Hoy hace doce años
que comenzó esta injusticia
12 años de encierros
12 años de agonía
12 años de lucha ferrea
de firme y dulce compañía
12 años de ser uno
y ser "cinco" en hombria
12 años que tu amor espera
y me espera todavía
más también son 12 años
en que la esperanza crece
con el sol de cada dia....
!12 años de victorias
12 años de poesía!
!Venceremos!
Cinco abrazos,
Ramón Labañino Salazar
Ramón
Press Conference Demands Freedom for the Five
At 12 noon Eastern time Sept. 9, the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five held a press conference, featuring the following speakers:
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, U.S. Army Colonel and former Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
Wayne Smith, former chief, U.S. Interests Section in Havana
Andrés Gómez, director, Antonio Maceo Brigade (member organization of La Alianza Martiana coalition)
Brian Becker, director, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder, Partnership for Civil Justice
Gloria La Riva, coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Extended bios of some of the speakers can be found here. Scroll down for a list of supplementary reading material for the press conference.
The press conference was broadcast live and is now available to re-view here or below, or you can listen to or download the audio-only mp3 file here.
There is also a variety of suggested supplementary material to what was said at the press conference:
Interview with Leonard Weinglass (in English and Spanish) regarding the status of Gerardo Hernández, whose latest legal filing will occur very shortly.
Information revealed by our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request about secret and illegal payments made to Miami journalists at the time of the trial of the Five.
Article by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson about the Cuban Five.
Article (pdf) by Wayne Smith about the Cuban Five.
Article (pdf) about New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and the trips he made to Cuba prior to the arrest of the Five, in which he discussed the Brothers to the Rescue overflights of Cuban territory which ultimately led to two of them being shot down.
Appearance (video) by Brian Becker on Russia Today after the resentencing of Antonio Guerrero.
It is with profound sadness that we pass along the message below, informing us of the death of our dear friend the Reverend Lucius Walker, a steadfast supporter of Cuba, the Cuban Five, and many other humanitarian causes. Rev. Walker was the originator and driving force behind the 21 Cuba Friendshipment Caravans, which brought solidarity and much more to Cuba from the people of the United States and the world. There will be more news to come.
From IFCO/Pastors for Peace:
It is with immeasurable sadness that we write to let you know of the passing of our beloved, heroic, prophetic leader Rev. Lucius Walker Jr. this morning. We will write with more information as soon as arrangements are made. Please keep his family and his IFCO family in your prayers.
We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Lucius Walker, ¡Presente!
The following message was posted by Ricardo Alarcón, President of Cuba's National Assembly, on the CubaDebate website:
Lucius estará cada día con nosotros
Mensaje para Ellen Bernstein y Gail Walker:
No hay palabras para describir el dolor ante la muerte de nuestro querido hermano Lucius.
Lo conocí en New York hace ya más de veinte años cuando forjamos una amistad que el tiempo fortaleció siempre. Lucius fue ejemplo insuperable de solidaridad y amor al prójimo. Su vida fue auténtica realización del verdadero espíritu cristiano.
Los cubanos guardaremos eterna gratitud a Lucius Walker, a IFCO y a los Pastores por la Paz por su lucha constante contra el cruel bloqueo económico que sufre nuestro pueblo y por la liberación de los Cinco compatriotas injustamente encarcelados durante doce años por tratar de evitar acciones terroristas.
Reciban Ustedes un fuerte abrazo solidario en este momento de pena.
Que la lucha continúe y se multiplique hasta conquistar para todos un mundo de paz y hermandad. Lucius estará cada día con nosotros, renacerá en la lucha hasta la Victoria Siempre.
Actions around the world mark the 12th anniversary
of the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five
New York art show opening (photo by Roberto J. Mercado)
Sept. 12 will mark the 12th anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five, and the beginning of their 13th year behind bars. To mark this occasion, and to increase the volume of the worldwide demand to free the Five, actions have been scheduled around the world for the days surrounding Sept. 12. In the U.S. actions are planned in Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC. And around the world, actions will take place in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Lima, London, Madrid, Manchester, Montevideo, Newcastle, Ottawa, San Salvador, Stockholm, Toronto, Valencia, Vancouver, Vienna, and Windhoek.
