LEGAL CUBA TRAVEL AND TRAVEL CHALLENGES
On
October 31, the US Treasury Department granted the Minnesota Cuba
Committee
a "people to people" license for travel to Cuba. The first delegation returned on April 27; another is planned for this fall.
Obsidian Arts, another local group, has an upcoming trip in July. Witness for Peace
is also taking a local group of Spanish teachers from July 1 to July
11. Contact bettylotterman@hotmail.com for more information.
The Havana Journal has posted a list of groups that have obtained people to people
licenses and are taking delegations.
Despite the increased opportunity for legal travel, because of the restrictions, it is still unavailable to the majority of people living in the U.S. To challenge these unconstitutional laws, both Pastors for Peace and the Venceremos Brigade will once again take unlicensed groups to Cuba this summer. It is the 20th annual trip for Pastors and the 43rd for the Brigade. One leg of the Pastors caravan will be coming through the Twin Cities on July 6 and a send-off program is being planned. Visit their websites if you are interested in joining one of the delegations. Send us an email at MnCuba@gmail.com if you would like to get in touch with someone from the Twin Cities who has joined one of the delegations in previous years.
Check the weather in Havana and check the travel sidebar for more information about travel.
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The Cuban Five
In September 1998, five Cuban men were imprisoned in the U.S. for trying to stop Miami exile groups from committing violent acts against Cuba. More information on the case can be found at the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5 and the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five. Appeals continue in the case. One of the current grounds for appeal is the discovery that Miami reporters were being paid by the U.S. government to write inflammatory articles about the Five while the trial was underway.
On Friday, October 7, the first of the five was released from the Florida prison where he spent 13 years while being unjustly sanctioned.
Despite fears for his safety, Rene Gonzalez must remain in Miami to serve out three years of probation. The judge in the case has denied his request to return to Cuba.
Free the Cuban Five, President Obama: Sign the petition
Stop the Persecution of René Gonzalez: Sign the petition
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