The meeting took place August 6–9 in Kansas City, Missouri. It brought together mainly combat veterans and medical personnel from the Vietnam War, though representatives of other generations of U.S. military also participated.
Discussions included the situation in Palestine, veterans’ participation in solidarity actions, opposition to ICE raids, and the situation in Latin America, according to Prensa Latina.
A highlight was the presence of a Vietnamese delegation led by Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, president of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. He recalled the historic ties between Cuba and Vietnam and assured that his country is willing to continue supporting the Island. Vietnam, he emphasized, maintains a consistent position against the U.S. blockade of Cuba and has also contributed with agricultural and food cooperation initiatives.
In a panel dedicated to Latin America, Gerry Condon, a member of the national leadership of Veterans For Peace, spoke about the organization’s solidarity experiences with Nicaragua. Lawyer and writer Daniel Kovalik analyzed U.S. sanctions and regime-change policies in Latin America. Meanwhile, Mark Friedman, member of the Hands Off Cuba Committee and union activist, discussed Cuba’s situation and the need to expand solidarity with the Island, including humanitarian aid.
The organization also issued a statement rejecting accusations by Secretary of State Marco Rubio against Cuba and against U.S. activists engaged in solidarity with the Cuban people. Veterans For Peace argued that such accusations aim to portray U.S. citizens exercising their political and association rights as agents of a foreign government.
“We will not be intimidated,” Veterans For Peace declared in their communiqué, reiterating their commitment to Cuba and to those defending democratic rights in the United States.
Solidarity Through Unions
Cuba’s case has gained particular importance within sectors of the U.S. labor movement.
In Los Angeles, Local 1484 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) has supported resolutions against the blockade, including one approved by the California Machinists Conference and later by the state AFL-CIO convention, according to the US Hands Off Cuba Committee.
Kevin Kucera, president of IAM District 190, has publicly participated in activities calling for an end to the blockade and in solidarity initiatives with Cuba. In February this year, he spoke at a meeting in Los Angeles under the slogan “End the U.S. blockade against the Island.” His position has drawn political attacks from conservative sectors in the U.S.
A recently circulated letter questioned Kucera’s and Local 1484’s activities related to Cuba. In response, IAM stated it would not be intimidated or distracted from its mission of defending workers, recalling its long tradition of community and humanitarian action.
This episode illustrates a growing tension: while sectors of the U.S. government attempt to portray solidarity with Cuba as suspicious activity, unions and veterans’ organizations assert their right to establish international ties and defend policies they see as consistent with workers’ interests.
From Kansas City to Minneapolis and Los Angeles, recent actions by Veterans For Peace, About Face, and sectors of the labor movement show that opposition to militarism, defense of migrant workers, and solidarity with Cuba are part of the same debate taking place within the United States about democratic rights and the nation’s role in the world.
