Solidarity with the People of Cuba: The Struggle for Freedom Continues

Featuring
Ambassador Armando Valladares
President of the Valladares Project, Human Rights Activist, and Author of Against All Hope

The Honorable Carlos Gutierrez
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

The Honorable George LeMieux (R-FL)
Member, United States Senate

Hosted by
Ray Walser, Ph.D.
Senior Policy Analyst for Latin America, The Heritage Foundation

May 20th marks the 108th year of Cuba’s achievement of independence from its Spanish overlords. Yet, the struggle to realize the full blessings of independence in a modern world remains incomplete. Individual rights and liberties, the touchstones of modern democratic society, are callously and routinely denied by a communist dictatorship that has ruled the island with absolute authority for over 50 years. In May 2008, people around the world observed the first Solidarity Day with Cuba in order to “shine a bright light on the Castro regime's abuses” and call for the immediate and unconditional release all prisoners of conscience. In March 2010, President Obama recalled Cuba’s freedom deficit. He joined his “voice with brave individuals across Cuba and a growing chorus around the world in calling for an end to the repression, for the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba, and for respect for the basic rights of the Cuban people.”

Join us as our distinguished guests address the urgent need for the release of political prisoners and discuss the importance of fostering stronger ties with the people of Cuba yearning to escape the yoke of Cuban communism and aspiring to freedom and a democratic way of life. Recommendations will be offered on steps that everyone in the U.S., from the grassroots to the Oval Office, can take to demonstrate solidarity for Cubans seeking the liberties and rights accorded genuinely free men and women.

Special Presentation

The Victims of Communism Foundation’s 2010 Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom will be awarded to Ambassador Valladares

THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010 – 4:00 TO 5:00 P.M.

THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION’S LEHRMAN AUDITORIUM
Reception Following

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