For more than 56 years, the US government has been attempting to strangle the people of Cuba and the Cuban Revolution into submission. They have carried this out through a cruel and illegal economic and financial blockade, the continued US occupation of Guantanamo, and countless regime change programs. The US government, however, has not been successful and the Cuban Revolution continues to progress only 90 miles from the shores of Florida.
When US President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro re-established diplomatic relations December 17, 2014 many people around the world hoped that this would finally signal the beginning of the end to US attacks on Cuba. However, more than two years later, the blockade, the occupation of Guantamo and the regime change programs still persist. Today, if we are to take US President Trump on his word, even the small steps taken towards the normalization of US/Cuba relations are at risk of being reversed.
Canada is the US’ closest neighbor, therefore consistent and united action by friends of Cuba across the country has an important role to play in the international movement to end the US blockade against Cuba. Since their formation in September of 2015, Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade – Vancouver (FCAB- Vancouver) has been organizing monthly picket actions in front of the US Consulate, on the 17th of each month. Ottawa Cuba Connections has also joined with Vancouver by organizing a picket at the US Embassy, also on the 17th of each month.
Beginning with the May 17 picket action Montreal has also joined in the monthly actions! This means that on the 17th of each month, people in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal will be protesting with one united voice: “Lift the US Blockade on Cuba NOW!” Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade – Vancouver welcomes La Table de concertation de solidarité Québec-Cuba to this coordinated effort.
The May 17 picket action in Vancouver against the US blockade on Cuba was a determined and energetic action. Participants heard from organizers with Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade, as well as Janine Solanki, who had recently returned from Cuba as a participant in the 2017 Ernesto Che Guevara Volunteer Work Brigade, among other speakers.
From this month on, three cities across Canada are committed to organizing coordinated picket actions against the US blockade on Cuba. Join Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade – Vancouver on Saturday, June 17 to add your voice and yell out high up into the offices of the US Consulate:
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 Sovereignty and Self-Determination NOW!
Find out more about the actions of FCAB - Vancouver at vancubavsblockade.org
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