No Soviet lawyer will defend him. polsky. his wife Olga. and his daughter I am appalled. Where is the justice Irina have been waiting for permission and morality? The Soviet Union proto emigrate to the State of Israel. Tar- claims that justice is served in its ponopolsky was fired from his job as a litical system where all people are research chemist after his family ap- equal. But. Yuri Tarnopolsky is being plied for an exit visa in 1979. In re- sacrificed at a trial where he is being sponse to this affront to his profes- treated as a secondclass citizen. where sional standing in the scientific com- the verdict is in before the trial begins. munity and out of frustration. he The Tarnoposky family is one of an began a hunger strike on October 1. estimated 10.000 refusenik families 1982. to protest the Soviet authorities painstakingly awaiting exit visas. denial of his emigration visa to Israel. Normal lives are transformed into a He began his fast symbolically follow- life of great expectations. hopes. and ing the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur. despair. The refuseniks need to know the traditional holy day of fasting for that their torment is not a senseless the atonement of sins. battle. As Members of Congress. it is This hunger strike failed to per- important that we relentlessly mainsuade Soviet officials to grant him and tain constant and consistent pressure his family permission to emigrate. He on Soviet officials to allow Soviet Jews was forced to end his 40day hunger to pursue their human rights. to strike when his health began to dete- return to their homeland Israel. to be riorate and when he began to suffer a reunited with relatives. or to be alloss of sight in his right eye. Ironical- lowed to live in peace as Jews in the ly. the end of his hunger strike.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas visa