Interviews and On-the-spot reports
Newark, New Jersey students protest education cuts
By Dan Brennan, 11 April 2013
Hundreds of high school students in Newark, New Jersey walked out of class Tuesday to protest millions of dollars in education cuts.
Common Core: A California kindergarten teacher’s experience
By our reporter, 11 April 2013
A kindergarten teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District in Southern California spoke with the WSWS about the impact of the Common Core curriculum.
Tensions high at Chrysler Warren Stamping in wake of victimization
By Shannon Jones, 28 March 2013
Skilled trades worker Alex Wassell was fired for opposing the Alternative Work Schedule, recently implemented at the plant.
On eve of emergency manager take-over
Unions move to ram through concessions against Detroit workers
By Jerry White and Bryan Dyne, 21 March 2013
The sweeping concessions demanded from teachers and the city’s municipal employees give a picture of the draconian measures planned for the entire working class.
Parents, teachers and students oppose New York City school closings
By Steve Light, Alan Whyte and and A. Woodson, 14 March 2013
More New York City school closings and co-locations were approved by the Bloomberg-controlled Panel on Educational Policy, in defiance of the views of the majority of parents and teachers.
“I see this as an attack on public education.”
New York City workers and students express support for school bus strikers
By Bryan Dyne, 14 February 2013
The strike by 9,000 school bus workers has generated popular support among workers and youth in New York City.
Bloomberg presses attack on striking New York City school bus drivers
By Jerry White, 7 February 2013
The strike by nearly 9,000 New York City school bus workers entered its fourth week today with the Bloomberg administration preparing to accept bids from private school bus contractors without long-standing job and wage protections.
Union officials offer to end NY school bus strike and negotiate concessions
By a reporting team, 31 January 2013
The union representing school bus drivers and matrons made an offer to end the strike and negotiate concessions, but the Bloomberg administration rejected it out of hand.
Philadelphia parents and teachers reject school closures
By a reporting team, 22 January 2013
Community members expressed outrage at a public forum on the plan of the Philadelphia school board to consolidate schools.
New York school bus drivers walk picket lines for second day
By Philip Guelpa, 18 January 2013
New York City school bus drivers and matrons are fighting against a plan to destroy job protections that were won more than 30 years ago.
New York: Continuing misery in Rockaways in aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
By Philip Guelpa, 12 December 2012
Conditions in the Rockaways section of New York in the wake of the storm reveal the underlying social reality that is otherwise ignored.
Detroit bankruptcy threats escalate as bonds are downgraded
By Shannon Jones, 30 November 2012
A major credit rating agency further downgraded Detroit’s debt as city officials advance new proposals for cuts.
Washington, D.C. parents and teachers oppose school closings, charter schools
By Ed Hightower and Nikolai Barrickman, 30 November 2012
Parents, students and teachers have reacted in anger to a plan to close 20 public schools in Washington, D.C.
Belgium: 20,000 protest against closure of Ford plant in Genk
By our reporters, 13 November 2012
The closure will throw 4,600 workers at the factory and more than 5,000 employees in related industries out of work.
SEP candidate Phyllis Scherrer campaigns among Brooklyn College students
By our reporting team, 6 November 2012
Socialist Equality Party vice-presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer spoke to students at Brooklyn College Monday about the need for socialist policy for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
“The two parties are both beholden to Wall Street”
By a WSWS reporting team, 6 November 2012
Workers and young people discuss with the World Socialist Web Site the issues raised by the conference “Socialism and the 2012 Elections” in Detroit.
Food shortages in Brooklyn public housing in aftermath of Hurricane Sandy
By a WSWS reporting team, 2 November 2012
Residents of Red Hook Brooklyn lined up for food and water Thursday, three days after Hurricane Sandy flooded the New York City neighborhood
SEP campaigns for November 3 regional conference in New York City
By Sandy English, 30 October 2012
SEP supporters campaigned over the weekend in the Parkchester neighborhood of the Bronx, the second-largest private housing development in the US.
Workers and students discuss upcoming SEP conference in Los Angeles
By our reporters, 24 October 2012
The WSWS spoke to workers and students in Los Angeles about the regional conference of the Socialist Equality Party on October 27.
“We’re the one’s who are suffering—the poor, the working class”
By our reporters, 23 October 2012
Workers attending the Trades Union Congress demonstration in London spoke to the World Socialist Web Site.
