Los Angeles 'Noche Cubana' raises solidarity with Cuban Five
Celebrates Cuba's socialist revolution
by Los Angeles PSL Branch
photos by Bethany Malmgren
Sept. 26, 2007
Reprinted from pslweb.org
 On Sept. 22, more than 200 Cuba supporters attended a "Noche Cubana" celebration and forum in Los Angeles. It was organized by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) and the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five.
People came from all over Southern California to the event, which featured talks about the case of the Cuban Five, the importance of defending the Cuban revolution and a special tribute to Che Guevara.
The event was organized to coincide with international events in solidarity with the Five on the ninth anniversary of their unjust arrest.
Ian Thompson, Los Angeles coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five, urged everyone present to get involved in the case and demand freedom for the Five now. "This great injustice that has been done can be overturned. The Five have been in prison too long—they were fighting terrorism while the U.S. government harbors terrorists like Posada Carriles," said Thompson. "While we move forward with the legal case, we must also push forward our political activism."
 MC Muna Coobtee of ANSWER and the Palestinian American Women’s Association stressed the importance of building support for ANSWER’s upcoming anti-war initiative on Oct. 27 and raising defense of Cuba during the action.
The atmosphere was political, but also festive. There was Cuban music, food and drinks, and a festival of Cuban films and documentaries about Cuba. Among the featured pieces was a documentary by ANSWER activist and award-winning filmmaker Travis Wilkerson. Wilkerson’s film "Accelerated Underdevelopment" charts the life and work of revolutionary Cuban director Santiago Alvarez.
Carlos Alvarez of the Party for Socialism and Liberation discussed the socialist character of Cuba’s revolution and urged everyone there to learn about working-class struggle.
The "Noche Cubana" was an uplifting and successful event. It was the largest Cuba solidarity event in Los Angeles in many years. The Los Angeles Committee is planning to continue organizing actions in solidarity with Cuban and the Five, including a premiere showing of the Cuban film "The Trial" about the Five heroes in early December. | 
