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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the July 10, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Albright can't escape Cuba issue

San Francisco disruption

By Richard Becker in San Francisco

Just moments into her June 24 speech before San Francisco's upscale Commonwealth Club, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was interrupted by protesters chanting, "The U.S. blockade kills Cuban children."

Holding a banner with the same slogan, Carol Cross and Erno Rosenthal of the U.S.-Cuba Caravan were seized by Hilton Hotel security officers and hustled out of the room. The visibly startled Albright responded, "I'll talk about that [Cuba] later."

National Public Radio broadcast the speech live to more than 200 cities.

A few minutes later, Hilda Roberts and Sheila Rosenthal unfurled a banner reading, "It's a crime to deny Cuban children food and medicine."

Again Albright was forced to stop her speech until chanting demonstrators were removed.

The secretary of state and the crowd of 1,600 had barely settled down when a third group jumped to their feet-Ben Treuhaft, Hal Carlstad and Gloria La Riva, a leader of Workers World Party who was nearest to the podium. La Riva, active in the U.S.-Cuba Caravan, shouted: "Albright-the issue of Cuba will not go away. We demand you stop your genocidal policies."

Albright's speech was primarily focused on the Clinton administration's strategy against China, but the protests indeed forced her to address the issue of Cuba. Her answer to a question asking why the U.S. trades with China but not Cuba was a classic example of turning history on its head.

After twice repeating that "there is nothing romantic about Castro," Albright alleged that Cuba was responsible for the hostility between the two countries. "We would like to have friendly relations with Cuba, but it's Cuba that must change its behavior, not the United States," she said. "Cuba has been very vindictive toward the U.S."

Cuba has been "vindictive" toward the United States? Over the past four decades, the CIA has bombed, blockaded, infiltrated and invaded a small neighboring country. The United States has waged chemical, biological and economic warfare, and repeatedly attempted to assassinate Cuban President Fidel Castro.

All this is well known and documented, even by House and Senate committees. But in the midst of her "Big Lie" answer, a little truth slipped through.

"Cuba's geographic proximity" is a factor, said the Secretary. It's in "our backyard."

So from Washington's point of view, Cuba is U.S. property, an escaped colony. They want it back. And they're willing to employ any means-including using food and medicine as weapons-to return Cuba to its pre-1959 status as a part of the U.S empire.

The June 24 protest received wide media coverage. In addition to reports in the Bay area media, Reuters news service covered the disruption.

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