Vol. 74/No. 42      November 8, 2010

Rally speakers included leaders of the public sector union Unison and the National Union of Teachers; Brendan Barber, general-secretary of the Trades Union Congress; Angela Smith, a member of the House of Lords and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cuba; Member of Parliament Michael Connarty; and former Labour Party politician Tony Benn. Cuban violinist Omar Puente performed a song written in tribute to the five.

Tony Woodley, joint general-secretary of the Unite union, brought greetings to the rally from Hernández, who he recently visited in prison. Woodley reported that Hernández was in high spirits and remained determined in spite of often brutal conditions behind bars.

In a message to the rally, Hernández said, “Once again the functionaries of that embassy will ignore your claim or will say that the five are in prison for the very serious crime of having committed espionage. Once again we can tell anybody, plain and simple: that is a lie.”

Hernández’s letter quoted the testimony of the current Director of National Intelligence for the Obama administration, Gen. James Clapper Jr. He was asked as a prosecution witness at the five’s trial, “Would you agree on saying that having access to public information is not an act of espionage?” “Yes,” Clapper answered. “Would you, with your experience in intelligence matters, describe Cuba as a military threat for the United States?” Answer: “Absolutely not. Cuba does not represent a threat.” “Did you find any evidence indicating that Gerardo Hernández was trying to obtain secret information?” Answer: “No, not that I remember.”

A representative from Amnesty International, Shane Enright, spoke at the protest. He said a report by the organization raises doubts about the “fairness and impartiality” of the five’s trial.

Irma González, daughter of René González, also addressed the rally, thanking protesters for turning out despite cold and wet weather. Two days earlier she was interviewed on BBC radio, a break in the media blackout on the case.

In a message she relayed to the protest, René González noted, “Principles, justice and political honesty have nothing to do with the spirit of revenge that have guided, for too long, the policies of the United States towards Cuba. Only such vengeful spirit can explain the brutality of the punishment imposed on the five of us and our families… .

“Fortunately principles, justice and political honesty have a place in the hearts of many decent people, all over the world. They are represented here tonight, as well as all the people of the United Kingdom who, since the very beginning of our ordeal, gave us a show of massive support that makes us feel honored, overwhelmed, accompanied and committed.”
 
 
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