Sunday on Twitter, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) extended his support to the Cuban protestors voicing their opposition to the communist regime who seized control of the government when the Cuban Revolution ended in 1958.
“Florida supports the people of Cuba as they take to the streets against the tyrannical regime in Havana,” DeSantis said. “The Cuban dictatorship has repressed the people of Cuba for decades & is now trying to silence those who have the courage to speak out against its disastrous policies.”
Florida supports the people of Cuba as they take to the streets against the tyrannical regime in Havana. The Cuban dictatorship has repressed the people of Cuba for decades & is now trying to silence those who have the courage to speak out against its disastrous policies#SOSCuba pic.twitter.com/H71EYoKdUZ
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) July 11, 2021
The mainstream media and Democrats were largely silent in their coverage and comments of the Cuban protests until President Joe Biden (D) also offered his support for the Cuban protestors one day after DeSantis.
However, similar to a tweet from Julie Chung, Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Biden’s tweet seemed to indicate the cause of the protestors’ plight was due to a pandemic-induced economy.
“We stand with the Cuban people as they bravely assert their fundamental and universal rights, and as they all call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering,” Biden’s tweet said.
We stand with the Cuban people as they bravely assert their fundamental and universal rights, and as they all call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering. https://t.co/KGY3MFfsw0
— President Biden (@POTUS) July 12, 2021
Peaceful protests are growing in #Cuba as the Cuban people exercise their right to peaceful assembly to express concern about rising COVID cases/deaths & medicine shortages. We commend the numerous efforts of the Cuban people mobilizing donations to help neighbors in need.
— Julie Chung (@WHAAsstSecty) July 11, 2021
Florida Reps. Anna Eskamani (D-FL-47) and Omari Hardy (D-FL-88) took the time on Twitter to criticize DeSantis by indicating his signing of HB 1 was comparable to the policies of the communist regime in Cuba.
“Says the Governor who pushed through House Bill 1, a bill motivated as a means to silence racial justice protests,” Eskamani said.
Says the Governor who pushed through House Bill 1, a bill motivated as a means to silence racial justice protests.
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) July 12, 2021
Hardy echoed Eskamani’s sentiment while extending his support to the Cuban protestors.
“I support the Cuban people as they take to the streets & let their voices be heard & do everything they can’t do in Florida without it being labelled an ‘aggravated riot’ under Ron Desantis’s anti-protest law,” Hardy said.
I support the Cuban people as they take to the streets & let their voices be heard & do everything they can't do in Florida without it being labelled an "aggravated riot" under Ron Desantis's anti-protest law.
— Rep. Omari Hardy (@OmariJHardy) July 12, 2021
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Ron DeSantis” by Governor Ron DeSantis.
