Veteran solidarity activists honored in Cuba because it developed out of the as threats to Cuba's survival deepen on the blockade and other hostile acts by

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1000 people attended one or another of & USAN Brigade. RIBAL NITE tive secretary of FPCC in San Francisco.

totaling nearly 5000 supporters to visit the dinner ban. FPCC helped stay the drive of U.S.

meetings and two interviews on radio sta- Asher Harer speaking to Oct. 1962 S.F. protest during Cuban missile crisis.

be yielding control of our economy to itics. We will help you. We are socialists, Ruiz admitted the retreat of the East multinationals * Ruiz said Asked how Cuba has survived three Europeans toward a market economy has "The imperialists say Cuba is isolated." close the way I did in the 1960s: VIVA decades in the face of U.S. hostility, be produced problems for Cuban trade. He Ruiz declared, "But we are isolated only CUBA! VENCEREMOS!" replied that internationalism-support said Cuba is developing new industries from the imperialists. Our ties to Latin The very successful series of events in from countries around the world- helped that will lead to new trading patterns. The America and other Third World countries San Francisco demonstrates that sympaCuba resist the pressure of the imperialist government plans to develop a tourist are getting stronger." powers. The presence of Nelson Mandela industry with some foreign participation. Cuba has no intention of taking the time to mobilize again and stop the biparfrom South Africa at the celebrations in Ruiz stressed that Cuba will always main- road of Eastern Burope or the Soviet tisan drive to isolate and destroy the first Cuba symbolized this internationalism, tain the controlling share. "We will not Union to a market economy. Ruiz workers' state in the western hemisphere.

SOCIALIST ACTION SEPTEMBER 1991 15 OAKLAND, Calif.—While Bastern Europe and the Soviet Union lurch toward a market economy and mass unemployment, Cuba completes its third decade as a workers state.

The July 26 Cuban national holiday was celebrated in the San Francisco Bay Area by a number of film showings, dinners, rallies, and open torums. Nearly the five events that were sponsored by either the U.S. Hands off Cuba Coalition, Global Exchange, or the Venceremos The Venceremos Brigade has aided Cuba for 22 years by sending solidarity teams Cuba. They help with harvests, visit clinics and factories, and learn about life without capitalists. At home they oppose U.S. hostility to Cuba, and demand an end to the trade embargo and the travel Jorge Ruiz, attache of the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C., represented Cuba at the festivities in the Bay Area. Since the United States refuses to recognize Cuba, the country has no ambassador to this country. In his public tion KPFA, Ruiz expressed the optimism that pervades Cuba despite the difficulties Ruiz said. they face. ¿INVASION AUTHORITY OFF HANDS HANDS: yuaury euucauon ror everyone Is not equaled anywhere.

Only socialism, he said, will guarantee national sovereignty, independence, and respect for human dignity. "We do not intend to give that up!"

A dinner and rally held in Oakland honored Cuba and also some of the earliest defenders of the new Cuban state. In 1960, the Fair Play for Cuba Committee repro ane fondad bun CRonur. nalists who interviewed Castro and Che Guevara while they were still in the mountains.

Longshoreman Asher Harer was execuHe and Ruth Harer, both members of Socialist Action, were honored guests at Asher looked back 30 years, when as many as 1600 people attended meetings protesting the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, the travel ban, and other American threats to Cuba. He said, "T do fully believe that imperialism to destroy the Cuban revolution in the 1960s."

Asher got a standing ovation when he concluded, "The need for a massive movement to defend Cuba is even greater than in the 1960s. Ruth and I are retired trade unionists. But we are not retired from polmembers of Socialist Action.. Now I'll thy for Cuba is strong in California. It is