CUBA
WHEREAS, the 60-year-old US economic blockade of Cuba is the longest and most severe set
of sanctions ever imposed on any country, its purpose being to “bring about hunger, desperation
and overthrow of the government” of Cuba (US GAO report of November 2007); and
WHEREAS, this policy of hostility has provided no benefits to the people of the US and has
cruelly impacted the standard of living of the 11.3 million Afro-Latinx people of Cuba; and
WHEREAS, in spite of the US sanctions, which were made even more severe during the Trump
administration, Cuba has conducted an impressive campaign against the COVID pandemic both
at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, the United States has the highest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the
world—26.5 million infected, with deaths of over 447,000; and
WHEREAS, in the U.S. the deaths fall disproportionately on Black, Latinx and Indigenous
communities, elders, and workers, especially those deemed essential, and their families; and
WHEREAS, Cuba, with a population of 11.3 million, has had a total of 27,600 cases and only
216 deaths; and
WHEREAS, Cuba has sent medical teams of about 4,000 to 40 different countries to assist local
healthcare providers in fighting COVID, and has been recognized internationally for these
efforts; and
WHEREAS, Cuba offers treatment regimens and immune boosters for patients plus prevention
protocols for health workers. The US has had more than 1,700 health worker deaths, while
within Cuba, no health care worker has died after being infected by a patient with Covid-19; and
WHEREAS, worldwide, 80% of COVID-19 patients in critical condition are dying, and by
contrast, in Cuba, 80% of patients in critical condition are now being saved due to new
treatments developed in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the US blockade not only denies people in the US access to these Cuban medical
advances, it also impedes Cuba’s access to the materials it needs to make the equipment and
medicines it is using to fight COVID; and
WHEREAS, resolutions calling for collaborations with Cuba have been introduced or passed in
cities including San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond, and Berkeley, California, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, and Chicago, Illinois; states including Minnesota; and labor unions including the
Washington State Labor Council, MLK Labor Council, and Sacramento Central Labor Council
with many more resolutions in the pipeline; and
WHEREAS, the easing of restrictions during the Obama administration resulted in successful
medical collaborations between Cuba's Center for Molecular Immunology and

Buffalo's RoswellPark Comprehensive Cancer Center regarding the Cuban lung cancer vaccine CIMAvax, as well
as between Cuba and the University of Illinois Chicago regarding infant mortality; and
WHEREAS, in 2015 the World Health Organization recognized Cuba as a worldwide leader in
biotechnology for its significant contributions such as the treatment that prevents 77% of diabetic
amputations; 
WHEREAS, people in the United States would benefit from Cuban bio-technical, medical, and
public health expertise during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we urge the U.S. Congress and President Biden to
suspend U.S. economic and travel sanctions against Cuba and to lift restrictions on access to
Cuban medical expertise and treatments in order to more effectively combat the COVID-19
pandemic; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call on the federal government to cease ongoing
measures that deter Cuba from importing medical equipment and medicines to confront COVID-
19 and to cease all attempts to stop other countries from accepting Cuban medical assistance.