[NYTr] NYC solidarity movement cheers Cuban minister

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Workers World - Oct 4, 2007 issue
http://www.workers.org/2007/world/cuba-1004

NYC solidarity movement cheers Cuban minister

By Teresa Gutierrez
New York

At the same time that President Bush’s administration was slashing
desperately needed public housing in New Orleans, George Bush was at
the United Nations this week hypocritically denouncing and demonizing
various world leaders.

One of those leaders is the beloved president of Cuba, Fidel Castro.

Cuba has been a target of U.S. imperialism since 1959 when the island
nation decided to prioritize the needs of its people over the dictates
of the multinational corporations. Since then, despite many obstacles,
the Cuban Revolution has stood as a shining example for the people of
the world that a society based on peoples’ needs, a socialist society,
is far superior to a capitalist one.

Bush’s slanderous remarks against Cuba this week were nothing new.

The U.S. government has imposed on Cuba the longest economic and
political blockade in U.S. history. It has carried out more than 600
attempts to assassinate President Fidel. And it has aided and abetted
right-wing counterrevolutionaries to operate out of Miami and carry out
acts of sabotage against Cuba.

For that and for much more, the Cuban government was forced to send to
the U.S. some of its best children in order to monitor the acts of
terrorism emanating from Florida. These Cubans were defending not only
their country from terrorist attacks but they were saving U.S. lives as
well.

The U.S. government, despite the fact that the Cuban government had
notified the U.S. of their presence in this country, arrested these
Cubans on Sept. 12, 1998.

These men are Fernando González, René González, Antonio Guerrero,
Gerardo Hernández and Ramón Labañino. These five heroes sit in U.S.
federal jails throughout the country facing some of the harshest
sentences ever. In addition, families of two of the prisoners continue
to be denied visitation rights by the U.S. Justice Department.

They remain in jail today, examples of not only Cuba’s best, but of the
spirit of resistance against merciless imperialism, a testament that
justice will prevail despite the odds.

Cubans address the solidarity movement

Representing Cuba at the U.N. this week was Foreign Minister Felipe
Pérez Roque.

The Cuban foreign minister spoke at the U.N. on the issue of global
warming. In addition, the Cubans hosted an event at the Cuban Mission
on Sept. 24 where Pérez Roque spoke to many of Cuba’s supporters.

When President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 25 and
went into a tirade against Cuba, the Cuban delegation magnificently
walked out during Bush’s comments.

Bush said: “In Cuba, the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing its
end. The Cuban people are ready for their freedom. And as that nation
enters a period of transition, the United Nations must insist on free
speech, free assembly and, ultimately, free and competitive elections.”

The Cuban delegation later issued a statement saying the decision by
Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque to leave the session was “a sign of
profound rejection of the arrogant and mediocre statement by President
Bush.”

U.S. imperialism—whether its government is headed by Republicans or
Democrats—will never reconcile itself with revolutionary socialist
Cuba. When Bush said that “the long rule of a cruel dictator is nearing
its end” and “as the nation enters a period of transition,” he got a
lot of things wrong. On purpose, of course.

Cuba has already made its transition: from a neo-capitalist colony to a
socialist liberated island.

Fidel has never been a cruel dictator. Not only the Cuban people but
the masses around the world deeply love and respect Fidel. He would not
be alive today if that were not true.

At the public event for Foreign Minister Pérez Roque, the Cuba
solidarity movement gave a stirring standing ovation as soon as Pérez
Roque entered the room. He received this ovation not just because—as
guest speaker and Cuba’s dear friend, Rev. Lucius Walker, said—Roque is
“one of the youngest and best foreign ministers in the world.” The
standing ovation was because Cuba is dear to the hearts of the
progressive movement in the U.S., too.

At the event, the Cubans recognized the many activists and leaders of
different organizations who came to hear the foreign minister. They
were of all nationalities and many political tendencies. Pérez Roque’s
comments that Fidel’s health was fine received thunderous applause.

That applause represents what the masses around the world that are
yearning and fighting for their own liberation want for Cuba: a healthy
and long life not only for its president but for its Revolution.

The guest speakers at the event represented IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the
Venceremos Brigade, Cuba Solidarity NY and the Popular Education Front
for the Cuban Five as well as Rainbow Solidarity for the Cuban Five.

They, as well as everyone else in the room, left the event motivated to
keep up the work to free the Cuban Five and to defend revolutionary
Cuba against U.S. imperialism.

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