A visit with one of the Cuban Five
Out of the 'hole' and stronger than ever
By Alicia Jrapko and Bill Hackwell
Two members of the National Committee to Free the Cuban
Five were the first outsiders to visit Gerardo Hernández
in prison after his release from solitary confinement--the
"hole"--on March 28. This is their account of that
visit.
As we drove the 300 miles from San Francisco
to Lompoc prison, we were not sure if the authorities would
allow us in to see Gerardo Hernández, one of the five
Cuban political prisoners being held unjustly in the United
States. The last time we had tried to see Gerardo was shortly
after he and the four others were thrown into the hole on
orders from Attorney General John Ashcroft, who cited "national
security." On March 7, at the entrance to Lompoc, a legal
representative of the prison had told us that we would probably
never see Gerardo again.
Since his release from the hole, Gerardo had had no visitors
other than a single legal visit, so our doubts remained on
whether we were going to be allowed in. Early in the morning we
completed all the necessary paper work. As we walked inside the
walls we were still anxious, anticipating that someone would
deny us entry.
We were only sure when the door to the visiting area opened
and Gerardo, now a hero to the Cuban people, walked in smiling,
with his head held high.
During the next six hours, as we talked of our families and
world events, he explained how he endured 30 days in solitary
confinement behind double doors, in a cell 5 feet wide by 6
feet long with a single light bulb constantly burning. He was
stripped of every personal thing, except his dignity. Sewer
water from a toilet above leaked into his cell and
communications with other human beings were suspended.
The Cuban Five had been thrown into the hole as the day for
their appeals approached. This came as a surprise to people who
follow their case around the world, and even to some of the
guards and other prisoners. Gerardo is known as a model
prisoner, who makes an effort to be helpful to others.
Cubans have a joke that concerns always finding a way to
resolve the problems they encounter. This humor comes from the
scarcity created by over 40 years of the unilateral U.S.
blockade against Cuba. When Gerardo was allowed paper and
stamps, but no envelopes, to send a letter to his attorney,
Paul McKenna, he constructed an envelope made of legal paper
glued together with toothpaste. It made it.
The question on our minds was how he coped with such
deprivation and petty cruelty. He told us: "This was not just
about me and the other four compañeros, because we
represent the struggle of the Cuban people. I never forgot
that. I knew that our people were behind us and would do
everything to make our conditions known and to call out to the
world for our release from the hole. I also knew that all the
people working in solidarity to free the Five and many others
who are for justice, and who are learning about our case, would
be mobilized in our behalf.
"I was also proud knowing that many of you in the U.S. who
support the struggle for our freedom were also in the streets
protesting the U.S. war of aggression against the people of
Iraq."
Gerardo has just started to respond to the hundreds of
letters that backlogged during his time in the hole. He asked
us on behalf of the Five to thank everyone for their solidarity
and efforts to get them released from solitary.
Perhaps the government of the U.S. underestimated how many
friends the Cuban Five have. As we left the prison, we remarked
that we had never seen Gerardo stronger or more determined. The
solidarity movement must continue to make more people aware of
the injustice of this case, which is about their efforts to
prevent terrorist acts against their country.
The release of the Cuban Five from the hole was a step
forward--but the real victory will be when Gerardo, Antonio
Guerrero, Fernando Gon zá lez, Ramón
Labañino and René González walk free and
return to their homeland in Cuba.
Reprinted from the May 1, 2003, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011
Email: ww@workers.org
Subscribe wwnews-subscribe@workersworld.net
Support independent news http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php)
HOME
:: U.S. NEWS ::
WORLD NEWS ::
EDITORIALS ::
SUBSCRIBE ::
DONATE
Email
this article
Printable
page