BY ESTELLE DEBATES
SEATTLE - Supporters of the fight to defend free speech have stepped up their efforts to reach out to the labor movement and other fighters for support. The Seattle Committee to Defend Free Speech was recently formed to counter the attempts by the city of Seattle to force the Socialist Workers campaign to disclose their contributors. An appeal has been filed against the Seattle Ethics and Election Commission's fine of $6,040 against the campaign for noncompliance with disclosure laws.

The appeal requests a waiving of the fines and a reversal of the commission's denial of exemption. A hearing on this appeal has been scheduled for February 4.

Richard Berley, an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)- cooperating attorney, is representing the Socialist Workers in the legal efforts leading up to the February hearing. So far, there are about 50 endorsers of the defense committee's campaign. Supporters are asking for endorsement of the committee, financial contributions, and for protest letters to be sent to the commission.

Nine endorsers of the Free Speech Committee are members of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 751, which organizes Boeing workers. Four of them have also made financial contributions to the defense effort. These expressions of support are important because the Socialist Workers 1997 Campaign ran Scott Breen, a Boeing assembler and member of IAM 751, for mayor of Seattle.

The Boeing Company is the largest manufacturer of commercial aircraft in the world and, after its merger with McDonnell Douglas, now a gigantic military producer. Breen's campaign was active in supporting the resistance of workers to increasing company attacks. His campaign took advantage of the space open today to present communist ideas in the workers' movement. Two days after the primary elections, Boeing subjected Breen to an interview about his comments during a radio talk show in which he defended the interests of workers at Boeing.

There is a long history of attempts by the bosses and their government to drive communist workers out of the defense industry. Forced disclosure of contributors to the socialist campaigns would give the industry another weapon to use to close down the political space available to workers in the factories to talk about world politics and to organize resistance to company speedup.

Tom Herriman and Gretchen Donart sent a letter of protest to the SEEC. Herriman, a member of Teamsters Local 174, is the Seattle organizer of Teamsters United for Change, an organization that builds support for apple packers fighting for union recognition in eastern Washington.

Their letter states: "..we are shocked and appalled that you want to repeal the exemption for the Socialist Workers Party from rules requiring disclosure of financial supporters. In our society there are innumerable opportunities for abuse of civil liberties by employers, financial institutions, the government and the press. Boeing's blatant effort to retaliate against Scott Breen for something he said on the radio is a perfect example of this."

Anne Atkeson, a leader of the Seattle United Farm Workers Support Committee, also sent in a protest letter to the SEEC saying, "Your denial comes even after the state PDC [Public Disclosure Commission] and the Federal government have provided an exemption... If the evidence was sufficient to these jurisdictions that these contributors are facing harassment, what more evidence does this commission need?"

Chris Rayson, a member of the United Transportation Union Local 1845 said he and other socialists on the railroad are campaigning among their co-workers for support.

"We're getting out packets of information that include a letter to trade unionists put out by the committee," said Rayson.

"Co-workers are discussing the case with us seriously. Many compare the government's interference with the campaign to its interference in the Teamsters union elections, which they don't like. So far we have one endorser who also gave $20 to the committee. Another worker is reading the material and also bought a copy of the Marxist magazine New International no. 6 so she could read the article `The 50-year domestic contra operation.' "

Three members of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) endorsed at the their convention held in Seattle November 6 - 9. Other labor endorsers include Norma Kelsey, President of the OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 8; Mike Miller member of Teamsters Local 174 at United Postal Service; members of the American Federation of Teachers, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), and the SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and six members of the IAM Local 2202 who work at Alaska Airlines.

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists chapter in Seattle, after hearing a presentation about the fight with the City of Seattle, voted to send out a mailing to all of its members about the fight. Three members of the chapter endorsed at the meeting itself.

Caroline Canafax, co-chair of the Seattle chapter of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, as well as the entire chapter itself, has endorsed the defense campaign.

Others who have signed the endorser card include Nick Licata, who was recently elected to the Seattle City Council, and Jason Welling, a student at Shorecrest High School who is a leader of Students for Democracy there. The Student Labor Action Coalition at the University of Washington also voted to endorse the fight and plans to send a protest letter to the SEEC signed by their members.

The Seattle Committee to Defend Free Speech plans to have a public meeting in the weeks preceding the February appeal hearing that reflects the growing support.  
 
 
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