Cubans wear yellow ribbons for agents jailed in US
Cubans wear yellow ribbons for agents jailed in US
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ, Associated Press | September 12, 2013 | Updated: September 12, 2013 3:35pm
HAVANA (AP) — Cubans tied yellow ribbons to homes, trees and lampposts across the capital Thursday, in an organized mass campaign to press for the return of several espionage agents imprisoned in the United States on the 15th anniversary of their arrest.
By using a symbol with deeply held cultural significance for many Americans, the campaign aims to raise support for the so-called Cuban Five in the United States where the public is largely unaware of their case, even if it's a daily cause celebre in Cuba.
"The symbolism of the yellow ribbon has a strong impact in the mind of Americans. It is a message of love that appeals to emotions," said Rene Gonzalez, the only one of the Cuban Five who has been released from prison.
"We are trying to send a message that we are human too," added Gonzalez, who has been heading the campaign.
The Five were arrested Sept. 12, 1998, and convicted three years later of spying on U.S. military installations in South Florida, as well as exile groups and politicians. Havana maintains that they were only monitoring militant exiles to prevent terror attacks in Cuba, and posed no threat to U.S. sovereignty.
More:
http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Cubans-wear-yellow-ribbons-for-agents-jailed-in-US-4808906.php?cmpid=usw