IFCO Calls for Solidarity Over Sanctions: Get Cuba off the US State Sponsors of Terrorism List
In our commitment to justice especially for the displaced and the disenfranchised as well as the prophetic tradition that uniquely calls us to speak truth to power, we at IFCO/Pastors for Peace declare our resolute rejection of the US State Department’s unjust designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. The US government’s position is not just a policy error—it is a moral failing that betrays the very principles of peace and goodwill with our Cuban neighbors that we, as people of faith, are called to uphold.
This arbitrary label, unjustly applied, serves as an extension of the US blockade that is as cruel as it is punitive. It is an act of aggression disguised as policy, aimed not just to isolate but to suffocate the aspirations of a sovereign people who dare to dream of a world free from domination and exploitation. From the Gospel of Matthew, we learn, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Mathew 25:40).
In the face of such an oppressive measure, how can we remain silent? We need to stand up for our sisters and brothers, our neighbors, in Cuba.
We know the power of empire: It seeks to control, to dominate, and to dictate. But we also know the power of solidarity, the strength of unity, and the transformative force of love. These are the weapons with which we fight injustice. These are the tools with which we dismantle the empires of our day.
Cuba's placement on this list is an affront not only to the people of Cuba but to all who struggle for justice and peace. It is an attempt to legitimize the ongoing economic warfare perpetrated by the US government, that condemns children to hunger, the sick to suffering, and all Cubans to increased hardship. This is not the way of peace. This is not the path to security. It is the road to ruin, paved with the lives of the innocent. In the face of such injustice, we as people of faith; as people of justice CANNOT remain silent!
It is the height of hypocrisy for the US government – a nation currently supporting genocide against the Palestinian people – to place Cuba — a nation that has provided doctors and other medical personnel worldwide, including to underserved communities in the US — on a list supporting terrorism.
We demand the removal of Cuba from this list.
We join the majority of the world’s nations in demanding an end to the US blockade that has brought nothing but suffering.
We stand together, as people of all faiths and none, to say that we will not accept the perpetuation of injustice under the guise of national security.
We are determined to show the world that there is a power greater than empire—the power of the people united in the cause of justice.
The scriptures teach us, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8).
There is no justice in these sanctions, no kindness in this blockade, and no humility in the exercise of such overwhelming power.
We are committed to walk together, hand in hand, in solidarity. Let us not rest until Cuba is free from this unjust designation; free to walk the path of development and dignity that its people have chosen. In the name of justice, in the name of peace, we shall not be moved.
Now is the Time!
Let Cuba Live!!