NY/Tri-State Area Working Conference on the Cuban Five

Saturday June 14, 2008

8:00am - Registration

9:30am-5:00pm - Conference

NY/Tri-State Area Working Conference on the Cuban Five

Hostos Community College

149th St. and Grand Concourse, Bronx

 

Take the 4,5,or 2 train to 149th and Grand Concourse

FOR DETAILS / TO PRE-REGISTER:

http://www.freethecuban5conference.com

 

 

 

An Appeal to support and attend

The Working Conference in Solidarity with the Cuban Five!

September 12, 2008 marks the 10^th year of the arrest of the Cuban Five.

The Cuban Five are five Cuban men – Fernando González, René González, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Gerardo Hernández – who are currently still in U.S. prison, serving four life sentences and 75 years collectively, after being wrongly convicted in U.S. federal court in Miami, on June 8, 2001 .

The Five were falsely accused by the U.S. government of committing espionage conspiracy against the United States, and other related charges.

The Five pointed out vigorously in their defense that they were involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based and U.S. backed terrorist groups, in order to prevent dangerous and violent attacks on their country of Cuba.

They were tried and convicted in an atmosphere of hype and hysteria in Miami, Florida – a region where a fair hearing could not possibly occur. The verdict was goaded by ultra-right politicians and a highly orchestrated media campaign of disinformation with the tone of a lynch mob.

At the trial there was not a single page of classified information produced showing evidence of espionage or any action directed against the US government.

In the period of 17 months between arrest and trial, the five Cubans were subjected to brutal conditions of solitary confinement and near-total isolation to hinder the preparation of their defense. This psychological torture was aimed at breaking their will, in blatant violation of their rights under US law. The hope was to break their spirit and force "confessions" to the trumped-up "conspiracy" charges.

But this failed and the trial was finally held in November 2000. They were convicted in June 2001.

The truth is that the Cuban Five were defending Cuba from terrorist attacks. These attacks were mainly emanating from South Florida. Cuba was forced to send these men to infiltrate ultra-right Cuban-American organizations, who had a clear history of terrorist attacks, organized on US soil against the sovereign Cuban state in violation of US law.

Just last week, a three-judge panel unanimously upheld the convictions against the Five Cuban Patriots. The Atlanta Appeals Court's written opinion, which employs startling political rhetoric, states that the defense's arguments lacked merit and clearly favors the government.

This follows in the wake of the same Court’s stunning August 2005 decision with virtually no precedent, to overturn the original trial verdict on the grounds that there could not be a fair and impartial hearing in the hostile climate of Miami, Florida. This ruling was subsequently reversed by the full court under heavy pressure from the Bush Administration's Justice Department.

The defense attorneys, Weinglass, MacKenna and Horowitz, ensured they will continue the legal battle that began in December 2001 when they were unjustly sentences. There are still some legal avenues open. W e are not surprised by the judicial ruling. On the contrary, it reaffirms our need to continue fighting tirelessly to denounce this colossal injustice.

Around the world, and increasingly inside the United States, the case of the Cuban Five, stands as one of the most brutal and outrageous injustices in modern history. As the facts have emerged and the truth about the Cuban Five becomes more known and publicized, Committees to support the Cuban Five have spread all over the world. Their incarceration continues under brutal conditions that have included solitary confinement and denial of family visitations and other violations of formal US laws.

An international call for world protests in solidarity with the Cuban Five in September and October 2008 has been issued.

It is a critical moment for the Cuban Five. Now is the time for supporters of the Cuban Five and all defenders of civil liberties and justice to step up work on their behalf. Now is the time to reach out to broad layers of the US population, whatever their political views in general and on the Cuban Revolution in particular.

Supporters of the Cuban Five begin by demanding that US authorities comply with US law and allow family members to visit their loved ones. In this Presidential and Congressional election year we aim to raise the issue of the Cuban Five and to reach out and win support from elected officials.  To mark the 10^th anniversary of their arrests there will be organized public protests on Saturday, September 13.

In this spirit, activists in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are issuing this Appeal to Organize a Working Conference in Solidarity with the Cuban Five on Saturday, June 14, 2008.

The aim of the Working Conference is to generate activity and concrete campaigns from the grass roots – from religious communities and organizations; from the trade union movement; from young people, students and the broader academic community; from African-American and Latino communities; from fighters for women's rights; from gay and lesbian rights organizations; from consistent advocates for civil liberties and constitutional rights; from artists and cultural workers.

This is our challenge. This is our appeal. Now is the time. Please Join Us June 14!