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The inhuman conditions of the assembly line claimed two more victims at Chrysler’s Jefferson Assembly Plant in Detroit on December 7. On that day a worker, bitter over his recent lay-off, shot and killed a general foreman in the plant’s paint shop.

The worker, 33-year-old Tilden Engle, had been laid off from his production job at Jefferson on December 4. Tilden had been in ill health, and had been certified by the plant medical staff as capable of performing “light work” only.

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< Supplement to Issue 173

In the past few weeks huge sections of the organized left in this country have been thrown into a state of chaos by a confrontation that initially erupted between the National Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC) and the Communist Party (CP). Physical clashes have ensued; debates have raged; editorials have been written. There has been much posturing and affectations of indignation.

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Tens of thousands of miners across the country are voting this month, under the scrutiny of Federal government officials, to elect a new president in the scandal-ridden United Mine Workers union.

Miners will choose between incumbent president Tony Boyle, and reform candidate Arnold Miller, the leader of the Miners for Democracy group.

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(Underground Press Syndicate) Phone phreaking is a rapidly-growing sport among the radical left, and even among a few with more conservative viewpoints. There are few rules to the me, and your opponent can be either the phone company and what it represents, or just the computers. The chance of arrest provides the kick.

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< Supplement main page

In recent weeks, Detroit has seen the disruption of several union meetings and of demonstrations by a group called the National Caucus of Labor Committees (NCLC). The NCLC began as a faction of SDS and surfaced nationally around the time of the SDS 1969 Convention.

For the last two years NCLC has participated in strike support coalitions around the country. Some local union members remember them for their tendency to subject unionists to long, theoretical speeches in return for NCLC strike support.

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Fifth Estate Extra

This is a supplement to THE FIFTH ESTATE, an independent socialist newspaper of Detroit now in its eighth year of publication. It deals with the current uproar in Detroit’s Left caused by a violent conflict between the Communist Party and the National Caucus of Labor Committees. The conflict has spread to include virtually every Left group, several welfare rights organizations and some unions. A few lessons can be learned from it. One article presents the criticism and analysis of The Fifth Estate production staff. A second article presents the criticism and analysis of The Fifth Estate distribution staff, Big Rapids Distribution Company.

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This wild account of a plan to decapitate the Chicago ruling class in 1916 first appeared on the website of the Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana’s Digital Newspaper Program.

https://web.archive.org/web/20250401081025/https://blog.newspapers.library.in.gov/the-anarchist-soup-plot/

The Fifth Estate rarely publishes reprints, particularly if they have first appeared online. However, this story of extreme class warfare seems unknown to most of those interested in the history of the anarchist movement, so an exception is being made.

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a review of

Nadja by André Breton, translated from the French and with an introduction by Mark Polizzotti. New York Review Books, 2025

“I love the disappeared, the dying, the forgotten... I love those who vanish into dreams.”

—Renée Vivien

Mark Polizzotti’s 2025 translation of André Breton’s 1928 Nadja, the most iconic novel of the Surrealist canon, is a revelation.

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a review of

Stop Thief! Anarchism and Philosophy by Catherine Malabou, trans. Carolyn Shread. Polity Press, 2023

Catherine Malabou’s challenging, provocatively titled book reminds us how philosophically radical anarchism is, beginning with Pierre Proudhon’s deceptively simple decision to call himself an anarchist in the 19^th century. It then investigates a curious fact about post-WWII European philosophy: that so many of its most celebrated figures were drawn to the idea of anarchy, yet dismissed anarchism as a political philosophy: a “thieving disavowal of anarchism,” as Malabou calls it.

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Contemporary society has been engulfed and determined by the immateriality of cyberspace. A new remote-control e-reality lived online. It was preceded by another kind of immateriality, that of the move to the Age of Plastics.

Plastic is that rare substance that is not found in nature. In 1957, post-structuralist Roland Barthes called it “the stuff of alchemy” embodying “the very idea of its infinite transformation.”

