Cuban Five still in jail, one year after court ruling

Last August, a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court unanimously overturned the convictions of the Cuban Five: Ramón Labañino, René González, Fernando González, Gerardo Hernández and Antonio Guerrero. The Aug. 9, 2005, ruling stated that a fair trial had been impossible in Miami.

A year later, the Cuban Five are still behind bars, awaiting some action in their case.

While CIA-backed commandos who have carried out terrorist acts against Cuba remain free, the Cuban Five—who had defended their country by monitoring terrorist groups operating out of Miami—were arrested on conspiracy to commit espionage. They are serving four life sentences and 75 years, collectively, in U.S. prisons.

Join the worldwide month to Free the Cuban Five by organizing educational outreach or a protest in your area during the period from Sept. 12 through Oct. 6. The first date is the eighth anniversary of their arrests; the second is the 30th anniversary of the mid-air bombing of Cuban Airlines Flight 455 by Miami-based terrorists. Seventy-three people, including the Cuban youth fencing team, died in that plane bombing. The Cuban Five risked their lives to infiltrate these terrorist organizations, determined it should never happen again.

Organizing materials for the month of protests, including the video “Mission Against Terror,” are available through the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five (www.freethefive.org), other affiliate organizations of the National Network on Cuba (www.cubasolidarity.com), leftbooks.com, or a Workers World Party branch near you.

—Cheryl LaBash