The newsletter’s masthead lists the defense committee’s new national officers. The chairpeople of the committee are José Oliva, who is the director of the Interfaith Workers’ Rights Center in Chicago; Martha Olvera, coordinator of the Coalition for Dignity and Amnesty in Houston; Bill Pearson, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 789 in South St. Paul, Minnesota; and Pamela Vossenas, National Grievance Officer in New York for the National Writers Union.

The committee’s treasurer is Eugene Katz, professor of microbiology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, as well as Calero’s father-in-law. Studer is the executive director of the Political Rights Defense Fund.

Supporters of the committee meet weekly in New York to help promote speaking engagements for Calero in the New York-New Jersey area, and to assist the committee’s officers in their national responsibilities. The committee is asking supporters everywhere to join the defense effort in one or more of the following ways:

• Send messages to INS District Director Hipolito Acosta demanding the exclusion moves against Calero be dropped. Messages can be faxed to (281) 774-5989; or mailed to him at the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 126 Northpoint Drive, Houston, TX 77060. Copies should be sent to the Róger Calero Defense Committee, c/o PRDF, Box 761, Church St. Station, New York, NY 10007; fax (212) 563-0585.
• Sign and distribute petitions demanding the INS drop the exclusion of Calero. A petition and the new brochure are available from the defense committee (e-mail: calerodefense@yahoo.com).
• Funds are urgently needed to meet rapidly mounting legal and other expenses. Defense campaign backers in every city need to raise thousands of dollars for the committee. Organize phone calling for donations, seek honoraria for speaking engagements, and take collections at public meetings. The goal is to raise more than $50,000 by the end of January. Contributions are tax-deductible.