{"id":2434,"date":"2024-03-20T19:07:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T03:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/?p=2434"},"modified":"2024-03-20T19:51:34","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T03:51:34","slug":"u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/2024\/03\/20\/u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. State Department Spokesperson Lying About Cuba! FCAB Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vancubavsblockade.org\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/20\\\/u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba\\\/\"}' class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img data-attachment-id=\"2401\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/25\/january-28-2024-join-the-vancouver-monthly-car-caravan-to-lift-the-u-s-blockade-on-cuba\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,576\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"240127-car-caravan-photo-1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1-300x169.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"2401\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg\" data-link=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/25\/january-28-2024-join-the-vancouver-monthly-car-caravan-to-lift-the-u-s-blockade-on-cuba\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1\/\" class=\"wp-image-2401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1-580x326.jpeg 580w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1-174x98.jpeg 174w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>March 19, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 18, 2024, a U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Vedant Patel was quoted on the U.S. Embassy\u2019s Facebook post expressing, \u201cLet me be quite unambiguous about this: The United States is not behind the protests in Cuba and the accusation of that is absurd. We are closely following these reports. Protests across several cities in Cuba yesterday called for electricity, food and fundamental freedoms. I think that what we are seeing is reflection of the dire situation on the island. We urge the Cuban government to refrain from violence and unjust detentions and are calling on the authorities to respect the Cuban citizens\u2019 right to peaceful assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the central organizers of Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade on Cuba &#8211; Vancouver read this ludicrous and false Facebook statement, we were moved to respond directly to these fabrications in defence of Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Patel\u2019s whole statement is absurd. Of course, the United States government is \u201cbehind\u201d protests related to food and electricity scarcity in eastern Cuba. Whether they are \u201cbehind\u201d it through funding protestors with their U.S. AID \u2018democracy building\u2019 projects in Cuba; or \u201cbehind\u201d it through imposing over 60 years of cruel blockade against Cuba attempting to create unrest through shortages and economic hardship; or \u201cbehind\u201d it through the consistent misinformation and lies the U.S. government spreads about life in Cuba. The U.S. government is always attempting to interfere in Cuba\u2019s sovereign affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Notice how Patel keeps his comments vague about, \u201cProtests across several cities in Cuba\u201d? He does not name the cities, because protests did not take place across the island. If fact, they were limited to the point that even the mainstream media, like Associated Press, could only say that \u201chundreds of people\u201d protested \u201cin eastern Cuba.\u201d Protestors in Santiago de Cuba were venting frustration regarding a specific situation and specific area. However, unlike in the U.S., leaders and authorities of Santiago de Cuba immediately had a presence amongst the community addressing the frustrations of the community head-on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Patel further expresses, \u201cI think that what we are seeing is reflection of the dire situation on the island.\u201d Again, he feigns total ignorance, as we know that this \u2018dire situation\u2019 stems from his own government\u2019s policy of strangling the Cuban economy with a cruel and unjust blockade for over six decades and their insistence to keep Cuba on their so-called \u2018State Sponsors of Terrorism\u2019 list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade \u2013 Vancouver has been organizing monthly actions since September 2015 against the criminal U.S. blockade on Cuba! Whether in front of the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, or online during the height of the pandemic, or now on monthly car caravans with Puentes de Amor \u2013 we are mobilizing consistently against this unjust U.S. policy against the people and government of Cuba. We will continue to build and unite with others until the U.S. government has no choice but to end its<br>inhuman blockade on Cuba!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>U.S. HANDS OFF CUBA!<br>LIFT THE U.S. BLOCKADE ON CUBA NOW!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vancubavsblockade.org\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/20\\\/u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba\\\/\"}' class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vancubavsblockade.org\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/20\\\/u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba\\\/\"}' class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-2435\" data-id=\"2435\" src=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-1024x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0009.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-2437\" data-id=\"2437\" src=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-1024x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0011.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-2438\" data-id=\"2438\" src=\"http:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-1024x1024.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/IMG-20240320-WA0010-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vancubavsblockade.org\\\/index.php\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/20\\\/u-s-state-department-spokesperson-lying-about-cuba\\\/\"}' class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>March 19, 2024 On March 18, 2024, a U.S. State Department Spokesperson, Vedant Patel was quoted on the U.S. Embassy\u2019s Facebook post expressing, \u201cLet me be quite unambiguous about this: The United States is not behind the protests in Cuba and the accusation of that is absurd. We are closely following these reports. Protests across several cities in Cuba yesterday called for electricity, food and fundamental freedoms. I think that what we are seeing is reflection of the dire situation on the island. We urge the Cuban government to refrain from violence and unjust detentions and are calling on the authorities to respect the Cuban citizens\u2019 right to peaceful assembly.\u201d While the central organizers of Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade on Cuba &#8211; Vancouver read this ludicrous and false Facebook statement, we were moved to respond directly to these fabrications in defence of Cuba. Patel\u2019s whole statement is absurd. Of course, the United States government is \u201cbehind\u201d protests related to food and electricity scarcity in eastern Cuba. Whether they are \u201cbehind\u201d it through funding protestors with their U.S. AID \u2018democracy building\u2019 projects in Cuba; or \u201cbehind\u201d it through imposing over 60 years of cruel blockade against Cuba attempting [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2401,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/240127-car-caravan-photo-1.jpeg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7dbkE-Dg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2434"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2440,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2434\/revisions\/2440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2434"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2434"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vancubavsblockade.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}