Leonard Weinglass: A tribute from the Cuban Five

Leonard Weinglass and Gerardo Hernández Nordelo.

Leonard Weinglass, a leading progressive attorney and member of the National Lawyers Guild who represented political activists railroaded by the U.S. injustice system, died of cancer on March 23. He argued for the defense in such high-profile cases as those of the Chicago 7, Anthony Russo of the Pentagon Papers, Kathy Boudin, Angela Davis, Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Macheteros of Puerto Rico, Palestinians known as the Los Angeles 8, and members of the Cuban Five. He also defended many lesser-known people caught up in mass arrests like the ones during a rebellion by the oppressed Black community of Newark in 1967.

Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, one of the Cuban Five, wrote the following appreciation after hearing of Weinglass’ death.

Not that long ago Len came to visit me and we worked for several hours preparing for the next step of my appeal. I noticed at the time that he was tired. I was worried with his advanced age that he was driving alone after a long trip from New York. The weather was bad and the roads from the airport up to Victorville wind through the mountains surrounding the high desert. I mentioned my concern to him but he did not pay it any attention. That was the way he was, nothing stopped him.

When we would meet the same thing would always happen. At some point in our conversation, while listening to him talk, my mind would separate from his words and I would focus on the person. I would realize that here is this great man, the tremendous lawyer, the legendary fighter for justice, right here in front of me. I told him that I had seen images of him in documentaries on TV dedicating himself to important legal cases that he had participated in from a very young age. With pride I would tell people watching, “That is the lawyer for the Five.” It did not matter how much I read or heard about Len, I knew through his humility and modesty that there was a lot I still had to discover about this man who had dedicated his life to his profession.

Len always insisted that our case, like the others that he had dedicated lots of his time to, was essentially a political one. He cautioned us from the start that this struggle would be long and difficult. His experience with the “system” had taught him that. For our part, beyond the professional relationship we had, we always thought of him as a compañero in the battle for justice.

Len leaves us at an important moment, but he leaves us prepared to carry on the path. On more than one occasion he expressed his admiration and respect for the other lawyers on our legal team, and I think that he has left confident that our case is in good hands.

Like other people, who during these years have accompanied us in our struggle to make justice prevail, he will not be with us to see the inevitable triumph. We are confident that day will arrive and to Len, and to all the others, we will pay them a well-deserved tribute in our homeland.

On behalf of the Cuban Five and our families, and from the millions of Cubans and brothers and sisters from all over the world who trusted and admired him, we send our most sincere condolences to Len’s family and friends.

Leonard Weinglass, ¡presente!
Gerardo Hernández Nordelo
USP Victorville, California
March 23