Category: Cuban Five
Entrevista a Gerardo Hernandez, antiterrorista cubano
| January 18, 2016 | 8:21 pm | Cuban Five | Comments closed

“We have the historic responsibility to defend Venezuela”
| April 3, 2015 | 10:24 pm | Cuba, Cuban Five, political struggle, Venezuela | 2 Comments
(This is from the website of the Cuban embassy in Venezuela.) ==============================================

Gerardo Hernández: “We have the historic responsibility to defend Venezuela” April 2, 2015
A CubaNews translation. Edited by Walter Lippmann. http://www.walterlippmann.com/docs4329.html

The antiterrorist fighter attended the meeting that the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) organized in honor of the Young Communists League (UJC) and the José Martí Pioneer Organization, close to April 4. It was held right in his long-time neighborhood in the block where he played as a kid, where he grew up, loved and lived much of his life.
He welcomed the dozens of teenagers who, during this tribute, joined the largest mass organization in Cuba. To some he even handed their membership cards as “cederistas” and he told all of them to ask their parents and grandparents to search in books and learn why and under what circumstances the CDRs, the Pioneer Organization, and the UJC were born.
The aggressions and threats facing the Bolivarian Revolution, the constant sabotage and other destabilizing actions, were then the daily bread for Cubans, and we have the moral duty, the historical responsibility,  to defend Venezuela and to express that solidarity in all ways possible, he said.
Hernandez told those who just turned 16 and were admitted to the CDR, not to see this moment as a mere formality, but to commit themselves, and do much from the ranks for an organization that is living history: a symbol of revolutionary Cuba that today needs its young people more than ever.
A special moment in this tribute by the Committees to the “new pines” was the inscription of Gema, the daughter of Gerardo and his beloved Adriana Pérez O’Connor, in the Registry Book of Members and Addresses of CDR number 9 “Abel Santamaría” Zone 77, Alkázar neighborhood, People’s Council La Güinera, in the Havana municipality of Arroyo Naranjo.
The whole neighborhood witnessed the event, doubly happy for the hero, since that book shows that his parents were the first to be registered, both of them founders and members of the “executive committee” of the CDR, the custody of which was for decades a “family business”.
Gerardo, Adriana and their lovely Gema, born of an immense love and also struggle and resistance, were showered with the congratulations of a community which wanted to offer its prodigal son all the honors, and granted him the distinction Huron Azul, the highest award of Arroyo Naranjo.
Thanks for so much solidarity over all these years, said an emotional Hernandez to his neighbors and shared with them hugs, kisses and memories, including those that are caught in the many photos that were taken this Wednesday with his life-long neighbors.
The meeting in the middle of the street was presided over by Carlos Rafael Miranda, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and national coordinator of the CDR, Nexy Veliz, president of the Pioneer Organization, and Julio Heriberto Gómez, member of the National Bureau of the UJC, among other leaders.
 

Gerardo Hernández: “Tenemos la responsabilidad histórica de defender a Venezuela”

