Cuban artists remember the historic protests of July 11th: "It's not over"

Cuban artists in exile remember the protests of July 11, 2021, and reaffirm the people's longing for freedom.

Represión a manifestantes del 11 de julio de 2021 © Facebook/Marcos Évora
Repression of protesters on July 11, 2021Photo © Facebook/Marcos Évora

Several Cuban artists living 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 are still detained in the regime's prisons.

The Pichy Boys remembered on Instagram that three years ago "Cubans lost their fear and for a few hours we were all witnesses of what a united people can achieve in the streets."

They also pointed out that it was one of the days when "I felt 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 will be definitive."

They warned that the reasons that originated the massive protests on July 11 persist, such as lack of freedom, hunger, misery, blackouts, and other hardships endured by the people.

"Neither the blows nor the repression will be able to kill the freedom that the people carry in their souls," pointed out the comedian Andy Vázquez, known as Facundo Vivir del Cuento, on Facebook. "Tick tock tick tock It's just a matter of time!"

In addition, he expressed what is a source of pride for many Cuban immigrants, seeing their children and grandchildren grow up knowing that "Cuba was free on July 11th".

On the other hand, the singer Leoni Torres highlighted on Instagram the significance of that day for history: "July 11, a day I will never forget."

On that social network, other artists have also expressed their voices. Randy Malcom, on Instagram stories, argued: "Forbidden to forget."

Instagram screenshot / Randy Malcom

On the other hand, Yotuel, also in the Instagram stories, posted an image of Luis Manuel Otero and Maykel Osorbo with a strong message: "Freedom for Cuba from communism. July 11th is not over," expressing the ongoing desire of the people to rid themselves of the dictatorship.

Instagram screenshot / Yotuel

The singer Baby Lores shared on Instagram the video clip of the song "Libertad y amén", featuring Descemer Bueno, El Insurrecto, Amaury Guitérrez, Eddy K, Yanet "Trueno" Aguilera, and El Uniko.

The song sings to "Celia's Cuba" and asks the Cuban people to "stand up and fight as a brotherhood" against the injustice they have been suffering for more than six decades.

The video shows moving images of the repression and misery suffered by the Cuban people, including those of rafters fleeing Cuba, protests from the early years of Fidel Castro's rise to power to the most recent ones from the San Isidro Movement or the Bishop's protest, whose participants remain imprisoned; dilapidated buildings, queues, divided families, victims of the 13 de Marzo tugboat, images from the Mariel boatlift, indoctrination of children, and the most recent scenes of police violence against artists and activists.

This July 11 marks three years since the historic protests for the freedom of Cuba. In the first days of the summer of 2021, Cubans took to the streets in many parts of the country, weary of a life of sacrifice, scarcity, and resistance.

Of the 1,500 detainees from those massive protests against Raúl Castro's Communist Party, there are still 600 peaceful demonstrators incarcerated for standing up for their dream of freedom.

Among them, the leaders of the San Isidro Movement, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, and of Unpacu, José Daniel Ferrer, remain in prison.

The organization Prisoners Defenders (PD) released an unpublished video this Wednesday that not only proves the innocence and arbitrary detention of the Cuban-German political prisoner Luis Frómeta Compte, accused of sedition following the protests on July 12 in La Güinera, Havana, but would also exonerate the protesters confirming their innocence.

The material, posted on YouTube, clearly shows Frómeta peacefully and politely dialoguing with the police while they were throwing stones and shooting at the frightened peaceful protesters.

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