Yesterday, the Biden administration removed Cuba from the U.S. the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, marking a major victory for not only the Cuban people, but also for all people of the world who stand for sovereignty, dignity, and justice.
This milestone is the result of relentless efforts by activists and organizations over the past several years who worked tirelessly to challenge the baseless designation, which made it nearly impossible for Cuba to make transactions using international banking systems and acquire necessary goods on the international market.
The removal demonstrates the power of collective action and international solidarity—but it doesn’t stop here. The U.S. continues to uphold a strangling economic blockade on Cuba, which intentionally generates scarcity of essential items on the island. Biden’s political decision to wait until the final week of his administration to lift Cuba’s designation ensured that countless Cubans endured unnecessary suffering under its grip, while leaving the door open for the incoming Trump administration, with Secretary of State designee Marco Rubio, to reinstate the designation—or impose even harsher measures.
“We are celebrating this victory for the Cuban people who have suffered the devastating economic impact of being on a list where they never belonged,” said Manolo De Los Santos, Executive Director of the People’s Forum in New York City. “But, we know that the threat of its reinstatement is imminent—we will continue to fight against the blockade and the overall U.S. foreign policy of strangulation of the Cuban people.”
The People’s Forum is an education and cultural center based in New York City. In the past year alone, they have raised over $250,000 for humanitarian aid directed to Cuba in the wake of electrical blackouts, hurricanes, and an earthquake.
