Gerardo Hernández, Fernando González, René González, Antonio Guerrero, and Ramon Labañino were convicted by a U.S. federal court in 2001 of “conspiracy to act as an unregistered foreign agent.” Guerrero, Hernández, and Labañino were also convicted of “conspiracy to commit espionage,” and Hernández of “conspiracy to commit murder.” They are serving sentences from 15 years to a double-life term.

Defense lawyers argued that it was impossible to get an impartial jury in Miami, given the hostility of a large number of Cuban counterrevolutionaries who live in Miami and of the local media to the Cuban government. At the time of jury selection, they pointed out, protest demonstrations on the one-year anniversary of the return of Elián González to his father in Cuba whipped up these sentiments.

Last August a three-judge panel of the same appeals court overturned the convictions and ordered a new trial in a different location. In November the full 12-judge appeals court agreed to a request by Washington to review this decision. The February 14 hearing began this process.

Supporters of the Cuban Five held a press conference immediately after the court hearing and a community meeting at Spelman College later that evening. Among the speakers were Andrés Gómez of the Antonio Maceo Brigade and the Miami coordinator of the Free the Five campaign; Gloria La Riva, president of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five; and supporters of the campaign to free the five from Germany, Italy, Belgium, Argentina, and Puerto Rico.

Antonio Guerrero’s sister, Maria Eugenia Guerrero, thanked those present and encouraged them to continue their efforts. “If the Cuban Five really caused harm to the American people and government, the media would have made it known,” she said. “They are silent because they know there is no truth to these charges. It is up to us to break the silence. We are sure if more people in the United States know the facts, justice can be done.”
 
 
Related articles:
A powerful introduction to Cuban Revolution
A book for new generations awakening to political struggles of world’s toilers
New Cuban edition of ‘Making History’ launched in Havana  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home