The Cuban government has proclaimed that the March of the Combatant People, held this past Friday in Havana, attracted a crowd of half a million individuals. This statement was shared by Roberto Morales Ojeda, the Secretary of Organization for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, who declared on social media that this mobilization was a "resounding demonstration" of the Cuban people's demand against the U.S. "blockade" and their inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, this figure has been heavily criticized by citizens and analysts who accuse the government of data manipulation and forcing attendance at the march.
"The march of half a million people in Havana and various activities held across other regions were a compelling testament to the Cuban people's demand: End the blockade and remove us from the list!" Morales Ojeda tweeted, complementing his message with carefully curated images. Immediately, social media platforms were flooded with videos and testimonies that contradict the official narrative. Users on X, formerly Twitter, dismantled the government's claims using analytical tools and visual comparisons.
Questioning the Official Numbers
The account Contexto Cubano, known for critically analyzing government information, claimed the actual participation was around 14,071 people, based on aerial footage of the march. "The calculation results in approximately 14,071 participants. The outcome? #NotEvenClose," the account stated. Other users, like @Taoro8, mocked the inconsistency in the government figures. "Today, there's a slight discrepancy regarding the number of attendees at yesterday's combatant people's march. But hey, let's hope they agree among themselves," wrote @Taoro8 in a sarcastic tone.
Conflicting Reports from Official Sources
@Taoro8 highlighted contradictions among official sources, capturing tweets from government-affiliated accounts. While the Cuban Presidency claimed over 500,000 participants, other regime allies, such as Rubén Remigio Ferro, President of the Supreme Court, suggested "a million people" attended. Pro-regime U.S. activist Manolo De Los Santos further inflated the numbers, asserting over 700,000 Cubans participated. These discrepancies have fueled skepticism, as aerial images and analyses shared by social media users depict a starkly different reality.
Suspicion Over Forced Participation
The harshest criticisms focus on the mandatory nature of attendance. User @Claudiagb2019 pointed out that although the government aimed to mobilize half a million people, the reality fell short. "You predicted you'd 'mobilize (force)' half a million, but there aren't even 80,000 people at that march. This spectacle confirms that the 'revolution' is dead," she stated. User @mjorgec1994 emphasized that even with all public transport, military units, and state workers, they failed to fill the Malecón. He included aerial footage showing scant attendance, far from the numbers touted by Morales Ojeda.
A widely shared response came from user @Catv20171, who used images to contrast historical marches of 500,000 people with the recent turnout. "The first image is a march of 500,000 people years ago. The second barely shows 10,000 people at Canel's march. There's a scientific method called crowd estimation," he remarked, highlighting a noticeable visual disparity.
Public Rejection and Manipulation
The Cuban regime has often been accused of inflating attendance figures at political events to portray an image of popular support. However, distrust in these numbers has grown significantly with the advent of social media and technologies that debunk official versions. In this context, the march not only illustrates the regime's disconnect from the Cuban people's reality but also shows widespread backlash against mobilizations many view as forced rather than genuine expressions of support.
The reaction of Cubans on social media leaves no room for doubt: the official narrative faces increasing skepticism and a rejection that reveals the population's fatigue over what they perceive as the regime's propaganda efforts.
Key Questions About the March of the Combatant People
How many people attended the March of the Combatant People according to the government?
The Cuban government reported that half a million people attended the march.
What did social media users estimate the real attendance to be?
Social media users, based on aerial footage, estimated that around 14,071 people actually attended the march.
Why do critics question the authenticity of the participation numbers?
Critics argue that the numbers are manipulated by the government and that attendance was mandatory for many, casting doubt on the authenticity of the figures.