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Human Rights Solidarity Marches Strengthen With Celebrity Support

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March 28, 2010

MIAMI – Internationally acclaimed actors, musicians, academics and celebrities joined thousands in more than five cities for symbolic marches in solidarity with victims of repression in Cuba. In Los Angeles, Academy Award nominated actor Andy Garcia, comedian George Lopez, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, radio host Enrique Santos, and actresses Jaime-Lynn Sigler and Rosario Dawson showed their support in Echo Park following the culmination of a 12-hour fast in honor of the late Orlando Zapata Tamayo.

“It’s not only a Cuban cause, it’s a human cause,” said Andy Garcia in a YouTube address to young people. “It’s an important time for us to show solidarity for those who are struggling in Cuba for liberty.”

In New York City, author and scholar Carlos Eire, jazz icon Paquito D’Rivera, and actress and playwright Carmen Pelaez joined close to 1,000 demonstrators in a silent march in recognition of the Ladies In White whose valiant efforts have inspired people around the world to condemn the deplorable human rights conditions in Cuba.

“This is yet another reason why we need to boost connectivity with the island through initiatives like Cells for Cuba,” said Nathalie Marcos Roots of Hope young professional in New York. “When there’s a human rights abuse we need to broadcast it to the world and take action. Inversely, we want to show our counterparts in Cuba that they are not alone.”

“We were able to quickly mobilize hundreds of people for these marches and raise awareness using new media,” says Chris Gueits Roots of Hope cofounder in Los Angeles. “Imagine what that same technology can do for the future of Cuba.”

The demonstrations come on the heels of Thursday’s march in Miami lead by Grammy Award-winning singer Gloria Estefan that included more than 100,000 participants. The events spurred from recent public beatings and violent harassment of Cuba’s Ladies in White -the mothers, daughters, wives and sisters of prisoners of conscience currently on the island. Groups also held solidarity events this week in: Boston, MA; Madrid, Spain; and University campuses across the U.S. For more information please visit: www.ChangeInCuba.org

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Roots of Hope (Raíces de Esperanza), Inc., is a national, non-profit, non-partisan, independent group focused on empowering youth to become the authors of their own futures. The Roots of Hope network currently includes more than 3,100 students and young professionals and maintains an active presence at more than 55 universities. For more information, please visit www.RootsofHope.org or www.RaicesdeEsperanza.org

media contact: Veronica Nur Valdes 305.323.2444

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Cuban Youth Honored as Rising Star by Latino Technology Leaders

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December 11, 2009

(Miami) – Roots of Hope received the “Rising Star Award” from Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association (LISTA) at the Fifth Annual National Hispanic Technology Leadership Summit. Roots of Hope, a national and independent nonprofit focused on empowering youth in Cuba, was honored by Latino technology industry leaders for the group’s flagship initiative, Cell Phones for Cuba (C4C).

“We are humbled and honored to be recognized by Hispanic technology leaders and appreciate their support of our work to boost the connectivity of young people on the island,” said Felice Gorordo, Roots of Hope co-founder.

The C4C campaign draws on a national network of students and young professionals to bring about measurable improvements in the lives of Cuban youth. Roots of Hope has launched campus-wide collection drives at more than ten universities nationwide including: Cornell University, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, University of South Florida and Johns Hopkins University. Similarly, Roots of Hope has received many more cell phone contributions from other various affiliated university groups, businesses and community initiatives.

LISTA promotes the utilization of the technology sectors for the empowerment of the Latino community. LISTA’s mission is to educate, motivate and empower the Latino community with Technology. For more information, please visit www.a-lista.org.

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Roots of Hope Donates Humanitarian Aid in Solidarity with the Haitian People

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January 15, 2010

(Miami, FL) During this time of great need and tragic loss, our thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people. In a gesture of friendship and solidarity, Roots of Hope would like to offer more than nine pallets -valued at approximately $150,000- worth of humanitarian aid to help in the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti.

The aid, originally intended to go to Cuba, was collected and cataloged by Roots of Hope in response to the hurricanes that devastated the island in 2008. Despite our exhaustive efforts over the course of a year to place the much needed aid in the hands of the Cuban people, the Cuban government rejected the shipment based on what they are calling "political reasons." We believe there is nothing political about the humanitarian needs of the Cuban people. This denial of aid demonstrates a complete disregard for the needs of Cubans on the island. Since the Cuban government made it impossible to send the humanitarian relief, Roots of Hope looked outside of Cuba and identified with Haiti. We feel it's important to donate these materials to our Haitian brothers and sisters who are faced with extreme recovery efforts in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster.

Roots of Hope thanks the more than 300 volunteers who collected, cataloged and packaged the aid for their incredible generosity and selfless sacrifice.

Roots of Hope extends its deep and sincere condolences to the friends and families of the victims and offers this aid with love, friendship and hope for the Haitian community.

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Statement by Raices de Esperanza on the Death of Democratic Activist Orlando Zapata Tamayo

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February 24, 2010

(Miami) Yesterday afternoon, Cuban prisoner of conscience Orlando Zapata Tamayo died on the eighty-second day of a hunger strike in protest of the deplorable conditions in Cuba’s prisons. Raíces de Esperanza deeply laments his passing and we extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Zapata Tamayo’s family.

Orlando Zapata Tamayo’s death is a clear example of the Cuban government’s disregard for human life and continued merciless repression. Orlando, an Amnesty International prisoner of conscience, will be remembered for his valiant efforts and unyielding advocacy for the respect of human rights. His selflessness is an inspiration to all those who promote the right for Cubans to be the authors of their own futures. Raíces condemns the reprehensible actions of the Cuban government against it’s own people. Our thoughts and prayers are with all political prisoners and defenders of freedom.

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Roots of Hope Condemns the Beating of Cuban Blogger Yoani Sanchez and Peaceful Youth Activists

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Media Contact: Joanna Burgos
Tel. 305.389.9137
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(Miami)– Cuba's highly acclaimed blogger Yoani Sanchez, 34, was beaten and briefly detained by Cuban state security agents on Friday, Nov. 6, on her way to an anti-violence march in Havana, Cuba. Roots of Hope condemns the beating and arbitrary detention of Sanchez and all peaceful activists, musicians and bloggers. Sanchez, one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People, told the Associated Press that the agents ordered her and one of her friends to get into their car and pulled her hair and kicked her when she initially refused. "It was very violent," she said. Sanchez reported that once in the car the Cuban state security agents told her she had gone too far with her writings before they let her go. Roots of Hope calls on Cuban authorities to immediately cease all acts of violence against civil society youth leaders. Instead they should let Sanchez and her heroic colleagues express their beliefs and be authors of their own future.

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