Black Lives Matter calls on Biden to immediately lift the blockade on Cuba

Black Lives Matter (BLM) released a statement condemning the U.S. government's inhumane treatment of Cubans and urged President Joe Biden to lift the decades-old embargo against Cuba.

In a statement reacting to the unrests reported on July 11 on the island, posted on BLM's Instagram page Wednesday, the organization said: "Black Lives Matter condemns the U.S. federal government's inhumane treatment of Cubans, and urges it to immediately lift the economic embargo."

It described the embargo as a "cruel and inhumane policy" that is at the heart of Cuba's current crisis. It was instituted with "the explicit intention of destabilizing the country and undermining Cubans' right to choose their own government."

The post added: "Since 1962, the United States has forced pain and suffering on the people of Cuba by cutting off food, medicine, and supplies, costing the tiny island nation an estimated $130 billion."

That loss has made it "harder for Cuba to acquire medical equipment needed to develop its own COVID-19 vaccines and equipment for food production," BLM continued.

"This comes in spite of the country's strong medical care and history of lending doctors and nurses to disasters around the world."

BLM's statement noted that the Cuban people are "being punished" by the U.S. government because the nation has maintained its commitment to "sovereignty and self-determination."

"United States leaders have tried to crush this revolution for decades." "Instead of international amity, respect, and goodwill, the U.S. government has only instigated suffering for the country's 11 million people—of which 4 million are Black and Brown."

The Official IG for the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation recalled that Cuba has "historically demonstrated solidarity with oppressed peoples of African descent" and supported liberation struggles in several African countries.

"Now we look to President Biden to end the embargo, something President Barack Obama called for in 2016. This embargo is a blatant human rights violation, and it must come to an end."