Sports As A Weapon Podcast
Sports As A Weapon Podcast
57 | Hands Off Cuba!
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
On this episode of the Sports As A Weapon Podcast, Miguel interviews Hakim Jihad and Wells Todd of the US Hands Off Cuba Committee about a recent youth and labor delegation to Cuba. Hakim and Wells Todd discussed the meetings the delegation had with Cuban mass organizations such as CENESEX (Centro Nacional de Educación Sexual), participation in May Day marches, and visits to clinics and Havana’s Calixto García hospital to deliver medical aid amid shortages and blackouts they attribute to the US blockade and new oil restrictions.
Hakim and Wells respond to the Fox News coverage on the delegation and Cuba by arguing that Cuba is framed as a “national security threat” because of post-revolution gains in healthcare, education, LGBTQ rights, and pharmaceuticals, including vaccines and other treatments. Miguel, Hakim and Wells Todd also discuss signs they believe indicate possible US military escalation or even invasion, address the push by the Trump administration to indict Raúl Castro tied to Brothers to the Rescue flights, and outline Hands Off Cuba’s current priorities in their Jacksonville chapter and nationally: “No War on Cuba” organizing, humanitarian aid efforts, and the Let Cuba Play campaign to make sure Cuban athletes can obtain Visas and participate at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Links:
* Hands Off Cuba Committee Website
* Let Cuba Play Campaign Website
* Cuba Denounces Devastating Impact of U.S. Blockade on Childhood at UNICEF/teleSUR English
* Why Students From the U.S. and Around the World Study Medicine in Cuba/Belly of the Beast Cuba (YouTube Video)
* Why Is the U.S. Targeting Raúl Castro Now? / Belly of the Beast Cuba (YouTube Video)
* Anti-Fascist Football Coalition Website: https://peoplescenteredhumanrights.com/move-the-games/
Miguel Garcia and Comrade E produced this episode. The Sports As A Weapon Podcast is part of the @Anticonquista Media Collective. Subscribe to the ANTICONQUISTA Patreon and follow ANTICONQUISTA on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
All the video episodes are on the ATICONQUISTA YouTube, and listen/subscribe to the Sports As A Weapon Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Deezer, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Follow us on:
Twitter/X: @sportsasaweapon
Facebook: fb.com/sportsasaweaponpodcast
Instagram: @sportsasaweaponpodcast
UpScrolled: @SportsAsAWeapon
YouTube: @SportsAsAWeapon
BlueSky: @sportsasaweapon.bsky.social
Visit our website: www.sportsasaweapon.com
Episode 57: Hands Off Cuba!
[00:00:00] Intro: We came here to build the new Chicano movement. That's what we came here for
[00:00:14] Miguel: Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Sports as a Weapon podcast, a Chicano/Chicana sports podcast on the entanglement of sports, radical politics, and working class sports fan culture. And don't worry, we talk about just sports too. Sports as a Weapon podcast is part of the ANTICONQUISTA Media Collective.
ANTICONQUISTA is an anti-imperialist media collective. Our content is produced by and for Latin America, Latin American and Caribbean diaspora. We are dedicated to exposing and fighting the capitalist imperialist system, the root cause of our displacement. Subscribe to the ANTICONQUISTA Patreon at Patreon/ANTICONQUISTA and [00:01:00] follow ANTICONQUISTA on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, X, and Instagram.
Also, be sure to watch all our new episodes on the ANTICONQUISTA YouTube and listen, subscribe to the Sports as a Weapon podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts And you can follow the Sports as a Weapon podcast at Sports as a Weapon Podcast on Facebook and Instagram, and at Sports as a Weapon on Twitter/X.
All right, and today I'm excited to talk about, or talk to these guests joining us today. They're from Hands Off Cuba. I'm gonna be speaking to Hakim Jihad and Wells Todd. Um, we'll be talking about Cuba and what's going on with Cuba. Um, this is... I've been talking to one of the, uh, committee members from Hands Off Cuba for a while.
I was invited to the [00:02:00] delegation they went to, couldn't go. Um, so we've been wanting to do this episode for a while, so I'm glad we're finally doing it. I'm very excited, so welcome to the podcast, Hakim and Wells Todd. Uh, if you guys could give your s- give your introduction to the audience, um, about yourselves, and then we'll go from there.
[00:02:19] Hakeem: Yeah. Um, I'll go first. Uh, my name is Hakim Jihad, and, um, I'm an organizer with the US Hands Off Cuba Committee. My first time to Cuba was last year. I went with the LA chapter. Um, and then as soon as I got back, I knew that I wanted to bring this work home to Florida. We already had one chapter in Miami, um, but nothing in North Florida.
