Gloria Estefan issues passionate plea to Biden administration to provide Cuban assistance amid pro-freedom protests: 'Now they are saying ENOUGH'



Gloria Estefan, Cuban-born superstar, demands that President Joe Biden and his administration condemn Cuban dictatorship, which is leading to dangerous protests across the Cuban nation.

The anti-government protests for freedom began in early July and have been some of the largest in decades on the island.

What are the details?

Estefan, 63, in a Friday Instagram post issued a lengthy, impassioned plea for the United States and other world allies to aid the Cuban people.

Estefan wrote, "FREEDOM FOR CUBA!! My heart hurts for the Cuban people on the island & what they've already gone through for over 62 years…But now they are saying ENOUGH despite the beatings, the murders & incarcerations, the abuses of power, the starvation & the attempted destruction of their spirits! They need our support & that of the democratic & free countries of the world. The United Nations &, very especially, the United States, must strongly condemn the repressive & violent measures being taken by the Cuban government against their own people! Spread the images, spread the word!"

The post included video footage of Cuban protests.

Last week, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said the United States embargo was to blame for "politics of economic asphyxiation."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken denies that protests have anything to do with the United States.

"I think it would be a grievous mistake for the Cuban regime to interpret what is happening in dozens of towns and cities across the island as a result or product of anything the United States has done," Blinken said in a statement on the nationwide protests.

What else?

Celebrities including Cuban-American performers Pitbull and Camila Cabello have spoken out about the ongoing crisis.

Pitbull — real name Armando Christian Pérez — proclaimed, "We need to stand up, step up, and if you don't understand what's going on, then you need to wake the f*** up. Not only is this a Cuban event, Cuban thing — this is a world event. This isn't about politics, this is about saving lives. This is about unity, not division, and the bottom line this is about taking action."

He added, "Not only do we live for freedom, we ride for freedom, we die for freedom, but we mother***ing appreciate freedom."

Cabello also shared a social media update about the protests.

"Hey guys, there is a major crisis right now in Cuba and we need your help to spread awareness," she said. "Deaths from COVID are rising rapidly and because of the lack of medicine, resources, basic necessities and even food, many people are dying. "

She continued, "Right now, there are simultaneous protests in more than 5 cities in Cuba. Our brave people took to the streets to protest for this humanitarian crisis and the people of Cuba need our help urgently. Please spread this message by posting #SOSCUBA to your feed to help bring awareness and support to my people."

Florida Republican politicians Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio have also called for the Biden administration to take immediate action to restore internet to the country — which the government reportedly cut in order to stifle news of the melee.

"Technology exists to provide internet access into Cuba remotely, using the innovation of American enterprise and the diverse industries here," DeSantis wrote in a letter to the president.

Rubio added, "American technical capacity, coupled with the physical proximity of Cuba to the United States and its interests, make providing unrestricted access to the island an attainable and morally imperative goal. Today, U.S. companies stand ready and willing to support this effort with the support of the federal government. Bringing free and open internet will help the Cuban people communicate with one another without censorship and repression and show them that the world stands beside them in their quest for liberty."

FCC commissioner says federal government has technology to deliver internet access to Cuba — but Biden needs to approve it



The Republican commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission is arguing that the technology exists to deliver internet to Cuba as the communist regime has restricted access amid ongoing protests there. But he says the plan would need approval from President Joe Biden.

"There's an urgent need right now, [but] a lot depends on the level of federal support," FCC Commission Brendan Carr told the Washington Free Beacon last week, regarding a plan that would leverage a defunct Google initiative to fly high-altitude balloons over Cuba.

The massive balloons, capable of hovering miles above the earth in international airspace, would act as cell towers, theoretically allowing Cubans to acquire enough internet connectivity to share videos and photos on social media.

Google shut down the internet balloon service, called Loon, in January, saying it wasn't commercially viable. But the crisis in Cuba may provide the perfect opportunity to put the project back into use.

"I would say the goal is not universal coverage with speeds that would allow you to download Netflix," Carr noted. "The question is, how do we create the opportunity to continue to share videos and photos?"

Cubans protesting for freedom have reportedly had their internet access restricted in recent days by the communist regime as part of an effort to clamp down on the protests and hide the pro-democracy movement from the outside world.

