Poet Víctor Saldaña has called on artists and cultural workers in the Dominican Republic to raise their voices in solidarity with Cuba and reject the economic and oil blockade imposed by the United States against the island.
Saldaña, president of the National Network of Cultural Workers, stated that creators cannot remain indifferent to situations affecting people and considered art a tool to defend peace, fraternity, and self-determination.
“We poets and artists cannot remain silent. With our songs and our poetry, we will oppose the criminal blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba,” he declared during a press conference.
The poet questioned the difficulties faced by the Cuban population in accessing food, medicine, and fuel as a consequence of the restrictions stemming from the U.S. embargo and Washington’s maximum pressure policies.
He also expressed his support for Palestine and denounced the deaths of journalists, poets, scientists, and cultural workers during the conflict, while defending the right of peoples to freely determine their own destiny.
Saldaña invited cultural workers and the public to participate in the poetry recital dedicated to Cuba, scheduled for September 8, starting at 5:00 p.m. local time, in the auditorium of the Faculty of Humanities at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
The event will bring together numerous local artists who, through poetry, music, and other artistic expressions, will express their support for the Caribbean nation.
The cultural leader called for greater participation from the artistic sector in causes related to peace, solidarity, and respect for the sovereignty of nations, and invited his colleagues to join the initiative.
The organizers described the event as an “expression of love and solidarity with the homeland of José Martí, at this critical moment in its history.”
Among the artists who have confirmed their participation are Juan Freddy Armando, Lissette Vega de Purcell, Luis Carvajal, Pablo Reyes, Eladio de los Santos, César Sánchez Beras, and singer-songwriter Félix Ramírez Sepúlveda.
Also participating are painter and pianist Madelin Martínez, filmmaker and poet Ángel Ruiz Bazán, Ernesto Ventroy, Rafael Pineda, José Miguel González, Lorenzo Araujo, Gladys Almonte, Carlos Sánchez, and Pablo Henríquez Severino.
Additionally, Dilando Sánchez, Domingo Acevedo, Juan Galván, Víctor Saldaña, Ramón Tejeda Read, and Julio Cuevas, among other artists, will also be present.
Cuba remains under a U.S. economic, commercial, and financial embargo, accompanied by maximum pressure policies that include restrictions on energy supplies.
Cuban authorities denounce that these unilateral measures seek to harm the population, limit the development of the national economy, and pressure third countries, companies, and individuals that maintain legitimate relations with the island.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
