In 6 Days Actions Against the Blockade of Cuba to Start in Washington D.C.

International Committee

for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples

UPDATES:

▀ Members of Parliament from Brazil and Sweden send letters to U.S. Congress asking to end the Blockade.

▀ Shelley Broderick, Dean of UDC David A. Clarke School of Law, to speak at the opening of photo exhibit.

▀ Solidarity organizations from the U.S. and abroad endorse the Actions Against the Blockade in Washington D.C.

Members of Parliament from Brazil and Sweden send letter to U.S. Congress asking to end the Blockade of Cuba.

On September 16 and 17, as part of the Days of Action against the blockade in Washington D.C., people from around the United States and Canada will visit elected officials to raise awareness about the impact of the US blockade on the Cuban people. These visits will be part of a grassroots "alternative advocacy" calling for the end of the U.S. blockade against Cuba as well as an end to regime change programs, the closing of Guantanamo, returning it to the Cuban people and for the right to travel to Cuba without restrictions.

Photo: Bill Hackwell

On July 2015 a poll from the Pew Research Center showed that as the United States and Cuba moves towards ending more than 50 years of conflict, public support for re-establishing relations with Cuba has increased from 63% in January 2015 to 73% in July 2015. Also equally broad, and growing, is the support for ending the US blockade against Cuba, from 66% in January 2015 to 72% in July 2015.

Ending the blockade is an issue supported by the majority of countries in the world. On October 28, 2014, for the twenty-third consecutive year, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the need to put an end to the economic blockade imposed unilaterally by the United States on Cuba

In another development 99 members, from twelve parties, of the Brazilian Parliament and nine members of the Parliament of Sweden from three parties, are sending letters to Congress demanding the end of the blockade of Cuba. These will be delivered to the offices of congregational representatives by the advocacy teams during the Days of Actions.

Letter from Brazilian Parliament Letter from Swedish Parliament

Dean of the University of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Shelley Broderick, to Speak at the Opening of Photo Exhibit "The Cuban 5 Return: An Entire Country Celebrates"

Photo: Ladyrene Perez

Thursday September 17, 6:00pm

University of the District of Columbia

David A. Clarke School of Law, 4340 Connecticut Ave, NW

5th Floor, Reception Area

A unique photographic exhibit that documents what happened when five Cuban men - unjustly jailed in American prisons for up to 16 years - were finally returned to their homeland last December 17.

This exhibit is a compilation of 53 images that capture not only the joy of the Cuban people as they greet their returning heroes but also the deeply personal moments as the Five reconnect with their own families.

The exhibit features the images of seven of Cuba's finest photographers - Ladyrene Perez, Roberto Chile, Abel Rojas Barallobre, Ismael Francisco, Roberto Suarez, Hector Planes and Julio Alvite - as well as the photos of American social documentary photographer Bill Hackwell.

Program

Welcoming by Shelley Broderick, Dean of UDC Law School
Opening remarks by professor Crisarla Houston
Rep. from the Cuban Embassy
Stephen Kimber, Canadian professor and author "What Lies Across the Water: the Real Story of the Cuban Five
Bill Hackwell, curator and one of the photographers of the exhibit.

Sponsored by: UDC Law School, Black Law Students Association, Global Affair and Diplomacy Association, Political Science History Organization, UDC Student Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, UDC Photography, UDC Art Student Union, Latino/a Law Students Association, IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Venceremos Brigade, Institute for Policy Studies, National Network on Cuba and the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples.