Joyce Chediac Civil Rights

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Civil rights for people with disabilities By Joyce Chediac[->0] posted on December 20, 2013 [->1] Joyce Chediac WW photo: G. Dunkel This article is based on a talk given by Chediac in New York City at the 2013 Workers World national conference on Nov. 17. I am here to announce to you the recent formation of a caucus of people in WWP with disabilities, and to speak as its representative. I am a person with disabilities: I am hearing-impaired and dyslexic. Civil rights for people with disabilities is a working-class issue. Our class suffers the greatest number of work-related disabilities from difficult and dangerous jobs. Workers also fight and die in imperialist wars they have no interest in and return home without limbs, with brain…show more content…
A caucus member with decades of struggle in the disabled liberation and independent living movement has discussed “Perspectives and Strategies for Disabled Liberation.” A Vietnam veteran has spoken on “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Another member explained why we need to fight laws scapegoating “The Mentally Ill” for violence in capitalist society. We have reviewed highlights and lessons of the disabled civil rights movement. We have described how the tool of Marxism contributes to understanding the oppression inflicted upon people with disabilities in class society. We have exposed the warehousing of people with mental and emotional disabilities in the racist prison system. These talks are now available for viewing in a two-DVD set entitled “Disabilities and Class Struggle.” The caucus also wants to help broaden consciousness in WWP, in the political movement and in our class on the importance of this struggle for civil rights for people with disabilities. We have formulated a disability etiquette sheet to keep ourselves and others up-to-date on sensitivities concerning people with different disabilities. We are planning to translate this into Spanish and other languages. We ask for those who struggle for a livable wage to amend their demands to reflect “a livable wage for all workers, with and without disabilities.”…show more content…
At the same time, ruling-class culture stigmatizes and shames all people with disabilities. The WW caucus of people with disabilities, which includes people with very different issues and needs, does not judge one person’s disability as against another. Instead, we strive to be highly respectful of, to learn from, and to build solidarity with each other. Placing solidarity high on our agenda is consistent with our membership in a revolutionary party that seeks to unite a diverse working

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