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Casa de las Américas (Casa) is a New York-based organization of Cuban emigrants who support the revolution. Beginning in 1955, the July 26 Committee was established in NY for the purpose of supporting the armed struggle that was taking place in Cuba against the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. Shortly after the triumph of the revolution in 1959, the Committee was renamed Casa Cuba, which later became Casa de las Américas.
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Message of Solidarity to the Freedom Riders

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Dear New York Freedom Riders,

The members of Casa de las Americas wish to say thank you for your decision to be a Freedom Rider to Washington, DC for the Cuban Five this past Saturday, April 21st.  We are grateful for your solidarity with Cuba, with its people, and with the Cuban Five.

At the rally, we fulfilled the objective of raising awareness of our Five Cuban Heroes and the great injustice that has been done to them.

We understand that President Obama can exercise his executive position and release these men and allow them to return to Cuba immediately. We remain hopeful, that as a result of the great efforts of the International Committee to Free the Five during last week at Washington, DC and that of the many friends from around this nation like you, including international friends that joined in these efforts, that we have come significantly closer to realizing our ultimate goal which is for Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez and Ramon Labañino to return home.

We extend our appreciation to DC37 for their generosity for this cause. They donated two of the four buses and distributed wholesome boxed lunches for all participants, as well as plastic ponchos in case it rained. Local 1199 helped considerably to finance the rental of one of the buses. These are actions that speak to their mission, the character of their leadership, and their commitment to peace, justice, and humanity.

To the organizations in solidarity with Cuba that comprise the July 26 Coalition. Their hard work and dutiful planning ensured the success of New York’s participation at the culminating event of the rally for the Five.

It was more than an honor to spend the day with you all. We had the best time together especially on our return home. To everyone that entertained us with a song, a story, a poem, quote or a funny joke – we say thank you.  We were reminded of all the talent, positive energy, and fiery spirit that exists amongst us.

“Hacer es la mejor forma de decir”

– José Martí

Un fuerte abrazo,

Nancy Cabrero

Presidenta

Casa de las Américas

The Cuban Five

Multiplicado el reclamo por los Cinco

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Con epicentro en Washington, se realizaron acciones por la libertad de los antiterroristas cubanos en varias ciudades del mundo

Juventud Rebelde
digital@juventudrebelde.cu

21 de Abril del 2012 22:39:42 CDT

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8Xe0e6BCg

WASHINGTON, abril 21.— La jornada Cinco días por los Cinco concluyó este sábado con el compromiso de continuar el reclamo al Gobierno de Estados Unidos por la excarcelación inmediata e incondicional de los antiterroristas cubanos, prisioneros políticos en ese país, reportó PL.

Con velada en el salón de actos de la embajada de Venezuela se puso fin a cinco jornadas de intensas actividades; sin embargo, no se descansa en la lucha por el regreso a Cuba de Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González y René González.

Alicia Jrapko, coordinadora del Comité Internacional para la Libertad de los Cinco, resaltó la presencia en Washington de cientos de activistas de varios estados de la Unión, al igual que de naciones como Italia, Bélgica, Francia, Alemania, Canadá y Honduras, entre otros.
Las palabras de clausura estuvieron a cargo de la pacifista estadounidense Cindy Sheehan, quien perdió a su hijo en Iraq y desde entonces se convirtió en una de las más potentes voces contra la guerra.

Durante la jornada se destacó el plantón que también tuvo lugar este sábado frente a la Casa Blanca, en el que participaron unas 300 personas que hicieron escuchar la demanda de libertad para los luchadores, supo JR por medio del Comité Internacional por la liberación de los Cinco. El llamado irradió por todo el planeta como parte del esfuerzo global por la justicia.

Muy temprano en la mañana varios autobuses, rentados con el apoyo de sindicatos neoyorkinos, partieron desde esa ciudad repletos de amigos solidarios para manifestarse ante la Casa Blanca en demanda de la libertad de los héroes. Con el lema Viaje por la Libertad de los Cinco, los manifestantes se hicieron presentes portando pancartas, banderas y carteles por la libertad de los cubanos y por los presos políticos puertorriqueños en cárceles de EE.UU.

