Cairo United Front

By VVAW

Cairo, Illinois is a small town located at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and was formerly known for being the first stop on the underground railroad. Now, Cairo is know as Little Egypt; a place torn by racism and open warfare. Individual and institutional racism has been rampant in Cairo since the early 1900's, but in 1969, the day came when the black citizens of Cairo began to organize themselves into dealing with this racism. They decided that the best way to deal with its institutionalized economic base was an economic boycott, and in April, 1969, the black community began their non-violent boycott of Cairo businesses. The white community responded to this action with gunfire, and within the past four years, the people of Cairo have been the targets of over 200 nights of fire-fights. The local police and a white vigillante group (White Hats) have, since then, fired into the black community with machine-guns, automatic carbines, high-powered rifles, sub-machine guns, and shot-guns. The black community has continued to defend itself.

The mechanism of organization within Cairo is the United Front against racism, exploitation, and oppression. The Front was formed in 1969 and will be celebrating their anniversary on June 16th, the 4th Annual National Solidarity Day. For the past two years, VVAW/WSO has been involved in sponsoring supply convoys to Cairo, taking food, medical supplies, clothing, etc. to the black community. We will be in Cairo on the 16th to participate in the celebration and offer support to the struggle in Cairo.

Since 1969, the Unite Front has made sufficient progress. They are now in the process of obtaining 900 acres of land which will be used for collective farming so that the poor and black community will be able to support themselves. They are also trying to develop cooperatives and private business enterprises so that the community can be developed economically. The people of Cairo have their own housing projects and are erecting new homes so that the delapidated shacks in which so many blacks live will no longer be needed. The community is also establishing a liberation school which will provide the needed alternate educational system.

Racism is still prevalent in Cairo, but the community has succeeded in establishing concrete programs to combat their position of the oppressed. The Front needs support in order to continue their struggle. If you have donations of any sort, or if you want further information as to the activities in Cairo, contact:

The United Front
P.O. Box 544
Cairo, Illinois 62914.