The Cuban opposition activist Martha Beatriz Roque will be awarded by the United States government for her bravery in her fight against the Cuban dictatorship, receiving the award in none other than the White House.
The activist was selected by the White House among the “women of courage” to receive the Women of Courage award, which is presented annually, in its 2024 edition.
The awards ceremony will take place this Monday, March 4, at 11:30 am, local time, at the presidential residence. The event will be chaired by the Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken, and the First Lady of the United States, Jill Biden.
According to the press release from the Department of State, Martha Beatriz Roque has a career of more than four decades of activism, which has made her a leading voice in the promotion of human rights and religious freedom in Cuba.
His career includes founding important human rights and democracy organizations, making a difference in the fight for freedom on the island.
“An international award of this magnitude is the first I have received and for me it is something as if it were received by all the dissidents who in these years have been very poor, very overshadowed,” explained the 78-year-old opponent to the agency. AFP.
Roque recognizes that Cuban dissidence is weakened, in part due to the large emigration and mass imprisonment of 11J, and regrets that new generations quickly aspire to emigrate to the United States rather than solve the country’s problems.
“Unfortunately, the new generation wants to fly to the US. So, it’s been 6 months, 8 months, they’re already asking for the visa,” she lamented.
“I will be here, to continue fighting so that Cuba becomes democratic and that exiles can return to Cuba and make Cuba a prosperous country like them,” he stated.
During the black spring of 2003, Roque was the only woman among the 75 imprisoned, facing a 20-year sentence for her dissent. Despite being released for medical reasons, she continued her human rights work, maintaining contact with political prisoners and denouncing injustices.
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