RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Over one hundred progressive foreign policy groups in the United States have formed an alliance called the Alliance for Cuba Engagement and Respect (ACERE). Their main goal is to restore normal relations with Cuba.
One of the reasons for these efforts is the countless gradual tightening of sanctions and the blockade against Cuba that have been imposed since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. In recent debates, the humanitarian consequences of measures such as these, which have also been taken against Venezuela and Iran, have become more acute than ever.
In contrast to these damaging US measures, the strong humanitarian commitment of the highly appreciated and respected Cuban medical teams is also noted, working in many countries against the Coronavirus pandemic.
In this context, the US Congress found a convenient focal point, which has mobilized great positive feedback. Congressman Bobby Rush (D-Ill) proposed two amendments to an appropriations bill during the negotiations for the Treasury Department’s 2021 budget.
One of these amendments was aimed at temporarily banning the enforcement of limits on remittances to Cuba by relatives. The other would prevent the Treasury from blocking food gifts from the United States to Cuba, as it has recently done.
The amendments were ultimately pulled back by Rush himself, after assessing that they would have no chance of securing a majority based on extensive debate in Congress. Rush said, “I think it is best to drop these amendments from consideration at this point, as we try to broaden our support coalition on this matter.”
Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the Codepink peace group, is a founding member of the ACERE and said that she believes that the coalition will “provide new power to change the criminal policies that are causing so much unnecessary suffering to the Cuban people during a pandemic.”
Over a hundred groups signed the letter, supporting Rush’s amendments. In addition to many small local groups, large progressive groups such as Demand Progress, Win Without War, Center for International Policy, and churches are also involved.
Benjamin said that she expects the groups supporting Rush’s amendments to form the core of the ACERE, albeit the details have yet to be finalized.
Source: The National Interest