On, July 11, 2023, VOC co-hosted two events commemorating the two year anniversary of the July 11, 2021 pro-democracy protests in Cuba.
The first event, a press conference organized by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, Center for a Free Cuba, Cuba Decide, Outreach Aid to the Americas, and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, which took place in the Rayburn building on Capitol Hill.
Cuban dissidents spoke about their experiences under the communist regime. The names of victims who died on July 11, 2021, as well as the names of political prisoners who are still jailed were read aloud.
Members of Congress spoke including Rep. Carlos Giménez, Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, Rep. Rick Scott, Rep. Alex Mooney, and Rep. Bob Menendez. Rosa María Payá, daughter of Oswaldo Payá and founder of Cuba Decide, along with Karina Lipsman, VOC’s Director of Government Relations also spoke.
The event at Rayburn was followed by a vigil outside of the Cuban embassy.
The vigil was organized by John Suarez, Executive Director at Center for Free Cuba and Rosa María Payá, founder of Cuba Decide, as well as co-hosted by VOC. Representatives from Young Americas Foundation joined the vigil in solidarity.
The group prayed in front of the embassy and displayed pictures of some of the thousands of political prisoners currently jailed in Cuba, as well as those that have lost their lives. The names of protestors who died on July 11th 2021 were read aloud as well as the names of political prisoners.
