Cuban actor Luis Alberto García has issued a powerful denunciation of the physical attacks suffered by filmmaker Ernesto Fundora and other attendees during the premiere of a documentary about Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara in Mexico. García likened the incident to the repudiation rallies often orchestrated by the Cuban regime.
"Physically attacking someone who disagrees with you is a barbaric act that sets dangerous precedents because it grants today's victim the right to become tomorrow's aggressor," García expressed on his Facebook profile, sharing videos in which Fundora described the assault.
The actor firmly stated his unequivocal opposition to violence, regardless of the source: "Although I detest repudiation rallies, irrespective of their origin, I have come to understand that they're used to defend ideas. My conviction remains unchanged: I counter opposing ideas with my own."
García detailed what he stands against: "No stones, no handing out blows. No batons. Zero slaps, hair-pulling, spitting, broken bones, bruises, egg-throwing, blood."
His statement concluded with an ironically charged remark: "What I just witnessed should be named 'Alice in Aztec Land.' The only thing missing were rebar rods wrapped in newspapers," directly referencing the weaponry emblematic of the Cuban regime's repudiation rallies against dissenters.
The events that prompted García's reaction took place last Wednesday when around 15 members of the Communist Party of Mexico disrupted the screening at the Coyoacán University Cultural Center in Mexico City. During the documentary presentation of "Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara: We Are Connected," they brandished flags, sticks, and loudspeakers, spewing insults like "worms," "scum," "counter-revolutionaries," and "CIA agents," while praising Fidel and Raúl Castro.
Fundora sustained injuries, including an inflamed elbow and wrist due to multiple blows, while two other Cubans present were also attacked, one suffering a neck injury after being slammed against a column.
"We were physically assaulted by a group of activists, members of the Mexican Communist Party, during the Mexico premiere of the Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara documentary," Fundora lamented in a live Facebook broadcast, showcasing his injuries.
The filmmaker described the attack as "the modus operandi of the dictatorship, these Stalinist-style, fascist-style shock brigades," and pointed out that the Mexican Communist Party claimed responsibility for the attack on their social media.
Emergency services were called three times, yet police took nearly three hours to arrive at the scene.
The attack coincided with the online release of the documentary by CiberCuba, which significantly broadened its reach.
Otero Alcántara, an artist and co-founder of the San Isidro Movement, is serving a five-year sentence at the maximum-security prison in Guanajay following his arrest on July 11, 2021. The People's Supreme Court confirmed in April 2026 that his sentence ends on July 9, 2026.
Despite the violence, Fundora announced plans to continue with future screenings: "We will keep hosting events and showcasing this documentary about the modern hero named Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara," and he confirmed an upcoming screening at the Aguan University Museum on June 18.
Insights on the Documentary Incident in Mexico
What prompted Luis Alberto García's condemnation?
García condemned the physical attacks against filmmaker Ernesto Fundora and others during a documentary premiere in Mexico, comparing the incident to Cuban regime repudiation rallies.
Who were the attackers during the documentary premiere?
The attackers were approximately 15 members of the Communist Party of Mexico, who disrupted the event with flags, sticks, and loudspeakers, while shouting insults and praise for Fidel and Raúl Castro.
What injuries did Ernesto Fundora sustain?
Fundora suffered from an inflamed elbow and wrist due to blows from the attackers, while another individual present sustained a neck injury.
How did the authorities respond to the incident?
Emergency services were contacted three times, but the police took almost three hours to arrive at the scene of the attack.