On Saturday, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, the national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), posted a group photo of the national directorate's workers to commemorate July 26th. The reaction from Cubans on social media was a flood of ridicule and criticism, starkly contrasting the official celebrations with the country's dire situation.
Hernández shared the picture on his X and Facebook accounts, accompanied by the message "Our Moncada is the Homeland!" along with the hashtags #CDRCuba, #26deJulio, and #MiMoncadaEsLaPatria.
The image depicted a group of 15 to 20 individuals holding Cuban flags, a red and black banner reading "26 Julio," a sign proclaiming "Fidel is Cuba," and the CDR logo.
The post quickly became a target for public outrage. One comment succinctly captured the sentiment of many: "Blackouts on every block, repression in every neighborhood. Alone, sad, and abandoned, the imitators of the brownshirts in their final days," a user emphasized.
Public Backlash and Criticism
Additional comments criticized the composition of the photographed group. "Cattle herd, your roster of paid informants is weak. I see few sheep to like your posts," one person commented.
Another noted the material hardships faced by the participants themselves: "Half of them have nothing to eat today at home, thanks to the Revolution."
On Facebook, the reactions were equally harsh. One user described the CDR as "the largest non-productive industry on the Island enjoying the favors of the 'robolution.'"
Another directly challenged the official: "Show the real conditions and protests in Cuba, don't present a false reality to the world."
A third comment summarized the opposition with a powerful statement: "The CDR and the July 26th celebration symbolize decades of political control, indoctrination, and repression against the Cuban people. There is nothing to celebrate when freedom is persecuted, dissent is punished, and an entire nation is forced to live in fear and scarcity."
Crisis Context Highlights Irony
The timing of this post makes the celebration all the more ironic. Cuba is experiencing one of its worst electrical crises, with total collapses of the National Electric System, significant generation deficits, and continuous blackouts lasting 20 to 40 hours in several provinces.
The main national event for July 26th took place in Pinar del Río, one of the provinces hardest hit by blackouts, experiencing outages sometimes exceeding 30 consecutive hours. The choice of this location alone sparked a wave of mockery on social media.
This isn't the first time Hernández's posts have triggered widespread backlash. In May, Cubans expressed outrage after he shared a meme questioning what regime opponents would live on if they "overthrow the regime."
Just days ago, he mocked an exile protest in Miami commemorating the July 11, 2021, demonstrations, with similar results.
Common Questions About the July 26th Celebrations and Public Reaction
What prompted the backlash against Gerardo Hernández's post?
Hernández's post celebrating July 26th was met with ridicule because it starkly contrasted with the harsh realities and crises faced by the Cuban people, including massive blackouts and repression.
Why was Pinar del Río chosen for the July 26th event?
Pinar del Río was chosen despite facing severe blackouts, which made the decision ironic and fueled further criticism and mockery on social media.