The writer is the webmaster of freethefive.org.
Hundreds of Canadian and U.S. activists gathered in Toronto on Nov. 9-10 for the “Breaking the Silence” conference, convened by the Canadian Network on Cuba, the Table de Concertation de Solidarité Québec-Canada, and the National Network on Cuba (U.S.) to advance the struggle for the freedom of the Cuban Five.
The conference featured an opening press conference, a public meeting held in the Toronto City Council chambers attended by 400 people and highlighted by an address from appeals attorney Leonard Weinglass, and a series of workshops at which activists shared their experiences and planned for future actions in support of the Five.
The importance of the conference was noted in a message sent to the conference by one of the Five, Ramón Labañino, and read by his wife, Elizabeth Palmeiro. In it, Ramón noted, “This is a political case and no other case of this type has been resolved without the support of the international solidarity of people.”
Cuban Ambassador to Canada Ernesto Senti Darias, who attended the entire conference, reinforced the same message when he told participants, “The solidarity movement for Cuba, for the Cuban Revolution, is the most precious treasure we have.”
Members of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five participated actively in the conference. Committee Coordinator Gloria La Riva was a featured speaker at the public meeting and part of one of the panels, while the writer recorded the speeches and posted them online as the conference was proceeding. Freethefive.org was mentioned several times as an important resource for the entire movement.
The Committee also sold nearly $500 worth of T-shirts, videos, and other material, and collected many signatures on petitions to demand freedom for the Five.
In her talk, La Riva emphasized the need to capitalize on the upcoming appeals
Court decision as an exceptional opportunity to achieve freedom or a new trial for the Five, and urged activists to be prepared for a worldwide “day after” series of press conferences, pickets, and other activities on the day after the appeals court decision is handed down.
That proposal was adopted as one of the main “action items” of the conference resolution.
Audio files of the principal speeches at the conference, the text of the conference resolution, a copy of Ramón’s message to the conference, and a fuller description of the conference itself, can be found on the website at freethefive.org.
Free the Cuban Five!
