Free the Five Five Cubans were recently sentenced to long terms in prison in Florida. They were in the US to investigate groups tied to the destruction of a Cubana airliner with the loss of all aboard. Please read more about this case and consider signing the petition to Free the Five especially in light of the US' tragic recent experiences with terrorism and the generous response of the Cuban people and their leaders to our problems in spite of our decades-long blockade against them.
Important Rally to Defend Humanitarian Aid to Cuba
Saturday, 21 July, Portland, Maine
As many of you are aware, on July 2, US Customs seized a shipment of medical equipment and supplies being transported from Maine into Canada by Let Cuba Live, Maine's solidarity organization since 1992. We coordinated our shipment with Pastors for Peace, whose shipment was waved across the border from Texas into Mexico only hours before, and with three Canadian solidarity groups we work with regularly.
To our great surprise, a Customs supervisor imported for the occasion announced that the cargo, which was carried on four pickup trucks and a rented trailer, was to be seized. Although we hadn't expected it, we all ran to the trucks and began carrying cartons across the border. With the help of our Canadian friends, we were able to move about a third of it across before the Customs, immigration and border patrol staff on hand secured the rest. Unfortunately, they are holding the most valuable part of our shipment: two anaesthesia machines, a complete newborn intensive care center, an infant warming and monitoring center, an angiographic machine, and EKG machine, and other items too large for us to move quickly.
We maintained our vigil with protest signs at the border the next day. It took 24 hours for officials in the Office of Foreign Assets Control in DC to decide that they would also "seize" not merely "detain" two of our pickups and the rented trailer. Not until July 9 did we receive the official notification of seizure, nor do we yet have a date when we can retrieve even our personal vehicles.
Naturally, in spite of the hardship involved we see this seizure as an excellent opportunity for all of us, not just here in Maine, to publicize and challenge the vicious laws and regulations that interfere with sending humanitarian aid to Cuba. As often happens in smaller media markets, the major Maine newspapers and all four TV network affiliates have given this story lots of play, consistently describing the embargo and why we oppose it. In the past week, two of our four Congressional delegation have signed on to the current legislation in Congress that would roll back important parts of the blockade. A third one had already signed on, but these two never have in the past. (I mention our representatives not because we think they are so bold, but as an indication of of the public pressure on this issue at the moment.)
We have certainly demonstrated to our local authorities our determination to
oppose these unjust laws. But we need to show that the
constituency for Cuba is not just a small group in rural Maine!
PLEASE JOIN US ON SATURDAY, JULY 21. Instead of inviting you to the border, which is hours from any population center, we will gather in downtown Portland, two hours north of Boston, for a rally at noon and a brief march to the US Customs House. We hope you will see this seizure as a challenge to our entire solidarity movement, and join us for a spirited response. Bring banners, signs, songs and chants!
It will help our planning if you can let us know roughly how many from your organization may be able to attend. If you are traveling from a distance we'll do our best to house and host you.
In solidarity,
Barbara West
for Let Cuba Live
Photos of the border crossing, as well as information on how to protest
OFAC's decision, can be found on our website: www.letcubalive.org
If you cannot attend the rally, you can make your voice heard in DC on this issue:
PLEASE CALL WASHINGTON TO PROTEST! CALL THE OFFICE OF
FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL (OFAC) OF THE US TREASURY
DEPARTMENT: Richard Newcomb, Director: 202/622-2410 Hal Harmon,
Director for Enforcement OR Elton Ellison, Deputy Director for Enforcement:
202/622-2430
CALL YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE'S AND SENATORS'
OFFICES: Congressional staff in Washington can be reached through the Capitol
switchboard: 202/225-3121.
Dear friends,
Right now, legislation is before Congress to exempt food and medicine from the embargo against Cuba, the Cuban Food and Medicine Security Act(HR1644). The vote is expected to take place before May 30th. The bill, sponsored by Jose Serrano of New York, is rated as having a 50-50 chance of passing! The Senate equivalent,S926, is expected to pass. So pressure on congressmen is urgently needed right now! This is the time to act!
Despite the fact that Cuba has the best health care system in Latin America, which of course is also free, many people suffer terribly because of medicine shortages. Most insulin is manufactured in Puerto Rico and therefore subject to the embargo, so people with diabetes in Cuba are always in danger. In fact, when my daughter spent last summer studying art in Cuba, she came back very sick because there was a shortage of the medicine she required for amoebic dysentery.
