Illustration Credit: Emad Hajjaj / Cagle Cartoons
More than 60 Cuban citizens faced trial this week in the Caribbean island nation, facing war crimes charges for protesting against their country’s government last year. The 2021 protests were the largest in Cuba since 1959, when the Communist Party took control of the government. Some of the protesters could spend up to 30 years in prison. Those on trial this week are among the over 620 protesters who have faced or will face trial in connection with last year’s manifestations.
The United States government levied new targeted sanctions on Cuba last July, when the government launched a broad crackdown on demonstrators. When activists planned another series of protests in November, the government largely repressed the demonstrations, forcing some leading dissidents to flee the country.
