July 11 Protests in Cuba

Here at PlazaCUBA, we’ve been deeply moved by the images and videos coming out of Cuba. In the wake of skyrocketing new Covid cases and deaths, food shortages, electricity blackouts, and a slow vaccine rollout, thousands of Cubans took to the streets on Sunday, July 11, 2021 in an unprecedented show of discontent. This uprising of Cuban voices needs to be heard. We support the people of Cuba and their right to sovereignty, to freely express themselves, and to peacefully protest without interference from the Cuban government.

This post is in response to requests we have received for guidance, and offers action steps that Americans can take to alleviate some of the immediate need for food and supplies.

Here are some things you can do.

First, for those of us in the U.S. who enjoy Cuban music and culture, we can educate ourselves about what’s happening there, and keep these stories in the forefront by reading and posting important information. (Articles below.)

Donate to Cuba through our campaign. PlazaCUBA has been sending money and supplies to Cuba since the pandemic hit. 100% of the funds go directly to Cuban families.

https://venmo.com/Alisa-Froman

Donate to Global Health Partners to get much-needed syringes to Cuba.

Consider writing to your Congressperson or speaking out in other ways against the inhumane economic embargo on Cuba.

At this time PlazaCUBA, and many of our partners and affiliates are calling on the U.S. to: lift all restrictions on sending remittances to Cuba; resume flights from the U.S., not only to Havana but to all major Cuban cities; reopen a fully staffed U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Havana instead of the skeletal staff that exists now; restart the program of family reunification that Trump suspended in 2017; grant U.S. citizens the right to travel freely to Cuba; create robust economic relations as well as scientific and cultural exchanges.

Despite candidate Biden’s campaign promises to revert to Obama’s policies, the Biden administration insists that its Cuba policy is still “under review.” In practice, it has continued the brutal Trump agenda.

Of course, we don’t blame the U.S. for all of Cuba’s problems. But our economic embargo creates tangible policies that cut off money, food and fuel from reaching people in their homes on the island. We know we’re likely to hear from people who believe these sanctions are necessary to starve out the Cuban government. But 60 years of the U.S. embargo has entirely failed to accomplish this goal and has only served to create more adversity for the Cuban people. It’s past time for the Biden administration to re-examine its cynical, electoral calculations in continuing Trump’s restrictions on Cuba.

We support the Pueblo Cubano.

Here are some interesting articles about the events of the last week in Cuba.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/13/americas/cuba-protests-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_term=link&utm_content=2021-07-13T22%3A16%3A13&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR0qgRhhmsLvQ179QPcamMJy1-p-MsE48DUJ_hYVrpWV79jAvtPS3Pxkrfk

https://www.artforum.com/news/artist-led-movement-gains-ground-as-protests-rock-cuba-86214?fbclid=IwAR1cunnQv_GTLPW4TcI9BlU9mYFZcNQjFQ7LHBB9Qn0Op_Nw4Brhtoyeljk

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article252713788.html?fbclid=IwAR22Vyk9Jtw2ojUnJc7EAifXqig5sXQAc62sAPf1xd_A-jMTzDqRU_zltI0

#SOSCuba

#EndtheEmbargo

#EliminaElBloqueo