On Sunday July 25, Cuba’s national holiday, Moncada
Day, was marked in Winnipeg with a picnic at KildonanPark. The Canadian and Cuban flags flanked a “26 julio” banner at the site beside a beautiful grove of
trees, where people gathered to talk, play games, listen to music, and eat. One
of the members of the Manitoba-Cuba Solidarity Committee, a Cuban-Canadian,
addressed the group about the critical situation facing Cuba as it celebrates the 51stMoncada Day, due to the recent threats by the Bush
administration to launch an armed attack against Cuba. Other recent measures announced by Bush in May,
which include limiting visits by Cuban-Americans to their relatives back home,
are causing havoc in the Cuban community in Florida, which Bush has always relied upon for political
support. It is more important than ever, the speaker continued, to work
actively to inform people about the reality of the current situation in Cuba and to mobilize support against these U.S. threats. He concluded by thanking the participants
for having their hearts with the Cuban people during these difficult times.
Discussion carried on about the role of the Canadian government in Cuba and on the current world situation.