Why this Cuban American Returned to Cuba After 20 Years Away | U.S. Voices Against the Blockade

"I am Cuban. Although I was born in the United States, I am Cuban American, Cuban first. And my people here, my family are suffering because of the actions of the United States. I have the responsibility to do something, to fight for the voices of the Cuban people," said Lavender Hernández, Cuban-American teacher and activist.

"Many of us have come here in recent days to bring solidarity, to bring donations, solar panels, solar batteries, food, medicine, aid, so many crucial things that are needed, that are hard to get right now because of the blockade imposed by the United States of America," she said.

"I haven't been here in 20 some years. So this is my first time back here interacting with the community, with the people of Havana," Hernández said.

"Some people are lacking hope. But as I've talked to them and explained to them what we're doing, what our mission here is, I can see hope restoring in their eyes. And that, for me, means so much," she added.

"People in the United States want the blockade to end or to be lifted. I'm a Cuban American from Union City, New Jersey, which is known as 'Havana on the Hudson.' It's the city with the second largest Cuban-American population in the United States. I come from that community saying that we are not in support of the blockade. We are with you. We hear you. We love you," Hernández said.

"My grandma always used to tell me that when I came to Cuba, I would take off my shoes, take off my clothes, and walk and walk all around Camagüey. My grandmother came to the United States in the 1980s during the Mariel boatlift. She came because of the persecution of homosexual people that was happening in Cuba at that time," she said.

"Cuba has learned that they have made those mistakes. And they've learned from those mistakes, and they've changed those mistakes, and they've progressed so far that now, to this very day, Cuba is one of the most accepting countries for queer people. The LGBT community is safe and accepted here. This bill that just passed in Cuba where the whole family is protected, it's such an amazing law that protects not just queer people, it protects everyone," Hernández said.

"Thanks everybody for coming. Thank you so much for your solidarity," the activist said during a speech at Callejón de Hamel.

"The blockade must end now so people can finally see a future here on their island," she said.

"Right now, it's the harshest times for Cubans. It is the roughest times for Cubans. But look at everyone. Even though it's so hard, Cubans stand tall. We stand proud. And that's one thing I've taken with me everywhere I've lived in the world. I stand proud, and I stand tall because that is what Cuba taught me," Hernández concluded.