Several Cuban artists abroad have joined the initiative to commemorate the historic protests of July 11, 2021, by posting messages of support and demanding justice for the political prisoners who still remain in the regime's jails.
Los Pichy Boys reminisced on Instagram that three years ago, “Cubans lost their fear, and for a few hours, we all witnessed what a united people can achieve in the streets.”
They also noted that it was one of the days when "I felt the proudest to be Cuban" and added: "I dream that one day my brothers will no longer be afraid. The next time Cuba takes to the streets, it will be definitive."
They warned that the reasons that sparked the massive protests on July 11 persist, such as the lack of freedom, hunger, misery, blackouts, and other woes endured by the people.
"Neither blows nor repression can extinguish the freedom that the people carry in their souls," noted comedian Andy Vázquez, known as Facundo Vivir del Cuento, on Facebook. "Tick tock tick tock, it's only a matter of time!"
Additionally, he expressed what is a source of pride for many Cuban emigrants: watching their children and grandchildren grow up knowing that “Cuba was free on July 11.”
For his part, singer Leoni Torres emphasized on Instagram the significance of that day in history: "July 11, a day I will never forget."
On that social media platform, other artists have also shared their views. Randy Malcom, in his Instagram stories, stated: "Never forget."
For his part, Yotuel also shared a post on Instagram featuring a picture of Luis Manuel Otero and Maykel Osorbo with a powerful message: "Freedom for Cuba from communism. July 11 is not over," expressing the ongoing desire of the people to free themselves from the dictatorship.
The singer Baby Lores shared on Instagram the music video for the song “Libertad y amén,” featuring Descemer Bueno, El Insurrecto, Amaury Guitérrez, Eddy K, Yanet “Trueno” Aguilera, and El Uniko.
The song celebrates "Celia's Cuba" and calls on the Cuban people "to stand up and fight as a brotherhood" against the injustice they have endured for over six decades.
The video presents poignant images of the repression and suffering endured by the Cuban people, including footage of rafters fleeing Cuba, protests from the early years of Fidel Castro's rule to the more recent events of the San Isidro Movement and the Obispo demonstration, whose participants remain imprisoned. It features scenes of crumbling buildings, long lines, divided families, the victims of the tugboat 13 de Marzo, images from Mariel, the indoctrination of children, and the latest instances of police violence against artists and activists.
On July 11th, three years will have passed since the historic protests for the freedom of Cuba. In the early days of the summer of 2021, Cubans took to the streets in many parts of the country, weary of a life filled with sacrifice, scarcity, and struggle.
From those massive protests against Raúl Castro's Communist Party, 600 demonstrators remain imprisoned out of the 1,500 detained for peacefully defending their dream of freedom.
Among those still imprisoned are the leaders of the San Isidro Movement, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, as well as José Daniel Ferrer from Unpacu.
The organization Prisoners Defenders (PD) released an unprecedented video this Wednesday that not only proves the innocence and arbitrary detention of Cuban-German political prisoner Luis Frómeta Compte, accused of sedition following the protests on July 12 in La Güinera, Havana, but also exonerates the demonstrators by confirming their innocence.
The material, published on YouTube, clearly shows Frómeta peacefully and politely conversing with the police while they were throwing stones and firing at the frightened peaceful protesters.
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