Cuban-born residents and others linked by a common heritage ended a week of protests against the island nation’s political and economic turmoil on their knees and prayed on Sunday.
Another separate group of protesters banded together on the avenues of Cleveland and Grove, waving flags and demanding freedom for their friends and relatives who are still in Cuba.
The dozen or so Cape Coral attendees gathered in The Shops at Surfside parking lot on Veteran’s Parkway before making their way to the Target parking lot on Pine Island Road and then making their way through downtown Fort Myers.
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“We disagree with the government,” said Pedro Mirabal, a Cuban who has lived in the United States for 34 years, at the meeting place in Cape Coral. “You are killing our people in Cuba.”
Mirabal, who still has the scars on his arms and legs from the little dinghy on which he allegedly flew to the United States.
“What is happening is really sad,” he said. “We have free speech over here. The people in Cuba don’t do anything, they just talk. But since they talk, (the government) kills them (them).”
To begin the effort on Sunday, Rev. James Haynos – a Sanford Catholic priest – held an impromptu prayer session in the Shops at Surfside parking lot.
Haynos huddled with Jorge Roque of Punta Gorda, displayed a rosary and a large Cuban flag, and recited a Catholic litany.
The priest and Roque said they would pray “for all the missing” in Cuba.
The protests in Cuba began on July 11th and are considered to be the largest anti-government movement in the country in 30 years. There have been reports of state violence, but communication has been restricted.
Mirabal’s voice was hoarse, he said as he voiced his opinion during protests in southwest Florida last week.
“The world doesn’t know what’s going on,” said Mirabal. “You give this to us so we can tell what’s going on.”
But the Cubans in the US know what is happening, says Miriam Sardinas, and they keep in touch with friends and relatives on the island.
“They have no communication between cities like Fort Myers and Cape Coral,” she said. “They don’t know how big this is unless we tell them.”
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Sardinas came to the United States from Cuba in 1970 at the age of 4.
Her brother Agustine Sardinas was 14 when he came in 1970 and said it was time his adopted country did something to help.
“If the United States doesn’t want to do anything, then step aside and let’s go,” he said. “I know what communism is, I know what oppression is. I lived there until I was 14.”
Along Cleveland, not far from Edison Mall, a boisterous and passionate crowd cheered and waved vehicles.
“We just want our voice to be heard,” said protest organizer Maria Davila. “We’re not asking the US to give money to Cuba. We want some justice and freedom for Cuba.”
She said the group’s Facebook site, EU Cuba SOS Cuba, shows graphic images of the current situation on the island nation.
She said Cubans, many very young, were attacked by dogs and government officials for raising their voices.
“They attack those who protest,” she said.
Davila said protests in the Fort Myers area such as on Sunday and another Saturday in Sanibel will continue in the future. She called the actions “A Cry for Justice and Freedom and Freedom for All”.
“We will protest every day,” she said. “Monday we’ll be downtown, Tuesday we’ll be at Edison Mall.”
Connect with the current reporter Michael Braun: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook), @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) or mbraun@news-press.com.
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