The Cuban Five: Permanent Source of Inspiration

From San Francisco, U.S.A., the youths advance their struggle for the release of the Five. In Cuba, two of those youths take part at the 3rd International Youth Encounter in Solidarity with the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters.

Since little over a year ago, Antoinette Marquez and Frank Lara have given their lives a new priority.  Working for the freedom of Gerardo, Rene, Antonio, Fernando and Ramon is an everyday issue. So, they take all opportunities,  in all different scenarios, to denounce the injustice being committed against the five Cuban antiterrorist fighters, who have been held in US jails for nearly 13 years now.

Honoring their “NO to War” commitment and making all efforts to call the attention of the US administration on the need to wipe out poverty, discrimination and lack of safety in their country, these youths do not stop creating initiatives to raise awareness in the people. For them, the cause of the Cuban Five is not foreign to their own, because the Cuban patriots dedicated their lives to defend the achievements of their people and to protect them from terrorism.

They said they do not see the case of the Five as a separate issue from their struggle, because there is so much injustice in the United States! “This injustice is part of the system,” said Frank Lara, who is now taking a teacher training course, since after he concluded his architecture studies he has not been able to find a job. It is this young man who indignantly says that 25 percent of US youths face similar situation.

Meanwhile, Antoinette Marquez referred to how much moved she was after learning about the truth of the Five and the shameful fact that they are behind bars, while terrorist Luis Posada Carriles is free. For this young lady, the Five are a permanent source of inspiration.

She first heard of the Five during a demonstration against war where she took her students. Then she wanted to learn more.

The two US youths, who come from Mexican families that back the Partido para el Socialismo y la Liberación (Party for Socialism and Liberation), feel Cuba and its people of their own. For this reason they do not stop searching ways to bring more people to support the cause for the release of those who should have never been in jail, though over 10 years have already come by, while they have remained held behind bars.

The US youths said they collected petitions urging Barack Obama to make use of his presidential powers and free the Five. They collected over 160 000 petitions, many of which came from different countries.

In fact, this has thus far been the most encouraging experience for young teacher Marquez.

She stressed that she was happy to collect those petitions, because they were about ten people undertaking that task and it was good to exchange views, and  listen to their colleagues happily say: “I got some from Argentina,” “I got Peru...!”

Marquez explained that they were encouraged by the support of so many people like them, and noted the success that the art exhibit—that includes pieces by Antonio Guerrero—is currently having during its tour throughout the United States.

There is much to be done

The joint work with a group of progressive lawyers this summer is part of the new actions to be taken by the San Francisco Committee in Solidarity with the Cuban Five, which is made up of about 30 people, most of them youths.

They will spread information based on over 2 000 documents revealing that the US administration paid money to Miami-based journalists so that they spread lies and created a hostile environment against the Five during the trial, the US youths said and went on to explain that they get all this information to forums, they also publish it on their party´s newspaper and help spread it.

The two US participants said they have advanced their initiatives, though there is much yet to be done. Their goal s now using modern technologies to have an impact on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks, in order to raise awareness among the young people, because awareness finds limits in the United States.

Compiling and making these subjects available for the youths is one of the goals these year, they said and added that they need to pressure the US government and work until the people gets together, joins the struggle and be aware of the truth. This will be the point revealing their success, said Antoinette.

They said there are trying to bring together all the supportive people around the world.

At the 3rd Youth Solidarity Encounter, both youths supporting the freedom of our compatriots expect to share their working experience and establish relations with other participants in favor of unity for this cause.

The young lady said that Cuban reality encourages everyone. For this reason, these five men are fighting that hard, because it is really worth fighting for all this.

And Frank told his peers that “we are now talking about the youth, but we need to have political awareness and we must get involved and learn how difficult it is to bring light to a society, which has been the result of the exemplary struggle of people like the Five.”  “We are following the path of our ancestors and we must meet this commitment to change the world.” (Juventud Rebelde).

Radio Cadena Agramonte