Peter Dinn, 1950-2001
A talented immigrant inspired by rebels
By Workers World Boston bureau
Peter Anthony Dinn, a longtime member of Workers World Party
and the International Action Center, passed away at home on
Oct. 29, succumbing to a stroke. He was only 51.
Peter was born on April 27, 1950, in Arima, Trinidad, West
Indies. He spent the greater part of his life in the struggle
for peace and justice and against war and bigotry.
Liza Green, his longtime friend and comrade, wrote that
Peter "was a generous, forgiving human being who believed in
and fought for an end to racism, sexism and bigotry against
lesbians, gay men, people with disabilities and all forms of
prejudice." Deirdre Griswold, the editor of Workers World,
described Peter as a loyal and talented member of the party and
noted his excellent photo contributions to the paper.
Peter spent many years in San Francisco contributing to the
peoples' struggles. Noted people's photographer Bill Hackwell
wrote that Peter "was a solid contributor to the formation of
the San Francisco branch of WWP" and was sorely missed when he
moved to the East Coast. Bill remembered Peter's generosity in
sharing equipment and expertise and says he learned much from
Peter in his own development as a documentary photographer.
On the East Coast, Peter continued to devote himself to the
struggle and building WWP. When a march against racism was
organized in Philadelphia in 1986, Peter was there. In 1991, he
organized a bus from Portsmouth, N.H., to the Jan. 19 March on
Washington to stop the Gulf War.
He mobilized consistently around the case of Mumia
Abu-Jamal. When Richard Barrett of the white supremacist
Nationalist Movement came to South Boston High School to
promote racism and anti-gay bigotry, Peter was in the forefront
of organizing a strong anti-racist march that confronted
Barrett and chased him away.
Peter was never missing from Workers World and IAC
contingents at Boston's lesbian, gay, bi and trans pride
marches. He was also in the struggle against bigotry
year-round.
Peter championed the struggle of his fellow immigrant
workers, whom he was constantly trying to help get access to
healthcare, education, housing and legal rights.
Peter was very knowledgeable about the history of Trinidad
and liked to share this information. Some of the people who
inspired him included Sir Eric Williams, a prime minister of
Trinidad who wrote the book "Capitalism and Slavery"; Uriah
"Buzz" Butler, a leader of the oil workers' union there; Che
Guevara; Vince Cope land, a founder of Workers World Party and
steelworkers' leader who fought racism against people of
African descent in the Buffalo, N.Y., steel plants; Shadow, the
legendary politically progressive calypso musician who is loved
by the oppressed of Trinidad and wrote a song called "Poverty
Is Hell"; and Iris Betaudier, his grandmother.
Peter was a very talented artist. His highly professional
photographs appeared in Workers World newspaper. He also taught
photography. Peter was a sous-chef at the Center for Executive
Education at Babson College in Wellesley, Mass., and taught
cooking at the Boston Center for Adult Education. He frequently
and generously contributed lavish arrays of exquisite food to
party meetings and dinners.
He was also an accomplished musician. He played all types of
percussion instruments, including congas and bongos, played
with several bands, and frequently helped provide music at
party functions.
Peter's death is a tragedy for the family and friends who
loved him and a great loss to the struggle for a better world.
But those who knew him saw in Peter the glimmer of what this
better world could be, and in that spirit of revolutionary
optimism, will continue the struggle until that better world is
born. Comrade Peter Dinn, presente!
A moving memorial to Peter was held in Boston on Nov. 3,
attended by family members and friends who traveled from
Trinidad, Venezuela, Florida, Delaware and New York. The Boston
Branch of Workers World Party will hold a commemoration and
celebration of Peter's life of revolutionary struggle in the
near future, to be announced in Workers World newspaper.
Donations may be made in Peter Dinn's name to Carib Santa
Rosa Parang Group and/or to People's Rights Fund.
Peter's brother Michael is a current leader of the Carib
musical group, and his father Rupert was one of the three
founders. Its address is 22A Cocorite St., Arima, Trinidad,
W.I.
Contributions to the Peoples Rights Fund are tax deductible.
It is at 39 West 14th St., Suite 206, New York, NY 10011, (212)
633-6646, www.peoplesrightsfund.org.
Liza Green, Rachel Nasca,
Phebe Eckfeldt and Frank Neisser
contributed to this article.
Reprinted from the Nov. 15, 2001, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
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