Las actividades en Washington fueron trasmitidas por el canal en Internet CubaenWashington, en Justin TV, que al cierre de esta información tenía registradas más de 5 000 visitas.
Mientras, en San Juan de Puerto Rico también se realizó una manifestación en defensa de los legítimos derechos de quienes únicamente defendieron a su pueblo contra el terrorismo. El acto tuvo lugar frente a la Antigua Corte Federal (USA), en el Viejo San Juan, y estuvo presidido por el luchador Rafael Cancel Miranda y Milagros Rivera.

Por otra parte, en Nicaragua fue aprobada por amplia mayoría una resolución parlamentaria demandando al Gobierno de EE.UU. la libertad para Gerardo, René, Ramón, Antonio y Fernando.

Asimismo, se realizaron actividades en más de una veintena de países, y el sábado en la noche se continuaban recibiendo reportes de otras iniciativas a lo largo del planeta, como prueba del éxito de la convocatoria de solidaridad global con la causa, con epicentro en Washington. El Comité internacional aseguró que cerca de 300 asociaciones y partidos se sumaron en los últimos días a la campaña.

Asimismo trascendió, según PL, que como parte de las jornadas Cinco días por Los Cinco se enviaron más de 2 000 firmas a la Casa Blanca solicitando el fin de la injusticia.
Las Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo, en Argentina, la Asociación de Juristas Demócratas de Francia, letrados japoneses y la Asociación de solidaridad con Cuba en Guatemala, entre otros, multiplicaron el reclamo por los Cinco, que llegó por primera vez al Congreso norteamericano.

De acuerdo con los reportes desde Washington fue muy provechoso el encuentro de activistas con unos 40 senadores y miembros de la Cámara de Representantes del Congreso de Estados Unidos, quienes recibieron detalles del caso. Los legisladores se interesaron por la situación de los Cinco y algunos expresaron frases como «Estamos tan frustrados como ustedes acerca de esto» y «Podríamos enviarle una carta a Obama para que los libere como un gesto humanitario, averiguaremos a quiénes les gustaría formar parte», narró PL.

Otra de las actividades de rotundo éxito fue el panel convocado con la frase Obama, give me Five, en el que intervinieron la sindicalista Dolores Huerta, el abogado José Pertierra, el escritor y periodista Saul Landau; el ex jefe de la Oficina de Intereses en La Habana, Wayne Smith; el analista Salim Lamrani y el actor Danny Glover , entre otros. Asistió también el Jefe de la Sección de Intereses de Cuba en Washington, Jorge Bolaños, reseñó Cubadebate.

Varios de los oradores exigieron a la administración del presidente Barack Obama la eliminación del bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero que Estados Unidos mantiene contra el pueblo cubano desde hace más de medio siglo.

The Cuban Five

Demand grows for the freedom of the Cuban Five

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With the epicenter in Washington, actions took place for the freedom of the anti-terrorist Cubans in cities throughout the world.

Juventud Rebelde
digital@juventudrebelde.cu

April 21, 2012 CDT

WASHINGTON, April 21 — The week-long campaign “Five Days for the Five” concluded yesterday, Saturday, with a commitment to continue to the demand that the government of the United States immediately and unconditionally free the Cuban anti-terrorists, political prisoners of that country, Prensa Latina (PL) reported.

With a gathering at the events hall of the Venezuelan Embassy, the campaign of intense activities for the Five concluded; however, there will be no respite from the struggle to return to Cuba of Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González y René González.

Alicia Jrapko, Coordinatoor of the International Committee for the Freedom of the Five, highlighted the presence in Washington of hundred of activists from various states of the Union, as well as countries sch as Italy, Belgium, France, Germany, Canada and Honduras, among others. Closing words were made by U.S. peace activist Cindy Sheehan who lost her son in Iraq and since then has become one of the most potent voices against the war.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-8Xe0e6BCg

During the weeklong events a picket in front of the White House of more than 300 people took place this Saturday where the demand for the freedom of fighters was voiced, it was reported to Juventud Rebelde (JR) via the International Committee for the Freedom of the Five. This call resounded throughout the planet as part of this international effort for justice.

Very early that morning, several buses, rented with the support of New York City labor unions, departed from that city full of solidarity supporters on their way to demand the freedom of these heroes at the White House. With the call “Freedom Ride for the Cuban 5”, these demonstrators made their presence felt, carrying banners, flags and posters for the freedom of the 5 Cubans and for the freedom of the Puerto Rican political prisoners in the jails of the United States.

