Mexico, Jul 17 (Prensa Latina) The 26th U.S.-Cuba Friendship Caravan, led by nearly 50 Pastors for Peace members, arrives in Cuba today with its load of solidarity aid, after a brief stay in Mexico.
Solidarity groups and members of the caravan met yesterday evening to participate in a public-ecumenical ceremony in front of the U.S. embassy in Mexico, located in one of the main streets of this capital.
During the activity shouts of “long live to Cuba and Mexico” were heard , banners with phrases such as Now is time to end the bloqueo! and Return of the territory illegally occupied by the United States!, were risen, candles were lit, flowers were laid, some poem were recited, and some songs were sang.
The main objective was to highlight that, despite the steps taken between the United States and Cuba, one crucial item is still missing, that is the end of the economic blockade and the closure of the Guantanamo Bay, in Cuba’s eastern region, occupied by the United States for more than 100 years ago.
In statements to Prensa Latina, Raul Vera, bishop of Saltillo, in the Mexican state of Coahuila, referred to this struggle and the heroic Cuban people that has faced the economic blockade with stoicism and “I always join to such kind of demonstrations,” he said .
We want that the countries of the American continent join the island, because it benefits us all.
The Cuban people have great achievements and since I was young, we saw Cuba with great sympathy.
Meanwhile, young Dominican Manolo de los Santos also talked with Prensa Latina. He lived in the United States for several years and has lived in Cuba for about four years.
He said that the humanitarian cargo consists of school supplies, walking frames and wheelchairs for the elderly, medicines, X-ray equipment, and computers.
In statements to Prensa Latina, Rev. Luis Barrios, a member of the executive board of Pastors for Peace and also one of the speakers, said he began participating in the caravan since 1992, along with Reverend Lucius Walker, founder and leader of the organization.
The return to the homeland of the five Cubans who were unjustly held in U.S. prisons for several years for fighting terrorism and the process of normalization in relations between the United States and Cuba, was also held at the event.
Young woman Ana Maria Cardenas, a coordinator of the program in the United States, told Prensa Latina that she will also depart today with the rest of the members of the caravan to Cuba where they will stay about 10 days and will visit the cities of Sancti Spiritus (center), and Santiago de Cuba (east).
The caravan departed on June 29 from several routes across Canada and the United States, to reach Texas and cross the border with Mexico.
