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Protest Barring of Cuban Musicians
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Progressive Portal
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Feb 07, 2004 00:00 PST
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IBRAHIM FERRER AMONG MUSICIANS DENIED ENTRY
TO U.S. FOR GRAMMY AWARDS CEREMONY FEB. 8 IN L.A.
[From the Center for International Policy <http://ciponline.org>]
The U.S. government has refused to let Cuban musicians nominated for
Grammys travel to the awards ceremony, which is scheduled for 8 February
2004 in Los Angeles. Ibrahim Ferrer, a 77-year-old singer celebrated for
his role in the "Buena Vista Social Club" film and recording, is the
best known of those denied visas; the others are composer Guillermo
Rubalcaba, timbales artist Amadito Valdes, lute player Barbarito Torres,
and the group Septeto Nacional Ignacio Pineiro.
The musicians were barred because proceeds from their performances
"financially enrich the Castro regime," according to a State Department
official quoted anonymously in press reports. Pianist Chucho Valdes,
however, was granted a visa, according to the BBC.
Cuban Vice-Minister of Culture Abel Acosta accused the U.S.
administration of making a political decision to please Cuban-American
voters in Florida.
Tell Secretary of State Colin Powell that excluding artists benefits
neither the United States nor the Cuban people.
Take Action
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Send a message to Secretary of State Powell at:
http://action.ciponline.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=15060
More Information
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For news reports on the denial of visas to Grammy nominees, see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3464801.stm
http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=216774
For background on the U.S. government's Cuba policies, see:
http://ciponline.org/cuba/index.htm
http://www.lawg.org/countries/cuba/explore.htm
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