The fund campaign has been launched to help defend the freedom of the press and free speech rights of the Militant and the Socialist Workers Party, two targets of a harassment lawsuit filed in September 2004 by C.W. Mining, the owner of the Co-Op mine in Huntington, Utah. It seeks to win endorsers and raise funds to cover the legal defense costs.

The lawsuit targets nearly 100 defendants, including the United Mine Workers of America, as well as other trade unions and individuals who back the miners’ fight for a union at the Co-Op mine. It includes numerous defamation allegations against the Militant as well as two Utah dailies, the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News.

Citing her appreciation for the long record of the Militant and the Socialist Workers Party in defense of democratic rights, Patricia Ireland, president of NOW from 1991 to 2001, became an endorser, as did Olga Vives, the organization’s current executive vice-president.

Five young women from the Making Waves club at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, each signed up as endorsers at the NOW conference. After hearing an explanation of the C.W. Mining lawsuit, one member of the group explained to her friends why she thought the fight for free speech was so important and got the others to support the Militant Fighting Fund. Also endorsing were Mary Bennett, an executive board member of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 2858 in Chicago, and Timothy Sullivan, a member of American Federation of Teachers Local 400 in Pittsburgh. Some $55 was contributed.

At a June 30 Workers Rights Board meeting sponsored by Jobs with Justice in Salt Lake City, a dozen people signed endorser cards and contributed nearly $50 to the Militant Fighting Fund. Many of the 100 participants had heard of the case.

Many were eager to find out more about what is being done to fight the coal bosses’ lawsuit after hearing Ana María Sánchez and Bill Estrada, two Co-Op miners who spoke at the meeting. “Because of our struggle to unionize, the [Co-Op bosses] have filed a defamation complaint in federal court against 16 miners, the United Mine Workers of America, newspapers that have covered the fight, and many people and organizations that have supported us,” Sánchez told the audience. “This is the way the company seeks revenge. They try to intimidate us with this lawsuit, but they have not succeeded.”

Among those signing up at the Jobs with Justice meeting were Utah District 31 legislative representative Larry Wiley; University of Utah professor of nursing Susan Beck; Cory Williams, executive board member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 354; and Charlotte Fife-Jepperson, editor of the West View community newspaper in Salt Lake City.

Collection toward the Militant Fighting Fund goal of $60,000 now stands at $11,938 with six weeks left to the August 15 deadline. Each area where there are supporters of the Militant has been encouraged to take a quota. A chart will be posted in the Militant published July 24 with information from each area adopting a quota.

Contributions are much needed to cover mounting legal and publicity expenses in fighting the C.W. Mining lawsuit. Funds and endorsement cards can be sent to Militant Fighting Fund, P.O. Box 520994, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0994. Information can also be sent to MilitantFightingFund@yahoo.com or faxed to (801) 924-5910.
 
 
Related articles:
Pickets at Co-Op mine press fight for UMWA
Co-Op miners speak at Salt Lake City meeting  
 
 
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