On the sixth anniversary of the start of the Cuban "black spring," Tracey Eaton has posted a fitting tribute to the Damas De Blanco ("Ladies In White"), who have dedicated themselves to campaigning for the freedom of their imprisoned loved ones:
Wednesday March 18 is the sixth anniversary of the Cuban government's crackdown on dissidents, pro-democracy activists and journalists. Authorities arrested and jailed 75 people, drawing international condemnation.Since then, at least 20 of the dissidents have been released, but the others remain in jail.
The wives and other relatives of the prisoners formed a group called Las Damas de Blanco. They dress in white every Sunday, go to their church for mass and then march along Quinta Avenida.
I interviewed the group's leader, Laura Pollan ... during my last trip to Cuba. She and other members of the group say their lives changed when their loved ones were arrested and jailed in 2003. The women lost their fear. They began to march every Sunday despite the risk of arrest. Many say they have nothing to lose. And they vow not to give up until their relatives are freed.
Read the whole thing and see more photos of the Damas, here.
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