HAVANA — The Rev. Lucius Walker, who led an annual pilgrimage of U.S. aid volunteers to Cuba in defiance of Washington’s nearly half-century-old trade embargo, died Tuesday of a heart attack in New York. He was 80.
Walker headed the nonprofit Pastors for Peace, which since 1992 has brought tons of supplies to Cuba via Mexico and Canada — everything from wheelchairs to computer monitors and clothing.
Walker led 21 relief trips to Cuba, the last of which was in July. Pastors for Peace violates the embargo by refusing to apply for permission to export to Cuba, instead traveling through third countries to deliver supplies donated by U.S. residents.
In addition to organizing supply missions, Walker was founding director of the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization and negotiated an agreement with Cuban officials whereby dozens of U.S. youngsters from poor areas can come to Cuba to study at Havana’s Latin American School of Medicine.
As part of that program, American graduates are expected to return to the U.S., earn medical licenses and provide care in underserved communities.
