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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the April 11, 1996
issue of Workers World newspaper
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FAST AGAINST BLOCKADE MOVES TO WASHINGTON

By Sharon Ayling

The health of the five opponents of the U.S. blockade against Cuba who are conducting a "Fast for Life" is of increasing concern to medical personnel and supporters. Still, as they enter the seventh week of the fast, participants are vowing to continue.

They took that vow-and their protest of the blockade- directly to the Clinton administration when they arrived in Washington March 29. The fasters and their supporters demand that the government release medical aid they tried to take to Cuba in February.

The Rev. Lucius Walker, Lisa Valanti, Seya Sangari, Brian Rohatyn and Jim Clifford are weak and under a doctor's constant supervision. All appear gaunt and tired.

The 65-year-old Walker has lost 34 pounds. Sangari is experiencing a serious health crisis and is confined to a wheelchair.

But they continue the protest, backed by supporters.

On day 43 of the hunger strike, they erected a new public home on the lawn of the Methodist Building. The makeshift chapel on Maryland Avenue is in full view of the Capitol, the Supreme Court and the Senate office buildings.

The group is staging motorcades and holding vigils at the White House, Treasury Department and State Department.

At a March 29 news conference, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem announced that many members of Congress have signed a "Dear Colleague" letter. Addressed to the Treasury secretary, the letter calls on him to release the medical aid.

GOV'T TOOK `TOOLS OF LIFE'

Hundreds of supporters are participating in companion fasts and vigils in several other cities.

The Fast for Life began in San Diego on Feb. 21. Nearby, at the San Ysidro border crossing to Mexico, U.S. Treasury agents had confiscated medical computers that participants in the fifth Friendshipment Caravan of IFCO/Pastors for Peace wanted to donate to Cuba.

The 400 computers would have formed part of Infomed-an on-line medical-information system connecting every hospital and clinic on the island.

On March 25, after 33 days of encampment in San Ysidro, the fasters left San Diego and headed for Washington via caravan. Stopping in 10 cities including Birmingham, Ala., and Chicago, they held news conferences, vigils, and public events.

Arriving in Detroit on the 37^th day of the hunger strike, Walker provided a moving description of the Cuban people's needs and how the medical computers would help physicians across Cuba share information.

"These are the tools of life," he said.

The leader of IFCO/Pastors for Peace urged everyone to continue writing letters, making phone calls, and sending faxes to the White House and the Treasury Department demanding the government end the blockade and release the medical aid.

Walker also told how the hunger strikers had been subjected to an abusive use of state force as they were leaving San Diego. Government vehicles tailed them- helicopters swooping menacingly overhead and cars following on the road.

"We had the sense we were in a police state," he said.

"The travel is physically challenging, even though we rest between events," Walker said. "But the warm outpouring of love has served to uplift our spirits.

"And we are determined to continue until the medical aid is released."

The Support Committee can be reached at (202) 544-3825.

Those who want to help can call Pastors for Peace in Minneapolis at (612) 870-7121 or send an e-mail message to p4p@igc.apc.org; the PFP web site is http://www.igc.apc.org/cubasoli/.

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