The fight to free Mark Curtis reached a new stage on November 21 when Iowa officials decided to release the union militant on parole. As defense committee coordinator John Studer explains in a front-page interview this week, the challenges and opportunities facing supporters now are as substantial as any since the frame-up of the socialist trade union activist began in 1988.
If supporters don't blink or pause in this fight, important progress will be registered that can have an impact on what Curtis faces when he leaves the Iowa State Penitentiary a couple months down the road.
We urge readers to join the Mark Curtis Defense Committee in prioritizing the following activities:
Write to Mark Curtis in prison. These letters will be welcomed by Curtis and serve notice on prison officials that his supporters around the world are closely following what transpires in prison between now and his release. Write to: Mark Curtis #805338, Iowa State Penitentiary, P.O. Box 316, Ft. Madison, IA 52627.
Circulate as widely as possible the Pathfinder Press booklet Why is Mark Curtis Still in Prison? Available in English, Spanish, and French, this pamphlet offers the best explanation of where the Curtis fight comes from, how Mark Curtis remained an intransigent communist fighter in prison, and how he and his supporters worldwide have effectively fought for his release. More workers, youth, and other fighters than ever will be interested now in learning the facts about Curtis's fight.
Help raise the $25,000 that the Mark Curtis Defense Committee needs to retain an Illinois attorney and to prepare for the legal challenges Curtis faces upon release. The committee has set a Jan. 1, 1996, deadline for raising the funds. Everyone who sent a letter to the Iowa Board of Parole should be contacted about the victory in the parole fight and asked to contribute. Those who purchase a copy of the pamphlet on the Curtis fight over the next several weeks should also be urged to kick in on this special fund- raising effort.
Organize public meetings where the victory can be discussed along with the pressing challenges ahead. These meetings can also help to raise funds for the defense effort.
Finally, heed the call of the defense committee for volunteers from around the world to go to Des Moines to help on these projects, especially the fund-raising.
Taking advantage of the stepped-up interest in Mark Curtis's fight as a result of the parole victory will put trade unionists, young fighters, and democratic rights defenders everywhere in the strongest possible position to meet the challenges ahead. This is necessary to ensure Curtis's freedom and set an example for all those battling police brutality and frame-ups.