"Breaking the Silence," a solidarity conference for the Cuban Five, organized jointly by the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC), La Table de Concertation de Solidarité Quebec‑Cuba, and the US National Network on Cuba, will take place November 9‑10 in Toronto. The second annual Solidarity Workshop organized by the Cuban Embassy will follow on Nov. 11, as well as a CNC consultative meeting for member groups.
A message from the CNC notes that "there will be many opportunities to network with solidarity activists from all over North America, a rare opportunity. The Americans are especially thrilled to be able to meet face‑to‑face with family members of the Five and they will be a very large presence at the conference."
The updated speakers' list includes: Juan Carranza, Ramsay Clark, James Cockcroft, Paul Copeland, Livio Di Celmo, Soffiyah Elijah, Tim Louis, Judge Claudia Morcom, Elisabeth Palmeiro (wife of Ramon Labanino, one of the Cuban Five), José Pertierra, Isaac Saney, Bill Sloan, Alice Walker, Leonard Weinglass.
The program will include a press conference on the morning of Friday, Nov. 9; an "activists' forum" on Friday afternoon with participants from Canada, Québec and the United States; a Friday public meeting in the Council Chambers of Toronto City Hall, featuring keynote speaker Leonard Weinglass; lawyers' panel, human rights panel, and intellectuals' panel on Saturday; and a Noche Cubana Saturday evening social, courtesy of the Cuban Consulate.
The cost of registration is $35‑50 sliding scale ($20 for students and low income). Cheques payable to Canadian Network on Cuba can be mailed to: CNC, c/o S. Skup, 56 Riverwood Terrace, Bolton, ON, M7E 1S4. Further information and online registration are available at the CNC website: www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca.