On September 28, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla spoke at the United Nations General Assembly and responded to the U.S. government’s ongoing attacks on Cuba. He affirmed that, “economic aggression, no matter how hard threats and blackmails might be, will not extract a single concession from us. Those who know the history of Cubans during their long struggle to achieve emancipation and their steadfast defense of the freedom and justice they have conquered, will
understand, beyond any doubt, the significance, honesty and authority of these strong beliefs and ideas treasured by our people.”
These comments are in response to not only almost 60 years of the cruel U.S. blockade on Cuba, but also to recent statements and actions by the Trump administration. On September 24, U.S President Trump spoke at the United Nations General Assembly attacking Cuba and Venezuela and using false pretexts to justify the cruel and unjust U.S. blockades against both countries. Two days later, on September 26 the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on former Cuban President Raul Castro and all of his children. These recent and increasing hostilities by the U.S. government are some of many inhuman measures the Trump administration is taking to tighten the cruel blockade on Cuba.
Vancouver in action
On October 17, Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade held their monthly picket action in Vancouver, Canada, in coordination with protests in Ottawa and Montreal, Canada and Kiev, Ukraine. Between rounds of picketing in front of the U.S. Consulate, the protesters gathered to hear from speakers, including a solidarity message from Ottawa Cuba Connections who also held a protest that day.
Organizers also spoke over the megaphone about the upcoming vote in the United Nations General Assembly that every year condemns the U.S. blockade on Cuba with overwhelming support. This year’s vote, on November 7, passed for the 28th consecutive year with 187 countries voting with Cuba against the blockade, and only 3 countries shamefully voting for the blockade (the U.S., Israel and Brazil).
The protest wrapped up with the customary group photo under the U.S. Consulate building sign, with picket signs, banners and Cuban flags held high, in defense of Cuba’s sovereignty and self-determination!
To find out about upcoming actions and events against the U.S. blockade on Cuba, visit www.vancubavsblockade.org and follow Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade on Facebook and Twitter @NoBloqueoVan
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
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