Academic Alina Bárbara López thanks Luis Alberto García for his support after being expelled from the UNEAC.

The intellectual Alina Bárbara López Hernández thanked the support of the renowned actor Luis Alberto García, who rejected the expulsion of the academic from the ranks of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC) for political reasons.

"My dear and admired Luis Alberto García Novoa, you not only masterfully portrayed the unforgettable character of a revolutionary in Clandestinos; you truly are one, and that is the greater crime in the realm of continuity. A hug and my complete gratitude," wrote the academic on Facebook.

The expulsion of López Hernández, announced by the UNEAC branch in Matanzas, has been described by García as a "flagrant act of injustice" and a "glaring error."

"I cannot and do not want to remain silent or be complicit in lamentable events like this, nor bow my head to the barrage of insults, adjectives, and degrading nouns that have begun to appear on social media and in government publications referring to those who stray, whether slightly or significantly, from a single doctrinal thought that is intended to be compulsory," the actor had expressed in a Facebook post.

García also echoed the concerns of many Cubans about the climate of coercion and threats that affects those who express disagreement with the official narrative. "If coercion, threats, and media lynchings weigh on the opinions of citizens from all sectors, then we do not have a respected Constitution nor a true country," argued the actor.

López Hernández was accused by the UNEAC of engaging in “activities against the revolution” and of showing solidarity with the July 11 movement. The intellectual stated that the decision was imposed from higher authorities, specifically due to pressure from State Security, and not based on a fair evaluation of her work.

He added that he will continue to be an intellectual and a dignified citizen, despite his expulsion. "I will continue to be an intellectual, a citizen, and a dignified Cuban even outside of that organization that has been discredited for a long time," he emphasized.

The activist's situation has sparked a debate about freedom of expression and the rights of artists and academics in Cuba.

After the expulsion of López Hernández, the Cuban intellectual Jorge Fernández Era also renounced his membership in the UNEAC in a sign of protest.