The head of the U.S. mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, was the target of a second act of repudiation this weekend, this time organized by the Cuban regime during his visit to Camagüey.
The journalist Mario J. Pentón and the activists Irma Lidia Broek and José Raúl Gallego shared images of the protest from various filming angles. They were recorded by residents of Camagüey who witnessed the event.
The act of repudiation occurred on the night of Saturday, January 31st, at the Hotel Santa María, located in the Gallo de Camagüey Plaza, a place of special significance and connected to the Office of the City Historian.
A crowd mobilized by local authorities awaited the diplomat following his transfer from Ciego de Ávila, in an atmosphere marked by a general blackout that left the historic center completely in the dark.
They hurled insults such as "Donald Trump's puppet," "imperialist who comes to witness the blackouts they are imposing on us," "murderer," "get out of Camagüey," and "down with the blockade."
One day earlier, a similar incident occurred in Trinidad, where a group of people confronted and insulted Hammer as he was leaving Iglesia San Francisco de Paula, after his meeting with the priest and activist José Conrado Rodríguez.
There have been some who have shouted insults, but I believe they belong to a certain party. I know that they do not represent the Cuban people, the everyday Cubans, declared Hammer in a message broadcast from the Facebook account of the United States Embassy in Havana on Saturday morning.
The diplomat added that he continues to travel around the island to “meet more everyday Cubans and talk with them about their aspirations and hopes for a better Cuba.”
The verbal attacks against Hammer are part of a long tradition of orchestrated acts of repudiation by the regime to harass opponents, journalists, and foreign diplomats.
In this case, the operation had an evident political and intimidation component against the U.S. delegation, amid growing international pressure regarding the human rights situation in Cuba.
“Dictatorships once again resort to their methods of intimidation and organized violence. They are playing with fire,” warned journalist Mario J. Pentón.
So far, neither the Cuban authorities nor the United States Embassy have issued official comments regarding the events that occurred in Camagüey.
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