Please check the calendar for details of these events, and, if you have an event scheduled that isn't listed, please let us know by filling out the online form. And if you haven't scheduled an event in your city, there's still time to do so! It's more important than ever that we keep the call to Free the Five before the public, worldwide.
Desde mi Altura, the exhibition of art work by Cuban Five hero Antonio Guerrero, continues to make people aware of the case of the Five. On Sept. 3 the show opened for the first time in New York City, where it will remain for a month. If you are in the New York area, plan to attend the show, and encourage your friends to see this magnificent art.
Harry Belafonte at the art show opening (photo by Roberto J. Mercado)
Gerardo Hernández, Cuban Five hero, has just been released this morning from isolation after an intense campaign by his attorneys and thousands of supporters around the world, including nearly a thousand emails to the Bureau of Prisons generated by the National Committee's appeal.
Leonard Weinglass, one of Gerardo's attorneys, visited Gerardo this weekend along with fellow attorney Peter Schey. He described this morning to Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five the abysmal and cruel conditions that Gerardo was placed in. "Gerardo is in great spirits but he's really suffering. In 100+ degree weather, the air was so stifling that Gerardo was laying on the floor sucking in air from the bottom of the door. He couldn't take his blood pressure medicine as his doctor advised him because the weather was too hot. He couldn't use the shower because it was scalding hot water. He was given dirty bedsheets, and he had to resort to washing them in the toilet."
Weinglass noted that "we sent a five-page letter to the prison containing all the errors that they made in putting him in isolation. The letter outlined their own regulations that they violated."
Gerardo is released!
Moments later this morning, in a new phone call, Weinglass announced "they've just released him to the general population!"
It's thanks to the great efforts of the attorneys and the national and international solidarity movement with the Cuban Five that this punitive and unwarranted prison action against Gerardo has been ended. Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly to this emergency situation.
Clearly, the struggle must intensify to free Gerardo and all the Cuban Five from prison. One thing you can do right now is to send a letter to Gerardo, letting him know you and all of us are with him in the continuing struggle. Also, if you are not already receiving emails from the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, please click here to add your name to our low-volume list, so that we'll be able to notify you if another emergency arises.
Read the message sent by Gerardo after his release here / Lea el mensaje enviado por Gerardo aquí
Demand justice for the Cuban Five! Click here to write a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder. Click here to have yourself or your organization listed as part of the coalition.
National Committee Exposes Secret Payments to Miami Journalists who Covered the Prosecution of the Cuban Five
• Documents which were revealed and discussed at the press conference can be found here.
• Audio, video, and partial transcripts of the press conference can be found here • Read the media coverage of the press conference (in English and Spanish) here
A press conference held June 2, 2010 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., attended by a variety of national and international media, revealed new evidence uncovered by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five that the U.S. Government has covertly paid tens of thousands of dollars to Miami journalists working for major media outlets who, during the federal government's politically-charged Miami prosecution, published often incendiary stories about Cuba and the five Cubans. The men, known as the "Cuban Five," are serving sentences varying from 15 years to double life, after being convicted of charges including espionage conspiracy.
Gloria La Riva
The press conference revealed names of journalists, payment amounts, and will have available notebooks highlighting articles and propaganda by supposedly-independent journalists who were covertly on the payroll of the U.S. government.
Speaking at the press conference were attorneys with the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) that have filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the National Committee. The litigation filed by the PCJF asserts that the BBG and its Office of Cuba Broadcasting are withholding information that will show that they have engaged in activities in violation of federal law, specifically the Smith-Mundt Act, which prohibits the BBG from seeking to propagandize the U.S. public, and may be continuing to do so.
