Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5,

April 3, 2011
The Honorable Jimmy Carter
The Carter Center
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307

Dear President Carter:
We, Actors and Artists United for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, want to
extend our deepest gratitude for your recent visit to Cuba, as well as our support
for your statements promoting improved relations between our countries.
Your call for the release of Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo, Antonio Guerrero
Rodriguez, Fernando Gonzalez Llort, Ramon Labanino Salazar, and Rene
Gonzalez Sehwerert, known as the Cuban 5, and your willing-ness to visit with
their family members in Cuba mean a great deal to all involved. We strongly
agree that there is no reason to keep these men, who were simply trying to protect
their country from terrorism, imprisoned any longer. And certainly, until their
release, the US government should grant regular visas in a timely manner, to their
family members to visit them.
Your leadership honors the principles upon which our nation was founded.
Your calls to remove Cuba from the US State Department’s list of state sponsors
of terrorism, to lift the US blockade now having been imposed on Cuba for half a
century, and to remove all restrictions imposed on its citizens regarding travel to
Cuba (a position supported by 67% of Americans and Cuban Americans), are fair,
just and appropriate.
Further, we enthusiastically support you in having subsequent discussions
with President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and hope you will call
for urgent action on their part to make right this unjust situation.
Again, we thank you and look forward to the possibility of improved
relations and future visits to Cuba.
With respect,
Edward Asner, Co-Chair Danny Glover, Co-Chair
Jackson Browne James Cromwell
Mike Farrell Richard Foos
Elliott Gould Susan Sarandan
Martin Sheen Oliver Stone
Haskell Wexler Chrissie Hynde