Labor activist Al Iromi Smith buried with honors

An early start to a long day and an unpleasant task,
burying a slain union brother. Photo by José F. Ponce

Labor activist Al Iromi Smith buried, honored

Seven hours of observances began at the SUNTRACS union hall in
Cativa, where Smith's body had lain in state. Photo by José F. Ponce

Family, friends, neighbors and comrades paid
their respects. Photo by José F. Ponce

From the union hall, Smith's body was borne through the La Feria neighborhood, where on the day after Smith was shot in the back and killed by a cop, police twice raided his mother's house, and when they came back a third time they got a furious reception, first with rocks and bottles, then with sniper fire that wounded four officers. Then the body was taken to the Colon branch of the University of Panama, where Smith, a construction worker by day, was a math major by night. At the university these women, mostly colleagues of Smith's widow, who works in the pharmacy in the hospital at the entrance to which Smith was shot and killed, paid their respects. Because Smith's slaying and police actions against the subsequent disturbances involved attacks on hospitals and health clinics, Panama's health care workers' unions registered their bitter protests with the government through a series of public proclamations and a call for a day of protests against police repression to be held on March 6. Photo by José F. Ponce

Inside, funeral rites were held with the radical priest Conrado Sanjur presiding. SUNTRACS construction workers' union leader Genaro López gave one of the eulogies. Photo by José F. Ponce

The family and friends were distraught. Photo by José F. Ponce

Photo by FRENADESO

Mourners, including members of the FUAR-29 campus radical group and the SUNTRACS construction workers' union, to both of which Smith belonged, filed out of the university, bearing Smith's coffin. Photo by José F. Ponce

Large crowds gathered on the streets of Colon City as Smith's
body was borne through the streets. Photo by FRENADESO

Another large crowd gathered for Smith's burial. Photo by José F. Ponce

And before I'll be a slave
I'll be buried in my grave
And go home to my Lord
And be free...