Vol. 81/No. 36      October 2, 2017

 

Brigade will bring solidarity, aid to Cuba after storm

 
On Oct. 1 delegations from around the world will arrive in Cuba for the two-week “In the Footsteps of Che” International Brigade. Initiated by the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), the brigade is organized around the legacy of Ernesto Che Guevara, who fell in combat 50 years ago helping to lead a guerrilla struggle against the military dictatorship of René Barrientos in Bolivia. Guevara was a central leader of the Cuban Revolution, of its revolutionary government, and of efforts to aid workers and farmers worldwide to follow its example.

“Many brigadistas have asked if the Che Brigade will continue after the Hurricane Irma damage,” began a Sept. 24 letter sent to the over 70 members of the U.S. delegation. “The answer is YES! One week from today we will be in Havana.”

In fact, the solidarity the brigade will bring to Cuba is especially important in the wake of the devastating impact of Hurricane Irma and the recovery work that the Cuban people are organizing throughout the country. The Category 5 hurricane pounded Cuba’s entire northern coastline for 72 hours. The storm’s heavy rains and powerful winds extended across an unusually large area, something Cuba hasn’t seen for a long time.

There is no better way to walk “in the footsteps of Che” than for brigadistas to join hundreds of thousands of Cuban workers and farmers volunteering to help clean up and rebuild after the damage inflicted by the hurricane.

“Che was the creator of volunteer labor,” Fidel Castro said.

Brigade members will see firsthand how the revolution Cuban working people made equipped them to mobilize to prepare for the oncoming storm days in advance, including a massive evacuation. Brigadistas will return to the U.S. better armed to explain how the response of Cuba’s government and people is the polar opposite of the capitalist rulers in the U.S. and the imperialist overlords in the Caribbean. Cuba’s response was “no one is left on their own,” while in Florida and Texas workers were told to take care of themselves.

They will return in a stronger position to win new support for ending the U.S economic war against trade with Cuba and the end of Washington’s occupation of the notorious military base and prison on Guantánamo.

In cities across the U.S. brigade members are discussing what they can do when they return to share with people what they learned. The 12 brigade members going from Chicago are planning a news conference the day after they get back to report on their experiences and call for the solidarity Cuba needs, especially in face of the hurricane. The Cuba Solidarity Committee there is organizing a public meeting on Oct. 28 on what the brigadistas learned abut the Cuban Revolution today.

Similar meetings are being organized in Denver, New York and other cities.

In addition, actions are planned in several cities for Nov. 1, when the United Nations will vote on a motion demanding an end to the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. In Chicago, the protest is set for the Federal Building beginning at 5 p.m.

If you’re interested in learning more about such brigades, or in scheduling a speaking engagement by a returning brigadista on Cuba’s revolutionary response to Hurricane Irma, contact the Chicago Cuba Coalition at (312) 952-2618 or ICanGoToCuba@gmail.com.
 
 
Related articles:
After storm, Cuban people and their gov’t rebuild
Capitalism turns Harvey, Irma into social disasters
As Raúl Castro said, ‘In Cuba, no one is left behind’
Washington protest demands US hands off Venezuela, Cuba
US moves against Cuba ‘crash against our revolutionary spirit’
 
 
 
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