Denia Fernández Rey, a former member of the Ladies in White and a critic of the Cuban regime, took to the streets of Palma Soriano this weekend. She covered poles, corners, and avenues in Santiago de Cuba with photos of her son, Jesús Alberto Martínez Fernández, demanding accountability for his untimely death.
Jesús Alberto, aged 26, lost his life in the early hours of Friday, June 13, after being fatally stabbed near Bar Galaxy in Palma Soriano. His mother recounted the brutal attack: “The assailant leapt from a balcony and landed on him, killing him. He tried to defend himself, but he was already practically dead.”
Upon reaching the hospital, the conditions were dire. “There was no electricity, no blood, nothing in the hospitals, no ambulance,” Denia lamented. She also reported that the police initially refused to release her son's body and that State Security agents threatened her during the funeral proceedings.
Clad in black and carrying handwritten tributes to her son, Denia turned her grief into a public outcry. Her message, shared by communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada on Facebook, was clear: “No more mothers' tears. I demand justice for my son. No more deaths in Cuba.”
The Martínez-Fernández family is a prominent opposition group in the eastern region. Denia leads FLAMUR in Santiago de Cuba and coordinates the Women's Network of Cuba in the eastern zone.
Her husband, Alberto Martínez, serves as director of the Cuban Republican Party. Jesús Alberto himself was a leader of the Republican Youth Impact movement, according to opposition groups.
Denia did not hesitate to implicate the regime in her son's murder: “For me, yes [the regime is behind the murder], because my son had a following and openly spoke about the need to change the regime. He didn’t leave Cuba because he wanted change here.”
She also attributed her son's death to the systemic crisis of the dictatorship: “The regime is there to repress, not to provide security for young people or anyone else; they murder with impunity, and there isn’t a single police officer on the streets, but when we protest, they quickly bring out the press.”
Denia highlighted that only two places in Palma Soriano have electricity, where armed and drug-involved youth gather, linking the blackouts directly to rising violence.
The funeral, held on the same Friday, saw hundreds of residents marching in a lengthy motorcycle procession in the rain to honor a young man who was a motorcyclist and owned a motor workshop.
This incident comes just days after the femicide of a 23-year-old woman in Palma Soriano on June 9, amidst a steady rise in crime across Cuba. The Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory reported 2,833 verified crimes in 2025, a 115% increase from 2024, with Santiago de Cuba among the hardest-hit provinces.
The Cuban authorities have yet to release any official statement regarding the case or the progress of the investigation.
Understanding the Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
What led Denia Fernández Rey to protest in this manner?
Denia Fernández Rey protested by posting photos of her son to demand justice for his murder, as she believes the regime is responsible for the lack of security and accountability in Cuba.
How does the current crime situation in Cuba compare to previous years?
According to the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, crime in Cuba increased by 115% in 2025 compared to 2024, highlighting a significant rise in criminal activity.
What role does the Martínez-Fernández family play in the opposition in Cuba?
The Martínez-Fernández family is a notable opposition group in eastern Cuba, with Denia leading FLAMUR and coordinating the Women's Network of Cuba, and her husband Alberto directing the Cuban Republican Party.