The tour to date has helped to win new adherents to the campaign against the government’s attempt to deport him. In every place that Calero has spoken working-class fighters have played a key part in making the tour a success, by helping to publicize the meetings, by attending, and by participating in the discussion. Their participation has given the meetings a serious and militant stamp. The same is true of the students and other young people who have offered solidarity to the defense effort.

The meetings are also stronger for their broad political character. Fighters for immigrant rights--whether from within the labor movement, church groups, or other organizations--have spoken up and signed on.

Activists on other fronts have also made common cause with Calero, recognizing the stakes involved in fighting for freedom of the press and workers’ rights. People from diverse walks of life who do not share Calero’s socialist political views but who detest the discriminatory and callous actions of the government have also put their name to his campaign.

The January 11 gathering sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789 in St. Paul Minnesota was one high point of the tour, and helps indicate the way forward for those around the country who are active in the defense effort.

Augustina Borroel, a meat packer at Dakota Premium Foods and one of the speakers, helped to set the tone. "Enough of these injustices!" she said, "the campaign to stop the deportation of Róger Calero is a campaign all of us should be supporting." Some 20 workers from Dakota turned out to solidarize with Calero’s fight and help raise contributions toward the $50,000 needed for legal and other expenses. The representation of the labor movement present extended from the plant kill floor, to officials of Local 789 and other unions. Some 130 people attended.

The public meeting in Chicago also involved a broad representation of working-class fighters, including longtime campaigners against police brutality and the death penalty.

The potential to strengthen the defense effort was also evident at the January 18 antiwar protests on both coasts. A number of the younger marchers said they would be interested in helping to organize meetings or making some other contribution. In San Francisco a Yemeni man armed himself with brochures to take back to his mosque. More than 200 people signed petitions calling for the immigration authorities to drop their deportation threat.

At the Minnesota event Calero explained the basis for winning new supporters. "What’s happening to me is happening to hundreds of thousands of other immigrant workers in this country," he said. "That is why I am getting a hearing from civil libertarians, unionists, Black rights fighters, and those struggling for immigrant rights."

A few days later in San Francisco he issued a statement in solidarity with Palestinian activist Farouk Abdel-Muhti and five other New Jersey prisoners who had just launched a hunger strike. Demanding their immediate release from detention, the five men have opened another public front of protest against the government’s brutal policies. The statement showed how the defense campaign provides a channel to forge links between different fighters.

For the immediate release of Farouk Abdel-Muhti and the other hunger strikers in New Jersey!

Stop the deportation threats against Róger Calero!
 
 
Related articles:
West Coast meetings build support for fight against deportation of Róger Calero
Students exchange views on issues in Calero fight
Spanish-language daily interviews Calero
Workers put stamp on Calero meeting in San Francisco
Defense campaign wins support at SF antiwar protest
More unionists back defense campaign
Solidarity with hunger strikers  
 
 
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