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The renowned Cuban activist Rosa María Payá received the Keys to the City of Miami this Monday, an honor presented by Mayor Francis Suárez during an official ceremony attended by commissioners, community leaders, and members of the island's exile community.
In a post on Facebook, Payá, the daughter of the legendary opposition leader Oswaldo Payá, stated: it is "an honor that fills me with gratitude and responsibility."
She also expressed particular gratitude to her loved ones—“those who rarely appear in the photo, but are indispensable”—for supporting her emotionally throughout her activism, and extended her thanks to the local government: “Thank you, City of Miami Government, for paving the way and standing with us in the defense of freedom. I share this honor with all of you.”
The distinction highlights his career in defending human rights, democracy, and the freedom of the Cuban people, as well as his leadership in the Cuba Decide platform.
A call to mobilization for human rights
During the event, Payá called for a global mobilization on December 10, International Human Rights Day, to protest in front of embassies and consulates of the Cuban regime. "We need to push together. Let's show the world that we are ready to reclaim our freedom," he urged in words quoted by Martí Noticias.
“I receive this recognition as an acknowledgment of the struggle of the Cuban people, who today are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe entirely caused by a dictatorship that has been in power for 66 years,” he stated during his speech.
Upon presenting the award, Mayor Suárez praised the activist's work and warned about the expansion of communism in the region and its political impact. “It is not only about Cuba's freedom, which is a central issue for our community, but about rejecting the deception of communism and defending the values that uphold this city: capitalism, freedom, and democracy,” noted Martí Noticias.
Payá's mission: democracy through institutional means
Suárez emphasized that Payá's work represents one of the greatest challenges for any modern leadership: attempting to transform a country using democratic mechanisms in an authoritarian context. "Without his work, this movement would be meaningless," he stated.
For the Cuban exile community, the presentation of the Keys to the City holds deep symbolic significance. Miami has been, for decades, a refuge for those fleeing repression on the island and a hub of political and civic activity in support of Cuba's freedom.
A rising international figure
It is worth noting that this year, Rosa María Payá assumed the role of commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), becoming the first Cuban opponent to hold a position within the organization, with the support of the United States government. Her role amplifies her influence in the hemispheric debate on democracy and human rights.
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