President Bush Remembers the Black Spring Crackdown

“We gather today to remember a tragic moment in the history of Cuba. Five years ago this month, Cuban authorities rounded up scores of citizens and charged them with offenses against the regime. Those arrested included teachers and librarians and journalists. They committed no crimes. They simply held views their government did not like, and they refused to be silent. In all, 75 people were given long prison terms. In the world of Cuban dissidents, that crackdown five years ago is remembered as the Black Spring.”

That is how President Bush began his press conference today to remember the suffering caused by Cuba’s “Black Spring” crackdown on dissidents which took place 5 years ago. The president had the opportunity to meet and speak to Miguel Sigler Amaya who was arrested along with his brothers, Ariel and Guido. President Bush told the crowd gathered at the White House what the prisoners had to endure and then he spoke about Josefa, Miguel’s wife, and her involvement in the Damas de Blanco, sending then a message:

“I’ve asked Josefa to please tell the Ladies in White — las Damas de Blanco — that as they pray for a free Cuba, the American people — many American people will pray for them. And we can be confident that a loving God will listen.”


For me, the saddest part of President Bush’s speech aside from talking about the torture of Miguel and his brothers, was this part, in which he listed the countries who actually stand up for Cuba against castro’s regime, an inadequate and unconscionably short list:

We have been consistently joined in condemning the Cuban regime’s brutal outrages by a small band of brave nations; countries such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia have placed themselves at the forefront for the fight for human freedom in Cuba. They recently lived through communist tyranny. They remember what life is like under the boot of the oppressor. They know the daily hardships that ordinary citizens have to endure just to survive. And they refuse to look away.

Click here for the video:
Here is the link to the speech.
Aquí está el discurso en español.
Thank you, as always, to Jorge Ponce from the U.S. Department of Commerce, for this info.

6 thoughts on “President Bush Remembers the Black Spring Crackdown”

  1. Great post Claudia!
    I admire President’s Bush determination and courage to stand up, at times alone, but with true conviction point out the evils of oppressive regimes and despotic governments in the world. I’m proud to call him my President!
    I agree with you on the short list of countries which share his position towards the Cuban regime. It’s sad that usually only those who can personally relate to an experience, such as that of the Cuban people, would sympathize and support the cause for a Free Cuba.
    CAMBIO – IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
    I wish you well:) Melek
    “I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink; but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death.” ~ Paine

  2. Before the usual suspects come in here and start repeating the same old crap let me say that we often hear about the 10 presidents that castro has survived but NONE of them has used the bully pulpit of the presidency more that GWB to denounce Cuba’s abuses and keep them in the harsh spotlight of scrutiny. Watching the video makes me angry about the lost opportunity during 8 years of the Clinton administration (6 of them before Chavez took power in Venezuela) when the U.S. could have been much more vocal about Cuba. Instead the U.S. allowed itself to be humiliated while the Cuban people got stomped.

