FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 20, 2024

Media Contact: Melissa Garriga - [email protected] 

The Crisis in Cuba is a Result of U.S. Policy

CODEPINK is closely monitoring the recent protests in Santiago and other towns in eastern Cuba on March 17. While the protests were relatively small and peaceful, with no reports of mass arrests, injuries, or fatalities, it is crucial to address the root causes behind them.

The chants of "power and food" heard during these protests reflect the frustration of the Cuban people due to 18+ hour-long blackouts, worsening food inflation, and scarcity. These hardships are exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, which are designed to hurt civilians. The Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign openly aimed to "starve" Cuba, continuing a policy that has been in place since 1960. Under the Biden administration, these policies have persisted, further aggravating the challenges faced by the Cuban population.

Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart and Carlos Giménez have exaggerated the situation, claiming brutal oppression and inflating the number of protestors, respectively. Such exaggerations only serve to distort the reality faced by Cubans and perpetuate a policy of maximum pressure against Cuba.

The U.S. embargo on Cuba has caused immense suffering for the Cuban people, blocking donations of food and medicine even during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditionally, vulnerable groups in Cuba relied on state subsidies for essentials like powdered milk, rice and beans, but Trump's decision to include Cuba on the SSOT list has had profound repercussions on Cuba's ability to produce and procure essential goods. 

The crisis in Cuba is a result of the callousness of U.S. policymakers who have weaponized the well-being of Cubans to force Cuba into submission. If the Biden administration is really concerned about Cuba, they should lift the broad-based sanctions, remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, and prioritize diplomacy and engagement  to alleviate the hardships faced by the Cuban people.

CODEPINK urges the U.S. government to listen to the legitimate grievances of the Cuban people and to adopt policies that promote dialogue, cooperation, and respect for Cuba's sovereignty. We believe that being a good neighbor to Cuba is the best way to support its people and foster positive change.

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Ways to take action:

• Tell Congress: Support H. RES. 943, a resolution that calls for the annulment of the Monroe Doctrine and the development of a “New Good Neighbor” Policy  
• First Lady Biden, Vice President Harris: Support Cuban women and help take Cuba off the terrorist list!
• 1 Million Signatures to Take Cuba off the Terrorist List 
• Cuba is Not a Sponsor of Terror!