'Blockade busters' return to U.S. from Cuba
By LeiLani Dowell
Dowell, a member of Workers World Party, is running for
Congress on the Peace and Freedom ticket in San Francisco (8th
District). She recently visited Cuba with the Venceremos
Brigade, and participated in the 35th annual travel challenge,
returning to the U.S. from Canada on July 19.
An energetic and enthusiastic group of more
than 90 people marched across the International Peace Bridge
from Fort Erie, Ontario, to Buffalo, N.Y., on July 19 in
defiance of the United States' newest attack on
Cuba--manifested in heightened restrictions on travel.
Representing the Venceremos Brigade, the African Aware ness
Association and the U.S. Cuba-Labor Exchange, the group waved
banners and flags and chanted, "¡Cuba sí, bloqueo
no!" and "Who's gonna break the travel ban? WE'RE gonna break
the travel ban!"
At the same time, another 100 activists-- part of the
Pastors for Peace's 15th Friend shipment Caravan to
Cuba--crossed the International Bridge from Mexico to Hildago,
Texas.
The caravan this year visited 127 cities in the United
States and Canada, picking up 100 tons of material aid along
the way to bring to Cuba.
The contingents at both borders represented young and old,
Black, Latin@, Arab, Asian and white, lesbian, gay and
straight, workers, activists, students and educators, with a
range of political viewpoints. They came from the United
States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. Some had traveled several
times to Cuba on travel challenges. For others this was their
first time visiting the island.
All were deeply impressed and moved with the gains brought
about by the socialist revolution in that country--including in
healthcare and education, which are provided to all without
cost--despite continuing hostility and sanctions by the U.S.
government that have severely limited Cuba's access to basic
resources. All vowed to fight the attacks on Cuba, as well as
to continue the struggle to free the Cuban Five. The five are
behind bars in U.S. prisons for trying to infiltrate and
monitor Cuban-American paramilitary groups in Miami.
This year marked the 35th annual travel challenge by the
Venceremos Brigade. The Brigade spent a week in Santiago de
Cuba and another week in Havana. In the morn ings, the Brigade
did construction work on schools and a rehabilitation clinic.
The rest of the day was filled with solidarity meetings with
the families of the Cuban Five, representatives from the Cuban
Hip Hop movement, the Federation of Cuban Women and several
neighborhood Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. On
the last day of the trip, brigadistas had the pleasure of
hearing from Cuban parliament speaker Ricardo Alarcon. Some
participants had the great fortune to meet with Assata Shakur,
former Black Panther leader who sought asylum in Cuba after
escaping prison in 1986.
Solidarity was given and received everywhere the delegations
went, both within Cuba and at each border crossing. While
brigadistas expressed solidarity with the Cuban Revolution,
Cubans expressed solidarity with the struggles of oppressed
peoples in the United States.
When the delegations were due to return home, activists from
all over the U.S. drove hours and flew in from great distances
to provide spirited support rallies at the borders with Mexico
and Canada.
Upon arriving in Canada, the Vencere mos Brigade and the
African Awareness Association were greeted by the Toronto
branch of the United Steelworkers of America, who hosted them
for the night in their union hall.
The following day, those brigadistas who crossed back into
the U.S. across the Canadian border were required to complete a
three-page form for "suspected" travelers to Cuba. Brigadistas
refused to write down the details about the organizers of the
trip, what monies were spent in Cuba and other intrusive
questions.
Brigadistas crossing into Hildago, Texas, faced a more
hostile situation, confronted with more than 100 law
enforcement officers from the Department of Home land Security,
the Treasury Depart ment, Customs, Immigration and Border
Patrol. Brigadistas were subjected to extensive searches of
each and every piece of their luggage. Books, flags and coffee
that had been given as gifts from the people of Cuba were
confiscated and Briga distas were subjected to hours of
interrogation.
In the face of possible prosecution by the U.S. government,
returning activists have already organized report-back meetings
and forums in their home cities and towns in order to spread
the solidarity message from the people of Cuba and to fight for
an end to the U.S. blockade.
Reprinted from the July 29, 2004, issue of
Workers World newspaper
This article is copyrighted
under a Creative
Commons License.
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