For over sixty years, Cuba has been under Communist rule. Last July, thousands of protestors peacefully assembled to demand change. The Cuban government predictably cracked down hard, detaining hundreds and subjecting them to torture. On Monday, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a resolution commemorating the protestors and condemning the Communist regime. Two other Senators feature on the resolution, those being Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Braun (R-IN)
The resolution details the retaliation meted out to protestors by the Cuban government, including the detention of children. Well-known Cuban dissident Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia receives highlights. Garcia has been subject to confinement in a tiny cell without access to natural light and severe isolation from family members and others. Ensuing health problems described include vision loss, breathing difficulties, malnutrition, and sleeplessness.
Additional protestors the resolution calls attention to include a 17-year-old sentenced to 5 years of forced labor for yelling "Patria y Vida" ("Homeland and Life"). Similarly, a 22-year-old is subject to 14 years' imprisonment. Finally, the resolution closes with a demand from President Biden to stop providing sanctions relief and concessions to Cuba until the proper requirements to lift sanctions are met.
Subsequent comments from Senator Rubio state that "the Cuban people’s desire for basic freedoms, following decades of oppression under the criminal Castro/Díaz-Canel dictatorship, were heard worldwide as they courageously took to the streets on 11J." Additionally, he states that "the Biden Administration must end its policy of concessions to the communist regime and hold the dictatorship accountable." Rubio summarizes his comments in a tweet published Monday afternoon.
Sen Rubio, @SenRickScott, & colleagues introduced a resolution marking one year since the #11J pro-democracy demonstrations in #Cuba and condemning the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime’s horrific attempts to silence Cubans as they demand freedom on the island. 🇨🇺https://t.co/mRO6q8cw71
— Senator Rubio Press (@SenRubioPress) August 1, 2022
"Sen Rubio, @SenRickScott, & colleagues introduced a resolution marking one year since the #11J pro-democracy demonstrations in #Cuba and condemning the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime’s horrific attempts to silence Cubans as they demand freedom on the island," the tweet by Rubio reads.
Senator Scott likewise says that the movement "has only grown stronger." Furthermore, "we will never rest until the freedom-loving people of Cuba are liberated from the illegitimate communist regime that continues to oppress and torture them." A similar statement can be found in a tweet published by Scott later that Monday evening.
Since July 11, 2021, the Cuban people’s fight for ‘patria y vida’ & democracy has only grown stronger. We won't stop fighting until we see an end to the brutal Castro/Díaz-Canel regime. https://t.co/XPdgIEqmls
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) August 1, 2022
"Since July 11, 2021, the Cuban people’s fight for ‘patria y vida’ & democracy has only grown stronger. We won't stop fighting until we see an end to the brutal Castro/Díaz-Canel regime," stated Scott.
