Gloria La Riva, National Committee to Free the U.S.-Held Cuban Political Prisoners

Florentino Batista,  Cuban Interests Section

Jose Lopez, Puerto Rican Cultural Center

Stan Willis, African-American Committee to Free Mumia and Aaron Patterson

Hakim Husien, Palestine Aid Society

Friday March 15,  7 PM

De Paul University Student Center

   Who are the Miami 5?

The Miami 5 are Cuban men who were convicted and received very severe sentences in 2001. Gerardo Hernandez, Labanino and Guerrero each received life sentences. Rene Gonzalez received 15 years and Fernando Gonzalez sentenced to 19 years in prison.

     What was their crime? They defended their country of Cuba from terrorists based in Miami. The 5 were convicted after a witchhunt trial in which the U.S. government claimed they were engaging in espionage against U.S. military bases and threatening “national security.” As the 5 maintained in their defense, they were strictly involved in monitoring the actions of Miami-based anti-Cuba terrorist groups. In fact, they shared information with U.S. officials when the terrorist groups they infiltrated planned dangerous actions.

For more than 40 years, anti-Cuban groups in Miami have engaged in numerous terrorist actions against Cuba and against Cuban-Americans who support ending the U.S. blockade of Cuba. These groups have caused the deaths and injury of hundreds of people. Because these anti-Cuban groups continue to operate with full knowledge of the FBI and CIA, Cuba infiltrated security agents into them to inform of imminent attacks.

Initiated by International Action Center. Chicago Free the Miami 5 Committee, Gisela Lopez, 773-465-0177, Stan Smith 773-376-7521, Bill Massey 773-878-0166