In yet another travesty of justice in the case of the Cuban Five, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of the five Cuban heroes on June 4. Emergency protests took place in the United States and abroad on the days following the announcement of the court’s decision. The Cuban Five have been unjustly incarcerated for nearly 10 years after being arrested while monitoring the activities of right-wing Cuban terrorists operating out of Miami. While the anti-terrorist Cuban heroes sit in prison, known terrorists, such as Posada Carriles, the mastermind behind the 1976 bombing of a Cubana flight that took 73 lives, roam freely in Miami. The following are reports from some of the protests against the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision. To find out more about the Cuban Five, visit www.freethefive.org. Los Angeles
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The demonstration took place at 5 p.m. in the heart of Hollywood. Many onlookers stopped to find out about the Cuban Five as protestors chanted, “Jail Posada, Free the Five!” and “Who are the terrorists in the world today? Bush, Posada and the CIA!”
A short rally brought the vibrant action to a close. Speakers representing several Cuba solidarity groups voiced opposition to the travesty of justice that has kept the five heroes’ behind bars while real terrorists roam freely throughout the streets of Miami. Participating organizations included the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), the National Committee to Free the Five and the International Action Committee.
Lucilla Esguerra, the PSL candidate for California State Assembly, called for the immediate release of the Five and highlighted the hypocrisy of the U.S. war on terror.
Bill Hackwell, speaking for the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, delivered a moving and militant message he received from Gerardo Hernández, one of the Five. In the message, the unjustly imprisoned Cuban who has been handed two life sentences, sounded the call to remain vigilant and to continue the fight until victory.
San Francisco
On June 6, an emergency demonstration called by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five took place in San Francisco. The protest happened at Powell and Market streets in the downtown area during the evening rush hour, and attracted many interested bystanders.
Thousands of workers and tourists in the area heard speakers and received flyers on the case of the Cuban Five. Many of these bystanders had never heard of the case or the outrageous injustice committed by the courts against the Cuban Five.
About 90 people joined in the demonstration. Chants included “The Five in Prison, Posada Walks Free, That’s What Bush Calls Democracy!” and “Extradite Posada, Free the Cuban Five!”
New York City
On June 6, members of the Cuba solidarity movement held a spirited picket and rally in front of New York City’s Federal Plaza. Around 85 people came out to denounce the recent ruling of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and to reaffirm their commitment to struggle on the Five’s behalf.
Among the speakers at the closing rally were Vanessa Alarcon of the PSL, who emphasized that the recent ruling “means we need to organize, organize, organize.” Progressive attorney Lynne Stewart addressed the crowd and called on everyone to use their relative freedom to do everything they can on behalf of the country’s many political prisoners.
Next to the picket, five full-length banners were stretched out facing the street, with slogans demanding the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles and the freedom of the Five.
Chicago
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During the hour-long action, held at a busy intersection in downtown Chicago, protesters spoke out for justice and freedom for the Cuban 5. Hundreds of leaflets explaining the case were handed out. Protesters chanted, “What do we want? Free the Five!”
The Chicago action was organized by ANSWER Chicago and the Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5.
Seattle
About a dozen Seattle activists in solidarity with the Cuban Five gathered in front of the “new” federal courthouse on June 6.
Rain was pouring when the protest began at 4 p.m. Activists held signs and handed out hundreds of copies of a statement from the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five to passers-by and people waiting for the bus.
Organizations represented included the ANSWER Coalition, Party for Socialism and Liberation, National Lawyer’s Guild, Native People’s Alliance with Friends and Allies and the Socialist Workers Party.
Washington, D.C.
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Speakers at the demonstration included Banboshe Shango of the D.C. Metro Committee to Free the Cuban Five, Nefta Freeman, Sonia Umanzor of the FMLN, PSL vice presidential candidate Eugene Puryear, and Seth Dellinger of the Socialist Workers Party.