Um, so I was happy to start the one in Jacksonville, and since then I've been a couple more times, including, to Cuba, including this most, uh, recent youth and labor delegation that just got back a few weeks ago.
[00:02:53] Wells: And, uh, my name is Wells Todd, and thank you for hosting this show. Um, yes, I'm part [00:03:00] of the US Hands Off, uh, Cuba, uh, committee here in Jacksonville, Florida. My first trip to Cuba was in 1980, and again in 2026, and then, um, 2016, I should say, and this, uh, recent trip that we went on. And, uh, I've been active, uh, uh, since the '70s, uh, regarding support for Cuba and, uh, revolutionary actions that have been carried out around the world against capitalism and imperialism
[00:03:31] Miguel: Sounds good. Um, and then people giving you a back- behind the scenes. He had some technical difficulties, so, uh, that's why you don't see him on the video. He's going through the speakerphone of, uh, with Hakim's video. But I could hear it, so we're good. Just a little, uh, technical difficulties. That shit happens.
So thank you. I can hear you clearly, so we're good. Um, appreciate you coming on. Um, so to start it off, uh, [00:04:00] if you guys could talk about that delegation trip, report back. Um, then also this past week, um, this last week, there was a couple articles put out by Fox News, pretty much some propaganda articles on the delegation trip and all the different groups that have gone to Cuba in the last, uh, month or two.
Um, so if you guys could all just speak on that.
[00:04:23] Hakeem: Yeah. So this most recent trip that, uh, we went on, um, it was made up of youth activists as well as labor organizers, um, from dozens of cities across the United States. Um, and we went there, and we interfaced with lots of the, uh, you know, the mass organizations of Cuba.
And the mass organizations of Cuba is where a lot of the democratic participation happens, 'cause these mass organizations have teeth, you know, le- legal teeth, I should say. I'll give you an example. The CENESEX, the Center for Sex Education, has been the number one institution behind the, uh, the drafting of the family law, which is one of the most progressive, uh, LGBT [00:05:00] legal packages in the world.
Um, so we were so we were able to visit CENESEX. Unfortunately, uh, we weren't able to meet, um, Mariela Castro, who's a very big part of that. Uh, but we got to meet with the staff there, and they told us about what they're still struggling with. Um, and what they're s- I should say, what they're still struggling for. Um, because there's many different, you know, mass organizations that deal with what the Cubans call the revolution within a revolution, you know.
Because we understand that, you know, the super... There's, there's an ideological legacy that colonialism, that capitalism leaves behind that can exist without a material base or incentive. Um, s- so we did that. We visited many different, um, you know, local cultural sites. We were able to also participate... The highlight of the trip was, of course, May Day, the biggest holiday of the year for the workers' state that is Cuba.
It's a holiday celebrating workers, Primero de Mayo. And this year was unique to other years in that we got to actually march alongside the people. Um, in previous [00:06:00] years, we were, you know, on the side in a, in a very nice viewing gallery, but we weren't actually in the march. Um, and that march, you know, ended along the Malecón.
It passed the US Embassy, and it, um... There was a speech given by several, you know, important members of, of Cuban life and politics at the anti-tri- Anti-Imperialist Tribunal, um, is the name of the location.
[00:06:21] Miguel: Okay.
[00:06:21] Hakeem: Um, but yeah. And, and Todd, do you, can you chime in a little bit?
[00:06:26] Wells: Well, I wanted to, um, comment on the, uh, Fox News, uh, report, if that's okay.
[00:06:34] Miguel: Yeah, go ahead.
[00:06:35] Wells: Um, because, uh, what the real issue is, um, when, um, the convicted felon in the White House states that, uh, Cuba is a threat to national security here in the, uh, here in America, um, the real threat is not, um, military. Uh, the real threat is that the [00:07:00] Cubans have made substantial gains in, um, in their lives in Cuba since the revolution, um, that occurred.
Um, they've made gains in, um, universal healthcare, um, pharmaceuticals, um, education, um, um, uh, family planning, um, respect and support for the LGBTQ community. All of the things that they have been able to gain since the revolution took place, um, is what is, um, a security risk to the United States. And I say that because, um, people need to understand, and I've been going on Facebook Live, uh, recently, people need to understand those gains and how dangerous those gains are to capitalist America.
And capitalist America and capitalism itself is in crisis right now worldwide. I don't wanna get off topic, but that's one of the reasons why [00:08:00] Trump, um, basically, uh, asked for a meeting with the, uh, leader of China and brought his billionaires with him because they're in crisis, and their goal is to turn this hemisphere, um, you know, into one big sweatshop if they can.
