In Britain the Revolutionary Communist Group’s Rock around the Blockade campaign answered Cuba’s call for action to free the Five, as part of our own effort to make the Cuban revolution a more visible issue on the streets.

The Cuban Five solidarity events kicked off in London on 15 September. Members of Rock around the Blockade held a lively rally in Trafalgar Square in the centre of London to call for the immediate release of these prisoners of US imperialism. Protestors flew the Cuban flag and held up placards demanding the release of the Five, an end to the illegal US blockade of Cuba and for the US-backed terrorist Luis Posada Carriles to be put on trail. Many passers by stopped to listen to speeches and took leaflets about the case of the Five and the example of the Cuban Revolution. The demonstration concluded with protestors marching through the packed square, holding placards that spelt out the words ‘Free the Five’.

On 22 September in Manchester activists held a highly visible and well received street event for the release of the Five in Piccadilly Gardens, with stalls, flags, banners and placards in solidarity with Cuban socialism. The following weekend on 29 September it was the turn of comrades in Scotland to take the message to the streets. In Edinburgh activists held campaign stalls in the busy Princess Street, before marching to the US consulate building for a more focused protest. The events in Edinburgh were supported by campaigners supportive of the revolutionary movement in Venezuela and was attracted a lot of attention from the local population.

We will continue to work in solidarity with socialist Cuba in calling for the release of these five revolutionary fighters.

For more info about the Cuban 5 read our Viva Cuba! newsletter.

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