The death of Jose Luis Cortes, the coarsehas unleashed an avalanche of condolence messages on social networks but has also fueled complaints against him, in addition to prompting a proposal from the YoSiTeCreo platform in Cuba to mark April 18, the date the musician died, as Day Access to Justice for Victims of Sexist Violence.
In a short statement posted on facebookthe independent organization regrets that the death of El Tosco has brought back “the impotence, injustice and revictimization” that were unleashed as a result of the complaint made against him, in 2019, by Dianelys Alfonso, The goddess.
The singer’s statements gave way to a Cuban version of #MeToo. Alfonso recounted having been beaten and raped by the artist when she was a singer in the group NG La Banda. Shortly after her testimony came to light, she denounced threats from El Tosco as a reaction to her words. This generated a wave of solidarity and a letter in support collected hundreds of signatures.
Now, the platform Yo SíTeCreo in Cuba, which was born in the heat of that complaint, assures that the sweetened praises and obituaries about El Tosco, which have appeared in the last few hours on social networks, also affect the women who showed their solidarity with La Diosa and with the other victims of sexist violence on the Island.
“The death of a totally unpunished aggressor is neither punishment nor reparation for the victims”
The death of the musician has also had extensive coverage in the official media where the farewell texts have obviated the accusations against him. Culture officials published messages of condolence and, on his Twitter account, Miguel Díaz-Canel described Cortés as “a humble and legitimate son of the Cuban Revolution.”
“The death of an aggressor totally unpunished is neither punishment nor reparation for the victims,” the organization stresses. Although he warns that, in this case, “it is not about ignoring the talent and contribution of this musician to Cuban culture, nor about ignoring or not understanding the pain of family members, close friends and followers of him.”
He regrets, yes, that “in the midst of that media and institutional magnification, political polarization and almost beatification around death, he forgets and even denies his victims once again.” In the text, the message addressed to these women is clear and emphatic: “To all of them we say: ‘I do believe you, sister'”.
“To the people who demand evidence and the verdict of a court to convict El Tosco, we remind you that there are still no courts or specialized police forces or Comprehensive Law against Gender Violence in Cuba,” the statement added. “The issue of sexist violence is structural.”
This defenselessness of the women who suffer daily sexist violence in a scenario of few legal instruments in their favor and the absence of institutions that give refuge to the victims have been frequently denounced by activists, lawyers and the independent press.
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