Report Back Victory for Cuba Against US Blockade: Successful 21st Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba Send-off in BC! Every year for the past 19 years, people of all ages, faiths and walks of life have been coming together to participate in the Pastors for Peace Friendshipment Caravan to Cuba. The Caravan is a project of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO) which challenges the US blockade of Cuba and ban on US citizens traveling to the island nation. Traveling in buses, trucks and other vehicles to be donated to Cuba, caravanistas stop in 125 US and Canadian cities along 14 different routes to gather up humanitarian aid and hold events to raise awareness about the US blockade on Cuba. As a challenge to the US blockade and ban on delivering humanitarian aid to Cuba without a US government license, the aid is then taken across the US-Mexico border to be sent off to Cuba. Participants in the Caravan then fly to Cuba for a week-long educational and cultural experience in the country. For more information on the caravan, visit: http://www.pastorsforpeace.org/ BORDER CROSSING Sunday, July 4th, over 110 people gathered to participate in an event at the Peace Arch Park Canada-US border crossing in White Rock, BC/Blaine, WA. After a potluck lunch, the program began with Tamara Hansen, the coordinator of Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) and the co-chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) as the MC and IFCO/Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba coordinator of the border crossing. Tamara invited representatives from the various organizations attending the event to speak. Lou Ellis, a Cuba solidarity and social justice activist from Saltspring Island, BC, spoke about Saltspring Island’s project of raising funds and buying the bus that was being sent from BC to Cuba. Lou was the main organizer of getting the bus to be sent to Cuba. Next to speak was Al on behalf of Bellingham Friends of Cuba, who brought greetings to the event. Long-time Cuba solidarity activist Tom Warner also spoke, bringing a message of support from the Seattle-Cuba Friendship Committee. Rick Fellows from Olympia, WA, a long-time Caravan supporter and bus driver for Pastors for Peace, also brought a message of solidarity to the event. Following these greetings from local activists, Coast Salish elder Kelly White came up to drum and sing and invited everyone at the event to participate in wishing the caravanistas a successful and safe journey. The caravanistas at the event then introduced themselves and each talked about why they were participating in the Caravan. From Vancouver, Thomas Davies, Janine Solanki, Max Tennant, Sarah Alwell and Chad Altomare spoke; from Saltspring Island, Axel, one of the Caravan bus drivers; from Seattle, Hap Bockelie and from Olympia, Rick Fellows. Manolo de los Santos, a project coordinator for IFCO in New York City, was the last of the caravanistas to speak. He explained more about the importance of the project of the Caravan and the necessity to end the US blockade on Cuba, and encouraged everyone to get involved in supporting future Caravans. Next, Saltspring Island-based band Samba du Soleil took to the stage, getting everyone up and dancing with their loud and energetic samba rhythms. After a good half hour of dancing, participants in the event took a break to load the aid which had been gathered in BC onto the bus. Boxes of computers, medical supplies, construction equipment and school supplies were loaded onto the bus. As the bus pulled into the border line-up, participants in the event then gathered to follow the bus through the line-up, marching, chanting, and of course dancing to the beats of Samba du Soleil! The waving Cuban flags and chants of “Lift the blockade on Cuba!” were met with many honks, waves of support, and requests for more information on the Caravan from US and Canadian citizens alike waiting to cross the border. Arriving at the US border patrol office, caravan supporters waited, chanting and dancing, to hear if the aid and the caravanistas would be allowed to enter the US. Finally, Tamara made the announcement that all the aid, the bus and the caravanistas had successfully made it across the border. The announcement was met by loud cheers as participants in the marched walked to the US side of the Peace Arch Park to see off the bus and the caravanistas. Once on the other side, Manolo thanked everyone for their support and encouraged everyone to continue following the progress of the caravan through the US and on to Cuba. Once everyone had said their goodbyes, caravanistas then hopped on the bus, ready to continue their journey through the US to break the US blockade on Cuba! Follow their progress on the caravan at: http://www.pastorsforpeace.org/