Falcon Heights, MN – Instead of the regular Cuba car caravan on Sunday, August 27, twelve Cuban Solidarity activists bannered and held signs at the Minnesota State Fair to call for an end to the 60-year U.S. blockade of Cuba – made even more brutal by U.S.’s incomprehensible designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. Standing at the main gate of the “Great Minnesota get together,” the activists got a chance to talk to many people about Cuba and share information. They gave out stickers about ending the blockade as well as Cuba’s recently passed extremely progressive family code which ensures the rights of the LGBT community.

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

#FalconHeightsMN #Cuba #blockadeOfCuba #Americas

Minneapolis, MN – On March 26 Cuba solidarity activists responded to the national call for monthly car caravans to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba and to take Cuba off the U.S. State Sponsors of Terrorism list (SSOT). The 18-car caravan flew Cuba flags and displayed pro-Cuba signs while they drove down Lake Street through a Latino neighborhood. It was welcomed with car honks and fist pumps.

In the last days of Trump in office, he added Cuba back on the SSOT. During Biden’s campaign to become president, he indicated he would take them off the list as well as revoke the 247 additional sanctions Trump had imposed, now he is breaking yet another campaign promise.

One of the organizers of the Minneapolis caravan, Marcy Shapiro, member of Women Against Military Madness Solidarity Committee on the Americas, read from a statement from organizers of the Miami caravan, “On March 23, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, testifying before the U.S. Congress, assured Miami Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar that the State Department has no plans to review Cuba’s status on the sponsors of state terrorism list. This is further motivation why our caravan is so important. We are the voice of thousands of people, Cuban and non-Cuban alike, who want to see an end to the blockade.”

She went on to read, “Almost 36,000 people, for example, packed the Loan Depot stadium on March 19 to watch Cuba play the USA in the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic. Perhaps half the crowd, primarily Miami Cubans, were there to root for the Cuban team. These fans demonstrated how there is a Cuban family on both sides of the Florida straits that thrills to the idea of increased athletic, cultural, and economic exchanges between the two nations.”

As the caravan drove through the streets of Minneapolis, WAMM member Carol Walker spoke on Zoom to the other cars about her recent return trip from Cuba. She was in a delegation sponsored by the Vets for Peace (VFP) where she and others saw the VFP’s sailboat, Golden Rule, as it visited Cuba on its coast-to-coast tour. Walker pointed out, “Isn’t it hypocritical that Biden calls Cuba a terrorist state when what they do is send boatloads of doctors to countries in need of medical help, while the U.S. bombs countries across the world? Who is the terrorist?”

Activists vowed to continue to fight to remove Cuba from the harsh grip of sanctions made worse by the exclusion of Cuba from the global financial system because of the destructive financial restrictions of the SSOT list.

In April 2023, will mark the second-year anniversary of the Minneapolis Cuba caravan in the Twin Cities. For more details, follow Solidarity Committee on the Americas on Facebook, and SCOTA_MN on Twitter and Instagram.

#MinneapolisMN #Cuba #blockadeOfCuba #WomenAgainstMilitaryMadnessWAMM #Americas

Minneapolis, MN – On October 29 groups across the country participated in the “National Day of Action to End the Blockade against Cuba!” For over a year, many cities in the United States and countries around the world have been organizing events and car caravans in solidarity with the Cuban people to expose the United States government’s 60-year criminal and cruel blockade policy.

The rallies were held days before the annual United Nations vote on the resolution to end the blockade. Two Minnesota cities, Minneapolis and Duluth, took part in the day of action.

In Minneapolis, the Solidarity Committee on the Americas (SCOTA), Minnesota Cuba Committee, and Witness for Peace/Solidarity Collective and supporters came together to demand that the United States government finally end its reign of terror against the Cuban people. The rally took place at Lake Street and Chicago Avenue.

As the crowd gathered, Cuban flags flew in the wind. Banners read “End the blockade on Cuba” and “USA people say ¡Cuba si! ¡Bloqueo no! No U.S. blockade of Cuba. U.S. out of Guantanamo.”

Signs spread the message, “Hands off Cuba! Say Yes to the U.N. Resolution.”

Sarah Martin, a member of SCOTA, welcomed everyone. “Today is an important day for us, to pressure the U.S. government to finally stop the inhumane blockade of Cuba. The U.S. has been at war with Cuba directly and indirectly since Cuba gained their independence and the U.S. continues to punish them.”

