By Richard Stone
The Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) Pastors for Peace is again preparing for its annual breech of the U.S. embargo on trade and travel to Cuba. Identifying the U.S. policy toward the people of this small socialist-inspired island as both immoral and nonsensical, Pastors for Peace has been taking busloads of medical and educational supplies to Cuba each July in a “caravan” of buses that has been stopping each year in Fresno. This year, however, Caravanistas will fly from San Francisco, with the focus being to help rebuild parts of the country devastated by the tropical storm Sandy.
Local activists Gerry Bill, Leni Reeves and Sue Kern will be participating in the expedition, Bill and Reeves being literally repeat offenders as unlicensed visitors to Cuba. To honor their work and to raise awareness and support for the program, the Fresno Center for Nonviolence (FCNV) is sponsoring an event to be held on July 12, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the College Community Congregational Church, 5550 N. Fresno St. There will be musical entertainment and a potluck dinner, as well as an informational presentation. For more details, see the FCNV’s page in this newspaper or call 559-237-3223. Expenses for our adventurers can also be defrayed by contributions sent in care of the FCNV with the notation “PFP.”
