Travelers strike blow at blockade of Cuba

Buffalo, N.Y.—Some 300 people who traveled to Cuba on a trip with the Venceremos Brigade, Pastors for Peace, U.S./Cuba Labor Exchange and Africa Awareness struck a blow against the U.S. blockade of Cuba when they crossed back into the U.S. via both New York and Texas on Aug. 3. They marched, danced and chanted as they declared openly that they had traveled to Cuba.

At a welcoming picnic organized by local Buffalo, N.Y., activists, including members of the International Action Center, Buffalo City Council representatives declared their support and solidarity with ending the U.S. blockade of Cuba and defended both travel challengers and the Cuban people’s right to determine their own system.

In Cuba, the two travel groups had met with the families of the Cuban Five, political prisoners in U.S. custody for a decade now. The travelers pledged to multiply efforts to free the five Cuban heroes and win visitation rights for their family members, particularly Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez.

There was a marked difference in U.S. federal officials’ attitude to the delegations this year, showing that the travel ban has been defeated on the ground. Now is the time to end the laws blockading revolutionary socialist Cuba!