Banquet honorees stress coalition building

By Roy Rydell

NEW YORK - The Henry Winston Unity Auditorium was jam-packed with trade unionists, community activists and readers of the People's Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo Nov. 14 who came to honor four fighters for unity, justice and labor's rights and celebrate the World's 75th anniversary.

The four honorees were Iris Baez founder and president of Community and Parents Against Police Violence; Ron Daniels, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights; Elizabeth Hall, a member of the National Committee of the Communist Party, USA and Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees; and Bobbie Rabinowitz, a founder of the New York City Labor Chorus and long time trade union activist.

The event was co-chaired by Carolyn Rummel, managing editor of the People's Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo, and Maria Ramos, a member of the United Federation of Teachers.

They first introduced Manhattan Assemblymember Richard Gottfried who presented State Assembly citations to each honoree for their role in fighting for justice and the leadership they have given to helping change New York.

Gottfried noted that it was a remarkable feat to keep the World going for 75 years and said, "we're going to have to figure out a way to make a fuss about the anniversary."

Gottfried recalled that as a high school student he did a term paper in his journalism class on the history on the Daily Worker and came to the Party office to do research where he was promptly introduced to Gus Hall.

"What means so much about the PWW is there are an awful lot of people in politics who ought to understand more than they do about the struggle we are involved in. They don't understand the fight against corporate power and the fight for the people is the same fight whether you talk about education, housing, or health care," Gottfried said. "Unless we understand this, we can't make real progress and the kinds of changes that are really going to make a difference in peoples lives."

The internationally renowned New York City Labor Chorus then came on to the stage. They have appeared at Labor rallies all over the city. Wearing bright red T-shirts, they literally overflowed the stage and brought down the house when they sang such old songs such as "I'm Going to Roll the Union On," "Union Maid." They ended up with a rousing version of "Solidarity Forever" that had the crowd singing and stomping along.

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel from Harlem sent a letter regretting that he was unable to attend the event, but congratulated the honorees and the World.

William Perkins, city councilmember from Harlem, said he was honored to participate especially because the honorees were such "extraordinary people active on the concerns that all of us share." He presented the honorees with city council citations.

Perkins spoke about the potential for defeating the ultra-right Republican grip on Congress in next year's elections.

"It will be a relief to end this 'Contract on America' and we must ensure this will be the last political job that Mayor Giuliani has," he said to cheers. "The year 2000 elections are a prelude to the year 2001 elections. It will be a year when we can take the city back."

He called for the building of a coalition to elect a new mayor who really cares for the city and elect progressives to the 34 open seats that will be open in the city council. He predicted a "wonderful new coalition will emerge in the city council including in leadership positions."

John Bachtell, chairperson of the New York State Communist Party, said the honorees deserved long overdue special recognition for their many heroic contributions to people's struggles. He likened their work to Horton, the character immortalized by Dr. Suess in Horton Hears a Who. Like Horton, they were the "voice of the voiceless" and had given inspiration to many people join the struggle and to persevere through great difficulties.

"Wherever the New Yorkers have united and fought," Bachtell said, "something good has happened - against D'Amato, justice for Anthony Baez and against police brutality, against school vouchers and privatization, against the undemocratic city charter revision or standing up to protect our First Amendment rights while standing up against the racists and fascist that would take them away. This fight has only made us stronger and more united and prepared us for the battles ahead.

"The next few months will take an incredible amount of unity, strength and perseverance to see through all the confusion and bring out the biggest vote in the November 2000 elections to defeat Mayor Giuliani - King Rudy - and the other Republican ultra-right candidates. And to elect candidates that have the potential to

Iris Baez, accompanied by her daughter Elizabeth, spoke of the death of her son Anthony at the hands of police officer Francis Livoti. She movingly described how this tragedy transformed her life and thrust her into the leadership of fight against police brutality.

"This is a struggle that takes all of us together. Inside we are all the same," Baez said. "I am going to fight for everyone's children. I will be out there and not let this happen to someone else's child. United as one, we can stop it. We are the force. We are the majority, not the minority. When one wins we all win." She accepted the award on behalf of her community.

Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, scholar and a long-time activist in many struggles, congratulated the World and voiced his appreciation for the coverage the paper gave him when he ran for president in 1992.

Daniels said that one of the reasons he ran in 1992 was that he "believed we need candidates who will take a stand on a clear progressive platform based on fundamental human rights. What we have generally are really compromise candidates."

Daniels said that his association with the World went back to his days in Youngstown, Ohio. "It is incredibly important when the progressive movement is under assault that we take seriously the pleas for resources," he said. "The right wing has no problem raising money for their institutions. It is vital that the PWW remain solid, especially in the era of the conglomeration of the media. We need a place we can get our message out."

Maria Ramos read a stirring tribute to Elizabeth Hall describing how she joined the early struggles in Ohio during the Great Depression, organizing the unemployed and steelworkers; the battle she put up raising her kids in the McCarthy era with Gus Hall her husband in jail and of Elizabeth's devotion to the Party, and how she was active in the struggle to desegregate housing and the schools in Yonkers.

She was also presented with a plaque from the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees "in recognition for a lifetime of service dedicated to the lives of working men and women." Elizabeth was unable to attend the event but sent a message in appreciation for the honor.

"No honor could mean more to me than that of this newspaper and Party," she said. Hall paid tribute to the work of the Yonkers Party club, which she helped rebuild after the McCarthy destruction. The club became a key initiator in the fight for desegregation and for housing rights.

"Over the years, one thing I've found - to have faith in the people - they always come through. On behalf of herself and Gus, she extended warm congratulations to the other honorees. Keep on fighting!"

A group of songs of struggle was presented by George Stass and Gavin Parker, including "Forty-one shots" a powerful song inspired by the police murder of Amadou Diallo.

Bobbie Rabinowitz, former vice president of the Social Services Employees Union (SSEU) Local 371, was introduced by Tony Basilio another former vice president. Rabinowitz spoke of her activities in the anti-Vietnam War movement and the civil rights movement.

A journal published for the occasion contained greetings from AFSCME Local 215 of DC 1707, Retirees Association of DC 37, a letter from U.S. Rep. Jose Serrano extending best wishes to the People's Weekly World on its anniversary and commending Baez for her commitment in the pursuit of justice.

Greetings were also received from the Northeast Amalgamated Joint Board of UNITE, State Senator Tom Duane and the Labor Research Association and others. Christine Quinn, city councilwoman from the Chelsea area of Manhattan, sent a citation from the city council noting the accomplishments of each of the honorees.

Greetings also came from SSEU Local 371, Teamsters Local 808 and singer-songwriter Pete Seeger. Gloria Freedman, of AFSCME DC 37 Retirees Association took up a collection, which together with other proceeds, netted $9,000 for the People's Weekly World fund drove.