16 years is too long. Justice for the Miami 5 Now!

Tonight many UNISON members and other trade unionists will attend the annual Candlelight Vigil for the Miami Five outside the US Embassy starting at 6pm. Speakers include a special guest from Cuba Aleida Guevara, daughter of Ché, and UNISON AGS Roger McKenzie. Aleida attended Saturday’s Latin America 2014 conference where she spoke at a packed session on Cuban internationalism. She graduated as a doctor whilst on a medical mission in Nicaragua, served in Ecuador and Angola and recently volunteered to go to Africa as part of the Ebola mission.

UNISON backs annual Miami Five vigil

A large UNISON contingent supported the Cuba Solidarity Campaign's rally and vigil in support of the Miami Five outside the US Embassy in London on Tuesday night. A number of union leaders from Britain and the US were present, including UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis and UNISON international committee Chair Jean Butcher. All backed the world wide call for justice for the Five and the release of the four remaining political prisoners who have spent 15 years in jail:
http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/news.asp?ItemID=2479

Free the Miami Five - Cuba Solidarity AGM report

In a packed hall in NUT headquarters in London yesterday, more than a few people dabbed their eyes when Olga Salanueva addressed the Cuba Solidarity Campaign AGM.

Thanking, on behalf of all the families CSC and everyone in the UK who has supported the fight for justice for the Five, she laid bare the emotions a woman feels when re-united for a fleeting brief period, with a husband unjustly imprisoned for so long.

Exhibition of contemporary Cuban art in support of Miami Five

A ground-breaking exhibition in support of the Miami Five is coming up in London and Glasgow. The London event is at Gallery 27 Cork Street, London from 23 to 28 April, 2012 followed by The Lighthouse in Glasgow from 7 to 13 May.

Beyond the Frame is a ground-breaking exhibition aimed at raising awareness around the case of the Miami Five organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign.

The exhibition features special works by Antonio Guerrero and Gerardo Hernández, two of the Miami Five. Antonio has contributed a selection of drawings and paintings whilst Gerardo has contributed a series of cartoons.

Happy New Year from the Cuban 5

Dear friends:
I wish to convey to all of you my most sincere appreciation for another year in solidarity with this struggle for truth and justice.

The year which will soon end is yet another year of significant efforts of  all those, who in one way or another, contribute to the objective of making the freedom of  the Cuban Five a reality.

Report of Latin America Conference 2011 - Adelante!

The annual Latin America Adelante conference never ceases to amaze. It is amazing that yesterday on the first Saturday in December, for the seventh year running, hundreds of delegates turned up in London at Congress House for a whole day of workshops and speeches. It is amazing because the breadth of speakers and topics constantly expands, as Latin America delivers more progressive governments and real examples of human progress.

Vigil for the Miami 5, Thursday 1st December 2011

Outside the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London, W1 (Bond St tube): Bring candles and trade union banners to this peaceful Vigil for the Five and their families as we mark the 13th year of their unjust imprisonment. Special guests include mothers of the Miami 5: Mirta Rodriguez Perez, Irma Sehwerert Mileham and Magali Llort Ruiz. For up-to-date information and full speaker details, please visit the Vigil webpage: http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/events.asp?EventID=360 

Video of Rene Gonzalez, Miami 5 prisoner, being released from prison

René González -- one of the Miami Five -- was released from prison on 7 October 2011 following 13 years of unjust incarceration. This film -- filmed by relatives of René -- documents the moment the Cuban antiterrorist left Marianna prison in Florida at 4.30am.  http://youtu.be/Ojh-ocSutnw

Miami 5 vigil well supported‏

Over 300 attended last night’s vigil at the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square London in an impressive show of support for the Miami 5 – Cuban citizens incarcerated in the USA. An impressive line up of speakers included UNISON DGS Keith Sonnet and London Regional Secretary Linda Perks. Irma Gonzalez, daughter of the imprisoned Rene Gonzalez reported on progress in the campaign to free the 5 and read out a moving message from her father. Many of those at the vigil had come direct from the House of Commons where they had attended the TUC lobby and rlly against public spending cuts. An interview with Irma was published yesterday in the Morning Star and can be read in full on line: http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/96563

'Cuba a beacon' - report of CSC fringe at Labour Party conference‏

Baroness Angela Smith , Vice Chair of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign welcomed over 200 delegates to a standing room only, packed fringe meeting at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester last night. First up was Tony Benn who talked about the strength of the Cuban nation's solidarity and the lessons we can learn from it. By investing in health and education Cubans have put their people first but then shared their resources through an unstinting internationalism which he believes has set an example to the world.

Packed Cuba Solidarity Campaign Fringe pledges support for Cuba

Brendan Barber opened the fringe meeting tonight by talking of his pride at being the first TUC General Secretary to visit the May Day celebrations this year in Havana. He re-iterated his support for the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and spoke of his address to its AGM this June.