  3. Before the usual suspects come in here and start repeating the same old crap.. lol..Henry what is old crap is 50 years of inmovilismo. Concentrate en lo que pasa en cuba no lo que dicen la gente en los comments aqui. Eso no va a liberar a Cuba ni ocho cuarto
    Este 18 de Marzo, más que nunca antes, se necesita el apoyo a los presos políticos en Cuba por parte de los cubanos y amigos de otras nacionalidades en todas partes del mundo.
    RESUMEN DE PARTCIPANTES CONFIRMADOS
    ESTADOS UNIDOS:
    Miami, New York, Houston y Raleigh.
    LATINO AMERICA:
    México, México D.F; Perú, Lima; Puerto Rico, San Juan; Venezuela, Caracas.
    CANADA
    EUROPA:
    Alemania, Berlín; Francia, Paris; España, Madrid y Santander; Estocolmo, Suecia
    Asi va el listado de convocantes de la protesta del 18 de Marzo,las organizaciones que quieran aun sumarse esperamos sus correos. Pedro López lpedro152@yahoo.com
    COMUNICADO
    MOVILIZACION INTERNACIONAL ESTE 18 DE MARZO,2008.
    “Contemplar un crimen en silencio es cometerlo”
    Jose Marti.
    Este 18 de Marzo se cumple otro aniversario del encarcelamiento en 2003 de 75 valerosos hermanos de la oposición, cuya inmensa mayoría continua en prisión cinco años después. Ellos, en unión de otros cientos de prisioneros de conciencia, aún sufren el rigor de las cárceles castristas, dentro de la enorme prisión que es hoy Cuba.
    POR ELLOS, este 2008, los cubanos y amigos del pueblo de Cuba alrededor del Mundo, nos movilizaremos para volver a hacer este llamado reiterado a la conciencia universal en favor de nuestros compatriotas que en la Isla sufren el peso de un régimen despótico.
    POR ELLOS, por los presos políticos, por las organizaciones de la sociedad civil, por los movimientos de derechos humanos, por los obreros sin derecho a un salario justo, sin derecho a asociarse libremente; por los niños sin futuro, obligados al adoctrinamiento permanente; por los cubanos de la tercera edad, privados de una vejez decorosa; por todos los cubanos que hoy en la Isla sufren la represión mas cruel, va esta movilización internacional. Para rechazar la sucesión monárquica, para denunciar el continuismo de una cúpula corrupta; para alzar la voz contra la permanencia en el poder de la nomenclatura mediante una farsa electoral; para pedir la solidaridad de todas las democracias del Orbe, de todos los hombres libres, de los medios de comunicación, de la sociedad civil de America Latina y Europa, para que el Mundo ponga sus ojos sobre Cuba; por ellos y por todo esto organizamos esta movilización internacional.
    Este 18 de Marzo, protestemos frente a las embajadas, consulados, y entidades castristas en cada rincón del Mundo, lleguemos a la opinión publica mundial con nuestra verdad. Donde no haya una entidad castrista, hagamos misas y/o actividades para clamar por solidaridad.
    Este 18 de Marzo resuenen nuestras voces, multipliquemos nuestros esfuerzos, trabajemos coordinadamente para acortar el lapso que nos separa de la Libertad. Pongamos un freno a la continuación del sufrimiento del pueblo cubano.
    Por los fusilados, por los cientos de presos políticos, por los 75 de la Primavera Negra, por los otros centenares de prisioneros políticos, por los exiliados, por los muertos en el Estrecho de la Florida, por los doce millones de victimas que sufren la Tiranía en nuestra Isla, alcemos nuestra denuncia.
    POR ELLOS, para denunciar a las brigadas fascistas de respuesta rápida, el atropello a los periodistas independientes, para clamar por el derecho de todos los cubanos a la felicidad, la prosperidad, la Libertad y la Democracia, va esta movilización internacional.
    ¡NO A LA SUCESION MONARQUICA CASTRISTA!, ¡VIVA CUBA LIBRE!
    COORDINADORA NACIONAL CUBANA.(ESTADOS UNIDOS)
    Representante:Sr.Pedro Lopez
    GRUPO DE APOYO A DERECHOS HUMANOS EN CUBA.
    (RALEIGH,NC,ESTADOS UNIDOS)
    Representante:Sr.Gonzalo Fernandez.
    FRENTE PARA LA LIBERTAD TOTAL DE CUBA.(ALEMANIA)
    Representante:Lic.Maria Elena Morejon
    GRUPO DE APOYO A MASONES EN CUBA(GAMEC)
    Representante:Sr.Hector Lemagne Sando
    ASOCIACION PRO DEMOCRACIA EN CUBA.(ESPANA)
    Representante:Sr.Luis A. Baralt
    ASOCIACION MISCELANEAS DE CUBA.(SUECIA)
    Representante:Sr.Alexis Gainza Solenzal
    INSTITUTO POLITICO PARA LA LIBERTAD/IPL.(PERU)
    Representante:Sra.Yesenia Alvarez Temoche
    FRENTE PARA LA LIBERTAD TOTAL DE CUBA.(PUERTO RICO)
    Representante:Dr.Sergio Ramos/Sr.Luis A.Ramirez
    COLECTIVO SOLIDARIDAD CUBA LIBRE.(FRANCIA)
    Representante:Sr.Lorenzo(Laurent)Muller
    FEDERACION MUNDIAL DE EX-PRESOS POLITICOS.(EUROPA)
    Representante:Sra.Ofelia G.Menocal
    ASOCIACION CIVICA CUBANO-MEXICANA
    CASA DEL BALSERO Y DEL MIGRANTE CUBANO.(MEXICO)
    Representante:Lic.Eduardo Matias Lopez Ferrer
    JUNTA PATRIOTICA CUBANA.(ESTADOS UNIDOS)
    Representante:Sr.Julio Cabarga
    SOCIEDAD INTERNACIONAL DE DERECHOS HUMANOS/(IGFM)
    Representante:Sr.Martin Lessenthin (ALEMANIA)
    ASOCIACION CUBANA DE SANTANDER.(ESPANA)
    Representante:Sr.Rangel Alvarez
    FEDERACION ESPANOLA DE ASOCIACIONES CUBANAS.(FECU)
    Representante:Sr.Ernesto Gutierrez Tamargo.(ESPANA)
    INICIATIVA CULTURAL POR UNA DEMOCRACIA
    PARTICIPATIVA/(PDCI).(MIAMI-CARACAS-MADRID)
    Representante:Sr.Siro del Castillo
    DEMOCRACIA PARTICIPATIVA.(MIAMI-CARACAS-MADRID)
    Representante:Sr.Gerardo E.Martinez Solana
    CUBAN CANADIAN FOUNDATION.(CANADA)
    Representante:Sr.Ismael Sambra
    ASOCIACION DEFENSORA DE LOS DERECHOS HUMANOS(ADEPO)
    Representante:Prof.Luis Alberto Pita Santos(TEXAS)

