U.S. and European Socialists Hold Concert in Cuba Amid Power Outages

On Saturday, socialists from the U.S. and Europe organized a concert in Cuba, coinciding with the country’s third power outage this month.

The group included figures like streamer Hasan Piker, Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter, and members of the activist group Code Pink, along with the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap. Their visit aimed to show support for Cuba’s controversial communist regime.

Their attendance was met with criticism, particularly for staying in a luxury hotel in Havana while the rest of Cuba, home to about 11 million, endured another significant power failure. Kneecap performed in the capital, attracting a sparse audience. Some people even recorded the performers shouting, “Free Cuba, Trump, Netanyahu.”

The concert was put together by Code Pink, which brought protesters to Havana the day before.

Code Pink’s founder, Jody Evans, was photographed smiling and wearing a pink keffiyeh alongside Piker during their trip.

One internet user remarked, “This is like a Fyre Festival for humanities majors with trust funds,” comparing their event to the infamous music festival scam from 2017.

Another social media post criticized the optics, saying, “‘Liberating Palestine’ while in Cuba…this is staged and embarrassing.”

Amid this backdrop, a viral video showed an angry Cuban who filmed himself enjoying electricity from a generator outside the hotel where the activists were staying during the nationwide outages.

The Nuestra América convoy was sent to Cuba to protest the U.S. oil blockade and deliver 20 tons of humanitarian aid as the nation’s economy teeters on the brink of collapse.

Piker, a 34-year-old influencer, claimed she had no choice but to stay in a luxury hotel due to U.S. restrictions during her aid mission.

In a recent video, she stated, “The U.S. government has made it illegal for Americans to stay anywhere they want in Cuba.” While it’s true that Americans are barred from staying in properties owned by the Cuban government, there are no specific rules about the type of lodging.

Also part of the delegation was Isra Hirsi, the 23-year-old daughter of Rep. Ilhan Omar, alongside other members from the Democratic Socialists of America.

Mike Gonzalez, a Cuban exile who fled at 12, criticized Code Pink’s visit, describing their treatment of the dictatorship as like an “ideological theme park” while locals suffer from energy shortages.

“They are staying in five-star hotels as the island’s power grid suffers its second collapse in a week,” he noted, emphasizing the disparity.

Some of the group reportedly chose to stay at the Gran Hotel Bristol Melia Collection, where prices range from $130 to $520 per night.