Activists gather to call for unity

Cuba supporters see common ground with Black Lives Matter

Saying that racism and imperialism are two sides of the same political coin, a group of activists gathered Saturday to call for unity between the Black Lives Matters movement and Cuba, which has been under a U.S. trade embargo for more than six decades due to its Marxist government.

“This horrendous statue behind us reminds us of the arrogance of empire,” said Jose Rossy-millan, of the Albany Cuba Solidarity group.

He was referring to the statue at Albany’s Townsend Park commemorating the 1898 Spanish American War which resulted in an independent Cuba. He added that activists like himself often refer to the park as “Imperialism Park.”

While Cuba became its own country, American victory in the 10-week Spanish American war also led to the U.S. gaining control of the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico. And it marked the end of what had been a centuries-old Spanish Empire that at one time spanned the globe.

The Philippines gained independence after World War II while Guam and Puerto Rico remain U.S. territories.

Relations between Cuba and the U.S. ruptured when Fidel Castro took over the government in 1959, leading to the embargo which critics like Rossy-millan, see as helping keep down the island nation’s economy.

A native Puerto Rican who works as a psychologist in Schenectady, Rossy-millan said he thought this was a good time to work on building ties between Black Lives Matter and Cuban supporters. The racism afflicting the U.S. and the embargo both stem from what he believes is the U.S.’S imperialist tendencies.

“One of the tactics of empire is to dehumanize those that it wants to oppress,” he told the crowd of about 150 people who had gathered by the Townsend Park statue to hear several speakers and listen to conga drumming.

One of the goals, said Rossymillan, was to end the embargo and travel restrictions which makes it difficult for Americans to visit Cuba.

In addition to Black Lives Matter and Albany Cuba Solidarity, more than a dozen local peace activist and anti-racism groups were represented as well as the Green and Socialist Workers parties.

Black Lives Matter and Cuba should have a natural affinity, given the island nation’s reputation for comparatively good race relations following Castro’s revolution.

Like other Caribbean islands, Cuba has a mixed population of Black, white and mixed race people.

“Those Cubans stood up for people who look like me,” said Cessie Alfonso, an Albany social worker who described herself as an Afro-cuban-puerto Rican woman born in America.

Others noted that Cuban doctors have fanned out across Latin America and other countries to help during the COVID-19 epidemic. Even though Cuba remains poor, the country has what is considered to be a good education and health care system.

Rossy-millan at the start of the rally asked everyone to keep their masks on for safety, which just about everyone who was there, young, middle aged and old, did.

“We need everybody to stay healthy,” he said.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518454-5758 @Rickkarlintu