A young man was violently detained last Saturday in the city of Holguín, while demonstrated peacefully at the entrance of the state television station Tele Cristal located in front of the Julio Grave de Peralta Park, known as Parque de Las Flores.
At the time of writing this note, the name of the protester is unknown, as is the motive for his protest and where he was taken.
Videos circulating on Facebook and Twitter show the young man screaming “down with the mental block”, in response to a person who yelled “down with the blockade.” He also said that he opposes the United States embargo on Cuba.
“I am against the blockade of Cuba, I am against that too. What will you do me?", answered the young man. The images do not show what else the young man is opposed to, although it is inferred that his previous demands, not captured on camera, were directed at the Cuban government.
On Twitter, the user Oshuncita assured that the young man was protesting alone and that among those who interceded on his behalf, there were women: “Once again the voice of women is heard to defend a young man who was protesting alone in the Parque de Las Flores. “This is how Cuba goes.”
At least a dozen police and security agents participated in the arrest and applied body locks to restrain him.
Among them, carotid restriction, known by many as sleeper hold or sleeping hold, which is a form of strangulation from behind, which can and has caused death when applied for a long time. Such was the case of George Floyd.
"Wonderful, wonderful"said the young man with his hands raised while one police officer squeezed his neck, two more police officers forced him inside and other officers stood around and pushed him towards the car.
“They are hanging you, Major, don't let them hang you. Respect your suit, major," said a woman to a high-ranking MININT officer, concerned about the presumed lack of circulation in the protester's head: "That man is black.", he warned.
As the camera approaches, in the middle of the struggle, a bleeding injury is observed on the victim's right hand, specifically on the side of the little finger, which also appears bent.
Next to her, a crowd on the other side of the street and near the patrol car filmed and shouted at the repressive forces. “Let him go,” “they are going to hang him,” “abusers,” passers-by are heard saying.
“They are repressors,” “down with repression,” “animals,” furious Holguín residents shout at the officers. “He can talk whatever he wants, they can't touch him…Don't let them take him away”cried another woman who confronted an alleged state security agent.
“You are an abuser too. “You live on this, buddy”, he told him in reference to the government perks that members of the repressive forces in Cuba receive.
The protests have gained space in Cuban society in recent months and the demands range from the restoration of basic services such as electricity and water to directly for freedom and the end of the Cuban regime.
After an impasse due to the repression unleashed as a result of the mass demonstrations of July 11, 2021, nuclei of discontent are increasingly emerging in several provinces of the country.
From the 11J marches, people have migrated towards the protest with barricades in the streets and avenues, as happened between the end of September and the beginning of October, mainly in Havana which has left a balance of 28 arrests.
Previous cases of solo protest such as Luis Robles and Carlos Ernesto Díaz González, identified on social networks as Active Dissident, they are still in prison.
What do you think?
SEE COMMENTS (7)Filed in:
