Cuba protests echo from Havana to Miami [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Miamians on Sunday held a rally to show their support for Cubans who are going against their government due to the lack of basic necessities and vaccines amid the pandemic.
• Cuban President Miguel Diaz Canel criticized the “revolutionary” citizens and blamed the US.
• Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis since the Soviet Union’s downfall.

As Cubans rally against their government due to lack of food and COVID-19 vaccines, thousands of Miamians in the US threw their support by going out to the streets and protesting in solidarity on Sunday.

The same day in Cuba, citizens organized demonstrations against Cuban President and Communist Party leader Miguel Diaz Canel as the nation suffered its biggest economic crisis and a resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Cuba was also enduring the sanctions enforced by the Trump administration.

According to the Associated Press, Sunday’s protest was considered one of the largest anti-government rallies in Cuba.

In Miami, thousands of citizens gathered in the Little Havana community to show their support with the Cubans.

In some videos shared on social media, it could be seen that people were singing and dancing as some rally participants held signs and waved Cuba’s flag.

The Miami Police Department had to shut down the area as officials urged other residents to “avoid the area until further notice.”

In a tweet, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her support: “We stand united with the Cuban people on the island and across our community at this historic moment in the struggle for freedom, dignity, and basic human rights – may their courageous actions bring about real change and move us closer to the dream of a free Cuba.”

Speaking with a Miami Herald reporter, the Miami police observed that there were around 5,000 rally participants, noting that no arrests had been made and only one case of medical emergency was reported.

In response, Canel denounced those what he called as “revolutionary” citizens and criticized the US for adding fuel to the fire.

“We are prepared to do anything,” the Cuban president said. “We will be battling in the streets.”

In a separate tweet, US National security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed support for the protesters.

“[The] US supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights,” he wrote.

Reportedly, Cuba is experiencing its worst economic downfall since the collapse of the soviet union in 1992, per Reuters.

Cuban demonstrators across the island nation have been calling for “freedom” and democracy” as they struggled to avail of basic essential needs, which include the COVID-19 vaccine. Authorities have shut down the internet services throughout Havana in a bid to prevent people from uploading photos and footage of the ongoing protests.

“We are fed up with the queues, the shortages. That’s why I’m here,” a protester told the AP, who requested to remain anonymous over fears of getting detained.

Source: YAHOO News