Yonexi Gutiérrez, the sister of mixed martial arts champion Javier Martín Gutiérrez—who is widely known as "Spiderman"—recently took to Instagram to release a video. In it, she expressed her frustration and publicly condemned the neglect her brother faces as he protests alone against the Cuban regime.
Javier has been demonstrating from his balcony on Havana's 31st Avenue, near the El Lido terminal, without any substantial support from within the island. His solitary protest against the regime has gone unnoticed by many.
"My indignation is so overwhelming that I knew I would eventually explode. It's just too much," Yonexi stated at the beginning of the nearly seven-minute video.
She pointed out that despite receiving messages of support on social media, her brother stands alone in his protest within Cuba. "He has been by himself for a week. Sure, there is support from those outside, but within Cuba, he has no one. Not even his own family—some see him as crazy or a drug addict," she lamented with palpable frustration.
Yonexi also criticized those who once marched under duress for figures like Elián González and the so-called "five heroes," yet now remain silent. "If you didn't go from work, you'd get fired. And if a child didn’t attend from school, they'd have a note placed in their record," she recalled, questioning why those same people aren't now taking to the streets for their own freedom.
Living outside of Cuba, Yonexi shared a personal revelation: she herself was imprisoned in the island for public protests. "Javier can't fear being jailed. Do you know why? Because he knows what's at stake, as I was imprisoned," she asserted.
She also discussed her own sacrifices: "I had to leave that country. I had to leave my family, my children... and come here so I wouldn't end up like Javier today."
A portion of the video was dedicated to highlighting the plight of Cuban children who strive to become digital content creators to financially support their families. "It's the children who are stepping up for their parents. It's not you, dad. It's not you, mom. It's your child," she stated, depicting minors who can't afford even a candy and can't dream of professional careers.
Yonexi's video emerged a day after Javier shared his own message on the eighth day of his protest. In it, he noted that his area had electricity for eight consecutive days—a phenomenon he attributed to his public denouncement—and pointed out State Security motorcycles stationed outside his home.
"Spiderman's" protest occurs amidst the worst humanitarian crisis Cuba has faced since the Special Period of the 1990s. The island endures power outages exceeding 20 hours daily due to the cessation of Venezuelan oil supplies, with 96.91% of the population lacking adequate access to food, according to the Food Monitor Program.
"If Javier wants to continue, let him. He will not be alone. And if I have to make 100 videos like this to refresh people's memory, I will," Yonexi vowed as she concluded her video.
Key Questions about the Cuban Protest and Crisis
Why is Javier Gutiérrez, known as "Spiderman," protesting?
Javier Gutiérrez is protesting against the Cuban regime, highlighting the neglect and hardship faced by the population during the current humanitarian crisis.
What challenges are Cuban citizens facing during this crisis?
Cubans are dealing with severe power outages, food shortages, and a lack of basic necessities, exacerbated by the halt of oil supplies from Venezuela.
How has Yonexi Gutiérrez been involved in the protests?
Yonexi Gutiérrez, who resides outside of Cuba, has spoken out in support of her brother's protest, sharing her own experiences of imprisonment for activism and highlighting the plight of Cuban children.