Rep. María Elvira Salazar Delivers Remarks Ahead of November 15th Cuban Protests
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) delivered remarks on the floor of the chamber urging her colleagues to support the Cuban people ahead of their November 15th protests.
Her remarks came before a vote on House Resolution 760, "Expressing solidarity with Cuban citizens demonstrating peacefully for fundamental freedoms, condemning the Cuban regime’s acts of repression, and calling for the release of arbitrarily detained Cuban citizens." The Resolution passed the House by a vote of 382—40.
This bipartisan resolution's passage amplifies the United States’ firm commitment to the upcoming peaceful pro-democracy protests in Cuba scheduled for November 15th, and condemns the Cuban communist dictatorship’s human rights abuses of protesters and political prisoners following the major wave of protests on the island beginning on July 11th.
Additionally, this resolution urges the Biden Administration to provide internet access to the Cuban people. On July 11th, the Cuban people broke out in mass protests against the regime. In response, the Cuban government shut the internet off to prevent the world from witnessing their violent response to the movement. Since then, Congresswoman Salazar has been urging the Administration to act for months, even introducing Operation Starfall to help them build a framework to provide the Cuban people with internet. The Administration has since ignored those calls. However, with the passage of H. Res. 760, the Biden Administration now has a mandate from Congress to provide internet access to the Cuban people.
“We, the United States Congress, the seat of power in this shining city on a hill, must approve this resolution today to express solidarity with the Cuban people. We are demanding that peaceful protesters be allowed to assemble without fear of being brutalized. We are condemning the heinous crimes committed by this tyrannical regime,” said Rep. Salazar. “This resolution from the United States House of Representatives will send a message loud and clear, that we will always stand on the side of freedom, democracy, and human rights, that the Castro regime’s days are numbered. The world is watching, and it is time for the Cubans to be free like Americans.”
The legislation was originally introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) and cosponsored by Representatives Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Albio Sires (D-NJ).
You can watch a video of Rep. Salazar’s full remarks on the House floor here and find a transcript of her remarks as delivered below.
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REP. MARIA SALAZAR DELIVERS REMARKS ON SUPPORTING FREEDOM FOR THE PEOPLE OF CUBA:
"I rise in support of House Resolution 760 and I want to thank my colleagues Mario Diaz-Balart and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for sponsoring this resolution and denouncing the Cuban regime and supporting freedom for the people of Cuba.
On July 11th, the world watched as thousands of Cubans peacefully took to the streets calling for libertad, meaning freedom, or liberty.
But the Castro thugs responded by cracking their heads open on the streets of Havana.
Ever since, countless dissidents have been arrested and hundreds more have disappeared.
But what is encouraging is that these young men and women of unbelievable courage cannot be stopped.
Do you know why? Because their hunger to pursue freedom and to pursue happiness drives them.
That is bigger than the stranglehold that the Castro regime has put on them for sixty years.
Apparently, freedom is bigger than fear, and that is why in ten days from today, on November 15th, these brave freedom fighters will flood the streets of Cuba once again.
Already, the Castro repressive apparatus is showing its ugly head, and that is why we, the United States Congress, the seat of power in this shining city on a hill, must approve this resolution today to express solidarity with the Cuban people.
We are demanding that peaceful protesters be allowed to assemble without fear of being brutalized.
We are condemning the heinous crimes committed by this tyrannical regime.
We are calling now on the Biden Administration, peacefully and respectfully, to provide internet to Cuba.
We are on the cusp of momentous change for that island.
We are less than two weeks away from another heroic demonstration by the Cuban people, and we are less than two weeks away from another violent crackdown by the regime.
These pictures are evidence that came straight from Cuban television, of Castro’s civilian Gestapo, armed with clubs, ready to attack those who dare to shout libertad on the streets of Cuba.
Because in Cuba, protesters are brutalized, detained, and beaten.
They are jailed and charged with treason because in the eyes of this murderous regime, free speech is a crime and liberty is illegal.
This resolution, from the United States House of Representatives, will send a message loud and clear that we will always stand on the side of democracy, freedom, and human rights, that the Castro regime’s days are numbered.
The world is watching, and it is time for Cubans to be free like Americans.
I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back my time."
Congresista María Elvira Salazar se pronuncia ante las protestas anticipadas para el 15 de noviembre en Cuba
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ayer la congresista María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) se pronunció en la cámara baja para instar a sus colegas a respaldar al pueblo cubano en la víspera de las protestas anticipadas para el 15 de noviembre.
Sus comentarios se produjeron antes de una votación sobre la Resolución 760 de la Cámara de Representantes, “Expresando solidaridad con los ciudadanos cubanos que se manifiestan pacíficamente por las libertades fundamentales, condenando los actos de represión del régimen cubano y pidiendo la liberación de los ciudadanos cubanos detenidos arbitrariamente.” La resolución fue aprobada por la cámara por 382 a 40 votos.
La aprobación de esta resolución bipartidista amplifica el firme compromiso de Estados Unidos con las próximas protestas pacíficas a favor de la democracia en Cuba programadas para el 15 de noviembre, y condena los abusos de los derechos humanos de manifestantes y presos políticos por parte de la dictadura comunista cubana tras el inicio de la gran ola de protestas en la isla el 11 de julio.
Además, esta resolución insta a la Administración Biden a proveer acceso de Internet al pueblo cubano. El 11 de julio, el pueblo cubano estalló en protestas masivas contra el régimen. En respuesta, el gobierno cubano apagó su servicio de Internet para evitar que el mundo fuera testigo de su violenta respuesta al movimiento. Desde entonces, la congresista Salazar ha estado presionando a la Administración a actuar durante meses, incluso introduciendo la Operación Starfall para ayudarlos a construir un marco para proporcionarle Internet al pueblo cubano. Desde entonces, la Administración ha ignorado esas llamadas. Sin embargo, con la aprobación de H. Res. 760, la Administración Biden ahora tiene un mandato del Congreso para restaurar el acceso a Internet al pueblo cubano.
“Nosotros, el Congreso de los Estados Unidos, sede del poder en esta resplandeciente ciudad en una colina, debemos aprobar hoy esta resolución para expresar nuestra solidaridad con el pueblo cubano. Exigimos que se permita a los manifestantes pacíficos reunirse sin temor a ser maltratados. Estamos condenando los atroces crímenes cometidos por este régimen tiránico,” dijo la congresista Salazar. “Esta resolución de la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos enviará un mensaje alto y claro, que siempre estaremos del lado de la libertad, la democracia y los derechos humanos, que los días del régimen de Castro están contados. El mundo está prestando atención y es hora de que los cubanos sean libres tal como los estadounidenses.”
La legislación fue introducida originalmente en la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos por la representante Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL) y copatrocinada por los representantes Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) y Albio Sires (D-NJ).
Puede ver un video del discurso completo de la congresista Salazar en la Cámara aquí.