> WW News Service Digest #114 > > 1) Cuban children march for Elian > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 2) Mumia to Cuba > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 3) Puerto Rican Day Parade: Millions cheer Vieques & Albizu > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 4) In Philadelphia: 'U.S. out of Vieques and Korea' > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > 5) Saying farewell to Key Martin > by "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the June 22, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >AWARE AND ACTIVE. NOT ALIENTATED: >CUBAN CHILDREN MARCH FOR ELIAN > >By Gloria La Riva > >It was a remarkable display of solidarity: 200,000 Cuban >children marching in a three-and-a-half-mile-long >procession to the U.S. diplomatic offices in Havana on >Monday, June 12. The children were demanding that their >fellow student, six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, be allowed to >come home to Cuba. > >It should be no surprise for anyone watching news about >Cuba in recent months. Even the U.S. media has had to >recognize the massive, genuine character of protests >calling for Elian's return. Millions of Cubans have been in >the streets continuously, in the highest degree of >mobilization since the early days of the Revolution. > >But young children, first-graders and up, marching proudly >on their own, shouting, "Stop the abuse, free Elian?" It >does seem unusual. In the U.S., such activism by children >would sound impossible. > >But not in Cuba. Cuban children are brought up early on to >defend their sovereignty, their homeland and socialism. >After all, if Cuban kids are also targets of U.S. >imperialism and the blockade, shouldn't they be aware of >what's going on? Isn't it their right to be involved too? > >Awareness and activism have made Cuban young people >generally very happy and self-confident--the qualities >Eli n radiates. They can play outside with their friends in >the streets and not have to worry about getting kidnapped >or hurt by violent crime, as often happens in the U.S., >especially in poor neighborhoods. Rather than being passive >observers in society, Cuban children are steeped in >awareness and action. > >That's why 200,000 schoolchildren were so adamant as they >filed past the U.S. mission. They realize that Elian's >fight is theirs, too. They know that Elian was being held >captive, paraded like a pawn for right-wing and U.S. >interests. > >Some 1,000 students from Elian's school in his hometown of >Cardenas kicked off the march. Even after two-and-a-half >hours of children streaming past the U.S. Interests >Section, the marchers kept coming. > >Cuban President Fidel Castro addressed the children on >television on the eve of the march: "So with great dignity, >go with your kerchiefs and banners high, with your strong >and energetic chants, so they can hear in Washington and >the rest of the world that no one has the right to kidnap >or detain a Cuban child. You are our great vanguard." > >He urged the children to make up for the time spent on the >marches and to continue their studies despite vacation >approaching. "If it's necessary to use a day or two of >vacation to study, we'll do it. We can't be receiving >little Elian with even one child not keeping up in school. >I wish you well with a million kisses that our people, full >of pride, are sending to you marvelous children." > >The whole Cuban population has been organizing for Elian's >return ever since he was kidnapped by distant, right-wing >relatives in Miami on Nov. 25 of last year. U.S. government >agencies handed Elian over to his great-uncle in Miami >after his rescue at sea. His mother and 10 others drowned >when the boat they were riding in capsized. > >On June 1, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court >of Appeals in Atlanta upheld the U.S. Justice Department >position that Elian should be returned to Cuba. However, >the court gave the child's distant relatives in Miami--who, >with the backing and funding of the Cuban fascist right >wing in Miami, are trying to keep Elian in the U.S--two >weeks to appeal the decision to the full circuit court. >Attorney General Janet Reno extended that time an >additional seven days. > >The Miami right wing and their supporters are desperately >trying to extend the forced stay of Elian in the U.S. They >are trying to keep him here until Nov. 27, 2000, at which >time the child would be automatically granted permanent >resident status under the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966. >Then he would no longer be subject to the jurisdiction of >the Justice Department's Immigration and Naturalization >Service. > >The U.S. government has prohibited Elian and his family >from leaving the United States during this period. So no >wonder that the Cuban people are continuing to demonstrate. