Cuban protest leader to march alone, white rose in hand, ahead of rallies

FILE PHOTO: Actor, playwright and leader of the Facebook group called Archipelago Yunior Garcia, 39, pauses during an interview at his home in Havana, Cuba, November 4, 2021. Picture taken on November 4, 2021. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini

(Reuters) - A Cuban playwright leading the call for protests on Nov. 15 on the communist-run island said on Thursday he will walk alone, in silence and holding a white rose, the day before the planned march to show the non-violent nature of the movement.

After Cuban dissidents, organized under a Facebook group called Archipielago, asked in September for permission to rally, the authorities declared the marches illegal and accused the protesters of working with the United States to overthrow the government.