From the offices of U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL):
On Cuban Independence Day, Ros-Lehtinen Laments the Continuing Absence of Freedom on the Island Under the Castro Regime
(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, made the following statement on May 20, the anniversary of Cuba’s Independence Day. Said Ros-Lehtinen:
“It is fitting that as we finish commemorating the death of Jose Marti, we also acknowledge Cuba’s Independence Day and are reminded of the importance of advocating for liberty and justice on the enslaved island. Had the brave heroes who fought to free Cuba from Spain known that only six decades later, the Cuban people would still be fighting for freedom and subjected to the brutal control of a communist regime, they would have been horrified. This tyranny has suffocated the rights and dignity of Cubans for more than 50 years, with the Castro brothers maintaining control and violently suppressing all dissent. We must remain clear-eyed about the reality in today’s Cuba, where there is no freedom, and the 11 million inhabitants of the island languish under the Castros’ oppressive rule. On this day, we commemorate Cuba’s gaining its independence, but also do not forget the struggle for fundamental human rights and we must recommit ourselves to stand with the people of Cuba and help them fulfill democratic changes on the island.”