On Friday, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), shared a photo on X depicting Cubans dancing in the streets during the gathering before the May Day parade. The image was accompanied by the message: "This is the people that some in #USA want to suffocate and bomb!"
The photo, captured early Friday morning at the intersection of Carlos III, Ayestarán, and Infanta avenues in Havana, shows a crowd dancing to music and was used by Hernández as a piece of propaganda to defend the regime.
In a segment of the video, the former spy and member of the group known as the Cuban Five, mockingly says, "Forced, forced," referring to claims that these gatherings organized by the Communist Party involve threats, sanctions, and even expulsions from workplaces for those who don't participate.
The tweet comes in the context of the May Day 2026 march, which the regime moved from the historic Plaza de la Revolución to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, facing the U.S. Embassy on Havana's Malecón, citing "austerity" and the "cruel energy blockade."
Attendance at the event was significantly lower compared to previous years, according to observers and critics.
Irony and Reality: A Stark Contrast
Commentator Magdiel Jorge Castro sarcastically summed up the situation: "They went from filling plazas with endless parades and speeches to timid early morning marches to avoid burning in the sun."
The image of dancing Cubans used by Hernández stands in stark contrast to the reality of the event, with videos from the UJC showing marchers' expressionless faces, leading to widespread ridicule on social media and comments like, "You can see the joy in their faces, they look like zombies."
Another user pointed out, "Those faces show a parade out of inertia, out of obligation, but we all know what the word 'commitment' means in Cuba."
Leadership and Luxury Amidst Scarcity
An interesting note was added to the scene of forced participation. The leader Miguel Díaz-Canel participated wearing Adidas Retropy F2 sneakers valued at over a thousand dollars, while Cubans survive on salaries of around 15 dollars a month.
Journalist Mario J. Pentón highlighted on Facebook that "just the cost of Díaz-Canel and (Foreign Minister) Bruno Rodríguez's sneakers could support a Cuban family for six months."
In the lead-up to the event, independent journalist Ángel Cuza was arrested in front of his daughter by State Security agents, and children were removed from schools in San Miguel del Padrón and Santiago de Cuba to participate in pre-May Day marches.
This isn't the first time Hernández has resorted to such publications. In April 2022, the former spy posted a tweet featuring a "CDR conga" that sparked massive criticism, with responses like, "You are dancing while the people are escaping... that's how it goes for us."
The national act on this date was led by Díaz-Canel alongside Lis Cuesta, Bruno Rodríguez, and Raúl Castro, who presided over the political event under the slogan "The Fatherland is Defended," dedicated to the centenary of dictator Fidel Castro's birth (1926-2016).
Understanding Cuba's May Day March
Why was the May Day parade moved from its traditional location?
The parade was relocated from the Plaza de la Revolución to the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune due to stated reasons of "austerity" and the "cruel energy blockade."
How did the public react to the May Day celebrations?
There was widespread ridicule and criticism on social media, with many pointing out the expressionless faces of participants and the irony of the event.
What was notable about Miguel Díaz-Canel's participation in the parade?
Miguel Díaz-Canel's participation was highlighted by his wearing of expensive Adidas sneakers, which drew criticism given the economic struggles of average Cubans.