Cuban academic Alina Bárbara López Hernández detailed the violent police arrest she endured on the morning of Tuesday, June 18, while traveling from Matanzas to Havana. The professor was released later that same day, and her daughter, who actively shared the incident on Facebook, reported that along with Jenny Pantoja Torres, her mother had to visit the hospital for examination due to the injuries inflicted by Cuban police.
"You have to be very sick in mind and soul to beat two older, unarmed women. All honest people's contempt is upon you and your actions," wrote Cecilia Borroto on Facebook.
In an interview with CubaXCuba, a site she co-founded and co-directs, Alina Bárbara recounted she was arrested well before the Bacunayagua checkpoint, where police stopped her car and demanded she get into a patrol vehicle without offering any explanation or showing an arrest warrant. "You know you have to get in," the professor quoted a National Revolutionary Police officer saying in a harsh tone.
She described how the officer grabbed her by the shoulders and used a sweeping martial arts technique to destabilize and push her, causing her to fall heavily. "I was completely in the air, destabilized, and I fell from that height," she explained.
The academic emphasized that she hit her head hard and was fortunate to land on the roadside gravel rather than suffering a skull fracture. "When I fell, I felt, besides the pain, like the sounds were fading away... for a moment my vision blurred, and I tasted blood in my throat. I didn't bleed, but I felt like something was damaged. I didn't lose consciousness, but I was very disoriented and stunned because it was a severe blow," she stressed.
The activist then recounted a series of violent acts involving her and the officers. Upon arriving at the police station, the officer who had used force against them told her, "I hope you touch me next time, so I can break your face with a punch."
However, Cuban authorities claim that Alina Bárbara assaulted the officer in the line of duty, an accusation the academic vehemently denies. She asserts that the Cuban police took advantage of two key factors. First, they stopped her before the Bacunayagua bridge, where surveillance cameras would have recorded everything. Second, they aimed to involve her in a seemingly non-political criminal process.
In November of last year, Alina Bárbara was found guilty of disobedience after being tried for peacefully protesting with a sign in a Matanzas park in April of that year.
Details Surrounding the Arrest of Alina Bárbara López
To provide further clarity on the situation, here are some frequently asked questions regarding the arrest and allegations against Alina Bárbara López.
What were the circumstances of Alina Bárbara López's arrest?
Alina Bárbara López was arrested on June 18 while traveling from Matanzas to Havana. She was stopped by police before the Bacunayagua checkpoint and was forcibly taken into a patrol vehicle without an explanation or arrest warrant.
What injuries did Alina Bárbara López sustain during the arrest?
Alina Bárbara López suffered a severe blow to the head, which caused disorientation and a sensation of tasting blood in her throat. She needed medical examination at a hospital due to the injuries inflicted by the police.
What are the accusations made by Cuban authorities against Alina Bárbara López?
Cuban authorities have accused Alina Bárbara López of assaulting an officer in the line of duty, a claim she strongly denies.