Reina Luisa Tamayo Danger is a Cuban grandmother born in the island's eastern city of Santiago. Orlando Zapata Tamayo, one of her four children, was a bricklayer by trade and a nonviolent democracy activist. Zapata was adopted as an Amnesty International Prisoner of Conscience after he was arrested and imprisoned during the Cuban regime's 2003 “Black Spring” crackdown. Throughout her son's imprisonment, Reina engaged in peaceful marches and activism for his release as a member of the Ladies in White, made up of relatives of Cuban political prisoners. Orlando Zapata Tamayo was serving a 25 year sentence on charges of died on February 23, 2010, after being denied water and adequate medical care by prison officials while on a prolonged hunger strike demanding respect for his basic rights. Reina continues to brave beatings from State Security agents and harassment to lead weekly marches from Our Lady of Charity Catholic Church to her son's grave in the city of Banes, where she resides.

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