The Association of Cuban Former Political Prisoners was founded in August of 1980 in
the City of Union, NJ. There were three main reasons for its founding:

1. To strive for the liberation of the political prisoners that still remained in prison and to help
those who are out of prison but who wanted to leave the country.
2. To fight for the freedom of Cuba
3. To establish a site where we could continue the democratic, civic, political and cultural
education of our members.

A few months after its founding, former political prisoners who resided in other parts of New
Jersey, in New York and in Connecticut joined the membership. A few years later, by request of
the Executive Committee, in general meeting of the association, it was agreed to change its name
to Union of Cuban Former Political Prisoners, Area North.
Given that the majority of the members lived in the state of New Jersey, specifically in Hudson
County and in Union City, this city became the headquarters and central office site of this
organization.

The space occupied by the Union of Former Political Prisoners has been converted into a
sanctuary of freedom. Its walls are covered with the photographs and names of the martyrs that
had been assassinated and executed in search of freedom in Cuba. In addition, the space is used
for classes, talks and conferences focusing on civic, political, economic, religious, cultural and
human rights topics. History, civic and English lessons are regularly offered to children,
adolescents and adults.

The headquarters of the Union of Cuban Former Political Prisoners is indeed a museum, with
photographs, and names of the prisons where terror was systematically imposed. One can find
places where there were multiple physical abuses (horrors and tortures of all types; beating with
sticks, machetes, bayonets and electrical cables; lack of food; lack of medical assistance; adulteration of food in order to include massive diarrhea; machine gunning of cells; transfer of
prisoners to psychiatric hospitals where they were given electroshocks, making them human
zombies, multiple psychological abuses (humiliations; suspension of family visits; isolation in punishment cells for days, weeks and months; suspension of personal mail; searches at all hours
of the day and night), disappearances, assassinations and executions throughout and length and
width of Cuba from 1959 to the present.

Rooms are a small historical sanctuary in the struggle for the liberation of Cuba.
UEPPC
508 – 43rd St.
Union City, NJ 07087
Phone: 201-744-9327
E-mail: presospoliticoscubanos@msn.com