When I visited Cuba with Disarm Cuban Medical Project, I met children with cancer(just as deserving and cute as Elián) who cannot always have anti-nausea drugs for their chemotherapy. Everyone cries when they see this, but most Americans just don't know! It is also atrocious that the Elián kidnappers claim that in Cuba children don't get milk after age 7(as if all children in any other country are provided with milk), when the embargo prevents Cuba from buying more milk.
Cuba used to provide milk to all children up to age 12, but the effects of the tightening embargo is a major factor that made that impossible to continue. Those are just a couple examples of the deadly and destructive effects of the embargo. The embargo is a violation of international human rights, and has been condemned by the United Nations over and over again.
I am going to be starting a lobbying effort of California congressmen later this week. If you want to help in any way whatsoever and if you want to be on my email list about this, please email me at LSandraH@aol.com, or call me at 323-931-3669. This will be a very intense, multi-faceted effort. You can also easily send a message to your representatives by going to http://www.disarm.org , and clicking on the section Legislative Alert that enables you to do that.
This is one of the projects I am going to be working on as the West Coast Director for Disarm Education Fund's Cuban Medical Project, which is a peace and social justice organization started by Ramsey Clark some years ago. The Cuban Medical Project in the last five years has supplied clinics and hospitals in Cuba with 50 million dollars worth of medical supplies, and also sends teams of surgical specialists to Cuba several times a year to work with Cuban doctors. You can get more information about disarm by going to the website http://www.disarm.org .
Thanks,
Leone Sandra Hankey
PS: The sanctions/embargo issue is a fair trade issue as well as a peace issue. US foreign and economic policy rewards transnational corporations and repression, while punishing millions of ordinary people in countries that don't just go along with whatever the US government and multinationals want. Sanctions should be against corporations, not people.
Here's a quick update about Elián: we hear that he's doing really well, that he's having a wonderful time with his friends from Cárdenas who've just arrived to visit him. We hear that he started school again today -- that the visiting teacher has set up classes for him and his classmates, the sorts of classes he's been accustomed to in Cuba (so different from what they'd been teaching him at the infamous Lincoln-Martí School in Miami; so different from when he was being held hostage behind that fence in Little Havana...).
We've been looking into the best ways to have an impact on the 11th District Circuit Court in Atlanta, which will be holding a hearing on Elian's case on May 11. You may remember that originally the court published a telephone number that we could call with our comments -- but they got so many calls on the first day that they shut the phone line down. They continue, however, to invite letters from the public -- and we think it's important to make sure that they get LOTS of letters. Please write to:
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit 56 Forsythe St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303
We think it's best for individuals and organizations to write directly to the court -- but please also send us a copy of your letter (to IFCO, 402 W.145th St., NY, NY 10031); we'll collect the letters and use them again to reach out to the White House and Congress, if that's needed.
Keep in mind that it is VERY unlikely that the judges will actually read our letters; but it is important to show that there is strong and broad public support for a ruling which will uphold Juan Miguel's custody, deny the asylum claim, and support sending Elián home right away. So we recommend that you KEEP YOUR LETTER VERY SHORT: just emphasize the most important points -- Elián is only six years old; he can't speak for himself; he doesn't want asylum and neither does his father; the Miami relatives who kidnaped and abused Elián have no claim on him.
In case your letter doesn't get opened or carefully read by the court, it can still have an impact if you write "ATTN: SEND ELIAN HOME TO CUBA NOW!" on the envelope.
If you still feel inspired to write something longer, then send a letter or an op/ed piece to the local and national media. Encourage prominent people in your community to do the same. It's important for the federal courts to know that this issue won't fade from our consciousness until Elián is safely home in Cuba!
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) Pastors for Peace 402 W 145th St, NYC 10031 212.926-5757; 212.926-5842 <http://www.ifconews.org>
From Caryn Mandelbaum caryn@globalexchange.org
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 18:28:57 -0700
These national days of action are targeted to reach out to your communities while Representatives and Senators are in their home districts. We are encouraging all community groups-- faith-based, solidarity groups, humanitarian and development organizations, Cuban-Americans, and others-- to organize events that will make the growing interest in normal relations with Cuba more visible in your community. The saga of Elián Gonzalez has demonstrated the real lobbying power that Miami has over the US government. The Miami anti-Castro zealots have not only attempted to kidnap a child, but they have successfully kidnapped the democratic policy power from constituents around the U.S. Polls have shown that U.S. citizens overwhelming disagree with the political animosity in Miami and want to open relations with Cuba. In an election year, both Democrat and Republican incumbents stand to gain great constituencies by representing the majority looking for change in outdated foreign policy.
