On Saturday, Cuban actor Armando Tomey took to Facebook to post a reel urging those on the island to engage in everyday forms of peaceful resistance. Drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, he cautioned that Cubans cannot rely on external figures—particularly Donald Trump—to address their plight.
"Cuban brothers, remember Gandhi, who used peaceful resistance to free India. Well, banging on pots is peaceful resistance, burning trash is peaceful resistance, and it prevents a resurgence of the bubonic plague in a country as beleaguered as Cuba," Tomey declared in the video, which has garnered over 53,000 views, 3,034 likes, and 542 comments.
Actions of Defiance
Tomey elaborates on an array of actions that fit the concept of peaceful resistance: showing up to work without actually working, pilfering from the state, and shouting "Viva Cuba Libre!" in the streets.
The reel's most pointed message criticizes the international community's inaction. "We can't keep waiting for others; we can't keep waiting for Donald Trump to make up his mind. He promised something he hasn't delivered, filling the Cuban people with hope," Tomey asserts.
Unfulfilled Promises
Throughout 2026, Trump frequently pledged to take decisive action on Cuba—promising to "transform the island" in March, herald a "new dawn" in April, and address the issue in June after resolving the crisis with Iran—but has yet to implement any formal measures.
Tomey also dismissed multinational organizations as viable solutions: "The Cuban people need to act for themselves. They have to fight hard to inspire others because the UN is worthless and will support the government, not the people. The OAS is worthless, and politicians' rhetoric is worthless."
A Call to Action
The video concludes with a sarcastic jab at Miguel Díaz-Canel: "People of Cuba, every morning when you greet someone, say: 'Viva Cuba Libre!' And under your breath, say: 'Patria y vida!' and push, as if you're cursing Díaz-Canel's mother."
Tomey's appeal comes amid significant social unrest in Cuba. The Cuban Conflict Observatory documented 107 street protests in June—a historic record—with 82 in Havana alone. In May, there were 1,311, and April saw 1,133. The documented actions include nighttime pot-banging, trash burning, and barricades: precisely the methods Tomey mentions in his video.
This statement is the most actionable of a recent series of public declarations by the actor in July. Last Friday, he coined the term "irreversible neurocastrism" to describe the chronic pain of Cubans in exile, and on July 25th, he dismantled Díaz-Canel's "Cuban utopia" with everyday analogies, calling him a "puppet, clown, and abuser."
Born in Camagüey and a 1981 graduate of the Instituto Superior de Arte, Tomey emigrated to the United States in 2013 due to economic hardships and lack of creative freedom. He now resides in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he maintains an active social media presence with outspoken criticism of the Cuban regime.
"The Cuban utopia is more than a Machiavellian joke; it's a murderous cancer that has destroyed a nation by subjecting it to hunger, repression, and hopelessness," the actor wrote on July 25th, marking a sustained line of denunciation now evolving into a concrete call to action.
Key Questions About Armando Tomey's Call for Resistance
What forms of peaceful resistance does Armando Tomey suggest?
Tomey suggests actions such as banging on pots, burning trash, and going to work without working as forms of peaceful resistance.
Why does Tomey criticize Donald Trump and international organizations?
Tomey criticizes Trump for not fulfilling promises made to the Cuban people and dismisses international organizations like the UN and OAS for supporting the government rather than the Cuban people.
How has social unrest in Cuba changed recently?
Social unrest in Cuba has escalated with a record number of street protests documented by the Cuban Conflict Observatory, including nighttime pot-banging and trash burning.