New York, Sept. 14, 2008. The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture united musicians from various countries in its emblematic Bronx Theater for an evening of solidarity, through music and song, with the Cuban Five and their families.
The New York public, particularly the large Dominican and Puerto Rican community, responded enthusiastically to the call by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five, some arriving even after the concert began to buy the last tickets.
In attendance to enjoy the stellar performances and express their solidarity with the Cuban Five, were the Cuban Ambassador to the United Nations, Rodrigo Malmierca, and other U.N. diplomats from Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The concert was opened by the Puerto Rican Golden Jazz All Stars, followed by Dominican songwriter Victor Victor and his group. After the intermission Pablo Marcano Garcia spoke and introduced Puerto Rican legend Danny Rivera who closed the show inviting a group of troubadours who sang “Décimas” alluding to the struggle to free the Five.
Audience members danced in their seats, gave standing ovations and cheered for the artists who offered their voice to vindicate the dignity and resistance of Gerardo Hernandez, Rene Gonzalez, Antonio Guerrero, Ramon Labañino and Fernando Gonzalez, the Five Stars to whom the concert was dedicated.
The Puerto Rican author and visual artist Pablo Marcano Garcia donated seven of his serigraphy entitled “Sagrado Corazon Jibaro”, which he presented at the concert beautifully framed; two of which sold immediately. The other five are available for sale. For more information contact: info@thecuban5.org
Bill Santiago, who was the emcee, expressed his thanks for being invited to participate in the concert.
In the lobby during the intermission people gathered around the informational table asking how they could help in the campaign and contributed by buying buttons, books, and t-shirts. In particular, many women who attended the concert were especially moved by the international campaign for the visas for Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez. People took many postcards to send to Condaleeza Rice demanding visas for the two Cuban women.
The work of the production team, headed by Bill Martinez and Alicia Jrapko, was successful despite the boycott from those who are enemies of Cuba and the Cuban Five.
Alicia Jrapko, US Coordinator of the International Committee thanks the musicians, diplomats, and audience present for honoring these five men who have been unjustly imprisoned for 10 years and for those around the world who demand their freedom, as the large stage banner exclaims.
The theater was full of energy and emotion when amidst great applause the audience chanted several times Free the Cuban Five!
A message from Rene Gonzalez on behalf of the Five was read by Nancy Cabrero, President of Casa de las Americas from New York. Danny Glover was present through a letter read by the young North American member of the International Committee, Melanie Langlois.
Telesur was not able to broadcast the concert live due to the media’s focus on Hurricane Ike in the Caribbean.
The concert, which was itself a storm of solidarity for the freedom of the Five, will be broadcast in the near future as part of the Telesur programming.
The Manhattan Neighborhood Network, which produces documentaries, recorded the concert to be shown on cable TV and by other local media throughout the US.
This concert, the first of its kind to take place in the US, has been a modest contribution to the sacrifice of these five men who are unjustly imprisoned for a decade for deterring terrorist actions against their people.
