• Submitted by: lena campos
• Society
• 07 / 25 / 2012

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More than 60 members of the 23 Pastors for Peace Caravan, which collected hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid in Canada and the United States  arrived in Cuba arrive on Saturday after two decades of the creation of this movement in 1992.

After touring 80 cities in nine routes through both North American countries, activists collected means to sectors such as health and education, two of the hardest hit by the U.S. blockade against Cuba for more than half a century.

As part of its challenge to the laws that support this policy, citizens of the United States, Germany, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom maintain the tradition started by the Rev. Lucius Walker, who died in September 2010.

Through the initiative, religious groups like Pastors for Peace and other solidarity organizations have brought to Cuba in 20 years tens of tons of food, equipment, drugs and vehicles, as a result of support for the Cubans.

Activists will receive several workshops on topics such as updating the economic model and the importance of sustainable development, according to the agenda until next July 31.

According to the agenda, members of the Solidarity Caravan will visit sites of historical and cultural interest and Cuban provinces such as Matanzas, Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus.

Gail, the daughter of Lucius Walker and the Rev. Luis Barrios lead the group.

The caravan members will also march in the iconic yellow school bus brought by them in the past, which have been a symbol at other times in their fight against the U.S. blockade.

The tour will beginn at the parking lot of the National Theatre, next to the Revolution Square Jose Marti and will end at the Anti-Imperialist Platform, neighboring site of the US Interest Section Office at Havana.

They also will meet with relatives of five Cubans arrested in the U.S. in 1998 while monitoring the violent plans against their country.

Gerardo Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero and Fernando Gonzalez are still in prison, while Rene Gonzalez was released in October last year but is now on supervised release for three years.

Source: Cadena Agramonte.cu