All Out to Washington D.C. for the Cuban 5

A series of 18 major events for the Cuban 5 will take place in Washington DC between May 30 and June 5. The Cuban 5 are five Cuban agents sent to the U.S. in the 1990’s to monitor the terrorist activities of anti-Cuban exile groups in Miami. They have been imprisoned here for nearly 15 years, mostly on conspiracy charges. The highlight of the activities will be a June 1 demonstration in front of the White House saying “Enough is enough, release the Cuban 5 now!” That same evening, well known activist and scholar Angela Davis will deliver a speech on social justice and the case of the Five at 6pm at St. Stephens Church 1525, Newton St. NW.

Along with calling for the freedom of the Cuban 5, the protest at the White House will include demands for ending the travel ban, removing Cuba from the list of countries that promote terrorism, ending the criminal economic blockade of Cuba and closing Guantanamo Prison.

“We are coming to DC to fight for the freedom of the five because in doing that we are standing with our people and our families in Cuba so they can live in peace and be free of terrorism” said Andres Gomez, National Coordinator of the Antonio Maceo Brigade in Miami. The brigade is part of the Martiana Alliance that includes the Jose Marti Association, the ATC, the Bolivarian Circle of Miami, the Christian Women Association in Defense of the Family and the Mariana Alliance. Other groups from Miami that will participate of the Washington actions include the Foundation for the Normalization of Relations between the U.S. and Cuba, Cuban American Defense League and Jewish Solidarity.

Along with Cubans from Miami, parliamentarians, jurists and organizers from Argentina, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Quebec, Spain, Sweden, and Venezuela will also be participating.

Buses are being organized in New York City and people from all over the U.S. will be coming. Canadian groups have been confirmed from Vancouver, Toronto and Quebec.

René González, who regained his freedom by renouncing his United States citizenship, after having served his sentence, urged President Barack Obama “to have the courage to pardon them by the powers conferred to him”The 5 days for Cuban 5 is being organized by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5.