Pastors for Peace Launches 20th Non-Violent Challenge to US Blockade of Cuba
July 3, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ellen Bernstein 212-926-5757 /646-319-5902 or
Lucia Bruno at 212-926-5757 or 347-423-4330.
Pastors for Peace Launches 20th Non-Violent Challenge to US Blockade of Cuba
Enabling Family Visits is commendable, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH!
20th Caravan coming to a town near you!
Over 130 Pastors for Peace volunteers from the US, Canada and Europe will challenge the immoral and illegal US blockade and travel restrictions against Cuba at the US - Mexico border on July 21st.
They expect to collect 100 tons of humanitarian aid during a two-week caravan that will converge in McAllen, Texas before traveling on to Cuba without US treasury department licenses. They intend to deliver school buses, construction tools and materials, educational supplies, medicines, and medical supplies gathered in communities throughout the US and Canada.
“We must continue to keep the pressure on—to end the blockade, to normalize relations with Cuba, and to engage in dialogue based in mutual respect, rather than our insisting on undermining Cuba’s sovereignty” declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., Executive Director and founder of IFCO, a 42-year old ecumenical agency.
“President Obama has taken a small first step to change US/Cuba policy. But as people of faith and conscience, it is important that we make our voices heard in favor of even stronger measures for reconciliation and normalized relations.”
The 20h Friendshipment Caravan will traverse 14 separate routes across the country stopping in 47 US states and six Canadian provinces. This year there are over 130 Caravan participants travelling on 14 different routes. Along the way the caravan will be hosted in 140 communities who support a new US Cuba policy based on respect and non-aggression. This year communities have collected aid for hurricane reconstruction after the three hurricanes that devastated Cuba in 2008.
Pastors for Peace rejects the current licensing system as both immoral and illegal. It is immoral because it endangers the lives of millions of Cubans and inflicts suffering on innocent children, as well as adults. It is illegal under international law because it uses medicine and food as weapons of war to force another nation to change its government. Licensing is also unconstitutional because it requires people of faith to submit their acts of conscience and friendship to government licensing, in violation of our right to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel,” said Walker.
“The world is waiting to see President Obama put an end to the blockade. The U.S. spends more than $50 million per year to undermine the sovereign government of Cuba. Our non-violent caravan of peace-loving individuals is a challenge to this violation of our rights to express our faith and to travel to Cuba.” said Rev. Thomas Smith, President of the Board of Directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.
Since 1992 Pastors for Peace has used hunger strikes and mass mobilizations to successfully challenge US government attempts to confiscate vehicles and humanitarian aid bound for Cuba.
The ecumenical initiative is a project of IFCO, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, and has delivered more than 3,000 tons of urgently needed assistance to the Cuban people without seeking a U.S. Treasury license.
Our new website design means that information for the route stops, including posters and photos – www.pastorsforpeace.org
Check and see when the Caravan is coming through your town.
We will also be maintaining a blog for the 20th Caravan- and invite you to check it for all updates and stories from the road!
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