Despite the rain, scores of Cuban exiles and activists gathered on Saturday outside the iconic Versailles restaurant on Calle Ocho in Miami. Their mission was clear: to demand the immediate release of political prisoners José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro, who were recently re-arrested by the Cuban government following the revocation of their probation.
As reported by Martí Noticias, the protest was organized by the Democracy Movement and the Exile Movement of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), with support from the Ladies in White. During the demonstration, participants chanted slogans, sang songs supporting the internal opposition, and reaffirmed their commitment to freedom and democracy in Cuba.
Among those present was Luis Enrique Ferrer, brother of UNPACU's founder, who condemned the ongoing human rights abuses faced by his brother José Daniel. Activist Ramón Saúl Sánchez, leader of the Democracy Movement, also attended, urging the international community to show solidarity with Cuban prisoners of conscience.
When asked about the protest's purpose, Sánchez stated, "Stop the abuses against people, against José Daniel Ferrer, against Félix Navarro, against Sayli Navarro, against other children imprisoned, and against the political prisoners who are jailed merely for exercising a right recognized worldwide, except in places under tyranny, like Cuba, unfortunately."
José Daniel Ferrer, the founder of UNPACU, was detained on April 29 after his probation was revoked. He was violently taken to Mar Verde prison in Santiago de Cuba, where, according to his sister Ana Belkis Ferrer, he was beaten to force him into wearing a common prisoner’s uniform.
Ferrer had been released in January as part of a Vatican and U.S. government-negotiated agreement. During his brief freedom, he focused on humanitarian efforts from the UNPACU headquarters, providing food, medicine, and support to those in extreme poverty. Activists suggest his rising social influence was a significant reason for his re-arrest.
The UNPACU headquarters was violently raided, and several of Ferrer's family members were also detained, including his wife Nelva Ismaray Ortega Tamayo and their young son, Daniel José. The regime justified the action by claiming Ferrer missed two mandatory court appearances, a rationale deemed arbitrary by his defenders due to the persistent harassment he faced.
Meanwhile, Félix Navarro, a 72-year-old former prisoner of the "Group of 75," was accused of leaving his municipality without permission on seven occasions, allegedly violating restrictions imposed after his conditional release, according to official sources. Despite his advanced age and fragile health, the regime returned him to prison under the guise of legal formalities.
Cuban Political Prisoners Protest: Key Questions
Who organized the protest in Miami?
The protest was organized by the Democracy Movement and the Exile Movement of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), with support from the Ladies in White.
Why was José Daniel Ferrer re-arrested?
José Daniel Ferrer was re-arrested after his probation was revoked. The regime claimed he missed two mandatory court hearings, though his supporters argue this was an arbitrary decision due to ongoing harassment.
What accusations were made against Félix Navarro?
Félix Navarro was accused of leaving his municipality without permission on multiple occasions, allegedly violating the conditions of his conditional release.