WorldThousands of Cubans gathered on Friday before the U.S. embassy in Havana to protest a U.S. decision to indict ‌former president Raúl Castro over the downing of two civilian airplanes 30 years ago.Cuba sees indictment as part of pretext for U.S. to invadeThomson Reuters · Posted: May 22, 2026 4:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.People attending a rally in the Cuban capital hold up photos of former Cuban president Raúl Castro. The pro-government demonstration was held outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana on Friday. (Adalberto Roque/AFP/Getty Images)Thousands of Cubans gathered on Friday before the U.S. embassy in Havana to protest a U.S. decision to indict ‌former president Raúl Castro over the downing of two civilian airplanes 30 years ago.The pro-government demonstration, which began shortly after sunrise on Havana's waterfront, came as Cuban officials ​rallied this week around the island's revolutionary hero. The ​94-year-old elder statesman was not present.WATCH | Trump says Cuba is 'falling apart':Trump hails U.S. indictment of former Cuban president Raúl CastroMay 20|Duration 2:11U.S. President Donald Trump hailed his justice department's indictment of former Cuban president Raúl Castro over his role in Cuba's 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft that killed four people, including three Americans. Trump said the U.S. is 'freeing up' Cuba, but has no plans for 'escalation.'Cuban lawmaker Gerardo Hernández, a national hero and former spy, conveyed a message ​thanking the Cuban people and friends around the world ⁠for their solidarity. "As ⁠long as I live, ‌I will remain at the forefront of the Revolution, with one foot in the stirrup," Hernández quoted Castro as saying.Thousands of Cubans waved flags during the nearly hour-long rally, chanting "Viva Raúl!" ⁠and "Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death)!"Senior political leaders at rallyPresident Miguel Díaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attended the rally, as did several of Castro's family, including daughter Mariela Castro, ‌son Alejandro Castro and grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro.Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, second from left, is seen attending Friday's rally. Raúl Castro's grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, centre back, was also present. (Ramon Espinosa/The Associated Press)Rodríguez Castro, known in Cuba as "Raulito" (Little Raúl) or "El Cangrejo" (The Crab), often serves as his grandfather's bodyguard and met last week with CIA Director John ​Ratcliffe during a rare visit to Havana by a U.S. spy chief. Mariela Castro, interviewed ⁠shortly after the protest, told Cuban state-run media that her father ⁠was doing fine."Raúl is doing very well, very calm, like ⁠an ⁠old guerrilla fighter; he observes ​and smiles. He always said: 'No one takes me alive; they'll catch me ​fighting,'" she said.Cuba ⁠says Castro's indictment on murder charges on Wednesday was based on "spurious" allegations designed to serve as a pretext for an invasion as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration pushes to upend the island's government.