San Francisco ANSWER office suffers
major fire damage. Your support needed!
The following message was originally circulated by the ANSWER
chapter in San Francisco. We urge our supporters all across the
country to make an urgently-needed donation to help recover from the
fire.
Dear Friends and Supporters of the ANSWER Coalition,
An early morning fire on Thursday, Sept. 14 caused massive damage
to our offices on Mission Street. It appears that the fire started in
the lot next to our building, turned into a two-alarm blaze, and took
fire-fighters more than three hours to fully extinguish. Thanks to
their skill and courageous action our building was not completely
destroyed. But it will take at least several months to restore it to
use. We are awaiting an investigation and assessment of what if any of
the contents – our several-thousand-book library, a very large
collection of historical materials, computers and other office
equipment, etc.– are salvageable.
This disaster occurred just as we were in the midst of
reconstructing and refurbishing the building, painting the main
meeting room, installing a new ramp, doors and entryway for disabled
persons, redoing the storefront windows and the marquee.
Multiple organizations are now using our office for activities and
we were about to announce a new name for the building: the Mission
Liberation Center. That will of course have to be put on hold.
The loss of the use of our building for an extended period of time
creates a serious problem for carrying out our work, but we have no
intention of being sidelined. From opposing the blockade of Cuba and
providing critically needed humanitarian aid, to support for the many
labor struggles taking place from coast-to-coast, to resisting the
U.S. war drive against Russia and China, to fighting toxic racism in
the Bayview, and much more, ANSWER will continue our work on vital
international, national and local issues.
We are asking everyone who values our work to express your
solidarity at this time of greatest need. While many of the costs of
repair will be covered by insurance, not everything will. If you are
able to help with a donation, you can make a tax-deductible donation to the Progress Unity
Fund.
Thank you in advance for your solidarity,
Richard Becker Western Region Coordinator, ANSWER Coalition
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