Meetings to organize caravans to Cuba

Meetings in more than 35 cities across the U.S. and Canada will educate, celebrate and organize for the 24th Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba and the 25th anniversary of Pastors for Peace. The meetings aim to build awareness of the U.S. blockade of Cuba, which includes a ban on travel to Cuba without U.S. government “licensed” approval. At the meetings construction materials, tools and medical supplies will be collected for donation to the beleaguered Caribbean nation in defiance of the blockade.

Instead of taking the arduous route of previous caravans through Mexico, nearly 100 participants in the 24th Friendshipment will fly with the supplies to Mexico and then go on to Santiago de Cuba to work alongside their Cuban sisters and brothers in hurricane reconstruction. Santiago was hard hit by Hurricane Sandy. Caravanistas will learn about Cuba’s well-recognized disaster prevention and preparedness methods from Cuban counterparts who have shown the world what it means to humanely deal with climate change.

The Pastors for Peace caravans also publicize the unjust imprisonment of the Cuban 5, who were arrested in the U.S. 15 years ago come Sept. 12, and participate in organizing efforts to free them.

Gail Walker, co-director of Pastors for Peace, spoke at a June 1 rally at the White House demanding freedom for the Cuban 5.

Financial donations are needed and appreciated. Meetings are still being added on the pastorsforpeace.org website. If your location is not listed, organize a meeting. Call the office at 212-926-5757.