Armando Valladares

Armando Valladares Perez, born on May 30, 1937, in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, is a Cuban-American poet, diplomat, and former political prisoner. Initially supporting Fidel Castro's revolution, he later opposed the regime, leading to his arrest in 1960 at age 23 for refusing to display a pro-Castro sign. Convicted to a thirty-year sentence, Valladares was deemed a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. The Cuban government alleged terrorism charges, while international organizations believed his imprisonment stemmed from anti-Castro stance.

During his imprisonment, Valladares endured harsh conditions, including "drawer cells" and denial of medical care. He went on multiple hunger strikes, with a 49-day strike in 1974 leaving him wheelchair-bound due to polyneuritis. Despite these challenges, he smuggled poetry out of prison, gaining international recognition. His collection "From My Wheelchair" (1974) earned PEN France's Freedom Prize.

Released in 1982 after 22 years, Valladares resettled in the U.S. and authored memoirs like "Against All Hope." In 1987, President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Ambassador to the UN Commission on Human Rights, where he highlighted Cuban human rights abuses. Cuba criticized him as a traitor, while the U.S. defended him against defamation.

Valladares supported anti-Sandinista Contras and served on the advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. His literary works include "Desde mi Silla de Ruedas" (1976) and "El Corazon Con Que Vivo" (1980).