HAVANA (WSVN) — With President Barack Obama’s historic trip putting the spotlight on Cuba, some of the island nation’s political dissidents took the opportunity to make their voices heard, Sunday. Several dozen of them would end up in handcuffs.
Protesters held banners and chanted for change on the streets of Havana, but their demonstration was short-lived.
Officials arrested more than 50 people, including members of the Ladies in White, a group fighting for the release of political prisoners. "Today is the 46th Sunday of detention and resistance of the Ladies in White," said group member Aliuska Gomez Garcia through a translator, "because we’re all involved in the ‘Everyone Marches’ campaign and pleading to the Cuban government for human rights and liberty for everyone."
Protester Antonio Rodriles said Obama’s visit holds considerable potential to bring about change. "I think it’s not a good idea to come here without preconditions. Even though, President Obama still has the opportunity to change the direction of the political process, because until this moment, the regime is the one that is taking advantage of all of this process," he said.
Rodriles is one of the dissidents who has been invited to meet with Obama during his visit. However, he told 7News he wants to wait until he’s heard what the president has to say in his speech to the Cuban people before deciding whether or not he will take that meeting.