Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL) met with Cuban dissident Yoani Sanchez to discuss human rights, lifting the embargo and improving engagement between the American people and Cuban people. Ms. Sanchez and her blog, Generación Y, are focused on improved human rights in Cuba. Ms. Sanchez has been touring the United States since March 14.

“I expressed to Ms. Sanchez the desire of the Tampa Bay community to promote greater economic and cultural ties between our countries, and explained the historic connections of our people, including Jose Marti’s frequent visits to Tampa during the push for Cuban independence from Spain. Ms. Sanchez, in turn, said that improved economic conditions lead to greater political empowerment. She has seen the Cuban government use the embargo as an excuse to explain away their own policies, which are hurting people on the island. We agreed that greater travel opportunities for Americans and Cubans, and the exchange of information over the Internet and social media are strongly shared goals,” Rep. Castor said.

“I also was gratified that congressional representatives on both sides of the debate over the efficacy of the embargo and freedom to travel were brought together today by Yoani Sanchez. I am convinced that greater engagement with the people of Cuba can improve human rights in Cuba. The free exchange of ideas continues to be the basis for a successful society."

Rep. Castor has been instrumental in opening people-to-people travel between Cuba and the United States, including charter flights from Tampa to provide travel access to more than 110,000 Cuban-Americans in the Tampa Bay area and nearby communities. She also supports lifting the embargo and last year joined in calling for an impartial investigation into the death of Cuban human rights activist Oswaldo Paya.

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