Ulises Toirac's Bold Call for Freedom of Expression in Cuba: "Stop the Abuse of Power"

Prominent Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac made a powerful statement on Saturday advocating for the rights of citizens in Cuba, delivering a clear and direct message against repression: "Stop the abuse of power and the unjustified use of force."

In a post shared on his Facebook profile, Toirac condemned the violent arrest of writer Jorge Fernández Era, who was once again detained for conducting a peaceful civic protest advocating for freedom of thought and the release of political prisoners. "My admired brother Jorge Fernández Era suffered yet another abuse... one of many. I must acknowledge that Era is stubborn. And brave," Toirac wrote.

The artist explained that Fernández Era conducts a monthly peaceful protest at Havana's Central Park, exercising his constitutional right as a citizen. This action, mirrored in other parts of the country by individuals like professor Alina Bárbara López Hernández in Matanzas, involves sitting silently with signs and public messages, without violence or political affiliation.

Despite the peaceful nature of his actions, Fernández Era has been arrested multiple times and has remained under house arrest for two years, a measure Toirac argues is "beyond due process." The comedian did not hesitate to describe the authorities' use of repression as "an abusive show of force lacking the principles they claim to uphold."

With an ironic yet forceful tone, Toirac pointed out the injuries suffered by Fernández Era on his wrists after being handcuffed. "It seems the handcuffs weren't his size, forcing a forty into a twenty-two." He concluded his message with a firm call to respect laws and citizens' rights. "Dissent is not a crime. There are laws you claim to be guardians of. Follow due process. And remember that reputation matters. One must act prestigiously to maintain it."

Toirac's pronouncement has resonated widely on social media, where numerous users applaud the comedian's gesture and demand guarantees for freedom of expression and protest on the island.

His statements add to a series of criticisms Toirac has voiced in recent months regarding the situation in Cuba. In March, he lamented the loss of dignity and empathy in Cuban society, noting that "our dignity as human beings is being destroyed."

In January, he criticized the Cuban government's management, asserting that "incompetence is running out of excuses," and condemned the lack of incentives to work and produce, as well as laws that reinforce the lack of freedoms and punish individual opinions.

In November 2024, he expressed his pessimism about the country's future, describing the situation as an "energy collapse" and viewing hunger as the inevitable victor in the face of governmental inaction. Additionally, he has denounced the opulence of the ruling elite's descendants, highlighting the inconsistency between the official discourse of austerity and the luxurious lifestyles exhibited by some government leaders' relatives.