Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba, recently sparked outrage with a Facebook post. He shared a video featuring children waving while music played in the background, accompanied by the provoking question: "Can anyone advocating for aggression against Cuba guarantee that children like these won't become 'collateral damage'?"
The post, tagged with hashtags such as #CDRCuba, #CubaNoSeRinde, and #LaPatriaSeDefiende, led to a flood of responses that fiercely turned the tables on Hernández's argument.
Many Cubans, both on the island and abroad, accused Hernández of hypocrisy, criticizing him for using images of children as political shields instead of highlighting the crisis they face every day.
Public Backlash Over Political Exploitation
"Using children as shields. They should be ashamed. This is where the double standards of the communists are exposed," commented one individual, echoing the predominant sentiment in the comments section.
Others pointed out that Cuban children are already "collateral damage" of the regime itself: "These children are already collateral damage, as we all have been for generations. Better ask how many of them have breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner like your children do," another user responded.
Highlighting the Plight of Cuban Children
The most frequent criticism focused on the harsh realities Cuban children endure: lacking milk after age seven, sleeping without electricity, facing medicine shortages in hospitals, and inadequate nutrition in schools and daycares.
"Gerardo, if this happens, it's your fault, because these children are starving and can't even sleep due to you, inept and corrupt," wrote another commenter.
Several users recalled the tragic sinking of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat on July 13, 1994, when Cuban state vessels pursued and sank a ship with 72 people trying to flee the island, killing at least 37, including children: "Were the children on the '13 de Marzo' tugboat also collateral damage?" one person asked.
Criticism of Regime's Priorities
Others questioned the regime's spending on weaponry while the nation's children lack basic necessities: "How much did the 300 drones bought from Iran cost while people starved and lacked medicine?"
This is not the first time Hernández has provoked such a reaction. In March, he shared a video of children from La Colmenita singing Silvio Rodríguez's "Me acosa el carapálida" during a blackout, which was also criticized as political manipulation of minors.
In April, the regime filled a park with children to prevent a university student meeting in Havana, and in May, schools in Santiago de Cuba instructed children to make bracelets with their personal information "in case bombs were dropped."
Commenters also noted that posting images of minors on social media without parental consent is a crime, regardless of the political message intended.
"There will only be innocent deaths if you shoot them yourselves or, worse yet, use them as human shields," summarized another user, reflecting the dominant stance in the comments.
Cuban Political Climate and Social Media Reactions
Why did Gerardo Hernández's Facebook post cause outrage?
Hernández's post was criticized for using children in political messaging, sparking accusations of hypocrisy and manipulation from Cubans who highlighted the hardships faced by children under the regime.
What are some of the issues faced by Cuban children mentioned in the criticism?
Critics pointed out issues such as lack of milk for children over seven, inadequate nutrition in schools, and shortages of medicine and electricity as part of the hardships faced by Cuban children.
What historical event was referenced in the backlash?
The sinking of the "13 de Marzo" tugboat in 1994, where many, including children, died while trying to flee Cuba, was referenced by critics questioning the regime's regard for children's safety.