Last week, as the protests spontaneously broke out, videos of the demonstrations were shared on social media under the hashtag #SOSCuba. But in the days since, the regime has appeared to close off access to popular platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Telegram, and Twitter.

National political figures, including Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, have urged the Biden administration to support efforts to restore internet access to Cuba. They warned that without internet access, the Cuban people could "more easily be monitored, suppressed, detained, and brutalized by the regime without accountability."

During a press conference Thursday, Biden said his administration is aware of the internet restrictions in Cuba and is "considering whether we have the technology to reinstate that [internet] access."

Meanwhile, momentum has increased behind the push to use high-altitude balloons to do so. The Wall Street Journal editorial board argued in favor of the plan over the weekend, and numerous other outlets have reported on the possibility.

In addition to Project Loon, more than 1 million Cubans have already been granted access to the internet through censorship-circumvention software supported by the U.S., called Psiphon Inc.

Cuban American UFC star Jorge Masvidal slams Colin Kaepernick as a 'coward' for praising Fidel Castro, blasts 'evil communists'



UFC star Jorge Masvidal had some fighting words for former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. The Cuban American UFC fighter blasted Kaepernick for praising Fidel Castro, and condemned the communist regime of Cuba by calling it a "killing machine."

Masvidal shared a Turning Point USA post that reads: "American leftists who know nothing about real oppression & communism wear images of Castro... while Cubans living in the horrors of communism and real oppression are waving the American flag."

The post features a 2016 photo of Kaepernick wearing a t-shirt with Fidel Castro on it countered with a picture of Cubans waving the American flag.

"Know ur history and facts cowards like this fool should be sent to live in Cuba see what they say after a day there," Masvidal wrote on Instagram.

View post on imgur.com

When asked about wearing a t-shirt with an oppressive dictator on it, Kaepernick claimed that he praised Castro for his "investment in education" and "investment in universal health care."

"I agree with the investment in education," the former NFL quarterback told reporters. "I also agree with the investment in free universal health care as well as the involvement in helping end apartheid in South Africa. …I would hope that everybody agrees those things are good things. And trying to push the false narrative that I was a supporter of the oppressive things that he did is just not true."

"One thing that Fidel Castro did do is they have the highest literacy rate because they invest more in their education system than they do in their prison system," Kaepernick continued. "Which we do not do here, even though we're fully capable of doing that."

Kaepernick then used the opportunity to bash the United States, "We do break up families here. That's what mass incarceration is. That was the foundation of slavery. So our country has been based on that as well as the genocide of Native Americans."

Kaepernick was poised to educate the US on its oppressive history, then he wore a Fidel Castro shirt. #irony https://t.co/M2KzSoNkbS

— Jordan Allott (@JordanAllott) 1472527736.0

Last week, Masvidal showed his support for the people of Cuba fighting for their freedom while describing the Cuban government as a "killing machine."

"I use my platforms to do what I feel is correct and I feel everybody should be doing which is fighting against oppression, dictatorships, communism, and anything of that nature," Masvidal said in a Twitter video that used the popular #SOSCuba hashtag that highlights the struggles of Cubans as they fight for liberty.

"My father escaped Cuba when he was 14-years-old and I've only heard the horror stories since I could process thoughts of how sh**ty this communist regime – killing machine is," Masvidal stated. "So I just want to shed some light on Cuba, big SOS signal for them."

"This oppression has been going on for 61 years," he added. "It's not just because of the pandemic, not just because they ran out of medicine, they've been out of medicine, they've been out of resources and food because of the corrupt government, the extreme corruption over there where only a few at the top eat and everybody else has to suffer — those days have to come to an end."

"So I think it's time for the whole world to rally behind Cuba," the UFC star said. "Let's go, spread the messages online, we gotta protest, we gotta get together, get attention."

"Maybe the local media channels in America won't cover this, or in other parts of the world. But I think it's up to us to put the word out there. It's the people against the corrupt governments," he concluded. "Let's defeat these evil communist motherf***ers, man. God bless everybody watching and thank you."

(CAUTION: Strong language):

#SOSCuba English https://t.co/on5Z25H2q0

— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) 1626139116.0

Masvidal's father lived in Cuba under the oppressive dictatorship of Fidel Castro. At the age of 14, Jorge Masvidal Sr. decided he needed to flee Cuba, so he and two others desperate to get out of the communist country constructed a jerry-rigged raft out of tractor tires and large water jugs. However, one of the water tanks wasn't fastened properly.

