The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, sent an emotional message to the Cuban people this Wednesday on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the massive protests on July 11, 2021.
Rubio reaffirmed the U.S. government's commitment to the cause of freedom and firmly condemned the Cuban regime, as evidenced in a video shared on his social media.
"I want to strongly express our support," Rubio stated at the beginning of the message, recorded in English and subtitled in Spanish. The official also thanked the mission chief in Havana, Mike Hammer, for convening a symbolic meeting with activists and members of Cuban civil society on a date that, as he said, marked a turning point in the recent history of the island.
"July 11, 2021, is a day that marked a change for us, a new era in what is happening inside Cuba," he emphasized.
He recalled that the images of the people in the streets asking for freedom and the end of the dictatorship were a "huge inspiration" for everyone who, both inside and outside the island, dreams of a free Cuba.
Rubio dedicated a significant portion of his message to highlighting the bravery of those who remained in Cuba despite the repression.
"I know it is not easy on that enslaved island, in that oppressed island, to confront this regime that does everything possible to punish you, your families, and make your lives impossible," he expressed.
He also acknowledged that many have chosen exile, but he commended those who continue to resist from within: “It’s a huge risk, we know that.”
The Secretary of State denounced the conditions in which the majority of the Cuban people live. “We know that you are suffering from shortages of everything: medicine, electricity, and more.”
"And all of this is the result of a regime that simply does not know how to govern, that does not know how to manage a country, and is only interested in staying in power," he said sternly.
Rubio insisted that the Cuban people are not alone. “They have our support, the support of our embassy, and the backing of a community in the United States that watches them every day,” he assured.
He stated that, in every possible space, both diplomatic and institutional, the Cuban cause is defended and the sacrifice of those who fight within the island is remembered.
“We pray every day that God blesses all of you, and that Cuba will soon be free, sovereign, and independent, and that the fate of Cuba will be in the hands of its people,” he concluded.
This message from Rubio adds to a series of recent actions by his office and the U.S. government in support of Cuban dissidents.
The day before, diplomat Mike Hammer hosted a reception in Havana with activists and independent journalists despite harassment from State Security.
In that event, a previous message from Rubio was also projected, reaffirming the policy of "zero tolerance" towards the regime's repression.
The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar also reaffirmed this Wednesday her commitment to the freedom of Cuba, just a few days before the anniversary of July 11, when thousands of Cubans took to the streets in 2021 to demand a change in the system.
“Thank you, Secretary Rubio, for standing firm with the Cuban people and for reaffirming, once again, our unbreakable commitment to their freedom,” he wrote on Facebook.
"Just days before the anniversary of July 11, the United States makes it clear to the regime: we will never turn our backs on the Cuban people. The struggle for a free, sovereign, and democratic Cuba remains alive. And we will not rest until it becomes a reality," he added.
His message is a direct reaction to Marco Rubio's participation, via the internet, in the meeting at Mike Hammer's residence in Havana.
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