More than 27,000 solidarity letters reached Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in person at El Espacio 23 in Miami. The delivery brought the Cuban artist and dissident face to face with messages gathered while he was detained, sentenced, released in July 2026 and forced into exile after nearly five years behind bars.
El Espacio 23 in Miami
Amnesty International said the letters arrived as a public moment around a case that started with his arbitrary detention in July 2021 and a five-year prison sentence in June 2022. Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, whom Amnesty International described as a prisoner of conscience, is now living in Miami and continuing his artistic work and advocacy at El Espacio 23.
Astrid Valencia said, “Today, thousands of messages of solidarity finally reached Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in person.” She added, “Each letter is a reminder that, even when the Cuban authorities tried to silence and isolate him behind prison walls, people around the world continued to stand with him demanding his freedom.”
Amnesty International on Cuba
Amnesty International called on the Cuban authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights. Amnesty International also called on the Cuban authorities to end the repression and criminalization of artists, activists, journalists and others who peacefully express dissenting views.
Valencia said, “His freedom today does not erase nearly five years of injustice, nor the fact that he was forced into exile.” She also said, “The Cuban authorities must release all those imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights and guarantee that Luis Manuel can return to Cuba, if he so chooses, without surveillance, threats or reprisals,”
Jorge M. Pérez on Miami
Jorge M. Pérez said, “Bringing Luis Manuel and these thousands of letters together at El Espacio 23 is a reminder of what happens when a community refuses to let an artist’s voice disappear.” He added, “Miami has always been a place where artists, ideas and people from across Latin America come together,” and, “The response to this campaign shows just how deeply his work has resonated beyond Cuba.”
“We’re proud to have Luis Manuel here, where he can connect, share perspectives and be part of a community that believes in the power of art to create conversation and drive change,” Pérez said. The letters now sit alongside a case that moved from detention in Cuba to exile in Miami, and the next pressure point remains whether the Cuban authorities will answer the call for releases and a safe return without surveillance, threats or reprisals.