The press conference announced that a coalition of organizations is initiating a nationwide campaign that will call on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to take immediate action to provide remedy and relief to the Cuban Five based on the U.S. government's misconduct and covert operations which deprived the Five of their fundamental right to a fair trial. Click here to send your own letter to Eric Holder demanding justice for the Five, and click here so that you or your organization can be listed as part of the coalition calling on Holder to free the Five.
Government seeks to block information revealing illegal activity
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Partnership for Civil Justice
Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the Cuban Five committee who will speak at the press conference, said, "Many of the articles and commentaries by the government-paid journalists were highly prejudicial and biased, with the obvious aim of negatively influencing the Miami public and the jury pool, convicting the Cuban Five, and depriving them of the fundamental right to a fair trial."
In January 2009, the National Committee issued a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) seeking information on U.S. government payments to supposedly independent journalists. Key information initially released by the BBG to the Committee made clear that the amount of covert government payments to journalists is substantial - however the agency is refusing to hand over critical underlying documents to the National Committee and is fighting to keep this information from becoming subject to public scrutiny.
According to the lawsuit filed by the PCJF attorneys Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo, on behalf of the Cuban Five committee, "The public has an immediate right to know about matters involving improper domestic propaganda as well as whether the U.S. Government compromised the fundamental right to a fair trial of the Cuban Five. These journalists engaged in repeated publications of purportedly independent articles. The articles include many that were highly incendiary, included false information and poisoned domestic public opinion during the prosecution, trial and conviction of the Cuban Five."
Speakers at the press conference:
Gloria La Riva, Coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Attorney, Co-founder, Partnership for Civil Justice
Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
Brian Becker, National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Heidi Boghosian
Brian Becker
Demand justice for the Cuban Five! Click here to write a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder Click here to have yourself or your organization listed as part of the coalition.
Forbidden Heroes: The Untold Story of the Cuban Five
An important series of articles on the history of the case of the Cuban Five
by Ricardo Alarcón, President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power:
[Can't see the video above, which requires the latest version of Flash? Click here to view the QuickTime or WMV versions]
Click here to be added to our low-volume email list to be kept informed about developments in the case.
Haz clic aquí para que tu nombre sea añadido a nuestra lista de correos de bajo volumen y mantenerte informado acerca de los acontecimientos que tienen lugar sobre este caso.
Who are the Cuban Five?
The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who are in U.S. prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001.
They are Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González.
The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related charges.
But the Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups, in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba.
The Five’s actions were never directed at the U.S. government. They never harmed anyone nor ever possessed nor used any weapons while in the United States.
The Cuban Five’s mission was to stop terrorism
For more than 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based in Miami have engaged in countless terrorist activities against Cuba, and against anyone who advocates a normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. More than 3,000 Cubans have died as a result of these terrorists’ attacks.
Terrorist Miami groups like Comandos F4 and Brothers to the Rescue operate with complete impunity from within the United States to attack Cuba—with the knowledge and support of the FBI and CIA.
Therefore, Cuba made the careful and necessary decision to send the Five Cubans to Miami to monitor the terrorists. The Cuban Five infiltrated the terrorist organizations in Miami to inform Cuba of imminent attacks.
The aim of such a clandestine operation by the Cuban Five—at great personal risk—was to prevent criminal acts, and thus protect the lives of Cubans and other people.
Billboard in Los Angeles demands:
Free the Cuban Five
On Feb 1, 2008, a billboard was unveiled in Hollywood (Los Angeles), California, demanding the freedom of the Cuban Five. Click here to see pictures and watch a video of that historic event.
March on Washington demands:
Free the Cuban Five
On Sept. 23, 2006, a historic march was held through the streets of Washington, D.C. from the Justice Department to the White House. Listen to speeches from the press conference which preceded the march and the forum which followed it, and watch a slideshow and videos of the march.
Hoy hace doce años
que comenzó esta injusticia
12 años de encierros
12 años de agonía
12 años de lucha ferrea
de firme y dulce compañía
12 años de ser uno
y ser "cinco" en hombria
12 años que tu amor espera
y me espera todavía
más también son 12 años
en que la esperanza crece
con el sol de cada dia....
