July 26 celebrated in NYC

There was a full house in the Local 1199 union hall in New York on July 27 to celebrate July 26 in solidarity with Cuba. The meeting was dedicated to the memory of Che Guevara and Vilma Espín, a leader of the July 26 Movement and head of the Federation of Cuban Women who died recently.

Rodolfo Benítez, Cuba’s charge d’affairs at its United Nations mission, gave the keynote speech. Benítez reviewed the meaning of July 26 for Cuba, citing the many accomplishments of the revolution in spite of the continuing U.S. blockade.

Attorney Leonard Weinglass reported on the status of the legal case of the Cuban 5, held since September 1998 in U.S. prisons for the “crime” of trying to prevent terrorist attacks on their country. Also addressing the meeting were Elombe Brath from the Patrice Lumumba Coalition; Larry Hamm, People’s Organization for Progress in New Jersey; Antonio Negrón, former Puerto Rican political prisoner; and Victor Toro of La Pena del Bronx and a well-known Chilean activist who has been targeted by the U.S. government for deportation.

Bill Maher, a 9/11 volunteer who was one of the first responders featured in Michael Moore’s documentary “SiCKO,” recounted how he had believed the U.S. government lies about Cuba until he had the opportunity to travel there and experience firsthand the free medical care offered. “I was treated with the utmost respect and dignity in Cuba,” he said. This was in sharp contrast to the complete lack of care he got from the U.S. government.

—Naomi Cohen