Cuban Blogger Speaks Out

Cuban Blogger Speaks Out
distributed by noodls on 01/11/2013 01:30

Yoani Sánchez talked to students about life under the Castro regime.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (October 31, 2013) - Battling a bothersome cold,
activist and Cuban blogger Yoani Sánchez led a class at the University
of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies (ICCAS)
Wednesday night before an audience of more than 70 students, faculty and
members of the community.

"Here I am treated like I am at home, and that is how I am going to
conduct myself," said Sánchez, who was introduced by José Azel, ICCAS
senior research associate.

This was Sanchez's second trip to UM. Last April, the founder of the
Generation Y blog, which gets more than 15 million hits a month and is
translated into 20 languages, visited the UM Libraries' Cuban Heritage
Collection and shared stories with a spirited group from the UM School
of Communication.

Sánchez really enjoyed the exchange of ideas with the students and this
prompted UM President Donna E. Shalala to invite her to visit the campus
again.

During Wednesday's class, which was part of ICCAS Cuban Studies
Certificate Program, Sánchez, who has been arrested in Cuba for her
criticism of the Castro regime, gave an overview, in Spanish, of Cuban
civic society, the many challenges and small triumphs that its citizens
face.

"I come to speak to you about hope, because if not you would not
understand why I chose to stay (in Cuba) and work from there," said
Sanchez, who is heading back to the island later this week.

Source: "University of Miami (via noodls) / Cuban Blogger Speaks Out" -
http://www.noodls.com/viewNoodl/20749688/university-of-miami/cuban-blogger-speaks-out