‘solidarity Sunday,’ ‘freedom March’ and Rally for Soviet Jews, Salute 25th Anniversary of Israel–a

As many as 100,000 people are expected to participate in “Solidarity Sunday,” a “Freedom March” and rally on May 6 to demand that the Soviet government cease harassing its Jewish citizens and that it release Jewish “prisoners of conscience” who have been sent to jail because of their desire to emigrate to Israel. The estimate of attendance was made here today by Stanley H. Lowell, chairman of the Greater New York Conference of Soviet Jewry, sponsor of the event.

Lowell announced that the rally would be addressed by New York’s two Senators, Jacob K. Javits and James L. Buckley. He said the march would begin at noon, starting at 72nd St. and Fifth Ave in Manhattan and ending at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across from the United Nations.

On the evening of May 6, New Yorkers will, salute Israel’s 25th anniversary at what was described as a “Gala Observance” at Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center. Rabbi Israel Miller, president of the American Zionist Federation and chairman of its Israel Anniversary Committee, announced today that the principal speaker will be Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, Israel’s newly appointed envoy to the United States. He said the occasion would be Dinitz’s first public appearance in New York City. David Frost, the British television personality, will serve as master of ceremonies. Fred Richmond, a City Councilman from Brooklyn, will be chairman.

In announcing “Solidarity Sunday” for Soviet Jews, Lowell observed that reports of the suspension of the Soviet education tax on emigres “at best means that we are back to where we were in Aug. 1972” when the tax was first promulgated. He added: “We have seen similar ploys by the Soviets in the past, to achieve particular ends–in this case to deceive the American public and erode support in Congress for the Jackson Vanik bills that would deny most favored nation status to any country that denies its citizens the right to emigrate.”