Machinists aid Irish
On June 3, about 25 people took part in a Walkathon for
Irish Freedom sponsored by Irish Northern Aid and Saoirse.
This annual event focused this year on raising money for a
campaign to release Irish political prisoners held in
British and U.S. prisons. The majority of participants were
students from local campuses such as Loyola and Northern
Illinois University who were able to discuss how to build
new and existing Saoirse groups among students.
There was general agreement that the cease-fire had made it possible for more people to discuss and participate in Irish solidarity.
Quite a few of the marchers had an opportunity to hear Gerry Adams when he was in Chicago and thought he'd given a clear presentation of the struggle going on over there.
An example of the growing openness to the struggle in Ireland since the cease-fire happened was at O'Hare Airport, when 18 members of International Association of Machinists Local 1487 in the Northwest Airline terminal raised $63 to sponsor me on the walk. They didn't know that despite giving permission for Gerry Adams to tour the United States, the Clinton administration was targeting Irish activists for deportation and held others in prison. Many saw the Irish struggle as a religious one thanks to British disinformation.
One worker wondered why Ireland wanted to separate from the United Kingdom. "How could such small communities survive?" Being forced to stand together at gunpoint is not the same as deciding for yourself whether unity is a good or bad thing to do.
Thus workers responded to the call for freeing Irish political prisoners and Irish self-determination, once the truth is out.
Dave Lee Chicago, Illinois
Invaluable contribution
I receive my weekly edition of the paper on audiotape
because I have a low-vision impairment. I want to take this
opportunity to recognize the contribution made by an active
supporter of the Socialist Workers Party in Seattle, Jim
Miller. Jim, in consultation with the Militant staff,
records the Militant every Friday, and mails it out in
special postage-free containers for the blind to those
Militant readers whose eye problems prevent them from
reading the print edition.
Having listened to many cassettes and talking books, I can attest to the high quality of Jim's reading: It is faultless, professional and lively. Jim is a full-time industrial worker, and devotes at least four to six hours per week to this project. Without his special contribution of time and effort, myself and others would be completely in the dark about world events from the vantage point of workers, farmers, and youth who are in motion on behalf of our class. Jim also includes pamphlets, such the recent pamphlet, Why Is Mark Curtis Still In Prison? It is always a special treat to receive an "extra" pamphlet tape in my weekly container.
Warmest thanks to Jim Miller and the Militant.
Toba Singer
San Francisco, California
Notes from our readers
More on N.E. Africa.
A reader Washington, D.C.
Thanks for great Cuba coverage!
A reader Omaha, Nebraska
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