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 4 March 2021
Under conditions in which the New York B.1.526 variant of COVID-19 is spreading throughout the city, the drive to reopen all schools will only lead to further infections and deaths.
999 Walkout in suburban Philly schools
4 March 2021
999 (TBD) Tyson quarterly financial results
4 March 2021
Amanda Gorman’s Dutch translator forced to quit because of race—a call for cultural segregation
By James Clayton, 4 March 2021
Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, the winner of the International Booker Prize for The Discomfort of Evening, has been forced to resign as translator of Gorman’s poetry into Dutch.
999 Interview with Alabama teacher
4 March 2021
US Supreme Court poised to finish off Voting Rights Act
By Ed Hightower, 4 March 2021
Tuesday’s discussion in the Supreme Court—essentially on the issue of how much voter suppression is permissible—should serve as another warning that American democracy is on life support.
999 DSA & the PRO Act
4 March 2021
Minneapolis, Minnesota prepares for murder trial of former officer Derek Chauvin
By Anthony Bertolt, 4 March 2021
There is extreme nervousness among the ruling elite that the first trial in relation to the killing of George Floyd and its outcome could once again trigger an eruption of social anger.
Vernon Jordan, African American pillar of the establishment, dead at 85
By Fred Mazelis, 4 March 2021
The confidant and close adviser of Bill Clinton based his entire career on the role of liaison between a small layer of the black middle class and sections of big business.
999 Interview with engineer Bob Bea about Texas disaster
4 March 2021
13 killed in deadly SUV crash near US-Mexico border in southern California
By Meenakshi Jagadeesan, 4 March 2021
Car crashes in the border area are not uncommon, and usually have been the result of vehicles trying to flee US Border Patrol.
D.C. National Guard commander says Pentagon delayed deployment of troops to protect US Capitol on January 6
By Jacob Crosse, 4 March 2021
Testifying at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Gen. William Walker said top Trump Defense Department officials prevented his troops from being deployed to hold off the mob that stormed the Capitol.
Biden and Trudeau revamp Canada-US alliance for trade war and military conflict
By Roger Jordan, 4 March 2021
The Roadmap for a Renewed US-Canada Partnership proposes a “whole-of- government relationship” to reassert North American imperialist world dominance, including through the modernization of NORAD, securing “strategic” production chains, and developing “clean” energy.
Postal worker in Chicago dies in apparent suicide in mail truck
By Marcus Day, 4 March 2021
A postal worker was found dead in Chicago Monday night, having hung herself in the back of her mail truck, according to a report from a police scanner and comments by union officials.
US ruling class moves to remove remaining restrictions as pandemic continues to spread
By Patrick Martin, 4 March 2021
While the federal CDC has criticized Texas for ending all COVID-19 restrictions, the Biden administration policy of reopening all schools will have the same effect of spreading the pandemic.
Rocket attack on base in Iraq raises threat of US escalation
By Bill Van Auken, 4 March 2021
One US civilian contractor died from a heart attack during the rocket strike, which inflicted no casualties on US troops and reportedly did little damage.
999 Supreme Court hears voting rights case
3 March 2021
Australian central bank action and Wall Street gyrations indicate a coming storm
By Nick Beams, 3 March 2021
Notwithstanding the Fed’s assurances, the fear remains that the crisis that erupted in mid-March, when there was a rush for cash and an exit out of even the most secure government debt, could return.
United Teachers of Los Angeles colludes with state Democrats in school reopening drive
By Marc Wells, 3 March 2021
The UTLA has accepted the basic framework that schools must reopen and is working with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom and other state officials behind closed doors to prepare a deadly return to school.
In Senate hearing
FBI Director Wray confirms coordinated planning by pro-Trump far-right terrorists in January 6 attack
By Jacob Crosse, 3 March 2021
While the FBI head acknowledged the central role in the attempted coup played by far-right “militia extremists,” many questions relating to the lack of security on the part of the police and the National Guard were not seriously pursued and remained unanswered.
Union-sponsored deal announced in Philadelphia to reopen elementary schools on Monday
By Samuel Davidson, 3 March 2021
With the collaboration of the teachers unions, Philadelphia schools will begin in-person classes for about 3,000 kindergarten through second grade students Monday, despite the spread of new and more infectious coronavirus strains that are making their way into the population.
