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Proudly waving Cuban flags and holding high picket signs, dozens of protesters of all ages gathered in front of the US Consulate in downtown Vancouver for the 44th picket action to demand freedom for the 5 Cuban heroes. Gerardo, Rene, Ramon, Fernando and Antonio have been unjustly imprisoned in U.S. jails for almost 11 years.

After a first round of loud picketing, Nita Palmer, organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver and recent participant in the 2009 Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba opened the picket by speaking about her experience in Cuba and the importance of the case of the 5 heroes for the people of Cuba.

Then, Alison Bodine, project coordinator for IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba spoke about the case of Adriana Perez, wife of Gerardo Hernandez. On July 15th the U.S. Government denied Adriana a visa to enter the US for the 10th time. Adriana has not been allowed to see or embrace her beloved husband in almost 11 years. Protesters demanded that the US Government grant a visa to Adriana and stop denying the basic right of a family to be together.

David Whittlesey, organizer with the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver spoke about the Honduran people’s continuing struggle and fight against the US backed coup in their country and the US’s attempt to intervene in other countries in Latin America. He explained how Cuban 5 heroes with their action prevented such a disaster imperialist action could happen in Cuba.

After a last round of picketing, Phillipa Ryan, elder and activist from the Gitxsan Nation spoke. She highlighted the Indigenous struggle in defending their land and connected this to another political prisoner, Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous activist who has been imprisoned unjustly for over two decades.

These pickets will continue next month which will be the 11th year of their unjust arrest and imprisonment and every other month until the Five Cuban Heroes are free.


“Free the Cuban 5 Heroes Now!”

“Justice for the 5 Heroes Now!”