Biden Asks Cuban Leaders to Listen to Demonstrators, Following Large Protest in Cuba
2021-07-13
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1American President Joe Biden asked Cuban leaders to listen to the people after thousands marched to protest food shortage and high prices during the pandemic.
2In a statement, Biden said: "We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom."
3Biden also called on the Cuban government to "hear their people and serve their needs."
4On Sunday, thousands of Cubans marched in the capital city of Havana saying "Freedom," "Enough" and "Unite."
5The protests came as people complain about food supply, financial problems and a lack of access to a COVID-19 vaccine.
6The Associated Press said one man, who did not want to be named because he was worried about being arrested,
7said "we are fed up" with the lack of supplies and the constant waiting in line for basic services.
8Experts who follow Cuba say the protests were the biggest in about 30 years.
9Cuba is in the middle of its worst crisis in many years due to the combination of restrictions from the international health crisis and economic penalties - known as sanctions - imposed by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
10The Cuban government blamed the protests on the U.S. economic sanctions and said a U.S.-based social media campaign stirred up the emotions of its people.
11Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also asked the U.S. on Monday to end its economic restrictions to help the Cuban people.
12On Sunday, thousands of Cubans marched on Galeano Avenue in Havana as police tried to move the crowd by using tear gas.
13People living alongside the street watched and cheered the protesters.
14A group of about 300 pro-government protesters also arrived, making statements in support of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s.
15The Cuban government shut down the internet on Sunday to prevent people from sending live videos with their mobile phones.
16After about two-and-a-half hours, some people pulled stones from the streets and threw them at the police.
17At that point, the Associated Press reports about 20 people were taken away by police.
18Jorge Luis Gil is a Roman Catholic priest who watched the protest.
19"The people came out to express themselves freely and they are repressing and beating them," he said.
20Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced the behavior of people who threw stones at police and government-run shops.
21He said pro-government supporters restored order after they received instructions to fight back and "defend the revolution."
22Those critical of Cuban leaders said the country's problems continue because it follows a Soviet Union-style government system.
23I'm Dan Friedell.
1American President Joe Biden asked Cuban leaders to listen to the people after thousands marched to protest food shortage and high prices during the pandemic. 2In a statement, Biden said: "We stand with the Cuban people and their clarion call for freedom." Biden also called on the Cuban government to "hear their people and serve their needs." 3On Sunday, thousands of Cubans marched in the capital city of Havana saying "Freedom," "Enough" and "Unite." The protests came as people complain about food supply, financial problems and a lack of access to a COVID-19 vaccine. 4The Associated Press said one man, who did not want to be named because he was worried about being arrested, said "we are fed up" with the lack of supplies and the constant waiting in line for basic services. 5Experts who follow Cuba say the protests were the biggest in about 30 years. 6Cuba is in the middle of its worst crisis in many years due to the combination of restrictions from the international health crisis and economic penalties - known as sanctions - imposed by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump. 7The Cuban government blamed the protests on the U.S. economic sanctions and said a U.S.-based social media campaign stirred up the emotions of its people. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also asked the U.S. on Monday to end its economic restrictions to help the Cuban people. 8The largest protest in years 9On Sunday, thousands of Cubans marched on Galeano Avenue in Havana as police tried to move the crowd by using tear gas. People living alongside the street watched and cheered the protesters. 10A group of about 300 pro-government protesters also arrived, making statements in support of former Cuban leader Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s. 11The Cuban government shut down the internet on Sunday to prevent people from sending live videos with their mobile phones. 12After about two-and-a-half hours, some people pulled stones from the streets and threw them at the police. At that point, the Associated Press reports about 20 people were taken away by police. 13Jorge Luis Gil is a Roman Catholic priest who watched the protest. 14"The people came out to express themselves freely and they are repressing and beating them," he said. 15Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel denounced the behavior of people who threw stones at police and government-run shops. He said pro-government supporters restored order after they received instructions to fight back and "defend the revolution." 16Those critical of Cuban leaders said the country's problems continue because it follows a Soviet Union-style government system. 17I'm Dan Friedell. 18Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press and Reuters. Susan Shand was the editor. 19What would you do if you lived in Cuba right now? Would you try to leave? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 20_____________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22clarion - adj. - loud and clear 23complain - v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something 24access - n. a way of being able to use or get something 25constant - adj. happening all the time or very often over a period of time 26fed up - phrasal verb - angry about something that has continued for a long time 27impose - v. to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule, or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority 28mobile - adj. able to move from one place to another 29stir up - v. to cause an emotion or reaction 30shop - n. a store 31restore - v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. 32instruction - n. an order or command