The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel praised the "response" of Cuban youth in recent protest calls in solidarity with Palestine and Venezuela, emphasizing that, "in the midst of the difficult situations we are experiencing," young people "do not hesitate to go out and protest" for those causes.
At the event marking the 65th anniversary of the Association of Young Rebels (AJR) and the 60th anniversary of the official newspaper Juventud Rebelde, held at the José Martí Memorial, Díaz-Canel stated that youth participation in acts supporting Palestine and Venezuela “says a lot about the spirit of Cubans”, while criminalizing other peaceful demonstrations in the country.
The leader noted that he was “very motivated” by the level of public response—“especially from the youth”—to two calls: “one in solidarity with Palestine and another in solidarity with Venezuela.”
He emphasized that those expressions, in contexts of "internal difficulties," reflect a commitment to the defense of peace and the motherland.
During the meeting, it was emphasized to move from online to the streets but only for those causes. It also called to "better articulate" content for the digital environment, alongside promoting volunteer work, productive days, and youth "detachments."
Official representatives highlighted days of “revolutionary fervor” due to the mobilization in provinces for Palestine and Venezuela, the collection of signatures in support of the Caracas regime, as well as sanitation actions and volunteer work.
Díaz-Canel's statements validate and encourage youth mobilization for international causes (Palestine and Venezuela) amid an internal crisis, while he cracks down on protests against his government’s management.
Despite the energy crisis in Cuba, with prolonged blackouts affecting the population, the regime continues to prioritize its political mobilizations.
For these activities, the government has mobilized resources, such as transportation, which are scarce for the daily needs of the citizens. This has generated outrage among the population, who face difficulties due to the lack of basic services while the government dedicates efforts to political events.
Although the leader calls for mobilization for causes unrelated to Cuba, protesters speaking out about the internal crisis continue to be detained on the island.
The human rights organization Cubalex documented 185 human rights violations in Cuba during September, a month marked by the resurgence of citizen protests against blackouts, food shortages, and lack of drinking water.
The report, which covers events that took place in 14 provinces and 45 municipalities, including the Isle of Youth, reflects a pattern of systematic repression that affected 140 people (26 women and 114 men), the majority of whom were political prisoners, human rights defenders, and individuals of African descent.
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