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New York, Sept. 14, 2008. The Hostos Center for the Arts and
Culture united musicians from various countries in its
emblematic Bronx Theater for an evening of solidarity,
through music and song, with the Cuban Five and their
families.
The New York public, particularly the large Dominican and
Puerto Rican community, responded enthusiastically to the
call by the International Committee for the Freedom of the
Cuban Five, some arriving even after the concert began to
buy the last tickets.
In attendance to enjoy the stellar performances and express
their solidarity with the Cuban Five, were the Cuban
Ambassador to the United Nations, Rodrigo Malmierca, and
other U.N. diplomats from Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela,
Haiti, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines.
The concert was opened by the Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All
Stars, followed by Dominican songwriter Victor Victor and
his group. After the intermission Pablo Marcano Garcia spoke
and introduced Puerto Rican legend Danny Rivera who closed
the show inviting a group of troubadours who sang “Décimas”
alluding to the struggle to free the Five.
Audience members danced in their seats, gave standing
ovations and cheered for the artists who offered their voice
to vindicate the dignity and resistance of Gerardo
Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino
and Fernando Gonzalez, the Five Stars to whom the concert
was dedicated.
The Puerto Rican author and visual artist Pablo Marcano
Garcia donated seven of his serigraphy entitled “Sagrado
Corazon Jibaro”, which he presented at the concert
beautifully framed; two of which sold immediately. The
other five are available for sale. For more information
contact:
info@thecuban5.org
Bill Santiago, who was the emcee, expressed his thanks for
being invited to participate in the concert.
In the lobby during the intermission people gathered around
the informational table asking how they could help in the
campaign and contributed by buying buttons, books, and
t-shirts. In particular, many women who attended the
concert were especially moved by the international campaign
for the visas for Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez. People
took many postcards to send to Condaleeza Rice demanding
visas for the two Cuban women.
The work of the production team, headed by Bill Martinez and
Alicia Jrapko, was successful despite the boycott from those
who are enemies of Cuba and the Cuban Five.
Alicia Jrapko, US Coordinator of the International Committee
thanks the musicians, diplomats, and audience present for
honoring these five men who have been unjustly imprisoned
for 10 years and for those around the world who demand their
freedom, as the large stage banner exclaims.
The theater was full of energy and emotion when amidst great
applause the audience chanted several times Free the Cuban
Five!
A message from Rene Gonzalez on behalf of the Five was read
by Nancy Cabrero, President of Casa de las Americas from New
York. Danny Glover was present through a letter read by the
young North American member of the International Committee,
Melanie Langlois.
Telesur was not able to broadcast the concert live due to
the media’s focus on Hurricane Ike in the Caribbean.
The concert, which was itself a storm of solidarity for the
freedom of the Five, will be broadcast in the near future as
part of the Telesur programming.
The Manhattan Neighborhood Network, which produces
documentaries, recorded the concert to be shown on cable TV
and by other local media throughout the US.
This concert, the first of its kind to take place in the US,
has been a modest contribution to the sacrifice of these
five men who are unjustly imprisoned for a decade for
deterring terrorist actions against their people.
thecuban5.org |
