NAACP Responds to Presidential Action Normalizing Relations with Cuba

NAACP President Brooks and Director Shelton  made the following statements:

Cornell William Brooks, President & CEO:
“This bold action is a critical and important new development for millions of Cuban Americans throughout this country, and one we strongly support. We at the NAACP applaud President Obama for his leadership on this issue. The long-standing U.S. restrictions on trade and travel between the United States and Cuba have created tremendous and on-going hardships for the people of Cuba while hurting American businesspeople and travelers. In fact, the continuation of the embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba has proven itself to be counterproductive as it has made the United States the scapegoat for most of the problems facing Cuba today and in many ways strengthened the resolve of the Cuban people to oppose any changes to their current government. Expanding bilateral trade with the Cuban people is one of the most effective ways of influencing change from within Cuba’s society and promoting progress on human rights and democratic rule. ”

Hilary O. Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy:
“Our Association has worked tirelessly for the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States for decades. Over the past 40 years, we have sent several delegations to Cuba to try to promote trade in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors within the confines of the restrictions. For decades, the NAACP has also supported legislation in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House which would, once and for all, overturn the U.S. trade and travel embargos on Cuba. Thus, we are pleased with President Obama’s today and call on Congress and the Administration to work toward the full and complete normalization of relations in the coming year.”