Monday, June 13
National Day of Action
* No Asylum for
Luis Posada Carriles
* Extradite him to Venezuela for Trial
* End the 45-Year U.S. War Against Cuba
* Free the Cuban 5 anti-terrorists from U.S. prison
Regional demonstration in El Paso, TX
outside of Posada's immigration hearing
Locally coordinated protests
in cities and towns across the country
See below for details
Momentum is building for the June 13 National Day of Action to demand the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela for trial. On this day, he will go before an immigration judge for a hearing in El Paso, Texas. Demonstrations will take place outside of his immigration hearing in El Paso, and in cities and towns across the U.S. and Canada, including Miami, Washington DC, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Rochester, Chicago, Charlotte, Hackensack, Minnesota, Milwaukee and Vancouver.
Cuba solidarity and antiwar activists are coming together for the local protests around the country. Among the keynote speakers at the Los Angeles demonstration will be Francisco Letelier, the son of Orlando Letelier, the former ambassador, foreign minister and defense minister under the government of Salvador Allende in Chile, who was killed in a terrorist car bombing in Washington DC in 1976. New CIA and FBI documentation shows that Posada was in the meeting to plan that bombing. The Washington DC protest will be joined for Wayne Smith, former Chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, from 1979-1982; Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy; Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University; and longtime Cuba specialist. The New York City protest will include members of the family of Raymond Persaud, the young 19-year-old man who was killed in the terrorist bombing of Cubana Airlines Flight 455. Raymond was on his way from Guyana to Cuba to study medicine there. In El Paso, Mexican organizations from Juarez and El Paso will be participating, along with antiwar and Cuba solidarity activists from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and other cities.
Scroll down for details:
- Read the Call to Action
- View endorsers
- Endorse the Call to Action
- View local protest taking place nationally
- List your local protest
- Details on the regional demonstration in El Paso
- Transportation to El Paso
- Help spread the word
- Donate
- More information
- Send a letter to Bush and Congress
On April 12 Luis Posada Carriles, the notorious anti-Cuba terrorist and killer, appealed for asylum in the United States through his attorneys in Miami. After living openly in Miami for over a month, the federal government, bowing to intensifying public pressure, detained Posada on May 17 and charged him with illegally entering the United States. On May 19, it was announced that he will go before an immigration judge for a hearing on June 13 in El Paso, Texas (please stay tuned in case the venue of the hearing changes). At that hearing, Posada's lawyer plans to resubmit his petition for asylum and argue that he should be considered a U.S. resident and allowed to remain in the country.
Venezuela has formally requested extradition of Luis Posada Carriles, to be tried for the bombing of Cubana Airlines flight 455, in which 73 people were killed on October 6, 1976. The Bush administration is so far refusing to honor the extradition treaty between the U.S. and Venezuela, due to the U.S. government's long-standing support for anti-Cuba terrorists. Posada Carriles was a CIA agent, trained in assassination, explosives and sabotage. Posada's terrorist history extends for decades. It is time for justice for his victims.
In the past month more than 20,000 letters have been sent to Bush and Congress as part of the "No Asylum for Posada - Extradition to Venezuela" campaign initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, and major press conferences have taken place on April 21 in Miami and on May 13 in Washington DC, helping to break through with mainstream media coverage of the case. This public pressure campaign has effectively ripped away the mask the Bush Administration wears on the issue of "terrorism." The transparent discrepancy between the official position that any country that harbors a terrorist is equally culpable for terrorist activities, and the Bush administration's support and coddling of Posada and other anti-Cuban terrorists, has made plain for many people in the United States the reality of Bush's so-called "war on terrorism."
It is now more important that ever to oppose Posada being granted asylum in the U.S., to demand his extradition to Venezuela for trial, and call for an end the U.S. government's 45-year war against Cuba.
Monday, June 13 - the day of Posada's hearing - will be a National Day of Action.
Call to Action initiated by the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition.
Co-sponsors of the national call and local actions: Co-sponsors of the national call and local actions: Antonio Maceo Brigade, National Lawyers Guild, la Alianza Martiana, la Alianza de Trabajadores de la Comunidad Cubana, National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, la Asociación de Mujeres Cristianas, Action Center For Justice, Tejanos For Truth, Queers United In Solidarity with Latin America & the Caribbean, Partnership for Civil Justice, Philadelphia Committee to Free the Five, Vancouver Communities In Solidarity With Cuba, Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean (EPICA), Now War on Cuba Movement, CISPES DC (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador), FMLN Maryland, Maryland-Cuba Friendship Coalition, Anglicans/Episcopalians and others for Free Religious Exchange with Cuba, Al-Awda-Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, A.N.S.W.E.R. New York, Rev. Luis Barrios PhD - John Jay College, Caribbean & Latin America Support Project, Casa de las Americas, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, Rev. Earl Cooperkamp - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church*, Cuba Solidarity New York, Dominican Friends of Cuba, Jane Franklin - Historian and author of Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History, Freedom Socialist Party, Fuerza de la Revolución, Haiti Progres Newspaper, Haiti Support Network, Harlem Tenants Association, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas-UCC, International Action Center, International Socialist Organization, Jericho Movement, Latin@s for Mumia, Marxist Leadership Collective, Movimiento Revolucionario Nueva Patria, National Network on Cuba, New Jersey Solidarity, New York Committee to Free the 5, New York Communist Party, Parti Populaire National, Party for Socialism and Liberation, People’s Organization for Progress, Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5, ProLibertad Freedom Campaign, Queers United in Solidarity with Latin America & the Caribbean, Radical Women, Rosemary Mealy & Sam Anderson - Malcolm X Museum Advisory Board NY, Sandra Levinson - Director of Cuban Art Space*, Socialist Front of Puerto Rico - New York Working Group, Venceremos Brigade, Rev. Lucius Walker - IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Workers World Party, A.N.S.W.E.R. Los Angeles, Latino Movement USA, Santa Monica College Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba, Alliance for a Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, African Awareness Association, Bergen County Hands off Cuba Committee, Minnesota Cuba Committee, Rochester Committee to Extradite Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela, WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Toronto Forum on Cuba, Milwaukee Committee to Free the Five, Wisconsin Committee for Peace and Justice, A.N.S.W.E.R. Chicago, Chicago Cuba Coalition, National Network on Cuba, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban Five, The Nicaragua Solidarity Committee, National Lawyers Guild, 8th Day Center for Justice, Mexico Solidarity Network, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Gay Liberation Network, IFCO Pastors for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Chicago Organizing Group to Say No to the National Endowment for Democracy, Socialist Workers Party, Palestine Aid Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Philippine Solidarity Committee, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Venceremos Brigade and Delegation to the 16th Festival of Youth and Students in Caracas, Venezuela in August 2005, A.N.S.W.E.R. - Bay Area, Bolivarian Circle International Cyber Solidarity, SF Bay Area Friendshipment, Casa Cuba Resource Center, Socialist Action, South Bay Committee in Solidarity with Cuba, Global Exchange, Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee, US Women and Cuba Collaboration, St. Pete for Peace, Phil Berrigan Institute for Nonviolence, Swiss Peace Movement, Puerto Rican Alliance of LA, WildGrassroots Collective - Norfolk VA, Interpretive Social Science Research, Free the Cuban Five Committee - Vancouver, and many more.
Click here to endorse. Endorsements from individuals and organizations are welcome.
View local protests taking place nationally
CALIFORNIA
Los Angeles, CA
Gather at 11 am
at the Downtown Federal Building (300 N. Los Angeles Street)
Call 323-464-1636 or email la@internationalanswer.org for details.
Download local LA flyer
Local sponsors: A.N.S.W.E.R. Los Angeles, Latino Movement USA, Santa Monica College Coalition in Solidarity with Cuba
San Diego, CA
Gather at 4-6 pm
at the Federal Building (Front & Broadway)
Email sandiegorally@internationalanswer.org or call 619-582-8288 for more information.
Sponsored by the San Diego Cuba Coalition
San Francisco, CA
Gather at 12 noon
at the Federal Courthouse (7th and Mission Sts.)
Call 415-821-6545 or email sf@internationalanswer.org for details.
Download local SF flyer
Local sponsors include: A.N.S.W.E.R. - Bay Area, Bolivarian Circle International Cyber Solidarity, Pastors for Peace, SF Bay Area Friendshipment, Casa Cuba Resource Center, Socialist Action, South Bay Committee in Solidarity with Cuba, Global Exchange
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington DC
Gather at 12 noon
at the White House - Lafayette Park
Call 202-544-3389 or email dc@internationalanswer.org for details.
Download local DC flyer: English Spanish
Local sponsors: A.N.S.W.E.R. DC, No War on Cuba Movement, EPICA (Ecumenical Program on Central America and the Caribbean), CISPES DC (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador), FMLN Maryland, Maryland-Cuba Friendship Coalition, Anglicans/Episcopalians and others for Free Religious Exchange with Cuba
FLORIDA
Miami, FL
Call 305-757-3113 for details.
MINNESOTA
Minneapolis, MN
Gather at 4:30pm
at Minneapolis Federal Building (3rd Ave & 4th Str.)
Email minneapolisrally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by Minnesota Cuba Committee
NEW JERSEY
Hackensack, NJ
Gather at 6pm
at Park across from Bergen County Seat (Main & Esseex)
Email hackensackrally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by Bergen County Hands off Cuba Committee
NEW YORK
New York City, NY
Gather at 5 pm
at 26 Federal Plaza
Call 212-533-0417 or email nyc@internationalanswer.org for details.
Download local NYC flyer: English Spanish
New York City co-sponsors: African Awareness Association, Al-Awda: Palestine Right to Return Coalition, Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle, A.N.S.W.E.R. New York, Rev. Luis Barrios PhD - John Jay College, Caribbean & Latin America Support Project, Casa de las Americas, Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism, Rev. Earl Cooperkamp - St. Mary’s Episcopal Church*, Cuba Solidarity New York, Dominican Friends of Cuba, Jane Franklin - Historian and author of Cuba and the United States: A Chronological History, Freedom Socialist Party, Fuerza de la Revolución, Haiti Progres Newspaper, Haiti Support Network, Harlem Tenants Association, Iglesia San Romero de las Americas-UCC, International Action Center, International Socialist Organization, Jericho Movement, Latin@s for Mumia, Malcom X Grassroots Movement, Marxist Leadership Collective, Movimiento Revolucionario Nueva Patria, National Lawyers Guild, National Network on Cuba, New Jersey Solidarity, New York Committee to Free the 5, New York Communist Party, Parti Populaire National, Party for Socialism and Liberation, People’s Organization for Progress, Popular Education Project to Free the Cuban 5, ProLibertad Freedom Campaign, Queers United in Solidarity with Latin America & the Caribbean, Radical Women, Rosemary Mealy & Sam Anderson - Malcolm X Museum Advisory Board NY, Sandra Levinson - Director of Cuban Art Space*, Socialist Front of Puerto Rico - New York Working Group, Venceremos Brigade, Rev. Lucius Walker - IFCO/Pastors for Peace, Workers World Party
Rochester, NY
Gather at 12:30pm
Federal Building, 100 State Street
Email rochesterrally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by Rochester Committee to Extradite Luis Posada Carriles to Venezuela
NORTH CAROLINA
Charlotte, NC
Gather at 5 pm
at the Federal Building (401 W. Trade St.)
Email charlotterally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by Action Center For Justice.
ILLINOIS
Chicago, IL
Gather at 5 pm
at the INS Building (10 W Jackson)
Call 773-878-0166 or email chicago@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsors include: A.N.S.W.E.R. Chicago, Chicago Cuba Coalition, National Network on Cuba, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban Five, The Nicaragua Solidarity Committee, National Lawyers Guild, 8th Day Center for Justice, Mexico Solidarity Network, National Boricua Human Rights Network, Gay Liberation Network, IFCO Pastors for Peace, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Chicago Organizing Group to Say No to the National Endowment for Democracy, Socialist Workers Party, Palestine Aid Society, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Philippine Solidarity Committee, Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, Venceremos Brigade and Delegation to the 16th Festival of Youth and Students in Caracas, Venezuela in August 2005.
