BY CANDACE WAGNER
WASHINGTON, D.C. - "The struggle the Cuban people are waging is a struggle for dignity, sovereignty, and the independence of our nation," stated Cuban youth leader Kenia Serrano to an audience of some 95 people April 5 at George Washington University (GWU).

The event - sponsored by the GWU Program Board, Progressive Student Union, and Latin American Studies Program - was also supported by the D.C. "Hands Off Cuba" Coalition, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, and the Spanish Club at the University of the District of Columbia. The meeting launched a successful four-day visit to the Washington, D.C., area.

Working people feel the effects of the economic crisis in Cuba the most, explained Serrano, "but it is working people who accept the challenge to defend the social benefits" of the revolution. She pointed out that daily life is marked by "intense discussions."

Commenting on the effects of tourism in Cuba, she said, "it's a tough stage for all of us, especially young people. But we're not afraid to discuss the problems." While it has led to prostitution and fueled the operation of the black market, about 40 percent of the country's hard currency comes from tourism, stated Serrano. "What you don't hear much about is the Cuban young people working in tourism who recently donated $600,000 from their tips to keep social programs going."

A Puerto Rican student asked the Cuban youth leader what message she has for the youth of Puerto Rico. "When [Jose] Marti spoke of the independence of Cuba, he always also spoke of the independence of Puerto Rico," Serrano said. She condemned the U.S. government for denying visas to Cubans who want to visit their brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico.

A member of the United Transportation Union on AMTRAK was happy for the opportunity to hear a revolutionary from Cuba. "I'm glad I came," he said. "I was impressed by the tolerance for different viewpoints at the meeting."

Upon arriving here, Serrano went to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey and an aide to Rep. Jose Serrano of New York.

Members of the International Association of Machinists were able to meet Serrano in the break room at Washington's National Airport. "Why are so many people leaving Cuba?" one young worker asked. "Cuba is a poor country," Serrano responded. "Even after the revolution it is still a poor country. People leave Cuba because these conditions can get very hard. But we must not forget that while 30,000 Cubans left, more than 9 million fighters for socialism remain in Cuba. Those are the ones never mentioned."

Participation in the April 9 national women's rights rally was a highlight of her tour here. She took many photographs of the protest to share with others when she returns to Cuba.

Brian Taylor contributed to this article.
 

BY ELIZABETH STONE 
NEW YORK - When Cuban youth leader Kenia Serrano spoke at Bernard M. Baruch College here March 31, many of the 150 who attended were students from area campuses who have participated in demonstrations against cuts in education and social services.

"I've met a lot of people here who desire to struggle, and that's important," Serrano told the meeting. "I've talked with immigrants, farm workers, Afro-Americans, and workers on strike against different companies. I have run into many young people who are aware of how unjustly the wealth is divided."

Serrano explained that despite the economic hardships in Cuba today, the government's budget includes increased expenditures on education, which is free.

When the meeting opened for discussion, two Cubans from the United States spoke opposing what Serrano had said. They raised questions about what they considered a lack of democracy in Cuba. A third, younger Cuban asked how Cuban youth in the United States could open up more channels of communication with young Cubans on the island.

Serrano welcomed the participation of the Cubans at the meeting and pointed to the need for more exchanges between youth of the different countries, such as youth brigades to Cuba. "I think Cuba has a democratic process because students, peasants, and workers participate in the decision making," she said. "But Cuba is not perfect. We are fighting for more democracy, where people have greater decision making power-

"Our starting point is that workers own the factories, that they continue to be the owners of our country."

Others at the event joined the discussion. A Salvadoran pointed to the death squads in El Salvador saying nothing like this exists in Cuba. A woman from Ecuador spoke on racial discrimination in Latin America and the strides made against racism in Cuba. Another woman spoke about the repression of the Black Panther Party and others fighting racism in the United States.

One member of the audience asked about high birthrates, saying, "Is this hurting economic development?" Serrano responded, "The most important rate we can talk about is infant mortality and Cuba has managed to keep it very low, even during the difficulties of the special period. Malthus had the idea that population increases are a problem. He thought world wars and epidemics were good as a way of eliminating mouths to feed. But we're fighting to develop, to produce more. Every child is welcome because that means we have one more person to think and to fight in Cuba."

Earlier that day Serrano spent the lunch hour talking with workers at Quality Braid, a garment shop in Queens. Five garment workers, including one from Quality Braid and four from another garment shop, came to the meeting at Baruch, which was hosted by Soul Survivors and other student groups.

The next day, railroad workers who are members of the United Transportation Union hosted a breakfast for Serrano. One of the workers asked what Serrano thought was behind the attacks on Latin American workers today. "Is it because of the fall of the Soviet Union?" he asked.

"It is capitalism that is in crisis," Serrano answered. "What is happening to workers in Latin America is because of that. The Soviet Union fell," she said. "But Cuba is still standing. There was a legitimate revolution in the Soviet Union, but what fell down was a wrong way of practicing socialism."

Other events for Serrano in New York included an interview on WBAI radio, a meeting at Brooklyn College sponsored by Familia Latino, and a visit to Hillcrest High School, where she toured the school and spoke to combined classes of 150 students.

She met with Fred Davis, deputy to Borough of Manhattan president Ruth Messinger. David Galarza, an aid to Messinger, opened the meeting at Baruch with a message of welcome. Rep. Charles Rangel also sent greetings.  
 
 
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