But the Cuban people are... They're, they're resolute in, um, protecting the gains that they have made, um, after the overthrow of US imperialism, um, with the revolution. So that's just part of, uh, part of my response to Fox News, uh, reports. And being in Cuba, we, we really experienced the hardships of the Cuban people, um, from the blackouts, um- Just daily life.
And, um, what the United States is doing, and it's not us, it's not the United States, it's corporate America, what they're doing is killing, killing people, uh, slowly because when those lights go out, people in hospitals, uh, can't get surgery, people who are [00:09:00] on machines that run by, uh, electricity, um, since they don't have any oil, people are dying.
Uh, this is one of the main points of Han- US Hands Off Cuba, is to, um, bring these facts in plain focus to Americans and get them on board with stru- the struggle to, uh, let Cuba live.
[00:09:27] Miguel: Um, I actually wanna ask you a follow-up question. Uh, as you mentioned when you introduced yourself, so you visited Cuba, you said in 1980 before?
[00:09:36] Wells: Yes.
[00:09:38] Miguel: Yes. Well-
[00:09:39] Wells: 1980, I was, uh, living in New York at the time ...
[00:09:43] Miguel: what was... Is there anything you noticed that's different from when you went and to this trip you just recently went to? Anything that's different or stood out from last time?
[00:09:54] Wells: Thriving, uh, socialist, uh, society. Um, [00:10:00] uh, it was actually-- You could actually see the, uh, interaction and activities between, um, the people, um, and, and their daily life regarding healthcare and, and other things that they had won, and they were very proud of that.
Um, what the United States has done, um, what I realized in 2016, was every year or every six months or every day, they're tightening the screws of this blockade. Um, and I saw the decay, um, in 2016 that was apparent, uh, in, in, um, what the United States has been doing. And this blockade is something that has been crushing, uh, Cuba, Cuban people, uh, ever since, uh, it, it was put on them, um, back in the day.
And so, yeah, I, I've seen the difference. I've seen, uh, the decay. I've seen what, [00:11:00] uh, US imperialism is capable of doing. And, uh, it was tremendous, uh, painful and sad, uh, time, but the Cuban people are resolved to maintain the structure that they've been able to create
[00:11:20] Miguel: Yeah, that's, that's, uh, going that far from, you know, going from 1980 to now, there's... You know, that was a while ago, and then in the '90s, Cuba went to the, uh, what they call the special period, right? Um, so they had to go through that. Um, what did you guys... Did you guys visit with, uh, any of the doctors or any, uh, any of the, uh, the s- the men at the school, the doc- the medical school, any students while you guys were there on the trip?
[00:11:50] Hakeem: Yeah, most definitely. So we went to a local polyclinic in the La Isla, um, which is a city outside of Havana, and we delivered [00:12:00] some medical aid there, and it was quite an emotional experience just as we unpacked everything, hearing time and time again that we don't have that, we don't have that, we don't have that, and it was the most basic of things.
Um, but one of the things about these polyclinics, you know, and just Cuban healthcare in general, is that it's centered on preventative healthcare. They are-- These doctors and these medical staff are directly involved in the community to such an extent that they're doing house calls every day, you know?
Uh, we also visited the, um, hospital, uh, Calixto Garcia, which is the big hospital located in Havana, where we delivered a larger amount of medical aid. Um, and we got to take a tour of their facilities and just learn about how resilient that they are and how they're persevering despite the blockade.
Because when these blackouts happen, I mean, the main, the main impact is, is on these hospitals. I mean, it's, it's everywhere, but it's so obvious with the hospitals because you need energy to run the ventilators, you need energy to run, um, the incubators, everything. Um, and then, of course, uh, the [00:13:00] students.
Yes, we did get to speak with students from ELAM, and for those who don't know, ELAM is the University of Latin American Medicine. Um, it was... I can't recall exactly what decade it was started. Um, but it's an international school, so if you're a u- student in the United States that'd like to become a doctor, and you'd also like to save $100,000, you can apply for an ELAM scholarship.
Um, and it was wonderful to just be able to see students that may not have the resources or the means to fulfill their dreams and ambitions in the United States here in Cuba, um, fulfilling their potential. And then Todd can talk a little bit more about that.
[00:13:37] Wells: Yeah, um, it, it was the-- It was a very emotional, uh, visit to this, uh, clinic and to the hospital.
Um, we saw how important, um, the aid that, uh, we and other delegations have brought down, um, has been to, uh, saving lives in Cuba. Um, one of the things [00:14:00] that the US refuses to, um, educate Americans about, uh, is the universal healthcare that exists in Cuba, and the fact that they have a school where people from around the world, young people from around the world, uh, can come to on scholarship, uh, not pay a dime and, um, practice and become a doctor.
