PayPal blocks funds earmarked for Cuban 5 mobilization

Issued by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban Five on April 26.

One day after a matching-fund appeal was sent out by the International Committee for the Freedom of the Cuban 5, PayPal stopped all donations coming in and froze all assets in the committee’s account. The purpose of the appeal was for much-needed funds for the upcoming “Five Days for the Cuban Five,” May 30 to June 5, in Washington, D.C.

Donors received the following message: “Unfortunately, we are not able to complete this particular transaction. This reversal is specific to this transaction and does not affect the use of your PayPal account. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. For more information, see Government regulations and policies. Sincerely, PayPal.”

The committee’s account administrator called PayPal and followed it up with the following letter:

“You suspended this account for three days and then cleared it after I made a phone call, which is great. However, we still do not know or understand the reason for the suspension except that you suspect some activity that might possibly be in violation of Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations.

“What activity? What provoked the concern? I gave you no more information in the phone call than you already had in your files.

“We are understandably concerned about any accusation concerning OFAC violations, and if there are any parties that are making such accusations to cause trouble to us, we want to take appropriate action. I’m sure you understand.

“Please therefore provide us with information that we can use to avoid such a problem in the future.

“Thank you.”

Organizations and individuals in the U.S. working in solidarity with Cuba are used to this type of intimidating tactic that is just another extension of the cruel and senseless blockade of Cuba. This action has only made us more determined than ever to make the second “Five Days for the Cuban Five” a great success. We get word every day of more people coming to Washington and we should show our strength by making sure we make the matching fund. For those of you who had your donation bounce, resubmit it and for those of you who haven’t made a contribution, there could be no better time than now.

See you in Washington, D.C

For more information about the Cuban 5 and to make a donation, visit www.thecuban5.org

To endorse, go to apoyojornada@gmail.com

Workers World staff

Share
Published by
Workers World staff

Recent Posts

PDF of November 21 print issue

Download the PDF Resistance grows as West Asia war widens Resistance grows as West Asia…

November 21, 2024

Kenneth Foster: A victim of racist, ironic injustice

New Boston, Texas Kenneth Foster was unjustly sentenced to life in prison without the possibility…

November 20, 2024

New York City: ’Gaza, Gaza you will rise!’

One year after Israel's raid of Al-Shaifa Hospital, protesters held a vigil to honor Gaza…

November 20, 2024

UAW members to top leaders: Divest from genocide!

In the morning of Nov. 12, a new group, Engineers Against Apartheid, held banners and…

November 20, 2024

U.S. schemes to control Haiti are failing

Misery and hunger are afflicting millions of Haitians. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase…

November 20, 2024

Resistance grows as West Asia war widens

For over a year, the capitalist media has falsely portrayed Israel’s genocidal war against the…

November 20, 2024