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In an environment like prison, people are strictly regulated both physically and emotionally. We’re confined to our facility and told where and when we can move. Both bureaucratic and social rules also dictate that our range of emotional expressions be limited.

An outburst or meltdown can be misinterpreted as an attack, a risk of self-harm, an embarrassment other prisoners need to “correct,” or another infraction against the social structure of guards or inmates.

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Wooden Shoe, as a publicly facing anarchist infoshop, was established in 1976 and, using capitalist projections, shouldn’t exist. Amazingly, it still does. Many visitors share stories about their parents as youthful hippies or punks hanging out on South Street in Philadelphia and coming to the Shoe to learn about the system.

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a review of

Animal Resistance in the Global Capitalist Era by Sara Colling. Michigan State University Press, 2021

Animal Revolution by Ron Broglio. University of Minnesota Press, 2022

In the spring of 2020, a pod of orcas began ramming fishing boats in the Strait of Gibraltar, sinking three boats and damaging over 250. Marine biologists speculated that the whales were retaliating for a head injury inflicted by a vessel’s propeller on the pod’s matriarch, White Gladis. She was teaching her mates how to smash into boats and dismantle rudders in attacks lasting up to forty-five minutes. During a cockfight in the village of Lothunur, in the state of Telangana, India, a rooster killed its owner by jumping at him and slashing him with the three-inch blade tied to its leg. In July 2012, shortly after a rope-and-branch trap killed an infant mountain gorilla, two young ones worked together to find and destroy traps in their Rwandan Volcanoes National Park forest.

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a review of

Snow Day by Willow Page Delp. The Amazine, 2023 theamazine.com

You stare at oblivion or maybe just at your social life—a sky darkening from blue to black, a group of college students fighting over foraged meals, a building decaying—and wonder what to believe. This is a snow day, but something more, too, a bonding experience that can only shatter and release you. When you belong somewhere, or maybe more often when you don’t, “things [have] to erupt.”

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When we talk about settler colonialism, we’re not just recounting the past, we’re describing a system that is alive and expanding today. It’s important to break down the terms: colonialism today often means invading a place to extract resources—a mine, a plantation, an oil field—before retreating. Canadian companies, for instance, loot minerals from Latin America and Africa, but when the mine runs dry, no “New Canada” pops up in Ghana or Guatemala. The colonizers take and leave.

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Read any good books lately? If not here’s your chance to pick up some of the best revolutionary words in print. By simply following the instructions below you can order any of these books from the relative privacy of your own home. The books offered in the last issue of the Fifth Estate are still available.

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Dear Dr. Schoenfeld:

We find it difficult to relate to a “straight” doctor. What is the best way for us to find a gay doctor? Should we ask the A.M.A.? Or the county medical society?

Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld speaking at Community Arts Auditorium, May 28, 1969 at a benefit for Open City. Photo: Alan Gotkin.

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Following hard on the heels of such pictures as “Willard,” “Ben,” and the near-interminable “Planet of the Apes” series, Universal Pictures is now producing “Ssssssss,” a movie about a man turned into a giant king cobra. Undoubtedly, it will be a movie about a man who cannot tell the truth—“speaks with forked tongue.”

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Thursday, December 14

POETRY READING—poets Len Gasparini and William Shelley read their own works at the McGregor Public Library, 12244 Woodward in Highland Park. Coffee and admission are free.

Friday, December 15

OPERA ON FILM, showing “Fidelio.” Det. Instit. of Arts, 7:30 p.m. $2 students, $3 for general admission.

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I work an eight hour shift, five days a week—sometimes more.

My wife and kids are on welfare.

Just like all of you, I want to be able to support my family. I’d like to make enough to pay taxes, maybe even save a little. Hell, I’d even pay rent on the four by eight room where I live, but thirty-five cents a day doesn’t stretch much.

