Gail Walker and Pastors for Peace, a bond of love with Cuba
Washington, Jul 19 (Prensa Latina) For the first time since Pastors for Peace began to travel to Cuba from the United States, the caravan cannot travel to the Caribbean island, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that is currently hitting the world.
Gail Walker, executive director of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO)/Pastors for Peace, assured that as soon as possible, the caravan will return to Cuba.
Walker made that statement in her video message to the HotHouse Global Chicago, on the occasion of Saturday's concert dedicated to Cuba, which will have its second day on Sunday through different digital platforms.
For some 30 years, the Pastors for Peace caravan has promoted a gesture of solidarity and resistance against the US-imposed economic blockade against Cuba, she said.
The activist recalled the legacy of her father, late Reverend Lucius Walker, who promoted people-to-people exchanges so that US citizens could learn about the Cuba's situation.
Since 1992, the members of Pastors for Peace have overcome the travel restrictions imposed by Washington over the years, and remain committed to the cause of ending the US blockade.
https://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=57926&SEO=gail-walker-and-pastors-for-peace-a-bond-of-love-with-cuba
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Pastors for Peace
27th Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan Arrives Monday in Havana
Jul 16th, 2016
The 27th Pastors for Peace U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan arrived in Mexico City over the weekend en route to Cuba. The group is made up of solidarity activists from all across the U.S. They arrive in Havana on Monday, July 18th.
Gabriela Juárez, Executive Secretary of the U.S. Ecclesiastical Observatory, told reporters in Mexico City that during their 24-hour stay, the caravanistas carried out activities demanding the lifting of the U.S. blockade against Cuba, and the return to Cuba of the territory illegally occupied by the U.S. Naval Base in Guantánamo.
Since 1992 IFCO/Pastors for Peace has organized annual friendshipment caravans to Cuba as an active non-violent civil disobedience action to protest Washington’s nearly six-decades old blockade policy towards Cuba. The caravanistas bring in humanitarian aid for the Cuban people.
About the caravans, the founder of IFCO/Pastors for Peace, the late U.S. Reverend Lucius Walker, repeatedly said: “We act not just in defiance of our government, but in obedience to our conscience.”
http://en.cubadebate.cu/news/2016/07/16/27th-pastors-for-peace-friendshipment-caravan-arrives-monday-havana/
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https://ifconews.org/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Caravan?
Our largest caravan – to Cuba – has 14 separate routes. Often our vehicles are brightly painted school buses, but we also donate trucks, ambulances, mobile libraries, and cars all packed with life-saving humanitarian aid donated by the people of the US, Mexico and Canada to the the people of Cuba
As we travel through the US and Canada over a 1-2 week period, we make many pre-arranged stops in cities and communitie where we participate in public events about the reality in Cuba and the purpose of our trip.
We also participate in press conferences and media interviews. We usually stay in the homes of local volunteers from organizations that arrange the public event – usually churches, solidarity committees or peace and justice centers. At many stops we pick up new caravanistas or aid that has already been collected and packed by the host organization.
The humanitarian aid we take is principally medical and educational supplies and equipment, but also computers, bicycles, tools, and sports and cultural equipment. Some of the vehicles we use to transport the aid are themselves donated. When we reach the US border we are joined by more caravanistas and we spend three days at Orientation. This is a time for packing and manifesting the aid, some preparatory learning about Cuba, and discussion about how to handle any obstacles that US or Mexican Customs may put in our way.
Once we successfully cross the border, we travel on to our destination country where we spend an intense, action-packed 8-10 days. We visit social and community projects and meet with the local people, learning about their lives, struggles and achievements, and also about the impact of US government policy on their lives. The aid we donate is received by the Cuban Ecumenical Distribution Committee, comprised of local religious and community partners in Cuba who determine where the aid will be donated.
More:
https://ifconews.org/frequently-asked-questions/