For over 66 years, the country of Cuba has been
subjected to a cruel and inhuman blockade by the
United States. This doesn’t simply mean Cuba
can’t trade with the US, although not having
the ability to import from or export to Cuba’s
biggest and closest potential trading partner is
hugely significant. The blockade means that US
subsidiaries, US patented goods or anything
made with a US part anywhere around the world
cannot be traded with Cuba, as well as non-US
companies have been told they must to choose
between trading with the huge market of the US,
or the small island of
Cuba. Any ship that
docks in a Cuban
port is banned from
docking in a US
port for 6 months
after, making trade
very expensive.
This is not only
an embargo, but a
blockade. Also, to
prevent US citizens
from seeing Cuba
for themselves, travel to Cuba has been and
continues to be restricted.
However on December 17, 2014 former US
President Barack Obama announced that the US
would be working towards normalizing relations
with Cuba. Many would think that this means
all of these above points on the US blockade are
now in the past. While there have been some
limited exceptions made for travel and trade and
diplomatic relations have been reestablished, the
US trade and travel blockade is still in place and
still trying to economically strangle Cuba.
For Cuba and Cuba supporters world-wide,
Obama’s historic 2014 announcement didn’t
herald in the end of the US blockade on Cuba,
but signaled an opportunity towards ending
the blockade. With Trump in power, now more
than ever it is vital that public pressure push for
an end to the US blockade, in its entirety for
once and all. Not long after Obama’s promise
towards normalization was made, Friends of
Cuba Against the US Blockade – Vancouver
was formed, and has been protesting every 17th
of the month since to demand an end to the
blockade.
On March 17, 2017 Cuba supporters gathered
together for the monthly picket action in front
of the US Consulate in Downtown Vancouver.
Activists raised picket signs and voices
demanding “Lift the Blockade on Cuba Now!”
and “Return Guantanamo to Cuba Now!”
Between energetic rounds of picketing under
typical Vancouver rain, participants heard from
local speakers as well as from Cuba solidarity
activists across the
country in Ottawa,
via phone. Alongside
Vancouver, Ottawa
Cuba Connections
also holds a picket
action in front of the
US Embassy every
month.
March 17th was
also a “Tuitazo”, an
international twitter
campaign called by
the International Committee for Peace, Justice
and Dignity. Cuba supporters around the world
tweeted #NoMasBloqueo against the US
blockade, and Vancouver protesters took photos
and tweeted to add to the world-wide twitter
storm.
Friends of Cuba Against the Blockade –
Vancouver will continue organizing protests
and events, no matter who is in the White
House, until the blockade is lifted. Join the next
protest on April 17th, 4pm in front of the US
Consulate in Vancouver to demand:
End the Blockade on Cuba Now!
Return Guantanamo to Cuba Now!
US Government Stop the Campaign of
“Regime Change” in Cuba and Immediately
Stop Interfering in Cuba’s Sovereignty and
Self-Determination!
Follow Janine Solanki on Twitter: @janinesolanki
Back to Article Listing