Jerry White addresses workers and students in New York City
By our reporters, 9 October 2012
SEP presidential candidate Jerry White concluded an East Coast campaign swing with a meeting in New York City on Sunday.
Los Angeles free clinic clients, volunteers discuss crisis of US health care
By our reporters, 4 October 2012
September 30 was the final day of Care Harbor’s annual free clinic at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
Striking Detroit water workers defy federal judge, union officials
By Jerry White, 2 October 2012
Workers at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s waste treatment plant are continuing their strike despite a temporary restraining order issued by a federal judge Monday. The walkout, which began on Sunday, involves 950 workers at the facility in the southwest side of Detroit.
SEP presidential candidate Jerry White speaks in South Carolina
By our reporter, 27 September 2012
Jerry White, the Socialist Equality Party candidate for president, spoke at a public meeting held at the University of South Carolina in Columbia on Tuesday. The meeting was well attended by students and members of the community who were enthusiastic about a genuine alternative to the two big business parties.
Australia: After Bankstown apartment fire, residents demand answers
By our reporters, 18 September 2012
Residents are asking why the apartment block was approved with fire safety flaws.
SEP candidate Jerry White speaks to transit workers on Chicago teachers strike
By Bryan Dyne, 18 September 2012
Socialist Equality presidential candidate Jerry White campaigned among transit workers and firefighters Monday, discussing the significance of the Chicago teachers strike.
Australia: Hundreds of Bankstown fire survivors remain locked out
By Mark Church, 14 September 2012
Hundreds of residents evacuated after a fatal fire in a Sydney apartment block have been left without homes or government support.
“The conditions for students are horrible”
SEP vice presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer speaks to Chicago teachers
By an SEP campaign team, 13 September 2012
During her second day of campaigning among striking Chicago teachers, SEP vice presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer continued discussing the political issues of the strike.
Striking teachers speak out in Chicago
By Kristina Betinis, 11 September 2012
The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Chicago teachers about the political issues at stake in the strike.
South African miners speak on Marikana massacre
By Iqra Qalam, 11 September 2012
More than three weeks after the Marikana massacre, families are still searching for their missing siblings and husbands in hospitals and jails.
SEP campaigns at Lawrence, Massachusetts textile strike commemoration
By Mike Ingram, 11 September 2012
SEP supporters campaigned at a festival in honor of the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Australia: Residents denounce lack of fire safety
By our reporters, 10 September 2012
Unit owners and tenants expressed shock and anger over the tragedy and the poor fire safety measures in the building.
Portland, Oregon increases transit fees
By Tony Colton and Hector Cordon, 6 September 2012
Beginning September 1, the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TriMet) implemented fare increases and cuts in services in order to overcome a $12 million budget shortfall.
US Presidential candidate Jerry White addresses Manchester audience
By our reporters, 6 September 2012
US Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Jerry White spoke at a well-attended meeting at the Mechanics Institute in Manchester, England Tuesday evening.
Stockton workers support SEP presidential campaign
By Karl Eisner, 30 August 2012
Socialist Equality Party campaigners spoke to farm workers in East Stockton, California.
SEP candidate campaigns among Chicago teachers
By a campaign team, 28 August 2012
SEP vice presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer and a campaign team spoke to Chicago teachers at an informational picket outside of a middle school.
Dundee, Michigan Chrysler workers denounce sellout agreement
By a WSWS reporting team, 23 August 2012
Workers at the Chrysler Dundee Engine plant in Michigan spoke to WSWS reporters about the sellout local contract they recently rejected by a decisive margin.
Thousands mass outside Ecuadorean embassy to support Assange
By Daniel O’Flynn and Rick Wilson, 20 August 2012
Two thousand protesters massed outside the Ecuadorean embassy in support of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
SEP vice presidential candidate speaks to temp workers in McKeesport, Pennsylvania
By Samuel Davidson, 18 August 2012
SEP candidate Phyllis Scherrer along with a team of supporters campaigned this week in the former steel town of McKeesport, about 10 miles south of Pittsburgh along the Monongahela River.
Con Ed workers disgusted as union reports contract ratification
By a reporting team, 18 August 2012
The Con Ed workers’ union reported a wide margin for acceptance of the contract, but a WSWS reporting team found the vote concealed far different views.
“Julian has shown us things that really needed to be known”
By our reporter, 17 August 2012
About 150 supporters of Julian Assange demonstrated outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London yesterday.
Workers in Philadelphia speak out against the two big business parties and union betrayals
By a reporting team, 15 August 2012
While the AFL-CIO organized the rally to promote the Democrats, a number of workers who came voiced opposition to this policy.
SEP campaigns in Pittsburgh against cuts in social programs
By a campaign team, 15 August 2012
SEP vice presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer spoke to workers and young people about the elimination of the General Assistance Program in Pennsylvania.
Joliet Caterpillar strikers speak out
By our reporters, 15 August 2012
WSWS reporters spoke to strikers on the picket line in Joliet, Illinois
Quebec students debate whether to continue their strike
By a WSWS reporting team, 14 August 2012
The WSWS spoke with students who met last week to decide whether to continue their six-month strike against the Quebec Liberal government’s plans to dramatically raise university tuition fees.
San Bernardino residents speak on bankruptcy filing
By Dan Conway, 14 August 2012
The city of San Bernardino, California, population 210,000, has recently become the second largest city to file for bankruptcy protection in US history.
Detroit water and sewage workers speak out against cuts
By a reporting team, 13 August 2012
As word spread about the dramatic cuts threatened at the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, workers reacted angrily, and several spoke to reporters for the World Socialist Web Site.
“The police defend the wealthy”—brother of murdered man
WSWS speaks to victims of police violence in Anaheim, California
By our reporters, 11 August 2012
WSWS reporters spoke to several audience members at the Anaheim city council meeting August 8, including relatives of those killed by police.
Widespread support as SEP concludes Wisconsin petition drive
By Niles Williamson and Nicholas Russo, 30 July 2012
In just eight days the Socialist Equality Party’s campaign to gain access to the presidential ballot in Wisconsin has garnered more than 3,000 signatures.
South Milwaukee Caterpillar workers speak out in support of Joliet strikers
By Nicholas Russo and Niles Williamson, 27 July 2012
Workers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site about record profits for Caterpillar, and in solidarity with workers on strike for three months in Joliet, Illinois.
Con Ed workers rally against lockout
By Philip Guelpa, 19 July 2012
On Tuesday afternoon, a large rally was held at Union Square in Manhattan in support of 8,500 Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) workers who have been locked out by the company since July 1.
German Opel worker: “For nearly 10 years, it’s all been downhill”
By Dietmar Henning, 3 July 2012
If the management gets its way, the Opel plant in Bochum will close in two rather than four years.
Detroit workers speak with SEP vice presidential candidate about heat wave
By David Brown, 3 July 2012
SEP vice presidential candidate Phyllis Scherrer spoke with workers in Detroit about the heat wave, their utility bills, and the decaying social infrastructure.
New York City: Con Ed workers locked out for second day
By a WSWS reporting team, 3 July 2012
Utility workers at Con Edison are fighting against drastic concession demands, including attacks on pensions and health care benefits.
Michigan meeting marks 30th anniversary of murder of Vincent Chin
By Shannon Jones, 26 June 2012
On June 23, the Asian American civil rights group American Citizens for Justice and the Association of Chinese Americans held a commemoration meeting in Madison Heights, Michigan to mark thirty years since the murder of Vincent Chin.
James Shimoura, attorney for the mother of Vincent Chin, speaks to WSWS
By Shannon Jones, 26 June 2012
James Shimoura, a Michigan attorney who provided legal advice to Lily Chin, the mother of murdered Chinese American draftsman Vincent Chin, spoke to the World Socialist Web Site during the memorial meeting in Madison Heights, Michigan held over the weekend. The meeting marked the 30th anniversary of Chin’s killing.
SEP campaigns against budget cuts in California
By a WSWS reporting team, 26 June 2012
Campaigners for the Socialist Equality Party spoke with workers and students in Sacramento, California about the party’s presidential election campaign.
Athens workers and youth discuss Greek election result
By Robert Stevens, 19 June 2012
The World Socialist Web Site discussed with workers and youth in Athens the result of Sunday’s general election as negotiations continued to form a government following the narrow victory of the conservative New Democracy.
SEP campaigns in California
By a WSWS reporting team, 19 June 2012
In both Northern and Southern California, campaigners for the Socialist Equality Party spoke to workers and students about budget cuts in the state and Jerry White’s presidential campaign.
Greece: WSWS interviews Athens workers and youth
By Robert Stevens, 16 June 2012
A WSWS reporting team spoke to residents in the district of Aigaleo in west Athens about their attitudes to Sunday’s election.
Greece: University of Athens students speak to WSWS
By our correspondents, 14 June 2012
Students at the main campus of the University of Athens spoke with a World Socialist Web Site reporting team.
