Cubans March in Rejection of U.S. Economic War
Cubans gather in front of the Moncada Barracks, Dec. 20, 2024. Photo: MJM Santiago.
December 20, 2024 Hour: 12:12 pm
Over the past six decades, the U.S. blockade has caused losses to the Cuban economy of US$164 billion at current prices.
On Friday, Cubans will march in rejection of the U.S. blockade and the inclusion of their country on the spurious list of states that sponsor terrorism.
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In Havana, the main mobilization will begin at 4:00 PM at the Malecon, a traditional site where citizens often accompanied Fidel Castro, the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.
The mobilization was called for by President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who described it as “a response to a design of intensified hostile policies,” referring to over 240 unilateral restrictive measures imposed by Washington since the administration of Donald Trump (2017–2021) to date.
“We will express, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, the firmest and most forceful condemnation of the U.S. criminal blockade and Cuba’s continued inclusion on the illegitimate list of supposedly terrorism-sponsoring states, which causes terrible harm to our entire people,” Diaz-Canel said.
On Friday morning, in Santiago de Cuba City, the mobilization filled the square of the 26 de Julio School, where the Moncada Barracks once stood. In the city of Cienfuegos, a musical performance took place, featuring artists from various generations.
Between March 2023 and February 2024, the U.S. blockade directly caused economic losses of US$5 billion to Cuba. Over the past six decades, however, losses have totaled US$164 billion at current prices. When adjusted for dollar depreciation, this amount rises to US$1 trillion in real terms, according to Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez.
Currently, Cuba remains on the U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism, despite having been removed from the list of “countries cooperating with terrorism.” Even U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, however, admitted that there is no terrorist presence on the island.
On Thursday, Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee called for Cuba to be removed from the list and for the U.S. blockade to be lifted. Similarly, 130 organizations from Cuban civil society requested that the U.S. remove their nation from the list.
teleSUR/ JF PL – Granma
