Ulises Toirac Denounces Official 11J Narrative: "I'm Increasingly Convinced of Its Superficiality and Contempt for the People"

The Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac took to the internet with a powerful message, condemning the official narrative surrounding the anniversary of July 11th. Four years ago, thousands of Cubans took to the streets to protest against the regime. In his reflection, Toirac dismantled the arrogant discourse of state media, which he described as superficial, lacking in self-criticism, and disconnected from the true suffering of the people.

"I don't understand the triumphalism displayed in some media regarding today's date," he wrote on Facebook last Friday. "Does the repression that quelled the demonstrations demonstrate strength? Is it a conclusion that showed something positive for 'socialism' in Cuba?" he questioned with irony and discontent.

Toirac challenged the government's narrative that portrays the 11J protests as violent attempts at destabilization orchestrated from abroad. "No one ever presented documentation or evidence that mercenaries led the crowds," he stated. He also took issue with the official discourse labeling the protesters as criminals. "The demands were social, and the overwhelming majority of protesters did not use their rebellion to vandalize," he insisted.

Questioning the Government's Interpretation of Stability

Toirac criticized how the government interprets the current apparent calm as a "victory" or proof of political stability. For him, the absence of social unrest on commemorative dates doesn't signify true peace, but rather the result of exhaustion, hopelessness, and the disintegration of civil society.

"I don't see the triumphalism because the social differences, poverty, lack of hope, refusal to participate, and economic collapse are deepening," he remarked. He lamented that the values that once defined the revolution—"of the humble, by the humble, and for the humble"—have been betrayed. He reminded that the protests didn't originate from affluent areas like El Laguito or Miramar but from the most modest neighborhoods.

A Call for Honesty and Realism

For Ulises, the country finds itself in a dead-end, and the worst part is the absence of a coherent future plan or any real possibility to reverse these worsening processes. "A social explosion driven by misery is more dangerous than a nuclear explosion," he warned somberly.

His final message is a call for honesty, to stop viewing reality through the lens of propaganda. "I truly don't see the joy, much less the celebration," he concluded.

July 11, 2021, marked a historic date in Cuba. In over 40 cities, thousands of citizens spontaneously protested peacefully against the lack of freedoms, economic crisis, and government management. The demonstrations were met with violent repression following President Miguel Díaz-Canel's call to "combat," leading to mass arrests and prison sentences for over a thousand protesters.

Four years later, many remain imprisoned. Meanwhile, the country's economic and social situation continues to deteriorate, with constant blackouts, rising inflation, rampant migration, and an increasingly impoverished and frustrated population.

Ulises Toirac's statement joins other critical voices both inside and outside of Cuba, urging the regime to acknowledge the popular outcry of 11J as a legitimate expression of social discontent, rather than a conspiracy orchestrated from abroad.