The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar reacted to the recent protests in Cuba and issued a direct warning to the government of the island, urging them not to repress the demonstrators who have taken to the streets amid growing social unrest.
Through a message posted on Facebook, the legislator stated that the protests reflect the widespread discontent of the population. "Cuba is in the streets demanding freedom. To the dictatorship: no more abuses against the Cuban people!" she wrote.
Salazar shared a video in which she is seen with her cell phone, capturing the sound of pans banging in various parts of the country. The congresswoman explained that the protests were being heard from Miami and asserted that citizens have the right to express themselves.
"This is the people of Cuba, we are listening to you, the pots and pans... soon in Havana, whether in Matanzas, across the entire Island," he said.
The recording was made on Friday night, while in various cities across Cuba, people were protesting against the political system. "People are shouting freedom, down with communism. We are hearing them from here, from Miami," he added.
The legislator also directed a clear message to the Cuban authorities, warning them that the United States government is watching what is happening on the island.
"We tell the regime: do not interfere with them, they have the right to take to the streets and say what they want," he asserted.
The Republican politician emphasized that Washington is closely monitoring the situation. "We here in the United States are watching them. The federal government, as you know, President Trump. Be careful, don't touch the Cubans," he warned.
The congresswoman's statements come amid reports of protests in several municipalities across Cuba in recent hours.
Videos shared on social media show pots and pans protests and cries of dissent in areas of Havana and the province of Matanzas. The mentioned locations include municipalities such as Jagüey Grande, as well as neighborhoods in Old Havana and Marianao.
In several of those recordings, neighbors can be heard banging on pots from their homes or from the streets, often amidst the darkness caused by blackouts.
The protests are occurring against a backdrop of increasing social unrest on the Island, where the population is facing increasingly prolonged and frequent power outages.
The power outages are exacerbating tensions in the country, especially after a massive blackout that occurred in the middle of the week, worsening the energy situation.
The lack of electricity adds to other difficulties affecting daily life in Cuba, such as the shortage of food, fuel, and basic goods. Noise protests have become a way to express the population's discontent in the face of the crisis.
The night protests, accompanied by shouts of "freedom" and slogans against the communist system, are increasingly recurring in the country, reflecting the population's frustration.
María Elvira Salazar's reaction adds to the political voices from abroad that are closely watching the citizens' demonstrations in Cuba and warning of potential repression against the protesters.
The protests reflect the discontent of the population regarding the economic crisis and power outages.
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