Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio Meet With Cuban Democracy Activist

Floridas two U.S. senators -- Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Marco Rubio -- joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J., to meet with Jorge Luis Garc Pez Antez, a prominent Cuban democracy activist, on Tuesday. They touched base on opposition to the Castro regime and the policies of Cubas Communist government.

Antez is one of the bright lights of Cuba's democracy movement, and one of its most courageous leaders who deserves our continued support, said Rubio. The United States should stand on his side, along with all the Cuban people demanding their God-given freedoms. America's role should be to provide Cuba's democracy movement with moral support, promote greater access to uncensored information among Cubans in the island, and deprive the Castro regime of funding for its repressive apparatus through misguided policies such as the 'people to people' program that encourages American tourism to this imprisoned island. I thank Antez for continuing to share his story with the world and encourage him to continue doing so, knowing that his efforts are destined to eventually result in a free Cuba. Knowing the Castro regime will want to punish Antez for this trip, it is critical that we monitor his eventual return to Cuba and demand his and his family's safety.

Mr. Antez wants Americans to know that human rights and basic freedoms still are being denied the people of Cuba, said Nelson. His visit to our country is meant to be a reminder that we must continue our efforts to bring democracy to the Cuban people.