CPUSA statement on Appeals Court decision June 4 in the case
of the Cuban Five. The Communist Party USA rejects
unequivocally the decision announced June 4 by a three-judge
panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that puts off
freedom for five Cuban men who as of September 12 will have
served ten years of unjust imprisonment. They are Gerardo
Hernandez, Fernando Gonzalez, Rene Gonzalez, Antonio
Guerrero, and Ramon Labanino. Their supposed crime was to
have taken non-violent actions in defense of their nation.
For almost fifty years, thugs and criminals, encouraged by
successive U.S.governments, have directed murder and mayhem
against the Cuban people. Five men, courageous and
principled, volunteered to watch over unseemly private
groupings, gangs we say, to report their plotting to Cuban
authorities. The Communist Party condemns the U.S.
government for its complicity with this terror campaign. We
view that government judges included as party to continuing
persecution of the Cuban Five. They have, in fact, put the
Cuban revolution in the dock. The valor and idealism of our
brothers who are in jail exemplify revolutionary ideals. We
take to heart Gerardo Hernandez words in response to this
skewed decision: This is the same system that has unjustly
incarcerated Mumia for more than 20 years along with Leonard
Peltier and the Puerto Rican political prisoners. He asserts
that, We will endure as many years as necessary, adding
that, As long as one of you is resisting, we will also
resist until there is justice. We resist too. The Communist
Party USA was gratified by Amnesty Internationals
denunciation of U.S. persecution of the Cuban Five contained
within its annual report issued May 28. Our Party recalls
the designation by a United Nations working group in 2005 of
their detention as arbitrary. We point to phrasing early in
theAppeals Courtdecision demonstrating either bias or
incompetence. We say the former. Judge William Pryor,
writing for the Court, asserts that Each Cuban agent was
convicted of espionage charges... In fact three were
convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, among other
charges; none of espionage. On another occasion, Leonard
Weinglass, appeals attorney for Antonio Guerrero, indicated
why this lapse is significant: By using the charge of
conspiracy the government is relieved of the requirement
that the underlying crime be proven. Our Party will not rest
until these five Cuban combatants against terrorism -
defenders of the Cuban revolution - are freed. Additionally,
the Communist Party USA pledges continuing dedication, with
allies, toward bringing arch terrorist Luis Posada Carriles
to justice.
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The Communist Party USA views the 2008 elections as a
tremendous opportunity to defeat the policies of the
right-wing Republicans and to move our country in a new
progressive direction.
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Iraq Veterans Against the War['http://ivaw.org'] (IVAW) is
holding Winter Soldier Hearings from March 13-16th.
Servicemen and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will
be giving testimony on what is happening day in and day out
on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Go
here['http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/howtowatch'] to watch
live!
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Iraq Veterans Against the War['http://ivaw.org'] (IVAW) is
holding Winter Soldier Hearings from March 13-16th.
Servicemen and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will
be giving testimony on what is happening day in and day out
on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Go
here['http://ivaw.org/wintersoldier/howtowatch'] to watch
live!
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* Assembly at 12 Noon at 157th St & Broadway -- March at 1
PM to 125th St. and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd for a rally at
2:30 PM at the Harlem State Office Building*
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The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) National Board meeting aims
to help elevate the struggle against the pro-corporate,
anti-people agenda of the Bush administration. Sam Webb,
National Chair of the CPUSA, says the Board will propose
initiatives that 'place the CPUSA in coalition actions with
others, such as national demonstrations for peace and
justice in the Winter and Spring.'
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New York City - The Bush Administration's decision to bomb
Afghanistan is not a solution to the terrible events of
September 11th, and will neither end terrorism nor bring
those responsible to justice.
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