The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-04-30
BERKMAN TO COON HUNGER STRIKE
UNLESS RELEASED BY MAY 8TH

against the brutal and inhuman treat
ment which the Commissioner of I'm
migration, Mrs. Anna G. M. Filling
hast, and the Secretary of Labor
William N. Doak, have given her, de-
mands the utmost intensification Of
our efforts. Edith Berkman is en-
dangered by the tuberculosis she has
contracted because of her imprison-
ment by the immigration authorities
''The workers must unite en- masse
to force her freedom. The defense
of Edith Berkman's life is the de-
Tense of the life of every militant
spokesman of the working class
it is the defense OF the revolution
AIRY trade union movement, which
MIR. Doak, representing the Depart
ment of labor, is trying to outlaw,
of the right of workers to organize
and strike. The International Labor
Defense calls upon all workers to
protest, to demonstrate, to DE-
MAND EDITH BERKMAN'S I'M
MEDIATE UNCONDITIONAL RE-
LEASE"
Following is Edith Berkman's per-
sonal declaration protesting againsi
illegal Imprisonment by the immigra-
ton authorities, sent by mail tc
Secretary of Labor Doak:
II hereby declare that as protest
against my illegal imprisonment,
will go on a hunger strike on May
9th, and carry on this hunger strike
until I am Internationally released
II am forced to this drastic action
because, as a result of my long deten-
ton under bad conditions in the East
Boston Immigration Station, I have
contracted tuberculosis, and am now
lying i'll at the Massachusetts, Memo
rial Hospital, 80 East Concord Street
Boston. My recovery is impossible
under prison conditions. Freedom
from Worry-a necessary requisite II
treatment for tuberculosis impos-
sible in my present situation. Since
Secretary of Labor Doak is anxious
to get rid Of militant working class
organizers by hook or crook he viii
kill them if he can't deport them.
'The Federal Court of Appeals has
refused to let me out on bail. The
hearing Oh my case was held II
Boston on April 18th, and no decision
was rendered.
''I charge Secretary of Labor Doak
and immigration Commissioners TILL
inghast with illegally holding me FOL
deportation 1t is well known that
according to the Russian-P Polish peace
treaty of 1921 persons who left Po-
land before 1921, and who failed te
apply for Polish citizenship, Cannot
be considered as Polish citizens By
the Polish authorities, and a Polish
passport is denied them" Therefore
such persons cannot be deported
This ruling applies to me, because ]
entered the United States legally ir
January, 1921, and have never ap-
piled for Polish citizenship, Although
Secretary Doak has had to release
zawadski in 1881 and Sink in 1882
because they were in this category
he continues to keep me imprisoned,
Secretary of Labor Doak, Of the
Board Of Immigration, agent of the
bosses and the United States capital
list government, is striving to stamp
out the rising tide of militancy of
the oppressed and prosecuted masses
in the United States, through mass
arrests, persecution and deportation.
'The working class in the United
States will not permit itself to be
robbed OF its militant fighters-wiIl
not permit the weakening of the rev.
dictionary unions OF the Trade Union
Unity League through Imprisonment
and deportation of its organizers.
The American Negro and white work
ers as well as the foreign born will
fight against these vicious actions OF
the capitalist government and their
agents.
y am fully confident that my
hunger strike, demanding my inlme-
date release, win be endorsed by
every worker, workers organization
and syrnpathizer. I call upon all
workers and syrnpathizers to send
protest kilograms to Doak, Hoover
and Tillinghast, and to elect delega-
tons to go to Washington to demand
the IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF