Commemorate and Celebrate the Struggle of Che Guevara and Heroic Popular Combatants in Latin America OCTOBER 7, 2005 At 6:30pm on Friday October 7th the Chilean Housing Coop in Vancouver was bustling with organizers from La Surda Latin American Collective and Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC). Delicious food was prepared, the room was decorated with Latin American solidarity posters, the sound system was set up, the tables each had a vase of flowers and all that was missing was the guests. But soon they too showed up, filling the room to the brim. Tables had to be moved out of the way and extra chairs had to be brought in to fit the 120 people who showed up throughout the night. Just over one month ago La Surda Latin American Collective approached Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) about co-organizing an event to commemorate and celebrate the lives of Comandante Che Guevara and other popular heroic combatants in Latin America. Last night, on Friday Oct 7th, only two days shy of the 38th anniversary of the death of Che Guevara, this great idea was brought to life. Co-MCs Claudio Ekdahl (La Surda) and Shannon Bundock (VCSC) opened the night by welcoming everyone. The first speaker was the coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba, Tamara Hansen, who said, “I’ve been told that you can cut a flower, but you cannot stop the spring from coming. That is why we are here tonight, because despite the fact that Che Guevara, our flower, was cut. We continue to grow like the spring in our struggle against imperialism, for social justice and for a more loving human being.” After Tamara spoke Chilean poet Oscar Villalobos was invited to the stage to read some moving poetry. He was followed by, Claudio Ekdahl who spoke on behalf of La Surda saying, “Tonight is a night for remembering our comrades who have given their lives for the cause of a more just and democratic society.” During the night there was also two short inspiring multimedia presentations, a film clip on Che Guevara and a colorful slide show on popular heroic combatants in Latin America. Nicaraguan guitarist Ramon Flores then took the stage to play some beautiful classic songs of resistance from Latin America. Later in the night Hugo Rojas, another Latin American guitarist, took the stage and had the whole crowd singing along with his well-known songs of struggle. After all of these exciting speakers, performers, and presentations, the food was finished, the tables were put away and the co-MCs wrapped up the evening and invited everyone to stay as the music was turned up for some Latin-style dancing!