English Translations of Cubans Writing From the Island
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”
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”
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”
EFE / 14ymedio, Miami, July 23, 2021 — The 2021 Premios Juventud (Youth Awards) ceremony, this Thursday in Miami, was marked by the call from Cuban artists about the situation that exists on the island after the protests unleashed on July 11th in dozens of cities. To the shout of “Viva Cuba libre” (Long Live … Continue reading “At the Youth Music Awards, ‘Freedom’ for Cuba was Loudly Heard”
14ymedio, Federico Hernández Aguilar, San Salvador, 22 July 2021 — Cuba is yours, brother. This island belongs to you, sister. Your face is reflected in its waters. In the blue of its skies, the clouds of your dreams are roaming. But in this island land they have wanted — how redundant! — to isolate you, … Continue reading “Cuba Is Yours”
14ymedio, Havana, 20 July 2021 — Photographer Anyelo, who took the images for the video clip Patria y Vida (CURSIVA), was sentenced on Wednesday to one year in prison on charges of “public disorder” for his participation in the July 11 demonstrations. Simultaneously, artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, leader of the San Isidro Movement (MSI), … Continue reading “Cuban Photographer Anyelo Troya Sentenced to One Year in Prison for ‘Public Disorder’”
14ymedio, Alberto Hernández, Santiago de Cuba, July 20, 2021 — “The word hunger is etched into my bones.” From the time he was born until he was almost 20 years old, Ruben grew up in a dysfunctional family where he suffered from malnutrition. “I ate poorly and only once a day,” he says. He is … Continue reading “Cuba’s Generation of Scarcities Has Taken to the Streets”
14ymedio, Carlos Alberto Montaner, Miami, 17 July 2021 Mr. President, Nobody, except psychopaths, likes to be perceived as an inducer of terror. That changed abruptly on Sunday, July 11. Esteban Ventura and Conrado Carratalá, two famous murderers in the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, returned at full speed and mingled with the revolutionaries. The story … Continue reading “Open letter to Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel”
14ymedio, Santiago de Cuba, July 15, 2021 — Police arrests continue days after the start of protests in more than forty cities throughout the island. On Wednesday a 20-year-old youth was apprehended on Corona Street in Santiago de Cuba, near the starting point of Sunday’s demonstrations, and charged with “filming.” The area was cordoned off … Continue reading “Police in Santiago de Cuba Confiscate Cell Phones to Identify Protestors in Videos”
14ymedio, Havana, 12 July 12, 2021 — Injuries, threats and arbitrary arrests were the culmination of massive and unprecedented protests that took place across Cuba on Sunday, a story that made the front pages of the world’s newspapers today. Among those arrested or attacked was Associated Press photographer Ramon Espinosa, an action that was condemned … Continue reading “The Eyes of the World Are on Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, 11 July 2021– The streets of Cuba, this Sunday, have become a hotbed of people who came out to protest against the regime. In all the crowds, reported in various provinces such as Artemisa, Matanzas, Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, Cienfuegos and Havana, cries of “Down with the Dictatorship” were heard. In Camagüey, several … Continue reading “Several Injuries Reported in Protests Spreading Throughout Cuba”
14ymedio, Havana, 11 July 20210 – In a Sunday afternoon address, Cuba president Díaz-Canel called for civil war on the island. In his speech he called on the communists to take to the streets, starting now and in the coming days. “We will be in the streets fighting,” threatened the president, in response to protests … Continue reading ““The Combat Order is Given: Revolutionaries Take to the Streets,” Threatens Cuban President Diaz-Canel”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, 14 June 2021 — After eight days in solitary confinement, rapper Maykel Castillo, known as Osorbo, was able to speak this weekend with his colleague Eliexer Márquez Duany, who is called El Funky. Osorbo is imprisoned in the Cinco y Medio prison in Pinar del Río, awaiting trial for the alleged crimes of “attack,” “public disorder” … Continue reading “Maykel Castillo Was Able to Speak From Prison After Eight Days Incommunicado”
14ymedio, Havana, 3 June 2021 — Jorge Sile Figueroa, who served as a psychologist for the Cuba team that participated in the Baseball Pre-Olympic of the Americas held in Florida, left the national delegation, according to the Cuban communicator Francys Romero, a sports expert and resident of Miami. The specialist escaped from the delegation, which returns … Continue reading “The Cuban Baseball Team’s Psychologist Stayed in the United States”
14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana,8 June 2021 – On Tuesday, the artist Tania Bruguera managed to participate in the virtual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, after the Cuban government prevented her doing so the day before by cutting off her mobile data service. During her speech, Bruguera enumerated several recent abuses committed by the “military dictatorship,” … Continue reading “Tania Bruguera Mocks the Cuban Government’s Censorship at the Geneva Summit”
