Related videos:
Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac has once again denounced state repression following the recent violent arrest of writer Jorge Fernández Era while he was attending his monthly civic protest at Central Park in Havana.
With a sharp and uncompromising message, Toirac emphasized the arbitrariness of the operation and defended Era's courage, whom he described as "stubborn and brave" in the face of a power that "does not tolerate dissent, independent opinion, or civic honesty."
"Fernández Era and the 18": the target of a persecution
Toirac recalled that every 18th, Era leaves his house and sits in silence next to the monument to José Martí. There are no slogans or commotion: first, he explains on social media why he does it, and then he remains silent at the site.
"They must be desperate for 'that crazy guy' to forget to go out…," Toirac joked, before emphasizing that "for several 18, they haven't let him arrive" because he gets detained—sometimes even before leaving home—and "they beat him up along the way."
The comedian also recounted a revealing episode: after giving him two beatings, an officer—"fueled by his 'principles'"—reportedly asked the writer himself to hit him.
For Toirac, the case illustrates the degradation of those who, instead of protecting rights, violate them.
From a legal perspective, Toirac denied that there is a legal basis to punish Era: their action is an expression and thought protected by the Constitution, and "it's hard to sound... with any of the numerous laws that destroy 'the main law'."
He also criticized the constitutional incoherence: "It is the only Constitution in the world that, in its own text, indicates the supremacy of any law over itself," he stated.
The operation: patrol, State Security, and a lieutenant colonel
In his public testimony, Jorge Fernández Era specified that he left his building at 2:10 PM and was intercepted three blocks away by a patrol car with two police officers (a woman and a man) and an agent from State Security. A lieutenant colonel was nearby, on a motorcycle.
The agents used the alleged "routine check" of the identity card to forcibly put him in the car.
The writer had announced that this time he would shout: "I am being illegally detained! I have not committed any crime!" He was handcuffed. In response, Era yelled at them all.
He was held for six and a half hours; for almost half of that time, they kept him inside the patrol car under the sun. To endure, he sang the national anthem and then gave a "concert" featuring songs by Silvio Rodríguez, Pablo Milanés, and Carlos Varela.
There were indeed injuries: the left wife tightened her wrist until it bled.
Finally, they took away his identity card and charged him with a resistance offense. They also imposed a new precautionary measure of house arrest, despite the fact that he has been under one since April 2023.
Although some might find relief in the fact that this time the agents did not beat Fernández Era -unlike the arrest on July 18, when he was severely beaten-, he clarified that what happened is more serious: the attempt to fabricate evidence, torture under the sun, the disappearance of his ID, and the criminalization of his peaceful protest.
"If anything is 'certified'... it is that fascism has long crossed our threshold," he declared.
Toirac's plea: naked repression and the moral defeat of power
For Ulises Toirac, any action against Era's peaceful objective "is a public (and shameless) declaration of repression of civil rights."
In his post, he contrasted the "intelligence" of the writer with the "intelligence" of those who only know how to apply violence and censorship. He issued a warning to the authorities: "Change your approach to the phenomenon… quickly, you are losing… with zero for you on the scoreboard. Minus four, go figure."
By the end of April, he had already condemned the excessive use of force in another violent arrest against Era, demanding: "Stop the abuse of power and the unjustified use of force".
He then emphasized that his friend's protest—sitting silently with signs advocating for freedom of thought and the release of political prisoners—is a civic exercise protected by the Constitution.
That report detailed that Era, under house arrest for two years and arrested multiple times, is part of a wave of civic actions similar to that of Professor Alina Bárbara López in Matanzas, which replicate the same silent and non-violent gesture.
Toirac concluded with a basic reminder of the rule of law: "Dissent is not a crime... Adhere to due process... Reputation matters."
Toirac's criticisms are not situational.
In recent months, he has lamented the loss of social empathy ("it is destroying our dignity as human beings") and criticized government management ("the incompetence is running out of excuses"), the lack of work incentives, and the laws that punish individual opinions.
He also condemned the "energy collapse" and using hunger as a solution; and questioned the ostentation of the descendants of the elite, in contrast to the official discourse of austerity.
Why it matters
The case of Jorge Fernández Era encapsulates two inseparable dimensions: the systematic repression of a peaceful protest—silence, a bench, posters—and the ethical response of a citizenry that refuses to accept that the State can fabricate crimes, steal identities, or distort medicine for repressive purposes.
Toirac, one of the most respected comedians in the country, not only supports Era: he also exposes the moral defeat of a power that, unable to listen, only resorts to punishment.
What's coming next
He was facing a new charge of "resistance" and had his house arrest doubled.
His determination to go to Central Park on the 18th of each month—and to share everything—suggests that the momentum will continue. On the other side, attempts to silence him confirm the true objective: to punish the exercise of individual freedoms.
If the regime chooses force again, it will continue to tarnish its narrative of social justice both in Cuba and globally.
Frequently Asked Questions about the detention of Jorge Fernández Era and repression in Cuba
Why was Jorge Fernández Era arrested?
Jorge Fernández Era was detained due to his peaceful civic protest in Central Park in Havana, where he sits in silence each day on the 18th to advocate for freedom of thought and the release of political prisoners. This action has been deemed a threat by the Cuban regime, which has resulted in his repeated detentions and the imposition of precautionary measures such as house arrest.
How has Ulises Toirac reacted to the arrest of Jorge Fernández Era?
The comedian Ulises Toirac has been a staunch defender of citizen rights in Cuba and has denounced the state repression against Jorge Fernández Era. Toirac has openly criticized the abuse of power and the lack of respect for the exercise of individual freedoms on the island, describing the government's actions as a "public declaration of repression."
What actions has Jorge Fernández Era's wife taken in response to the repression?
Laideliz Herrera Laza, wife of Jorge Fernández Era, resigned from the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac) due to the institution's silence regarding the repression against intellectuals and its complicity with the government's repressive policies. Herrera has publicly condemned the lack of support from Uneac toward her husband and other intellectuals who defend their rights in Cuba.
What does Jorge Fernández Era's protest mean for the political situation in Cuba?
Jorge Fernández Era's protest is a symbol of peaceful resistance against state repression in Cuba. His determination to demonstrate every month, despite arrests and restrictive measures, represents a challenge to a regime that aims to silence any form of dissent. Fernández Era's situation reflects the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression and civil rights on the island.
Filed under: