Two Cuban political prisoners who were arrested, tried, and sentenced to prison terms for listening to music not approved by the Castro dictatorship have begun a hunger strike to protest prison conditions.
Cuba music fans/political prisoners start hunger strike
Antonio Michel and Marcos Maykel Lima Cruz
Cuban political prisoners Antonio Michel Lima Cruz and his brother Marcos Maykel Lima Cruz, in jail because of their choice of music, have started hunger strikes, according to Radio Marti.
They are demanding that they be held in the same prison, and that they receive better medical care and nutrition.
The brothers were arrested Christmas Day, 2010 when they took to the streets of Holguin with a Cuban flag and started to shout anti-government slogans, all the while listening to the music of the popular hip hop group Los Aldeanos.
They were later convicted of “public disorder.” Marcos was sentenced to 3 years in jail, and Antonio received a 2-year sentenced. The conviction and punishment were recently upheld by an appeals court.