ORLANDO, Fla. – Last month, organizers of the Facebook group Archipiélago in Cuba called on the Cuban people to peacefully march on Nov. 15 and demand democracy on their island.
“It just breaks my heart that the people cannot have control of their own country to say what they want,” said Michelle Medina, a native of Puerto Rico. “The more that this is out there, the more demonstrations there are, the more media coverage hopefully this will shine some light and people will get behind it.”
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The call comes four months after the historic protests that flooded the streets in Cuba on July 11, where dozens were suppressed by Cuban officials and detained for raising their voices against their government.
A day before the Nov. 15 demonstrations in Cuba, rallies in other cities like Miami, took place to demand an end to the Cuban regime.
“In an effort to get the world just like we did in July to get the world to recognize what’s happening in Cuba and to make sure that the world is paying attention, and make sure more importantly that the Cuban government knows that they are being watched and that their actions will hopefully have consequences,” saidMarcos Merchan, a Cuban refugee in Orlando.
For Iván Méndez, who is from Puerto Rico, the cause of the Cuban people who support a change in their government, is something all people should care about. Méndez told News 6 he plans to attend the Orlando rally at the Sedano’s supermarket.
“I think everybody should stop by-- at least make a presence It’s important for everybody not for them only,” Méndez said. “That been going for long time, right? So, it’s about time for them to do something about it. That’s the only way to get something done. If you don’t do nothing, forget it ... nothing will happen.”