Here today, a diverse group of individuals involved with the struggle for democracy throughout the world, have gathered in the spirit of Solidarity. We salute the work of Pedro Pablo Alvarez, secretary general of the United Council of Cuban Workers (CUTC) and demand his release.

Twenty-five years ago, on August 31, 1980, as waves of strikes spread outward from the Lenin shipyard, Polish Communist authorities signed an agreement with the underground opposition movement, giving workers the right to be represented by a democratically elected trade union. Drawing inspiration from Christianity and democratic socialism, Solidarity’s bloodless...