Vigil for American Held in Cuba Scheduled for Sunday

Monday marks 3rd anniversary of arrest, imprisonment

This weekend, friends and family of a Montgomery County man held in Cuba will mark the 3rd anniversary of his imprisonment.

Supporters of Alan Gross will hold a candlelight vigil tomorrow night in front of the Cuban Interest Section in D.C.

Gross was arrested on December 3, 2009. He was eventually convicted of spying and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Gross maintains that he was in the country to set up Internet access for the country’s small Jewish community.

This week, Gross’ wife Judy made a very public plea for her husband’s release and called on the U.S. government to take responsibility.

“President Obama, I urge you to do whatever it takes to resolve this case,” Judy Gross said during a press conference Friday. “He said, ‘You know Judy, I was sent here by the U.S. government and I feel like I’ve been dumped here and forgotten.’ Those are his words.”

“He feels like the government sent him on a project, it didn’t work, and that’s the end of their responsibility. So he feels like a soldier left in the field to die.”

Gross has lost more than 100 pounds since his arrest and has a growth on one shoulder. Cuba released a statement earlier this week saying the mass is not cancerous. But Gross’ wife wants her husband tested by an independent, American doctor.

Sunday’s vigil will start at 5:00 p.m.

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