POLITICAL ASSASSINATION IN DETROIT
(The United Secretariat of the Fourth International issued the following ‘statement May 21.]
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The murdér of Leo Bernard and the wounding of Jan Garrett and Walter Graham, members of the Socialist Workers party and Young Socialist Alliance in Detroit this week arouses the indignation of revolutionists throughout the world. We grasp the hands of our American comrades in solidarity against this assault and the threat it implies. And to the families of the young victims we extend our heartfelt sympathy. These young men stood in the vanguard of their generation fighting to rid the world of the violence generated by decaying capitalism and were struck down in retali- — ation. Leo Bernard's memory will always be honored and in this moment we salute him and his companions.
This act of terror was carried out by a self-proclaimed anti-Communist executioner who had previously notified the authorities of his desire "to fight Communism" and had boasted that he was "armed and prepared." This tells much of the moral and political atmosphere in the USA poisoned by the official crusade ~ of "anti-Communism." The terror and horror supplied by advanced technology and directed against the aspirations of peoples everywhere puts the American ruling class on trial before all humanity. They glorify and intensify their monstrous violence against the Vietnamese people. They prepare the moral ground justifying. acts of terror and violence against their opponents at home. This is where the blame lies.
The American working-class organizations should take serious notice of this crime and the other acts of terror reported in the American press such as the bombing of the offices of the antiwar movement. These fascist-minded terrorists who gather in the. dark and strike from the dark can become a menace to the labor movement. itself. And the forces of the antiwar movement actively engaged in opposing their country ' s involvement in Vietnam should have no illusions as to the meaning of these attacks. A closing of ranks and a common front against the violence engendered by American capitalism must be sought by every serious participant in the antiwar and working-class movement.