7-08-05, 8:50 am

Participants argue that blockade is immoral, inhumane and deeply harmful to Cuban people

CHICAGO – On July 11, nineteen-year-old Chicagoan Jennifer Suh and Trinidadian citizen Allison St. Brice, Suh’s 20-year-old Amherst College classmate, will board a yellow school bus on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba – a criminal act under current US law. The two are participants in the 16th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan, a project of IFCO – the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization. The women will join over 150 caravanistas from the US, Canada, Mexico, and seven European countries to challenge the US embargo on Cuba. Because the caravan participants are traveling without a US Treasury license, all risk fines and imprisonment. Last week, Congress rejected legislation to ease trade and travel restrictions that have persisted for over 40 years – restrictions that faith-based groups argue are immoral, inhumane and deeply harmful to Cuban residents. Caravan supporters argue the US government’s position stands in stark contrast to that of the international community; last year, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly for the removal of these restrictions for the 13th year in a row. Decorated Cuban-American war veteran Sgt. Carlos Lazo is among those raising concerns about travel restrictions to the island, which have prevented him from visiting his sick son in Cuba.

Since 1992, IFCO / Pastors for Peace has delivered more than 2,350 tons of humanitarian aid to the Cuban people without seeking a US Treasury license, arguing that license requirements violate constitutional rights to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel. This year’s Friendshipment Caravan buses will pass along 14 routes through 48 states and 130 host communities before the caravan converges in McAllen, Texas on July 17. Once in Texas, volunteers will organize 200 tons of humanitarian aid – including medical supplies, school buses, computers and educational materials -- that will be transported across the US-Mexico border and shipped to Cuba. At many stops, the caravan will collect aid donated by people who support a new US-Cuba policy based on respect and non-aggression.

The Chicago bus is donated by caravan veterans from Denmark and named for one of the ‘Cuban Five,’ Cuban nationals incarcerated in US prisons for espionage. The five maintain that they were trying to protect their homeland from terrorist groups based in the US, in a case that is attracting increased international attention. Three events on Sunday, July 9 are being held in the run-up to the caravan’s Monday departure: Kathryn Hall, public health worker and caravan volunteer, will participate in a report from 11:45 to 2 p.m. in McDonough Hall of the Gleeson Building in Oak Park, at 1101 Columbian Ave.; a bus painting event from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Amor De Dios Church at 2356 S. Sawyer in Chicago; and a Friendshipment Caravan party at Danny’s Bar at 1951 W. Dickens from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.