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Vol. 78/No. 39      November 3, 2014

 
25, 50, and 75 Years Ago
 
November 3, 1989
Two days following the most massive political march seen in decades in East Germany, head-of-state Erich Honecker resigned.

The protest of 100,000 on October 16 in the city of Leipzig overshadowed a demonstration a week earlier of 50,000. “We want new leaders!” and “We want reforms!” were popular chants at the march. Protesters carried signs calling for greater freedom of the press, unrestricted travel and free elections.

The size of the protests grew rapidly following the mass departure to West Germany of more than 23,000 East Germans during September and early October. The government responded to the wave of emigration by restricting travel outside the country to those with approved visas.

November 2, 1964

A staple of both Johnson’s and Goldwater’s campaigns is enmity to the Cuban Revolution. Clifton DeBerry, candidate of the Socialist Workers Party, calls for friendly and normal relations with Cuba.

On the “Issues and Answers” television program, broadcast over the ABC national network Oct. 25, DeBerry urged the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the naval base at Guantanamo, Cuba.

The U.S. base also came under fire from the conference of non-aligned nations which met in Cairo last month. Leaders from 47 nations were at the conference and signed a document urging the United States to “negotiate the evacuation of this base with the Cuban Government.”

November 3, 1939

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 30 — Twenty-five men and women go on trial today in Judge Joyce’s Federal court for their participation in the nation-wide WPA [Works Progress Administration] strike this summer.

The defendants are being tried formally under a provision of the Roosevelt-Woodrum Relief Law which makes it a crime to “interfere with” WPA workers. Actually, however, they are being tried under the Roosevelt-made law: “You can’t strike against the government.”

Where facts cannot be twisted to arouse the prejudices of a businessmen’s jury, the Federal prosecutor adds a “conspiracy” indictment, and the judge defines “conspiracy” in such broad terms that convictions can be voted by the jury without bothering about evidence.  
 
 
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