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Members of Pastors for Peace Chant “Lucius Alive, the Struggle Continues” in Havana

Fuente: | 26 de Julio 2012

Havana, (ACN).- Members of the 23rd US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan paid tribute at Havana´s Anti-Imperialist Tribune to the late Reverend Lucius Walker, where a plaque bearing his name was placed a year ago in his honor.

Reverend Lucius Walker passed away in September 2010, a month after challenging Washington’s economic blockade and travel ban with his last caravan.

Lisa Valenti and Bill Hill, long time members of Pastors for Peace and solidarity with Cuba activists placed yellow roses before the plaque dedicated to Reverend Walker.

Reverend Estela Hernandez Director of the William Carey Center in the Cuban capital told the 45 caravanistas and guests that they were “celebrating the life” of Lucius Walker. She said that ideals of the founder of Pastors for Peace were that of bravery, love for justice, loyalty and dedication”.

She stressed that Lucius’s work in favor of justice was “not what is good but what is best”. “His memories are immortal”, said Reverend Estela, adding that he “fought strongly against the blockade” and said he also dedicated himself to the fight for the release of the Cuban Five.

Father Luis Barrios, Co Director of the Inter Religious Foundation for Community Organization, IFCO, said that Reverend Lucius Walker was his brother, comrade, friend and spiritual leader. “Lucius is alive and the struggle continues”, said Father Barrios referring to their fight to break the economic blockade against Cuba and the release of the five anti terrorists fighters unjustly incarcerated in US prisons.

Ha added that “one cannot be a Christian unless you are anti imperialist, one must condemn the injustices of the empire” and “fight capitalism that makes people go against each other”. “We are compelled to be anti-capitalist” and we “must honor Cuba’s socialism”, he said.

The members of the caravan also laid a white flower to honor the founder of Pastors for Peace who dedicated years of his life in breaking the silence on the reality of the Cuban Revolution to millions of Americans across the US. The activists chanted, “Lucius is Alive, the Struggle Continues”!

Also present at the ceremony were Gail Walker, Co- Director of the Inter Religious Foundation for Community Organization, IFCO; Reverend Tom Smith, Chair of the IFCO/Pastors Board of Directors, Kenia Serrano, President of the Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP; Esperanza Luzbert, Director of the North American Division of ICAP; Reverend Raul Suarez of the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Havana among others.

Organizers of the 100 ton humanitarian aid to Cuba challenged the US blockade and travel ban of the island crossing the US-Mexico border after traveling throughout 100 US cities. This is the 20th anniversary of the US Cuba Friendshipment Caravan organized by IFCO-Pastors for Peace.

The 45 member Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan from the US, Mexico and Canada will participate in workshops on issues like an update on the current economic transformations on the island and the importance of sustainable development. They will also visit places of historic and cultural interests in addition to visiting Matanzas, Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus provinces.

The caravanistas will also meet with the relatives of the Cuban Five unjustly imprisoned in the US since 1998 for fighting terrorism.