Segarra is a member of the Filipino Workers Association in the Bay Area. He helped organize a protest in front of the embassy of the Philippines here last week to demand an end to the renewed U.S. military activity in that country. Pat Segarra, of the Anak Bayan-Filipino Youth, added, "We must oppose and expose the U.S. military intervention in the Philippines and around the world."

Thirty-five people attended the January 29 meeting here, and another 45 turned out the next day in San Jose to hear the socialist garment worker talk about his fight to be reinstated at Goodwill. Italie also addressed a meeting on "Civil Liberties and You" in Fremont, sponsored by Tri City Peace Action, and spoke to a high school class at Foothills Middle College in Los Altos.

Italie, who ran for mayor of Miami on the Socialist Workers Party ticket, was fired October 22 after speaking out against the U.S. war in Afghanistan and in defense of the Cuban Revolution during a televised candidates' debate. Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana told the Miami Herald that he dismissed Italie because "we cannot have anyone who is attempting to subvert the United States of America" work at the plant.

Goodwill did not contest Italie's filing for unemployment benefits, and the State of Florida Unemployment Compensation Program stated in awarding Italie's benefits that the "claimant was discharged because of political views. No information has been submitted which substantiates misconduct." Supporters of workers' rights and Italie's fight have formed the Committee to Defend Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights, which is sponsoring his nationwide tour.

Many people in the Bay Area were able to learn about Italie's struggle January 28 on radio station KPFA's popular interview program "Living Room," hosted by Kris Welch. Italie spoke along with Alia Atawneh, a Palestinian now living in the United States. Atawneh is fighting her October 9 firing by Macy's department store. She says she was singled out by the bosses because of her nationality.

The public event here the following day was held at the Quaker Meeting House in downtown San Francisco. Italie explained the working conditions at Goodwill, a nonunion employer, and the support he has won across the country in his fight against the political firing. The socialist pointed to a number of other cases of workers, students, and teachers he has met who are standing up to the employers and the government to protest victimization similar to what he faced at the hands of the Goodwill bosses.

"The execution today of Stephen Wayne Anderson by the State of California fits in with the ruling-class attacks on workers' rights," Italie said. "Pain of death is the ultimate penalty that the rulers use against working people." State governor Gray Davis had turned down Anderson's clemency petition January 26.

"It is working people who are the targets of the rulers campaigns against 'crime' and 'terrorism,'" Italie said. "U.S. government officials are floating the idea of legalized torture, both at Camp X-Ray and here at home. This is directed against workers and farmers in this country."

Denise Alvarado, a member of Comité 98 that organizes solidarity with the struggles of the Puerto Rican people, also spoke at the meeting. She pointed out how the protesters on Vieques who are opposing the U.S. Navy's use of the island for mock invasions and target practice have been brutalized by U.S. marshals and Navy personnel for the crime of trespassing on their own land.

"There have been 1,200 arrests in the last two years," she said. "We have to stand together to fight unjust abuses." She also explained that her organization is raising funds to travel to Cuba this March to attend the "Tear Down the Walls" conference, organized as part of the struggle to win amnesty for political prisoners held in U.S. jails.  
 
Fight of airport screeners
In the discussion period, Daz Lamparas who has endorsed Italie's fight and is an organizer with Service Employees International Union (SEIU), explained another aspect of Washington's assault on workers' rights.

Last November, Congress passed the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which mandates that the 28,000 workers at airports who screen bags be replaced by next November with a federalized workforce. Those employed must show proof of U.S. citizenship.

"The SEIU has filed a lawsuit on behalf of nine screeners against this law, which violates the 'due process' provisions of the Fifth Amendment," Lamparas said. It is estimated that a quarter of screeners around the country are not U.S. citizens, and that in California some 40 percent of the screeners at the Los Angeles and San Jose airports are non-citizens. The number rises to 80 percent at the San Francisco International airport. Many of the screener workers are Filipinos.

The SEIU lawsuit, filed together with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, aims to have this law struck down for being unconstitutional and discriminatory.  
 
'Workers produce the wealth'
In San Jose, supporters of Italie's fight held a public event at the SEIU Local 1877/Janitors for Justice union hall. Joining Italie on the platform was Alia Atawneh; José Sandoval, central organizer of the rolling demonstrations demanding drivers licenses for immigrant workers; John Fogarty, western regional representative of the Irish American Unity Conference; Dave Wald, a member of Informed, which organizes solidarity with the Cuban Revolution; and Rick Trujillo, a transit worker who helped organize the meeting, and Amy Courtney and Cassandra Brown, who had just won a free speech lawsuit. The speakers expressed their solidarity with Italie and spoke about the struggles they were involved in.

Zak Khanfar explained that his wife Alia was fired "because she explained that Palestinians did not like the U.S. support for Israel. The U.S. is shifting towards what we lived with back home." he said, "More militarization and spying."

In the discussion period a friend of Alia's, Hiam Yassine, said that she too had been fired from Macy's in Santa Clara because of her nationality. Yassine, a Palestinian who wears a head covering, was allegedly fired because she offered a customer a 10 percent discount, a common practice at the store.

John Fogarty saluted Italie's fight for constitutional rights, "which is what the people of Northern Ireland are fighting for." The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech and assembly, "is first because without it, the other nine amendments mean nothing," he said. "It's not enough to have a Bill of Rights. You have to fight for them everyday or they're just words on paper. We support Mike in his fight!"

Courtney and Brown had just won a lawsuit the day before against the California Department of Transportation because the state agency had taken down their antiwar banners overlooking the freeway while leaving U.S. flags hanging there. "Thank you Michael for fighting for all of us," Brown said.

