FREEDOM FOR THE FIVE POLITICAL PRISONERS OF THE EMPIRE

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5 Days for the Cuban 5 in Washington D.C.

 Nuria BaRbosa León

logoBrick by brick the mainstream media wall of silence surrounding the case of the Cuban Five is coming down. Alicia Jrapko, coordinator of the International Committee for the Release of the Cuban Five told Cubadebate: "We have managed to break through the mainstream media a bit. Univisión had impartial coverage for the first time."

Demonstrators in front of the White House.
Demonstrators in front of
the White House.

The Friday evening and Saturday demonstrations during the five days of action for the Five in Washington D.C. were covered by television channels that included C-SPAN, Hispan, Univisión, Russia Today and Telesur.

The event organized in the U.S. capitol by the International Committee for the Release of the Cuban Five ended Saturday, 21st April, with a day full of action, events and planning workshops.

At 10 am a group of religious from different denominations held a brain storming session to work out strategies for future action. The Reverend Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, former Secretary General of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA and the Reverend Dora Arca from the Cuban Pastoral Platform were among those advocating further action for justice for the Cuban Five.

A peaceful demonstration supporting the release of the Cuban Five was held outside the White House beginning at 1:00 pm on Saturday. The large numbers already in D.C. were boosted by the arrival of four buses of supporters from New York and other U.S. cities.

The hundreds of activists carried banners, placards and posters all demanding that Obama release the imprisoned Cubans immediately.

A letter of appreciation and support in the name of the Five from Gerardo Hernandez, one of the Five who is serving two life sentences and fifteen years on trumped-up charges, was read out and received enthusiastically by those present.

Representatives from different solidarity organizations across the U.S. and other parts of the world followed Gerardo’s message with others from individuals and committees promising to continue the struggle until the Cuban Five are free and with their families in Cuba.

Cindy Sheehan brought the five days of action to a close at a meeting held in the Bolivarian Room of the Venezuelan embassy. In a moving and sincere manner Cindy explained her reasons for becoming involved with the case of the Five and expressed her admiration and fondness for the mothers of the incarcerated men.

According to Alicia Jrapko "The 5 days have been for me the best action or project we have ever done. From many angles it is the best. We have reached out to many people. We had an event with panelists of the most diverse ideas and ways of thinking. We were able to bring together a number of organizations that usually don’t work together."

"It was super important and, yes, we are very tired but happy."

(From www.thecuban5.org)

Activities in numerous countries

In London’s Trafalgar Square hundreds gathered to demand the immediate release of the Five and unfurl a giant 15-meter banner on the initiative of the Cuba solidarity organization, Rock around the Blockade. Actions were planned in Glasgow, Scotland and in London an exhibition of graphic works by Antonio Guerrero and Gerardo Hernández, is continuing.

In Mexico City, supporters of the Five assembled in front of the U.S. embassy to chant slogans calling for their freedom, while in Russia, the Venceremos movement issued a statement calling on Obama to free the prisoners and right the injustice.

In Managua, the Nicaraguan Parliament approved a resolution demanding that the U.S. government free the anti-terrorist Cubans.

In the Dominican Republic, the television program Rebeldes, on the Tierra América 12 channel, was devoted to the issue.

In Germany, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Spain, Italy, Peru, Turkey, Sweden and Ukraine events were held in solidarity with the Five. While in Cuba, representatives from the brigades of more than 2,000 youth from 83 countries who are studying in the province of Villa Clara, organized a public event describing the tortuous legal process and demanding justice.
 

René writes his brother Roberto
René González has sent a moving letter to his brother Roberto who is gravely ill with cancer. The same day, through his lawyer, he filed a motion requesting permission to travel to Cuba and visit his brother in a Havana hospital. The motion notes that these types of requests for international travel by individuals on parole have been granted in the past. The judge has not yet responded to the motion

U.S. editorial denounced for distorting events
WASHINGTON.— The Cuban Interests Section here in the U.S. capital denounced an editorial in The Washington Post which distorts events related to Cuba, including the prosecution of Alan Gross and the case of the Five Cuban anti-terrorists incarcerated in the United States.

Coordinating actions at Five Conference
HOLGUIN.—Participants in the 7th International Conference for the Freedom of the Five and against Terrorism are agreed on the urgent need to coordinate actions so that the U.S. legal authorities and government allow the return to Cuba of René González, given that his life is in danger in Florida.


ADDRESS OF PRISONERS

ANTONIO
GUERRERO
RODRÍGUEZ

FERNANDO
GONZÁLEZ
LLORT

GERARDO
HERNÁNDEZ
NORDELO

RAMÓN
LABAÑINO
SALAZAR

RENÉ
GONZÁLEZ
SEHWERERT

Index | Judicial Process and Prison -- International Solidarity -- Terrorism against the Island -- Testimony by the heroes
They will return
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