BARRON BRINGS MUGABE TO CITY HALL

Hosted by the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, this was the first time since Nelson Mandela was received by Mayor David Dinkins that an African Head of State had a reception held in his honor at City Hall, followed by a press conference in the Council Chambers. This occasion was the inspiration of Councilman Charles Barron, and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Paul Washington, whom Barron calls his "Comrade in Struggle and Co-Council Member," brought it to fruition.

Upon their arrival at City Hall, President and Mrs. Mugabe were greeted by a large group of people welcoming them with their signs and banners carrying such messages as "Mugabe Is Right" and "Free the Land." They then entered the Red Room where Council Members, community activists and members of the clergy were able to greet them personally and hear Mugabe's informal statement.

Mugabe began by thanking the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus for inviting him. "I felt overjoyed, delighted indeed that we would have this get-together," he said.

He went on to explain that although Zimbabwe got its political freedom 22 years ago, "Economic freedom had not come to the people yet, mainly because the resources remained in the hands of the very people from whom we snatched ownership of our political freedom." He said that the sovereignty of a people is not expressed merely by being able to vote leaders into power, but by owning one's own resources. That's the struggle they have now waged and won.

Mugabe ended his informal remarks by extending once more the invitation he made in Harlem when his country first gained its liberty, 'Zimbabwe is free. Zimbabwe is home. Come home.'"

The reception and press conference enjoyed wide support in the City Council with 16 Members attending. Among them were Majority Leader Joel Rivera, Deputy Majority Leader Bill Perkins, Majority Whip Leroy Comrie and Co-Chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, Hiram Monserrate. Two white progressive Members, Bill DeBlasio and Oliver Koppell, and the first Asian Council Member, John Liu were present as well.

Barron's entire Brooklyn District Office Staff were there in the forefront looking very well turned out, as did his wife, Inez Barron, who he thanked, calling her "my closest friend and greatest supporter in all my struggles, one whom I love dearly and deeply."

The other guests in attendance were many and various. Viola Plummer, Omowale Clay and numerous members of the December 12^th Movement were there, as were Elombe Brath and others from the Patrice Lumumba Coalition. Also present were the Rev. Herbert Daughtry of the House of the Lord Church and Rev. Mark Taylor of the Church of the Open Door; Michael Warren, attorney in the "Central Park Jogger Case" and Dr. Delois Blakely who carries on the legacy of Queen Mother Moore. Members of the National Action Network and the Unity Party were present as well.

Before President Mugabe spoke, several Council Members spoke briefly, including Councilwoman Yvette Clarke, who pointed to the fact that this gathering was not only historic, but educational because most of us "only hear reports that come through various eyes and lenses about what takes place on the continent of Africa. This is an opportunity to get a point of view we don't often get. I'm here to listen and hopefully see some new horizons opening on the continent of Africa."

Then, with TV cameras rolling, radio stations recording and reporters from the mainstream press taking notes and then asking questions, Mugabe spoke for well over an hour, laying out the history of Zimbabwe's liberation, Britain's promises of land reform, and all the roadblocks the new country found in the way of its attempts to buy the land back from the white settlers, even though, as Mugabe stated, "Our ancestors were never paid for the land. No compensation was ever given."

And he explained that after trying for 2 decades to come to a workable financial agreement with Britain that would put the land of Zimbabwe back in the hands of its African people, they had been forced to take up arms, "not because we wanted to shed blood, not because we wanted to kill for the sake of killing" but because the settlers were waging an armed assault on them and they were forced to fight back using the same means.

It was greatly illuminating to hear what Mugabe had to say about the real situation of the white farmers who we hear on the news are heartlessly being thrown off their farms and left with nothing. He explained that there are many rich white farmers who owned hundreds of thousands of hectares of land, often spread out over multiple farms. "We have said to the farmers 'Remain with one farm - one man, one farm.' We have asked them, 'Out of your several farms, choose the one you want to remain with and the rest we will take.' But no, they want it all. And if they have it all, then what will the peasants have? Nothing."

He also said that they aren't forcing people to leave the country. "We tell them, 'If you want to go, fine. The gates are there. We can assist you to go to wherever you want.' But they are free to remain in the country as citizens on an equal basis, not as superiors."

When Mugabe concluded, there were rousing chants of "Whose land? - Our land!" "African land - African people!" And very emphatically, "Africa is not an extension of Europe!"

After hearing Mugabe speak, Councilman Kendall Stewart said that hearing a full explanation had changed his mind about a lot of things. Now he understands that "What Mugabe is doing is really just carrying out the policies that they had agreed on with England and America way back during the President Carter days. They agreed that when Zimbabwe got its independence they would have this land redistribution. But they did not fulfill that because they did not want equity and the people were suffering. I feel it is now justified because they've been waiting for justice for so long."

And Stewart said that though he hadn't originally planned to travel to Zimbabwe with other Council Members, "He gave me reason why I should go for myself and see what's happening to at least feel satisfied that there is just reason for doing what he's doing."

All the way around it was a tremendously valuable evening that provided thinking individuals with a real alternative to the usual press and media propaganda against Zimbabwe, and the persons who helped bring it about are certainly to be thanked.

For more information, please contact Donna Lamb at dlamb@gis.net.