They propose declaring July 3rd as Dissident Artist Day in honor of the Cuban actor Carlos Massola

Cuban activist Yamilka Laffita, known on social media as "Lara Crofs," proposed that the date of actor Carlos Massola's death be declared as "Dissident Artist Day."

"The miserable, deafening silence imposed by the establishment on the island has availed them nothing. Their tremendous lack of humanity and sensitivity towards one of their own, who gave so much to this people through his art, has made him immortal. The people have cried and mourned the swift departure of Carlos from this world. The tributes that were not paid do not matter; he received the greatest one, the affection and love of his people," Laffita wrote on Wednesday in an emotional social media post.

The activist then suggested that starting now, July 3rd should be recognized in Cuba as Dissident Artist Day in honor of Carlos Massola.

"The people should come together once again to honor Carlos, an artist, yes, but also a Cuban of our time," concluded Laffita, in a proposal that has gone viral on social media in just a few hours.

The activist's post has received over 2,300 reactions and more than 450 comments so far.

This is joined by those who, from their own profiles on social media, have embraced the request.

Or those who already assume that from now on, Cuban dissident artists will be commemorated on such a date.

"The greatest tribute to Carlos was precisely the silence of the Dictatorship," a commentator aptly stated regarding the official omission that has upset thousands of Cubans.

The death of actor Carlos Massola, who raised his voice against the Cuban government on numerous occasions in recent years, was completely ignored by the cultural authorities on the island.

So far, no official Cuban cultural institution has acknowledged the actor's death on its social media profiles.

Neither the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), nor the Ministry of Culture (MINCULT), nor the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), nor the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC) have commented on the artist's death.

Nor have the cultural news programs on television or the print media made any reference to the unfortunate event.

In the midst of the prevailing official silence following the death of Carlos Massola, the Cuban Filmmakers' Assembly published a timid statement on Thursday, more than 24 hours after his passing, expressing their condolences for the artist while resorting to euphemisms on a couple of occasions to refer to the actor's political defiance.

Despite the official silence, Massola has received recognition and spontaneous tributes from many of his colleagues, as well as the affection of the people, who have appreciated the courage he showed in expressing his political beliefs without censorship or euphemisms.