What is happening in Cuba?
Social Media has been flooded with pictures and videos of protests happening in Havana and Santiago, where thousands of protesters chanting antigovernmental slogans. It is not only the case in Cuba, but also Cubans living in exile in the United States are holding protests in large scale especially in Miami.
Noel Alonso Ginoris, 26, a writer and member of Havana’s San Isidro artists’ movement told The Washington Post: “I have never seen such a protest in my life.”
Tourism:
Cubans are experiencing the worst economic crisis in the last three decades, it’s economy mainly depends on tourism which has been dead since covid-19 pandemic started.
Restaurants and businesses have found customer since months.
Food Shortage:
A woman is seen shouting “The people are dying of hunger! Our children are dying of hunger!” in one of the many viral clips.
For basic food items citizens are spending hours in queues.
“I just walked through town looking to buy some food and there were lots of people there, some with signs, protesting. They are protesting blackouts, that there is no medicine.” Resident Claris Ramirez told Reuter.
Arrests
There have been report of officers in plain clothes arresting two dozen protesters.
There is also reports of press being targeted.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel is asking for protest to end, president also said he is “willing to do anything”.