The Five: Inspiration and Guide to Cubans, says Alarcon

HAVANA, Cuba, May 2 (acn) Once again, Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon demanded justice from the United States in the case of the five Cuban heroes condemned in that northern country for fighting terrorism.

While addressing participants in the 10th International Meeting in Solidarity with Cuba, under way at Havana’s Convention Center, Alarcon pointed out that Rene Gonzalez, Fernando Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino and Gerardo Hernandez are an inspiration and a guide to Cuban workers and the people, adding that the struggle for their freedom is today a priority.

Friends Accompany Cubans on May Day

Friends from different parts of the world are to take part in the upcoming May Day parade alongside the cuban people. This special date marks the International Workers Day and constitutes the occasion to reaffirm our revolutionary stance born out in the parades carried out in the Revolution Square “Jose Marti” in Havana, and the main boroughs of the provinces and the municipal capitals.

At 7: 30 in the morning, the central parade in Havana, will begin with a block of more than 50 thousand workers belonging to the health sector, engaged in its retrofitting and uphold firmly the international missions in a spate of countries.

United and Resolved to Defend and Improve Socialism in Cuba

First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, presided during Cuba's national May Day march celebrating International Workers' Day, culminating in Havana's José Martí Plaza de la Revolución.

There are many superlatives which could be used to describe the massive march with which hundreds of thousands of workers and residents of the capital celebrated May Day, but perhaps what was most impressive was the level of organization among so many men, women and children which allowed the participants to parade through the Plaza in record time, one hour, ten minutes.

- Ernesto Che Brigade Press Release -
- Canadian Network On Cuba, April 29, 2012 -

On Sunday, April 29, forty-five (45) Canadians departed for Cuba as members of the Canadian Network On Cuba’s 20th Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade. The brigade is organized in conjunction with the Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos (Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples). Brigade coordinator Dave Thomas points out that “the brigade is an annual demonstration of the strong ties of solidarity and friendship that exist between the Canadian and Cuban people.”  Thomas further added “it is especially poignant that we are sending out largest group of Canadians ever at this time in the wake of Harper’s government support for the U.S. opposition to Cuba’s participation in the recently concluded Summit of the Americas.”

People from the U.S., Canada and Europe are calling on President Obama to listen to the international community and release the Cuban 5 immediately, during the 5 days for the Cuban 5 in Washington DC.  The actions initiated by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 have been endorsed by 272 U.S. and International organizations, and more than 2000 individuals.

During the first and second day, 25 international and U.S. supporters visited 12 of the 100 Senators and 14 members of congress' offices to discuss the issue of the Cuban 5.  The lobbying effort over the past two days marks the first time that the case of the Cuban 5 has been taken to Capitol Hill. The high number of responses to the request for appointments was seen by the supporters as a positive sign.

Louis Wolf, from Washington DC said "Lobbying Congress about the Cuban Five or any Cuba-related issue is definitely a challenge. But when a senior foreign policy aide to a Senator told us yesterday 'U.S. policy toward Cuba is stuck in the Middle Ages', we knew our work is not done in a total vacuum."