St. Paul, MN – On October 29, the world came together to support of the United Nations voting on Cuba’s resolution to end 63-year U.S. blockade on Cuba. Participating in the national day of action, the Solidarity Committee on the Americas (SCOTA) and Minnesota Cuba Committee gathered at the Women Against Military Madness’ End War weekly vigil on the Marshall Avenue/Lake Street bridge.

About 45 people rallied to expose the United States government’s brutal blockade on Cuba. It was a pleasant and sunny day as supporters walked up and down on the bridge that goes over the Mississippi River between Saint Paul and Minneapolis. They carried carrying signs expressing their message, “Cuba si, bloqueo no,” “Hands off Cuba,” “Take Cuba off the U.S. terrorist list” and “Say yes to the U.N. resolution.”

As people continued to cross back and forth, they cheered and waved when cars and buses honked in support.

As the rally ended, Sarah Martin, member of SCOTA (WAMM) called the group together by chanting, “Cuba si!, ¡Bloqueo no!” along with “When the people of Venezuela are under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!”

Martin addressed the crowd, “That's why we're here tonight, right? Two pretty outrageous things going on in the Caribbean and in our backyard. The blockade on Cuba and Trump’s bombings on boats in international waters and threatening Venezuela. All of this really has been alarming and we want to highlight Venezuela along with supporting Cuba.”

Rebecca Pera from Solidarity Community of the Americas stated, “As we draw awareness to the 33rd annual vote to remove Cuba off of the SSOT and to end the over six-decade illegal and inhumane embargo and blockade against our Cuban neighbors. We know that Ronald Reagan put Cuba on the U.S. State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT) originally for when Cuba accepted people who were being persecuted by racist, illegal persecution in the United States, like Assata Shakur.”

Pera continued, “They can't get medical supplies. They can't get food, construction supplies, or infrastructure supplies. We know that Cuba's medical brigades and medical professionals are the best in the world.”

Sandi Sherman, member of the MN Cuba Committee, talked about the solidarity of countries standing with Cuba. “This was demonstrated before the United Nations General Assembly when 165 countries voted to oppose the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba.”

Sherman continued, “Cuba makes a new call to mobilize the international community to stop military action against Venezuela. Once again, this is their statement, we declare our firm and unwavering support for the Bolivarian and Chavista government of Venezuela and for the popular and military unity of the Venezuelan people. Latin America and the Caribbean must remain a zone of peace.”

As the Trump administration heightens their attacks in the Caribbean, the Solidarity Committee on the Americas (SCOTA) and Minnesota Cuba Committee will continue to speak out for Cuba and Venezuela.

#StPaulMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #Cuba #Venezuela #SCOTA #WAMM

Minneapolis, MN – On October 28, Cuba solidarity activists rallied at the Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis to demand the Biden administration vote at the UN to end the economic war on Cuba. For 32 years, the United Nations has voted every year almost unanimously to end the cruel economic blockade against Cuba which the U.S. has imposed for over 60 years. To tighten the noose, in 2021 the U.S. added the designation of Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism” (SSOT) a ridiculous charge that leads to only more sanctions.

This vote took place while Cuba is experiencing a severe power outage. For over a week the entire island has had little to no electricity up to 20 hours a day due to fuel shortages and lack of equipment to repair the infrastructure because of the brutal U.S. blockade.

The demonstrators heard from several speakers including Gary Prevost, a member of the MN Cuba Committee, who said, “There is a groundswell of support to remove Cuba from the SSOT list here in Minnesota and around the country, including resolutions from 120 labor unions and cities as large as NYC, Washington DC and San Francisco.” Prevost also spoke of the U.S. role in the blackout, saying, “Make no mistake, the recent blackout in Cuba occurred because of a lack of fuel, and that’s directly a result of the fact that ships carrying badly need fuel, can’t dock in Cuba because most are insured by U.S. companies.”

Joe Callahan, a member of the Solidarity Committee on the Americas, described the concerns of a visiting Cuban, stating, “We were fortunate to have Cuban filmmaker Gloria Rolando here with us last weekend. She lives in central Havana, and she said people on the street were feeling at the end of their rope, “finito.” She fears it will mean an ongoing exit from the country by young people. The population has declined by a million people in the last few years.”

