This past Saturday, members of the Cuban exile community gathered outside Cubamax Travel's office in Hialeah, Florida, marking the fifth anniversary of the significant July 11, 2021, protests in Cuba. The demonstration was aimed against the company, perceived as having ties with the Cuban regime.
The protest, organized by activist Ariel Góngora and the group Exilio Unido Ya, was broadcast live on Facebook from early morning. Participants of all ages attended, including seniors and a 14-year-old who, according to Góngora, has been part of these protests for four years.
Protesters displayed signs reading “#SOS Political Prisoners” and “Cuba Demands Freedom,” while some banners directly accused Giraldo Acosta, Cubamax's vice president, of being a “collaborator with the dictatorship.”
Góngora did not mince words about the company, stating, “The owners of Cubamax, Carlos Trujillo and Giraldo Acosta, are figureheads for the Castro dictatorship,” in a Facebook post during the rally.
In his live broadcast, he added, “These are the main accomplices of the dictatorship. They keep the oppressors in power, living like royalty.”
Iliana Curra Lussón, another activist present at the event, described the gathering as “peaceful but energetic.” She stated, “We are here, as always, confronting communism, confronting the Castro supporters, and confronting the allies and accomplices of terrorism in Cuba.”
Protest Tactics and Responses
During the rally, Cubamax played loud reggaeton music, which protesters interpreted as a deliberate attempt to drown out their chants. “They have no shame, playing reggaeton on a day like today when we are here,” Góngora remarked.
The Hialeah Police maintained a presence at the protest, which proceeded without incident.
Accusations against Cubamax are not new. According to Diario de Cuba, the Cuban Central Bank authorized Cubamax Travel Inc. to manage remittances under Cuban regulatory oversight. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the regime granted them special flight permissions when airports were closed.
Political and Social Context
In June 2024, the municipality of Hialeah passed a resolution to deny benefits to businesses linked to the regime, partly spurred by Cubamax's request to expand their locations. The company denies these allegations, claiming to be a private entity that “bridges the gap” with the Cuban community.
The fifth anniversary of July 11 arrives amid intense repression on the island, with Cuba reporting between 1,281 and 1,306 political prisoners, a record high that includes 40 minors and 458 people with severe illnesses.
The April 2026 pardon, which released over 2,000 prisoners, specifically excluded those convicted of “crimes against authority,” a category used to criminalize July 11 protesters.
Góngora reported that several dissidents in Cuba were besieged in their homes and threatened the night before the anniversary.
Parallel to the Cubamax protest, Marco Rubio demanded the immediate release of Cuban political prisoners, warning that the United States would use “all available tools.” Meanwhile, a similar event took place at the Domino Park on Calle Ocho in Miami, with additional gatherings reported in Tampa and Madrid.
“The important thing is that the people of Cuba and the political prisoners feel protected today, with this reminder, with our presence in the streets, that we are with them,” Góngora concluded from outside Cubamax.
Understanding the Cuban Exile Protests
What sparked the protests against Cubamax in Miami?
The protests were held to mark the fifth anniversary of the July 11 protests in Cuba and to oppose Cubamax Travel, accused of collaborating with the Cuban regime.
Who organized the Miami protest against Cubamax?
The protest was organized by activist Ariel Góngora and the group Exilio Unido Ya.
How did Cubamax respond to the protest?
Cubamax played loud reggaeton music, which the protesters saw as an attempt to silence their voices.