Actors and Artists Thank Carter for his Call to Release the Five

International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5

U.S. Actors and Artists Thank Former President
Jimmy Carter for his call to Release the Cuban 5

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT: Suzanne Thompson (310) 570-5419
<mailto:SuzanneThompson55@gmail.com>SuzanneThompson55@gmail.com

Alicia Jrapko (510) 219-0092
<mailto:ajrapko@yahoo.com>ajrapko@yahoo.com

DANNY GLOVER, SUSAN SARANDON, JACKSON BROWNE,
MARTIN SHEEN, BONNIE RAITT, OLIVER STONE,
CHRISSIE HYNDE, EDWARD ASNER, MIKE FARREL, GRAHAM NASH (PLUS OTHERS)
THANK FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER FOR HIS CALL TO

RELEASE THE CUBAN 5 AND FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH CUBA

(LOS ANGELES - April 11, 2011) After hearing
former President Carter call for the release of
the Cuban 5, twenty U.S. Actors and Artists
United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1105124162958&s=130&e=0016GF8bqnBRpFRurqtg_z7d4UmBk0yjz0G4ja9uOXpQMqwVIe7ngSs_E08P_FIDqs8bNdCZPg4gYJM19dWi3SY84S6fEXG2z52rKV1QJz8VZO2ruWdPOgraVDmzreBEv7FYv9s3LTV7d_yO51As-O504LpiEKYt-v-1ihF70rKctvZVYS7u_bF8STmRORbkBqcNEAAAOOlD2Yym2ki2p6Sz-LNb-sR-697at0MDdjBzLLoQZGBA0jSc2M36uRX1Z6a
sent a letter thanking him for demanding their release
and for improved relations with Cuba. "I believe
that there is no reason to keep the Cuban 5
imprisoned, there were doubts in the U.S. courts
and also among human rights organizations in the
world. Now, they have been in prison 12 years and
I hope that in the near future they will be
released to return home."- Former President Jimmy Carter.

The actors and artists who signed on to the
letter include: Edward Asner, Co-Chair, Danny
Glover, Co-Chair, Jackson Browne, James Cromwell,
Mike Farrell, Richard Foos, Elliott Gould,
Chrissie Hynde, Graham Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Susan
Sarandon, Pete Seeger, Martin Sheen, Betty &
Stanley K. Sheinbaum, Andy Spahn, Oliver Stone,
Esai Morales, Francisco Letelier and Haskell Wexler.

Carter, invited by Cuban President Raul Castro,
on behalf of The Carter Center, is the first US
President in 50 years to set foot on Cuban soil.
He ended his three-day trip on March 30th by also
calling to remove Cuba from the U.S. State
Department's list of state sponsors of terrorism,
to lift the US blockade now having been imposed
on Cuba for half a century, and to remove all
restrictions imposed on its citizens regarding
travel to Cuba. To watch the Press Conference
visit
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=yre9a4cab&et=1105124162958&s=130&e=0016GF8bqnBRpHg0NZhelgQ06TrxtfzsfbgU-rqL-dSh0cNzyykmL0H74AxawxQcsN20jN5jSTsTpjQTPoFe_HaT_afLwgEJZsKKKsryGMrItY=>

www.thecuban5.org



"Typically, President Carter moves forward with
courage. Just as typically, he will be
criticized by those who lack it." - Mike Farrell

The Cuban 5 are Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo,
Antonio Guerrero Rodriguez, Fernando Gonzalez
Llort, Ramon Labanino Salazar, and Rene Gonzalez
Sehwerert, serving over 12 years in US prisons
for simply trying to protect their country from terrorism.

The actors and artists also expressed their
gratitude for Carter's visit and encouraged
subsequent discussions with President Obama and
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"Your wisdom and courage in calling for the
release of the Cuban 5 provides support for
President Obama to correct this injustice and
issue Executive Clemency for the Cuban 5 so they
can return to their families." - Danny Glover, Co-Chair

And certainly, until their release, the US
government should grant regular visas in a timely
manner, to their family members to visit them.

LETTER FROM U.S. ACTORS AND ARTISTS SENT TO FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER

April 8, 2011

The Honorable Jimmy Carter

The Carter Center
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307

Dear President Carter:

We, Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of
the Cuban 5, want to extend our deepest gratitude
for your recent visit to Cuba, as well as our
support for your statements promoting improved
relations between our countries.

Your call for the release of Gerardo Hernandez
Nordelo, Antonio Guerrero Rodriguez, Fernando
Gonzalez Llort, Ramon Labanino Salazar, and Rene
Gonzalez Sehwerert, known as the Cuban 5, and
your willing-ness to visit with their family
members in Cuba mean a great deal to all
involved. We strongly agree that there is no
reason to keep these men, who were simply trying
to protect their country from terrorism, imprisoned any longer.

And certainly, until their release, the US
government should grant regular visas in a timely
manner, to their family members to visit them.

Your leadership honors the principles upon which
our nation was founded. Your calls to remove Cuba
from the US State Department's list of state
sponsors of terrorism, to lift the US blockade
now having been imposed on Cuba for half a
century, and to remove all restrictions imposed
on its citizens regarding travel to Cuba (a
position supported by 67% of Americans and Cuban
Americans), are fair, just and appropriate.

Further, we enthusiastically support you in
having subsequent discussions with President
Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and
hope you will call for urgent action on their
part to make right this unjust situation.

Again, we thank you and look forward to the
possibility of improved relations and future visits to Cuba.

With respect,

Edward Asner, Co-Chair

Danny Glover, Co-Chair

Jackson Browne
James Cromwell
Mike Farrell
Richard Foos
Elliott Gould
Chrissie Hynde
Francisco Letelier
Esai Morales
Graham Nash
Bonnie Raitt
Susan Sarandon
Pete Seeger
Martin Sheen
Betty & Stanley K. Sheinbaum
Andy Spahn
Oliver Stone
Haskell Wexler