Search results for: Black Spring

How I Survived The Black Spring

The evening of March 17 my mind was elsewhere.  I didn’t have a cent in my pocket and I had to buy a vitamin-filled milk complex, which at the time cost 4 dollars, for my daughter Melany, who was barely a month and a half old.  The baby’s voracious appetite forced the pediatrician to order the vitamin-filled … Continue reading “How I Survived The Black Spring”

‘Spring Arrived and its Black Flowers Opened’

14ymedio, Havana, 8 March 2020 — The musician Gorki Águila received a fine of 2,000 pesos on Friday along with the threat of the fine being repeated whenever he posts criticism against government leaders on Facebook, such as mentioning the Cambio de Bola (Ball Change) program of Estado de Sats (State of Sats), a discussion group. … Continue reading “‘Spring Arrived and its Black Flowers Opened’”

Cuba: The Darkest of All Springs

14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez, Generation Y, Havana, 20 March 2021 — They arrived at dawn and in many cases they even seized the family photos. It was March 2003 and the news emerged in pieces as the police searches dragged on and neighbors began to speak out about the patrols, the uniformed men and the arrests. Those days … Continue reading “Cuba: The Darkest of All Springs”

Reflections Against a “Black Winter” / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya

Miriam Celaya, Havana, 4 October 2016 — CUBALEX, an independent organization dedicated to providing free legal aid to Cubans — an essential service in a society where the abuse of rights is a permanent part of daily life — in recent days suffered a sudden and brutal attack at its headquarters in Havana, by the … Continue reading “Reflections Against a “Black Winter” / Cubanet, Miriam Celaya”

Spring Kidnappers / Rosa Maria Rodriguez

Arrest from the 2003 Black Spring. Image from “http://america.infobae.com/” At present, despite the continued pervasiveness of the political police, which hinders the proper performance of our work, and systematically violates our rights and freedoms, harasses and threatens us with many years of jail, alternative civil society is strengthened numerically and ethically and works for certain … Continue reading “Spring Kidnappers / Rosa Maria Rodriguez”

Spring Kidnappers / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado

Arrest in March 2003. Image from america.infobae.com At present, despite the continued omnipresence of the political police–which hinders the proper performance of our work, systematically violates our rights and freedoms, and harasses us and threatens us with many years of jail–alternative civil society is strengthened numerically and deontologically and labors for certain potential destinations definitely … Continue reading “Spring Kidnappers / Rosa Maria Rodriguez Torrado”

Chronicle of the Blackout / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo

In the blink of an eye the voltage at the symmetrical hour of the prime time news, 8:08 on a Sunday evening, as boring as slitting your wrists, or walking naked in the street with a pacifist placard, or some other symptom of insanity. A blink of an eye and then black silence, deathly. The … Continue reading “Chronicle of the Blackout / Orlando Luis Pardo Lazo”

Havana and Its Spring With Scarcities and Rumors / Iván García

The flowers of the flamboyant on Havana’s Santa Catalina Avenue already began to change color. Majestic, shedding its flowers of yellow, orange and red forming a carpet on the sidewalks. People do not stop to see the wonderful spectacle of nature. They are not into that. They walk with their heads down crates and bags … Continue reading “Havana and Its Spring With Scarcities and Rumors / Iván García”

The White Man and the Black Man / Voices Behind The Bars / Omar Ruiz Hernandez

-Painting by Sharon Cummings “The White Man and the Black Man” I have known two men who have risen to power, one was black and the other was white. The white man achieved it through violence, the black man used reason. The white man made it while young, the black succeeded as an old man. … Continue reading “The White Man and the Black Man / Voices Behind The Bars / Omar Ruiz Hernandez”

Cuban Political Police Interrogate Dagoberto Valdés About an Alleged ‘Operation’ Against the Regime

The academic was detained by two patrol cars on the Pinar del Río highway when he returned from Havana 14ymedio, Havana, May 1, 2024 — Cuban academic Dagoberto Valdés was detained this Tuesday night by State Security agents during a trip from Havana to Pinar del Río, where he lives. Valdés, the director of the … Continue reading “Cuban Political Police Interrogate Dagoberto Valdés About an Alleged ‘Operation’ Against the Regime”

Jose Daniel Ferrer’s Jailers Stop His Family From Visiting Him One More Time

His wife, Nelva Ismarays Ortega Tamayo, denounced that the agents had limited themselves to accepting the “bag” of food and medicine she brought. 14ymedio, Havana, 10 May 2024 — The Mar Verde high-security prison authorities in Santiago de Cuba prevented political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer’s family from visiting him last Monday. In an audio sent … Continue reading “Jose Daniel Ferrer’s Jailers Stop His Family From Visiting Him One More Time”

An 11J Protester is Released in Cardenas After Serving His Sentence

14ymedio, Havana, 2 April 2024 — Samuel Pupo Martínez, sentenced to three years in Agüica prison for demonstrating on 11 July 2021 (11J) in Cárdenas, Matanzas, was released on Monday. Known for his photo of the protests, taken while mounted on an overturned vehicle, his sentence was reduced to two years, eight months and 21 … Continue reading “An 11J Protester is Released in Cardenas After Serving His Sentence”

The Mother of Political Prisoner Sayli Navarro Was Arrested During Cuban President Diaz-Canel’s Visit to Matanzas

14ymedio, Havana, March 26, 2024 — Sonia Álvarez, mother of political prisoner Sayli Navarro, was arrested for several hours on Tuesday morning at the Jovellanos police station. Álvarez’s arrest was part of the security operations for the visit of Miguel Díaz-Canel to several municipalities in the province of Matanzas, says activist Annia Zamora. Zamora, mother … Continue reading “The Mother of Political Prisoner Sayli Navarro Was Arrested During Cuban President Diaz-Canel’s Visit to Matanzas”

The Cuban Opposition Warns of a Risk to Ferrer’s Life, As Happened With Alexei Navalny

14ymedio, Havana, 20 March 2024 — After several days of rumors that led to fears for the life of José Daniel Ferrer, his daughter was finally able to visit him this Tuesday in the Mar Verde prison, in Santiago de Cuba, where she confirmed that he is still alive. The situation in which he finds himself, … Continue reading “The Cuban Opposition Warns of a Risk to Ferrer’s Life, As Happened With Alexei Navalny”