Mexico City, Mexico.- Kiele Alexandra CabreraAlthough she was not born on the island, she identifies as Cuban. That empathy towards the land of her grandparents led her to launch herself in May 2021 at a US ball field where Cuba and Venezuela played. The young woman was holding open a poster where the handcuffed hand of rapper Maykel Castillo was seen and the slogan “Free Cuba” was read.
Kiele had watched video from the 1999 Pan American Games of Cuba versus Canada, when a fan barged in with a message similar to his. The man was beaten on the field by the island’s players, while Cuban commentators justified the violence and called him a “worm.”
“I wanted to recreate that story and give it another ending. Although I expected some kind of repudiation, I knew that these are other times and the regime does not want to give that image of violence, which is what they have always done, because the world is watching. That is why we have to raise our voices,” Kiele told Cubanet at the time.
Now that Kiele has once again been in the spotlight for Cuba’s game against the United States, CubaNet spoke briefly with her.
What has happened to your life as an activist from 2021 to today?
Ever since I jumped into the stadium I feel like I’ve been focused on my life’s purpose. I was born in Miami, in the middle of two Cuban families that fought against tyrannies and totalitarian communism for generations. After July 11, the work of activists and ordinary Cubans in exile to support their brothers on the island became even more important.
My eyes were opened to the level of influence that the Castro Communist Regime has along with its growing list of allies in Latin America, Europe, Asia and even institutions closer to home, here in the United States. I no longer felt safe. I understood that my autonomy and liberties were also in danger if I did not begin to denounce the deadly capacity of the Regime and its Socialist Revolution.
I was lucky to have the opportunity to work in collaboration with Vilaplana films and the Comisión de Expresas Políticas Víctimas del Comunismo in the production of the film “planted”. It was a beautiful experience working with a Cuban cast of all generations and backgrounds to tell this powerful true story of Cuban female political prisoners.
I also worked on the launch of a musical collaboration with Keren Kmanway, Ana Olema, Daylin H in support of Cuban political prisoners. I currently have new musical projects in the works with El Funky, Maykel Osorbo, Afrik Reina and more. Music and the arts in general are a fundamental means of awakening social awareness.
On the other hand, I founded the Jóvenes de la Resistencia coalition as a member of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance. I am one of the directors-in-exile of the Republican Youth Impact coalition, helping to shed light on the gains and sacrifices of our young activists inside the island who work to defend the values of human rights.
Last December I also represented Cubans in exile at the “Youth and Democracy 2022” summit. In this space I shared the totalitarian repression propagated by the regime to an international audience. I also recently joined the efforts of the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba to support their cause for real regime change on the island.
In general, whatever I decide to do with my life, whether creative, academic, or occupational in nature, should be oriented toward upholding these principles: freedom, respect for the individual, and human dignity.
How do you think the exile will react to this Sunday’s game?
“I don’t know what will happen this year. She left it in God’s hands. But there are many people who are very hurt by the state the Cuban people are in.
“Today Cuba is worse than when I jumped into the stadium in 2021. That was before July 11. Now we have more than a thousand political prisoners and a very large exodus. I feel that this Sunday the exiles are going to claim their right to denounce and express their concerns about Cuba.”
