Vinie Burrows

Vinie Burrows

Vinie Burrows is an actress, writer, socialist activist, and educator.

We Will Make Peace Prevail!

On March 28, 1982 the New World Review organized a gala luncheon "We Will Make Peace Prevail! Disarmament Over Confrontation, Life Over Death", at the Grand Ballroom, Hotel Roosevelt, New York City. Virtually all participants were identified as Communist Party USA.

Readings were given by Vinie Burrows and Sarah Cunningham. Vinie Burrows was on the Committee of Sponsors of the event.

Education

Vinie Burrows completed a B.A. in pre-law at NYU and received her M.A. in Performance Studies in 2002.

Acting career

Vinie Burrows began her acting career as a child actress in a production of Wisteria Trees directed by Joshua Logan on Broadway with Helen Hayes. Since then, she has been featured in over 5,000 performances on and off-Broadway, on television, and in films, as well as on the stages of theatre groups, universities, and other organizations around the world.

She has appeared onstage with Mary Martin, Claude Rains, Ossie Davis, James Earl Jones, Louis Gossett, and Earle Hyman. An active member of The Dramatists Guild, Vinie Burrows has gained honors in radio, film and television with appearances on As The World Turns, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Presents, and The Hallmark Hall Of Fame. She also hosted More Than Half the World, a weekly two-hour radio show in New York City for three years. Her solo productions include a repertoire of eight different one-woman shows including, Rose McClendon: Harlem's Gift to Broadway, Sister! Sister!, A Child is Born, Daughters of the Sun, and Song of Lowino.

Honors and activism

Vinie Burrows has been the recipient of various honors awards throughout her performing career including, the Eugene McDermott Award of the Council for the Arts (Massachusettes Institute of Technology, 2002), an Emmy nomination in 1996 for her narration of The Amistad Revolt, a Living Legend Award for a Lifetime of Excellence of in Theatre (National Black Theatre Festival, 1995), and the Paul Robeson Award from the Actors' Equity Association.

Burrows has been adjunct professor at St. Peter's College and Sarah Lawrence College, a lecturer at The New School for Social Research and theater director at Franklin and Marshall College. Sheis the Permanent Representative for the Women's International Democratic Federation, a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. She is also Chair Emeritus of the NGO Committee on Southern Africa. In 1990, the Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression gave Vinie their Human Rights Award and in 1992, the NYC Chapter of the National Organization for Women honored her with their Susan B Anthony Award.

Robeson event sponsors

On May 31 1998 the Peoples Weekly World held a Paul Robeson birth centennial celebration in New York, at the Henry Winston Auditorium.

Speakers included Gus Hall, chairman of the Communist Party USA and Roger Green of the NY State Assembly.

Sponsors of the event included poet Amina Baraka, Grace T. Bassett, actress Vinie Burrows, former Peoples Voice editor Marvel Cooke, Councilmember Tom Duane, Attorney Rob Ellis, Assemblymember Roger Green, Gus Hall, Councilmember Bill Perkins, labor unionist Bobbie Rabinowitz, actor John Randolph, Pete Robinson, poet Sonia Sanchez, singer Pete Seeger, labor unionist Chris Silvera, PWW editor Tim Wheeler, New York City Coalition of Black Trade Unionists president Jim Webb and labor unionist Ira Williams.

Communist "Manifestivity"

On October 30 and 31, 1998 the Brecht Forum presented the "Communist Manifestivity to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Communist Manifesto" at Cooper Union's Great Hall, New York.

Individual endorsers of the event included Vinie Burrows.

Presentations/performances included a dramatic reading from the Communist Manifesto by Amiri Baraka, Vinie Burrows, Sandra Maria Esteves, Tony Kushner, Louis Reyes Rivera and Wallace Shawn

WIDF

In May 2007, under the theme “Women of the World: a vital force against neoliberal globalization, terrorism and imperialist wars; for equality, social and economic justice and for peace,” more than 1,000 women representing organizations from five continents met in Caracas, Venezuela, from April 9 through 14. They were joined by thousands of Venezuelan women who hosted the 14th Congress of the Women’s International Democratic Federation.

Many women went from the U.S. The largest delegation was organized by African-American artist Vinie Burrows, who is also the WDIF representative to the U.N., and the National Women’s Fightback Network of the International Action Center, an affiliate of the WIDF.

The Burrows delegation included representatives of the Granny Peace Brigade and the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom. The NWFN delegation included Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian writer and director of Playgrounds for Palestine; Brenda Stokely and Anna Wilson from the labor sector; Patricia Dahl, who works in solidarity with Colombia; Nellie Hester Bailey, co-founder and director of the Harlem Tenants Council; Sara Ann Mokuria, LeiLani Dowell, Liza Green, Jill Hill, Kris Hamel, Minnie Bruce Pratt, all from the NWFN.

