KPFT interviewer Bob Buzanco asked about the incident. "Malicious damage was done to the campaign's computer, furniture, and to the storefront of the Pathfinder bookstore where the Socialist Workers offices are located," Dutrow explained. "The fax machine and part of the printer were taken. A cabinet containing files was opened but no money was missing. An alert neighbor notified the police of the break-in at 4:50 a.m."

Buzanco asked Dutrow if he thought the break-in was politically motivated. Dutrow replied that there was evidence that points to that. "A poster advertising tomorrow's Militant Labor Forum in defense of the Palestinians' struggle against Israeli aggression was removed from the window of the Pathfinder bookstore, which houses the weekly free speech forum as well as the party offices," he explained. "It was defaced, with a knife slit across the picture of a Palestinian child in front of a wall sign saying, 'We fight Israel because they occupy our land.' The poster was then stepped on and subsequently folded tightly and again stepped on."

"The government's increased attacks on workers' rights--rounding up and imprisoning immigrants, increasing FBI, CIA, border cop and other police agency powers, harassing workers, including members of my party--have encouraged violent attacks and harassment of working people as suspected 'terrorists,'" the socialist candidate and Houston-area meat packer explained.

"This attack on my campaign office has arisen in this climate," he said. "We strongly protest this attempt to disrupt our ability to reach working people and youth with our socialist program. We demand that we be afforded the right to function freely with our socialist election campaign and that the police prosecute those responsible."

Dutrow concluded by encouraging the radio listeners to attend the free speech forum the following night and protest the attack. Interviewer Buzanco asked the socialist candidate to keep the program abreast of further developments.

Supporters are appealing for help in repairing the damage to the bookstore and campaign offices. Speaking at the February 15 Militant Labor Forum, Phil Duzinski invited participants to continue to support the Friday night weekly free speech forum and to respond to the attack by continuing to keep the bookstore open for business. "I also invite you to an open house here at the Pathfinder bookstore on the afternoon of March 3 in celebration of the publication of the book From the Escambray to the Congo: In the Whirlwind of the Cuban Revolution," Duzinski announced. "With your help we will continue to reach out into this working-class neighborhood."

In the days previous to the break-in, supporters of the socialist campaign along with other defenders of workers' rights hosted a tour of Michael Italie, the party's candidate for mayor of Miami in last November's election, who was fired from his job as a garment worker because of his political views. Italie spoke with the media and at public meetings in Houston and Brownsville, Texas.

On February 9 he spoke at the art car museum in the Heights area near Houston's Pathfinder bookstore. The museum had been visited by the FBI following September 11 to see if it contained "terrorist art."  
 
 
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