"Let Cuba Live!" People's Tribunal in Toronto Finds U.S. Guilty of Crimes Against Cuba
As part of the work in Canada to raise awareness and mobilize opposition to the U.S. blockade and all-sided attacks on Cuba, the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) organized a People's Tribunal on the economic war against Cuba in Toronto on February 22.
CNC Co-chair Samantha Hislop acted as Registrar for the Tribunal and Toronto lawyer Juan Carranza, as the Justice. The proceedings began with the reading of the charge, that the government of the United States of America through its 64-year-long economic, commercial and financial blockade on Cuba and Donald Trump's Executive Order of January 29, which further tightens the blockade and restricts critical oil imports to Cuba, is causing severe shortages of food and medicine, severely impacting civilian transportation and the delivery of health services, affecting water processing plants, sanitation, food production, and causing continuous blackouts through the country. Through the described actions, it said that the United States is engaging in collective punishment of the Cuban people in violation of International Humanitarian Law and the United Nation's Charter, namely the principles of sovereign equality, non-intervention and self-determination.
The first to speak was Víctor Manuel García Sánchez, Consul General of Cuba in Toronto, who explained that the U.S. desire to control Cuba dates back far before the Cuban revolution. As early as 1823, U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams advanced what is called the "ripe fruit" theory, that eventually Cuba would be "ripe" for annexation to the U.S. Following the Spanish-American War the U.S. gained absolute control of Cuba. The Cuban revolution was the culmination of the Cuban people's long fight for independence and sovereignty, establishing a government that works for the well-being and happiness of all Cubans. He pointed out that the U.S. economic war against Cuba is an act of genocide, causing serious damage to Cuban society, separation of families and extreme hardship.
But, he said, "what the Yanquis have not learned is that in Cuba there is a dignified people willing to give their lives in defence of their sovereignty. In recent weeks we have seen an avalanche of solidarity with my country. As President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, 'Cuba is not alone.'" He thanked the Canadian people, the Canadian solidarity organizations and the patriotic Cubans resident in Canada for their support and concluded: "Cuban people will not surrender. We find a way to overcome our adversities even in the most difficult situation, as Fidel Castro taught us. We count on you to continue the struggle. Viva la Revolución Cubana! Abajo el Bloqueo! Hasta la Victoria Siempre!"
Witnesses before the tribunal included union leaders, workers, academics, students, faith leaders, representatives of Cuban and Caribbean solidarity organizations, the Palestinian Youth Movement and Cubans resident in Canada. They elaborated on the charge and emphasized the responsibility of people in Canada, the Caribbean and other countries to step up practical support for Cuba. They also called for people in Canada to take action to demand that the government of Canada denounce the U.S. measures and provide support for Cuba including humanitarian aid and fuel.
After several of the witnesses had spoken, a video message from Fernando González Llort, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) was shown. He greeted the participants in the tribunal and thanked the solidarity organizations in Canada and the Canadian people for their love and support for Cuba and its people and affirmed that Cuba will prevail.
The four findings of the Tribunal, read out by Justice Carranza, were unanimously upheld by the participants. They are:
The Tribunal finds the United States is guilty of intentional economic warfare against Cuba for over 67 years. In so doing, the United States has flagrantly and undeniably violated International Law and the UN Charter.
The United States government is guilty of willfully ignoring the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly calling for an end to the illegal blockade on Cuba.
The U.S. government, through its President's Executive Order of January 29, 2026, drastically escalated the blockade against Cuba by threatening that if countries ship oil to Cuba it would mean crippling sanctions. It also illegally seized an oil tanker heading to Cuba with oil. All of this resulted in the immediate stoppage of critical oil shipments to Cuba, causing extreme hardship for Cuban families, hospitals, schools, food production, transportation, etc. Such extreme actions constitute collective punishment and crimes against humanity. This People's Tribunal finds that the United States is guilty of committing crimes against humanity in Cuba that can be considered a form of genocide.
The U.S. blockade on Cuba has also caused hundreds of billions of dollars in damage to Cuba's economy and its society.
Co-Chair of the Canadian Network on Cuba, Julio Fonseca (left).
Víctor Manuel García Sánchez,
Consul General of Cuba in Toronto (right)
This article was published in
Volume 56 Number 3 - March-April, 2026
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/TML2026/Articles/MS56036.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca