U.S. Lawmakers Pramila Jayapal & Jonathan Jackson Speak in Cuba

U.S. lawmakers Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) traveled to Cuba and gave an exclusive interview to Belly of the Beast from Havana.

Their visit comes at a critical time for the island. Cuba is grappling with a deep economic crisis, fueled by U.S. “maximum pressure” sanctions and an oil blockade.

“The only way to really understand the impact, the humanitarian crisis we’ve created, is by being here and talking to the Cuban people,” said Jayapal. After their visit, both lawmakers described what they saw as a humanitarian crisis.

“This is an act of war that our country must stop,” stated Jackson.

TRANSCRIPT

“First, I need to say thank you for allowing us to do this interview. What are you doing here, Representative?,” said Liz Oliva.

“Well, we came to Cuba because we feel that this is a critical moment in the country’s history—for the United States and really for the world to see the impact of this illegal fuel blockade, on top of the embargo and decades of U.S. policies that have been strangling Cuba,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal. “The only way to truly understand the humanitarian crisis we’ve created is by being here and talking directly to the Cuban people.”

“What about you?” Liz asked.

“I agree,” said Representative Jonathan Jackson. “What we’re seeing here is a humanitarian crisis just 90 miles off our shores. The American people don’t know the level of devastation happening on this island. Since January, the lack of fuel has created an enormous burden—affecting healthcare, education, trade, and industry.”

“We wanted to be firsthand witnesses,” Jackson continued. “That’s our job in Congress: to provide oversight and report back to our people.”

“That’s important,” Liz said. “A lot of people talk about sanctions on Cuba without ever experiencing the country firsthand—even Cuban-American politicians. I want to know about your experience. Has anything softened you during this time? What are you seeing?”

“Well, first of all, this is my second time in Cuba,” Jayapal explained. “I was here two years ago, and already there’s a big difference. Even then, many streets in this beautiful city were deserted, and people were lining up for food. But now, you see it even more clearly.”

“We’ve heard from mothers who have to stay up all night just to do what they would normally do during the day,” she continued. “They don’t have enough food. They can’t properly nourish their families.”

“For me, the most heartbreaking moment was visiting a maternity hospital and seeing premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit,” Jayapal said. “Because of electricity shortages, even those units are at risk. I’ve had a very premature baby myself, so I know what it takes to keep a 28- or 30-week-old baby alive. Seeing that—it was devastating.”

“I don’t believe any American wants to create this kind of suffering,” she added. “What we’re doing feels like bombing energy infrastructure. It’s like an act of war—denying fuel needed for hospitals, transportation, and basic life. It’s cruelty. It’s collective punishment.”

“When you see the babies and the pregnant women, it becomes real,” Jayapal emphasized. “People are suffering.”

“As a father of three, I understand that anxiety,” Jackson said. “When your child is in a hospital, your life is out of your hands, and you’re just hoping the doctors can do their best.”

“To see ventilators that can’t operate because of a lack of fuel, incubators that stop working, pregnant women climbing stairs because elevators don’t have electricity—you have to be here to truly understand it,” he continued.

“The American people are kind and generous,” Jackson added. “We’ve supported aid programs around the world. I first came here 42 years ago and saw universal healthcare in action. Now, that system is under attack.”

“You can’t cut a country off from financial systems, deny them fuel, and expect them to function,” he said. “This is something our country has to stop.”

“We’re in the Easter season, and we want reconciliation,” Jackson concluded. “We want to bring people together and draw attention to this humanitarian crisis right off the Florida coast.”

“One of the places you visited was the Martin Luther King Center,” Liz said. “You mentioned that generations of Cubans haven’t experienced the generosity of the United States. What did you mean by that?”

“America has led the world in philanthropy for many years,” Jackson explained. “We’ve had programs for HIV prevention, the Peace Corps, and leaders who tried to make the U.S. a force for good.”

“But for three generations, Cubans have experienced restrictions and embargoes instead,” he continued. “We’re not showing the generosity we’re capable of. We’re still the largest economy in the world. We can do better as neighbors.”

“We can talk to Russia, we can talk to China—of course we can talk to Cuba,” Jackson said.