TEXAS
El Paso, TX
Click here for details
WASHINGTON
Seattle, WA
Gather at 5 pm
at Federal Building (2nd & Marion)
Call 206-568-1661 or email seattle@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by A.N.S.W.E.R. Seattle.
Download local Seattle flyer
Local co-sponsors: A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition and the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee. Local endorser: US Women and Cuba Collaboration.
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee, WI
Gather at 12 noon
at Reuss Federal Plaza (3rd & Wisconsin)
Email milwaukeerally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by WI Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba
CANADA
Toronto
Gather from 5:00-6:00 pm
at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto: 360 University Ave.
Email torontorally@internationalanswer.org for details
Sponsored by the Toronto Forum on Cuba
Vancouver
Gather at 4:30pm
Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia and Howe Street)
Email vancouverrally@internationalanswer.org for details.
Sponsored by Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba
Download flyer
Organize a local protest in your city or town, if possible at a Federal Building or Federal Courthouse.
To list the protest in your city, fill out the Event Listing Form. For assistance in organizing a protest in your area, contact the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition at 202-544-3389 or 415-821-6545, or email info@internationalanswer.org.
Click here for a flyer containing a box for you to add in your local rally information.
Details on the regional demonstration in El Paso, TX
Download El Paso flyer: English Spanish
Attend the regional demonstration in El Paso, Texas
The demonstration will be at 6:30 am at Immigration Court at 8915 Montana Rd. where Posada's immigration hearing will take place. (Please stay tuned in case the venue of the hearing changes!)
Contact the West Coast Regional Office of the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition at 415-821-6545 or sf@internationalanswer.org for additional details.
Important notes:
- The Immigration Court is near the airport, as are the hotels listed below, so you will not have to travel long distances.
- Due to the time of the hearing people traveling from out of town should try to arrive the night before.
Please see the below information and links for what you need to know if you're traveling to El Paso:
Airport:
Website of the El Paso International Airport
Public transportation in El Paso:
Website of the El Paso Sun Metro or call 915-533-3333
Hotels in the area (of the airport and rally site):
EconoLodge
6363 Montana Ave.
915-778-3311
About $55/nite
Hi speed internet in room
Quality Inn
6099 Montana Ave.
915-772-3300
About $68/nite
Hi speed internet in room
Travelodge
6400 Montana
915-772-4231
About $60/nite
Few rooms with wireless internet access
Free 24 hour business center with computer/DSL access
La Quinta
6140 Gateway East
915-778-9321
Only dial-up internet access in room and hotel, no hi speed/DSL
For transportation from Albuquerque, New Mexico to El Paso, email albuquerquetransport@internationalanswer.org, or call 505-344-5049 or 505-268-9557.
If you can organize a car caravan, van and bus from your city to El Paso, fill out the Transportation Form to help spread the word.
Send emails to your contacts, listserves you are on, friends, family, co-workers, etc.
See above for downloadable flyers (including for local protest, the regional protest in El Paso, and an adaptable local flyer) that you can copy to hand out or post up.
Funds are urgently needed.
Over the last month, the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition has played a key role in pressuring the U.S. government to finally detain the anti-Cuba terrorist and longtime CIA operative Luis Posada Carriles. Many of you have taken an active part in this effort.
In response to A.N.S.W.E.R.'s appeal, more than 20,000 letters were sent to Bush and Congress demanding that Posada not be granted asylum and instead be extradited to Venezuela. Two press conferences initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R., in Miami on April 21 and at the National Press Club in Washington DC on May 13, were pivotal in forcing the issue onto the front pages of the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald and virtually every other major newspaper in the country, and many around the world.
This campaign has already cost us thousands of dollars for literature, press conferences, phone calls, airfare and much more. It will cost many thousands of dollars more in upcoming weeks to make the June 13 National Day of Action, including a regional mobilization at the site of the hearing, a success. Please make a contribution today.
To get involved, contact:
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
National Office in Washington DC: 202-544-3889
West Coast Regional Office in San Francisco: 415-821-6545
Website: http://www.answercoalition.org/
Email: info@internationalanswer.org