For the first time in United Nations history not a single country voted against the resolution to end the blockade on Cuba. In the 54 years of the genocidal blockade the United States along with its partners in imperialism have been the isolated voices in their aggression toward the Cuban people.
On October 26, the United States and Israel were the only two nations to abstain from voting on the Cuban resolution expressing the need to put an end to the over 50-year economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States.
Of the 193 UN participants, 191 of them voted unopposed to end the blockade, and this is a testimony to the endurance of the Cuban people and their revolution.
The U.S. imposed blockade was put in place over 54 years ago by John F. Kennedy and has remained a relic of the Cold War ever since. The blockade is responsible for much of the hardship experienced by the Island nation whose only crime was that of trying to build socialism 90 miles off the coast of the hostile imperialist nation of the United States.
The revolutionary government of Cuba has not been alone in their struggle against the genocidal blockade. The world over has shown their support for the Cuban people and even within the country that imposes this blockade, the US, Cuba has its allies.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential candidate Gloria La Riva has been a long time fighter for socialism and an ally of the Cuban people and their revolution. Her leading role as an activist here in the U.S. is a testimony to the work being done here at home for the Cuban revolution and the fight for socialism in the U.S.
Continued organizing and actions here in the U.S. will contribute to the struggle against the blockade and will win further concessions from the imperialists. The victory in the UN against the blockade is proof that public pressure has forced the US to take a less aggressive stance against Cuba.
Although this victory in the UN is welcomed by Cuba and its allies it does not mean that the struggle is over. The blockade is still in place and the U.S. has not dropped its rhetoric of imposing their “interests” onto Cuba. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla stated in response to the UN vote that it represented “a positive sign,” and hopes that the vote would be “reflected in reality.”