!12 años de victorias
12 años de poesía!
!Venceremos!
Cinco abrazos,
Ramón Labañino Salazar
Ramón
Press Conference Demands Freedom for the Five
At 12 noon Eastern time Sept. 9, the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five held a press conference, featuring the following speakers:
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, U.S. Army Colonel and former Chief of Staff to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell
Wayne Smith, former chief, U.S. Interests Section in Havana
Andrés Gómez, director, Antonio Maceo Brigade (member organization of La Alianza Martiana coalition)
Brian Becker, director, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, co-founder, Partnership for Civil Justice
Gloria La Riva, coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Extended bios of some of the speakers can be found here. Scroll down for a list of supplementary reading material for the press conference.
The press conference was broadcast live and is now available to re-view here or below, or you can listen to or download the audio-only mp3 file here.
There is also a variety of suggested supplementary material to what was said at the press conference:
Interview with Leonard Weinglass (in English and Spanish) regarding the status of Gerardo Hernández, whose latest legal filing will occur very shortly.
Information revealed by our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request about secret and illegal payments made to Miami journalists at the time of the trial of the Five.
Article by Col. Lawrence Wilkerson about the Cuban Five.
Article (pdf) by Wayne Smith about the Cuban Five.
Article (pdf) about New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and the trips he made to Cuba prior to the arrest of the Five, in which he discussed the Brothers to the Rescue overflights of Cuban territory which ultimately led to two of them being shot down.
Appearance (video) by Brian Becker on Russia Today after the resentencing of Antonio Guerrero.
It is with profound sadness that we pass along the message below, informing us of the death of our dear friend the Reverend Lucius Walker, a steadfast supporter of Cuba, the Cuban Five, and many other humanitarian causes. Rev. Walker was the originator and driving force behind the 21 Cuba Friendshipment Caravans, which brought solidarity and much more to Cuba from the people of the United States and the world. There will be more news to come.
From IFCO/Pastors for Peace:
It is with immeasurable sadness that we write to let you know of the passing of our beloved, heroic, prophetic leader Rev. Lucius Walker Jr. this morning. We will write with more information as soon as arrangements are made. Please keep his family and his IFCO family in your prayers.
We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Lucius Walker, ¡Presente!
The following message was posted by Ricardo Alarcón, President of Cuba's National Assembly, on the CubaDebate website:
Lucius estará cada día con nosotros
Mensaje para Ellen Bernstein y Gail Walker:
No hay palabras para describir el dolor ante la muerte de nuestro querido hermano Lucius.
Lo conocí en New York hace ya más de veinte años cuando forjamos una amistad que el tiempo fortaleció siempre. Lucius fue ejemplo insuperable de solidaridad y amor al prójimo. Su vida fue auténtica realización del verdadero espíritu cristiano.
Los cubanos guardaremos eterna gratitud a Lucius Walker, a IFCO y a los Pastores por la Paz por su lucha constante contra el cruel bloqueo económico que sufre nuestro pueblo y por la liberación de los Cinco compatriotas injustamente encarcelados durante doce años por tratar de evitar acciones terroristas.
Reciban Ustedes un fuerte abrazo solidario en este momento de pena.
Que la lucha continúe y se multiplique hasta conquistar para todos un mundo de paz y hermandad. Lucius estará cada día con nosotros, renacerá en la lucha hasta la Victoria Siempre.
Actions around the world mark the 12th anniversary
of the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five
New York art show opening (photo by Roberto J. Mercado)
Sept. 12 will mark the 12th anniversary of the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban Five, and the beginning of their 13th year behind bars. To mark this occasion, and to increase the volume of the worldwide demand to free the Five, actions have been scheduled around the world for the days surrounding Sept. 12. In the U.S. actions are planned in Albuquerque, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC. And around the world, actions will take place in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Lima, London, Madrid, Manchester, Montevideo, Newcastle, Ottawa, San Salvador, Stockholm, Toronto, Valencia, Vancouver, Vienna, and Windhoek.
