May 20, 2004
Lee and the CBC members wrote, “Although we have reservations about many aspects of the report, we are especially troubled by the implications of the new licensing restrictions on people of African descent both in the United States and in Cuba. This report is one-sided and ignores pertinent facts. For instance, the report condemns the Cuban political system because only 33% of the Cuban National Assembly is Afro-Cuban but ignores the fact that only 7% of the US Congress is African American. Additionally, over a quarter of Cuba’s provincial leaders are black, whereas we do not have a single African American governor in this country. At the very least, the Cuban government is using social workers and public school system to level the playing field, and we hardly seem to be in a position to criticize Cuba’s proportional representation.”
The letter went on to criticize specific aspects of the report, saying that the plan’s recommendations were detrimental to American-Cuban relations. The Commission proposes restricting educational exchange programs, leading Members to be concerned that American students at the Latin American Medical School may be affected. Additionally, they claimed that the limitations on Cuban-American familial visits would penalize recent Cuban immigrants, who are disproportionately of African descent.
Instead of these harmful proposals, Lee and CBC members said that humanitarian and cultural exchanges should be promoted, especially between American minorities and Cubans; and H. Con. Res. 47 should be passed, which recognizes the plight and role of people of African descent throughout the Americas. The letter also called for an end to the travel ban and embargo.
The letter ended with a warning that the President’s new “policy towards Cuba will have severely adverse effects on Cubans and Americans, alike.”
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Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Congressional Black Caucus Members Send Letter to President Bush Criticizing Administration’s New Cuba Policy
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and nine other Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Members late last night sent a letter to President Bush criticizing his endorsement of the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba report. During yesterday’s Cuban Independence Day festivities, President Bush hailed the report’s findings, which would strengthen the travel embargo and have harsh effects on African Americans and Afro-Cubans.Lee and the CBC members wrote, “Although we have reservations about many aspects of the report, we are especially troubled by the implications of the new licensing restrictions on people of African descent both in the United States and in Cuba. This report is one-sided and ignores pertinent facts. For instance, the report condemns the Cuban political system because only 33% of the Cuban National Assembly is Afro-Cuban but ignores the fact that only 7% of the US Congress is African American. Additionally, over a quarter of Cuba’s provincial leaders are black, whereas we do not have a single African American governor in this country. At the very least, the Cuban government is using social workers and public school system to level the playing field, and we hardly seem to be in a position to criticize Cuba’s proportional representation.”
The letter went on to criticize specific aspects of the report, saying that the plan’s recommendations were detrimental to American-Cuban relations. The Commission proposes restricting educational exchange programs, leading Members to be concerned that American students at the Latin American Medical School may be affected. Additionally, they claimed that the limitations on Cuban-American familial visits would penalize recent Cuban immigrants, who are disproportionately of African descent.
Instead of these harmful proposals, Lee and CBC members said that humanitarian and cultural exchanges should be promoted, especially between American minorities and Cubans; and H. Con. Res. 47 should be passed, which recognizes the plight and role of people of African descent throughout the Americas. The letter also called for an end to the travel ban and embargo.
The letter ended with a warning that the President’s new “policy towards Cuba will have severely adverse effects on Cubans and Americans, alike.”
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