Urgent! Take action to get Cuba off the U.S. “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (SSOT) list.

Clubs and districts: mobilize all members and contacts to call the White House now!

Call the White House directly at 202-456-1111

The White House comment line is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 am to 3 pm EST

What to say: We encourage people to use their own language. You can simply say your name and where you’re from. You are urging President Biden to fulfill his promise to take Cuba off the State Sponsor of Terrorism list.

Background history

After the Cuban revolution in 1959 put an end to a dictatorship backed by U.S. corporate interests, the U.S. government imposed a severe blockade of trade with Cuba. The blockade was intended to force the Cuban people to overthrow the new government. The attempt failed, but in the more than 60 years since, the Cuban people continue to face hardship. The blockade denies Cuba the ability to purchase from abroad and to provide its citizens’ basic human needs such as milk, foods, medicines and fuel.

During the administration of President Barack Obama, some of the worst aspects of the blockade were ended. However, just days before leaving office in 2021, Donald Trump reversed Obama’s action and designated Cuba as a “State Sponsor of Terrorism.” That designation has blocked the island from international trade, denying the Cuban people access to food, medicine and fuel.

While campaigning for president in 2020, candidate Joe Biden vowed to return to Obama’s friendlier policies opening relations with Cuba. This promise has not been fulfilled. Now, in the last weeks of the Biden administration, it is urgent that Biden act to remove Cuba from the SSOT list as the Cuban people face blackouts and shortages of food, medicine, and fuel in the midst of devastating hurricanes.

In addition to calling the White House comment line, please call your Senator and member of Congress. You can find them here.

Here’s what to say when you call your Senator or Congressperson:

• Give your name and identify yourself as a constituent.
• Ask them to press President Biden to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism List
• Make sure you take the staff member or intern’s name so that you can ask to speak to the same person each time you call.
• Ask for updates (if it isn’t your first time calling) and push for action.
• Thank the staff member and intern for their time

Bigger context

This campaign can bring attention to the humanitarian crisis in Cuba and the impact of the U.S. government’s placing of Cuba on the SSOT list. It will also serve as an impetus for further discussion at both the grassroot level and in national media.

This focused campaign is not isolated; it is part of a larger campaign to bring about significant changes to U.S. foreign policy to respect international law the right of other nations to self-determination.

If the campaign is successful in getting Biden to remove Cuba from the SSOT list, it will be easier to build unity of action around what Trump will try to do than focusing on what Biden didn’t do.

In the upcoming debate around Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio’s aggressively hostile anti-Cuba policies must be prominent among the many reasons he should not be confirmed.

Representatives officially take their seats in Congress on Jan. 6, two weeks before Trump’s inauguration. This is a crucial time for constituents to make it clear that they support removing Cuba from the SSOT list and oppose continuing inhumane actions against Cuba.

A well organized campaign to remove Cuba from the SSOT list, especially if successful, could make Cuba a point of discussion around the 2026 midterms.

Image: People celebrate the 70th anniversary of the July 26 Movement in Cuba by National Network on Cuba (Twitter/X)

Comments