PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
  1. Signatures
    212 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The President of the United States
  2. Created By
    rabbi shneyer
    rockville, MD
About this Petition Petition Letter

Alan Gross, 61, from Maryland, was arrested by the Cuban authorities on December 3, 2009.  HE WAS RECENTLY TRIED AND FOUND GUILTY. SENTENCING WILL TAKE PLACE IN MARCH. Under a subcontract from USAID, he was providing electronic and Internet equipment to members of the Jewish community. After more than a year he has not been charged with any crime.  It appears that he was being used as a pawn in US-Cuban relations.  Clearly the Cubans have not been happy with the USAID Democracy Workers Program created by the Bush Administration. His detention is in violation of international law.  The State Department, Congressional leaders and leaders around the world have asked that he be released for humanitarian reasons.  His health is poor and his daughter is being treated for breast cancer.

A petition with 400 names, including 50 rabbis, was presented to the Cuban Interest Section in Washington, D.C. on December 10, 2010 but was not accepted.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Free Alan Gross from Cuban Detention

Dear Mr. President,

We urge you to secure the release of Alan Gross, the specialist in international development who traveled to Cuba under a sub contract from USAID. After more than a year in detention he was tried and convicted for "acts against the independence and territorial integrity of the state."
His family needs him home and our nation needs to address its relationship with Cuba in a new way. The U.S. government needs to take the blame off of Cuba for his arrest and examine it's own program of interference in the Cuba government.

We know that you wish to improve relations with Cuba and encourage your efforts to change U.S. thinking and policy in this relationship.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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