On Friday, Miguel Díaz-Canel took to social media to express his pride in the so-called "Anti-Imperialist Youth Parade 'Here, with Fidel'," which took place the previous day in Havana. During this event, students and young people, organized by state structures, paraded through the streets on bicycles, skates, and electric vehicles, brandishing political slogans.
In a post on X, Díaz-Canel reminisced about his past as a youth leader, stating, "Yesterday, I returned to my years as a youth leader." He recalled his time with the Union of Young Communists (UJC), where he held leadership roles from 1989 to 1993 in Villa Clara and on a national level.
The event, orchestrated by the UJC and the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM), began at the Havana Malecón and proceeded along G Street to La Punta in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality. The official newspaper Juventud Rebelde broadcasted the event live.
Díaz-Canel described the parade as a showcase of Cuban youth's commitment to the nation's path, asserting that participants "denounced the criminal nature of the blockade" and "expressed their love for life."
Meyvis Estévez Echevarría, the first secretary of the UJC, delivered the main speech with the rallying cry: "We know we are the owners of a country we build and defend every day."
However, this event was far from spontaneous. It is part of an ongoing political mobilization campaign leading up to the commemoration of Fidel Castro's 100th birthday on August 13, as well as the 64th anniversary of the UJC and the 65th anniversary of the OPJM, both celebrated on Saturday, April 4.
In the days leading up to the parade, on March 31, children in Havana schools staged anti-imperialist tribunals against the United States in the presence of judicial officials. On the same Thursday, preschool children shouted slogans featuring Fidel, "socialism," and "militias" under the guidance of their teachers.
The disparity between the official narrative and the country's reality is stark: according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, Cuba's GDP is projected to shrink by 7.2% in 2026, marking a cumulative decline of 23% since 2019. Meanwhile, power outages last up to 20-25 hours daily in many regions.
The energy crisis worsened in January 2026 following Venezuela's cessation of oil supplies after Nicolás Maduro's capture. On March 16, the sixth nationwide blackout occurred in a span of a year and a half.
While Díaz-Canel portrays Cuban youth as fervent revolution supporters, more than one million Cubans have left the island since 2021, predominantly young people aged between twenty and forty—the very demographic the regime wishes to showcase as the backbone of the system.
In 2024, over 250,000 Cubans emigrated, according to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information, contradicting the image of a youth engaged with the political project nostalgically evoked by the leader from his UJC days.
Questions About Cuba's Political and Economic Situation
Why is Cuba facing such a severe energy crisis?
Cuba's energy crisis has been exacerbated by the cessation of oil supplies from Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro's arrest, leading to increased power outages across the island.
What is the significance of the Anti-Imperialist Youth Parade?
The parade is part of a larger campaign to commemorate Fidel Castro's 100th birth anniversary and the anniversaries of the UJC and OPJM. It is aimed at showcasing the regime's influence over Cuban youth.