After one year of Cubans demonstrating in the streets demanding freedom and economic resolve, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) released a statement regarding the anniversary of the event. Within the Rubio press release, the Florida Senator calls out the Biden administration for watching “this oppression play out” and calls upon the U.S. Government to “act to keep the spirit of the courageous 11J (11th of July) protestors alive.”
“The Cuban people erupted into peaceful protests one year ago. After decades of oppression, thousands of heroic men, women, and children rose up against a tyrannical dictatorship with cries of “Libertad” and “Patria y Vida” in pursuit of basic freedoms and justice…. As Americans, that story should resonate deep in our hearts, because it’s not far off from our own story: that of the rebels against tyranny whose achievements we celebrated on July 4.”
Rubio then went on to criticize the Biden admin’s approach to the Cuban dictatorship.
“But what meaningful actions has the Biden Administration taken to help the Cuban people in their fight against oppression? None. It simply pledged to ease sanctions imposed by former President Trump, which will just fill the dictatorship’s coffers. Meanwhile, the Cuban regime itself has responded to the protestors with a vicious crackdown…. As Americans, we shouldn’t just stand by and watch this oppression play out…. Rather, we should take concrete steps to support the Cuban people.”
Marco Rubio then in the press release showcases the Patria Y Vida Act in which he introduced last year. According to Rubio, the bill would “provide resources to U.S. companies to help Cubans bypass internet censorship and develop a strategy to overcome regime-led blackouts on the island and beyond.”
Similarly, former Governor of Florida and now Rep. Charlie Crist (FL-D) stated that “Cuba should be free” and that the Cuban people have “suffered for far too long from the ravages of communism.”
