Monday’s protest is called by Archipiélago, a political reflection group on Facebook whose founder is Yunior García.
Cuban security agents They prevented the opposition Yunior García from leaving his house to march alone on Sunday in Havana as he had announced, after President Miguel Díaz-Canel promised that “Cuba will live in peace,” on the eve of a demonstration that has also been banned.
Around 3:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. GMT), the time the solitary walk was scheduled, dozens of government supporters staged an act of repudiation in front of the building of this 39-year-old playwright and organizer of Monday’s march.
Shouting “I am Fidel” and long live Díaz-Canel, dozens of people showed up in front of García’s building, previously covered by agents with huge flags, who even covered the windows of his apartment, according to images on Twitter from the television station. Venezuelan Telesur, authorized to be close.
The street of Yunior García’s house, which in the last year has become the spearhead of a new generation of Cuban dissidents driven by the rise of social networks, was blocked from early on by a strong presence of civilian-clad agents. on sidewalks and rooftops.
“My house woke up under siege, the entire building is surrounded by civilian state security agents posing as a town,” Garcia said in the morning in a direct transmission on Facebook.
With a white rose and a rosary around his neck, Yunior García had said in the broadcast that he was ready to go on the lonely walk in a central Havana street.
In the city center, wearing a red shirt and scarf, President Miguel Díaz-Canel arrived at a park at noon, accompanied by his wife, Liz Cuesta, to listen to music and share with young people.
Sitting on the ground, he chatted with about 70 students who support the government and have been camped there since Friday.
Two men arrested
“Cuba is going to live in peace and by living in peace we are going to improve ourselves,” said the president in a brief speech, condemning “the campaigns to subvert the internal order, the media campaigns against Cuba, against the peace of Cuba.”
In another park on the emblematic 23rd Street, from where Yunior García had planned to begin his protest, just at the time of the march, two men who shouted “Freedom” were arrested.
One of them was harassed in the center of the park by government supporters, who replied “Cuba yes, Yankees no.” The police took him away in a patrol, along with the other, while shouting loudly “freedom and democracy.”
Monday’s protest is called by Archipiélago, a political reflection group on Facebook whose founder is Yunior García and which has more than 30,000 members inside and outside of Cuba.
Despite the government’s ban, the group continues to call for a protest Monday.
The organizers of the march demand the release of political prisoners, after the historic demonstrations on July 11 shouting “We are hungry” and “Freedom”, which left one dead, dozens injured and 1,270 detainees, of which 658 still remain. They are in prison, according to the NGO Cubalex.
The United States on Sunday urged Havana to allow the demonstration.
“We ask the Cuban government to respect the rights of Cubans and allow them to meet peacefully and use their voices without fear of reprisals or violence by the government,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement, requesting that the “internet connection” is maintained on the island.
Demonstration in Miami
At least six coordinators of Monday’s marches were being held by the authorities, Archipiélago denounced on Saturday, while dissident Guillermo Fariñas has been detained since Friday.
Some 200 people demonstrated this Sunday in Miami to show their support for the protests. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
