The pro-government demonstration, which commenced shortly after sunrise along Havana's waterfront, underscored a week of solidarity from Cuban officials rallying behind the island's revolutionary figure

It's the latest step by the Trump administration to punish Cuba's communist government and officials. Raul stepped down from the presidency in 2018.

From the streets of the Cuban capital, a defiant message has emerged after US federal prosecutors indicted former president Raúl Castro for the 1996 downing of two civilian planes.