Cuba Without Blockade, Thousands Demand in Bilbao

Under the slogan "Ojalá, Cuba sin bloqueo," more than two thousand people marched through the streets of the Basque city of Bilbao, in a special prelude to troubadour Silvio Rodríguez's concert.

The demonstration, energized by the chant in the Basque language "Ojalá… Kuba Blokeorik Gabe," traveled along the estuary from the Guggenheim Museum to the Euskalduna Palace, where Silvio Rodríguez offered a massive concert, the organizers highlighted today.

Dozens of Cuban flags, ikurriñas (Basque flags), and also Palestinian banners adorned the march, along with a giant banner reading "Kuba eta mundua inperialismorik gabe. Blokeorik Ez" ("Cuba and the world without imperialism. No to the blockade").

Flanked at the front by two large flags, one of Cuba and one of Euskal Herria, during the route chants were shouted such as "Cuba sí, yanquis no," "Kuba bai, Blokeorik Ez" (Cuba yes, Blockade No), "Estatu Batuak, Estatu Terrorista" ("United States, terrorist state"), and "Euskal Herria Kubarekin" (The Basque Country with Cuba).

These were moments in which the grave situation caused by the U.S. economic and energy siege was denounced, along with the responsibility of the U.S. "maximum pressure" policy applied against Cuba.

The initiative was promoted by Euskal Herria-Kuba Ekimena, the internationalist platform Hegoak—which brings together some twenty Basque unions, parties, and NGOs—the Euskadi-Cuba association, and various social and political actors.

Likewise, the demonstration allowed for renewed support for the solidarity campaign "Argia eta Indarra Kubarentzat. Contra el Bloqueo, Energía para Cuba" ("Light and Strength for Cuba. Against the Blockade, Energy for Cuba"), which raises funds for solar energy installations destined for hospital centers on the island.

A campaign that secured the support of 130 intellectuals and artists from Basque culture, including Bernardo Atxaga, Fermin Muguruza, Itziar Ituño, Joseba Sarrionaindia, Eñaut Elorrieta, Jon Maia, and Katixa Agirre.

Through May, in a first phase, the campaign raised nearly 245 thousand euros, and the assembly of the first solar energy installation has already begun at the William Soler Pediatric Hospital in Havana.

Upon arriving at the Euskalduna Palace, the demonstrators once again asserted their solidarity with Cuba and sang in chorus several well-known Silvio Rodríguez songs, such as "Canción del Elegido," "Hasta siempre" by Carlos Puebla, dedicated to Che Guevara, and the traditional Basque song "Txoria Txori."

In the closing remarks of the event, Antonio Merlán and Milagros Acea, Cubans residing in Bilbao, called on Basque citizens to show their solidarity with Cuba, just as they do with Palestine and other peoples subjected to policies of imposition and violence contrary to international legality.

"Because today it is Cuba, tomorrow it could be any other country," they stressed.