Uh, there was somebody there, if not one, maybe two people from the United States, some people from the Philippines, um, one young man, um, uh, Palestinian. Um, and, uh, it, it, it's, it's really remarkable what people can do when they take control, um, of, uh, their government, and that is what has happened in Cuba.
And the American press, you know, which is controlled by corporate America and controlled by the billionaire ru- ruling class, uh, they're [00:15:00] not going to, um, um, delve into the progress that has been made and, uh, the fact that, uh, it's been made by the workers, uh, in Cuba, the people of Cuba. That's why shows like yours is so important to try and get this message out to people
[00:15:20] Miguel: Oh man, and just a note, I have a comrade from one of my org-- the org, um, local org I'm a part of here in Sacramento, um, but she actually went to, uh...
Her family's been part of the Chicano movement for since the '60s. So it's her fam- she was, you know, she grew up in a family like that, and she actually went to the medical school in Cuba and fin- went-- So she lived there a while and went to the school there. So it's cool knowing someone that went there that I know personally to talk about it.
She's told me like, "Oh yeah, I got to see Fidel speak," all this stuff. Um, and then, I don't know. I'm sure some, most of our audience might know this, but some [00:16:00] might not know. Like they are-- Even though the US has been, you know, aggressive towards Cuba since the revolution, wanting to destroy their revolution, um, Cuba still accepts people from the US to, you know, become students at their school.
Like they could, they could go to school there. They don't deny you just 'cause you're, live in the US, in the belly of the beast, you know, the enemy, the imperialist enemy that's been trying to destroy their project since 1959. Um, so I think that's something great about Cuba. Like even in, they even accept...
Because they know it's not just... You know, obviously there's people in the US that are racist and anti-Cuba, and then we could talk about Cuban gusanos, all that stuff. But they, they know overwhelmingly it's not the people that are Be doing this aggression against Cuba, you know, it's the government, the military, the imperialism, the capitalist class.
Um, so it's just something I always thought was awesome, like if I [00:17:00] wanted to or someone-- if my son, when he grows up, wants to go to be a medical doctor, I could send him to Cuba. Hopefully, um, that's still possible. We don't know what the future holds, but I believe in that revolution and how if they do get invaded, which will be the next topic we're gonna kinda talk into, I know they're gonna fight back.
Um, um, so yeah, let's get into that. I just wanna throw that in there. Um, but let's get into that topic. Uh, lately, we've been seeing Washington's getting more aggressive. There's kinda some signs that they might be ready to attack, invade Cuba. Could you guys speak on that and what's happening around that?
[00:17:35] Hakeem: Yeah, for sure. Um, I think, uh, y- first thing you gotta talk about is this oil blockade that's been imposed since January, because that has had an effect on the military, and, and I'm speculating, but I believe that was one of its intended purposes, was to be able to prevent the military from responding to the aggression that they're planning right now.
Um, all the signs are there. Um, I think there was an article released just yesterday or the day before, you know, that mentioned all the b-- quote-unquote, "building blocks" are ready for an [00:18:00] invasion. The only thing that's left now is for Trump to sign off on it. The very same drone or the very same type of drone that had circled Iran and had circled Venezuela in the days prior to the attack, um, is also...
Or excuse me, has also made several rounds around Cuba. So they've done reconnaissance. They have a very large aircraft carrier that's getting closer and closer. Um, and then I'm sure that, um, many of your viewers know that this War Powers Resolution was voted down. That would have prevented Trump from being able to unilaterally declare war on the island.
Um, but the Cubans will defend their homeland and their revolutionary gains with every fiber of their being. There will not be an easy, quick operation like there was in Venezuela. There is no Judas that will betray the Cuban leadership or the Cuban cause. Um, and it's our job here in the United States to prevent that from happening.
And of course, if we can't prevent it, you know, the next, the next stage is to stop it, stop it from continuing. [00:19:00] Um, but I'd like to pass it on to Todd. Todd will talk a little bit more about that.
[00:19:05] Wells: Um, yeah, I just wanna get back to, um, what, what you were saying earlier about, uh, Cuban people try, uh, being able to discern between the, the people of the United States and the capitalist government of the United States, and they're very clear on that.
Um, they have no, uh, no, no beef with the people here. Um, I think that, um, when we say, um, Cuba is under attack, what people really need to understand is the US government, the capitalist government of America, when they attack Cuba, they are attacking us, and I wanna be clear about that because once again, the gains that the Cuban people have made are the gains that we have been fighting for here for decades upon decades.
We have been able to [00:20:00] make those achievements, and so people need to galvanize and together we need to support the Cuban people. Um, we need to get the message out. We need to respond when this, uh, when this, um, assault occurs because it's, it's, it's, it's apparent that something is going to happen because they, they need to clear the way, and, uh, Cuba's the only example, um, in this hemisphere of, uh, people being able to, uh, stand up and fight back against imperialism and capitalism.
Um, the, the possibility of, um, an invasion is, is there. Uh, the Cuban people are armed. Um, I think that it could turn into a bloodbath. Um, and once again, we, we see this country, um, not [00:21:00] willing to provide for its people, and they will not provide for the Cuban people once they overrun the Cuban government if they are, or if they're able to do it.
Uh, the Cubans will be in the same position that we're in, um, fighting for healthcare, fighting for jobs, fighting for a decent wage, fighting for housing, which is all the things that they have. Um,
so, um, this is a, a crisis right now and, uh, I just hope the listeners, uh, can, uh, can mobilize and, uh, and fight against this
[00:21:43] Miguel: For you guys, were you guys on your trip, uh, were you able to also meet with anyone, like any, uh, Cuban athletes or anything like that?
[00:21:54] Hakeem: Um, we didn't meet with Cuban athletes per se, although a comrade of mine who's not on this call actually ran [00:22:00] into the, uh, Cuban Olympic, um, wrestling team at the airport on their way out.
But unfortunately she's not on this call. But, um, we did go to, a couple of us, uh, myself and my comrade Destiny Rivera, we went to the different INDER, uh, local offices. For those who don't know, INDER is kind of like the institutional apparatus for Cuban sports. Um, and so they have a lot of street-level programs for the kids to keep them off the streets, to keep them occupied and engaged.
And, um, we got to learn about a lot of those, you know, and they're highly reproducible. I can think of a lot of communities, particularly, um, working class, underdeveloped communities that really need those programs for the kids, so that was beautiful and inspiring to see. Um, so yeah, and you know, we also have the Let Cuba Play campaign, right?
So that's, that, that goal is to, um, is to make sure that the Cuban athletes, like any of them, are granted their visas whenever they need to travel to the United States for, you know, whether it be the Olympic [00:23:00] Games or any other kind of, um, international sporting event that's going on. Because it's against...
It's completely political. It's completely bogus. I mean, the US has called the children's baseball teams terrorists. I mean, there's just no limits to the absurdity here. Um...
[00:23:15] Miguel: You know, like I mentioned to you earlier before we recorded, like I did a episode with, uh, Belly of the Beast, one, one of the directors that did their little documentary on the first Cuban Little League team that played at the Little League World Series a couple years ago.
But once Trump... Last year they didn't get to play 'cause Trump didn't let them, so it was only that year, and they didn't let them play this last past year. I don't know about this year. I'm assuming it's the same thing with what's going on. Um, a little bit off topic, I forgot to add this, uh, topic for the podcast, but since it is also sports podcast, I wanted to throw a little bit of sports in there.
Um, and that's, that's how I got introduced to Hands Off Cuba and all of you. Uh, met Mark Friedman. Um, we... It was because of the Hands Off Cuba campaign. [00:24:00] Um, so yeah, people really support that also. That's on their website. I know a lot have been, a lot of things have been focused on what's currently happening with the aggression against Cuba right now, but that campaign is still going, and it's for 2028.
Um, because now, right now, the World Cup's here, right? And we're seeing the same thing, what they're doing to Iranian, uh, football team, soccer team. You know, now they're not gonna practice in the US. They're-- Mexico accepted them. They're gonna be practicing in Tijuana. But that's, all this aggression is gonna be applied to even sports athletes, so it's no different from Iran, what they're gonna try to do to Cuban, to Cuba, to their athletes when the Olympics come.
Um, 'cause they're gonna be in the Olympics. Cuba does pretty solid, uh, usually when they're in the Olympics. Um, especially like you mentioned, their wrestling team's one of the One of the best teams in the world, and they have one of the greatest champions ever. Can't remember his name right now. I know his name, but it's not coming to his head, but he was, he's one of the greatest champions in history of, of the Olympic wrest- of Olympic [00:25:00] wrestling.
Um, so Cuba, and then Cuba's known for baseball as well, so yeah, check out that campaign. I kinda went off topic a little bit, but had to throw that in there. Um, and to go back off the aggres- go back to the aggression against Cuba, just saw a report as well, um, couple days ago, that, you know, we've seen what they've been doing with Venezuela.
They've been doing strikes off the Caribbean in the Gulf and near Venezuela, near Mexico on the Pacific Ocean. They've been doing, uh, military st- uh, strikes on supposed cartels in Ecuador. Now there's what? Now they're trying to ask Guatemala and Honduras to, uh, join in, you know, some strikes there. And then I read this is all kind of, think this is all to pressure pretty much Cuba and Mexico, 'cause, you know, there's also...