Organize an Event: Organize a cultural event (show a film, slides and report backs from your trips to Cuba, host an art show, have a reading) Host a speaker or conduct a forum Hold a vigil or a picket Attend a campaign event for a candidate for public office and raise the issue of US/Cuba policy
Getting a Meeting with your Congressperson and Senator: ... Call your Congressperson and Senator today to schedule appointments. Be persistent and ask to speak with the scheduler or foreign policy aide. ... Request co-sponsorship of legislation referring to talking points. ... Tell them why this legislation is important to your community group. ... Refer to the phonebook or switchboards for local contact numbers of your representatives. Switchboards: House 202-225-3121 Senate 202-224-3121
The Freedom to Travel to Cuba: S.1919: "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2000" A bill to permit travel to or from Cuba by United States citizens and lawful resident aliens of the United States. Sponsor: Sen. Dodd, Christopher (D- CT)
H.R.: "Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2000" to be introduced in upcoming weeks: A companion bill to Senator's Dodd's bill. Sponsor: Rep. Sanford, Mark (D-SC) Ask Representatives to SIGN ON TODAY!
Restrictions on travel to Cuba are re-enacted on annual basis through the Trading With the Enemy Act, a World War I law empowering the President to prohibit economic transactions with foreign countries during national emergencies. With the advent of the Korean War, President Truman declared the national security threat of "world conquest of Communist Imperialism." In 1961, Congress declared relations with Cuba in a state of national emergency and have maintained that status ever since. In 1998, the Pentagon acknowledged that Cuba no longer posed a national security threat. The Center for Defense Information in Washington D.C. released studies showing that Cuba spends on its military per year what the Pentagon spends on the US military in 10 hours!
Helpful points of discussion: ... The Restrictions on travel are an infringement on our Constitutional Right to freedom of association and speech. We must be able to teach ourselves through unbiased avenues to truly understand realities. ... Cuba is no longer a national security threat! President Clinton, do not re-enact the Trading with the Enemy Act in September of 2000.
Food and Medicine: S.1771/ H.R. 3140: "Food and Medicine for the World " A bill to provide stability in the United States agriculture sector and to promote adequate availability of food and medicine for humanitarian assistance abroad by requiring congressional approval before the imposition of any unilateral agricultural medical sanction against a foreign country or foreign entity.
Senate Sponsor: Sen Ashcroft, John (R-MO) House Sponsor: Rep. Nethercutt,George(R-WA)
Senator Ashcroft shook the Senate floor more than once with the passage of this bill. Initially, the Ashcroft Amendment was introduced as a part of 1999's Farm Relief Bill by 70-29 Senate vote. The amendment struggled to overcome obstacles thrown its way coming close to passage, but it was thwarted by Senior House Conservatives. Both Sen. Ashcroft and Rep. Nethercutt rebuked the undemocratic means of Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, and pledged to retrieve the momentum behind their legislation. In fact, Senator Ashcroft did pass the legislation in March 2000 through the foreign relations committee marking an historic day. The embargo's biggest supporter and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is Senator Jesse Helms. The committee approved language in a bill that would significantly ease the trade of life-sustaining goods to Cuba. This means that the Senate will likely approve this legislation, and that it is a critical time to pressure our Representatives.
As "Food and Medicine for the World" moves into conference committee once Rep. Nethercutt's bill passes, committee members will be encouraged to rescind licensing requirements on food and medicine.
S.926/H.R. 1644: "The Cuba Food and Medicine Security Act"
Congressman Jose Serrano(D-NY) and Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) should win the outstanding politician award for gathering 160 and 26 co-sponsors, respectively! These bills stand to exempt food and agricultural supplies, medicine and medical supplies from the trade embargo of Cuba. Co-sponsors will likely support a more humanitarian foreign policy with Cuba in any form. We are seeking 200 co-sponsors in the house. Refer to http://thomas.loc.gov to make sure your congressperson has signed on.
