Fidel's Legacy Sparks Protest in Mexico City: Statues' Removal Ignites Controversy

On Sunday, approximately 150 individuals gathered in protest following the removal of statues depicting Fidel Castro and Che Guevara from the Jardín Tabacalera in Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. According to reports from El Universal, the demonstrators included local residents, Cuban nationals linked to the consulate, supporters of the regime, and members of the Communist Party's action groups in Mexico.

Chants of "Alessandra no, Cuba yes," "This park belongs to Fidel, this park belongs to Che," and "Always towards victory" resonated among the protesters who opposed the decision made by Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega. El Universal captured statements from Olivia Garza of the pro-government Association of Cubans Residing in Mexico, and Ángel Salas of the Communist Party in Mexico. Both criticized Rojo, accusing her of removing the statues following a meeting with representatives from VOX.

For José Raúl Gallego, an independent journalist and Cuban activist residing in Mexico, these protesters are the same "action groups mobilized by the Cuban Embassy in Mexico to assault Cubans protesting outside." Gallego noted that "the banner present at today's protest over the removal of Fidel and Che's statues in Mexico is the same one they carried before." He also remarked, "These are the same individuals who now pose as the 'Cuban community in Mexico' to defend the image of two figures responsible for the exile and suffering of millions of Cubans simply for thinking differently."

Gallego finds it "very telling and reassuring that the regime's embassy struggles to find Cuban participants in Mexico for these orchestrations." Meanwhile, Radio Fórmula reported an incident where a man infiltrated the protest, shouting anti-regime slogans like "Homeland and Life" and "Freedom," before being forcibly removed by two of the protest's organizers.

Controversy Over Statue Removal

On July 17, the contentious statues of Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara, located in the Jardín Tabacalera of Cuauhtémoc, were finally taken down following a decision by Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega. This move came after identifying irregularities in the statues' installation and receiving numerous complaints from local residents.

Rojo de la Vega publicly defended her decision, sparking widespread debate on social media and news outlets. The action has stirred controversy, especially among vocal supporters of the Cuban Revolution in Mexico. However, Rojo de la Vega stood firm, citing respect for human rights and the community's wishes.

"Dictatorships and oppressive regimes, regardless of their political alignment, are detrimental," stated the mayor, responding to criticism from Senator Citlalli Hernández on her X account (formerly Twitter). "If you pursue a totalitarian agenda, just admit it." She emphasized, "Fidel and Che are not representative of the Cuban people."

In a subsequent post, Rojo de la Vega clarified that the removal of the statues was not due to personal bias but in adherence to legal procedures requested by the public. "It's not bureaucracy, it's the law... these are not my arguments, but the correct administrative processes," she asserted. "I believe in democracy and legal certainty," the mayor emphasized.

The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, joined the debate, suggesting the statues might be relocated elsewhere, considering them part of a "historical moment" shared between Cuba and Mexico. In response, former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castañeda criticized Claudia Sheinbaum's government's admiration for the Cuban dictatorship, in light of its reaction to the statues' removal.