Vol. 71/No. 45      December 3, 2007

The trial, which began in early October, lasted until November 19 when both the prosecution and the defense presented their final arguments. This trial was the latest episode in a decade-long attempt to convict the Chicano activist and lawyer of the frame-up charges.

The charges against Martínez were brought in 1973 at the height of a government-orchestrated media campaign to smear the fast-growing Chicano movement as violent.

At that time, Martínez, one of the few Chicanos who won a law degree despite a discriminatory educational system, defended victims of police brutality and the rights of farm workers.  
 
December 2, 1957
America’s ruling class, seemingly so confident a few months ago, now is gripped by a mood of crisis. The daily press continuously speaks of Wall Street’s and the government’s “jitters.”

The “jitters” followed the first Soviet Sputnik, which marked an end to the clear-cut U.S. military lead. But it would be wrong to attribute the tremors of America’s financial, political, and military leaders to any real fear of Soviet armed aggression. “Loss of American prestige,” “unstable allies,” “growing lack of confidence in the U.S. economy” are the type of concerns more and more expressed by business and political commentators.

In a recent speech, Vice President Nixon complained that the Soviet Union has opened “a massive non-military offensive aimed at the overthrow of all free governments.” This same fear of a “non-military” advance by the Soviet Union is stated more explicitly in a recent N.Y. Times editorial.  
 
December 3, 1932
Two militant Left Oppositionists were arrested here last night following a mass meeting conducted by the Pittsburgh branch of the Communist League (Opposition). They have been officially charged with violating some city ordinance by spreading printed matter calling for support of the Hunger March to Washington. The meeting had been called as part of the Communist League’s participation in the Unemployed United Front movement here.

The two arrested workers, comrades Pete Vomvas and Nick Lepirs, have been sentenced to the workhouse without trial and are being held incommunicado at the Allegheny County penitentiary.

The International Labor Defense, although offering technical aid, has refused the request of a representative of the Communist League (Opposition), to appeal the sentence. George Martin, District Organizer of the I.L.D., explained that his organization does not pay fines as a matter of policy and considered an appeal inadvisable for reasons not stated.  
 
 
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