Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez, a mother of three, was arrested in Río Cauto, Granma for protesting against food shortages. She has now been transferred to Bayamo by the regime's political police, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel. This information was shared with CiberCuba by José Daniel Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu), who is closely monitoring the situation.
Before her likely transfer to the provincial State Security operations center in Granma's capital, the 47-year-old resident of the rural community of Guamo Viejo (Río Cauto, Granma), fainted during an interrogation. This occurred after she was forcibly taken from the top of the Ángel Fría square in Río Cauto by a political police agent and a Communist Party provincial government member, according to reliable sources.
Following her initial transfer to a hospital, her close circle fears that the political police might attempt to label her as mentally unstable to undermine the legitimacy of her peaceful protest against hunger, portraying it as a mental health issue instead.
Mayelín Carrasco's protest was not only about the lack of food and milk but also about the shortage of fuel (such as kerosene and alcohol) needed for cooking. "I'm here defending my rights," she declared while two men watched, unsure of how to remove her as neighbors gathered to listen to her courageous words.
She had previously informed her family of the potential consequences of her actions. "I told my mom today that I knew they would take me to prison," she stated, fully aware that the Communist Party of Cuba's repression disregards rights, mothers, and hunger alike.
"They took away our eggs. They've taken everything. Enough with the lies and deceit. When I come down from here, I'm going to prison with my head held high," she insisted as Río Cauto residents listened, whispered among themselves, but refrained from joining the protest.
"With hunger, you can't work or go to school. They've taken it all. I'll leave when the police come for me. I have three children. Here they are. Where is the revolution that Fidel and Raúl left behind? There is no revolution anymore because everything has fallen apart," she declared.
Her speech was abruptly ended when she was dragged away. "Let her speak"; "Hey, let her go, this is abuse," shouted the neighbors as she was harshly suppressed.
In response, the Río Cauto government claimed on social media that she was given temporary housing made of "wood and zinc" and offered state jobs, which she declined. However, they omitted that the wages from these jobs are insufficient to feed a family for even a week.
Local Communist Party officials in Granma deemed Mayelín Carrasco's protest "unacceptable" since she was allocated a hectare of land in Guamo Viejo to cultivate but never showed up at the Agriculture Department to accept the land grant.
The video of the protest clearly shows that this Cuban mother expressed her grievances verbally and peacefully, with the only confirmed violence being that exerted by the political police and local government in detaining her.
Understanding the Political Repression in Cuba
Why was Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez protesting?
Mayelín Carrasco Álvarez protested against the severe food shortages and lack of basic resources such as fuel needed for cooking in her community.
What actions did the political police take against her?
The political police forcibly removed her from her protest site, interrogated her, and subsequently transferred her to Bayamo, where she may face further charges.
How did the local government justify their actions?
The local government claimed she had been given temporary housing and job offers, which she declined. They did not mention the inadequacy of the wages for these jobs.