Vol. 72/No. 37      September 22, 2008

Supporters of the Cuban Five are planning actions this week to mark the 10th anniversary of their arrest and are making a final push to broaden participation.

The Cuban Five—Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González, René González, and Antonio Guerrero—have been imprisoned for 10 years on charges including “conspiracy to commit espionage” and in one case, “conspiracy to commit murder.”

They were arrested in South Florida where they were monitoring the activities of right-wing Cuban groups that have attacked Cuba with U.S. backing. The FBI used wiretapping, burglaries, and other assaults on workers rights to railroad the five to prison, where they are now serving long sentences—up to a double life term plus 15 years in the case of Hernández.

A June 4 court ruling vacated the sentences of three of the five on the grounds that they were excessive. They are now waiting for the original judge to issue them new sentences.

A press conference will take place at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., September 12, where supporters of the five will present tens of thousands of petitions calling for their release. A civil disobedience action will follow the press conference.

A national demonstration for freedom of the Cuban Five will take place in Washington on September 13. The rally begins at 10:00 a.m. in Malcolm X Park followed by a march to the White House at noon.

After the march, participants will hold a conference in the Service Employees International Union building at 1800 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. where Leonard Weinglass, one of the attorneys for the five, as well as a representative of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington and others, will speak.

That evening there will be a concert at the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture in Bronx, New York. A number of well-known artists are lending their talents to this important fight. Performances at the concert will include Puerto Rican singer Danny Rivera, Dominican bachata artist Victor Victor, and the Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All Stars, as well as an appearance by actor Danny Glover.

A campaign by opponents of the Cuban Revolution, spearheaded by Cuban musician Paquito D’Rivera, to boycott the concert has failed to intimidate Cuban Five supporters.

According to the Hostos Center, ticket sales are going well. The concert will be broadcast live by the Latin American TV station Telesur, based in Venezuela.

Other activities taking place during the September 13th weekend are in Los Angeles; Boston; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, Canada; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and many parts of Cuba. For more information, go to www.freethefive.org or www.thecuban5.org.
 
 
Related articles:
Cuban 5 convictions upheld; events will demand freedom
Events demanding freedom for the Cuban Five
Join fight to free the Cuban 5!  
 
 
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