Workers self-defense

[ulyanovist]

Goldman stated

Comments

[djdialectic]

cannon in his defense says: "The court record bulges with proof that we had indeed advocated the organisation of workers defense guards."
bulges with proof? in regards the the battle of deputy run question, he doesn't even raise this. i have seen one or two mentions of organizing defense guards in the testimony--but he says the court record bulges with proof. what do you make of this? while it may seem like a petty point (and it could well be), it is representative of my larger criticism that cannon seems to vacillate or something that i can't put my finger on.

PS No worries on the lateness of your response.

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 1

[ulyanovist]

Q: Then the theory of Marxists and the theory of the Socialist Workers Party, as far as violence is concerned, is a prediction based upon a study of history, is that right

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 2

[ulyanovist]

Party advocates workers defence guards

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 3

[ulyanovist]

Q: Did you ever hold a meeting where you spoke where workers’ defence guards protected the meeting

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 4

[ulyanovist]

Q: Now, with reference to the workers’ defence guard advocated by the Socialist Workers Party, what formal action did the party take at any time

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 5

[ulyanovist]

Q: Do you recall the Christian Front

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 6

[ulyanovist]

Q: Did any international trade unions ever adopt that idea, as far as you know

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 7

[ulyanovist]

A: Yes. Another way, the most likely way for the Sixty Families, is to organise and subsidise a fascist movement with the aim of destroying the labor movement by force before it has an opportunity to test its strength in elections

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 8

[ulyanovist]

Q: But in the meanwhile you want to build, do you not a workers’ militia

advocating the organization of workers defense guards 9

[ulyanovist]

But we say the overwhelming weight of possibility, based upon historical experience, is that the ruling class of this country will attempt to resolve the conflict with the workers by fascist violence before we gain a majority in Congress. Or if it should come to the point where we gain a majority in a democratic election, the ruling class would stage a slaveholders’ rebellion against it. And we will undertake to put down that rebellion as decisively as possible

advocating the organization of workers defense guards -- postscript

[ulyanovist]

I just wanted to add an additional comment. The only testimony in Socialism on Trial is Cannon's testimony.
It is my understanding, though I could be wrong, that other leaders of the SWP gave testimony as well. It
is thus, quite possible that in addition to the references to advocating workers defense guards reproduced here, there may be substantially more.

Re: advocating the organization of workers defense guards -- postscript

[djdialectic]

i hadn't read this section obviously! while there is a lot of talk about workers' defense squads--i still stand by my point, because Cannon fails to explain the reality of capitalist violence and the need for working class self defense on every level except of fascism

Re: advocating the organization of workers defense guards -- postscript

[ulyanovist]

I've placed a reply in a new entry.
"What do Marxists need to say in a capitalist court?"