In 2021, the Cuban people took to the streets to protest against the communist regime. The protests were considered the largest anti-government protests since 1994. With Hurricane Ian passing through the island and devastating those that live there, the Cuban people have once again taken to the streets to protest the Castro regime. Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R), a critic of the Castro regime, is lending her support, saying that the "regime must go."
In response to the new protests, Florida lawmakers have extended their support and words of encouragement.
Rep.Salazar has taken to social media to express words of encouragement to the Cuban people, arguing that “the regime must go” because of its oppressive and ineffective government.
🚨#SOSCuba The Cuban people have once again taken to the streets tonight against the brutal Castro regime.
There’s no electricity, no running water, and no freedom.
The regime must go. pic.twitter.com/ddBP1sxFh5
— María Elvira Salazar 🇺🇸 (@MaElviraSalazar) October 3, 2022
Announcing that “the Cuban people have once again taken to the streets tonight against the brutal Castro regime,” Salazar commented that “there’s no electricity, no running water, and no freedom.”
Before making landfall in Florida, Hurricane Ian devastated Cuba, causing flooding, destroying homes, and leaving 11 million people without power.
The island is still facing hurdles in its recovery phase, but the Cuban people and Florida lawmakers are expressing their frustrations with the Castro regime.
Havana residents over the weekend took to the streets to bang pots, and as power came back in certain areas of Cuba, the protests continued as there were many still left without power days after Hurricane Ian had struck the island.
In response to the protests, the government arrested more than 1,000 people, and many protestors still remain imprisoned. While the government says that those imprisoned received fair trials, human rights groups have pushed back, arguing that protestors have received no such trials.
Salazar is currently running a reelection campaign, and her political rival, Florida Rep. Annette Taddeo (D), has challenged her to 4 televised debates, which would include 2 Spanish debates and 2 debates in English.
