Mitch Perry
While advocates for the U.S. liberalizing relations with Cuba have hailed President Barack Obama‘s overture to the Castro-led government, they say there is still much to be done, such as liberalizing travel restrictions.
Engage Cuba, a group created to push for the end of the 53-year trade embargo, has a new ad that will begin airing Tuesday on Fox News, CNBC and MSNBC.
“Since December, we’ve heard from Americans around the country who can’t believe the U.S. government is denying us the right to travel anywhere in the world,” said James Williams, president of Engage Cuba. “Public polls show that Americans are saying, ‘We are tired of the Cold War-era policy that won’t let us trade or travel to Cuba. We want our government to let us play a role in this significant period of transition.’ That’s why we’re launching Engage Cuba.”
“One of these days, our legislative branch of government is going to have to start to function,” said Luke Albee, a senior advisor to Engage Cuba who was chief of staff to Sens. Mark Warner and Patrick Leahy. “There is no better issue to help make this happen than changing our archaic Cuba policy. It is in our national interest. And it is right for America and the Cuban people.”
In Washington, D.C., Engage Cuba will host a launch party Tuesday night, with Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor expected to attend. Other invited guests include a group of U.S. senators, including Warner and Leahy and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, Maine’s Angus King and Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse.
Watch the 30-second ad below.
