St. Petersburg has joined the growing chorus of communities supporting peaceful protests by the repressive Cuban government both throughout the island nation and in its neighbor, 90 miles north – Florida.
Protests broke out in early July as Cubans took to the streets to demand access to basic necessities such as food, Covid-19 vaccines and internet services. Resources were scarce during the country’s 62-year dictatorship, and US embargoes to punish the regime are adding to the problem. Home to over a million Cubans – by far the largest population in the United States – it wasn’t long before protests broke out across Florida, especially in cities with large Cuban communities like Miami and Tampa.
While no large-scale protests have taken place in St. Pete, the city council expressed its solidarity with the people who were calling for change at Thursday’s meeting. The chairman of the council, Ed Montanari, proposed the resolution, which was subsequently adopted unanimously. Montanari has personal connections to Cuba that convey the plight of its people even more.
“I would like to send a message from the city of St. Petersburg that the demonstrators in Cuba will be heard and that we have heard their calls for freedom and democracy,” said Montanari. “You work here in the fifth largest city in Florida.”
Montanari added that he would like city officials to stand by the people of Cuba when they protest for basic freedoms that Americans take for granted. He said the Cuban people deserve freedom, democracy, health, security and prosperity and “we need to send a message that we stand by their side as they march for freedom”.
“The time is now; we cannot wait any longer.”
After the vote, resident and city council candidate Lisset Hanewicz told a painful story about how the atrocities in Cuba hit her personally. She said her family emigrated to Florida in the 1960s, but not before her grandfather was killed by the Castro regime. Her grandfather was torn from his home by the authorities on charges of defying the communist government. They took him to prison without due process, and two days later Hanewicz’s grandmother was told that he was dead, allegedly by suicide.
Due to the condition of his body, his family could only identify him by his hands.
Hanewicz, who was born in Tampa, said it was unimaginable what her family went through when they left the birthplace they love with “nothing but their life, knowledge and hope.” What have they won? She asked rhetorically?
“Freedom,” she replied. “Freedom of facts, freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, freedom of the press. Freedom.”
Hanewicz added that in Cuba, until recently, homosexuality was a criminal offense with incarceration in labor camps. To date, speaking out against the government will result in imprisonment and prison terms. Cuban artists are still severely punished for exercising their freedom of expression.
“It’s just happening,” she said. “There are only 90 miles separating Cuba and the United States, but we are worlds when it comes to freedom and freedom.”
Montanari stated that his grandparents lived in Cuba before the revolution and that his grandfather was buried there. His mother was born in Cuba and moved here to study at the University of Florida.
“Cuba has a special place in my heart and in the heart of my family,” said Montanari. “I am glad that we can support the right of the Cuban people to the same freedoms that we enjoy here in this country.”
Councilor Robert Blackmon thanked Montanari for presenting the resolution and said the situation in Cuba had “been bad for far too long”. Blackmon said that in a city as open and diverse as St. Petersburg, the contrast between the everyday freedoms we take for granted and the Cuban people’s struggle to achieve them is striking.
“The fighting is literal, and life and death matter to our southern neighbors,” Blackmon said. “The Cuban people deserve openness, they deserve information, they deserve dignity, they deserve quality of life and they simply deserve freedom.”
The post City of St. Petersburg officially supports protests, Cubans • St. Pete Catalyst first appeared on Daily Florida Press.
from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/city-of-st-petersburg-officially-supports-protests-cubans-%e2%80%a2-st-pete-catalyst/
No comments:
Post a Comment