Canberra, June 12, 2019. Members of the Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS) in the State of Western Australia gathered at the US Consulate General in the city of Perth, in an act of protest against the measures implemented by the current US Administration to strengthen the blockade against the island.
With banners of "Down with the Helms-Burton Act" and "Lift the US blockade on Cuba", the demonstrators carried out a noble gesture of solidarity with Cuba which they intend to maintain with a monthly frequency in the future.
The new sanctions, in force since June 5, further strengthen the restrictions on the rights of the US citizens to travel to Cuba, and also added new prohibitions for all type of vessels with the intention of travelling to the island. The actions are aimed at affecting the Cuban tourist industry and prevent it from becoming the engine of national economic development. Note that, only in 2018, a total of 650,000 US citizens visited Cuba.
The Australia-Cuba Friendship Society (ACFS) has branches in the Australian cities of Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. This movement has for decades promoted actions and initiatives against the blockade, the plans of subversion against Cuba and favour the return of the illegally occupied territory by the United States in Guantánamo.