2020 is becoming an infamous year, but this year
has exposed how inhuman, brutal, racist, and
profit-driven the United States capitalist system
is. The U.S. government’s response to Covid-19
has been more focused on running their economy
than saving lives, and the U.S. quickly became the
country with the most cases and deaths due to
Covid-19.
When the world is struggling for justice and
humanity, Cuba stands out brightly as an example
for us all. Since the Coronavirus pandemic started,
the U.S./Cuba Normalization Committee has
hosted online webinars about Cuba and its
revolutionary example. This has involved many
organizations and individuals who came together
to organize the International Conference for
the Normalization of U.S./Cuba Relations in
March 2020, which has been postponed to midNovember 2020.
May 19
On May 19, the webinar “Cuba, African and the
Caribbean” was held, marking the birthday of
revolutionary black liberation leader Malcolm X.
This webinar included activists from grassroots
groups, organizations, and struggles in the U.S.
and Canada concerning the black community,
academics and authors. International guests
included: Ana Silvia Rodriguez, Permanent
Representative of Cuba to the United Nations;
Julia Imene-Chanduru, Deputy
Permanent Representative of Namibia
to the United Nations; Fernando Gonzalez
Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship
with the Peoples (ICAP), Cuban internationalist
fighter in Angola, and one of the Cuban Five heroes;
and Chris “Che” Matlhako, Second Deputy General
Secretary of the South African Communist Party,
and leading member of Friends of Cuba in South
Africa (FOCUS).
June 16
On June 16, the US/Cuba Normalization Committee
held a fascinating online discussion between Danny
Glover, the famous American actor, film director,
and social justice activist, and Cuban Ambassador
to the U.S. José Ramón Cabañas. These two notable
figures discussed Covid-19, Cuba, and the Saving
Lives campaign, which calls for U.S.-Cuba-Canada
collaboration in fighting Covid-19. As a follow-up
to this conversation, the next webinar on June 24
was titled “Cuba contains Covid-19 - Saving lives at
home and around the world”. This was an interactive
event with activists, medical professionals, and
elected officials who are building the campaign for
medical collaboration with Cuba, intending to save
lives in this global pandemic. Presentations included:
Dr. Abraham Vela, California graduate of the Latin
American Medical School in Havana, Cuba; Dr.
Andy Coates, Assistant Professor of Medicine and
Psychiatry, Albany Medical College and critical
care hospitalist on the Covid-19 team; Niki Ashton,
NDP member of Canadian
parliament from Manitoba;
and Sandy Pappas, Democrat State
Senator from Minnesota. Following
the presentations, participants broke off
into action-focused groups to further discuss
the topics of building support for medical
collaboration among health and science
professionals, passing action resolutions with
elected officials, and media and digital outreach.
July 7
On July 7 the webinar posed the question,
“Why are there no George Floyds in Cuba.”
This webinar explored the dynamics of the
Cuban Revolution and anti-police brutality
protests in the U.S., drawing examples from
how Cuba has systematically and fundamentally
countered racism. The program featured U.S.-
based speakers, including participants in
anti-police brutality and Black Lives Matter
protests. Speakers from Cuba included the Third
Secretary Yanet Pumariega Pérez and Counselor
Rodney A. Gonzalez Maestrey from the Cuban
Embassy in Washington DC. The webinar also
had a dynamic question and answer period from
participants joining in from North America and
around the world.
These online webinars continue as a great forum
to bring Cuba solidarity online to an international
audience. For more information on upcoming
webinars or the U.S./Cuba Normalization
Conference please visit:
www.us-cubanormalization.org
or www.firethistime.net
Back to Article Listing