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal

In 2008 Vinie Burrows, U.N. Representatie, Women's International Democratic Federation, New York signed a statement circulated by the Partisan Defense Committee calling for the release of convicted “cop-killer” Mumia Abu-Jamal.

WIDF affiliated United States "Regional Workshops"

Circa 2007 these people were members of the US "Regional Workshop" of the former Soviet front Women's International Democratic Federation;

• Women for Racial and Economic Equality, President: Vinie Burrows

• Mujeres Radicales, Vinie Burrows, Margo Nikitas, Presidenta – Emily Woo Yamasaki

• National Committee of Women for Democratic Iran

• Internacional Action Center, Berta Joubert Ceci – Philadelphia

• Goldstar Mother, Nydia Velasquez - "Congressista"

• Grandmothers Against the War. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick - Presidente

• Granny Peace Brigade, Howard Dean - Presidente, Lillian Ruth Rydell, Elaine Johnson

• IAC-NWFN, Joan Wile - Fundadora e Diretora

• Madre, Susan Abulhwa, Anna Wilson

• Radical Women / líder comunitaria Comunidad de Harlem, Nellie Gray Hester

• University of California, Digna Sanchez- Membra

• WEDO, Kathy Engel Fundadora

• Women of Color Resource Center in CA, Betty Maloney - Membra

• EEUU, Angela Davis - History of Consciousness Dep Humanities Division

• African American Poets, Judith LeBlanc

• Granny Peace Brigade, Monica Sofia Somocurcio

• Radical Women, Betty Maloney

• Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - WILPF, Carol Price

• Women's Studies Prgrm, Jenny Heinz

• Coalición anti-guerra A.N.S.W.E.R., Gloria La Riva

• Women for Racial and Economic Equality, Tresa Martinez

• Community activist; active in the struggle for Puerto Rican independence, Wilma Esther Reveron Collazo

• Community activist lawyer in El Barrio;; active in immigration issues, Gloria Eneida Quinones - member Women for Racial and Economic Equality

• International President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom , Regina Birchem

• LUZ DE LAS NIEVES AYRESS MORENO, Nieves Ayress - nacionalidad chilena

Open Letter to Obama on Iran

In 2008 Vinie Burrows of Women's International Democratic Federation, New York signed an online petition “A Open Letter to Barack Obama on Iran”.

Independent Progressive Politics Network

In 2009 Vinnie Burrows served on the Advisory Committee of the Independent Progressive Politics Network.

Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign

In 2012 Vinie Burrows served on the Board of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign.

Maine tour

In early 2010 Burrows toured Maine.

The renowned actress and political activist honors Martin Luther King and those struggling against racial oppression, bringing a message of support for the Cuban 5 political prisoners.

• Tuesday, January 18, Farmington, Nordica Auditorium, Merrill Hall, University of Maine, 7 p.m.: presentation of "Walk Together Children," a program drawing upon slave narratives and the works of Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, Ishmael Reed, and others.

• Wednesday, January 19, Portland, Glickman Library (seventh floor), University of Southern Maine, 314 Forest Ave, 7 p.m.: reception marking the exhibition (on fifth floor) of prison paintings by Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban 5 political prisoners. Vinie Burrows will speak, dedicating the evening to the late Rev. Lucius Walker of Pastors for Peace. She calls for Antonio's freedom and that of four other Cuban men serving unjust sentences in U.S. prisons.

Ms. Burrows has performed on and off Broadway, on radio and television. "A magnificent performer" (The NY Times); "one of the reigning divas of the Black theater" (drama critic Clive Barnes).

At the United Nations, Ms. Burrows serves as Permanent Representative for the Women's International Democratic Federation. Her causes have included labor and women's rights, racial justice, and universal health care. "The future of the planet rests on people coming together to save the earth and all living things," she wrote recently; "It is five minutes to midnight. Come together, brothers and sisters".

Ms. Burrows' appearances in Maine are arranged by the Maine Peace Council and Let Cuba Live.

