Sunday, July 18, 2021
WSHS YOUNG DEMS
NEWSLETTER
Leo Moreira and Zachary Roz
Cuban Protests
Governmental Tensions increase, issues reaching beyond pandemic
In recent times, around the pandemic,
Cuba has been struggling to manage
several shortages in essential supplies, such
as food and medicine. Resource shortages
have also worsened in recent months due
to increased demands following the
summer heat wave. The country’s
economic crisis, while unfortunate, has
been known to its people for decades.
However, with almost overwhelming
financial pressures on Cuba’s government,
run by the self-named Communist Party of
Cuba, many have been led to the streets to
demand change.
On Sunday, July 11, the island country was
rocked with protests surrounding the
island in many of its major cities and rural
areas. In an interview with NBC News,
Caridad Montes, a Cuban native, says that
while she did not participate in the protests
directly, she understands their purpose as
well as why they were held.
Anmar Khalil, July 17 2021, AP Photo
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Keira Ordonez
Fire Breaks out in Covid-19
Hospital in Iraq
At Least 60 Dead
Late Monday, a fire swept across the
Coronavirus ward of Imam Hussein
Teaching Hospital in southern Iraq. The
fire burned for over three hours, causing
chaos at the scene, which led to unclear
information about the incident. At first,
officials put out statements declaring that
92 bodies had been found dead.
Issue #7
“They are tired of the hardships and want
changes for the better,” said Montes.
Alongside its political and economic crisis,
Cuba is also attempting to deal with its
sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.
On the Monday after protests sparked, the
island registered over 6,000 new cases
(NBC), raising new concerns. But despite
these new numbers, many have observed
the island’s strict restrictions regarding the
pandemic in the past.
However, these heavy restrictions, created
both domestically and internationally,
came at the expense of the country’s
already weakened economy. Following the
travel restrictions set by former president
Donald Trump, one of Cuba’s most
valuable and profitable industries was
wounded: tourism. This, in conjunction
with the declined aid from Venezuela and
closed borders (lasting eight months),
citizens and families began to express their
frustration.
However, the head of the health ministry
came forward saying that only 72 deaths
had occurred, leading to him resign that
day after the confusion in the death
count. It was later cleared up by officials
that the death count was 60 people. The
cause of the fire was damaged wiring to an
oxygen tank, which made the tank
explode.
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With greater border restrictions, Cuban
Americans around the U.S. found great
difficulty sending money and medicine to
loved ones back in Cuba, raising flags on
economic and health conditions on the
island. All these difficulties sparked a
conversation not just in Cuba, but around
the world. Sudden protests, arising in places
like Havana, Miami Florida, and elsewhere,
have made headlines as both Cubans and
allies continue to fight for awareness and
change.
Brendan Cole, July 15 2021, Newsweek
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Kendall Kurila
SSI Restoration Act
Providing Income for Disabled
Americans
The SSI is a federal program that aids
disabled Americans who cannot work, or
to those whose work is limited. The
program has not been updated since it was
introduced in the 80s. This means that
those who rely on the program for income
are now living below the poverty line, and
if they can work, cannot make enough
money to reach it without losing their
benefits. The updated bill would increase
benefits to the poverty line and increase
the amount individuals can earn a month
to $399 from working and $123 from
other sources like Social Security. It would
also allow those on disability to get married
without losing their benefits. The bill has
been introduced to Congress with many
democratic supporters and is backed by
over 87 organizations.
CBPP, June 30 2021, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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