WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) delivered floor remarks regarding the ongoing protests in Cuba.

To watch Senator Blackburn’s speech, click below or here.

You can read the transcript below or in the Congressional Record.

Madam President, this weekend, the people of Cuba

rose up in opposition to their repressive socialist government.

I think it is important to be clear on that point because much of the

mainstream media that is reporting on these protests makes it sound as

if everything is pandemic related, but what is happening in Cuba is not

an economic fluke, and every single person serving in this body,

working in the media, and analyzing the policy implications knows

better than to say otherwise.

This isn't the pop socialism touted by the American left. It is not

fashionable. There is no empowerment or equality in the socialist

regime; there is just starvation, shortages, violence, and failure. For

62 years, the ruling Communists have bled the Cuban people dry, and now

armed thugs have taken to the streets to repress the opposition at any

cost.

Make no mistake, this is a test for President Biden. He must draw a

line in the sand.

I call on my colleagues in the majority and on President Biden and

the members of his Cabinet to join me in supporting all who would risk

their lives to expose the ravages of socialism in Cuba.

We must lead in discussions with the U.N. and the EU and coordinate

opposition to this violence being carried out against the people of

Cuba.

We must demand that the Cuban Government allow for a free and open

internet and initiate investigations into if and how Havana used

technology supported by the Chinese Communist Party to cut off access

to the internet just as the protests started gaining mainstream

attention.

We cannot stand by while Communist thugs gun down their own people.

We cannot let this become another Venezuela.

Just as we stand with the freedom fighters suffering in Hong Kong, on

mainland China, and in other socialist regimes around the world, we

must stand with the people of Cuba.