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<i>We at CPE honor and celebrate the life of Bill Sorro, a comrade
that will truly be missed. <br><br>
</i></font><font size=6><b>Bill Sorro, Presente!<br>
</b></font><font size=3>San Francisco has lost a precious treasure. Not
the San Francisco of downtown business interests, or of the dot-com
craze, or of the waves of "young urban professionals" moving
into the city's overpriced live-work lofts or condominiums. No, we're
talking of the San Francisco struggling, on a day-to-day basis, to
maintain its very existence: of Pilipino families and elderly in South of
Market, of African American residents in the Fillmore, of tenants in SRO
hotels, and of immigrant Latina/o workers in the Mission. In the early
morning hours of Monday, August 27th, this San Francisco lost veteran
activist Bill Sorro.<br><br>
Bill passionately fought for this "other" San Francisco.<br>
Born in 1939, Bill Sorro grew up in San Francisco's working class and
predominantly African American Fillmore District, long before working
class folk were pushed out by Justin Herman's notorious redevelopment
schemes. Coming from a family that suffered as a result of
anti-miscegenation laws [his Pilipino father was arrested and jailed for
marrying a white woman], Bill consistently sought to connect the struggle
against class exploitation to that of racial oppression.<br>
Nowadays people in progressive circles often discuss ways to decrease
ones footprint in the world; it can truthfully be said, however, that
Bill Sorro left a tremendous footprint in peoples' lives and in their
collective struggles.<br><br>
Recently, he became an inspirational anchor for a growing housing justice
movement in San Francisco, from the Mission Anti-displacement Coalition
to the South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN).<br><br>
Compaņero Bill, however, leaves a much deeper and longer legacy: most
obviously, for Pilipinos (as a leader of the famed International Hotel
struggle, as a member of the Kalayaan Collective and, later, of KDP-the
Union of Democratic Pilipinos, as a founder of the Manilatown Heritage
Foundation, and as mentor for countless Pilipino youth), but equally for
communities of color in general, for the working class in particular (as
a long-time union activist and committed socialist), and ultimately for
all that suffer and struggle against the indignities of oppression and
exploitation ... whether it be here in the belly of the beast or across
the globe. Standing in solidarity with anyone fighting for justice, Bill
embodied the often-quoted, but rarely lived, notion that the essence of
any true revolutionary is a profound love for the people! And, man, Bill
loved the people! Right on, brother! All Power to the People!<br><br>
He stands in that long tradition of individuals like Philip Vera Cruz,
Paul Robeson, Dolores Huerta, and many others who made enormous
contributions to history. But Bill made history by believing in and
nurturing the leadership of others, by supporting the insights and
wisdom, the creativity and resourcefulness of everyday people. He
believed power truly existed in the people themselves; they need not look
outwards for salvation, only into the mirror. Bill made societies most
discarded people-the elderly, the homeless, the immigrant, queer and
transgendered people, individuals with substance abuse issues, youth of
color-count and believe in themselves.<br><br>
Bill leaves behind a tight knit family-his wife Giuliana, who he met on
the 2nd Venceremos Brigade to Cuba and subsequently married at the
I-Hotel, and children Desu, Daphne, Danae, Django, Giulio, Joachin, and
Jordan-as well as one that expands to include literally hundreds of
community activists and friends, all who feel a part of the Sorro family.
This broader family-one that includes many who may never have even met
him-continue to organize and fight to realize Bill's dream: a world in
which people matter more than profit and property. And we collectively
dedicate ourselves to fight for that future described in Bill's favorite
song: Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free."<br>
<b>By<br>
Jason Ferreira, Assistant Professor, College of Ethnic Studies, San
Francisco State University; and<br><br>
Eric Quezada, Mission Anti-Displacement Coalition, and Executive
Director, Dolores Street Community Services.<br><br>
<br>
</b></font><pre>--
</pre><font size=3><b>The Center for Political Education: <i> Dedicated
to building strong movements and the left through education, analysis,
theory, dialogue and activism<br><br>
</i></b>522 Valencia<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 431-1918<br>
center@politicaleducation.org<br>
<a href="http://www.politicaleducation.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.politicaleducation.org<br><br>
<br><br>
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<font size=3 color="#FF0000">Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
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