Please check the calendar for details of these events, and, if you have an event scheduled that isn't listed, please let us know by filling out the online form. And if you haven't scheduled an event in your city, there's still time to do so! It's more important than ever that we keep the call to Free the Five before the public, worldwide.
Desde mi Altura, the exhibition of art work by Cuban Five hero Antonio Guerrero, continues to make people aware of the case of the Five. On Sept. 3 the show opened for the first time in New York City, where it will remain for a month. If you are in the New York area, plan to attend the show, and encourage your friends to see this magnificent art.
Harry Belafonte at the art show opening (photo by Roberto J. Mercado)
Gerardo Hernández, Cuban Five hero, has just been released this morning from isolation after an intense campaign by his attorneys and thousands of supporters around the world, including nearly a thousand emails to the Bureau of Prisons generated by the National Committee's appeal.
Leonard Weinglass, one of Gerardo's attorneys, visited Gerardo this weekend along with fellow attorney Peter Schey. He described this morning to Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five the abysmal and cruel conditions that Gerardo was placed in. "Gerardo is in great spirits but he's really suffering. In 100+ degree weather, the air was so stifling that Gerardo was laying on the floor sucking in air from the bottom of the door. He couldn't take his blood pressure medicine as his doctor advised him because the weather was too hot. He couldn't use the shower because it was scalding hot water. He was given dirty bedsheets, and he had to resort to washing them in the toilet."
Weinglass noted that "we sent a five-page letter to the prison containing all the errors that they made in putting him in isolation. The letter outlined their own regulations that they violated."
Gerardo is released!
Moments later this morning, in a new phone call, Weinglass announced "they've just released him to the general population!"
It's thanks to the great efforts of the attorneys and the national and international solidarity movement with the Cuban Five that this punitive and unwarranted prison action against Gerardo has been ended. Thanks to everyone who responded so quickly to this emergency situation.
Clearly, the struggle must intensify to free Gerardo and all the Cuban Five from prison. One thing you can do right now is to send a letter to Gerardo, letting him know you and all of us are with him in the continuing struggle. Also, if you are not already receiving emails from the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, please click here to add your name to our low-volume list, so that we'll be able to notify you if another emergency arises.
Read the message sent by Gerardo after his release here / Lea el mensaje enviado por Gerardo aquí
Demand justice for the Cuban Five! Click here to write a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder. Click here to have yourself or your organization listed as part of the coalition.
National Committee Exposes Secret Payments to Miami Journalists who Covered the Prosecution of the Cuban Five
• Documents which were revealed and discussed at the press conference can be found here.
• Audio, video, and partial transcripts of the press conference can be found here • Read the media coverage of the press conference (in English and Spanish) here
A press conference held June 2, 2010 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., attended by a variety of national and international media, revealed new evidence uncovered by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five that the U.S. Government has covertly paid tens of thousands of dollars to Miami journalists working for major media outlets who, during the federal government's politically-charged Miami prosecution, published often incendiary stories about Cuba and the five Cubans. The men, known as the "Cuban Five," are serving sentences varying from 15 years to double life, after being convicted of charges including espionage conspiracy.
Gloria La Riva
The press conference revealed names of journalists, payment amounts, and will have available notebooks highlighting articles and propaganda by supposedly-independent journalists who were covertly on the payroll of the U.S. government.
Speaking at the press conference were attorneys with the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) that have filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the National Committee. The litigation filed by the PCJF asserts that the BBG and its Office of Cuba Broadcasting are withholding information that will show that they have engaged in activities in violation of federal law, specifically the Smith-Mundt Act, which prohibits the BBG from seeking to propagandize the U.S. public, and may be continuing to do so.
The press conference announced that a coalition of organizations is initiating a nationwide campaign that will call on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to take immediate action to provide remedy and relief to the Cuban Five based on the U.S. government's misconduct and covert operations which deprived the Five of their fundamental right to a fair trial. Click here to send your own letter to Eric Holder demanding justice for the Five, and click here so that you or your organization can be listed as part of the coalition calling on Holder to free the Five.
