President Obama has just taken a small first step to change US/Cuba policy. Of course, we support his initiative to lift travel restrictions for Cuban-Americans, and we should express our support but it is most important that we make our voices heard in favor of even stronger measures for reconciliation and normalized relations.
It’s time to let the White House know where we stand on Cuba policy!
Call the White House comments line: 202/456-1111 or go to www.whitehouse.gov, click on the link for the Office of Public Liaison & Intergovernmental Affairs, and you can submit a written message directly to the White House.
Also call your Congressional representative and your senators (Congressional switchboard: 202/225-3121). Make sure they’ve signed on as co-sponsors of HR874/S428, which will end all restrictions on travel to Cuba not just for Cuban-Americans but for all Americans. And then tell them that travel is just the first step and that we urge them to keep moving toward full normalization of US/Cuba relations. Significant steps toward normalization would include:
1) Taking Cuba off the list of nations considered state sponsors of terrorism.
2) Allowing Cuba to buy construction supplies from the US for hurricane relief and repairs.
3) Cutting the USAID budget for “assistance to a free Cuba.” This is in fact an allocation of more than $50 million per year to undermine the sovereign government of Cuba.
4) Releasing the five Cubans being held in US supermax prisons for more than 10 years for the simple reason that they uncovered US-supported terrorist plans to attack Cuba.
5) Opening dialogue with Cuba on any one of a number of issues: immigration, cooperation on drug interdiction and human trafficking, port security, medical research, etc. etc. etc.
Surely you have heard the news about the delegation of seven members of Congress who visited Cuba last week. The delegation was led by Rep Barbara Lee (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with CBC members Reps Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Melvin Watt (D-NC), Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and Laura Richardson (D- CA); and Rep Michael Honda (D-CA), chair of the Asian and Pacific American Caucus. Their attitude throughout the delegation was one that we wholeheartedly support because they approached Cuba in a spirit of mutual respect and good will which is the only way to start productive dialogue with a neighbor nation.
What the White House announced yesterday is commendable, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH!!! We must continue to keep the pressure on — to end the blockade, to normalize relations with Cuba, and to engage in dialogue based in mutual respect, rather than our insisting on undermining Cuba’s sovereignty.
Please contact the White House and your elected representatives in Congress, and let them know that “WE SUPPORT CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE AND THE DELEGATION THAT VISITED CUBA, AND WE APPLAUD THEIR INITIATIVE: IT’S TIME TO TALK WITH CUBA!”
IFCO/PASTORS FOR PEACE
418 West 145th Street, 3-FL.
New York NY 10031
tel: 212.926.5757 – fax 212.926.5842 – e-mail ifco@igc.org
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