III 117th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 489 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 José 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 José 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 José 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 José 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 José 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 Pérez, Loreto Hernández García and wife, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, Didier Eduardo Almagro Toledo, Nidia Bienes Paseiro, Demis Valdés Sarduy, Misael Díaz Paseiro, Arianna López Roque, twin sisters Lisdani Rodríguez Isaac and Lisdiani Rodríguez 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

That the Senate— (1) condemns the repression of José 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 José 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.