Karen Bass’s engagement with Cuba began in her youth, during the 1970s, when she was a member of the Venceremos Brigade, a U.S.-based organization that facilitated trips to Cuba for Americans sympathetic to the Cuban Revolution. Founded in 1969, the Brigade aimed to challenge U.S. policies, such as the economic embargo and travel bans, while fostering solidarity with Cuba’s Marxist-Leninist government. Bass, who was 19 during her first trip in 1973, visited Cuba eight times during the decade, participating in activities like housing construction and cultural exchanges. She described building houses by day and attending “cultural activities” that included music, rum, and dancing, while also touring the country. Bass attended speeches by Fidel Castro, whom she found “extremely charismatic,” though she noted she couldn’t understand his Spanish.
The Venceremos Brigade was controversial from its inception. Organized initially by the Students for a Democratic Society and supported by the Cuban government, it sought to radicalize young Americans and promote anti-imperialist sentiments. A 1976 FBI report, cited in a 2025 article, alleged that Cuban intelligence used the Brigade to recruit American youths, some of whom received training in weaponry and revolutionary tactics. Bass has denied involvement in any such activities, stating she never used a gun in Cuba and was unaware of any intelligence operations. She emphasized that her trips were about meeting activists and supporting causes like anti-apartheid movements and Black liberation, reflecting her identity as a Black activist concerned with systemic racism.
Bass’s Cuban connections resurfaced in 2016 when she issued a statement following Fidel Castro’s death, calling him “Comandante en Jefe” and describing his passing as “a great loss to the people of Cuba.” This phrase, translating to “commander in chief,” was criticized by Cuban exiles, particularly in Florida, as overly deferential to a dictator responsible for human rights abuses. Bass later retracted the statement, admitting it was a mistake and clarifying that she did not consider herself a Castro sympathizer. She aligned her views with Barack Obama’s policy of re-engaging with Cuba to foster change through diplomacy rather than isolation. Bass also traveled to Cuba as a congresswoman, including a 2016 trip with Obama, to explore healthcare innovations and support U.S.-Cuba relations.
Critics, however, have pointed to Bass’s leadership role in the Venceremos Brigade’s Southern California chapter, alleging she was an “organizer” who visited Cuba every six months. A 1975 article in the communist Daily World reportedly described her as a leader, and some sources claim Brigade members were trained in guerrilla warfare and bomb-making. Bass has consistently denied these allegations, and there is no definitive evidence linking her to violent training. Nonetheless, her association with the Brigade, which spawned members of domestic terrorist groups like the Weather Underground, has fueled speculation about her ideological leanings.
The assertion that Bass is using Castro’s revolutionary strategies to “destroy” Los Angeles is a provocative claim rooted in conservative critiques, particularly amplified during crises like the 2025 Palisades wildfires and immigration-related protests. Critics argue that Bass’s radical past informs her governance, pointing to policies and actions they interpret as destabilizing.
Fidel Castro’s revolution relied on guerrilla warfare, mass mobilization, and state-controlled propaganda to overthrow Fulgencio Batista’s government in 1959. Post-revolution, Castro consolidated power through a one-party system, nationalized industries, suppressed dissent, and implemented social programs to gain popular support. Critics allege that Bass employs similar tactics—albeit metaphorically—by fostering chaos, undermining law enforcement, and prioritizing ideological agendas over public welfare. Specific accusations include her handling of the 2025 wildfires, her sanctuary city policies, and her response to ICE raids.
The 2025 Palisades wildfires, which devastated parts of Los Angeles, have been a focal point for critics. Bass faced backlash for attending the inauguration of Ghana’s president during the fire’s early days, a decision some labeled as neglectful. Former LA County District Attorney Steve Cooley claimed Bass’s mismanagement contributed to the disaster, citing her appointment of Janisse Quiñones as water czar, whose alleged failures exacerbated water supply issues during the fires. Critics argue this reflects a Castro-like disregard for governance, prioritizing international leftist alliances over local crises.
Bass’s commitment to Los Angeles as a sanctuary city has drawn comparisons to Castro’s defiance of U.S. authority. During 2025 ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants, Bass criticized federal actions and highlighted a “rapid response network” to alert communities about ICE activity. Critics, including posts on X, interpret this as inciting unrest akin to Castro’s mobilization of citizens against external threats. Some even allege Bass orchestrated riots, drawing parallels to Castro’s use of crowds to maintain power.
Another critique is Bass’s alleged defunding of public safety, particularly firefighters, to support NGOs, which some liken to Castro’s redirection of resources to loyalist causes. During the wildfires, firefighters reportedly lacked resources, and Bass’s budget priorities were scrutinized. Los Angeles’s fiscal challenges, including pension obligations and homelessness programs, limit discretionary spending, and Bass’s budgets have not been shown to focus on improved public safety.
The claim that Bass is using Castro’s strategies to destroy Los Angeles relies heavily on her Venceremos Brigade ties and selective interpretations of her policies. While her Cuban involvement raises legitimate questions about her ideological roots. Castro’s revolution was violent and authoritarian, aiming to dismantle a capitalist system through armed struggle and state control. Bass, by contrast, operates within a democratic framework, subject to sketchy elections, loose oversight, and weak public scrutiny. Her policies—sanctuary city status, community organizing, and international diplomacy—reflect progressive priorities.
Bass’s critics often conflate her activism with terrorism, citing the Brigade’s links to groups like the Weather Underground. Yet, no evidence confirms Bass engaged in or endorsed violence. Her focus on issues like homelessness and racial equity, while divisive, aligns with her long-standing community organizing background. The wildfires and ICE protests were crises shaped by broader systemic issues.
Karen Bass’s history with Cuba, particularly her Venceremos Brigade involvement, reflects a youthful commitment to leftist causes, shaped by the 1970s’ radical milieu. Her later praise for Castro was a misstep, and her Cuban ties as a congresswoman aligned with Obama’s diplomatic approach. As the mayor of Los Angeles with an estimated 3,878,704 residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous in the United States, behind only New York City. She won her election in 2022 by 90,000 votes over
| Rick J. Caruso. In America you get what you vote for people, in Cuba it was taken by a gun. Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer. |
