Efforts persist to free the Cuban 5

Relatives of Cuban 5 meet with Friendshipment caravanistas in Havana. WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

Two important focal points are at hand in the struggle to free the Cuban Five. First is the pending habeas corpus appeal for a new trial for Gerardo Hernández. The other is the anticipated release and parole of René González.

Both events highlight the need to step up work inside the U.S. On Aug. 3 Ricardo Alarcón, president of Cuba’s National Assembly of People’s Power, wrote: “Now is the time to multiply — without letup — actions to demolish the wall of silence that has permitted Washington to perpetuate the injustice.”

The Cuban Five — Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando González and René González — have been unjustly held in U.S. prisons since Sept. 12, 1998. The Supreme Court refused to consider their appeal, and the Obama administration recommended that the habeas corpus appeals be denied.

The Cuban Five are heroes. They should not have spent a moment in prison. Justice would release them immediately and send them home to Cuba. Although the obscenely excessive original life sentences were reduced on appeal for all but Hernández, his double-life-plus-15-years still stands.

Hernández was convicted of a charge even U.S. prosecutors admitted they could not prove — that he orchestrated the Feb. 24, 1996, shootdown over international waters of two small planes out of Florida that intentionally and repeatedly violated Cuban airspace. This aspect of his defense was not handled properly, providing one argument for a new trial. Evidence shows that prominent reporters in Miami were on the U.S. government payroll, so they would publish anti-Cuba propaganda at the time of the trial, stoking public prejudice against the Cuban Five. (freethefive.org)

Cuban 5 families meet with Friendshipment caravanistas

On July 28 the 22nd Pastors for Peace Friendshipment caravan met with families of the Cuban Five in Havana.

Irma Sehwerert, mother of René González, expressed her concern over a possible probation ruling for her son to be served in Miami. She said, “Rene would be at a higher peril in the streets of Miami than in jail. Imagine, René living in Miami for three years. We would not be at ease for one minute.” Attorneys are working to allow him to return to Cuba. Sehwerert continued, “If not, we will keep you informed to see what you can do to protect him.”

Among many action ideas discussed were Five for the Five, local activities for the Cuban Five on the fifth of each month; bringing their case to churches; letter writing to local newspapers; addressing an appeal to Michelle Obama; and approaching 9/11 families to do a joint Youtube video with Cuban Five families.

One of the most moving moments was when one of the family members described the unceasing terrorism directed against Cuba from the United States. Fifty years ago, he noted, young Cuban literacy teachers were lynched with barbed wire.

Parliaments, Nobel laureates, well-known personalities like actor Danny Glover, and multi-million-member unions like Irish/Britain UNITE have called for freedom for the Cuban Five. Mountains have been scaled, banners dropped, petitions signed by millions of supporters, email campaigns and cards sent to U.S. elected officials calling attention to their case. Costly newspaper ads attempt to break through the media blockade to reveal that five innocent men are imprisoned in the U.S. for opposing terrorism — U.S.-based terrorism against their Cuban homeland.

Hernández reportedly characterizes the many efforts around the world for his freedom and that of his four brothers as “It’s like water on a rock.” Be the drop that breaks the hard rock.

For more information, go to antiterroristas.cu, theCuban5.org or freethefive.org.