"But somebody messed up and one of the tanks of water wasn't wrapped up right, and it just got f***ed up with saltwater, so their drinking supply was over with," Masvidal said, adding that they were lost at sea because the trio didn't plan properly.

On the third day at sea, a starving Masvidal Sr. hunted down a seabird, then drank its blood and ate the bird. They luckily ended up in the Virgin Islands. Masvidal Sr. was then brought to Florida, where he met Jorge's mother, who was from Peru.

Rapper Pitbull delivers stirring plea to help Cubans get freedom: 'This is a world event; this is about taking action'



First-generation Cuban-American rapper Pitbull called on the international community to help deliver freedom to the Cuban people. In the impassioned video, Pitbull declares that the anti-government protests in Cuba are a "world event," adding that action must be taken to save lives.

"We need to stand up, step up and if you don't understand what's going on then you need to wake the f*** up," proclaimed Pitbull, who was born Armando Christian Pérez.

"Not only is this a Cuban event, Cuba thing — this is a world event," he added. "This isn't about politics, this is about saving lives. This is about unity, not division, and bottom line this is about taking action."

The 40-year-old rapper said he "loves" that the Cuban people are participating in the most recent anti-government demonstrations, which have been the largest on the island in 25 years.

"Not only do we live for freedom, we ride for freedom, we die for freedom, but we motherf***ing appreciate freedom," Pitbull proclaimed.

Pitbull said despite having a huge platform to speak to the world, which includes over 86 million followers on social media, that he is "frustrated" with "not being able to help my own people, not being able to get them food, not being able to get them water, not being able to get them medicine."

"But most of all, not being able to help, and really get them what they deserve ... which is freedom," he said.

Pitbull urged "all world allies" and "global businesses" to "get together to help" the Cuban people. The rapper singled out Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a person who could assist the people in Cuba.

"He's somebody that can get involved and really help us," he said.

"We need to figure out solutions while they're losing their lives over there literally for something that we wake up every day and appreciate, which is freedom," Pitbull continued.

"This is about freedom and it's about human rights," he said.

"To everyone in Cuba, keep the fight up," the rapper concluded.

(CAUTION: Explicit language)

https://t.co/pw34riWnT3

— Pitbull (@pitbull) 1626293133.0

Earlier this week, Pitbull voiced his support to the Cuban people.

"Freedom is everything. We support the Cuban people in their fight for freedom in Cuba," Pitbull wrote, adding, "Freedom, It's coming."

The post featured the hashtag #SOSCuba, which is a social media hashtag to show the world how Cubans are being treated by the repressive regime on the Caribbean island.

Freedom is everything. We support the Cuban people in their fight for freedom in Cuba. Libertad, Ya viene llegando.… https://t.co/6qiMXLqmbQ

— Pitbull (@pitbull) 1626112093.0

Pitbull has been outspoken about the dangers of communism, especially since his mother and father fled Cuba to escape Fidel Castro's reign.

"My family comes from communism, they fled communism, they had everything taken away from them, everybody got murdered, everybody got killed," Pitbull said in February. "That's the reason me, being a first-generation Cuban American, I look at freedom and I appreciate that s***. I appreciate opportunity. That comes from the fact that Castro took over everything."

Other Cuban American celebrities have shown solidarity with the demonstrators in Cuba, including Gloria Estefan. The singer, who was born in Havana, shared footage of protesters marching in the streets demanding freedom.

Estefan captioned the video, "The Cuban people are reaching their breaking point! I stand with them as I always have! #SOSCuba."

Estefan, 63, posted another video of Cubans protesting for freedom.

"FREEDOM FOR CUBA! My heart hurts for the Cuban people on the island & what they've already gone through for over 62 years," Estefan wrote on Instagram. "But now they are saying ENOUGH despite the beatings, the murders & incarcerations, the abuses of power, the starvation & the attempted destruction of their spirits!"

"They need our support & that of the democratic & free countries of the world," she added. "The United Nations &, very especially, the United States, must strongly condemn the repressive & violent measures being taken by the Cuban government against their own people! Spread the images, spread the word! VIVA CUBA LIBRE."