A number of individuals and organizations who were not able to make the public meetings sent statements of support. These included Anamaria Loya, executive director of La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco; Frank Faria, a dairy farmer from Escalon, California, active in organizing the milk dumps two years ago to protest the low price farmers got from the milk processors; and Wendall Chin, of the Chinese Progressive Association in San Francisco. Chin pointed out in his statement that "it is critical that workers are allowed to organize without suppression from institutions and agencies."

Also sending messages were Ron Lind, secretary-treasurer of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 428 in San Jose; Amy Dean, executive director of the South Bay Labor Council, Santa Clara; and Riva Enteen, of the National Lawyers Guild. Enteen wrote, "It is outrageous that Michael Italie was fired purely on his political beliefs. People of conscience must stand firm and demand that this injustice be remedied."

Walter Johnson, head of the San Francisco Labor Council, has also endorsed the case.

Supporters of Italie's case at both meetings responded to an appeal for contributions to cover legal expenses and the general work of the Committee to Defend Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights in Miami. Deborah Liatos, a meat packer and supporter of Italie's fight who chaired both meetings, announced that a total of $1,405 was collected, with another $565 pledged to help carry on Italie's fight.

To schedule speaking engagements for Michael Italie in your area, please send the proposed dates and events planned to the Committee to Defend Freedom of Speech and the Bill of Rights, P.O. Box 510127, Miami, FL 33151-0127. Tel: (305) 724-5965 or E-mail: DefendFree-Speech-@yahoo.com

The committee is urgently in need of funds to produce literature, pay for phone calls, and plan travel. Financial contributions, large and small, can be sent to the above address. Please make checks out to the Free Speech Defense Fund.

Bill Kalman is a member of UFCW Local 120 in San Lorenzo, California.
 
 

The following written statements were read at the public meetings in San Francisco and San Jose supporting the Michael Italie defense case.

Amy Dean, executive director, Santa Clara County/South Bay Labor Council, San Jose, California:

"A boss's disagreement with the political opinions expressed by an employee is not cause for dismissal and should not sit well with any trade unionist. In this case brother Michael Italie, a sewing machine operator in a nonunion plant and a candidate who qualified for ballot status for the office of mayor of Miami, Florida, was fired for practicing the same rights all of us use and depend on everyday: namely, free speech.

The proud and long-standing tradition of the Santa Clara County/South Bay Labor Council is to oppose infringements on the Bill of Rights in any form. The First Amendment right to free speech should never come at the expense of losing your job.

Under union protection, any local would be justly calling for immediate reinstatement of brother Italie to protect not just him, but all the brothers and sisters at the plant and elsewhere."

Ron Lind, secretary-treasurer United Food and Commercial Workers Local 428 in San Jose:

"While terminating a nonunion worker for articulating a controversial political position may be technically legal, it flies in the face of the democracy that we are supposedly fighting to defend. Regardless of whether or not we agree with Michael Italie, we should not sit idly by and allow the employers to begin to move down such a slippery slope."

Wendall Chin of the Chinese Progressive Association in San Francisco:

"The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) extends words of solidarity in support of Michael Italie's case and the importance of protecting our freedom of speech and democracy. It is critical that workers are allowed to organize without suppression from institutions and agencies. The CPA wishes the best towards Mr. Italie. Good luck!"

Frank Faria, dairy farmer and member National Farmers Organization in Escalon, California:

"There are a lot more people that support Michael Italie's case than you would think. While Americans are often afraid to go against popular policy, we have had freedom of speech for so long that we assume it's our right. But yet we have a case where it was denied. We have to get back to what this country was built on.

Somebody has to stand up and become a rallying point. It's too bad it has come to this, but it was also too bad that we had to dump milk to make a point while people around the world go hungry. If they can do this to Mr. Italie, they can do it to anyone. I express my support for freedom of speech and protest Mr. Italie's firing."

A letter from Anamaria Loya, executive director, La Raza Centro Legal in San Francisco to Miami mayor Joseph Carollo:

"On behalf of La Raza Centro Legal, I am writing to urge you to uphold the constitutional rights of Mr. Michael Italie. It is our understanding that Mr. Italie was fired from his employment at Goodwill Industries solely for holding different political views than those held by his employer. It is our further understanding that Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana has publicly stated that this is the sole reason for firing Mr. Italie.

Mr. Italie has a constitutionally-protected right to freedom of expression. We are appalled by the actions of Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana. We urge you to do whatever is in your power to provide justice in this matter. Mr. Italie should be immediately reinstated to full employment without harassment from his employer."

A letter from Louie Rocha, president of Communication Workers of America, Local 9423 in San Jose, to Goodwill CEO Dennis Pastrana:

"Everyday we see new ways the terrorists have succeeded in their efforts to destroy the freedom that we enjoy as Americans. The latest I found is the actions you took in firing Michael Italie for his political views.

Whether I agree or not with Mr. Italie's perspective is not the issue, but rather his right to state his opinions in our free, democratic society. His opinions may not be what is popular but they are his views and his right to express them must be allowed. Isn't freedom of speech one of the many privileges the people of Afghanistan were deprived of? Isn't this censorship?

As a labor leader, I feel obligated to challenge this attack on all workers rights. Reinstate Michael Italie and allow freedom of speech to be one of the greatest privileges Americans possess."
 
 
Related articles:
'The right to speak your mind is the most basic right'
Colorado coal miners back workers' rights fight
'We want to defend the First Amendment'  
 
 
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