[antiwar-van] THU JAN 17: Next Action to Free the Cuban 5 + Special Announcement from Natl' Cmte in the U.S.

[Tamara Hansen]

***Please forward widely***

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~Monthly Picket Action~
FREE THE 5 CUBAN HEROES HELD IN U.S. JAILS NOW!
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THURSDAY
JANUARY 17
4PM-5PM
U.S. Consulate (1075 W. Pender St.)
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An important message from the National Committee to
Free the Cuban Five (U.S.) to supporters of the Cuban
Five 

*** ANNOUNCING THE BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN AND THE "DAY
AFTER"
CAMPAIGN ***

Dear Friends of the Cuban Five: 
In recent months there has been a significant rise in
news coverage of the Cuban Five case by major media.
CNN's The Situation Room aired a 13-minute segment.
BBC and Reuters conducted radio interviews with
Gerardo Hernández. An important article appeared in
The New York Times, National Public Radio broadcast a
recent segment, and the Associated Press story on the
Aug. 20 oral argument hearing was picked up by almost
100 U.S. daily newspapers. All of this coverage is
easily accessible on this website
(http://www.freethef ive.org/). 
The news reports have not only covered the legal case
of the Five but the worldwide campaign to win their
freedom as well. In fact, without the political
support campaign, it is extremely doubtful that the
case would be receiving the kind of attention it has.
We believe the time is now for us to raise even higher
the level of public awareness about the Five in the
United States, and demand that the Bush administration
end the unjust imprisonment and free them immediately.
We can only hope to succeed with your support. 
The case of the Cuban Five is at another critical
juncture. While we now await the decision of the
three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of
Appeals, after the Aug. 20 court hearing, it is clear
that we cannot depend on the legal battle alone to win
justice for the Five. History has shown that political
cases are won with the people's support and by
exposing the truth. The struggle of the Cuban Five is
no exception. 

The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five is
launching an exciting new campaign for the next stage
of the struggle, with two components: 
1. A Billboard Campaign to raise public awareness and
support for the Five in Washington DC, Los Angeles and
other cities, with Billboards and Transit Shelter ads.
[...]
2. An International and U.S. "Day After" mobilization
and Week of Action immediately upon the 11th Circuit
Court of Appeals decision. Regardless of the outcome
of the court decision, it will be vital for all
supporters of the Five, organizations and individuals,
to respond the day after. [...]
Thanks in advance for your support. 

In peace and solidarity,

Martin Sheen, Actor & Director
Heidi Boghosian, Executive Director, National Lawyers Guild
Danny Glover, Actor & Activist
Andres Gomez, Director, Antonio Maceo Brigade
Gloria La Riva, Coordinator, National Committee to
Free the Cuban Five- US

(please visit: http://www.freethefive.org for full letter)
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WHO ARE THE CUBAN 5?

Between 1994 and 1995, Cuba sent five unarmed men,
Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino,
Fernando González and René González on a mission to
infiltrate and expose Miami-based terrorist groups
such as Alpha 66, Omega 7, Brothers to the Rescue and
the Cuban American National Foundation. These
groups are responsible for hundreds of terrorist
attacks which have taken the lives of thousands of
Cubans.

The list of atrocities committed by these groups is
long. It includes the bombing of hotels in Cuba,
assassinations, spreading of diseases, sabotage and
attacks against Cuba’s supporters in the U.S. such as
the bombing of the Lincoln Center in 1978 after a
Cuban ballet performance. One of the most horrendous
attacks was the bombing of a Cuban airliner, which took the lives
of 73 people in 1976. The 5 Cuban Heroes were
valiantly struggling against this terror, putting
themselves and their loved ones in mortal danger
throughout the process. 

After gathering evidence to expose the terrorists,
Cuba released all the information that the 5 had
collected to the FBI. On September 12th, 1998 the FBI
arrested the Cuban 5 and threw them in solitary
confinement for 17 months. It was not until 2001 that
these innocent men were tried and convicted. After a
seven-month show trial (one of the longest in U.S.
history), the Cuban 5 were sentenced to between 15
years and two life sentences. The U.S. has also denied
Visas to family members of the 5, effectively barring
them from visiting their loved ones in prison.

Join us in the battle to free the 5 Cuban Heroes held
in U.S. jails! 
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Organized by:
Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver (FC5C) 
604.719.6947 | cuban5_van at yahoo.com
http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/freethefivevan.html

Endorsed by:
Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC)
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