Cubans Flock to Iconic Plaza for 'Peace Concert'

[flamingdem]

Source: New York Times



HAVANA (AP) -- Hundreds of thousands of Cubans flocked to sprawling Revolution Plaza on Sunday for an open-air ''peace concert'' headlined by Colombian rocker Juanes, an event criticized by some Cuban-Americans who say the performers were lending support to the island's communist government simply by showing up.

Miguel Bose of Spain, one of the other singers in the 5 1/2-hour concert, announced the crowd size at 1.15 million -- which would be one of every 10 Cubans. It was impossible to independently verify that number, but Juanes' visit to Cuba was clearly the biggest by an outsider since Pope John Paul II's 1998 tour.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/20/world/AP-CB-Cuba-Peace-Concert.html?src=tptw

---

This was a beautiful moment for Latin Americans and the world. For me it was thrilling to see my favorite Cuban music being seen by so many people. I hope that Obama relents and allows these excellent musicians to tour in the USA again.

Concert finale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4TMRSpzjvY

Documentary about Cuban music:
http://www.havanabuzz.com