Vancouver Fundraising Collected $350 towards Ad Campaign for the Cuban 5 Heroes!

“On Tuesday October 19th, peace loving people gathered at Joe’s Café in East Vancouver to participate in “Songs for Love & Hope”, a special fundraising event organized by the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver.
The event was a unique opportunity featuring seasoned storyteller and folk artist, Thomas P. Radcliffe…”

Look below to read the rest of the report!

To see photos and report from the event please visit:
http://www.freethe5vancouver.ca/reports/2010/101019cuban5fund.html

In solidarity,
Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver
604-719-6947 | [email protected]
http://www.freethe5vancouver.ca/
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The event was a unique opportunity featuring seasoned storyteller and folk artist, Thomas P. Radcliffe. Thomas is a Vietnam era American War Resister and Conscientious Objector living predominately in Victoria, BC, but always on the move throughout BC and the U.S. with his musical message of love and peace.

The night’s event was launching a Vancouver effort towards a U.S. campaign to raise $62,000 to purchase a full-page advertisement demanding freedom for the 5 Cuban Heroes in the Washington Post Newspaper.

The event began with a welcoming and introduction to the case of the 5 Cuban Heroes by Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver coordinator, Noah Fine. The first part of the program was a short video documentary of a story about Gerardo Hernandez, one of the Cuban 5, read by famous Hollywood actor Danny Glover.

After the film, participants were able to hear from Gloria La Riva by Video Conferencing from her office in San Francisco, California. Gloria is the coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Five in the U.S. and is a central pillar in the fight to win their freedom. Gloria explained the numerous updates about the case of the 5 Heroes and also introduced the new U.S. led campaign to raise money for a full-page ad in the Washington Post. After Gloria spoke participants were able to have a short discussion period with her.

After Gloria, Max Tennant, an organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver read a poem he had written about the Cuban 5.

The final part of the evening was an exciting performance by Thomas P. Radcliffe. In between songs Thomas would tell stories of his traveling and the meaning of his songs. He played some historical peace movement favorite folk songs as well as a variety of songs he has written. Participants laughed and sang with Thomas throughout the night.

The “Songs for Love & Hope” fundraiser was a huge success and a great start to Vancouver’s assistance in collecting money to buy the full-page ad in the Washington Post. The event collected $350 that will be sent to the National Committee to Free the Five in the US.

FREE THE CUBAN 5 NOW!