Cuba Solidarity Campaign and the CTC pay tribute to Davey Hopper
Campaign News | Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Davey Hopper and his wife Maritza, with the Miami Five's Rene and Gerardo at the 2016 Durham Miners' Gala
Cuba Solidarity Campaign
On behalf of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in the UK we would like to offer our deepest sympathy to Davey’s family, colleagues and friends.
Davey was a wonderful friend to all the people of Cuba. As the General Secretary of the Durham Miners Association, he was part of the long and proud tradition of international solidarity shown towards the people of Cuba from trade unionists here in Britain.
He gave unswerving support for the Cuban people and their struggle for national self-determination free from the constant aggression of US interference in their affairs. He was a great supporter of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign (CSC) and spoke at many CSC events up and down the country. He was a regular attendee at CSC events and receptions. Davey and his association gave full support to the celebratory series of concerts and events surrounding the 50th anniversary of the Cuban revolution. Most recently he led support for the Miami Five Freedom Tour which saw Rene Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez, two of the Miami Five, speak to hundreds of thousands at the wonderful Durham Miners gala.
In the early days of CSC it was much more difficult to be seen to support Cuba. Yet Davey Hopper never failed the Cuban people. He recognised the value of international solidarity and saw that Cuba offered a real alternative to the cuts and austerity led agenda which so marred the lives of millions of working people who had seen their jobs and communities destroyed over the years.
Davey will be sorely missed by all of us at the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. His passing will certainly be mourned in Cuba. His tireless work for the betterment of humankind was an inspiration. The best tribute we can give is to once again strengthen the struggle for an end to the US Blockade and for Cuba’s right to follow their own chosen path to continue to build their socialist society built on the principle of human cooperation and solidarity, principals for which he worked for all his life.
Rob Miller, CSC Director and Bernard Regan, National Secretary
Central de Trabajadores de Cuba (CTC, Cuban TUC)
With great sadness we received the news of the death of our dear and close friend Dave Hopper.
Dave, who served as General Secretary of the Durham Miners Association for 30 years, was an active and fervent fighter for the rights of miners in Durham and Great Britain and for trade unions unity. For his perseverance in this struggle won the recognition and affection of the British trade union movement.
For many years he understood the struggle of the Cuban people to defend its revolution and socialism, which he dedicated many years of his solidarity and support against the US blockade and the struggle for the freedom of the Five.
The Cuban workers, the Workers' Central Union of Cuba and its unions, will remember him for what he was, a great friend, a great fighter for the rights of the working class, a man with high sensitivity to the problems of labor and social injustice.
The man of the mines has gone, but his example will remain in our struggles forever.
Receive, on behalf of our organisation and Cuban workers, our deepest condolences, which we wish you to convey to his wife, friends and family.