SEP campaigns in Ypsilanti, Michigan for meeting on US elections
By our reporters, 12 June 2012
The small industrial city has lost 14,000 good-paying jobs in a decade.
Opposition grows to school privatization scheme in Detroit
By Shannon Jones, 6 June 2012
The plans by Detroit Public Schools Emergency Manger Roy Roberts to convert 10 high schools into so-called self-governing schools is provoking opposition from parents and students.
“Casserole” protests in support of Quebec students spread across Canada
By a WSWS reporting team, 5 June 2012
A new form of protest, “casserole” demonstrations, emerged last month in response to the Quebec Liberal government’s draconian Bill 78.
New York City high school students speak on school closings
By Isaac Finn, 5 June 2012
The World Socialist Web Site spoke with teachers and students from “failing” schools targeted for closure under the turnaround model.
Muskegon Heights, Michigan residents speak on conversion of public schools to charters
By our reporters, 5 June 2012
A WSWS reporting team visited Muskegon Heights and talked with workers, students, and retirees about their reaction to the unprecedented attack on public education.
SEP campaigners in Michigan discuss Obama’s drone assassinations
By a WSWS reporting team, 4 June 2012
Campaign teams in Michigan talk to workers and students in Ypsilanti and Detroit.
Quebec student strike:
Police begin to apply draconian Bill 78
By Keith Jones, 24 May 2012
Quebec authorities have begun to make use of the sweeping repressive powers contained in Bill 78—the emergency legislation the provincial Liberal government rushed through the National Assembly late last week to suppress the province-wide student strike
NATO protesters denounce police violence
By Alexander Fangmann, 22 May 2012
Protesters at the NATO summit in Chicago have denounced the police state methods employed to crack down on political dissent.
“The only jobs out there are low wage jobs”
Bronx workers speak to SEP campaigners on the jobs crisis in America
By a reporting team, 15 May 2012
A Socialist Equality Party campaign team spoke to workers and youth in the Parkchester neighborhood in the Bronx, New York, about the economic situation and the party’s election campaign.
Thousands rally against education cuts in Portland, Oregon
By our reporters, 15 May 2012
Students, teachers and parents rallied to defend pubic education last week.
UK public sector workers speak out against attacks on pension rights
By our reporters, 12 May 2012
WSWS reporting teams spoke to some of those who participated in Thursday’s strike against government pension cuts.
Jerry White campaigns on Detroit campus
By a reporter, 12 May 2012
SEP US presidential candidate Jerry White campaigned on the campus of Wayne State University in Detroit this week in preparation for a public meeting in Detroit.
SEP campaigns at Eastern Market in Detroit
By a reporting team, 8 May 2012
A Socialist Equality Party campaign team spoke to hundreds of people, including auto workers, teachers, city workers, students, graduates, retirees and the unemployed.
Berlin: Israelis and Iranians protest danger of war in the Middle East
By our correspondents, 7 May 2012
Several hundred Israelis, Iranians and German citizens demonstrated in Berlin on Saturday against US and Israeli preparations for war against Iran.
Socialist candidate Jerry White campaigns in southwest Detroit
By Shannon Jones, 7 May 2012
Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate received a warm response form workers and young people while campaigning Saturday in southwest Detroit.
Striking Caterpillar workers in Illinois speak on their struggle
By a WSWS reporting team, 7 May 2012
A World Socialist Web Site reporting team spoke with striking workers at the Caterpillar plant in Joliet, Illinois, where workers and their families are maintaining a 24-hour picket line.
Argenteuil residents speak on French elections, social conditions
By Kumaran Ira in Paris, 4 May 2012
On Wednesday WSWS reporters visited Argenteuil, in the northwest Paris suburbs, to interview residents on the presidential elections and social conditions in France.
WSWS speaks to May Day demonstrators in France
By our reporters, 2 May 2012
Supporters of the International Committee of the Fourth International and the World Socialist Web Site intervened in the Paris May Day march yesterday.
SEP campaigns at Detroit job fair
By a WSWS reporting team, 2 May 2012
A Socialist Equality Party campaign team spoke to job seekers at the Quicken Loan jobs fair in downtown Detroit on Saturday.
UK: SEP candidate talks to students in St. Helens
By our reporters, 2 May 2012
Socialist Equality Party campaign teams spoke to students and workers at St. Helens College and in the town centre.
