The Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (Uneac) and the official press continue their witch hunt against young people who, during the Halloween celebration this Sunday, went out to the Calixto García de Holguín park dressed as members of the Ku Klux Klan.
Several photographs, published on social networks by a professor from Holguínshow three boys dressed in white costumes, hoods and crosses, who were allegedly heard saying: “Where are the blacks?”
The official press immediately charged out, describing the event as an example of “cultural colonization” of the United States, which “always operates at an ideological level.” To consider it as a joke is, in his opinion, “a superficial reading”. For his part, the journalist Pedro de la Hoz he was alarmed by “the passivity and permissiveness surrounding the act.”
“Only pranksters in terrible taste – if we look at it sarcastically – can lend themselves to celebrating a Halloween in the Cuban context”
Dissatisfied with the intervention of several ministers, such as Alpidio Alonso Grau and Ines Maria Chapmanand intellectuals related to the regime such as Abel Prieto, the members of Uneac delegated the problem to the José Antonio Aponte Commission, which analyzes cases of racism on the island and is directed by Pedro de la Hoz himself.
The president of the Holguin branch of the Commission, Lino Verdecia, signed a statement against the “tiny group” that “broke” into the celebration. “Maybe I was naive. I doubt it,” she said, repeating the magnifying speech of the official press. “Only pranksters in the worst taste – if we look at it sarcastically – can lend themselves to celebrating a Halloween in the Cuban context.”
He disapproved, in passing, that private businesses in Holguín used halloween decoration “to attract customers.”
It was the prelude to a statement of the Aponte Commission, where an exemplary treatment for young people is already requested and the Constitution and the Penal Code are cited. The text already attributes “aggressive and provocative shouts” to the hooded men.
They stated that the celebration is not part of the Cuban cultural heritage, and that although it could be assimilated, it had to acquire its own characteristics, “in our own way.”
There was no lack of attacks on the very idea of celebrating Halloween in Cuba, an Anglo-Saxon holiday “that has nothing to do with our culture and identity,” which gave rise to an official request for young people to assume “the criminal responsibilities they deserve.” , in addition to the organizers and participants of the meeting in the Calixto García park, for having violated the “right to equality.”
They explained that the celebration is not part of the Cuban cultural heritage, and that although it could be assimilated, it had to acquire its own characteristics, “in our own way”, as happened in the music with the jazz Cuban. In conclusion, the youth’s disguise constituted a “felony”, resulting from their “racial hatred”.
The Aponte Commission hopes that those involved be judged in accordance with Article 388.1, Chapter VIII, of the Penal Code, which punishes the violation of the right against equality with “the deprivation of liberty from six months to two years or a fine of 200 to 500 installments, or both”.
The emphasis that the cultural institutions of the regime have placed on this event has caused suspicion among several users on social networks, who consider that the excessive dimension and exemplary character with which the event has been treated responds to a strategy to distract attention from the citizenship of the death of at least seven rafters during the attack by a boat of the Border Guard Troops on a boat that intended to reach the United States.
Contrary to the abundance of published material on Halloween, the government has tried unsuccessfully to handle these deaths with discretion and has promised a “thorough investigation” into the actions of those involved.
________________________
Collaborate with our work:
The team of 14ymedio is committed to doing serious journalism that reflects the reality of deep Cuba. Thank you for joining us on this long road. We invite you to continue supporting us, but this time becoming a member of our newspaper. Together we can continue transforming journalism in Cuba.