Fellow Cuban American singer Camila Cabello, 24, also raised awareness of the crisis in Cuba.

"Hey guys, there is a major crisis right now in Cuba and we need your help to spread awareness," Cabello said. "Deaths from COVID are rising rapidly and because of the lack of medicine, resources, basic necessities and even, food many people are dying."

"Right now, there are simultaneous protests in more than 5 cities in Cuba," the "Havana" singer wrote. "Our brave people took the streets to protest for this humanitarian crisis and the people of Cuba need our help urgently. Please spread this message by posting #SOSCUBA to your feed to help bring awareness and support to my people #SOSCuba."

Cuba's government cut off the internet earlier this week in an apparent attempt to stifle protesters from communicating with each other and reporting the events of the crisis to the rest of the world. Service was later restored, but access to social media apps was still restricted.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) urged President Joe Biden to take immediate action to restore internet access in Cuba.

"Technology exists to provide internet access into Cuba remotely, using the innovation of American enterprise and the diverse industries here," DeSantis wrote in a letter to President Biden.

Rubio also wrote a letter addressed to Biden regarding supplying internet access to the Cuban people who are currently censored by the government.

"American technical capacity, coupled with the physical proximity of Cuba to the United States and its interests, make providing unrestricted access to the island an attainable and morally imperative goal," Rubio said. "Today, U.S. companies stand ready and willing to support this effort with the support of the federal government."

"Bringing free and open internet will help the Cuban people communicate with one another without censorship and repression and show them that the world stands beside them in their quest for liberty," Rubio said.

VIDEO: Cubans wave American flag, chant 'Liberty!' in mass protests against communist dictatorship



In what some are calling the largest mass demonstration in 50 years, thousands of Cubans flooded the streets on Sunday in protest of the country's oppressive communist regime.

What happened?

Protesters in dozens of cities — from San Antonio de los Baños to Palma Soriano to the nation's capital, Havana — reportedly chanted "Liberty!" and "Freedom!" while they marched against the country's failed communist dictatorship.

"The people are dying of hunger!" one woman reportedly shouted during a demonstration in Artemisa. "Our children are dying of hunger!" Still others reportedly chanted, "We are not afraid!"

In at least one widely circulated video on social media, protesters can be seen carrying and waving the American flag as they shouted for freedom.

#Soscuba #Cuba Protestas en La Habana contra el régimen castrista, EL PUEBLO PIDE LIBERTAD! #Americateve… https://t.co/Nq1HqHKMOA

— Americateve (@Americateve) 1626036848.0

Reflecting on the video, conservative media strategist and former writer for TheBlaze Giancarlo Sopo wrote, "This is deeply moving. Watch as Cubans wave the American flag while marching against the island's 62-year-old communist dictatorship on the streets of Havana."

"Never forget what America represents to millions across the world," he added.

Several other commentators on social media also noted how the Cuban people — who have experienced firsthand the persecution that communism brings — still view the American flag as a symbol of hope and freedom.

Yet sadly in America and largely within the Democratic Party, there are many who view the flag much differently. They have some to see it as a representation of oppression and white supremacy.

JUST IN - Mass protests erupt in several cities in #Cuba over the poor state of the socialized medical system. Prot… https://t.co/huKMMmWFs7

— Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) 1626034090.0

What else?

The spontaneous mass protests were considered shocking to many since the communist regime in Cuba is known for forcefully cracking down on dissent.

But based on photos and videos posted to social media, in many areas the sheer size of the crowds overwhelmed police. In one city, protesters appeared to overrun and take control of a local communist party office.

We have NEVER seen a day like today in #Cuba 62 years of misery, repression & lies boiling over into organic, gra… https://t.co/rP3RGMoVFE

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) 1626049065.0

Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, warned that the communist regime will likely move to shut off internet and cell phone service in the country in response to the freedom rallies.

He also requested on Twitter that President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken call on members of the Cuban military not to fire on demonstrators.

In a statement obtained by the McClatchy news group, Biden reportedly expressed support for the Cuban people.

"We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom and relief from the tragic grip of the pandemic and from the decades of repression and economic suffering to which they have been subjected by Cuba's authoritarian regime," the president said.