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To: President Joe Biden, Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris

Make this election a turning point on Cuba and Venezuela

Fund for Reconciliation and Development
I supported Joe Biden in 2020 and expect to do the same for Kamala Harris in 2024.

However I am frustrated that too much of Trump's maximum pressure campaign against Cuba remains in place, contributing to widespread hardship and motivating mass migration.  

Cuban government policies contribute to these problems, but only the US has the power to change the context.

President Biden, you have an opportunity before the election and the inauguration of President Harris to clear the decks by fully reengaging with Cuba;  Candidate Harris, in case this is still on your desk as President,

Please restore the situation pre-Trump by

  • removing Cuba from the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism

  • enabling more normal travel by allowing cruises, use of hotels, independent people to people trips and performances

  • resuspending Title III of the Helms-Burton law to prevent nuisance suits that interfere with US investment and business in Cuba

  • respecting again* the humanitarian role of Cuban medical teams that serve in other countries

I hope that Cuba will respond by undoing the internal impact of Trump.  Prisoners can be released who  protested living conditions worsened by US maximum pressure.  Cuba ought to undertake greater reform of economic and social policies as desired by its people and contribute to finding a political solution for Venezuela.

Why is this important?

For more than sixty years US and Cuban national interests and human well-being have been paralyzed by a conflict over sovereignty, self-determination and freedom with two centuries old roots.**   An historic transformation begun by Barack Obama and Raul Castro was virtually destroyed by Donald Trump and only partially rebuilt by President Biden.

Restoring mutual engagement can rebuild trust and permit the Biden/Harris or Harris/Walz Administration to go further.  By ending all travel restrictions (including on normal tourism), dismantling the UN condemned unilateral embargo and returning the Guantanamo base and prison that was obtained as a condition for independence, the US will give Cuba space and resources to find more creative national solutions to economic, social and political problems. 

It can also open the door to US and Cuban cooperation with efforts by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico to find a peaceful solution to political conflict in Venezuela.

Resources:


*Then Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power announces US abstention on the embargo resolution
https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2021/05/ambassador-samantha-powers-address-to.html

** The underlying historical problem between the US and Cuba
https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2019/05/louis-perez-cuba-as-obsessive.html

Links between Irish and Cuban nationalism in 19th century New York   https://cubapeopletopeople.blogspot.com/2024/01/father-felix-varelas-us-cuba-bond.html

How it will be delivered

To the President, the Vice President and the Harris campaign

Partner

Links

Campaign Facebook Page Campaign Website

Updates

2024-09-19 13:57:15 -0400

100 signatures reached

2024-09-09 17:43:10 -0400

50 signatures reached

2024-09-09 13:53:04 -0400

25 signatures reached

2024-09-09 12:58:41 -0400

10 signatures reached