Solidarity protests against the coup
By and
ACTIVISTS GATHERED in several U.S. cities in August to protest the military coup in Honduras and stand in support of ordinary Hondurans.
In San Francisco, some 50 people picketed on August 3 in front of the Federal Building at a protest organized by the Bay Area Latin American Solidarity Coalition (BALASC).
BALASC includes groups such as Marin Interfaith Task Force on the Americas, Movement for Unconditional Amnesty and the ANSWER coalition, and is demanding that the State Department cut off all U.S. aid until ousted President Manuel Zelaya is safely returned to office, financial sanctions against the coup plotters are put in place, and an investigation is launched into the role U.S. ambassador Hugo Loren played in the coup.
Chants included, "Honduras, escucha, estamos en tu lucha" (Honduras, listen, we are in your struggle) and "El pueblo, unido, jamas sera vencido" (The people, united, will never be defeated).
In Providence, R.I., about 20 people rallied downtown on August 11. Providence City Councilman Miguel Luna and antiwar activist Shaun Joseph phoned in from Honduras to address the crowd.
Demonstrators held signs stating "Defend Democracy in Honduras." The action was organized by the R.I. Mobilization Committee to Stop War and End Occupation and the International Socialist Organization.
