Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan comes to Sacramento

The 20th US Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba Visit to Sacramento, CA

Saturday, July 11, 2009, 5 to 8pm
Oak Park United Methodist Church,
3600 Broadway, Sacramento, CA 95817

Please join the Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC), the Central America Action Committee (CAAC), Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley (BUF), and others for an afternoon of friendship, good food, and to welcome the Caravan to Sacramento. This wonderful annual event is potluck style, free, and is open to the general public.

More information: Faye Kennedy @ fayek [at] springmail.com or (916) 484-5025; http://www.pastorsforpeace.org


Co-sponsors: Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC), the Central America Action Committee (CAAC), Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley, (BUF), Sacramento Area Peace Action, Bill Kong, Dr. Tchaka Muhammed, Gin Wenslaff, Terry Linton, Pat Canterbury, Winnie Detwiler and Faye Kennedy

Items we are collecting:

The 20th US Pastors for Peace Friend shipment has been specifically ask to prioritize construction supplies for the ongoing reconstruction effort after the 3 devastating hurricanes that hit Cuba in fall of 2008. We particularly need the following construction supplies:



Carpentry: nails, hammers, screws, drills, flashing, wall anchors, saws and saw blades, banding tools, door hanging tools, ladders, jacks, plaster and sandpaper

Painting: brushes, rollers, lead-free paint, brush extenders, and paint plates

Protective gear: dust masks, work gloves, and protective eyeglasses


Other items needed:

· Computers: IBM compatible with Pentium III or better processors, all computer accessories/peripherals, must be in full working order. All types of printers but especially Epson LX 300 and HP laser jet 1200
· Educational supplies: All types of educational materials including for writing :binders, pen, pencils, paper etc must be new/unused
· Medical equipment/supplies/medicines: All kinds if equipment in good working order, supplies sterile and supplies/medicines with expiration date of February 2010 or later
· Books: Medical and scientific textbook and journal in Spanish and English (only)
· Alternative transportation and energy equipment: bicycles (in good condition, and solar panels
· Bibles: All bibles must be in Spanish
· Food: powered milk, infant formula, dietary supplements-in original factory –sealed containers



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Co-sponsors: Sacramento Area Black Caucus (SABC), the Central America Action Committee (CAAC), Black United Fund of Sacramento Valley, (BUF), Sacramento Area Peace Action, Bill Kong, Dr. Tchaka Muhammed, Gin Wenslaff, Terry Linton, Pat Canterbury, Winnie Detwiler and Faye Kennedy

Faye Kennedy, Community Planner
Working for Social Justice
(916) 484-5025
fayek [at] springmail.com


For Immediate Release Contact: Pastors for Peace

June 25, 2009 212/926-5757 http://www.pastorsforpeace.org (see local event below)

Pastors for Peace to Launch 20th Non-Violent Challenge to US Blockade of Cuba Enabling Family Visits is commendable, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH!

Over 130 Pastors for Peace volunteers from the US, Canada and Europe will challenge the immoral and illegal US blockade and travel restrictions against Cuba at the US - Mexico border on July 22nd. They expect to collect 100 tons of humanitarian aid during a two-week caravan that will converge in McAllen, Texas before traveling on to Cuba without US treasury department licenses. They intend to deliver school buses, construction tools and materials, educational supplies, medicines, and medical supplies gathered in communities throughout the US and Canada.

“We must continue to keep the pressure on -- to end the blockade, to normalize relations with Cuba, and to engage in dialogue based in mutual respect, rather than our insisting on undermining Cuba's sovereignty” declared Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., Executive Director and founder of IFCO, a 42-year old ecumenical agency. “President Obama has taken a small first step to change US/Cuba policy. But as people of faith and conscience, it is important that we make our voices heard in favor of even stronger measures for reconciliation and normalized relations.”

The 20h Friendshipment Caravan will traverse 14 separate routes across the country stopping in 47 US states and six Canadian provinces. Along the way the caravan will be hosted in 140 communities who support a new US Cuba policy based on respect and non-aggression. This year communities have collected aid for hurricane reconstruction after the three hurricanes that devastated Cuba in 2008.

Pastors for Peace rejects the current licensing system as both immoral and illegal. It is immoral because it endangers the lives of millions of Cubans and inflicts suffering on innocent children, as well as adults. It is illegal under international law because it uses medicine and food as weapons of war to force another nation to change its government. Licensing is also unconstitutional because it requires people of faith to submit their acts of conscience and friendship to government licensing, in violation of our right to freedom of religious expression, political thought, association and travel,” said Walker.

“The world is waiting to see President Obama put an end to the blockade. The U.S. spends more than $50 million per year to undermine the sovereign government of Cuba.

Our non-violent caravan of peace-loving individuals is a challenge to this violation of our rights to express our faith and to travel to Cuba.” said Rev. Thomas Smith, President of the Board of Directors of IFCO/Pastors for Peace. Since 1992 Pastors for Peace has used hunger strikes and mass mobilizations to successfully challenge US government attempts to confiscate vehicles and humanitarian aid bound for Cuba. The ecumenical initiative is a project of IFCO, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization, and has delivered more than 3,000 tons of urgently needed assistance to the Cuban people.

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