Cuban writer and humorist Jorge Fernández Era was detained this past Friday in Havana by State Security officers while he was on his way to carry out his regular civic protest at Central Park, an activity he has been doing every month on the 18th for the past two years. His wife, Laideliz Herrera Laza, reported the arrest via her Facebook account.
"He was just detained at the corner of our house by a patrol with State Security agents. They told me he would be taken to the Aguilera Unit," Herrera wrote. Fernández Era had planned to peacefully protest with the same demands he has consistently voiced: the end of the totalitarian regime, respect for civil rights, and more recently, a denunciation of due process violations against him by the Revolutionary National Police, the Attorney General's Office, and State Security.
Repression Marks April 18th Protest
The events of April 18, a symbolic date for many Cuban activists demanding systemic change, were overshadowed by a renewed repressive operation. The home of anthropologist and activist Jenny Pantoja was surrounded by security agents, preventing her from exercising her right to protest.
“Today, like every 18th, I do not ask, I demand a change of system in Cuba through a transparent process with international observers that allows for a new Constituent Assembly with inclusion, true multilateralism, and varied political articulation,” Pantoja stated.
Other Activists Also Targeted
Academician Alina Bárbara López Hernández announced her intention to protest at her usual spot, the Liberty Park in Matanzas. She recalled the one-year anniversary of her illegal detention at the Bacunayagua checkpoint on April 18, 2024, where she was beaten and held without ventilation in a police patrol car.
Additionally, Berta Soler Fernández, leader of the opposition movement Ladies in White, and former political prisoner Ángel Moya Acosta were arrested around 2:00 p.m. in the La Virgen del Camino area in Havana on the previous day.
Key Questions about the Arrests in Cuba
What were the reasons for Jorge Fernández Era's arrest?
Jorge Fernández Era was arrested for attempting to conduct a peaceful protest demanding the end of Cuba's totalitarian regime and respect for civil rights.
How did the authorities respond to the protests on April 18th?
Authorities responded with increased repression, including surrounding activists' homes and making several arrests to prevent protests from taking place.
Who else was detained alongside Jorge Fernández Era?
Other activists detained included Berta Soler Fernández from the Ladies in White movement and former political prisoner Ángel Moya Acosta.