Cuban philosopher and activist Alina Bárbara López Hernández recently shared her thoughts on social media, marking four years of civic activism. She emphasized civil disobedience as the sole viable response to the oppressive regime, urging Cuban citizens to actively participate in politics rather than remain passive.
Her reflection commemorates a significant turning point: on October 25, 2022, a Counterintelligence team traveled from Havana to Matanzas intending to "interview" her. They failed when López refused to comply, filed a complaint with the Matanzas Provincial Prosecutor's Office, and had the summons suspended after a prosecutor acknowledged the paperwork lacked essential legal formalities.
"That day, I realized that merely writing and analyzing my country's reality wasn't enough. I needed to engage in the fight for my rights as a citizen and academic," López Hernández wrote. "If I've contributed to the struggle for common rights, it brings me satisfaction."
Holding a PhD in Philosophical Sciences and being a corresponding member of the Cuban Academy of History, López reflects on the paradox of her journey: "I have never faced such repression as I have now; yet, I have never felt as free as I do today."
Civil Disobedience as a Political Strategy
In her post, the Matanzas academic outlines her strategy: "Civil disobedience and nonviolent protest are the ways to engage politically within an oppressive regime like Cuba's, where our choices are limited to a slow demise or emigration." She concludes with a resolute call: "It is undeniable, we must engage in politics; there is no other way. The Cuban political system's only enduring 'achievement' was convincing us it wasn't our duty as citizens. No more."
López accompanied her writing with an image of Mahatma Gandhi and a quote attributed to him: "No one is obligated to cooperate in their own downfall or enslavement. Civil disobedience is an inalienable right of every citizen."
Facing Legal Battles and Continuing Activism
This reflection comes amid intense pressure on López Hernández. Since June 2024, she has been under house arrest as part of a legal case involving sociologist Jenny Pantoja Torres, facing charges of assault, contempt, and disobedience. Prosecutors are seeking four years of imprisonment for her and three for Pantoja. The trial, initially set for January 30, 2026, was postponed indefinitely without a new date.
Despite her house arrest, López continues her monthly civic protest in Matanzas' Park of Liberty—held on the 18th of each month since March 2023 to demand amnesty for political prisoners—and has been detained at least five times in 2026, with some detentions lasting up to 12 hours.
Documenting Cuba's Decline
In a recent essay in Letras Libres, López introduced the concept of "civilizational regression" to describe decades of structural decline in Cuba, noting that the country fell 32 places in the Human Development Index between 2007 and 2021-2022.
According to official figures from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), cited by López, 68,064 births were recorded in Cuba in 2025, compared to 136,214 deaths, highlighting an unprecedented demographic gap in the island's history.
Prisoners Defenders reported 1,372 political prisoners in Cuba as of October 1, 2026, a record number, with "public disorder" being the most common charge, applied in 577 cases. Against this backdrop, López issues her most direct appeal: "To organize and demand social rights from the ground up, one must first secure political rights."
Understanding the Political Landscape in Cuba
Why does Alina Bárbara López emphasize civil disobedience?
López views civil disobedience as the only viable method to challenge the oppressive Cuban regime, encouraging citizens to actively engage in politics to fight for their rights.
What legal challenges is López currently facing?
López is under house arrest and faces charges including assault, contempt, and disobedience, with a potential four-year prison sentence. Her trial was postponed indefinitely.
How has Cuba's demographic landscape changed recently?
In 2025, Cuba experienced a significant demographic gap with 68,064 births versus 136,214 deaths, an unprecedented situation in the island's history.