The University Headquarters in Alicante, Spain, canceled a talk scheduled for last Friday with Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, screenwriter and host of the official program Con Filo.
The cancellation occurred following a complaint from the Association of Free United Cubans, made up of Cubans residing in that city, reported the independent outlet Alas Tensas.
“The decisive cancellation occurred following the complaint (...) we alerted the university authorities about the true nature of the event. In a letter addressed to the officials, we warned about the infiltration of ‘dictatorial tentacles’ that, under the guise of academic or cultural activities, seek to (…) promote the narrative of the criminal Communist Party of Cuba,” said Arturo de Armas Lago, a member of the Association.
An email from the university confirmed the cancellation: “The activity in question has been suspended and will not take place,” the message read.
The demand from civil society for Cuban migrants was supported by Mario Ortolá Martinez, deputy spokesman for the VOX Group in the Alicante City Council.
“We will not allow any public resources to be used to promote a genocidal regime, such as the Cuban one, or to support a murderous ideology like Communism,” said in a video shared on the regional account of the organization.
Propaganda tour through Spain
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez, one of the most prominent figures in the Cuban regime's propaganda machinery, embarked on a tour of 15 cities in Spain from May 5 to May 21, titled “Cuban Youth in the Time of Trump.”
Her presentations have not been without incidents, especially due to the pressure from groups of Cuban exiles, although in some places, like Barcelona, the spokesperson was able to appear.
The young presenter of the show “Con Filo”, a program on Cuban Television that directly serves the ideological interests of the regime, intended to travel through Spain with a series of talks in which she would discuss the consequences of the "economic war" imposed by the United States, as well as the impact of media campaigns that, she claims, aim to discredit the Cuban socialist system.
Some of the meetings were open to the public, while others, such as those scheduled at the University of Seville or in Vilaboa, were held behind closed doors.
Born in Havana in 2000, Gabriela Fernández is a screenwriter and host of the program Con Filo, created in 2021 as a media response by the regime following the protests on July 11 of that year.
The television space is defined as "a trench against manipulation," although in practice it serves as a megaphone for the government's arguments to justify repression, structural crises, and the lack of freedoms on the island.
In addition to her role on television, Fernández publishes articles in Cubadebate, collaborates with the official feminist magazine Cimarronas, and teaches at the Enrique José Varona University of Pedagogical Sciences.
According to media outlets aligned with the government, it obtained a gold degree and certificates of academic excellence in 2024.
Cuban Protest in Madrid
In Madrid, Fernández Álvarez was involved in a provocative incident when he responded with kisses and mockery towards a group of Cuban exiles who were peacefully protesting against him.
The incident took place in front of the headquarters of the Hispanic-Cuban Friendship Association “Bartolomé de las Casas,” where Fernández was giving his talk. The event was guarded by the Spanish police and communist supporters, despite the fact that the protest was completely peaceful.
A live video broadcast by Avana de la Torre on Facebook showed the moment Fernández Álvarez went out to meet the protesters, blowing kisses and making sarcastic gestures upon hearing the shouts of “Down with the dictatorship!” and other slogans against the Havana regime.
The activist Magdiel Jorge Castro posted on X that the presenter was caught "mocking the free Cubans" who confronted her with demands for justice and freedom for the island. "She came with a tour paid for by 15 cities in Spain," he wrote, denouncing the use of European platforms to spread the official narrative.
Frequently asked questions about the cancellation of Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's talk at the University of Alicante
Why was Gabriela Fernández Álvarez's talk at the University of Alicante canceled?
The talk was canceled due to pressure exerted by the Association of Free United Cubans, which alerted university authorities about the event as a maneuver to promote the narrative of the Communist Party of Cuba. The university confirmed the cancellation via an email.
Who is Gabriela Fernández Álvarez and what is her relationship with the Cuban regime?
Gabriela Fernández Álvarez is the host of the Cuban pro-government program "Con Filo," created as a media response by the Cuban regime following the protests of July 11, 2021. The program is known for spreading the government's narrative and justifying repression on the island.
What is the purpose of Gabriela Fernández's tour in Spain?
The tour, titled "Cuban Youth in the Times of Trump," aims to spread the Cuban regime's official stance on issues such as the U.S. embargo and resistance to Washington's sanctions. The tour is considered by many to be a propaganda operation to promote the official narrative.
What incidents have occurred during Gabriela Fernández's tour in Spain?
During her tour, Gabriela Fernández has faced protests from Cuban exiles in several cities, including Madrid and Málaga, where she has been accused of being a spokesperson for Cuban state propaganda. In one of the incidents in Madrid, she responded with kisses and mockery to the peacefully protesting demonstrators.
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