Rangel Celebrates the Harlem/Havana Festival

Statement

Congressman Charles B. Rangel, who represents the 13th Congressional District of New York that includes upper Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, released the following statement to mark the first annual Havana/Harlem Music and Cultural Festival which is hosted by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) and will take place from August 15-21 throughout our congressional district as part of HARLEM WEEK:

"I am proud to see my longstanding vision for people-to-people and cultural exchange coming to life at the Havana/Harlem Music and Cultural Festival. Harlem and Havana share a rich cultural history that can be felt through the electric beat of the drums, jazz music, dancing, and the arts. In its inaugural year, this exciting event will bring Cuba's finest artists and musicians to our district for a week of performances, classes, and cultural seminars. It will take place annually during the summer in Harlem and during the winter in Havana.

I applaud the amazing work of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) and its President Lloyd Williams, as well as Councilwoman Inez Dickens and many other community leaders, to realize this momentous initiative. I was very proud to work with the GHCC delegation to finalize the plans with senior ministers of the Cuban government in Havana, following my historic trip to Cuba with President Barack Obama in March 2016. I am honored to serve as the chairman of The Festival, along with co-chairs Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill De Blasio, with support from Rep. Gregory Meeks, First Secretary of Cuban Mission, among other elected officials. We believe that it will open new doors for our constituents and enable us to exchange American culture and ideals that can help foster democratic principles in Cuba.

Bringing people from our two countries together is a crucial step towards reestablishing our diplomatic ties and lifting the outdated Cold War embargo that has been in place since 1961. For over 20 years, I have long advocated for normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. In every Congress since 1993, I have introduced the Free Trade with Cuba Act (H.R. 403 in the 114th Congress), with belief in the power of exchanges between people, goods and culture. I am confident that the Havana/Harlem Music and Cultural Festival will enhance our mutual understanding and create new friendships with the people of Cuba as our two nations work collectively towards peace and prosperity."

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