The Cuban Javier Martín Gutiérrez, known as Spiderman and champion of mixed martial arts in the Cuban Fighting League (CPL) in the 135-pound category, responded this Sunday to those who labeled him as crazy or a drug addict after four days of peaceful and solitary protest in Havana.
The athlete appeared in a new video shared on social media by the rapper and activist El Funky —Eliecer Márquez Duany, exiled in the United States and co-author of "Patria y Vida"— in which he clarified his condition and explained the message behind his appearance: unshaved, barefoot, and with dirty nails.
"I haven't put anything in my body for years. As you can see, I am doing very well mentally, physically, and spiritually," declared the wrestler, who has been stationed for days on the balcony of his house on 31st Avenue in Havana as a form of protest against the Cuban regime.
In previous days, the athlete had directly challenged State Security, daring the authorities to arrest him if they deemed his protest illegal, in an act of courage that captured attention both on and off the island.
His stance contrasts with statements from the Cuban government, which has maintained that no one is detained for expressing themselves and denied the existence of political prisoners in the country.
The activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, a member of the San Isidro Movement, also publicly supported the Spiderman protest, adding his voice to those who back this demonstration of civil resistance.
The action of Spiderman takes place in a context where, according to recent data, 96.91% of the population lacks adequate access to basic services, which has fueled social discontent throughout Cuba.
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