Government seeks to block information revealing illegal activity
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Partnership for Civil Justice
Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the Cuban Five committee who will speak at the press conference, said, "Many of the articles and commentaries by the government-paid journalists were highly prejudicial and biased, with the obvious aim of negatively influencing the Miami public and the jury pool, convicting the Cuban Five, and depriving them of the fundamental right to a fair trial."
In January 2009, the National Committee issued a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) seeking information on U.S. government payments to supposedly independent journalists. Key information initially released by the BBG to the Committee made clear that the amount of covert government payments to journalists is substantial - however the agency is refusing to hand over critical underlying documents to the National Committee and is fighting to keep this information from becoming subject to public scrutiny.
According to the lawsuit filed by the PCJF attorneys Mara Verheyden-Hilliard and Carl Messineo, on behalf of the Cuban Five committee, "The public has an immediate right to know about matters involving improper domestic propaganda as well as whether the U.S. Government compromised the fundamental right to a fair trial of the Cuban Five. These journalists engaged in repeated publications of purportedly independent articles. The articles include many that were highly incendiary, included false information and poisoned domestic public opinion during the prosecution, trial and conviction of the Cuban Five."
Speakers at the press conference:
Gloria La Riva, Coordinator, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Attorney, Co-founder, Partnership for Civil Justice
Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
Brian Becker, National Coordinator, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Heidi Boghosian
Brian Becker
Demand justice for the Cuban Five! Click here to write a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder Click here to have yourself or your organization listed as part of the coalition.
Forbidden Heroes: The Untold Story of the Cuban Five
An important series of articles on the history of the case of the Cuban Five
by Ricardo Alarcón, President of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power:
[Can't see the video above, which requires the latest version of Flash? Click here to view the QuickTime or WMV versions]
Click here to be added to our low-volume email list to be kept informed about developments in the case.
Haz clic aquí para que tu nombre sea añadido a nuestra lista de correos de bajo volumen y mantenerte informado acerca de los acontecimientos que tienen lugar sobre este caso.
Who are the Cuban Five?
The Cuban Five are five Cuban men who are in U.S. prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001.
They are Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González.
The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related charges.
But the Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based terrorist groups, in order to prevent terrorist attacks on their country of Cuba.
The Five’s actions were never directed at the U.S. government. They never harmed anyone nor ever possessed nor used any weapons while in the United States.
The Cuban Five’s mission was to stop terrorism
For more than 40 years, anti-Cuba terrorist organizations based in Miami have engaged in countless terrorist activities against Cuba, and against anyone who advocates a normalization of relations between the U.S. and Cuba. More than 3,000 Cubans have died as a result of these terrorists’ attacks.
Terrorist Miami groups like Comandos F4 and Brothers to the Rescue operate with complete impunity from within the United States to attack Cuba—with the knowledge and support of the FBI and CIA.
Therefore, Cuba made the careful and necessary decision to send the Five Cubans to Miami to monitor the terrorists. The Cuban Five infiltrated the terrorist organizations in Miami to inform Cuba of imminent attacks.
The aim of such a clandestine operation by the Cuban Five—at great personal risk—was to prevent criminal acts, and thus protect the lives of Cubans and other people.
Billboard in Los Angeles demands:
Free the Cuban Five
On Feb 1, 2008, a billboard was unveiled in Hollywood (Los Angeles), California, demanding the freedom of the Cuban Five. Click here to see pictures and watch a video of that historic event.
March on Washington demands:
Free the Cuban Five
On Sept. 23, 2006, a historic march was held through the streets of Washington, D.C. from the Justice Department to the White House. Listen to speeches from the press conference which preceded the march and the forum which followed it, and watch a slideshow and videos of the march.
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five
2489 Mission St., #24
San Francisco, CA 94110
www.freethefive.org
10/6/10: 
9/29/10: 
