Western Regional Office — NYCLU Negotiates Return of Venceremos Brigade to the United States

NYCLU Negotiates Return of Venceremos Brigade to the United States

August 3, 2009 — For the eighth consecutive year, legal observers from the NYCLU’s Western Regional Office (WRO) were on hand at the International Peace Bridge Plaza for the return of the Venceremos (“We Shall Overcome”) Brigade from its annual trip to Cuba. The brigade, an organization of more than 8,000 individuals, annually challenges U.S. policies toward Cuba, including the economic blockade and our government’s ban on travel to the island. For nearly 30 years, its members have traveled to Cuba without government sanction. That group returned once again from its annual trip via Fort Erie, Ontario Canada. The WRO has annually acted as liaison between the group and with local and federal law enforcement agencies regarding the group’s return to the United States via the international border crossing since 2001. The WRO coordinates the return and provides up to date legal and “know your rights” information to brigade members. This year, nearly 160 activists crossed without incident.