Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás, a former world champion and an active critic of the Cuban regime, once again used his social media to call for unity among Cubans in support of the political prisoners on the Island and against the prevailing dictatorship.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), the athlete questioned the priorities of the Cuban diaspora in the United States and urged them to organize in order to raise awareness of the fight for human rights in Cuba.
In his post, Ugás highlighted that, while a large turnout is anticipated for two concerts by Cuban reggaeton artists in Miami on December 28 (the duo Kimiko and Yordi and Oniel Bebeshito), there have not been significant mobilizations to support political prisoners on the Island.
"When will we, Cubans—both Republicans and Democrats—come together in white to fill stadiums or Calle Ocho from one end to the other to show our seriousness, draw attention, and provide moral support and strength for our political prisoners, while continuing to call for their freedom?" the boxer questioned.
The athlete acknowledged the anticipated success of the mentioned artists, but used this comparison to urge the exiled Cuban community to be more active in their political and humanitarian struggle.
An activist in the political arena.
Ugás, originally from Santiago de Cuba and exiled in the United States since 2010, has maintained a firm stance against the Cuban dictatorship, using his platform as a recognized athlete to criticize public figures aligned with the regime.
Just a week ago, he criticized actress Ana de Armas after her relationship with Manuel Anido Cuesta, the stepson of Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel, became public. Ugás described the actress's behavior as a lack of empathy towards the suffering of the Cuban people.
Similarly, the boxer has been critical of other athletes who maintain ideological ties with the regime, such as wrestler Mijaín López.
In August of last year, Ugás publicly questioned López's participation in the state-run program Mesa Redonda. “If politics has nothing to do with sports, what are you doing on that program, which cannot be any more political or misleading?” the boxer replied.
Unity for Change
Ugás's call aims to raise awareness among exiled Cubans, emphasizing the importance of unity and mobilization to highlight the suffering of political prisoners and the Cuban people.
His message reflects a plea for a collective effort that transcends ideological divisions and focuses on the fight for Cuba's freedom. "When it comes to Cuba, we are all Cubans. Dressing in white and coming together is not a matter of political parties, but of humanity," he emphasized.
In February 2024, Ugás condemned the Cuban regime for refusing to grant amnesty to over a thousand political prisoners imprisoned for their involvement in the protests on July 11, 2021.
In November 2021, he urged Cubans to rise up against the dictatorship, stating that if they did not, "they will be slaves for life." Furthermore, in December 2022, he remembered political prisoners during Christmas, referring to them as "our heroes."
Ugás has repeatedly emphasized the importance of unity among Cubans to confront the regime and advocate for the freedom of those detained for political reasons.
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