People gather at Fort Myers restaurant in support of Cuban liberation

It’s been one week since people began taking to the streets in order to support the Cuban people in their fight against communism.

On Sunday, dozens of people gathered at La Parilla Boricua in Fort Myers. But, to understand today’s protests, we need to understand Cuba’s history.

Joe Beene came to Fort Myers from Lehigh Acres to join the protest. “Communism is taking over. They’re killing people. The people they didn’t take care of to begin with,” said Beene.

For 56 years, Cuba has been ruled by a communist regime. The people there have had to cope for those 56 years.

They’ve had to cope with limited food, frequent power outages and torture at the hands of their government.

“Awareness. There’s too many people that have no idea what’s going on. They don’t care because they don’t know what’s at stake and they need to know. They need to care,” said Beene.

Beene stood with many others on Sunday in Fort Myers. One week after the Cuban people said enough is enough and stood up for their freedom. This for the first time in decades.

Beene says he will use the freedom he has in our country to speak up for those who have been silenced in theirs.

Gloria Jordan also attended the protest. “So we’re here. Doing what they can’t do free. That’s what we’re doing right now,” Jordan said.

Jordan and Beene will continue to use their voices in hopes that, someday, the people of Cuba will be able to use theirs freely.

“They’re our neighbors. I mean freedom… You got to keep it alive around the world,” said Jordan.