2 abr, 2015Haga un comentario

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El luchador antiterrorista asistió al agasajo de los Comités de Defensa de la Revolución (CDR) a la Unión de Jóvenes Comunistas (UJC) y la Organización de Pioneros José Martí, cercano ya el cuatro de abril, celebrado justo en su barrio de siempre, en la cuadra donde jugó de niño, creció, amó y vivió buena parte de su vida.
A las decenas de adolescentes que, durante este homenaje, ingresaron a la mayor organización de masas de Cuba, les dio la bienvenida, a algunos, incluso, entregó el carné de cederista y a todos pidió preguntar a sus padres y abuelos, buscar en los libros para saber por qué y en qué circunstancias nacieron los CDR, la Organización de Pioneros y la UJC.
Las agresiones y amenazas que enfrenta la Revolución Bolivariana, los constantes sabotajes y demás acciones desestabilizadoras, eran entonces el pan de cada día de los cubanos, y tenemos el deber moral, la responsabilidad histórica de defender a Venezuela y expresar esa solidaridad de todas las maneras posibles, enfatizó.
A los incorporados a los CDR, cumplidos ya los 16 años de edad, pidió Hernández Nordelo no ver este ingreso como mera formalidad, comprometerse y hacer mucho, desde sus filas, por una organización que es historia viva, símbolo de la Cuba revolucionaria que, como nunca necesita hoy de sus jóvenes.
Momento singular en este agasajo de los Comités a los “pinos nuevos” fue la inscripción de Gema, la hija de Gerardo y su amada Adriana Pérez O’Connor, en el Libro de Registros y Direcciones del CDR número nueve “Abel Santamaría”, de la Zona 77, en el Reparto Alkázar, Consejo Popular La Güinera, en el municipio habanero de Arroyo Naranjo.
Todo el barrio fue testigo del suceso, doblemente feliz para el Héroe, pues ese Libro tuvo como primeros inscritos a sus padres, ambos fundadores y miembros del “ejecutivo” del CDR, y cuya custodia fue por décadas un “asunto de familia”.
A Gerardo, Adriana y su preciosa Gema, fruto de un amor inmenso y, también, del combate y la resistencia, “llovieron” luego los parabienes de una comunidad que quiso ofrecer a su hijo pródigo todos los honores y le concedió hoy, por ejemplo, la distinción Hurón Azul, la mayor que otorga Arroyo Naranjo.
Gracias por tanta solidaridad durante todos estos años, dijo un emocionado Hernández Nordelo a sus vecinos de siempre y compartió con ellos abrazos, besos y recuerdos, incluidos esos que quedan atrapados en las tantas fotos que se tomó este miércoles con su gente de toda la vida.
Presidieron este encuentro en plena calle Carlos Rafael Miranda, miembro del Comité Central del Partido Comunista de Cuba y coordinador nacional de los CDR, Nexy Véliz, presidenta de la Organización de Pioneros, y Julio Heriberto Gómez, miembro del Buró Nacional de la UJC, entre otros dirigentes.
http://www.embajadacuba.com.ve/noticias/gerardo-hernandez-tenemos-la-responsabilidad-historica-de-defender-a-venezuela/#respond

Raul Castro decorates the Cuban Five
| February 26, 2015 | 9:06 pm | Cuba, Cuban Five | Comments closed

The Cuban Five received in the National Assembly
| February 26, 2015 | 8:51 pm | Cuba, Cuban Five | Comments closed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWbUTwjbbL0&feature=em-

Baby Gema is Born! Nace la bebe Gema!
| January 6, 2015 | 10:30 pm | Cuban Five | Comments closed
National Committee To Free The Cuban Five
Tue., Jan. 6, 2014

Baby Gema is born! ¡Nace la bebé Gema!
Gerardo: “I never imagined such happiness”
Gerardo: “Nunca imaginé una felicidad así” 
Beautiful, Fantastic News Indeed!
Baby Gema was born at 8:30 am today, very ealthy and weighing 7.7 lbs. of the overjoyed parents Adriana Pérez and Gerardo Hernández.
We are ecstatic at their long-dreamed-of wish
come true.
Our best wishes for them and we wish a quick recovery for Adriana.
Our website and Facebook will have pictures as soon as they are available. And you can access them on any Cuba media soon, such as www.cubadebate.cu
Until then: (spanish only)
¡Fantástica y hermosa noticia!
La bebé Gema de Adriana y Gerardo nació esta mañana a las 8:30, muy sana y con peso de 7,7 libras, los padres exultantes de alegría! Estamos muy felices al ver su anhelado sueño realizado. Nuestros mejores deseos para toda su familia y esperamos una pronta recuperación para Adriana. Nuestro sitio y Facebook tendrán la fotos en cuanto estén disponibles. También podrán accederlas en cualquier medio cubano, como www.cubadebate.cu
Hasta entonces: (solo en español)
Chicago celebrates the Return of the Cuban 5…
| December 31, 2014 | 9:20 pm | Cuban Five | Comments closed
Chicago celebrates the Return of the Cuban 5, the Moves to End the US Travel Ban and US Blockade against Cuba – and Opposes US Sanctions on Venezuela.

On Tuesday, December 23 at the Chicago Consulate of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela over 100 people turned out to celebrate Cuba’s victory and to oppose the new sanctions on Venezuela. Let’s not allow the US government to take its boot off the neck of Cuba, just to put it on Venezuela’s.

The freeing of the Cuban 5 was a great victory for Cuba and for all who defended Cuba over the last half century, and for those who fight to free all U.S. political prisoners. It was also a victory for all of Latin America, and we celebrate this defeat for the almost 55 year cruel policy of the US government against Cuban and Latin American self-determination.

We chose to celebrate at the Consulate of Venezuela in Chicago not just because of the Consulate’s long support for Cuba, but to stand with Venezuela, now threatened by US sanctions.

In attendance included members of the Venceremos Brigades, the Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5, the Chicago Cuba Coalition, Boricua Human Rights Network and supporters of Oscar Lopez Rivera, the All-African Peoples Revolutionary Party, and framed-up Palestinian activist Rasmea Odeh and her supporters.

Of the three speakers, DePaul University’s Felix Masud spoke about having been in a conference in Havana when the changes were announced and the remaining Cuban 5 came home. He explained that the changed US policy did not mean the US war against Cuba was ending, only that it was modifying its policy of regime change. He pointed to the sanctions on Venezuela as evidence the US aims in Latin America remain the same.

Gisela Lopez, long time Cuban activist, touched on some of the past support for Cuba, going back to the time she and her sister Gilda worked in Chicago’s Fair Play for Cuba Committee and the Alianza de Trabajadores Cubanos. She thanked and congratulations to all those who fought for justice for her country,  including, besides those named above, the National Lawyers Guild, the Nation of Islam, Chicago Religious Leadership Network and Pastors for Peace. She gave particular thanks to the Consulate of Venezuela in Chicago, which she dubbed the “Cuban Consulate in Chicago” because of their active solidarity. Gisela ended by calling all to defend Venezuela and work for the freedom of Oscar Lopez Rivera.

Finally, Jesus Rodriquez, Consul General of Venezuela Consulate, spoke on the new US sanctions on Venezuela, it being the new target of the US, and how insulted Venezuela is by the hypocrisy of the US government’s actions. He called on all to work to oppose this new US threat to Latin American self-determination.
  This was the largest gathering of Cuba solidarity activists in Chicago in years, and the largest event ever held at the Venezuelan Consulate, filling two rooms and spilling out into the hall.
 
By Stan Smith, Chicago Committee to Free the Cuban 5
stansfield smith <stansfieldsmith@yahoo.com
To the friends who share our happiness
| December 31, 2014 | 8:33 pm | Cuban Five | Comments closed

Adriana and GerardoSince December 17 we have been living some very intense days. The hours have not been nearly enough time to respond to the hundreds of messages that we have received through many different ways. And now with the arrival of Gema, coming very soon, it is possible that we will have even less time to communicate. But it is important to us that you know that there has not been one day in which we have not thought about all of you. Today we enjoy with all of you this victory represented in the return of the Five to the Homeland.  

The effort of each and every one of you has contributed to making this triumph possible. For more than 16 years the Five have dreamt about this happiness that we are now living. Your continued struggle on our behalf has made this all possible. And today, as we are showered with the love of our people, the gratitude for all the sisters and brothers, from around the world, who have supported us during all this time is multiplied.

 

On behalf of the Five and our families we wish you a happy and very successful 2015, and congratulate you on the 56th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution.

 

A big embrace,

 

Adriana, Gerardo (and Gema).