appeal, we utilize the opportunity to reiterate our respect.
- Abel Jaca - - mee Estanislao Kowalczuk: .
_ Organizational Secretary | ; 7 Interunion Secretary =
AN APPEAL FOR HUGO BLANCO FROM DETROIT
- By Neil Bronson ae
“Detroit”
Some 125 ‘students ana Detroit residents ‘attended a “necting here February.23 which went on record demanding the end of the.death. threat: against Peruvian peasant leader; Hugo Blanco and his release from prison.
Sponsored by the Wayne State University Artists' Society and the U.S.Committee for Justice for Latin American Political Prisoners, the benefit. was to include readings by newpoets from Latin America; a talk by Young Socialist Alliance member : ‘Jan.Garrett on the revolutionary activity, arrest. and trial of Blanco; and a showing of a. | film on the Venezuelan guerrilla movement. 7
Because of weather conditions, Argentine poets Oscar Mascotta and. Halma Perry, and Peruvian poet Leandro Katz, who had been scheduled, were unable to get. to-Detroit. Local poet Allen Van Newkirk, ‘of the.-Artists' Society, read excerpts from the work of Javier Heraud, a young guerrilla fighter killed in Peru a few years ago... - .
Garrett outlined Hugo Blanco's experiences in Argentina and in Peru, and described the development of the peasant union movement organized by Blanco; he discussed the illegal character of the. military -trial' of the young leader and the impressive international campaign to save Blanco's life.
He read the moving letters of. Hector Bejar and Jacqueline Lobatén, Peruvian militants involved in- the ‘campaign for ‘Hugo’ ‘Ss life, about the encouraging | effect of the. international defense... F ne 7 5: mc The ‘meeting unanimously decided to address an appeal to Fernando. Belatinde Terry, the president of Peru; in.behalf of Hugo Blanco. The text of the appeal was as follows:
"We, 125 members. of the Wayne State University community in. Detroit, Michigan, meeting tonight in support of peasant leader Hugo Blanco,. demand the removal of. the death threat against him. Freedom for Hugo Blanco!"
‘A copy of the message was sent to Hugo Blanco's attorney, Dr. Alfredo Battilana.
A Peruvian student now studying law in the U.S., who had known Hugo in his early youth, attended the meeting and afterwards gave his hearty thanks for’ the. Detroit soli-~ darity meeting. . The meeting received ‘favorable advence publicity. in ‘the. college - press. The Fifth | Estate: ‘carried a background story on the: case and published a drawing of, Hugo Blanco.
"TF WE