Above Photo: Global Look Press / Christian Ohde
The hashtag #SOSUSA became one of Twitter’s top political trends this weekend, as thousands of Americans posted calling for freedom in the United States and protesting poverty, police brutality, and a lack of free healthcare.
Many of the posts were in response to videos of a Los Angeles Police officer shooting a protester in the face at close range with a rubber bullet and attacking other protesters with clubs.
Several tweets from self-described American communists called on foreign leaders, including Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Chinese President Xi Jinping, to condemn US police brutality or even “liberate” the country.
The American Oligarchy must be sent a strong message from the international community to immediately desist its human rights abuses and crimes against humanity https://t.co/UMySWa2Rmh
— EDUCATE. ORGANIZE. AGITATE. | 沈 (@MountainChen4) July 18, 2021
President Miguel Díaz-Canel please liberate my country from this police dictatorship. We yearn for freedom #SOSUSA https://t.co/AbveVIkMua
— Michael Parenti’s Stache 🚩☭ (@Karl_Was_Right) July 18, 2021
#SOSUSA please President Xi my people yearn for freedom, please help up https://t.co/uAmtSXchqs
— Garfxist 🇨🇺 🇵🇸 (@garfxist) July 18, 2021
“The police violence towards protestors in the United States highlights the dire need for intervention and regime change,” one user declared.
The police violence towards protestors in the United States highlights the dire need for intervention and regime change.#SOSUSA https://t.co/78OyP1pCcc
— average deviance enjoyer (@KalamityJohn) July 17, 2021
Other posts focused on poverty in the US, the country’s lack of free healthcare during Covid-19, and homelessness.
#SOSUSA Millions of American internal refugees displaced by their capitalist dictatorship. Those lucky to avoid living(dying) in tents often live in substandard “trailer homes” or very old dilapidated buildings. Millions live at home with extended families. Help us EU/China/UN! pic.twitter.com/JkLHR278yZ
— ☭ Flying House 🚩☭ (@TheFlyingHouse) July 18, 2021
Joe Biden’s state security thugs are attacking and injuring journalists whose only crime is that they dare to document the cruelty and brutal enforcement of neoliberal capitalism—a system that has failed the working class in every country it has ever been tried. #SOSUSA https://t.co/SFSLhEeKWM
— Colin Kalmbacher (@colinkalmbacher) July 18, 2021
Left Flank Veterans, a group of anti-war and anti-capitalist US military veterans, also called on the “international community” to “respond to this authoritarian state,” adding, “The American people yearn for freedom!”
The US spends billions on corrupt authoritarian police that oppress the people. The international community must respond to this authoritarian state.
The American people yearn for freedom!
#SOSUSA pic.twitter.com/Y5hoxcmSxz— Left Flank Veterans (@LeftFlankVets) July 18, 2021
Some of the pleas made it abroad, with South Korean journalist Joshua Cho responding, “To the people of the US suffering under the rule of the authoritarian regime: We hear you. We see you.”
“Know that you have the support of millions across the world who are watching you endure your suffering with great optimism. Freedom is an undying struggle,” he continued.
To the people of the US suffering under the rule of the authoritarian regime: We hear you. We see you. Know that you have the support of millions across the world who are watching you endure your suffering with great optimism. Freedom is an undying struggle #SOSUSA https://t.co/OfeQg0SsFx
— Josh || 김은총 (@JoshC0301) July 17, 2021
The social media trend started as a response to the #CubaSOS hashtag, which was used by American politicians and Cuban exiles to highlight pro-US protests and demand US intervention against the Cuban government.
On Saturday, Cuba’s own director general for US affairs questioned on Twitter whether “humanitarian intervention” in the state of Florida is “in order” after it was revealed that Florida accounts for 20% of new Covid-19 cases in the US.