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Judy Collins’ Masonic Auditorium concert on December 10^th, provided one of the most refreshing musical experiences of the year. No massive ego-trips, no carefully choreographed onstage “chaos”; just lots of talent, thoughtful material, and an evening of good music.

A Judy Collins concert is a virtuoso performance. Collins displays her talents on piano, guitar and autoharp, and brings all of them off well. But what dominates the evening is her voice; she is perhaps the clearest, most compelling singer around today.

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Lenny Bruce was one of the greatest comedians of his time. On stage, he tried to make his audiences realize that sex is just one of many everyday functions in life and should be brought out into the open and spoken of as freely as one would speak of eating.

His own first experiences with sex may have been what began his outrage with our society’s sexual attitudes on sexual behavior:

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A few months ago we read a blurb in your “letters” column from a couple of prisoners in an Ohio penitentiary who wanted to hear from any of your readers. We wrote, expecting to join the hundreds who would respond.

They got three replies—one from a girl of 13, one from an old crank and one from us.

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A problem of continual concern at the Fifth Estate is where to draw the line on exploitative advertising—because we believe that all advertising for Capitalistic ventures is exploitative. Advertising G.M. or Ford helps to perpetuate the capitalist economy, the exploitation of the factory workers, etc. Beer and wine are tranquilizers that help people to forget the problems of our society. Movies often condone the sexist attitudes of our times. Head shops exploit the youth culture by offering various trinkets, gadgets and other odd items at outrageous prices.

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By all that’s just and good, Polydor’s release of ONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE by Stone the Crows should have been cause for rejoicing. After all, wasn’t this the album figured to vault the band right up there on top with its fellow British hitmakers? That’s the way things were supposed to be at any rate, before lead guitarist and Crows cofounder Leslie Harvey died tragically, electrocuted onstage, last Spring. With that in mind, the record assumes a more bittersweet nature.

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“June 11 was a hot day,” a 17-year-old girl from Birmingham said. “Everyone was hot.”

A girl with long blonde hair in a white bathing suit walked up to one of the TMU riot cops who was clearing the beach at Cass Lake. She petted his German Shepherd. The dog whimpered and wagged his tail. “Goddamit get out of here,” the cop said. And he kicked the dog.

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A lot of people who went to the Cincinnati Rock Festival on Saturday, June 13^th, got a lot more than they thought they would for their $6.50.

At least four people got broken arms, three got broken legs; at least ten got head or body wounds requiring stitches. One girl was in the hospital with a brain concussion; another guy has a broken back. All at the hands of the Queen City police.

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Following the lead of the literary success of Jerry’s and Abbie’s books, Random House will bring out a collection of writings by imprisoned John Sinclair this fall. Tentative title: Street Writings; Prison Writings. Also, Marquette Prison officials are trying to cut down on John’s incoming mail because they say it has “strained” the Mail office there. They have completely cut off his right to receive records....

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As prematurely, but accurately reported in our last issue the Michigan House approved a bill June 19 lessening the penalties for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. There were only three dissenting votes on the bill that would make possession a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Possession of over two ounces or sales would continue to be a felony crime, but with lessened penalties. The maximum penalty under the new law would be ten years rather than the current 20 year minimum for sales. Legislators expect an increase in sales conviction as a result.

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In cooperation with Detroit Adventure

Thurs. June 25

KINETIC ART FILM PROGRAM. Prize winning flics shown at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Detroit Institute of Arts.

OPEN CITY FREE MEDICAL CLINIC. Sign up at 5:30 p.m. Clinic hours are from 6:30–8:30 p.m. 4225 Second at Canfield.

MUSIC UNDER THE STARS with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Meadow Brook. Solo pianist is Gary Graffman. 8:30 p.m. It’s at Oakland University (take I-75 to Oakland U. Drive).

