Social media is once again buzzing with solidarity following the arrest of members from the independent project El4tico in Holguín, Cuba.
This time, a group of young Cuban activists, including influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, shared a video on the 'Fuera de la Caja Cuba' account demanding the immediate release of Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina, who were detained during a police operation on February 6.
"Release them now! They didn't just detain El4tico; they silenced the voice of all Cubans," declared their collective message, which has garnered hundreds of views and supportive comments.
In the video, the young activists condemned the imprisonment of the project's creators for "exercising a fundamental human right: freedom of expression."
The name 'Fuera de la Caja Cuba' references the English phrase "thinking outside the box," which encourages free, creative thinking unconstrained by imposed limitations.
In Cuba, this call carries significant weight: it urges breaking free from the mold of singular thought, challenging official propaganda, and envisioning a nation based on citizen independence and diverse ideas.
In a society where dissent is still punished, "thinking outside the box" becomes an intellectual and moral act of resistance.
"Disagreeing is not a crime, especially not with a political project that has brought us so much misery," one participant stated, while others insisted, "No one will silence us because we are all El4tico."
The 'Fuera de la Caja Cuba' collective, which boasts over seven thousand Instagram followers, has been actively sharing messages of support and reports of repression on the island in recent days.
Their biography features a quote from José Martí: "Freedom is the right of every man to be honest, to think and to speak without hypocrisy," a motto that has gained renewed significance following the arrests.
The video concludes with a message encapsulating the sentiment of young people inside and outside the country: "Even if they try to silence them, their message will not die. Cuba needs change, and the change is now. We are all El4tico."
The social media campaign has gained momentum under the hashtags #TodosSomosEl4tico and #LiberenlosYa, amplifying the visibility of a case that symbolizes the fight for freedom of thought and expression in Cuba.
Understanding the El4tico Arrests and Their Implications
Why were the members of El4tico arrested?
Kamil Zayas Pérez and Ernesto Ricardo Medina were arrested for practicing freedom of expression, a fundamental human right, according to the activists.
What does "Fuera de la Caja Cuba" mean?
The term translates to "Out of the Box Cuba," encouraging free and creative thinking beyond the limitations imposed by the Cuban regime.
What impact has the campaign had?
The campaign has increased awareness and support for freedom of expression in Cuba, using hashtags to amplify the movement's visibility on social media.