MIAMI (WSVN) – South Florida\u2019s Cuban exile community honored the anniversary of a historic demonstration with one of its own while there was another island-wide blackout.<\/p>\n
Miles away, Cuba remains in the dark.<\/p>\n
Another island-wide blackout left millions of people across Cuba without electricity for the second time in just one week, worsening the humanitarian crisis on the island.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been 67 years of the Castro communist regime, and families are struggling to find food, medicine, and clean water as daily life becomes increasingly difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow that the electricity has been out. I can\u2019t even wash my family\u2019s clothes. Everything is dirty,\u201d said a woman in Spanish. <\/p>\n
As millions face prolonged blackouts and shortages, their uncertainty for a free Cuba continues to grow.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know what needs to happen. A change of government or the situation. I don\u2019t know,\u201d said a woman in Spanish. <\/p>\n
South Florida\u2019s Cuban exile community gathered in Little Havana on Saturday to honor the fifth anniversary of a historic protest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe Cubans who have freedom here in the U.S., we should always go out and speak out for them,\u201d said a South Florida Cuban.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Cubans flooded the streets of Calle Ocho to march against the troubled island and demand freedom. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t have freedom in Cuba, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m walking. I\u2019m walking for those people who can\u2019t walk over there,\u201d said a South Florida Cuban. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe fear of the regime turned from the people fearing the dictatorship to the regime fearing the people,\u201d said a South Florida Cuban. <\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s Freedom March and Liberation Rally are to honor those who protested against the Castro communist regime, call for the release of political prisoners who are still being held in Cuba, and to continue to fight for Cuba\u2019s freedom. <\/p>\n
South Florida Cuban Arielis Cintra knows the pain all too well, as her loved one is one of those prisoners who are still being held in Cuba.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy brother is in Cuba; they imprisoned him for 10 years in Cuba prison for the 11 July. He was in the protest asking for freedom from Cuba, and they just put him in the jail,\u201d said Cintra. \u201cAsking for his freedom and all the persons that are in Cuba protesting for Cuba and asking for freedom. Cuba needs to be freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senator Mark Rubio also released a statement: <\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States will continue to use every tool at our disposal to both address the national security threats posed by the Cuban Communist regime, and to drive the economic and political reforms to give Cuba a better future. Cuba\u2019s leaders must simply choose to commit themselves to real reforms, peace, and prosperity-before it is too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
As of July 11, hundreds of Cubans remain unjustly detained for simply asking for basic rights, opportunities, and dignity, while the people continue to suffer hunger and deprivation. <\/p>\n
Miami District 3 Commissioner Rolando Escalona spoke to 7News about the pressure Cubans are experiencing. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey have never felt the pressure they are feeling right now, and that\u2019s why this is so important today because we are also saying a message to Washington, D.C. that we are ready for freedom,\u201d said Escalona. \u201cMany people are in jail nowadays; many of them also died. We want to achieve freedom for the Cuban people, and that\u2019s what we\u2019re doing this year. We\u2019re here to support all the Cuban people that are on the street.<\/p>\n
The South Florida Cuban exile community remained marching the streets of Calle Ocho on Saturday evening as they continue the fight for a free Cuba.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n
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