NYC celebrates anniversary of attack on Moncada Barracks in Cuba

A spirited celebration of Fidel Castro’s legendary July 26 attack on the Moncada Barracks, which launched Cuba’s revolutionary movement, took place July 25 at Service Employees Local 1199 headquarters. A broad cross-section of New York’s Cuba solidarity movement took part in the celebration.

There was strong support for the five anti-terrorist Cubans who continue to languish in U.S. prisons: Fernando González in Terre Haute, Ind.; René González in Marianna, Fla.; Antonio Guerrero in Florence, Colo.; Gerardo Hernández in Adelante, Calif.; and Ramón Labañino in Pine Knot, Ky. A huge, beautiful banner of the Cuban Five graced the stage.

Attorney Leonard Weinglass gave an update on legal aspects of the campaign to free the Five. He expressed “severe disappointment” that the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month refused to review the case. “We obviously believe that the Supreme Court should have considered the serious flaws in the case and should have reversed the convictions of the Five. But efforts on behalf of the Five have not concluded; indeed they haven’t slowed down.”

“There are several efforts underway now,” Weinglass added. The legal team is following up on a recent victory regarding the outrageously lengthy sentences imposed on three of the five and is preparing for a resentencing hearing sometime this year. The legal team is also preparing an appeal, pressing the point that the convictions are entirely invalid. One of the principal arguments will be the absurdity of the conviction of Hernández for conspiracy to commit murder.

Weinglass also mentioned that the changed politico-diplomatic situation favors the Five. He said their case has been raised with U.S. diplomats by other governments. There have also been unified Latin American demands to end the blockade against Cuba at talks in Trinidad and San Pedro Sula this year.

Secretary of State Clinton’s pressing Cuba on the issue of political prisoners amounts to sheer hypocrisy in light of the horrible treatment of the Five and of other U.S. political prisoners like Mumia Abu-Jamal. Details on each of the Five are available at www.antiterroristas.cu, www.freethefive.org, www.nyfreethefive.org and www.cubasolidarity.com.

The solidarity movement with Cuba has developed a range of activities and a wide variety of organizational forms over 50 years of struggle. Two were given special recognition: IFCO/Pastors for Peace, led by the Rev. Lucius Walker, and the Venceremos Brigade. Both were strongly represented in Havana at the massive July 26 celebration there. Both successfully defied the continued U.S. ban on travel to Cuba, bringing hundreds of tons of material aid, as well as their strong arms and warm hearts, ready to do everything in their power to support the revolution. “We have a right to travel to Cuba,” declared emcee Frank Maldonado to thunderous applause, “and we’re willing to defend it!”

Larry Hamm, a leader of the Newark-based People’s Organization for Progress, said that 40 years ago he declared his unwavering solidarity with the Cuban Revolution and renewed that commitment today. POP has led an impressive series of grassroots struggles not only in Newark but throughout northern New Jersey.

A beautiful book by Che Guevara was available on the Cuba Solidarity Network table: “The African Dream: The Diaries of the Revolutionary War in the Congo.” Che was famous for his slogan that “two, three, many Vietnams” would be the best way to defeat imperialism. In the early 1960s Che and Fidel launched the Organization for Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America, widely known as the Tricontinental, to further these efforts. It continues today. (See www.ospaaal.com.)

There were also biographies of both Che and Fidel—indisputably the most respected and revered personalities in Latin America and in many other parts of the world for their exemplary leadership and fearless, effective defiance of the U.S.’s once-overwhelmingly powerful (and now tottering) empire.

A new book by Leslie Feinberg, “Rainbow Solidarity in Defense of Cuba,” was available at the Workers World table. The book details the many accomplishments of the Cuban leadership and society as a whole to overcome centuries of oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The book is now available at bookstores across the U.S. or at Leftbooks.com.