Cuba solidarity 'Fast for Life' in third month

[Charlotte Kates <ckates@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

**Cuba solidarity 'Fast for Life' in third month**

(Reprinted from the May 11, 1996 issue of the People's
Weekly World. May be reprinted or reposted with PWW credit.
For subscription information see below)

By Fred Gaboury

BROOKLYN -- His name is Lucius Walker -- make that Rev.
Lucius Walker. He's 40 pounds lighter and has taken in his
belt eight notches. The seat of his 14-year-old pants sag
and his collar is several sizes too large.

He's consumed nothing but water spiked with lemon juice and
maple syrup since Feb. 21. He says he and three others will
continue his "fast for life" until the the U.S. government
agrees to release the 400 personal computers it confiscated
on Jan. 31 and allows them across the U.S.-Mexican border
for delivery to Cuba.

The computers, meant to link health care clinics in the
countryside with a central computer in Havana, had been
donated to Pastors for Peace for U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment
VI. Five previous friendshipments had been allowed to cross
the U.S. border for shipment to Cuba despite the 30-year
U.S. blockade.

When interviewed at his Salvation Baptist Church in
Brooklyn, Walker speculated on why the government took
special steps to prevent the border crossing. "Until then
the score was 5-to-0 in our favor. I think they felt they
had to do something."

When efforts to resolve the situation hit a stone wall,
Walker and several others felt they, too, had to do
something. Thus the fast for life by Brian Rohatyn, a
student from Canada; Lisa Valenti, a medical technician from
Pittsburgh and Jim Clifford, a former Air Force captain from
Louisville, and Walker. The four moved their fast from San
Diego on April 3 and have now set up the Wayside Chapel for
Peace and Friendship in a tent on the grounds of the
Methodist Church Center in Washington, a few blocks from the
White House.

Their courage and steadfastness has begun to pay off.
Pointing to feature articles in the Washington Post and a
New York metropolitan tabloid, Walker said, "The voice of
the people is beginning to make itself heard."

On May 2 more than 60 members of Congress made a public
appeal to President Clinton to respond to the fast and
release the computers. Speaking for the group, Rep. Charles
Rangel (D-N.Y.) said, Pastors for Peace had worked for years
to "ease the suffering of the Cuban people" by organizing
humanitarian shipments of food and medicine without applying
for a license as required by the U.S. blockade.

"Our government should not be in the business of denying
humanitarian support for sick people," Rangel continued,
"especially when religious people, responding to the highest
moral authority, are willing to put their lives on the
line."

Walker said negotiations were underway with the Treasury
Department and the White House. "We know for a fact that the
administration is divided on the question," he said. Walker
"does not believe" the government is going to allow its
decisions to be made by Jorge Mas Canosa and other right
wing Cuban exiles in Miami.

"I refuse to believe that the honor of our government is
going to be undermined by one right wing Cuban so he can go
back to Cuba and become a real estate tycoon," Walker said.
The administration "must choose" between those who elected
it and those who opposed it.

Ellen Bernstein, a staff member working with the fasters in
Washington, told the World the Treasury Department has
gotten so many calls from supporters around the country that
a special phone line has been established just for calls
supporting pastors for Peace. "This is the time to redouble
our efforts," she said. "And don't let them get by with
having you talk to the tape machine -- insist on talking to
a human being."

Walker called for continued grass roots mobilization and
urged people to call the White House Chief of Staff Leon
Panetta at (202) 456-6797, National Security Advisor Anthony
Lake at (202) 456-9481 and Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin
at (202)633- 0190.
##30##
************************************************************
***       *  Read the Peoples Weekly World  *     *********
   ****   *  Sub info: pww@xxxxxxxxxxx      *  ****    *
       ****  235 W. 23rd St. NYC 10011      ***      *   **
   ****   *  $20/yr - $1-2 mos trial sub    *  ****    *
***       *                                 *     *********
************************************************************
Tired of the same old system: Join the Communist Party, USA
      Info: CPUSA@xxxxxxxxxx; or (212) 989-4994; or
           http://www.hartford-hwp.com/cp-usa
************************************************************




_____________________________________________________________________________
    Charlotte L. Kates     ckates@xxxxxxxxxxxx        Collingswood, NJ

     Fight for peace, justice, democracy, equality and socialism!
   Join the Communist Party, USA! http://www.hartford-hwp.com/cp-usa
           235 West 23rd Street    New York, NY 10011
    People and Nature before Profits! Jobs not Jails! Defeat Racism!
                  End Sexism and Homophobia!
                Defeat the Contract on America!
   _________________________________________________________________
         ++++ stop the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal ++++
     ++++ if you agree copy these 3 sentences in your own sig ++++
   ++++ more info:http://www.xs4all.nl/~tank/spg-l/sigaction.htm++++
__________________________________________________________________
       Shorten the Work Week! Six-hour day with no cut in Pay!

  Cuba si, Bloqueo no! Support the Pastors and their Fast for Life! Free
medical aid and computers for the Cuban people! Call to protest the
                seizure of this humanitarian aid:

        Robert Rubin Secretary of the Treasury
        Phone:  202-622-5300, fax: 202-622-0073

        or e-mail President Clinton at:  president@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        
        Visit the Pastors at: http://www.igc.apc.org/cubasoli/
  ______________________________________________________________________

        Read the voice of the people--the People's Weekly World!
        235 W.23rd Street               New York, NY 10011
    Trial subscriptions only $1. The voice of the U.S. working class!



     --- from list marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---