The Cuban presenter and activist Alexander Otaola made a direct call to the people of Cuba to "take to the streets" in pursuit of their freedom during a demonstration held this Wednesday in front of the iconic Versailles restaurant in Miami, in honor of International Human Rights Day.
“Today is International Human Rights Day, but what is most important is that you have been living, for 66 years, in the most horrific slavery and disgrace. A life completely immersed in misery, without dignity,” stated Otaola in an interview for Cuba en Miami.
In his view, the time to act has come. “It is you, the Cubans, who must take to the streets, as is already happening in several municipalities in Havana and in eastern provinces like Las Tunas and Baracoa,” the communicator added.
The presenter emphasized that his call is not meant to endanger the lives of Cubans, but to inspire a peaceful civic rebellion so that the world can see that the people do not want to continue living under the conditions imposed by the regime.
"The only way for you to be free is for the entire world to understand and see you saying, ‘we no longer want to live under these conditions.’ Freedom for all the Cuban people and freedom for all political prisoners," Otaola stated.
The demonstration in Miami was one of many activities held outside the island as part of the global call on December 10, promoted by exile organizations and Cuban civil society groups.
Among the entities that joined the call is the platform Cuba Decide, led by activist Rosa María Payá, which shared the message on social media:
"See you on the 10th! We support the call to manifest worldwide for human rights for Cubans. Freedom for political prisoners. Freedom for Cuba."
The protests on this International Human Rights Day aim to highlight the repression in Cuba, demand the release of political prisoners, and call for respect for fundamental freedoms, in a context of deep economic and social crisis that the regime is trying to silence with increased censorship and persecution.
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