Summer 2005 - 16th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba

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» July 1

July 1, 2005 - Pastors for Peace to Launch 16th Non-Violent Challenge to Immoral US Blockade of Cuba

CONTACT: Lucia Bruno

Hundreds of Pastors for Peace volunteers from the US and seven foreign countries will challenge the immoral and illegal US blockade and travel restrictions against Cuba at the US - Mexico border on July 21st. They expect to collect 200 tons of humanitarian aid during a two week caravan which will converge in McAllen, Texas before traveling on to Cuba without US treasury department licenses. They intend to deliver the school buses, computers, medicines, and medical supplies gathered in communities throughout the US with them.

The 16th Friendshipment Caravan will traverse fourteen separate routes across the country stopping in all 48 mainland states. Along the way the caravan will be hosted in 130 communities who support a new US Cuba policy based on respect and non-aggression. This year, communities have collected aid for Cubans with special needs.

"As people of faith and conscience, it is our duty to resist and condemn this cruel US policy," declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., Executive Director and founder of IFCO, a 36-year old ecumenical agency. "IFCO/Pastors for Peace rejects this licensing system as both immoral and illegal. It is immoral because it endangers the lives of millions of Cubans and inflicts suffering on innocent children, as well as adults. It is illegal under international law because it uses medicine and food as weapons of war to force another nation to change its government. Licensing is also unconstitutional because it requires people of faith to submit their acts of conscience and friendship to government licensing, in violation of our right to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel," continued Walker.

Despite calls for an end to the blockade and travel ban from the UN and the majority of nations around the world, the Bush Administration tightened restrictions against Cuba in 2004, and is using "homeland security" funds to investigate those suspected of travel to the island.

"Our non-violent caravan of peace-loving individuals is a challenge to this violation of our rights to express our faith and to travel to Cuba." said Rev.Thomas Smith, President of the Board of Directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace.

Since 1992 Pastors for Peace has used hunger strikes and mass mobilizations to successfully challenge US government attempts to confiscate vehicles and humanitarian aid bound for Cuba. The ecumenical initiative is a project of IFCO, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, and has delivered more than 2,350 tons of urgently needed assistance to the Cuban people without seeking a US Treasury license.

Members of the press are invited to accompany the sixteenth IFCO/Pastors for Peace US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan on either all or part of the caravan.