Martin led the crowd in a chant, “When Cuba is under attack, what do we do?” They responded, “Stand up and fight back!”

Sandi Sherman, member of the MN Cuba Committee, told the crowd, “Trump’s administration put many sanctions on Cuba and put them back on the terrorist list nine days before he left office. Even though Biden has rolled back some of the sanctions, he has not lifted the terror restrictions. As a result, Cuba is suffering because they can’t access trade and financial credit from countries, banks and other institutions who fear repercussions from the U.S. if they do business with Cuba. This has impeded Cuba’s ability to recover from a massive fire at a fuel storage facility and from the latest hurricane.”

Sherman continued, “NBC reported that former intelligence analysts and officials who worked on Cuba policy in both Democratic and Republican administrations over the years stated, ‘the communist-led nation does not support terrorism.’” She added, “We need to add ‘Take Cuba off the state-sponsored terror list’ to our demands,” and ended with the chant of “Cuba socialista! No es terrorista!”

Other speakers included Minneapolis City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison, and John Terrazzas, a member of the Communist Party.

Cars honked in support throughout the rally. Protesters handed out leaflets to people walking by and others in cars waiting for the traffic lights to change.

At the same time, in Duluth, Grandmothers for Peace Northland Chapter, Twin Ports Democratic Socialists of America, and Northwoods Socialist Alliance brought together a diverse group of supporters to raise awareness about ending the embargo. The Duluth rally was significant because it was the first Cuba rally held in the area. The organizers noted that this is an initial event to bring attention to U.S.-Cuba relations and they can end the lack of knowledge of what is happening in Cuba and around the world.

#MinnepaolisMN #MinneapolisMN #Cuba #blockadeOfCuba #Americas

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities Cuba solidarity activists organized a car caravan, September 25, to “End the U.S. Blockade of Cuba.” It is part of a campaign initiated by the Puentas de Amor (Bridges of Love) out of Miami. For over a year they have called on supporters of Cuba from around the world to hold car caravans on the fourth Sunday of the month.

This month, once again the Minnesota caravan drove along a busy street in a predominantly Latino neighborhood. Cars were decorated with Cuban flags and displayed signs that read, “Cuba si bloqueo no,” “U.S. hands off Cuba” and “Let Cuba live!” Along the route, pedestrians and motorists gave resounding support with pumped fists and horn honks. A trucker drove alongside the caravan loudly shouting “Cuba si!”

At a rally held before the caravan, Sarah Martin of the Women Against Military Madness Solidarity Committee of the Americas (SCOTA) said, “At this very moment the Cuban people are having a historic vote on the Family Code. After several years of discussion which Cubans had in their unions, schools, workplaces and neighborhoods, Cubans are voting, and if ratified, it will be the law.”

Martin read from a solidarity letter from ICAP, the Cuba Friendship Committee, “Today, we will vote for justice, love and human dignity, for a law that implies fundamental rights that go beyond age, race, gender, sexual orientation, creed and ideologies. We will recognize the great diversity of families in Cuba with a Code that entails affection and happiness as its essence, with rights, without exclusions.” [At the time of print, the referendum won resoundingly.] Martin said, “Think how this compares with what is happening in this country as abortion rights are being eradicated, and same sex marriage and gender rights under attack.”

Gregg Klave represented the MN Cuba Committee and said, “Despite the U.S. blockade and characterizations of Cuba as a failed state, Cuba has actually made great social progress – in education, in literacy rates, health care for all, in technology and science, which even the U.S. can’t begin to compare.”

There will be no car caravan next month. Instead SCOTA and MN Cuba Committee will organize a bannering on Saturday, October 29 to coordinate with a National Day of Action calling on the U.S. to vote at the United Nation to end the blockade on Cuba. Look for more details on the Solidarity Committee on the Americas – SCOTA’s Facebook page.

#MinneapolisMN #Cuba #blockadeOfCuba #Americas

Minneapolis, MN – Twin Cities activists participated in a car caravan, July 31, calling on the Biden administration to end the 60-year-long U.S. blockade of Cuba. The WAMM Solidarity Committee of the Americas (SCOTA) and the MN Cuba Committee organized this one as a part of an international day of action. Car caravans have been held once a month for two years in cities across the world to show solidarity with Cuba and to call for an end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba.

