[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 489 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 489

  Commending the actions of Cuban human rights and democracy activist 
   Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, and all pro-democracy and human rights 
    activists, in demanding fundamental civil liberties in Cuba and 
   speaking out against Cuba's brutal, totalitarian Communist regime.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

             January 12 (legislative day, January 10), 2022

Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Braun, and Mr. Rubio) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Commending the actions of Cuban human rights and democracy activist 
   Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, and all pro-democracy and human rights 
    activists, in demanding fundamental civil liberties in Cuba and 
   speaking out against Cuba's brutal, totalitarian Communist regime.

Whereas on July 11, 2021, protestors in more than 40 cities marched in the 
        streets of Cuba to exercise their fundamental right to peacefully 
        assemble and express their opposition to the Cuban regime, resulting in 
        the largest anti-government demonstration on the island in decades;
Whereas the Cuban protestors, in a clear message--

    (1) called for an end to communism, censorship, and oppression in Cuba; 
and

    (2) demanded basic human rights and their God-given freedom;

Whereas during the July 2021 protests, in a crude and savage effort to silence 
        the Cuban people, the Communist party--

    (1) deployed a wave of terror throughout Cuba by unleashing its secret 
police and military forces on the peaceful protestors;

    (2) harassed and threatened men, women, and children, some of whom were 
in their homes;

    (3) abducted and tortured civil society leaders; and

    (4) detained more than 1,300 Cubans, according to media reports;

Whereas Felix Navarro Rodriguez, a renowned pro-democracy activist who was 
        arrested during the ``Black Spring'' of 2003, is the President of the 
        Pedro Luis Boitel Abraham Democracy Party, and is a member of the 
        Executive Secretariat of the Democratic Action Unity Table (MUAD), was 
        arrested, then charged with the alleged crime of ``attack and public 
        disorder'', after merely appearing at a police unit in Cuba to inquire 
        about the status of members of his group who were detained during the 
        July 11 protest;
Whereas in August 2021, Felix Navarro Rodriguez, in protest of his unlawful 
        arrest, the terrible conditions in which he was being held and the 
        cruelty he suffered in prison, went on a hunger strike for 30 days, 
        remains isolated, is in a delicate state of health, and is restricted 
        from communicating with his family;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba 
        (UNPACU), is a Cuban human rights and democracy activist, who has worked 
        incessantly to promote fundamental civil liberties for the Cuban people;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia, who was born in Santiago de Cuba on July 29, 
        1970, has dedicated most of his adult life in peaceful protest against 
        Cuba's brutal and totalitarian Communist dictatorship to ensure that 
        Cubans are allowed to have a voice in matters concerning their own 
        country;
Whereas Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia was among the hundreds of activists who were 
        unlawfully detained by the Cuban regime and has been unjustly imprisoned 
        in isolation for nearly 180 days, where he has been subjected to 
        physical and psychological torture by the brutal Communist Cuban regime;
Whereas according to Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia's family, his health is dire, he 
        is suffering from severe headaches, mouth bleeding, malnutrition, bouts 
        of coughing, and the inability to sleep, all of which was caused by the 
        cruel torture and inhumane treatment he received from the Cuban regime;
Whereas a host of other pro-democracy activists have been imprisoned solely for 
        peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, including 
        Ciro Alexis Casanovas Perez, Loreto Hernandez Garcia and wife, Donaida 
        Perez Paseiro, Didier Eduardo Almagro Toledo, Nidia Bienes Paseiro, 
        Demis Valdes Sarduy, Misael Diaz Paseiro, Arianna Lopez Roque, twin 
        sisters Lisdani Rodriguez Isaac and Lisdiani Rodriguez Isaac, and Ivan 
        Hernandez Carrillo;
Whereas during the week of Christmas 2021, many of these peaceful demonstrators 
        were convicted on charges of sedition and sentenced to decades in prison 
        just for demanding basic human rights; and
Whereas the totalitarian regime is terrified of brave and courageous leaders who 
        stand resolute in fighting for a free Cuba, and will persecute, kidnap, 
        torture, or kill anyone who stands up against their tyranny:
Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) condemns the repression of Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia 
        and all brave Cuban activists, and demands their immediate and 
        unconditional release from prison;
            (2) condemns the brutal torture and inhumane treatment of 
        Jose Daniel Ferrer Garcia by the Cuban regime and calls for an 
        immediate humanitarian medical visit by an independent human 
        rights organization to him and to all political prisoners who 
        have been unjustly and illegally detained by the Cuban regime 
        since July 11, 2021;
            (3) condemns Cuba's brutal totalitarian Communist 
        dictatorship and demands an end to the suffering of the Cuban 
        people and the impunity of the Cuban regime's human rights 
        abusers;
            (4) calls for the international community to stand with the 
        Cuban people and against Cuba's totalitarian Communist regime 
        for infringing on the freedom of thought, will, expression, 
        assembly, and prosperity of the Cuban people; and
            (5) commends the courage of the pro-democracy movement and 
        all freedom activists in Cuba for risking everything to bring 
        freedom to the Cuban people.
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