Damas de Blanco: Ladies in White unlikely protestors

interview with Dr. Orlando Gutierrez

Proceeds from NEA Jazz Master Paquito D’Rivera’s concert at Mount Vernon Country Club this week will benefit Damas de Blanco, the “Ladies in White” who have worn white to Sunday Mass in Havana and around Cuba since an incident of mass arrests in 2003.  To explain this quiet protest movement, Dr. Orlando Gutierrez Boronat from the Cuban Democratic Directorate based in Miami joined “First Take with Lando and Chavis.”

“It grew from a movement strictly of family members of political prisoners to a movement of many more women from all walks of life,” Dr. Gutierrez said.  When asked if the movement’s visual impact was a study in contrasts, he said yes.  ”The Ladies in White stand for non-violence.  reconciliation among Cubans and respect for human rights.”

Multiple viewpoints and ongoing coverage of Cuban – U.S. relations and Latin American politics can be found on KUVO’s weekday morning show “First Take with Lando and Chavis” and on Sunday mornings from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on La Nueva Voz with Jack Mudry.