The Cuban-Spanish activist María Eugenia Gutiérrez participated in the Madrid Marathon on April 27 with a goal beyond just sports: to demand the release of political prisoners in Cuba.
Daughter of the former political prisoner Vicente Gutiérrez, the journalist dedicated every kilometer of the 42.195 covered to the hundreds of Cubans incarcerated for reasons of conscience on the Island.
In an emotional message shared on Instagram, Gutiérrez explained that, although he has participated in other marathons, this race was particularly significant. "Every kilometer will be an act of solidarity, and with every step, I will carry his strength and his example," he assured.
The activist, who has lived in Spain since she was a child, confessed that the difficult path in Madrid would represent a physical and emotional challenge for her, but that the dignity and resilience of political prisoners would inspire her to reach her goal.
"She has arrived. Activist Eugenia Gutiérrez did it. She opened the space at the Madrid Marathon to amplify the call for the freedom of political prisoners in Cuba and to support their dire condition in the prisons of our country. The #Don'tAbandonThem resonated. Let's now increase its reach and volume," published on its social media the Council for Democratic Transition in Cuba (CTDC).
Gutiérrez also took the opportunity to promote the campaign "Let's Not Abandon Them," an initiative to raise funds to support political prisoners and their families in Cuba. According to the independent outlet Diario de Cuba, the funds collected — through PayPal, bank transfers, and Bizum — will be used to cover basic needs such as food, medicine, and transportation for family visits.
The activist, a member of the CTDC and the Christian Democratic Party, works closely with José Daniel Ferrer, a former political prisoner and president of the CTDC. Together, they aim to highlight the critical situation of political prisoners, who endure mistreatment, a lack of resources, and constant repression within Cuban prisons.
Gutiérrez's participation took place during one of the most crowded editions of the Madrid Marathon. Nearly 45,000 runners from around the world took to the streets of the Spanish capital in the 47th edition of the event, known as Zurich Rock 'n' Roll Running Series.
Of them, around 13,000 competed in the full marathon, while another 23,000 took part in the half marathon and 9,000 in the 10-kilometer event. The day brought together athletes from up to 116 countries, with a strong representation from France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the United States.
In sports, the Ethiopian Derara Hurisa claimed victory in the marathon with a time of 2:09:08, followed by his compatriot Limenih Getachew and the runner from Madrid, Yago Rojo, who achieved an impressive third place. In the women's category, the Ethiopian Maritu Ketema won the event with a time of 2:25:55.
To ensure safety during the event, the Municipal Police deployed nearly 700 officers at various points along the route.
Gutiérrez's activism is not recent. In April 2023, he was part of a group of Cuban activists who protested outside the offices of the newspaper El País in Madrid.
The protest arose following the publication of an article that downplayed the hardships faced by the Cuban population in order to promote tourism on the Island. Gutiérrez, along with other prominent opposition figures, delivered a letter of protest denouncing the biases in media coverage that normalized the Cuban crisis and overlooked human rights violations. "Your paradise, my prison" was the powerful message they conveyed to the Spanish newspaper.
"When the toughest moment of the race arrives, I will think of you," Gutiérrez stated before starting the marathon, reaffirming her commitment not only to sports but also to politics. For her, the race in Madrid was more than a personal challenge: it was an act of symbolic resistance and a voice for the silenced.
The activist emphasized that while the campaign aims to address the immediate needs of prisoners, the ultimate goal is to achieve their release through a law of amnesty and the decriminalization of dissent in Cuba. "One thing is the political solution, and another is the current reality for political prisoners. That’s why we must try to help them as much as possible," she stated.
María Eugenia Gutiérrez's participation in the Madrid Marathon is part of a series of international actions aimed at keeping alive the cause of Cuban political prisoners and reminding us that their struggle must not be forgotten.
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