Local residents join national demonstrations for Cuban freedom

*Lily Chancho, one of the organizers of Saturday’s demonstration, held the Cuban flag while signaling an L with her hand. The L signifies “libertad” or freedom.*

A small group of Cuban-Americans, as well as residents with roots in other Central and South American countries, joined together in a demonstration held at the Dubois County Courthouse Saturday morning.

While news outlets have reported the protests erupting in Cuba are fueled by unrest over lack of food and medicine, power outages, and inflation, the foundation for the unrest is based on the Cuban people calling for freedom — libertad — according to Dianelys Velazquez, one of the organizers of the event.

She explained that with Cuba only receiving full access to the internet within the past three years, the Cuban people have become acutely aware of the level of oppression they are living under the Communist regime that has been in power for more the six decades.

“Our people are sick of that,” Dionelys explained. “They tried to protest peacefully but what they found was that instead of a government listening to them, they found an enemy.”

*The group of demonstrators sang the Cuban national anthem while holding the national flag during their demonstration held Saturday in Downtown Jasper.*

As videos showing the brutality of the government’s efforts to suppress the protests in Cuba have made their way online in recent weeks and the internet is being used as a tool to organize protests across the country, the Cuban government shut down access to the internet or censored hashtags and phrases used by protestors.

“We are asking for humanitarian intervention,” Dionelys said. “We want the U.S. to help. We want the internet back so our people can communicate and we can express to the world what is going on in Cuba.”

The demonstrators at the courthouse Saturday all have families in Cuba living in fear. To undermine the efforts of the Cuban protestors, the Cuban government is forcing boys as young as 15 to serve on the front lines with police forces. “The police are breaking in (to homes) and taking their kids out to have them fight and beat people (protestors) up,” Dionelys explained.

Reynier Perera, a demonstrator, fears his 19-year-old son will be forced into the government’s service. “His friends have been made to take part and some neighbors,” he said. “He is afraid.”

The conscripted teens don’t have a choice and face death if they refuse to take part in the government’s suppression tactics.

Local organizers hope the event in downtown Jasper draws more attention to the plight of the Cuban people and ultimately, garners more support from the United States as the country seeks freedom.

With signs featuring requests for prayers for the country and the protestors as well as photos captured from Youtube and TikTok videos showing the government’s violent suppression of the protests on full display, the small group sang songs and shouted for libertad for their country.

Lia Cameron, 9, of Jasper, works on a sign prior to the demonstration by a local contingent of Cuban-Americans showing solidarity with their families and friends in Cuba who are protesting for freedom under the communist regime.

Here is a letter supplied to the media outlining their requests and fears.

The purpose of this letter is to ask the local and federal government to let us help our people in Cuba. The Cuban people took to the streets asking for freedom, asking the government to resign. Our people need food, medicines, COVID-19 vaccines and more. In response to this peaceful protest, the Cuban government is killing people, our people are being killed and tortured by the communist dictatorship, they shut off the internet and all communications and are requesting military support from Venezuela. We Cubans in Dubois County are nervous, worried, it’s difficult to eat or sleep, it’s difficult to work and to continue our regular lives, we need to act and we ask for the opportunity to help our families in Cuba, we need the support of the US government. Proclamation 6867—Declaration of a National Emergency and Invocation of Emergency Authority Relating to the Regulation of the Anchorage and Movement of Vessels, prohibits us from entering Cuban territory, we ask for the opportunity to travel to Cuba to bring resources that will help them live. We need your support.