On September 12, 1998 the Cuban 5 were imprisoned and charged with 25 different counts, including espionage, acting as agents of a foreign government, and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the shoot-down of the Brothers to the Rescue aircraft by Cuba, as it invaded Cuban airspace. The Cuban 5, considered heroes in Cuba, were in the U.S. to defend their country by monitoring the activities of anti-Cuban terrorist groups operating in Southern Florida with the knowledge and complicity of the U.S. Government.

On the 14th anniversary of their imprisonment the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, in collaboration with IPS, will host “5 Franjas y una Estrella” (Five Stripes and One Star), a concert featuring Vicente Feliu, leading voice of the Cuban Nueva Trova Movement.

The Nueva Trova Movement is a distinct musical tradition that emerged in Cuba in the early 1960’s heavily influenced by the events surrounding the Cuban Revolution in 1959. One of these singer songwriters is Vicente Feliu who has performed in more than 20 countries in the Americas, Europe and Africa. He has shared the stage with numerous other Cuban musicians from the same movement including Silvio Rodríguez and Pablo Milanés.

Free admission

Also join us for a follow up program to the concert on September 14th, a program to reflect on the state of the movement to get freedom for The Five.

Co-sponsors: International Committee for the freedom of the Cuban Five, DC Metro Coalition to Free the Cuba Five, Institute for Policy Studies, Takoma Park Free the Five Committee, and the National Network on Cuba.