CALIFORNIA,— Academics from various countries joined forces with others in the United States calling for the release of the Cuban Five, unjustly tried and convicted in U.S. courts for monitoring anti-Cuban terrorist groups in Miami.

Participants in the 30th Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) held an event here in solidarity with Cuba, and in opposition to the blockade, which was attended by an additional 300 people.

The meeting was convened by the National Committee to Free the Five, led by Gloria la Riva.

During his closing remarks, Cuban intellectual Miguel Barnet emphasized the importance of ongoing work in support of Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio and Fernando, who have been serving outrageous sentences since 1998 when they were convicted for informing their country of plans hatched by terrorist anti-Cuban groups based in South Florida.

René González has completed his sentence but has been forced to remain in U.S. territory for an additional three years of probation.

During the encounter, Cuban academics Camila Piñera and Juan Luis Martín addressed aspects of Cuba’s current reality, including the updating of the country’s economic model underway.

In a statement to Prensa Latina, Barnet emphasized as significant the participation of representatives from practically all regions of the United States.