21191: radtimes: Great Interest in New Haiti Book (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: radtimes <resist@best.com>

LA: Great Interest in New Haiti Book

-------------------------
Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the April 15, 2004
issue of Workers World newspaper
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LOS ANGELES: GREAT INTEREST IN NEW HAITI BOOK

By Maggie Vascassenno
Los Angeles

"The Haitian Revolution is history's sole example of a successful slave
uprising. It was a beacon of hope and inspiration to enslaved Africans
in the U.S. and elsewhere. This made the Haitian Revolution and
successive Haitian governments repeated targets of U.S. intervention,
the latest being the overthrow--the second since 1991-- of the Aristide
administration," stated Pat Chin.

A co-editor of the book, "Haiti, a Slave Revolution: 200 Years After
1804," Chin brought the truth about the U.S. coup in Haiti to four
meetings and book signings in Los Angeles this past weekend. "Haiti, a
Slave Revo lution" was published by the Inter na tional Action Center
and can be ordered through leftbooks.com.

The kick-off event was held in South Central Los Angeles on April 3 at
the Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research. Chin
was joined by Pierre Labossiere of Oakland, Calif., founder of the Haiti
Action Committee there, and Pierre-Antoine Lovinsky, a psychologist and
victims' advocate from Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A surprise appearance and
opening talk by Rep. Maxine Waters at Saturday's event received
thunderous applause and a standing ovation from the overflow audience.

The speakers on the panel saluted the courage of Congressmember Waters
for the crucial role she has played in defense of President Jean-
Bertrand Aristide and in getting the truth about the U.S.-backed coup in
Haiti to the people of Southern Cali for nia and the U.S. Labossiere and
Lovinsky, both Haitians, stres sed the urgent need for solidarity. "Our
solidarity can beat the bosses'solidarity--truth always wins out,"
stated Labos siere. Muna Coobtee of the Interna tional Action Center
chaired the afternoon event.

 >From the library Chin went to EsoWon Books, located in the African
American community. The predominantly Black audience was deeply
cognizant of the racist nature of the coup and the bicentennial of the
slave revolution that established an independent and free Haiti. Chin
concluded her presentation by reading an excerpt from her chapter in the
book, "Haiti needs reparations, not sanctions."

On April 4 Chin spoke at a progressive Westside bookstore named Mid
night Special. Jefferson Azevedo of the IAC chaired the event. Chin then
spoke at Imix Books, located in High land Park on the east side of Los
Angeles. Imix is a relatively new bookstore that focuses on the
struggles of the Latino/a peoples of the Americas. At all the meetings
and book signings many people bought the book, and signed up with the
International Action Center to help build and participate in future
actions in solidarity with Haiti.

.