Posted by Mike Hall to AFL-CIO NOW
Nearly 100 trade unionists and other worker justice activists marched outside
The demonstration was sponsored by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Transafrica Forum, the AFL-CIO and several other groups.
Members of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party have waged a violent and deadly national campaign of intimidation, with union members as major targets, to ensure he remains in power. Mugabe has ruled the country since 1980.
But in March, Mugabe failed to win re-election and was forced into a runoff election. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka told the crowd yesterday:
"On March 29 of this year, despite the threat of brutal retaliation, the workers and people of
Because of the escalating violence, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his followers boycotted the June run-off election. Voters were forced to the polls by Mugabe’s thugs and with no opposition candidate on the ballot, Mugabe declared himself the winner. International election observers condemned the elections.
The
Trumka told the crowd outside the embassy that until free and fair elections are held, imprisoned trade unionists and government opponents released and the government-sponsored violence ends:
"The AFL-CIO and the
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