My next episode coming out a- before this one next, this coming week from this recording, it was on Mexico World Cup and then all the issues with the [00:26:00] US being aggressive with them. But it's like this whole plan of, uh, the Don, what he's calling the Monroe Doctrine, the Donroe Doctrine. Like, they're just really trying to take hold of Latin America again and try to make it a, the whole Latin America into a colony again.
Um, and they're not gonna stop unless we stop them and, you know, we try to s- help do our part here in the US.
[00:26:28] Hakeem: Well, and I think, I think a lot of that was, uh, plain to see at the security conference that Marco Rubio attended in Munich, Germany, I think that was a couple months ago. Because he essentially, he essentially laid bare plans to, uh, recolonize, um, particularly South America.
Um, and, and so, you know, like Todd was just saying, an attack on Cuba is an attack on us, but it's also an attack on the whole continent. Um, what you saw happen in Venezuela is, is happening in, in smaller operations that, you [00:27:00] know, throughout South America, Africa. And going back to what you said, Miguel, about how, you know, they're, they're preventing the Iranians from being able to place in the Olympics as well, it's interesting how they don't have an issue with the Israelis participating, they don't have an issue with any of the other governments that the US supports in committing crimes against their own people, right?
But yet when a, when a country decides to fight back against the West, or fight back really just in defense of their own sovereignty, 'cause that's all Cuba is, they're just fighting for their own sovereignty, um, then all of a sudden you, you, you can't play. Yeah, it's ridiculous
[00:27:38] Miguel: And, um, now, if you guys could also, uh, this other stuff that's been going on with their, their full force aggression against Cuba is now they also want to indict, uh, Raul Castro for some bullshit.
Um, but, uh, if you guys could talk about that, what's going around that with, uh, what they're trying to do with Raul. [00:28:00]
[00:28:00] Wells: Yeah. Um, they're trying to indict Raul Castro, um, for, uh, his, uh, right to do what he did. Um, this happened, um, um, God, I don't know how many years ago, but it was this, uh, so-called Brothers to the Rescue, I think.
Uh, they were these, uh, Gusano anti, uh, Cuba, um, people. Some of them probably were involved in the setting up of the Bay of Pigs. Um, but they were running, uh, flights, uh, to rescue Cubans who were in rafts, uh, trying to get to the United States. Um, but then that ceased to exist, but they kept running these reconnaissance, and they were flying over Cuban territory, and Cuba warned the United States and warned the Brothers to the Rescue to stop doing it [00:29:00] And the FAA was supposed to stop them from doing it, and the FAA dragged its feet, and they kept doing it.
They kept flying over Cuba, um, uh, you know, um, taking in information, um, about Cuba and the Cuban military. And, um, what happened was what would've happened here in the United States if a Cuban plane had flew over into, uh, American airspace. Uh, the Cuban government shot the planes down. And, um, uh, and so the United States, this is, uh, you know, one of those pretexts they use, uh, to invade countries.
Uh, their, their, their theme, their thing is, their propaganda is, uh, Raul Castro killed American citizens, which is an outright, um, fallacy to begin with. Um, but that's, that's what's happening right now. And once again, you [00:30:00] know, when you turn on CNN, MSNBC, Fox, ABC, CBS, um, whatever, you're not going to get the facts, um, about the historical nature of, uh, um, this indictment.
Um, so that's, that's just, um, a piece of it. I, I did wanna go back for a minute to, um, the medical achievements of the Cuban people and the, uh, medicines that they have developed. Uh, they're basically a, uh, a pharmaceutical juggernaut, um, in that part of the world. Um, and they're working on, uh, uh, medication for Alzheimer's, and, uh, Amer- And it's in, it, in, in the trials, uh, right now, but Americans have been, uh, been, uh, visiting Cuba.
Um, and they're being treated, um, with this. And they also have, I think, five, uh, [00:31:00] um, vaccines, uh, for COVID, um, and many other, um, medications. Have
[00:31:07] Miguel: a lung cancer vaccine as well.
[00:31:09] Wells: Right. Right. And I can bet you this, um, if the United States invades, those medications Will be, um, lifted by Eli Lilly or whoever else, and American people would not even be able to afford them.
So I mean, that's just another
[00:31:33] Miguel: Yeah, Big, Big Pharma will take over and price
[00:31:36] Wells: them up. Big Pharma will get it.
[00:31:37] Miguel: Yeah.
[00:31:37] Wells: And that's another reason why I say an attack on Cuba is an attack on us.
[00:31:43] Hakeem: Well, and if Big Pharma even allowed it to be released at all, because, you know, when the Cubans are making this, these medicines, they're, they're not making it with a business model in mind or for profit.
