A Cuban man boldly stood up to the president of his local Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), openly refusing to sign the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign initiated by the government on April 19.
He shared a video on social media capturing the growing discontent among the population. In the footage, he calmly yet firmly explained his reasons for rejecting the campaign, pointing out a pile of garbage next to a primary and secondary school to emphasize his point: "Look at that garbage heap, that's a primary school and this is a secondary school. What a lack of respect. This is how they treat us."
"I'm not signing for one simple reason: the Cuban government at this moment doesn't care about this beautiful people," he declared to the CDR president, who had approached him for his signature.
The man made it clear he wasn’t against peace—"I want peace, just like most Cubans"—but he rejected the campaign because the regime fails to fulfill its basic responsibilities to the people.
His final words were striking: "This is how they keep us, in this filth, which is why there are so many diseases. And they expect the people of this country to defend this revolution. It's no longer a revolution; they're all thieves."
The Controversial Campaign
The "My Signature for the Homeland" initiative was introduced by the Communist Party as a "spontaneous" civil society movement to support the Revolutionary Government's Declaration "Girón is Today and Always."
Miguel Díaz-Canel was the first to sign on April 20 at the Ciénaga de Zapata Memorial Museum in Matanzas, with an official goal of collecting millions of signatures by May 1.
Signature books were distributed in communities, workplaces, universities, and through CDRs, which the regime uses as a primary tool for community pressure.
Public Outcry and Criticism
Independent analysts and Cubans on social media reacted harshly to the campaign: "My signature is not for supporting dictatorships" and "When will there be signatures for free elections?" were some of the remarks circulating.
Others questioned the campaign's logic: "Does a signature bring electricity? Or water? Does it bring food? Does a signature end misery?"
The opposition was not just solitary. Residents of Block 4 in Cárdenas, Matanzas, collectively refused to sign despite pressures and threats from regime emissaries.
Broader Issues Highlighted
The deterioration of Cuban schools, highlighted in the video, is not an isolated incident. In February, authorities in San Miguel del Padrón ordered trash to be dumped in front of a Havana high school, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rodents, and diseases.
In March, the Victoria de Girón Mixed School in Nuevitas, Camagüey—opened in 1979 as the largest primary school in Latin America—was found in a state of complete neglect.
The campaign comes amid a severe economic crisis. On April 16, Díaz-Canel admitted that "there is an absolute lack of fuel for almost everything," while independent analysts estimate Cuba's GDP has contracted by 23% since 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Campaign and Its Impact
What is the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign?
The campaign is a government initiative introduced by the Communist Party, described as a "spontaneous" movement to support the Revolutionary Government's Declaration "Girón is Today and Always."
Why did the Cuban citizen refuse to sign the campaign?
The citizen refused to sign because he believes the Cuban government fails to care for the people and does not meet its basic responsibilities.
How have people reacted to the campaign?
Reactions have been largely negative, with many questioning the campaign's effectiveness and criticizing it as a tool for supporting the regime.
What does the campaign aim to achieve?
The official goal is to collect millions of signatures by May 1 to demonstrate support for the Revolutionary Government's Declaration.