Speeches from the Honduras Solidarity Rally. Given on 10/24/2009

http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/oct/protest-solidarity-honduras

On Oct. 24 the newly formed Hands Off Honduras Coalition, made up of anti-war and Latin America solidarity groups, organized a demonstration at the major intersection of Lake Street and Hiawatha Avenue. 70 people protested in opposition to the military coup d'état in Honduras and to the de facto acceptance of the coup by the U.S. government.

The people of Honduras have bravely resisted the June 28 coup that illegally removed President Manuel Zelaya. The Honduran resistance has carried out huge protests and massive strikes. The military responded with brutal repression including tear gas, clubs and gunfire. They have arrested thousands, killed many and closed down all independent news media.
eredith Aby, of the Anti-War Committee and theColombia Action Network, explained the root of the coup, "While in office Zelaya took some strong stands to help his people, like increasing the minimum wage and standing with ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America) against the U.S.'s free trade agenda in the region.

Aby continued, "However, this isn't a protest or a movement merely about a president. This is a protest and a movement in solidarity with the people of Honduras. A people who have chosen to defend their right to pick their president and to determine the course for their country. It is just that very idea - the idea of change - that has scared the Honduran elite and their military. Power in Honduras is in the hands of about 100 people from 25 families, while the majority of Hondurans live in poverty. The elite hoped that they could just remove Zelaya and their problem would go away. But the people of Honduras are saying, 'Ya Basta!' 'Enough is enough!' and are refusing to go back to the old ways."

The Oct. 24 protest’s speakers, signs and chants denounced the U.S. government’s support for the coup government. The U.S. continues to fund the Honduran government and has criticized President Zelaya as 'irresponsible' for trying to return to Honduras to resume his rightful place as president. The U.S has not condemned the repression by the military. Honduran military officers are graduates of the infamous U.S. School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Georgia, which continues to train officers from all over Latin America on how to wage war on their own peoples. Recently, groups of U.S. legislators traveled to Honduras in support of a phony 'election' set for Nov. 29. The protest demanded a change in the U.S. policy of intervening in Latin American.

Joe Callahan, of the Minnesota Cuba Committee, gave a passionate appeal for Americans to connect to the cause of Honduras, "In addition to the rifle fire, tear gas and the clubs, a brand new high-tech weapon was used against the Honduran people - sound cannons. One month ago this weapon was used in Pittsburgh against people protesting the policies of the Group of 20. This is a very loud reminder that we are linked together with the peoples of the world, like the people of Honduras. So when we stand up in support of their rights we are fighting for our own rights too."



I was at the rally and was able to hear parts of the great speeches as I was passing out flyers to people going by.

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http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/oct/speeches-honduras-solidarity-rally


Speech given on October 24, 2009 at a Honduras solidarity protest in Minneapolis by MN Cuba Committee member Joe Callahan

The military coup-makers, los golpistas, got a big surprise from the people of Honduras, who rose up in resistance like never before against this coup. The Honduran people don't want government by School of the Americas' thugs.

Juan Barahona, a leader of the National Resistance Front Against the Coup, recently said, "The future is ours, nothing will ever be the same in Honduras. The dispute for power is posed now and will continue to be posed.

"Honduras is the second poorest country in the western hemisphere after Haiti. It is dominated by U.S. agribusiness companies like Minnesota based Cargill, Dole, and Chiquita, formerly United Fruit Company. Chiquita has a consulting firm on retainer, McClarty and Kissinger Associates.
The vice chairman of that company is John Negroponte, who was the U.S. ambassador to Honduras in the 1980's, from where he ran the contra war against Nicaragua. He is also an adviser to Hillary Clinton.

The US govt. has not formally recognized the coup govt., but is giving it de facto support - continuing the funding of the Honduran govt., and maintaining a huge U.S. military base. Fidel Castro says the base is the center of the coup.

Since the Monroe Doctrine in 1823 the US has arrogantly claimed the supposed right to dominate Latin America. They think they can do anything they want to the people of Latin America - invasions, military coups, death squads and all the rest. But U.S. domination of Latin America took a big blow 50 years ago when the Cuban people made a revolution throwing off the yoke of US domination.

Cuba has been invaded, blockaded, and buried under an avalanche of lies, saying that brutal U.S. domination is more democratic than their revolution. But Cuba's resistance has never been broken, and in recent years, their has been a tide of resistance sweeping Latin America. 7 years ago the people of Venezuela successfully overturned a military coup there, and today the people of Honduras continue to battle heroically against the School of Americas coup-makers.

Lastly, in addition to the rifle fire, the tear gas, and the clubs, a brand new high tech weapon was used against the Honduran people - sound cannons. This is the first time and place that weapon was used, but it wasn't the last. One month ago this weapon was used in Pittsburgh against people protesting the policies of the Group of 20. This is a very loud reminder that we are linked together with the peoples of the world, like the people of Honduras. So when we stand up in support of their rights we are fighting for our own rights too.

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Speech given on October 24, 2009 at a Honduras solidarity protest in Minneapolis by Anti-War Committee member Meredith Aby

In Honduras people have been resisting the coup government for over 4 months! Their struggle to control their own government has inspired the world and we are here today to stand in solidarity with them. We join with the Honduran resistance to demand that President Zelaya be returned to power!



While in office Zelaya took some strong stands to help his people– like increasing the minimum wage and standing with ALBA against the US’ free trade agenda in the region. However, this isn’t a protest or a movement merely about a president. This is a protest and a movement in solidarity with the people of Honduras. A people who have chosen to defend their right to pick their president and to determine the course for their country. The Honduran people are defending a man who stood with them against the elite in Honduras. A man who said he would support CHANGE. It is just that very idea – the idea of change – that has scared to their core the Honduran elite and their military. Power in Honduras is in the hands of about 100 people from 25 families, while the majority of Hondurans live in poverty. The elite hoped that they could just remove Zelaya and their problem would go away. But the people of Honduras are saying “Ya Basta”! Enough is enough and are refusing to go back to the old ways.

Americans are a people who have also said with a resounding voice that we want change – particularly in foreign policy. However, it is becoming clearer every day that we can’t just expect our elected leaders to do it for us. We need to create this change ourselves. Although it is illegal for the US to give military aid to a country under a military coup, the US hasn’t cut all aid to Honduras. We need to demand an end to all US aid to Honduras until Zelaya is returned to power!


Another area for action is the US School of the Americas in Ft. Benning, Georgia which trains Latin American soldiers in how to torture and to wage war against their own people. Graduates of this school are the ones who kidnapped President Zelaya at gunpoint and forced him to flee to Costa Rica. We need the US to stop supporting right wing regimes and movements in Latin America, and a good starting place is to close the School of the Americas now!


Lastly, we need to stop supporting right-wing regimes in the region. The US needs to end US military aid to Colombia. The coup government is using Colombian paramilitaries as mercenaries in Honduras. These forces are known internationally for their human rights abuses against Colombian trade unionists. Our tax dollars pay for their operation too! Currently Obama has asked for an expansion of seven more military bases in Colombia. This is not the change we need!


We need to send a clear and loud message to Obama and Congress that we want a real change in Latin America. We want to end US imperialism in Latin America and as we said during the 80s Central America solidarity movement – let the people decide!

Viva el pueblo Hondureno! Que viva!