Boston rally blasts U.S. foreign policy

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BOSTON-Some 2000 people rallied on the Boston Commons on March 22 to protest both the U.S. war drive in Central America and apartheid in South Africa. The demonstration culminated a series of forums, exhibits, films, slide shows, and concerts held throughout Massachusetts during "Central America Week" from March 16 to 24.

Speakers at the rally included Arnoldo Ramos of the FMLN-FDR in El Salvador; Noam Chomsky, a professor and outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy; and Themba This new pamphlet, by Carl Finamore, discusses the road to building a massive movement to stop the warmakers.

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Ramos told the crowd that 75,000 dem -onstrators had taken to the streets of San Salvador on Feb. 21 to protest President Jose Napoleon Duarte's new economic austerity program. This was the largest demonstration in El Salvador since January 1980. It was organized by the newly formed National Unity of Salvadoran Workers, a coalition which includes some 100 labor organizations representing 300,000 work -elS.

After his speech, Ramos told Socialist Action of the "desperate action by the military in Guazapa, where over a thousand farmers have been driven out of their homes, and at least 500 forcibly relocated by the army." He said the military has not captured, and cannot capture key FMLN positions in the country.

Noam Chomsky, who just returned from Nicaragua, told the crowd that the debate in Congress over aid to the contras has no relation to the reality of that country. "The truth is that we are attacking Nicaragua because it has violated a fundamental principal. Nicaragua is the one country that is devoting-or when we let it—is devoting substantial resources to the benefit of the poor."

Speaking in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, Chomsky, whose professional life has been devoted to the study of languages, criticized Reagan's accusation that the Sandinistas are a "cancer," a "malignancy," an "outlaw regime" that threatens our "vital security interests." Referring to the contras, Chomsky continued, "This is the cancer we have to excise."

Other speakers at the rally included Ellen Corsano of the National Organization for Women and the Reproductive Rights Task Force, David Stratman of the Hormel workers P-9 Support Committee, and Boston School Committee member Jean McGuire.

One purpose of the rally was to strengthen links between Central America activists, and groups—especially student committees-involved in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Gov. Michael Dukakis proclaimed the week of March 16-24 as Central America Week, which coincided with the beginning of Southern Africa Week (March 21 to April This effort was only partially successful. For a city like Boston, a march of 2000 indicates that the movement did not succeed in mobilizing beyond its usual core of supporters. Builders of the rally were far from disheartened, however, and will con -tinue to organize even broader public support for peace in Central America and freedom in South Africa.

In the coming weeks, activists in the New England area will turn their attention toward two events: a tour by Vilma Soto, international representative of the El LS NOI JHBACKYART KILLING

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