Statement Condemning the Terrorist Attack Against the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC

September 25, 2023

Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) & Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver (FCAB-Vancouver) are publishing this statement condemning the criminal and cowardly terrorist attack on the Cuban Embassy in Washington, DC on September 24, 2023.  This was a politically motivated action to strike fear and terror in the diplomats, government, and people of Cuba; as well towards Cuba solidarity activists and organizers in the U.S.

According to the statement by Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), “During the night of September 24, 2023, a terrorist attack occurred against the premises of the Cuban Embassy in the United States, when an individual threw two Molotov cocktails from the sidewalk over the perimeter fence of the facility, which hit the front wall of that diplomatic mission. There were no injuries to the personnel who were present at that headquarters.”

Evidently, perpetrator of this crime and the right-wing anti-Cuba ideology they represent have felt powerless and upset in the face of the overwhelmingly successful and positive climate created by the visit of Cuban President Diaz-Canel to New York City this week for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly. President Diaz-Canel’s warm welcoming to New York has shown that the respect, love, and solidarity of the people in the United States towards Cuba is in stark contrast to the U.S. government and its thugs’ hostility towards Cuba.

For over 60 years, the U.S. government has tried to strangle the Cuban people and their revolution with a criminal U.S. blockade. The attack on the Cuban Embassy in Washington DC is a reminder that their hatred comes from a place of weakness. Furthermore, it proves the bankruptcy and hypocrisy of this inhuman and immoral U.S. government policy against Cuba.

Over the past 6 months, we have been working with Cuba solidarity groups around the world to promote sending postcards to President Biden demanding Cuba be removed from the States Sponsors of Terrorism (SSOT) list. We recently joined the “Let Cuba Live” petition campaign for 1 million signatures worldwide with the same demand. This work is important for Cuba to overcome some of the strongest aspects of the cruel U.S. blockade. But it also demonstrates the hypocrisy of the U.S. putting Cuba on a list of so-called “sponsors of terrorism”, meanwhile, Cuba has repeatedly been the victim of politically motivated terrorist attacks. For example, in 2020, there was another terrorist attack on the Cuban Embassy in the U.S. According to the statement by Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), “After three years, the perpetrator still awaits trial, and the United States government has refused to classify the incident as a terrorist act.”

This latest desperate terrorist act on September 24, 2023 reminds us that our Cuba solidarity campaigns are working and are effective, especially in the U.S. We must multiply our campaigns against blockade and Cuba’s inclusion on the SSOT list across Canada, the U.S., and worldwide.

We demand the U.S. government immediately and carefully investigate this dangerous and criminal terrorist act and put the perpetrators on trial.

Let Cuba Live!
Remove Cuba from the SSOT list!

Vancouver Communities in Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC)
Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade – Vancouver (FCAB-Vancouver)