Helpful points of discussion: ... This is a farm issue: Cuba was previously the largest agricultural market for Louisiana, Georgia and Mississippi. US farmers are also suffering the wrath of outdated politics by missing out on this market. Today Cuba is importing rice from Thailand, powdered milk from New Zealand and other foodstuffs at FIVE TIMES the cost of quick transfers from the US. US-Cuba policy blocks ships trading with Cuba from docking in US ports for six months, resulting in these higher costs and lower consumption for Cubans. ... Cuba has been researching cutting edge vaccines with enormous success in developing the Meningitis B vaccine that is coveted worldwide and could save lives in the US. Us citizens could benefit from open trade of pharmaceuticals as well. US-Cuba policy does not allow for access to medicine and supplies patented by the US or US subsidiaries; this accounts for over 80% of medical goods worldwide.
-- Caryn Mandelbaum Cuba Campaigns/RT Coordinator Global
Excahnge
caryn@globalexchange.org
1.800.497.1994
2017 Mission St. #303 SF, CA 94110
VICTORY FOR ELIAN IN THE FLORIDA COURT -- JUDGE MOORE
DECIDES IN FAVOR OF INS RULING, SUPPORTS FATHER'S CUSTODY RIGHTS,
URGES ELIAN'S RETURN TO CUBA -- NOW WE MUST MAKE SURE HE GETS
HOME RIGHT AWAY!
Judge Michael Moore issued a ruling this morning from the US District Court of southern Florida, which constitutes a decisive victory for Elián González in the long struggle to send him home to his family in Cuba. Judge Moore's ruling upholds the custody rights of Juan Miguel González, upholds the INS' January 5 ruling that Elián should be home with his father, denies the right of the distant relatives in Miami to request custody or asylum for Elián; and URGES THE INS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO SEND ELIAN HOME, saying that "in the final analysis, even one more day of delay is not good" for the boy. The judge's 50+-page ruling is available at http://www.netside.net/usdcfls; we'll send you a more detailed summary when we've had a chance to review the decision in more detail. [we have an Infomed PDF copy locally as well, click to open.]
BUT RIGHT NOW WE MUST ACT TO MAKE SURE JUDGE MOORE'S RULING IS UPHELD -- TO PUT ALL POSSIBLE PRESSURE ON THE INS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO ACT NOW TO SEND ELIAN HOME.
PLEASE: STOP WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING AND CALL/FAX INS COMMISSIONER DORIS MEISSNER AND ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO RIGHT AWAY! THEN GET EVERYONE ELSE YOU KNOW TO DO THE SAME!
Attorney General Janet Reno ph:202/514-2001 fax:202/307-6777 INS Commissioner Doris Meissner ph:202/514-1900 fax:202/305-4823
YOUR MESSAGE SHOULD BE SHORT AND SWEET -- "WE APPLAUD JUDGE MOORE'S DECISION UPHOLDING THE JANUARY 5TH INS RULING; NOW WE URGE YOU, FOR ELIAN'S SAKE: NO MORE APPEALS, NO MORE DELAYS: SEND ELIAN HOME TODAY!!!"
This may be a very positive moment in the long campaign for Elián's behalf: let's keep the pressure on and give the INS the political space to send him home!
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) Pastors for Peace 402 W 145th St, NYC 10031 212.926-5757; 212.926-5842 <http://www.ifconews.org>
Dear U.S-Cuba Policy Advocate:
With the new year, new efforts are being made on behalf of a change
in
U.S. policy towards Cuba. The two food and medicine bills, H.R.
1644
(Serrano/Leach) and S. 926 (Dodd/Warner) are still active bills.
In
addition, broader food and medicine sanctions reform efforts (led
by
Senator Ashcroft/R-MO in the Senate and by Rep. Nethercutt/R-WA
in the
House), which would include Cuba, are pending. We will send more
information on this legislation when action is needed. Efforts
relating
to the freedom to travel to Cuba are also likely to come up in
both the
House and Senate this session. Again, we'll send details later.
URGENT ACTION: This message is being sent to people in Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, and New Mexico.
PLEASE CONTACT the congresspeople listed below and urge their
co-sponsorship of H.R.1644, the Cuban Food and Medicine Security
Act.
Please share this message widely in your state to get other people
to
call or e-mail also.
Food and medicine sanctions are likely to come up in the House
Appropriations Committee this spring, and co-sponsorhip of H.R.1644
by
these key Republican members of this committee is very important.
In
addition to supporting this particular bill, co-sponsorship commits
them
to oppose removing Cuba from any broader food and medicine sanctions
reform efforts.
Please call or e-mail TODAY!
