www.freethefive.org

November 6, 2004

Dear Friends of the Cuban Five:

The following is an important update for the campaign to win visiting rights for the Families of our Cuban brothers, unjustly held in U.S. prison.

As you know, Olga Salanueva, wife of René González, and Adriana Pérez, wife of Gerardo Hernández, have been denied entry into the United States by the U.S. government several times. As a result they are not able to visit their husbands in prison.

Little 6-year-old Ivette, daughter of Olga and René, is also not able to visit her father, although she is a U.S.-born citizen. Adriana has not seen her husband Gerardo for more than six years. Olga and Ivette have not seen René for more than four years.

The mothers, wives of the other Cuban Five brothers, and other relatives, have also had to wait excessive periods of time to receive entry visas from the U.S. government.

For example, Mirta Rodríguez, mother of Antonio Guerrero, was only last able to visit her son November 2003. It is one year since she has seen Antonio.

Rosa Aurora Freijanes, wife of Fernando González, has only been able to see her husband three times since his imprisonment six years ago. Magali Llort, mother of Fernando, has not been granted an entry visa from the U.S. since she last saw him in February, despite applying for a visa months ago.

Elizabeth Palmeiro, wife of Ramón Labañino, and the children, Ailí, Lisbet and Laura, have been able to visit him only four times in six years. Their last visit was February.

This treatment of the families is not an accident. It is part of the harsh and punitive treatment given to the five political prisoners and their families by Washington.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has the authority to grant entry visas to Olga Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, as well as to speed up the process of visas for the other family members. We believe it is necessary to let him know that thousands of people are aware of the Five's case and the denial of family visits.

THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN HELP.

The National Committee to Free the Cuban Five is asking all supporters to immediately send letters to John Ashcroft, to call on him to grant Olga and Adriana entry visas, and to speed up the pace of approval for family visits. If you can, please e-mail us to let us know you took action.

On our newly-designed Website, www.freethefive.org you will find all the necessary material:

1. A Brochure that concisely describes the wives and families' situation. It is useful to read completely, to become more aware of the visits issue; 2. A sample letter that you can download and mail directly or send by fax or e- mail, to Ashcroft; 3. More articles on the web that go into further detail on the Family Visits Campaign.

PLUS:

A subcommittee of the National Committee is organizing Congressional visits to ask members of Congress to sign a Letter to Ashcroft. If you are able to organize a small delegation to your congressperson, or other prominent people, please call us at:

415-821-6545 or e-mail: freethefive@actionsf.org

It is important that you call us about the Congress visits, because some are already being organized in New York City area, Illinois, Washington state, California, Wisconsin, Oregon, and elsewhere, and it is helpful to coordinate to be more effective. Also, we will be glad to send you very useful literature.

Any day now the decision could come down from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. We will let you know immediately as soon as the court decides.

Let's all work together to win entry rights for the families of the five Cuban heroes.

Free the Cuban Five!

National Committee to Free the Cuban Five