Ron Ridenour is an American journalist, activist and author of several books including, Yankee Sandinistas, Backfire: The CIA's Biggest Burn and Cuba: Beyond the Crossroads. Ridenour was involved with several local and national organizations during the civil rights movement, including SNCC, and was arrested in Pascagoula, Mississippi on June 24 1964. Ron Ridenour’s journalistic career started in the movement against the Vietnam war and in the US alternative press. In Cuba between 1982 and 1996, he translated, wrote and edited for the foreign publishing house, Editorial José Martí, and news agency, Prensa Latina.