Today, Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), hosted a press conference on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol to express solidarity with the Cuban people and condemn the Biden Administration for refusing to take action in support of the Cuban fight for freedom.
Congresswoman Salazar was joined by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL), U.S. Senator Rick Scott (FL), U.S. House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Representative Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Representative Michael Waltz (FL-06), Representative Kat Cammack (FL-03), Representative Young Kim (CA-39), Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48), Representative Darrell Issa (CA-50), Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02), Representative Kay Granger (TX-12), Representative Burgess Owens (UT-04), Representative Lee Zeldin (NY-01), and Representative Anthony Gonzalez (OH-16).
To watch the livestream recording of the press conference, click here. Full transcripts of the Congresswoman's remarks can be found below.
BACKGROUND:
The press conference follows the November 15th protests in Cuba. Just last week, Congresswoman Salazar sent a letter to President Biden warning him of the regime's plan to deploy violent tactics and internet shutdowns to subdue the demonstrations. The letter also requested concrete action from the Biden Administration to support Cuba's freedom fighters. President Biden never responded to the letter.
In August, Rep. Salazar also introduced Operation Starfall, a plan to provide internet overseas to help expose regimes that have disconnected their citizens.
Recently, President Biden's State Department also went on-the-record promising to brief Congress on their progress to provide internet to Cuba by October 31. To date, they have failed to deliver on this promise.
TRANSCRIPT OF REP. SALAZAR'S REMARKS:
"I’m Maria Salazar. I’m the representative of district 27 in south Florida – the heart of the Cuban exile community in the United States. The City of Miami.
As I stand here today, the Cuban people are crying for freedom.
Yesterday, as you know, the whole world watched as hundreds of Cuban dissidents were silenced by the regime.
A few weeks ago, Cuba’s brave freedom fighters planned to go back to the streets and shout libertad – or liberty – once again.
They encountered threats, kidnappings, and abuse.
And yesterday when the time came, they were muzzled once again.
Yunior Garcia Aguilera, for example, the brave leader of this movement, has been under siege in his own home for days.
They have covered his windows with enormous flags to cloak him in darkness and force him back into submission.
For 6 decades – 62 years – this murderous regime has put a stranglehold on the Cuban people.
But now Cubans are saying enough.
That’s why every opposition leader right now is under house arrest.
And dozens and dozens of teenagers who dared on July 11th to demand liberty on the streets of Havana are condemned to rot in a Cuban prison.
Just for screaming liberty.
That’s why the repressive apparatus shuts down internet access every time — so the world won’t see what they are doing to their own people.
For months, the Cuban people have done their part.
Now, we, the United States, must do ours.
This country is the shining light of democracy in a sea of darkness that engulfs the Cubans.
But when the Cuban people took to the streets in July, the Biden Administration was all talk and no action.
As the Congresswoman of the city of Miami— the heart of the Cuban exile community – I am asking the White House once again for one thing, and one thing only.
Turn on the internet. Put your money where your mouth is.
The technology is out there. Do your due diligence.
Let’s send a clear message to the Cubans that they are not alone.
And it’s not only about Cuba. It’s Nicaragua. It’s Venezuela. It’s Afghanistan.
We are sending the wrong message to dictators around the world that we, the United States, this beacon of hope, is missing in action.
I call on this Administration to work with technology companies to provide internet to Cuba now.
There are no excuses.
Cuba will be free soon. We know that.
The Castro’s days are numbered. They know it.
The Cuban people are on the right side of history.
The United States needs to be with them.
Now— it’s up to the Biden Administration."
Original source can be found here.
