American Baltic Freedom Committee (Kalamazoo, Michigan) records

American Baltic Freedom Committee was founded in 1991 and located in Kalamazoo (address:1702 Fraternity Village Drive , Kalamazoo, MI 49007). The organization existed just a few months - from January to April 1991 because of its specific character. The aim of the organization was to prevent the USSR's aggression in the Baltic states and support Lithuania's, Latvia's and Estonia's independence declared in January of 1991. Historical events in Lithuania during January of 1991 and the threat to Latvia prompted the Latvian community in Kalamazoo to establish the American Baltic Freedom Committee. The most important accomplishment of the organization was evidently collecting signatures on the following petition to president George H.W.Bush: "Mr.President: While your atttention has beeen focused on the Persian Gulf, the Soviet Union has begun a gradual reoccupation of the Baltic States. Soviet tanks and soldiers have forcibly penetrated the capitals of Latvia and Lithuania, threatening to usurp the newly formed governments. We are outraged that this year's Nobel Pease Prize recipent is being permitted to repress newly founded democratic govenments and nations. We insist that you work to prevent Gorbachev from continuing his aggression in the Baltics: he must relinquish control of the Baltic government buildings and halt any further illegal actions against the Baltic republics." The organizaton's intentions were to give information to the Western world about recent events in the Baltics and the historical situation of Baltics - in order to get support from the West to the Baltic States. Probably, the organization also served as a clearinghouse for information about events in the Baltics during January 1991. The American Baltic Freedom Committee tried to encourage and persuade people - to retract the USSR's "most favored nation" status,- withdraw all economic support to the central government of the USSR, -continue economic aid to independent republics on an individual basis and raise these issues at the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation of Europe. The chairman of the organization was Valdis Muiznieks ( doctor, orthopedist and active political member of Lavians community in Kalamazoo). Other members of this organization were Girts Kaugurs, Daina Juozevicius (Lithuanian representative), Sarma Putele, Helmuts Butlevics, Vanda Dauksta, Ilze Smidchena, Alfreds Kajaks, Janis Sverns, Zigfrids Jirgens, Alfreds Minka, Imants Minka, Vilis Mikelsons, Gita Germute. Related organizations performed similar work in Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, and New York.