A visibly thin and unsteady declaimer recited an anti-imperialist poem during an official event in Santa Clara, at one of the open tribunes convened by the Cuban regime in support of Raúl Castro, and became the target of widespread mockery on social media.
The clip, published on Facebook by UJC Villa Clara, shows the "Kikiri de Cisneros" passionately improvising revolutionary verses in which he even references José Martí.
"Nobody is going to drive us away from here; we have the honest hand of Martí and his justifications, and we have the guts that are lacking in the White House," he said as he concluded, after which he took a few steps back with his arms and legs spread wide, as if seeking balance.
The event is part of the open forums organized by the regime amid the crisis, called in response to the criminal charges brought by the United States against Raúl Castro for the downing of two planes from Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996.
What the declaimer could not hide was his physical condition: loose clothing, a skeletal figure, and a visible sway. For many spectators, he seemed at risk of collapsing under the sun.
There were also criticisms of the "poet's" language. "What a horrible vocabulary, Martí would be ashamed"; "What vulgarity! This shows the education of the revolution"; and "Even foul language is allowed in these cultural works where children are present, of course, as long as it suits them, even if what's wrong is considered right" were some of the comments made.
The context in which the event took place makes the contrast even more striking. Cuba is experiencing one of its worst days of massive blackouts, with an impact that on May 26 reached 63% of the national electrical service.
This is compounded by a devastating food crisis: a survey revealed that one in three families experienced hunger in Cuba during 2025, and 96.91% of the population lacks adequate access to food according to the Food Monitor Program.
Meanwhile, the regime mobilized public transportation to bring attendees to the events supporting Raúl Castro, whose 95th birthday is celebrated on June 3, the same date that the open tribunes conclude.
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