Demonstration in Washington DC in support of "Justice for Zimbabwe"
Bill Lucy, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President and Secretary-Treasurer of AFSCME, addresses protestors in Washington DC on July 21st.
July 21, 2008: Washington, DC - Nearly 100 trade unionists, human rights activists and concerned Zimbabweans marched outside that country's embassy in Washington, DC. Dozens of activists rallied in Washington DC outside the Embassy of Zimbabwe in near 100-degree heat to demand justice for the Zimbabwean people following the corrupt presidential runoff elections in June. Demanding fair and free elections and an end to government-sponsored violence against opponents, trade unionists, human rights activists, concerned Zimbabweans abnd others chanted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, Mugabe has got to go" and read and delivered a "People's Indictment" to Embassy officials that charged Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and his administration, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank with crimes against humanity. JLC member Benjamin Ross and staffer Arieh Lebowitz were among those at the rally.
NOTE: See Postscript at end of this article.
"The people of Zimbabwe, including workers, have lived a total nightmare," said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka at the rally, adding "The AFL-CIO and the US labor movement are here to say to Mugabe that we will not rest until democracy, freedom, and justice are won." Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) President and AFSCME International Secretary-Treasurer Bill Lucy said that "There is no difference between the human rights violations of Ian Smith [former leader of the Zimbabwean white minority government] and Robert Mugabe. The nations of Africa should reject the runoff elections." TransAfrica Forum - who organized the event with CBTU - is calling on the Zimbabwean government and international community for a transitional government and new constitution, economic justice, including support for workers' rights, a debt audit, and repatriations of stolen assets, people-driven social investment, and the development of a national "truth and reconciliation" process to begin national healing.
More information on the demonstration is available online here and here. Also learn about the global campaign, Stand Up for Zimbabwe, to end violence in Zimbabwe and show solidarity with its people.
POSTSCRIPT:
On July 30th, Lovemore Matombo and Wellington Chibebe, the President and General Secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), are due to appear in court for "œspreading falsehoods prejudicial to the State." In reality, the only thing these two dedicated activists are guilty of is defending their union brothers and sisters by speaking out against the incredible brutality of the Mugabe regime.
The Zimbabwean authorities must know that the international community is watching the treatment of these union leaders and will not tolerate continued governmental oppression. Show your support for the ZCTU by taking these two quick, simple steps to pressure the Zimbabwean government into freeing Matombo and Chibebe:
1) Click here to download a letter of protest drafted by the human rights group Action for South Africa , http://www.actsa.org/page-1370-Action_for_democracy_in_Zimbabwe.html .
Print, sign and mail or fax this letter to Zimbabwean authorities at:
The Hon. Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
Government Complex
Cnr Samora Machel/4th Street
Private Bag 7751
Causeway
Harare , ZIMBABWE
Fax: 00263 4 790901
Then, send it to the nearest Embassy of Zimbabwe.
In the United States, that would be:
His Excellency Dr. Machivenyika Mapuranga
Embassy of Zimbabwe
1608 New Hampshire Ave, NW
Washington , DC 20009
Fax: 202-483-9326
2) Visit here < http://www.wearezctu.org > to join with thousands of other labor activists who are speaking out in solidarity with ZCTU. There, you will find tips on how to bring the plight of Zimbabwean labor activists to light and add your voice to a growing list of international voices pledging their support.