Former Inmates in Santiago de Cuba Coerced to March on May Day Under Threat of Imprisonment

In Santiago de Cuba, numerous recently released inmates were coerced into participating in the May Day parade of 2026, facing threats of losing legal privileges or being sent back to prison, according to reports documented by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada.

The directives reportedly came from the Provincial Directorate of Justice in Santiago de Cuba, associated with the local Ministry of Justice. Witnesses revealed that these former prisoners were summoned, pressured, and warned that their nonattendance could be deemed a "disciplinary infraction."

Mayeta Labrada summarized the situation succinctly: "They didn't march out of conviction. They marched out of fear."

The individuals in question, as reported by the journalist, chose to "walk under the scorching sun, carry meaningless slogans, and feign support rather than risk their freedom once more," because when the threat is to return to a cell, the choice is no longer a choice.

Pressured Participation in Political Campaigns

Many of these former inmates also reported being coerced into joining the "My Signature for the Homeland" campaign, initiated on April 19 by the Communist Party of Cuba. The signature collection took place in locations tied to police stations and other state institutions, highlighting the coercive nature of the initiative.

Although the regime portrayed this campaign as a spontaneous civil society movement, it reportedly amassed over 6,230,973 signatures, according to official figures announced last Friday. Allegations of coercion were widespread: threats of job dismissal, pressure in schools, and exploitation of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution were rampant.

A Broader Pattern of Coercion

This incident is part of a larger pattern. Since March, the regime has released dozens of prisoners — primarily from the July 11th protests of 2021 — under extremely restrictive conditions of parole. These include bans on social media activity, enforced routines between home and state-assigned work, and the constant threat of re-incarceration.

Justicia 11J confirmed the release of at least 20 political prisoners from the July 11th protests since March 12, with 18 names publicly verified. None were included in the mass pardon of 2,010 prisoners announced on April 2, which also excluded political prisoners.

Widespread Forced Mobilization

The coercion to join this year’s parades wasn't limited to former prisoners. There were also reports of children being taken from schools to participate in marches in Santiago de Cuba and other provinces.

The 2026 May Day parade was held under the slogan "The Homeland is Defended" and carried a distinctly militaristic tone. The central event in Havana was presided over by 94-year-old Raúl Castro alongside Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Mayeta Labrada encapsulated the core issue: "The gravest aspect isn’t forcing participation in parades. The gravest aspect is transforming parole into an invisible chain. Using fear as a political tool is not patriotism. It’s control."