“The Jacksonville communty gathers to break the blockade and support Cuba and far from being a unique meeting, this event marked the beginning of a new chapter for solidarity with Cuba in the Deep South,” said Hakim Jihad, coordinator of the group.

During the inaugural meeting, held at the Yellow House Art Gallery in Jacksonville, a report was heard from the delegation that recently traveled to the May 1st festivities in Havana.

“The energy in the room was electrifying, marked by curiosity, enthusiasm and a deep desire to know the truth about Cuba beyond the lies of US imperialist propaganda,” he said.

Florida, often considered a hostile territory for solidarity with Cuba, witnessed something different, he noted.

“In a state dominated by some of the harshest anti-Cuban policies in the United States, this event showed that the situation is changing,” Jihad warned.

The report highlighted concrete acts of solidarity.

The delegation delivered $200,000 of medical aid directly to the Hospital Calixto García in Havana.

Earlier this year, the Committee helped coordinate a shipment of $517,000 containers, including 500,000 painkillers, in collaboration with Not Just Tourists, Pan-American Medical Group, the Los Angeles “Hands Off Cuba” Committee and Global Health Partners.

Attendees also learned about the growing national movement, including important support from the California AFL-CIO, representing 2.3 million workers, and the International Dockers’ Union.

The formation of a northeastern Florida section of the US “Hands Off Cuba” Committee is already underway, building an organized resistance base in one of the most strategically important states to fight the blockade, Jihad said “the room was united not only in admiration for Cuba’s resilience, but also in determination to fight until the blockade falls”.

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