In response to the widespread outrage following the arrest of an elderly woman in El Curita Park, Havana, for selling sodas, a wave of support and solidarity has emerged among Cuban activists and citizens. Mobilizing through social media platforms, efforts are underway to locate the woman and offer her assistance—a clear protest against both police mistreatment and the government's neglect of senior citizens on the island.
One of the individuals demonstrating solidarity is activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, renowned for her consistent support of vulnerable people in Cuba. On Facebook, Salcedo announced triumphantly that they had located the woman in need: “Thanks to a friend, we found the grandmother! Where there's a will, there's a way. Today it was her, tomorrow it could be anyone; our mission is to help each other,” she wrote. She shared a screenshot of a video call with the elderly woman, indicating that support has already started or will be forthcoming.
Another activist, Alberto Turis Betancourt Pérez, also joined the search and confirmed through social media that he had successfully found the woman. “We went out and found her! Thanks to everyone...,” he posted on Facebook, where he had previously vowed to locate her. In a separate post, he uploaded a video from El Curita Park, where he inquired about the woman among passersby. “Everyone seems afraid to give any information about the grandmother,” he remarked while criticizing the regime’s oppression.
Addressing the totalitarian regime, he asserted, “Let me tell you something: I will find the elderly woman, and this will not be silenced. It will be broadcasted, and everyone will know how unjust the system is. We’re in the park where the regime's cronies run stalls, yet an elderly woman trying to earn a living is not allowed.”
This incident, which sparked the wave of solidarity, occurred on Wednesday at El Curita Park, where an elderly woman was arrested for selling sodas. The event was caught on video and shared by the independent portal CubaNet, inciting a significant reaction on social media. Witnesses condemned the police abuse and the inhumane treatment of the woman, who was merely trying to make a living.
Her case has become a symbol of the government's neglect and the extreme hardships faced by senior citizens in Cuba in their struggle to survive.
Understanding the Situation in Cuba
Why was the elderly woman arrested in Havana?
The elderly woman was arrested in El Curita Park, Havana, for selling sodas, an act that sparked public outrage and solidarity among citizens and activists.
How have activists responded to the woman's arrest?
Activists have mobilized through social media to locate and support the woman, using her case to highlight police mistreatment and government neglect of the elderly in Cuba.
What does this incident represent for Cuban society?
The incident symbolizes the systemic issues of government neglect and the struggles faced by the elderly in Cuba, serving as a rallying point for those opposing the regime's oppressive policies.