The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.61/No.26           July 28, 1997 
 
 
Activist Speaks Across U.S. On Fight For Land, Against Frame-Up In Brazil  

BY ROLLANDE GIRARD
MIAMI - José Brito Ribeiro, a national leader of the Movement of the Landless Rural Workers (MST) of Brazil, visited Miami as part of a speaking tour of seven U.S. cities. The MST organizes peasants to fight for land in Brazil. During his three days in Miami, Brito met with farm workers, union activists, members of immigrants rights, and Haitian rights groups.

He was also interviewed by CNN in Spanish, the monthly Brazilian Florida Review, and the radio program of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees (UNITE), "Dignity and Respect." Brito started his tour by meeting with farm workers in Homestead, Florida, and addressing a reception of 35 people at Tap Tap Haitian Restaurant in Miami Beach.

He spoke about the struggle for land in Brazil at a public meeting of some 50 people at the UNITE hall. Union staffer Lily Díaz chaired the meeting, which was sponsored by UNITE, the Committee for Dignity and Justice for Immigrants, and Veye-Yo, a Haitian rights organization.

"In Brazil, 90 percent of the land is owned by 20 percent of the population," Brito stated. "In our country, 32 million people suffer from hunger and the majority of agricultural land is not cultivated or is cultivated for exports." He explained that the MST not only organizes demonstrations and occupations of land but also organizes education, health-care, security and production in the occupied areas. Lucas Benitez, a member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, which organizes farm workers in that Florida city, said "It is very good to hear how peasants in Brazil organize themselves, because it is also an example for farm workers in the United States."

Brito explained that the MST "has confronted cops and armed thugs" and many of the MST members were imprisoned and tortured. "We persisted and we won some rights and gained strength. But the attacks are not over." He spoke about the killing of 19 activists in one occupation last year and the recent frame-up of José Rainha, Jr., a central leader of the MST.

On June 11, Rainha was convicted for the murder of two men during a land occupation in the state of Espirito Santo in 1989. At his trial five defense witnesses testified that at the time of the incident Rainha was in the state of Ceará. Photographs taken by the military police, two video tapes, and press clippings introduced at the trial also show that he was in Ceará. "The only reason José Rainha was convicted was because he participates in the MST," Brito said. More than 65 people in Miami have signed letters of protest on Rainha's behalf.

The last day of his tour, Brito addressed 50 people at a meeting of Veye-Yo.

Rollande Girard is a member of United Steelworkers of America Local 7609.

*****

BY JOAN PALTRINERI

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - "The MST is a parallel struggle worlds away," said Marcus Tillery, speaking to the 60 people who turned out here June 20 to hear José Brito of the Movement of Landless Rural Workers of Brazil. Tillery was representing those who are fighting to stop foreclosures on Black family farms in North Carolina. Among those attending the meeting were environmental activists, members of UNITE Local 2603 at the Kmart distribution center, and supporters of framed-up Black activist Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Brito described the mobilization earlier this year, where peasants from three different regions in Brazil converged on the capital demanding land, jobs, and justice and were joined by tens of thousands of students, unemployed workers, homeless people from the cities, unions, political parties and church groups. "This was an important show of support," said Brito.

The next day Brito spoke to a meeting of 21 people in Tillery, sponsored by the Black Land Loss Fund and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery, two organizations that are challenging the racist practices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture which has led to large numbers of foreclosures of Black family farms. The Brazilian activist also visited the farm of Matthew Grant, 78, one of the Black farmers fighting foreclosure.

Joan Paltrineri is a member of UNITE Local 2603.

*****

BY CANDACE WAGNER

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "In Brazil there are many without land and there is a lot of land," José Brito explained to an audience of 50 at All Souls Church here June 26. "There is money to settle families on the land. The Brazilian government pays $15 billion every year to pay off the foreign debt. It pays millions to the private banks so that they don't go bankrupt every year. It is not lack of money, it is lack of political will on the part of the government."

One participant at the meeting asked about the role of women in the movement. Brito responded, "Women play a big role in the resistance. We organize the work in the settlements so that women can also participate, both in production and in the leadership and organization."

Another participant in the meeting said he had just visited a group of African-American prisoners in Baltimore, Maryland. The prisoners were interested in Brito's tour and wanted to know the extent of poverty in Brazil and also about struggles of Afro-Brazilians. Ribeiro said 63 percent of all Brazilians live below the official poverty rate. He also described prison overcrowding and a prison rebellion last year that left 111 people dead. "In recent years Black consciousness has grown," Ribeiro said. "We have begun to reconquer and create more awareness of African values and culture. In our movement it is a majority of Blacks who struggle for land."

Leslie Salgado, of the Howard County Friends of Central America, chaired the event and gave a fund pitch. Twenty people wrote letters protesting the frame-up of MST leader José Rainha.

Brito also met with 20 participants in the "Justice for Janitors" campaign organized by Local 82 of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Radio Boriquen broadcast an interview with Ribeiro and the Washington D.C. weekly El Tiempo Latino sent a reporter and photographer to a press conference chaired by Mauricio Vazquez of SEIU Local 82.

Candace Wagner is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 27.

*****

BY RUTH ROBINETT

NEW YORK - About 60 people turned out for a June 27 meeting at the headquarters of Hospital Workers Union Local 1199 to hear José Brito speak on the fight for land and justice in Brazil. José Mata, from the union's Adult Education Department, welcomed people to the event.

Alissa Pines, an organizer for the United Farm Workers Union in New York City is gathering support for the UFW's efforts to organize strawberry workers in California. She closed the program with an appeal for funds. "Listening to José I understand the importance of people in the cities participating in the struggle in California and Brazil. We must rise up on behalf of workers when they are fired, harassed, or refused a contract," Pines said.

At the invitation of Father Castle, Brito addressed the Spanish-language mass at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Harlem on June 29. He also visited the office of District Council 17 of AFSCME, one of the unions that sponsored his meeting, and spoke to staff members about the struggle for land in Brazil and the case of Jose Rainha, Jr.

Ruth Robinett is a member of the United Transportation Union.

*****

BY FRED FELDMAN

NEWARK, New Jersey - Brazilian peasant leader José Brito concluded his U.S. speaking tour June 30, addressing a meeting at the Communidade Crista Presbiteriana church attended by 30 activists and others from the growing Brazilian community here. Cibele Kuss, a Brazilian student, chaired the meeting. Rev. Renato Bernardes introduced Brito and provided translation. "Why are we hosting this?" Bernardes asked. "The main reason is that we don't know enough about this struggle."

Brito also got a warm welcome when he addressed several hundred people at a parish festival at St. James Church. Some members of the church belonged to the MST or the Workers Party of Brazil before emigrating to the United States. Nine people there signed up to help in defending framed-up MST leader José Rainha.

Articles announcing Brito's tour appeared in Luso Americano and the Brazilian Voice, Portuguese-language papers that are widely read in the area. The bi-weekly Luso Americano published a follow-up article on Brito's tour and the Rainha defense case.  
 
 
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