Miami, Sacramento, Chicago, Lubbock events for the Cuban Five in March, April

Dear Friends of the Cuban Five:

As Spring marches on, more activities are upcoming for the Cuban Five! who are now nearing 15 years of unjust imprisonment for opposing terrorism and protecting lives.

Be sure and attend if you are in the vicinity of these cities and actions! Full details of each event can be found on our online calendar, but here is a summary:

Miami, FL:
Sun, Mar. 31: Conference on the Cuban Five
Date: Sun., Mar. 31, 3:15 pm
Location: Key Biscayne Salon of the Embassy Suites Hotel, 3974 N.W. South River Drive, Miami, facing Miami International Airport at the end of 36th St.
Sponsored By: Alianza Martiana

The organizations which make up the Alianza Martiana, marking the celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the work of the Antonio Maceo Brigade, are convoking a new meeting about developments in the political movement for the freedom of the Five - Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, Fernando, as well as René, and an update on the extraordinary appeals process for four of them.

Always remember that the Five were unjustly condemned and imprisoned for preventing acts of terrorism against the Cuban people, and against our families in Cuba who are part of that people. Let's show our rejection of that terrorist politics which has cost so many lives and so much suffering to our people, and demand the immediate freedom of the Five.

Sacramento, CA:
Weds, Apr. 3: Cuban Five update and film: "In the Wrong Body"
Date: Weds., Apr. 3, 7 pm
Location: Sol Collective, 2574 21st St, Sacramento
Sponsored By: National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, ANSWER Coalition, the Sac Activist School, Women Organized to Resist and Defend (W.O.R.D.)
Cost: $5, no one turned away for lack of funds

Gloria La Riva, coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, will speak on the freedom struggle of the Cuban Five. We will also show the documentary, In the Wrong Body, the moving story of Mavi Susel, the first transgender person in Cuba to receive a sex reassignment operation in 1988. This unique film documents the personal struggle of Cuban Mavi Susel for full gender expression through sex reassignment surgery, and provides a broader picture of the education and development of a scientific understanding of homophobia and its history, and the application of principles of true equality in socialist Cuba. Autumn Morales, ANSWER youth activist, will introduce the film.

Lubbock, TX:

Fri, April 12: Human Rights in the U.S. and the Case of the Cuban Five

Date: Fri. April 12, 6 pm

Location: Texas Tech University

During a week-long symposium on "The Puzzle of the Americas: A Weeklong Journey into the Complexity of U.S.-Latin American Relations." a special forum will be held at this west Texas university about the Cuban Five, the first time that a public action will be held in Lubbock for the Five, unjustly imprisoned by the U.S. government for peacefully defending Cuba from Miami-based terrorism.

Gloria La Riva of the National Committee will be the featured speaker. More information: 806-742-3121 or 415-821-6545.

Chicago, IL:

---

Beginning on Friday, April 5, a series of events are planned for Chicago, centered around Tony Guerrero's art exhibit, "From My Altitude." The eight events currently planned include speakers, films, poetry, and more.

·         April 5, Friday 6 to 10 pm:  OPENING EVENT featuring Richard Monje, Int'l Vice President, SEIU union; Gloria La Riva (coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuba Five).

·         April 11, Thursday 7 pm:  FILM 'Cuba, an African Odyssey' (award-winning documentary of Cuba's central role in defeating racist South Africa), presented by the Pilsen Underground Film Series.

·         April 19, Friday 7 pm: POESIA EN ABRIL featuring Nicolas Guillen (grandson of Cuba's national poet) and Norberto Codina (editor of Cuba's cutting-edge cultural journal), sponsored by the Poetry Foundation and ContraTiempo magazine (event in Spanish, translation for Guillen & Codina remarks).

·         April 20, Saturday 2 pm: BUTTERFLY POETRY PROJECT women's open mike event features presentation about the wives of the Five denied visitation with their husbands for over 14 years.

·         April 24, Wednesday 7pm: 'FRAME-UP! - Unjust Incarcerations' featuring Jose López (Director, Puerto Rican Cultural Center and brother of Oscar), Mark Clements (Campaign to End Torture & Chicago Alliance against Racist and Political Repression [himself tortured, and unjustly imprisoned for 28 years]), Felix Masud-Piloto (Cuban-American and DePaul professor), and Mary L. Johnson (mother of Michael Johnson, Burge torture survivor).

·         April 26, Friday 7 pm: LIVE WORLD MUSIC DANCE PARTY

·         April 27, Saturday 7 pm: CUBA, ANGOLA, AND THE FIVE presenting Fidel Castro's (et al) book 'Cuba and Angola:  Fighting for Africa's Freedom and Our Own' with Felix Masud-Piloto, Zoe Franklin (Olive Harvey College professor), John Hawkins (Chicago Cuba Coalition and SWP) and Jorge Rios.

·         May 4, Saturday 7 pm: CLOSING EVENT featuring invited guest Patricia Pego Guerra (1st secretary of the Cuban Interests Section), Stefanie Beacham (ANSWER Coalition), Stan Smith (Chicago Committee to Free the Five) and others to be announced.

Email: [email protected] * web: www.freethefive.org
Tel: 415-821-6545
DONATE

National Committee to Free the Cuban Five

---