New York Times stokes sex scandal targeting New York Governor Cuomo
By Josh Varlin, 3 March 2021
As with the #MeToo campaign, there is nothing progressive in the possible take-down of right-wing Democrat Cuomo on the basis of a sex scandal.
999 Amazon interviews on unionization
3 March 2021
In first meeting with Biden, Mexico’s AMLO reaffirms allegiance to Washington
By Andrea Lobo, 3 March 2021
Beyond formal statements of mutual respect, the meeting marks a continuation of the AMLO’s subservience to the interests of US imperialism, cemented under Trump.
Texas, Mississippi abandon coronavirus restrictions as CDC warns of variant-induced surge
By Bryan Dyne, 3 March 2021
An average of 7,000 new cases and 230 new deaths are still being reported each day in Texas, making it the state with the second worst outbreak in the country.
999 Minneapolis preparations for Chauvin trial
3 March 2021
Worcester, Mass. nurses set March 8 strike date
By Ben Oliver, 3 March 2021
The 800 MNA nurses at St. Vincent Hospital have been negotiating for a new contract since November 2019. Nurses will strike the hospital at 6 a.m. on Monday, March 8 if an agreement is not reached.
Hundreds of thousands still suffering two weeks after winter storm hit southern US
By Trévon Austin, 3 March 2021
The massive level of hardship and indifference of the ruling class expose the rotten state of American capitalism.
International Youth and Students for Social Equality (US) establishes new club at Appalachian State University
By James Langley, 3 March 2021
The IYSSE at ASU is working to bring a socialist perspective to the students and youth at the college and in the surrounding area, and, to turn them to the working class in the region.
“The kids will bring it home to their parents and grandparents”
Co-organizer of walkout in suburban Philly school district explains opposition of parents and teachers to school reopenings
By Douglas Lyons, 3 March 2021
Downingtown parents and teachers have organized a walkout today to protest the reopening of the Downingtown Area School District, which covers 12,000 students.
Sanders provides cover to the Democrats as they refuse to raise the minimum wage
By Genevieve Leigh, 3 March 2021
In response to growing outrage, Senator Bernie Sanders has staged a series of stunts to cover over the Democratic Party’s gutting of its own stimulus bill.
999 (TBD) Tyson quarterly financial results
3 March 2021
Why Biden supports the unionization of the Amazon workforce
By Jerry White and Joseph Kishore, 2 March 2021
Biden’s unprecedented intervention at Amazon brings to a new stage the corporatist strategy of the ruling class to integrate the unions into the state and corporate management.
Dr. Mateus answers teachers’ questions about ventilation and COVID-19 at Alabama rank-and-file meeting
By Our reporter, 2 March 2021
Educators from across Alabama and several other states asked questions at the meeting, which was chaired by an Alabama public school teacher.
Biden administration cynically invokes Khashoggi murder to “recalibrate” Saudi ties
By Bill Van Auken, 2 March 2021
Having issued a report finding Prince Mohammed bin Salman guilty of the gruesome killing, the White House has demonstratively refrained from imposing any sanctions against him.
999 Sanders, $15 minimum wage and the pseudo-left
2 March 2021
Amazon worker at Las Vegas warehouse dies in possible suicide
By Kayla Costa, 2 March 2021
While details have not been confirmed by Amazon or the local media, co-workers took to social media to share what they know of the individual’s tragic death on Monday.
Concerns rise over impact of Texas power failure on spread of COVID-19
By Trévon Austin, 2 March 2021
Experts warn the circumstances during the storm were conducive to the development of a massive “superspreader” event.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 March 2021
Meatpacking workers occupy Arrebeef plant in northern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina in defense of wages and jobs and in defiance of their own union.
Trump intensifies fascistic agitation at CPAC conference
By Patrick Martin, 2 March 2021
The elevation of an increasingly fascistic tendency in American politics is rooted in the reality of capitalism and the homicidal policy of the ruling class in response to the pandemic.