“And Cuba has shown generosity to the world,” Jayapal added. “They’ve sent thousands of doctors abroad to serve communities in need.”

“One thing I hear from Cuban people everywhere I go is that this is a place of love,” she said. “They believe in sharing. But there have been powerful voices that have misrepresented Cuba, which is why visits like ours are so important.”

“The U.S. has incredible power to do good, but also to do harm,” Jayapal continued. “To bring a country to its knees and assume that will create change—it makes no sense. Decades of U.S. policy toward Cuba have failed.”

“This is a new moment,” she said. “There are opportunities for collaboration—in healthcare, agriculture, and trade—that could benefit both countries.”

“The Cuban government has said many times that they’re open to dialogue,” Liz noted. “Do you think there’s more openness now in Congress to changing U.S. policy?”

“I think things are changing,” Jayapal responded. “Just days ago, 52 members of Congress sent a letter to the administration calling for an end to the fuel blockade.”

“I also introduced legislation to prevent funding for any war against Cuba,” she added. “There have been multiple efforts to lift the embargo.”

“The key is that this is a new moment,” Jayapal emphasized. “Cuba is changing, and U.S. policy has been failed, illegal, and cruel. We can create a new approach.”

“The more we tell the stories of people who are suffering, the more Americans will understand that sanctions don’t just target governments—they hurt ordinary people,” she concluded.

“In 1984, your father, Reverend Jesse Jackson, helped mediate the release of political prisoners in Cuba,” Liz said. “Now you’re here as the Cuban government releases more than 2,000 prisoners. What’s your perspective?”

“I met individuals who had been released,” Jackson said. “Many were guilty of crimes, but the president has shown generosity.”

“During this Easter season, we are called to release the captive, care for the sick, and feed the hungry,” he continued. “We’ve seen countries offering humanitarian aid, and Cuba showing openness through cooperation and transparency.”

“I have optimism for the future,” Jackson added. “The Cuban people have done so much with so little. There is a lot we can learn from them.”

“Did you have a chance to speak with the Cuban president?” Liz asked.

“Yes,” Jayapal said. “We talked about all of these issues. There is a real desire for negotiation—for putting everything on the table and working toward solutions.”

“These sanctions don’t hurt governments—they hurt people,” she added. “Many Americans don’t understand that economic sanctions can be just as violent as military action.”

“It’s economic warfare,” Jayapal stated. “Cuba has gone months without fuel. That affects every aspect of life.”

“We hope that other countries will continue to provide humanitarian assistance,” she said.

“We’re going to have serious questions for our Secretary of State,” Jackson added. “Why isolate Cuba while allowing energy flows elsewhere? Why impose this kind of economic suffering?”

“No American would accept what we saw in that hospital,” he said. “We need to bring humanity back to the forefront.”

“Did you raise concerns about human rights with the president?” Liz asked.

“Yes,” Jayapal replied. “We did, both this time and during my previous visit. We met with civil society groups and families of political prisoners.”

“There are still some cases, but the recent releases are a positive sign,” she said. “No country is perfect, but the question is whether sanctions help improve human rights.”

“In my opinion, they do not,” Jayapal concluded.

“Last question,” Liz said. “You represent districts far from Cuba. Why does this matter to your constituents?”

“Chicago is a global city,” Jackson explained. “People from all over the world live there, including Cubans. We value diversity and humanity.”

“I recognize the contributions Cuba has made globally,” he continued. “From supporting liberation movements to sending doctors around the world.”

“We care about the Cuban people because they have cared for others,” Jackson said. “We want to be more supportive and help alleviate their suffering.”

“And in Washington State, we are also deeply connected to global communities,” Jayapal added. “We’ve welcomed refugees from all over the world, and we have strong solidarity movements.”

“Students from our state have come to Cuba to study healthcare and returned inspired,” she said. “Cuba has developed its own vaccines and medical innovations under difficult conditions.”

“At our core, we believe in solidarity and shared learning,” Jayapal concluded.

“Thank you both,” Liz said. “I hope you come back with more members of Congress.”

“With more congresspeople,” Jayapal replied.

“To see Cuba firsthand,” Liz added. “Thank you so much. It was a pleasure speaking with you.”