Alan Gross Says ‘History Will Never Absolve’ Fidel Castro — Hails New Era for Cuba
Image by getty images
By Dave Goldiner November 26, 2016
Alan Gross tweeted that history would judge Fidel Castro harshly but said he hoped that Cubans would push for a new age of freedom after his death.
The Jewish aid worker, who spent years in a Cuban prison after being accused of “acts against the independence or territorial integrity of the state,” said “history will never absolve him” in a Tweet just minutes after the strongman’s death was announced Saturday morning.
History will never absolve him. But perhaps now the voices of Cuba will be heard. Speak up, Cuba.
— Alan P. Gross (@AlanPGross) November 26, 2016
Gross called on Cubans to push its Communist leaders for new freedoms now that the father of the Cuban revolution is gone.
“Perhaps now the voices of Cuba will be heard,” he wrote. “Speak up, Cuba”
Gross was working for a U.S.-funded program to bring internet to Cuba when he was arrested. He was released as part of a push by President Obama to end the half-century embargo of the island and herald a new age of cooperation.
Despite his imprisonment, Gross praised the policy of warming relations with the island and its Communist leadership.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
