Gerardo Hernández's "Anti-Imperialist Neighborhood Debate" Sparks Outrage Among Cubans

The Cuban regime continues to push its official narrative, orchestrating propaganda events that attempt to project a facade of popular support, even as the nation crumbles under blackouts, shortages, and widespread crisis. In this setting, former spy Gerardo Hernández Nordelo posted photos on Facebook of an "anti-imperialist neighborhood debate" in Holguín, which quickly ignited both outrage and ridicule on social media.

"We're in the Pedro Díaz Coello neighborhood of Holguín, engaging in an anti-imperialist neighborhood debate," Hernández noted on Wednesday night, along with images showing him interacting with a group of participants. Despite his triumphal tone, online commentators swiftly exposed the facade, criticizing the hollow nature of his posts.

Noel García remarked, “Tell me what you brag about, and I'll know what you lack! Every day, you are more despised by the people. Even those who steal the most (the leaders) can't endure the unsustainable situation they've created.”

Yamel Amador Concepción pointed out, “And there's electricity there, while half of Cuba is in darkness or lighting with phones,” emphasizing how electricity seems to magically appear during propaganda events.

Andrés Jesús Sánchez Pérez questioned the privileges enjoyed by Cuba's former spies with a comment: “Buddy, what means of transport do you use? National Buses, Cuban Railways, VíaAzul, Transtur or Transgaviota? You're in Cerro one day and in Holguín the next,” suggesting that while Hernández travels effortlessly, the average Cuban struggles to move between provinces.

Meanwhile, Abel Montes noted, “Look how they waste time, and there are brainless people who enjoy participating in such nonsense,” highlighting how the regime has ramped up its propaganda activities in recent months, which do nothing to address the people's urgent needs and merely squander the country's scarce resources.

In recent months, the Cuban government has launched several propaganda events to bolster its political narrative. Among them are the so-called "neighborhood debates," portrayed as forums for popular discussion, yet heavily skewed towards the official stance. These events have taken on a more aggressive tone, blaming the Trump administration for the island's economic woes. The government's strategy has been to distract from internal problems by pointing to external factors as the root of the country's deteriorating conditions.

In a subsequent event, the regime leveraged the Anti-Imperialist Platform to demand the return of the Guantánamo Naval Base to Cuba, reflecting its confrontational narrative against the United States. Such a strategy is a recurring theme in the official discourse, particularly during periods of economic and social tension within the country.

More recently, the government organized an “anti-imperialist bike ride,” an event symbolically promoting resistance to the alleged economic blockade. However, many citizens have criticized these acts, arguing that the government should focus on solving domestic issues rather than perpetuating a political confrontation with no real solutions.