Cuban activist and influencer Anna Sofía Benítez Silvente, known as Anna Bensi, has issued a bold statement to content creators on the island: neutrality is no longer feasible in today's Cuba.
Her message, shared on Facebook with an image featuring text on a black background, concludes emphatically with four slogans in capital letters: "SILENCE IS NO LONGER AN OPTION / NO TIME FOR GRAY AREAS / BLACK OR WHITE / FREEDOM OR DICTATORSHIP."
"In the current Cuban situation, being 'undefined' or 'avoiding the issue' means supporting one side. Spoiler: it’s not the side of the people. Right now, there’s no room for indifference," wrote Bensi, a 21-year-old resident of Alamar, Havana.
The accompanying image challenges the official censorship logic directly: "Perhaps my videos haven't solved or changed anything. Maybe no video about Cuba's reality truly achieves anything beyond media noise. But if these videos are so useless, why does the Cuban dictatorship strive so hard to eradicate them?"
Bensi's message comes as she remains under house arrest since March 25, 2026, alongside her mother Caridad "Cary" Silvente, as mandated by the Ministry of the Interior.
Both face charges under Article 393 of the Cuban Penal Code for "acts against personal and family privacy," with potential penalties ranging from two to five years in prison.
The charges stem from recording and sharing the moment a Ministry of the Interior agent delivered a summons at their home on March 10 via social media.
Amplifying Her Voice Against Oppression
Despite the repression, Bensi has intensified her rhetoric in recent weeks. On June 19, she accused the "Cuban dictatorship of selling backwardness as heroism," and recently reflected on Cuban identity, distinguishing the people from their oppressors: "THE DICTATORSHIP IS NOT CUBA! Cuba is every one of us and everyone who dreams of seeing this island FREE."
The persecution against her has been multifaceted. In April, counterintelligence agents attempted to recruit her by offering support for her music career in exchange for silence, to which she responded, "I will never work for a dictatorship."
During a police station interrogation in Alamar, she was warned, "It would be a shame for you to spend your youth in penitentiary prison."
She also reported hacking of her WhatsApp and Telegram accounts, deactivation of her ETECSA lines, and disqualification of phone lines for young supporters.
Her case has drawn international attention. U.S. Special Envoy for Cuba, Mike Hammer, visited her in Alamar, calling her "brave" and conveying greetings from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart called her a "heroine," and Amnesty International documented her situation, demanding an end to the repression.
According to the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and Press, April 2026 ended with 179 documented attacks on informational freedoms in Cuba, highlighting the environment in which Bensi continues to share her voice.
Championing Libertarian Thought
Bensi is a member of the youth collective "Out of the Box Cuba," founded in January by four young people around 20 years old in the Cerro municipality of Havana. The group promotes libertarian thinking through art, theater, and social media videos.
"They can imprison people, but not ideas," the activist has stated repeatedly throughout this year.
Understanding Anna Bensi's Activism
What message is Anna Bensi conveying to content creators in Cuba?
Anna Bensi is urging content creators in Cuba to abandon neutrality and take a stance, as neutrality in today's Cuba is seen as supporting the oppressive regime.
Why is Anna Bensi under house arrest?
Anna Bensi and her mother are under house arrest for recording and sharing a video of a Ministry of the Interior agent delivering a summons, which led to charges of "acts against personal and family privacy."
How has the international community responded to Anna Bensi's situation?
The international community, including figures like U.S. Special Envoy Mike Hammer and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, as well as organizations like Amnesty International, have acknowledged her bravery and called for an end to the repression.