[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 37 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 37
Expressing solidarity with the San Isidro Movement in Cuba, condemning
escalated attacks against artistic freedoms in Cuba, and calling for
the repeal of laws that violate freedom of expression and the immediate
release of arbitrarily detained artists, journalists, and activists.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 8, 2021
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cardin, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
March 24, 2021
Reported by Mr. Menendez, with an amendment and an amendment to the
preamble
April 15, 2021
Considered, amended, and agreed to with an amended preamble
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing solidarity with the San Isidro Movement in Cuba, condemning
escalated attacks against artistic freedoms in Cuba, and calling for
the repeal of laws that violate freedom of expression and the immediate
release of arbitrarily detained artists, journalists, and activists.
Whereas artists, journalists, and activists in Cuba have faced increased
censorship, persecution, and arbitrary detention by the Government of
Cuba as a result of Decrees 349 and 370, which seek to restrict artistic
freedoms and silence independent media in Cuba;
Whereas, in December 2018, Decree 349 entered into force, requiring that artists
and those who hire them receive prior approval from the Government of
Cuba to operate in public or private spaces or otherwise be subject to
confiscation of materials, fines, or sanctions without the right to an
appeal;
Whereas, in July 2019, Decree 370 entered into force, regulating and imposing
sanctions with respect to the free distribution of information through
the internet and leading to increased repression, arbitrary detentions,
and censorship by the Government of Cuba;
Whereas international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch,
Amnesty International, the United Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Inter-American Commission on
Human Rights, have condemned Decrees 349 and 370 as violating
fundamental freedoms and contradicting Article 54 of the 2019
Constitution of Cuba, which guarantees freedom of expression;
Whereas, in 2018, the San Isidro Movement (MSI), an organization of artists,
activists, academics, and journalists, began to peacefully protest
increased censorship and persecution in Cuba;
Whereas Denis Solis Gonzalez, a musician and member of the San Isidro Movement,
was detained on November 9, 2020, and sentenced to 8 months in prison on
``contempt of authority'' charges after sharing a live video online of a
police officer entering his home without a warrant;
Whereas, on November 19, 2020, artists and activists from the San Isidro
Movement launched a day of poetry and gathered at a private residence to
discuss actions to protest the arbitrary detention of Denis Solis
Gonzalez, and during that peaceful activity, state police blocked access
to the house, confiscating all food and humanitarian supplies;
Whereas, in response to the events of November 19, 2020, 14 independent artists
and activists went on a 7-day hunger strike at the private residence,
during which state authorities allegedly contaminated water sources in
order to sicken the artists, activists, and those supporting them
through the strike;
Whereas, on November 26, 2020, state security agents forcibly entered the
protest site to remove the 14 artists and activists and 6 others
supporting them through the strike, blocking internet connectivity and
communications throughout Cuba during the raid;
Whereas, on November 27, 2020, approximately 300 people gathered outside the
Ministry of Culture of Cuba to peacefully protest the lack of artistic
freedom in Cuba and the arbitrary arrest of Denis Solis Gonzalez and
other artists and activists in an unprecedented demonstration against
the Government of Cuba, and, despite the use of tear gas by state
security forces, the protesters were undeterred;
Whereas, as a result of the protest on November 27, 2020, Cuban officials met
with 30 artists and activists, including 5 leaders of the San Isidro
Movement, and agreed to stop harassment of Cuban artists and initiate a
dialogue between the San Isidro Movement, other activists, and the
government;
Whereas, despite that commitment by Cuban officials, the Government of Cuba
subsequently escalated its attacks against the artists and activists who
participated in the meeting, including by surrounding and blocking
access to their homes;
Whereas the Cuban regime used state-controlled media to label the hunger
strikers as committing acts of terrorism;
Whereas, on December 4, 2020, the Government of Cuba unilaterally ended the
dialogue process with Cuban artists and independent civil society and
political activists;
Whereas, on January 27, 2021, officials of the Ministry of Culture, led by
Minister Alpidio Alonso and Vice Ministers Fernando Rojas and Fernando
Leon Jacomino, physically assaulted a group of 20 to 30 artists who had
gathered outside the Ministry of Culture to restart a dialogue process
with authorities and demand an end to the repression of the artistic
community;
Whereas, following the assault on the group by Minister Alonso and Vice
Ministers Rojas and Jacomino, Cuban state security forces violently
detained protesters; and
Whereas, despite the suspension of the dialogue process by the Government of
Cuba, artists, activists, and independent journalists continue to
bravely advocate for fundamental freedoms and denounce human rights
violations in Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses solidarity with the members of the San Isidro
Movement and their efforts to advance freedom of expression in
Cuba;
(2) calls on Cuban authorities to engage in a meaningful
dialogue process with the members of the San Isidro Movement
and other artists and activists seeking to advance freedom of
expression in Cuba;
(3) calls on the Government of Cuba to immediately release
Denis Solis Gonzalez and other arbitrarily imprisoned artists
and journalists;
(4) urges the officials of the Ministry of Culture of Cuba
to refrain from physical violence and any other acts of
repression against Cuban artists and journalists;
(5) calls for the immediate repeal of Decrees 349 and 370
and other laws in Cuba that violate freedom of expression;
(6) urges governments and legislatures in Europe and Latin
America to renew their support for democratic activists in Cuba
and speak out against the repression of artists and journalists
in Cuba; and
(7) encourages the Secretary of State to condemn the
persecution, threats, and intimidation of Cuban artists and
journalists.
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