They are five Cuban professionals, who were imprisoned in North American prisons, suffering the remoteness of their loved ones and their native homeland, victims of confinement, humiliation and abuse. Over them they weighed long sentences, absurdly accused of spies that endangered the security of the United States and of ruthless conspirators that caused the death of human beings.
Their case was typical of the political trials that the United States criticizes as being contrary to respect for human rights when they take place in other countries. This case is likely to be cited as a precedent to deny a fair trial to other men and women indicted in the United States.
Their struggle for dignity and the defense of his ideas generated a movement at the international level in favor of their liberation.
In 2014, they were the winners of the Global Exchange Human Rights Award in the People’s Choice Award category.
On December 17, 2014, as part of a humanitarian agreement reached between the US and Cuban governments, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, Ramón Labañino Salazar, and Antonio Guerrero Rodríguez were released. The release of the Heroes of the Republic of Cuba was announced simultaneously by Cuban President Raul Castro and US President Barack Obama in separate communiqués announcing the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.