Vol. 79/No. 47      December 28, 2015

 

‘Thank you Cárdenas, thank you Cuba’

 
Below are remarks by Gerardo Hernández, one of the Cuban Five, at the Dec. 6 rally in Cárdenas, Cuba. Translation is by the Militant.

Thank you, Cárdenas, for all your support and for this great honor of recognizing us as your adopted sons. We will never let you down.

Congratulations, Elián. Congratulations to the FEEM [Federation of High School Students] on its anniversary.

We were in Miami when that sad chapter, the case of Elián, was underway. That little boy, with all his innocence, could not possibly imagine how much strength he was giving to five men in a U.S. prison.

Juan Miguel [Elián’s father] is very modest. Even today, even though we have tried to explain it to him — but there are things that cannot be explained with words — he still is far from imagining how much his example, his determination, his patriotism, strengthened the Five inside a U.S. prison. Thank you, Juan Miguel. Thank you, Elián.

In those days we had the luck and the misfortune of having access to broadcasts from Miami radio stations, and sometimes to one or another television station that was available in prison. Twenty-four hours a day they bombarded us about Elián. And we had to listen when they offered money to Juan Miguel and his relatives.

They eventually offered 2 million dollars. And if anyone doubts this, the person [who made the offer] is Jorge Rodríguez, the director of the former Radio Fe [Radio Faith], at that time called La Poderosa [The Powerful One]. On air he said: “I will give him 2 million if he stays.”

How little they know Cuban patriots. How little they know Cuban revolutionaries, who have no price. They neither surrender nor sell themselves. How little they knew Juan Miguel.

That man [Fidel Castro] who today is here among us. That giant who, perhaps, if we are fortunate, is enjoying this event or will at some future time. That captain of peoples, captain of masses who guided the Cuban people towards the incredible and smashing victory of the return of Elián González. He knew and trusted man’s dignity. He knew and trusted that simple, modest man — a man who was unknown at the time, who was called upon to play his role in history. Nobody had prepared him. Nobody had been training him for years for that moment. He was suddenly confronted with the responsibility. And like many, many Cubans he knew how to fulfill that responsibility with honor, with pride. He knew how to uphold the name of his people and of its revolution.

Once again, thank you, Juan Miguel. Your example helped us greatly. Your example strengthened us in those prisons.

This, obviously, is not Elián’s first birthday in his homeland. But perhaps it could be, in his own words, the happiest. The Five will never forget what he told René, who was first to return: “I will never have a truly happy birthday until all the Five have returned to the homeland.” Today is that birthday, Elián, congratulations, congratulations.

Let’s celebrate, Cárdenas. Let’s celebrate this victory which is also yours. Let’s celebrate together with all our people. There in prison we received news of your marches. How many times did our mothers march at the head of the people of Cárdenas. With how much pride did we receive the photos and news reports from our press. They encouraged us so much. We felt very proud of you. And today it is with even more pride that we receive the honor of being considered the adopted sons of Cárdenas. Once again, my brothers, thank you.

I want to take the opportunity to welcome, because they are here with us, a delegation from the Socialist Workers Party of the United States. Róger Calero, Martín Koppel, and Mary-Alice Waters, who is also president of the Pathfinder Press publishing house. One of the few oases of truthful information that exists in that country, where the big corporate news media lie every day. There the voice of the Militant has been raised for many decades in the effort to educate and bring the truth to the American people. It was a solid bastion of support that the Five had in our fight for justice. Thank you, Pathfinder, thanks to the party, and thanks to the three of you as well.

They are here today representing the many brothers and sisters around the world, including in the United States, who supported us and spared no effort until the victory was won. It was that solidarity together with the support of our people and the outstanding leadership of our commander Fidel, and of Raúl, that made it possible that the Five are here among us today.

You know better than we, a day like today cannot go by without making reference, once again, to Fidel. Commander-in-Chief, we will never tire of telling you with how much pride we listened to your words from that platform in Cotorro [in June 2001]. You said perhaps those five men are listening to me, and yes, we were listening, Commander. We heard you when you said that it would be a battle that would last for years. When you expressed your confidence that we would resist. And when you said: “They will return!”

From that day on, Commander, we knew that nothing, that no one, could break the Five nor prevent our return to the homeland. Thank you again, Fidel. Thank you, Raúl, for making real that promise and bringing us back to our people. Thank you, Cárdenas. Thank you, Cuba. You can count on the Five. Keep counting on us, on Juan Miguel, on Elián, on the revolutionary people of Cárdenas for all the battles we have ahead.

Until victory always!

Long live Fidel!

Long live Raúl!

Long live the revolution!

Homeland or death! We will win!

Thank you.
 
 
Related articles:
‘How little they know Cuban revolutionaries!’
Event celebrating return of Elián González, Cuban 5 looks to ‘battles ahead’
‘The battle of ideas will not be lost’
 
 
 
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