Pulling of Guevara film sparks protest

A Broward public library was the target of demonstrators after it rescheduled a film about revolutionary Che Guevara during Hispanic Heritage Month.

BY NATALIE P. McNEAL

nmcneal@herald.com

About 20 protesters picketed the Southwest Regional Library in Pembroke Pines on Monday, upset that it postponed showing a film about revolutionary Che Guevara during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The library planned to show The Motorcycle Diaries, a biographical film about a young Che Guevara, who traveled throughout South America with a friend and witnessed poverty and injustice.

Guevara, an Argentine who was slain in 1967, was a Cuban guerrilla leader and an icon of left-wing political ideals. During the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, Guevara advocated a nuclear showdown with the United States.

Library officials pulled the film after patrons complained about showing the film as part of a ''celebration'' for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Demonstrators chanting outside the library's entrance shouted ''Libertad!'' and carried signs that read ''Defend Free Speech,'' ''Shame'' and ''No to Censorship.'' Some wore T-shirts with Guevara's face emblazoned across the front.

`KOWTOWING'

''The library system is kowtowing to the extreme right-wing elements in this community,'' said Jack Lieberman, a South Florida activist.

The library rescheduled the film to be shown Nov. 7, outraging Guevara supporters.

The library says it did nothing wrong.

''We did not censor the film,'' said Eileen Cobb, associate director for public service, Broward County libraries division.

The library system has 49 copies of the movie.

REPLACEMENT FILM

In place of The Motorcycle Diaries, the library showed Valentín, a film about a 9-year-old boy who lives with his grandmother in Argentina.

The peaceful protest was supported by the Broward AntiWar Coalition, Bolivarian Circle of Miami and Miami for Peace.

Protesters called for patrons to write library staff and contact Broward County Commissioners.

Paul Lefrak, a librarian at the Fort Lauderdale branch, spent Monday evening protesting his employer's position.

''I am disappointed in the library for capitulating to political pressure,'' Lefrak said.