The 25-plus car and bike caravan drove along Lake Street which is a busy commercial street in a Latino and immigrant community passing by the boarded up and abandoned police Third Precinct building, made famous during the George Floyd uprising. From their car windows, the solidarity activists flew Cuban flags, displayed signs which said, “End the U.S. blockade of Cuba” and “U.S. hands off Cuba,” and honked together to chants like “¡Cuba sí, bloqueo no!” The caravan was enthusiastically supported by drivers in the heavy traffic as well as pedestrians on the streets and in front of cafes.

At a rally before the caravan, Drake Meyers spoke for the MN Anti War Committee and compared the different responses to the disastrous Hurricane Irma between Cuba, a socialist state, and Puerto Rico, a U.S. colonial possession, “Cuba had electricity two days later, whereas in Puerto Rico it took a year. In Puerto Rico 3000 died, but in Cuba only a couple of dozen people did. Cuba is a country where the well-being of people is put ahead of private property. Cuba serves as an example to us all that things can be done differently. Let’s follow the example of the Cuban Revolution and keep fighting and fighting. The blockade must be ended as soon as possible to allow their system to flower and to protect them from the upcoming climate catastrophes.”

Omar Hoover from the Party for Socialist Liberation told the rally, “In spite of the blockade Cuba has near zero homelessness and illiteracy, public education for all, top tiered health programs, has sent over 30,000 medical workers to 40-plus countries and developed a lung cancer treatment, five COVID vaccines, and a Alzheimer’s treatment in its final trial.”

Joe Callahan of the MN Cuba Committee announced, “I want to share some news about a true heroine, Ana Belen Montes, a Puerto Rican, who has been in the horrible federal prison in Carswell, Texas since 2001 for espionage. She worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency and had access to top secret information on U.S. plans of aggression against Cuba that she shared with Cuba. She will be released next year and deserves utmost respect for everyone who supports the Cuban people and their right to peace and sovereignty.”

#MinneapolisMN #Cuba #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #MinnesotaAntiWarCommittee #blockadeOfCuba

Miami, FL- Over 60 members of the South Florida community joined in the monthly caravan in Miami on Sunday, January 30, to demand President Joe Biden end the criminal U.S. blockade on Cuba. The group called on the U.S president to end all sanctions on Cuba, restore the family reunification program and recommence freedom of travel between the United States and Cuba for both Americans and Cubans. The event was organized by the U.S. Hands Off Cuba and Venezuela South Florida and Puentes de Amor.

Dozens of cars draped with banners and signs reading “End the criminal blockade of Cuba,” and “No mas bloqueo,” most donning Cuban flags, left from the Miami City Hall and wound their way through the busy streets of Miami. Members of the caravan honked their horns and blasted traditional Cuban music along the way.

The group planned their route so that the caravan would pass slowly by Versailles, the infamous reactionary Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho that serves as a gathering place for some of the most far-right elements of the Miami Cuban population.

The impassioned members of the caravan, which was composed largely of recent Cuban immigrants and first or second generation Cuban Americans, ended their drive through Miami at Freedom Plaza in Coral Gables, where they disembarked from their vehicles and rallied at the famous historic Jose Marti monument. Once there, they chanted and listened to speeches in English and Spanish. The atmosphere was festive, and the people were unified.

“Welcome to all who have gathered here today, Cuban and not Cuban, people of all different ideologies and faiths. We are a diverse group, but we stand united in our love for Cuba,” said one of the caravan’s main organizers, Carlos Lazo, in Spanish. Lazo is the internationally known leader of the organization Puentes de Amor, which got on the map in the summer of 2021, after Lazo and a handful of others traveled from Miami to Washington, D.C. to call on President Biden to end the criminal sanctions against Cuba.

“We are here for the Cuban family. We are here to build bridges of love between the Cuban and American people,” Lazo told the crowd. “We are here to say down with the blockade and illegal sanctions. And we invite the entire Cuban community to join us in this cause!”

From the group’s loudspeakers, music blared. Cuban salsa music led to much dancing and celebration throughout the afternoon. Though moments of solemnity occurred during speeches and each time the Cuban National Anthem played, leading the group to join in heartfelt song, hands over hearts.

