President Biden is meeting with Cuban American activists at the White House Friday, after weeks of Cubans taking to the streets to protest their communist government leadership. Shortly before the meeting, the Treasury Department announced new sanctions against the Cuban police force and its leaders for cracking down on protesters.
The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday announced sanctions against Oscar Callejas Valcarce, Eddy Sierra Arias and the Policia Nacional Revolucionaria of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior. Cubans who exercised their speech in the most widespread protests in decades are now facing mass trials.
The president told the Cuban Americans he’s honored to meet them, and called the pain people are experiencing in Cuba intolerable. He said the U.S. is increasing pressure on the Cuban regime, and will continue to do so.
How to watch Biden’s meeting with Cuban American activists
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What: President Biden meets with Cuban American activists at the White House
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Date: Friday, July 30, 2021
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Time: 4:45 p.m. ET
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Location: The White House
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Online stream: Live on CBSN in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device
“What we are doing through these individual sanctions, as the president has said, is that we are focusing on individuals and entities that are involved in the crackdown, and violation of human rights by the regime,” one senior administration official told CBS News. “Part of it is to layer on sanctions, but the other one is to make sure that we are keeping these individuals in the spotlight, not just on the international community, but that the Cuban people know that United State is supporting them, and is trying to defend them.”
The official also said there will be an announcement related to efforts the U.S. is undertaking to help provide internet connectivity for the Cuban people, which the Cuban government had blocked during the protests. During his meeting with Cuban American activists, the president will discuss the historic demonstrations and the Biden administration’s response to them, including the latest sanctions on Cuban leaders and establishing internet access for the Cuban people.
The president is expected to meet with L. Felice Gorordo, CEO, eMerge Americas, & co-founder, Roots of Hope; Yotuel Romero, lead singer of the Orishas; Ana Sofia Pelaez, Founder, Miami Freedom Project; and former Miami mayor Mayor Manny Diaz. One of Romero’s songs has become a rallying cry for Cuban protestors.
Protestors calling to “free Cuba” have camped outside the White House in recent days, urging the Biden administration to do more.
The White House official said the White House has already held several meetings with Cuban American leaders and members of Congress. Earlier this month, the president ordered the State Department to create a working group to review U.S. remittance policy to make sure the money Cuban Americans send home makes it directly into the hands of their families without the Cuban regime taking a cut.
Kathryn Watson, Kristin Brown and Fin Gomez contributed to this report.
Note: Streaming plans are subject to change