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Cuban exile organizations and civil society groups both on and off the island have called for a global demonstration on December 10, International Human Rights Day, to demand the release of political prisoners and the respect for fundamental freedoms in Cuba.
The platform Cuba Decide, led by activist Rosa María Payá, was one of the first to join the call, which was spread through social media with the message: “See you on the 10th! We support the call to protest worldwide for human rights for Cubans. Freedom for political prisoners. Freedom for Cuba.”
The demonstrations will take place in various cities around the world where Cuban communities reside, such as Miami, Madrid, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Washington, Santiago de Chile, Berlin, and Toronto, which have hosted similar events in previous years. The organizers hope that this new event will have an impact equal to or greater than that of past calls.
In Cuba, independent activists have expressed their intention to join the event, although in previous years the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel has responded with increased police presence and arbitrary detentions to prevent peaceful protests, as documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Various human rights organizations, such as Prisoners Defenders, maintain that more than 1,100 people remain imprisoned for political reasons, the highest number recorded in recent decades.
Among them are artists, journalists, activists, and protesters from July 11th, many of whom were sentenced in summary trials and without due process guarantees.
From exile, thousands of Cubans are expected to participate in peaceful marches in front of embassies, consulates, and public squares to highlight repression and demand international solidarity. Organizers are asking participants to wear white and carry Cuban flags and banners with the names of political prisoners.
On previous occasions, Rosa María Payá has reiterated that the goal of these demonstrations is to "remind the world that Cubans continue to fight for our freedom" and that, despite repression, the desire for change "remains alive in the Cuban people."
December 10 will thus be a new day of unity among Cubans both on the island and abroad, marked by the demand for justice, freedom, and human rights for a people that continues to resist over six decades of communist dictatorship.
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