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <008a01bfd7ee$0549bc90$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Mumia to Cuba >Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 19:53:07 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the June 22, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > > MUMIA TO CUBA > >[This is the text of a bilingual message from death-row >prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal to a roundtable discussion in >Cuba on human rights in the United States:] > >Viva John Africa! > >Viva Cuba libre! > >Viva la revoluci�n! > >Mis hermanas y hermanos de Cuba: > >Gracias por la invitacion, y la oportunidad hablar >ustedes. Me llamo Mumia, y uno preso politico de >Estados Unidos. > >[Sisters and brothers of Cuba: Thanks for the invitation >and the opportunity to speak to you. I am called Mumia and >I am a political prisoner of the United States.] > >This country speaks about democracy and justice and >liberty, but it is the Prison House of Nations; a place >where over 2 million men, women and juveniles are being >caged in American prisons and jails; a place of >repression, racism, and bitter class conflict. A place >where police shoot unarmed Black men, like Amadou Diallo, >by firing 41 shots, for the high crime of being Black in >white America. Amadou Diallo didn't know it, but he was on >Death Row! So much for American justice. > >And what of Cubans here in America? I've met many of >them in Pennsylvania prisons who are doing time in U.S. >jails, with no end date, because they are Marielitos. >[Cubans who came in small boats from the town of Mariel. >Many are Black and have been treated much harsher here >than the Miami Cubans--Ed.] No matter how much time a >judge sentenced them to, they will never be released from >prison--Cubans under American justice. > >Over 3,000 men, women and juveniles wait for death on >America's Death Rows. Most with no lawyers, some with law >yers who slept during their client's trial, others with cops >who lied to concoct confessions, with Blacks routinely still >removed from juries. American justice. > >Mis hermanos y hermanas >de Cuba! > >Gracias para la oportunidad eso. >The struggle for freedom >continues here. > >Venceremos! Ona Move! >Long live John Africa! > >>From America's Death Row, >que dice Mumia Abu-Jamal > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <009001bfd7ee$22ba3480$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Puerto Rican Day Parade: Millions cheer Vieques & Albizu >Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 19:53:57 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the June 22, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >PUERTO RICAN DAY PARADE: MILLIONS CHEER VIEQUES & ALBIZU > >By Monica Somocurcio >New York > >Over two million euphoric people lined the streets of >Manhattan on June 11 to celebrate the Puerto Rican Day >Parade. It was the biggest demonstration yet in support of >Vieques and its fight against the U.S. Navy. > >Masses of flag-waving Puerto Ricans took the streets of >New York and made them their own, even if for just one day. >The national identity of the Puerto Rican people was >affirmed more than ever by this imposing event. > >This year's parade, dedicated to Vieques and to >independence leader Pedro Albizu Campos, drew hundreds of >activists from Puerto Rico who came to New York in the >largest numbers ever to participate in the parade and to >forcefully display a show of Puerto Rican will against the >empire. > >"I am convinced that this is the greatest and strongest >expression in support of Vieques so far," said Vieques >fisher leader Carlos Zenon. > >As the contingents marched along ritzy Fifth Avenue, >people along the parade loudly echoed, "Vieques si, Marina >no!" Marina means navy in Spanish. > >The first three hours of the parade were solidly dedicated >to Vieques and independence for Puerto Rico. There were >contingents representing the Puerto Rican Nationalist >Party, the Socialist Front, the Puerto Rican Independence >Party, the Hostos National Congress, the New Movement for >Independence and many more. Long-time pro-independence >leaders like Ruben Berrios Martinez, Juan Mari Bras, Lolita >Lebron and Carlos Gallisa were at hand for the march as >well. > >The Albizu Vive contingent included an enormous statue of >Albizu Campos flanked by Nationalists dressed in their >traditional black and white. One parade-goer watching the >statue told a local television channel that Albizu "is the >father of our country. No one has done what he has done for >us." > >The large Vieques contingent included