wfn.org | "Solidarity With Cuba" Event

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org  Web: www.ncccusa.org

Contacts:
In New York: Wendy McDowell, 212-870-2227
In Seattle: Sharon Maeda, 917-543-6028

124NCC12/3/99
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC HEAD, CUBA FOREIGN MINISTER TO SPEAK AT SEATTLE
"SOLIDARITY WITH CUBA" EVENT
Friday, Dec. 3, 9 p.m., New Hope Missionary Church, 124 21st Ave.

 Dec. 3, 1999, SEATTLE ---- As the nation watches events unfold 
around the World Trade Organization meetings now taking place in 
Seattle, Wash., people will gather in a local Seattle church to show 
their support for the people of Cuba and reaffirm their common cause 
to get the United States embargo against Cuba lifted.

 The "Solidarity With Cuba" event, sponsored by the Seattle 
Cuba Friendship Committee and supported by a broad-based coalition 
of secular non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups as 
well as church-based groups, will be held at the New Hope Missionary 
Baptist Church, 124 21st Ave., at 9 p.m.

 Featured speakers will include Mr. Felipe P‚rez Roque, Foreign 
Minister of Cuba and former personal assistant to Fidel Castro, the 
Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, General Secretary of the National 
Council of Churches (NCC) and the Rev. Lucius Walker, Jr., a 
principal organizer of Pastors for Peace.  Both the NCC and Pastors 
for Peace have long pressed for lifting the embargo against Cuba and 
have sent medicines and other supplies to aid people suffering under 
the embargo.

 Cuban leader Fidel Castro was scheduled to attend the event 
but threats to his safety from the opposition Cuban American 
community caused him to cancel his appearance.  "It is ironic that 
those who fled Castro's government for the freedoms of this country 
are now trying to deny the American public the opportunity to hear 
from Castro," Dr. Campbell said.  "He was prepared to come and it is 
unfortunate that he could not."

"In the wake of the protests surrounding the World Trade 
Organization, this is an ideal time for us as religious and non-
governmental organizations to come together and show support for the 
people of Cuba, especially the most vulnerable," Dr. Campbell said.  
"As we have been throughout our history, we are particularly 
concerned about the the churches in Cuba and will offer our prayers 
for them."

-end-
 -0-