BY FRANK FORRESTAL
CHICAGO - "Mark Curtis reports that he received a memo from an Iowa State Penitentiary official yesterday that prison authorities there were resubmitting his application to be released to Illinois," John Studer, coordinator of the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, told a meeting of supporters here March 26.
The defense committee for the framed-up unionist and leader of the Socialist Workers Party meets weekly to discuss the ongoing campaign to win Curtis's release from prison.
"Curtis's understanding," Studer said, "is that the resubmitted application will include a copy of his and [wife] Kate Kaku's marriage certificate, a requirement of the state of Illinois."
Studer explained that the next move is up to the Illinois authorities. "They say that to win parole here Mark needs a valid marriage certificate. He has one. We are going to work closely with his attorneys to follow the progress of his application. And we know that there are many people in Illinois who will be watching along with us, ready to help if needed," he said.
Interest at Chicago political activities
Studer also reported increased interest in Curtis's fight at
recent political activities in the Chicago area and pointed to
the response representatives of the Chicago defense committee
received on recent trips to speak and distribute information
about the case.
"This past Friday supporters attended a demonstration of hundreds of Latinos outside the office of the Chicago Tribune. They were invited to come the next day to a national conference on Chicano studies being held at a downtown hotel and met people from all over the country," Studer reported.
Other supporters traveled to Omaha to participate in a conference entitled "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" at the University of Nebraska campus there, Studer reported. People from the committee also spoke at public meetings in Toronto, and participated in a labor conference on solidarity with unionists in Cuba, held in Montreal.
When Curtis called the Chicago headquarters of the Socialist Workers Party on March 25, Studer reported, he expressed real interest in these events.
"Mark spoke to Joel Britton, a party leader who was in the office, and told him that he was looking forward to being in Chicago and getting involved in all the political activity taking place there. He wanted to know what kind of response there was to the party's literature and how the Young Socialists were doing in building their first national convention April 6-7 in the Twin Cities," Studer said.
Getting out the word
Supporters in Chicago have stepped up efforts to get news of
Curtis's fight out to their co-workers, to political
activists, and to supporters of political rights. "Sandra
Nelson told me that last Friday she met with the president of
her Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers union local to update him
about Mark's fight, and had discussions with four of her co-
workers who expressed interest in continuing to follow
Curtis's efforts to win release here," Studer reported.
Others at the meeting described their efforts to reach out and explain the stakes in Curtis's fight.
"The best tool we have to explain how Mark's fight developed and why it is in our interests to help win his release is the Pathfinder pamphlet Why Is Mark Curtis Still in Prison?" Studer said. "The pamphlet is available in English, Spanish, and French for $6. And Mark's supporters all around the world can join in the effort to get it out more widely."
Studer also suggested supporters write to Mark to express their continued determination to help win his release.
"These letters show the prison officials that there are many people who are concerned about his situation and help prepare people to be ready to respond quickly if there are any attacks on his rights in prison or further obstacles to his release."
Mail can be sent to Mark Curtis, #805338, Iowa State Penitentiary, Box 316, Ft. Madison, Iowa, 52627.
Funds are needed to pay legal and other expenses. For more information or to send a donation, contact the Mark Curtis Defense Committee, Box 477419, Chicago, IL 60647.
Frank Forrestal is a member of the United Auto Workers in Chicago, Illinois.