Following the outrage generated by the arrest of an elderly woman this Wednesday at Parque El Curita in Havana for selling soft drinks, several activists and Cuban citizens have mobilized to provide her with support and solidarity.
Through social media, initiatives began to organize to locate the woman and offer her assistance, as a manifestation of rejection against police abuse and the state negligence that older adults experience on the island.
One of the individuals who showed solidarity was activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, known for regularly assisting people in vulnerable situations in Cuba.
Through his account on Facebook, Salcedo celebrated that they managed to find the affected woman: “Thanks to a brother, we found the grandmother! Because if you want it, you can do it. Yesterday it was her, and tomorrow it could be anyone, so the cause is to help each other,” he wrote.
He accompanied the post with a screenshot of a video call made with the elderly woman, clearly showing that he has already begun to offer her support or will do so soon.
The activist Alberto Turis Betancourt Pérez also joined the search for the elderly woman and confirmed on social media that he managed to find her.
“ We went out and found her! Thanks to everyone...,” she wrote on her Facebook account, where she had previously stated that she would find her.
In another post, he shared a video in which he can be seen at El Curita Park asking about the woman among the passersby.
"Everyone seems afraid to provide any information about grandma," he said while denouncing the regime's repression.
"I'm going to tell the totalitarian regime something: I will find the elderly woman, this will not be silenced, it will be made known, and everyone will learn how unjust the system is. We are in the park where the regime maintains kiosks for its front men, but an elderly woman who sells to eat cannot," she asserted firmly.
The event that sparked the wave of solidarity occurred this Wednesday in El Curita Park, in Havana, where an elderly woman was arrested for selling soft drinks.
The moment was captured on video and shared by the independent portal CubaNet, generating a strong reaction on social media. Witnesses reported police abuse and inhumane treatment towards the woman, who was simply trying to make a living.
Her case has become a symbol of state abandonment and the extreme challenges faced by the elderly in Cuba to survive.
Frequently Asked Questions about Repression and the Situation of the Elderly in Cuba
Why was the elderly woman arrested in Havana?
The elderly woman was arrested by the police for selling soft drinks in Parque El Curita, in Havana. This act is a demonstration of the repression faced by informal vendors in Cuba, who are criminalized for trying to make a living amidst the country's economic crisis.
How have Cubans reacted to the arrest of the elderly woman?
The reaction has been one of indignation and solidarity. Several activists and citizens have mobilized to support the elderly woman, expressing their disapproval of police mistreatment and the state’s neglect of senior citizens on the island. Social media has been a key space for organizing assistance and denouncing the situation.
Why do the elderly in Cuba turn to informal sales?
Elderly people in Cuba are forced to turn to informal sales due to the economic precariousness. State pensions are insufficient to cover their basic needs, and the lack of effective social support drives them to seek alternative means of subsistence, such as selling products on the streets.
What challenges do the elderly face in Cuba due to the regime's repression?
The elderly in Cuba face the challenge of state repression, which criminalizes their attempts to earn a living through informal work. This adds to the insecurity and lack of resources, leaving them in a situation of extreme vulnerability and without the necessary support to live with dignity.
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