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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the Feb. 13, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Baltimore solidarity meeting builds Black-Asian unity

By Sharon Black in Baltimore

In an inspiring display of unity, African Americans, Asians, whites and workers and poor of other nationalities came together in Baltimore Jan. 30 to discuss an issue that on the surface seems removed from everyday life here: the south Korean workers' struggle.

The forum had been called by the All-Peoples Congress. It took place after three separate killings of Korean merchants-and in the midst of a veritable barrage of big-business media attacks on the African American community, aimed at promoting division and racism.

People at the Jan. 30 gathering also heard news of the fight by African American contractors for justice in awarding contracts for building a new downtown stadium for the Ravens football team.

The meeting featured the Rev. Ki Yul Chung, chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Congress for Korean Unification in North America; Judi Cheng, Workers World newspaper correspondent; and Bill Goodin and Eric Easton of the newly formed group Unity in Action.

Goodin opened with a report on African American contractors fighting to win an equitable share of work from the Maryland Stadium Authority.

Many Marylanders were opposed to the new stadium. They wanted the money spent on education, health care and services instead of building stadiums for wealthy sports team owners.

To add insult to injury, the state has awarded only 1 percent of the contracts to African American businesses. Sixty-five percent of Baltimore's population is Black.

The stadium is being built in the center of Baltimore. Yet there are few jobs for African American construction workers.

Goodin denounced the state government and called for "unity of all oppressed people." The crowd called out approval and clapped loudly at his appeal for unity.

'I've never been so moved'

Judi Cheng brought to life the issue of the Korean strike. Cheng explained that struggle's history and the issues behind it. And she showed why workers in the United States have much to gain in a victory by the south Korean workers.

In Korean and English, the Rev. Ki Yul Chung exclaimed, "This is a people's meeting!"

He said, "There are no fancy chandeliers, this is no fancy hall-you are the people, mothers and fathers with the children here tonight." His message of solidarity, particularly to the African American contractors' struggle and to the Black community in general, visibly moved the group.

Chung explained the strike's significance and read from a letter from the president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions that set Feb. 18 as an International Day of Solidarity.

Andre Powell, AFSCME Local 112 Board of Trustees member and All- Peoples Congress organizer, co-chaired the meeting along with 11-year-old Terrance Robinson.

Powell presented a solidarity message that called for "unity against the capitalist system that is seeking to divide the Korean and African American communities." He analyzed how the biggest banks and businesses have profited from creating divisions and diverting people's attention from their crimes.

An enthusiastic discussion followed the presentation. Ja Hannibal Abba Ra, a poet and worker, took the floor, exclaiming: "I have never been this moved before. I am at a loss for words. I would just like to extend my solidarity to you [Rev. Chung]. Our battle is truly international."

Students from Johns Hopkins University who are from South Africa and had been active in the labor movement there compared the struggle in South Africa with that in south Korea-and asked what they can do to show solidarity.

In response, the meeting passed a resolution "to build a protest in support of the south Korean workers on Feb. 8, to work for unity against our common enemy and to do everything possible to support the Minority Contractors' struggle."

Holly Patterson, a health-care worker and member of 1199, touched on the heart of many issues when she said: "We need a general strike right here at home. How can we do it?"

Students from Morgan, Towson, and John Hopkins Universities attended. Young people from the surrounding community were also there, as were workers from a number of unions and area residents.

Information on the solidarity movement in Baltimore is available from the All-Peoples Congress at (410) 235-7040.

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