The Militant (logo)  

Vol. 72/No. 38      September 29, 2008

 
Events demand freedom for framed-up Cuban Five:
Concert in N.Y. draws new forces into fight
(front page)
 
BY BEN JOYCE  
BRONX, New York—Some 500 people turned out here September 13 to attend “Cinco Estrellas y un Canto” (Five Stars and a Song), a concert to release five framed-up working-class fighters in U.S. prisons. The event was part of activities around the world on the 10th anniversary of the imprisonment of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, René González, and Antonio Guerrero, known as the Cuban Five.

Held at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture at Hostos Community College, the concert included performances by renowned Puerto Rican singer/songwriter Danny Rivera, the Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All Stars, and Dominican bachata artist Victor Victor. Stand-up comedian Bill Santiago emceed the event. The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 sponsored the event.

A local public radio station promoted the gathering in the week leading up to it. The concert was recorded for broadcast on the Venezuela-based television network Telesur.

The Cuban Five were arrested in 1998 on frame-up charges that they were involved in a part of a “conspiracy to commit espionage” and in one case, a “conspiracy to commit murder.” The five had been keeping the Cuban government informed about rightist groups that have a long record of carrying out bombings and armed attacks on Cuba from U.S. soil.

Lillian Pérez and Edith Cruz of the Bronx were among the many people at the concert who learned about the case of the Cuban Five for the first time. “People like me come here to listen to the music and end up learning about the reality they [Cuban Five] face,” Pérez told the Militant. “We will definitely look into it.”

Many in the crowd were Puerto Rican and responded warmly to calls from the stage for Puerto Rican independence. Also attending were UN ambassadors from Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, St. Vincent, and Cuba.

After the performance by the Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All Stars, Alicia Jrapko of the International Committee thanked the artists for lending their talents to the defense campaign. She spoke about the importance of the case, including the fight to win U.S. visas for Adriana Pérez and Olga Salanueva, wives of René González and Gerardo Hernández respectively, so that they can visit their husbands in prison. She also read greetings from actor Danny Glover.

Nancy Cabrero, president of Casa de las Américas, a Cuban American group that supports the Cuban Revolution, read a message signed by the five that thanked the organizers and artists and encouraged everyone to continue the fight for their freedom.

Victor Victor performed second in the lineup. “It is our duty to be here tonight in solidarity with the Cuban Five,” he said. After a brief intermission, Danny Rivera took the stage. During his set he shared the stage with Grupo Rumba Caribe who performed a song dedicated to the five.

“It seems like the case has gone under the radar,” said Doug Smith, a student at Concordia University in Montreal. “But this [concert] can present the issue as it really is and help it get more exposure.”

After the event, Jrapko said she was happy with its success. “It’s important to reach out to new people,” she said. “This kind of thing can also be done elsewhere to raise awareness for the Cuban Five.”

Pablo Marcano, a Puerto Rican painter and former political prisoner, introduced Danny Rivera. Afterwards he told the Militant that the concert was successful in getting the message of the five out. “The more people that get involved, the faster the five will be free,” he said. “I’m telling you from experience. That’s how we freed the Puerto Rican political prisoners,” referring to the independence fighters who have been framed up and jailed by the U.S. government for their opposition to colonial domination by Washington.

“We have experience with political repression of those who fight colonialism in Puerto Rico,” said Roberto Silva of Grupo Rumba Caribe. “The Cuban Five are political prisoners just like the Puerto Rican political prisoners.”

A counterprotest outside the venue of 30 people tried without success to intimidate people from entering the concert hall. Their leaflets read, “Why are public facilities used to promote freedom for spies, enemies of this nation?” The protest was organized by the United Cuban Organization of Union City, New Jersey.
 
 
Related articles:
Events demand freedom for framed-up Cuban Five: Supporters of five march in Washington
Cuban 5 ‘deserve working people’s support’  
 
 
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