Strong show of support in Tampa for Cuban prisoner of conscience

Yesterday, there was a strong show of support for Cuban prisoner of conscience Jorge Luis Gonzalez Tanquero in Tampa.

Via Uncommon Sense:

Faith rewarded as Tampa comes out strong for Cuba ex-political prisoner

IMG_1262 Jorge Luís González

Blogging about Cuba requires a lot of faith — faith that there will be good days mixed with the bad, and that one day, Cuba will be free. Otherwise, the frustration often felt could ruin you.

My faith, and that of many others was rewarded earlier today in Tampa.

The Cuban American community of Tampa came out strong on Saturday on behalf of former Cuban prisoner of conscience Jorge Luís González Tanquero and his family.

Jorge Luís and his family have suffered much in the past decade. Within months of his release from prison and forced exile to Spain last year, his wife Marlenis fell critically ill and is in a Tampa hospital. Earlier this year, Jorge Luís was able to join his wife and daughter Melissa in Florida.

The benefit lunch and raffle on Saturday, at Casa Cuba in Tampa, was a chance to raise money for the family, and judging by the crowd, the number of raffle tickets sold and the looks of a donation jar, it was a huge success.

As much as the community came out for the González family, I think the rest of us benefited to by being in the company of this brave man for a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.

He was grateful for the help.

And he made clear in remarks to the crowd, that he remains committed to the struggle for a free Cuba. You could not help but be inspired.

Jorge Luís’ faith that one day he would be free and reunited with his family has been rewarded, although bittersweetly.

And my faith was rewarded, too.

For more than five years I have blogged incessantly about Cuban political prisoners like Jorge Luís, never thinking there would be day like today, where I could express my gratitude for his sacrifice for Cuban freedom.

It was a proud moment for me, and a very good day.

IMG_1238
Jorge Luís and me.

For details on how you can finacially help Jorge Luís and his family, read this.

2 thoughts on “Strong show of support in Tampa for Cuban prisoner of conscience”

  1. Marc. I was there. Sorry I did not know you were. Maybe we’ll meet some other time at the Casa Cuba. I wish every Cuban could get to meet Jorge Luis and hear his stories of the things he went through.

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