Cuban Justice System Condemns Writer Maria Cristina Garrido to 7 Years in Prison

14ymedio, Havana, March 10, 2022–Writer María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez and her sister Angélica, who protested on July 11th (11J) in San José de las Lajas (Mayabeque), have been sentenced to 7 and 3 years in prison, respectively, according to Michel Valladares Cala, the first woman’s husband and director of the Republican Party of Cuba in Pinar … Continue reading “Cuban Justice System Condemns Writer Maria Cristina Garrido to 7 Years in Prison”

Cuban Faces 2024: “It Is Forbidden To Be Discouraged,” Angélica Garrido’s Message to Cuban Political Prisoners

The opposition leader’s record, like that of her sister, includes beatings, threats and solitary confinement. 14ymedio, Havana, 24 December 2024 – When Angélica Garrido left the El Guatao women’s prison last July, after serving a three-year sentence for protesting on 11 July 2021, what she considered her “normal” life had completely changed. Her children had … Continue reading “Cuban Faces 2024: “It Is Forbidden To Be Discouraged,” Angélica Garrido’s Message to Cuban Political Prisoners”

Cuban Activist Angélica Garrido Is Released After Serving Three Years in Prison for 11J Protests

Political prisoner Carlos Michael Morales was hospitalized in Santa Clara on the 21st day of his hunger strike 14ymedio, Madrid, July 11, 2024 — Activist Angélica Garrido was released on Wednesday, July 10, a day before the third anniversary of the 11 July 2021 (’11J’) anti-government protests for which she was imprisoned and after having … Continue reading “Cuban Activist Angélica Garrido Is Released After Serving Three Years in Prison for 11J Protests”

A Prisoner of the 11 July 2021 Protests (11J) in Cuba, Angelica Garrido Has Spent More Than 50 Days in a Punishment Cell

14ymedio, Havana, 9 November 2022 — Cuban activist Angélica Garrido has spent more than 50 days in a punishment cell at Gustavo Prison, Havana. Luis Rodríguez Pérez — her husband and brother-in law of the writer Maria Cristina Garrido, imprisoned along with her sister for taking part in the 11J (11 July 2021) protests — … Continue reading “A Prisoner of the 11 July 2021 Protests (11J) in Cuba, Angelica Garrido Has Spent More Than 50 Days in a Punishment Cell”

The Garrido Sisters, Convicted in Cuba for July 11th (11J), are ‘Plantadas’ and Demand their Freedom

14ymedio, Havana, September 20, 2022–Writer María Cristina Garrido, her sister Angélica, and activist Lizandra Góngora, arrested for their participation in the 11J protests [11 July 2021], announced on Tuesday their refusal to wear common prisoner uniforms and declared the start of a hunger strike. The prisoners signed a note from the women’s prison in Guatao, … Continue reading “The Garrido Sisters, Convicted in Cuba for July 11th (11J), are ‘Plantadas’ and Demand their Freedom”

Court Confirms Sentences for Garrido Sisters for July 11th (11J) Protest in Mayabeque

The writer and activist María Cristina Garrido saw her sentence confirmed, a long with the other defendants in her case, during this week’s appeal. (Facebook) 14ymedio, Madrid, 2 June 2022 — The writer María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez and her sister Angélica, sentenced in March to seven and three years in prison respectively after their participation in the July … Continue reading “Court Confirms Sentences for Garrido Sisters for July 11th (11J) Protest in Mayabeque”

The Intangible Damages of Castroism

These damages are as or more destructive than the others that make up Castroism’s tragic legacy. 14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, Havana, 20 April 2025 — A few days ago, in a conversation with friends, we discussed how regimes of force, particularly those of a totalitarian or messianic nature, cause numerous and different types of harm to … Continue reading “The Intangible Damages of Castroism”

No News of Political Prisoners Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo, Sissi Abascal or Sayli Navarro

