Javier Martín Gutiérrez, known as Spiderman and mixed martial arts champion of the Cuban Fighting League in the 135-pound category, staged a public protest from the balcony of his home in Havana, on the bustling 31st Avenue, right across from the busy El Lido terminal, before also coming down to the street.
In the video, the athlete not only denounced the crisis but also openly challenged the authorities and questioned their absence: “Where is State Security?… there is no one… they are still asleep… this island has been abandoned for a long time,” he shouted.
He also issued warnings about possible reprisals: “At night, they are going to come after me… the night cannot come,” he said, before directly challenging: “Come for me. Shoot with whatever you want.”
At another time, he questioned the silence and lack of institutional response: “Where are they? State Security, Communist Party, police… are they just waiting for me to get shot?” he exclaimed.
The video also includes a strong social indictment of the situation on the island: “There are women rummaging through the trash and children eating from the garbage, while others have everything. There is no equality even in poverty. We are biologically equal.”
Spiderman also paid tribute to those who have spoken out the most: “No one expresses an opinion, no one says anything. Women speak more, applause for the women, the Ladies in White. Applause for the warriors.”
In a new video shared by the rapper and activist El Funky, following the viral spread of the initial images, the athlete responded to those who label him as "crazy" or accuse him of using drugs. He clarified that he is merely "stressed" due to the misery in Cuba and the lack of support for his protests.
"This Cuban, Javier Spiderman, who is an athlete and champion, has reached out to me directly. He has been peacefully protesting for days and has not stopped asking for freedom; however, he has not received any support from the Cuban people. Freedom is for everyone, but no one fights for it. And when someone has the courage and bravery to do so, they are left alone," wrote El Funky.
The activist and art curator Anamely Ramos, a member of the San Isidro Movement, also called for maximum visibility for the case.
"We need maximum visibility for this brother. Another Cuban who puts his body and his voice to shout what we all know, but very few dare to denounce," Ramos wrote.
The activist also issued a direct warning to the regime: "To the Cuban regime: are you going to hunt this young man down with your hordes of hired thugs? Be aware that if you do, the outrageous lie of the one who claims to be president will be made even more evident."
Ramos referred to recent statements made by Miguel Díaz-Canel to a U.S. journalist, in which he asserted that no one is arrested in Cuba for expressing themselves.
Spiderman's complaint comes at the worst humanitarian moment that Cuba has faced since the Special Period of the 1990s. 96.91% of the population lacks adequate access to food, and 80% of Cubans believe the current crisis is worse than that period.
"We must overcome the fear and despair that have been instilled in us for decades. Cubans deserve to live,” concluded Anamely Ramos.
Filed under: