International US-Cuba Normalization Committee

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Preface

The departing Donald Trump Administration steadily ratcheted up anti-Cuba measures through Executive Orders. These measures have included mounting restrictions on travel (including against Cuban-Americans), family remittances, and attempts to block deliveries of medical supplies, energy supplies, food, and construction materials to Cuba.

President-elect Joseph Biden can reverse all of those instantly if, as he has said publicly, he wants to return to the policy shift by the US government under President Barack Obama and Vice-President Biden’s second Administration. Agreements reached between Washington and Havana in 2014-16 restored diplomatic relations and eased restrictions on travel and people-to-people exchanges. This occurred even as the legal framework of the US anti-Cuba blockade, the 1996 Helms-Burton Act, remained intact.

There are Bills already drafted in Congress that can end existing travel restrictions to Cuba entirely. President-elect Biden can fully reopen the US Embassy in Havana to facilitate mutual travel rights for US and Cuban citizens.

Cuba has resisted and defended itself with honor in these past four years of escalating US attacks.

Most eloquently Cuba is successfully countering the COVID-19 pandemic on the island while providing the world with a truly amazing example of medical internationalism through the Henry Reeve International Medical Brigades, nominated for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize. Article: Sicily asks Cuba to send medics as Italy fights second Covid wave

These achievements are despite the mounting US attempts to asphyxiate the beautiful island-nation and despite the outrageous attempts by the Trump White House and State Department to threaten nations to reject Cuban medical assistance. Instead, it is Washington’s bullying that has been summarily rejected.

To this end, the Organizing Committee of the US-Cuba Normalization Conference Coalition is presenting this United Action Plan and Timeline to Defeat the Blockade in 2021.

This Action Plan, is based on the ongoing discussions and agreements of our united International Coalition and the advances we have achieved, since the COVID-19 crisis forced the rescheduling of our March 2020 International Conference at Fordham School of Law in New York City.

The SavingLives Campaign (savinglivescampaign.org) has been and will continue to be, at the center of our work in this period of the COVID-19 crisis. Cuba’s amazing medical internationalism has defeated in real-time the mendacious Trump and Pompeo led campaign of lies and intimidation. We are also strongly committed to the effort to win the Nobel Peace Prize for the Henry Reeve Brigades.

This Action Plan takes us through the crucial Friday, May 21, 2021, UN General Assembly vote against the US anti-Cuba blockade.

For more information about the below actions follow the International US-Cuba Normalization Conference Coalition at us-cubanormalization.org

United Action Plan and Timeline

• Resolutions: This Action Plan continues to organize and mobilize our forces and allies to pass anti-sanctions, pro-normalization Resolutions in city and state elected bodies, as well Labor Councils, faith-based, and other representative and mass organizations. If you are interested in getting involved in passing RESOLUTIONS, fill out the google form here: https://forms.gle/LwZ4t8fau6dDgeUr7

• For further tips for Passing Resolutions:
  http://www.bit.ly/Cubaresolutiontips

• For a copy of Model Resolution:http://www.bit.ly/Cubacollaboration

• For a Video of tips for offering resolutions:
  

www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca

• Friday, May 21: The UN General Assembly votes overwhelmingly against the US blockade and speaks out against U.S. anti-Cuba policy on this day. Our GOAL is the organization of internationally coordinated actions on May 21, 2021, the day of the UN vote. Working with ICAP and Cuba solidarity groups and coalitions in every corner of the globe to join in active protests at the UN, IN FRONT OF the White House, and in cities across the US, Canada, and internationally.

We will also continue to organize further International Webinars up to the May 21, 2021 vote at the United Nations.

In the months ahead we will explore the possibilities of a physical-hybrid Conference if health and safety conditions permit.

This Action Plan takes us through the crucial Friday, May 21, 2021, UN General Assembly Vote against U.S.blockade on Cuba.

For more information about the below actions follow the U.S.-Cuba Normalization Conference Committee at  us-cubanormalization.org

> Below are also some important dates in planning local actions in solidarity with Cuba and against the U.S. blockade. Supplemental Calendar of Notable Cuban Revolution Anniversary Dates:

• March 23, 1988: Celebrate the Cuban, Angolan, and Namibian final and decisive victory over the US-backed South African apartheid military at Cuito Cuanavale, Angola. This forced the withdrawal of South Africa from Angola, led to independence for Namibia, and the freeing of Nelson Mandela from 25 years of prison. Nearly 500,000 Cuban soldiers and civilians assisted the liberation of southern Africa from 1975 to 1991. Cuba called it Operation Carlota, named after a Cuban fighter for the emancipation of slaves.

• May 2015: The last member of Cuba’s doctors and medical brigade, returned home from a victorious war against Ebola in West Africa.

• June 14: Ernesto Che Guevara’s Birthday

• July 26: Attack on Moncada barracks in 1953, the opening of the Cuban Revolution. Cuba’s National Day

• August 13: Fidel Castro’s birthday.

• October 9, 1967: The execution of ERNESTO Che Guevara

¡Venceremos! We will win!

This Action Plan is based on the ongoing discussions and agreements of our united International Coalition and the advances we have achieved, since the COVID-19 crisis forced the rescheduling of our March 2020 International Conference at Fordham School of Law in New York City.

The SavingLives Campaign (savinglivescampaign.org) has been and will continue to be, at the center of our work in this period of the COVID-19 crisis. Cuba’s amazing medical internationalism has defeated in real-time the mendacious Trump and Pompeo led campaign of lies and intimidation. We are also strongly committed to the effort to win the Nobel Peace Prize for the Henry Reeve Brigades.

Signatures

Aislinn Pulley, Chicago Justice Torture Center

Alicia Jrapko, Nobel Peace Prize for Cuban Doctors Campaign

Alison Bodine, Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice

Dr. Andy Coates, Albany, New York frontline physician fighting COVID-19,  SavingLives Campaign

August Nimtz, Professor of Political Science and African American and African Studies, University of Minnesota, Author, “Why There Are No George Floyds in Cuba”

Cheryl LaBash, National Network on Cuba

Esteban Rivero, Tamara Bara Monzon — Mexican Movement in Solidarity With Cuba

Gabriel Prawl, International Longshore and Warehouse Union; President, Seattle A. Philip Randolph Institute; Washington State Labor Council*

Gail Walker, IFCO/Pastors for Peace

Ike Nahem, International US-Cuba Normalization Conference Coalition

Isaac Saney, Canadian Network on Cuba

Jon Flanders, Railroad Workers United*

Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK

Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, Alliance for Cuba Engagement and Respect (ACERE), Washington, DC

Obi Egbuna, Get Out Cuba’s Way

Peggy Gilpin, WBAI-NYC “Cuba In Focus”

Ruben Tapia, KPFK-LA, En Foque Latino Program Director

Sean O’Donoghue, La Table de Concertation Québec-Cuba

Tamara Hansen, Executive Member, Canadian Network on Cuba

This Action Plan and Timeline to Defeat the Blockade in 2021 came out of the November 13-15, 2020 International US-Cuba Normalization Conference and is endorsed by Cuba solidarity and anti-blockade coalitions and organizations in cities including:

Albany, Baltimore, Bloomington, Boston, Bay Area CA, Chicago, Detroit, Halifax, Hartford, Los Angeles, Memphis, Mexico City, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, New York-New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portsmouth, San Juan, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington, DC