Rep. Sonny Callahan (AL-1st district), 202/225-4932 DC, or 334/690-2811
Mobile;
sonny.callahan@mail.house.gov
Rep. Jim Kolbe (AZ-5th district), 202/225-2542 DC, or 520/881-3588
Tucson, 520/549-3115 Sierra Vista; jim.kolbe@mail.house.gov
Rep. Jay Dickey (AR-4th district), 202/225-3772 DC, or 870/536-3376
Pine
Bluff, 501/623-5800 Hot Springs; talk2jay@mail.house.gov
Rep. Randy Cunningham (CA-51st district), 202/225-5452 DC, or
760/737-8438 Escondido; e-mail access through his website:
http://www.house.gov/cunningham
Rep. John Porter (IL-10th district), 202/225-4835 DC, or 847/940-0202
Deerfield, 847/392-0303 Arlington Heights, 847/662-0101 Waukegan;
e-mail
access through his website: http://www.house.gov/porter
Rep. Harold Rogers (KY-5th district), 202/225-4601 DC, or 606/679-8346
Somerset, 606/439-0794 Hazard, 606/432-4388 Pikesville; Toll Free
Constituent Hotline: (800) 632-8588
Rep. Joe Skeen (NM-2nd district), 202/225-2365 DC, or 505/622-0055
Roswell, 505/527-1771 Las Cruces; e-mail access through his website:
http://www.house.gov/skeen
If you e-mail, please send a copy to me at <manderson@lawg.org>.
Thanks
much for your help, and let's work for meaningful change in U.S.-Cuba
policy during this session!
Sincerely,
Mavis Anderson
Latin America Working Group
202/546-7010
Please contact USCSCA@AOL.COM for applications:
The US-Cuba Sister Cities Association is sponsoring two upcoming events in May and June of 2000, of which we hope you will be a part to help strengthen and expand your work and interest in Cuba into long term, sustainable people-to-people partnerships, community exchanges and eventually a full fledged "Sister City" relationship with a community in Cuba.
Announcing two major international natural medicine conferences to be held in Cuba this year, June 4-11 in Holguin (Eastern Cuba) & November 18-25, in Havana.
Demonstrations will continue until Elián is actually in Cuba - no matter what other news happens.
We're glad Elian's grandmother's are in the US, and hope they can take them home -- but it hasn't happened yet!
Representatives from groups in over 70 cities throughout the US have met - in a series of conference calls - and unanimously agreed to call for a national action in Miami on Saturday, Jan 29 to be sponsored by the National Committee to Send Elián back to his Father in Cuba.
The Demonstration will be held between 11:00 and 2:00 on Saturday. People across the US are making travel plans to be in Miami on Jan 29 to be a part of this historic event to take back the city from the right-wing intimidation that has previously silenced those who would speak out to reunite this child with his father in Cuba.
We're going to Miami to demonstrate that the Miami Mafia can no longer intimidate the residents of South Florida. The Cuban American National Foundation obviously does not understand nor support such concepts as "freedom of speech" and "right to peacefully assemble" - they didn't exist in Batista's Cuba and haven't been available in Miami in recent years. We will go there to witness that it is indeed possible to speak out. We are working with our friends in Congress to ensure that the Justice Department sends federal marshals, should that seem to be necessary.
We understand, and honor, Elián's father's and grandparents' refusal to take part in the Miami media circus run by Armando Gutierrez or the corrupt judicial proceedings as personified by Judges Rosa Rodriguez, and Federal Judge James Lawrence King. King is the judge who has made a number of pro-CANF decisions, dismissed felony charges in 1993 against Tony Briant, head of the right-wing para-military group Comandos L before the trial could go to jury because "Bryant didn't act like he committed a crime." and dismissed weapons charges against six Alpha 66 members because their attorneys argued that the defendants did not know that there were illegal weapons aboard their boat.
We're posting a great deal of new background information on this case, re these judges, the family of the distant relatives in Miami, legal information, etc on our web site http://www.ifconews.org
This call for a National Demonstration in Miami came out of the success of local demonstrations and civil disobedience actions in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and other cities, as well as actions in England, Canada and the Netherlands. More local and international demonstrations are planned and will continue until Elián is actually back in Cuba.
AND IN THE MEANTIME: Please Contact: Phone: Fax: Attorney General Janet Reno 202/514-2001 202/307-6777 President Clinton and VP Gore 202/456-1111 202/456-2461 Your senators and representative in Washington can be reached through the Congressional Switchboard, 202/225-3121, and they are at their home district offices until January 27 - talk with them personally if you can.
For more information: contact IFCO/Pastors for Peace, 402 W
145th Street, NYC, NY 10031.
