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The winds of freedom – elusive for decades for the Cuban people – once again blew through the streets of the island, at least for a few hours. On Sunday, July 11, various users on social networks reported massive demonstrations in Cuba; citizens seeking, in short, to achieve a great feat: to leave the Castro regime.
This was reported by Cuban human rights activist Rosa María Payá, at noon that same day. “Happening now: “We’re not afraid” shout Cubans in San Antonio de los Baños protesting in the streets. #CUBA Castro, @DiazCanelB, don’t you dare repress! The whole world is watching! #PatriaYVida.”
An hour later, Payá tweeted, “The people in the streets in Bauta, Cárdenas, Palma Soriano and counting. #Freedom #PatriaYVida Demonstrations are multiplying in various parts of the country!”. The video posted shows hundreds of people, young people, adults, children and the elderly, marching to the sound of the famous cry “sí, se puede” (yes, we can).
Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), with a long career in journalism and Cuban origins, took to Twitter to offer her support to the citizens.
“All my solidarity for those who are demanding their rights inside #Cuba! Enough of 62 years of hunger, misery, need and exile. #SOSCuba,” tweeted Salazar.
María Elvira Salazar described the demonstrations as something never seen before, and is that the island – for decades – has been subjected by a tyrannical regime of socialist cut; where the most essential freedoms, such as freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate, are systematically persecuted.
“The people of Cuba have taken to the streets. Tens of thousands are protesting throughout the island. We’ve never seen anything like this before. The Cuban people are determined to be free,” said Maria Elvira Salazar.
For his part, Giancarlo Sopo, one of the Trump campaign’s top Hispanic communications strategists, was also broadcasting the historic demonstrations: “This is big. Thousands of Cubans are taking to the streets to protest the Castro regime. They’re chanting: ¡NO TENEMOS MIEDO! (We are not afraid!) Please share this video and let the Cuban people know you stand with them.”
Sopo also denounced that the Castro regime is mobilizing its repressive force to respond to the demonstrations.
“Cuba’s communist regime is mobilizing its infamous Black Berets to shut down the uprising that is currently underway across the island. This is going to get violent. Stand with the Cuban people. Demand their freedom now!”.
Likewise, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) reported on the peaceful protests, “Spontaneous street protests breaking out in several cities in #Cuba right now with chants of #NoTenemosMiedo (We Are Not Afraid). Frustration with the incompetence, greed and repression of dictatorships is growing rapidly.”
Regime censors historic protest in Cuba
According to reports on social networks, the Castro regime cut communications, including the internet, to limit the dissemination of the protests and the protesters’ cry for freedom.
On the other hand, Cubans in Miami organized a public call to protest against the Castro regime and to support all the demonstrators who raised their voices today on the island. They started at 2:00 PM at the Varsailles restaurant.
Several opinion leaders, political activists and critics of the communist regime led by the Castro family for so many years and today presided over by Díaz-Canel have described the protests as historic and unprecedented. Today, the streets of this island are praying to achieve a milestone that will strip them of a system that has been oppressing them for more than sixty years.
According to the BBC, a Cuban demonstrator, identified as Selvia, said Cubans in San Antonio de los Baños gathered “in front of the church square and we marched all along Calle Real and continued to the government and the police.” Everything was organized via social networks.
“This is for the freedom of the people, we can’t take it anymore. We are not afraid. We want a change, we don’t want more dictatorship,” said Selvia.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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