Protestors on Sanibel want ‘Freedom for Cuba’

Rain or shine, people have been taking to the streets and using their voices to show support for the people of Cuba.

Earlier on Saturday, many came out to show what “Freedom for Cuba” means to them.

Those three words mean so much to the people who lined the streets on Sanibel. They shouted for freedom against the country’s communist regime.

Maria Davila has friends and family in Cuba and organized Saturday’s protest. She says there’s a point she wants to get across.

“For justice and liberty. Human rights for Cuba.”

She says the protestors don’t want mercy, they want justice. “We are not asking for mercy. We’re not asking just for money from the U.S. government. We’re asking just for justice and liberty. Freedom for Cuba.”

Those words, “Freedom for Cuba” brought tears to the eyes of one of the protestors. Pedro Mirabal swam to Florida from Cuba at age 19 to get away from the regime.

“I left Cuba on a little inner tube with flippers. Nine days with no water and no food. Almost died,” he said.

Mirabal says he’s lucky to be alive but he also knows there are so many who weren’t as lucky. That is why he waves his flag and shouts the words “Freedom for Cuba.”

These are words he and so many others will continue to shout until the people of Cuba are free.

“They lost their fear of being hungry and now they lost their fear. And they’d rather die with dignity for their country, then die of hunger in their house,” Davila said.

“This is very important because I remember what happened to me and it was nothing compared to what is happening right now in Cuba,” Mirabal said.

Organizers plan to pick things up again with protests Sunday morning.