the Committee for >the Rescue and Development of Vieques, led by Ismael Guada- >lupe, and the Vieques Women's Alliance. Many of those >arrested May 4 when the government raided Vieques were >there, as well as those arrested since in second and third >attempts to take back the people's land. > >Many in this category, including Guadalupe and Berrios, >are due in court in mid-June, when they could receive up to >10 years in prison or $250,000 in fines. > >Puerto Rican progressive unions like the Teamsters of >Puerto Rico, the Teachers Federation and the Puerto Rican >Workers Federation (CGT) also marched. > >Pro-commonwealth Popular Democratic Party representatives >and mayors were also at hand in the parade. > >In contrast, pro-annexation New Progressive Party (PNP) >mayors and politicians from Puerto Rico boycotted the >event. However, a handful of PNP mayors defied the boycott >to march. > >The prominent and open presence of the pro-independence >organizations is unprecedented in the parade's history. It >is clearly due to the tremendous impact of the struggle in >Vieques and the last few years of growing political >consciousness among the masses. > >Referring to the admiration and support for the figure of >Albizu Campos among the marchers, socialist leader Mari >Br s predicted, "This is a seed for future actions." > >The solid support for the Vieques struggle was clearly >evident. The ruling class must undoubtedly fear the >possibility that the Puerto Rican masses in New York and in >other U.S. cities could go into motion in the struggle for >freedom right here in the belly of the beast. That would >constitute the fiercest blow to U.S. colonialism. > >In another display of widening solidarity for the Puerto >Rican struggle, African American leader the Rev. Al >Sharpton invited Puerto Rican Independence Party leader >Ruben Berrios to speak at a Harlem rally on June 10. >Berr�os told the crowd that Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther >King Jr. are an inspiration to the struggle for liberation >in Puerto Rico. "We are together in the struggle for >freedom," said Berrios. > >Sharpton pledged that if Berrios goes to jail for his >civil disobedience in Vieques, he would go and get arrested >as well. "As long as the people of Vieques continue living >under the shadow of bombs, we are not finished yet," said >Sharpton. > >A number of groups brought solidarity delegations to the >Puerto Rican Day Parade. The International Action Center, >Workers World Party, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the National >Committee to Send Elian Gonzalez Back Home to Cuba, and >others joined the pro-independence contingent to show >support for Vieques and the struggle of the Puerto Rican >people against U.S. colonialism. > >The Puerto Rican Day Parade this year left a black eye on >Uncle Sam's face and lifted the Puerto Rican movement >higher than any imperial giant. The struggles ahead will be >the recipients of this renewed strength. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <009601bfd7ee$3cff3610$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] In Philadelphia: 'U.S. out of Vieques and Korea' >Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 19:54:41 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the June 22, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >INT'L SOLIDARITY IN PHILADELPHIA: >"U.S. OUT OF VIEQUES AND KOREA" > >Solidarity between the peoples of Puerto Rico and Korea >was the high point in a forum held in Philadelphia June 12. > >Ismael Guadalup, spokesperson of the Committee for the >Rescue and Development of Vieques, was the guest speaker in >a "U.S. Navy Out of Vieques Now" meeting, where he >explained the current situation on the tiny island. > >The forum was co-sponsored by SEIU Local 668, the Pro >Vieques Coalition of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the >Philadelphia Chapter of the International Action Center. >The Rev. Kiyul Chung, Secretary General of the Korean Truth >Commission on the Civilian Massacres, and Guadalupe >exchanged solidarity messages on behalf of their people. >Guadalupe also made an apology for all the Puerto Rican >soldiers who, under U.S. military command during the Korean >War, were ordered to kill people of Korea. > >Philadelphia City Council member Angel Ortiz, who was >Guadalupe's lawyer during the latter's imprisonment in >Pennsylvania after demonstrations in Vieques in 1979, also >addressed the audience. Attending was the area >representative of the African National Congress of South >Africa, Godfrey Sithole. Ray Martinez, president of SEIU >Local 668, told the gathering that his union has passed >resolutions calling for the Navy to leave Vieques and >demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal. > >--Berta Joubert-Ceci > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > >Message-ID: <009c01bfd7ee$4e0a0110$[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >From: "WW" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [WW] Saying farewell to Key Martin >Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 19:55:10 -0400 >Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" >Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > >------------------------- >Via Workers World News Service >Reprinted from the June 22, 2000 >issue of Workers World newspaper >------------------------- > >FAMILY, COMRADES, CO-WORKERS SAY FAREWELL TO KEY MARTIN > >By Deirdre Griswold >New York > >With so much of the world seething under the heavy burden >of U.S. imperialist oppression, the progressive movement >here can ill afford the loss of even one person. And when >that person is as tireless and revolutionary as Key Martin >was, the loss is nearly unbearable. > >Martin died in March at the age of 56. In the weeks >following, his comrades in the struggle and co-workers met >in several cities to mourn his loss. An obituary >summarizing his political life appeared in this newspaper >at that time. > >On June 11, the organizations he had helped to build-- >Workers World Party, Peoples Video Network, and the Inter >national Action Center--joined by Work fairness, Ha�ti >Progr�s, the Workers Justice Committee (Detroit) and >members of Key's family, met here at the Fashion Institute >of Technology in an extraordinary testimonial to his life. > >As speaker after speaker told of his generosity, his >militancy and his enthusiasm for the class struggle, a >picture emerged of what a communist aims to be. Key was >loved by his fellow workers at the Time-Life chapter of the >Newspaper Guild. Several of them reminisced about how, as >chapter chairperson, he had relished fighting the bosses >and had won many benefits for the workers. > >Other trade unionists who had worked with Key recalled his >militant support in both Detroit and New York for striking >Detroit newspaper workers, who are still fighting to get >their jobs back. One AFSCME local presented a check for >$500 to a memorial fund to benefit the Peoples Video >Network, which Key had founded, so that the documentary he >had begun on the life of martyred South African Communist >leader Chris Hani could be completed. > >Key Martin was a member of Workers World Party for over 35 >years, having joined its action arm, Youth Against War & >Fascism, in the early 1960s. As each speaker added a piece >to the mosaic of his life, it was clear that there wasn't a >campaign or struggle carried out by the party that Key did >not contribute to--as organizer, street tactician, >videographer and militant. He also initiated quite a few >projects of his own. > >In the last year, he had been to Seattle for the World >Trade Organization protests, had protested police murders >on the streets of New York in the Amadou Diallo and Patrick >Dorismond cases, had gone to South Africa to gather >material about Chris Hani and about the AIDS epidemic, and >had shown innumerable kindnesses to the people around him, >despite chronic health problems. > >Many speakers told of Key's devotion to his daughter, >Tamara, who had been at his side at union negotiations and >picket lines since the days when he carried her in a >backpack, and of her older brother and sister, Alejandro >and Evelyn. Poised and warm despite the emotional occasion, >Tamara Martin spoke of her father with affection, humor and >insight. > >Despite Key's many years of political activity, it seemed >that he only grew younger as time went by. As a leading >member of a party with a keen analysis of international >events, he never buried himself in provincial matters but >was well aware of the counter-revolutionary setbacks in the >USSR and Eastern Europe. Never for a moment, however, did >this sap his energies or his cheerful enthusiasm. His >confidence in the victory of the worldwide working class >over capitalist slavery grew with his own involvement in >the struggle. > >Johnnie Stevens, Key's close collaborator in PVN, helped >prepare a video on his work that was shown at the memorial. >Those wishing to contribute to the Key Martin Memorial Fund >can contact the Peoples Video Network at 39 West 14th St., >New York, NY 10011, (212) 633-6646. > > - END - > >(Copyleft Workers World Service. Everyone is permitted to >copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but >changing it is not allowed. For more information contact >Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: >[EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) > > > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
