From: rab@well.UUCP (Bob Bickford)
Newsgroups: alt.activism,soc.rights.human
Subject: helping out Alexander Sakharov
Date: 29 Nov 89 10:01:11 GMT

The following is excerpted with the permission of the posters from
the "Liberty" conference on the Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link (WELL)
in Sausalito, CA.
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Liberty Conference: Topic 100: "Trends towards Liberty"
Response #8: Bob Bickford (rab)  Tue, Nov 28, '89  (21:43)    15 lines

   Greta (gcb) noticed an item in the paper today about _ALEXANDER_SAKHAROV_
 being hassled by the Immigration people (INS), who say that he either is
 or should be a "ward of the state".  So she called him up and talked to
 him about it: he's not in the least interested in welfare or in being a
 "ward of the state"; he wants to have a job!  She identified herself as
 a representative of the Libertarian Party and offered to help out; he made
 it clear that he wants to remain absolutely neutral politically but that
 he would welcome any help we could give.  So, Greta called our state chair
 John Vernon and asked if he knew of any good immigration lawyers who are
 also LP members; John did and referred Greta to a Mr. Johnson.  Greta
 contacted him, and now the rest is up to Mr. Sakharov and Mr. Johnson.
 
Three cheers for quick action!  Yay Greta!
Response #10: Greta C. Bickford (gcb)  Tue, Nov 28, '89  (23:54)  16 lines
 Quote from him:
 
 "Censorship is censorship and Big Brother is Big Brother no matter
 what country.  I came to the U.S. to get away from censorship and Big
 Brothers.  I want to publish my books freely; the government wants my
 information but doesn't want it made public.  I tried to get my FBI
 file through the Freedom of Information Act but could not because it
 is classified."

 Just some of what he's been dealing with for the last 8 years.
 Now he can't get a job.  What he wants is the political refugee status
 he applied for (and was promised) when he first renounced his Russian
 citizenship in 1981 -- and he wants a green card so he can work and
 support his family.
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(Notes: Greta is my wife, and with me co-chairs the Marin County LP.
        Mr. Sakharov lives right here in Marin County, CA.)
--
  Robert Bickford        {apple,pacbell,hplabs,ucbvax}!well!rab
  rab@well.sf.ca.us      /-------------------------------------\
                         | Don't Blame Me: I Voted Libertarian |
                         \-------------------------------------/