BY LAURA GARZA
NEW YORK - Across the United States, revolutionary-minded workers, youth, and other opponents of Washington's belligerent policy against Cuba moved into action to respond to the U.S. government's latest attacks on the Cuban revolution.
Protest actions and press conferences have taken place from Seattle to Miami and Boston. Street mobilizations have been announced in dozens of other cities.
At a well-attended February 26 press conference in front of the U.S. Treasury Building in Washington, D.C., Brian Adams stated, "We want to condemn in the strongest possible terms any imposition by the U.S. of additional sanctions against Cuba. The responsibility for Saturday's events rests completely with the Cuban exile groups that organize provocations against the island." Adams, coordinator of the D. C. "Hands Off Cuba" Coalition, was referring to the February 24 shooting down by the Cuban air force of two pirate planes invading that country's airspace. Adams, joined by a dozen activists who gathered on one hour's notice, spoke in front of a banner saying "U.S. Hands Off Cuba; Lift the Economic Embargo and Travel Ban." Last July 13, while visiting Havana, Adams witnessed an incursion into Cuba's airspace, organized by the same Miami-based outfit.
"The Cubans cannot be expected to allow unidentified foreign aircraft to enter Havana's airspace with impunity," Adams stated. "The U.S. would certainly not tolerate such activity here in Washington. Cuba was totally justified in shooting down the planes." Among the media present were NBC TV, Univisión, and the Voice of America.
A March 1 demonstration against the Clinton administration's anti-Cuba moves was called for Friday, March 1, at the Treasury Department. A number of groups are sponsoring a forum that evening titled "Hands off Cuba! Stop the provocations!" José Ponce, first secretary of the Cuban Interests Section, is scheduled to speak.
In Miami on February 27 and in New York City the following day, dozens of reporters from English- and Spanish- language media gathered to hear representatives of Cuban- American groups and other opponents of the U.S. government's embargo of Cuba. Speakers at the events condemned the Clinton administration's further tightening of travel restrictions and demanded normalization of relations.
Among those speaking out in New York were Dagmaris Cabezas of the Cuban-American Committee for Research and Education Fund, Luis Miranda of Casa de las Américas, and Delvis Fernández Levy of the Cuban American Alliance Education Fund.
An emergency picket in front of the Cuban mission to the United Nations, at 38th Street and Lexington Avenue, was announced for February 29 to demand "U.S. Hands Off Cuba." Activists will also picket the federal building in downtown Manhattan March 1 and 2. Another protest has been called for March 1 outside the former Hotel Theresa in Harlem.
In Miami, Andrés Gómez of the Antonio Maceo Brigade opened the press conference and introduced other participants including Cachita Moré from Afro-Cuban Cultural Rescue, Walfrido Moreno from the Alliance of Workers in the Cuban Community (ATC), and Iván Rosero from the Miami Coalition Against the U.S. Embargo of Cuba.
"We hold Brothers to the Rescue, and especially its leadership, responsible for the downing of two of its planes and the death of four of its pilots," Gómez stated. "We also hold the Clinton administration responsible for permitting the flights." He pointed out that Brothers to the Rescue has been entering Cuban airspace since May 1994 in spite of repeated warnings.
"During this period of 21 months the Cuban government sent the U.S. government five diplomatic notes" about 10 violations, Gómez noted.
Gómez stated that the U.S. condemnation of the Cuban action is "the height of hypocrisy." He pointed to the U.S. shooting down of a civilian Iranian airliner over the Persian Gulf in 1988, which killed nearly 300 people, and the welcoming of Orlando Bosch, a right-wing terrorist who directed the cold-blooded bombing of a Cuban plane with 73 passengers in 1976. Bosch was granted a visa allowing him entry into the United States six years ago.
Eight right-wing counterdemonstrators stood across the street from the press conference, which was held at the Pathfinder Bookstore in the Little Haiti neighborhood. About 30 cops were deployed outside the conference at the request of the conference organizers. Dozens of Haitians who live or work near the bookstore watched all the action. "The Cubans did the right thing," said one. "The U.S. government just can't stand it that Cuba is a free country with dignity."
In Boston, 50 people joined a protest on February 27 where the most popular chants were "U.S. Hands off Cuba," "Defend Cuban Sovereignty," and "U.S.A., CIA, Hands off Cuba." The event, held at the busy downtown Park Street Station in late afternoon, was sponsored by the July 26 Coalition. Speakers at the Boston protest included Carol Thomas of the July 26 Coalition; Haitian activist Philipe Genus; Laura Ross, representing the Social Action Committee of the Community Church of Boston; Larry Rossello of the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Prisoners of War and Political Prisoners; and Ryan Kelly, a member of the Young Socialists and activist for the Cuban Youth Exchange.
The same day in subfreezing weather in Minneapolis, 50 people picketed in front of the Federal Building and leafleted passersby. The action was called by the Twin Cities Cuba Friendshipment Committee, the Twin Cities Cuba Network, and Women Against Military Madness.
Meanwhile, in Seattle about 100 joined a protest in front of the Federal Building demanding an end to the embargo, no new travel restrictions, and the release of 395 computers confiscated by the U.S. government to prevent them from being donated to Cuban hospitals. The Seattle Cuba Friendship Committee also called a teach-in for March 6 to continue responding to attacks on Cuba. Among those at the picket, were students from Pacific Lutheran University who had recently returned from a visit to Cuba.
The Philadelphia Cuba Support Coalition called for a March 1 protest at City Hall. A local radio station, KYW, called the coalition soon after the news broke about the planes being shot down. The response by a coalition spokesperson was played repeatedly over that weekend.
The Pittsburgh Cuba Coalition, at a meeting of about two dozen activists, called for a press conference and picket line at the Federal Building there on March 1, as did activists in Newark, New Jersey. In New Haven, Connecticut, opponents of Washington's attacks on Cuba set a picket line for March 2. Actions are also planned for March 6 in Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, and other cities to demand the release of computers seized from a caravan organized by Pastors for Peace and an end to the U.S. government's embargo of Cuba.
In addition, Militant Labor Forums on Washington's attacks against Cuba are being organized in cities across the country the evening of March 1 (see directory for nearest address).
Contributing to this article were Janice Lynn in Washington, D.C.; Seth Galinsky in Miami; Valerie Johnson in Boston; Jon Hillson in Minneapolis; Robbie Scherr in Seattle; Peter Seidman in Philadelphia; and Dick Geyer in Pittsburgh.