Mn-prog-events Mailing List: Cuban 5 program on June 8 and other upcoming events

[Minnesota Cuba Committee (mncuba]

Monday, June 8 - 7:00
Free the Cuban Five Political Prisoners Held in the US

425 Blegen Hall -  University of Minnesota West Bank

http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/BlegH/


For ten years an international campaign has been waged to win freedom for
five Cuban revolutionaries who have been unjustly locked up in U.S. jails
for more than a decade.

    Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González,
and René González were in south Florida monitoring rightist groups that have
a history of carrying out deadly attacks on Cuba. They were arrested in
Miami in September 1998 and later convicted in a political frame-up trial on
charges including failure to register as foreign agents, conspiracy to
commit espionage against the US government, and, in the case of Hernández,
conspiracy to commit murder .In the coming month the U.S. Supreme Court will
be considering whether to accept a petition to review an appellate court
decision that rejected defense arguments that the five were prevented by the
political atmosphere in Miami from receiving a fair trial.

     The issues in this case are connected to the other fights for
democratic rights against the government in this country today.  The FBI
secretly broke into their homes, copied documents, and listened in on their
conversations. Unable to find any evidence they were “spying,” Washington
brought trumped-up conspiracy charges against them. They were kept in
solitary confinement for 17 months.  In spite of an atmosphere of
intimidation in Miami, the court refused to grant a change of venue.

     The Cuban Five set an example for all. They continue to speak out from
prison and to conduct themselves there as freedom fighters on the frontlines
of the struggles for justice in the US. Their resolve, dignity, optimism,
and commitment to the struggles of the oppressed have won their fight for
freedom international recognition and support.

Speakers include Bruce Nestor, a member of the Cuban 5 legal team, president
of the Minnesota chapter of the National Lawyers Guild; Rafael Ortiz,
professor at Metro State and Morgan France-Ramirez, member of the Venceremos
Brigade to Cuba (http://freethefive.org/ for more information on the case).

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*Other events on Cuba in the months of June and July:*


Friday, June 5, 4:30 - 6:00 - East River Road bridge over US 94 in St. Paul

Informational bannering about the Cuban Five

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Saturday, June 13, 7:00 - 50 Years of the Cuban Revolution - Lessons for
Latin America

Central Labor Union Council (corner of Central and University) 2nd Floor,
312 Central Avenue SE, Minneapolis

Jorge Martín, International Secretary of the Hands Off Venezuela Campaign
and regular presenter at the Havana Book Fair in Cuba will discuss the
history and experience of the Cuban Revolution, the lessons for Latin
America, and perspectives for the future. August Nimtz, professor at the U
of M and expert on Cuba will also be a featured speaker.

This event is free and open to the public. Complimentary coffee, snacks and
refreshments will be available. Donation of $3 to $5 requested to help cover
the costs of organizing this event. No one turned away for lack of funds.

Sponsored by Hands Off Venezuela, the Workers International League, the MN
Cuba Committee. For more information please contact msp [at] ushov.org or call
651-373-7609

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Thursday, June 25, 7:00, Blegen 415, University of Minnesota West Bank

"Raza: Cuba's Battle against Racism"

An audio conference with Esteban Morales and a screening of the documentary
Raza

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Wednesday, July 8, 6:00 - St. Albert the Great Church, 2836 33rd Avenue
South, Minneapolis - Pastors for Peace caravan send-off

Dinner, Program, Refreshments

$10.00 admission - no one turned away for lack of funds

Visit the website of the national Pastors for Peace office:
http://www.ifconews.org/

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