The Militant(logo) 
    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

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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

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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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