[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ADOPT A CUBAN POLITICAL PRISONER

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today I stand in this great Chamber of 
democracy to adopt a Cuban political prisoner. Although this idea may 
seem like an idea that has no effect, it actually has a profound and 
everlasting impact on those who are enslaved.
  Three years ago, Castro, whom we know to be an evil dictator who 
abuses the human rights of his people, swept the streets of Cuba and 
imprisoned over 70 innocent men and women who were calling for 
democracy on the island.
  One of these victims is Lester Gonzales Penton. This young man who 
will turn 28 next week was sentenced to 20 years and is currently held 
in one of Castro's most shameful prisons, Kilo 7.
  I am honored to adopt Lester, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
adopting these courageous, peaceful activists, activists who sit in 
squalid jails for crimes we consider to be some of the most sacred 
rights: freedom, democracy, and freedom of expression.
  We stand here today to honor these heroic souls and demand their 
release. I invite my colleagues to join us at noon today at HC-7 to 
hear more about our Adopt a Cuban Political Prisoner Campaign.

                          ____________________