The detention of Otalola in Miami: Was it a mistake or an assignment?

November 30, 2020

Cuban presenter and influencer Alex Otaola was detained for 2 hours on Saturday afternoon while participating in a demonstration he organized in support of the San Isidro Movement.

Youtuber Otaola claims that the incident was due to an "error or was ordered" because of a police "overreaction" at the moment when the streets of Miami filled with protesters and some provocateurs like youtuber and presenter Edmundo García approached the Versalles to generate conflict.

According to Otaola, the police owe an apology to the community for their behavior toward him, although he notes that what happened in front of the Versalles was a show of support for those who for the first time in a long time demonstrated within Cuba for freedom of expression and the right to dissent.

Otaola was transported in the police patrol car without being read his rights, but the Cuban holds no resentment against law enforcement agents. "I laugh at the patrol, we are not afraid. I want to congratulate everyone who attended the Versalles and who behaved correctly," said the youtuber.

The host of the popular program Hola-Ota Ola also thanked all the Miami politicians who took an interest in what happened, such as the mayor of the city of Miami, Francis Suárez, and the congresswoman for district 27, journalist María Elvira Salazar.