Vol.62/No.28 July 28, 1998
Rallies In U.S. Support Puerto Rico Strike
Demonstrations in support of the general strike in
Puerto Rico took place in cities across the United States
July 7.
PHILADELPHIA - "Don't sell Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico no
se vende!" chanted some 40 protesters from Philadelphia and
Camden, New Jersey, outside the offices of the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico here.
Luis Senabria, leader of the Committee to defend Puerto
Rican Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners, urged
everyone present to attend the July 25th march on Washing
ton, which will mark 100 years of resistance to U.S.
colonialism on the island. Angel Ortiz, member of the
Philadelphia city council; Benjamin Ramos, a Pennsylvania
state representative; and Mario Africa of the MOVE
organization spoke along with others. Pete Seidman gave
greetings from the Socialist Workers campaign. Many of the
speakers expressed their solidarity with the strike by the
Transport Workers Union here.
Candace Wagner
*****
SAN FRANCISCO - More than 100 workers, activists and
students gathered on July 7 to support the general strike in
Puerto Rico. The picket line was held outside the GTE
Telecommunications Office and was organized by Comite '98 of
California, a national coalition that is organizing events
around the 100th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Cuba,
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. Protesters carried
large Puerto Rican flags, and signs reading "Puerto Rico is
not for sale!" and "Stop antiunion violence, from San Juan
Puerto Rico, to Watsonville, CA!" Unionists of the Hotel and
Restaurant Employees Union, the Communication Workers of
America, and the Painters Union spoke at the picket line to
support the striking workers in Puerto Rico. Members of the
League of Filipino Students and Accion and Boricua y
Caribeña spoke about the importance of building the July
25th events in San Francisco.
Samantha Kern
*****
MINNEAPOLIS - Sixty people rallied in front of the
Federal Building to support the general strike in Puerto
Rico. Some of the signs said "U.S. out of Puerto Rico."
Olivia Levens-Holden, 12, said she was there because " I
believe in Puerto Rico, and I want to be part of this, I am
proud!"
Peter Frase, 18, said he was there after seeing a flyer.
"I am here to show support and solidarity to the Puerto
Rican strikers."
Javier Aravena
*****
MIAMI BEACH - Fifty people gathered at Tap Tap, a
Haitian restaurant, July 3 for an event building the July 25
march on Washington to call for independence for Puerto Rico
and demand the release of Puerto Rican political prisoners.
Irving Forestier of the National Committee to Free Puerto
Rican Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners spoke along
with Andrés Gómez of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, an
organization of Cuban-Americans who support the Cuban
revolution. Two Spanish-language TV stations interviewed
activists there.
Rachele Fruit
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