REVOLUCIÓN DE LOS GIRASOLES EN CUBA/SUNFLOWER REVOLUTION IN CUBA
[The latest on the Revolución de los Girasoles in Cuba on Sept 8, 2020]
Arrest of Jose Daniel Ferrer, his wife and son.
REVOLUCIÓN DE LOS GIRASOLES¨ (SUNFLOWER REVOLUTION) AND ITS SYMBOLIC MEANING
The “Sunflower Revolution” (La Revolución de los Girasoles) is a Cuban movement for democratic change that calls people to take to the streets every year on September 8 coinciding with the day Cubans venerate the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba.
The movement is led by the Patriotic Union of Cuba and the Cubadecide citizen initiative. It was first launched on September 8, 2019 and it was born out of a popular cry against government abuses and repression in Cuba. Even though the call is made on September 8, the objective of taking to the streets any date of the year is an on-going goal of democracy defenders in Cuba.
The name of the movement draws on the powerful spiritual and religious symbolism surrounding the “sunflower” in its permanent search for light. Like the sunflower, Cubans are telling the world they are also constantly seeking freedom. Historically, the sunflower has been used by Cubans in rituals to the Virgin of the Charity of El Cobre, Patroness of Cuba as a symbol of unconditional love and unwavering faith. Cuba´s heroes in the Wars of Independence throughout the nineteen century were known for praying to the Virgin before going in to battle. Believers in the Rule of Osha, Afro Cuban religion have also used sunflowers as offerings to the Oshun deity as symbols of faith, love, positive energy and femineity.
REVOLUCIÓN DE LOS GIRASOLES IN 2019
This is the second year in a row that Cubans inside the island and abroad launch this civil initiative for peaceful protests. In September 2019, the objective of the protests was to raise a voice against the growing repression targeting Ladies in White, democracy activists, independent journalists, human rights activists, members of the opposition and Cubans suffering persecution due to their political and religious beliefs. Last year, it was reported that approximately 100 protesters were arbitrarily arrested, and 5 houses of democracy activists were raided by repressive forces. Fines between $500 and $1,500 pesos ($20 - $60 dollars) were imposed on protesters and even sunflowers sale were prohibited in Cuba.
REVOLUCIÓN DE LOS GIRASOLES EN 2020
In 2020, the purpose of the protests take on a more encompassing objective as they aim to call on people to take to the streets in defense of freedom and democracy and for the release of the humanitarian aid, sent by thousands of Cubans in Miami and all over the world and withheld by the regime in the Port of Mariel for the past 3 weeks.
In the words of José Daniel Ferrer García, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, the Sunflower Revolution aims
¨to send a clear message that we are tired of oppression and tyranny. We demand democracy and the release of the humanitarian aid the regime tole from us … We are taking to the streets in defense of our rights and liberties ... We are tired of abuses, misery and oppression,¨ he said in an interview with journalist-influencer Liu Santiesteban on Thursday, September 3.
More broadly, Cubans and dissidents’ groups are encouraged to join the protests and freely channel their demands freely regardless of whether they coincide or not with the organizer’s initial objectives.
As of Thursday, September 3, José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, said that
“…Over 10,000 stickers symbolizing the sunflower had been placed across the eastern part of the island, encouraging people to join the protests … Activists of the Patriotic Union of Cuba have also taken to the streets to hand in sunflowers to people inviting them to the protests …¨
Based on eyewitness reports, the so called “Black Berets” or “Boinas Negras” (repressive forces) deployed in cities across Cuba, they have threatened dissidents by saying:
WHY THE SUNFLOWER REVOLUTION MATTERS?
The Sunflower Revolution sets an important precedent by contributing to foster a culture of protest in Cuba, a tradition eradicated through 61 years of repression and force with the establishment of one of the world’s longest lasting dictatorships. The greatest contribution to the overthrow of dictatorship and the establishment of democracy is the role each Cuban and pro-democracy group plays in setting examples through their own actions to foster a general culture of dissident in the island. When protests occur, when intentions to public protests are announced on social media and other platforms or when calls to protests are open and visible, even if they are not carried out due to repression and repressive circumstances beyond the control of dissident groups in the island, they serve as means to promote a generalized culture of dissident that inspire other Cubans to follow suit and take to the streets to claim their rights.
CUBANS WORLDWIDE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE SUNFLOWER REVOLUTION
