The family of a USAID subcontractor detained in Cuba in December is
stepping up its efforts to gain his release. Alan Gross, of Potomac,
Maryland, was arrested in Cuba three months ago for distributing
communications equipment to Cuba's Jewish community, while working as a
USAID subcontractor who entered the country on a tourist visa. His
family says Gross's health has started to decline while in detention.
"Alan Gross is a humanitarian, actively involved in Jewish causes, and
has worked in over 50 countries to help improve the lives of the
impoverished and jumpstarting their local economies," his wife Judy
Gross wrote to supporters, encouraging them to write letters to Congress
to seek his release.
"In recent weeks Mr. Gross's health has started to decline. In addition,
he has lost 52 pounds in three months."
Letters below the jump.
From: [xxxxx@apgross.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 1:12 PM
Subject: FW: Detention of Alan Gross
Dear Family and Friends,
Many of you know that our brother-in-law was arrested in Cuba in
early December.
Of course have been supporting Judy in her efforts to urge Alan's
release. Up until now, our primary efforts have been in the background
trying to help her and the girls. This, as you can imagine, has been one
of the greatest burdens that a family has to shoulder. Judy and the
girls are bearing it as well as possible as is Alan's mother. Even,
Robert's mother, who has lost some of her sharp edge, realizes that Alan
is gone and is upset.
For those of you who do not know or remember Alan, he is truly a
wonderful guy whose first career was as a social worker. That instinct
has never left him throughout his working life.
We know that all of you have much going on in your lives.
We are asking that you read Judy's letter, below, and that you
contact your Senators and Congress-people to assist in gaining Alan's
release.
If you want to know more about it, there are articles in The New
York Times, The Washington Post, and Foreign Policy on the web.
Many thanks for your help in advance. With love,
Susan and Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Gross
Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 7:24 PM
Subject: Detention of Alan Gross
Dear Friends and Colleagues of Alan Gross,
I would like to thank all of you for your calls and your warm
support. Everyone has been asking what can be done to help get Alan
home. At the moment there are two things you can do to help.
First, below is a sample letter that I urge you to send to your
various Senators and Representatives. If you want to put this in your
own words, please remember that we think it is best to emphasize the
humanitarian issues and not the political ones. You may use the
following link to obtain contact information for your State delegations.
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
Second, my Congressman, Chris Van Hollen, is working on a
bipartisan letter to the Cuban government seeking Alan's release. We are
hoping to get as many members of Congress to sign the letter as
possible. Please urge your Congressmen and women to sign the letter so
that we can send a clear message to the Cuban government. They should
contact Chris Van Hollen's office for more information.
http://vanhollen.house.gov/Contact/
Please send foward this letter below to friends, family members,
your religious communities, clergy, etc. It would be wonderful for
Congress to be deluged with this message!!
Warm Regards,
Judy
Letter to Congress
Dear Senator/ Congressman/woman,
This past week a letter has circulated through the House and Senate
asking Congress to assist in the release of Alan Gross, a resident of
Potomac, MD who was arrested on December 3, 2009 by Cuban authorities.
Mr. Gross was in Cuba under a UNSAID contract to help the small Jewish
Community improve communications with Jews in Cuba and overseas.
Alan Gross is a humanitarian, actively involved in Jewish causes,
and has worked in over 50 countries to help improve the lives of the
impoverished and jumpstarting their local economies.
In recent weeks Mr.. Gross's health has started to decline. In
addition, he has lost 52 pounds in three months.
As your constituent, I urge you to please sign on to the letter to
The Cuban Government, and do whatever you can to secure the release of
Alan Gross.
Sincerely,
Family of detained U.S.AID subcontractor in Cuba calls for his release -
Laura Rozen - POLITICO.com (9 March 2010)
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