Vol. 81/No. 40 October 30, 2017

DC meeting discusses revolutionary legacy of Sankara

At Oct. 14 meeting in Washington D.C. on the 30th anniversary of the killing of Thomas Sankara, among those present were his brothers Pascal, with microphone, and Paul, second row left; and from left, sisters, Colette, Florence and Pauline.

BY ARLENE RUBINSTEIN

WASHINGTON — Over 100 people, many from Africa, came together here Oct. 14 to discuss the political legacy of Thomas Sankara, the central leader of the 1983-87 revolution in Burkina Faso. This is the 30th anniversary of his assassination.

The next issue of the Militant will carry a full report on the meeting.

“Thomas Sankara is important for the Africa of today,” said Gnaka Lagoke, founder of the Revival of Panafricanism Forum, welcoming participants.

Under the political leadership of Sankara, workers and peasants in the West African country began to fight hunger, disease, illiteracy and economic backwardness imposed by imperialism in the former French colony. The revolutionary government carried out campaigns to draw women into social and political life.

Acting on the interests of the enemies of the revolution, the propertied classes of Africa, and the world’s capitalist powers — above all imperialist France — Blaise Compaoré led a military coup and organized Sankara’s assassination on Oct. 15, 1987.

“Some in Burkina Faso talk about ‘truth’ and ‘justice’ for Thomas Sankara. We are here to continue his fight,” Pascal Sankara told the media. “We demand to know exactly what happened Oct 15, 1987.”

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