The coalition issued a unified call for Biden to reverse the policies of Donald Trump’s first term (2017-2021) in the short time he has left in the White House.
“The embargo (blockade) and the SSOT (State Sponsor of Terrorism) designation are relics of a failed foreign policy,” said Vermont State Senator Tanya Vyhovsky in a statement published on the official page of the International Committee of the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America), promoter of the initiative.
“Sending aid to Cuba is not just an act of goodwill, it is a moral imperative. This is an opportunity for the United States to demonstrate leadership and compassion,” she added.
“By removing Cuba from the SSOT list and reversing Trump-era restrictions, we can pave the way for a more stable and humane relationship, as well as provide the Cuban people with a meaningful path to recovery and resilience following several natural disasters,” reads an excerpt from the letter.
The coalition highlighted the serious consequences of these restrictions, which have deprived Cuba of vital financial resources and deepened economic and humanitarian crises. These challenges were exacerbated by recent natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, which have left Cubans in urgent need of food, medicine, and medical supplies, the statement noted.
“American workers stand with the Cuban people in their fight for basic human needs,” said Taylor Walker, president of the Interns and Residents Committee of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who added that the policies of isolation and economic warfare “harm working families on both sides of the Florida Straits.”
The call to action came after the 32nd vote at the United Nations condemning the US blockade on Cuba and after a recent letter signed by House members Barbara Lee (California), Jim McGovern (Massachusetts), Gregory Meeks (New York) and Jon Castro (Texas) urging Biden to send humanitarian aid and remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
For New York City Councilwoman Alexa Avilés, “it is time to prioritize diplomacy and compassion over decades of hostility.”
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