March 2, 2026
A mass protest was held in front of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul by Birleşik Metal-İş Union and Nakliyat-İş Union in order to express solidarity with the Cuban people, who have been resisting the long-standing U.S. blockade and imperialist aggression.
The participants marched to the Consulate with banners reading: “Murderer USA, Hands Off Cuba! The Cuban Working Class and People Are Not Alone!”
The protest was attended by the President of Birleşik Metal-İş and Vice President of DİSK, Özkan Atar, the WFTU Vice President and President of Nakliyat-İş, Ali Rıza Küçükosmanoğlu, union cadres and members from various workplaces, as well as representatives from BTO-Sen, Enerji-Sen and Sosyal-İş, who expressed their solidarity.
In the joint statement, the inhuman embargo imposed on Cuba for decades was condemned and a call was made to strengthen international class-oriented trade union solidarity against imperialism.
In his speech, Özkan Atar underlined that imperialist interventions in the Middle East and the attacks against countries such as Venezuela and Iran are part of a broader strategy aimed at controlling the world’s natural and energy resources. He stressed that despite the severe blockade, the Cuban people continue their dignified resistance and will never surrender.
Ali Rıza Küçükosmanoğlu emphasized that the developments taking place in the world are not coincidental but are the result of the deepening crisis of imperialism. He denounced the 67-year-long U.S. blockade against Cuba and reaffirmed that the Cuban Revolution and the resistance of the Cuban people are a source of honor for the international working class. He also expressed solidarity with all peoples resisting imperialist aggression and called for the closure of U.S. military bases in Türkiye.
The protest ended with slogans demanding an end to the blockade against Cuba and expressing solidarity with the peoples of Cuba, Venezuela, Iran and Palestine.
Source: World Federation of Trade Unions