Ladies in White Founder Laura Pollan Dies at 63
Photo Credit: María Altozano
Freedom House mourns the loss of Laura Pollan, Cuban activist and founder of the group Ladies in White, who died on October 16 at the age of 63. Pollan made a lasting contribution to democracy and human rights in Cuba as one of the leading voices pressing for change.
Pollan was inspired to found Ladies in White after her husband, journalist Hector Maseda, was among the 75 political protesters imprisoned during Havana’s “Black Spring.”
Ladies in White, a group of more than 30 wives, sisters and mothers of political prisoners, met after services every Sunday at Santa Rita Catholic Church and marched silently along 5th Avenue in Havana, holding a single white flower. Despite attempts by the Cuban government to stifle protests, the women continued to march. In 2005, Ladies in White won the European Union’s Sakharov Prize for “Freedom of Thought,” and Pollan was prohibited from traveling outside of Cuba to accept the award. The group helped raise awareness and expand the movement beyond the capital of Havana and was instrumental in the release of the political prisoners. Although the prisoners have all been released due to a deal negotiated by the Catholic Church and the government of Spain, the group has vowed to continue to march until Cuba is free and was out in force this week despite Pollan’s death. Prior to founding Ladies in White, Pollan taught high school literature.
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