So states Gilbert Brownstone, U.S art critic, who visited the Cuban prisoner in Victorville, California

Gerardo Hernandez, one of the five Cubans imprisoned in the U.S., transmits force from his cell and is a man without sorrow, said the renowned art critic.

The president of the Foundation that bears his name and personality of the international art world traveled to a security prison in California, where Gerardo is held, to offer his support and solidarity for his 13 years of imprisonment.

Brownstone said that when he met him it was the most moving moment of his life, because Gerardo is a person with great spiritual universe, a very sensitive man, that explains why he can overcome that nightmare and abstracts himself talking of beautiful things,” in a Prensa Latina exclusive.

"I was asked before seeing him what I could talk about for six hours, to my surprise the time we were together seemed to just five minutes," said Brownstone.

Hernandez, Ramon Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González and René González, identified as The Five, were arrested on September 12, 1998 in Miami, where they warned their country about the criminal plans of anti-Cuban groups based in southern Florida.

In a legal process during which the defense claimed numerous irregularities, according to experts their sentences were too excessive.
Brownstone is also a museologist, specialist and curator, graduated from the Sorbonne University in Paris and Art History with the French Pierre Francastel (1900-1970), one of the founders of the sociology of art.
"We talked a lot, of course, about this world that I am involved in, about my deep love for Cuba and its people, and to my amazement he knew everything about me," says this man of simple appearance, who has been described as a “tireless traveler. "

Gerardo Hernández is serving a double life imprisonment plus 15 years. The prison where he is "is in the middle of a desert, there's nothing there. When you arrive, you just look at a pile of cement, many controls and wires. It's awesome. It is the most inhuman and cold place I've ever seen," claimed the critic.

The prison is in Victorville, a California city north of the Mojave Desert (name inherited from the Native Americans), located about 130 kilometers northeast of Los Angeles.

Upon arrival at the prison, said Brownstone, "I noticed that there is a respect for Gerard, but the rules are rigid: while we were talking we could not stand up, his hands must be on the table. Discipline is strict. "

He recalled that the Cuban anti-terrorist is, "among the Five, in the worst conditions that have been imposed, he is not allowed visits from his wife, they take him to the hole or punishment cells for no reason, make it difficult to communicate with his lawyers, and condemned to life for crimes he never committed. "

However, "his mood is very good. He avoids comment on those things and he refers to life without sadness. I did not meet a sad man," says Brownstone.

"Gerardo conveys strength, he feels love. He feels a deep love for his wife Adriana, his family and country," he reiterated.

Also, said the specialist, "during our meeting he did not speak much about his case, but I asked about Cuba, asked me to give him details of what is happening. It's amazing how someone who is living a nightmare can talk so powerfully about life."

On August 16, the defense presented the writ of habeas corpus (extraordinary appeal and final remaining legal recourse) before District Judge Joan Lenard, who in an unstipulated period will decide whether or not to accept a hearing for Gerardo Hernández to present his case.

For conspiracy to commit murder, the Cuban anti-terrorist received one of his two life sentences. "He is innocent, but it not enough to say that, there is the proof," said Brownstone.

Gerardo had nothing to do with the downing of two planes of a Cuban organization in 1996. "It was a sovereign decision of the state. I understand that the aircraft violated Cuba's airspace and it was not the first time they did so," he said.

Works by artists of the twentieth century were donated to the people of Cuba last year by this humanist. His foundation, founded in 1999, is dedicated to supporting and promoting solidarity and social action in favor of cultural development and education.

"The time for doing is now," said Brownstone when he handed over more than a hundred pieces by artists like Andy Warhol, Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Camille Pisarro, Georges Rouault, Donald Judd, Joan Miro among others.

The works are deposited in the Fine Arts National Museum and represent the most important donation since the institution was reopened in 2001. He considers that he is settling a debt with the Cuban people, especially with the Five, to whom he dedicated the gesture.

I have a Cuban heart, stated the art critic,” I have been involved with this country from almost a decade and after visiting Gerardo, I am ready to do anything for the cause of the Cuban five.

Translated by: Daysi Olano

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