Amina Sheikh, a trade unionist who recently visited Cuba, spoke about how inspired she is by the gains Cuba has made for its people and its importance in the world. Sheikh emphasized, “Cuba has a history of internationalism and solidarity. It has been so generous in giving scholarships to people from all over the world, including countries under attack from the U.S. like Palestine and Syria. In spite of crippling U.S. sanctions, it teaches the world how to be generous.”

The rally concluded with Robyn Harbison, a Cuban-American who is the director of Women Against Military Madness, describing the current dire hardships the people are experiencing since the beginning of the blackouts on October 18, stating, “There have been failures in the obsolete water system, meaning no running water for most of the island, food and medicine are spoiling without refrigeration, there is no air conditioning, and essential workers are home indefinitely. This is the total fault of the U.S. sanctions and blockade.”

The activists vowed to stand with Cuba now and forever and to double down efforts to fight to take Cuba off the “terrorist” list and to end the U.S. blockade on this heroic island and shining example for the world.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #International #Cuba #SCOTA #WAMM

Falcon Heights, MN – On Sunday, September 1, Cuban solidarity activists bannered at the Minnesota State Fair demanding the United States government remove Cuba from the State Sponsor of Terrorism list and to end the 62-year blockade against the country.

Fairgoers heading toward the main gate of the “Great Minnesota Get Together” could see the Cuban flag propped up and waving in the wind. Closer to the main gate, they were greeted by three banners demanding: “U.S.A. people say, Cuba sí, bloqueo no!, No U.S. blockade of Cuba, U.S. out of Guantanamo,” and two banners in English and Spanish, “Take Cuba off the U.S. Terrorist List/Llevar a Cuba de la lista de terroristas.”

The activists got a chance to talk to many people about Cuba. They gave out stickers about ending the blockade as well as Cuba’s recently passed progressive family code which ensures the rights of the LGBT community.

An African American family selling water at the entrance noticed the banners, and two brothers, in their twenties, ran up excitedly saying, “We love your banner!” This resulted in conversations with the activists talking about Cuba and encouraging them to visit the country.

Two Cuban families greeted the solidarity activists with great delight when passing the banners, they said, “Thank you very much.” One family recently moved to Saint Paul and another family lives in Canada. They were both happy and very appreciative seeing people and the banners, knowing that there are people that support their country and also want the blockade to end.

The event was organized by the Women Against Military Madness Solidarity Committee on the Americas and the MN Cuba Committee.

#FalconHeightsMN #MN #International #Cuba #AntiWarMovement #WAMM #SCOTA #MNCC

St. Paul, MN – The MN Peace Action Coalition and Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) co-sponsored a vigil on the Marshal/Lake Street bridge over the Mississippi River on June 12 to draw attention to the role of the U.S, in Haiti. 30 people attended and they received many positive honks from rush hour drivers.

Sarah Martin, a member of the MN Peace Action Coalition and WAMM explained, “The U.S. is financing and orchestrating a multinational military occupation of Haiti which will be led by 1000 special forces from Kenya, with additional forces from numerous countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Foreign occupations and coups against progressive governments, like those against former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, deny self-determination to the people of Haiti, and have led to the violent chaos in Haiti today. It is important to support the right of the Haitian people to self-determination.”

Marcy Shapiro, a member of WAMM’s Solidarity Committee on the Americas, concurred, stating “ongoing U.S.policies and actions toward Haiti have brought the terrible devastation to the people of Haiti.”

#StPaulMN #MN #AntiWarMovement #International #Haiti #WAMM #SCOTA #MNPeaceAction

Minneapolis, MN – On Thursday, April 18, about 30 members of the Minnesota Cuba Coalition gathered at U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s Minneapolis office, under the banner of “Minnesotans love Cuba,” to call for an end to the U.S. embargo of Cuba

While at the senator’s office, the coalition hosted a program of speakers, with veteran organizers, Cuban Americans and their allies new to the movement represented. During rush hour near the heart of Minneapolis’s downtown, cars honked in support and solidarity as they passed the crowd.