Major US school districts reopen despite spread of more contagious and lethal COVID-19 variants
By Evan Blake, 2 March 2021
Numerous school districts began reopening Monday as part of the bipartisan push to resume in-person learning at all schools, with the fulsome support of the teachers unions.
999 (TBD) Planned walkout in suburban Phily school district
2 March 2021
999 Biden speaks on Amazon unionization drive
2 March 2021
999 Report on Alabama Educators R&F meeting with Dr. Mateus rebutting CDC
2 March 2021
999 New IYSSE chapter at Appalachian State University
2 March 2021
999 (TBD) Tyson quarterly financial results
2 March 2021
999 Minneapolis preparations for Chauvin trial
2 March 2021
“Something needs to change, and we need to act”
Teacher in Nashville speaks out against the unsafe reopening of schools
By Isaac Finn, 2 March 2021
A Nashville charter school teacher spoke to the WSWS about all grades returning to in-person instruction this week.
Socialist Alternative’s Kshama Sawant joins the DSA: The Democratic Party politics of the pseudo-left
By Kayla Costa and Joseph Kishore, 1 March 2021
Socialist Alternative’s efforts to forge a closer alliance with the DSA is aimed at creating a new political trap and blocking the development of a genuine socialist movement of the working class.
999 Report on Alabama Educators R&F meeting with Dr. Mateus rebutting CDC
1 March 2021
999 Socialist Alternative and Sawant join DSA
1 March 2021
With a halt in the decline of COVID-19 cases in the US, CDC director warns “the virus is not done with us”
By Benjamin Mateus, 28 February 2021
For more than a week, the seven-day moving average in new cases of COVID-19 has stalled. Health officials are sounding the alarm that states are moving too rapidly in lifting restrictions.
Thousands of students return for in-person schooling in Chicago
By Kristina Betinis, 28 February 2021
An estimated 37,000 K-5 students will return to buildings this week as negotiations with the Lightfoot administration and the Chicago Teachers Union begin for the return of high school students in the spring.
Trump rails against “socialism” and doubles down on stolen election lie at Conservative Political Action Conference
By Barry Grey, 28 February 2021
The four-day event demonstrated the ex-president’s continuing domination of the Republican Party and its increasingly fascistic orientation.
One-third of US museums might close in 12 months, American Alliance of Museums warns
By David Walsh, 28 February 2021
The bankrupting of thousands of arts organizations and the expulsion of tens of thousands of artists from their chosen field go hand in hand with the fabulous enrichment of a handful of plutocrats.
Democrats torpedo $15 minimum wage hike
By Marcus Day, 28 February 2021
Biden’s decision to scuttle the minimum wage increase provides further confirmation that his administration is to be one of war and reaction, not social reform.
After nearly two weeks much of Jackson, Mississippi still without running water
By Aaron Murch, 28 February 2021
Over ten days since severe winter weather hit Mississippi’s capital city, many residents are facing dire water shortages and must rely on bottled water.
New York City Schools chancellor resigns as middle schools resume in-person learning
By Robert Milkowski, 28 February 2021
The new chancellor, Meisha Porter, stated during her first news conference Friday that the city is “ready to go” on reopening high schools.
Chicago and Cook County allocate the bulk of CARES Act funding to police and jail spending
By Alexander Fangmann, 28 February 2021
The decision to allocate the bulk of funding toward the repressive apparatus of the state, pushed from the highest levels of the Democratic Party, is a clear sign of the priorities of the ruling class, which has devoted a comparatively miniscule amount towards any kind of relief for workers.
Form rank-and-file committees to oppose school reopening drive!
Los Angeles educators must learn the lessons of the sellout by the Chicago Teachers Union!
Los Angeles Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 28 February 2021
The central task which educators confront is to unite and mobilize support across the US and internationally in opposition to the drive by the world’s governments to sacrifice workers’ lives for profit.
10 years since the mass protests in Wisconsin
By Shannon Jones, 28 February 2021
Important lessons can be drawn from the experience of the mass struggles that erupted in 2011 against austerity in Wisconsin.
Resistance builds to school reopenings in Seattle-Tacoma metro region
By Kayla Costa, 28 February 2021
In addition to the surrounding districts, Seattle Public Schools has called for roughly 700 educators to start returning to classrooms by March 8 as part of a rapid “phased-in” approach to reopen public schools as quickly as possible.
