US-CUBA Normalization Conference
Sat. March 11th – Sun. March 12th
REGISTER HERE
In person at the Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus, Lowenstein Building 113 West 60th Street @ Columbus Avenue in Manhattan, NYC – with all plenary and workshop sessions live streamed across the US, Canada and beyond
To educate, organize, and mobilize against Washington’s brutal and criminal economic and political war against Cuba – demanding:
Take Cuba off Washington’s List of State-Sponsors of Terrorism!
End the US Blockade of Cuba!
End All US Anti-Cuba Economic and Travel Sanctions!
Program
SATURDAY, MARCH 11
9am EST onwards
In person registration at Fordham University. Cuba solidarity film showings, art exhibits and information tables. Refreshments and box lunches will be available to purchase during the day
Noon EST, 9am PST
Opening Plenary – Prospects for US-Cuba Normalization in 202
Keynote Address: Noemi Rabaza Fernandez, First Vice-President, Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)
Carlos Lazo, Inspiration and Founder of Puentes de Amor/Bridges of Love, High School Teacher, decorated combat medic, Iraq War
Professor August Nimtz, University of Minnesota, longtime scholar and activist; Co-Editor/Translator Race in Cuba: Essays on the Revolution and Racial Inequality and articles on “Why There Are No George Floyds in Cuba.”Professor William LeoGrande – American University, Washington, DC; Co-Author Back Channel to Cuba: The Hidden History of of Negotiations Between Washington and Havana (University of North Carolina Press) and many articles on US-Cuba relations including “Biden, Cuba, and Latin America’s Left Turn” (The Nation)
11am PST
4 concurrent sectoral workshops on Cuba’s achievements, problems due to the blockade, and how to build solidarity with Cuba among:
The African Diaspora – including Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez, Deputy Permanent Representative, Cuban UN Mission, and Kenia Serrano from the University of Havana
Women – including several speakers from the Federation of Cuban Women
Youth – a panel of dynamic new leaders in the Cuba solidarity movement
Labor – a panel of labor activists including Chris Smalls from the Amazon Labor Union and Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez from New York State Nurses Association
1 pm PST
3 concurrent workshops on building solidarity actions:
Organizing the Movement in the Streets – ideas, plans and timelines for protest actions throughout the US, Canada and Quebec from now till November
Resolutions and Legislative Outreach – getting city councils, labor unions and members of Congress to speak out against the blockade and Cuba’s inclusion on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list
Solidarity Travel To Cuba – what are the options for travel, and taking humanitarian aid with you, with presentations from multiple US and Canadian solidarity brigades
Mural design of Malcolm X and Cuban Flag
Evening Public Rally
4.30pm PST
Public rally against the Blockade including Speakers from Cuba and Puerto Rico, Bomba Yo – Afro Puerto Rican Drummers and Dancers
This will take place at the Malcolm X – Betty Shabazz Center – 3940 Broadway and West 165th Street, Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC
There will be a $10 entrance charge but nobody turned away due to lack of funds
SUNDAY MARCH 12
8am PST
Closing plenary – Developing plans of solidarity action for 2023
Discussion on a United Plan of Action
International Solidarity Statements
Public streaming of parts of the Conference is taking place in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis-St Paul and Portland (OR)
For more details about the Conference and to register for in-person or virtual attendance go to