Phone: 212/926-5757; fax: 212/926-5842;
email: ifco@igc.org
http://www.ifconews.org
Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)
Pastors for Peace
402 W 145th St, NYC 10031 212.926-5757; 212.926-5842
ACTION ALERT FOR ELIAN: January 12, 2000 RENO CLARIFIES THE INS' POSITION; DEMONSTRATIONS IN NEW YORK AND SAN DIEGO GET BROAD MEDIA COVERAGE; LET'S KEEP THE PRESSURE ON! Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) staff members let us know yesterday that the 1/11 AP report stating that the INS would not contest the Florida court ruling on Elián's temporary custody was INCORRECT. Their actual position is reflected in today's letter from Janet Reno to the Miami attorneys Eig and Bernstein, who represent the distant relatives detaining Elián. The essence of this four-page letter, which was just released to the press, is as follows: a) Attorney General Reno sees no reason to reverse the INS Commissioner's decision that Elián's custody remains with his surviving parent, who has sole authority to speak for his son on immigration matters. b) Nothing in the local court's action or the temporary protective order overrides the father's authority. "In the Department [of Justice's] judgment, the Florida court's order has no force or effect insofar as INS' administration of the immigration laws is concerned." c) While state courts, and not the INS, have authority to rule on custody matters, the INS has already made clear that there is no question whatsoever of Elián's custody. d) Reno affirms that "the first responsibility of the INS when confronted with an unaccompanied minor is to attempt to remedy the situation by finding the child's parent or legal guardian, even if that person is outside the United States." e) Reno affirms the father's close relationship with Elián, and the absence of coercion in the father's appeal for his child. She also indicates that there is "no credible information indicating that the child would be at risk of torture or persecution if returned to his father," and thus sees "no objective basis for a valid asylum claim." f) The INS' ruling can only be challenged in federal court. "Accordingly, Commissioner Meissner has determined that the January 14 date should be extended to accommodate any federal court proceedings. This little boy has been through so much, and it is therefore imperative that all of us do what we can to resolve his case as soon as possible." WE NEED TO KEEP MAKING A BIG NOISE IN THE DIRECTION OF WASHINGTON. We want to let them know that they do have the political space in which they can enforce the Reno/INS decision and send Elián home. We need to insist that there be no more delaying tactics, that the federal review should be immediate, and that the boy must go home as soon as possible. PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT TO JANET RENO AND THE WHITE HOUSE. Ask Reno not to back down; ask Clinton to do the right thing; tell Gore to get out of the way! URGE THEM TO ENFORCE THE INS RULING, RESOLVE THIS MATTER RIGHT AWAY, AND SEND ELIAN HOME NOW! PLEASE CONTACT: PHONE: FAX: Attorney General Janet Reno 202/514-2001 202/307-6777 Pres. Clinton and VP Gore 202/456-1111 202/456-2461 We also need to keep reaching out to members of Congress. Contact your senators and rep in Washington (202/225-3121) or at their home district offices until 1/27 (meet with them personally if you can!). Ask them to show the Administration that they support the INS ruling to SEND ELIAN HOME NOW! **************************** The New York Committee to Return Elián to His Father In Cuba held a tremendously successful demonstration in front of the INS office at Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan on 1/11. Speakers at the rally included Ramsey Clark, Rev. Lucius Walker, and activist Minnie Bruce Pratt. Eleven people were arrested for blocking the entrance to the building. Every TV station in the metro-NY area gave positive coverage to the demonstration, and CNN and Spanish-language stations 41 and 47 gave national coverage which was viewed in Miami. Another successful demonstration was held on 1/11 at San Diego's Federal Plaza; San Francisco and other cities will have demonstrations today. Continued acts of civil disobedience are planned -- until Elián is home in his father's arms. As public outrage over the detention of Elián continues to grow, we are confident that this movement will grow! **************************** According to a local ABC news reporter in Miami: While Elián was playing in the fenced-in front yard of his distant relatives yesterday, an airplane flew overhead -- and Elián reached up his arms and said, "PLEASE TAKE ME BACK TO CUBA." The distant relatives tried to hush him up...but not before the reporter heard him... **************************** We grow more and more concerned about Elián's psychological well-being as time passes. Let's keep working to send him home NOW! IFCO/Pastors for Peace PO Box 408130 Chicago, IL 60640-8130 tel 773/271-4817 fax 773-271-5269 visit our website at www.ifconews.org
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