NY Woman’s Crusade for Cuba Travel

HAVANA TIMES, May 31 — Mabel Leon is a Schenectady New York woman who, when it comes to Cuba, doesn’t take no for an answer. She has traveled to Cuba seven times since the early 1990s and has been interrogated by the US Dept. of Homeland Security and fined for doing so.

The reason for all the fuss is that the US still maintains a ban on its citizens from traveling to neighboring Cuba, as well as a 50-year economic blockade on the island. Mabel is one of many people who are trying from the grassroots level to have an impact on a foreign policy they considers antiquated.

Leon, 68, was last in Cuba in March 2009 with a group of US women. They did some construction work, visited schools and also enjoyed the music and dancing, reported the Schenectady, NY Gazette.

The woman traveled previously to Cuba with Pastors for Peace, which has made 19 caravans to Cuba to challenge the travel ban and bring needed supplies. The group has another caravan, the first under the Obama administration, set for this July 3 – August 3.

To read the full article about Mabel Leon’s determined citizen diplomacy and the upcoming 20th Pastors for Peace Friendship Caravan to Cuba see: http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/may/30/0531_cubagal/ and
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