"Brothers of the Same Mind is strongly against the firing of Michael Italie from Goodwill Industries for his beliefs about the war in Afghanistan. For the same reason Brothers of the Same Mind strongly opposed the suspension of the three Black Opa-locka firefighters who did nothing other than express their opinions, we strongly oppose the firing of Michael Italie for doing nothing other than expressing his opinion."

The statement was issued November 21 by Leroy Jones and Max Rameau, representing this organization, which is based in Miami's Black community. The group fights for the rights of prisoners and former inmates, including to reverse the disenfranchisement of those convicted of felonies, many of whom are African-Americans.

Tom Crumpacker, secretary of the Miami-Dade Green Party sent another such statement of support November 25 (see below for the two statements).

Italie was fired October 22 by Goodwill a few days after he appeared on a televised candidates debate before some 400 people at Miami-Dade Community College. During the debate he stated his opposition to the U.S. war in Afghanistan, his defense of the Cuban Revolution, and his support for union organizing efforts. Italie was employed as a sewing machine operator at the nonunion factory, which contracts with the U.S. government to make military uniforms and U.S. flags.

Four days after the debate, Italie's supervisor called him into the personnel office. A company manager told the mayoral candidate, "I have been assigned to tell you that because of your views of the U.S. government, you are a disruptive force and cannot work here any longer. Get your belongings and go."

Goodwill chief executive officer Dennis Pastrana acknowledged that Italie had been fired because of his political statements, not because of his performance or conduct on the job, telling the Miami Herald October 30 that "we cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America" work at the plant. Responding to the growing support from prominent individuals and many workers and young people for the fight to reverse Italie's firing, the Miami-based Committee to Defend Free Speech and the Bill of Rights is organizing a public forum here December 8. The committee was formed in response to Italie's firing and is coordinating the free speech fight. The initial list of speakers includes Howard Simon, executive director of the Florida American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU); John Due, attorney and veteran civil rights activist; Max Rameau, leader of Brothers of the Same Mind; and Michael Italie.

At the same time, supporters of this fight for democratic rights are organizing a nationwide speaking tour of Italie and other representatives of the free speech committee to expand backing across the United States. In an interview with the Militant, Italie urged supporters of his fight to "consider forming local committees in their areas open to all who want to help. Holding events in locations accessible to all defenders of free speech and with the broadest number of speakers will make it possible to tap into the openings that exist to make employers like Goodwill pay the maximum political price for their violation of free speech rights."

As the Militant goes to press, Italie is heading to Los Angeles, the first stop in his nationwide tour. Among other events, he is scheduled to speak at a teach-in against the war in Afghanistan at California State University in Long Beach. Fund-raising and media work are an integral part of the tour. Italie will also be joining fellow garment workers in Los Angeles at a picket line to demand back pay for past work.

"The fight to defend free speech and the Bill of Rights is becoming more and more important for working people and other supporters of democratic rights across the country," Italie said in an interview. "I have talked to hundreds of workers, youth, and others who are outraged that Goodwill Industries fired me on October 22 because of expressing my 'views of the U.S. government,' and see it as at bottom a violation of the First Amendment."

The Miami-based Committee to Defend Free Speech and the Bill of Rights is encouraging supporters of this fight to take advantage of opportunities across the country to meet with a half-dozen prominent individuals in their area to be sponsors of the committee and to send a letter urging the mayor and city government of Miami to demand Goodwill rehire Italie. Compiling a broad sponsors list will help put maximum pressure on the Miami city administration and Goodwill to reverse the firing. A petition is available from the committee, as are speakers for events around the country.

Financial contributions are also needed, Italie said. "Everyone who expresses support, whether they sign an endorser card or not, should be asked to make a financial contribution. The Miami committee needs to raise thousands of dollars to cover printing, publicity, travel, legal, and other expenses."

The defense committee is urging petitions and letters be sent in as they are collected to newly elected Mayor Manny Diaz, City Hall, 3500 Pan American Dr., Miami, FL 33133, and to Goodwill Industries, 2121 NW 21st St., Miami, FL 33142. Att: Dennis Pastrana. Copies can be sent to the Committee to Defend Free Speech and the Bill of Rights at: P.O. Box 510127, Miami, FL 33151.

The Miami committee now has an e-mail address for sending statements of support and other correspondence: defendfree speech@yahoo.com.
 

Dear Mr. Italie:
I was shocked and dismayed to learn that you were fired from your job at Goodwill Industries for speaking out against the U.S. wars against Afghanistan and Cuba, and discussing how these wars affect U.S. workers. This must be part of the war hysteria being fostered by our government through a media blitz the like of which I haven't seen since I went to college during the McCarthy era. Journalists are being ordered to downplay casualties. Newspapers and TV stations are being censured. Well-known thinkers, writers, and speakers who are opposed to the war are not permitted to express their views in the mass media. Opposing and critical opinion is being suppressed.

Incidentally, the active Green parties in more than 80 countries around the world are in agreement with the positions you have been advocating regarding Cuba and Afghanistan. The U.S. Green Party has been calling for immediate ending of the Cuba blockade and the Afghan bombing, and our last year's presidential candidate Ralph Nader has been making speeches against these atrocities. Likewise the European Green Federation and the Hemispheric Association of Green Parties have been criticizing the U.S. and other governments on these issues.

Not only are you not alone, I suspect the vast majority of thoughtful people of good will everywhere are in solidarity with you.
 

Brothers of the Same Mind is strongly against the firing of Michael Italie from Goodwill Industries for his beliefs about the war in Afghanistan. For the same reason Brothers of the Same Mind strongly opposed the suspension of the three Black Opa-locka firefighters who did nothing other than express their opinions, we strongly oppose the firing of Michael Italie for doing nothing other than expressing his opinion.

It is not difficult for us to see that if this firing goes unchallenged, it will open the floodgate of private employers firing employees for a range of personal opinions, tastes and ideas which do not impact job performance. It is also easy to see that while Michael Italie is white, the policy of opinion-based firings will most adversely affect the Black community, whose members listen to different music, wear different clothes, style their hair differently, and support different political positions than their bosses.

As such, Brothers of the Same Mind joins the growing chorus demanding the reinstatement of Michael Italie.

In addition, while legal experts have declared the firing to be completely legal, the Italie firing makes it clear that like the Jim Crow laws of yesteryear, there is a vast gulf between what is legal and what is morally acceptable. In the same way that community galvanized to protect gays from firings due to their preferences, the time is far past due to extend the same protections to people with opinions. Brothers of the Same Mind is in support of granting protections against firings and other reprisals that are motivated by political oppression.

We also strongly condemn the practice of using the war as a pretext to purge the country of dissenters and those with different opinions. We defend everyone's right to their opinion in time of war and peace.
 
 
Related articles:
Help broaden free speech fight
'We need to defend free speech,' say new supporters of Michael Italie fight in Georgia
Georgia protest opposes firing of rights fighter
 
 
 
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