North Miami-Dade News

On July 11, 2024, Representative María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) marked the third anniversary of the historic July 11 protests in Cuba by announcing a new mobile application designed to help Cuban citizens bypass government-imposed internet censorship. The app, called Delta Chat, aims to maintain internet connectivity even when access is restricted by the state.

Salazar highlighted the significance of this technological development for Cuban protestors. "Three years ago today, brave Cubans took to the streets protesting for freedom and an end to the regime’s oppression. The communist Cuban regime beat them and brutalized them, and when the protestors tried to communicate their cries for liberty, they shut down their Internet access through ETECSA," she stated. "There is a new app called Delta Chat, and I encourage every Cuban to download it right now. Because the next time you take to the streets to shout for liberty and to cry for ‘Patria y Vida’, ETECSA will shut your Internet down again. But this time, they will fail."

According to Salazar, Delta Chat will enable Cubans to organize more effectively and document instances of repression despite government efforts to limit communication during protests.

The State Department has informed Congresswoman Salazar that Delta Chat can allow Cubans to retain internet access by utilizing networks typically reserved for government officials during shutdowns imposed by ETECSA.

In addition to announcing the app, Salazar introduced a resolution alongside Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Carlos Giménez (R-FL), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY). The resolution documents crimes committed by the Cuban regime and opposes any changes in U.S. policy toward Cuba without significant democratic reforms.

For further details on Congresswoman Salazar's efforts regarding accountability for crimes against Cubans or her full remarks in both English and Spanish, additional resources are available online.