Sunday, June 29, 2003
Blaine, Washington
This afternoon, Canadian citizens on the 14th US/Cuba Friendshipment Caravan carried a printing press, medical supplies and bicycles from Canada through US Customs into the United States, thus breaking the US Government blockade of Cuba. The Caravan is organized by Pastors for Peace, a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), as a challenge to what organizers call an immoral law designed to create pain and suffering for innocent Cuban citizens.
A little after noon today, participants from both Canada and the United States gathered for a rally at beautiful Peace Arch Park, which marks the boundary between the United States and Canada.
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Rally speakers Randy Caravaggio of Victoria, B.C. and Taleigh Smith of Seattle, Washington (both shown below) implored people of both nations to struggle against the immoral US government blockade of Cuba. American Dave McConnell (not shown) pointed out the irony of the rally being legal only on the Canadian side of the park because it "takes 50 days to get a special permit to hold a peace rally on the US side of Peace Arch Park!"
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Next, the Canadian blockade-busters got in line and approached US Customs:
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After a few tense moments at US Customs, the first truckload of aid was allowed to pass through.
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After the second carload of aid succesfully entered the US, the international crew loaded a heavy printing press {Canadian printing press) into a school bus, and then celebrated the successful challenge to the blockade.
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The day was a big success!!
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Caravan participants driving the school bus and an ambulance, both carrying aid for Cuba, will travel down the west coast of the United States. In Texas they'll join with over 100 other caravan participants on July 17 to cross the US border into Mexico, enroute to Cuba. In Cuba the aid will be distributed to 170 elder care institutions distributed throughout the island.
This web page "hastily assembled" by Chris Pforr.
IFCO/Pastors for Peace website
My USA Webpages
chrispforr.net Homepage