Leo Fernández Cruz, a 45-year-old Cuban activist, passed away after being hit by a truck on Vía Blanca, in front of the Ñico López refinery in Havana. His death has sparked numerous expressions of grief among friends, writers, and individuals involved in civic activism in Cuba.
The accident occurred on Saturday, October 10, as reported by Nio Reporting a Crime and the independent outlet ClickCuba, which identified the victim as a resident of Guanabacoa.
So far, the circumstances of the accident and any potential liabilities have not been officially disclosed.
Fernández Cruz was known for his critical stance toward the Cuban government and his connections with individuals linked to the opposition and independent civil society. His passing has generated heartfelt farewell messages.
“Leo Fernández Cruz, my friend, rest in peace. A hug,” wrote the art historian, filmmaker, and independent journalist Boris González Arenas, who shared a photograph alongside him and other friends.
Ricardo López Drago also expressed his sadness over the loss of someone he considered a close friend.
"I have no words to describe the pain I feel," he wrote, before recalling a phrase by José Martí: "There is only one thing comparable to the pleasure of finding a friend; the pain of losing one."
The Cuban producer Dayana Prieto, who resides in Spain, expressed regret for not having yet purchased Raspadura, the book by Fernández Cruz, and recalled that she also had not fulfilled her promise to publish one final poetry collection.
"I have a to-do list, and I feel terrified every time I'm running late for some of them," she confessed.
“Light for Leonardo and for all those who left with the hope of seeing and living in a free Cuba,” she wrote.
Juan Carlos Suárez Pena remembered Fernández Cruz for his friendship, artistic sensitivity, and convictions.
"Man, Leo... I'm going to miss you. If anyone deserved to see Cuba Libre... it was you," he expressed.
For his part, Many López bid farewell with a message highlighting his commitment to the future of Cuba.
"Your legacy of struggle, dignity, and love for your own lives in every corner of our hope," he/she wrote.
The journalist Luz Escobar, a friend of his since adolescence, recalled him as "a geek until the end and an unrepentant dissident who never bowed his head."
A close friend, the activist Lara Crofs, also recalled his role as a poet and musicologist, as well as his rebellious nature and political beliefs. "Leo was a free soul, one of those who speak their mind without holding back, without asking for permission or apologies," she wrote.
Crofs also claimed to have witnessed the harassment that Fernández Cruz suffered for years at the hands of the Cuban State Security.
His wife, Annalie López, also bid him farewell with affectionate words and references to her desire to see a free Cuba.
Fernández Cruz had publicly denounced the conditions of Cuban political prisoners. In June of this year, after visiting the Combinado del Este, he reported the difficult detention conditions described to him by several inmates from the protests of July 11, 2021.
The complaints included poor nutrition, bedbugs in the mattresses, and work under the sun. Her testimony was shared by the teacher and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández.
In addition to his activism, Fernández Cruz left behind a literary work, Raspadura, remembered by several close friends in their farewell messages.
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