Johanna Jolá, a Cuban activist often criticized for her "soft" stance towards the government, recently took to Facebook to express her harsh disapproval of Cubans both on the island and in exile who enthusiastically support the Trump administration's new policies against Cuba. Some of these individuals even openly call for military intervention on the island.
Jolá wrote, "It's heartbreaking to hear that from across the shores, it's our fellow Cubans, born on this island, who are calling for military intervention, who are cheering on the new measures of Donald Trump's administration against their own people."
The activist, known for spearheading several initiatives to support vulnerable individuals ignored by the regime, detailed how some Cubans abroad shout "let them suffer" and "communists" at those who remain in Cuba. She reminded them that violence doesn't discriminate: "They forget that bombs don't have names, that if they don't have family here, they might have a friend or acquaintance who could perish in the conflict."
Jolá, who is also recognized for her humanitarian efforts through the "Huellas" project, distributing donations to vulnerable families in eastern Cuba, emphasized her political stance against any foreign military actions—a position aligning with the regime and its spokespeople.
"My desire to see the freedom of political prisoners, to wish for an electoral plebiscite that allows me to directly choose municipal, provincial, and national leaders, in no way makes me justify military intervention by any foreign country in my homeland," she declared.
Her statement was made in the wake of Trump's May 1 executive order blocking assets linked to the Cuban regime in the United States and imposing secondary sanctions on foreign banks and companies dealing with sanctioned Cuban entities.
This measure adds to more than 240 sanctions accumulated since January 2025, including the interception of at least seven oil tankers destined for Cuba and the island's reinstatement on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism. These actions have reduced energy imports by 80-90%, causing power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily.
Jolá pointed out that these measures directly impact the civilian population: "Knowing that these measures will continue to exacerbate the hell we live in makes me think more each day about the most humble, the most vulnerable, and my own family who directly suffer from the weight of all these measures, because we are the people and an inseparable part of the suffering Cuban people."
The discussion around potential military intervention has intensified recently. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart did not rule out U.S. military action against Cuba in April, and a Miami Herald poll revealed that 79% of Cuban Americans in South Florida support this option.
In January 2026, Jolá had already publicly opposed this stance, stating that the solution for Cuba lies not in foreign intervention but in "an internal change with free elections and freedom of expression."
Jolá concluded her post with a question that encapsulates her viewpoint: "How is it possible that in the name of 'Freedom' and 'Democracy,' millions of human beings are suffocated and condemned to live in extreme survival?"
"Oh, Cuba, how you pain and tear at your children's hearts," Jolá concluded.
Understanding the Impact of U.S. Policies on Cuba
What are the new measures imposed by the Trump administration against Cuba?
The Trump administration's new measures include blocking assets linked to the Cuban regime in the U.S. and imposing secondary sanctions on foreign banks and companies dealing with sanctioned Cuban entities.
How have these measures affected the Cuban population?
The measures have significantly reduced energy imports by 80-90%, resulting in power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily, directly impacting the civilian population.
What is Johanna Jolá's stance on foreign military intervention in Cuba?
Johanna Jolá opposes foreign military intervention, advocating instead for internal change through free elections and freedom of expression.