BY PAT GROGAN

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Close to 200 people gathered November 13 at the First Congregational Church in Pueblo, Colorado, to pay tribute to the life and political accomplishments of Lois Remple. A longtime activist and a supporter of the Socialist Workers Party, she died November 7 after being struck by a car. She was 82 years old.

Among the many present were members of the United Farm Workers union, activists in the movement for Chicano rights in the area, members of Puebloans for Peace and Justice, Pastors for Peace, Socialist Workers campaign supporters, and others who had collaborated with Lois over many years.

Francisco Coca and members of his family, Chicano farmers in the land rights struggle in Aguilar, Colorado, provided entertainment. Many spoke of Lois's dedication to the cause of Chicano rights.

In the late 1950s Remple became active in the civil rights movement and joined the NAACP in Pueblo. She was an active opponent of the Vietnam War and a strong supporter of migrant farm workers and the struggle of the Chicano people in the area for land and water rights.

She was a founder of Puebloans for Justice and Peace in Central America, a group that opposed the U.S.-backed contra war against the Nicaraguan revolution, and at age 71 went to Nicaragua to take part in a work brigade in 1986. An article in the Pueblo Chieftain at the time noted that she was the oldest participant in the three-week coffee-picking brigade. She told the reporter the work "wasn't anything I couldn't handle."

Remple also organized opposition to the Gulf War of 1990-91. In the last years, she devoted a great deal of her time to defending the Cuban revolution, and two years ago traveled to Cuba.

Remple was a fighter against capitalism and a supporter of a revolutionary perspective to change society. In 1975 Remple was introduced to the Militant newspaper by her son, Chris. She became a supporter of the Socialist Workers Party and in 1982 was the party's candidate for lieutenant governor of Colorado.

A letter sent from Paul Mailhot, on behalf of the SWP's National Committee, said, "Those of us in the Socialist Workers Party who knew Lois valued her dedication to the cause of the working class, the Chicano struggle, and the defense of democratic rights."

Mailhot pointed to the many contributions Remple made to building the socialist movement over the years. She aided SWP election campaigns, sold the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial at the Colorado Fuel and Iron plant and elsewhere, helped publicize the victory of the SWP and Young Socialist Alliance in their suit against FBI harassment, and made regular financial contributions to the party, Mailhot said. "Her consistent activity and support was a genuine contribution to building the socialist movement," Mailhot wrote.

Mailhot pointed out that Lois had been active in the mid-1970s in publicizing the Steelworkers Fight Back union election campaign of Ed Sadlowski among workers at the Colorado Fuel and Iron mill. The movement that Sadlowski headed was the most important struggle going on in the U.S. labor movement at the time - a genuine battle for a union that was democratic and stood up for the rights of workers.

"Working people and youth can learn a great deal from the example Lois set in her life," Mailhot continued. "Enthusiasm for the struggles of working people and integrity in working with others - these were the qualities that impressed me about Lois the few times I met her. The young people who are coming into politics today, joining the battles of the oppressed, attracted to the working class and entering the ranks of the socialist movement, are paying a fine tribute to the life of Lois Remple."

A letter from the Salt Lake City branch of the SWP was read to the meeting. Lois always made her house available as a base of operations when supporters of the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial would drive down from Salt Lake to participate in activities of the United Mine Workers union in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Members of the branch always looked forward to talking with Lois about world politics, women's liberation, and developments in the labor movement, as well as learning about developments in the fight for Chicano rights or other struggles in the area.

The letter pointed out that Lois helped get James Harris and Laura Garza, the SWP candidates for U.S. president and vice president, on the ballot in Colorado. She was working with branch members to help distribute Pathfinder books to libraries and bookstores in the Pueblo area. Lois looked forward to the publication of every new Pathfinder book or issue of New International. "She was always especially keen to get out Pathfinder books on the Cuban revolution," the letter said. " Lois read and studied with the avid interest of one who remained convinced of the capacity of the working class to change society and who was determined to play her part."  
 
 
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