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a review of

Finally Got The News, A Film by Stuart Bird, Peter Gessner, Rene Lichtman and John Lewis, Jr. Produced by Black Star Productions

“Finally Got The News” is a one-hour film about the activities of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers and its politics. It is an important film for all people concerned with changing the Detroit area to see and think about. In addition it is a film that raises the art of political propaganda to a new and significant level.

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ATLANTA, Ga. (LNS)—Anti-war GIs from around the country got together here over Memorial Day weekend to discuss ways of increasing nationwide cooperation in their struggle against the military machine.

Out of the conference came the GI Alliance, a national clearinghouse which is being set up in Washington, D.C., to provide GI organizations with support services—information, financial and legal assistance, material for political education—and to help coordinate activities and communications among various GI groups.

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Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld speaking at Community Arts Auditorium, May 28, 1969 at a benefit for Open City. Photo: Alan Gotkin.

QUESTION: Can any harm come from making love in the bathtub? Hopefully not. Cleanie.

ANSWER: My research team plunged into action, after reflecting on the habits of whales and dolphins. Brace yourself for the answer: contusions and abrasions if the tub is empty, seasickness, drowning, or scalding if it’s not and your inhibitions go down the drain.

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Summer is coming on strong in Detroit. We’ve had good weather, lots of free concerts, and young people hanging out together all over the Motor City. But already it’s become real obvious that the mood is tense. Things are not completely together and there are a lot of contradictions.

Too many of our brothers and sisters are being busted on bullshit charges and, in general, the harassment seems to have greatly increased.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (The Daily World and LNS)—After the California Appellate Court had overturned the decision in the Huey Newton case, clearing the way for a new trial or freedom for the Black Panther Party Minister of Defense, all the press were clamoring for interviews.

Under this pressure, the authorities at California Men’s Colony—East temporarily let down the wall they had built to isolate Huey and his ideas from the public, and a stream of reporters filed through the bright, sunny visitor’s lounge on June 4.

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Dear Fifth Estate:

We’ve stumbled upon your paper at the right time. Our heads have been infiltrated with “lifer” propaganda. We’re becoming radical and have developed a leftist attitude. It’s hard to accomplish in the Army but we continue to get our point across.

We’re more open minded in discussing the conflicts in our society today. We’re gaining power in our unit, we’re gaining freedom.

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Fifth Estate #108, June 25-July 8, 1970, Vol. 5, No. 4, page 2

The Fifth Estate

Debby Brentz

David Gaynes

Carol George

Mike John

Keep on Truckin’ Co-op

Resa Jannett

Jim Kennedy

Lee Ann Kennedy

David Levison

Julie Medvecky

Nick Medvecky

Harvey Ovshinsky

Dave Riddle

Bill Rowe

Len Schafer

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Look closely at the faces of the men on this page. Some of them look like average citizens; some have the look of black revolutionaries. They are all cops. These police officers work out of the First Precinct Larceny Squad and generally patrol the downtown department stores looking for shoplifters and pickpockets. That, however, is not the main problem.

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CLEVELAND—The moderate sector of the anti-war movement met here over the weekend of June 19–21 to make plans for the next few months amidst raging factional battles. The over 1,400 delegates from across the country who attended the three day conference produced nothing that was not expected.

The major plans approved came from a joint proposal by Jim Lafferty of the Detroit Coalition to End the War and Jerry Gordon, Lafferty’s Cleveland counterpart. Demonstrations are to be called for Hiroshima Day demanding that nuclear weapons not be used in Indochina; support is urged for the Chicano Moratoriums against the war on the West Coast and continuing to bring in labor support for the anti-war movement.

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Alfred Hibbitt: acquitted.

Raphael Viera: acquitted.

Clarence “Chaka” Fuller: acquitted.

Kenneth Vern Cockrell: charges dismissed.

The New Bethel case is not over. But the recent acquittals of Raphael Viera and Clarence Fuller have put it at a new stage. Every one of those charged with a crime arising from the incident has been vindicated.

