The latest Cuba Caravan news
Celebrating 20 years of solidarity with the Cuban people
Here you can find the latest news from the Friendshipment Caravans to Cuba.
Quicklinks: a brief overview | map of routes | request an application
Caravan on the Road to Tampico Escorted by Mexican Federal Police
REPORT FROM THE ROAD:
Caravanistas are upbeat as they make their way down to Tampico, Mexico from Reynosa. The 14-vehicle caravan is receiving unprecedented protection from the Mexican Federal Police as they travel. They expect to reach Tampico by 7:00 PM.
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 21st, 2011
Media Contact: Lucia Bruno (212) 926-5757 or (347) 423-4330
CARAVAN TO CUBA SUCCESSFULLY BREAKS THE BLOCKADE AND CROSSES US-MEXICO BORDER WITH 100 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID!
PROTEST CONTINUES TO DEMAND US CUSTOMS RETURN SEVEN SEIZED COMPUTERS
In the evening of July 20th 2011, the 22nd Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba successfully broke the US blockade on Cuba and crossed the US/Mexico border, and is now continuing to transport the aid through Mexico and on to Cuba. The 100 tons of aid includes medications and medical supplies, computers, portable solar panels, school supplies, construction tools and equipment and much more.
When crossing the US side of the border, US Customs officers were met with a protest from the caravan participants when they seized seven computers. The computers were to be donated to Cuban hospitals, schools, and a veterinary clinic. The Customs officers explained that they were ‘detaining,’ not ‘seizing’ the computers, in order to determine whether the caravan needed to have a license to take them to Cuba.
With the support of Mexican Cuba solidarity organizations and friends of Pastors for Peace in Mexico, the caravan passed through Mexican customs and immigration. Caravan participants along with Mexican solidarity activists staged a spirited protest at Mexican immigration offices to assure that the passage of the caravanistas would not be delayed due to red tape.
While the protest demanding the immediate return of the seven computers, and an end to the criminal and inhumane blockade of Cuba continues, the caravan is continuing on to deliver the remaining 100 tons of precious aid to Cuba.
“Our struggle is not over and will continue until this immoral, cruel and counterproductive blockade is ended,” stated IFCO acting co-director Rev. Thomas E. Smith. The next challenge comes on August 1st 2011, when the caravan crosses back into the US, openly declaring that they have traveled to Cuba without a license from the US government.
The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for racial, social, and economic justice since 1967.
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For more about events and route stops, updates and photos from the road
see our blog :http://ifconews.org/Blog-22ndCaravan
You can also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pastorsforpeace Read more > Read more >
CARAVAN TO CUBA SUCCESSFULLY BREAKS THE BLOCKADE AND CROSSES US-MEXICO BORDER WITH 100 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID!
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 21st, 2011
Media Contact: Lucia Bruno (212) 926-5757 or (347) 423-4330
CARAVAN TO CUBA SUCCESSFULLY BREAKS THE BLOCKADE AND CROSSES US-MEXICO BORDER WITH 100 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID!
PROTEST CONTINUES TO DEMAND US CUSTOMS RETURN SEVEN SEIZED COMPUTERS
In the evening of July 20th 2011, the 22nd Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba successfully broke the US blockade on Cuba and crossed the US/Mexico border, and is now continuing to transport the aid through Mexico and on to Cuba. The 100 tons of aid includes medications and medical supplies, computers, portable solar panels, school supplies, construction tools and equipment and much more.
When crossing the US side of the border, US Customs officers were met with a protest from the caravan participants when they seized seven computers. The computers were to be donated to Cuban hospitals, schools, and a veterinary clinic. The Customs officers explained that they were ‘detaining,’ not ‘seizing’ the computers, in order to determine whether the caravan needed to have a license to take them to Cuba.
With the support of Mexican Cuba solidarity organizations and friends of Pastors for Peace in Mexico, the caravan passed through Mexican customs and immigration. Caravan participants along with Mexican solidarity activists staged a spirited protest at Mexican immigration offices to assure that the passage of the caravanistas would not be delayed due to red tape.
While the protest demanding the immediate return of the seven computers, and an end to the criminal and inhumane blockade of Cuba continues, the caravan is continuing on to deliver the remaining 100 tons of precious aid to Cuba.
“Our struggle is not over and will continue until this immoral, cruel and counterproductive blockade is ended,” stated IFCO acting co-director Rev. Thomas E. Smith. The next challenge comes on August 1st 2011, when the caravan crosses back into the US, openly declaring that they have traveled to Cuba without a license from the US government.
The Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), which has been working for racial, social, and economic justice since 1967.
###
For more about events and route stops, updates and photos from the road
see our blog :http://ifconews.org/Blog-22ndCaravan
You can also follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/pastorsforpeace Read more >
US Officials Seize Seven Computers as Caravan Crosses US-Mexico Border
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Although we are continuing on to Tampico and taking the remaining 100 tons of aid to Cuba, our protest against the seizure continues!
Your support is vital! We are asking you, our emergency response network, to spread the word:
Call your senators and congressional representatives, the White House, call your local media, and organize in your communities to demand that the US government:
- Return the 7 computers immediately!
- End the blockade and travel ban of Cuba now!Find your Congressional Representative here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Find your Senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Contact the Whitehouse here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
Now is the time for action against this criminal blockade and in support of the Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba!
Let us work together to end the blockade!
Read more >
Cuba Caravan Routes Reach McAllen, TX for July 20 Border Challenge into Mexico!
Volunteers are now loading the aid into trucks and buses in McAllen, Texas, in preparation for the July 20th border challenge.
Click on the link above to see our blog for photos and reports from the road!
Pastors for Peace Caravan Events in 11 Cities Tonite!
Manhattan Kansas, St. Louis Missouri, Roanoke Virginia, Taos New Mexico, Colorado Springs Colorado, Knoxville Tennessee, Durham North Carolina, Charleston South Carolina, San Pedro California, Carbondale Illinois, Louisville Kentucky
See the links above to see if we are coming to your hometown!
Click here to see where we are going next!
http://www.ifconews.org/CubaEvents
Don't forget to check out the link to our blog too!
Our ongoing work is only possible because of the generosity of friends like you.
For nearly 20 years the international Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba has defied such intimidation and harassment to challenge US foreign policy toward Cuba, and has successfully delivered thousands of tons of humanitarian aid across North American borders to Cuba. The Obama administration has made some small changes in US-Cuba policy, but they are not nearly enough. We want to see a complete end to the US economic blockade – because it punishes the Cuban people every day.
That is why we keep on organizing this massive national and international solidarity project, which connects communities of faith and conviction from more than 130 cities in 45 US states and all three North American nations. Read more >
130 Cities! 46 States - 22nd Cuba Friendshipment Caravan
Will the Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan stop in your city or town? Read more >
U.S. Grads of Cuban Medical School Fighting Cholera in Haiti
Dr. Narciso Ortíz (at left) is one of four 2010 U.S. graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine (LASM) working with the Cuban medical teams in Haiti as they battle the cholera epidemic there. IFCO administers the full scholarship program for U.S. students attending LASM. Click on the Medical School link above for more information about the school and the scholarship program. Read more >