San Francisco Bay Area school districts push to reopen schools
By Angelo Perera, 27 February 2021
On February 7, the United Educators of San Francisco union reached an agreement to allow “limited instruction.”
Biden in Houston: Indifference and contempt for victims of Texas catastrophe
By Trévon Austin, 27 February 2021
Visiting Texas eleven days after the onset of a man-made disaster that killed dozens and caused tens of billions of dollars in damage, Biden barely took notice of the mass suffering while offering a political amnesty to the Republican state government.
Hearings on Texas disaster expose irrationality of private energy production
By Chase Lawrence, 27 February 2021
The infrastructure problems, which led to the near total collapse of the state’s power grid earlier this month, developed well before deregulation and have been known for decades.
Biden drops minimum wage hike from COVID-19 relief bill
By Jacob Crosse, 27 February 2021
Biden seized on a ruling by the Senate parliamentarian as the pretext to abandon an increase in the federal minimum wage.
“Since school has been remote, no teachers have died.”
Montgomery, Alabama uses CDC guidelines to unsafely reopen schools
By Emma Arceneaux, 27 February 2021
The district’s announcement, and the CDC guidelines they cite, blatantly ignore one of the most important factors in determining the safety of a building: ventilation and air quality.
Restrictions placed on student gatherings after massive COVID-19 outbreak at the University of Virginia
By Dan Goranson, 27 February 2021
Cases have skyrocketed in the two weeks following the reopening of the sprawling University of Virginia campus for in-person learning on February 1.
Cashing in on racialist politics: Black Lives Matter foundation raised $90 million in 2020
By Trévon Austin, 27 February 2021
Black Lives Matter organizations have been promoted and financially backed by sections of the ruling class as part of the effort to promote racial division and undermine class unity.
Michigan boy, 10, loses both hands, both legs to COVID-related MIS-C syndrome
By Zac Corrigan, 27 February 2021
Ten-year-old quadruple amputee Dae’Shun Jamison from Shelby, Michigan is just one of more than 2,000 children in the US to develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children after catching COVID-19.
Delays to Big Three auto companies’ vaccination program highlight profit motive driving pandemic response
By Jessica Goldstein, 27 February 2021
The question raised is why has the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines been left up to private corporations who are driven primarily by profit considerations?
Michigan governor pushes for school reopenings as Ann Arbor school board reverses decision to remain virtual
By Sheila Brehm and James McDonald, 27 February 2021
In a press conference Wednesday, Democratic Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer announced that 85 percent of Michigan school districts are currently open for in-person learning and that she is “pleased that 97 percent of the school districts will be reopened by March 1st.”
A wonderful year for the elite: Top 25 hedge fund managers earned record $32 billion in 2020 as millions plunged into misery
By Kevin Reed, 27 February 2021
During a year in which tens of millions of people lost their jobs and hundreds of thousands died from the coronavirus pandemic in the US, super-wealthy investors collectively increased their earnings by 50 percent over 2019.
With US missile strike on Syria, Biden escalates US aggression in the Middle East
By Bill Van Auken, 27 February 2021
The act of aggression against Syria and the global escalation of US militarism constitute the foundation of bipartisan unity between Biden and the Republican Party.
999 (2/25) Reopening of middle schools in NYC
27 February 2021
Major school districts press to reopen throughout Washington D.C. metro area
By Harvey Simpkins, 27 February 2021
The return to schools follows separate announcements by the governors of Virginia and Maryland calling on all schools to reopen in March.
Bail denied for retired New York City cop charged with assault in January 6 attempted coup
By Philip Guelpa, 26 February 2021
Thomas Webster, a former US Marine and 20-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, now retired, has been charged with violently assaulting a D.C. police officer during the storming of the Capitol.
US universities have cut 650,000 jobs, a 13 percent workforce reduction, since the onset of the pandemic
By Alex Findijis, 26 February 2021
Thousands of adjunct faculty members have seen their courses canceled and their paychecks eliminated as programs are consolidated and courses move online.
US Capitol police chief says far-right militias planning to bomb Capitol
By Jacob Crosse, 26 February 2021
At a House subcommittee hearing into the attack on Congress, Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman gave opaque and contradictory testimony.
