On 15 March 2024, supporters of RATB protested outside the offices of London resident and DCD Rights’ Head of IT Mickael Behn against his $440m lawsuit targeting cruise ship companies previously involved in tourism to Cuba. After lobbying US politicians, both Democrat and Republican, Behn convinced a US district court judge in Miami to recognise his claim to his grandfather’s shares in the so-called Havana Docks Company.


This Delaware based company held a lease to operate three docks in Havana before the Cuban Revolution; this lease expired in 2004. RATB calls on Mickael Behn to drop the claim; we say no economic war on Cuba!

Protest outside Behn's office

Santiago

Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, first secretary of the PCC committee in Santiago de Cuba, meets with the protesters: "We attended a group of people around the Antonio Maceo District of #SantiagoDeCuba, dissatisfied with the electricity supply and food distribution, we are part of the people, integrated and facing the genocidal blockade" -  via Twitter

Below we republish a statement on the recent protests in Santiago de Cuba from the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP):

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The RATB brigade embarked on a visit to the agroecological community project known as ‘Granjita Feliz’ (‘Happy little farm’) in Guanabacoa, Cuba. During this enlightening experience, the brigade had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the environment ministry, who shed light on Tarea Vida (‘Life Task’), the Cuban government’s ambitious 100-year plan to combat the adverse effects of climate change. The brigade also had the privilege of viewing an art exhibition and talent show prepared by local residents and students with special educational needs who participate in the Granjita Feliz project.

Visita al Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología 17545422613

Even in the context of extreme economic crisis due to the blockade, Cuba continues to advance its life-saving medicines and technologies. Our brigade met with Manuel Raices from the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, who explained how Cuba’s approach to medicine and biotechnology has prevented over 20,000 diabetic-related amputations and treated over 120,000 Cubans using groundbreaking Cuban biological technology Heberprot-P.

Ivan Ernesto is an official of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples and member of the Union of Young Communists. He spoke to Rock around the Blockade about the genocidal US blockade on Cuba, economic changes, socialism and internationalism.

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Supporters of Rock Around the Blockade are are hosting report back meetings around the country, presenting the lessons and politics we learnt from our recent brigade to Cuba.

The meetings will include short talks with video clips from the brigadistas, and open discussion.

See the image below and follow the links to find your local meeting! More dates to be announced.

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London

Newcastle

Birmingham

Nottingham

Brighton

Manchester

 

 

Activists from Rock Around the Blockade joined the international caravana against the blockade on Saturday 27th, sending a message of solidarity with Cuba to Palestine marches and stalls across the country!

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Since its establishment in 1959, the Cuban revolutionary government has consistently supported the Palestinian national liberation struggle. In the context of the current Israeli onslaught, President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated in a speech broadcast on 29 October that ‘Cuba condemns, in the harshest terms, the bombings against the people in Gaza and the destruction of their homes, hospitals, and civil infrastructure… Nothing can justify what Israel’s army is doing against Gaza. Nothing can justify the serious violations of international humanitarian law that Israel is committing.’

Pro Palestine march in Cuba, with Miguel Diaz Canel at the front

At the Central Havana Paediatric Hospital the brigade delivered our medical equipment donations. Doctors and nurses in the ICU described the practices and training making Cuban medicine a leading example, despite the genocidal US blockade. Cuban healthcare is representative of Cuba’s socialist system with training and diagnosis focused on spending time understanding patients’ medical issues through their own experiences and their families. As part of our brigade, RATB fundraised over £2,500, delivering cannulas, catheters, stethoscopes and pulse oximeters. Donations are still open, click here to find out more.

Cuba brigade at the paediatric hospital in Havana