The activities in Washington were broadcast by the Internet Cuba in Washington channel, by Justin TV, who at the close of events reported that they had covered a demonstration of more than 5,000 participants. Simultaneously in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a demonstration was held in defense of those who only defended the legitimate right of their country to struggle against terrorism. The demonstration took place in front of the Old U.S. Federal Court House in Old San Juan, and was led by freedom fighter Rafael Cancel Miranda and Milagros Rivera.

Elsewhere, in Nicaragua, a resolution demanding that the United States Government free Gerardo, René, Ramón, Antonio and Fernando was adopted by a broad majority of the Nicaraguan Parliament.

At the same time, activities were held in more than 20 countries and on Saturday evening reports were still coming in about other initiatives taking place throughout the planet, as proof of the success of this call for global solidarity with this cause whose epicenter was Washington. The International Committee affirmed that more than 300 associations and political parties added their support in the final days of the campaign.

Similarly, Prensa Latina (PL) reported that as part of this five day campaign for the Five more than 2,000 signatures were given to the White House requesting an end to this injustice. The Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo in Argentina, The Association of Democratic Jurists of Frnace, scholars from Japan and The Association for Solidarity with Cuba in Guatemala, among others, multiplied the demand for the Five that was made for the first time to the U.S. Congress.

According to reports from Washington, meetings by activists with more than 40 Senators and Members of the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress were very productive. Officials received details about the case with some indicating that “We are frustrated as you are about this situation” and “We can send a letter to Obama asking that he free them as a humanitarian gesture and we will indentify those who would like to be a part of this effort”, Prensa Latina reported.

Other activities that were enormously successful were the panel that took place with the theme of “Obama Give Me Five!” where statements of support were made by labor leader Dolores Huerta, Attorny José Pertierra, writer and journalist Saul Landau; former head of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Wayne Smith; political analyst Salim Lamrani and actor Danny Glover, among others. The Head of the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, Jorge Bolaños, also participated, Cubadebate reported.

Various speakers demanded that the Administration of President Barack Obama end the economic, commercial and financial blockade that the United States has maintained against the Cuban people for more than half a century.

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The Cuban Five

Supporters of the Cuban 5 join forces in Washington DC

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Comité Internacional por la Libertad de los 5 Cubanos

Photo: Bill Hackwell

People from the U.S., Canada and Europe are calling on President Obama to listen to the international community and release the Cuban 5 immediately, during the 5 days for the Cuban 5 in Washington DC.  The actions initiated by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 have been endorsed by 272 U.S. and International organizations, and more than 2000 individuals.

During the first and second day, 25 international and U.S. supporters visited 12 of the 100 Senators and 14 members of congress’ offices to discuss the issue of the Cuban 5.  The lobbying effort over the past two days marks the first time that the case of the Cuban 5 has been taken to Capitol Hill. The high number of responses to the request for appointments was seen by the supporters as a positive sign.

Louis Wolf, from Washington DC said “Lobbying Congress about the Cuban Five or any Cuba-related issue is definitely a challenge. But when a senior foreign policy aide to a Senator told us yesterday ‘U.S. policy toward Cuba is stuck in the Middle Ages’, we knew our work is not done in a total vacuum.”

Katrien Demuynck, the European coordinator of the campaign, brought with her a letter signed by two Belgium senators and five members of the chamber asking their U.S. colleagues to intervene with President Obama to resolve the issue of the Five. “I was happily surprised with the response to the letter. We should look for the same kind of initiatives from Parliaments of other European countries,” said Demuynck.  At the end of both days, the supporters felt energized and ready to continue the world-wide campaign for the release of the Cuban 5.

Other activities of the second day included a presentation by Stephen Kimber, a Canadian journalist and author of a soon to be released book What Lies Across the Waters, and comments by Arturo Lopez-Levy, Cuban American professor at Denver University.  The event was hosted by Wayne Smith, former chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.  Kimber surprised the audience with a number of new facts about the case. People left with a better understanding of the injustice committed against the Cuban 5.

During the evening the film Will the Real Terrorist Please Stand Up was shown at the Nyumburu Cultural Center at the University of Maryland.  During an event on the same university campus, Angela Davis, political activist, scholar and author, encouraged people to participate in the next days of activities in support of the Cuban Five.

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