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‘Eyes on Cuba’: A Conversation About Humanitarian Conditions Facing Cuba in Midst of Crippling U.S. Blockade

Cuba has long held a unique place in conversations about race, revolution and international Black solidarity. Its history has intersected with African liberation movements, anti-colonial struggles and debates about social equality throughout the Americas.

Published

21 minutes ago

August 29, 2026

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Speakers from the Cuban embassy First Secretary Sulia Páez Chacon (left) and Second Secretary Gabriela Castillo shared the harsh realities caused by the U.S. blockade that has intensified dramatically this year. Photo by Ken Epstein.

By Carla Thomas and Ken Epstein

Community members gathered last weekend for an “Eyes on Cuba” conversation with two representatives of the Cuban embassy in the United States, focusing on the terrible suffering inflicted on the Cuban people by the intensified U.S. blockade and also discussing the historic connections between Black freedom movements in the U.S. and struggles for justice in Cuba.

Held in downtown Oakland Saturday, Aug. 22, at the office of Oakland Rising, the event featured presentations by representatives of the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C., First Secretary Sulia Páez Chacon and Second Secretary Gabriela Castillo, who spoke and answered questions about the harsh realities of conditions on the island, with a population of about 11 million, while also highlighting the historic resilience and perseverance of the Cuban people.

The gathering was held in honor of the annual commemoration of Black August, a month of remembrance, education, and reflection on Black resistance, political prisoners, liberation movements, and the continuing pursuit of justice.

For more than 60 years, Cuba has faced a blockade designed to cripple its economic growth and overthrow its government, going back to the 1959 revolution against the colonial regime imposed by the U.S. But the recently intensified blockade has cut off the island’s fuel supply, creating an energy and humanitarian crisis that is strangling the country.

With the lack of oil previously supplied by Venezuela and the U.S. threat of high tariffs on countries that dare to ship petroleum to Cuba, the impact on water, sewage, healthcare, food, and medical supplies has been devastating for the country, according to the speakers.

“There are 100,000 patients now waiting for healthcare services,” said Chacon.

“There are 32,000 pregnant women whose care has been disrupted. This is criminal and a collective punishment. This is genocide – If this blockade continues, it will lead to a silent Gaza,” said Castillo.

Organizers framed the conversation around humanitarian conditions, international solidarity and the importance of building connections among Black communities across national borders.

The speakers shared that the country now experiences 12-48-hour blackouts that affect the transportation of goods, hospital services, and even people’s sleep patterns.

“This is impacting the lifesaving (kidney) dialysis services, special needs kids lacking hearing aids, and even supplies crucial for fixing machinery such as ultrasound machines,” said Castillo.

“Cuba is a Black country,” said Castillo. “Even if you are blond-haired and blue-eyed, your genetic heritage is African.”

“Eyes on Cuba” offered participants an opportunity to explore those connections while discussing the current crisis.

“We have 7,000 containers of supplies already paid for by Cuba, but the companies now refuse to send the shipments for fear of U.S. sanctions on their countries,” said Chacon.

Chacon and Castillo spoke about how the country has rebuilt itself since the 1990s and created healthcare and education systems so robust that they rival and even surpass those of many so-called advanced countries.

“We are from a generation born in crisis, and we rebuilt, but today the pressure we are under is extraordinary,” said Chacon.

Castillo explained that the relationship between Cuba and the U.S. government “has always been very complicated.”

“(But) the relation between the people of Cuba and the people of the U.S. is something that we cherish, that we carry in our hearts, that is way older than the Cuban revolution itself: the cultural ties, the social ties, historical ties, the political ties. We’ve always had a lot in common.”

Castillo said that the blockade on Cuba is more than economic; it seeks to erase the people’s identity.

There are, she said, worldwide disinformation campaigns against Cuba and its people, “mainly centered in the lie that Cuba is a threat to the U.S. “

The mainstream media says that “Cuba is a country on the brink of collapse, that our government is not competent enough to run the economy,” she said. “But they almost never say that the root of everything is the blockade. They don’t say that despite the hard situation right now, the country is not paralyzed. We have reorganized the whole economy.”

“For many young people, for Black people in Cuba as well, if it weren’t for the revolution, we wouldn’t be here,” said Castillo. “My grandmother from my father’s side, when the revolution triumphed, was 12 years old, and she was cleaning houses with her mom. She only had the possibility to study through elementary school. (After the revolution), she had the possibility to go to high school, and because of the revolution, she was able to study at the university and become a professional. I think that most of us in Cuba have the same story.”

