The Movimiento Cristiano Liberación (MCL) is a Cuban civil society organization founded in 1988 that advocates for peaceful democratic change on the island. Led by Oswaldo Payá, the MCL has proposed several initiatives like the Varela Project and National Dialog to push for reforms within Cuba's existing legal framework, including freedom of speech, association, elections and amnesty for political prisoners. Despite facing government persecution, the MCL continues nonviolently working to give Cubans a voice in their own future through community organizing and civic participation.

1. A proposal for change in Cuba Oswaldo Payá and the Movimiento Cristiano Liberación MCL

6. Jimmy Carter Vaclav Havel Msgr. Agustín Román Colin Powell José María Aznar H.H. Pope John Paul II Madeline Allbright Rodolfo Seguel Hans-Gert Pöttering Janusz Onyszkiewicz Edward McMillan

12. The Varela Project… and response May 10, 2002: Delivering the first 11,020 signatures to the Cuban parliament. June 2, 2002: The government organizes massive counter-demonstrations, without any public discussion of the Varela Project’s content. October 2003 : Pay á and Ofelia Acevedo delivering 14,384 additional signatures. By this date, Regis Iglesias and Antonio Díaz (the two men with boxes in the top left photo) are in jail, along with 73 other key activists.

18. “All Cubans” Forum With Cubans inside Cuba…. … and Cubans Outside Cuba.

19. Crafting and Disseminating MCL’s Message VARELA PROJECT NATIONAL DIALOG (2003, 2009) PROGRAMA TODOS CUBANOS FORO CUBANO – LOCAL COMMITTEES FORO CUBANO – NATIONAL MEETING UNIDOS EN LA ESPERANZA FORO TODOS CUBANOS

22. Without hope there is no future.