BY ERNIE MAILHOT
The Alliance of Workers of the Cuban Community (ATC), the Antonio Maceo Brigade, and the Miami Coalition to End the U.S. Embargo of Cuba have called for a demonstration in defense of free speech and artistic expression on September 6 in Miami Beach. It is a counterprotest to an ultraright demonstration opposing the Miami Beach concert of Cuban singer Rosita Forne's.

Forne's, a popular entertainer in Cuba and among many Cuban- Americans, was born in the United States but resides in Cuba. Because she has not publicly denounced the government of Cuba, right-wingers here have organized a campaign against her. Forne's was originally scheduled to appear at Little Havana's Centro Vasco Restaurant at the end of July. This was canceled, however, after threats and a firebombing of the restaurant July 11.

She was soon rebooked to perform at the Jackie Gleason theater in Miami Beach on September 6. According to Miami Beach police, Cuban Unity, an umbrella organization of reactionary Cuban-American groups that support the economic blockade of Cuba, has applied for a permit to demonstrate outside the Forne's concert.

Some of the same groups from Cuban Unity were part of a violent protest against Cuban jazz pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba in April. Over 200 rightists spit and yelled racist epithets at the 500 who attended.

City government and police complicity with the rightists was clear as they were allowed near the entrance and no one was arrested. Metro Dade commissioner Javier Souto provided a bus to shuttle some of the protesters to the action.

Days later Miami's Center for the Fine Arts canceled an invitation for Cuban art critic Gerardo Mosquera to speak in Miami.

Since the Centro Vasco firebombing the right-wingers have stepped up their attacks with three more firebombings in less than a month. On August 1, the Westchester office of Marazul tours, which organizes travel to Cuba, was firebombed causing $5,000 in damage. The Hialeah office of Marazul was also hit with incendiaries on August 17. Tu Familia Shipping Co., which sends packages to Cuba, was firebombed August 24, leaving major damage to the front of their office.

Most people in the Miami area including Cuban-Americans oppose these violent attacks. Despite this, the local police and government agencies have taken no serious steps to apprehend those responsible.

Rachele Fruit, the Socialist Workers candidate for mayor of Dade County, has challenged the other candidates to speak out against the rightist violence. "We urge everyone who supports free speech to come to the protest on September 6 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach," she said.  
 
 
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