On July 11, four years since the largest social uprising in Cuba in recent decades, Cuban artists and influencers have flooded social media with messages, photos, and videos recalling that day when thousands of people took to the streets shouting "Freedom!"
The posts not only recall the magnitude of the protests but also the violent repression that followed, marking a date that forever changed the collective consciousness of the country.
From exile or within the island, familiar faces from music, art, and social media have used their platforms to pay tribute to the protesters and reaffirm their commitment to a free Cuba. Many agree that July 11, 2021, was "the day we were closest to freedom."
Images of the slogans chanted in the streets, and scenes of police repression have been shared massively once again, accompanied by reflections on the human cost of that uprising, with hundreds of political prisoners still remaining in jails for protesting on July 11, 2021.
Lieter Ledesma:
"For a country where all Cubans can belong. Where thinking is not a reason for punishment, and expressing your feelings does not turn you into an enemy. A country where freedom is not a dream, but the daily bread. No more families torn apart by distance. No more young people fleeing without hope, nor elderly dying without witnessing change. Let the pride of being Cuban return, not out of nostalgia, but for history and dignity. Let loving Cuba not be painful. Let living in it not be a punishment. For a truly free and prosperous nation. Free, for all."
Miguelín David:
"Date tattooed in the mind and heart of every Cuban. Another anniversary of the day we were closest to freedom. Down with the dictatorship that is destroying my country."
Leoni Torres:
"July 11. A day that marked the history of my homeland. Our day is approaching."
Alain Cuban Paparazzi:
"My family and I were victims of the repression of communism. We suffered firsthand the abuses of that dictatorship simply for not staying silent, for raising our voices and speaking the truth about what was happening in Cuba. Today, July 11, marks four years since that day when the people decided to take to the streets and break the silence. Four years since the loudest cry this generation has made: freedom."
"And today, more than ever, it is clear to me: the only way out is the people in the streets. There is no other. Because those who fight for their rights, those who do not give up, are the ones who make history. Freedom for political prisoners. Freedom for Cuba. We remain steadfast, because we are the Voice of those who cannot speak."
Michelito Dando Chucho:
"No matter how much they want… 11J must not be forgotten…"
Emilio Frías:
July 11, 2021, was a day that left a mark on the hearts of many Cubans.
The streets were bustling, cars honking... They said the Malecón was full... The phones were ringing non-stop, with no internet, and all you could hear was people saying… Santiago is out in the streets, Camagüey too... El Cerro and Havana were completely overwhelmed. I know that many (cyber patriots) wanted to be there to show their courage and love for the homeland, and I tell you that it was essential to be there, amidst so many conflicting emotions.
"I was there; I experienced the fear, the pain, the despair, and the agony of a people who said 'I can’t take it anymore, I don’t want this.' I also witnessed the love, the tears of joy after so much suffering, the hope and faith of the majority of Cubans as they proclaimed 'The silence is deafening.' I lived through a desperate dictator's puppet giving a 'combat order' against an unarmed people and declaring that the streets belonged to the revolutionaries."
"After that day, I was never the same again, and I believe none of us were. After that day, I understood that what I thought, many others thought too, that what I wanted, many others wanted as well, and that the desire to live with dignity and the pain of being separated from family were greater than the fear of a bloody and brutal dictatorship (...)"
"I chose to be on the right side, and it cost me a lot, but I prefer to live 'Without a Fatherland, but without a Master' and with the dignity of always being with Cuba and my people. Happy day to all the brave who went out to demand their rights. Long live a Free Cuba and down with the Dictatorship."
El Chacal:
"July 11. A day that no one forgets. For those who are no longer here, for those who remain steadfast against TYRANNY."
Frequently asked questions about the fourth anniversary of 11J in Cuba
What happened on July 11, 2021, in Cuba?
On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans took to the streets to demand freedom and an end to the dictatorship. The protests occurred in over 40 cities, marking one of the greatest challenges to the regime in decades. The demonstrations were violently suppressed by the government after President Miguel Díaz-Canel ordered to combat them.
How have Cuban artists and influencers commemorated the anniversary of 11J?
Cuban artists and influencers have used their platforms to remember July 11th, sharing messages, photos, and videos on social media. They highlight the day as "the closest moment to freedom" in Cuba and pay tribute to the protesters. Many of them, either from exile or within the island, express their commitment to a free Cuba.
What is the situation of political prisoners following July 11th?
There are hundreds of political prisoners in Cuba, many of whom were incarcerated after 11J. Although some have been released under restrictive conditions, the majority of these prisoners remain in jail or under surveillance. Human rights organizations continue to demand their unconditional release.
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