Many celebrated American independence on July 4th; yet on July 4, 1776 Blacks were enslaved and still are not free. Police brutality, inadequate healthcare, mass incarceration, inferior education are the âknee on our necks.â But 90 miles away, Cuba has built a model for economic, environmental, and racial justice. Learn about the link between Afro-American and Cuban history; how Cuba abolished their Jim Crow laws and are battling racism thru a socialist revolution and "Why There Are No George Floyds in Cuba."
The panel includes representatives from the Cuban Embassy, ILWU, Black Lives Matter activists, Black & African Liberation fighters
Webinar: Tuesday, July 7, 8:00 PM (Eastern), 5:00 PM (Pacific)
(This Program will go for 2 hours with Q&A)
Call meeting to order, welcome, the introduction of co-chairs:
Nesbit Crutchfield â Involved in Progressive Solidarity activities and movements for over 52+ years. Starting with his involvement and imprisonment with the BSU/TWLF Strike @ San Francisco State University in 1968, to his activism with the Anri-Apartheid Movement in support of the ANC in the establishment of a Democratic South Africa.
A long term veteran and activist in Puerto Rican, Haitian, and Cuban Solidarity work, and is now active in the Bay Area and National Venceremos Brigade.
Co-Chairs
Jamilah Bourdon âOrganizer, All-African People's Revolutionary Party; Jamilah has been studying and organizing around anticapitalism for over half her life; She has participated in community defense organizing, anti-foreclosure security, free breakfast programs, and liberation schools. Forward ever!
Kennedee Geffinger â Universal Zulu Nation Hip Hop for Humanity Committee; Childrenâs Programs Director, JCC Harlem; Founder, Keys to Ubuntu
Panelists
August Nimtz - Author:Â "Why There Are No George Floyds in Cuba."Â Â
Co-coordinator of the Minnesota Cuba Committee; Professor of Political Science and African American and African Studies, University of Minnesota; Co-Author (with Esteban Morales), The Dynamics of Racial Discrimination in Cuba, Past and Present; Author, Marxism vs Liberalism: Comparative Real-Time Political  Analysis.
Yanet Pumariega Pérez - Third Secretary, Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C.
Rodney A. Gonzalez Maestrey - Counselor to the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC (October 2018). Master Degree, International Relations (2011). Major in Economics, University of Havana, (2005).
Soffiyah Elijah, Esq - Long Time Activist, Organizer, and Friend of Cuba
Michael Washington â Longtime Oklahoma-based Black Liberation freedom fighter and supporter of Second Amendment rights for African Americans in the tradition of Robert F. Williams and Malcolm X; Organizing project documenting African Americans killed by US police authorities to present a petition to International World Court; Certified Paralegal; Founder, Empower People Inc.; Leading organizer and participant of peaceful, legal mass actions, self-policed by Black and Caucasian armed veterans, Oklahoma City on Juneteenth and in counter-protest to Trump's Tulsa appearance.
Ahjamu Umi â Organizer, All-African People's Revolutionary Party for 36 years; Ahjamu does a weekly webinar series on subjects from formulating revolutionary parties and alternatives to the policing system; He has engaged in community defense for many years, standing in the face of armed white supremacists; Ahjamu has contributed to formulating liberation schools for youth in Oregon and California and around the clock anti-foreclosure house security and shutdowns. His writings can be seen at www.abetterworld.me
Gabriel Prawl â President, International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 152. Leading organizer of an unprecedented work stoppage of ILWU members up and down the West Coast in solidarity with Black Lives Matter against police murder and brutality.
CĂ©sar Omar SĂĄnchez â Organizer, New York/New Jersey Cuba SĂ Coalition, Advisory Board Member of ProLibertad: Free All Political Prisoners Campaign.
Cuba Solidarity in Solidarity with
Black Lives Matter Movement
Chelliah Phillips â An activist and organizer for POC Bergenfield Alumni and 4Change Bergen County. Also a leader and creator of a nonprofit organization 4Change Scholarship. Passionate about fighting social injustices and Human rights issues.
Vanessa Amoah â Ghanaian-American 24-year-old Graduate Student fighting against racial injustice and part of POC Bergenfield Alumni and 4Change Bergen County organizations.
Mark Ginsburg â Professor, University of Maryland. Mark has taught recently at the University of Havana in Cuba. Longtime activist with DC Metro Coalition in Solidarity With the Cuban Revolution. Participated in mass Black Lives Matter protests in Washington, DC.
Protest Report from Independent Activist
Pacey Hackett
Pacey Hackett â Anti-Corporatist and have been actively working to expand knowledge of the ills of the capitalistic system for years. Currently involved with two workers collectives: BAA (Bay Area Amazonians) whose intention is to unionize warehouse Amazon workers in the state of California, and also with T.C.E.O.W. (The Committee of Essential Workers) which, led by Chris Smalls, is working to create a safe space for workers to air their issues with their employers and seek/establish negotiating power within their respective industries.
Justice for The Murder of Breonna Taylor
K A Owensâ K A Owens, a board member of the Kentucky Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression
Q&A
Due to time restrictions, many questions are limited. However, we will try our best to answer them to the best of our capability.