and charged with illegal subversive activities. North of : Gross’s crime was helping to connect ’s The Untold Story of Jewish community to the Internet. “Finally, finally, the Cuban Five got lucky,” Dirty Politics, Secret writes Garbus, who by that time had taken over Diplomacy, and the representation of the most famous “pawn” of the Cuban Five, Gerardo Hernandez, after a Trial of the Cuban Five close lawyer friend who had served as his coun- sel died. By 2014, two of the jailed Cuban Five by had completed their prison terms and returned home to Cuba. Gross had by then served a third The New Press, 2019 of his fifteen-year solitary confinement. Garbus describes in detail the circumstances that led to A BOOK REVIEW BY President Obama commuting the prison sen- MICHAEL E. JONES tence of Hernandez, an orchestrated diplomat- ic gesture that nearly ended in disaster. Shortly thereafter, Hernandez and the remaining two IN 1998, ONE OF AMERICA’S most distin- Cuban codefendants were returned to Havana. guished and enduring defenders of civil and was simultaneously released for political rights, Martin Garbus, published his “humanitarian reasons” by Raul Castro. personal account of courtroom victories, Tough North of Havana is an absorbing book that Talk: How I Fought for Writers, Comics, Bigots, and manages to be fascinating, meaningful, and rel- the American Way. With an unflinching belief evant. It is not a riveting courtroom drama, nor in the robust freedoms enshrined in the Bill is it meant to be. Garbus is a crusader for justice. of Rights, he described his fearless work de- He understands there is a difference between fending dissidents, satirists, actors, writers, Tough Talk, its central message conveys how it courts rendering a judgement and justice. He and union organizers against those public of- is possible for courageous and committed law- shows us that “facts matter and truth matters,” ficials seeking to suppress unpopular speech yers—who in this case diligently fought for the and that politics often impede the quest for and controversial causes. The book provided freedom of the Cuban Five—to make a difference justice. One of the most compelling aspects of a behind-the-scenes look at how our civil and by “battling the arbitrary or wrongful exercise of this book is newly discovered evidence of covert criminal justice systems work, and reminded power, particularly government power.” activities by the U.S. government working with us that the fate of democracy depends on the Garbus is one of those rare writers whose the mainstream press to influence the willingness of advocates like Garbus to protect passion for fairness, due process, and justice en- outcome of the Cuban Five trial. This shock- us against unwarranted government intrusion hances his storytelling. While not quite as grip- ing revelation strikes at the heart of America’s and suppression. ping as a John le Carré spy thriller, this carefully values of fairness, impartiality, and integrity. It In North of Havana, Mr. Garbus ventures into researched, deeply engaging, and straightfor- is a thought-provoking “insider” examination familiar territory with a twist of international in- ward book details Cuban plots against America of a true story that will make many readers feel trigue. This book shares the story of five Cuban alongside American plots against Cuba. Readers dismayed at the misuse of the criminal justice counterintelligence officers—known publicly as learn early that sent these five men system, but also hopeful that wrongdoings can the Cuban Five—who were arrested, charged, to infiltrate Cuban-American exile groups in be overcome through vigilance, advocacy, and and convicted of crimes they allegedly didn’t Miami. Not long after their discovery and arrest, “tough talk”— and left with the impression that commit. The legal process was instigated by a five-year-old Elián González—the sole survivor Garbus is not finished fighting for the vulnera- politically-motivated federal government ad- of an attempt by his mother to leave Cuba and ble, the oppressed, and the outcast. ministration anxious to support the anti-Castro come to America on a homemade raft—was the views of the greater Miami Cuban-American center of an international media and custody MICHAEL E. JONES is a former judge, professor community. The dramatic account of what led frenzy. Garbus believes this untimely event emeritus, Fulbright recipient, Santa Fe Institute exter- to their convictions and subsequent release is helped convict the Cuban Five. Eight years nal faculty member, author of numerous books on told by Garbus based on his review of count- later, while the Cuban Five remained incarcer- copyrights, celebrities and artists rights, and a visual less trial transcripts and previously unreleased ated in federal prison, a U.S. government sub- artist who creates posters for the Olympic games. Freedom of Information Act documents. As in contractor, Alan Gross, was arrested in Havana

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