The 21-year-old Cuban activist Anna Bensi, known formally as Ana Sofía Benítez Silvente and residing in Havana, has released a new Facebook reel titled "Diary Reflections | Part 3: Humorless Clowns." In this five-minute and 23-second video, she boldly condemns the supporters of the Cuban regime, even amid an intensifying crackdown since March 2026.
The video features a striking statement: "Communism functions in two places: in books and the bank accounts of those who lead it," along with a call for freedom for Cuba and all political prisoners.
This release comes amid a systematic harassment campaign by State Security against both Anna and her mother, Caridad "Cary" Silvente. The tension began when they recorded and shared an irregular summons issued by MININT agents on March 10.
The regime classified this recording as a violation under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code—breach of privacy—carrying a potential prison sentence of two to five years. On March 12, the State Security interrogated Anna's mother for two hours, threatening her with house arrest and a travel ban.
By March 25, both women were formally charged and placed under house arrest. Anna recounted the invasive search she endured that day: "They checked even my hair... I had to remove my hairstyle, blouse, pants, and they inspected my shoes."
Continued Repression and Intimidation
The harassment did not stop there. Between April 13 and 14, counterintelligence agents summoned Anna Bensi to the Alamar police station for questioning and attempted to recruit her as an informant, promising to advance her music career if she ceased her activism.
"They tried to recruit me," Anna publicly declared, rejecting these pressures and continuing to post critical content.
On April 21, the regime intensified its efforts by hacking into Anna's WhatsApp and Telegram accounts, disabling her ETECSA lines, effectively cutting off all communication for her and her mother.
Community Support and Wider Impact
Anna Bensi is associated with the "Out of the Box Cuba" collective, established in January 2026 in Cerro by four young individuals in their twenties. The group promotes libertarian thought through art, theater, and social media videos and is recognized for their red caps emblazoned with "Make Cuba Great Again."
The collective itself has faced retaliation: the regime disabled their members' phones as punishment for publicly supporting Anna, intimidated their families, and threatened parents with imprisoning their children.
Last Sunday, a father of several group members publicly denounced the reprisals, which include job loss and travel bans.
Human rights organizations documented 231 repressive actions in February 2026 and 277 in March, highlighting the systematic oppression in which Anna Bensi continues to raise her voice from within the island.
Understanding the Repression in Cuba
What are the charges against Anna Bensi and her mother?
Anna Bensi and her mother were charged under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code for a recording deemed a violation of privacy, potentially leading to two to five years of imprisonment.
How has the Cuban regime retaliated against Anna Bensi and her associates?
The regime has hacked Anna's communication accounts, disabled her phone lines, and targeted the "Out of the Box Cuba" collective by disabling their phones, intimidating families, and threatening imprisonment.
What is the "Out of the Box Cuba" collective?
Founded in January 2026 in Cerro, "Out of the Box Cuba" is a group of young activists promoting libertarian ideas through art and social media, recognized for their "Make Cuba Great Again" caps.