Cuban Political Prisoners: The Untold Stories of Human Rights Violations
My Dream Assignment is to photograph and tell the stories of the countless Cuban Political Prisoners, who served time in Cuban prisons under the most extreme conditions.
From February 1959 until February 2007 Fidel Castro was Dictator of Cuba. Upon him taking over in 1959, he declared Cuba a communist country. From the moment he took over, Castro got rid of private property ownership, free enterprise, and all of the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. Under Communist rule anyone attempting to voice views, attend meetings, or form organizations that do not conform to government policy or state ideology is likely to be persecuted. The punishment for these “crimes” can range from harassment to imprisonment, beatings and torture.
For this reason, in Cuba there have been thousands of political prisoners and/or prisoners of conscience. Amnesty International defines prisoners of conscience as "people who are imprisoned by reason of their political, religious, or other conscientiously held beliefs or by reason of their ethnic origin, sex, color or language, provided they have not used or advocated violence."
My Dream Assignment is to photograph and tell the stories of the countless Cuban Political Prisoners, who served time in Cuban prisons under the most extreme conditions. These are people who were falsely imprisoned for fighting for the most basic of human rights. These are the faces of people who know what it is like to struggle for the right to liberty, freedom of thought and expression, and equality before the law.
For my assignment I would like to travel throughout the State of Florida, with most of my time spent in South Florida, where there is a high concentration of former Cuban Political Prisoners. I would like the opportunity to photograph as many former Cuban Political Prisoners in an attempt to share their stories, and honor their bravery in opposition to oppression.
The goal of this assignment is to shed light on the horrific human rights violations which have occurred, and continue to occur in Cuba to this day. I would love to work with organizations such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch in their efforts to stop human rights violations in Cuba and build pressure for change.
33 Comments
Good luck hon
I voted for you!.... please return the favor! thanks!
I voted for you. Good luck!!! :D
i like your idea. I voted for it, check out mine and vote for it or leave a comment if you like. good luck!
Like it. Voted for it. Feel free to return the favor and vote for my project on Zimbabwe.
I'm so proud of you! This will be a fabulous story and I'm anxious to hear it told!
This is a wonderful idea. Cuban political prisoners get so little attention from the world media. This would shed a light on a tragically neglected group. Good luck!
Cuban political prisoners are treated as non-human by the media. This is wonderful, good luck.
There aren't many out there whom are brave enough to voice and publicly state their beliefs. Not only do i support your anti-castro idea but i support who ever has the guts to speak their mind. Good luck hun and if there is anything else i can do to help, i would have done so.
Good luck, B, and I will help spread the word!
Good luck Ms. B. The plight of Cuban political prisoners past and present is a horror story that has been reported by so few.
Thanks to those who've voted thus far. I have a long way to go. Please forward this link to anyone you know!
B
i voted for you! ps, if you need a back-up photographer it is my craft.
-delila
This sounds like an amazing and worthwhile project. I voted for you and wish you all the best! - TKP
Best Wishes, I am looking forward to your completed assignment. God Bless You
Thanks Delila I wull keep that in mind if I get selected. :) Please forward to all your friends and encourage them to vote for me!
Thanks TKP and solangel!
It would be a wonderful project. It would be nice to hear and see an honest take on how it was and is. Best Wishes! Tina
¡Buena suerte!
Very inspiring, good luck!!
If you do your project, please interview Armando Valladares in Washington, D.C. He was a polical prisoner in Castro's Gulag for 22 years, and his book about his ordeal, "Against All Hope," was published in Spanish and English. He is very articulate. I wish you luck and great success.
I voted for you, good luck!!!!
It is very encouraging to see my old friends and old coworkers coming here to vote for me. It is very inspiring and made me realize how many wonderful people I have kept in touch with throughout the years. Thank You!
elemaza - It's on my list of books to read. I should be starting it soon. Thanks for the suggestion.
I voted for you B. Good luck!
Interesting idea, check out mine and vote for me if you like it. Its about poverty and society in 3rd world countries and how they are controlled, devastated by their governments and western industrialized nations. http://tinyurl.com/chy79g
Good Luck and a great idea...
Good luck Belsis.
Good luck, Belsis!
Good luck from someone who knows your husband! Inspiring idea.
Im in. Good luck Belsis.
Dan
Thanks, I appreciate the votes!
I spent 5 years in Guantanamo Bay as a kid - beautiful country
Charlie
Submitted by
Democracy4Cuba
FatherJohn
At first I thought you wanted to go to Cuba and I was worried! But telling the stories of those who escaped to Florida is valuable. Good for you. This is a story that no one in the first 2400 entries has suggested. For that reason, I am happy to vote for you.