Frank Velgara, Presente!

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

It is with great sadness to report that we have just learned that our dear brother Frank Velgara has just passed after a long battle against cancer. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. Of course, in our grief, we are also inspired by brother Franky’s incredible example of selfless, revolutionary socialist struggle over many decades. We can start with his leadership over decades in the struggle for the freedom and independence of his beloved Puerto Rican nation and oppressed people on the island and in the diaspora. Franky was an ally and comrade of any and every progressive struggle and oppressed people. Like Fidel said about Che, Frank did not require elaborate arguments to fight against injustice and oppression. Franky was a highly conscious, unrelenting, uncompromising anti-imperialist and internationalist.

In today’s growing and expanding Cuba solidarity and anti-blockade movement in the US, we must give special tribute to brother Frank. For many decades he was at the center of the defense of the Cuban socialist revolution in this area, in Puerto Rico, and across the US. Frank was a founder and leader of the July 26 Coalition and the New York-New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition. Frank’s exemplary, groundbreaking work and struggle to free political prisoners, including the Cuban Five heroes was inspiring. In all of these examples of his amazing life work, and many more can be cited, Frank was also always a force against sectarianism and for unity in struggle. This is a permanent part of his legacy as we carry on in his spirit. Franky was such a warm person and presence for all who worked with him, of commitment, humor, wit, love for people, and for struggle against exploitation and oppression.

In our terrible sadness we raise our fist to say:

Frank Velgara, Presente!

Ike Nahem
for the New York-New Jersey Cuba Si Coalition