Indian land rights
Indians and their supporters have vowed to continue their struggle to save the sacred site of Puvungna on the California State University at Long Beach campus. An unfavorable court decision would allow the University to build a strip mall on the land. On April 6, Judge Abby Soven ruled that the law protecting Indian sacred sites on public land is unconstitutional since it violates the principle of separation of church and state.
The land at issue contains burial and reburial sites, two acres of community garden plots, and a large natural area where numerous birds, mammals, trees, and grasses flourish and where summer day camps for youngsters have been held for many years.
News that the university was now claiming that "no cultural resources" existed on the site evoked a storm of protests. Campus officials admitted they had made a "mistake," but now began to claim the site had not been proven to be sacred.
They promised a "cultural review" in which the university, not the Indians, would decide whether the site was sacred, and they would do this through an archeological dig.
All plans for archaeology were stopped, however, when the Native American Heritage Commission joined individual Indian plaintiffs to obtain a preliminary injunction until the case can be heard in court.
Puvungna has the potential of becoming a place not only of great beauty, but also of great educational value. To show your support for Puvungna, write or call: Dr. Robert Maxson, president, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840; Tel: (310) 985-4121, Fax: (310) 985-5584.
Eugene Ruyle
Long Beach, California
Abolish the death penalty
About a dozen supporters of Mumia Abu-Jamal's right to
live attended an open-air music event in Sheffield,
England, July 15-16 to arouse opposition to the planned
execution of this death-row prisoner.
Hardly any of the hundreds of youth and working people we spoke to had heard of this case, reflecting the absence (so far) of coverage in the pro-capitalist media. However, virtually everyone we spoke to wanted to sign an open letter appealing for the rescinding of the death sentence.
Many expressed revulsion at the increased use of the death penalty.
They readily accepted arguments that, for those responsible for the death of countless human beings in Vietnam, Iraq, and elsewhere, the death penalty is a weapon of terror to be used against youth and working people.
Supporters were able to point to the abolition of the death penalty in South Africa, and the support gained in that country for Abu-Jamal's right to life.
John Smith Sheffield, England
Mexico bus strike
I attended the Great Marathon, a festival in solidarity with the bus drivers' union, in June. Their strike has lasted almost three months now.
Absolutely everyone recognizes that this union is in the eye of the hurricane. The entire "independent" union movement has come out in support.
The May Day march and rally was absolutely one of the most inspiring political rallies I have ever attended.
The SUTAUR-100 (Union of Urban Bus Workers) has been stopping traffic on main boulevards every week, if not almost daily.
N.S. Mexico City, Mexico
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