Committee Approves Resolution to Honor Laura Pollan

On February 14, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved, by voice vote, a resolution (S. Res. 342) honoring the life and legacy of Laura Pollan. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), contains several findings, including:

• Laura Pollan founded the Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) movement to protest the mass arrest of peaceful dissidents in Cuba;
• The Ladies in White is composed of wives and female relatives of imprisoned political prisoners, prisoners of conscience, and peaceful dissidents in Cuba;
• Every Sunday, Laura Pollan led the Ladies in White on peaceful marches to attend mass and was often subjected to physical and verbal assaults during these marches;
• Laura Pollan brought international attention to the human and civil rights abuses in Cuba; and
• Laura Pollan passed away on October 14, 2011.

The Senate recognizes and honors Laura Pollan for her peaceful struggle to bring human rights and democracy to Cuba and offers heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones. The resolution expresses hope that in memory of Laura Pollan, peaceful dissidents in Cuba will no longer be incarcerated or subjected to human rights abuses.