"All young people around the world must support this case. It's part of fighting the domination of U.S. imperialism; part of opposing the American invasion of Afghanistan," said Tran Dac Loi, of the Vietnam Youth Federation, after deciding to become an endorser of the fight. Loi was also the coordinator of the International Organizing Committee for the 15th World Festival of Yough and Students, held in Algiers last August.
Italie, who ran for mayor of Miami on the Socialist Workers Party ticket, was fired October 22 after speaking out against the U.S. war in Afghanistan and in defense of the Cuban Revolution during a televised candidates' debate. Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana told the Miami Herald that he dismissed Italie because "we cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America" work at the plant. Goodwill did not contest Italie's filing for unemployment benefits, and the State of Florida Unemployment Compensation Program stated in awarding Italie's benefits that the "claimant was discharged because of political views. No information has been submitted which substantiates misconduct."
Another new endorser of Italie's fight at the meeting here was Juan Carlos Frometa, representative of the Union of Young Communists (UJC) of Cuba at WFDY's headquarters in Budapest, Hungary.
"For us in Cuba," the UJC leader said, "this case is very important. It shows the hypocrisy of the U.S. government when it speaks as a defender of freedom and democracy. There is very limited freedom to express your view if you are a worker."
Kathrin Schmidt, representing the Free German Youth (FDJ) based in Berlin, Germany, explained when endorsing the Miami committee that there has been a growing number of similar violations of democratic rights in Germany during the last few months.
Others who signed endorser cards are: Mohammed Mohiartin, of the National Union of Eritrean Youth and Students; Elmami Brahim, a representative in Spain of the Western Sahara liberation youth organization UJSARIO; Irina Jukova, a member of Komsomol of the Russian Federation; Adriano Augusto, from the October 8 Revolutionary Youth of Brazil; Kazuki Kondo, of the Japan League of Socialist Youth; Mauricio Rodriguez, a leader of the Communist Youth of Colombia; and two representatives of the Communist Youth of Finland.
Earlier in December, cadres of the fight to shut down the U.S. naval base in Vieques, Puerto Rico, joined the expanding list of endorsers during the São Paulo Forum held in Havana, Cuba. Carlos Zenón, president of the Vieques Fishermen's Association, and Ismael Guadalupe, a spokesperson for the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, both endorsed Italie's fight.
The Committee to Defend Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights is organizing a national speaking tour for Michael Italie to win further support for his campaign. Plans are now under way for Italie to speak at the end of January in Tampa, Florida, and in Valdosta, Georgia.
For more information or to offer assistance in this campaign, contact the Committee to Defend Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights at P.O. Box 510127, Miami, FL 33151-0127. Tel: (305) 724-5965. E-mail: DefendFreeSpeech@yahoo.com.
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Art student, a native of Lebanon, framed for having a plastic utility knife at airport
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