Cuban leaders rally against US sanctions

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets outside the US embassy in Havana denouncing decades of crippling US sanctions that have plunged the island into economic hardship. Led by Raul Castro, a revolutionary icon, and President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the demonstrators chanted defiantly, “Down with the blockade” and “We will never surrender,” underscoring their rejection of US policies that have isolated Cuba for generations. In his speech, Diaz-Canel called on President Biden to overturn the Trump-era designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, a label that has further restricted Cuba’s access to international financial systems. The rally, the first of its kind in over a decade outside the US diplomatic mission, signals a bold stance from Havana as it faces mounting challenges exacerbated by Washington's unilateral measures.