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An important message from the
National Committee to Free the Cuban Five to supporters of
the Cuban Five
Nov.
7, 2007
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.
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. The
Billboard Campaign has the potential to bring the
case to the attention of hundreds of thousands or millions
of people. The scope of the campaign will depend on the
funding.
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. We are calling for
press conferences, emergency rallies in front of government
offices in the U.S. or U.S. embassies and consulates abroad,
and a massive letter-writing campaign to the President and
Attorney General.
We do not know when the court
decision will be issued, it could take weeks or months. But
we do know that if all support organizations prepare
NOW in a coordinated fashion, we can be at a
maximum level of preparation and effect possible.
If the court decides favorably
on any of the appeals issues, it is highly likely that the
U.S. government would appeal to the full panel of 12 judges
of the 11th Circuit. It is important that we oppose
any government appeal against any victory for the
Five, and make it known that the U.S. government is
harboring terrorists like Luis Posada Carriles while legally
persecuting the Cuban Five anti-terrorists.
If the court decides negatively,
or with a mixed decision that does not fully grant them
justice, it will be just as important to
hold the same events on the Day After and
Week of Action, to demand the Five's
immediate freedom.
Many of you have contributed
generously in the past to support the courageous struggle of
the Cuban Five. The critical importance of their case rests
not only in the terrible injustice done to the Five as
individuals, but also the nearly half-century of U.S. war,
blockade and terrorism against Cuba, a small neighboring
country.
In peace and solidarity,
Martin Sheen
Actor and Director |
Heidi Boghosian
Executive Director,
Nacional Lawyers Guild |
Andrés Gómez
Director,
Antonio Maceo Brigade |
Gloria La Riva,
Coordinator,
Free the Five Committee |
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Danny Glover
Actor, Activist |
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