Stand with the women of Cuba as they go to church on Sunday

Tomorrow is Sunday, and many of us will mark the day by attending church. For most of us, it will be a peaceful day, filled with peace and joy and company of family and friends and fellow worshipers.

In Cuba — specifically, in the east of the island and for those committed to resisting the Castro dictatorship — going to church on Sunday may very well put your life at risk.

The previous two Sundays, members of the Damas De Blanco ("Ladies In White") have been brutally assaulted after they left Mass. The Damas pray and march on behalf of their imprisoned loved ones, and that sort of demonstration is not acceptable in the eyes of the Castro regime.

Here is a report on what happened last week:

TO:  Human Rights Organizations Worldwide, the International Press, Heads of State and Dignitaries Worldwide

FROM: The Coalition of Cuban-American Women, an NGO

REGARDING (urgent):  Solidarity with the Ladies in White. the Ladies of Support and Human Rights Activists  who were BEATEN, ARRESTED, WHOSE HOMES WERE VIOLATED AND WHO WERE THE VICTIMS OF OFFENSIVE STATEMENTS AND THREATS BY CUBAN STATE POLICE EN ORIENTE, CUBA

SOURCE: José Daniel Ferrer García (CUBA) - Telephone: +533631267

The Coalition of Cuban-American Women echoes the denouncements of ex-political prisoner and prisoner of conscience, José Daniel Ferrer García, in the city of Palma Soriano regarding violent acts against the Ladies in White and the Ladies of Support in Oriente, Cuba.  These violent acts were commited with the objective of preventing these women from praying and requesting freedom for Cuban political prisoners in Our Lady of the Rosary Parrish.  This is the second police operative by the Cuban regime against these women,  whose lives are in danger every Sunday they participate in their peaceful marches to churches in order to pray and speak out on behalf of their family members who are political prisoners.

So naturally, the worry is that there will be a repeat tomorrow. After all, the events of the past two weekends have drawn minimal attention, only strengthening the dictatorship's belief that it can act with impunity against those — against even women going to church! — who dare challenge it.

Please disabuse the bastards of that notion.

Do so by spreading this news via Facebook, Twitter or other social media.

Make a point of looking for information about what is happening. I will try to keep you informed or better yet, visit the blog for the Coalition of Cuban American Women, the website Hablao Sin Miedo or the blog Pedazos De La Isla. Radio Martí is a great source, too.

At the very least, please pray for the Damas De Blanco, that God guide and protect them in their continuing struggle for freedom.