PSA auto workers speak out on French presidential elections
By Alex Lantier in Paris, 26 April 2012
Auto workers at the PSA plant in Aulnay-sous-Bois, north of Paris, spoke to WSWS reporters about the French presidential elections.
Protests continue against New York school closings
By Steve Light, 26 April 2012
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plans to close 26 schools have provoked a series of angry protests in New York City.
SEP election supporters campaign in several Michigan cities
By a reporting team, 24 April 2012
Supporters of the SEP presidential campaign spoke to workers in Kalamazoo, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, Michigan about the issues in the 2012 elections.
Bronx workers and youth speak out against stop-and-frisk
By a reporting team, 19 April 2012
Residents of the Melrose neighborhood in the South Bronx described police harassment as pervasive.
Aix-en-Provence students speak on French presidential elections
By Alex Lantier and Johannes Stern in Marseille, 17 April 2012
WSWS reporters interviewed students yesterday outside the Literature School at the University of Aix-en-Provence, north of Marseille.
SEP campaigns among immigrant workers in Maywood, California
By Kimie Saito and Ramon Valle, 12 April 2012
Socialist Equality Party presidential candidate Jerry White will be speaking today at a meeting in Maywood, a predominantly Hispanic section of Los Angeles County.
Parents of Trayvon Martin speak to the WSWS
By Andre Damon and C.W. Rogers, 29 March 2012
In this video, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of Trayvon Martin, speak about their son's death and legacy.
Thousands march to demand arrest of Trayvon Martin killer
By Andre Damon and C.W. Rogers in Sanford Florida, 27 March 2012
Thousands of people took part Monday in a protest in Sanford, Florida, to demand the arrest of George Zimmerman, the killer of South Florida teen Trayvon Martin.
SEP campaigns in National City, California and Ann Arbor, Michigan
By our reporters, 27 March 2012
Supporters of the SEP campaign for president talked to workers in the predominantly Hispanic town of National City in San Diego County, and to hospital workers and visitors in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Workers face loss of more than 100,000 jobs as Obama joins attack on postal service
By our reporters, 22 March 2012
President Obama’s 2013 budget calls for the destruction of tens of thousands of postal workers’ jobs, with the elimination of Saturday mail delivery as early as January 2013.
SEP campaign takes socialist program to Syracuse, New York
By our reporters, 19 March 2012
Members of the International Students for Social Equality and supporters of the Socialist Equality Party campaigned Saturday in Syracuse, a city in upstate New York, for the election of Jerry White and Phyllis Scherrer.
SEP campaigns in Tampa, Florida and Detroit, Michigan
By our reporters, 19 March 2012
Campaigns in Detroit and Tampa are part of interventions throughout the country to promote the socialist perspective in the 2012 elections.
On-the-spot report
Unemployment, wage cuts destroy living standards of millions in Greece
By our reporters, 17 March 2012
Plastered on the windows of the unemployment office in the Neos Kosmos district of Athens are posters with slogans denouncing the austerity measures of the unelected government of Lucas Papademos.
Tornado damages 100 homes in Michigan community
By James Brewer and James Brookfield, 17 March 2012
A tornado touched down in Dexter, Michigan on Thursday evening, causing extensive property damage though apparently no serious injuries.
Successful start to SEP West Coast campaign
By our reporter, 10 March 2012
Jerry White and supporters concluded a campaign stop in San Diego, California on Friday. Discussions with students at San Diego State University followed a successful public meeting the previous evening.
SEP campaigns in Michigan, California and Kentucky
5 March 2012
Supporters of the Socialist Equality Party’s presidential candidate Jerry White are campaigning throughout the country to promote a socialist program in the 2012 elections.
Photo story: West Liberty, Kentucky virtually destroyed by storm
By Hiram Lee and Ryan Rahilly, 5 March 2012
The wave of tornadoes that struck the Midwestern and Southern US on Friday left many communities in eastern Kentucky destroyed. World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke with residents of West Liberty about their experiences.
Phyllis Scherrer wins strong support from bus drivers and riders
By a WSWS reporting team, 28 February 2012
Socialist Equality Party candidate for Vice-President Phyllis Scherrer won strong support from Pittsburgh area bus drivers and riders as she campaigned for socialism as the alternative to the destruction of public transportation this past weekend.
SEP campaigns in New York, Michigan and Kentucky
28 February 2012
Supporters of the Socialist Equality Party’s presidential candidate Jerry White have begun campaigns throughout the country to promote a socialist program in the 2012 elections.
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