Letter and cartoon of support from Latuff to Amiri Baraka

Dear Mr. Baraka,

I became aware of controversy caused by your recent poem "Somebody Blew Up America", followed by allegations of anti-Semitism from conservative sectors of American society, including notorious Anti-Defamation League. I am writting you to express my solidarity and support.

Those people whom are pointing fingers at you are the same responsible for billions of dollars sent to Israel to carry out an immoral and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. They want to commit war against Iraq because Saddam Hussein is not following resolutions from United Nations, but allow Ariel Sharon to keep defying all resolutions from U.N. demanding an end of occupation. Those people whom say you are anti-Semite are turning United States into United Police States, revoking civil rights, repressing peaceful demonstrations, suppressing freedom of speech.

In the matter of fact, Mr. Baraka, those people are the same that, in a not-so-far past, had fun hanging Black people in trees and electric poles. You are a Poet Laureate AND a Black man. Probably many people get stuck with this. Altought seen as "land of the free" we both know that United States is still a nation where a Black citizen can be tied up to a van and be dragged to death.

They are trying to lynch you, Mr. Baraka, as well as everyone who dare to raise a fist, a voice and a poem. Because they know you are too dangerous to the System, since you have the most powerful weapons: your art! But remember, when a regime need to use force as social control, is because are LOSING control. And everyday many other people are raising their fists, voices, poems, movies, songs, cartoons. They are growing daily and soon nobody will be able to stop them.

I leave to you a quote on today's anti-Semitism from Uri Avnery, a Jewish activist from major Israeli peace group Gush Shalom:

"Sharon's propaganda agents are pouring oil on the flames. Accusing all critics of his policy of being anti-Semites, they brand large communities with this mark. Many good people, who feel no hatred at all towards the Jews, but who detest the persecution of the Palestinians, are now called anti-Semites. Thus the sting is taken out of this word, giving it something approaching respectability"

You are among these good people, Mr. Baraka, definitely. Please, keep rubbing poems in faces of war mongers. Don't get down by false allegations of anti-Semitism. It's an old-fashion way of Israel warmongers to try to demoralize any criticism. Many people worldwide are now with you (including myself). Keep strong!

In solidarity,

Latuff

Your brother-in-arts from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.