Connecticut readers to honor newsmakers

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — “Today we march, tomorrow we vote” is the theme of this year’s celebration and presentation of People’s Weekly World “Newsmaker Awards” on the occasion of International Workers Day.

Held on the first Sunday of May each year, the event will take place on May 7 at 4:30 p.m. at the New Haven People’s Center, 37 Howe Street.

The Connecticut AFL-CIO will accept a Newsmaker Award for its role in unity building within the labor movement among unions of all federations, and for taking a groundbreaking stand against the war on Iraq.

The Winchester Citizens Ad Hoc Committee will accept the award for its ongoing leadership in the fight to save union manufacturing jobs in New Haven’s Newhallville community, after the announcement by US Repeating Arms that it would close despite a tax abatement agreement with the city that is tied to job retention.

For its leadership in the fight to stop privatization of Social Security and Medicare, the Connecticut Alliance of Retired Americans will also accept a Newsmaker Award.

Special recognition will be given to two former award recipients: Unidad Latina en Accion, a grassroots immigrant rights organization, for its contributions to building the new mass movement of immigrants for equality; and Community Organized for Responsible Development (CORD), for winning a Community Benefits Agreement with Yale New Haven Hospital, the first such agreement on the East Coast.

The program includes a multimedia presentation of “May Day Around the World,” a performance by the YCL Rap Group, children’s crafts and a homemade buffet.

Contributions will be accepted for the People’s Weekly World fund drive. For more information call (203) 624-8664.