Eyewitness accounts bring Cuban socialism to life in Los Angeles

Los Angeles — Delegates who recently traveled to Cuba shared their experiences at a public meeting on Nov. 14 at the Harriet Tubman Center for Social Justice. The “Eyewitness: ¡Cuba Socialista!” presentation brought the reality of Cuban socialism to life through firsthand accounts.

The delegates from the U.S., representing Struggle-La Lucha and the Struggle for Socialism Party, traveled to Cuba on two occasions. The first was for the launch of the book “Love is the law: Cuba’s queer rights revolution,” and the second was to attend the Third International Meeting on Theoretical Publications of Left-Wing Parties and Movements and the First Granma-Rebelde Festival.

The presentation began with a basic history of Cuba, beginning with Spanish colonial rule — a crucial part of understanding Cuba on its own terms and in its own historical context. Cuba’s socialist revolution and its accomplishments are a product of, and counter to, its exploitation and domination by Spain and the United States.

One presenter told of their participation in the book launch of “Love is the law.” There was a lovely coincidence in which an LGBTQ delegation of the Venceremos Brigade happened upon the book launch and stayed to hear the presentations.

Another presenter detailed their first time in Cuba as a participant of the Third International Meeting on Theoretical Publications of Left-Wing Parties and Movements and the First Granma-Rebelde Festival. In addition to the conference lessons already published in Struggle-La Lucha, this presenter put emphasis on seeing a better world, a socialist system, in practice.

They reflected on visiting a neighborhood block party put on by its Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and meeting its president. “The president and the CDR are responsible for identifying its people’s needs and making sure they are connected to whatever resources they need. It is truly a people-oriented system.”

Both presenters and participants committed to building a mass movement to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba and to remove Cuba from the list of “state sponsors of terror.”