House Members Honor Third Anniversary of 'Patria Y Vida' Protests

U.S. lawmakers have come together to commemorate the third anniversary of the historic pro-democracy "Patria y Vida" protests that took place in Cuba on July 11, 2021. Florida Reps. Mario Díaz-Balart (R), María Elvira Salazar (R), Carlos Giménez (R), Kat Cammack (R), Michael Waltz (R), Texas Rep. Michael McCaul (R), West Virginia Rep. Alexander Mooney (R), New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R), and Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R) have introduced a resolution to commemorate the event.

The "Patria y Vida" protests shocked the world as the people of Cuba took to the streets to protest against the Castro regime. In support of the protests, lawmakers in the U.S. shared their solidarity, calling for an end to the oppression that the Cuban people have faced at the hands of their communist government.

Commenting on the third anniversary of the protests, the backers of the resolution shared their thoughts on what it meant for the Cuban people to take to the streets in such a way.

"The Cuban people risked everything for freedom by taking to the streets from every corner and in every province," said Rep. Díaz-Balart. "Shamefully, the Biden Administration has chosen to toss a lifeline to the repressive, anti-American Cuban dictatorship by unilaterally relaxing sanctions and allowing new access to U.S. financial markets, putting our national security interests at risk."

Rep. Cammack called the protests "a pivotal moment in the Cuban people's fight for freedom," adding that "joining this resolution is a powerful way to honor the courage and resilience of those who've stood up against oppression, calling attention to the human rights violations perpetrated by the communist regime."

Rep. McCaul, the House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, also weighed in on the resolution, noting that despite the protests three years ago, "hundreds remain in prison." "This regime meets nonviolent calls for democracy with unspeakable brutality," he added, affirming that he "will never stop supporting the brave Cubans fighting for freedom against it."

The resolution has also received support from members of the Senate. Florida Senators Rick Scott (R), Marco Rubio (R), and Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) have introduced a Senate Companion Resolution.