The campaign to stop the deportation of Calero, a Militant staff writer and associate editor of the Spanish-language Perspectiva Mundial, has become the property of an expanding range of individuals and organizations--defenders of freedom of the press, immigrants rights activists, unionists, supporters of civil liberties, and many others.

They are outraged at the INS’s attack on Calero’s right to live and work as a journalist in this country. The fight also strikes a chord because what happened to Calero and what he faces today is what tens of thousands of immigrants confront in this country at the hands of the hated la migra cops.

The defense campaign has been widely circulated--from the Spanish-language daily newspaper in Houston to the nationwide Pacifica radio chain, to the bulletin of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Messages of protest to Houston INS district director Hipolito Acosta have come from across the country and around the world.

The rapidity and breadth of this outcry made the INS cops who seized Calero in Houston December 3 step back and take stock of what they had on their hands. They made a calculated decision to let him out, in order to gain time and leeway to carry through their drive to throw him out of the country.

Supporters of the fight to stop the deportation of Calero can use this time to deepen the campaign, spread the word further, and increase the pressure.

As the wealthy rulers of this country have ratcheted up their war drive abroad and attacks on the rights of working people at home, many have been looking for an opportunity to wage a fight to defend their interests. They will see in Calero’s battle an opportunity to defend one of their own and to defend their ability to work and live free from restrictions and intimidation.

All those who have responded can use this opportunity to expand the breadth and intensity of our efforts to press the government to drop its exclusion proceedings against Calero. You can send protest messages to the INS district director, circulate petitions, make a contribution to help make the defense effort possible. Above all, you can involve others in this defense campaign. Calero is available to speak at special events to help win backing in this fight for justice.

Stop the deportation of Róger Calero! Drop the INS exclusion proceedings now!
 
 
Related article:
Defenders of Calero campaign to stop move to deport him
Inside an INS jail: the U.S. ‘justice’ system at work
Houston daily reports on INS detention of ‘Militant’ writer
U.S. private prisons: brutal and profitable
Meatpackers plan defense fund raiser
Calero case is latest fight for Political Rights Defense Fund
Young Socialists join fight against the deportation of Róger Calero  
 
 
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