from Militant (24/9/62)
William Worthy, foreign correspondent for the Baltimore Afro-American, was sentenced Sept. 17 in Miami, Florida, federal district court to three months in prison and nine additional months on probetion. At the trial last month Worthy was convicted of reentering the U.S., his native land, from Cuba without a passport. For visiting China as a journalist in defiance of the State Depart— ment travel ban, Worthy's passport was revoked in 1956. Worthy posted a $1,900 appeal bond with the Florida court and the Workers Defense League announced that it will carry an appeal up to the Supreme Court, if necessary, on grounds that citizens have the right to travel at their own risk without governmer.t prohib-— ition.
At a spirited open-air rally in New York City's Harlem the Saturday before Worthy's sentencing, a crowd of some 750 heard 20 leaders of the Negro comminity speak in his defense. These included Paul Zuber, attorney for the unglewood, N.J., movement; James Farmer, national director of C.O.R.E. 3 Percy Sutton, president of the New York N.A.A.C.P. branch; Alan Morrison, New York editor of Jet and Ebony; Alex Prempeh of the Black Nationalists; Daniel Watts, chairman of the Liberation Committee for Africa; and Richard Parrish treasurer of the Negro American Labor Council. Parrish served as chairman of the rally. Supporters included Black Muslim leader Ilalcolm X, AMS Bishop D. Ward Nichols, Rev. Milton Galamison, I ssie Davis and Ruby Dee.
At one point in the meeting, when donations for the defense were being given, poliw stopped the collectors, Worthy took the microphone and saids "You want to know where the enemy is? there it is in uniform. The F.B.1I. has tried to stop this rally. Uncle Toms have tried to stop it. But the polce can't push around up here like they do in Albany, Georgia." The collection continued and the police retreated. In his speech, Worthy drew cheers when he declared the revolution had wiped out racial discrimination in Cuba and pointed across the street to the Hotel Theresa where Fidel Castro had stayed in 1960. He said he was being persecuted because he told the truth about Cuba. He said this was the time for militancy and unity among bla& people and that he would fight his case from coast to coast.cccece SVP. NOWINENS FILE PETITIONS IN Naw YORK ELECTIONS from Militant (24/9/62)
New York, Sept. 2l: Winding up a six-week petition drive, the New York local of the Socialist Workers Party today filed 22,000 signatures with the secretary of State in Albany, N.Y., to put its candidates on the ballct in November's gubernatorial elections. Ney York State requires 12,000 signatures of registered voters from independent candidates seeking state posts. A minimum of 50 signatures must be obtained in each of the state's 61 counties, The S.W.P. excecded the minimum requirements by 10,000 signatures.
The slate of socialist candidates includes Richard Garza for Governor, Sylvia Weinstein for Lieutenant Governor, Carl Feingoli for United States Senator, Leroy licRae for Attorney General and Allen Taplin for Comptroller. Ali candidates will speak at a kick~off election rally Saturday night Sept. 22, at 116 University Place. Defense of the Cuban Revolution against the hysterical and slanderous campaign whipped up against it, by President Kennedy, Congress and the daily press will be one of the campaign issues highlighted at the meeting.