BY NORTON SANDLER
CHICAGO - Activists from around the Midwest met here October 15 to evaluate the demonstration and teach-in held the day before. They noted several positive examples of how the action had helped strengthen work in defense of the Cuban revolution in this geographic area.
This regional meeting of the National Network on Cuba (NNOC) was attended by some 35 representatives and activists from Cuba solidarity coalitions and organizations in Chicago; Detroit; Des Moines, Iowa; Louisville, Kentucky; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee; Pittsburgh; and the Twin Cities, Minnesota.
Participants at the Midwest evaluation meeting noted that the Chicago event the previous day helped attract new forces into activity as well as providing important education on the Cuban revolution to those who attended. Others commented on the increased collaboration between Cuba solidarity groups in cities in the area, and how their respective local coalitions had been strengthened through this activity.
The first order of business following the evaluation was discussion of the upcoming October 21 Cuba demonstration in New York City. Ignacio Meneses, one of the four national NNOC coordinators and an activist in the Justice for Cuba Coalition in Detroit, urged the largest possible turnout from the Midwest. Several activists discussed plans to get people from their area to the New York demonstration.
After that discussion, Meneses reported that the Detroit- based U.S.-Cuba Labor Exchange is organizing delegations of trade unionists to Cuba November 18-25 and again in April. The spring trip will coincide with the national convention of the Central Organization of Cuban Workers.
Aislinn Pulley, a high school student in the Chicago Cuba Coalition, reported on the Cuba Lives festival in August that was attended by some 1,300 participants, including a delegation of more than 200 young people from the United States.
Activists also reported on the initial progress of a newly established NNOC task force that is organizing a youth brigade to Cuba in August 1996, and on an upcoming tour of Cuban youth to the United States early next year.
An activist from Louisville reported that Global Exchange is organizing a Veterans Tour to Cuba in early November and that there is still space available.
The next national meeting of the National Network on Cuba will be in Los Angeles on February 10-11. The Chicago participants decided that Midwest representatives will caucus at that meeting, if needed, to help coordinate upcoming activities.