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Via Workers World News Service
Reprinted from the May 29, 1997
issue of Workers World newspaper
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Crossing from New York to Canada

Caravanistas KO the blockade

By Barb Neth in Buffalo, N.Y.

The seventh U.S.-Cuba Friendshipment Caravan successfully challenged the criminal U.S. blockade of Cuba when it crossed the Canadian border at the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, N.Y., on May 14.

The line of colorfully decorated cars, trucks and buses stretched for two blocks. Some 100 supporters greeted the caravan at the Peace Bridge. They waved signs and hoisted banners demanding the U.S. government end the illegal and inhumane blockade of socialist Cuba.

There was even a small band playing Latin rhythms on drums and bongos. Altogether, caravanistas and supporters said, the demonstration was a wonderful display of unity and solidarity with the people of Cuba by the Native, African American and progressive communities here.

One banner linked the struggle against the blockade with the struggle of Native people in the United States against government infringement on their sovereignty.

There was a heavy police presence at the Peace Bridge. But U.S. Customs officials offered only token resistance.

They let the entire caravan cross the bridge, without inspecting it or confiscating any of its contents, after negotiating briefly with caravan organizers.

A celebration picnic, sponsored by the Niagara-Canada Friendshipment, was held at a public park in Canada immediately after the successful border crossing. The Rev. Lucius Walker, leader of Pastors for Peace, addressed the caravanistas and their supporters.

"Our commitment and discipline broke the blockade today," he said. "Last year's campaign awoke the U.S. government to the fact that there is a groundswell of popular opposition to the blockade, locally as well as internationally.

"It would have been a public-relations black eye for the U.S. government to stop a caravan of humanitarian aid for children. We achieved a technical knockout of the U.S. government today, and the implications of that cannot be lost on us."

Walker said the organizers' persistence forced the U.S. authorities to go on record as allowing all the aid through even though Pastors for Peace had refused to apply for an official license to bring the aid to Cuba.

In the past, Washington has consistently denied that computers are humanitarian aid, claiming Cuba could use them for military purposes. Caravan organizers asserted that by letting the aid go this time Washington, in effect, to admitted that the blockade is illegal.

Walker called on all Cuba-solidarity organizations to join together and form one caravan. "We don't need permission from the U.S. government," he said. "It's time for us all to join together and say to this government to hell with your blockade! We will not be complicit in a policy of death."

Representatives of the Niagara-Canada Friendshipment, the Niagara Regional Council, the Canadian Labor Council and the New Democratic Party expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba and condemned the blockade. Ron Boyer of Canadian Auto Workers Local 199 also condemned the big-business media's consistent disinformation campaign on Cuba: "Media control is result of ownership by a powerful few. Spin doctors and publicists are controlling the news, not reporting it."

Moonanum James of United American Indians of New England pledged Native solidarity with the Cuban people. "No government has a right to dictate how another nation should live," he declared.

Bill "Grandpa Bear" Swanson Jr., executive director of the New York American Indian Movement, said: "To us there are no borders. It is the governments of the U.S. and Canada who make borders.

"The people of Cuba are our brothers and sisters. We must all join together as one and put aside our differences to fight this and all struggles. It is the only way to be successful. That is why the government wants us divided. Long live Cuba!"

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