Download in PDF format: 1973.12.07- 2500 Arab Workers Demand (Workers’ Power)
2.500
UAW
A Detroit B’nai B’rith dinner
to supportlsriet bonds turned
into a vic:tory for Detroit’s Am»
community w’*’ a picket line
Qlled by the Detroit ArabAmerican
Co«ciMting Co~
mittee turned out mout 2500
demomt,.ton at Cobo Hall.
The picket line was called
to protest the banquet, which
presented UAW President Leon~
ard Woodcock (a major $Uppor·
ter of Israel’s war bonds drive)
with a “Humanitarian of the
Year” award.
The central demand was that
the UAW end all purchases of
Israel bonds, which finance the
seizure of Arab lands at the
expense of UAW members.
The mass protest drew al·
most iU entire strength from the
Arab community. The demonstrators,
mostly young and many
of whom are auto workers in
Detroit Olrysler and Ford plants,
formed a spirited and well-or·
ganized picket line around the
entranc8$.
The attending celebrities-
‘ Workers I »emand
Israel Bonds
businessmen. auto executives
and UAW bureaucrats-had to
slip around the back to honor
Woodcock for his pro-Zionist
stand.
Wooci:ock ‘s “humsnitllriMJism”
was aptly svmmarized by
a spokf!SmM) for the Arab
demonstrators: “Thl! UAWs
invntmt~nt in Israeli bonds is
regsrd«J by the UAWslsr~
Ara,b membership liS blsck work·
en would f’tlglrd investment in
South Afric..“
()rglnizen were effective in
pointing odt tta.t South Africa
is vim..lly the onty remaining
African regime that still
rMintlins friendly relations
with 1 …. , end appal~ for
black wcwken’ support on this
t.sis.
The late evening TV news
broadcasts, as usual, drastically
underestimated the size of the
anti-Woodcock demonstration.
They also ignored a much more
important fact: the turnout of
Arab worken Me l•ge enough
to force tht1 fisnt Dodfltl ,.in
plant (where many Arab work·
ers a~ employed) to shut down
for Mmost the MJtire shih.
Even if the media iWlored it.
this is the central lesson to be
learned from the success of this
demonstration. Uke other work·
ers, Arab workers-whe •e su~
jected to harassment, d iscrimination
and heavy intimidation in
the plants-have the power to
stop production when they organize
to fight for their demands.
Until now, Arab workers have
been severely restricted by the
fear of deporUtion, or what
would happen to their relatives,
should they be fired for any kind
of militant activity.
· As a result, Arabs hav.e not
organized cwcuses to fight for
their own needs, and most have
not played a rote in rank and file
action‘ against Woodcock’s
policies.
If the IUCCtJSS of this dt!monstntion
cJ.ngtl$ this around, it
will!» 11 turning point both for
h Arab p«Jp/tl of Detroit snd
for all auto workers trying to
organize a movement against
the UAW bvrsucracy.
A •oup called the Arab
Workers Caucus, which was instrumental
in bril9ng Anlb
worbn to the demorabation,
c:.rried sip denouncing the
whole ‘”Woodcodc Team” and
led the chant ”We Shut O.ry·
sJer Down” in Arabic.
Also seen for a few momenu
early in the demonstration was
Joe Davis. an opportunist UAW .
local 3 (Dodge Main) offiCill
who is angling to ride to power •n the next election against the
corrupt admin istratton of
current President Andy Hardy.
Davis evidently felt that
showing up on the picket line
would be good for his campaiW’I
for Black and Arab worken’
support. He disaP.PUred, however,
as–soon as Jfts token ~
pearance was cOmpleted-befoTe
any Woodcock or Hardy supporters
attending the dinner
were likety to spot him.•
PAGE 10 DECEMBER 7 • 20. 1973 WORKERS” POWER , \
