Far-left activist group CodePink and allied personalities, including Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and Isra Hirsi, daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar, stayed in upscale hotels during a total blackout in Cuba this weekend, coinciding with widespread power outages across the island. The activists arrived in Havana to protest U.S. economic sanctions imposed under the Trump administration.
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Several members of the group, called the “Nuestra America Convoy,” stayed at the five-star Gran Hotel Bristol Meliá Collection and other luxury resorts, drawing criticism as Cuban residents suffered from nationwide electricity loss. Piker stated on social media that U.S. law requires Americans in Cuba to lodge only at certain classified hotels, a claim disputed by others who noted restrictions only prevent stays at properties owned by the Cuban government.
CodePink said it delivered thousands of pounds of aid during the trip, which was organized with support from Cuban politician Mariela Castro and the Progressive International nonprofit. The visit aimed to show solidarity with Cuba’s communist government amid escalating tensions after the U.S. imposed an oil blockade earlier this year following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The blackout was announced by the Cuban Electric Union on Saturday, amid ongoing economic strain linked to U.S. sanctions. Cuban officials attribute the hardships to these sanctions, while analysts highlight increasing public frustration over shortages and power failures.
On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, called for new leadership in Havana. Meanwhile, Pentagon officials told lawmakers there are no current plans to invade Cuba but reaffirmed the nation remains a long-term security concern for the U.S.
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