The Cuban Five

Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.

Friday, September 19, 2008

I send you my greetings from the United States and express my support for your efforts to free the Cuban Five.

My name is Robert Meeropol, but I was born Robert Rosenberg. I am the younger son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg who were executed by the United States government when I was three-years-old in 1953 for supposedly stealing the secret of the Atomic Bomb, a crime they did not commit. I am sure there are others at this rally who can explain the details of the Cuban Five case better than I can, but I still have strong feelings about this travesty. And there is one aspect of the case I feel particularly strongly about.

The Cuban Five are suffering a grievous on-going human rights abuse. All of the Cuban Five have had their family visits severely restricted. For instance, Rene Gonzalez was not allowed to see his daughter Ivette for seven years, from the time she was an infant until she was eight-years-old. And as far as I know Rene and Geraldo Hernandez have never been permitted to see their wives for the entire term of their imprisonment. This is a human rights outrage and a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions. Simply put, it is a form of torture.

I know from personal experience how important it is for children to visit their incarcerated parents. My only memories of my parents, Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, are of our prison visits to them when I was a small child. It is vital to Ivette’s development that she see her father on a regular basis. And it is equally important for the families of all of the Five and for the mental health of the Five themselves to have regular visits with their families.

I am not optimistic about the politically vindictive American judicial system releasing any of the Five for quite some time. That does not mean we should not raise howls of protest at their unjust incarceration. But in the mean time we must also fight for the right of the Cuban Five to see their families.

Regrettably, all but a few in the United States will close their minds to the legal injustice of the imprisonment of Cuban supporters of the Cuban revolution. But a broader segment of the population will be sympathetic to the plight of those who are not allowed to visit with family members. This is a way to broaden our movement and involve people who, as they learn more about the legal particulars, may come to see the unfairness of the Cuban Five’s imprisonment. It is a way to bring more attention to this case, throughout the world which, in turn, will increase the chances for release of the Cuban Five.

I salute you for your efforts – keep up the fight.

Robert Meeropol

Executive Director

Rosenberg Fund for Children