BY MICHEL PRAIRIE
MONTREAL - A series of events in solidarity with the Cuban revolution and against the U.S. embargo imposed for 35 years on the workers and farmers of that country is being organized across Canada around May 19. This day marks the 100th anniversary of the death in combat of José Martí.

Some 3,000 participants to an international conference in solidarity with Cuba held in Havana last November issued a call for such actions around the world.

In Montreal a whole week of activities is being planned by various Cuba solidarity organizations.

On Thursday, May 18, the Committee in Solidarity with Cuba is sponsoring a round table on "Cuban women and Martí's principles" at 7:00 p.m., 5359 Park Ave. There will be a presentation on the recent convention of the Federation of Cuban Women and the showing of a video on the conditions Cuban women face today.

A picket line against the U.S. blockade has been called for May 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in front of the U.S. consulate in Montreal, on the corner of St-Alexandre St. and René-Lévesque Blvd. It is sponsored by Alternatives, the Carrefour de l'amitié Québec-Cuba, the Cuba Sí Coalition, the Cuban Youth Tour Organizing Committee and the Quebec-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan. Political and cultural gathering with well-known personalities and artists organized by the same groups will follow the picket line at 7:00 p.m. at 1205 Visitation.

On Saturday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. a symposium on "The disinformation campaign against Cuba and the Cuban reality" will be held at University of Quebec in Montreal, 315 Ste-Catherine St. East, room RM-110. Juan Nicolas Padron from Casa de las Americas in Cuba and Luis Nieves Falcon from Puerto Rico will speak. The latter will discuss "The violation of human rights of political prisoners in the U.S." The event is organized by the Cuba Study and Cooperation Center and sponsored by the university's Teachers Assistants Union, with the support of various other Cuba solidarity committees.

Two other events of a more cultural character will be held earlier in the week. At 6:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14, a cantata "José Martí, Wings of Freedom" will be performed at 5290 Cote-des-neiges Rd. And at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, the South Cultural Project is organizing reading of poems by José Martí in French, Spanish, and English at 2080 Clark St.

In Toronto, the Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association, the Canada-Cuba Friendshipment Committee, the Cuban Youth Tour, the Cuba Solidarity Coordinating Committee, and Worker to Worker/ Canada-Cuba Labor Solidarity are organizing a joint political and cultural event on May 19, at 7:00 p.m., at University of Toronto, Sandford Fleming Building, room 1105, 10 King's College Rd.

Finally, on his first visit to Vancouver, the Cuban ambassador to Canada, Bienvendio Garcia, will give a public talk on Sunday, May 14, at 2:00 p.m. at the Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender. The meeting is sponsored by the Vancouver Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association.

Michel Prairie is a member of the Executive Committee of the Carrefour culturel de l'amitié Québec-Cuba in Montreal.  
 
 
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