LATINOS DYING ON THE FRONT LINES: FOR WHAT? A Bilingual Public Forum

LATINOS DYING ON THE FRONT LINES: FOR WHAT? A Bilingual Public Forum featuring:

* Fernando Suarez del Solar, a Latino immigrant whose son was one of the first soldiers to be killed in Iraq

* Other speakers include Caitlin Funk, sister of Marine Stephan Funk, a conscientious objector who is serving a six-month sentence for unauthorized absence while resisting the Iraq war, Patricia Chase of the International A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and Gloria LaRiva of the International Action Center.

The forum took place at the San Francisco Women's Building on Sept. 19, 2003.

Marine Lance Corporal Jesus Alberto del Solar Navarro, Fernando's son, died in combat in Iraq on March 27, 2003. A native of Tijuana, Mexico, he immigrated with his family to California in the 1990's. His survivors include a wife and infant son. 

Of the 130,000 troops in Iraq, 35,000 to 40,000 of them are U.S. immigrants with green cards. For many, serving in the armed forces is a way to obtain U.S. citizenship. Del Solar Navarro was given U.S. citizenship posthumously. 

The public forum also helps build for the upcoming San Francisco anti-war rally and march on Sunday, September 28, at which a central demand will be, "Bring the Troops Home Now!" The San Francisco march, which assembles at Dolores Park at 12 noon and marches to Civic Center, will be one of hundreds of actions in over 40 countries that weekend to demand an end to colonial occupation.

Sponsored by the A.N.S.W.E.R. (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) Coalition. 
For more information, call 415-821-6545.

The attached streaming video is in three parts because of size restrictions.  Part two and three, on separate pages, will follow. These Real video files are best viewed on a high speed internet connection such as DSL or cable.   

Part one is 13min. 01 sec. (Caitlin Funk and all other speakers)

Part two is 12min. 01sec. and part three is 13min. 12sec.(Fernando Suarez del Solar).