Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization
418 West 145th Street
New York, New York 10031
(ph) 212-926 5757
(f) 212-926-5842 www.ifconews.org
IFCO/Pastors for Peace Vehemently Opposes Donald Trump's Attempt to Roll Back US-Cuba Relations
On June 16, 2017, almost two and a half years after former US President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro took historic steps to begin softening aspects of the five decades-;
As incomplete as the Obama executive order was, Obama was the first US president in 52 years to acknowledge that the US blockade had failed and proposed new ways of looking at US-Cuba relations.
Under Trump, the hostile US policy toward Cuba has been renewed. Among other things he:
Eliminated individual freedom to travel and severely restricted people-to-people travel.
Effectively made trade with Cuba much more problematic.
The ability of Trump to make these sweeping changes points to the weakness of changing US-Cuba policy by executive order rather than Congressional action. What one President gives, the next can easily take away. That's why IFCO has constantly worked to lift the blockade fully, once and for all.
Trump's announcement comes just one month before our 28th Friendshipment Caravan heads to Cuba. As we have done for 25 years we will travel to Cuba without a license to highlight the absurdity of the US government's outdated and mean-spirited travel restrictions.
IFCO's US-Cuba Friendshipment Caravans have positively impacted US policy toward Cuba. We will continue to demonstrate this alternative people's foreign rooted in love and solidarity as we go to Cuba in July.
When our caravan participants return to the US July 27 and 28 we need our network of supporters to be vigilant and to take action should there be any attempt to harass returning caravanistas. Here's what you can do:
Support returning caravanistas on July 27 and 28. We will be flying into twelve different cities and with this new "Trump Doctrine" caravanistas may encounter trouble at the airport. Forward this message to others on your email list (use the link on the left, please) Be ready to send emails and make phone calls to protect their right to travel.
Contact your Congressperson. Let them know you oppose the restrictions that Trump is imposing. That you want the freedom to travel to Cuba and for Congress to Lift the Blockade
Send us a note expressing your solidarity with the Cuban people. Write it, and we'll take it with us on the Caravan -- and share it with the folks at the Martin Luther King Center in Havana, and throughout the island.
Join the campaign on social media to lift the travel ban and end the blockade:
Together, we will continue to stand in solidarity with our Cuban family and recommit ourselves to fighting to end the blockade!
Yours in resistance, The IFCO/Pastors for Peace Family,
Our mailing address is:
New York City Jericho Movement
P.O. Box 670927
Bronx, NY 10467 www.jerichony.org
