Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba Event in Sacramento June 26

Press Release: For Immediate Release, June 9, 2004

Contacts: Gin 916-457-5018, Rick 916-485-2869 or caac2 [at] jps.net.


Gloria La Riva to Speak at Pastors for Peace Caravan To Cuba

Gloria La Riva will be the featured speaker at the Pastors for Peace 15th Annual Caravan to Cuba when it arrives in Sacramento at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 5625 24th Street, on Saturday, June 26.

The event will begin with a potluck at 6 p.m., followed by the program where La Riva will speak. The church is located at the southeast corner of Fruitridge and 24th Street.

La Riva is the coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, and lives in San Francisco. She is president of the Typographical Sector/No. California Media Workers Union Lo. 39521, CWA. She has organized medical aid shipments to Cuba and Iraq, and spoke at the 2000 and 2002 May Day rallies of one million people in Havana. La Riva was on the first, second, third, and fifth caravans of Pastors for Peace.

Please bring a dish to share and help local activists welcome the caravan on its Sacramento stop. The program will include an auction of Carlos Espinosa’s Cuban art objects donated by Gail Ryall and Carlos’ family. The evening is dedicated to Carlos, who passed away on April 6, in honor of his many years of support of the Pastors for Peace Cuba caravans and his love for the Cuban people.

The admission is free, but money will be collected for the caravan. The Friendshipment Caravans of IFCO/Pastors for Peace have been a major push towards lifting the embargo on Cuba and challenging travel restrictions on visiting there. This 15th caravan plans to collect and deliver over 60 tons of humanitarian aid, stopping in 120 U.S. cities along 13 separate routes across the U.S. and taking school buses, computers, medicines, and school supplies to Cuba. CAAC has hosted most of these caravans.

For more information:
· The Birthing Project is collecting medical supplies and equipment; for information of what and where to donate, please call Becky at 916-558-4837 or beckyvbp [at] yahoo.com.
· The Central America Action Committee is coordinating the potluck and program; for more information; please call Gin at 916-457-5018 or Rick at 916-485-2869 or caac2 [at] jps.net.
· For more information about joining the caravan, please contact IFCO/Pastors for Peace at 212-926-5757 or cucaravan [at] igc.org or http://www.ifconews.org.

The event is co-sponsored by the Central America Action Committee, The Birthing Project, Freedom Bound Center, WILPF (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom) and the Sacramento Valley Labor Committee for Peace and Justice.