[antiwar-van] Report on BC/WA Border Crossing for 21st Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba!

[Tamara Hansen]

SATURDAY JULY 4 -- SUCCESSFUL BORDER CROSSING FROM BC INTO WASHINGTON WITH THE PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN TO CUBA!
End The U.S. Blockade on Cuba NOW!

On Saturday, July 4th, over 110 people gathered to participate in an event at the Peace Arch Park Canada-US border in White Rock, BC/Blaine, WA. Participants came from Bellingham, Seattle, Olympia, Salt Spring Island, Victoria, Vancouver, White Rock and some as far away as Los Angeles and New York City to send off the 21st Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba! 

Some highlights of the event included: 
((1)) Sending a full school bus and aid initiated by Cuba supporters from Salt Spring Island for the people of Cuba.
((2)) A pick-up truck full of aid for the Caravan, with medical equipment, computers, school supplies and other items from Vancouver, Comox Valley and Nanaimo.
((3)) Sending off 9 Caravanistas (5 from Vancouver, 1 from Salt Spring Island, 1 from Olympia, 1 from Seattle and 1 from New York City) all on their way to see and experience Cuban reality! 
((4)) The presence of Manolo de los Santos, project Coordinator of IFCO/Pastors for Peace from New York City, who encouraged participants to be a part of ongoing Pastors for Peace and Caravan  projects!
((5)) A successful border crossing which challenged once again the U.S. government’s illegal and unjust blockade against Cuba! 

Every year for the past 19 years, people of all ages, faiths and walks of life have been coming together to participate in the Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. The Caravan is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) which challenges the US blockade of Cuba and ban on US citizens traveling to the island nation. For more information on the caravan, visit:  www.pastorsforpeace.org

** For photos and reports on the BC/WA Caravan Crossing please visit:

-- Report from Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC):
http://www.vancubasolidarity.com/100704p4p.html

-- Report from the Seattle-Cuba Friendship Committee:
http://www.seattlecuba.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=57&Itemid=64 

-- Report on the Peace is Possible blog:
http://peacepotential.blogspot.com/2010/07/pastors-for-peace-cuba-caravan-canadian.html 

-- Report from OlyBlog (devoted to citizen journalism) from Olympia, Washington:
http://olyblog.net/cuba-caravanistas-town 

** To follow the Caravan on its way to Cuba please visit:
http://www.ifconews.org/Blog-21stCaravan 

** IMPORTANT: Please remember the IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba will be crossing from Texas into Mexico JULY 21 2010! There is always a potential that the U.S. government will try to stop the Caravanistas or the aid from reaching Cuba due to their immoral and inhuman policy of blockade. Please continue reading the websites above for updates and actions regarding the 21st Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba.