A group of Cuban artists are planning a rally today in Havana in an early test of the government’s willingness to tolerate dissent in the wake of an accord with the U.S. over diplomatic ties and political prisoners.
Under the social media tag #YoTambienExijo, or ‘I also demand,’ supporters say they will set up a microphone in Havana’s Plaza de la Revolucion. There, near a statue of Cuban independence fighter Jose Marti, people will be able to express themselves on any issue for one minute without interruption, they said.
The move comes less than two weeks after Cuban President Raul Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama announced plans to re-establish diplomatic ties, release some prisoners and work to ease a five-decade old embargo. Some rally supporters say they have been visited by Cuban officials encouraging them not to participate. A Facebook page for the group says misleading text messages were sent claiming the 3 p.m. rally was canceled, without saying who sent them.
Officials at Cuba’s international press center said no one was available to comment before regular working hours. A message sent to Cuba’s diplomatic mission in Washington wasn’t immediately answered.
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