Cuban activist and analyst Omar López Montenegro, the founder and president of the Latin American Center for Nonviolence (CELANV), introduced his book "Strategic Nonviolent Struggle: 100 Practical Tips" this Thursday in Montevideo, at an event associated with the city's Latin American Athenaeum.
Entrepreneur Gonzalo Downey Castillo, who had the honor of presenting the event, shared his thoughts on Facebook on Friday with heartfelt words: "Yesterday, I had the privilege of introducing one of the most admired figures in my life here in Uruguay: Omar López Montenegro, founder of the Latin American Center for Nonviolence. His journey has been recognized globally by governments, parliaments, international organizations, and foundations for his relentless and tireless fight for Human Rights, Democracy, and Nonviolence."
Downey Castillo, who counts López Montenegro as a friend and mentor for over two decades, devoted much of his post to recalling the price the activist paid for his dissent.
The Cost of Dissent
"The Cuban dictatorship attempted to strip him of everything. They deprived him of the right to live freely in his homeland, forced him to leave his country, denied him the chance to bid farewell to his parents, and sent him into exile with barely a change of clothes, merely for saving his life and that of his family," he wrote.
López Montenegro was born in Havana and studied Economics. His human rights activism began in 1988 when he founded the Artistic Freedom Association (APAL). That October, he participated in a protest with other members of the organization, resulting in his beating and arrest. He faced numerous detentions subsequently and went into exile in May 1992.
A Lifelong Commitment to Human Rights
Now residing in the United States, López Montenegro has had a long-standing career in defending human rights, serving as the director of Human Rights at the Cuban American National Foundation (FNCA). He has been a regular contributor to Radio Martí and engaged in international activities promoting human rights and nonviolent resistance methods across Latin America and Europe.
Currently, López Montenegro leads the CELANV, based in Miami, which is dedicated to promoting Strategic Nonviolent Action as a tool for political and social change in Latin America.
Book's Impact and Ideas
Published in 2023, "Strategic Nonviolent Struggle: 100 Practical Tips" compiles López Montenegro's experiences as an activist and his study of nonviolent resistance movements worldwide. Designed as a practical guide for activists and civic movements confronting autocratic regimes, the book divides its hundred tips into three key sections: empowerment, strategy, and communication.
The book has also reached Cuba and circulated among the island's activists; in July 2026, intellectual and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández mentioned reading a copy during one of her detentions in Matanzas.
López Montenegro's thoughts on contemporary Cuban reality are also captured in an essay published in May 2026, where he argued that the so-called "new man" created by the revolution is now the one most directly challenging the regime: "The great paradox of the 'new man' is that he is precisely the one most vocally opposing the regime of political exclusion." The analysis is backed by data from the Cuban Conflict Observatory, which recorded 11,268 protests in Cuba during 2025, over 25% more than the 8,443 documented in 2024, as reported by Infobae.
Downey Castillo concluded his post with a wish that encapsulates López Montenegro's life's work: "I hope life grants me the privilege of seeing him return to his old Havana, embracing his people once more and walking its streets with the same serenity, infinite love for life, and steadfast faith in freedom he has maintained unwaveringly."
Insights into Nonviolent Resistance and Human Rights in Cuba
Who is Omar López Montenegro?
Omar López Montenegro is a Cuban activist and analyst, known for his extensive work in human rights and nonviolent resistance. He is the founder and president of the Latin American Center for Nonviolence (CELANV).
What is the focus of "Strategic Nonviolent Struggle: 100 Practical Tips"?
The book offers a compilation of practical advice for activists and movements facing autocratic regimes, organized into empowerment, strategy, and communication. It draws from López Montenegro's activism experience and studies of nonviolent resistance globally.
How has Omar López Montenegro contributed to human rights?
López Montenegro has been active in promoting human rights through his roles at the Cuban American National Foundation and as a contributor to Radio Martí. He has also engaged in international efforts to promote nonviolent resistance and human rights.