US Imposes Sanctions Against Cuban Regime In Support Of Protestors

President Joe Biden authorized new U.S. sanctions Thursday against Cuban officials responsible for the oppression of peaceful protestors.

This marks the White House’s first action since Cuba’s crackdown last week. Officials have been pressuring Biden to act against the Cuban regime, which has been detaining protestors and cutting access to the internet.

“I unequivocally condemn the mass detentions and sham trials that are unjustly sentencing to prison those who dared to speak out in an effort to intimidate and threaten the Cuban people into silence,” Biden said in a statement.

The White House will work with Latin American partners to “pressure the regime to immediately release wrongfully detained political prisoners, restore internet access, and allow the Cuban people to enjoy their fundamental rights,” the statement said.

They will also restaff the U.S. embassy in Havana to provide consular services to Cubans and improve diplomatic efforts.

Cuban police have arrested around 500 demonstrators and activists who took their concerns to the streets on July 11 to protest against their restricted access to basic goods, including food, medicine and COVID-19 vaccines.

Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, said the administration will be applying “hard-hitting sanctions on regime officials responsible for the brutal crackdown” on the Cuban people.

“Cuban officials responsible for violence, repression, & human rights violations against peaceful protestors in Cuba must be held accountable,” Chung posted Wednesday on Twitter.

The White House will also expedite any request to export humanitarian or medical supplies to Cuba's people and urge international partners to do the same, according to Chung.