They're making it at, for human need. You know, the lung cancer vaccine, um, they also have a va- um, another medication that, um, reduces the need [00:32:00] for diabetic amputations, which is huge. 'Cause in the United States, your insurance company is quick to say, "Chop that shit off." They're quick to say that. Um, but that's, once again, that's based on, that's a decision based off profit and immorality.
Um, but then I also wanna say, going back to Raul Castro, that I encourage people to look up the history of Brothers to the Rescue. I mean, they've committed countless acts of terror, and not just them, but other anti-Castro, anti-Cuban, Cuban organiz- Cuban American organizations. Um, one of the things that they were doing is, uh, Brothers to the Rescue, they were dropping leaflets, anti-government leaflets, trying to encourage a color revolution in Cuba.
You know, what would happen if Mexico was sending unauthorized flights into the United States airspace? I don't think they would've gotten a single w- warning. I think they would've been shot down immediately. And, and, and, and obviously, even the FAA knew that what was going on was wrong. But of course, you know, they're an entity of capitalism as well.
Um, but it's just complete bullshit. Raul Castro is like, what, 90-something [00:33:00] years old. His birthday is actually on June 3rd. Um, and he did what any, what anybody tasked with protecting the homeland would do, and he protected the homeland. Um, and once again, this was after repeated and numerous violations of their airspace and warnings that went along with that.
Um, so I just, I just say that to emphasize the legality of that act
[00:33:20] Wells: Thank you. Thanks.
[00:33:21] Miguel: Yep Well, thank you for breaking it down. You guys provided some good info there for people that don't know what's happening. I'll put some links on, on that group that... They're terrorists, that's what they were, those gusanos.
I'll put a link. I know there was a documentary about them I seen before. Try to see if I find it, but I'll find some information and put it in the show links for this episode. So if people want more information on that specific topic. Um, now, before we end this podcast, it's gonna be shorter than usual, but also wanted to talk about what the work you guys are all doing, Hands Off Cuba, just overall, there's different [00:34:00] chapters, and then what you both...
You guys aren't based in Jacksonville. You are, you guys are pretty much in the battle of the beast when it comes to Cuba in the US. Um, I'm sure you had to encounter a lot of gusanos, too, being in Florida. Uh, but can you guys talk about the work Hands Off Cuba's been doing right now, what their focus is?
Kind of talked about it a little bit. Um, and then specifically, what are you all doing in Jacksonville?
[00:34:28] Hakeem: Um, yeah. Let talk a... I'll talk a little bit about national and then, you know, maybe talk and chime in about what we're doing locally here in Florida. But, um, nationally, a lot of our attention has, is going towards preventing this war from happening, and then how to respond if it does, right?
So what we've been trying to do nationally in the different cities is get every organization that we can to sign on to this, um, campaign that actually the NNOC started to try to unify efforts nationally, the No War on Cuba campaign. So I encourage everybody to look that up as well and see how you can adopt some of the action items from that campaign in your city, whether you're part of a committee or not.[00:35:00]
Um, so that's the main thing, very, very busy with that, um, uh, nationally. You know, and so that has taken some attention away from the Let Cuba Play campaign because they're not in the same, you know, situation that they were when we started that campaign. They have more pressing concerns, of course. So it's not a canceled campaign by any means, but it's on the back burner compared to an impending military attack.
Um, in addition to that, nationally, and Todd will talk about how we do this locally, but the material aid campaigns. Now, on May 1st, they announced new sanctions that directly at- t- target people's ability to provide humanitarian aid. We still don't know the whole scope of how that's gonna affect our work.
To the best of my knowledge, nobody has been prosecuted as a result of these sanctions. So I think everybody's just in these kinda legally gray waters, so we're all guinea pigs to an extent. But the last thing I'll say before I hand it over to Todd on that is just that you cannot blockade people's solidarity, ever.
Um, and you definitely will not blockade ours. Um, I'll let Todd talk about what we're doing locally.
[00:35:55] Wells: Yeah. Well, we're just trying to, uh, at this point, um, reach out to [00:36:00] organizations here in Jacksonville, uh, and coordinate, uh, throughout Florida, but to, uh, be able to respond, um, at a moment's notice, uh, when the United States does whatever it's going to do.
We know it's going to do something. Um, we had a successful report back meeting, um, on our trip, uh, got the message out to people Um, we're still in the process of collecting aid, um, life-saving aid for the Cuban people,
which is,
that's the most important thing at this point, is to save lives. Um, so we are, uh, speaking when we can, um, regarding Cuba and, um, we continue to move on.
We've had, um, some, some events happen that we carried out a number of years ago. As a matter of fact, uh, had a car caravan. Um, we also participated in a car caravan in [00:37:00] Miami. Um, and, uh, we just keep, uh, moving ahead and getting the message out to people
[00:37:09] Miguel: Awesome. Awesome. Um, uh, hopefully they don't invade Cuba, and we don't gotta deal with it.
