A caravan of Cubans from across the country left early Sunday morning to America’s capital; their goal was to gather outside the White House once more and stay overnight.
What We Know:
- Demonstrators in Washington, D.C. stood outside and held a candlelight vigil to commemorate Cuba’s historic 26th of July events. On that date in 1953, Fidel Castro attempted his first political overthrow of President Fulgencio Batista. His revolutionary soldiers conducted an attack on the Moncada military barracks in Santiago de Cuba.
- Although the event ended in his arrest, it symbolized the first time a group challenged Batista’s leadership, and also garnered him more support from the Cuban people. Once released from jail in 1955, he used this failed coup to create the 26th of July Movement, which helped him successfully take over Cuba in 1959. The communist party celebrates this date each year, but to Cubans against the government, it symbolizes oppression.
- Cuban-Americans did the vigil outside the White House as a way for President Joe Biden to see they want him to do more for the island. Demonstrators held signs calling for military intervention and internet access restoration. Others asked the U.S. and more countries for a “humanitarian intervention” in which they ensure supplies and equipment will directly go to Cuban citizens. Recently, Biden sanctioned Cuba’s military leader and the Black Wasps for human rights violations. The United States additionally joined twenty other countries in condemning Cuba’s government. However, Cuban-Americans emphasized it is not what the island needs.
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar of Miami joined the candlelight vigil as well. Salazar has made it a priority to pressure Biden into taking more action on the island. Her fellow politicians, such as Carlos Gimenez, Mario Diaz-Balart, Rick Scott, and more, joined her later Monday morning. The group went on stage and called for the U.S. President to do everything in his power to speak out against the communist regime and to bring internet to Cuba. The political figures also sent a letter to Biden after the event asking for a meeting to discuss concerns.
“The White House can do two things, rally the international community and turn on the Wi-Fi,” said Salazar.
- After elected officials spoke, the crowd moved to the Cuban Embassy and Lafayette Park. Although protesters held a permit that allowed them to stay all day at Lafayette Park, the Secret Service asked them to leave at around 2 p.m. citing security concerns about the president’s meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. Once the meeting concluded at 3:30, demonstrators continued their fight for their homeland.
The Cuban-Americans’ fight follows the islanders’ historic fight against the 62-year communist regime on July 11. Despite facing jail time or death, citizens throughout Cuba’s municipalities took to the streets to demand governmental change. Since then, many on the island have disappeared or been unjustly incarcerated, but continue to fight for their independence.
