Congressional Black Caucus Supports Boycott of Florida (But Not Cuba)

capitolhillcubans

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and others members of the Congressional Black Caucus are calling for an economic boycott of the State of Florida over the jury verdict in the case of Trayvon Martin.

We respect their opinion.

Yet, ironically, these are also the leading Congressional voices against the economic boycott of Cuba's brutal dictatorship, which disproportionately represses its Afro-Cuban population.

Which raises the question:

Why didn't they support an economic boycott of Cuba when the Castro regime denied water to Afro-Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, who consequently died in a hunger strike protesting the beating and abuses he suffered? 

Or more simply:

Why do they continue to defend the Castro regime?

From The Hill:

Congressional Black Caucus members would support Florida boycott

A number of House Democrats are lining up behind the Rev. Jesse Jackson's threat for an economic boycott of Florida following the not-guilty verdict in the death of Trayvon Martin.

Exerting pressure on Florida's economy as Jackson is suggesting, they said, could help overturn the state's controversial stand-your-ground laws that many contend contributed to the tragedy.

"That's probably the best strategy, because people understand dollars and cents," Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) said Friday. "And they understand, if there's a significant drop-off in revenues – at conventions, at Disney World and Universal Studios – that that will get the attention of the powerful."

Rep. Bennie Thompson echoed that message. The Mississippi Democrat called the verdict "a travesty" that "does not speak well for this country," and said he would "absolutely" support an economic boycott of the state.

"[It] could have significant economic significance if properly organized," Thompson said Friday. "What I gather from a lot of people who have feelings about it, he [Jackson] would get … support."

Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said she's also on board.

"I would support whatever it takes to get these stand-your-ground laws off the books," she said.