For over 56 years the U.S. has maintained an illegal and unjust blockade against Cuba. According to Cuba’s Mission to the UN, this cruel policy cost Cuba at least $4.3 billion in the period between April 2016 to June 2017 alone. The continuation of this criminal and inhuman blockade affects the daily life of the Cuban people, for example, doctors in Cuba are denied access to more than 50 percent of the drugs on the world market.
In addition to the blockade being in full force, the United States government continues its illegal occupation of the territory of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba and its hostile and aggressive policies against Cuba. Most recently in March 2018, President Trump signed the Congress budget deal, where the U.S. government allocated USD 20 million for subversion against Cuba camouflaged under the so-called “democracy programs.”
In Vancouver Canada, Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade (FCAB-Vancouver) is joining peace-loving people around the world in standing in defense of Cuba against the U.S. blockade and hostile policies against the island. On April 17, 2018, FCAB-Vancouver held its monthly picket action demanding that the U.S. end its criminal blockade against Cuba, stop its regime change programs, and return the territory of Guantanamo to Cuba! Alongside Vancouver’s action, coordinated actions are held in Montreal, Ottawa and Kiev, Ukraine also on the 17th of every month.
Participants in Vancouver raised picket signs and energetically chanted “Hey Trump Lift the Blockade on Cuba Now!” and “Return Guantanamo to Cuba Now!”. In between picketing, Cuba supporters heard from local speakers as well as from Cuba solidarity activists with Ottawa Cuba Connections, via phone, who earlier in the day had protested against the U.S. blockade on Cuba in front of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa.
Friends of Cuba Against the US Blockade – Vancouver will continue monthly picketing at the U.S. consulate until the blockade is lifted, and until the US returns Guantanamo Bay to Cuba. Join FCAB-Vancouver at our next action, May 17, 5 pm at the US Consulate in Downtown Vancouver, 1075 West Pender Street. For more information visit www.vancubavsblockade.org , follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NoBloqueoVan.
Lift the Blockade on Cuba Now!
Return Guantanamo to Cuba Now!
Follow Azza Rojbi on Twitter: @Azza_R14
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