Alfred L. Marder 90th Birthday Celebration

The March 2012 Host Committee, in honor of Connecticut Communist Party USA member Alfred Marder's 90th Birthday Celebration, held at the New Haven People's Center consisted of;

Hon. Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Toni Harp, Sen. Martin Looney, Rep. Juan Candelaria, Rep. Patricia Dillon, Rep. Toni Edmonds Walker, Rep. Gary Holder-Winfield, Rep. Roland Lemar, Ald. Jorge Perez, President, New Haven Board of Aldermen, Ambassador Sylvester Rowe, Mohammed Barrie, Vinie Burrows, Mary Compton, Joelle Fishman, Craig Gauthier, Emanuel Gomez, Hilda Kilpatrick, Henry Lowendorf, Kenneth Marder, Rev. Scott Marks,William Morico, John Olsen, Quentin Snediker, Jarvis Tyner, Andrea van den Heever, Susan Yolen

A statement issued on the committee's behalf read;

Dear Friends and Family of Al Marder,

We are excited to invite you to celebrate the 90th birthday of Al Marder and to recognize his many contributions, international and local, toward world peace, justice and equality.

Please join us in this joyous occasion on Sunday, March 18, at 3:00 pm at the New Haven Peoples Center, 37 Howe Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511.

Better World Award, 2013

Peace march

On Apr. 26 2015, Jackie Lavalle, joined a a peaceful march against the most violent instruments of war ever created by humanity: nuclear weapons. The demonstration was sponsored by Peace and Planet: Mobilization for a Nuclear-Free, Peaceful, Just & Sustainable World. She interviewed several people.

Nearly 8,000 thousand activists assembled at Union Squares Park's north side on Broadway at E 17th St. to listen to speakers and then marched up Third Ave. to the United Nations to deliver eight million signatures.

Brooks Kelly, who was balancing his young daughter on his shoulders as he marched with a delegation from the U.S. Peace Council said, "I'm here for my children and their future."

Diane Beeny from a New Jersey group called "The Hiroshima/Nagasaki Remembrance Committee." She was wearing a vintage t-shirt distributed at the June 12, 1982 event. "I have been active in the anti-nuclear movement a long time," she said with obvious pride, adding, "For a peaceful, just and sustainable world we also need to fight against racism and economic inequality."

As the marchers assembled for their parade to the United Nations I spotted Vinie Burrows, the award-winning Broadway actress and women's activist, helping her peace associates hold up a huge banner. Burrows, who has fought innumerable battles for social justice, said it was "wonderful to be in solidarity with our Japanese brothers and sisters demanding no more war, no more nuclear weapons which result in human catastrophe like Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

A UE worker, Gary DeLuke from Local 170 in West Virginia, felt very strongly about his presence at the march:

"I am here to connect with my fellow workers around the world-to find common ground with them-peace is important for working people because war means workers are fighting workers-war is very rarely in their interest."

Jarvis Tyner, New York District chair of the CPUSA was standing tall throughout the march, greeting demonstrators and observing the dynamics of this international outpouring for peace and against nuclear weapons. Tyner, who is originally from Philadelphia and is a former union activist for the Teamsters, has just completed a pamphlet, "Black Lives Matter." For copies: NY@cpusa.org.

He said: "The ultimate weapon of terrorism is nuclear weapons. The Obama administration is fighting nuclear terrorism by negotiating with Iran." He asked, "So, when are we-the United States-going to take the necessary steps to rid ourselves of nuclear weapons? How are you going to eliminate terrorism if we don't eliminate nuclear weapons?"

Winston Unity Center

The Communist Party USA will reach its centennial anniversary in 2019, but comrades and friends in New York got a head start in 2015. A program featuring song, poetry and a dramatic presentation at its offices on 23rd Street drew a diverse and engaged crowd of supporters.

The New York District marked the occasion by naming the office the Winston Unity Center in honor of the Party's late National Chair Henry Winston. Current New York State Chair Jarvis Tyner emphasized in his remarks the importance of Winston's lifetime contributions and work for the Party and for the country generally.

The program included musical presentations by guitarist/vocalists David Laibman and Ricky Eisenberg, poetry by Chris Butters, presentations by Vinie Burrows and fast food activist Rynetha Benjnet, a dramatic reading of a 1949 speech of NY Communist City Council member Vito Marcantonio, as well as the smooth sounds of DJ Poliarity.

The day had additional significance due the presence a distinguished international guest, Mujahidul Islam Salim, the President of the Communist Party of Bangladesh.

Expel South Africa From the UN

The Campaign for One Million Voices to Expel South Africa From the UN was a Communist Party USA front created in about 1974. The front was launched to speak on South Africa and its membership in the United Nations. They issued an undated brochure entitled "We Who Support Human Rights... DEMAND the expulsion of South Africa from the UN!" The brochure was printed by the CPUSA print shop "Prompt Press", printing bug number 209.

Sponsors included Vinie Burrows.

US Nairobi Women's Coalition

Lee O'Gorman with Alva Buxenbaum, Vinie Burrows and Angela Davis and Briggette Kubish.