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July 5, 2016

Leading National Latino Coalition Calls for Lifting of Cuban Trade Embargo

Washington, D.C. – In a major indicator that the U.S.-Cuban relationship is changing dramatically, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA), a coalition of 40 of the nation's preeminent Latino advocacy organizations, called for lifting of the Cuban Trade Embargo. At its June 22nd board meeting, NHLA adopted the following resolution:

“The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) supports the full normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba. We do not support the Cuban Trade Embargo because we recognize that it does not promote mutually beneficial economic, cultural and scientific relations between both countries. We believe this can be best achieved through an active and open engagement between them. The current policies only serve to impede the full human development of the people of Cuba and Americans, including Cuban-Americans. Support for normalization is, also, strong among Americans, the people of Cuba and a majority of Cuban-Americans.”

“Following the resumption of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, removal of our nation’s trade embargo on Cuba is the next logical step, which will provide a path toward greater engagement between our two nations, to the benefit both nation’s peoples and particularly for the much-needed advancement of human rights and economic well-being for the Cuban people,” said Hector Sanchez, NHLA Chair and Executive Director of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. 

“This is a historic moment for the Latino community,” stated Angelo Falcón, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Cuban Trade Embargo Working Group and President of the National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP), “The leading mainstream Latino civil rights organizations have historically avoided addressing the issue of U.S.-Cuban relations in deference to the anti-Castro Miami exile community, but this support for the lifting of the embargo marks a major departure from longtime political accommodation.” Falcón went on to point out that “this development reflects a change not only in the Latino community in general, but also within the Cuban-American community, which is undergoing significant generational changes in their politics.”

“As people of Latin American and Caribbean origin, we applaud this paramount shift in U.S.-Latin America relations,” stated Oscar Chacon, Co-Chair of NHLA’s Cuban Trade Embargo Working Group and Executive Director of Alianza Americas. “We are confident this shift in policy by the Unites States and Cuba will help improve many other areas in the relationship between the U.S. and the Americas,” added Mr. Chacon. “The fact that NHLA has come out in support of full diplomatic and economic relations between the U.S. and Cuba, and more specifically against the archaic and still ongoing US Economic Embargo against Cuba, is indeed historic,” concluded Mr. Chacon. 

“After more than a half century, it has become abundantly clear that the Cuban Trade Embargo and cessation of diplomatic relations with Cuba have not achieved their intended outcomes,” stated NHLA Treasurer and LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes. “With today’s announcement, NHLA puts the Latino community on record as supporting the full normalization of relations with Cuba and an end to the Cuban Trade Embargo as the best means to improving political and economic conditions for the Cuban people.”

The United States seeks improvement in Cuban relations from a variety of policy areas including commerce, civil and human rights, climate change and the environment, and law enforcement. NHLA recognizes the importance of such policy areas in the progression of U.S. relations with Cuba. The February release of NHLA’s most comprehensive policy agenda provides a platform for which NHLA can take a public stance on issues relating to Cuba and how they pertain to Latino priorities. The addition of Cuba as a policy issue to the agenda is both essential and historic for NHLA. 

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Monica Ramirez | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | (202) 639-6271 |

ABOUT THE NATIONAL HISPANIC LEADERSHIP AGENDA

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda is composed of 40 of the leading national and regional Latino civil rights and public policy organizations and other elected officials, and prominent Latinos Americans. NHLA coalition members represent the diversity of the Latino community – Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and other Latino Americans. NHLA’s mission calls for unity among Latinos around the country to provide the Latino community with greater visibility and a clearer, stronger influence in our country’s affairs. NHLA brings together Latino leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of, the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole. For more information, please visit: www.nationalhispanicleadership.org.

NHLA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Alianza Americas | American GI Forum | ASPIRA Association, Inc. | Avance | Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network | Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute | Cuban American National Council | Farmworker Justice | Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities | Hispanic Federation | Hispanic National Bar Association | Inter-University Program for Latino Research | Labor Council for Latin American Advancement | Latino Justice PRLDEF | League of United Latin American Citizens | MANA, A National Latina Organization | Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund | NALEO Educational Fund | National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives | National Association of Hispanic Publications | National Association of Latino Independent Producers | National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, Inc. | National Council of La Raza | National Hispana Leadership Institute | National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators | National Hispanic Council on Aging | National Hispanic Environmental Council | National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts | National Hispanic Media Coalition | National Hispanic Medical Association | National Institute for Latino Policy | National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health | National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc. | Presente.org | SER – Jobs for Progress National, Inc. | Southwest Voter Registration Education Project | United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce | United States Hispanic Leadership Institute | United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce | U.S.-Mexico Foundation