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Palm Beach County Officials Express Solidarity With Cuban Protesters

Rick Gonzalez stands and speaks to a group of Palm Beach County community members who sit in chairs and at surrounding tables. Artworks sits on the walls behind the people
Shianne Salazar
/
WLRN News
Rick Gonzalez speaking among Palm Beach County community members

Palm Beach County elected officials and community members gathered at The Box Gallery to express solidarity with the people of Cuba.

It’s been five days since protests and the #SOSCUBA crisis sparked global outcry and calls for solidarity with Cubans.

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Several of the speakers at Thursday's event are of Cuban or Hispanic origin and shared their personal experiences as immigrants that were capable of ascending the American dream — an opportunity that generations of Cubans have not been so lucky to have.

Rick Gonzalez is a businessman who emigrated from Cuba with his family when he was a baby. He says the dictatorship has impacted his family for five generations and that he takes solace in knowing that his elderly parents are able to witness this unprecedented uprising.

“The beginning of the end started,” he said, “they [Cuban people] won’t leave on boats this time. The change will come from them, it will come from within.”

He believes that Cuba is the tipping point for Latin America at large as the events that continue to unfold have no historical equivalent.

“You cannot do in other places what you can do in America,” he said, “I’m a Republican but I can see that [President Joe] Biden has a real opportunity to make change.”

Without access to the internet and reputable media sources on the island, accurate information is limited. Panelists urged those listening to write letters to Sen. Rick Scott and to continue to lend support for Cuban by demanding transparency and military intervention.

Shianne Salazar is a former intern and freelancer at WLRN News.
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