condensed from ‘The Militant'*
300 people jammed into the Militant Labor Forum Hall on May 27th to attend a memorial meeting for Leo Bernard, the Detroit sodalist who was shot down by a fanatical anti-comminist. The meeting was sponsored by the Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialist Alliance. The speakers list and the audience itself represented the broadest act of left-wing unity that has been achieved (in America) for more than three decades, This was also true of the messages that poured into the meeting. All of the Speakers were agreed that the Detroit shooting was not simply the act of a deranged individual, but a product of the anti-commmnist poison pumped into American society over the years. The unprecedented presence on the platform of the Cormiunist and Socialist Workers parties, along with a wide range of other tendencies, was clearly a source of great inspiration to the audience. Speaking for the New York State Communist Party, Timothy Wheeler was given an ovation when he declared that Leo Bernard was "com itted to the very highest dream of mankind, which is socialis m . And it is because he was comsitted to that dream that I count Leo Bernard as wy comrade", Farrell Dobbs, national secretary of the SWP, told the gatherings: "On behalf of the Socialist Workers rarty, I wish to address myself first to the guest speakers and those of you in the audience who are not members of our organisation. We deeply appreciate your presence here tonight. In simple human terms, your act of solidarity gives us comfort and lends us encouragement at a time of grief and a time of trial." Other spea':ers at the meeting were from Students for a Democratic Socigty; national field secretary of the Student icace Union; Canadian Leazue for Socialist Action; a Venver civil liberties attorney; editor of 'Liberation'; A.J. juste; W.5.B. DuBois Clubs; Puerto Rican Pro~Independence } ovement; editor of tue 'National Guardian'. Similar meeting took place in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Berkeley Sleveland and Detroit. Messages of condolence were received from many people, among them were Herbert Aptheker(director of the American Institute for jarxist Studies) ; Isaac Deutscher, James P.Cannon, Stokely Carmichael(chairman of SNCC, Bertrand Russell and Betty Shabazz(widow of lalcoln X), Jan Garrett, Wayne County chairman of the SWP, is now recuperating at the home of his parents. He is in a body cast from his waist to his toes and will require a great deal of care for a prolonged period of tine, The other victim, YSA member “alter sraham, is still listed in serious condition at Receiving Hospital, He has already undergone several operations and it is not known when he will be released from the hospital, A preliminary hearing on Waniolek, the man arrested for the murder, was adjourned until June 8th when the sanity couwnission will issue its report on whether the defendent can legally be tried for iurder, An emergency fund nas been set up with two Wayne State Un.versity faculty members serving as co-chairmen.. Donations should be sent to: Emergency liedical Fund for Bernard, Garrett and Graham, c/o, inzlish Dept.. Wayne State thiversity, Detroit, Michigan, 48202. *'The hilitant' is sesocisted with the Socialist Workers Party, It appears weekly, eacept during July and August, and is invaluable for its cov-rage of the left movements in America, lost issues carry up-to-.. the-minute reports on the anti-war Cemonstrations and the negro struggle. It can be obtained from: 873, Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10003, U.S.A. or from Pioneer Book Service, 8, Toynbee St., London E.l, a three subscription costs 9/~ post paide