Faith Diaz

Q: How do you feel about the S.O.S Cuba movement?

A: I honestly think that the movement should have been started a long time ago. I am Cuban and so is my whole family. I have family there in Cuba and right now they are scared to tell us anything that is going on because the government is listening through the phones and hurting them if they do say anything. When I heard about all the protests and I saw how many people came out in support of my people I cried. Not because I was mad but because I was overly happy. I am still extremely happy. This to me feels like a beginning to an end and I am overjoyed.

Q: What do you think is the entirety of the message behind the movement?

A: I think the message behind the entire movement is to show the world that what is happening in Cuba is not okay, to show our government that help is needed in Cuba and they should take initiative to help. I also feel like for the Cubans that live in the United States, this is an empowering movement for them. They now feel like they themselves can provide a voice to the people in Cuba who don’t have one.

Q: Do you agree with the fight for Cuban independence and why?

A: Yes I do because Cuba has had zero independence for a very, very, very long time. Take a glimpse at everything that has happened now and multiply that by I don’t even know how many decades. You couldn’t live with that pain, that fear of your life being taken away in a matter of seconds, your home being taken away from you, you being sent to prison or worse if you make a minor comment about the government. There is a bigger picture to this whole issue and it’s that the people living in Cuba, not Cuba itself, needs help. 

Q: From your perspective, what is one message you would like to say on behalf of the Cubans living on the island?

A: I would like to say that they need help. I know I have said that before but that is what everyone on that island needs and wants. But more so than that is that they want freedom

Juan Pasteris

Q: How do you feel about the S.O.S Cuba movement?

A: I think it’s a pivotal moment in history for there to be not only awareness, as awareness in and of itself doesn’t do anything. What has to happen is for there to be a movement of the appropriate leaders and policymakers to be able to move into the right direction to undo what’s been done over the past 60 years in Cuba. What’s pivotal about this moment is that the Cuban people in Cuba are rising up, we already know that there’s plenty of people here in the United States that have already fled from there. We know their sentiment, we know what freedom means to them. It’s just that it’s the people in Cuba that have finally come alive… I think we can really do our part in a more meaningful way than just awareness. Raising awareness, is to say, all right, we want to reach out to the leaders, not only in politics, of course, we talk to your local representatives, your state representatives, the white house itself.

Q: What do you think is the entirety of the message behind the movement?

A: The bottom line is years of oppressive rule by a socialist slash communist regime is an undue burden on the people to the point of death… it’s not about freedoms alone. It’s that their lives are at cost. And this is it. This is them asking for freedom. They want this communist government gone. They want to be able to vote for a true vote, right? They want all these things. And you hear their cry, and you’re 90 miles away. And I think it’s pivotal that we support that in a way we can. 

Q: Do you agree with the fight for Cuban independence and why?

A: Absolutely. I think I’ve sort of laid out… the fact that we can say and disagree with the leaders and stuff like they can’t do that over there…. Freedom of religion, you can’t say, do certain things in those communist regimes, they control that very much closely. You can’t worship God like you want to. Those are things that are foundational, fundamental to a functioning society, a thriving society. If you can’t do these things, because you’re muzzled by a tyrannical rule… When they have that much more power, there’s that much more corruption. And at the end of the day, none of those structures historically has ever worked; socialism does not work.

Q: From your perspective, what is one message you would like to say on behalf of the Cubans living on the island?

A: When we focus on the people that are left in Cuba, I can’t speak for them. I could hear what they’re saying. And for the first time, they’re saying something out in the streets, that they wouldn’t have dared say before. They want liberty… they’re willing to risk going out and getting caught. The things that are happening there. We wouldn’t put up with it in any way, shape, or form, anywhere across the European continent. If that’s happening, and it’s on the internet, or the United Nations, NATO gets all together. This is a crime against humanity. We are 90 miles away and the message I see. I don’t know if I could speak for them. All I know is all I hear they want liberty.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

A: I mean, my prayer is that this is not just a social media phase, right? …What I’m hoping is that there’s some permanence to this…There’s a lot more mobility than I’ve seen before in any social media movement. So hopefully it’s not a flash in the pan; that it’s not something that’s a temporary thing that is something that is lasting and provides an enduring change.

Kayala Padron

Q: How do you feel about the S.O.S Cuba movement?

A: I’m glad it’s happening. It’s about time things change over there.

Q: What do you think is the entirety of the message behind the movement?

A: I think the entirety of the message is that the people of Cuba are fed up and want their freedom back.

Q: Do you agree with the fight for Cuban independence and why?

A: I do agree with it. I personally have family members that live in Cuba currently and they keep me informed with the things that go on and it truly breaks my heart. People can’t get their basic needs met unless you have a lot of money.

Q: From your perspective, what is one message you would like to say on behalf of the Cubans living on the island?

A: I would like to say that I wish them the best and that I hope they get their freedom back.