“Wake up!” Says Pablo Milanes to the Mobs that Serve the Cuban Regime

14ymedio, Havana, 15 November 2021 — “It is a beautiful thing that we coincide in showing our claim for absolute freedoms through flowers”, wrote singer-songwriter Pablo Milanés in a message in support of the protests called for this Monday throughout Cuba. Like the author of Yolanda and Yo no te Pido, dozens of Cuban and foreign … Continue reading ““Wake up!” Says Pablo Milanes to the Mobs that Serve the Cuban Regime”

A Latin Grammy Award for ‘Patria y Vida’, the Anthem of the Protests in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, November 18, 2021–Thursday, the song Patria y Vida [Homeland and Life] won the award for Best Urban Song at the Latin Grammys, in Las Vegas, USA. Beatriz Luengo, singer and wife of Cuban Yotuel Romero, one of the songwriters, went up on stage to receive the award. Sung by duo Gente de Zona, Yotuel and Descemer Bueno, … Continue reading “A Latin Grammy Award for ‘Patria y Vida’, the Anthem of the Protests in Cuba”

Cuban Lady in White Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Participating in the 11J (11 July) Protests

14ymedio, Havana, 18 November 2021 — The Lady in White Sissi Abascal Zamora was sentenced this Thursday to six years in prison for her participation in the protests on July 11 (11J) on the island. Abascal, who  is also a member of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy, was accused of the alleged crimes … Continue reading “Cuban Lady in White Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Participating in the 11J (11 July) Protests”

Cuba: 15N Begins With an Act of Repudiation in Front of Saily Gonzalez’s House

14ymedio, Havana, 15 November 2021 – Dawn had barely broken this 15th November in Cuba, the date set for the opposition’s Civic March for Change, when Saily González, a member of the Archipiélago platform — the conveners of the march — faced an act of repudiation already organized at front of the door of her … Continue reading “Cuba: 15N Begins With an Act of Repudiation in Front of Saily Gonzalez’s House”

The Causes of the Protests in Cuba are More Valid Than Ever

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Generation Y, 6 November 2021 — Yunieski’s mother is going to have to “tie him up in the house” so that he does not go out on the street on November 15, a day in which several independent organizations have called a civic march in different cities of Cuba, the first after … Continue reading “The Causes of the Protests in Cuba are More Valid Than Ever”

Cuban Regime Sees a ‘Corrupt Plot’ to Favor ‘Patria y Vida’ at the Latin Grammys

14ymedio, Havana, 21 October 2021 — The Government of Cuba persists in its sleepless nights for the song Patria y Vida [Homeland and Life], whose title became the motto of the protests of July 11 and which has almost nine million views since its premiere, just seven months ago. The nomination of Patria y Vida for two Latin Grammy Awards, … Continue reading “Cuban Regime Sees a ‘Corrupt Plot’ to Favor ‘Patria y Vida’ at the Latin Grammys”

“No One Can Shut Me Up,” Says Professor Who Was Fired for Criticizing Healthcare in Cuba

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 6 October 2021 — Julio Merladet, who months ago made several public complaints about the poor state of healthcare in Cuba, was sanctioned this Tuesday at his workplace with the “separation from the Education sector” for three years. This is, de facto, a dismissal. Diplomas he was awarded on several occasions, … Continue reading ““No One Can Shut Me Up,” Says Professor Who Was Fired for Criticizing Healthcare in Cuba”

Tearing Up an Image of Fidel Castro is Worth a 12 Year Prison Sentence, According to the Cuban Prosecutor’s Office

14ymedio, Havana, 24 September 2021 — The Prosecutor’s Office is asking for 12 years in prison for Roberto Pérez Fonseca, detained after the July 11 protests in Cuba, during which he tore up a photograph of Fidel Castro. The case will be tried in San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, on September 28. The document of … Continue reading “Tearing Up an Image of Fidel Castro is Worth a 12 Year Prison Sentence, According to the Cuban Prosecutor’s Office”

The Cuban People Have Already Conquered Their Freedom

14ymedio, Ariel Hidalgo, Miami, 20 September 2021 — When José Martí was preparing Cuba’s war of national liberation from exile, he wrote in the newspaper Patria that the objective was not a change of clothes, but “a change of soul.” It could be understood that the root of the problem did not consist of transforming institutions, not excluding … Continue reading “The Cuban People Have Already Conquered Their Freedom”

Boston Cardinal Quarantines for Barely Six Hours After Visiting Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 15 September 2021 — On September 9, Boston Cardinal-Archbishop Sean Patrick O’Malley asked President Miguel Diaz-Canel to pardon demonstrators who participated in the July 11 protests in Cuba. The request was specifically for those who had protested peacefully. Authorities responded by defending their position, claiming once again that those who were arrested are being … Continue reading “Boston Cardinal Quarantines for Barely Six Hours After Visiting Cuba”

I Was Detained for 23 Days for Exercising My Constitutional Right to Demonstrate

14ymedio, Daniela Cecilia Rojo Varona, Guanabacoa, 14 August 2021 — On July 11, in one of my regular connections to Facebook, I see a video announcing that the town of San Antonio de los Baños has taken to the streets. A couple of hours later, the postings about uprisings in various places in the country are many. In … Continue reading “I Was Detained for 23 Days for Exercising My Constitutional Right to Demonstrate”

Cuban Opposition Calls for a National Strike on August 13

14ymedio, Havana, August 12, 2021 — Cuban activists, inside and outside the island, encouraged by the success of the July 11 demonstrations and the apparent weakness of the regime, faced with its worst crisis since 1959, have announced a national strike this August 13th. This decision does not attract unanimity within the opposition, and not just because … Continue reading “Cuban Opposition Calls for a National Strike on August 13”

Cuban State Security Continues to Harass Activists After the July 11 Protests

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 4 August 2021 — “If you have nothing to hide, come join us, let’s talk”. With the arrogance that characterizes the political police in Cuba, several agents showed up at Sadiel González’s house to take him away this Monday. He’s not the only one. Since July 11th, social networks have been … Continue reading “Cuban State Security Continues to Harass Activists After the July 11 Protests”

The Change in Cuba Has No Turning Back

14ymedio, Yaiza Santos, Madrid, July 31, 2021 — The singer, composer and music producer Pavel Urkiza was born in Kiev (Ukraine), but right away, when he was three months old, he was taken to Havana where he grew up. His parents, both engineers, were part of the first Cuban student brigade in the Soviet Union. … Continue reading “The Change in Cuba Has No Turning Back”

Che Guevara Goes from Defeat to Defeat

14ymedio, Havana, July 30, 2021 – “They tremble, freedom advances.” The phrase appeared this Friday on the face of Ernesto “Che” Guevara painted on a mural at the National University of Comahue, in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. The young human rights activist Agustin Antonetti shared on his Twitter account an image of the graffiti, … Continue reading “Che Guevara Goes from Defeat to Defeat”