National Network on Cuba (NNOC)

Its membership has included the Communist Party USA (CPUSA), the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the Socialist Workers Party, Code Pink, the Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ), the National Lawyers Guild Cuba Committee, and other socialist and radical-left activist organizations. ³ Like many activist coalitions, the NNOC operates through a decentralized network of affiliated organizations and discloses little information about its legal identity, finances, staffing, or internal operations. ⁴

Background

The National Network on Cuba was established in Washington, D.C. on September 21, 1991, as an umbrella coalition of U.S. organizations opposing American policy toward the Communist Cuban government. ¹ The NNOC developed as a decentralized membership network rather than a conventional nonprofit led by a permanent executive director or centralized staff. Its bylaws provided for national meetings, elected co-chairs, a treasurer, and task forces responsible for media, political education, resolutions, and other campaigns. ² Full member organizations receive one vote and are required to pay dues or arrange an in-kind contribution, while associate members can participate in working groups but cannot vote. ³ As of 2026, the NNOC claimed to represent more than 60 organizations, with its elected co-chairs coordinating activities between national meetings. ¹

Advocacy

U.S.-Cuba Policy

The National Network on Cuba has advocated for ending the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, removing Cuba from the U.S. State Department’s State Sponsors of Terrorism list, eliminating travel and commerce restrictions, ending Radio and TV Marti broadcasts, and transferring the U.S. Navy’s facility at Guantanamo Bay to Cuban control. ² The organization also supported normalized diplomatic relations and increased exchanges between American and Cuban political and labor activists. ²

The NNOC has blamed shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and other goods in Cuba on American sanctions, referred to the embargo as a “criminal U.S. economic blockade,” and praised the Cuban Revolution and Cuba’s socialist political system. ^{5  5}

In 2026, the group opposed an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that increased economic pressure on Cuba and called on activists to organize demonstrations, educational events, letter-writing campaigns, and other opposition to the administration’s policies. ⁶ The NNOC’s 2026 “No War on Cuba” campaign similarly called for coordinated demonstrations, political education, car caravans, social-media activity, and other responses to perceived American threats against Cuba. ⁷

The network has also opposed American efforts to indict former Cuban dictator Raul Castro, whom it described as a hero of the Cuban Revolution, while its campaign materials have praised the late Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, defended the Cuban revolutionary government, and called for coordinated mass action against what it termed the American “war machine.” ^{8  7}

Resolutions and Government Advocacy

The network operates a Resolutions Task Force, which supplies model resolutions and organizing materials for activists seeking statements from local governments, state legislatures, unions, and other institutions. ¹ Its organizing guide advised supporters to identify favorable elected officials, recruit allied organizations, prepare speakers for public meetings, and contact local media. ⁹

In June 2023, the New York City Council adopted a resolution calling on the U.S. Congress and then-President Joe Biden to end the embargo and travel restrictions and remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. ^{10  10} The NNOC later promoted similar local campaigns in other cities. ^{11  12}

Travel and Political Delegations

The NNOC has promoted trips to Cuba organized by groups including the Venceremos Brigade, Code Pink, the Global Exchange, and the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization. ¹³ These delegations included political programming, meetings with Cuban officials or state institutions, volunteer activities, and visits to Cuban government projects. ¹³

Armed Queers Salt Lake City founder Ermiya Fanaeian described travel organized through the NNOC and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples as “political education” and “internationalism in practice.” ¹⁴

Material-Aid Campaigns

The NNOC participated in campaigns that claimed to provide surgical sutures, pacemakers, and other supplies to Cuba in coordination with Global Health Partners, the People’s Forum, the Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization (IFCO), the Hatuey Project, Code Pink, and other organizations. ^{15  16}

American Military Action in Venezuela

In January 2026, the NNOC joined the Alliance for Global Justice (AfGJ), Black Alliance for Peace, Code Pink, Communist Party USA (CPUSA) Peace and Solidarity Commission, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Workers World Party, International Action Center, and other radical-left groups in opposing American military action in Venezuela and calling for continued demonstrations against the second Trump administration’s Latin America policies. ^{17  17}

Controversy

National Rapid Response Plan

In July 2026, the National Network on Cuba formalized a “National Rapid Response Plan” designed to mobilize affiliated groups within 24 hours of American military action against Cuba. The plan identified federal buildings, military bases, recruiting offices, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, and potentially sporting venues as “demonstration” locations, while also providing response timelines and instructions for local “power mapping.” ¹⁸

Relationship with the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples

The NNOC identified the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) as its Cuban partner, organized activities involving the institute, and hosted ICAP president Fernando Gonzalez Llort at its 2025 annual meeting. ¹¹ In June 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the ICAP as a Cuban government entity, while the U.S. government alleged that it supported Cuban intelligence and counterintelligence operations. ¹⁹

Tribute to Assata Shakur

At its November 2025 annual meeting, the NNOC honored Black nationalist radical leader and former leader of the Black Liberation Army Assata Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard, describing her as having died “a free woman in Cuba.” ¹¹ Chesimard was convicted of murder in connection with the 1973 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and sentenced to life in prison. She escaped custody in 1979 and later fled to Cuba. ²⁰ In 2013, the FBI placed Chesimard on its Most Wanted Terrorists list, while the New Jersey State Police continued to identify her as a fugitive wanted for escape. ^{20  21}

Proposed “Unlicensed Travel”

A March 2025 action plan published by the NNOC called for promoting travel through third countries and potentially organizing what it termed “unlicensed travel” if authorized travel to Cuba became unavailable. ²²

Financials

Like many radical-left activist coalitions, the National Network on Cuba does not publicly disclose its annual revenue, expenses, assets, or major donors, and no standalone tax return, audited financial statement, or verified foundation-grant record was located for the organization. ⁵ NNOC collects annual dues from member organizations, accepts meeting-registration donations, and benefits from outside fundraising events. ²³

Several campaigns the network promoted about Cuba-related aid, travel, and political campaigns direct donations to NNOC-affiliated nonprofits rather than to the NNOC itself. ^{15  16}

Leadership

As of 2026, Cheryl LaBash, Shaquille Fontenot, Onyesonwu Chatoyer, Michael McCarthy, and Cesar Omar Sanchez are the co-chairs of the National Network on Cuba. ¹ Prior to this role, Chatoyer was an organizer and central committee member with the revolutionary Pan-African All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, an editor of the far-left Hood Communist website, and a coordinator with the Venceremos Brigade. ²⁴ Sanchez was previously affiliated with the Cuba Si New York-New Jersey Coalition and published articles praising the Cuban Revolution, revolutionary activism, and opposition to American foreign policy. ^{25  26}