In February U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), joined by 25 of their Senate colleagues from both political parties, strongly urged President Joe Biden to reverse the Trump administration's decision to officially recognize the Kingdom of Morocco’s illegitimate claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara. In the letter that was released to the public, the Senators asked the Biden administration to recommit America to its longstanding policy of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara.
To discuss this recent development in the Western Sahara matter, Jason will speak with Bill Flecther Jr., a human rights activist and supporter of self-determination for the Sahrawi. This is our second podcast on Western Sahara; the first was with Katlyn Thomas, an attorney, and international law expert who served on the MINURSO mission in the Sahara. In addition to discussing the most recent developments, Jason (on the right) and Bill (on the left) discuss how politically and ideologically diverse coalitions come together every now and then to advance common goals in complex matters.
Fletcher is a long-time human rights activist dating to his teen years. Upon graduating from college he went to work as a welder in a shipyard, thereby entering the labor movement. Over the years he has been active in workplace and community struggles as well as electoral campaigns. He has worked for several labor unions in addition to serving as a senior staff person in the national AFL-CIO. A former president of TransAfrica Forum; a Senior Scholar with the Institute for Policy Studies; and in the leadership of several other projects. Fletcher is the co-author (with Peter Agard) of “The Indispensable Ally: Black Workers and the Formation of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1934-1941”; the co-author (with Dr. Fernando Gapasin) of “Solidarity Divided: The crisis in organized labor and a new path toward social justice“; and the author of “‘They’re Bankrupting Us’ – And Twenty other myths about unions.” Fletcher is a syndicated columnist and a regular media commentator on television, radio, and the Web.
Further Reading
Senator Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Senate Leahy (D-Vermont) joined by 25 of their Senate colleagues from both political parties, urge President Biden to reverse course on Western Sahara (letter).
How the Western Sahara Became the Key to North Africa; And why Morocco’s apparent victory there will change regional politics, Foreign Policy (Dec. 18, 2020).
Why the Fight Over Western Sahara is Heating Up Again, Bloomberg (Mar. 17, 2021).
Trump’s recognition of Western Sahara is a serious blow to diplomacy and international law, former Secretary of State James Baker (Dec. 17, 2020).
Morocco escalates row with Spain over Western Sahara, Reuters (May 27, 2021).
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War Brewing in North Africa Over Western Sahara?