BY MACEO DIXON

BOSTON - "I am writing to express my outrage and disappointment at the U.S. State Department's decision to deny entry visas to Maika Guerrero and Iroel Sánchez from the Center for Studies of Youth in Havana, Cuba. I understand that you have taken the position that allowing these young Cubans to speak in the United States would be `against U.S. interests,' " said Eileen Findlay in letter to the State Department. Findlay is an assistant professor of Latin American and Caribbean History at American University in Washington, D.C.

"The State Department's decision is a clear violation of the rights to free speech and free exchange of ideas which are protected by this country's constitution," Findlay continued.

Sánchez and Guerrero had been invited to come to the United States by 119 professors and student groups from 73 universities in 22 states and the District of Columbia. The Boston-based Faculty-Student Cuban Youth Lectures Committee, which was coordinating their planned April speaking tour, is now urging supporters of free speech to pour protest letters into the State Department demanding it reverse its decision.

The April 10 New York Times published a letter from August Nimtz and Gary Prevost, professors at the University of Minnesota and St. John's University respectively, condemning the State Department's action. The two had helped organize similar tours for Cuban youth leaders in the past. "The denial of the visas is an attack on academic freedom that has implications for broader civil liberties as well," they wrote.

Supporters of free speech and the right to hear the Cubans speak for themselves have begun reaching broadly for support. This past week 50 auto workers signed petitions protesting the denial of the visas. Abby Tilsner and a co- worker, Kim Hilaire, circulated the petitions inside the giant General Motors plant in Tarrytown, New York. Tilsner said they did this because denying Sánchez and Guerrero to lecture in the U.S. "makes it more difficult to get the truth about Cuba."

On April 6, in Minneapolis, 50 people attended the regular Saturday Morning Coffee Hour of the Resource Center of the Americas to discuss the current political situation in Peru. The education director of the Center, Mary Swenson, opened the meeting by blasting the Clinton administration for blocking the two youth from entering the U.S. She told the group, "Other Cuban youth had come to Minneapolis before them, and we planned to have them speak here. But this decision made by the Clinton administration prevents this exchange. We are outraged!" Swenson urged the audience to send protest letters to the State Department. Some 41 activists at the meeting signed protest petitions to the State Department.

Also over the weekend of April 6-7, 100 young people met in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota at the first national convention of the Young Socialists. As part of their U.S. campus lecture series Guerrero and Sánchez were invited to be keynote speakers at the convention. The young revolutionaries pledged to mount a national campaign to protest the refusal of the State Department to grant visas for the Cubans.

The lectures committee received a faxed letter from Sánchez and Guerrero April 6. In part the letter reads, "Once again it has become evident who are the ones who oppose the free exchange of ideas, and fear the words and thoughts of young people. We hope we can meet in another occasion. Therefore, we invite you to visit our country this summer, for the Cuba-U.S. Youth Summit. We know that sooner rather than later the truth will be heard, and we are grateful for your efforts to make it reach further."

Copies of letters and faxes to the State Department continue to come into the offices of the lectures committee. Reports on protest activities are also being received. Rep. Donald Payne from New Jersey has sent a letter of support. One activist has put the lectures committee's material on reg.Cuba conference on PeaceNet.

The Faculty-Student Cuban Youth Lectures Committee has asked that letters of protest be addressed to Michael Ranneberger, Coordinator for Cuban Affairs; Richard Nuccio, Special Advisor for Cuban Affairs to Secretary of State; and Sean Murphy of the Cuban Desk, all at the United States Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520. Their phone numbers are (202) 647-9273 and fax (202) 736- 4476.

Along with academic figures, the committee is urging its supporters to seek letters of protests from Congresspeople and other public figures. The committee is also circulating a petition addressed to the State Department.

The committee requests that it be informed of all activities concerning this campaign, including receiving copies of letters and faxes.

Funds are urgently needed to carry out this protest effort. Checks can be written to the Faculty-Student Committee and sent to Caribbean Focus Program, c/o Tom Reeves, Room 3-353, Roxbury Community College, 1234 Columbus Ave., Boston, MA 02120. Tel: (617) 427-0060 ext. 5151. The new fax number is (617) 776-5832.  
 
 
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