Abel Prieto, president of the Casa de las Américas and a prominent intellectual supporter of the Cuban regime, ignited a storm of criticism this Saturday by claiming that on July 11, 2021, "the Cuban people and the Revolutionary Leadership together defeated a plan concocted and funded by the Empire and the Miami mafia." His statement came on the fifth anniversary of the largest protests in Cuba in over sixty years.
Using his Facebook profile, Prieto dismissed the July 11 protests as a "sham uprising demanding freedom," orchestrated by "people paid from the North, along with confused and irresponsible individuals and unscrupulous looters."
He also celebrated the regime's response, declaring, "That day we triumphed!!! And we will continue to triumph!!!"
The post included images that commenters pointed out were not from July 11, 2021, but from other official gatherings. "Stop lying. None of those photos are from July 11, 2021. And your president Díaz-Canel was too cowardly to stand before the Havana protesters. He sent armed elite Minint troops against an unarmed populace asking for freedom. Nobody paid me a cent to ask for freedom," one user directly responded to the post.
Other comments echoed similar sentiments. "Oh, please, sir. A poor and humble people took to the streets fed up with neglect to demand freedom, and they were supposedly paid by the empire. Oh, be serious," another individual wrote.
A third user recalled Díaz-Canel's infamous words that day: "The order to fight is given." They noted it would likely feature in any future trial for State Terrorism against him.
A reflection circulating online summarized the island's reality: "Cuba is a country where 'there is freedom of expression' but 'there is no guarantee of freedom after expression.'"
One user succinctly noted what the regime chooses to overlook: "That day, our People showed the world their yearning for FREEDOM despite being unarmed, facing the most cruel, long-standing, and repressive dictatorship on our continent."
Prieto was not alone in promoting this narrative. Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of the Communist Party of Cuba's Political Bureau, posted on X that July 11 was "a popular victory," triggering a wave of similar critical responses.
The official version sharply contrasts with documented events. The July 11 protests began in San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa province, and spread to over 40 cities, driven by shortages, blackouts, and a lack of freedoms.
The regime cut internet access, deployed Minint forces, and left at least one confirmed dead, Diubis Laurencio Tejeda, shot in La Güinera on July 12, 2021. Over 1,400 people were detained, with sentences reaching up to 30 years in prison.
Five years on, 338 individuals remain imprisoned directly for their involvement in July 11, according to the organization Justicia 11J, which launched the campaign #FiveYearsWithoutJustice this Saturday.
The regime's April pardon, which freed over 2,000 inmates, specifically excluded those convicted of "crimes against authority," the charge used to criminalize protestors.
Alina Bárbara López, a historian and professor under house arrest in Matanzas, labeled the regime a "terrorist state against its own people" this Saturday, reminding that "repression has only intensified in response to the constant protests of an exploited and abandoned citizenry."
According to Prisoners Defenders, Cuba reached a historic record of 1,306 political prisoners by the end of June, including 40 minors, with 16 detained in adult prisons.
Understanding the July 11 Protests in Cuba
What sparked the July 11 protests in Cuba?
The July 11 protests were triggered by widespread shortages, blackouts, and a lack of freedoms, leading to demonstrations across more than 40 cities in Cuba.
What was the Cuban regime's response to the protests?
The regime responded by cutting internet access, deploying Minint forces, and detaining over 1,400 people. They also used force, resulting in at least one confirmed death.
How many people remain imprisoned due to their involvement in the protests?
As of now, 338 individuals remain imprisoned for their participation in the July 11 protests, according to Justicia 11J.