Pastors for Peace’s Friendshipment Caravan Crosses U.S.-Canada Border

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The U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan, organized by the Pastors for Peace religious group, managed to cross the U.S.-Canada border carrying humanitarian aid destined to Cuba in spite of the intimidation of the American authorities there.

 “The crossing was a success,” announced in a communiqué the organization Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC), according to Prensa Latina news agency.

Last Sunday, the United States refused to allow a pickup truck carrying humanitarian assistance to Cuba to enter Canadian territory alleging that it was a commercial load that should comply with certain requirements.

The VCSC communiqué adds that the border guards threatened to fine the activists for the alleged violation but, shortly afterwards, thanks to the efforts of a lawyer of Pastors for Peace, they reversed their decision.

During the crossing, the activists carried banners and Cuban flags, and demanded the elimination of the almost 50-year-old U.S. economic blockade against the Caribbean nation.

Organized by the U.S. religious group Pastors for Peace, the Friendshipment Caravan tours several U.S. and Canadian cities collecting humanitarian aid. This year, they began on July 2 and will finish on July 21 with the crossing of the U.S.-Mexico border.

This caravan was founded in 1992 by Rev. Lucius Walker, a friend of Cuba who passed away in September 2010.
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Cuban Religious Leader Attends Lucius Walker’s Wake

"We think the US blockade of Cuba is against the Holy Scriptures. We dare to say that what Cuba needs the most is our solidarity to break the blockade,"

The funeral of Baptist pastor Lucius Walker took place on September 17, at the Convent Avennue Baptist Church, in Manhattan, New York. Organized by his family, the memorial service was attended by noted religious leaders and American graduates of Havana’s Latin American School of Medicine.

Cuban Presbyterian Pastor Miriam Ofelia, who is also the head of the World Council of Churches for Latin America and the Caribbean and deputy to the Cuban parliament, attended the ceremony on behalf of the Cuban people, who so much loved and admired Walker.

Other Cuban religious leaders were unable to attend the ceremony because their visa applications to enter the United States were granted too late or denied. Such is the case of Reverend Raul Suarez, head of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Center; Episcopal Pastor Pablo Oden Marichal, who is also the executive secretary of the Cuban Council of Churches, and Baptist Pastor Estela Hernandez, head of the Pastors for Peace Distribution Commission.

Comrades Fidel Castro and Raul Castro sent wreaths to the brave and faithful friend of Cuba.

Walker, who for died on September 7, was the executive director of the Pastors for Peace Interreligious Foundation for the Organization of the Community, an organization he directed since its foundation in 1967.

He was also the founder and promoter of the Cuba-USA Friendship Caravans, known in Cuba as the Pastors for Peace Caravans, which in 1992 began challenging the US blockade of Cuba by travelling to the island carrying humanitarian aid. "We think the US blockade of Cuba is against the Holy Scriptures. We dare to say that what Cuba needs the most is our solidarity to break the blockade," said Walker once.

> Adios to Lucius Walker Jr. in Harlem

> Lucius Walker is in the Hearts of the Cuban People
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Rev. Lucius Walker: Aug. 3, 1930 - Sept. 7, 2010

It is with profound sadness that we pass along the message below, informing us of the death of our dear friend the Reverend Lucius Walker, a steadfast supporter of Cuba, the Cuban Five, and many other humanitarian causes. Rev. Walker was the originator and driving force behind the 21 Cuba Friendshipment Caravans, which brought solidarity and much more to Cuba from the people of the United States and the world. There will be more news to come.

From IFCO/Pastors for Peace:

It is with immeasurable sadness that we write to let you know of the passing of our beloved, heroic, prophetic leader Rev. Lucius Walker Jr. this morning. We will write with more information as soon as arrangements are made. Please keep his family and his IFCO family in your prayers.

We express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Lucius Walker, ¡Presente!

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