From left, Oscar Biscet, Angel Moya, Guido Sigler, Hector Maseda, Diosdado Gonzalez, Eduardo Diaz, Felix Navarro, Arnaldo Ramos, Librado Linares (in sunglasses), Pedro Arguelles and Ivan Hernandez.
Along with Jose Daniel Ferrer, who could not make the gathering, they make up the 12 former Group of 75 prisoners of conscience who chose more time in the Castro gulag over forced overseas exile. They were released from prison earlier this year after the regime came to the conclusion it was not going to be able to force them to leave Cuba.
Their gathering in the town of El Roque, in Matanzas province, was not a social occasion, but an opportunity to demonstrate to demand justice for their fellow Cubans.
Specifically, they issued a proclamation calling for a full, independent investigation of the May 8 police beating death of dissident Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, and the end of all government violence against its opponents.
The regime likely will ignore these 12 brave men, and that will not be surprising.
But in making their voices one, these patriots and heroes have demonstrated that they are ready to lead in the fight for justice and human rights and freedom in Cuba.
They have no fear because they have already seen the worst the dictatorship can throw at them.
And as the photographer, and the Declaration of El Roque reveal, they have won.
Photo provided by Pablo Pacheco, Group of 75 member now in exile in Spain.
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