A 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.

III 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 arbi- trarily 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR37.ATS SR37 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 37 ATS and 370, which seek to restrict artistic freedoms and si- lence 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 con- fiscation of materials, fines, or sanctions without the right to an appeal; Whereas, in July 2019, Decree 370 entered into force, regu- lating and imposing sanctions with respect to the free distribution of information through the internet and lead- ing to increased repression, arbitrary detentions, and cen- sorship 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 vio- lating fundamental freedoms and contradicting Article 54 of the 2019 Constitution of Cuba, which guarantees free- dom of expression; Whereas, in 2018, the San Isidro Movement (MSI), an orga- nization of artists, activists, academics, and journalists, began to peacefully protest increased censorship and per- secution in Cuba; Whereas Denis Solı´s Gonza´lez, 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR37.ATS SR37 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 37 ATS 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 pro- test the arbitrary detention of Denis Solı´s Gonza´lez, and during that peaceful activity, state police blocked access to the house, confiscating all food and humanitarian sup- plies; 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 au- thorities 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 forc- ibly 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 Solı´s Gonza´lez and other artists and activists in an unprecedented dem- onstration 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, includ- ing 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR37.ATS SR37 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 SRES 37 ATS 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 uni- laterally 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 Min- isters Fernando Rojas and Fernando Leo´n Jacomino, physically assaulted a group of 20 to 30 artists who had gathered outside the Ministry of Culture to restart a dia- logue 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 inde- pendent journalists continue to bravely advocate for fun- damental freedoms and denounce human rights violations in Cuba: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) expresses solidarity with the members of the 2 San Isidro Movement and their efforts to advance 3 freedom of expression in Cuba; 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR37.ATS SR37 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 SRES 37 ATS (2) calls on Cuban authorities to engage in a 1 meaningful dialogue process with the members of 2 the San Isidro Movement and other artists and ac- 3 tivists seeking to advance freedom of expression in 4 Cuba; 5 (3) calls on the Government of Cuba to imme- 6 diately release Denis Solı´s Gonza´lez and other arbi- 7 trarily imprisoned artists and journalists; 8 (4) urges the officials of the Ministry of Culture 9 of Cuba to refrain from physical violence and any 10 other acts of repression against Cuban artists and 11 journalists; 12 (5) calls for the immediate repeal of Decrees 13 349 and 370 and other laws in Cuba that violate 14 freedom of expression; 15 (6) urges governments and legislatures in Eu- 16 rope and Latin America to renew their support for 17 democratic activists in Cuba and speak out against 18 the repression of artists and journalists in Cuba; 19 and 20 (7) encourages the Secretary of State to con- 21 demn the persecution, threats, and intimidation of 22 Cuban artists and journalists. 23 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:35 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR37.ATS SR37 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS