With her phone barely charged at 10% and after enduring 72 consecutive hours without electricity, independent journalist and activist Yania Suárez shared a video on Facebook this Wednesday. In it, she announced that she had placed a Cuban flag on her balcony in Havana, where it would remain on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, in commemoration of the fifth anniversary of the July 11 protests of 2021.
"It was the day when Cubans felt they briefly owned Cuba," Suárez expressed in her post, suggesting that these dates should be recognized as national days without any political decree.
Struggles and Significance Behind the Flag
Acquiring the flag was no easy task. Suárez explained that it required "a lot of effort and money" because the national symbol is nearly impossible to obtain in the Cuban capital.
Due to this scarcity, she urged those unable to purchase one to be resourceful: "If I couldn't find it, I would have made one from fabric scraps like the mambises did. I invite Cubans who wish to have one to make it with great dignity, because it embodies the best of us."
Reclaiming the National Emblem
In her video, Suárez reflected on the significance of the national emblem and rejected the regime's exclusive claim over it.
"Some may think it's a symbol usurped by official discourse, that it's associated with all the lies we've been told. But I genuinely feel that the flag represents what Cubans have aspired to for the good of Cuba," she asserted.
For Suárez, the flag transcends any ideology: it originated with annexationist intentions, later became a symbol of independence, and should continue to be an open symbol.
"The flag must be the symbolic repository of our best desires, whether we are right or wrong. We have that right; we don't all have to think alike. It's ours," she emphasized.
A History of Repression
Yania Suárez has a documented history of facing repression. She was detained after participating in an event organized by artivist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and placed under house arrest by State Security.
In February 2022, she was arrested along with fellow journalist Yunia Figueredo.
Suárez concluded her post with a slogan encapsulating the spirit of her action: "Viva Cuba Libre."
This act comes at a time of heightened social tension. Cubans took to the streets in Jaimanitas, a Havana neighborhood, on July 5 and 7, shouting "Down with the dictatorship!" in response to power outages lasting up to 40 hours and food shortages.
The fifth anniversary of July 11 arrives with at least 338 people still serving sentences directly linked to the 2021 protests, according to data from July 2026.
Questions About Yania Suárez and Cuban Protests
Who is Yania Suárez?
Yania Suárez is an independent journalist and activist in Cuba known for her outspoken criticism of the regime and her participation in protests.
What event does the Cuban flag symbolize for Suárez?
For Yania Suárez, the Cuban flag symbolizes the aspirations and desires for good that Cubans have held for their country, transcending any political ideology.
What is the significance of July 11 in Cuba?
July 11 marks the anniversary of significant protests in 2021 against the Cuban regime, symbolizing a moment when Cubans felt they had a voice and a sense of ownership over their country's future.