On Saturday July 5, the Free the Cuban 5 Committee - Vancouver spent the day in action for freedom of the Cuban 5 Heroes held in U.S. jails. From an info table set up in front of the popular Vancouver Art Gallery to the 104th monthly picket action at the steps of the U.S. Consulate, supporters of the Cuban 5 could be heard all over downtown Vancouver that day.

Despite a rainy day, the information table was busy with people drawn in by the colourful banner and bright yellow ribbons. Once they learned about the nearly 16 years that Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero have spent behind U.S. prison bars, many became interested to sign a postcard to U.S. president Barack Obama and say "Obama, Yes Your Can! Free ALL the Cuban 5!"

When the time came to continue on to the U.S. Consulate, supporters picked up signs, took the banner down from its stand at the table and began the chanting that carried on throughout the march. By the time the marchers arrived at the U.S. Consulate more supporters had joined them along the way.

As marchers arrived at the U.S. Consulate, Noah Fine and Alison Bodine, Coordinators of the Free the Cuban 5 Committee - Vancouver welcomed everyone to the 104th consecutive monthly picket action with a reminder that Vancouver's protest was also joined by actions for the Cuban 5 in Seattle, New York and Ottawa that day. This feeling of unity and solidarity added extra energy to the day's picketing and chanting.

The program for the picket included speakers Janine Solanki, Chair of Vancouver's peace coalition Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO) and Gurpreet Singh, Southeast Asian media activist and co-founder of the Radical Desi newspaper. Protesters also heard from international guests, who spoke (and chanted!) with the picket over the phone. Gloria La Riva, Coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban 5, spoke from San Francisco about recent developments in their Freedom of Information Act request that has been submitted in order to expose U.S. government support for the anti-Cuban terrorist organizations that the Cuban 5 were investigating when they were arrested and imprisoned in 1998. Next, Guilherme Wanderley spoke from New York City sending his solidarity and a message of hope for the release of the Cuban 5 just as the bike rally for the Cuban 5 held in NYC that day was coming to an end.

The picket closed with words from Tamara Hansen, Coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC). Tamara invited all supporters of the Cuban 5 to join in with the 25th Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba and the important border crossing of humanitarian aid destined for Cuba through the BC/Washington border the next day.

This month's picket follows the very successful 3rd Annual “5 Days for the Cuban 5” in Washington, DC. 21 organizers from the Free the Cuban 5 Committee-Vancouver joined organizers and parliamentarians from 31 countries for a week full of conferences, a rally at the White House, and lobbying in the U.S. Congress for the Cuban 5. It was yet another important step forward in the international Cuban 5 campaign! To read more about this action and see photos visit the homepage of our website www.freethe5vancouver.ca.

It is with united action around the world that we will free ALL of our 5 Cuban heroes - making the words of Ramón Labañino, one of the Cuban 5, true when he says:

"I see Cuba, a beach blue, clean, and dazzling. I see Eli, my daughters, my family, my people. I see laughter, joy, eternity. That way I make my freedom tangible and real. And I know that it's certain."