The coalition’s main demand is for Senator Klobuchar to sign a letter calling on the Biden administration to take Cuba off the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT). As they arrived, SCOTA member Marcy Shapiro handed Klobuchar’s state director 500 petitions, with dozens of signatures each, supporting the call.

Many of the coalition members have taken educational trips to Cuba to study its culture, healthcare and education systems, its ecology and its environmental protection measures, its socialist government and its history of international solidarity with poor and oppressed peoples, including in the U.S. There is no legitimate reason Cuba should be on SSOT list. The listing and sanctions have caused immense damage and harm to Cubans as well their economy for over 60 years. The coalition urges the need to normalize relations with the U.S.'s neighboring country.

The coalition has lobbied the senator’s office to sign a letter to Biden calling on his administration to take Cuba off the list, hoping she would sign a similar letter as she did when Trump placed Cuba on the list. The senator has not responded in the four months that this campaign has been underway.

Robyn Harbison of Women Against Military Madness (WAMM), the founder of SCOTA, closed the rally. He reiterated that “Cuba is a friend of Palestine, and Palestine is a friend of Cuba. Historically we must remember who was on the right side of history during this era of anti-imperialist revolution. The U.S. has no right to intervene into other country’s affairs or sovereignty, and that includes Cuba and Palestine.”

The April 30 protest delegation was made up of MN Cuba Coalition member groups Minnesota Cuba Committee, Solidarity Committee on the Americas (SCOTA), and Witness for Peace Solidarity Collective

Reach out to solidaritycommitteeofamericas@gmail.com to learn more about how to get involved with the MN Cuba Coalition.

#MinneapolisMN #MN #International #Cuba #WAMM #SCOTA #Klobuchar

Minneapolis, MN – On January 28, the Women Against Military Madness’ Solidarity Committee of the Americas (SCOTA) and the MN Cuba Committee held their monthly car caravan with 15 cars and 20 people to demand Cuba be taken off the U.S. terrorist list.

As people gathered, they decorated their cars with signs and Cuban flags. Signs included “Cuba sí, bloqueo no,” “Hands off Cuba” and “Cuba off the terrorist list.”

Sarah Martin, a member of SCOTA, rallied the crowd with the chant, “Cuba off the terrorist list!” Martin stressed the reason for this month’s caravan, stating, “With a stroke of the pen, Biden could remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and end the unprecedented humanitarian crisis the heroic people of Cuba are facing causing tens of thousands to migrate.”

People held banners in English and Spanish, reading “Take Cuba off the U.S. terrorist list/Llevar a Cuba de la lista de terroristas.”

Joe Callahan, a member of the MN Cuba Committee and SCOTA told the crowd, “In between trips to the Middle East, Anthony Blinken went to Mexico to demand that they stop immigrants from coming to the border. In response President Lopez Obrador said that if the U.S. ended sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, there would be less immigrants.” Callahan added, “In Cuba they say, ‘A better world is possible.’”

David Logsdon, president of the Veterans For Peace, Chapter 27 strongly urged people to visit Cuba. He stated there are many organizations that organize trips, and it is important to go when we get a chance.

Before the caravan went on its way, the rally gave tribute to Jose Martí on his birthday. Marcy Shapiro, member of SCOTA, noted, “Today is Martí’s birthday. He is the national hero of Cuba. He was born on January 28, 1853, 171 years ago, He was a poet, writer and philosopher. He is considered a national hero because of his role in the liberation of Cuba from Spain. His goal was the promotion of liberty and political independence. His name is used as a rallying cry to Cuban revolutionaries. The words to the song Guantanamera were written by Jose Martí. It is sung everywhere and all of the time in Cuba.”

The caravan drove on to Lake Street from the parking lot of South High School, along about a three-mile stretch through a Minneapolis working-class neighborhood, and then back to South High.

People on the streets gave thumbs up, pumping fists in support and even grooving with the honking beeps coming from the cars. A few cars even joined the caravan; they turned on their hazards and honked along. A person stood out of their car’s sunroof bouncing up and down while waving their fist in the air.

This month, the caravan participants felt the excitement all around for Cuba and the importance of taking the country off the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list.

#MinneapolisMN #International #Cuba #SCOTA