Skip to content
EN ES
Cuba–US

Sarandon, Ruffalo Sign Letter Against Trump's Cuba Policy

Artists, intellectuals, and international organizations launch 'Let Cuba Live!' campaign denouncing the oil blockade as an attempt to starve the island

By Zunzún · AI-assisted writing · reviewed by a person before publication

2 min read

Hollywood celebrities at press conference about Cuba

Illustration: Aroma de Cuba (AI)

A coalition of Hollywood artists, intellectuals, and international organizations has launched the “Let Cuba Live!” campaign, denouncing the Trump administration’s executive order blocking oil imports to Cuba as a deliberate strategy to cause “mass starvation and human suffering” on the island.

High-Profile Signatories

The open letter features signatures from prominent figures in entertainment and academia:

Artists:

  • Susan Sarandon - Oscar-winning actress
  • Mark Ruffalo - Actor known for his role as Hulk in Marvel films
  • Alice Walker - Pulitzer Prize-winning author

Academics:

  • Greg Grandin (Yale University)
  • Michael Hardt (Duke University)
  • Andrew Ross (New York University)
  • Bruce Robbins (Columbia University)

The Message

“Cuba poses no threat to the United States. Starving a population into submission is not diplomacy—it is a form of terrorism.”

The signatories describe the oil blockade as “a cynical and crude stratagem to distract public opinion from domestic problems” and warn that, as seen in Venezuela, it could be “a precursor to an illegal military attack.”

Participating Organizations

The campaign has been coordinated by multiple organizations:

  • ANSWER Coalition
  • The People’s Forum
  • IFCO Pastors for Peace
  • Movement for Black Lives (M4BL)
  • Collective 50501

Manolo De Los Santos, Executive Director of The People’s Forum, and Claudia De La Cruz of IFCO Pastors for Peace lead the initiative alongside U.S. local political representatives.

Crisis Context

The letter comes at a critical moment. Cuba faces:

  • No aviation fuel - International airlines cannot refuel
  • Power outages up to 20 hours daily in several provinces
  • Hotels closed and tourists relocated
  • Schools and universities suspended to save energy

Background

This isn’t the first “Let Cuba Live!” letter. A similar message was sent to the Biden administration in 2021, though under less extreme circumstances than today.

The campaign seeks to generate international pressure and open public debate about the humanitarian consequences of intensified U.S. sanctions.

Source: OnCubaNews

Frequently asked questions

What is the 'Let Cuba Live!' letter?
It's an open letter to the Trump administration signed by artists, intellectuals, and international organizations denouncing the oil blockade on Cuba as economic terrorism designed to cause starvation on the island.
Which celebrities have signed the letter?
Signatories include actress Susan Sarandon, actor Mark Ruffalo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, and academics from Yale, Duke, NYU, and Columbia universities.
Which organizations support the campaign?
The campaign is backed by ANSWER Coalition, The People's Forum, IFCO Pastors for Peace, Movement for Black Lives (M4BL), and collective 50501.
What is the main demand of the signatories?
The signatories demand an immediate end to the embargo, calling oil sanctions 'a form of terrorism' that represents cruelty rather than diplomacy.

Sources

  1. OnCubaNews · oncubanews.com
Share:

How we got here

Background

The first thing we published on this topic.

Everything onTrump and Cuba

Related articles