For 16 years the Costa Rican government persecuted radical labor leader Orlando Barrantes (in a blue shirt, first raised, center of photo) with trumped-up charges pertaining to his political and union activities. In August, they threw in the towel and dropped all charges.
This is a massive victory and a tribute to the steadfast struggle waged by Barrantes’ defense committee and many other groups including the Committee for Revolutionary International Regroupment (CRIR). In the U.S., the Freedom Socialist Party organized to get the AFL-CIO and the Washington State Labor Council to send letters of support.
Orlando said upon his release, “The true Trotskyist never gives up, never bows down and never sells out! … Trotskyists do not surrender!”
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