Bob Menendez: “I and my colleagues wish to commemorate Cuba Solidarity Day and the struggle of the Cuban people against a constant…”

“I and my colleagues wish to commemorate Cuba Solidarity Day and the struggle of the Cuban people against a constant denial of their basic liberties. Yesterday, we marked the day in 1902 when Cuba won its independence from Spain. Yesterday, we celebrated the birth of their nation; today, we express our hope that the island will experience a new birth of freedom. Today, we express our solidarity with Cuba's political prisoners, democracy advocates, and human rights activists who risk their lives so that freedom might live. About 6 months ago I spoke on the Senate floor with my colleague, Senator Martinez, to express outrage that 70 Cuban dissidents were arrested, detained, and harassed. These 70 Cubans, according to the Cuban regime, had committed the crime of peaceful assembly. These young people were simply walking down a street in Havana. And while they were peacefully walking, they had on their arms this wristband. The simple white wristband says one word; ``cambio''. Unfortunately, as we have seen for decades from this regime, this denial of a basic liberty was not an isolated incident. This regime has been marked by fear and repression for decades. For decades, they have denied freedom of press, freedom of speech and freedom to peacefully assemble. They have refused to hold free and fair elections which represent the will of the Cuban people. They have denied the most basic human rights to its citizens.”