NEW YORK — Some 60 people marched and rallied here Oct. 24 to demand an end to Washington’s brutal oil blockade against Cuba and its countless other sanctions and threats against the Cuban people. It was part of a series of actions around the U.S. and worldwide aimed at getting out the truth about the U.S. rulers’ bipartisan assaults on the Cuban Revolution.
Organized by the New York-New Jersey Cuba Sí coalition, protesters marched from Union Square to Washington Square Park, chanting “Cuba sí, bloqueo no” and “U.S. hands off Cuba!” They drew support from many bystanders.
A highlight of the rally was a bucket collection for Global Health Partners’ campaign to aid maternal healthcare in Cuba. People readily threw in $5, $10 and $20 bills. The total collected was $150. One consequence of the U.S. rulers’ tightening blockade has been to more than double the infant mortality rate on the island since 2018.
The protest kicked off a Global Week of Action in solidarity with Cuba Oct. 24-31. Dozens of events are taking place in the U.S. and worldwide to coincide with the annual debate at the United Nations Oct. 27-28 condemning Washington’s economic blockade of Cuba.
Days before, President Donald Trump renewed Washington’s threats to attack the Cuban people during a rally in Fort Meyers, Florida. With imperial arrogance, Trump said U.S. warships returning from the Middle East would stop off the coast of Cuba until the Cuban people surrender.
In another provocative move, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued an arrest warrant Oct. 19 for Raúl Castro, a historic leader of Cuba’s socialist revolution. This follows a federal government frame-up indictment of Castro in May. The latest charges are aimed at restricting Castro’s ability to travel outside Cuba, Uthmeier boasted.
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MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Cuba Committee and other groups opposing Washington’s assaults on Cuba are carrying out a week of activities across the Twin Cities. Despite heavy rain, supporters of Cuban sovereignty hung banners denouncing Washington’s threats from a highly visible highway bridge and on a busy street corner in downtown Minneapolis Oct. 26.
Drivers in many of the cars passing by honked in support. Further banner drops were held Oct. 27-28.
For 33 years, the U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to end Washington’s blockade, the Minnesota Cuba Committee points out, noting “the U.S. government has ignored every single vote.”
— Mary Martin
More reports on actions in defense of Cuba as part of the worldwide week of protests will appear in the next issue of the Militant.