Image: BLM Supporters, Fidel Castro, Twitter Screenshots

Supporters and Critics Shocked By Unearthed BLM Tweet Supporting Fidel Castro: ‘Rest in Power’

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Supporters of Black Lives Matter were caught off guard recently after an unearthed tweet linked to the verified Twitter account of the group praised former Cuba communist dictator Fidel Castro.

The tweet was likely uncovered due to a recent statement made by the group that read, “The people of Cuba are being punished by the U.S. government because the country has maintained its commitment to sovereignty and self-determination. United States leaders have tried to crush this Revolution for decades.”

Castro passed away on November 26, 2016 after ruling the country since 1959 and following his passing the Black Lives Matter Twitter account tweeted, “Rest in Power #FidelCastro.”

After the recent unearthing of the tweet, many who support the group, but clearly were unaware of the tweet before, sounded off beneath it.

Twitter user Isa Alverez asked, “Can you take this down. You don’t understand the pain and suffering this man has caused my family.”

Another Twitter user stated, “I support BLM, and I’m cuban…but this is verry wrong. Wtf.”

Twitter user “JillMichelle” declared, “I just lost all respect for this organization.”

Many critics of the group quote tweeted the tweet in an effort to raise awareness of some of the core beliefs of the group.

Newsweek’s Josh Hammer gave a “Friendly reminder that this is what BLM is—and has always been.”

Newsmax’s Steve Cortes reminded his followers that “Washington DC named a plaza next to the White House after this despicable organization…”

The Columbia Bugle lamented that “Republicans joined the Left in removing statues & renaming military bases to appease this group.”

A Medium post made by the group around that time is also receiving criticism, as Fox News reported:

“We are feeling many things as we awaken to a world without Fidel Castro. There is an overwhelming sense of loss, complicated by fear and anxiety. Although no leader is without their flaws, we must push back against the rhetoric of the right and come to the defense of El Comandante,” the post said. 

Castro’s communist revolution included mass executions and imprisonment of political opponents. 

BLM’s 2016 post outlined “the lessons that we take from Fidel.” 

“From Fidel, we know that revolution is sparked by an idea, by radical imaginings, which sometimes take root first among just a few dozen people coming together in the mountains.” 

In the post, BLM also expressed gratitude to Castro for harboring Assata Shakur, a convicted cop-killer who fled to Cuba after she escaped from prison in 1979.  “As a Black network committed to transformation, we are particularly grateful to Fidel for holding Mama Assata Shakur, who continues to inspire us.” 

“As Fidel ascends to the realm of the ancestors, we summon his guidance, strength, and power as we recommit ourselves to the struggle for universal freedom,” the post concluded. “Fidel Vive!” 

We found a BBC article on Castro’s passing from 2016 and in it, they shared some reactions from various world leaders, including from then-President-Elect Donald Trump who exclaimed, “Castro is dead!”

The other world leaders they quoted, however, had positive things to say about his death:

Latin American leaders have been quick to pay tribute.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Castro was a “great friend” of Mexico, while to El Salvador’s President Salvador Sanchez Ceren he was an “eternal companion”.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said “revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy”.

The Soviet Union’s last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, said: “Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin described him as a “reliable and sincere friend” of Russia, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said “Comrade Castro will live forever”.

For French President Francois Hollande, Castro embodied Cuba’s revolution in both its “hopes” and its later “disappointments”.

Pope Francis, who met Castro, an atheist, when he visited Cuba in 2015, called his death “sad news” and sent “sentiments of grief”.

The foreign news outlet also noted:

In Miami, where there is a large Cuban community, there have been celebrations in some parts of the city, with people banging pots and cheering.

A Cuban exile group, the Cuban Democratic Directorate, said Castro left “legacy of intolerance” and had set up a “vicious totalitarian regime”.

David Caron
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