At the close of the event, speakers recommended that, for more information, people watch the recently released documentaries on Cuba, “Teresita’s Dream” and “Cuba After Castro.” Local organizers will schedule follow-up discussions to plan solidarity actions.

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Black History

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Published

10 seconds ago

August 29, 2026

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Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

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Standoff for Justice: Our Homes Are Worth Fighting For

Jendayi refused to leave her home on Tuesday as approximately 15 to 19 deputies arrived to enforce a court order removing her from the property. The order followed a decision by Judge Sandra Bean of the Alameda County Probate Court, a ruling Jendayi has repeatedly described as unjust and based on what she alleges are serious errors in the court record.

Published

10 minutes ago

August 29, 2026

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By Tanya Dennis

Sheriff Covers Lens of Resident’s Security Camera as Alameda County Deputies Enter House with Guns Drawn

What began as a long-running legal battle over the home she has lived in for 13 years escalated Tuesday into a dramatic confrontation between Zakiya Jendayi and Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies—one that has raised urgent questions about probate court decisions, due process, and whether a pending bankruptcy filing should have halted the removal.

Jendayi refused to leave her home Tuesday as approximately 15 to 19 deputies arrived to enforce a court order removing her from the property. The order followed a decision by Judge Sandra Bean of the Alameda County Probate Court, a ruling Jendayi has repeatedly described as unjust and based on what she alleges are serious errors in the court record.

Deputies noticed a Ring camera recording their actions and taped over the lens.

Fifteen to 19 Sheriff’s deputies placed tape over her security cameras, before breaking the locks and entering her home despite the bankruptcy filing taped to the door. Courtesy photo.

Adding to the controversy, Jendayi and her supporters state that opposing counsel, attorney Phillip Campbell, had the property placed in his name in October 2025 without notice to Jendayi. Campbell’s attorney, Alana Grice Conner, filed an opposition in connection with Jendayi’s bankruptcy case. Hours later, sheriff’s deputies arrived at Jendayi’s door.

The confrontation was not simply about one woman refusing to leave her home. For Jendayi and her supporters, it represented the culmination of years of litigation and a larger fight over whether courts have the power to overturn the expressed wishes contained in a person’s will or trust.

Last November, The Post published portions of court transcripts that Jendayi says demonstrate a pattern of false and erroneous rulings. Jendayi states that Bean made 45 rulings in the case, 35 of which she characterizes as false, while she contends that others were legally erroneous.

Bean’s judgment in Jendayi’s case, Hamlin v.

Approximately 25 to 30 of Jendayi’s neighbors came out in massive support on Tuesday observing, streaming and challenging the deputies’ actions on Tuesday. Regarding their show of support, on Wednesday, NBC Bay Area interviewed (left to right) Irene Sip, Elaine Chuck, Irene Yamasato, Joan Rosenberg, Joan Rosenberg, Jade Le, Arianna Angel, and David De Hart. Courtesy photo.

Jendayi, was later upheld on appeal, a development that Jendayi and her supporters say only deepened their concerns about whether the underlying record received meaningful review.

Tuesday’s events brought those concerns from the courtroom to her doorstep.

After covering the lens of Jendayi’s security camera, deputies broke the lock on the front door and entered the residence after she did not respond. Fearing for her safety, Jendayi had retreated to her bedroom. She later emerged nude with her hands raised as an officer entered the home with his gun drawn while other deputies remained outside and on the porch.

Officers reportedly stated that their legal department had determined that the bankruptcy filing did not protect Jendayi from eviction. Deputy Sheriff S. White #2198 of the Court Services/Civil Unit showed a Post reporter what appeared to be incomplete bankruptcy documents that suggested the case had been dismissed. However, when the reporter independently accessed the bankruptcy docket, two additional entries reflected future hearing dates.

The significance and legal effect of those docket entries remain matters for the bankruptcy court and other appropriate legal authorities to determine.

Facing an officer with a gun drawn, Jendayi retreated back into her bedroom, locked the door, and refused to come out, stating that she was suicidal.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., an officer read a warning to Jendayi’s neighbors concerning law enforcement’s duty and response when a person is believed to be threatening to take their own life. The officers then left the premises.