Across the street, a small handful of angry counter-protesters tried to disrupt the caravan and rally. They wore red Donald Trump caps and shouted expletives toward the members of the caravan, which included grandparents and children. But the ten right-wingers were far outnumbered, and their shouts were drowned out by the celebratory music and chants of “Cuba si! El bloqueo no!” by members of the caravan. In the end, the small group of right-wing Cuban American counter-protesters came across as rather pathetic, and they reeked of the desperation and resentment that accompanies most sore losers.

The caravan and rally were a huge success by any barometer, but especially given the unconducive and often dangerous conditions of organizing Cuba solidarity events in Miami. Since the summer of 2021, the caravans have only grown in strength, unity and numbers. Another caravan is planned to take place in Miami for the last week of February.

#MiamiFL #Cuba #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #blockadeOfCuba

Miami, FL – In the morning hours of Sunday, September 26, roughly 60 protesters gathered outside of Miami City Hall as part of a National Day of Action to demand President Biden end the decades-long blockade of Cuba. The national call was put out by the Cuban solidarity organization Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love) and was attended locally by Cuban Americans, anti-war activists and community members.

Protesters met outside of the city hall building, holding a large banner that read, “Abajo el bloqueo,” and chanting, “Puentes de amor” and “Biden, end the embargo!” They also listened to a lineup of speakers outlining the impact the embargo has had on Cuba, and who also denounced Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’ call for the United States to use “humanitarian military intervention” against the Cuban government, as the U.S. did in Panama and Yugoslavia.

“When the U.S. starts attacking your country because they don’t like your president or your system, they don’t care if you support the government or not, they will kill indiscriminately and it is your people that will suffer,” said protester Svetlana Radojcic, who spoke to the crowd about her firsthand experience during the U.S.-NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. “So the person who calls for military intervention is either ignorant or very, very cruel.”

At noon, the protesters made their way from the city hall to their cars, all donned with “El bloqueo es un crimen” slogans. They drove through Miami to Margaret Pace Park, where they listened to more speeches, danced to traditional Cuban music, and rejoiced in the significance of gathering such a large group in Miami against the far-right politics that seem to dominate the area. The activists all committed themselves to taking further action until the illegal U.S. sanctions against Cuba are ended.

#MiamiFL #AntiwarMovement #Cuba #Americas #PeoplesStruggles #blockadeOfCuba #PuentesDeAmor

National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression denounces U.S.  criminal interference in Cuba

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following July 26 statement from the National Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression.

What the U.S. is doing in Cuba is criminal. The U.S. blockade of the small island nation of eleven million is meant to put a stranglehold on the people. The economic disruption caused by the U.S. embargo causes shortages and difficulties across the island. Not only does the U.S. embargo stop U.S. businesses from trading with Cuba, it punishes companies in other countries that trade with Cuba.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of offering economic and medical cooperation, the U.S. attempted to cause trouble in Cuba by funding and provoking small groups of reactionaries. This came just as Cuba was rolling out a vaccine program to benefit every person on the island and reopen the tourist economy.

The response of Cuba’s leaders to the U.S. provocation was to mobilize large rallies with tens and hundreds of thousands of people from unions, community groups, and other sectors of society. These massive rallies for the defense of the Cuban revolution go largely unreported in U.S. media, but social media allows us to see them. We will not be fooled.

Of course, if one wishes to find political repression in Cuba, the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay detention camp is the place to look. The U.S. tortured and held under “indefinite detention without trial” hundreds of prisoners from U.S. wars in the Middle East. Prisoners are still held there today. The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base needs to be closed and returned to its rightful owners, the Cuban people.

The U.S. government, under the thumb of Wall Street financiers, has a long history of violent intervention in Cuba, from the Bay of Pigs invasion, to repeated assassination attempts on Fidel Castro, to organizing Florida based terrorists blowing up planes and physically attacking those who disagree with them. It is no surprise that masses of people across Cuba would mobilize against U.S. backed reactionaries and demand respect for Cuban independence, democracy and sovereignty.

We call for an immediate end to the U.S. blockade of Cuba. We call to restore diplomatic, trade, travel and cultural ties between the U.S. and Cuba. We call for an end to U.S. backed assassination attempts against Cuba’s leaders, as recently happened in Haiti. We call for solidarity with the Cuban people and their government. The Cuban people are in charge of their own destiny and have been ever since their revolution began on this day, July 26, in 1953.

#Chicago #Cuba #FidelCastro #NationalAllianceAgainstRacistAndPoliticalRepression #blockadeOfCuba #Americas