Carolina Barrero

Carolina Barrero is a Cuban art historian, cultural promoter, and activist. She is a graduate of the Faculty of Art History at the University of Havana. In Cuba, she worked at the Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center. In Spain, where she holds citizenship, she was a fellow at the Museo Nacional del Prado in the Sponsorship and Communication Department and has worked in art galleries.

Barrero is a member of the 27N movement, which emerged from the protests of hundreds of young people on November 27, 2020, in front of the Ministry of Culture in Havana. They gathered to denounce the harassment against the San Isidro Movement (MSI) as well as the increasing lack of freedoms and repression on the island against anyone who expresses dissent or holds views contrary to the regime.

On January 27, 2021, two months later, following the breakdown of dialogue with the authorities of the Ministry of Culture, young artists once again gathered in front of the organization for a peaceful protest. On that occasion, Barrero was detained along with several members of the 27N group.

Since then, Barrero has been the victim of several arbitrary detentions, including one on January 31 in front of the National Assembly of People's Power, located at the Capitol in Havana, alongside rapper Maykel Osorbo Castillo. They were conducting a live broadcast in which they defended citizens' right to demand the resignation of Alpidio.

Barrero has been warned and threatened during those interrogations, where it has been suggested that "it would be better for her to return to Spain," lest they impose regulations on her and later prohibit her from leaving.

In February 2021, Barrero, along with activist Solveig Font, submitted a petition on behalf of the 27N movement to the National Assembly and the Council of State in Havana, requesting the revocation of Alpidio Alonso Grau's positions as deputy and minister of culture in Cuba due to the violence with which the minister and other leaders confronted the young people who were peacefully spending the night in front of the institution. Days later, Barrero was detained by police officers while she was out shopping.

In February 2012, State Security threatened the young woman with charges of "clandestine printing" for public disorder, as outlined in Article 210 of the Cuban Penal Code, after Barrero printed an image of José Martí covered in stars, intended to pay tribute to the Apostle's birthday on January 28.