Open Letter to the Progressive Movement

IAC ANNOUNCEMENT:


Open Letter to the Progressive Movement
'Support the South Central Farmers'

-Join the demonstrations at the Mayor's Mansion Thursday, March 9 at 7PM
and at City Hall Friday, March 10 at 9AM.


Hello friends in struggle:

This is an emergency appeal to long-time activists dedicated to building
economic, environmental and social justice. Given our sincere yearning to stop
injustice, especially against those most victimized in our society we must act
regarding this pressing issue.

On Thursday, March 9th at 7PM there will be a protest at the mayor's mansion in
support of the South Central Farmers who have been served with an eviction
notice demanding they vacate their land this week. Due to the urgency of the
situation it is imperative that progressive organizations show their solidarity. The
farmers have pledged not to leave. This letter will be followed up with a phone
call today or tomorrow to discuss your organization's possible participation.

As you probably know, 350 families in South Central Los Angeles have been
sustaining themselves with a 14-acre community farm. They have had the legal
right to work on this land for 13 years, until now - due to an illegal eviction by the
city in favor of developer Ralph Horowitz. The city had allowed this South LA
community to develop this land into a productive farm beginning in 1992. About
10 years later the city secretly decided to sell it to Horowitz for little over 5 million
dollars in a back-room deal that was not sanctioned by a required public hearing.
Horowitz is now demanding $25 million for the property - an amount far out of
reach for the farmers.

There are defining times when all progressive people and organizations must
come together in a real, concrete way to say no to attacks on poor and working
people and build solidarity especially with the most oppressed in our society.

Friends, the struggle of the South Central Farmers, which already has national
and international support, encompasses the struggles against war, poverty,
racism, injustice and environmental devastation.

Building solidarity with these families is tantamount to building multi-national unity
in Los Angeles and therefore strengthening our movement for social justice.

So, please consider yourself or your organization's participation this Thursday at 7PM at the
Mayor's mansion to stop the eviction of 350 families who depend on the land for
their sustenance.


The mansion is located at:

The Getty House @ Windsor Square
605 S. Irving blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90005
8 blocks west of Western (off Wilshire)


This is an opportunity to build greater unity and strength for the movement here
in Los Angeles that will have repercussions nationwide.

Also, please join the South Central Farmers on Friday, March 10th at Los Angeles City Hall for a demonstration at 9 AM.

You can contact the South Central Farmers at their website at: www.southcentralfarmers.com.


In Struggle,



Ed Asner

Casey Kasem

Ron Kovic

John Parker, International Action Center

Jamie Kim, Korean Americans for Peace Coalition*

*Korean Americans for Peace (KAP) member organizations
include Korea Democratic Labor Party Support Committee,
Korea Truth Commission/LA, Korean American National
Coordinating Council, Koreatown Immigrant Workers
Alliance, Mindullae, Minjok Tongshin, One Korean LA Forum
and Pan Korean Alliance for Reunification/LA Chapter

Lawrence Reyes, Puerto Rican Alliance

Chito Quijano, BAYAN-USA