Adding another layer of legal controversy to the confrontation, Jendayi and her supporters contend that the bankruptcy filing made before the attempted removal should have triggered protections against further collection or eviction activity.

Zakia Jendayi was interviewed by NBC Bay Area reporter Velena Jones regarding what led to Tuesday’s stand-off with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department. Courtesy photo.

Questions surrounding the legal effect of the filing—and whether the Sheriff’s Office was legally permitted to proceed—are now expected to become central issues in the continuing dispute.

Jendayi remained inside for some time after the officers left.

Outside, neighbors gathered in growing numbers. Angry, alarmed, and deeply engaged, they voiced support for Jendayi and began reaching out to Alameda County District 4 Supervisor Nate Miley, asking him to intervene while questions about the bankruptcy filing and law enforcement actions are investigated.

Although she remains in possession of her home for now, for Jendayi the events of Tuesday are only the latest chapter in a battle she says has exposed something much larger than the loss of her home.

“The probate court is corrupt. It ignored Dr. Head’s wishes that were written into her will and trust, which made me the sole beneficiary of her home,” Jendayi said, referring to the trust established by Dr. Laura Dean Head upon her death in 2013, that made Jendayi executor of the estate. The trust was challenged by Head’s estranged sisters.

Jendayi says she is not alone in her battle with the probate court. “Over 100 other Black families in Alameda County have lost their homes in probate court over the past decade. This is an injustice. Our homes are worth fighting for.”

For background on the case:

The Post News Group, “The Truth Is in the Transcripts,” Week of November 12–18, 2025.

Post News Group archive: https://postnewsgroup.com/week-of-november-12-18-2025/

Additional information: www.protectyourtrust.org

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Richmond Fire Victims Benefit from Tacos El Rulas Fundraiser

On 23rd Street Sunday, Richmond did what Richmond often does in its hardest moments: It showed up. Hundreds of community members gathered at Tacos El Rulas on Aug. 22 in Richmond for a kermés fundraiser benefiting the Rivera family, who lost four family mem

Published

27 minutes ago

August 29, 2026

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By Kathy Chouteau, The Richmond Standard

On 23rd Street Sunday, Richmond did what Richmond often does in its hardest moments: It showed up.

Hundreds of community members gathered at Tacos El Rulas on Aug. 22 in Richmond for a kermés fundraiser benefiting the Rivera family, who lost four family members in a house fire last week that authorities have described as suspicious.

The family-owned restaurant on 23rd Street turned a Sunday afternoon into a neighborhood act of care. A flyer for the event declared “Richmond Comes Together for the Rivera Family,” and the scene outside the restaurant made good on that promise: Families, neighbors, Richmond police officers and firefighters came by to support the cause. Proceeds from the day are intended to help the family with funeral expenses and more.

“We’re just here as public service to try to support the family and the community,” said Richmond Police Department Crime Prevention Manager Michelle Milam, who was among the public safety representatives at the event. “We think that this is a way that the community is trying to come together around pain and tragedy.”

Raoul Ramirez, Angel’s father and owner of Tacos El Rulas, said the fundraiser was simply about giving “back to the community.” He said he knows the Rivera family and wanted to step up for them after the tragedy. Photo by Kathy Chouteau.

Milam said police and firefighters wanted to offer “our support and our care and our concern in the midst of the tragedy.”

The fundraiser was organized by the Ramirez family, owners of Tacos El Rulas. Angel Ramirez said the event was created specifically for the Rivera family and that “100%” of proceeds from food and drink sales would go to help them.

Customers purchased $2 tickets each, Angel said, then used them for tacos, water, drinks and other offerings at various stands in the spacious area in front of the restaurant, allowing organizers to keep count of the proceeds. “We’re just here to support them,” he said.

For Angel, the loss has affected the whole community. “It is hard,” he said, uttering, “heartbroken.”

The deaths resulting from the Aug. 18 fire included a 33-year-old woman, her 47-year-old father, her 5-year-old son, and her 2-year-old daughter. Authorities arrested 32-year-old Sergio Rivera Vega, a relative of the victims who lived at the residence, near the scene in connection with the suspicious fire.

Sunday’s fundraiser did not erase the enormity of the loss. It did something distinctly Richmond: It made sure the family did not have to stand alone in it.

Those unable to attend Sunday’s event, but who wish to support the Rivera family, can donate through the GoFundMe campaign established to help cover funeral and burial expenses.