On May 2, 2016 the daily news in Canada
was filled with images of a cruise ship docking
in the Havana Harbour. Lines of passengers
crowded on the ship decks to catch a glimpse
of Cuba, a country they had never seen before,
although it is only 90 miles from the United
States. Due to the cruel and illegal U.S. blockade
on Cuba, and the U.S. travel ban that prevents
its citizens from travelling to Cuba as
tourists, this cruise ship is the first from the
United States to dock in Cuba in over five
decades.
Despite the step forward in
U.S./Cuba relations that this
cruise ship represents, the U.S.
travel ban on Cuba, as well as
the most damaging aspects of
the blockade on Cuba, both remain
fully in place. For example,
not a single one the nearly 700
passengers on the cruise ship
travelled to Cuba as a tourist, an
act which remains illegal under
U.S. law. There is also the fact
that most of the inhuman economic,
commercial and financial
blockade on Cuba is still in
place, including the ability of
the U.S. government to impose
severe fines on U.S. and foreign
companies for trading with
Cuba. Relations between the
U.S. and Cuba are still anything
but “normal.”
In order to protest against this continued
injustice, on April 17, 2016 Friends of Cuba
Against the Blockade – Vancouver (FCABVancouver)
held their 8th consecutive picket
action to demand that the United States lift
the blockade on Cuba and return the territory
occupied by U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo.
With Cuban flags and picket signs
held high, activists and supporters protested
and marched in front of the U.S. Consulate in
downtown Vancouver.
Following the first chants of “Hey Obama,
Lift the Blockade!” led by the co-coordinator
of FCAB-Vancouver, a diverse program of
speakers brought to light the current state
of U.S./Cuba relations. Speakers included
Tamara Hansen, the Coordinator of Vancouver
Communities in Solidarity with Cuba
(VCSC) and author of the book “5 Decades
of the Cuban Revolution: The Challenges of
an Unwavering Leadership,” David Whittlesey,
a long time civil-rights and social justice
activists as well as Nino Pagliccia, the editor of
“Cuba Solidarity in Canada: Five Decades of
People to People Foreign Relations.”
Each month the Friends of Cuba Against
the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver protest is organized
in coordination with a protest organized
by Ottawa Cuba Connections at the
U.S. Embassy.
Each day that the U.S. blockade against Cuba
persists and Guantanamo remains in the
hands of the U.S. government is a rallying cry
to supporters Cuba’s right to sovereignty and
self-determination to re-double our united
efforts!
Join FCAB-Vancouver at the next picket action,
Tuesday, May 17th, 4-5pm at the U.S.
Consulate in downtown Vancouver, 1075 W.
Pender Street.
To get involved visit:
http://www.vancubaVSblockade.org
> END THE BLOCKADE ON CUBA
NOW!
> RETURN GUANTANAMO TO CUBA
NOW!
> US GOVERNMENT STOP THE CAMPAIGN
OF ‘REGIME CHANGE’ IN
CUBA!
> STOP INTERFERING IN CUBA’S
SOVEREIGNITY AND SELF-DETERMINATION!
Follow Alison Bodine on Twitter:
@alisoncolette
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