Harris addresses Palestinian activists
BY CAPPY KIDD
CHICAGO--Speaking at an October 14 campaign forum attended by farmers, garment and meat packing workers, Palestinian activists, and others, socialist candidate for U.S. president James Harris said, "We're not taught to look at the working class as people who can think and act. Once you look at it that way you begin to realize that you can make a difference, especially when you join up with others."
The forum concluded a three-day tour in which Harris and campaign supporters acted on this theme of involvement in these struggles. The previous day he joined a rally of 1,500 supporters of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and against the repression of Israel regime. Supporters of the Harris campaign distributed 1,000 copies of his statement condemning Israel and calling for an end to Washington's backing of the Zionist state, which hundreds of protesters eagerly read and discussed with the socialist presidential candidate.
Later that evening, Harris was invited to make a short presentation at a Palestinian community leadership council attended by about 100 people. Following the comments of a Palestinian activist who evoked the movement against the Vietnam War and said we can reach out to the American people, Harris told the audience, "There is more sympathy for the Palestinians among broad layers of the U.S. population than ever before. When they see your people picking up stones against helicopters and tanks, the truth begins to get out."
The following day, Harris took his campaign to an immigrant rights rally of about 2,000 people. The regional protest drew farm workers from Minnesota, members of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee in Ohio, members of the Teamsters union, and a number of community groups and churches. Five members of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, who work at a large garment shop here, stopped by the campaign table to meet Harris.
One worker asked if marches can have an impact on winning amnesty for immigrants. Harris said the marches are crucial because they answer anti-immigrant violence, place demands on the government to uphold the rights of all, and help show "how strong the working class is. They increase our confidence in our capacity to fight." A number of the workers then marched with Harris and his campaign banner, which read "Amnistía Ahora--for a world without borders." Palestinian activists who were part of the march also distributed hundreds of Spanish language leaflets explaining their fight.
Over the course of the three days, several radio stations interviewed Harris, including Voice of Guatemala, Radio Arte (the youth initiative radio station of the Mexican Fine Arts Museum), and the Shadow Broadcast's Metro Desk which distributes news spots to other radio stations.
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