State Security detains a Cuban nurse for demonstrating in favor of the release of political prisoners

Andcuban nurse was arrested by theState Security for manifesting in the Sanctuary ofCopper in favour ofthe freedom of political prisoners in Cuba.

“Today is March 24, 2024, in support of political prisoners for the freedom of Cuba... Homeland, life and freedom,” he saidYerismar Velázquez Cruz in a live video on his social networks in which he wore a white sweater with signs of “Homeland and Life” and “Freedom for Cuba,” among other messages.

The “nurse, much loved, is imprisoned today in Santiago for saying that. Not even his family in Havana was notified... Thanks to friends, he was located in a prison in Santiago de Cuba, since he had gone to visit relatives and that was where he made the video," he explained insocial networks the profile identified asEdmundo Dantes Junior.

According to his publication, Velázquez Cruz “did not shout, he did not incite, he simply expressed his solidarity with the thousands of political prisoners who are also imprisoned for demanding Freedom.”

“How long will people who are on the right side of history and justice be brought to justice? It is not 'counterrevolution' to say your opinion," said Dantés Junior, demanding his immediate release.

Likewise, he called on the authorities of the Cuban regime to consider that "if they keep him imprisoned they will be 'ratifying' (as they like to say) that there is no freedom of expression in Cuba, and that there are political prisoners."

Velázquez Cruz's civic gesture occurred a few days afterthe arrest of the opponent Ramón Jesús Velázquez Toranzo, who stood at the El Cobre Sanctuary with his family at the beginning of March and called for mobilization to "find for ourselves a quick and definitive solution to so many difficult problems that suffocate us."

“Come and bring your sufferings, your anxieties and your injustices, and have the assurance as all of us who are already here have, that with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and the favor of our father God, we will return to our homes with the greatest and most beautiful of the miracles grantedthe miracle of freedom and justice for all the suffering people“said Velázquez Toranzo in his message.

Three days later,Rufina Velazquez, the activist's daughter, denounced her father's arrest and explained the situation of the rest of the family. "They were taken against their will from the Sanctuary of El Cobre, where they were staying. They took my father by force, handcuffed and even in his underwear.State Security said they were arresting him for inciting the people", said.

According to the latest information from his daughter, Velázquez Toranzo's peaceful action earned him his arrest and subsequent transfer to Villa Marista, the infamous State Security detention center.

Under the call of “No to Violence”, dozens of residents of the town of El Cobre joined thethe massive demonstrations that spontaneously broke out in Santiago de Cuba, where a crowd anguished by the hardships they are suffering took to the streets shouting "Current and Food."

"Everyone has had to leave here, people are hungry and freedom is what is needed," claimed one of the Cubans who stood in front of the El Cobre police station the day after the protests, demanding the release of those arrested in the demonstrations.

“I don't have to leave my country. This is my country, I love it, everyone loves it.Everyone has had to leave here"said a man from Santiago while asking people: "How long, gentleman!"

18 years ago El Cobre was the starting place of"The March of Dignity", a walk along the entire Central Highway that sought to reach the Capitol to demand respect for human rights in Cuba and the freedom of political prisoners and the end of repression.

For this protest march, Velázquez Toranzo was arrested before reaching his destination and sentenced on the charge of social dangerousness to three years of limitation of freedom, a sanction that was later changed to imprisonment.

At the end of December, the organization Prisoners Defender (PD) reported that in Cuba there had been1,062 political prisoners, most of them protestersthe historic protests of 11J. Among them 34 minors, 121 women, and 223 9/11 protesters imprisoned for the crime of "sedition."

Recently, the NGO denouncedthe arrest of at least 41 people for demonstrating between March 17 and 18, among whom were 20 new political prisoners, 15 detainees in the process of being verified as new prisoners, and six people released.