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Draft boards are bracing themselves for a deluge of requests for conscientious objector to war status as a result of a recent Supreme Court decision which said you don’t have to be religious to qualify.

Col. Arthur Holmes, Michigan selective service director, said 632 men are presently awaiting processing on conscientious objector claims. He admitted they represent only part “of the large number who get turned down” under procedures the court questioned.

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A couple of weeks ago, sixty-three graduating seniors at Oak Park High School responded to Representative William S. Broomfield’s plea to “love their country and respect their flag” by holding a burn-in under the flag pole outside their school.

Copies of the “American Creed” and color pictures of himself, both of which are sent to all graduating seniors of Oak Park High by Republican Broomfield at the taxpayer’s expense, were set to flame by the students.

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Specially designed “Kill Cong” badges were awarded by a U.S. Army battalion to soldiers who could prove they killed a soldier of the National Liberation Front (NLF) last year, according to statements by returned servicemen.

“One way to prove your claim to a badge was to bring back an enemy ear,” former Sgt. Frank Shepard, 23, of Plymouth told the Detroit Free Press. “They kept a string of ears at headquarters, which I saw. The ears were rotting and they smelled pretty bad. It turned my stomach. It was like we were on a hunting trip or something.

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Caught in a gross miscarriage of justice, Assistant Prosecutor Avery Weiswaser agreed on June 9 to reverse Pigpen’s conviction and 90-day sentence on contempt of flag charges.

Pigpen, also called Alan Barber, was convicted on May 21 without benefit of a jury or a lawyer. He had been picked up on May 19 because a cop found a piece of red, white and blue bunting which had been folded up in his pocket for six months.

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Out of control riot pigs attacked a crowd of East Detroit youths who were attending a graduation party in early June. Neighboring residents characterized the police action as “unprovoked and unwarranted brutality.”

Many of the residents of East Detroit’s Lincoln Street, where the incident occurred, say they intend to file complaints with their City Council about the repressive anti-youth conduct of the pigs.

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From the Ann Arbor Argus:

“Rock promoter Russ Gibb made one of his rare public appearances two weeks ago when he stopped at South U for a while to pass out circulars advertising his and Mike Quatro’s pop festival in Cincinnati. The circulars were full of bullshit hypes like: “14 BIG ACTS IN 12 HOURS” and claimed that the Cincinnati Pop would be “as groovy as Woodstock but without the hassles.”

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The Phantom of comic strip fame is more symbolic of America than Uncle Sam. In fact, the Purple Pig, as he’s known in some circles, should be depicted on the Great Seal of the United States. No one has served the honko cause better.

As a youth, he gave up the comforts of the Skull Cave in order to be educated in an American university. He was, of course, brilliant in every subject, but athletics were his forte. It didn’t take long for word to spread. People came from all over to watch the super jock work out.

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(Women’s News Co-op) Ladies—are you ready for the Midi? The designers say women are bored and need a change to a more feminine look. The fashion world has announced that this Fall women will be wearing their skirts at mid-calf length, ready or not.

The exploitive and repressive world of women’s fashions has long been with us—or more correctly, against us. While women have little control over the clothing industry, economics and politics exert major pressure in the fashion world. The exploitive economics of capitalism, based on the continuing need for rising profits, seeks constantly to create a demand for new products.

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July 1^st is called “International Freedom Day” on the Detroit River.

On the Mekong River, which runs through Cambodia, Laos and south Vietnam, it is international freedom day. While the United States and Canada celebrate the pollution of the Detroit River and the brotherhood of imperialist policy, we will celebrate and explore the real potential for international freedom.

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NEW YORK (LNS)—An explosive device estimated by police to have the force of 10 to 15 sticks of TNT went off in a men’s toilet on the second floor of the New York City Police Headquarters at 6:57 p.m. June 10.

The explosion tore a hole in the wall between the men’s room and an adjacent office belonging to high-ranking police officials. Seven persons were injured, none of them seriously.

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