US Actors and Artists Ask Obama to Free the Cuban 5

International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5
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Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5

Actor and activist, Danny Glover and Edward Asner, co-chairs of
"Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5" made a
call to their colleagues in the United States inviting them to add
their name to a letter to President Obama encouraging him to issue an
Executive Clemency order on behalf of the Cuban 5.

A significant number of well-known actors and artists who responded
to the call include Susan Sarandon, Oliver Stone, Martin Sheen, Pete
Seeger, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, Haskell Wexler,
Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, and others.

Just recently, on August 8th, Danny Glover, visited Gerardo Hernandez
one of the Cuban Five at the United States Penitentiary in
Victorville. Gerardo had just been released from 13 days in "the
hole" without being given any reason. Glover came out of that visit
with a strong commitment to get other actors and artists to join him
in the effort to get the five released (See New YouTube of Glover on the Cuban 5

http: com="" v="OuZRKUZX40U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuZRKUZX40U



"President Obama should pardon Gerardo Hernandez and the other
members of the Cuban 5. They were front line soldiers in the fight
against terrorism. But instead of using the information they gathered
to arrest people carrying out bombings of civilians, the FBI arrested
these five men. The bombers such as Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando
Bosch on the other hand, walk the streets of Miami and hold fund
raising dinners there." Danny Glover, Co-Chair.

Co-Chair, Edward Asner recently reading at the opening of "From My
Altitude", artwork and poetry by Antonio Guerrero, one of the Cuban
5, said, "Railroading of people of color is an American
industry. The Cuban 5 are no exception."

In the letter to President Obama sent on the 12th anniversary of the
arrests of the Cuban 5, the actors and artists stated, "We are
dismayed that the Cuban 5, who have committed no crime against the
United States nor posed any threat to this country's national
security, have now been imprisoned for 12 years. The Five monitored
the activities of violent groups of Cuban exiles in Miami, activities
that had already resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cuban
nationals. They sought simply to protect
their country from further acts of terrorism."

Due to the media silence surrounding the case for the last 12 years,
people from around the world and in the United States have been
working hard to reach out to more diverse communities including
elected officials, religious figures, trade unionists, students,
teachers, and others.

This is the first time that well-known US celebrities have come
together in support of the 5. As with any other community, when
people learn about this injustice they are in disbelief and want to
do something about it. Due to the great response that this campaign
has generated it will be extended to allow other actors and artists
to join in the struggle to free the Cuban 5.

List of Actors and Artists who signed on to the letter to President Obama:

Edward Asner, legendary actor in long running TV series The Mary
Tyler Moore Show,the star of Hugh Grant and voice of a curmudgeonly
widower in the Academy Award winning animation film Up.

Jackson Browne, progressive singer songwriter and member of the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame whose most recent recording includes a song
against the US blockade of Cuba.

Ry Cooder, multi-Grammy Award winning guitarist and composer whose
music raises social issues. His production of Buena Vista Social Club
propelled a group of Cuban musicians to international fame in
resurrecting their musical roots.

James Cromwell, film and TV actor, known for his role in the film
Babe, LA Confidential and the HBO series Six Feet Under.

Mike Farrell, Progressive activist and actor who is best known for
his role in the long running television series M*A*S*H.

Bruria Finkel, well known California artist, curator and community activist.

Richard Foos, founder of Rhino Records and supporter of social causes.

Danny Glover, beloved American actor and director best known for his
riveting performance in The Color Purple and the Lethal Weapon
series; strong supporter of humanitarian and progressive causes.

Elliott Gould, well known American actor who has starred in dozens of
films including M*A*S*H and Ocean's Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen.

Chrissie Hynde, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is best
known for her music with the group The Pretenders.

Greg Landau, music, video producer and three time Grammy Award nominee.

Francisco Letelier, internationally known muralist, poet and
installation artist whose father Orlando was assassinated in
Washington, D.C. in 1976.

Esai Morales, is a popular movie and TV actor known best for his role
in the biopic film La Bamba.

Graham Nash, British born singer song writer and member of the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame; his distinguished vocals are best known for
his work with the multi-Grammy Award winning rock folk band Crosby,
Stills, Nash and Young.

Bonnie Raitt, multi-Grammy Award winner, member of the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame, revered singer songwriter is an institution in American
music along with a life of commitment to social change.

Susan Sarandon, best known for her landmark acting performances in
the iconic film Thelma and Louise and Academy Award winning role as a
nun in Dead Man Walking.

Pete Seeger, tireless American folk music legend and member of the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is known for his decades of protest music
in support of nuclear disarmament, environmental causes and civil rights.

Martin Sheen, well known social justice activist and actor who
starred in Apocalypse Now and the TV drama The West Wing.

Betty Sheinbaum, well known sculptor, painter and philanthropist
whose work spans four decades.

Stanley K. Sheinbaum, long time supporter of the arts and progressive causes.

Andy Spahn, served as the Head of Corporate Affairs and
Communications for Dream Works SKG from 1994 to 2006, and he is now
the President of Andy Spahn & Associate, Inc., an entertainment
industry based consulting firm in Los Angeles

Oliver Stone, legendary and prolific filmmaker, Academy Award winning
director of Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July and recent work
includes South of the Border and Wall Street 2.

Haskell Wexler, one of the most influential cinematographers in movie
history, recipient of two Oscars for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
and Bound for Glory. His prolific career includes producing over 40
documentary films dealing with the issues of peace, justice and human rights.


READ LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1103662215573&s=0&e=001DFfYlxYHnVsr_96WCJ0Xm2bn0KrEgWG_14j3Ngc1pmV42pCPjTF_oUc-KYDoBiUTkXkiUpEHd0hqqQt3QI9EzRK7AMEaXDjCT2csMjhdxn7gO5X2SLIR0g==>http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1103662215573&s=0&e=001DFfYlxYHnVsr_96WCJ0Xm2bn0KrEgWG_14j3Ngc1pmV42pCPjTF_oUc-KYDoBiUTkXkiUpEHd0hqqQt3QI9EzRK7AMEaXDjCT2csMjhdxn7gO5X2SLIR0g==] 

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How you can help!

1) Help us to produce more YouTubes

YouTubes are a very effective way to spread the word about the case
of the Cuban

5. The International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, has
produced 5 YouTubes, one with Alice Walker and four with Danny Glover
and we are planning to create many more with other well-known
figures. You can help us by making a $50 tax-deductible contribution
or any other amount you can afford. Thank you very much for your support!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1103662215573&s=0&e=001DFfYlxYHnVsr_96WCJ0Xm2bn0KrEgWG_14j3Ngc1pmV42pCPjTF_oUc-KYDoBiUTkXkiUpEHd0hqqQt3QI9EzRK7AMEaXDjCT2csMjhdxn7gO5X2SLIR0g==]

2) Sign the Petition to President Obama:

End the Injustice, Free the 5 now!

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1103662215573&s=0&e=001DFfYlxYHnVsr_96WCJ0Xm2bn0KrEgWG_14j3Ngc1pmV42pCPjTF_oUc-KYDoBiUTkXkiUpEHd0iz5zMWTPw_5SI4OLef7RZsos8oWVLi-N8Kgma8ZbxdQiJ_EE5gLWLPtZ5CO20Rk96vkQ0uqwv8tXzurpFlZWRmAuxfRxMVdEMZhWNpImGZzj_g5rfWu8Uy>




3) Send the petiton to all your friends and ask them to sign

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International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5