Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


16

Cuban Activists Rally Around Drunken YouTube Ranter

Man thrown in prison for video plea for food

Share

(Newser) – Cuban activists have found an unlikely cause celebré in the case of Juan Carlos González Marcos, who was sent to prison last month for drunkenly interrupting a shoot for a video about reggaeton with a rant about hunger. González was drinking, as he often did, at his neighborhood park in Havana, when he spotted a camera crew. He ran into the frame. “What we need here is a little bit of jama,” he cried, using the Cuban slang for food. “Go ahead and tape me! Jama!”

The video became a smash hit on YouTube, was shown on Hispanic TV in Miami, and made the cover of several magazines. A later video showed a drunken González dancing in the streets, singing that the police would put him away. They did. He was arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for “pre-criminal social endangerment,” a charge usually reserved for political dissidents. Human rights groups are working to free him, and think he could get a new trial.

Juan Carlos Gonz?lez Marcos, aka P?nfilo, rails against hunger in this YouTube screenshot.
Juan Carlos Gonz?lez Marcos, aka P?nfilo, rails against hunger in this YouTube screenshot.
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
The video in question (in Spanish).   (lamalapalabra)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

Pánfilo did not talk about changing the government nor about democracy, but about a simple and fundamental concern of the people of Cuba: their hunger. - Paquito D'Rivera, Cuban musician

This incident was unexpected and came as a surprise because the protagonist was not a political dissident nor a person trying to defend a position or gain popularity. - Jorge Salcedo, publicist for the Jama y Libertad (Food and Freedom) campaign

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
16 comments
VIEWING:
 
BeatBlaster
Sep 8, 09 10:12 AM CDT
Might it be easier to get fed in prison rather than on the streets? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-2
IN RESPONSE:
atomick
Sep 8, 09 10:38 AM CDT
Yeah, because Cuban prisons are SO well known for their humane treatment of prisoners.
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
schmidtkoff
Sep 8, 09 11:24 AM CDT
only in america. 3 hots and a cot.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Reader64481089
Sep 8, 09 12:36 PM CDT
@ schmidtkoff, that also is a lie and propaganda. The cot often times is an infested mattress on the floor due to over crowding and privatizing of the penal system. Some jails as well as prisions are well past the explosion point and still they cart more in for smoking a joint, failing to pay child support, dui. Some are well worthy of prison but where do you draw the line on housing them, and when do you quit attempting to teach morals by placing people in jaol who smoked a joint or to sorry to take care of their own children? What do we do? The Pedophiles are released due to overcrowding to let more recent pot smokers in to serve a few days and the circle continues
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
schmidtkoff
Sep 8, 09 1:13 PM CDT
Reader- please! i do not disagree with you - but you do not live here in SC. the laws are draconian. i do not draw ANY line in housing those who need to be in the SC prison system. in fact. i have vociferously spoke out about this to my coworkers. south carolina is quick to place into prison women and men who, because of unemployment are not able to meet their child care payment obligations. so you put the man or woman into jail and now they really can't pay child support. when they get out they have a record and are unable to get a job. the pot smokers are the least of our worries. ;yet South Carolina will but you with a roach in your ashtray, AFTER stopping you for some bogus traffic infraction. now your are in the system of south carolina. please do not comment on something that you have no knowledge of. i was speaking only of SC. yes, too often the sicko pediphiles and i might add, murderers and rapists are let go, while the pot smokers and public intox miscreants are faced with a lifelong record.3 hots and a cot might be acceptable to someone who is down and out.
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 16 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

8 Stories

 Watchdog: 
 Raúl Just as Bad as Fidel 

He shares his brother's disregard for human rights

Nov 18, 09 2:45 PM CST
(Newser) - The perception that Cuba is less repressive under Raúl Castro than Fidel is false, Human Rights Watch says. Dissidents are still harassed by the state, subject to arbitrary detention—532 such cases in the first half of 2009 alone—fired. or denied work. The government also continues to pressure... More »

MORE ABOUT:
human rights • Fidel Castro • Cuba • economic sanctions • Raul Castro • human rights abuse

'Rated R'
May Be Coming to a Website Near You

Brits hope to partner with US to police web

Dec 27, 08 6:09 PM CST
(Newser) - Calling the Internet a “quite dangerous place,” Britain’s culture secretary says he’ll work with the Obama administration on establishing international guidelines to protect children. One idea under consideration: giving websites film-style ratings, the Telegraph reports. “There is definitely a case for clearer standards online,”... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Internet • YouTube • free speech • United Kingdom

 Europe Votes to
 Lift Cuba Sanctions 

Washington 'disappointed' by decision

Jun 20, 08 8:20 AM CDT
(Newser) - The European Union has agreed to lift sanctions against Cuba, much to the annoyance of the White House. "We see encouraging signs in Cuba and I think that we should show the population in Cuba that we are ready to work with them," an EU official tells the... More »

MORE ABOUT:
human rights • Spain • European Union • Fidel Castro • Cuba • sanctions • Raul Castro • National Security Council • EU External Relations Commission

8 Stories


World 
TwitterFollow @NewserWorld on Twitter

 
YouTube • human rights • hunger • free speech • Cuba

from our news partners