15N

15N, previously known as 20N.

The Civic March for Change is the name given to the national peaceful demonstration called by the Archipiélago group, together with the Council for the Democratic Transition in Cuba. Its purpose, according to the statement published by the Cuban playwright Yunior García Aguilera in Archipiélago, would be to condemn violence and demand the release of all political prisoners, respect for the rights of Cubans and a solution to political differences through democratic means. and peaceful.

Starting on September 21, activists linked to Archipelago, but from different disciplines and independent social organizations, began to present a letter requesting authorization to provincial governments to carry out said demonstration in different parts of the country, appealing to article 56 of the Constitution. of the Republic of Cuba, which recognizes citizens' right to assemble, demonstrate and associate for lawful and peaceful purposes, and article 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on the right to exercise freedom of peaceful assembly and association .

Letters were presented in Havana, Cienfuegos, Guantánamo, Pinar del Río, Villa Clara, Holguín, Camagüey and Las Tunas. In Santiago de Cuba, activist Dariem Columbié tried to present a letter at the provincial government headquarters, but he was arrested when he was about to do so.

Initially the call had been made for November 20, but on October 7, the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces decided to organize a series of military exercises from November 18 to 20, which would culminate with the celebration of National Defense Day, on November 20. Given this reaction from the power, Archipelago decided to advance the demonstration to the 15th., the day Cuba opens its borders to international tourism.

On October 12, the Cuban Government announced a negative response to Archipiélago's authorization requests, considering that its promoters have the intention of promoting a change in the political system in Cuba, something that, in its opinion, would be illegitimate and unconstitutional.