Um, but right now, it's kinda... The signs are kinda pointing that they might, especially what we've seen, what they've done with Cuba, J- I mean, with Venezuela in January, um, with Iran. It's like they're hell-bent on attacking all, all those who oppose US imperialism. Um, and I know, uh, before the recording, Hakim was talking about there's gonna be another trip in the future.
Um, hopefully, I could join that one. I was invited to the ones you guys went to, couldn't go, mostly 'cause of couldn't get the time for work. Um, but, but hopefully the next one, I have more time to prepare, and I could go 'cause I really... That's one of my lifetime goals is to visit Cuba, and [00:38:00] hopefully, I can with the way things are going.
Um, that's... Hopefully, I could join and help out, uh, with the group when that time comes. Um, also, uh, I'm also part of the group chat with all you guys. I just don't chat on, post on it a lot, but I know if you guys... I'm on there. I'll send a message. Um, and then, uh, any information, Hands Off Cuba stuff that there's gonna be going on, I'll put it on the show notes, so people could check out, uh, check them out and maybe join the group and the different chapters there is.
There, there is different chapters. Um, so there might be one in close to your city for anyone who would want to help out and join. Definitely help out and, uh, see if you could volunteer and join, uh, Hands Off Cuba and every- all the work they've been doing to support the Cuban, uh, people and the Cuban revolution against US imperialism.
Um, anything you guys wanna say before we, uh, end the podcast?[00:39:00]
[00:39:03] Wells: Anything else, team?
[00:39:04] Hakeem: Well, I just wanna just shout out once again the Let Cuba Play campaign. Though I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the website. I do believe it's letcubaplay.com or it could be .org. I apologize, it's been a long couple weeks. Um, please check out, you know, we've, we've had a lot of chapters that are about to form as a result of this delegation because people were so inspired and wanna bring the home, the work home to their locale.
So there very well may be one that's in the process of starting near you, and if not, start one. Start one. Reach out t- reach out to any of the chapters via Instagram and just ask us to give you a call. We could lend any kind of experience. Some of us have the means to fly out to you to help you with, you know, opening presentations or that much.
So we just really... I mean, we're in the belly of the beast, you know what I mean? And this is, this is not really... This is not a sectarian fight. You know, the demands that we have, you know, such as removing Cuba off the state sponsor of terrorism list, from ending the blockade, you know, the end to this military aggression, anybody can get behind this.
If you're a human being, you should be able to get behind this. If you're a human being, you should [00:40:00] be indignant by the fact that we're killing... Well, the United States ruling class is killing Cuban children, that Cuban babies in the NICU are dying because of the b- the blackouts, you know? There's, there's, there's a, there's a moral impetus right now.
This is one of the most defining... Just like, just like the genocide in Gaza is one of the most tran- historically transcendental moments in our history, so is what's happening right now, so, in Cuba. So I'll stop there before I get too passionate, but let me pass it on to Todd.
[00:40:28] Wells: Stay in touch. Um, build a movement.
Uh, and all I can say is, uh, Cuba si, bloqueo no
[00:40:38] Miguel: Oh, yeah, and then before I end, and I have a comrade that's part of my org here, and he's, he's Cubano, Afro-Cuban, uh, from Miami. Um, but his, his grandpa, his grandpa, like, knew Fidel and, like, fou- uh, he fought alongside Fidel, and I've seen some photos. So just shout out to the, the comrade. Um, that's... I'm not gonna say his name just in case, 'cause I [00:41:00] didn't ask.
I don't wanna throw it out there. But shout out to my comrade and his grandpa. Like, even knowing someone like that, I have a couple... You know, like I said earlier, we're both in the same group, my comrade that, uh, sh- that was, uh, went to the medical school, and then this one, whose family actually fought alongside Fidel.
So shout out to them if they're listening. But they're here to support Cuba in all, in whatever way we can, and I appreciate you all coming on the podcast, um, and t- talking about this, 'cause people need to, uh, know what's going on, um, and how to help Cuba. So appreciate it.
[00:41:33] Hakeem: Thank you for having us, Miguel, and, and I also wanna say I, I personally am a big supporter of the work that ANTICONQUISTA has been doing, so it's an honor to have been on this podcast.
And, and thank you again.
[00:41:44] Wells: Yes, thank you, Miguel. Thank you very much.
[00:41:48] Miguel: Appreciate it. Thank you for coming on last minute, uh, Wells Todd, appreciate it.
[00:41:52] Wells: All right, anytime.
[00:41:53] Miguel: You... All right, you guys have a good one. And thank you for listening to another episode of the [00:42:00] Sports As A Weapon podcast.