Solidarity against the Honduras coup

IN SEVERAL cities around the U.S., small protests were held last week in solidarity with the people of Honduras, who are facing repression in the wake of a military coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya.

While right-wing forces claim Zelaya had planned a referendum with the aim of amending the country's constitution to extend his presidential term, the reality is that the coup is the work of Honduras' ruling elite, headed by a landed oligarchy and the U.S.-backed military. The coup makers aimed to seize control from Zelaya, who had begun to follow the example of left-wing political leaders in Latin America like Hugo Chávez.

In Chicago, in the largely Latino neighborhood of Pilsen, approximately 50 protesters gathered at the Tenochtitlan Plaza on June 29. The group chanted in solidarity with the half a million pro-democracy protesters who recently took to the streets of the capital city of Tegucigalpa in Honduras: "¡Si hay represión habrá revolución!" (If there is repression there will be revolution!)

Rev. Jose Landaverde from La Mision helped lead chants among protesters: "¡Viva el pueblo revolucionario de Honduras!" (Long live the revolutionary people of Honduras) and "¡Zelaya, amigo, el pueblo esta contigo!" (Zelaya, friend, the people are with you!).

A group of protesters held a large poster that announced "Todos somos Hondureños" (We are all Hondurans)--implying that the attack against democracy in Honduras is an attack on the democratic rights of all people. A number of people held signs that demanded "Reinstate Zelaya NOW" and "Bring democracy back!"

"Please show me evidence that proves that Zelaya intended to amend the country's constitution with the purpose of keeping power of another presidential term," Alexy Lanza of La Voz de los de Abajo, a student group at DePaul University, told the crowd. "There is none because he never intended to do so. The poll that he was conducting was just to inquire of the people of Honduras."

As Rev. Landaverde told the crowd, the people demand "an immediate stop to all economic help to Honduras, particularly to all military aid; an immediate withdrawal of the U.S. ambassador in Honduras; the immediate closing of the School of the Americas; and the immediate return of Manuel Zelaya to the presidency."

In New York City, at least 75 vocal protesters turned out to the Honduran Consulate on June 29.

The flag of Honduras was very visible, along with the flags of Venezuela, Cuba and other nations of Latin America that have condemned the actions of General Romeo Vasquez and his fellow American-trained lackeys in the Honduran Army.

The protestors expressed their outrage with several militant chants in Spanish including "No retreat, no surrender," "A people united will never be defeated," and "Vasquez--you are an instrument of Coca Cola imperialism!"

After rallying at the Honduran Consulate for several hours, the protestors marched down First Ave. to 42nd St., accompanied by an overwhelming show of solidarity by drivers and pedestrians passing by.

In Houston, approximately 50 activists gathered from across the state at the Honduran Consulate on July 3.

Chants of "Honduras escucha, estamos en tu lucha" (Honduras, listen, we are in your struggle), "Democracia sí, golpe no" (Democracy yes, coup no), and "El pueblo, unido, jamás será vencido" (The people, united, will never be defeated) rang loud to show solidarity with the people of Honduras.

Throughout the week, activists began uniting over the importance of standing up for democracy and against the coup. Within a couple of days, banners, posters, and chants were organized for the protest to demand the reinstatement of Manuel Zelaya.

Groups such as Centro de los Trabajadores Agrícolas Fronterizos of El Paso, the Southwest Workers Center of San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley, the Central American Resource Center of Houston, Students for a Democratic Society at the University of Houston, Southwest Workers Union and the International Socialist Organization united for the protest in support of the struggle of the Honduran people.