- The Guardian
- Issue #2156
The Australia-Cuba Friendship Society, ACFS Perth celebrated the Spark of the Cuban revolution on Saturday 26 July.
The event was a full house, a mix of culture and politics. Latino band Candela kept people on their feet dancing salsa.
Latino band Candela
The ACFS presenter welcomed and thanked those gathered for their support for the Cuban people who have lived under the criminal US blockade for more than 60 years.
The ACFS president, recounted the story of 30 years of Cuban solidarity in Perth when people from different walks of life including the CPA WA branch secretary founded the local ACFS branch.
One of the reasons at the time for setting up the branch was because of the shortage of milk for young children created by the blockade.
It was noted at the event that under the current Trump Administration and the anti-Cuban Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the situation for the Cuban people has been hardened.
The Cuban people are enduring hours of blackouts caused by shortages of fuel, suffering a lack of food and transport, all making their lives harder. True to their revolutionary spirit they continue to live with dignity saying that they prefer to die on their feet than on their knees.
The 26 July event raised funds for the ACFS solidarity project Agro Vivo for the production of organic food.
Rhonda Andrews the ACFS WA coordinator for the annual brigade to Cuba shared information about the next brigade in December and encouraged people to join for a memorable experience getting to know the Cuban reality. Readers interested in seeing Cuba with the Southern Cross brigade can find out more at cubabrigade.org.
The expression of solidarity with the Cuban revolution was felt all over the world this weekend as people in solidarity held celebrations along with the demand to let Cuba live.
Lift the blockade on Cuba!
ACSF Perth
(The attack on the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba on 26 July 1953, while unsuccessful, inspired the Cuban revolution and is celebrated as the beginning of a movement which defeated a dictatorship and lead to the founding of a socialist Cuba that continues to inspire.)
