American members of the Convoy Nuestra América stated in Havana that they admire the "resilience" and "creativity" of the Cuban people, despite the severe crisis the island is facing, and affirmed that they are returning to the United States with the intention of denouncing what they consider the impact of Washington's sanctions on Cuba.
The statements were collected in a report by the official Canal Caribe, focused on the farewell of group members before their return to U.S. territory.
One of the interviewees was Rosa María Segura from the organization Code Pink, who expressed feeling "very excited" and "inspired" to see so many young people visiting Cuba for the first time "with a lot of affection."
According to her words, what impacted her the most was realizing that, “despite the sanctions that the United States is imposing, it has not blocked the compassion and humanity of the people.”
For her, the trip turned out to be significant precisely because it allowed her to observe Cuban reality firsthand.
Segura also explained that he works for a union in San Diego and that he wanted to travel to the island to learn "about Cuba" and "the problems our government is causing for other countries."
He indicated that his intention is to bring that information back to the unions in his city so that other workers can get involved and “fight against Trump and everything he is doing.”
In his testimony, he emphasized the difference between reading about Cuba or watching videos online, and personally talking with people on the street to hear “the pains they endure.”
"To tell the truth about Cuba"?
The activist insisted that the delegation's goal is to return to the United States "to tell the truth about what is happening here" and to work towards ending "this cruel blockade."
In that same vein, she openly praised the Cuban people for their ability to overcome scarcity: “I leave very excited because I see the creativity of the Cuban people; their resilience is incredible. Despite all the difficulties, they are always finding ways to move forward. They are happy and very, very affectionate towards us.”
Another participant interviewed in the report also described an experience marked by contact with Cuban families.
He recounted that he brought coloring books and crayons for the children, and after handing them out, the parents approached to introduce themselves, ask his name, and where he was from.
According to him, he was struck by how "very kind" the people were and particularly highlighted the "sense of community" he perceived on the island. He added that, although Cubans face shortages of food, energy, and water, they "always remain very kind and happy," something he considered "very beautiful."
He stated that he had spoken with Cubans "from various backgrounds" and acknowledged that life on the island is "very, very difficult."
However, he stated that a potential intervention by the United States "is not a solution at all" and described it as "something terrible," while urging an examination of "the cruelty of a military approach" that, in his view, Washington may represent.
An ideological tour of Cuba
The statements were made in the context of the passage through Cuba of the Convoy Nuestra América, an international initiative that brought together in Havana hundreds of leftist activists and political figures from dozens of countries.
Participants included names such as Pablo Iglesias, Jeremy Corbyn, and other visitors who expressed support for the Cuban government, in addition to bringing food, medicine, and solar equipment as part of an action framed as a solidarity initiative.
During their stay, the members of the convoy participated in official activities, tours of the capital, and exchanges with state institutions and figures of power, including Mariela Castro.
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel led a meeting with the participants at the Palace of Conventions, where he expressed his gratitude for their presence and support during the current situation in the country.
The document also emphasized that the visitors covered their own travel and accommodation expenses, in addition to making donations.
But the presence of the convoy on the island also sparked criticism, particularly due to the contrast between the experiences of the visitors and the daily lives of Cubans.
A video shared by journalist Mario J. Pentón and attributed to journalist Magdiel Jorge Castro showed members of the group moving through Havana in small electric vehicles, some singing "La Guantanamera" as they traveled in a convoy. The images sparked reactions on social media due to the contrast with the transportation crisis affecting the population.
Dissatisfaction was also expressed by well-known voices. The comedian Ulises Toirac sarcastically suggested that the members of the convoy should live for a month on "4000 CUP per person," a ration booklet, and a mobile phone with an ETECSA line, to experience the real conditions in the country.
For her part, journalist Yoani Sánchez criticized these visits with a sharp phrase: "We are not a theme park. Go do ideological tourism somewhere else. Here, we are suffering."
All of this is happening amidst a deep economic and energy crisis in Cuba, characterized by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and a deteriorating transportation system that restricts daily mobility.
In that context, the words of admiration expressed by American activists towards the "resilience" and "creativity" of Cubans were set against a much harsher reality, and also within a public discussion about the extent to which these visits reflect authentic solidarity or an idealized view of life on the island.
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