Eugenia Roque, a member of the Ladies in White, dies at the age of 79
The Cuban activist died in Los Arabos after being hospitalized since November 3 for a stroke.
Blanca Eugenia Roque Malpica, a member of the Ladies in White, died on Saturday, November 7, 2026 in Los Arabos, municipality of Matanzas. She was 79 years old and had been admitted since the 3rd to the Colón Hospital, where she remained in critical condition after suffering a stroke. The news was released by activists and comrades of the movement, who expressed their sorrow for the loss.
Leticia Ramos Herrería, representative of the Ladies in White in Matanzas, recalled Roque's perseverance and her participation in the group's activities despite her age and the arrests she suffered. She pointed out that her commitment to the freedom of Cuba and political prisoners was an inspiration to her colleagues and to those who saw her attend mass on Sundays. Ramos Herrería added that the movement will remember her.
Berta Soler, leader of the Ladies in White, had warned the day before about the seriousness of her condition. According to her publication, Roque's son, William Acevedo Roque, informed her by phone that his mother was in critical condition. The deceased and her son were subjected to years of surveillance, arrests and other forms of harassment, according to information released about the case.
Among the documented arrests are several that occurred in Los Arabos in 2016, when an attempt was made to prevent her from attending mass with other members. In January 2026, she was arrested again in Matanzas when she was about to participate in a Sunday to ask for the release of political prisoners. Her activism, according to her colleagues, continued until her last days.
The Ladies in White were formed in 2003, after the imprisonment of 75 opponents during the Black Spring. Wives, mothers and daughters of detainees began to attend mass dressed in white and march peacefully to demand their release. In 2005, the European Parliament awarded the movement the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought for its peaceful defence of human rights.
Roque's death is another recent loss for the group in Matanzas. Mercedes de la Caridad de la Guardia Hernández, also a member of the Ladies in White, died in Cárdenas on December 7, 2025, at the age of 59. The members of the movement have denounced detentions, harassment and restrictions on their peaceful activities. Her colleagues said goodbye to Roque, highlighting her perseverance in the defense of political prisoners and the freedom of Cuba.