On the last weekend of every month, protest actions, rallies, banner drops, and car caravans are taking to the streets against sanctions on Cuban families and to end the cruel U.S. blockade of Cuba. This call to action has been inspired by Puentes de Amor (Bridges of Love) and its founder and leader, Cuban American Carlos Lazo.
This exciting work continued in August with cities around the world taking to the streets once again. Across Canada, actions were organized in: Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Victoria, and Vancouver with clear demands to U.S. President Joe Biden to end the unjust U.S. blockade against Cuba.
In Montreal, on Saturday, August 27, there was a solidarity picnic for Cuba, Chile, and El Salvador organized by a broad coalition of solidarity groups. This led into the Sunday monthly car caravan, which joins the Cuba solidarity movement and the Cuban community living in Montreal in the untied demand to “Stop U.S. Sanctions on Cuba!”
In Toronto, folks rallied in front of the U.S. Consulate on August 28. Organizers and supporters listened to dynamic speakers and chanted in unity to end the blockade.
In Winnipeg, three Cuba solidarity events were connected throughout the day. First, everyone gathered for a rally and picket, they then took off on a car caravan, which attracted the attention of many onlookers. The caravan concluded at the Graffiti Gallery for a screening of the epic film, “The Motorcycle Diaries.”
During these activities, Winnipeg organizers were fundraising for the ongoing campaign for medical supplies for Cuba in the wake of the disastrous fire in Matanzas. The cross-Canada fundraising effort has been organized by the Juan Gualberto Gómez Association of Cuban Residents in Toronto. To learn more about this campaign please visit: http://cubanosjgg.blogspot.
com/2022/08/asociacion-de-cubanosinicia-en-toronto.html
In Victoria, organizers and supporters gathered for a banner drop on August 27. They raised their fists against the blockade while holding Cuban flags and a large banner which read, “U.S. Hands Off Cuba!”.
Here in Vancouver, a dozen cars and 22 people participated in the action. Caravanistas drove a 18-kilometre route (just over 11 miles) through Vancouver with signs and Cuban flags, getting attention and support from drivers and pedestrians alike. We drove peacefully condemning the criminal U.S. blockade on the people of Cuba. August 28 also happened to be Italian Day and the caravan drove right through the
festivities, getting lots of waves, raised fists, and honks of support and solidarity!
Following a successful Vancouver car caravan, it was time for a solidarity picnic. Organizers and supporters gathered in the park to share some food and refreshments. It was a great chance to connect and discuss future ideas and plans for building the movement against the cruel U.S. blockade of Cuba.
Part of these conversations included the need to defend the rights of Cuba solidarity activists from governmenand right-wing attacks. On August 5, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (Republican, Florida) called on the FBI to investigate and intimidate Carlos Lazo and Puentes de Amor for their work in calling for an end to the U.S. blockade on Cuba. Then on August 23, the Committee in Solidarity with Cuba (CSC) of Puerto Rico issued a press release explaining how the FBI in the United States has been harassing, intimidating, and attacking recent participants in the Puerto Rican Juan Rius Rivera Brigade to Cuba.
We must be prepared to defend other Cuba solidarity organizers, activists, and organizations as they develop and push forward their important work to end over 60 years of the cruel blockade against Cuba. These tactics of intimidation and harassment by repressive government institutions are a violation of our democratic right to organize, educate, and mobilize. As is often said, an attack on one is an attack on all. We must unite to support and encourage those who are under attack in their fight back. We must respond by expanding and deepening our important united projects toward building bridges of love with Cuba.
Most of all, let us commit to organizing and taking to the streets once again on Sunday September 25!
Lift the Blockade on Cuba now!
¡Abajo el bloqueo!
First printed on: https://world-outlook.com
Follow Tamara on Twitter: @THans01
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