The opening day of the school year in Cuba was marked by scenes that opposition figure José Daniel Ferrer García condemned as institutional intimidation. Members of the Special Forces conducted hand-to-hand combat demonstrations in front of children and parents at a primary school in Havana.
A video shared by Ferrer on Facebook reveals that this event took place at the "Amistad Cuba-México" primary school, located in the El Fanguito community within the Plaza de la Revolución municipality of Havana.
While the official explanation was that this military unit "sponsors" the school, Ferrer, leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), rejected this narrative. "They went there to intimidate, to instill fear, to tell those children who protest in the streets of Havana, many with their mothers, what's in store for them," he stated.
The demonstration involved martial arts and hand-to-hand combat performed by the forces in front of the young students.
Ferrer interpreted the underlying message as a direct warning to those protesting against the persistent blackouts. "This is how we'll strike you if you continue to demonstrate against the blackouts, hunger, and misery," he explained.
The Special Forces of the Ministry of the Interior are a specialized unit designed to suppress citizen protests or uprisings.
El Fanguito, a marginalized neighborhood where many impoverished families reside, has been a hotbed of anti-regime protests in recent months. On July 29, residents blocked 23rd Street after enduring over 48 hours without electricity, water, or gas, leading to at least two mothers being detained by State Security the following day.
In late August, around 50 residents, mostly women, protested again despite a heavy police presence in the area.
While this unfolded in Havana, a teacher in Santiago de Cuba greeted her students with a politically charged speech, also reported by Ferrer. During the welcome ceremony at the "Santiago Callejas" primary school in the Altamira neighborhood, a teacher addressed children from preschool to sixth grade with a message of political resistance: "We will endure and recover. If they wage war with ideas, we will triumph with ideas."
Ferrer criticized the speech as "sick ideological indoctrination" and highlighted the dissonance between this message and the harsh realities faced by Cuban children. "This is how the new school year begins across the Island, with hunger and a lack of resources, without proper transportation, functioning classrooms, enough teachers, snacks, and with severe limitations in textbooks and school supplies," he said.
The opposition leader added that a school uniform in Santiago de Cuba's private sector costs 3,000 Cuban pesos, a price most parents cannot afford.
Ferrer summed up the first day of classes: "Only a desperate, sadistic, criminal tyranny would act this way."
Political indoctrination in Cuban classrooms is not new; in April, there were reports of preschoolers in Havana being forced to chant slogans like "Fidel," "socialism," and "militia."
The regime has declared 2026 as the "Year of Preparation for Defense," incorporating military exercises in educational institutions, including AK rifle shooting and mine assembly during the Student Bastion in March.
All of this is occurring as Cuba faces an unprecedented educational crisis. Minister Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto admitted that schools would open under "very difficult" conditions, with a teacher shortage exceeding 24,000, representing 12.5% of the positions, and only 20% of students having new uniforms. Meanwhile, 70% of the country experiences blackouts during peak hours.
Understanding the Impact of Special Forces Demonstrations in Cuban Schools
Why did the Special Forces conduct demonstrations in a Cuban school?
The official justification was that the Special Forces were sponsoring the school, but critics argue it was an act of intimidation towards children and their parents who protest against the regime.
What message did José Daniel Ferrer interpret from the Special Forces' actions?
Ferrer viewed the demonstration as a warning to those protesting against blackouts and the deteriorating living conditions in Cuba, suggesting that similar force could be used against them.
How are Cuban classrooms being used for political indoctrination?
Reports indicate that children are being subjected to politically charged speeches and activities, such as chanting pro-regime slogans, as part of the broader educational curriculum.