MST Leader in the U.S.

Saturday, April 1, 2023

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Freinds of the MST

Rob Robinson receives the Oscar Romero Human Rights Award

Rob Robinson, long time activist for the homeless and a member of the national coordination of the Friends of the MST, received the Oscar Romero Human Rights Award from the University of Dayton. This award is given in the name of slain Salvadoran Archbishop and Saint Romero to human rights defenders. Rob, in addition to his work on behalf of the homeless, has been an internationalist in solidarity with both the Landless Workers Movement (MST) and the Brazilian Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB). Cassia Bechara, a member of the MST’s National Coordination and International Relations Collective, and Elisa Estronioli from MAB, were in Dayton OH to honor Rob.

Symposium at Romero Award Ceremony

Cassia Bechara meets with social movements in Chicago

Cassia Bechara met with the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, one of the principal organizations that created the framework for the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, which includes elected councils in each of Chicago’s 22 police districts. Cassia commented that the Left in Brazil has always had difficulty with public security and police brutality. Cassia thought that this initiative in community control of police could be a model for communities throughout Brazil.

Cassia also met with folks from Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) and the Chicago chapter of Black Lives Matter (BLM). In two spirited sessions, discussions around electoral politics and the Left, the similarities and differences in the Black history and current issues in the U.S. and Brazil and how internationalism could benefit both communities.