Several thousand attend Cuba solidarity rally in N.Y

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For weeks, the big business media had blacked out any mention of the upcoming rally. Finally, NEW YORK-Despite a last-minute attempt by the Jacob Javits Convention Center to abrogate its contract with Peace for Cuba, despite efforts by counter-demonstrators to disrupt the rally, and despite the bitter cold, a huge rally in support of Cuba was held here on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Close to 3700 people jammed into the building, while another 1000 were turned away for lack of space. Cuba's UN ambassador, Ricardo Alarcon, speaking at a celebration later in the evening, affirmed that the event was the largest solidarity rally for Cuba ever held in the United States.

For weeks, the big business media had blacked out any mention of the upcoming rally. Finally, shortly before the event was to take place, the papers announced that it had been "cancelled."

On Jan. 23, the organizers of the rally were notified by the Convention Center that the agreement was being revoked because of expected overcrowding and fears of violence.

However, with the help of civil-rights attorney William Kunstler, an injunction against the summary action by the Center was obtained from Justice Bruce Wright.

Wright is a Black judge, whose release of Black victims of injustice has caused him to incur the wrath of the reactionary media, which gave him the nickname of "Turn 'em Loose Bruce."

In a judicial hearing the next day, Peace for Cuba showed that while it had printed 4000 tickets for a hall that holds 3200 seats, the bulk of these tickets had not yet been sold.

shortly betore the event ‹ betore the event was In view of the evidence that the hall would not be overcrowded, and of the protests against the stifling of free speech, the court ruled that the meeting should be permitted.

Strict security measures Although the rally was held, it was much delayed by security measures. All those entering the hall had to pass by two metal detectors, which created a bottleneck.

As a consequence, the crowd had to wait outside in long lines for up to three hours. Although the cold penetrated us to the bones, everyone retained his or her good humor, and very few, if any, left. Elderly persons were sent to separate lines so they could get in sooner.

The high morale of the crowd was displayed when the lines were converted into a kind of spontaneous rally. People chanted and waved the Cuban flag.

Meanwhile, a large group of anti-Castro counter-demonstrators gathered around the corner. Several estimates in the big business press put the size of the counter-demonstration at well over 20,000. But others on the scene said that far fewer-from perhaps 3000 to 10,000 people-were there.

Kept separate from each other, the rally participants and the counter-demonstrators did not clash. But there were occasional cries of "Communist!" and answering chants of "Gusano!" [counterrevolutionary worm].

Once people got into the hall, they quickly warmed up by the enthusiasm of the audience. Statements concerning the accomplishments of the Cuban Revolution and denunciations of the U.S. embargo were loudly applauded. There were frequent standing ovations.

Every one of the seats was occupied. Several hundred persons had to remain in the lobby, where they could hear the speeches broadcast from within the hall. Two or three gusanos in the hall tried to disrupt the meeting with stink bombs, but they were quickly, quietly, and efficiently ejected.

Cuban Americans attend

The audience included a good sprinkling of Cuban Americans, and several Cuban Americans spoke. One of the Cuban American speakers said that two busloads of rally participants had come from Miami.

The Cuban Americans, he stated, are generally conservative, but the majority of them are opposed to U.S. aggression against their native country. Some 15,000 signatures have been obtained from within the Cuban American community, calling for an end to the embargo and for opening travel to Cuba to all so that they can communicate with their families and friends.

Speakers included notables like William Kunstler; Frei Betto, the Brazilian social activist and liberation theology adherent; Tony Benn, British Laborite MP; and Ramsey Clark, former U.S. attorney general and an outspoken opponent of the Gulf War. Others included representatives of Cuba support organizations and other activists, representatives of labor, and clergy.

Representatives from Cuba who were to have been present were refused visas by the State Department.

The Cuban ambassador to the UN, Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, was given a plaque by Cleveland Robinson of the UAW, one of the US labor representatives, but the ambassador could not respond, as this would have been a violation of the conditions of his stay.

A statement from Fidel Castro was read, however. It received thunderous applause, as did the announcement that the children's organization of Cuba will shortly be putting George Bush on trial for crimes against the Cuban people.

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to take place, the been "cancelled."