Thread by @Tony_Tracy

Great thread from @BootsRiley (from @TheCoup & @Sorry2BotherYou) on #Cuba.

I was in #Havana for March 11 2018 Cuban parliamentary elections, and agree entirely… and was also there during the February 24th Cuban Constitutional referendum & saw vibrant & democratic public debate.

https://twitter.com/bootsriley/status/1416860653654994946

During the March 11th 2018 Cuban parliamentary elections, Suzanne (@esooze) & I saw competing candidate posters in our Centro #Havana neighbourhood & apartment block.

During the Feb. 24th 2019 Cuban Constitutional Referendum, we saw vibrant debate… and 90.61% in support.

#CUBA

The impact of the 60-year-old ongoing embargo, blockade and economic sanctions against the Cuban people by the US government can not be overstated.

Throughout the global health pandemic, the blockade has restricted medical supplies to #Cuba, and more.

ctvnews.ca/health/coronav…

At the same time that #Cuba was sending doctors & other healthcare workers overseas to countless countries to help with the global health pandemic crisis, the USA was blocking the entry of ventilators, masks and basic healthcare supplies into the island.

apnews.com/article/2858fb…

Each & every year, a United Nations (UN) debate is held on a resolution condemning the US government blockade, embargo & sanctions against the Cuban people.

Each year that resolution passes overwhelming.

This month, *every country except two* said “End the Blockade of #Cuba”!

Most media reporting on #Cuba, especially from USA, but also (shamefully) from Canada’s @CBCNews & others, has downplayed impacts of the ongoing blockade, embargo & economic sanctions against the Cuban people and overplayed / overhyped June 11th protests.

fair.org/home/media-pla…

The impacts of the embargo & sanctions are *profound*.

Example: #Cuba has developed two incredible COVID-19 vaccinations. World class efficacy levels.

But they have millions fewer needles/syringes than needed to vaccinate the population due to the ongoing blockade of aid by US.

Recent weeks have seen profound escalation of new COVID-19 cases each day in #Cuba, now worse than any prior time throughout the pandemic — more than 10 times worse than any time in 2020.

This has led to a heightened crisis, and mobility restrictions, hospitalizations & deaths.

There are efforts underway internationally to show concrete solidarity for the Cuban people, break the US blockade and send desperately needed needles/syringes to #Cuba, but Cuba still lacks *millions* of needed syringes.

Shoutout to @CodePink on this!

codepink.org/syringes4cuba

But make no mistake, the blockade & more than 200 new economic sanctions against #Cuba imposed under Trump & continued/upheld by @JoeBiden have been the root cause of the economic crisis Cuba has faced for the past two years, heightened dramatically by the global health pandemic.

The crocodile tears from the media and politicians in the USA, and most especially from fanatics in southern Florida, about democratic deficits and liberty in #Cuba is wildly hypocritical coming from the US, where candidates with *fewest* votes are sometimes elected as President.

It should escape no one that at the same time that US politicians and US media outlets are yelling from the rooftops about a deficit of democracy in #Cuba, Texas and other states are implementing restrictions on voting rights.

Wild hypocrisy & hyperbole.

cnn.com/2021/07/16/pol…

Meanwhile, the same US politicians and media that attacked the #BlackLivesMatter movement and applauded police brutality and crackdowns against many #BLM demonstrators seeking justice are now filled with crocodile tears about police in #Cuba at small rallies on Sunday July 11th.

We need, urgently, to escalate and redouble all efforts to end the ongoing blockade, embargo and economic sanctions against the Cuban people by the US.

And we need to marginalize and defeat the lunatics calling for US military intervention against #Cuba.

newsweek.com/bombing-cuba-o…