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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the June 22, 2000
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Int’l solidarity in Philadelphia

‘U.S. out of Vieques and Korea’

Solidarity between the peoples of Puerto Rico and Korea was the high point in a forum held in Philadelphia June12.

Ismael Guadalup, spokesperson of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques, was the guest speaker in a "U.S. Navy Out of Vieques Now" meeting, where he explained the current situation on the tiny island.

The forum was co-sponsored by SEIU Local 668, the Pro Vieques Coalition of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and the Philadelphia Chapter of the International Action Center. The Rev. Kiyul Chung, Secretary General of the Korean Truth Commission on the Civilian Massacres, and Guadalupe exchanged solidarity messages on behalf of their people. Guadalupe also made an apology for all the Puerto Rican soldiers who, under U.S. military command during the Korean War, were ordered to kill people of Korea.

Philadelphia City Council member Angel Ortiz, who was Guadalupe's lawyer during the latter's imprisonment in Pennsylvania after demonstrations in Vieques in 1979, also addressed the audience. Attending was the area representative of the African National Congress of South Africa, Godfrey Sithole. Ray Martinez, president of SEIU Local 668, told the gathering that his union has passed resolutions calling for the Navy to leave Vieques and demanding a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal.

--Berta Joubert-Ceci

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