Regime In Motion :
Organizers of Mass Protests
When
Castro wants to get the Cuban people out into the streets to march, protest,
or listen to him rail against the United States, he relies on the CDRs to get
the message out. One such protest occurred on June 12, 2003 [see photos at left
and below]. Beginning on the night of June 10, CDR representatives fanned out
in the neighborhoods of Havana to strongly suggest to their block comrades that
they join the protest against the European Union, which had recently tightened
its trade policy toward Cuba as a result of political pressure from the United
States. The CDR chiefs went to all and reminded them of their civic duty to
march on the Spanish and Italian embassies with the Cuban people. All businesses
and schools were closed for the day, and therefore all employed Cubans and students
were expected to participate "voluntarily" in the march. Nearly one million
people eventually participated, according to official statistics.
At left, a sign from the protest reads,
"Aznar [Prime Minister of Spain]: In 1898 Spain sold us to the United States;
today you sell Spain to the United States."
Participation, however, was not taken very seriously. Most Cubans
seemed to be more involved in the entertainment aspect of the march as opposed
to the political aspect. This underscores the nature of "volunteer" participation
in Cuba: there really is no such thing. The Cubans fear the repercussions of
not participating, and any participation that does occur is therefore half-hearted.
So, while Communist Party officials are blaring "Down with fascism!" via a series
of giant loudspeaker assemblies placed in strategic points in the protest area,
people laugh, joke, gossip, and sell snacks and beverages — everything but pay
attention to the protest leaders, as witnessed in the photos below.
School children in uniform during the march in Old Havana.
A group of jovial and hard-working private security guards that requested their
photo be taken.
The masses respond to the call of the Maximum Leader [Castro].