The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristof demands immediate reopening of schools
By Evan Blake, 26 February 2021
The purpose of Kristof’s article is to pollute popular consciousness and pressure local Democrats tasked with enforcing the homicidal policy of reopening schools.
999 Montgomery, AL schools push to reopen as cases spike
26 February 2021
999 11-year-old suffers amputations after contacting MIS-C
26 February 2021
“Workers fought so hard to get these rights”
Stellantis Sterling Heights Assembly workers call for fight to defend the eight-hour day
By Shannon Jones, 26 February 2021
The drive by management and the UAW to impose a 12-hour, seven-day rotation for skilled trades is facing near unanimous opposition.
999 (2/25) Reopening of middle schools in NYC
26 February 2021
999 Michigan school reopenings (focus on Ann Arbor)
26 February 2021
San Diego school districts move to resume in-person classes
By Kevin Martinez, 26 February 2021
Despite opposition from parents and the community, the San Diego Unified School District is planning to reopen schools by April.
999 Black Lives Matter $90 million fund
26 February 2021
Biden choice for CIA director gets bipartisan support
By Patrick Martin, 26 February 2021
William J. Burns is a veteran of decades of skullduggery for American imperialism, in the course of a three-decade career at the State Department.
Elderly bear the brunt of Texas power outage catastrophe
By Tony Jackson, 26 February 2021
A disproportionate amount of preventable human suffering fell on the oldest, most isolated, and most dependent members of society.
San Francisco school board pauses reactionary school renaming campaign to focus on forcing schools open
By Renae Cassimeda, 26 February 2021
Despite widespread transmission of COVID-19 and news of more infectious and deadly variants of the virus within San Francisco, the school district alongside the educator and school worker unions are pushing ahead with reopening plans.
Amanda Gorman at the Biden inauguration: “O sing, sweet lucre,” or, The poet wore Prada
By James Clayton and David Walsh, 26 February 2021
Gorman rose from almost total obscurity to the cover of Time magazine in the space of a single month.
Perseverance rover returns videos from its descent to the Martian surface
By Bryan Dyne, 25 February 2021
The rover also returned the first audio recorded on Mars.
Facebook censors WSWS article exposing Wuhan lab conspiracy theory
By The WSWS Editorial Board, 25 February 2021
Facebook has labeled the WSWS Perspective column, "Washington Post’s 'Wuhan Lab' conspiracy theory stands exposed,” as “misinformation” and blocked users from sharing it.
The dominant variant of the coronavirus in California has acquired dangerous mutations
By Benjamin Mateus, 25 February 2021
A new variant of the coronavirus was discovered in California, dubbed CAL.20C. The mutation, L452R, appears to make the virus more contagious.
New York Times racialist vandals descend on Rome and Greece
By Sandy English, 25 February 2021
A feature essay in the New York Times Magazine claims that the study of ancient Greece and Rome is the font of “whiteness” in contemporary culture, and that colleges should “get rid of classics.”
Golf star Tiger Woods seriously injured in an automobile accident
By Alan Gilman, 25 February 2021
The 45-year-old has narrowly escaped with his life, to the relief of his millions of fans.
Grand jury declines to charge Rochester, New York officers who killed Daniel Prude
By Trévon Austin, 25 February 2021
Prude died last March after police handcuffed him, put a hood over his head and pushed him into the cold pavement.
For a full investigation of those responsible for the disaster in Texas!
Texas Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, 25 February 2021
We demand that every individual, politician and corporation responsible for the social disaster in Texas be criminally prosecuted and that all workers be made whole.
Stellantis cuts jobs at Illinois auto plant one month after merger
By Marcus Day, 25 February 2021
The layoff of 150 workers at Belvidere Assembly is an opening shot in what will inevitably be an attempt by the automaker to increase its profitability through mass job cuts, factory closures and other brutal cost-cutting measures.
Calls mount for investigation of Governor Cuomo in New York nursing homes scandal
By Josh Varlin, 25 February 2021
The real scandal is not the Cuomo’s alleged “bullying,” but the massive death toll in nursing homes.
Follow the WSWS