ATLANTA — Twenty-two people joined a busy downtown street protest here Feb. 17 with signs demanding “U.S. hands off Cuba” and “No economic blockade.” The Socialist Workers Party and the Democratic Socialists of America Cuba Solidarity Working Group co-sponsored the action, which was called to oppose the U.S. rulers’ deepening economic war against Cuba.
This was the latest in similar actions being organized around the country.
Demonstrators were buoyed by the cacophony of horns in support of their action from drivers. Some joined in the chants.
A television news cameraman filmed part of the protest and interviewed two of the organizers. DSA leader Matthew Nursey said he was part of a delegation of 40 who had visited Cuba last fall to see the revolution for themselves. “The biggest take away,” he said, “was the solidarity they have — the cooperation and helping one another.”
SWP leader Susan LaMont pointed to the support for the protest from passersby. “Working people in this country have no interest in going to war against Cuba,” she said. “They want peace. The Cuban people are determined to defend their revolution.”
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MIAMI — The Jose Martí Cultural Association, a group of local Cubans opposed to Washington’s blockade, held a protest Feb. 8 at the Simón Bolívar Plaza here to support Cuban families, in the face of Washington’s sharp escalation of its decadeslong economic and political war against the Cuban people.
“La familía sí, bloqueo no,” chanted the 20 participants. Members of the Miami Coalition to End the Blockade joined the action. They helped keep the action peaceful and separated from a counterdemonstration of 20 Cubans opposed to the revolution.
Rachele Fruit, the Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Senate, joined the action, carrying a sign demanding “US hands off Cuba! End the criminal economic blockade!”
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MINNEAPOLIS — Twenty-five people marched in front of the federal courthouse downtown here Feb. 9 to call for “U.S. hands off Cuba” and “End Washington’s economic blockade.” Sponsors of the event included the Minnesota Cuba Committee, the Solidarity Committee on the Americas, Socialist Workers Party and Women Against Military Madness.
After the lively picket line, August Nimtz, from the Minnesota Cuba Committee, Arroyo García-Torres for the Solidarity Committee on the Americas and Kevin Dwire, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota, spoke to participants.
Dwire emphasized the important stakes for working people and the unions in opposing the U.S. government’s attacks. He urged protesters to reach out to other organizations and individuals where they live and work to join in protests and public meetings to help educate about Washington’s brutal assaults on the Cuban people and get out the truth about the Cuban Revolution.
A Call to Action in Defense of Cuba by SWP National Secretary Jack Barnes was handed out to all participants. An airport worker took a few extra to give to his co-workers.
FOX TV 9 televised the event.