The Cuban regime has organized open rallies across the nation starting Saturday, May 23, leading up to June 3, to mark Raúl Castro Ruz's 95th birthday. This move comes as a reaction to the criminal charges filed by the United States Department of Justice against the former leader for the 1996 downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
The announcement, made by the state-run Canal Caribe, declared that these gatherings are intended to "condemn the despicable and infamous actions of the U.S. Department of Justice against the leader of the Cuban Revolution and to support the Revolutionary Government's Declaration."
This call to assemble comes amid one of Cuba's most severe internal crises, characterized by power outages lasting over 20 hours daily, a record-breaking electrical deficit exceeding 2,000 MW in mid-May, and widespread shortages of food and fuel.
The stark contrast between the orchestrated political mobilization and the actual hardships faced by the Cuban populace is apparent. While the regime urges citizens to fill the squares in defense of Raúl Castro, millions are grappling with nearly all-day power cuts.
The charges prompting this official response were unveiled on May 20 by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche at Miami's Freedom Tower and had been approved by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 23.
The indictment against the 94-year-old Castro includes conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft charges, and four counts of homicide for the deaths of Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales—members of Brothers to the Rescue shot down on February 24, 1996, over international waters in the Florida Straits.
If convicted, Castro could face the death penalty or life imprisonment. However, analysts believe the case is largely symbolic, as the former dictator has never set foot on U.S. soil and there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States.
The regime's reaction was swift and coordinated. Díaz-Canel amplified the rhetoric, while the Council of State and the National Assembly issued statements denouncing the charges as "infamous, immoral, and illegitimate." The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution and the National Association of Small Farmers joined the official chorus.
The "open rallies" are a classic mechanism of political mobilization used by the regime to project popular unity in the face of external pressures. This time, the gatherings span twelve consecutive days, culminating on Raúl Castro's birthday, adding a celebratory element to the official protest.
Concluding their announcement, Canal Caribe encapsulated the regime's stance: "Cuba will fill its squares to reaffirm that neither threats, blockades, energy sieges, nor false accusations will be able to break the will of the entire nation in defense of its Revolution."
Key Questions About Cuba's Political Mobilization
Why is the Cuban regime organizing rallies for Raúl Castro's birthday?
The rallies are a response to the criminal charges brought by the U.S. against Raúl Castro, aiming to show popular support for him and condemn the actions of the U.S. Department of Justice.
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of aircraft, and homicide for the deaths of members of Brothers to the Rescue in 1996.
What is the current situation in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing severe power outages, a significant electrical deficit, and widespread shortages of food and fuel, exacerbating the country's internal crisis.