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- Cuban 5 Heroes Supporters in Vancouver Maintain Their Presence with
Another Picket Protest in Front of the US Consulate in Vancouver
By Alison Bodine
"Truth is like a colossal arm, which raises justice up where the avarice of men cannot reach."
– Antonio Guerrero, June 8th 2001
When Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban 5 political prisoners held in U.S. jails wrote these words 11 years ago, the outrageously long sentences against the Cuban 5 had just been announced in a Miami courtroom. These same words were reprinted on June 8th, 2012 in a letter written by Antonio from his Florida jail cell that commemorated the anniversary and the continued commitment of the Cuban 5 and their supporters all over the world to win their freedom.
The Cuban 5, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, have now been imprisoned in the U.S. for over 13 years. They were arrested in 1998 after being sent by Cuba to the U.S. to infiltrate anti-Cuba terrorist organizations, saving lives and preventing the injury of people in Cuba and North America. After turning over 20,000 pages of documents to the FBI detailing planned attacks against Cuba and exposing anti-Cuba organizations that operate openly in Florida, the Cuban 5, not the terrorists, were arrested. They were charged with conspiracy to commit espionage and conspiracy to commit murder and sentenced from 15 years to two-life sentences plus 15 years.
On June 5th in Vancouver, Canada the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver organized their 79th monthly picket action to free the Cuban 5 heroes. Each month peace-loving people in Vancouver gather in front of the US Consulate in downtown Vancouver to demand freedom for the Cuban 5 and that Rene, who completed his prison sentence last year and is now being forced to serve parole in the U.S., be allowed to return to Cuba. The picket took these demands all the way to the highest floors of the Consulate with loud and energetic chanting and a program of dynamic speakers. Noah Fine, the Coordinator of the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver was the MC introducing the speakers who addressed the picket action, David Whittlesey, a long-time civil rights and social justice activist; Nestor Otero, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee – Vancouver; and Alison Bodine the co-chair of Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO).
This protest action was part of an International campaign for the “5th of the month for the Cuban 5.” The legal options that the Cuban 5 have are rapidly running out, making organizing on the streets with an International voice even more important in the struggle for their freedom.
For more information about the Cuban 5 and how to get involved visit: www.freethe5vancouver.ca
FREE THE CUBAN 5 NOW!
RELEASE ANTONIO, FERNANDO, RAMÓN & GERARDO FROM U.S. PRISONS NOW!
LET RENÉ GONZÁLEZ RETURN TO CUBA NOW!
GRANT VISAS TO OLGA SALANUEVA & ADRIANA PÉREZ NOW!Back to Article Listing