Welcoming a Hero

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation has spent decades documenting the horrors inflicted by communist regimes across Latin America and beyond. Today, we are overjoyed to welcome José Daniel Ferrer, a political prisoner who spent his life standing up to the communist regime in Cuba, to the United States—a land of freedom he has fought so valiantly to emulate in his native Cuba. Ferrer was awarded the Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, an honor bestowed upon him by VOC in 2020 for his unwavering opposition to communism. 

This moment marks not just a personal triumph for Ferrer, but a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of totalitarian oppression. Ferrer’s story is one of extraordinary courage. As the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), he has been a thorn in the side of the Castro regime for decades—organizing peaceful protests, advocating for democratic reforms, and exposing the daily injustices faced by ordinary Cubans under communist rule. His activism has come at a tremendous cost: Multiple imprisonments, including a brutal stint following the historic July 11, 2021, protests, where he was subjected to torture, isolation, and denial of medical care. 

The Castro regime viewed Ferrer as a threat, holding him as a prisoner in their obsession to keep power. Yet, even from behind bars, Ferrer’s voice inspired thousands, fueling a movement that refuses to be silenced. The Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom, named after two American presidents who stood firm against communist expansion, is awarded to those who embody a lifelong dedication to liberty and democracy. 

Ferrer joins a distinguished list of recipients, including dissidents from China, Vietnam, and Eastern Europe, all of whom have risked everything to challenge authoritarianism. His 2020 award was symbolic then, as he languished in a Cuban prison; now we look forward to presenting it to him in person. This also highlights the ongoing crisis in Cuba, where the communist government continues to suppress dissent, stifle economic freedom, and drive its people into poverty and exile. 

Ferrer’s forced exile is bittersweet. While we celebrate his safety, we must not forget the more than 1,000 political prisoners still trapped in Cuba’s gulags, nor the regime’s export of repression to its allies like Venezuela and Nicaragua. That’s why VOC educates about the devastating impact of communism in Latin America—from the Maduro regime’s theft of elections to the Ortega government’s crackdown on civil society.

Ferrer’s journey is also a call to action. The international community must intensify pressure on Havana, demanding the release of all political prisoners.

In welcoming José Daniel Ferrer, we are not just greeting a man; we are embracing the ideals he represents: freedom, dignity, and the unyielding pursuit of justice. His presence in the United States will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation to educate the world about the 100 million victims of communism and to prevent future generations from suffering under its shadow.

Photo: José Daniel Ferrer in Cuba with the bicycle he used to collect signatures for Oswaldo Paya’s Varela Project, a citizens’ petition asking peacefully for regime change. Ferrer was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison because of his participation in this democratic project.