Freedom in Cuba

More than a hundred delegates have met in Communist dictatorship Cuba with chants of "Freedom".

"We think this is the first democratic assembly that has ever been held in Cuba," said organizer and former political prisoner Marta Beatriz Roque of the rare public display of opposition.

A videotaped message of support from President Bush- who congratulated attendees on their courage and efforts to build democracy- was also played to the democracy-campaigners. The Assembly to Promote Civil Society was scheduled to begin on the date that, until the 1959 Revolution that put Castro in power, was Cuba's Independence Day.

Strangely there were no signs of support for this struggling democratic movement from Hollywood. Though 160 actors, writers and artisits from America and Europe put pen to paper to show their support for tyrant Castro, none seem willing to actually support a movement for freedom.

"If you believe in freedom, if you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, you have no choice but to support Fidel Castro!" Harry Belafonte once said, but there seems to be no sign of freedom or democracy in Cuba, where a dictator has been in power for 46 years.

Danny Glover was also notable for his absence.