[antiwar-van] Support the Caravan to Cuba! US Denies Humanitarian Aid for Cuba at the Pacific Truck Crossing

Mon Jul 2 11:27:26 PDT 2012

US DENIES HUMANITARIAN AID
FOR CUBA AT THE PACIFIC TRUCK CROSSING!

URGENT APPEAL FOR SUPPORT AT
THE CANADA/US BORDER!

INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO LET
THE AID THROUGH!

Press conference:

Monday, July 2nd 

12 noon

Pacific Highway #15 truck
border crossing

In the lot in front of the US
customs office

Surrey, BC, Canada

** Following the press
conference caravanistas will attempt to cross the border with the humanitarian
aid

On Sunday July 1st, US
customs stopped a truck full of humanitarian aid destined for Cuba. This
shipment of aid is part of the 23rd Pastors for Peace Caravan to Cuba, and
includes items such as medical supplies like wheelchairs, educational supplies
and sports equipment which were collected from various cities and communities
throughout British Columbia for the people of Cuba.

The truck of aid was initially
stopped at the West Coast Peace Arch Border Crossing and then diverted to the
commercial Pacific Truck Border Crossing with the excuse that the caravanistas
were transporting commercial goods and needed to purchase a bond to enter the
US. This same scenario played out at last year's border crossing, which ended
in victory for the caravan as humanitarian aid is exempt from having to
purchase a bond and the pressure from overwhelming protests on both sides of
the border. More recently, only two days ago, another route of the caravan
successfully took aid across the Quebec/Vermont border crossing without having
to deal with any talk of bonds! So why now? This is just another example of the
arbitrary enforcement of the cruel US policy towards Cuba and its supporters.

Forced to take the commercial
crossing, supporters set up protests on both the US and Canadian sides of the
border with Cuban flags, banners and spirited chants of "Lift the blockade
on Cuba Now!" and "Let the Aid Through!" The truck of aid was
immediately pulled aside for secondary questioning and inspection. After over
four hours of protest during the inspection, they declared that no aid would
cross without a bond, and a new condition that under no circumstances would sports
equipment be allowed entry. Is the US really threatened by soccer balls and
used baseball gloves going to Cuba via the US?

The truck was escorted back
to the Canada side of the border. It is now parked directly in front of the US
border, along with an encampment of activists, caravanistas and supporters. We
have spent the night here already and vow to occupy this space, 24 hours a day,
until the aid is let through without any condition. 

Already this situation has
garnered national and international media coverage across Canada, the US and
Cuba and in the last 24 hours, it has been aired on CBC News, CKNW, The Province newspaper and
NEWS1130. It has also created a large internet and social media following,
drawing attention to the inhuman and immoral US blockade of Cuba which has been
in place for more than 50 years. We will be holding a press conference today at
12 Noon in front of the US Customs building at the Pacific Truck Crossing to
explain to the media the pressing issue of letting the aid through.
Caravanistas will again try to take the aid across. We are appealing to all
peace-loving and social-justice minded people to come to the Pacific Truck
Crossing today and show your support for getting our aid to Cuba through to the
US border. The huge pressure from activists who came out to the border last
year to make noise and put pressure on US Customs ensured the successful
crossing of the aid and we need this support again.

LIFT THE BLOCKADE ON CUBA!

LET THE AID THROUGH!

OCCUPY THE BORDER!

BC Aid Network to Cuba  |  www.bcanc.org

Vancouver Communities in
Solidarity with Cuba (VCSC) | www.vancubasolidarity.com

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