The PEN Club of Cuban Writers in Exile calls for the “immediate release” of the poet María Cristina Garrido, imprisoned in El Guatao 14ymedio, Madrid, 6 February 2025 — The Pen Club of Cuban Writers in Exile, a subsidiary of the international organization that works for freedom of expression and protects persecuted authors, has demanded … Continue reading “No News of Political Prisoners Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, Maykel Castillo, Sissi Abascal or Sayli Navarro”

‘If the Situation Continues Like This, People Won’t Be Able To Take It Anymore’ Warns a Recently Released 11J Political Prisoner

After being released from Guamajal prison in Santa Clara city, former prisoner José Rodríguez Herrada, 52, was welcomed with joy at his home by family and friends. 14ymedio, Havana, 15 September 2024 — José Rodríguez Herrada, sentenced to three years and six months for participating in the mass protests in Caibarién, Villa Clara, on 11 … Continue reading “‘If the Situation Continues Like This, People Won’t Be Able To Take It Anymore’ Warns a Recently Released 11J Political Prisoner”

An Imprisoned Cuban Poet is the Image for PEN International for March 8th Women’s Day

EFE (via 14ymedio), Miami/Havana/Barcelona, 8 March 2023 — PEN International, the world association of writers, has chosen the Cuban poet, narrator and activist María Cristina Garrido, imprisoned in Cuba for participating the popular protests of 11 July 2021, as its image for the International Women’s Day. “We need international and everyone’s support to demand freedom for the writer, … Continue reading “An Imprisoned Cuban Poet is the Image for PEN International for March 8th Women’s Day”

‘Bolos’ [Russians] and Yankees in Havana

14ymedio, Pedro Corzo, Miami, February 4, 2023 — It’s evident that the Castro leadership, those whom they call moncadistas [the ones who took part in the attack on the Moncada barracks, celebrated every July 26], by their stubbornness in maintaining privileges and fortunes at all costs, don’t cease to reinvent themselves by resorting to any maneuver … Continue reading “‘Bolos’ [Russians] and Yankees in Havana”

The ‘Prisoners’ Voices’ Campaign Begins and Calls for the Release of Three Cuban Artists

14ymedio, Havana, 18 November 2022 –The writer María Cristina Garrido and rappers Richard Zamora Brito and Randy Arteaga Rivera, arrested by the Cuban regime, are the three faces of the Voces Presas campaign launched this Friday by the organization Artists at Risk Connection (ARC), in partnership with Civil Rights Defenders (CRD, from Sweden). The movement … Continue reading “The ‘Prisoners’ Voices’ Campaign Begins and Calls for the Release of Three Cuban Artists”

Prosecutors Seek Up to 16 Years in Prison for July 11th (11J) Protesters in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, March 14, 2022–The Prosecutor’s Office of Bayamo, in the province of Granma, scheduled for last Friday the sentencing of the July 11th protesters processed in the last known trial. For the group of 17 people, accused of assault, resistance, public disorder, contempt and damages caused by alleged “acts of vandalism” against military personnel and … Continue reading “Prosecutors Seek Up to 16 Years in Prison for July 11th (11J) Protesters in Cuba”

Cuban Women of July 11th, Forgotten on March 8th

14ymedio, Havana, 8 March 2022 — Every year on March 8th, the state press is filled with the faces of women wielding rifles, in front of a classroom, or leading a state-owned business, but nothing is said of the political prisoners. The number of Cuban women incarcerated for their activism grew significantly following the protests … Continue reading “Cuban Women of July 11th, Forgotten on March 8th”

Protesters’ Trials in Cuba: ‘Black Berets, Red Berets, It’s Like They’re Going to Bring in Bin Laden’

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 25 January 2022 — Despite the harassment to which they are subjected by State Security and the strong operations at the doors of the courts where the July 11 protesters are being judged, many of their relatives have made it clear that they will not stop asking for justice in loud … Continue reading “Protesters’ Trials in Cuba: ‘Black Berets, Red Berets, It’s Like They’re Going to Bring in Bin Laden’”