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Following the symbolic delivery of more than 27,000 letters of solidarity to Cuban artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alc\u00e1ntara in private event\u00a0at\u00a0El Espacio 23 in Miami, Amnesty International said:\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, thousands of messages of solidarity finally reached Luis Manuel Otero Alc\u00e1ntara in person. Each letter is a reminder that, even when the Cuban authorities tried to silence and isolate him behind prison walls, people around the world continued to stand with him\u00a0demanding\u00a0his freedom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luis Manuel should never have spent a single day in prison for his art, his activism, or for peacefully expressing his views. His freedom today does not erase nearly five years of injustice, nor the fact that he was forced into exile. The Cuban authorities must release all those imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights and guarantee that Luis Manuel can return to Cuba, if he so chooses, without surveillance, threats or reprisals,\u201d said Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nLuis Manuel should never have spent a single day in prison for his art, his activism, or for peacefully expressing his views. His freedom today does not erase nearly five years of injustice, nor the fact that he was forced into exile. \u201d<\/p>\n
Astrid Valencia, Deputy Director of Research for the Americas at Amnesty International.\u00a0<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Luis Manuel Otero Alc\u00e1ntara is a Cuban artist and activist known for using his art to defend freedom of expression and challenge restrictions on artistic and civic space in Cuba. Designated as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International, he was sentenced to five years in prison in June 2022 after being arbitrarily detained in July 2021.\u00a0 After nearly five years unjustly deprived of his liberty, he was released in July 2026 and forced into exile. He is now living in Miami, where he continues his artistic work and advocacy at El Espacio 23.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The event, hosted at El Espacio 23 in Miami, brought together Luis Manuel, Amnesty International and members of the Cuban artistic, activist and human rights community who have stood with him throughout the years. The gathering also highlighted the essential role of art and solidarity in resisting efforts to silence critical voices and preserving spaces where people can express themselves freely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBringing Luis Manuel and these thousands of letters together at El Espacio 23 is a reminder of what happens when a community refuses to let an artist\u2019s voice disappear. Miami has always been a place where artists, ideas and people from across Latin America come together,\u201d said Jorge M. P\u00e9rez, philanthropist, art collector, and founder of El Espacio 23. \u201cThe response to this campaign shows just how deeply his work has resonated beyond Cuba. We\u2019re proud to have Luis Manuel here, where he can connect, share perspectives and be part of a community that believes in the power of art to create conversation and drive change.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nBringing Luis Manuel and these thousands of letters together at El Espacio 23 is a reminder of what happens when a community refuses to let an artist\u2019s voice disappear.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jorge M. P\u00e9rez, philanthropist, art collector, and founder of El Espacio 23.<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The delivery of the letters marks a powerful moment for Luis Manuel and the thousands of people who\u00a0mobilized\u00a0for him, but the work is not over. Amnesty International will continue calling on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights and to end the repression and criminalization of artists, activists, journalists and others who peacefully express dissenting views.\u00a0<\/p>\n