Cuban official Roberto Morales Ojeda calls July 2021 crackdown a “people’s victory”

Roberto Morales Ojeda, a member of Cuba’s Communist Party Central Committee, posted on social media marking the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests, describing the government’s forceful response as a “people’s victory.” The message provoked a wave of criticism online, with users denouncing the characterization of a crackdown that left at least one protester dead and resulted in more than 1,400 arrests.

The July 11 protests, the largest in Cuba in over six decades, were sparked by shortages, power outages and demands for greater freedoms. Security forces and pro‑government militia violently suppressed demonstrations across more than 40 cities, leading to numerous imprisonments and a continued tally of political prisoners – estimates range from 1,260 to over 1,300, including minors. Morales Ojeda’s remarks echo earlier praise for the Cuban Revolution’s resilience during the 1990s “Special Period,” but they also highlight the regime’s defiant stance amid ongoing international condemnation and a significant exodus of Cuban citizens.