The Young Cuban Brandon Becerra is in a Punishment Cell for Singing ‘The Fools Fair’

14ymedio, Havana, 21 March 2022 — Brandon David Becerra Curbelo, a July 11 [11J] protester sentenced to 13 years in prison, spent three days in a punishment cell at the West Youth Prison in Havana, where he is being held. According to Cubalex the reason was for singing The Fools’ Fair, by Carlos Varela [see below for video with English … Continue reading “The Young Cuban Brandon Becerra is in a Punishment Cell for Singing ‘The Fools Fair’”

Cuban Prosecutors and Judges, Willing to ‘Trade their Robes for Rifles to Defend Revolutionary Justice’

14ymedio, Madrid, 21 March 2022 — Cuban judges confirm feeling threatened for their work on the cases against the July 11 (11J) protesters and assure that they are willing to “trade the robe and dais, if necessary, for a rifle and trench.” The Union of Cuban Jurists (UNJC) held an assembly on Sunday in Havana … Continue reading “Cuban Prosecutors and Judges, Willing to ‘Trade their Robes for Rifles to Defend Revolutionary Justice’”

Almost 2,000 Years of Jail Time for 128 of the July 11 (11J) Protesters in Cuba

The sentences for the protests at the corner of Toyo and La Güinera streets have been made public, with sentences ranging from 30 to 6 years. The Provincial Court of Havana revoked the two-year sentence of non-confinement correctional labor against opposition leader José Díaz Silva. 14ymedio, Havana, 17 March 2022 — In contrast to the … Continue reading “Almost 2,000 Years of Jail Time for 128 of the July 11 (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”

At Least 184 of the 187 Trials in Cuba in January were for the July 11th (11J) Protests

14ymedio, Madrid, 3 February 2022 — The Madrid-based Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), denounced the continuing “repressive spiral in Cuba,” amid the silence of Spain, the European Union, and Latin America. In its last report, the organization documented 643 repressive actions in January, of which 136 were arbitrary detentions and 507 other types of … Continue reading “At Least 184 of the 187 Trials in Cuba in January were for the July 11th (11J) Protests”

Charges Dropped Against Artists Over July 11 Protests in Front of the ICRT

14ymedio, Luz Escobar, Havana, December 30, 2021 — The artists charged with public disorder for protesting in front of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) on July 11 learned on Thursday that the cases against them were being dropped. In essence, they were being acquitted. The situation remains unclear, however, for playwright Yunior García Aguilera … Continue reading “Charges Dropped Against Artists Over July 11 Protests in Front of the ICRT”

The 11J Prisoners Detained for Shouting Freedom in Cuba

14ymedio, Havana, 27 December 2021 — They did not belong to any opposition organization within the island nor, as the official media claimed in a foreseeable smear campaign, were they instigated by the “enemy” from outside. Simply, together with thousands of compatriots in dozens of cities throughout the island, they decided to go out into the streets … Continue reading “The 11J Prisoners Detained for Shouting Freedom in Cuba”

Cuban Students are Called to Denounce the ‘Ungrateful’ Who Demand Food

14ymedio, Havana, 12 November 2021 — Residents in the former Latin American Solidarity School of Las Guásimas, Havana, protested this Friday over the poor conditions of the premises and the lack of food. The families, relocated to the building converted into a shelter to house those who had lived in buildings that collapsed in Old Havana and … Continue reading “Cuban Students are Called to Denounce the ‘Ungrateful’ Who Demand Food”

11 July Protestor Sentenced to Three Years in Prison in Cuba

14ymedio/ Europa Press, Madrid, 19 October 2021 — Luis Mario Niedas Hernández, arrested on July 11 during the anti-government demonstrations in Cuba, has been sentenced to three years in prison, according to Néstor Estevez in the Sancti Spíritus group that he manages on Facebook . Estevez explained that the sentence was learned this Monday, 18 days after … Continue reading “11 July Protestor Sentenced to Three Years in Prison in Cuba”

Cuban President Diaz-Canel Visits Tenement Where Celia Cruz was Born but Does Not Mention the Queen of Salsa

14ymedio, Havana, 3 September 2021 — Miguel Díaz-Canel closed his tour of the Popular Council of Tamarindo on Friday, in the Havana district of Santo Suárez, with a visit to the Las Margaritas site. The cuartería in the municipality of Diez de Octubre is very popular because it is the place where the Cuban singer … Continue reading “Cuban President Diaz-Canel Visits Tenement Where Celia Cruz was Born but Does Not Mention the Queen of Salsa”

More Than 400 People Continue to be Detained After the Cuban Protests of July 11

14ymedio, Havana, September 1, 2021 — At least 405 people arrested during the protests in Cuba that began on July 11 remain in prison, according to a report by the Cubalex legal advice center. These data, collected independently with the help of a group of volunteers, show that of the total number of arrests (898), … Continue reading “More Than 400 People Continue to be Detained After the Cuban Protests of July 11”

Cuban Masons Reject President Diaz-Canel’s Invitation to Meet

14ymedio, Havana, 24 August 2021 — “We have decided not to attend the meeting called by the country’s presidency (…), in order to preserve Masonic unity,” stated a letter signed by Grand Master Ernesto Zamora Fernández on Monday and disseminated by various Masons on their social networks. That community had been summoned this Tuesday to a meeting … Continue reading “Cuban Masons Reject President Diaz-Canel’s Invitation to Meet”

A Danger for Pedestrians and Vehicles at Carlos III Center

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana, 20 August 2021 — Havana is falling apart. No matter how much that phrase is pronounced among Cubans and especially by those from the capital, it will not be enough, given the serious infrastructure problems that are seen in every corner of a city that is home to more than … Continue reading “A Danger for Pedestrians and Vehicles at Carlos III Center”

Poet Javier L. Mora Arrested After Denouncing the Repression in Cuba on Social Media

14ymedio, Havana, July 16, 2021 – The poet Javier L. Mora (b. Bayamo, 1983) was arrested this Friday in Holguín after denouncing the repression against protesters in recent days, several of his colleagues confirmed to 14ymedio. The arrest of the writer occurred at his home hours after he made public his resignation from the Union … Continue reading “Poet Javier L. Mora Arrested After Denouncing the Repression in Cuba on Social Media”

Cuban Masons Stand ‘On the Side of the People’ and Condemn Diaz-Canel

14ymedio, Havana, July 16, 2021 — This Friday the Cuban Masons of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree condemned the performance of Miguel Díaz-Canel at the head of the country “for calling, inciting, and ordering a violent confrontation against the Cuban people” after the protests in recent days. In a letter addressed to the … Continue reading “Cuban Masons Stand ‘On the Side of the People’ and Condemn Diaz-Canel”