The Eternal Flame
Democratic Spaces welcomes Amnesty International’s The Eternal Flame initiative that comes at a time when Cuban independent artists urgently need international solidarity and support after months of living in a State of Siege and alarming levels of Orwellian surveillance and forced house arrests..
Amnesty International has recently spoken up against what it calls “scary levels of surveillance” of artists, intellectuals and activists of the San Isidro Movement in Cuba. Based on reports from the human rights organization, during the months of March and April, more than 30 Cuban artists had been exposed to such levels of surveillance. In addition the report also denounces the destruction of Luis Manuel Otero Alcantáras´ artwork by Cuban regime officials.
Capture screen images of Luis Manuel Otero burning a fine arbitrarily given to him for 10,000 pesos.
“People in the San Isidro Movement are human rights activists standing up for the right to peacefully speak their minds and souls. It is clear that in the eyes of the international community, the Cuban government is not ashamed of harass them, arrest them and constantly surveil them. But they are not alone and they will not allow to be silenced. We will keep mobilizing people around the world, including artists to support them and denounce these human rights violations and the cruel and inhuman treatment of Cuban authorities,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Director for the Americas at Amnesty International.
To raise a voice against the harassment and arbitrary arrests carried out by the Cuban regime against artists, intellectuals, independent journalists and human rights activists of the San Isidro Movement in Cuba and to seek solidarity with their cause, the human rights organization has launched a digital campaign titled: “The Eternal Flame.”
According with renowned Cuban artist Erik Ravelo, the video director:
“This project represents the Flame of Freedom, a flame that is never extinguished, a contemporary action that never ends and keeps alive thanks to our solidarity with the artists defending free speech.”
People are welcome to show support for this project on social media by using the hashtags #LaLlamaEterna #TheEternalFlame