Cuban American Association Protests for Human Rights in Quad

The Cuban American Students Association (CASA) protested human rights injustices on Tuesday to commemorate the March 18 anniversary of the Black Spring, a 2003 crackdown by the Cuban government in which 75 dissidents were placed in jail.

To protest the 53 Cubans continued imprisonment, club members stood in a cage in the Quad, placed tape over their mouths, and handed out flyers.

The club titled their protest "Basta," which means "enough" in Spanish. "They were organizing peacefully and simply wanted human rights to be recognized within Cuba," said Marlena Papavaritis, co-president of CASA and A&S '11. "We are here to protest the fact that protestors are still in prison."

Another occurrence that encouraged the protest was the death of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, one of the protestors arrested during the Black Spring. He died Feb. 23, on the 86th day of his hunger strike. Club members distributed pamphlets to students passing by that explained the circumstances of his death. "We're here to let people know what he stood for," Papavaratis said.

This is the first year the club has protested in this way to promote student awareness. "We feel like most people don't know that these people are in prison for protesting their rights 90 miles away from the U.S.," Papavaratis said.

Often, those who protest in favor of human rights concentrate on faraway places, said Sebastian Juncadella, political affairs coordinator for CASA and CSOM '12. "Some people forget and focus on human rights violations in distant areas, but there is a close nation facing human rights violations."

Drawing attention to this cause is especially important because of the University's Jesuit teachings, Juncadella said. "This is a cause that deserves the attention of the school. It preaches men and women for others, and this is a way the campus can show how they really exemplify those ideals."

The club hopes to make the event annual. "Hopefully we won't have to do it every year because the prisoners will be liberated, but we will until every political prisoner is freed."