  4. Great Press Conference. Unfortunately, if you didn’t get to watch it live you wouldn’t have never known it ever took place. MUM’s the word as far as the MSM was concerned. I don’t know about you guys, but I didn’t hear anything on the mayor network news.

  5. INCREDIBLE, freaking INCREDIBLE,
    Not a fucking, pardon my French (OPPS, FUCK the French too) single note from the MSM, not even the so much conservative Fox News.
    Ladies and Gentleman, I guess we’re alone on this fight, but you know what?
    We’re on the right side and history will prove us right no matter how long it takes.
    It is going to be painful, heartbreaking and frustrating as shit. Many will die before Cuba’s freedom is finally achieved.
    For the sake of all those you have perished because of Castro’s tyranny and for all those rotting in his jails we must not ever give up the good fight no matter how the MSM portrait us.
    God will eventually hear our ply and freedom will come one day to Cuba no matter what, that I’m certain of.
    Now more than ever we need to strengthen our faith from deep inside because it won’t be easy.
    Some freaking painful 49 years of struggle that we have gone thought if you ask me.
    Sincerely I wish that President Bush would do more than talking and tighten the screws much more on the tyranny.
    But I thank him for these gestures, thought.
    Unfortunately events likes this are not enough to raise public awareness about our cause because the MSM chooses to completely ignore them.
    Talking about complicity with Castro’s regime.
    But I also understand that a Democratic politician would not even ever have the freaking decency to at least hold an event like this (even if it was for their political gain).
    So we must make sure that in November those who champion getting closer in one way or another to the tyranny (including our local B.S. Cuban-American Democratic politicians, we all know who they are) don’t get our votes because if they get elected to office we’ll have additional pain, frustration and sorrow to deal with. And trust me, we have enough as it is.
    If on November a Democrat is elected to the White House I guarantee you that there will be at very least some form of normalization of relations with the tyranny without freedom for the Cuban people. The MSM, the Hollywood idiots and the Democratic Party have already set the stage for this play.

  6. Castro has/had a lot of support among the elites of the Democrat party and sadly some Republicans have not shown any backbone. Several minor attempts were put forward to help rid Castro but were always held up in the Senate and/or House.
    After the fall of the Soviet Union and countries became free and independant not much was heard of Cuba…the MSM and the Clintonistas spun it to say “the Cubans like their lives…why change?”
    Then there is the matter of priorities by the State dept. Cuba has never been a priority with this bunch.
    The US goverment helps the exiles to a degree, as do church groups and individuals(myself included) but this is just a band aid effect and we need major surgery.
    Comments, insults and beer welcome.

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